“We Will Build Inara Tower for You”- Jyotsna Ruparelia’s Heartfelt Tribute to Late Son Rajiv

Kampala, Uganda — In a moving and deeply personal tribute, Jyotsna Ruparelia, mother of the late Rajiv Ruparelia, vowed to honour her son’s dream by building a tower in the name of his beloved daughter, Inara.

Speaking during the cremation ceremony held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Kampala, Mrs. Ruparelia’s emotional eulogy struck a powerful chord with mourners, as she promised to keep Rajiv’s legacy alive through continued acts of love, care, and charity.

“Rajiv, I know your greatest love was Inara. You were dying for Inara; you did so much for her,” she said. “I promise you, Sudhir and I, till we are alive, will take care of Inara. You wanted an Inara Tower for her, and that will be our next project. So please, rest in peace.”

Rajiv, 35, died in a tragic car crash in the early hours of Saturday morning after his Nissan GTR collided with pavement barriers at the Busabala Flyover. The devastating accident has since sparked a national conversation around road safety and contractor accountability.

At Tuesday’s farewell, however, the focus turned to love, memory, and family. Mrs. Ruparelia remembered her son not just as a businessman and rally enthusiast, but as a generous spirit whose passion for helping others was matched only by his zest for life.

“I am so proud of you, Rajiv,” she said. “People come to us and say, ‘You have been educating so many people.’ I know how much you loved charity, and we are going to carry on with your work.”

Describing the farewell ceremony as a fitting send-off for a life so full of energy, Mrs. Ruparelia highlighted the unprecedented public tribute that marked Rajiv’s final journey.

“Rajiv, the way the funeral was arranged for you today—the government closed roads for you; there were rally drivers, scooters, motorbikes, and a super procession. I wish you were here to see it,” she said. “And your naughty sister Sheena was on a scooter, which worried me, but she said, ‘No, I had my great holidays with Rajiv, and I will carry on.’”

In her tribute, Mrs. Ruparelia offered a rare glimpse into Rajiv’s childhood antics, recounting how he would stir up trouble at school just to get suspended and sent home.

“Every half term, you would say, ‘Let me make some problems so they suspend me and I can come home early,’” she said, drawing both smiles and tears from those present. “You were always happy to fly economy on the way home—but going back, you’d say, ‘If I don’t get a first-class ticket, I’m not going back.’”

As she reflected on their cherished times together, golfing, skiing, dining, and clubbing, Mrs. Ruparelia painted a vivid portrait of a son whose life was filled with joy, mischief, and boundless affection.

“We are going to miss you, son. It’s going to be very difficult, but we have to let go,” she said in closing.

The death of Rajiv Ruparelia has left a profound void in both his family and the wider Ugandan community.