Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani dies in the Air India crash on June 12, a date eerily tied to his favorite number 1206. A report on his final journey, the tragedy, and the numerological echoes.
Article Body
When Numbers Turn Into Destiny: Vijay Rupani’s Final Journey and the Haunting Legacy of 1206
By Kudla News | June 14, 2025
Ahmedabad, Gujarat — In a moment that feels almost scripted by fate itself, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani died in Thursday's Air India crash in Ahmedabad. The date was June 12—12/06—a number that had accompanied him throughout his political life, emblazoned on his cars, echoed in flight details, and, ultimately, etched into the date of his demise.
As rescue teams pulled mangled metal and personal effects from the scorched remnants of Air India Flight AI171, internet sleuths and political colleagues alike noted an eerie coincidence: Rupani's life and death were both marked by a singular number—1206.
Vijay Rupani Dies in Air India Crash: The Haunting Legacy of Number 1206
A Life Marked by 1206
For those who followed Gujarat’s political landscape, the number 1206 had become synonymous with Vijay Rupani. Every vehicle he owned—from his personal SUV to his ministerial convoy—reportedly bore license plates ending in 1206. His aides confirmed it was more than just a number. “It was his lucky charm. He would even delay registrations until he could secure that number,” said one close staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity.
On Thursday, as Rupani boarded the ill-fated flight bound for London, he was en route to visit his daughter. His boarding pass read seat 12A, and the boarding time was 12:10 PM. Flight AI171, a Dreamliner known for long-haul comfort and efficiency, had taken off without technical warnings. Within seven minutes, it disappeared from radar and plummeted into a farmland stretch on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
He died along with over 270 others. Only one man survived.
The Crash and the Number Trail
What began as a routine international flight is now one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the DGCA and Air India’s internal safety teams, with international experts from Boeing assisting.
But beyond technical failure or pilot error, the internet latched on to a more mystical trail—the numerology of death.
Flight date: 12/06
Car number: GJ03HK1206
Seat number: 12A
Flight number: 171 (which when reduced numerologically, equals 9 — like 1+2+0+6)
“When numbers turn into dates, and dates into destiny… the universe doesn’t always whisper. Sometimes, it screams,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter), whose post has since gone viral.
The Statesman, The Family Man
Born in Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma, Vijay Rupani was known not just for his political acumen but also his humility. A key architect of Gujarat’s post-Modi BJP infrastructure, he served as Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021 and left a legacy of development-focused policies and ground-level organizational reforms.
He was traveling alone on Thursday, without security detail—a rare occurrence for someone of his stature. “He wanted to surprise his daughter. He hadn’t seen her in over a year,” said a family friend. “He booked the flight himself. He even picked his seat—12A, because it was near the wing and had a window.”
What no one expected was that his final journey would become a national tragedy.
Nation Reacts: From Grief to Numerology
News of Rupani’s death prompted an outpouring of grief across political lines.
Home Minister Amit Shah, who flew into Ahmedabad within hours of the crash, offered condolences to Rupani’s family. He also met Ramesh Bucharvada, the sole survivor of the crash, and praised the rescue teams working in the area.
BJP President C.R. Patil confirmed the leader’s passing and called him “a man of discipline and vision, whose commitment to Gujarat was unmatched.”
However, amid the tributes, the public's fascination with the numerical pattern of his death has become a phenomenon of its own.
Several astrologers and numerologists took to regional news panels to debate whether this was coincidence or cosmic orchestration. “Numbers have energy. Some people live and die by patterns they don’t even realize they’ve internalized,” said Parul Mehta, a renowned Gujarati numerologist.
Viral Image, Final Moments
An image, now circulating on social media, allegedly shows Vijay Rupani seated calmly near the emergency exit in the airport waiting lounge. His carry-on rests under his legs. His phone appears mid-scroll. Behind him, a digital display reads: “AI171 – Boarding 12:10 PM.”
Though Air India has not confirmed the authenticity of the image, multiple passengers on the flight manifest have verified having seen him onboard.
Final Footsteps
Rupani’s final digital footprints included a phone call to his daughter, a voice message to a fellow MLA about upcoming party meetings, and a WhatsApp message to his driver:
“Keep the car ready on 19th. I’ll be back in a week. – CM Saab”
He didn’t return.
Conclusion: When Symbols Become Stories
Vijay Rupani believed in order, repetition, and meaning. From planning state events to personal travel, he was said to prefer dates and patterns he could predict. Perhaps that’s why he gravitated to 1206—a number that he believed brought consistency and luck.
Yet on June 12, that same number became the bookend of a life lived in public service.
Was it coincidence? Was it fate?
What is certain is this: India has lost a veteran leader, and in the quiet flicker of numbers and dates, his life story ends with an unexpected punctuation mark—on the day he once thought lucky.
