There’s hardly anyone in this country who has not heard the name Bachchan. Amitabh Bachchan is probably the most popular, respected, loved and well known Indian. But very few people in our generation know about Amitabh’s illustrious parents, Harivansh Rai and Teji Bachchan.

Teji Bachchan, mother of our beloved Bollywood actor Amitabh, passed away on Friday. And with her ended a whole era. Teji was not just Amitabh’s mother, or Harivansh Rai’s wife. Teji was an independent woman with a mind of her own. She was a part of the Indian Nationalist Movement and she was also very close to the Nehru-Gandhi family. In fact, Teji was a close friend of Indira Gandhi.

Tehi was married as Teji Suri to Punjabi parents and became Mrs. Bachchan in 1942. Interestingly, she was his second wife. Harivansh Rai Bachchan lost his first wife Shyama in 1936 and this event took it’s toll on his life and creativity. It was only after his marriage to Teji that Harivansh regained his creative zeal.

Together, Teji and Harivansh Rai Bachchan did a lot for Indian theatre and literature. Harivansh Rai Bachchan translated famous Shakespearean plays into Hindi. Both Teji and Harivansh would participate in the plays as they were staged in Delhi. The duo was very popular at literary meets as singers. Teji herself was a contemporary poet.

Teji Bachchan has had a big hand in shaping her son’s career. She decided (against her husband’s wishes) to send young Amitabh to the Sherwood College in Nainital and later the Delhi University. She also guided her son through out his career. It is said that she also made suggestions regarding scripts of the movies that her son starred in.

It is a sad day for the Bachchan family. And with the Bachchans, we all grieve the ending of an era.