Pranab Mukherjee was an Indian politician and a former President of India. He assumed the office of the President on July 25, 2012, and served until July 25, 2017. A veteran in Indian politics, he had the rare distinction of serving as Foreign, Defence, Commerce, and Finance Minister at different times over his long and illustrious political career, which spanned several decades. A senior leader of the Indian National Congress, he was a member of the Congress Working Committee—the party's highest policy-making body—for 23 years. Born to freedom fighters Shri Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee and Rajlakshmi Mukherjee, he grew up witnessing his father’s active involvement in the Indian independence movement. His father was also a longtime member of the Indian National Congress. Pranab Mukherjee earned advanced degrees in history and political science, as well as a law degree from the University of Calcutta. He began his professional life as a college teacher and journalist. Eventually, he followed in his father’s footsteps and entered politics. Mukherjee’s big break came when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi facilitated his election to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, on a Congress ticket. This marked the beginning of a fruitful career that culminated in his election as the 13th President of India in 2012. In recognition of his immense contributions to Indian politics and public service, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, in 2019.