Born to a freedom fighter, Pranab Da's rise from a college teacher to becoming India’s 13th President is simply aweinspiring

An “invaluable asset for India” as Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightly called him on his 80th birthday, President Pranab Mukherjee’s intellectual and political prowess as well as remarkable knowledge of international relations, financial affairs and parliamentary process makes this man a powerhouse in himself.

In his unparalleled experience in governance is the rare distinction of having served at different times as Foreign, Defence, Commerce and Finance Minister.

Born in a small village of Mirati in Birbhum District of West Bengal on December 11, 1935 to freedom fighters Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee and Rajlakshmi, his father was a Congress leader who endured great hardship including being sent to jail several times for his role in India’s struggle for independence.

In his teens, Pranab Mukherjee acquired a Master’s degree in History and Political Science as well as a degree in Law from the University of Kolkata, before embarking on his professional life as a college teacher and journalist. However, it didn’t take him long before he finally followed into his father’s footsteps by plunging into full time public life following his election to the Upper House of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) in 1969. There was no looking back for him hereon!

Beside him throughout his life of political ups and downs was the lady he was married to - Suvra Mukherjee - who died in August this year. She was an accomplished singer of Rabindra Sangeet and an artist. Pranab Mukherjee is succeeded by two sons and a daughter.

PRANAB DA’S POLITICAL ERA

Under the careful mentoring of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, his rise in his political career was rapid. It started with him as the Deputy Minister, Industry; Shipping and Transport, Steel and Industry and Minister of State for Finance in the period 1973-74.

In no time, his dedication, intelligence and charisma landed him with the post of the Finance Minister of India for the first time in 1982 in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He went on to become the Leader of the House in the Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from 1980 to 1985. Later, his political career was a smooth ride through various departments, where he stood out every time: Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission from 1991 to 1996, Minister for Commerce from 1993 to 1995, Minister of External Affairs from 1995 to 1996, Minister of Defence from 2004 to 2006 and once again the Minister of External Affairs from 2006 to 2009. He was the Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2012 and Leader of the Lower House of Parliament from 2004 to 2012 till he resigned to contest election to the office of the President. Rated one of the best five Finance Ministers of the world in 1984 (according to a survey conducted by "Euro Money” Journal published from New York) and ‘Finance Minister of the year’ for Asia in 2010 (by "Emerging Markets”, the journal of record for the World Bank and the IMF) is testimony to his dedication in delivering in the crucial and responsible role.

The man also has extensive diplomatic experience. He served on the Board of Governors of the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank. He has led the Indian delegations to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Conferences in 1982, 1983 and 1984; the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, 1995, 2005 and 2006, the Conference of Commonwealth Heads of Government at Auckland in 1995, the Non-Aligned Foreign Minister’s Conference at Cartagena in 1995 and the Conference to mark the 40th anniversary of the Afro –Asian Conference in Bandung in 1995.

AWARDS AND HONOURS:

A prolific reader, Pranab Mukherjee has authored several books on the Indian Economy and on Nation Building. The many awards and honours conferred on him include India’s second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhusan in 2008, the Best Parliamentarian Award in 1997 and Best Administrator in India Award in 2011.

He is recipient of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa conferred by the University of Dhaka in 2013; and Honoris Causa conferred by the University of Calcutta in 2014; Honorary Doctorate conferred by the Russian Diplomatic Academy in 2015; and Professor Honoris Causa conferred by the Belarus State University in 2015.Honorary Doctorate conferred by the University of Jordan in 2015; Honorary Doctorate conferred by Al-Quds University, Palestine in 2015; and Honorary Doctorate conferred by Hebrew University, Israel in 2015.

(image credit: Indiatimes)