Remembering Pranab Mukherjee: 13 rare photos of former President from Express archives

Former president Pranab Mukherjee passed away on Monday. He was 84. (Express archive photo)

Mukherjee, 84, had undergone a brain surgery at the Army Research and Referral hospital earlier this month, and was on ventilator support. He had also contracted Covid-19. (Express archive photo)

Pranab Mukherjee served as the 13th President of India from 2012 till his completion of term in 2017. (Express archive photo)

Pranab Mukherjee’s political journey started in West Bengal in the 1969 by-election in Midnapore when he was the election agent for V K Krishna Menon, who ran as an independent candidate. (Express archive photo)

Starting off as a protege of Indira Gandhi, who stood beside her during the Emergency, Mukherjee came to be known as a crisis manager who commanded the respect of all and had friends across the aisle. In pic: Pranab Mukherjee seen with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Narsimha Rao and R. Vekataraman in the picture. (Express archive photo)

Besides serving two terms as finance minister, Mukherjee also held the post of commerce minister in 1993 and is known for championing the cause of trade liberalisation. In pic: Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with Pranab Mukherjee. (Express archive photo)

President Pranab Mukherjee relaxes after giving final touches to the budget during his earlier stint as a Finance Minister in the Congress government in the year 1984. (Express Archive Photo by S Paul)

Interestingly, Mukherjee, nicknamed ‘Poltu da’, had come close to becoming the prime minister in 2012. In his own words, he got a sense that he could replace Manmohan Singh, who could be sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan. But destiny had other plans. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)

The once Congress stalwart wore many hats over the last five decades in public life and 37 years in Parliament. He was conferred the Bharat Ratna last year. (Express archive photo)

Former President Pranab Mukherjee with his wife Suvra Mukherjee in 1979. (Express archive photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Pranab Mukherjee with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha at Planning commission. (Express archive photo by RK Dayal)

Mukherjee, in his long political career served as a Member of Parliament seven times, serving in the cabinet of several prime ministers. (Express photo by Renuka Puri)

Former President Pranab Mukherjee inspecting the flowers at the Mughal Gardens at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the inaugural day and exhibit for the public in New Delhi. (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)