New Delhi, April 26, 2010
Rajasthan Governor
Prabha Rau
Rajasthan Governor Prabha Rau passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here today after suffering a heart attack earlier in the morning.
Ms Rau, 75, was reportedly found unconscious in the bathroom of her suite at the Jodhpur House here and was rushed to the hospital, where she died some time later, official sources said.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi was amongst those who visited the hospital after hearing of the news. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot rushed from Jaipur to Delhi on hearing of Ms Rau's death.
Ms Rau, a former President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, had earlier served as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh. She was transferred to Rajasthan in January this year after the death of then Governor S K Singh.
Ms Rau is survived by two daughters. Her husband, S Anand Rau, had predeceased her.
Ms Rau was born on March 4, 1935 in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, to a family of freedom fighters. She had a Master's degree in Political Science and a post-graduate diploma in Indian Classical Music.
She had served as Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women and as a Minister in the State Government four times, looking after the portfolios of Revenue and Cultural Affairs, Cooperation and Tourism, Education and Sports & Youth Affairs. She was Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly in 1979. She was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1999 from Wardha in Maharashtra.
Ms Rau served as President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 1984-80 and then again from June, 2004 till July, 2008. She also handled a variety of assignments in the All India Congress Committeee (AICC).
Ms Rao was Governor of Himachal Pradesh from July 19, 2008 till January this year. In between, after Mr S K Singh's death, she served for some time as the acting Governor of Rajasthan from December 3, 2009 before being transferred to Jaipur.