Condolences pour in after First Lady’s demise
20 Aug 2015 5:04 AM IST
Reactions and condolences started pouring in on Tuesday after the news of the First Lady’s demise got public. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted “Pained to know about the passing away of Mrs. Suvra Mukherjee. My condolences to Rashtrapati ji & his family in this hour of grief.”
He said <g data-gr-id="36">Suvra</g> Mukherjee will be remembered as a lover of art, culture & music. “Her warm nature endeared her to everyone she met,” Modi added.
Besides Ansari and Gandhi, senior cabinet ministers, politicians and diplomats arrived at Rashtrapati Bhawan to offer their condolences.
Mukherjee married <g data-gr-id="32">Suvra</g> on July 13, 1957. She hailed from Jessore, now in Bangladesh, and had migrated to Kolkata at the age of 10 years.
“We are not like today’s couples. It’s not a lovey-dovey relationship and we don’t express our emotions overtly,” <g data-gr-id="40">Suvra</g> was quoted as having said on the eve of the crowning moment of her husband’s political career when he assumed the office of President on July 25, 2012.
Born on September 17, 1940, Surva, a graduate, was an ardent fan of India’s national poet Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.
She was a vocalist of Rabindra Sangeet and performed in the poet’s dance-dramas for long years not only in different parts of India, but also in Europe, Asia and Africa.
<g data-gr-id="35">Suvra</g> founded the Geetanjali Troupe in 1982 with a mission to propagate Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy as expressed through his songs and dance-dramas. She was the guiding force behind all productions of the Troupe.
Her last stage performance was in 2013 when she rendered two lines from the solo “Nomo...Nomo...Nomo” song, an invocation to Rabindranath Tagore.
Mamata, Hasina may reach Delhi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday cut short her all part meeting in Kolkata and is expected to reach Delhi on Tuesday night to pay her respects to the First Lady <g data-gr-id="42">Suvra</g> Mukherjee. While Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina also confirmed her arrival. Addressing the media in Kolkata, state education Minister Partha Chatterjee said, “West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had to leave early on Tuesday because she is leaving for Delhi to pay her respects to the First Lady.
Next Story
