Mohsina Kidwai, Congress veteran and former Union minister, passes away at 94

NEW DELHI: Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai passed away at the age of 94, her family confirmed on Tuesday, according to news agency PTI.A senior Congress figure with a career spanning decades, Kidwai was known not just for her political acumen but also for her deep-rooted association with the Nehru-Gandhi family. Her journey in public life reflected a rare blend of political resilience, personal conviction and cultural depth.Born into a conservative Muslim zamindar family, Kidwai had not initially envisioned a career in politics. She once recalled that she “dreamt of becoming a musician”, but her life took a decisive turn after her marriage into a politically active family. Her father-in-law, freedom fighter Jamul-ur-Rehman Kidwai, played a key role in introducing her to the political world.A defining early moment came in 1954, when as a young bride she visited Teen Murti House and met Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. That interaction, she would later say, planted the seeds of a long political journey and a close association with the Nehru-Gandhi family.At the age of 28, Kidwai won her first election from Barabanki — a milestone that set the course for her decades-long political career. Over the years, she held several key portfolios, including railways, civil aviation and urban development, earning a reputation as a steady and dependable administrator.Despite being considered media-shy, Kidwai was deeply connected with grassroots politics. She remained actively involved in party affairs, working closely with Sonia Gandhi and playing a role in organisational matters across states such as Punjab, Assam and Chandigarh.Her political life saw both highs and lows, often independent of the Congress party’s electoral fortunes. Notably, she secured a sweeping electoral victory in the post-Emergency period — a time widely regarded as one of the Congress’s most challenging phases.Kidwai also shared close personal and professional ties with Indira Gandhi and later Rajiv Gandhi. She fondly recalled her last meeting with Indira Gandhi shortly before her assassination, a moment that left a deep emotional impact on her.Beyond politics, Kidwai nurtured a quieter, more personal passion — Urdu poetry. Away from the public eye, she spent time writing, rarely sharing her work with others.Throughout her career, she remained a strong advocate for greater participation of women in politics, often expressing concern over their declining representation. “Politics is about people,” she had said, emphasising her belief in staying connected with the masses despite personal discomfort with crowds.