After a tough fight for life, former President of India and Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee on Monday breathed his last in a state of septic shock due to a lung infection. The 84-year-old statesman of Indian politics who underwent brain surgery after he tested positive for coronavirus was in a deep coma from the past days.
Followed by the Army Research and Referral hospital authorities said Pranab’s health condition deteriorated further, the latter’s death was announced by his son Abhijit Mukherjee.
With a Heavy Heart , this is to inform you that my father Shri #PranabMukherjee has just passed away inspite of the best efforts of Doctors of RR Hospital & prayers ,duas & prarthanas from people throughout India !
I thank all of You 🙏— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) August 31, 2020
Born in Mirati, a village in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, Mukherjee was the 13th president of India after he held the post of the country’s finance minister from 2009 to 2012. Mukherjee, in his long political career, served as a Member of Parliament seven times, serving in the cabinet of several prime ministers.
Pranab Mukherjee has also had a seat at the table of various international organisations, with memberships in the IMF, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. He also presided over the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation on various occasions. In 2019, he was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, by President Ram Nath Kovind.
Social media poured in with condolence messages from various politicians and renowned leaders. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the leaders who grieved Pranab’s demise.
