Himachal ex-CM’s wife succumbs to Corona, cremated
Cremation ceremony was held under the Covid-19 Rules at Palampur
Arvind Sharma
Dec 29, 2020 01:19
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Dharamshala: Santosh Shailaja (83) wife of former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar, has passed away. He breathed his last at four in the morning at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College and Hospital Tanda. His near death and other close relatives including his family are shocked. Shailaja was infected with Covid-19 for a few days and was admitted to Tanda Hospital for treatment.
Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar is also Corona positive and is also undergoing treatment at Tanda Medical College and Hospital. Two days ago, the Prime Minister of the country, State Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had called Shanta Kumar and asked for their well-being.
The cremation ceremony was held under the Covid-19 rules at Ghuggar in Palampur. Son Bikram Sharma lit the Chita. Local SDM and Tehsildar along with Shanta Kumar and Vidhan Sabha Speaker Vipin Parmar were also present on the occasion.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gurdarshan Gupta said that Santosh Shailaja, wife of former Chief Minister, breathed his last at four o'clock in the morning at Tanda Medical College Hospital.
Santosh Selja was not only known as the wife of senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar, but also had a different identity as a teacher and writer. She also wrote many books and novels. Santosh Shailaja was born on 14 April 1937 in Amritsar, Punjab. She completed his tenth standard there. After this, her parents moved to Delhi, where Santosh Shailaja completed her BA and MA (Hindi). After this she completed her B.Ed and started serving as a teacher in a Government High School in Delhi. Meanwhile, she was married to Shanta Kumar in the year 1964. She started living in Palampur. She was blessed with three daughters and a son. But she continued her writing. The first story of Santosh Shailaja as a writer was widely appreciated in Panchjanya. She also wrote regularly for the weekly Hindustan, Dharmyug and Sarika magazines.
Many leaders including Jai Parkash Nadda, CM Jai Ram Thakur sent condolence messages to the bereaved family.
