Pranab Mukherjee’s name does not invoke much awe among Congressmen in his home state, West Bengal, although he was the president of the country and a Bharat Ratna. Many of them think he was the “real destroyer” of the Congress in the state. When he was nominated by the Congress in 2012 as its presidential candidate, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made her opposition public and said, “Pranab da did not do anything for Bengal.” But when it became clear that he would win, she came around and endorsed him.
It was perhaps Mukherjee’s meteoric rise in the party and in Delhi that made him an object of envy. Although Bengal has been home to a galaxy of eminent Congressmen, Mukherjee was in a league of his own, especially in national politics. His capability to maintain cordial relations with people from across the political spectrum and to sense the political atmosphere made him indispensable to the Congress and the governments he was part of.
It was senior Congress leader Siddhartha Shankar Ray who recommended Mukherjee’s name to Indira Gandhi in 1969 as a potentially efficient administrator. Indira made him a member of the Rajya Sabha and, in 1973, appointed him deputy minister of industrial development. In 1974, he was appointed minister of state for finance. Mukherjee played an important role during the Emergency as Indira’s key man overseeing the bureaucracy. When she was voted back to power in 1980, he was inducted into the cabinet as commerce minister and two years later was made finance minister, a post he held till her death in 1984.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict