'A Mother's Death is Life's Biggest...': How Oppn Leaders Condoled the Demise of PM Modi's Mother Heeraben

Condolences for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the demise of his mother Heeraben Modi cut across the political divide on Friday as several opposition leaders shared their prayers for the departed soul.

Heeraben Modi, 99-years-old, passed away at the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad where she was admitted on Wednesday after her health deteriorated.

“Hiraben Modi passed away on December 30, 2022 at 3:30 am during treatment at the UN Mehta Heart Hospital,” a medical bulletin said.

Announcing his mother’s demise, PM Modi said on Twitter that “a great journey of 100 years” has ended. “A great journey of 100 years has come to an end. I have witnessed three qualities in mother, a journey like that of a tapasvi (saint), a selfless worker and life dedicated to values,” Modi tweeted.

“When I met her on her 100th birthday she told one thing which I always remember. ‘Kam karo buddhi thi, jivan jivo suddhi thi’ (work using your brain and live life with purity,” he tweeted.

Among the first leaders in the Opposition to express their condolence were Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, NCP president Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut, AAP leader and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and BSP chief Mayawati, among others.

Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda said, “My heartfelt condolences to PM Narendra Modi on the passing away of his mother Heeraben Modi. She was a centenarian who lived a full life, but one wishes a mother to be around, forever, to energise and anchor. May God give Shri Modi the strength to bear the loss. Om Shanti.”

“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,” Kharge tweeted.

“The news of the demise of Hira Ba, mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is extremely sad. At this difficult time, I extend my deepest condolences and love to him and his family,” Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar also expressed grief over the death of PM Modi’s mother.

“Narendra Bhai, I am deeply saddened to know about passing away of your mother. It’s an irreparable loss of a irreplaceable person in life ! Please accept my sincere condolences on her loss. May her soul rest in eternal peace,” he said in a tweet.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut tweeted that losing a mother makes one feel orphaned. “We are with the Modi family in this hour of grief. May her soul rest in peace,” Raut tweeted.

In a tweet in Hindi, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said, “Learnt about the sad demise of the mother of honourable PM. Losing mother means losing the main support pillar in life. Its emptiness is always experienced. May God give courage to @narendramodi ji and his family members.”

“Condolences to PM Narendra Modi Ji on the passing away of his mother, Heeraben Modi. I pray that her soul rests in peace. In this hour of grief, I hope that he and his family members find strength,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a tweet.

“May God give peace to the departed pious soul and courage to Shri @narendramodi ji and all his family members in these moments of pain,” said Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Expressing condolences, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said: “Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi, We all know the emotional bond you had with your beloved mother Hiraba. The grief of losing one’s mother is too hard to bear for anyone. I am deeply saddened and no words can describe how sorry I am for your loss.”

“Received the sad news of Prime Minister @narendramodi’s mother’s demise … I express my condolences to the Prime Minister and his entire family in this hour of grief,” Mann tweeted in Hindi.

“Extremely saddened by the news of the demise of Heeraben, mother of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. My deepest condolences to his entire family,” tweeted Mayawati in Hindi.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar also expressed condolences over the demise of PM Modi’s mother Heeraben Modi. “The death of a mother is an unbearable and irreparable loss. No one in the world can take the place of mother,” the Bihar CM said.

Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted: “Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Smt. Heeraben Modi. She lived a life of extraordinary courage.”

“Deepest condolences to Hon’ble @narendramodi ji on the passing away of his mother. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Om Shanti,” said Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra.

Heeraben, also called Heeraba, lived at Raysan village near Gandhinagar city with PM Modi’s younger brother Pankaj Modi. The prime minister regularly visited Raysan and spent time with his mother during most of his Gujarat visits.

Over the years, PM Modi has shared several heartwarming photos of him seeking birthday blessings from his mother.

Earlier this year, he penned an emotional letter as Heeraben Modi completed 99 years and entered her 100th year. Recalling his childhood with Heeraba, PM Modi had shared how his mother’s small efforts reflected bigger changes.

“During the rains, our roof would leak, and the house would flood. Mother would place buckets and utensils below the leaks to collect the rainwater. Even in this adverse situation, Mother would be a symbol of resilience. You will be surprised to know that she’d use this water for the next few days. What better example than this of water conservation! (sic),” he had written in a blog.

“My mother is as simple as she is extraordinary. Just like all mothers,” he added in the blog post, which was made available in several regional languages besides Hindi and English.