President Pranab leaves behind a legacy of reforms, innovation and accessibility
NEWDELHI: Like some of his illustrious predecessors, President Pranab Mukherjee will leave a mark in Rashtrapati Bhavan when he vacates it on July 25.
Mukherjee has opened the gates of the world’s second largest Presidential estate — a treasure trove of history — to the people. He also did away with honorifics like Mahamahim and “His excellency”.
His tenure has also seen massive restoration of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Personally, Mukherjee, who started his career as a teacher, had zeroed in on improving the quality of education. He was the first President (and de facto chancellor of central universities) to call regular meetings with vicechancellors of different universities to discuss higher education. He also introduced in-house programmes for scholars and artists.
Mukherjee ‘s political presence was not lost either. Unlike his predecessor Pratibha Patil, who mulled on mercy petitions for a long time, Mukherjee cleared all 32 petitions, some even dating back to 2000. From Afzal Guru to Ajmal Kasab, Mukherjee rejected 28 mercy petitions— the most by a President— and sent them to the gallows.
Two years after Mukherjee came to Raisina Hill, the BJP returned to power. For PM Narendra Modi, Mukherjee played the role of a mentor. In Modi’s own words, “In my initial days, Pranabda held my hand to help me settle.”
Even as he advocated Modi’s schemes and policies, there were sparks of tension. The government’s spree of ordinances didn’t go down well with Mukherjee who had to give his assent. Several times, he summoned ministers and told them to justify the urgency of the ordinance. He publically cautioned the government against too many ordinances.
Mukherjee was prompt to support demonetisation, immediately after PM Modi announced it on November 8, 2016. But later, he often expressed reservations about the process of the exercise. The rapid rise of religious and social intolerance was another issue on which Mukherjee had strong views.
When the NDA government tried to sack Congressappointed governments in Uttarkhand and Arunachal Pradesh, the Rashtrapati Bhavan became a mute spectator. The controversial dismissal of the Uttarakhand government, which got Mukherjee’s approval, saw the Congress, for the first time publically at odds with Mukherjee.
The Congress leadership lodged protests against the government.
But finally, when Mukherjee goes to his new home in Rajaji Marg, he will most likely be contended.
In last five years, he made the presence of Rashtrapati Bhavan felt in public space.
Even as Mukherjee believes that he will not leave any legacy, he will probably be remembered as the President who brought Rashtrapati Bhavan closer to people.