Nostalgia filled trip for President Pranab at Durga Puja

Visits his village, to be felicitated by his school

Pranab Mukherjee’s annual visit to West Bengal this year to preside over the Durga Puja celebrations at his ancestral home in Mirati, in Birbhum district will be a special one. This will be the first time since taking over as President he will be worshipping his family deity as the ‘chief priest’. Moreover, proud of his achievements, his school in Kirnahar, ‘Shib Chandra High School’ will be holding a special felicitation ceremony for him during this visit.

This year, there is more than one reason for the Mukherjee family to celebrate. Apart from his elevation as President in June, his son Abhijit Mukherjee has just been elected MP from Jangipur, the Lok Sabha seat that he vacated.

 

His four day visit to his village from 20th to 23rd will not only involve the usual festivities but a felicitation ceremony from his school; where he will also be inaugurating an exhibition titled ‘Pranab’s School – School’s Pranab’. 

In a free wheeling conversation with reporters before the Presidential elections, Mukherjee when asked about any regrets said he was doubtful whether he would be able to continue his family tradition and preside over the Durga puja in his home as priest, once elected as President - that wish is all set to be fulfilled.

On the second day of his visit October 21, he will be inaugurating the school building of Mirati Junior High School at his ancestral village.
Ironically, Mukherjee has often recounted how, during his childhood as there was no school in the village he would have to wade through knee deep water to reach the Kirnahar school. 

Mukherjee’s ties with his village and the local community there have always been strong and except for a brief period, he has visited his ancestral home every year during Durga Puja. Even as a Union minister and that too someone who was known as “UPA’s troubleshooter” Mukherjee always took a four day break during the festival to visit Mirati.