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contemplation could be seen in his behaviour, such was
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay whose photograph seemed
to express satisfaction about the accomplishment of his
companion, at the same time inspiring other comrades
not to feel sorry.
• The being lying here never loved his body.
• He kept lighting a lamp through the lamp of his life.
• He never looked away from hard work.
• He had given up all comfort in order to realize the dream
of people’s welfare.
• His tendency to worry for others could not prevent him
from leading to the funeral pyre.
Preparation was being made for the final journey of
Vasantbhai. No words are enough to describe such a moment.
Vasantbhai’s wife Vidyaben approached the lifeless body
of Vasantbhai to bid farewell for one last time. The Mangalsutra
that she had been gifted twenty years ago, it was time to return
it. Vidyaben took out the Mangalsutra with trembling hands.
This moment turned the entire atmosphere sad and gloomy.
At 2.30 in the noon, his funeral procession started from the
Jana Sangh office at Khadiyan, his place of action. I think it
suffices to say that few political leaders get such a funeral
procession. He ruled people’s hearts. They felt their hearts
turning barren. Tears were streaming down millions of eyes.
At the funeral ground, he was offered a glorious homage.
Every one of those who came to offer his homage had lost
something. There was no formality in this homage; it was the
story of agony of every heart. That night, I noted in my diary:
“The glass of friendship cracked before we could drink,
The sun set before it was the evening.”