Modi Releases Photo Book on President Pranab Mukherjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released a photo book titled “President Pranab Mukherjee – A Statesman”, at an event in Rashtrapati Bhawan and presented the first copy of the book to the President.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that in his view, we can be more history conscious as a society, and preserve aspects of our history much better.

He said that the Presidency is much more than protocol. Through the photographs in the book, we see the human side of our President and we feel proud, the Prime Minister said.

Narendra Modi said that two pictures of Mahatma Gandhi, one with a broom, and the other, seeing something through a microscope, show what a diverse personality he had.

Newspapers show some aspects of a leader, but there are more aspects to a leader than only what is published in the papers, the Prime Minister said.

He said that it is his privilege that he got to work with Pranab Mukherjee. Recounting his experiences, the Prime Minister said that several times, he had got to work with leaders and workers of very different ideologies.

He added that he will never forget that when he came to Delhi, he had someone like “Pranab Da” to guide him. He said President Pranab Mukherjee had guided him like a father figure, He said the President would even tell him to take adequate rest, and take care of his health.

Speaking on the occasion, the President expressed his gratitude to The Statesman for bringing out a photo essay on the 13th Presidency.  He said that art and creative abilities transcend the boundaries of time and geographical borders. Their appeal is universal. He appreciated the wonderful photos taken by Varun Joshi from The Statesman that feature in the photo essay.

He also expressed his gratitude and deep appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present on the occasion to release the book.

The book “President Pranab Mukherjee – A Statesman” has been published by The Statesman, one of India’s oldest English-language newspapers. This book, a comprehensive photographic record of India’s 13th President, covers Mukherjee’s Presidency and documents his various roles including those as a humane first citizen, as a thought-leader , as a patron of educational institutions & the arts and as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces etc.