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Woman who inspired his 1st rebellion

NEW DELHI: Every night, no matter how busy he was or how late his day ended, when he got home, Pranab Mukherjee spent time with his ailing wife. This was the routine for the last six to seven years that she was unwell.

There was a wooden chair next to her bed, where Mukherjee sat, spoke to her, comforted and soothed her. This he did, even if he had more files to clear later.This was the moment Suvra Mukherjee waited for every day , her time with her husband of long years.           

With no political aspira tion, Suvra had a charm and warmth that drew people to her. Her social skills won her many friends, which included a special relationship with Indira Gandhi. Even when she was PM, Indira would drop in for a fish-and-rice meal cooked by Suvra.

In her book on her relationship with Indira, Suvra mentions how the tallest Congress leader of her times would call her up to "convey things to her husband". 

Those who knew her recall how through the many ups and downs of Mukherjee's life, she'd get upset about any criticism of her husband in the media. "She blindly believed in his calibre and often said they don't know what your dada (Mukherjee) is capable of," a journalist close to the family recalled.

Suvra, a Rabindrasangeet exponent and painter who wrote two books, knew where her strength lay .While channelizing her en thusiasm for cultural activities and starting the Gitanjali Troupe which travelled the country and abroad performing Tagore's dance dramas, she was the anchor of Mukherjee's family . She remained focused on bringing up their children -Abhijit, Indrajit and Sharmistha -and ensured that her husband's career never suffered because of pressing family matters. A constant source of encouragement, she was convinced he'd reach a high point. She passed on her cultural talent to her daughter, an accomplished Kathak dancer who has now joined the Congress.
Many found shelter in the Mukherjee home ever since the family moved to Delhi in 1969, invariably at the behest of the lady of the house.

Even as First Lady she often visited friends in CR Park. Her last years, mostly confined to her bed, were spent watching TV . She loved Uttam Kumar-Suchitra Sen films.

They married on July 13, 1957. Suvra's family came from Jessore, now in Bangladesh, and migrated to Kolkata when she was 10. They settled down in Howrah. Pranab met her when she was still a student of Howrah Girls' College. Attractive Suvra Ghosh was behind Pranab's first re bellion. He went against the wishes of his orthodox Brahmin family and married the girl from a different caste.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, who has extremely cordial relation with the Mukherjee family , is slated to attend Suvra's cremation in Delhi on Wednesday even as a host of dignitaries and politicians offered their condolences to the President.

The end came after 12 days in hospital

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee's wife Suvra Mukherjee, who had a history of heart disease and diabetes, was admitted to the Army (Research & Referral) Hospital with acute respiratory distress on August 7.

The 74-year-old First Lady had been in and out of hospitals over the last few years, which included at least two visits to the Army (R&R) hospital earlier this year. "She had also undergone a stenting procedure. But this time, on August 7, she was brought in a critical condition and admitted straight into the intensive care unit," said an official. "She was suffering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (brain deprived of adequate oxygen). She was put on life support and several attempts were made to resuscitate her but they failed. She breathed her last at 10.51 am today," he added.