'Passing of an era’ is a cliché used after the demise of many an important leader, but then clichés are oft-used because they are true. In the case of, Pranab Mukherjee, former president, the term is certainly true, for his demise is indeed the end of an age that seems to remote.

Pranabda, as he was referred reverentially, died on August 31, 2020, at the age of 84, after battling a prolonged illness. He was on ventilator support after he underwent brain surgery for the removal of a clot. Prior to surgery, he tested Covid-19 positive. He was treated at the Army’s Research and Referral (R&R) Hospital.

A powerful orator and scholar, Mukherjee’s intellectual and political prowess as well as remarkable knowledge of international relations, financial affairs, and the Parliamentary process are widely admired across party lines. He has been widely acclaimed for his role as a consensus builder on difficult national issues through his ability to unite different political ideologies towards building a stronger democracy.

Hailing from a humble background, Mukherjee was born in the small village of Mirati in Birbhum District of West Bengal on December 11, 1935. He was the son of freedom fighters Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee and Rajlakshmi. His father was actively involved in the Indian Independence movement. He later became a member of the West Bengal Legislative Council (1952-1964), representing the Indian National Congress.

Pranabda did his schooling from Suri Vidyasagar College, Suri. He then acquired a Master’s degree in History and Political Science as well as a degree in Law from the University of Kolkata. He began his professional life as a college teacher and journalist. Hugely inspired by his father’s immense contribution towards the national movement, he plunged into full-time politics in 1969 and managed the election campaign of V.K. Krishna Menon, an independent candidate.

The then prime minister Indira Gandhi realized his true potential and offered him to join the Congress, an offer which he accepted. Under the mentoring of Indira Gandhi, his political career scaled new heights. He was made a junior minister in 1973 in the ministries of industry, shipping and transport, steel, and industry. He also served as minister of state for finance in the period 1973-74.

He got the cabinet rank in 1982 as finance minister for the first time under the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. In the absence of prime minister, he used to preside over the cabinet meetings.

However, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, he was sidelined from the Congress under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi. He was expelled from mainstream politics and sent to the regional West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee. Mukherjee suffered marginalization because he reportedly, as senior-most in the government, staked claim to the top post after Indira Gandhi’s murder, an act that didn’t endear him to Rajiv. Mukherjee, however, denied of ever having asked for the top office.

Following his marginalization, he formed the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress (RSC) in West Bengal which later merged with the Congress after a compromise with Rajiv Gandhi.

In 1991, after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Mukherjee’s political career revived as the then prime minister of India, P.V. Narasimha Rao, appointed him as the deputy chairman of the erstwhile Panning Commission. During 1995-1996, Mukherjee served as external affairs minister in Narasimha Rao’s cabinet.

In 1998-1999, after Sonia Gandhi became the president of Congress, Mukherjee was appointed as the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee. When the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power in 2004, Mukherjee won a Lok Sabha seat—a first in his long political career.

Before Manmohan Singh was appointed prime minister, it was speculated that Mukherjee will hold the top executive post. In Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet, Mukherjee held various posts such as defence, finance, external affairs and more. He also headed the Congress Parliamentary Party and the Congress Legislative Party, having all the Congress MPs and MLAs.

Besides, during UPA years (2004-14) he headed dozens of groups of ministers (GoMs) and empowered groups of ministers (EGoMs). Owing to his vast knowledge and experience, he was the most sought-after minister in that period. Not for nothing Indira Gandhi called him the “man for all seasons.”

Pranab Mukherjee retired from active politics and ended his affiliation with the Congress as he ran for the post of president in 2012. On July 25, 2012, he became the President of India. In 2017, he did not run for re-elections and retired from politics citing age-related health issues. He was succeeded as President by Ram Nath Kovind. In June 2018 Mukherjee became first former President of India to attend an RSS event.

Mukherjee also had an extensive diplomatic experience. He served on the Boards of the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank. He led the Indian delegations to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Conferences in 1982, 1983 and 1984; the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, 1995, 2005 and 2006, the Conference of Commonwealth Heads of Government at Auckland in 1995, the Non-Aligned Foreign Minister’s Conference at Cartagena in 1995 and the Conference to mark the 40th anniversary of the Afro -Asian Conference in Bandung in 1995.

A prolific reader, Mukherjee authored several books on the Indian economy and nation building. He was conferred with India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 2019. Importantly, it was the Bharatiya Janata Party government which did that.

Several other awards and honors conferred on him include Padma Vibhusan in 2008, the Best Parliamentarian Award in 1997 and Best Administrator in India Award in 2011. He was also the recipient of various honorary academic degrees.

Mukherjee was married to late Suvra Mukherjee (1940-2015), an accomplished singer of Rabindra Sangeet. The couple has two sons and a daughter. His elder son, Abhijit Mukherjee, is a former Congress MP (from Jangipur, West Bengal, until 2019). His daughter Sharmishtha Mukherjee is a Kathak dancer and politician of the Congress.

On August 10, Pranab Mukherjee tested positive for Covid-19, prior to his brain surgery to remove the blood clot. On August 13, he was in a comatose state, but his vital parameters were stable as per the R&R Hospital. On the evening of August 31, his son Abhijit confirmed via Twitter about his death.

With his demise, country has lost one of its greatest administrators, an outstanding parliamentarian and a man of unparalleled experience in governance.

Pranabda looked from another era because in him we found the embodiment of goodness and ability in politics, the virtues we miss these days. He belonged to the generation when political adversaries were never personal enemies; often they were friends. He was never tainted by any scandal, nor drawn in any ugly spat with any political rival.

This is the reason that leaders across parties admired and respected him. This is also the reason we will always remember him.