Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraben Modi passed away in Ahmedabad at 3:30 am while on treatment on 30 December at 99.
His mother, Heeraben Modi was hospitalized in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 28 December, after she took ill the previous night. She was admitted to the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology & Research Centre in Ahmedabad.
PM Modi reached Ahmedabad on Wednesday afternoon to visit his mother.
The Life of Heeraben Modi
Born on June 18, 1923, Heeraben Modi had five sons- Prahlad, Amrit, Somabhai, Pankaj, and Narendra- and a daughter Vasantiben.
Modi had on numerous occasions said his mother worked in the homes of other people to earn money to raise her children. This struggle, the prime minister stated often, inspired him to come up with welfare schemes aimed at women and the poor.
It is said that Modi was greatly influenced by her and has often mentioned her struggles in his speeches and writings.
He had said earlier that when he embarked on his career as a public servant, his mother had taught him never to take a bribe or allow others to take it. The slogan- “Na Khaaunga, Na Khaane Dunga (will neither take a bribe nor let anybody take it”- came from this lesson,
Describing her as his teacher whose sacrifices were an inspiration for him, Modi said she was an example of somebody who learned without having any formal education. Modi had penned an emotional piece on her last birthday in which he said, “My mother is as simple as she is extraordinary. Just like all mothers.”
He would visit her every year on her birthday and spend some time with her. Even after his rise to the post of prime minister, Heeraben treated Modi like any mother would treat her son- giving him small amounts of money, feeding him sweets, and sharing a meal with him. No member of Modi’s family lived in the official residence of the prime minister, who had abandoned family life after becoming a Swayamsevak decade back. Heeraben lived in a humble house in Ahmedabad.
She visited him a few times at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, and pictures shown by his office show Modi taking her around in a wheelchair around the complex. Despite her advanced age, Heeraben was active till the end. She was seen standing in a queue outside an ATM post-demonetization. These gestures also sent out a message of her support for the prime minister.
The prime minister tweeted: PM Modi’s Mother Heeraben Passes Away: ‘A Glorious Century Has Ended,’ He Says
“When I met her on her 100th birthday, she said, ‘Work with intelligence, live life with purity”: PM Modi recalled.
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.
शानदार शताब्दी का ईश्वर चरणों में विराम… मां में मैंने हमेशा उस त्रिमूर्ति की अनुभूति की है, जिसमें एक तपस्वी की यात्रा, निष्काम कर्मयोगी का प्रतीक और मूल्यों के प्रति प्रतिबद्ध जीवन समाहित रहा है। pic.twitter.com/yE5xwRogJi
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2022
Here are some reactions:
Rahul Gandhi: The news of the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother, Mrs. Hira Ba is extremely sad.
At this difficult time, I extend my deepest condolences and love to him and his family.
प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी की माताजी, श्रीमती हीरा बा के निधन का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद है।
इस मुश्किल समय में, मैं उन्हें और उनके परिजनों को अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं और प्यार व्यक्त करता हूं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 30, 2022
Sachin Tendulkar: It’s a loss like no other. My heartfelt condolences to the Hon. Prime Minister Shri
@narendramodi
ji on the sad demise of his mother, Smt. Heeraben Modi ji. My thoughts are with the family. May her soul rest in peace. 🙏🏼
It's a loss like no other. My heartfelt condolences to the Hon. Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji on the sad demise of his mother, Smt. Heeraben Modi ji. My thoughts are with the family. May her soul rest in peace. 🙏🏼
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 30, 2022
Congress:
Mallikarjun Kharge Congress President: Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Smt. Heeraben Modi.
My heartfelt condolences to Sri
@narendramodi
ji on the loss of his beloved mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family in this hour of grief.
Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Smt. Heeraben Modi.
My heartfelt condolences to Sri @narendramodi ji on the loss of his beloved mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family in this hour of grief.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 30, 2022
Ajay Devgn: My heartfelt condolences on the passing of Smt. Heeraben Modi. A simple, principled lady, she raised a fine son in our PM Shri Narendra Modiji. 🕉️ Shanti 🙏 My personal condolences to our PM and his family.
@narendramodi
My heartfelt condolences on the passing of Smt. Heeraben Modi. A simple, principled lady, she raised a fine son in our PM Shri Narendra Modiji. 🕉️ Shanti 🙏 My personal condolences to our PM and his family. @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/5RxRXobyca
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) December 30, 2022
Raj Thackeray: Losing a parent is irreplaceable; my heartfelt prayers for her soul and condolences to you, Narendra Modiji on the sad demise of your mother, Heeraben Modi.
May her gentle soul rest in peace.
Mamata Banerjee: Respected PM, today it’s a sad day and great loss to you. I pray to god, may god give you strength. I convey my gratitude to you that you were supposed to come to West Bengal but because of demise of your mother you couldn’t come but joined virtually: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee” (sic).
