Retracing Pranab’s journey

Academic, politician, statesman, Pranab Mukherjee donned many hats through his career. A look at some of the key events that defined his legacy

► December 11, 1935

Pranab Mukherjee is born in the small village of Mirati in Birbhum district of West Bengal as son of freedom fighters Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee and Rajlakshmi

► 1957:

Marries Suvra Mukherjee, a singer of Rabindra Sangeet. They have two sons and a daughter. Mukherjee defied social norms and married Suvra who was not a Brahmin by birth

► 1969:

He is elected to the Rajya Sabha for the first time. He goes on to be elected to the Upper House for five times

► 1973-74:

Under the mentorship of late PM Indira Gandhi, Mukherjee is made deputy minister, industry, shipping and transport, steel and industry, and minister of state for finance in this period. He considered Indira his mentor and had a black and white photo of her in his office

► 1980-1985:

He is appointed the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha

► 1982:

Assumes office as finance minister for the first time in Indira Gandhi’s cabinet

► 1991-1996:

Takes charge as the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission

► 1993-1995:

Appointed minister for commerce

► 1995-1996:

Takes over as the minister for external affairs. He tries to bring back the ashes of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose from Renkoji Temple in Tokyo, but fails

► 2004:

After two attempts, he is finally elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time

► 2004-2012:

He is the Leader of the Lower House of Parliament till he resigns to contest the election for the office of the President

► 2004-2006:

Appointed the minister of defence

► 2006-2009:

He again becomes the minister for external affairs. His tenure was marked by key events, including the Mumbai terror attack

► 2008:

He is honoured with India’s second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhusan

► 2009-2012:

Takes charge as the minister of finance. After 25 years, he returns to his favourite office. But his proposal for retrospective tax created a huge controversy and he didn't get backing from his own party

► July 25, 2012:

He assumes office as the 13th President of India after a political career of more than 40 years, only to find it extremely boring in the initial few days. But he ushered in many reforms and opened the grand estate to visitors

► 2018:

Becomes the first former president to attend an RSS event, creating buzz in the political circles

► 2019:

Receives the country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna