Modi's mother Heeraben passes away at 99; PM performs last rites in Gujarat

Heeraben Modi, the mother of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi who was admitted in a hospital in Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat earlier this week after her health condition deteriorated, passed away on Friday (30).

She was 99.

Modi, who reached Ahmedabad and performed his mother's last rites, posted a heartfelt tweet in Hindi early on Friday morning with a picture of Heeraben, saying, "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."

He also reflected on his visit to his late mother on her 100th birthday in June this year.

"When I met her on her 100th birthday, she said one thing, which is always remembered that work with intelligence, live life with purity, that is, work with intelligence and live life with purity," the prime minister posted another tweet in Hindi.

Modi was received at the airport in Ahmedabad by Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel. Other family members of Modi, including his elder brother Somabhai Modi, were at the residence of Heeraben. Some of the state's top leaders and ministers and lawmakers were also present.

The prime minister was scheduled to visit the eastern state of West Bengal to launch some developmental projects during the day, including the country's seventh semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train but he might now join the events through video-conferencing, sources said.

"The flagging off of Vande Bharat train in Howrah, Kolkata and other developmental works of railways and under Namami Gange and meeting of National Ganga Council to be held as per plan. PM Modi may join through Video Conference," sources said.

Several leaders and ministers expressed their condolences over the demise of Modi's mother.

Indian president Droupadi Murmu condoled the death of Heeraben and called the latter's life "a symbol of Indian ideals".

She tweeted in Hindi, "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's mother Heeraba's hundred years of struggling life is a symbol of Indian ideals. Shri Modi imbibed the spirit of ' #मातृदेवोभव ' and the values of Hiraba in his life. I pray for the peace of the holy soul. My condolences to the family!"

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!" he tweeted in Hindi.

Gujarat CM Patel also condoled Heeraben's death and said that 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.

Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently wished Modi's ailing mother a speedy recovery, tweeted in Hindi, "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."

Modi met his mother earlier this month while campaigning for the state elections that his Bharatiya Janata Party won with a landslide mandate. Heeraben also cast her vote during the two-phase election.

Modi paid floral tributes to his mother at her residence and carried the bier with the mortal remains to the crematorium for the last rites.

[With agency inputs]