Pranab Mukhrjee journeyed from a hamlet in Bengal to the Raisina Hill
Hindustan TimesIndia’s former President Pranab Mukherjee, whose public life spanned for more than five decades, died at the Army Research and Referral Hospital here on Monday. A Bharat Ratna recipient, Mukherjee leaves behind a rich legacy of old-school politics, countless friends across parties and a diary — the only chronicle of his life from a nondescript village in undivided Bengal to the ultimate edifices of federal power. His son and former MP Abhijit Mukherjee wrote on Twitter: “With a heavy heart, this is to inform you that my father Shri Pranab Mukherjee has just passed away in spite of the best efforts of doctors of RR Hospital & prayers, duas & prarthanas from people throughout India! I thank all of you.” Mukherjee held 10 ministerial portfolios, signed historic agreements such as General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the Indo-US Nuclear treaty, positioned himself as a trusted support system to at least three Congress presidents and a reliable vice-captain to as many prime ministers.