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Dr. Pranab Mukherjee

Namashkar. You are listening to a Divyansh Garg podcast. You can now listen to my podcasts on Youtube and Spotify and get them in a blog format on tumblr. Use headphones for a better experience. On 31st August 2020 the Bharat Ratna awardee passed away. The 13th President of Independent India, one of the oldest congress leaders, he was Dr. Pranab Mukherjee. So let’s have a detailed look on his journey.

But before that, it often comes in our mind that why am I talking about this person? Aisa kya contribute kiya hai unhone hmari country ke liye? Why is he so important? The answer to this question is very simple. He was among the last of the Congress leaders to have worked closely with Indira Gandhi. Mukherjee’s death marks the end of an era in the Congress. He has severed our country as foreign, defense, commerce and finance minister. He was also a Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. Nevertheless Mukherjee served the country as its 13th President for five years from 2012 to 2017.

So let’s begin with his journey. Pranab da was born into a Bengali family at Mirati, a village in the Bengal Presidency of British India. Unke pitaji, Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee was active in the Indian independence movement and was a member of West Bengal Legislative Council as a representative of the Indian National Congress. Unki ma thi Rajlakshmi Mukherjee. Unke do siblings bhi the: older sister Annapurna and younger brother Piyush.

On growing up he earned an MA degree in Political Science & History and an LL.B. degree; both from University of Calcutta. Unki shadi Suvra Mukherjee se hui. In 1963, he became a lecturer of Political Science at Vidyasagar College and he also worked as a Journalist before entering politics. Being a lecturer and a journalist, unhe koi idea nhi tha ki vo kabhi politics me bhi apne kadam rakhenge. But destiny wanted something else.

Pranab da’s political journey started in West Bengal when he was the election agent for VK Krishna Menon, who won the election as an independent candidate. Later, He became a member of Rajya Sabha in July 1969 on a Bangla Congress ticket. And then there was no turning back. The Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, had recognised Mukherjee's talents and recruited him to her party, the Indian National Congress. It was her who brought in the ‘little master’ to the Rajya Sabha as a member of the Bangla Congress. Mukherjee also became a Gandhi loyalist aur unhe Indira Gandhi ji ka "man for all seasons” bhi kaha jane laga.

Mukherjee received his first ministerial assignment with 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. Bombay smuggling underworld don Haji Mastan ke upar kai crackdowns lagwane ki wajah se ve boht hi jald surkhiyo me aane lage the.

Mukherjee was active in the Indian cabinet during the controversial Internal Emergency of 1975–77. Ruling Congress politicians of the day including Mukherjee ko aksar accuse bhi kiya jata h for using extra-constitutional powers to "wreck established norms and rules of governance." 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan ke $1.1 billion ki instalment vapis pahuchne ke sath hi unhone puri duniya ko surprise kr diya tha. 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.

Lekin Indira Gandhi ke assassination ke bad Mukherjee ko congress se side kr diya gya tha. Although Mukherjee was much more experienced in politics than Indira's son, Rajiv Gandhi, it was Rajiv who gained control. Mukherjee lost his position in the cabinet and was sent to manage the regional West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee. He was considered to be Indira's likely successor and, siding with those within his party who aligned themselves against Rajiv Gandhi, Mukherjee was sidelined and eventually expelled from the mainstream.

Mukherjee's political career revived following Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 when P. V. Narasimha Rao chose to appoint him as deputy chairman of the Indian Planning Commission and subsequently as a union cabinet minister. Mukherjee served as External Affairs Minister for the first time from 1995 to 1996 in Rao's cabinet. Mukherjee also played a pivotal role in helping the India-US civil nuclear agreement sail through despite threat of the government being toppled.

Mukherjee became Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha in 2004. Jab 2004 me Sonia Gandhi ne pm bnne se mana kr diya to ye assume kiya gya ki ab Mukherjee hi pm ki kudsi smbhalenge. However, Manmohan Singh was chosen. Though he played many important roles in Manmohan Singh’s government. He served five times as a member of Rajya Sabha and twice as a member of the Lok Sabha. He was conferred Padma Vibhusan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 2008.

Known for his sharp memory, clarity of thought and grasp over issues, Mukherjee has the rare distinction of serving as foreign, defence, commerce and finance minister. He was also a Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. And finally, Mukherjee served the country as its 13th President for five years from 2012 to 2017.

Apne presidential career me unka kabhi kisi bhi political party se clash nhi hua. Such a living legend he was. His story tells us about the true meaning of struggle. Kitni bar unpr saval uthaye gaye aur na jane kitni bar unhe neeche girane ki koshish ki gayi. But his calm and focused attitude was above the world’s obligations. Itna bada life lesson hme vo aaj deke gaye hai. And 2012 me, he got what he actually deserved. May his soul rest in peace. Dhanyavad.