Former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away on 31st August 2020. He served as India’s 13th President from 2012 to 2017. A person who is admired cutting across parties, he was instrumental in India’s growth as an economic powerhouse. Here are a few lesser-known tidbits about him:
1) Professor and Journalist before politician
In 1963, he became Lecturer(Assistant Professor) of Political Science at Vidyanagar College, Kolkata and he also worked as a journalist with a local Bengali newspaper named Desher Dak (Call of Motherland) before entering politics.
2) Only Finance Minister to have presented seven budgets
In his long political career, Mukherjee served as an MP seven times and was the only Finance Minister to present 7 budgets.
3) Headed his own party for a short period of time
After being sidelined by the Congress following Smt. Indira Gandhi’s demise, he decided to start his own party called the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress. However, the party merged with Congress in 1989.
4) Indira Gandhi helped him get the Rajya Sabha seat
Pranab Da became a member of the Rajya Sabha in July 1969. His rise was aided by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
5) One of the few people to receive four foreign honours
He has received three foreign honours to date. They are – Bangladesh Liberation War Honour, Grand Cross of National Order of the Ivory Coast and the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios II
6) Only person to have served four ministries
Pranab Mukherjee was the only minister to handle four ministries – Commerce, Defense, External Affairs and Finance.
7) Voted Euromoney’s Best Finance Minister of the Year
In 1984, Mukherjee was voted the Best Finance Minister in the World by Euromoney magazine.
8) The pre and post LPG Finance Minister
He is the only Finance Minister to have served both in the pre and post liberalization, privatization and globalization era.
9) First former President to address an RSS event
In 2018, Pranab Mukherjee addressed the Tritiya Varsha Sangh Shiksha Varga, the three year training programme of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for its Swayamsevaks.
10) Well versed with Vedas
The former President knew the Vedas and even turned priest to perform Durga Pooja at his ancestral home when he was the President.
11) A Congress politician awarded Bharat Ratna by its rival BJP
Pranab Da was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour in 2019 by the BJP government.
12) His life experiences are to be published posthumously
He has a personal diary in which he has written about the experiences of his life. It is said that his diary will be published posthumously.