Pranab Mukherjee Memorial at Delhi’s Rajghat Complex

The Central Government has decided to set up a memorial for former President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, part of the Rajghat precinct in Delhi. Mukherjee, who passed away on August 31, 2020, was a veteran Congress leader and the 13th President of India. His daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this unexpected gesture. The memorial will be a tribute to Mukherjee’s decades-long contribution to Indian politics.

Key Points About Memorial

• Decision Date: January 1, 2025
• Location: Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, Rajghat Complex, New Delhi
• Approved by: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
• Purpose: To honor Pranab Mukherjee, India’s 13th President
• Letter Received by: Sharmistha Mukherjee (Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter)

Pranab Mukherjee’s Political Journey

• Entered politics in 1969 as a member of the Indian National Congress.
• Held several key portfolios, including Finance Minister, Defence Minister, and External Affairs Minister.
• Served as President of India from 2012 to 2017.
• Known for his cordial relations with leaders across political parties, including PM Narendra Modi.

Significance of the Memorial

• First Memorial for a Congress Leader set up by the NDA government at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal.
• Pranab Mukherjee’s cordial relationship with Prime Minister Modi and his Bharat Ratna award in 2019 are key factors in this gesture.
• The memorial will join those of former leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal.

Political Relevance

• Mukherjee’s relationship with the Gandhi family was often strained.
• His visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur in 2018 sparked controversy within the Congress.
• The BJP government also honored P.V. Narasimha Rao, another Congress leader, with the Bharat Ratna in 2023.

Sharmistha Mukherjee Reaction

• Called the memorial “the best New Year gift”.
• Met PM Modi and expressed gratitude, saying that the honor was “unexpected but truly gracious”.
• Recalled her father’s belief that State honors should be offered, not asked for.

Achievements Of Pranab Mukherjee

• 1969: Entered Indian politics Joined Congress during Indira Gandhi’s tenure.
• 1982: Finance Minister of India Held this portfolio multiple times.
• 2012-2017: President of India 13th President, known for his constitutional wisdom.
• 2018: Visited RSS Headquarters Sparked controversy within Congress.
• 2019: Conferred Bharat Ratna Highest civilian honor awarded by the NDA Govt.
• 2020: Passed away on August 31, 2020 Received national mourning across the country.