Pranab Mukherjee is the former president of India. A former leader of the Indian National Congress, he held the presidential post from 2012 to 2017. Prior to that he was the finance minister and at various moments of his political career held portfolios of foreign affairs, defence and commerce. Born in Birbhum district of Bengal, he went on to complete his higher education from University of Calcutta with an MA degree in Political Science and an LLB. Before joining politics he worked as a professor of Political Science at Vidyanagar College and as a journalist with the Bengali journal 'Desher Dak'. Mukherjee's initiation into national politics took place in 1969 when he got elected to the Rajya Sabha, under the guidance of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Mukherjee's political career took a back seat. However, he revived his political portfolio under the prime ministerial tenure of P V Narasimha Rao, when he was appointed head of planning commission and later as foreign minister. In all these years of political experience in the country, president Mukherjee has been instrumental in certain key developments regarding Right to Information, Right to Employement, Metro Rail and the like. Apart from his political astuity, he is reputed for his powerful oratory skills and intellectual prowess.