Kind, caring and always at ease, recall three women about their interactions with Sonia Gandhi

Yunus uncle was ill and alone in 84. Some days when I visited him, he would tell me that Sonia had just left after bringing him some of his favourite dishes she had prepared, recalls Syeda Hameed

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi (Social Media)
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi (Social Media)
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NHS Bureau

Yunus uncle was ill and alone in 84, Lodi Estate. Some days when I visited him, he would tell me that Sonia had just left after visiting him and bringing him some of his favourite dishes she had prepared herself. I marvelled at her concern for an old, almost bed ridden man who had been largely forgotten by the world. He used to tell me how she stood by her mother-in-law during her hardest days after she had suffered a crushing defeat at the polls in 1977. ‘She would pick up the broom and clean debris after throngs of people left the reception room’, he would fondly recall.: Syeda Hameed

When my husband Murli passed away, she came to our residence in Mumbai and gave me a big hug. She stayed throughout the funeral with the entire family. I also remember how often she would call thereafter just to enquire about my well being: Hema Deora


Another day I and my husband were in Delhi and I had an appointment to meet Ma’am in the evening. We decided to go to Khan Market for lunch. As we were entering the place, a car pulled up and Rahul and Ma’am got off, without any fanfare - just the two of them. They were going to the same place we were and invited us to join them. We were thrilled to meet them so informally, over a meal. That day we spoke about everything but politics. We had a wonderful time. It was like sitting with friends and family. Of course, my husband had his fan moment and we had to click a picture together before leaving : Priya Dutt

(This article was first published in National Herald on Sunday)

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