Rahul meets Nurse Rajamma, who held him first as a newborn

Rahul meets Nurse Rajamma, who held him first as a newborn

mangaloretoday network

Wayanad, June 9, 2019: Rajamma Vavathil couldn’t control her happiness on meeting the Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whom she held in her hands as a newborn at a Delhi hospital. The 72-year-old retired nurse embraced the moment and came face to face with Gandhi after 49 years. Rahul hugged and held her hands when she came to see him with her family.

On June 19, 1970 Vavathil was on duty at Delhi’s Holy Family Hospital, when Rahul was born. In 1987 she returned to Kerala after taking Voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) from service. She is now settled in Kalloor near Sulthan Bathery.

Amidst his busy schedule, Gandhi, on a thanksgiving visit to Wayanad, which has sent him to Parliament this time with a massive victory margin of 4.31 lakh votes, spent some time with Vavathil’s family.

The Congress chief also got some photographs clicked with few party workers and their kin.

As a trainee nurse, Vavathil had taken care of Gandhi at Delhi’s Holy Family Hospital after his birth on June 19, 1970. The Congress chief also greeted Vavathil’s family members, including her husband and grandchildren, who waited for hours to meet him.

Gandhi paid full attention when Vavathil talked about witnessing his birth and taking him in her hands as a newborn. Before leaving, she gifted home-made jackfruit chips and sweets to him and Rahul promised to meet her again.

"I am really happy and excited. I was the first among the few who took Rahul as a newborn in their hands. All those memories gushed though my mind when I met him again," Vavathil told reporters.

"I was lucky as I was the first among the few who took the newborn in their hands. He was so cute. I was thrilled...we all were thrilled to see the grandson of (then) prime minister Indira Gandhi," Vavathil had said.

His father Rajiv Gandhi and uncle Sanjay Gandhi were waiting outside the labour room of the hospital when his mother Sonia Gandhi was taken for delivery, she recalled.