PM Modi's mother Heeraben passes away at Ahmedabad hospital

Heeraben, the mother of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, passed away early on Friday. She was 99.

"A glorious century rests at the feet of God... In Maa, I have always felt that trinity, which contains the journey of an ascetic, the symbol of a selfless Karmayogi and a life committed to values," the Prime Minister posted a heartfelt tribute informing about his mother's death.

PM Modi, who was scheduled to visit West Bengal to launch a series of projects, arrived in Gandhinagar. The Prime Minister's Office, or PMO, stated that he would participate in the Bengali programmes that are scheduled for today via video conference.

"PM @narendramodi will join today's scheduled programmes in West Bengal via video conferencing. These programmes include the launch of key connectivity-related projects and the meeting of the National Ganga Council," tweeted the PMO.

The 72-year-old prime minister was seen carrying his mother's bier. The prime minister then entered the ambulance after the body had been placed inside.

Heeraben formerly resided in Raysan village, close to Gandhinagar, with Pankaj Modi, the PM's younger brother. During his frequent trips to Gujarat, the Prime Minister would stop by Raysan and spend time with his mother.

She turned 99 in June of this year, and PM Modi blogged about it. The prime minister discussed many events in his mother's life that "shaped his mind, personality, and self-confidence" in the blog.

"This is going to be her birth centenary year. If my father had been alive, he too would have celebrated his 100th birthday last week. 2022 is a special year as my mother's centenary year is starting, and my father would have completed his," he had written in the blog post, ANI reported.

In the blog, the prime minister claims that, in comparison to him, his mother's childhood was quite difficult. He also notes that she lost her mother very young and that this continued to pain her.

"Mother used to wash utensils at a few houses to help meet the household expenses. She would also take out time to spin the charkha to supplement our meagre income," the Prime Minister wrote recounting the early days of family hardship.

"Whenever I go to Gandhinagar to visit her, she offers me, sweets, with her own hands. And just like a young child's doting mother, she takes out a napkin and wipes my face once I finish eating. She always has a napkin or small towel tucked into her saree," the Prime Minister wrote underscoring his mother's focus on cleanliness, adding that "she was extremely particular that the bed should be clean and properly laid out".