Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ashok Bhatt pays homage to his ‘rakhi sister’
In a way, it’s a personal loss to me. For, Aneesaben always considered me her ‘rakhi brother’ and had been tying a rakhi on my wrist every year on Rakshabandhan over the last three decades. I don't remember her ever having skipped a visit to my residence at Khadia on Rakshabandhan.
It was a proud moment for me when she went on to become the Mayor of this historic city while representing the Raikhad ward as a councillor. Although she belonged to a different political party, politics never intruded into our ‘brother-sister’ relationship, and we continued to share this bond for ages. I made it a point to visit her house on Id every year.
She was one of the most successful and efficient mayors of the city. During her mayoral stint, she took a series of measures for the all-round development of Ahmedabad.
She represented the Raikhad ward and would take special care of the poor and the middle class, who comprise a major chunk of the voters here. I was also impressed by her oratory skills, which was often punctuated by Urdu couplets.
Aneesaben was the first Muslim woman to become a mayor in the country and was in the truest sense of the term an ‘iron lady’ with a brave heart.
I still remember how 10 years ago she fearlessly entered the operation theatre to undergo a by-pass surgery. I had accompanied her to the hospital then. Just two days before she left this world, I visited her at the V S Hospital to inquire about her health. I was a bit shaken as she was in coma. May her soul rest in peace.
As told to Bashir Pathan
Courtesy : www.expressindia.com
In a way, it’s a personal loss to me. For, Aneesaben always considered me her ‘rakhi brother’ and had been tying a rakhi on my wrist every year on Rakshabandhan over the last three decades. I don't remember her ever having skipped a visit to my residence at Khadia on Rakshabandhan.
It was a proud moment for me when she went on to become the Mayor of this historic city while representing the Raikhad ward as a councillor. Although she belonged to a different political party, politics never intruded into our ‘brother-sister’ relationship, and we continued to share this bond for ages. I made it a point to visit her house on Id every year.
She was one of the most successful and efficient mayors of the city. During her mayoral stint, she took a series of measures for the all-round development of Ahmedabad.
She represented the Raikhad ward and would take special care of the poor and the middle class, who comprise a major chunk of the voters here. I was also impressed by her oratory skills, which was often punctuated by Urdu couplets.
Aneesaben was the first Muslim woman to become a mayor in the country and was in the truest sense of the term an ‘iron lady’ with a brave heart.
I still remember how 10 years ago she fearlessly entered the operation theatre to undergo a by-pass surgery. I had accompanied her to the hospital then. Just two days before she left this world, I visited her at the V S Hospital to inquire about her health. I was a bit shaken as she was in coma. May her soul rest in peace.
As told to Bashir Pathan
Courtesy : www.expressindia.com