New Delhi: Former President Pranab Mukherjee, will be honoured with India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna by President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday.
Popularly known as ‘Pranab Da’, Mukherjee expressed his gratitude on being conferred with the Bharat Ratna saying, “I’ve received much more from the people and from this country than I have given to it”.
The 83-year old served as India’s 13th President from 2012-2017, but prior to his election to the post, Mukherjee also served as the Union Finance Minister from 2009 to 2012.
” I would like to express my deep gratitude to the people of this country…At the same time, with all humility, I accept this honour. I have conveyed my appreciation by talking to the President of the Republic. I also convey my deepest gratitude to the people of this country,” he had told media on January 26.
Mukherjee’s life-long political career spanned about five decades, during which he held various key posts in the Congress as well as in the governments led by Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated Mukherjee for his decades of service to the country. ” Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation’s growth trajectory. His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna,” he had tweeted.
The announcement for Bharat Ratna was made on January 25 in a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
