Nation mourns as former President and Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee dies at 84

File photo of Pranab Mukherjee (Photo Credits: Group Photo Editor/Bandeep Singh)

Pranab Mukherjee, former president of India and veteran Congressman passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness. He had been in a deep state of comatose owing to complications following a lifesaving surgery.

The Government of India has declared seven-day national mourning as a mark of respect to the former president and Bharat Ratna recipient.

Mukherjee’s son Abhijit took to Twitter and made the announcement. In a post, he said, “With a Heavy Heart, this is to inform you that my father Shri #PranabMukherjee 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 Folded hands.”

The Army Hospital in Delhi cantonment where Mukherjee was undergoing treatment had issued a statement earlier on Monday saying he was in septic shock due to a lung infection. He was in a deep coma and on ventilator support.

Mukherjee was admitted to the Army’s Research and Referral hospital more than 20 days ago owing to health complications.

After having been unwell for a few days, Pranab Mukherjee underwent life-saving emergency surgery for brain clot at R&R Hospital in Delhi on August 10. He had been on ventilator support thereafter. He had tested positive for Covid-19 the same day.

On August 19, Pranab Mukherjee developed a lung infection. On August 25, the doctors found his renal parameters slightly deranged for which he was given treatment. His health condition declined further Monday morning.

Pranab Mukherjee served as India’s President between 2012 and 2017. His career in politics spanned over five decades. As a Congress leader, Pranab Mukherjee held a wide array of top cabinet posts, including finance, defence, home, among others. Pranab Mukherjee was serving as Finance Minister in the UPA II when he was fielded as a candidate for presidentship. He had defeated PA Sangma with a wide margin to enter the President’s House. However, after serving a five-year term as the President of India, he refused to contest the election again and stepped down due to health concerns.

Pranab Mukherjee hailed from West Bengal. He famously attended every Durga Puja at his home town Mirati in Birbhum district. For his distinguished service to the nation, he was first awarded India’s second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and then honoured with Bharat Ratna – India’s highest civilian award in 2019.

President Ram Nath Kovind said in a tweet, “The nation mourns losing one of its worthiest sons. Condolences to his family, friends & all citizens.” Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also expressed grief. He said in a tweet, “He (Mukherjee) rose from humble beginnings to occupy the country’s highest constitutional position through hard work, discipline and dedication.”

“India grieves the passing away of Bharat Ratna Shri Pranab Mukherjee. He has left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation. A scholar par excellence, a towering statesman, he was admired across the political spectrum and by all sections of society,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet where he shared pictures of himself with the late former president.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief over Mukherjee’s demise. In a tweet, Singh said, “His demise is a personal loss. He had tremendous knowledge of India’s history, diplomacy, public policy and also defence.”

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Amit Shah, Prakash Javadekar, Piyush Goyal, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arjun Munda, Mansukh Mandaviya, Ram Vilas Paswan, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Nirmala Sitharaman, Pralhad Joshi, Sadananda Gowda, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ramesh Pokhriyal, Giriraj Singh, Jitendra Singh, Smriti Irani, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Dharmendra Pradhan, Thawarchand Gehlot, and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also expressed their shock at and said India lost a great leader with Mukherjee’s demise.





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