In human history there have been men and women who always stood distinctly visible even in the thickest of crowds. The political history of independent India cannot claim to be fortunate enough to have the blessed interference of such people in large numbers, and to speak the truth, it’s been only a handful. 

Pranab Mukherjee was one of them. While his death has now enveloped the political landscape of the country with deep anguish dissolving all party colours, there certainly are special reasons why this man will be remembered for long, whenever there are talks about post-independence Indian politics. Although most of the news on his death on Monday evening had begun mentioning him as the former President of the country, it is the chequered political career and the role of the ‘troubleshooter’ he played in countless occasions, be it while mending the ‘wounds’ in the Congress party or for the nation at critical times, that will be invariably recapitulated. These apart, it will be the quantum of decency and charisma, the hallmarks of the superior political culture that the Indian democracy was once proud of, but now pushed to almost near extinction, that need a special mention.

For Pranab Mukherjee, it has been a long walk and aside the Presidentship, it has been political to the core with several ups and downs, including phases of disenchantment that even led to desertion from the Congress, his source of inspiration all along and a homecoming too. But, it will be a half-baked remembrance if the early 80’s episode is not mentioned. Indira Gandhi, after regaining power in 1980 effacing the great defeat of 1977 in the general elections was desperately in need of a man who could manage the critical-most portfolio then- Finance. She never thought twice to choose Mukherjee despite the fact that he had an academic background that strictly wasn’t Economics. After Mrs. Gandhi’s tragic death, there was an erosion in his political fortunes since in Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, the erstwhile importance was diminished and why it happened will need a whole chapter on Congress’ internal politics. Nevertheless, Manmohan Singh, who was the RBI Governor while Mukherjee was the Finance Minister and always addressed him with respect as “Sir” was wise enough to reinstate this razor-sharp intellectual and during his tenure as many as three big portfolios-Defence, Finance and External Affairs have had the Mukherjee touch and signing of the nuclear agreement with the United States in 2008 will be counted as a major event in his long career as a politician-statesman.

At a time when the grand old party of India is in jitters, the wisdom and political acumen of Pranab Mukherjee, that mended so many of its fault lines will be missed hugely. With his death, the lofty era of Indian politics has come to an end.     

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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