Patna: Vidyawati Devi, the mother-in-law of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, passed away on Friday evening at the age of 90 after battling prolonged illness. She was undergoing treatment at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna, where she had been admitted for the past two months. According to family members, her health had been deteriorating steadily due to age-related complications, and doctors described her condition as critical in recent days. She breathed her last at around 6.40pm, bringing a period of anxious waiting for the family to a sorrowful end.
Soon after the news of her death, grief spread through the chief minister’s family and close relatives. On Saturday, her last rites were performed at Bans Ghat in Patna in a calm and dignified manner. Chief minister Nitish Kumar reached the cremation ground along with his son, Nishant Kumar, to pay his final respects. Religious rituals were carried out with full solemnity, as family members, relatives and close associates stood together in silence to honour her memory. Bihar government minister Ashok Choudhary and several others were also present to express their condolences in person.
Family members said Vidyawati Devi had been unwell for a long time and required constant medical care. During her treatment, the family remained closely involved, visiting her regularly and staying in touch with doctors about her condition. Nishant Kumar, in particular, visited the hospital almost every evening to enquire about his grandmother’s health and spend time with her. Within the family, she was remembered as a gentle and simple woman who valued family traditions and lived a quiet life away from public attention.
Following her death, condolences poured in from political leaders, ministers and people from various sections of society across Bihar. Many expressed their deep sorrow and prayed for peace for the departed soul, while offering strength to the bereaved family. Her passing also brought back memories of the death of Nitish Kumar’s father-in-law, Krishnanandan Sinha, who died about seven years ago and was known as a respected teacher in the Harnaut area. Vidyawati Devi’s death has left an irreplaceable void in the family, and people across the state have shared in the grief of the chief minister and his loved ones.
