Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother, Heeraben Modi, passed away in the early hours on Friday morning. She was 100 years old.

“A glorious century rests at the feet of God… In Maa, I have always felt that trinity, which contains the journey of an ascetic, the symbol of a selfless Karmayogi and a life committed to values,” PM Modi said in a heartfelt tribute informing about his mother’s death.

The Prime Minister arrived in Ahmedabad and carried his mother’s bier.  The body was then placed in an ambulance with the Prime Minister climbed in.

PM Modi recalled his visit to his mother on her 100th birthday this year.

Heeraben is survived by five sons, Soma Modi, Pankaj Modi, Amrit Modi, Prahlad Modi and Narendra Modi and a daughter Vasantiben Hasmukhlal Modi. Prior to her husband’s death, she used to live in the family’s ancestral home in Vadnagar. Later, she shifted to Pankaj Modi’s home.

“When I met her on her 100th birthday, she said one thing, which is always remembered, that is work with intelligence and live life with purity,” PM Modi tweeted.

The Prime Minister has cancelled his scheduled visit to West Bengal today, but will launch a series of projects through video conferencing.

“PM @narendramodi will join today’s scheduled programmes in West Bengal via video conferencing. These programmes include the launch of key connectivity related projects and the meeting of the National Ganga Council,” tweeted the PMO.

The Prime Minister had earlier flown down to Ahmedabad on Wednesday to visit his mother in hospital.

Heeraben used to live with PM Modi’s younger brother, Pankaj Modi, at Raysan village near Gandhinagar. The Prime Minister would regularly visit Raysan and spend time with his mother during his Gujarat visits.

He had met his mother during the campaigning for the Gujarat assembly polls. Heeraben had also cast her vote in the second phase of the state elections.

After the news of PM Modi’s mother’s demise came, several leaders and ministers expressed their condolences.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief and highlighted the value of a mother in one’s life and said that its void is “impossible to fill”.

“I am deeply pained by the passing away of Hira Ba, mother of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi. The death of a mother leaves such a void in one’s life that is impossible to fill. I express my condolences to the Prime Minister and his entire family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti!” the Defence Minister tweeted.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also condoled the death of the Prime Minister’s mother sayin she was the epitome of simplicity and high values of life.

“Deeply saddened by the passing away of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi’s mother Pujya Hiraba. Pujya Hiraba was an epitome of generosity, simplicity, hard work and high values of life. I pray that God rest her soul in peace. AUM Shanti,” Patel tweeted, roughly translated from Gujarati.

Mother-son bond

In an interview, PM Modi said her mother was the pillar of his life and played an important role in his success. PM Modi visited her mother to take her blessings from time to time. In 2016, she visited PM Modi’s official residence at Race Course Road for the first time.

In June 2022, PM Modi wrote a heartfelt letter to his mother on her birthday in which he expressed joy and gratitude at the beginning of his mother’s centenary year and shared memories of his younger days spent with his parents and siblings in Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

“Maa…this isn’t a mere word, but it captures a range of emotions. Today, June 18, is the day my Mother, Heeraba, enters her 100th year. On this special day, I have penned a few thoughts expressing joy and gratitude,” tweeted PM Modi while sharing his deeply felt thoughts dedicated to his mother on her 100th birthday.

He wrote that a mother’s penance shapes a good human being. Her love instils human qualities and empathy in a child, opined the Prime Minister, adding, “A mother is not an individual or a personality, motherhood is a quality. It is often said that the Gods are made according to the nature of their devotees. Similarly, we experience our mothers and their motherhood according to our own nature and mindset.”

Heeraben was hospitalised in December 2022

On December 28, Heeraben’s health deteriorated, after which she was admitted to the hospital only a day after PM Modi’s brother Prahlad Modi met with an accident and got injured. PM Modi rushed to see her on the same day.

References:

opindia.com