During the day, amidst intermittent downpours, the area outside the two-storeyed bungalow looked muted, belying the flurry of activities that went on inside.
Once the curtains came down on 10, Rajaji Marg and all the visitors left, former President Pranab Mukherjee sat down for a quiet Bengali meal late Tuesday night, incomplete without fish, with his closest family members.
During the day, amidst intermittent downpours, the area outside the two-storeyed bungalow looked muted, belying the flurry of activities that went on inside.
The building, among the few double-storeyed ones in Lutyens' Delhi, was earlier occupied by former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who lived there after he remitted office till he passed away in 2015. After his demise, the 11,776 sq-feet bungalow was occupied for a few months by Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma, before he was asked to vacate it to accommodate the President once he retires.
The former President's daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, says that the major concern while moving into the new house was finding space for Mukherjee's collection of books, which ran into thousands.
"We have renovated the drawing room in the upper story to accommodate his huge collection of books, and there are lots of bookshelves around the house. We are now planning to categorise his books in different sections," said Sharmistha, adding that several visitors dropped in to call on her father during the day.
Apart from the extended library, a pathway that ran around the house was spruced up for the former president's early morning walk. A black Toyota Camry, a secretarial staff of over five officers, phone lines and an internet connection are some of the retirement perks that the 81-year-old will enjoy.
Mukherjee is also entitled to a monthly pension of Rs 75,000, free medical care, travel by the highest class across the country, and free electricity and water.
Sharmistha says that her father's hobbies — writing and reading — will fill up his days. And, that a book is definitely in the offing. "He will now concentrate on the third volume of his memoirs, and it will hopefully be out soon," she said.
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