Atal Bihari Vajpayee Passes Away at 93; Kolkata’s Beriwala Family Remembers Him as Family Member

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away today at the age of 93 in AIIMS

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away today at the age of 93 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The condition of the former prime minister worsened in the last 24 hours and was put on an advanced life-support system. His one of the closest family friends, Beriwala family, today remembered him not as a politician but as the closest family member.

Whenever the veteran politician visited Kolkata, he never stayed in a five-star hotel but preferred to stay at CR Avenue at Beriwala’s residence. Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to visit his family members and preferred staying with them. Remembering his stay, Ghanashyam Beriwala said that he liked the non-vegetarian food, especially fish.

As Beriwalas are vegetarians, Vajpayee used to call phuchkawala at their residence and ask him to add more spices before having it.

Ghanshyam Beriwala, a renowned businessman was a friend of Vajpayee and met him for the first time in 1952 during an RSS meeting. In 1956, Vajpayee visited Kolkata and stayed at his house. Kamal Beriwala, son of Ghanyashyam Beriwala said, “He used to stay at our top floor room, which does not even have attached toilet”.

Vajpayee was so close to this family that even after he became an MP, he often used to come to their house and used to sit for hours with lady members of Beriwala house. Once, Atal Bihari also prepared tea for newly married Prativa, daughter in law of Ghanashyam.

Prativa said, “I was astonished, how a political person is so simple even after he became an MP. He loved chatting with all lady members of this house, and we never felt he was a Prime Minister.”

In 1981, Rekha starring Umrao Jaan was released.  Atal Bihari was in Kolkata at Beriwala’s house when the film hit the theatres. He saw the movie three times overnight, said, Kamal.  Not only this he carried the VCD with him to Delhi.

The Beriwala house kept all the memories of Atal Bihari in their family photo album. Even today they keep the room as it was in the early 90’s.