Former President Pranab Mukherjee passes away at 84

Former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away on Monday (August 31), weeks after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 84 and is survived by two sons and a daughter.

His son Abhijit Mukherjee announced the former president’s demise in a Twitter post.

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

“With a Heavy Heart, this is to inform you that my father Shri Pranab Mukherjee 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,” tweeted son Abhijit.

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President Ram Nath Kovind condoled the death of Mukherjee saying, “His demise is passing of an era. A colossus in public life, he served Mother India with the spirit of a sage.”

Endowed with perspicacity and wisdom, Bharat Ratna Shri Mukherjee combined tradition and modernity. In his 5 decade long illustrious public life, he remained rooted to the ground irrespective of the exalted offices he held. He endeared himself to people across political spectrum

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 31, 2020

“Endowed with perspicacity and wisdom, Bharat Ratna Shri Mukherjee combined tradition and modernity. In his 5 decade long illustrious public life, he remained rooted to the ground irrespective of the exalted offices he held. He endeared himself to people across political spectrum,” said Kovind in another tweet from the official handle of the President of India.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condoling Mukherjee’s death, said, “He has left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation. A scholar par excellence, a towering statesman, he was admired across the political spectrum and by all sections of society.”

As India’s President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee made Rashtrapati Bhavan even more accessible to common citizens. He made the President’s house a centre of learning, innovation, culture, science and literature. His wise counsel on key policy matters will never be forgotten by me.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2020

In another tweet, he said, “As India’s President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee made Rashtrapati Bhavan even more accessible to common citizens. He made the President’s house a centre of learning, innovation, culture, science and literature. His wise counsel on key policy matters will never be forgotten by me.”

Meanwhile, the Centre announced a seven-day state mourning following the death of Mukherjee. In a statement, the Union Home Ministry said that as a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, state mourning would be observed for seven days throughout India from August 31 to September 6, both days inclusive.

Mukherjee was admitted to the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi on August 10 after having tested positive for coronavirus. He had also undergone surgery for the removal of a clot in his brain the same day. He later developed a lung infection.

A health bulletin on Monday morning said he was in a deep coma and on ventilator support.

A veteran Congress leader and a former Union minister, Mukherjee served as India’s 13th President between 2012 and 2017. He was conferred India’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna by President Kovind in 2019. His wife Suvra Mukherjee died on August 18, 2015.