Pranab Mukherjee

Pranab Mukherjee was born into a Bengali Brahmin family in Mirati, a village in the Bengal Presidency of British India (now in Birbhum district, West Bengal).[21] His father, Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee, was active in the Indian independence movement and was a member of the West Bengal Legislative Council between 1952 and 1964 as a representative of the Indian National Congress; he was also a member of AICC. His mother was Rajlakshmi Mukherjee.[22][23][14] He had two siblings: older sister Annapurna Banarjee (1928–2020) and older brother Piyush Mukherjee (1931–2017).[24]

Mukherjee attended Suri Vidyasagar College in Suri (Birbhum), which was then affiliated to the University of Calcutta.[25] He subsequently earned an MA degree in political science and history and an LL.B. degree, both from the University of Calcutta[23]

He was an upper-division clerk in the Office of the Deputy Accountant-General (Post and Telegraph) in Calcutta. In 1963, he became a lecturer (Assistant Professor) of Political Science at Vidyanagar College, Kolkata[26][27] and he also worked as a journalist at Desher Dak (Call of the Motherland) before entering politics.[28] Mukherjee first ran for public office in 1969, when he won a seat in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) of the Indian parliament as a member of the Bangla Congress, which soon merged with the Congress Party. He served an additional four terms, although he left that chamber in 2004 and contested and won a seat in the Lok Sabha (lower house). He served there until mid-2012, when he ran for president of India.[29]

Mukherjee started his political career in 1967 as a founding member of the Bangla Congress.[30] Ahead of the 1967 election, he played a crucial role in forging the United Front alliance against the Indian National Congress.[30] In 1969, he managed the successful Midnapore by-election campaign of an independent candidate, V. K. Krishna Menon. He became a member of the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Indian parliament) in July 1969 on a Bangla Congress ticket.[30] Mukherjee soon became the medium of exchanging confidential notes between Indira Gandhi and Ajoy Mukherjee.[31] In 1972, Indira Gandhi recruited him to the Indian National Congress along with merging the Bangla Congress into the party.[32] Mukherjee was re-elected to the house in 1975, 1981, 1993, and 1999.[25]

He became a Gandhi loyalist and was often described as her "man for all seasons."[33] Mukherjee's rise was rapid in the early phase of his career and he was appointed Union Deputy Minister of Industrial Development in Indira Gandhi's cabinet in 1973. He was active in the Indian cabinet during the controversial Internal Emergency of 1975–77. Ruling Congress politicians of the day including Mukherjee were accused of using extra-constitutional powers to "wreck established norms and rules of governance". Following Congress's defeat in the 1977 general elections, the newly formed Janata government-appointed Shah Commission indicted Mukherjee; however, the commission was itself indicted in 1979 for stepping "outside its jurisdiction". Mukherjee emerged unscathed and rose through a series of cabinet posts to become Finance Minister from 1982 to 1984.[34][35]

His term was noted for his work in improving the finances of the government, which enabled Gandhi to score a political point by returning the last instalment of India's first IMF loan.[36] As Finance Minister, Mukherjee signed the letter appointing Manmohan Singh as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.[32]

Pranab Mukherjee addresses delegates of the 42nd Regional Conference of SIRC, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

In 1979, Mukherjee became Deputy Leader of the INC in the Rajya Sabha, and in 1980, he was appointed Leader of the House.[25] He was considered the top-ranking Indian cabinet minister and he presided over cabinet meetings in the absence of the Prime Minister.[37]

Mukherjee was sidelined from the INC following the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Although he was much more experienced in politics than Indira's son, Rajiv Gandhi, it was Rajiv who gained control. Mukherjee lost his position in the cabinet and was sent to manage the regional West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee. He was considered to be Indira's likely successor and, siding with those within his party who aligned themselves against Rajiv Gandhi, Mukherjee was sidelined and eventually expelled from the mainstream.[33][38]

In 1986, Mukherjee founded another party, the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress (RSC), in West Bengal. The RSC and INC merged three years later after a compromise was reached with Rajiv Gandhi. The RSC had fared terribly in the 1987 Assembly polls in West Bengal. Many analysts, over the years, have attributed the muting of Mukherjee's political aspirations as the supreme leader to his inability to emerge as a magnetic mass leader.[33] On later being asked whether he ever desired to become Prime Minister, Mukherjee replied, "7 RCR was never my destination."[39] Zee News noted: "The statement assumes heft in the light of the longstanding speculation that Mukherjee, as one of the doyens of Congress, always nursed an ambition to occupy the top executive post".[39]

Mukherjee's political career revived following the Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, when P. V. Narasimha Rao chose to appoint him as deputy chairman of the Indian Planning Commission and subsequently as a union cabinet minister. He served as External Affairs Minister for the first time from 1995 to 1996 in Rao's cabinet.[25]

Mukherjee was considered to be a Gandhi family loyalist and the principal architect of Sonia Gandhi's entry into politics, a mentoring responsibility he was believed to have continued shouldering.[33] He was made General Secretary of the AICC in 1998–99 after Sonia Gandhi became Congress President. Mukherjee was made President of the West Bengal Congress in 2000 and held the position until his resignation in 2010. He had earlier held the position in 1985.[23]

Mukherjee became Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha in 2004.[25] He contested and won a Lok Sabha seat from Jangipur in West Bengal, which he would later retain in 2009. It was speculated in 2004 that Mukherjee would be made Prime Minister of India after Sonia Gandhi declined to become Prime Minister; however, Manmohan Singh was chosen instead.[40]

Mukherjee was briefly considered for the post of the largely ceremonial Indian presidency in 2007, but his name was subsequently dropped after his contribution in the Union Cabinet was considered practically indispensable.[38]

He held many important posts in the Manmohan Singh government: He had the distinction of being the minister for various high-profile ministries, including Defence, Finance, and External Affairs. Apart from being Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha and Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee President,[25] he also headed the Congress Parliamentary Party and the Congress Legislative Party, which consist of all the Congress MP's and MLA's in the country.

Mukherjee ended his affiliation with the Indian National Congress and retired from active political life following his election as president in 2012. The Economic Times had noted: "[the] decades of activity in critical all-rounder roles make [Mukherjee's] exit both a structural and generation shift. With him, the last of the Congress triumvirate – along with Rao and R. Venkataraman – who formed the core team of Indira/Rajiv regimes bows out. While Rao became PM, Pranab's political marathon too ends where Venkataraman's did, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan".[41]

Presidential styles of Pranab Mukherjee
Reference style	Hon'ble President[67] Shri Pranab Mukherjee (within India)
Spoken style	President Mukherjee
Alternative style	Mr. President

President Mukherjee with President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Indian Vice-President Mohammad Ansari

Mukherjee was nominated as the presidential candidate of the United Progressive Alliance on 15 June 2012 after considerable political intrigue.[68][69] The elections were scheduled to be conducted on 19 July 2012 and the results were expected to be announced on 22 July 2012. The nominee of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was P. A. Sangma.[70] To file his nomination for the presidential poll on 28 June, Mukherjee resigned from the government on 26 June 2012.[66]

In the election, Mukherjee received 713,763 votes, while Sangma had 315,987.[71] In his victory speech, delivered outside his residence before the results were officially announced, he said:

I would like to express my deep gratitude to all of you who are waiting. The figure has crossed 7 lakhs, only one state remains. The final figure will come from the returning officer. I would like to thank the people of India for electing me to this high office. The enthusiasm, the warmth of the people was remarkable. I have received much more from the people of this country, from the Parliament, than I have given. Now I have been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and defending the constitution as President. I will try and justify the trust of the people. I would like to reciprocate the congratulation Shri Purno Sangma has extended.[72]

Mukherjee was sworn in by the Chief Justice of India on 25 July 2012,[73] becoming the first Bengali to hold the post of President of India.[39] After being administered the oath of office, he stated that we are in the midst of a fourth world war of terror (the third was the Cold war) and what minutes of peace can achieve cannot be achieved in many years of war.[74]

Mukherjee with leaders of Russia, China, South Africa, Vietnam, and Egypt during the Moscow Victory Day Parade, 9 May 2015

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh both congratulated Mukherjee on his election as president.[75] Former Communist leader Somnath Chatterjee termed Mukherjee as one of "the best parliamentarians and statesmen of India" and said the country "has got the most able man for the top job".[76] Opposition leader Sharad Yadav declared "the nation needed a president like Pranab Mukherjee".[77] Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit commented and said Mukherjee will be "one of the wisest presidents". She further marvelled at the fact that parties in the opposition ranks supported Mukherjee. "Even the NDA broke up and wanted to vote for the president to be Pranab Mukherjee".[78] The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was reportedly "shocked" and "upset" at the cross-voting for Mukherjee by its legislative members.[79] However, BJP party president Nitin Gadkari congratulated Mukherjee and said "I extend my hearty congratulations to Pranab Mukherjee on his election today as the new President of India". Gadkari further declared "I am sure that the country will make further development and progress. I wish him all success and a bright future".[80]

Zee News noted: "What is striking about [Mukherjee] is that after more than four decades in public life, the Opposition had no ammunition against him after he was declared UPA’s choice for President. In spite of Team Anna making some noise about him being involved in some corruption cases, it has been more or less an easy ride for Pranab to Raisina Hill. Once when Sonia Gandhi announced his name, most of the allies and the Opposition came on board. Whereas, NDA partner JD(U) saw no merit in opposing him, one of the bitter critics of the Congress Shiv Sena too toed the line a little too easily. This support was not for Congress but for [Mukherjee]".[38]

Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 was promulgated by Pranab Mukherjee on 3 February 2013, providing for the amendment of the Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 on laws related to sexual offences.[81][82] As of July 2015, President Mukherjee had rejected 24 mercy pleas including those of Yakub Memon, Ajmal Kasab, and Afzal Guru.[83][84] Pranab Mukherjee becomes first President of India to reply all the mercy petitions in his term for the death row inmates and also replying the petitions of former Presidents.[85]

In January 2017, Mukherjee announced that he would not contest the 2017 Presidential elections, citing "advanced age and failing health".[86]

Pranab Mukherjee married Suvra Mukherjee on 13 July 1957. Suvra Mukherjee was born at Narail, Bengal Presidency, British India. She moved to Kolkata while she was 10 and married Pranab in 1957.[87] The couple had two sons and a daughter.[25] Suvra died on 18 August 2015, aged 74, of heart failure, while Mukherjee was still in office.[88] Their elder son, Abhijit Mukherjee, was a Congress MP from Jangipur, West Bengal, until 2019. He was elected in a by-election after his father vacated the seat. Before his election to the Lok Sabha, Abhijit was an MLA from Nalhati in Birbhum.[89]

Mukherjee was inspired by Deng Xiaoping and quoted him quite frequently.[90] His hobbies were reading, gardening, and music.[25]

His daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee is a Kathak dancer and politician of the Indian National Congress.[91]

Mukherjee celebrated the Durga Puja at his ancestral home in Mirati village.[92] He used to make it a point to be at Mirati village every year to take part in the four-day rituals, the puja having a "social dimension" for him. "I want to avail this opportunity to be with the people of my area", Mukherjee said during a puja ceremony on 4 October 2011.[92]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, on 10 August 2020, Mukherjee announced on Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19 prior to a surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain.[93] He was admitted to the hospital after accidentally slipping and falling in his bathroom.[94][95] He was on ventilator support and in critical condition at the Army's Research and Referral (R&R) hospital in Delhi.[96]

On 13 August, the hospital reported that Mukherjee was in a deep coma after he underwent brain surgery; however, his vital parameters remained stable.[97][98] On 19 August, the R&R said that Mukherjee's health condition had declined as he had developed a lung infection.[99] On 25 August, his renal parameters became "slightly deranged", with the condition worsening days later.[100][101]

Mukherjee died on 31 August 2020, aged 84, which was confirmed by his son Abhijit Mukherjee via Twitter.[102][103] His death came after the attending hospital confirmed that his health had deteriorated early that day, stating that he had been in septic shock since a day earlier, which was caused by his lung infection.[104][105]

Condolences poured in immediately from leaders of both India and other nations. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the President Ramnath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi conveyed their condolences via Twitter.[106][107][108] The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin,[109] the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani,[110] the President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih,[111] the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina,[112] the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lotay Tshering, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the Prime Minister of Nepal, K. P. Sharma Oli, were among foreign leaders who paid their respects.[106][113][114] Sports players and actors from the country also voiced their sorrow.[115][116]

The Government of India announced a seven-day period of state mourning between 31 August to 6 September, whereby the national flag would fly at half mast on all buildings wherever it is flown regularly.[117] The West Bengal state government declared a closure of state-run offices for the following day as a mark of respect.[118]

The funeral was held the following day, on 1 September at the Lodhi Road crematorium, with full state honours.[119] The body was brought to the crematorium in a van instead of gun carriage due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the country. His ashes were immersed into the Ganges river in Haridwar.[120][121][122]

Pranab Mukherjee's positions in chronological order:[25][150][151]

• Union Minister of Industrial Development 1973–1974
• Union Minister of Shipping and Transport 1974
• Minister of State for Finance 1974–1975
• Union Minister of Revenue and Banking 1975–1977
• Treasurer of Congress Party 1978–79
• Treasurer of All India Congress Committee 1978–79
• Leader of House of Rajya Sabha 1980–85
• Union Minister of Commerce and Steel and Mines 1980–1982
• Union Minister of Finance 1982–1984
• Board of Governors of International Monetary Fund 1982–1985
• Board of Governors of World Bank 1982–1985
• Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank 1982–1984
• Board of Governors of African Development Bank 1982–1985
• Union Minister of Commerce and Supply 1984
• Chairman: Campaign Committee of Congress-I for conducting National Elections to Parliament, 1984 Indian general election, 1991 Indian general election, 1996 Indian general election and 1998 Indian general election
• Chairman of Group of 24 (a Ministerial Group attached to IMF and World Bank) 1984 and 2009–2012
• President of State Unit of Congress Party 1985 and 2000–08
• Chairman of Economic Advisory Cell of AICC 1987–1989
• Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission 1991–1996
• Union Minister of Commerce 1993–1995
• Union Minister of External Affairs 1995–1996
• President, SAARC Council of Ministers Conference 1995
• General Secretary of AICC 1998–1999
• Chairman of Central Election Coordination Committee 1999–2012
• Leader of House of Lok Sabha 2004–2012
• Union Minister of Defence 2004–2006
• Union Minister of External Affairs 2006–2009
• Union Minister of Finance 2009–2012
• President of India 25 July 2012 – 25 July 2017.

• Beyond Survival: Emerging Dimensions of Indian Economy. S. Chand & Company. 1986. ISBN 0706926587.
• Off the Track: A Few Comments on Current Affairs. K. P. International. 1987.
• Challenges Before the Nation: Saga of Struggle and Sacrifice (Indian National Congress). Vikas Publishing House. 1993. ISBN 0706966236.
• A Centenary History of the Indian National Congress – Volume V: 1964–1984 (co-authored with Aditya Mukherjee). Academic Foundation Kolkata. 2011. ISBN 978-8171888641.
• Congress and the Making of the Indian Nation. Academic Foundation Kolkata. 2011. ISBN 978-8171888580.
• Thoughts and Reflections. Rupa Publications India. 2014. ISBN 978-8129134479.
• The Dramatic Decade: The Indira Gandhi Years. Rupa Publications India. 2015. ISBN 978-8129136015.
• The Turbulent Years: 1980–1996. Rupa Publications India. 2016. ISBN 978-8129137692.
• The Coalition Years: 1996–2012. Rupa Publications India. 2017. ISBN 978-8129149053.
• The Presidential Years: 2012–2017. Rupa Publications India. 2021. ISBN 978-9390356355.

• Pranab Mukherjee Official website
• Pranab Mukherjee at Twitter
• Pranab Mukherjee at the Encyclopædia Britannica