Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir comes across as a personality who wears his heart on his sleeve. Be it on the cricket field or off it, the BJP MP has been passionate about his likes and dislikes.
Some of his controversial remarks against former players might have caused much heartburn, but Gambhir has been lauded for his active role in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country. He has announced that he will be contributing his two years' salary as an MP to the PM-CARES fund. He has also pledged one month's salary earlier and Rs 1 crore from his MPLAD fund.
Amid the COVID-19 lockdown, another of Gambhir's gesture is winning hearts. As per an IANS report, he performed the last rites of his domestic help Saraswati Patra, who passed away at a private hospital in New Delhi.
Patra, who was battling diabetes and blood pressure, has been with Gambhir's family for the past six years, and hailed from Odisha. Since her mortal remains could not be sent to her family in Odisha, Gambhir took it upon himself to perform the last rites.
“Taking care of my little one can never be domestic help. She was family. Performing her last rites was my duty. Always believed in dignity irrespective of caste, creed, religion or social status. Only way to create a better society. That''s my idea of India! Om Shanti,” he tweeted.
Gambhir has two daughters, Aazeen and Anaiza.
His noble gesture was hailed widely on social media, with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is from Odisha, thanking him for his “compassion”.
“Taking care of Saraswati throughout the course of her illness, he also ensured her dignity in death by performing her last rites himself since her mortal remains could not be sent to her family back home in Odisha. Thank Shri @GautamGambhir for this humanitarian gesture,” Pradhan tweeted.