India’s first Bengali President Pranab Mukherjee no more

Pranab Mukherjee, the first Bengali to hold India's highest constitutional post of President and one of the country's most respected politicians, died today after battling various ailments for 20 days.

Pranab (84) tested positive for Covid-19 and underwent a brain surgery at the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment on August 10, and had been in coma and ventilator support since then.

He leaves behind his son Abhijit and daughter Sharmistha who is the head of the Congress party's women wing.

Pranab's wife for 58 years, Suvra Mukherjee, who was born in Bangladesh's Narail and spent her initial years there before moving to Kolkata, died in 2015.

"With a Heavy Heart, this is to inform you that my father Shri Pranab Mukherjee has just passed away inspite of the best efforts of Doctors of RR Hospital and prayers, duas and prarthanas from people throughout India! I thank all of You," his son Abhijit Mukherjee tweeted.

He developed a lung infection and a renal dysfunction over the past few days, according to doctors attending on him.

Last Wednesday, the hospital said Mukherjee's "renal parameters are slightly deranged".

The Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi cantonment in a statement this morning reported a "decline" in his condition and said he was in "septic shock due to his lung infection".

Recipient of India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, Pranab was conferred Bangladesh's Muktijuddho Sammanona in March 2013 on his maiden visit to the country for his valuable contribution to Liberation War in 1971.

"Your support towards our War of Liberation in 1971 was for the cause of humanity and justice... your support gave us courage and motivation," the then President Zillur Rahman had said after handing over the crest of 'Bangladesh Muktijuddho Sammanona' (Liberation War Award) to Mukherjee.

It was during that tour of Bangladesh as the President that Pranab Mukherjee had paid his first visit to the ancestral home of his in-laws, where he was accorded a traditional reception meant for a "jamai".