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Matua matriarch Binapani Devi dead, Mamata announces state funeral (Lead)
Kolkata, March 5 (IANS) Dalit Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi, popularly known as ‘Boroma’, passed away at the state-run SSKM Hospital on Tuesday following multi-organ failure, hospital Medical Superintendent Raghunath Misra said.
Boroma, aged 100, breathed her last at 8.52 p.m. She is survived by her younger son Manjul Krishna Thakur as the her elder son Kapil Krishna Thakur pre-deceased her.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who rushed to the hospital after Boroma’s condition became grave, announced the news of her passing away to the large number of devotees of the All India Matua Mahasangha, who had crowded the area since the morning.
Banerjee said the funeral procession would start on Wednesday morning, piloted by Kolkata Police. “She would be given a gun salute and state funeral,” she announced, describing her death as a “personal loss”.
“She was like a guardian for us, she always supported me,” Banerjee said.
State Food Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick said Boroma would be cremated at the Matua Mahasangha headquarters known as ‘Thakurbari’ in Thakurnagar area of North 24 Parganas district.
“Her family members will decide the timing of her last rights. Lakhs of her followers will be present there to convey their last respect to her. The local district officials are making the necessary arrangements in that regard,” he said.
Admitted to JNM Hospital in Nadia district’s Kalyani on February 28 following shortness of breath and fever, Boroma was shifted to the SSKM on Sunday after her condition deteriorated.
On Tuesday, she was put on ventilator support after her condition became “extremely critical”, hospital authorities said.
“She was suffering from high fever when she was brought here on Sunday which later turned into pneumonia. She already had pre-existing problems like COPD and mild diabetes. She was put on ventilation since 5 a.m. She had multi-organ failure,” Misra told IANS.
Boroma was the chief adviser of the the Mahasangha. Considered to be Bengal’s second most influential Scheduled Caste community comprising primarily low-caste Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, it has over one crore members spread over various southern Bengal districts, especially North 24 Parganas.
Launched by the followers of Harichand Thakur, it began as a religious reformation movement that originated in what is now called Bangladesh.
Born in Jabdakathi village of Barishal district (now in Bangladesh), Borma was in 1933 married to Pramatharanjan Thakur, a freedom fighter and great-grandson of Harichand.
After the partition of India in 1947, large number of members of the Matua community migrated to West Bengal.
Pramatharanjan died in 1990, following which Binapani Devi took over the leadership of the community, which has always been wooed by various political parties in the state as it commands over 70 lakh votes in various southern districts and plays a sizeable role in determining the electoral fortunes in at least 74 of the state’s 294 Assembly seats.
Boroma shared a good rapport with Banerjee, and acted as a big political force behind the Trinamool Congress’ win in the 2011 and 2016 Assembly elections.
In December last year, the state government bestowed on her its highest honour – ‘Bangabibhushan’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met her on February 2 during his visit to North 24 Parganas district’s Thakurnagar.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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