Venu Rajamony – The Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands, who was Pranab Mukherjee’s press secretary for five years in the Presidential House, remembers him as a leader who was not only an authority on parliamentary procedures and history, but who He was also the main problem solver for Congress during UPA I and II.
During his presidency, Rajamony says, he believed that upholding the Constitution was his main responsibility. Rajamony adds that one of the most important reforms of Pranab Mukherjee was to open Rashtrapati Bhavan to the public and make it a democratic institution. “He firmly believed that Rashtrapati Bhavan belongs to the nation and that there should be more participation of ordinary Indians in its activities. It was then that regular visits to the public were started at Rashtrapati Bhavan and its libraries and archives were opened to academics, ”Rajamony told HT by phone from the Netherlands.
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“This legacy of Pranab Da must be safeguarded and protected,” adds Rajamony.
Pranab Mukherjee, a scholar of politics, economics and foreign relations, was admired by everyone, in all political parties, for his knowledge, experience and wisdom. “He was able to unite different political parties and find common ground,” says the Ambassador.
His first and last love, Rajamony describes, was Parliament. “It is in Parliament where he was happiest and believed that it was Parliament that made him who he was. On many occasions during his tenure as president, Pranabda would sit nostalgically in front of television watching the debates in Parliament and say: ‘I miss being in the House. I wish I was there, participating in those debates, ”Rajamony told HT.
Recalling the sharp memory of the former president, Rajamony said: “He could remember events, dates and numbers and was considered a walking encyclopedia.” “The high officials who had to inform him would do so with fear because he would always know more than they did. Pranabda could easily cite budget figures dating back to the first budget presented in Parliament after independence, ”he adds.
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Claiming that the former president was “old-fashioned”, Rajamony said he believed that much of what he knew and had seen would die with him. “(Then-Prime Minister) Indira Gandhi once commented that if someone tried to make Pranabda cough up secrets, it would just smoke out.”
“Pranabda kept copious diaries throughout his life, but he was not interested in seeing the light of day while he was alive,” added the Ambassador.
The Indian Foreign Service official, who also served Pranab Mukherjee for two years at the Finance Ministry, said Pranab Da deserved more.
If Pranab Da had become Prime Minister and Dr. Manmohan Singh had moved to Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2012, the political events after 2014 might have been very different, Rajamony adds.
Paying tribute to Pranab Da, the Ambassador added that “his life and memory will inspire others in public life to emulate him and live up to his high standards.”
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