Never thought my son would become so popular: R R Patil's mother

ldquoMy son was a simple man but today I am shocked to see the crowd that has gathered for a last glimpse of himrdquo said deceased NCP leader Raosaheb Ramrao Patilrsquos mother Bhagirati 78 after the former home ministerrsquos body was brought to his native village Anjani about 12 km from SangliR R Patilrsquos mother Bhagirati in red waits for his last rites to be performed in Anjani village yesterdayPatil passed away at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on Monday after battling oral cancer that arose due to his tobaccochewing habit With the news of his demise people rushed to Anjani to wait for his body to arrive there so they could pay their last respects to lsquoAabarsquo the Marathi term for a father figureAs a mark of respect and mourning for former Home Minister R R Patil the Tricolour was at halfmast at the Mayorrsquos bungalow at Shivaji Park yesterday PicAtul KambleldquoFor others he was Aaba but for me he was always my Raosaheb I never thought that my son would become so popular in Maharashtra He was still a child for merdquo said the 78yearold grieving mother Yesterday Patilrsquos mortal remains were taken in a procession first to Tasgaon tehsil then to his villageR R Patil passed away on Monday after battling oral cancer which arose from his habit of chewing tobaccoHis elder daughter Smita 24 is a law student at Government Law College She was seen weeping over her fatherrsquos body crying ldquoPappa utha nardquo Papa please get up But later when the police had trouble controlling the crowd it was she who raised her hands and requested people to stay calmHer younger sister Supriya 19 who is an MBBS student was supporting their mother and brother Rohit 15 But it was when Patilrsquos body was placed on the pyre 45 minutes later that his mother crumpled in grief and had to be seated and comfortedBhagirati remembers him as a determined man in life and in sickness Despite the fact that he had had to struggle a lot he never complained about it she said adding further ldquoEven in his pain he never told me He fought his best but God had a different destination in mind for him It is unfortunate that he has left before me such a day should not dawn for any motherrdquoFamily manWhile he was passionate about bringing relief to people with grievances he would always make time for his mother ldquoWhenever he came to Anjani he would first touch my feet and then after a cup of tea he would address the peoplersquos grievancesWhen he was here he preferred food cooked by me He loved eating brinjal Even when he was not here he would call every day to ask after my healthrdquo Bhagirati recalled Patilrsquos niece Jyoti 19 an engineering student said he placed great emphasis on education and moralsldquoMy uncle was a unique man He loved educated people and it was his wish that we master academics Every year we had a family gathering in Mumbai when he would ask us questions from our syllabus to check that we were studying hardHe always taught us simple living and high thinking He never gave me or any of his children pocket money as he believed that money had to be earnedrdquolsquoJai and VeerursquoPatilrsquos personal assistant for over 30 years P L Kamble said their bond went far beyond work back to when both were students at N S Law College in Sangli ldquoPatil and I were college friends and roommates Everyone use to call us Sholayrsquos Jai and Veeru And today my Jai has left merdquo he saidPatil was keen on sports and movies Kamble recalled adding ldquoHe played volleyball in college but was also keen on kabaddi and khokho He loved watching movies and it was almost mandatory for us to watch them firstdayfirstshow He especially liked Nana Patekar a lotrdquo