Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 7
Activist Neeru Khattar fondly remembers a petite Swaraj’s ride back to Chandigarh in her Doli following her wedding in Jalandhar, Dr Raj Sharma shares memories of Swaraj (in 9th standard) preparing for fancy dress — as a leprosy hit beggar.
Friends say even after years of losing touch, she had a talent for recognising and reaching out for them even in the midst of a crowd.
Neeru Khattar, member Inner Wheel Club, at whose wedding in 1971 Sushma Swaraj was a guest, says, “It was July 30th 1971, my wedding was over and we were leaving for Chandigarh. Sushma accompanied me with my Doli in the same car.
She was my younger brother Vipul Beri’s “rakhi sister.” She as student of Law Department and Vipul as a student of Chemical Engineering Department of Panjab University, Chandigarh, represented in declamations and debates, as an excellent unbeatable team in all Youth Festivals.
“My brother is now in Philadelphia, running his own business but they kept in touch always. As for us, we met in Panchkula, at a Rotary meet. Then a minister in the Vajpayee government, Sushma was the chief guest. We were little apprehensive of meeting her, unsure if she would recognise us. But no sooner did she spot us, she came up to us, embraced me and my husband, and said, “why have you put on so much weight?” says Khattar.
I realised, over the years she did not change at all and remained the same — our little sister.”
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