The woman who was loved enormously by Maneka Gandhi and her sister Ambika Shukla, their mother Amteshwar Anand, 77, passed away in the capital on Monday. She was described by many as a constant source of encouragement and support.
Maneka’s son Varun Gandhi’s wedding to graphic artist Yamini Roy Choudhry will take place as per schedule in Varanasi on March 6, but the family has reportedly cancelled the reception, which was to be held on March 8, at the Ashoka hotel in the city.
According to friends of the family, Amteshwar Anand was suffering from cancer for many years now and had been admitted to AIIMS under the care of Prof S.K. Acharya and Dr Vinod, who made sure she was comfortable. “She was very keen to attend the wedding and despite her frail health, she was a very courageous woman who was the fulcrum of the family. She had been very active even though she was home-bound and her laughter gave all the family members a ray of hope, despite her worsening condition,” said a family friend on the condition of anonymity.
The woman with a big heart, Amteshwar was known for her unbreakable spirit and sources say that just before her death she wanted to donate her organs, but the doctors had told her that it would not be possible. “She held on as long as she could and Maneka is not keen on cancelling the wedding as she feels that her mother would not have liked this. She told close friends, ‘I know my mother will be there, by my side.’”
Sources also confirm that Amteshwar loved Varun and was very excited about the wedding preparations, she was also an integral part of it and went into the details of where and how it must be executed. “Varun too was very close to his grandmother and incorporated all her wedding suggestions,” said a source.