Teacher who taught CM Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, other Maha politicians, dies at Vasai old age home

Suman Laxman Randive. Pic/Hanif Patel

The octogenarian teacher Suman Laxman Randive, who taught many politicians, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, MNS leader Raj Thackeray and NCP leader Jayant Patil, at Balmohan Vidyamandir in Dadar, breathed her last at an old age home in Vasai on Sunday night.

"She suddenly fell sick a couple of days ago and did not eat anything hours before she breathed her last. She left us forever at 8:30 pm even before the doctor arrived," said Sarita Moro, owner of New Life Foundation, where the 88-year-old was staying. The fellow inmates would address Randive as 'teacher'.

"My husband conducted her last rites as she (Randive) desired. We have also informed her distant relatives and they are on their way to Vasai," Moro told mid-day.
Virar-based general physician Dr Sunil Wani, who regularly visits the old age home, told mid-day that Randive had become weak due to her old age.

The mid-day team learnt about Randive staying in the old age home last year when cyclone Tauktae blew off the asbestos roof of her shelter. Randive taught mathematics and science to primary school children at Balmohan Vidyamandir until her retirement in 1991.

Pic/Hanif Patel

In an interview with mid-day, Randive had sent SOS to CM Uddhav Thackeray after cyclone Tauktae damaged a shelter home which is run by a couple in Vasai west.

After the newspaper hit the stands, the Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, came together to the rescue, keeping their political differences at bay.

The proprietor of S R Dalvi Foundation, which works for the welfare of teachers in the state, had donated Rs 1.50 lakh to the New Life Foundation.

Randive had thanked Uddhav, Raj Thackeray and others after truckloads of relief material, including bricks, cement bags, asbestos sheets, mattresses, mosquito nets, bed sheets, pillow, iron angles, ration and first aid kits, reached the New Life Foundation.