The Central Government has approved the establishment of a memorial dedicated to former President Pranab Mukherjee in the Rashtriya Smriti complex, situated in the Rajghat area of New Delhi.
Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of Pranab Mukherjee, shared a post on X, “I met PM Narendra Modi to convey my gratitude for the government’s decision to create a memorial for my father. It is especially meaningful because we did not request it. This gesture by the Prime Minister deeply moved me.”
Reflecting on her father’s views, she added, “He believed state honours should be offered, not sought. While it does not affect him now, for me as his daughter, it is heartening to see his memory being respected in this way.”
In December 2024, Sharmistha Mukherjee commented on the allocation of space for a memorial for former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. She said such matters should remain above political debate.
“It is our tradition to build memorials for former Prime Ministers. There have been exceptions, like PV Narasimha Rao, but given the contributions of Dr. Manmohan Singh, there should be no controversy. I also believe he should be awarded the Bharat Ratna,” she said.
Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92 at AIIMS, New Delhi, due to age-related issues. His cremation took place at Nigam Bodh Ghat in the presence of family members, colleagues, and government representatives. He was accorded full state honours during the ceremony.