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Asha Devi Rajbansi. Picture: Supplied
Sitting with her hands clasped in her lap without make-up, her trademark flaming orange hair now coloured black and dressed in a simple skirt and blouse, the once flamboyant Asha Devi Rajbansi cut a lonely figure as she tried to come to terms with the death of her former husband on Thursday.
At 5am she was called at the modest two-bedroom flat of her eldest sister in Bayview, to say that Amichand Rajbansi’s health had taken a turn for the worse. Asha Devi, 62, wasted no time getting ready to rush to the bedside. But, fate dealt her a cruel blow – she arrived just 10 minutes too late.
Her sister, Simla, said they battled to get transport to Umhlanga.
When the Daily News visited the sisters on Thursday afternoon, they appeared grief stricken and in the dark as to what the funeral arrangements would be and if they would be attending the pre-funeral rituals on Thursday night and Friday.
Asha Devi sat on the bed and rocked back and forth, with a look of disbelief in her face. She said very little. Her face was noticeably absent of make-up and she wore no jewellery. The only glitter was that of a small black and gold dot on her forehead.
Around her, most of the walls in the flat and a cabinet were bedecked with pictures of Rajbansi, her and their children, during the late 80s and early 90s.
Minority Front placards bearing the party leader’s face, from this year’s local government elections, were also in the tiny flat, which also doubles as a tuckshop.
In the pictures she is seen adorned in glamourous saris and jewellery. Her hairstyle varied from a massive beehive-style bun to her tresses flowing on her shoulders.
These pictures, Simla said, were the only reminder her sister had of the glorious years she had shared with her ex-husband.
A quiet spoken Asha Devi just sobbed silently: “What is there to say. I am in mourning. This is not an appropriate time for me to be giving interviews. The time is not right… maybe later.”
She married Rajbansi in the mid 60s at the age of 16 and together they had five children – four daughters and a son.
In 1998, after claims of paranormal activity at their Arena Park home, the couple split in a highly publicised and messy divorce.
Speaking on behalf of her sister, Simla said Rajbansi’s wife, Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi, and his children had gathered at the hospital from just after midnight on Wednesday when he apparently suffered multiple organ failure.
“When the telephone rang at 5am, we feared the worst. My niece Vimtha was on the line. She said her mother should rush to the hospital. She told us to get a lift because none of them could leave Raj’s bedside.”
She last visited Rajbansi in November, when he first took ill.
“He was sitting in a chair and was happy to see me. He asked about our family and appeared to be in good health. I never thought he would die.” Asha Devi did not get to see him because she had been battling with flu for several months and did not want to pass it on.
When they arrived at the hospital, Shameen and Asha Devi embraced.
“Everyone is devastated. This is a huge loss to us. No matter what happened, he took care of us in whatever way he could. Even when my sister Dolly died two years ago, he took charge. He arranged the funeral and paid for it. For weeks after… he arranged for meals to be sent to our home.”
She said Asha-Devi lived by herself in a flat in the Durban CBD but had temporarily moved in with her, after Rajbansi took ill in October.
“This is a huge blow to her. She is in pain. But, with God’s guidance, I am sure she will be okay.” – Daily News
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Rajbansi’s ex 10 minutes too late