Pranab Mukherjee
Thirteenth President of India (2012–2017)
- Lived
- 84 yrs
- 1935 – 2020
- Works listed
- 4
- Memoir
- Honours
- 2
- Most recent 2019
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Pranab Mukherjee was a Congress leader whose career in Parliament spanned more than four decades, holding the finance, defence and external affairs portfolios before serving as the 13th President of India. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019.
Biography
Early life
Mukherjee was born in a village in Birbhum to a family of freedom fighters; his father was a Congress member who spent years in British prisons. He took master’s degrees in history and political science and a law degree from the University of Calcutta, and worked as a college teacher and journalist before entering politics.
Minister
Indira Gandhi brought him into the Rajya Sabha in 1969, and he became Finance Minister in 1982. Over the following decades he served as Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and held the external affairs, defence and finance portfolios under P. V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. He chaired dozens of groups of ministers and was regarded as the UPA government’s chief troubleshooter.
President
Elected President of India in July 2012, Mukherjee served a full five-year term until 2017. He wrote a series of memoirs about Indian politics: The Dramatic Decade, The Turbulent Years, The Coalition Years and The Presidential Years. He received the Bharat Ratna in 2019 and died in New Delhi on 31 August 2020.
Troubleshooter
Mukherjee was known for his phenomenal memory, mastery of parliamentary procedure and ability to build consensus. In the UPA government he chaired dozens of groups of ministers and was the go-to negotiator with allies and the opposition. He briefly left the Congress after Indira Gandhi’s death and formed the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress, returning in 1989.
As President
As President he rejected numerous mercy petitions, and he was known for opening Rashtrapati Bhavan to the public, including a museum and in-residence programmes for writers and artists. After his presidency he addressed an RSS event in Nagpur in 2018, which drew attention given his Congress background. He died in August 2020 after brain surgery during which he also tested positive for Covid-19.
Timeline
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1935
Born in Mirati, Birbhum district, Bengal Presidency (now West Bengal)
-
1969
Enters the Rajya Sabha
Begins a long parliamentary career.
-
1982
Finance Minister
First stint, under Indira Gandhi.
-
1986
Forms the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress
Rejoins the Congress in 1989.
-
1991
Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
Under P. V. Narasimha Rao.
-
2004
Defence Minister; wins Jangipur Lok Sabha seat
In the first Manmohan Singh government.
-
2006
External Affairs Minister
Until 2009.
-
2009
Finance Minister again
Until 2012.
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2012
Elected President of India
Takes office on 25 July.
-
2016
Opens the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum
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2018
Addresses an RSS event in Nagpur
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2019
Bharat Ratna
India’s highest civilian honour.
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2020
Dies in New Delhi
On 31 August.
-
2020
Died, aged 84
Notable works
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2014
The Dramatic Decade: The Indira Gandhi Years Memoir
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2016
The Turbulent Years: 1980–1996 Memoir
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2017
The Coalition Years: 1996–2012 Memoir
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2021
The Presidential Years Memoir
Published posthumously.
Awards and honours
-
Padma Vibhushan
2008 · India’s second-highest civilian honour.
-
Bharat Ratna
2019 · India’s highest civilian honour.
Did you know?
-
1
Euromoney magazine named him the world’s best finance minister in 1984.
-
2
He was known in Bengal by the affectionate name “Poltu”.
-
3
Euromoney named him the world’s best finance minister in 1984.
-
4
He opened a museum at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
-
5
His daughter Sharmistha is a Kathak dancer.
Gallery
Connections
Related people
-
Indira Gandhi
Politics & Leadership · Third Prime Minister of India and the only woman to hold the office
Mentor
-
Manmohan Singh
Politics & Leadership · Thirteenth Prime Minister of India (2004–2014) and architect of the 1991 reforms
Cabinet colleague
-
Sonia Gandhi
Politics & Leadership · Longest-serving president of the Indian National Congress
Party colleague
-
Narendra Modi
Politics & Leadership · Prime Minister of India since 2014
Prime Minister during his presidency
Frequently asked
Who is Pranab Mukherjee?
Pranab Mukherjee was a Congress leader whose career in Parliament spanned more than four decades, holding the finance, defence and external affairs portfolios before serving as the 13th President of India. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019.
When did Pranab Mukherjee die?
Pranab Mukherjee died on 31 August 2020 at the age of 84.
Where is Pranab Mukherjee from?
Pranab Mukherjee was born in Mirati, Birbhum district, Bengal Presidency (now West Bengal).
What is Pranab Mukherjee known for?
Pranab Mukherjee is best known for Five decades in national politics; Finance, Defence and External Affairs Minister.
What awards has Pranab Mukherjee received?
Notable honours include Padma Vibhushan (2008), Bharat Ratna (2019).
Who is Pranab Mukherjee married to?
Spouse: Suvra Mukherjee (m. 1957; died 2015).
References
- Pranab Mukherjee — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Pranab Mukherjee — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Pranab Mukherjee — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Pranab Mukherjee — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Official website. pranabmukherjee.nic.in. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Pranab Mukherjee (Q57446) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editors; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal
- First published 26 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Pranab Mukherjee.” TrackFame, last updated 26 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/pranab-mukherjee
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