The Central Government has allotted a dedicated site for the establishment of a memorial to honour the legacy of former President Pranab Mukherjee. In response to this gesture, Sharmistha Mukherjee, the daughter of the late President, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his initiative.
During an interaction with the media, Sharmistha explained that although her family had never specifically requested a memorial for her father, the gesture from the Prime Minister was deeply appreciated. She shared that her father always believed that memorials, similar to state honours, should never be asked for but should be offered as a mark of respect.
“I met PM Modi after receiving a letter on January 1 from the central government regarding the allotment of land for a memorial for my father at Rajghat. I want to thank the Prime Minister for this kind gesture,” Sharmistha said. “My father always used to say that memorials should not be demanded but offered. Our family never asked for it, but PM Modi thought about it and took this initiative to create this memorial in his honour,” she added.
Celebrating the government’s decision, her brother, Abhijit Mukherjee, also expressed his gratitude, calling it a significant moment for their family, the state of West Bengal, and the nation. “It’s a great day for the family, West Bengal, Congress, and others. Pranab Mukherjee belongs to all,” Abhijit said. He also mentioned that he would send a letter of thanks to PM Modi for his thoughtful gesture.
On Tuesday, the Centre officially sanctioned the site within the Rashtriya Smriti Complex, part of the Rajghat precinct, for the memorial dedicated to Pranab Mukherjee.
Sharmistha Mukherjee also took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her appreciation. She wrote, “Called on 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. Immensely touched by this unexpected but truly gracious gesture by PM.”
“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,” she added.
The decision has garnered praise from various quarters, with many acknowledging the contribution of Pranab Mukherjee to the nation and the respect shown to his legacy.