Tribute to Indira Hridayesh leader of opposition Uttarakhand on her sad demise Indira Hridayesh’s heart bled for the state with a focus on women empowerment.

Ajay Ramola
GG News Bureau
Dehradun,13th June. The sad demise of the leader of opposition Uttarakhand, Indira Hridayesh has left many in the Congress party and her well-wishers in a deep state of shock. For many including me, the news of her death took some time to sink in. She passed away at 11:35 AM at Uttarakhand Bhavan in New Delhi due to cardiac arrest on Sunday.
Indira Hridayesh had gone to attend the Meeting with Congress High command after which her condition became critical and was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
She was one of the few women leaders of such a grand stature in state politics. My personal interaction as a journalist was a brief one when she was Cabinet Minister for Finance, Commercial Tax, Stamps and Registration from 2012 to 2017.
I found her a woman with vast experience in politics and found as women with her one ear on the ground. She was open to constructive criticism and was direct in her approach, sticking to her belief deeply ingrained in her heart that a politician’s responsibility was of serving the people.
She was respected not only by people in her party but was also with the opposition as corroborated by the BJP state president Madan Kaushik’s remarks who expressed his grief on the death of the stalwart women leader.

Kaushik said that she was concerned about the Covid pandemic surge in the state and was never short of words in providing suggestion to deal with it. “Her concern can be gauged from the fact that she called me two days back and urged the government to more by providing her valuable inputs.
Indira was a humble leader and was aware of the issues that were affecting the state. Her concern for women is well known as she during brief interaction would talk about the status of women in the state and need to empower them without any delay.
During the brief interaction, she always brought up up the issue and was of the view, “My heart bleeds for the women and especially the rural women as they are the nucleus of the family and bend their backs to earn a livelihood.”
Indira Hridayesh was of the view that various schemes should ensure that the funds go directly in their account so that she has additional money to ensure the good health of the children.
Her aspiration for becoming Chief Minister of the state was also not hidden. When the rumour of change in the guard was rife During the reign of former CM Vijay Bahuguna in 2014, she raised her hand for the CM post and her remarks that with her long legislative experience she was the main contender for the post she made it clear to the congress that she was ready to take charge and lead the state.
After the denial of any change in the leadership, Indira Hridayesh was back to doing what she did best, serve people. She on a number of occasions rose above party politics and extended her help to needy and poor belonging to different political affiliations, such was her nature.
Her commitment to the party was complete and is evident that before her death she was attending the Meeting called by the Party High command in Delhi.
Indira Hridayesh was born on 7th April 1941 and served as minister of Finance in Uttarakhand 2012 to 2017, Parliamentary Affairs, Higher Education, and Planning in Government of Uttarakhand under Harish Rawat. Doctorate
She was PhD holder from Kanpur University in the year 1974 and did her, M.A. in Politics science at Agra University in the year 1959. She was elected in the legislative council in Uttar Pradesh for four terms from 1974 to 2000
Member Interim Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. She was elected to Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly (1st Term). Cabinet Minister for Public Works, Parliamentary Affairs, State Assets, Information, Science & Technology. She was also Elected to Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly (2nd Term). She also worked as Cabinet Minister for Finance, Commercial Tax, Stamps and Registration, Entertainment Tax, Parliamentary Affairs, Legislative Affairs.
The sad demise of Indira Hridayesh is a great loss not only to the Congress party but for the state too. Such leaders are rare these days. I extend my condolences to the grieving family and pray for eternal peace for her soul.

( Ajay Ramola is a senior correspondent from Uttrakhand who has worked with several newspapers and magazines and presently working in Global Governance News, Dehradun )