Tributes to Subrata Roy Sahara pour in

LUCKNOW:  Managing Worker and Chairman of Sahara India Pariwar, one of the biggest conglomerates of India, Subrata Roy Sahara, fondly called Saharasri, received heart touching tributes from people from all walks of life. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath expressed his deepest sorrow on the death of Saharasri while the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav said it was an emotional loss of the State and our country as Saharasri was not only a successful businessman but also a person of big heart who helped and supported countless individuals.

Saharasri passed away on November 14 at 10.30 pm due to cardio respiratory arrest following an extended battle with complications arising from metastatic malignancy, hypertension, and diabetes at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute in Mumbai. He was brought to Lucknow on November 15 and his last rites took place on November 16. In this moment of sorrow his wife Swapna Roy, daughters-in-law Richa Roy - wife of his elder son Sushanto Roy and Chandni Roy - wife of younger son Seemanto Roy received immensely emotional condolences from thousands of people.

Among the first who met with Swapna Roy in Mumbai immediately after the death of Saharasri was Amitabh Bachchan who was accompanied by his son Abhishek Bachchan and his daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda. They reached Sahara Star hotel at Mumbai to pay their last respects. Amitabh Bachchan used his blog also to mourn the loss. World Badminton Champion PV Sindhu said, “It is heartbroken to learn about the passing of Saharasri. He has always treated me with nothing but love, affection, and respect.”

Saharasri founded Sahara India Pariwar in 1978 with Rs. 2000, one 10’ x 12’ office room and 2 assistants, and transformed the landscape of micro-saving in India. He offered financial services to the unbanked and financially excluded population by educating and inculcating the habit of saving in them. In 2004, Sahara group was termed by Time magazine as “the second-largest employer in India” after Indian Railways. The group operates through more than 5,000 establishments spread across India and has a field and office workforce of around 12 lakhs under the Sahara India umbrella.

On the question of what is the way forward for the group, Sahara said, “Sahara India Pariwar is a professionally managed organization. The organization has robust fundamentals and well-defined organizational structure. All the business verticals are already headed by the efficient and professionally skilled people of their respective fields. Saharasri Ji has always been and will always remain our source of inspiration. Sahara India Pariwar is committed to uphold his legacy and will continue to honour his vision in driving the organization with the same force and determination.”

Subrata Roy Sahara more than a businessman was a nationalist and philanthropist. Post Kargil War, the then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee praised Sahara India led by Subrata Roy Sahara for providing financial support to the 320 families of martyrs. He received profound affection from Mother Teresa also on many occasions. Saharasri Subrata Roy gave financial assistance to families of martyrs of Kargil war, Mumbai terror attack by paying five times of their gross salaries for next ten years and beyond for those families who had underage children, Dantewada Massacre victims, assisted the victims of natural calamity by getting them relocated and rehabilitated, took healthcare services to the remote corners of the country via a fleet of mobile health vans, initiated adult literacy and vocational training programmes, started projects for the rehabilitation of physically challenged people and annually organized mass marriages ceremony for 101 underprivileged girls from all faiths and communities of the society.

Subrata Roy Sahara was a prime promoter and patron of Indian sports. He himself was fond of badminton and used to play every day. He strongly believed that sport is the most healthy, energetic and spirited facet of society, and promoted Indian sports on regional national and international levels. Apart from sponsoring the Indian Cricket and Hockey Teams for more than a decade, Sahara adopted Indian Boxing, Wrestling, Archery, Shooting, Track & Field, Tennis and Volleyball also and extended support to a large number ofsportspersons across these sporting disciplines.

The deep relationship that Saharasri enjoyed with the players can be gauged through the condolence message from the great Cricketer Yuvraj Singh who said, ‘Saharasri was a great man and a warrior. When I got diagnosed with cancer, he was one of the few people who stood by me and supported me. Saharasri’s sad demise is a huge loss and a very difficult void to fill.”

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