Pranab Mukherjee
Born 11 December 1935 · West Bengal
Died 31 August 2020
Served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017, first from West Bengal.
🔔 Add birthday reminderPranab Kumar Mukherjee was an Indian politician who served as the president of India from 2012 until 2017. He was the first person from West Bengal to hold the post of President of India. In a political career spanning five decades, Mukherjee was a senior leader in the Indian National Congress and occupied several top ministerial portfolios in the Government of India. Prior to his election as President, Mukherjee was Finance Minister from 2009 to 2012 also in 1982 to 1984.
✨ A detail that surprised us
Pranab Mukherjee was the first former President of India to address an event of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in June 2018, a notable political bridge.
1. In 1969, Pranab Mukherjee entered national politics when Indira Gandhi facilitated his election to the Rajya Sabha, marking the start of his 50-year influence on Indian governance.
2. 🌟 By 1982, he had become India's Finance Minister for the first time, steering economic policy during a critical period until 1984, while also serving as Leader of the Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1985.
3. In 1986, after being dropped from Rajiv Gandhi's cabinet, Mukherjee founded the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress, only to merge it back with the Indian National Congress in 1989, demonstrating his political resilience.
4. ⚔️ From 1991 to 1996, he chaired the Planning Commission, later taking on the Foreign Affairs portfolio in 1995, influencing India's economic planning and diplomatic engagements.
5. In 2004, Mukherjee was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time, holding key ministries including Defence (2004-06), External Affairs (2006-09), and Finance (2009-12), illustrating his versatility in government roles.
6. 🏛️ In July 2012, Mukherjee was elected President of India with 70% of the electoral college vote, becoming the first West Bengali to hold the post and resigning from active party politics.
7. After his presidency ended in 2017, Mukherjee made headlines in 2018 as the first former Indian President to address an event of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), bridging political divides.
8. ❓ How did Pranab Mukherjee’s intricate knowledge of parliamentary procedures and diplomacy shape the quiet wielding of power behind India’s political scenes for five decades?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Bharat Ratna
🔍 One thing most people don't know
In 1986, after being dropped from the cabinet, Mukherjee launched his own party, the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress, which he merged back with Congress just three years later in 1989.
🖼️ Through the Years
📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
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— Pranab Mukherjee
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
Pranab Mukherjee - Remembering the ex-President, Congress politician in speeches and interviews
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Mukherjee’s tenure as Finance Minister during two critical periods laid foundations for economic reforms and fiscal policies that influenced India’s growth trajectory. His leadership in diverse ministries like Defence and External Affairs steered India's strategic and diplomatic directions in the early 21st century. As President, his scrutiny of legislation and use of presidential powers underscored a proactive engagement rarely seen in the largely ceremonial role.
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