My mother, Krishna Rani was 67 when she passed away unexpectedly on this day 16 years ago in Rawat Bhata and was consigned to flames on the banks of the Chambal river. It was hard to say goodbye. We wish she had more time, and perhaps during the time she had, we had spent more of
it together. We wish that so much of her life had not been lost to her illness (BP), that things could have been different for her, and for us. While we know that she is at peace and that her struggles have ended, there is the lingering pain and sadness. But even though she is gone, she has left the legacy of her love and perseverance. The ways she touched our lives will remain, and I am attempting to keep those memories alive by sharing them here.
One of the most important things in Mummy’s life was reading & learning. She never got the opportunity to go to college but that did not deter her from learning. She was a voracious reader in her younger days. In fact she mastered alternative medicine (homeopathy & biochemic) by reading at
home and practiced it as a social past time. She loved Marathi literature despite being a Punjabi. She had no formal training in music or theatre but could perform to applause in get-togethers or on stage. She was a Hindi movie buff and an ardent fan of Meena Kumari (the tragedy queen).
Though Mummy was brought up with traditional values and learnt the skills that a woman of her era should — cooking, sewing, knitting and embroidery, as well as love for motherland, she was progressive for her times. She went about doing the outdoor chores on a cycle in the 60s.
Papa being the innovative kind, he made a detachable bar with seat for mom’s lady cycle enabling the family to travel around on 2 cycles, with one sibling on each cycle. The third had not yet arrived.
Being a mother of three diverse boys—Raju, Sonu (me) & Babloo, mummy had a hard time juggling the demands of us all, but she never complained at her unenviable task, nor did she ever turn anyone away—be it family, friends or local faces, wanting to stop by the house for a quick chat. She was a proud and dignified woman who had a passion for life.
Everybody thinks they have a great mom, but as kids, we knew we had a great mother because everybody else told us so. She mothered all our friends who came into the house, even those with perfectly good mothers of their own. Mummy taught us many things as young kids that hold us in
good stead today—good manners, respect and sound moral values. These values have made me who I am and I thank her so very, very much.
Mom was a vibrant spiritual soul, one who literally lit up the room whenever she entered. And right up until she became less able to get around, Mummy was full of energy and always eager to help out, no matter what the problem was. Later in life she was deep into spiritualism and shunned fancy clothes, jewelry & luxury. She was the person most responsible for shaping who I am.
My lasting memories of Mummy are simple: a hard-working, passionate figure of strength who never waned in her support or love of her family, and who soldiered on, even when times were tough.
Thank you mummy for everything you’ve given us—and the warmth we shared during your precious time on earth. God bless you always.
it together. We wish that so much of her life had not been lost to her illness (BP), that things could have been different for her, and for us. While we know that she is at peace and that her struggles have ended, there is the lingering pain and sadness. But even though she is gone, she has left the legacy of her love and perseverance. The ways she touched our lives will remain, and I am attempting to keep those memories alive by sharing them here.
One of the most important things in Mummy’s life was reading & learning. She never got the opportunity to go to college but that did not deter her from learning. She was a voracious reader in her younger days. In fact she mastered alternative medicine (homeopathy & biochemic) by reading at
home and practiced it as a social past time. She loved Marathi literature despite being a Punjabi. She had no formal training in music or theatre but could perform to applause in get-togethers or on stage. She was a Hindi movie buff and an ardent fan of Meena Kumari (the tragedy queen).
Though Mummy was brought up with traditional values and learnt the skills that a woman of her era should — cooking, sewing, knitting and embroidery, as well as love for motherland, she was progressive for her times. She went about doing the outdoor chores on a cycle in the 60s.
Papa being the innovative kind, he made a detachable bar with seat for mom’s lady cycle enabling the family to travel around on 2 cycles, with one sibling on each cycle. The third had not yet arrived.
Being a mother of three diverse boys—Raju, Sonu (me) & Babloo, mummy had a hard time juggling the demands of us all, but she never complained at her unenviable task, nor did she ever turn anyone away—be it family, friends or local faces, wanting to stop by the house for a quick chat. She was a proud and dignified woman who had a passion for life.
Everybody thinks they have a great mom, but as kids, we knew we had a great mother because everybody else told us so. She mothered all our friends who came into the house, even those with perfectly good mothers of their own. Mummy taught us many things as young kids that hold us in
good stead today—good manners, respect and sound moral values. These values have made me who I am and I thank her so very, very much.
Mom was a vibrant spiritual soul, one who literally lit up the room whenever she entered. And right up until she became less able to get around, Mummy was full of energy and always eager to help out, no matter what the problem was. Later in life she was deep into spiritualism and shunned fancy clothes, jewelry & luxury. She was the person most responsible for shaping who I am.
My lasting memories of Mummy are simple: a hard-working, passionate figure of strength who never waned in her support or love of her family, and who soldiered on, even when times were tough.
Thank you mummy for everything you’ve given us—and the warmth we shared during your precious time on earth. God bless you always.
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