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Photos: Former President, Congress veteran Pranab Mukherjee dies at 84

Former president Pranab Mukherjee, a recipient of the country’s highest civilian award and a towering statesman admired across party lines in India, passed away at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi on August 31. He leaves behind a rich legacy built during a five-decade-long public life that has cemented his place as a veteran of Indian politics and a troubleshooter par excellence for the Congress in its prime. A look at Pranab Da’s illustrious career, as one of India’s most-respected politicians, was affectionately called.

Updated on: Sep 01, 2020 5:56 PM IST

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Pranab Mukherjee, as finance minister, with the budget documents on February 28, 1983. Mukherjee’s death marks the end of an era in the Congress; he was among the last of the Congress leaders to have worked closely with Indira Gandhi. Mukherjee’s political journey started in West Bengal when he was the election agent for VK Krishna Menon, who won the Midnapore by-election as an independent candidate.. (KK Chawla / HT Archive)

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 5:56 PM

Pranab Mukherjee, as finance minister, with the budget documents on February 28, 1983. Mukherjee’s death marks the end of an era in the Congress; he was among the last of the Congress leaders to have worked closely with Indira Gandhi. Mukherjee’s political journey started in West Bengal when he was the election agent for VK Krishna Menon, who won the Midnapore by-election as an independent candidate.. (KK Chawla / HT Archive)

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Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrives at Parliament House to present the budget for 1984 -1985 in New Delhi on February 29, 1984. Indira Gandhi had brought in Mukherjee to the Rajya Sabha as a member of the Bangla Congress, a breakaway Congress group formed in the state back in 1966. Later it merged with the Congress in 1970. (HT Archive)

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 5:56 PM

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrives at Parliament House to present the budget for 1984 -1985 in New Delhi on February 29, 1984. Indira Gandhi had brought in Mukherjee to the Rajya Sabha as a member of the Bangla Congress, a breakaway Congress group formed in the state back in 1966. Later it merged with the Congress in 1970. (HT Archive)

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Pranab Mukherjee shows a BJP state advertisement in New Delhi on May 18, 1991. Mukherjee received his first ministerial assignment as junior minister of industrial development, under Indira Gandhi in 1973. Within two years, he was elevated as a deputy minister with independent charge of the revenue and banking departments. Mukherjee quickly made headlines with a crackdown on the then Bombay smuggling underworld don Haji Mastan. (HT Archive)

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 5:56 PM

Pranab Mukherjee shows a BJP state advertisement in New Delhi on May 18, 1991. Mukherjee received his first ministerial assignment as junior minister of industrial development, under Indira Gandhi in 1973. Within two years, he was elevated as a deputy minister with independent charge of the revenue and banking departments. Mukherjee quickly made headlines with a crackdown on the then Bombay smuggling underworld don Haji Mastan. (HT Archive)

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UPA Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee at his residence in New Delhi on July 19, 2012. In 1982, shortly after Indira Gandhi returned to power from the post-emergency oblivion, she appointed Mukherjee as India’s finance minister, replacing R Venkataraman. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Archive)

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 5:56 PM

UPA Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee at his residence in New Delhi on July 19, 2012. In 1982, shortly after Indira Gandhi returned to power from the post-emergency oblivion, she appointed Mukherjee as India’s finance minister, replacing R Venkataraman. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Archive)

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Newly appointed President Pranab Mukherjee, in a traditional horse driven carriage, waves to the media as he arrives at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on July 25, 2012. As finance minister, Mukherjee had a fiery innings. He surprised the world by sending back a $1.1 billion instalment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. He also opened the NRI investment window, which pioneered sweeping changes in India’s image as a destination of foreign funds. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Archive)

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 5:56 PM

Newly appointed President Pranab Mukherjee, in a traditional horse driven carriage, waves to the media as he arrives at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on July 25, 2012. As finance minister, Mukherjee had a fiery innings. He surprised the world by sending back a $1.1 billion instalment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. He also opened the NRI investment window, which pioneered sweeping changes in India’s image as a destination of foreign funds. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Archive)

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Newly appointed Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets President Pranab Mukherjee at the former’s swearing in ceremony at Rashrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on May 26, 2014. Among some of Mukherjee’s crucial decisions were setting up regional rural banks (1975) and the EXIM Bank of India as well as National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (1981-82). (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Archive)

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 5:56 PM

Newly appointed Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets President Pranab Mukherjee at the former’s swearing in ceremony at Rashrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on May 26, 2014. Among some of Mukherjee’s crucial decisions were setting up regional rural banks (1975) and the EXIM Bank of India as well as National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (1981-82). (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Archive)

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President Pranab Mukherjee waves at the media while taking a stroll at the Mughal Gardens after inaugurating it for the public at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on February 15, 2014. Mukherjee served for 23 years as a member of the Congress Working Committee, the highest policy-making body of the party. A five-time Rajya Sabha and two-time Lok Sabha member, Mukherjee was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award in 2019. (Raj K Raj/HT Archive)

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 5:56 PM

President Pranab Mukherjee waves at the media while taking a stroll at the Mughal Gardens after inaugurating it for the public at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on February 15, 2014. Mukherjee served for 23 years as a member of the Congress Working Committee, the highest policy-making body of the party. A five-time Rajya Sabha and two-time Lok Sabha member, Mukherjee was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award in 2019. (Raj K Raj/HT Archive)

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President Pranab Mukherjee during a meeting with Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal along with MLAs of the 6th Legislative Assembly of Delhi, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on March 27, 2015. Known for his sharp memory, clarity of thought and grasp over issues, Mukherjee has the rare distinction of serving as foreign, defence, commerce and finance minister. He was also Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. (Image Courtesy Rashtrapati Bhavan)

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 5:56 PM

President Pranab Mukherjee during a meeting with Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal along with MLAs of the 6th Legislative Assembly of Delhi, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on March 27, 2015. Known for his sharp memory, clarity of thought and grasp over issues, Mukherjee has the rare distinction of serving as foreign, defence, commerce and finance minister. He was also Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. (Image Courtesy Rashtrapati Bhavan)

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