Former President Pranab Mukherjee to be conferred with Bharat Ratna TODAY

Former President Pranab Mukherjee will be conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna on August 8, 2019 i.e. on Thursday. Bharat Ratna will be given to Pranab Mukherjee by President Ram Nath Kovind. It is to be noted that Pranab Mukherjee was selected for Bharat Ratna - India's highest civilian award - in January this year. Along with Pranab Mukherjee, social activist Nanaji Deshmukh and legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika will be getting the award posthumously.

In January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate Mukherjee for his service to the country. "Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation's growth trajectory. His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna," he had tweeted.

Mukherjee had also been congratulated by Rahul Gandhi, who was the Congress President then. "Congratulations to Pranab Da on being awarded the Bharat Ratna! The Congress Party takes great pride in the fact that the immense contribution to public service & nation-building of one of our own, has been recognised & honoured," he had tweeted.

Born in 1935, Mukherjee entered into politics in 1969 and has served as a Rajya Sabha member from Indian National Congress ticket for four times. A senior leader of Congress party and has occupied several ministerial portfolios in the Government of India including Finance Minister. He became the 13th President of India on July 25, 2012 after resigning as the Finance Minister which he served from 2009 to 2012.

Mukherjee studied at Suri Vidyasagar College and later earned advanced degree in history and political science as well as in law. Pranab Mukherjee married Suvra Mukherjee, who hailed from Narail in Bangladesh, and migrated to Kolkata at the age of 10.

RELATED