A Daughter’s Tribute to a Towering Statesman: A Review of Pranab, My Father by Sharmistha Mukherjee
Name: Pranab My Father
Launch: 11 December 2023
Author: Sharmistha Mukherjee
Genre: Biography, Politics
The book is divided into 12 chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of Pranab’s life and career. The first chapter, ‘Baba’, introduces the reader to the personal side of Pranab, who was a workaholic, a history teacher, a devoutly religious man, and a loving father to Sharmistha. The second chapter, ‘The Early Years’, traces Pranab’s humble beginnings in a remote village in West Bengal, his education, his marriage to Suvra, and his entry into politics. The third chapter, ‘The Indira Years’, chronicles Pranab’s rise in the Congress party under the mentorship of Indira Gandhi, who appointed him as the Finance Minister in 1982. The fourth chapter, ‘The Wilderness Years’, recounts Pranab’s exile from the Congress party after Indira’s assassination in 1984, his formation of the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress, and his eventual return to the Congress fold in 1989. The fifth chapter, ‘The Narasimha Rao Years’, describes Pranab’s role as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and the External Affairs Minister in the Narasimha Rao government, and his involvement in the economic reforms and the foreign policy initiatives of the 1990s. The sixth chapter, ‘The Vajpayee Years’, narrates Pranab’s experiences as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha during the Vajpayee government, and his participation in the parliamentary debates and the national security issues. The seventh chapter, ‘The Manmohan Singh Years’, details Pranab’s contributions as the Defence Minister, the External Affairs Minister and the Finance Minister in the Manmohan Singh government, and his handling of the global financial crisis, the nuclear deal, the terror attacks, and the corruption scandals. The eighth chapter, ‘The President’, celebrates Pranab’s election as the President of India in 2012, and his achievements and challenges as the head of the state. The ninth chapter, ‘The Modi Years’, explores Pranab’s relationship with Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India since 2014, and his advice to him on various matters, such as acknowledging the contributions of Nehru and Indira, maintaining the secular fabric of the nation, and engaging with the opposition. The tenth chapter, ‘The Legacy’, reflects on Pranab’s impact on the Indian polity, economy, society and culture, and his recognition as a Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of the country. The eleventh chapter, ‘The Final Years’, recounts Pranab’s retirement from public life, his health issues, his death due to COVID-19 in 2020, and his funeral. The twelfth and the final chapter, ‘My Father, My Hero’, is a heartfelt and emotional tribute by Sharmistha to her father, who was her inspiration, her guide, and her friend.
The book is a well-written and well-researched work that provides a comprehensive and balanced account of Pranab’s life and career. The book is rich in anecdotes, insights, and quotations that bring out the personality and the philosophy of Pranab, as well as the historical and political context of his times. The book is also honest and candid in revealing the strengths and weaknesses of Pranab, as well as his successes and failures. The book does not shy away from discussing the controversial and contentious issues that Pranab faced or was involved in, such as his rift with Rajiv Gandhi, his aspiration to become the prime minister, his role in the emergency, his stance on the Babri Masjid demolition, his nomination as the presidential candidate, and his acceptance of the RSS invitation. The book also compares and contrasts Pranab with other similar or dissimilar leaders, such as Indira Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, Narendra Modi, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. The book also highlights the personal and professional challenges that Sharmistha faced as the daughter of Pranab, such as balancing her career and her family, coping with the public scrutiny and the media attention, and dealing with the loss of her father.
The book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the life and legacy of Pranab Mukherjee, one of the most towering statesmen of India. The book is also a valuable source of information and inspiration for anyone who wants to learn more about the history and the politics of India in the last five decades. The book is not only a biography of Pranab, but also a memoir of Sharmistha, who shares her personal and intimate memories of her father, who was her hero. The book is a rare and remarkable example of a daughter’s tribute to a father, who was not only a great leader, but also a great human being.
I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, as it is a well-crafted and well-documented work that offers a unique and insightful perspective on Pranab Mukherjee and his times. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about Pranab Mukherjee, the 13th President of India, and Sharmistha Mukherjee, his daughter and his admirer. I would also suggest some questions for further discussion, such as:
- What are the qualities that made Pranab Mukherjee a successful and respected politician and a statesman?
- How did Pranab Mukherjee’s relationship with the Gandhis shape his political career and his personal life?
- How did Pranab Mukherjee’s role as the President of India differ from his role as a Minister or a Parliamentarian?
- How did Pranab Mukherjee’s views on various national and international issues evolve over time?
- How did Sharmistha Mukherjee cope with the challenges and the opportunities of being the daughter of Pranab Mukherjee?
- What are the lessons that can be learned from Pranab Mukherjee’s life and legacy?
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