During his farewell speech on Sunday, Pranab Mukherjee ' title='President Pranab Mukherjee '>President Pranab Mukherjee praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he (Mukherjee) was "greatly benefitted from his advice and co-operation".

"In these five years, my principal responsibility was to function as the guardian of the Constitution. As I had said on oath, I strived to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution, not just in word but also in spirit," Mukherjee said.

"In this task, I greatly benefitted from the advice and co-operation extended by Prime Minister Modi at every step.

"With passion and energy, he is driving transformational changes in the country. I will carry with me fond memories of our association and his warm and courteous behaviour," Mukherjee said in his farewell speech to lawmakers at the Central Hall of Parliament in New Delhi.

Mukherjee on his farewell speech to parliamentarians also remembered his "mentor", former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as a "towering personality.  

"My career as a parliamentarian was no doubt mentored by Mrs Indira Gandhi. Her steely determination, clarity of thought and decisive actions made her a towering personality. She never hesitated to call a spade a spade.," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee will address the nation on Monday, his last day as the President. The address will be broadcast from 7.30 p.m. on the national network of All India Radio (AIR) and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in English, followed by Hindi versions.

The President also left a message on his social networking site for the country.

"I leave with a sense of fulfilment & happiness of having served the people of this country - as their humble servant," he wrote on his twitter handle.