Centre to Honour Pranab Mukherjee with Memorial at Rashtriya Smriti

The Centre had recently declared it was to form a memorial to the former president in the Rashtriya Smriti complex at Delhi that the party thinks of as in reverence to Pranab’s notable contribution toward the nation. Mukherjee was India’s President between 2012 and 2017. The former President breathed his last on August 31, 2020.

A government letter sent to his daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee notified that the Rashtriya Smriti complex under the precinct of Rajghat has already been allocated for a specific place of the Samadhi. Following the announcement, Sharmistha Mukherjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express her gratitude.

She shared her thoughts on the gesture, stating that it was unexpected but deeply appreciated. “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. Heavily touched by this surprising yet truly gracious gesture by PM”, she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Called on Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji to express thanks & gratitude from core of my heart 4 his govts’ decision 2 create a memorial 4 baba. It’s more cherished considering that we didn’t ask for it. Immensely touched by this unexpected but truly gracious gesture by PM🙏 1/2 pic.twitter.com/IRHON7r5Tk

— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) January 7, 2025

Sharmistha remembered her father’s opinion on state honours: “Baba used to say that State honours shouldn’t be asked for, it should be offered. I’m so grateful that PM Modi did this to honour 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.” This comes at a time when the Congress party has been demanding a memorial for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who died on December 26 at AIIMS in New Delhi. Government sources said that a memorial for Singh has been sanctioned and consultations are being held with his family to finalize a site within the Rashtriya Smriti complex.

Plans to Commemorate Manmohan Singh: Plans to commemorate Pranab Mukherjee alongside others also symbolize the effort by the government to pay tributes to legacies of those who have significantly shaped modern India. Their legacies remain with the country, which cannot forget what these leaders had given.

#WATCH | Delhi: Author & daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, Sharmistha Mukherjee says, "Today I met PM Modi as I received a letter on 1st of January from the central government regarding the decision that land is being allotted for erecting a Samadhi of Late Pranab… pic.twitter.com/AZNhCyI7q9

— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2025