Former President Pranab Mukherjee was a lifelong Congressman, and a proud one at that, but he also formed a great relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the three years after 2014.
On Mukherjee’s last day in Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2017, the Prime Minister had written a letter in which he described the veteran politician as a “father figure” and thanked him for being “warm, affectionate and caring”. While sharing the images of the letter at the time, Mukherjee had said it had “touched my heart!” In the letter, PM Modi had written: “Your legacy will continue to guide us.”
Mukherjee, who was 84, died at the Army’s Research and Referral (R&R) hospital on August 31, weeks after undergoing an emergency surgery for a brain clot. He had also tested positive for Covid-19.
The Prime Minister had also talked about how ‘Pranab Da’ was a guiding force for him in the hot seat of power. “Three years ago, I came to New Delhi as an outsider. The task before me was huge and challenging. In these times, you have always been a father figure and a mentor to me. Your wisdom, guidance and personal warmth have given me greater confidence and strength.”
Modi had also shared an instance when Mukherjee called him up to enquire about his health. “You have been so warm, affectionate and caring to me. Your one phone call asking me “I hope you are taking care of your health” was enough to fill me with fresh energy, after a long day at meetings or on a campaign tour,” said the letter.
The two seasoned politicians came from two starkly different political backgrounds but they maintained an extremely cordial relationship for the three years that the NDA government was at the helm of things and Mukherjee was in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Modi wrote, “Pranab Da, our political journeys took shape in different political parties. Our ideologies, at times, have been different. Our experiences are also varied. My administrative experience was from my state, whereas you have seen the expanse of our national polity and politics for decades. Yet, such is the strength of your intellect and wisdom that we were able to work together with synergy.”
In a political surprise, it was also the Modi government that had given India’s highest honour, the Bharat Ratna, to Mukherjee just a day before Republic Day in 2019.
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