President Pranab Mukherjee turns 81, PM Modi tweets good wishes

The 13^th and the current President of the country, Pranab Mukherjee is celebrating is 81th birthday on Sunday. In a career spanning over more than 60 years, Pranab Mukherjee has been the first citizen of the nation since July 2012.

Fondly called ‘Poltu Da’ by his close ones, Pranab Mukherjee was born on 11 December 1935 in Mirati in Birbhum District in West Bengal, India, into a Brahmin family.

Pranab Mukherjee ventured into politics in 1969 when he became a member of the Rajya Sabha. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recognized his potential and helped him Indian National Congress (INC).

President Mukherjee is also skilled with several years of diplomatic experience. He has served on the Board of Governors of the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to twitter to wish the President on his birthday.

Birthday wishes to Rashtrapati Ji. His tremendous experience & wisdom has benefitted the nation greatly. I pray for his long & healthy life.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2016

In addition, he has led the Indian delegations to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Conferences in 1982, 1983 and 1984. He participated in the Conference of Commonwealth Heads of Government at Auckland in 1995.

In June 2012, Pranab Mukherjee was nominated as the presidential candidate of the United Progressive Alliance. At that time, he was a part of the government, so he resigned to contest the presidential poll.

Pranab Mukherjee won the election by defeating P. A. Sangma in the race to Rashtrapati Bhavan, and was sworn into office on 25 July 2012 as the 13th President of India.

President Mukherjee is also a noted author and has written many books including ‘Off the Track’ (1987), ‘Saga of Struggle and Sacrifice’ (1992), ‘Challenges before the Nation’ (1992), and ‘The Dramatic Decade: The Days Of Indira Gandhi years’ (2014).