Champ at tying turbans, a failed politician: The farmer who died at AAP rally

Even as political parties play the blame game over the death of Gajendra Singh, the farmer who killed himself during an Aam Aadmi Party rally in Delhi on Wednesday, details about who he were are emerging, including that he was from a well-to-do family, had political aspirations, and had been an expert at tying turbans.

1) Gajendra Singh's family owns some 10 acres of land, including a gooseberry orchard and a teak plantation 

2) Gajendra joined politics and was a member of the Samajwadi Party, but left the party after he was not given a ticket for the 2008 assembly election. After that, he wanted to join the Aam Aadmi Party

3) The eldest of three brothers, Gajendra studied up to class 12. He married early. His eldest child is a daughter studying in class 12 and he has two boys -- aged 7 and 10

4) After failing at politics, he began making a living out of tying colourful, Rajasthani turbans on tourists at hotels

5) In fact, according to a Times of India report, he was quite good at it and had tied a turban for former US president Bill Clinton in 2009. Other famous personalities who visited Gajendra were Home Minister Rajnath Singh and A B Vajpayee

6) In 2010, Gajendra – a well-built man with a flourishing beard and an ornate turban -- won the Mr Desert title, a Rajasthani cultural pageant