June 12th, 2025, as etched in the history of not just Gujarat but the entire nation as a dark day. Sky and land grieved together the loss of innocent souls amidst the impact of the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash. The flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed shortly after the take- off (30 seconds). It claimed the lives of many, not only among the 242 passengers and air staff but tragically also many on the ground. One such lost soul remains 68-year-old Vijay Ramniklal Rupani, Gujarat’s 16th Chief Minister (2016–2021).
Known for his calm and composed leadership, Mr. Rupani, though, stepped down from formal office in 2021 but continued to remain a guiding figure in Gujarat politics. His passing was a shock, something Gujrat was not ready for.
Born on August 2, 1956, in Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar), Vijay Ramniklal Rupani was the youngest among seven siblings in a Jain Bania family. His father, Ramniklal Rupani, like other Gujarati traders during British Rule, immigrated there for better opportunities. Political instability and a military coup in Burma in the 1960s forced many other Indian-origin families to flee.
The Rupani family returned to Rajkot and started life from scratch. At a very young age, the boy Vijay absorbed the resilience he witnessed in his father to overcome the atrocities and rebuild their lives in India. Inspiration from his father shaped his values and personality, more inclined towards empathy for mankind, self-reliance, and perseverance.
The emergency period imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 also marked as true political awakening of Rupani. He became a part of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and was actively involved with Jan Sangh (the predecessor of Bharatiya Janata Party).
While he was imprisoned for 11 months under the MISA Act, the jail term became a turning point in his life as, from an idealistic young man, he grew into a committed political activist.
Vijay Rupani was not coming from a place of privilege or inheritance. His real identity was marked by the values he cultivated within himself: displacement, discipline, and determination. His journey was an epitome of the tenacity of a man who believed in service over showmanship. Early trials of his family taught him resilience, education gave him clarity, and his sentence during an emergency armed him with a moral compass that guided his way throughout his leadership.
Gujarat’s Heartbreak: Grief in Every Valley and One-Smoke-Hazed Sky
The plane crash marked the biggest aviation disaster in Indian history in a decade, claimed more than 240 lives, also left the entire state in disbelief. Gujarat, a state that has witnessed immense growth and progress in recent years, where streets always hustle and bustle with commercial activities, was now quiet. Locals lit the candles and prayed for departing souls. In Rajkot, thousands of people lined up for the final procession of their former chief minister, offering flowers and chanting “Om Shanti”.
Leaders across the various political corridors came together to share the moment of grief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “heartbreaking beyond words”. All leaders, even from the opposition party, paid their tribute and respect, which was a rare sight to behold.
Public offices were draped in black flags while public places and schools observed silence. Special prayers were held in religious places, urging more strength to the families dealing with the crisis.
Rupani departed for London to visit his daughter. DNA test later identified his remains. Grief-stricken family, especially his son Rushabh Rupani, expressed their gratitude for the public support and comfort extended to the families of the victims.
June 16th, 2025, Rajkot offered respect and gratitude to Rupani by offering a state funeral, his final journey covered with white flowers, official honours, and tearful salutes. Social media was flooded with millions offering tribute, sharing his inspiring stories.
While the entire Gujarat echoed with grief, there was a wave of reflection on a leadership rooted in integrity. Vijay Rupani had left the political office when, in 2021, he stepped down as Chief Minister; his legacy grew stronger with the tragedy that reminds people of empathy, calm demeanour, and connection to roots, as well as ordinary lives.
His resilience in the times of turbulence has now become a guiding memory for the state seeking balance after a huge loss. The crash has rewritten the daily narrative of Gujrat from every nook and corner. While every life prays in silence, the memory of Vijay Ramniklal Rupani continues to guide Gujarat and India towards greater solidarity. In grief, we find unity. In unity, we find hope.
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