JAIPUR l TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 86 END OF KartikeyAN Dev Singh and ended whenERA! he demitted office as President of India in 2017. he nation was still under Often described as “man for all sea- British occupation when in sons”, Pranab Mukherjee held impor- the Bengali winter of 1935, a tant portfolios like finance, defence, child was born in Birbhum’s external affairs, deputy chairman of T Miriti village, who no one planning commission, leader in the thought would play a pivotal Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and final- role in shaping a nation for five long ly the President of the Union of India. decades. A boy who would, inspite of In all these years of his active public all odds, continue to remain the pow- life, he continued to have friends even erhouse for his political party and who in the most staunch opposition lead- had the distinction of working with ers, probably because the child, very five members of the Gandhi family— thoughtfully, was named after the most Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv important aspect of life—Pranab— Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gan- meaning Love in Bengali! dhi. It is a testament to Pranab Da’s political acumen, administrative skill and his indomitable will power, that whenever Congress needed a strong man to lead important ministries, it was Pranab Mukherjee who was given the charge. Whether it was Indira Gandhi, who recognised his talents and accord- ed him the Rajya Sabha seat, or successive generations of Con- gress leaders, everyone was in awe of Mukherjee, who held a great command on various subjects and conducted his politics with dignity. Mukherjee’s career started as a junior minis- ter in Indira Gandhi gov- ernment in the 1970s Pranab Mukherjee 1935 - 2020 Trickle-down theories do not address the legitimate aspirations of the poor. We must 02 JAIPUR | TUESDAY lift those at the bottom so that poverty is SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 www.fi rstindia.co.in I www.fi rstindia.co.in/ erased from the dictionary of modern India epaper/ I twitter.com/thefi rstindia I facebook. PRANAB DA com/thefi rstindia I instagram.com/thefi rstindia 10 FACTS ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT Mukherjee, 1 who was born in a Bengali family greatly involved in India’s struggle for freedom, started his professional career not as a politician, but as an upper- division clerk in the Old photo of Pranab Mukherjee attending Urs of Hazrat Nizamuddin offi ce of the Deputy Indira Gandhi with Pranab Mukherjee. Rajiv Gandhi with Pranab Mukherjee. Aulia at Urs Mahal with Late Sajjadanashin Hazrat Pir Zamin Nizami. Pranab Mukherjee lighting his pipe. Accountant General, NATION MOURNS FORMER PRESIDENT PRANAB DA (1935-2020) in Kolkata. A major in 2 Political Science and History, Mukherjee served as an assistant professor A CONSENSUS BUILDER AND of Political Science in Vidyanagar College, Kolkata and as a journalist with the Bengali publication, A CAUTIOUS REFORMER! Desher Dak, before leader of vast INDIA ANNOUNCES 7-DAY STATE CEC ARORA RECALLS PRANAB’S entering politics. experience MOURNING TILL SEPTEMBER 6 ‘ENCYCLOPAEDIC KNOWLEDGE’ In 1969, and knowl- PM: He left indelible mark 3 edge who New Delhi: Seven days state mourning New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) Mukherjee strived for will be observed throughout the country on Monday expressed deep grief on the stepped into the world consensus in from August 31 to September 6 as a death of former President Pranab Mukherjee of politics, by getting mark of respect to former President with CEC Sunil Arora describing the loss of on development trajectory elected to the Rajya the polity and A Pranab Mukherjee, who passed away on the leader having "encyclopaedic knowledge". Sabha on a Congress left an imprint on In- New Delhi: Prime Min- Monday, the government informed here. Expressing grief, Arora said "In his demise, ticket. It is believed dia's modern history, ister Narendra Modi on "As a mark of respect to the departed the nation has lost a widely respected savant that the then Prime Pranab Mukherjee was dignitary, seven days state mourning will and a 'Rajrishi' known Monday paid his trib- be observed throughout India from August for his encyclopaedic Minister, Indira Gandhi India's 13th President utes to former presi- played a huge role in and was conferred its 31 to September 6, both days inclusive. knowledge of economic, dent Pranab Mukherjee During the period of state mourning, the constitutional and getting him elected. highest civilian honour. and said the late leader national fl ag will fl y at half-mast on all historical affairs." The 84-year old veter- left an indelible mark buildings throughout India, where it is Arora said despite 4 After the an Congressman who fl own regularly and there will be no offi cial failing health he had on the development tra- death of played a crucial role in entertainment," the Ministry of Home graciously accepted jectory of the country Indira Gandhi, when the functioning of the Affairs said in an offi cial release. The date, the Commission's and was a scholar par Mukherjee did not UPA governments till he time and venue of the state funeral will be invitation and delivered the fi rst Sukumar excellence, a towering get his due, he was chosen the Presi- intimated later, it said. Pranab Mukherjee Sen Memorial Lecture organised on January statesman who was ad- passed away on Monday at the Army 23 this year. Mukherjee, as President of the founded his own dent in 2012, Pranab Hospital (Research and Referral) where he republic, had addressed EC's National Voters mired across the politi- PM Modi shared his pic with Pranab Da on Twitter. political party, which Mukherjee reflected de- was admitted earlier this month and had Day event twice in 2016 and 2017. "May cal spectrum. he named Rashtriya cency in politics that undergone surgery for removal of a clot in God give his family the strength to bear this The Prime Minister, jee. He has left an indel- Samajwadi Congress. had no place for ran- his brain. He was 84. irreparable loss," Arora added. who made a series of ible mark on the devel- cour, acrimony and per- tweets, also shared opment trajectory of 5 Between sonalised attacks even some images including Narendra Modi our nation. A scholar 1969 to 2012, as he remained firmly He was a Union Min- Leader of the House in an encyclopedic knowl- one in which he touched @narendramodi par excellence, a tower- Mukherjee headed committed to the party's ister for over 20 years Rajya Sabha (1980-85) edge of time and events. the late leader’s feet to India grieves the passing ing statesman, he was four major ministries, ideology. He oozed a nat- and had a rare distinc- and Leader of House in He was elected 5 seek his blessings. PM away of Bharat Ratna Shri admired across the po- which included ural warmth and his tion of having served as Lok Sabha. He was also times to Rajya Sabha Modi said Pranab Pranab Mukherjee. He has litical spectrum and by Finance, Commerce, intellect, knowledge, Union Minister for Fi- Deputy Chairman of and twice to Lok Sabha Mukherjee’s wise coun- left an indelible mark on all sections of society,” External Affairs and the development trajectory Defence. In fact, he power of persuasion, nance, External Af- Planning Commission. and was a member of sel on key policy mat- the PM said. of our nation. A scholar was voted the best memory and skills made fairs, Defence and Com- Having witnessed the Congress Working ters will never be for- The Prime Minister par excellence, a towering Finance Minister him a go-to man in the merce. Another rare country's politics for Committee, the highest gotten by him. also shared an image of statesman, he was admired in the World by Congress, especially in distinction was that he close to five decades as policy-making body of “India grieves the his being administered across the political spectrum Euromoney, in 1984. the last about 15 years of served as leader of both a participant and an ob- the party for 23 years. passing away of Bharat and by all sections of society. oath of office by Pranab his political life. Houses of Parliament - server, Mukherjee had —ANI Ratna Pranab Mukher- Mukherjee in 2014. —ANI In July, 2012, 6 Mukherjee Shah: His demise Jagdeesh Chandra contested the condoled the demise He served Mother India presidential elections left a huge void of former President against PA Sangma, in Indian polity Pranab Mukherjee in which he won while remembering with spirit of a sage: Kovind 70 per cent of the New Delhi: Home Min- him as a people’s electoral college vote ister Amit Shah on President, a seasoned New Delhi: President citizens,” President Ko- to become the 13th Monday condoled the statesman with great Ram Nath Kovind on vind tweeted. The Presi- President of India. death of political acumen, Monday extended his dent recalled the jour- former a great listener, condolences after for- ney of Mukherjee and 7 During his president and a charming mer president Pranab said, “Endowed with tenure as the Pranab conversationalist. Mukherjee passed away perspicacity and wis- president, Mukherjee Mukher- Chandra, who traveled at Delhi hospital. dom, Bharat Ratna Shri promulgated the jee, say- abroad with the late “Sad to hear that for- Mukherjee combined Criminal Law ing that President Pranab mer President Shri tradition and moderni- (Amendment) Mukherjee more his demise has left a Pranab Mukherjee is no ty.