Pranab Mukherjee
Veteran politician who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017 after a distinguished career in parliament and as Finance Minister. He was known for his expertise in economics and parliamentary procedures until his death in 2020.
Biography
Pranab Kumar Mukherjee (1935-2020) was an Indian politician who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017. Born in Mirati, West Bengal, he was the first person from that state to become President. His political career spanned five decades, making him one of India's most experienced and respected politicians. Mukherjee studied at several schools including Dhaka Collegiate School, Armanitola Government High School, Suri Vidyasagar College, and the University of Calcutta, which later awarded him an honorary doctorate. He was married to Suvra Mukherjee.
Mukherjee entered national politics in 1969 with the help of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who helped him get elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament. He soon became one of Gandhi's closest advisors and joined her cabinet in 1973. His skills in economics and parliamentary procedures were essential to various governments. He served as Finance Minister from 1982 to 1984 and was Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1985.
After being excluded from Rajiv Gandhi's cabinet in 1986, Mukherjee briefly left the Indian National Congress to start his own party, the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress. However, he returned to Congress in 1989, merging his party back with it. Under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, he led the Planning Commission in 1991 and was Foreign Minister in 1995. He was instrumental in helping Sonia Gandhi rise to leadership of the Congress party in 1998.
When the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power in 2004, Mukherjee won a seat in the Lok Sabha for the first time, having only served in the upper house before. He held several important roles in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, including Defence Minister and his second tenure as Finance Minister from 2009 to 2012. His time as Finance Minister during the global financial crisis showed his economic expertise and steady leadership. In 2012, he left the cabinet to run for President, an election he won by a wide margin.
Mukherjee received many honors for his contributions to Indian politics. These included the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 1997, and the Banga Bibhushan in 1997. In 2019, he was awarded India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, by President Ram Nath Kovind. Mukherjee passed away in New Delhi on August 31, 2020, leaving behind a legacy as one of India’s most knowledgeable and experienced political leaders.
Before Fame
Pranab Mukherjee was born into a political family in rural West Bengal while it was still under British rule. His early schooling took him to various places in Bengal and what is now Bangladesh, including Armanitola Government High School and Dhaka Collegiate School. He later attended Suri Vidyasagar College and the University of Calcutta, where he gained a solid grounding in economics and public administration.
His political career began with help from Indira Gandhi, who saw his potential and helped him get a seat in the Rajya Sabha in 1969. This was the start of his long involvement with the Indian National Congress and his rise in Indian politics during a time of significant change in the country.
Key Achievements
- Served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017, becoming the first Bengali to hold this office
- Held the Finance Ministry portfolio twice during critical periods (1982-1984 and 2009-2012)
- Maintained a continuous parliamentary career spanning five decades from 1969 to 2012
- Successfully navigated India through the global financial crisis as Finance Minister from 2009-2012
- Received India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in recognition of his lifetime service to the nation
Did You Know?
- 01.He was the first Bengali to serve as President of India, breaking a regional barrier in the country's highest constitutional office
- 02.Mukherjee briefly left the Congress party in 1986 to form his own political party, the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress, before returning to the fold in 1989
- 03.He served as Finance Minister during two different decades - first under Indira Gandhi (1982-1984) and later under Manmohan Singh (2009-2012)
- 04.Despite his long parliamentary career, he was elected to the Lok Sabha (lower house) for the first time only in 2004, having previously served exclusively in the Rajya Sabha
- 05.He received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, in 2019, just one year before his death
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Padma Vibhushan in Public Affairs | 2008 | — |
| Outstanding Parliamentarian Award | 1997 | — |
| Banga Bibhushan | 1997 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Calcutta | — | — |