Passing of Budhini Mejan, Known as ‘Nehru’s Garland’
Budhini Mejan, an 85-year-old native of Jharkhand who gained notoriety as the “Nehru’s Garland” girl, has passed away. Her claim to fame stemmed from an incident in 1959, when as a 15-year-old, she presented a garland to then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during the inauguration of the Panjeth Dam in Jharkhand, only to face expulsion from her community as a result.
Assigned by Damodarwali Corporation officials to present the garland to Nehru, Budhini was also employed as a construction worker at the dam site. Despite Nehru’s gesture of returning the garland and publicly acknowledging the tribal community’s contribution to the dam, Budhini faced ostracization upon returning to her village.
It was in this difficult time that Sudhir Datta, a non-tribal man, came to her aid and stood by her side. Budhini went on to give birth to a daughter, Ratnadatta Rajiv Gandhi, and later secured a permanent job at the Damodarwali Corporation during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister, after he heard her story from Ananda Gopal Mukhopadhyay, the MP of Asansol.
Following the passing of her husband, Budhini continued to reside in Budhini Panchet until her death on Friday night. The last rites were conducted under the guidance of the Panchayat and Damodarwali Corporation.
Source:
Sarah Joseph’s novel ‘Budhini’
New Delhi – Budhini Mejan (85), a native of Jharkhand, who was branded as ‘Nehru’s wedding’ by the flower garland given to Jawaharlal Nehru, has died. In 1959, Budhini was 15 years old when he was expelled for giving a garland to the then Prime Minister Nehru who came to inaugurate the Panjeth Dam in Jharkhand. Sarah Joseph has written that life through the novel ‘Budhini’.
Budhini was tasked by the Damodarwali Corporation officials to receive a flower garland for Nehru. Budhini was also a construction worker there. Nehru lovingly returned the garland he had given to Budhini, and dedicated the dam to the country, keeping Budhini as the representative of the tribes who worked for the dam. However, when Budhini returned to the village, she was rejected by the Santal tribal community.
Sudhir Datta, a Bengali youth, joined Budhini in a difficult situation when a man from outside the tribe faced a tirade for wearing a garland. She gave birth to a daughter named Ratnadatta Rajiv Gandhi, who heard Budhini’s story from Asansol MP Ananda Gopal Mukhopadhyay, gave her a permanent job in the Damodarwali Corporation when he was Prime Minister. She continued her life in Budhini Panchet where her husband died earlier. It ended on Friday night. The last rites were performed under the direction of the Panchayat and Damodarwali Corporation.
English Summary:
Budhni Mejhan dies
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