'Hermit's journey': PM Modi on his mother's demise

New Delhi, December 30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraba passed away at UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad in the wee hours on Friday. She was 99 and was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday.

The hospital said in a statement that she breathed her last at 3.30 am during treatment at the institute. The PM’s last meeting with his mother before she was hospitalised was on the eve of the Gujarat polls on December 4 when he went to seek her blessings in Gandhinagar. Paying tributes to his mother, the PM tweeted, “A splendid century long life has come to an end. In my mother, I saw the trinity—of a hermit, an ascetic and a life devoted to ideals.”

Heeraba is survived by five sons—PM Modi and brothers Somabhai, Amrutbhai, Prahladbhai and Pankajbhai, and daughter Vasantiben. The PM and his brothers lit the pyre at their mother’s last rites in Gandhinagar. Earlier, the PM reached Ahmedabad from Delhi and went straight to the house of brother Pankaj Modi at Raysan village on Gandhinagar outskirts where the mortal remains of Heeraba were kept. After carrying the mortal remains for some distance, the PM boarded the mortuary van to accompany his mother on her last journey to the cremation ground.

President Droupadi Murmu led the tributes to Heeraba, hailing her simple and compassionate life.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also paid tributes.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraba’s 100 years of struggle are a symbol of Indian ideals. Shri Modi imbibed the spirit of ‘#Matradevobhav’ (Mother is God) and the values of Heeraba in his life. I pray for the peace of the holy soul (sic),” the President said. A prayer meeting in the memory of Heeraba would be held later at Vadnagar, the family’s native place. Born in Mehsana, she led an active life and often made headlines. She was seen standing in a queue to withdraw cash from an ATM after PM Modi declared demonetisation in 2016. She also made news when she accepted the Covid vaccine and was a regular voter. — TNS

Condolences pour in

My deepest condolences. May her soul rest in peace. — Fumio Kishida, Japanese PM

May she rest in peace and may you find solace in her memory and the rich heritage she bequeathed to you and many others. — Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel PM

There is no greater loss than losing one’s mother. My condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. — Shehbaz Sharif, Pak PM

We have seen how instrumental her role was in every aspect of your life as a mother, motivator and mentor. — Sheikh Hasina, B’desh PM