Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee died on Monday. He was 84. Mr Mukherjee suffered a fall on August 10 at his Rajaji Marg house and had undergone an operation to remove a blood clot in his brain. The veteran politician had tested positive for the novel coronavirus when he visited the Army Hospital for another medical procedure. Doctors on Monday morning warned that there was a decline in his condition and he was in septic shock due to the COVID-19 infection in his lung.
Mr Mukherjee's son, Abhijit Mukherjee, a short while back announced on his Twitter page the demise of his father and one of India's most respected and beloved politicians. He tweeted, "With a Heavy Heart , this is to inform you that my father Shri #PranabMukherjee has just passed away inspite of the best efforts of Doctors of RR Hospital & prayers ,duas & prarthanas from people throughout India ! I thank all of You".
With a Heavy Heart , this is to inform you that my father Shri #PranabMukherjee has just passed away inspite of the best efforts of Doctors of RR Hospital & prayers ,duas & prarthanas from people throughout India !
I thank all of You 🙏— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) August 31, 2020
Pranab Mukherjee's biggest achievement in his political career came when he became the President Of India and served in the Presidential office from 2012 to 2017. A Congressman for over five decades, Mr Mukherjee was a seven-time parliamentarian and had been working as a teacher and journalist before making his way into politics.
Prior to becoming India's President, he was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1969 and then went on to be re-elected four more times. He then emerged triumphant in his first Lok Sabha election from West Bengal's Jangipur in 2004 before being re-elected once again in the same constituency in 2009. He served as the Minister of Defence from 2004 to 2006, Minister of External Affairs from 2006 to 2009, Minister of Finance between 2009 and 2012.
Pranab Mukherjee is a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and Bharat Ratna in 2019. He is survived by his 3 children - Sharmistha Mukherjee, Abhijit Mukherjee and Indrajit Mukherjee.