Pranab Mukherjee is no more. The 13th President of India and a towering figure in subcontinent politics, Mukherjee died on Monday at Army Hospital in Delhi where he was on ventilation support. He was 84.
His death has created a huge vacuum not in India alone, as he was one of the “most tested and trusted” friends of Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was “overwhelmed” at the news of his death and said: “India lost a wise and patriotic leader, Bangladesh lost a loved one”.
“He will survive as a shining star in the politics of the subcontinent,” Sheikh Hasina said, calling him a “guardian and family friend” who always gave her courage in any crisis.
His son Abhijit Mukherjee took to Twitter to make the announcement: “With a Heavy Heart , this is to inform you that my father Shri #PranabMukherjee has just passed away inspite of the best efforts of Doctors of RR Hospital & prayers ,duas & prarthanas from people throughout India ! I thank all of You Folded hands.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to pay tribute, saying he was blessed to have Pranab Mukherjee's guidance since he took office.
Pranab Mukherjee, fondly called as Pranab da, hailed from West Bengal. His career in politics spanned over five decades. His wife Suvra Mukherjee, who died in 2015, was born and raised in Narail, Bangladesh.
Mukherjee’s death also marks the end of an era in the Congress as he was among the last of the Congress leaders to have worked closely with Indira Gandhi.
His political journey started in West Bengal when he was the election agent for VK Krishna Menon, who won the Midnapore by-election as an independent candidate.
Indira Gandhi brought in the ‘little master’ to the Rajya Sabha, Upper House of the Indian Parliament, as a member of the Bangla Congress, a breakaway Congress group formed in the state back in 1966. It merged with the Congress in 1970.
He was 36 years old in 1971 when he stood up in the Indian parliament on June 15 and initiated a discussion on Bangladesh’s war of independence.
He suggested that India should accord diplomatic recognition to the government of Bangladesh in exile in Mujibnagar.
In 1971, he was also sent to world capitals to drum up support for the Bangladeshi cause by the Congress leader Indira Gandhi. Mukherjee was a powerful orator, scholar and a statesman.
Sheikh Hasina's government had awarded him with the ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour Award’ in 2013 for his role during the 1971 War of Independence.
He again stood by Sheikh Hasina after August 15, 1975 following the assassination of her father, the founding father of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana survived as they were in Germany then. Later she was living in New Delhi in exile. Mukherjee stood by her.
The prime minister remembered those days while expressing her “deep shock and sorrow” over his death in a message.
She was “overwhelmed with grief” over the news of Pranab Mukherjee’s death, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
“His contribution in our great liberation war as a politician and our best friend is never forgotten. I always remember with respect his outstanding contribution to the liberation war.”
She said Pranab Mukherjee always helped her when she was living in India in exile.
“He used to inquire about my family in such difficult times, he stood by me in case of any need. Even after my return to the country, Pranab Mukherjee has given his support and encouragement. He is our guardian and family friend. He has given courage in any crisis,” she said, while conveying deep sympathy to the members of his bereaved family.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind expressed his condolences on the demise and wrote on Twitter, "Sad to hear that former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee is no more. His demise is passing of an era. A colossus in public life, he served Mother India with the spirit of a sage. The nation mourns losing one of its worthiest sons. Condolences to his family, friends & all citizens."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "India grieves the passing away of Bharat Ratna Shri Pranab Mukherjee. He has left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation. A scholar par excellence, a towering statesman, he was admired across the political spectrum and by all sections of society."
"As India’s President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee made Rashtrapati Bhavan even more accessible to common citizens. He made the President’s house a centre of learning, innovation, culture, science and literature. His wise counsel on key policy matters will never be forgotten by me," PM Modi said in another tweet.
"I was new to Delhi in 2014. From Day 1, I was blessed to have the guidance, support and blessings of Shri Pranab Mukherjee. I will always cherish my interactions with him. Condolences to his family, friends, admirers and supporters across India. Om Shanti," PM Modi said in a series of tweets.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, "Deeply anguished over the passing away of former President of India, Bharat Ratna Shri Pranab Mukherjee ji. He was a vastly experienced leader who served the nation with utmost devotion. Pranab da’s distinguished career is a matter of great pride for the entire country."
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, "Deeply anguished by the demise of former president of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee ji. He was widely respected by the people across all sections of society. His demise is a personal loss. He had tremendous knowledge of India’s history, diplomacy, public policy and also defence."
Pranab Mukherjee received his first ministerial assignment in Indira Gandhi in 1973, first as junior minister of industrial development.
Within two years, he was elevated as a deputy minister with independent charge of revenue and banking departments. Mukherjee quickly made headlines with a crackdown on the then Bombay smuggling underworld don Haji Mastan, according to The Hindustan Times that compiled his illustrious political career.
In 1982, shortly after Gandhi returned to power from the post-Emergency oblivion, she appointed Mukherjee as India’s finance minister, replacing R Venkataraman.
As finance minister, Mukherjee had fiery innings. He surprised the world by sending back a $1.1 billion instalment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan.
A cautious reformer, he was nevertheless the first to stoke up expenditure without letting inflation get out of hand. He also opened the NRI investment window, which pioneered sweeping changes in India’s image as a destination of foreign funds.
Mukherjee also played a pivotal role in helping the India-US civil nuclear agreement sail through despite threat of the government being toppled.
He was instrumental in spearheading critical decisions on a range of issues such as administrative reforms, Right to Information, Right to Employment, Food Security, energy security, Information Technology and telecommunication, setting up of UIDAI and Metro Rail through chairmanship of over 95 Groups of Ministers constituted for the purpose.
Among some of his crucial decisions were setting up regional rural banks (1975) and the EXIM Bank of India as well as National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (1981-82).
Mukherjee also served for 23 years as a member of the Congress Working Committee, the highest policy-making body of the party.
He served five times as a member of Rajya Sabha and twice as a member of the Lok Sabha.
He has the rare distinction of serving as foreign, defence, commerce and finance minister. He was also a Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
In 2017, Mukherjee decided not to run for re-election and to retire from politics after leaving the presidency due to health complications relating to old age. His term expired on July 25, 2017.
Prior to his election as President, Mukherjee was Union Finance Minister from 2009 to 2012.
For his distinguished service to the nation, he was first awarded India's second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan in 2008. In 2019, he was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 2019 by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
On August 10, he was hospitalised at the Army Hospital in a critical condition and tests revealed a large clot in his brain for which he underwent an emergency life-saving surgery. Post-surgery Mukherjee remained critical and on ventilator support.
He had also tested positive for coronavirus and had been in coma after a brain surgery earlier this month.
Ahead of his hospitalisation, the Congress leader had tweeted: “On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for Covid-19 today. I request the people who came in contact with me in the last week, to please self isolate and get tested for Covid-19.”
He used to meet the youths of Bangladesh whenever he got chances and inspired them with his words.
When he was the President of India between 2012 and 2017, he met the 100-member youth delegation from Bangladesh every year at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and used to spend quite a long time interacting with them.
He was born on Dec. 11, 1935, in the small village of Mirati in India’s West Bengal state. He was a college teacher and a journalist before coming to politics.
His father, Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee, was a Congress leader himself. His mother, Rajlakshmi (She went by single name), was also involved in politics.