The man who used to preside over Union Cabinet meetings in the absence of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was unceremoniously shown the door promptly after her demise instead of being elevated to the Prime Ministerial chair. He was made to miss the Prime Ministerial bus in 2004 and 2009. Yet, through his efficient handling of high profile ministries, coupled with immense personality, stature, knowledge, international recognition and acceptability, it was proved that Pranab Mukherjee was indeed the best Prime Minister India never had.
As President, far from acting as a ‘rubber stamp’ of the Union government or dancing to its tune, Mukherjee never hesitated to call a spade a spade and used to advice the Union Government to resist the menace of intolerance and communalism. India had been fortunate to have such a President.
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Mukherjee needs to be thanked for playing the role of conscience of the nation even after completion of his glorious innings in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The nation can never forget his enlightening speech revolving around the idea of India right on the platform of RSS in Nagpur (resembling bearding the lion in its own den). He had stressed on the importance of diversity equality and tolerance towards all beliefs and faith. Instead of denigrating the Muslim invaders as ‘aliens’, he had invoked Rabindranath Tagore’s epic poem ‘Bharat Tirtha’ to welcome the incoming flow to India and to be proud of our assimilated history. Indirectly condemning the current dominant force practicing intolerance and hatred with sole emphasis on a particular religion, Mukherjee batted for pluralism and secularism.
Repeatedly had he pointed out that ensuring happiness and welfare of people should be the priority of any ideal State. In a seminar in the Rajasthan Assembly, he had asked those in power to respect even those who have not voted in favour of the ruling party or front. He had emphasised the much forgotten or cleverly forgotten basic fact that though every party holds full right to ask for votes in favour of them prior to the polls, as soon as the winning party or combination forms the government, they turn accountable to each and every citizen of the country or concerned States irrespective of whether he/she has voted in favour of them or against. The power in governance will have to remain accountable to even those who have not exercised their franchise at all.
If we really try to imbibe the thoughts as propagated by Mukherjee, raising his voice against intolerance violence hatred and communalism, perhaps society will learn to tolerate the cultural and religious diversities and make this country a peaceful one, thereby unifying it through the bond of humanity only.
After receiving the Bharat Ratna, Mukherjee tweeted: ‘The Bharat Ratna for me is also indeed an acknowledgement of the millions who strive everyday to make Bharat – the diverse, plural, compassionate and inclusive idea that it is.” And of course he signed off as ‘Citizen Mukherjee’.
I bow my head to this man of impeccable humility and sense of responsibility towards the nation. In this age of intolerance and hatred, the message and values of Pranab will continue to serve as that rarest of rare beacon of light.
