Pranab Mukherjee
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
A profile
From the archives of India Today , June 5, 2009
There are no quickfix solutions to an economic slowdown. Yet this veteran political warhorse is today expected to do just that—apply the healing gel to the deep ruptures left by a global financial tsunami. And that too with the “cool-headed” calculations he uses to troubleshoot for the Congress or answer questions from eager scribes, never giving away more than intended.
Style statement : Loves music, especially Bengali folk.
Priorities:
• A bold reform stimulus which would rev up growth dynamics and propel the country towards the 9 per cent plus growth path.
• Step up investment in infrastructure.
• Stimulate demand by reducing personal income tax rates, tweak customs duty structure to accelerate exports.
• Tackle the fiscal deficit by shoring up government revenues and cutting down on borrowings.
Mukherjee boasts of a unique combination of political sensibility and allegiance to free market economics. He has the ability to balance the political need for pro-growth populism with the economic imperative of prudence.
Given his vast experience and his understanding of the complex economic landscape, almost everyone expects him to deliver a dream budget in July and spur growth.
Family
Suvra Mukherjee 1940-2015
The Times of India, Aug 19 2015
Mohua Chatterjee
President's pillar of strength, she had faith in his mettle
Woman who inspired his 1st rebellion
Every night, no matter how busy he was or how late his day ended, when he got home, Pranab Mukherjee spent time with his ailing wife. This was the routine for the last six to seven years that she was unwell.
There was a wooden chair next to her bed, where Mukherjee sat, spoke to her, comforted and soothed her. This he did, even if he had more files to clear later.This was the moment Suvra Mukherjee waited for every day , her time with her husband of long years.
With no political aspira tion, Suvra had a charm and warmth that drew people to her. Her social skills won her many friends, which included a special relationship with Indira Gandhi. Even when she was PM, Indira would drop in for a fish-and-rice meal cooked by Suvra.
In her book on her relationship with Indira, Suvra mentions how the tallest Congress leader of her times would call her up to “convey things to her husband“.
Suvra, a Rabindrasangeet exponent and painter who wrote two books, knew where her strength lay .While channelizing her en thusiasm for cultural activities and starting the Gitanjali Troupe which travelled the country and abroad performing Tagore's dance dramas, she was the anchor of Mukherjee's family . She remained focused on bringing up their children -Abhijit, Indrajit and Sharmistha -and ensured that her husband's career never suffered because of pressing family matters. A constant source of encouragement, she was convinced he'd reach a high point. She passed on her cultural talent to her daughter, an accomplished Kathak dancer who has now joined the Congress.
Many found shelter in the Mukherjee home ever since the family moved to Delhi in 1969, invariably at the behest of the lady of the house.
Even as First Lady she often visited friends in CR Park. Her last years, mostly confined to her bed, were spent watching TV . She loved Uttam Kumar-Suchitra Sen films.
They married on July 13, 1957. Suvra's family came from Jessore, now in Bangladesh, and migrated to Kolkata when she was 10. They settled down in Howrah. Pranab met her when she was still a student of Howrah Girls' College. Attractive Suvra Ghosh was behind Pranab's first re bellion. He went against the wishes of his orthodox Brahmin family and married the girl from a different caste.
As the President of India
Workaholic Prez Gifts People Museum, Library, Heritage|Jul 24 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi)
From the word go, President Pranab Mukherjee got down to making his presidency matter -part of his rich legacy is documenting Rashtrapati Bhavan and restoring several of its parts that were in disrepair. A look at the lasting changes he leaves behind in the presidential Estate.
From The Times of India
In the politics
Meeting Bal Thackeray/ 2012
HIGHLIGHTS
NCP leader Sharad Pawar had insisted that Mukherjee meet Thackeray.
Mukherjee said the meeting was aimed at keeping coalition partners like the NCP in good humour with TMC.
He recalls that his visit to Mumbai was significant as Sena had extended support to Mukherjee's candidature.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi was upset with Pranab Mukherjee when he met late Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray despite being advised against it, the third volume of his autobiography has revealed.
On the campaign trail before the 2012 Presidential election, Mukherjee was visiting Maharashtra where Thackeray, who unilaterally extended support to his candidature, had made "elaborate arrangements" for his visit to Matoshree, the Thackeray residence in Mumbai.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, a coalition partner of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA-II) government, had insisted that Mukherjee meet Thackeray.
Mukherjee, in the third volume of his autobiography, "Coalition Years: 1996-2012", justifies his meeting with Thackeray and shows how it was aimed at keeping coalition partners like the NCP in good humour with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee having already abandoned the UPA.
He recalls that his visit to Mumbai on July 13, 2012, was significant as Thackeray, whose party was part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), had, without being asked to, extended support to Mukherjee's candidature, which was completely unexpected.
"I had asked both Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar — who was instrumental, I think, in influencing Thackeray towards me — whether I should meet Thackeray during my visit to Mumbai. I had received several messages from him for an interaction at his residence. Sonia Gandhi was not enthusiastic about my meeting Bal Thackeray and (wanted to) avoid it, if possible. Sonia Gandhi's reservations about Thackeray were based on her own perception of his policies," says Mukherjee.
He says that, expectedly, Sharad Pawar's advice was completely different. He insisted that Mukherjee meet Thackeray since he and his followers were waiting to receive the presidential candidate at his residence and had made elaborate arrangements for his visit.
"Pawar added that Thackeray would consider it a personal insult if I did not meet him during my visit to Mumbai. I took a decision to meet Thackeray despite Sonia Gandhi's disapproval because I felt that the man who had broken away from his traditional coalition partner to support my candidature should not feel humiliated. I requested Sharad Pawar to take me to Thackeray's residence from the airport, and he readily agreed to do so," Mukherjee writes.
He describes his meeting with Thackeray as "very cordial" during which the Shiv Sena supremo jokingly said that it was but natural for the Maratha tiger to support the Royal Bengal tiger. "I had known Thackeray as a politician with a sectarian approach, but at the same time I could not ignore the fact that the man had gone out of the way to support my candidature," the former President says, adding that the Sena support to his predecessor Pratibha Patil in 2007 could still be explained because she was from Maharashtra.
"In my case, it was his deliberate decision to support me — he even told me that he found me distinctly different from other Congress politicians. Whatever be the reason, I thought it was my duty to thank him personally for his support.
But when he returned to Delhi, he recalls, the following morning Girija Vyas called on him and informed him that Sonia Gandhi and her political secretary, Ahmed Patel, were upset about his meeting with Thackeray.
"I understood the cause of their unhappiness but, as I have explained, I did what I believed was right. I had to keep in mind the sensitivity of advice of Sharad Pawar — an important ally of UPA-II. Already Mamata Banerjee-led TMC had opted out of UPA and presidential elections. If Sharad Pawar became similarly disenchanted, it wouldn't augur well for the UPA. The UPA had two more years in office as the ruling coalition; without the effective intervention and support of its partners it would not be possible for it to complete the term," he says.
He also recalls that Pawar was already unhappy over various issues and the relationship amongst coalition partners was under stress.
"I did not want to give him further cause for unhappiness. However, I decided not to raise this issue either with Sonia Gandhi or Ahmed Patel, and left the matter at the stage," he says.
Similarly, he recalls that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who was then an ally of the BJP, had promised support to Mukherjee and had asked him not to visit Bihar.
"He said it would be embarrassing for him if he received me at the airport and organised meetings with his MLAs since his alliance partner — the BJP — would not take it kindly. He told me that since he had openly declared his support for my candidature, and Sharad Yadav had, on behalf of his party, signed my nomination papers, there was no need for my visiting Patna," he says.
