Pranab Mukherjee Death: 'A Man Of All Seasons,' Here's All You Need To Know About India's Beloved 'Pranab Da'

Former President Pranab Mukherjee Passes Away at 84: "Pranab Da” as people across and outside political circle would fondly call him, had been in coma since a brain surgery earlier this month.

Pranab Mukherjee, India’s former President and one of the most revered politicians of the country breathed his last on Monday, August 31, after several days of illness. “Pranab da” as people across and outside political circle would fondly call him, had been in coma since a brain surgery earlier this month. As the nation mourns the loss of the political stalwart, here are some things you should know about him:

• Known as "man of all seasons,” Pranab Mukherjee, was listed as Best Finance Minister in World, as per a survey of Euro money magazine in 1984.
• In a political career spanning five decades, Mukherjee has been a senior leader in the Indian National Congress and has occupied several ministerial portfolios in the Government of India.
• In 1969 the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi helped him get elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament of India, on a Congress ticket. Following a meteoric rise, he became one of Gandhi's most trusted lieutenants and a minister in her cabinet in 1973.
• In Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, Pranab Mukherjee, held a number of key cabinet portfolios: Defence (2004–06), External Affairs (2006–09) and Finance (2009–12); apart from heading several Groups of Ministers (GoMs) and being Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha.
• He secured UPA’s nomination for Presidency in 2012 and defeated PA Sangma by securing 70% of electoral college vote.
• He did not re-run for Presidency citing health complications and decided to retire from politics.
• The most striking fact about Pranab Mukherjee was that despite being a Congressman, he became first former President of India, who addressed an RSS (Rashtriya Swayam Sevak) event.