MANDI: In a moving Facebook post shared on the occasion of Karwa Chauth, Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri poured his heart out, expressing his enduring grief over the loss of his wife, Simmi Agnihotri.
The post, laced with deep emotion, offers a poignant glimpse into his overwhelming sorrow, even nine months after her untimely death. Incidentally, it will Mukesh Agnihotri’s first Karwa Chauth festival minus his wife.
Irreplaceable void
Agnihotri’s words clearly reflect that his wife’s absence has left a void in his life that no amount of time can fill. “Not a moment goes by when I don’t think of her,” he wrote as if to underline the eternal bond he shared with his late wife.
Her memories, he confessed, still shake him to the core, leaving him haunted by the pain of her absence.
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Fond memories of last Karwa Chauth
Reflecting on last year’s Karwa Chauth, Agnihotri reminisced about how his wife Simmi had organised a grand celebration in their village. “She gathered all the women, handed out bangles and traditional gifts and made it a festival for everyone,” he recalled. The event was a huge success, with thousands of women joining in the celebration, applying henna, singing and rejoicing together.
Amidst the joy of the occasion, Simmi had mentioned something eerily prophetic, hinting at her own death. Agnihotri recounted her words: “She casually said that she would prefer to die in Haroli and watch from above who would place wood on her funeral pyre.”
At the time, he dismissed it as just another conversation, never imagining how soon those words would take on a haunting reality.
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Silence of Loss
This year’s Karwa Chauth, however, is starkly different for Mukesh Agnihotri. The bangles that once jingled with life are silent, the henna-clad hands that once brought smiles are no more and the celebrations have been replaced by an unbearable quiet.
“There’s only a profound silence and a loneliness that will last a lifetime. The emptiness is such that nothing can ever fill it,” he wrote, his words heavy with grief and longing.
Credited her as pillar of strength
Agnihotri’s affection for his wife was no secret. He often credited Simmi as his pillar of strength, the quiet force behind his success. “If I am where I am today, it’s because of her unwavering support,” he admitted.
While Agnihotri was immersed in his political duties, it was Simmi who bridged the gap, personally attending to the joys and sorrows of the people in his constituency.
“She was my partner not just in life, but in every battle I fought, every challenge I faced,” he said. In her, he found both a confidante and a silent leader who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure his legacy thrived.
Emotional couplet hints at pain
Mukesh Agnihotri concluded his post with an emotional couplet that encapsulates the pain he continues to feel since his wife’s passing. Though he has thrown himself back into work, leading his state with the same passion and dedication, the pain of losing Simmi is a constant companion, casting a shadow over his every step.
Simmi Agnihotri passed away in February 2024 due to a heart attack in Haroli, their ancestral village in Una district. Despite efforts to rush her to PGI-Chandigarh, she succumbed to the attack en route.
At that time, Mukesh Agnihotri had also taken to Facebook to share the heart-breaking news with the public, writing, “Our beloved Simmi Agnihotri has left me and our daughter Aastha behind.”
The post had drawn an outpouring of condolences and support from across the state, a testament to Simmi’s deep connection with the people.
