Journey from being A Journalist to The First Citizen of India

 

On 31st August, 2020, India lost her 13th President – Pranab Kumar Mukherjee. Awarded with India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, Pranab Mukherjee had a political career spanning five decades.

Before entering politics, Pranab Mukherjee worked as a journalist at Desher Dak alongside being an assistant Professor of Political Science at Vidyanagar College, Kolkata. Mukherjee started his political career in 1969 with the help of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who helped him get elected to the Rajya Sabha. Following her assassination, Mukherjee viewed himself as the rightful successor to Indira but was side lined from Congress during the premiership on Rajiv Gandhi.

His political career revived when he was appointed as the Planning Commission head by then Prime Minister P.V.Narsimha Rao in 1981 and as Foreign Minister in 1985. Mukherjee won the Lok Sabha seat for the first time in 2004, when UPA (United Progressive Alliance) came to power and from then until 2012, he served under a number of key cabinet portfolios in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government – Defense (2004-06), External Affairs (2006-09) and Finance (2009-12). However, his larger ambition of becoming India's Prime Minister was never realised.

During his tenure as the finance minister in the 2nd term – the economy was in a bad state; inflation peaked and interest rates soared heights. He was called as one of the “worst“ finance ministers India ever had.

As the president, Mr. Mukherjee walked on a fine line; having good relations with now Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his own congress party leaders – a true bipartisan leader. In 2012, when he was appointed as the President, he was widely acknowledged as the most experienced politician by far to take up the post.

Presidents do not reject bills but his tenure saw him reject up to 18 bills that were sent to him for assent. He rejected 30 mercy petitions – by far the highest of any Indian President, which resulted in the conviction of Afzal Guru – who was involved in the 2001 attack on India's parliament, Yakub Memon – convicted for financing 1993 terror attacks in Mumbai & Ajmal Kasab – one of the gunmen in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was hanged during his tenure.

India will truly miss its eminent but humble son who was a great visionary.