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Rajmata Amar Rahe!

Ramesh Menon in Gwalior

As he helped place the mortal remains of his mother, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia, on the funeral pyre, Madhavrao Scindia could not fight back his tears.

As he knelt down and placed his head on her body, there was silence though there were about a hundred thousand mourners watching.

When he finally got up after a few minutes, he tried to stop himself from sobbing. Using the white piece of cloth that he wore, he wiped his tears and had one last look at his mother with whom he had serious differences. For many years, they had not spoken.

Her serious illness had brought him back to her. It was his last chance to make peace with her.

After being a stellar player in national and Madhya Pradesh politics for over 40 years, the Rajmata set out on her last journey. Gwalior mourned as never before.

Family members clutched each other as her body was being taken out of the majestic white palace. For the last time. Her three surviving daughters -- Usha, Vasundhara, Yashodhara -- were in tears. They had seen yet again what their mother meant to thousands of people who had travelled from various parts of India and Nepal to pay their last respects.

Mourners lined up on both the sides of the road from the Jai Vilas Palace to the Gajraraje Matushree Chhatri, the royal cremation ground of the Scindia family.

As the carriage carrying her body wrapped in a rust coloured saree with a golden border passed by, many wept. Many shouted slogans saying that she continued to live in their hearts. Many offered flowers.

Her death had united the rich and the poor, the political and the non-political and today it did not seem that political parties had any differences. Her death brought all of them together.

Madhavrao led the procession barefoot. He seemed composed till he reached the cremation site. When the rituals began and Vedic hymns rent the air, he could not hide his feelings.

The Rajmata's body was placed in a specially made sandalwood palanquin decorated with red silk cloth and marigold flowers.

Once inside the cremation grounds, it was placed on a raised platform with palace servants dressed in their traditional regalia sitting next to the body and constantly fanning the body. There was a silk umbrella that kept the warm afternoon sun away from the body.

Standing at attention ready for the last salute were uniformed soldiers and the band from the Skinner's Horse regiment.

There was a Nepali pandit too at the cremation as the Rajmata's grandfather was a Nepalese Rana. Most of the priests's instructions were in Marathi.

White turbaned relatives and palace workers neatly laid out the pyre which included huge logs of sandalwood.

As she was placed on the pyre, there were chants of Rajmata Amar Rahe.

After he lit the pyre, Madhavrao stood alone next to the flames, transfixed with folded arms as if in prayer.

The flames soon rose high amidst loud cries from the mourners. Their Rajmata was now a part of the ages.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani walked up to Madhavrao and offered their condolences. He was seen wiping his tears as they spoke.

Numerous VIPs were present. After some time, the media stopped taking down names.

Obviously, there was something in the Rajmata that had made her such a loved figure. Most of the mourners were very poor people who had come in their tattered clothes. The lucky ones got to see the last journey, but thousands were turned away as there was no space to let them in.

An era in the history of the Scindias had clearly come to an end.

ALSO READ:
'After I prayed before Rajmata, I felt a sense of peace'
Thousands pay homage to Rajmata
Rajmata was tender, yet tough: Vajpayee
Vijayaraje Scindia dies
She had the courage to stand by her decisions, right or wrong: J K Jain
She wept for the poor: Kushabhau Thakre

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