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.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	Pranab Mukherjee Memorial at Delhi’s Rajghat Complex
Memorial Location	Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, Rajghat Complex, Delhi
Approved by	Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
Pranab Mukherjee’s Tenure as President	2012-2017
Significant Honors	Bharat Ratna in 2019
Political Significance	First Congress leader memorial by NDA Govt
Key Relationships	Maintained cordial relations with PM Modi