NEW DELHI: About four years after the death of former President Pranab Mukherjee, the Centre has approved a memorial for him at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, a complex designated for the last rites and commemorative sites of Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Prime Ministers (PMs) in the national capital.
Mukherjee, a Congress veteran, served as the 13th President from 2012 until 2017. He was the first person from West Bengal to hold the top post. He died on August 31, 2020.
Noted Kathak dancer and his daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to convey her gratitude for honoring her father.
“The Competent Authority has approved the earmarking of a designated site within the ‘Rashtriya Smriti’ complex (a part of the Rajghat precinct) for erecting a Samadhi of Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee, former President of India,” read a letter from the Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, sent to Sharmistha.
After the meeting with Modi, she posted on a micro-blogging site that she was “immensely touched by the unexpected gesture” from the PM.
“Called on Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji to express thanks and gratitude from the core of my heart for his government’s decision to create a memorial for Baba. It’s more cherished considering that we didn’t ask for it. Immensely touched by this unexpected but truly gracious gesture by the PM,” her post on ‘X’ stated.
Sharmistha further said that she couldn’t describe her feelings in words.
“Baba used to say that state honors shouldn’t be asked for; they should be offered. I’m so grateful that PM Modi did this to honor Baba’s memory. It doesn’t affect Baba where he is now—beyond applause or criticism. But for his daughter, words are not sufficient to express my joy,” she also wrote.
On his birth anniversary, December 11, Modi said that Pranab was a statesman and contributed to the development of the country.
“Remembering Shri Pranab Mukherjee on his birth anniversary. Pranab Babu was a one-of-a-kind public figure—a statesman par excellence, a wonderful administrator, and a repository of wisdom. His contributions to India’s development are noteworthy. He was blessed with a unique ability to build consensus across the spectrum, and this was due to his vast experience in governance and his deep understanding of India's culture as well as ethos. We will keep working to realize his vision for our nation,” he posted on ‘X’.