Ex-Union min & Cong veteran Girija Vyas passes away at 78
Jaipur/Udaipur: Former Union minister and prominent
Dr
Girija Vyas
passed away Thursday evening at a hospital in Ahmedabad following complications from
burn injuries
sustained during a Gangaur puja ceremony at her home in
Udaipur
in March.
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She was 78.
Vyas, who had been in intensive care for the past month, breathed her last at 7:30pm with her brother Gopal Krishna Sharma and other family members by her side. Her body will be transported to her residence in Dethi Magri, Udaipur, where it will lie in state for public prayers on May 2 from 10am to 12pm, followed by the last rites later that day.
A four-time MP from Rajasthan and former president of the
National Commission for Women of India
, Vyas was known for her multifaceted career spanning politics, literature and social service.
Born in Nathdwara, she served as the Union minister for housing and urban poverty alleviation and held several key positions within the Congress party.
The news of her death prompted an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot described her death as an "irreplaceable loss," highlighting her significant contributions to education, politics and social service.
"Her untimely demise due to an accident is a great shock to us all," Gehlot wrote on 'X'.
Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also expressed his deep sorrow at her passing. Sharma stated that Vyas had dedicated her life to public service. "She will always be remembered as a popular leader due to her gentle demeanour," the CM said.
Beyond her political achievements, Vyas was an accomplished writer and poet. Her love for poetry and ghazals transcended political divides as she wrote several books, including 'Ethical Teachings of Bhagwat Gita and Bible', 'Philosophy of Shuddadvaita', 'Ahsaas', 'Seep, Samunder aur Moti' and 'Nostalgia'.
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She also wrote articles in national and international journals and Urdu poems.
Vyas was first elected to the 10th Lok Sabha in 1991 from Udaipur. From being Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief (Apr 1999 to Jan 2004) to president of All India Mahila Congress and chief whip of Congress Parliamentary Committee, Vyas held almost all important positions in her political career. Her penchant for writing ghazals and poems and fondness for literature earned her the post of editor of the AICC in-house magazine Sandesh and the chairperson of AICC's Vichar Vivhag.
Her primary focus encompassed the advancement of underdeveloped regions in Rajasthan. She dedicated herself to improving the lives of disadvantaged communities, particularly the SCs, STs and minority groups. Additionally, she committed her efforts towards supporting women, widows and children through various welfare initiatives.
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