SHILLONG: This was a special moment for Rahul Gandhi as he hugged Peggy Martin, the 90-year-old governess of the Royal House of Tripura’s scion, Pradyot Manikya Debbarma, at the Tripura Castle on Wednesday.
Rahul brought some chocolates and pastries for Peggy who chuckled at the opportunity of meeting the fourth generation of the Nehru-Gandhis. During her time with the late Maharajah of Tripura, Kirit Bikram Kishore, who was Member of Parliament, and his wife Rajmata Bibhu Kumari Devi, also a former MP and MLA, Peggy had met Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi when they called on the Tripura royalty. This time she expressed a fervent wish to meet Rahul and this was granted.
Peggy, who has been keeping indifferent health, is mostly home-bound and is looked after by the retinue of staff at the Tripura Castle. On the day of Rahul’s visit she tidied herself up and even wore perfume to meet and greet him.
Asked how she felt about Rahul’s visit, Peggy smiled and said she has been watching him since he was growing up and now that he is a man with a huge responsibility she wanted to give him her blessings.
Indeed, Peggy Martin’s loud voice was heard echoing in the castle as she directed the staff to their task. She still loves to go to the kitchen and cook her favourite pork vindaloo and her chicken curries.
Considering that Rajmata Bibhu Devi lives in Kolkata, Peggy is virtually the queen of Tripura Castle and looks after her wards as much as their mother does. The Royal Tripura household have remained Congress Party loyalists for decades.
Rahul’s trips to Shillong are marked by these private visits to homes of the elderly and the sick where he seems to be most at home. Of course he is here to campaign for the Congress but he seems comfortable with these quick detours and his SPG guards remain unobtrusive on such occasions. On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi met with the BSF jawans even as many took selfies with him.
For Rahul, these are not just photo-ops but moments to touch base with those who genuinely express their desire to meet him, even if only in passing.