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Last rites of Matua matriarch to be held on Thursday (Lead)
Thakurnagar (West Bengal), March 6 (IANS) The last rites of Matua matriarch Binapani Devi, popular as ‘Boroma’, will be held on Thursday, a family member said.
The mortal remains of the Dalit community leader, who passed away late on Tuesday following multi-organ failure at the state-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, were originally scheduled to be consigned to the flames at the Matua Mahasangha headquarters known as ‘Thakurbari’ here on Wednesday afternoon.
“Lakhs of devotees have come to pay their tribute to Boroma. Many more will be coming tonight and tomorrow evening. So we have decided to hold her last rites tomorrow (Thursday) instead of today,” All India Matua Mahasangha leader and Boroma’s grandson Shantanu Thakur told IANS.
Her body reached the Thakurbari at around 11 a.m. on Wednesday from the Kolkata hospital.
“The family members are taking a decision on when the cremation should be held. It cannot be delayed for a long time as the body might start to rot. I think none of the family members want that,” Boroma’s elder daughter-in-law and Trinamool Congress MP Mamata Bala Thakur said.
The centurion breathed her last at 8.52 p.m. on Tuesday. She is survived by her younger son Manjul Krishna Thakur.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death and said she will be given a gun salute and state funeral.
Admitted to JNM Hospital in Nadia district 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.
Boroma was the chief advisor of the Mahasangha, which is considered 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 the North 24 Parganas.
–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.