Pranab Mukherjee, Former President Of India, COVID-19 Positive, On Ventilator After Brain Surgery

Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee has successfully undergone surgery to remove a clot in his brain. Mukherjee, 84, who had tested positive for COVID-19 prior to his surgery, is on ventilator support at the Army Hospital Research and Referral in Delhi. In a tweet on August 10, Mukherjee, who was President between 2012 and 2017, urged all those who had come in contact with him over the past week to self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19. Minutes later, wishes for his speedy recovery poured in. A veteran statesman and leader, Mukherjee is the author of several books on the Indian economy and nation-building. As per a profile on his official website, he is a "prolific reader" and has been bestowed with numerous awards. He was honoured with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 2019. He also won the Best Parliamentarian Award in 1997 and the Best Administrator in India Award in 2011. Several top politicians including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Congress leader Siddaramaiah, have tested positive for coronavirus in the last few weeks.