Pranab Mukherjee

Mukherjee was born at Mirati in Birbhum district of West Bengal in 1935 to Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee and Rajlakshmi Mukherjee. His father participated in Congress politics and the independence movement. Mukherjee studied history, political science and law at the University of Calcutta before working as a teacher and journalist. He married Suvra Mukherjee, and they had two sons and a daughter, according to his official biography.

Mukherjee entered the Rajya Sabha in 1969 and was elected to that house five times. He later entered the Lok Sabha from Jangipur. His responsibilities included membership of the Congress Working Committee and leadership of the government in both houses of Parliament at different times. His parliamentary career ran alongside successive appointments in the Union government, including junior ministerial responsibilities in industry, transport, steel and finance.

Mukherjee first became Finance Minister in 1982. His subsequent responsibilities included Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Commerce Minister, External Affairs Minister and Defence Minister. He returned to finance from 2009 until 2012. The official presidential biography records his involvement in ministerial groups dealing with administrative reform, employment, food and energy security and other policy questions. His diplomatic work included representing India at multilateral meetings and financial institutions.

Mukherjee took office as President on 25 July 2012 after resigning from ministerial and parliamentary responsibilities to contest the presidential election. His term continued until July 2017. He had received the Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and was later awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019. The official notification conferring that honour was issued on 8 August 2019. His writings addressed subjects including the Indian economy and nation-building. He died in New Delhi on 31 August 2020.