Beyond the oath: How CM Fadnavis's COVID-19 vow transformed a widow's grief into grace
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis recently performed 'Kanyadaan' for Preeti Adake, one of 100 widows who lost their husbands to COVID-19, whom he had earlier pledged to support as part of efforts by Sobat
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis recently performed 'Kanyadaan' for Preeti Adake, one of 100 widows who lost their husbands to COVID-19, whom he had earlier pledged to support as part of efforts by Sobat
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis recently performed 'Kanyadaan' for Preeti Adake, one of 100 widows who lost their husbands to COVID-19, whom he had earlier pledged to support as part of efforts by Sobat
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis recently performed 'Kanyadaan' for Preeti Adake, one of 100 widows who lost their husbands to COVID-19, whom he had earlier pledged to support as part of efforts by Sobat
A very touching remarriage ceremony took place in Nagpur on Thursday. Preeti Adake got married to Shivam Singh Thakur.
This is Preeti’s second marriage, while it is Shivam’s first. Preeti, a mother of two children, had lost her husband during COVID-19. Since then, Sobat, an organisation from Nagpur had been helping her. As part of these efforts, CM Devendra Fadnavis had taken her guardianship, and naturally, he performed the Kanyadaan ceremony at the wedding as her guardian.
When he had been the Opposition leader during the MVA rule, Fadnavis had taken guardianship of 100 women who had lost their husbands to COVID-19. Preeti had been one among them. In all, Sobat has helped 293 women who lost their husbands during the COVID-19 period.
When the wedding took place yesterday, the CM himself made it a point to remain present, and had blessed Preeti when she began her new life.
Fadnavis has decided that he will continue to support all 100 women—now 99—till they remarry. All these 293 women were in the age group of 19-25 years when they lost their husbands and it was Sobat, a support group headed by former legislator Sandeep Joshi, that had been helping these women.
Joshi has been a close friend of Fadnavis' since they were teenagers, due to which they decided to help the women together. As a result, Fadnavis came forward and took guardianship of 100 women out of the 293.
This writer recalls Fadnavis travelling from one district to another during various waves of COVID and comforting people as the Leader of Opposition. When he himself came down with COVID, he admitted himself in the government-run St George’s Hospital—a rare sight as top politicians normally rush to top private hospitals.
Apart from Fadnavis, one cannot but admire the courage of Preeti and her husband Shivam. The latter got to know Preeti from the Sobat group itself. He began helping her and eventually they became friends.
Reports say that it was Shivam who made sure that Preeti continued her education in the pharmacy field, and helped her in raising the kids. Their friendship soon turned into love. He accepted her kids once they realised their mutual respect and affection for each other, after which they decided to marry.
Preeti has started life afresh. Hopefully, all women being supported by Sobat, Joshi, and Fadnavis will be able to make fresh starts in their lives soon.