Pillar behind Dr Randhawa is no more
CHANDIGARH : This June, Iqbal Kaur Randhawa would have turned 102. Though she lost her husband, Dr MS Randhawa, the first chief commissioner of Chandigarh who was instrumental in giving shape to City Beautiful, 32 years ago, everyone who knew her remembers her as his pillar of strength.
“I have known the family since 1956. She never worked outside of home but she was always the support Dr Randhawa needed. She kept the family together, especially since Dr Randhawa stayed busy and was so passionate about his work,” says writer Gulzar Singh Sandhu.
Iqbal Kaur was keeping unwell for the past few weeks. She passed away on Monday night. She is survived by her son Jatinder, daughter-in-law Pinki, grandsons Satinder and Ranjit Randhawa and a daughter. Despite having lost her husband, a son and a daughter, Iqbal Kaur remained spirited and was an appreciator of the arts like her husband.
In a condolence message, Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi president Diwan Manna expressed sorrow at the loss of “an active and enthusiastic supporter of all causes related to the arts”.
“She was active till very recently and would always be available whenever her presence was required for any activity being undertaken by the Akademi,” he said. Dr Randhawa was the founder president of the akademi and former chairman and founder of the Punjab Arts Council.
DOWN MEMORY LANE During an interview to Hindustan Times in 2016 soon after she turned 100, Iqbal Kaur recalled how she was only 16 when she married Dr Randhawa, the Indian Civil Service (ICS) officer who steered the Green Revolution.
“My husband once said: ‘Agle janam mein bhi tumhara saath chahoonga (I would want your company in the next life too),” she had said. That’s a compliment she treasured.