A month after his death in Ahmedabad air crash, former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani’s ashes immersed in Haridwar
Son Rushabh recalls father's immense regard for Haridwar and Rushikesh, says the crash was heart-wrenching and unimaginable
3 min read
A poster near Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad to give tribute to former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash. (Express file photo by Bhupendra Rana) Even as he immersed the ashes of his late father and former Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani in Haridwar Friday, Rushabh Rupani said he felt the loss of the rest of the families whose near and dear ones died in the AI 171 crash on June 12.
Vijay Rupani was one of the 241 passengers on board the Air India plane who died after the flight crashed on the BJ Medical College hostel mess, minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, killing another 19 people on the ground.
Speaking with The Indian Express on phone, Rushabh (29), who is a mechanical engineer and works at a start-up on wireless sensors in the United States, said, “We are thankful to PM Narendra bhai (Modi) and Home Minister Amit bhai (Shah) for their constant and unwavering support.”
Rushabh said the family had already immersed some ashes of his father in Somnath while the remaining was carried to Haridwar in Uttarakhand. “My father had immense regard for Haridwar and Rushikesh,” he said.
Ahead of the former CM’s 69th birthday on August 2, his family and friends have launched an initiative to collect memoirs, in written, oral or video format, from various sources and people who came in touch with him and whose lives he touched. Rushabh said that while this collection will enrich their memories of his father, the family is yet to decide on how to put those recollections out on a public platform.
“The accident was heart-wrenching and unimaginable. Our feelings are with the families of all those who have died in the accident. And we pray to God that the families come out of the loss,” Rushabh said.
Vijay Rupani was on his way to London where his daughter Radhika lives, to join his wife Anjaliben who had already reached there with the rest of the family, when the tragedy struck.
On his personal loss, Rushabh said, “I cannot express it in words. It is a great loss. He was a mentor and a pillar of support for the family. I always used to get inspiration from him on how to face circumstances firmly without being moved by emotions. He was my idol and a mentor not only in terms of financial aspects or family matters, but spiritually as well. He was a great listener. After his death, we have got support not just from Rajkot, but from across Gujarat and even from Punjab where he was the (BJP’s) party in-charge.”
Rupani’s mortal remains were identified days after the plane crash and he was accorded state honour by the Gujarat government.
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