NEW DELHI: The government said Tuesday with the passing of former president Pranab Mukherjee, the country has lost a distinguished national leader, a consummate parliamentarian and a tall statesman.
The Union Interior Ministry in a bulletin notification also said that Mukherjee, who died Monday at the Army Research and Reference Hospital here at the age of 84, was a man of unmatched government experience.
“Shri Mukherjee has left his mark on our national life. With his death, the country has lost a distinguished national leader, an accomplished parliamentarian and a tall statesman,” the notice read.
Mukherjee served as the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defense, Trade and Finance at different times.
“Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the thirteenth president of India, was a man of unparalleled experience in government,” it read.
Born on December 11, 1935 in the small town of Mirati in the Birbhum district of west bengal, Mukherjee earned a Master’s Degree in History and Political Science and a Law Degree from the University of Kolkata.
He then embarked on his professional life as a university professor and journalist, according to the notification.
Inspired by his father’s contribution to the national movement, Mukherjee began his full-time public life following his election to Rajya Sabha in 1969.
Mukherjee served as Vice Minister of Industry; Navigation and Transportation, Steel and Industry and Minister of State for Finance during 1973-75.
He first assumed the post of Finance Minister of India in 1982 and was Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1985. He became Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission from 1991 to 1996; simultaneously Minister of Commerce from 1993 to 1995 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1996.
He was Minister of Defense from 2004 to 2006. He again served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2009 and Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2012.
He was the leader of the house in Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2012.
Mukherjee took office as President of India on July 25, 2012 and served his full five-year term.
As president, Mukherjee brought dignity to the senior official and put his academic and humanitarian perspective on national and international affairs into practice, the notice said.
Mukherjee was a prolific reader. He is the author of several books on the Indian economy and nation building.
His numerous awards and honors include the Best Parliamentarian Award in 1997, Padma vibhusan in 2008 and India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna in 2019, he said.
.
