RIP Pranab Mukherjee: From teacher to minister to President, an era ends

India lost a colossal political figure on August 31 as former President Pranab Mukherjee breathed his last. He was battling a Covid-19 infection after having undergone a brain surgery for removal of a clot He had been admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi. His death was announced by his son Abhijit. Mukherjee was a veteran leader of the Indian National Congress party and had managed ten ministerial portfolios during his long political career. He was also considered to be in the inner circle of at least 3 Congress party presidents. Before taking the political plunge and serving 7 terms as a Parliamentarian, Mukherjee worked as a teacher and a journalist. His death was condoled by leaders from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during whose tenure Mukherjee was conferred the Bharat Ratna, said that the veteran politician had left an 'indelible mark on India's development trajectory'. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the news was greatly saddening.