‘She Was Like My Mother,’ Says Hamid Whom Swaraj Rescued from Pak

File photos of Hamid Ansari and his mother Fauzia meeting Sushma Swaraj 

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bharadwaj

During her stint as the External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj carved her identity by lending a helping hand to a number of people . Mumbai-based Hamid Ansari is among the many Indians, who were bailed out by Swaraj, after getting stuck in foreign countries.

Hamid had come in touch with a Pakistani woman through a social networking site. However, when he went to Pakistan to meet the woman, he got nabbed by the Pakistani s ecurity agencies.

Six years down the line, Hamid could return home due to persistent efforts of Sushma Swaraj.

Speaking to The Quint, Hamid said that he was shocked to learn about Swaraj's death and that it is a personal loss for him.

She Was Like a Mother to Me: Hamid

Hamid told The Quint, "I deeply respect her and she will forever be alive in my heart. She was like a mother to me as I owe her my second birth. She guided me even after I returned from Pakistan. Her death is a huge loss for me."

Hamid further said that Swaraj kept pushing the Pakistan authorities till they gave a positive response and wrote as many as 96 letters during the period.

"She used to assure my mother about my return," Hamid told The Quint.

Hamid's Mother a Fan of Swaraj's Shayari

Sushma Swaraj's political life spanned over 40 years during which she emerged as a fiery orator. Her speeches in Parliament used to attract rapt attention even from the Opposition.

Speaking to The Quint, Hamid's mother Fauziya said she was fond of her speeches Swaraj's speeches and more so when she would use Urdu in her speeches.

Fauziya also recalled a Sher that Swaraj had aimed at the Opposition:

“Tu idhar udhar ki na baat kar ye bata ki qafila kyuun luta, Mujhe rahzanon se gila nahin tiri rahbari ka saval hai”.