Suvra Mukherjee
Mukherjee during the "At home" ceremony, 2012
First Lady of India
In role
25 July 2012 – 18 August 2015
PresidentPranab Mukherjee
Preceded byDevisingh Ransingh Shekhawat
Succeeded bySavita Kovind (assumed role in 2017)
Personal details
Born(1940-09-17)17 September 1940
Narail, Bengal, British India (now Khulna, Bangladesh)
Died18 August 2015(2015-08-18) (aged 74)
New Delhi, Delhi, India
NationalityIndian
Spouse
​
(m. 1957)​
Children3, including Sharmistha Mukherjee and Abhijit Mukherjee

Suvra Mukherjee (17 September 1940 – 18 August 2015) was the First Lady of India serving from the year 2012 until her death in 2015.

Early and personal life

Mukherjee was born on 17 September 1940 in Jessore District of Bengal Presidency (now in Bangladesh ),[1] and moved to Calcutta when she was 10 years old.[2] She married Pranab Mukherjee on 13 July 1957 and the couple had two sons and a daughter.[2] She held two master's degrees, in history and in political science[3][4] and also taught history and English grammar during the early 1970s in West Midnapore.[4]

Mukherjee, was an accomplished singer and a vocalist of songs composed by Rabindranath Tagore, which are known as Rabindra Sangeet. She performed in his dance-dramas for many years in India, Europe, Asia and Africa,[5] as well as being the founder of the Geetanjali Troupe, whose mission is to disseminate Tagore's philosophy through song and dance.[6] The group often rehearsed in her home on Talkatora Road.[7] She passed on her love of classical dance to her daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee,[8] with whom she also occasionally performed.[9] She was also a painter who participated in both group and solo exhibitions.[10]

Mukherjee authored two books: Chokher Aloey is a personal account of her close interaction with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and Chena Achenai Chin is a travelogue recounting her visit to China. She also supported singer Kumar Sanu and released many of his musical albums related Rabindra Sangeet and religious music.[2]

Death

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage to the remains of First Lady Suvra Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan

Mukherjee died in a hospital in New Delhi, India, aged 74. She had respiratory problems and was treated as a heart patient.[11]

Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India said: "... (she) will be remembered as a lover of art, culture and music. Her warm nature endeared her to everyone she met".[12] Her friend, Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh who attended the funeral stated: "Bangladesh has lost a great friend and well-wisher with her passing away".[13]

References

  1. ^ "President Pranab Mukherjee's wife Suvra passes away". Deccan Chronicle. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Suvra Mukherjee: What you didn't know about President Pranab Mukherjee's wife". Zee News. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. ^ Sabha 2000, p. 379.
  4. ^ a b Jana, Naresh (24 July 2012). "Wife's Days As Teacher". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  5. ^ "President Pranab Mukherjee's wife Suvra Mukherjee dies at 74". The Economic Times. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  6. ^ Das, Madhuparna (20 August 2015). "With Suvra Mukherjee's Demise, Gitanjali Troup Will Not Be the Same Again". Economic Times. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  7. ^ Chowdhury, Jayanta Roy (28 February 2011). "Mrs FM's aam-aadmi Tune". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  8. ^ Ramachandran, Smriti Kak (8 September 2013). "Everyone in Mumbai, Delhi Seems to Want a Free Ticket". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  9. ^ Das, Mohua (12 January 2011). "Dancer Who Happens to Be 'His' Daughter". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Profile of First Lady Mrs Suvra Mukherjee" (PDF). President of India. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  11. ^ Jha, Durgesh Nandan (18 August 2015). "Suvra Mukherjee, President Pranab Mukherjee's wife, passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  12. ^ "PM condoles the passing away of First Lady Mrs. Suvra Mukherjee". Office of the Prime Minister of India. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Hasina pays tributes to Suvra Mukherjee". Newage. Retrieved 20 October 2015.

Bibliography

Honorary titles Preceded byDevisingh Ransingh Shekhawatas First Gentleman of India First Lady of India 2012–2015 VacantTitle next held bySavita Kovind
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