An ode to Sushma Swaraj: Husband shares rare pic on Twitter, tributes pour in

In August last year, India lost a leader and a politician who had altered the course of Indian diplomacy and foreign affairs, both on the ground and on social media as well. Sushma Swaraj, only the second woman to hold the office after Indira Gandhi, managed to end the tyranny of distance for millions of Indians overseas, always coming to their help. From passport glitches to visa woes, or, coming to the rescue of Indians stranded in difficult situations abroad, Sushma Swaraj was just a tweet away.

On her 68th birth anniversary, her husband, Swaraj Kaushal, the former governor of Mizoram, took to Twitter to share a photograph of the late leader. Swaraj can be seen sporting a radiant smile in the picture, and in front of her, lies a birthday cake, with ‘Happy Birthday, Ma’ written on it.


Swaraj Kaushal called the late leader, ‘the joy of our lives’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, sent out a tweet on the occasion of Swaraj’s birth anniversary. The PM lauded her for being an exceptional colleague and an outstanding minister.


“She epitomised dignity, decency and unwavering commitment to public service,” wrote the PM.

Also paying tribute to the leader was Dr S Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs of India. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the diplomat-turned-minister, “#MEA family misses her in particular”.

Jaishankar, who has taken over the MEA baton in the Modi 2.0 government, also announced that the, Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra will be renamed as the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, and the Foreign Service Institute as the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, as a mark of respect.


The Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra is a cultural centre reflecting India's connection with its diaspora while the Foreign Service Institute is a renowned institution where diplomats are trained.

For the unversed, Sushma Swaraj had tried to inculcate a sense of assertiveness in the Indian diaspora. She was very responsive on Twitter and helped Indians who were stuck in difficult situations. Swaraj even helped Pakistanis who wanted to get Indian visas for medical treatment.

Swaraj was one of the most followed foreign ministers on Twitter globally.