One of the most eloquent Indian leaders, former Minister of External Affairs and seven-time MP, Sushma Swaraj passed away at AIIMS on Tuesday evening, soon after the Parliament completed the task of integrating Jammu and Kashmir fully with the Union of India.

Minutes after hearing the much-awaited news of her cherished dream coming true, Swaraj, 67, suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). She was immediately taken to the intensive Care Unit where a team of doctors unsuccessfully tried to revive her. Earlier this year, Swaraj had announced her intent of not running for the Lok Sabha polls.

The news of her demise came as a shock to hundreds of BJP leaders and lakhs of party karyakartas who were rejoicing the victory in the Parliament. Within minutes, the mood went from sheer bliss to mourning as her popularity transcended political lines. There was mutual respect and genuine concern for human values that amply reflected as leaders from across the political spectrum felt the loss and rushed to pay their tribute at AIIMS.

HER CUP RUNNETH OVER

2014-19: External Affairs Minister; second woman to do so after Indira Gandhi   2009: Became Leader of Opposition in the 15th Lok Sabha    1998: Took over as the first female Chief Minister of Delhi   1977: Youngest-ever Cabinet Minister in the Govt of Haryana the age of 25 years

Besides Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Harshvardhan, Nitin Gadkari and Prakash Javadekar, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also reached AIIMS to offer condolences to the family members in their hour of grief.

Born in a Punjabi refugee family on February 14, 1952 in Ambala Cantonment, Haryana, Swaraj's father Hardev Sharma was a prominent RSS member.

After completing her graduation from SD College of Ambala in 1970, she pursued a degree LLB.

Her entry into politics was as a student leader in 1970 as she led several protests against the government of Indira Gandhi. Because of her exceptional oratory and command over several languages, she was one of the most sought after orators and was picked up by Janata Party.

B-TOWN MOURNS

Several Bollywood celebrities, including Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Lata Mangeshkar, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Riteish Deshmukh, among others took to social media to offer condolences and remembered the beloved leader. Veteran actor Anupam Kher went live on Twitter and shared his memories of Swaraj.

Later, Swaraj got associated with ABVP, the student wing of RSS, where her expertise in law led her to become a member of socialist leader George Fernandes's legal team during the Emergency. After being an active member of Jayaprakash Narayan's anti-Emergency movement, she became a member of the BJP.

BJP stalwarts AB Vajpayee and LK Advani saw Swaraj's exceptional qualities and picked her as one of the future leaders to be mentored. A seven-time MP and a three-time MLA, she went on to hold many illustrious political posts, from the CM of Delhi to a Union minister.