FAREWELL TO HARIVANSH RAI, POET AND THE MAN
Dr. Jai Maharaj
The Pioneer
Monday, January 20, 2003
Mumbai (Pioneer News Service) - Amitabh Bachchan's eyes
turned misty as he stood alongside his illustrious father
Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan's burning funeral pyre.
Amitabh, Ajitabh and Abhishek Bachchan during the funeral
procession of Harivansh Rai Bachchan - PTI
The bereaved actor had to be escorted away by his
industrialist-friend Anil Ambani and son Abhishek, after
the cremation, which was held at Juhu's Vaikunt
crematorium in north-west Mumbai, late on Sunday
afternoon.
Late Harivansh Rai Bachchan's memorable verses rang in
the ears of scores of mourners from different walks of
life who had thronged the crematorium, as Amitabh and his
younger brother Ajitabh lit the funeral pyre at 4 pm. The
traditional ritual, performed under the supervision of a
priest especially flown in from Uttar Pradesh, lasted for
nearly one hour.
The Bachchan brothers carried the arthi of their father
on their shoulders into the crematorium amidst chants of
"Harivansh Rai Bachchan Amar Rahe".
The flower-bedecked body had earlier been brought to the
crematorium in a procession from the nearby Pratiksha,
Amitabh's Juhu residence in north-west Mumbai.
While scores of people stood on pavements, perched on
building and tree tops to watch the procession passes by,
hundreds of others joined the procession.
Watched by the who's who of Bollywood, Indian industry,
literary and sports fields, the funeral ceremony of Dr
Bachchan passed off in a most dignified manner.
Prominent among those who were on Amitabh's side in his
hour of grief were his close buddies Anil Ambani, Amar
Singh, Qyyam, industrialists Kumarmangalam, Adi Godrej,
former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar, Kapoor
family members Randir, Rishi and Karishma, film
personalities Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher and Ramesh Sippy.
The 96-year-old poet breathed his last at 11.40 pm on
Saturday after a prolonged illness. He had been suffering
from respiratory problems and was kept under observation
in a make-shift Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Pratiksha
since Wednesday. Harivansh Rai Bachchan's death marks the
end of a glorious era in Hindi literature.
Pratiksha was swept by waves of grief, as scores of
people from different walks of life began visiting the
place shortly after the news of the 20th century Hindi
literary giant's death spread in the city. Among the
first callers on Amitabh, his family members wife Jaya,
daughter Sweta and son Abhishek were: Yash Chopra, Yash
Johar, Karan Johar, Danny, Krishna Kapoor, wife of late
Raj Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Honey Irani, Anil Kapoor,
Goldie Behl and Amarish Puri.
Other prominent personalities who conveyed their
condolences to the bereaved family were Sahara Group
chairman Subrat Roy, Nikhil Nanda, actors Govinda, Prem
Chopra and Sujit Kumar. Newly sworn-in Chief Minister
Sushil Kumar Shinde and his predecessor Vilasrao Desmukh
visited Pratiksha and paid their last respects to Dr
Bachchan.
Lyricist Qyyam, paying tributes to Dr Bachchan, said that
illustrious writer had made an indelible impression his
life and film career. Though he was closely associated
with the Nehru-Gandhi family, he was very humble. His
life and works would be remembered for generations to
come.
Lyricist Javed Akhtar said with his death, an era has
ended in Hindi literature. "I have learnt a lot from the
father-son relationship. Amitabh has looked after his
father very well all these years."
Film maker Subhash Ghai said that Dr Bachchan's works
were still relevant to not just to the current day
society, but will be an inspiration to the people in the
generations to come.
Mr Shinde and Mr Deshmukh spoke of the senior Bachchan's
contribution to Maharashtrian culture and ethos and the
manner in which the late poet inspired the people through
his writings. Both of them said that Dr Bachchan might
have passed away, but his memories drawn from his works
would remain in the minds of the people for decades to
come.
Many others, including Qyyam, said that Harivansh Rai
Bachchan's contribution to Hindi literature was immense.
What made the departed writer stand apart from peers was
that he wrote for the common man.
Read the complete news at:
http://www.dailypioneer.com
News Plus
http://www.mantra.com/newsplus
Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti
Panchaang for 17 Paush 5103, Sunday, January 19, 2003:
Chitrabhanu Nama Samvatsare Uttarayane Moksh Ritau
Makara Mase Krishna Pakshe Bhanu Vasara Yuktayam
Ashlesha Nakshatr Priti-Ayushman Yog
Taitila-Gara Karan Dvitiya Yam Tithau
Hindu Holocaust Museum
http://www.mantra.com/holocaust
Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org
http://www.hindunet.org
The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate
Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the educational
purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of this post
may not have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent the
opinion of the poster. The contents are protected by copyright law
and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
You e-mail will likely not be considered or answered if
it does not contain your full legal name, current e-mail
and postal addresses, and live voice telephone number.