Pranab Mukherjee: Know all about the outgoing President

The humble outgoing President of India Pranab Mukherjee, who would be handing over the baton to Presidential-elect Ram Nath Kovind as the 14th President of the country soon, has left mark in the history for taking tough stand against terrorists and criminals. 

Mukherjee as the 13th President of the Country has rejected 35 mercy pleas requesting him to commute death sentence to life. During his term he has rejected 30 mercy petitions which includes appeals from Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab. 

He had questioned the UPA government for approving an ordinance to allow convicted politicians to contest elections. He had called the home minister and law minister for explanation. 

As a president he struck a good relationship with both UPA and present Modi-led NDA government but from time to time questioned the government on controversial issues.

Know all about the 13th President Pranab Mukherjee

Mukherjee was born to  Kinkar Mukhopadhyay Sarani and Lakshmi,  in the family of Bengali Kulin Brahmin family at Birbhum in West Bengal on 11 December, 1935. 

He earned an MA degree in Political Science and History from University of Calcutta. He also has an LLB degree. 

After completing his education, he worked  as an upper-division Clerk in the Office of the Deputy Accountant-General (Post and Telegraph) in Calcutta. He was also  a journalist and had a short term teaching career. He has seven noted books under his name out of which he wrote during his term as the Indian President.

Political Career

Mukherjee was into four decades of active politics and has served as the Defence Foreign, Commerce and Finance Minister during different term periods. His political career started in 1969 after he was inspired by then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Positions held

Rajya Sabha -  1969, 1975, 1981, 1993, 1999

Lok Sabha - 2004, 2009

Member, Business Advisory Committee, Committeeon Privileges and Committee on Rules Member, Consultative Committee on External Affairs - 1996-99

Leader of the Lok Sabha - 2004 to 2012

Deputy Minister, Industrial Development - 1973 to 1974

Deputy Minister, Shipping and Transport - 1974 to 1974

Minister of State for Finance - 1974 to 1975

Minister of State for Revenue and Banking (Independent Charge) - 1975 to 1977

Cabinet Minister of Commerce and Steel and Mines- 1980 to 1982

Cabinet Minister of Finance - 1982 to 1984

Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission - 1991 to 1996

Cabinet Minister of Commerce - 1993 to 1995

Cabinet Minister of External Affairs - 1995 to 1996

Cabinet Minister of Defence - 2004 to 24 2006

Cabinet Minister of External Affairs - 2006 to 2009

Cabinet Minister of Finance - 2009 to 2010