Subrata Roy bids adieu to mother

Lucknow: Sahara group chief Subrata Roy had not met his mother Chhabi Roy for two years. But they spoke on phone and each time she prayed for him and he promised to return home soon. On Saturday, he was heard saying through tears, "I never thought I would return but not get to see her even one last time." Roy reached Lucknow on Friday night after being granted a four-week parole to perform his mother's last rites.His sons Sushanto and Seemanto, brother-in-law Ashok and family friend O P Srivastava were right by his side in the moment of grief.
Sitting next to the body, Roy thanked each of the 6,500-odd visitors who reached his home to pay tributes to 'Mataji'. The visitors included chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party leader and state minister Shivpal Singh, actor Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek, actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar and his wife Nadira, hockey Olympian Dhananjay Pillai, singer Sapna Mukherjee and several renowned persons from the city.
Thousands of Sahara Group employees from across UP and other states in their black and white uniform were seen on all the roads leading to the Sahara Shaher. Holding rose and marigold petals in their hands, they waited in a kilometer long queue to pay tributes.
Many broke down because they had been touched by Mataji at some point in time. "She extended her love and blessings to all of us and considered all of us her children," said Richa, an employee of the business group. An officer from Shahjahanpur S K Singh said, "It was customary for every newly wed to come and meet Mataji and seek her blessings. And she showered her love on all of us," he said. Anandita Shri from Kanpur recalled, "I will never forget her soft hands which cuddled my cheeks."
At 4.30 pm, the funeral procession started for Baikuntha Dham. The open truck carrying her was swarmed by Sahara group employees. Wading through the crowd, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav stopped near the gates to offer floral tributes and shake hands with Roy. The procession turned into padyatra at 1090 square in Gomtinagar to reach its destination at 5.45 pm. Moments before sunset, Subrata Roy performed the mukhagnee ritual.