Bong community has hailed presentation of Bharat Ratna award to former President Pranab Kumar Mukherjee by his immediate successor Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony held in the hallowed Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 8. India’s highest civilian honour after a gap of four years, was also awarded posthumously to Dr Bhupen Hazarika, legendary singer-composer, and eminent social reformer Nanaji Deshmukh. Bharat Ratna was first institutionalized in 1954. Mukherjee, 84, is the fifth Bong to have become recipient of the prestigious award in recognition of his exceptional service of the highest order in a field of human endeavour and public service.

OUTGOING President of India Pranab Kumar Mukherjee has reminded Parliamentarians that discussion, debate as well as dialogue are part and parcel of democratic way of life the ancient nation is proud of. Soft spoken, known for his elephantine memory, the short statured rural boy who had later served the nation in varied capacities, for obvious reasons became emotional in the historic Central Hall of India’s Parliament on Sunday. Members of The Lok Sabha and The Rajya Sabha led by Vice President M. Hamid Ansari, who is also Chair of the Upper House, his Lok Sabha Counterpart Sumitra Mahajan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi assembled there in tearful eyes to bid farewell to the veteran politician, administrator ahead of demitting the august office