How does one put Ba into a string of words? How to transfer emotions into an object?
“ BA .. what can I say about her!!! She was my mother ,she was my safe heaven, she was my mentor ,she was my hero. Most loving kind hearted soul on this earth.
She got married to Bapuji in her very young age. It was an era of joint family tradition. She being so young got adjusted in the family very easily. Bapuji had two younger brother and they all lived together even after they all had children and grandchildren. I remember how Bapuji respected Ba even though she had literacy challenges. He would have her sit next to him and write a letter or read a letter to her children. She was known as “Ji” - a suffix of respect becoming her identity. She was very kind to people and helped who ever needed help. She also managed the traditional Saurashtra hospitality for both social visitors to the family, as well as Bapuji’s multitudes of visitors. She was certainly the woman who enabled Bapuji to concentrate on his work and achievements, and a lot of credit for that must go to Ba for her support to Bapuji.
She was fond of dressing well. I remember her wearing a red sari and green blouse and she got one similar set made for me. Both of us used to dress up with same identical clothes and that was fun. She was just 59 when Bapuji passed away. I remember very well how she changed into her widow’s apparel. Now a days, nobody changes their dressing habits as women did in those days and that is good now. In her new phase of life, she tried her best in spite of being the lone parent, to keep the family together. All her sons took good care of her but for her, life was empty. I remember her saying that “I have just one desire, and that is to see Pappu getting married”. And that held true because two years after my marriage and move to the US, she was gone…
I don’t remember how, but I had received a message that she was going to be in Rajkot at her son’s place, so I could call her and talk to her. We booked the call ( at that time it was not easy to call India from USA) but could not connect, and tried the next day. But by then she had departed from this earth for her long heavenly journey waiting for my phone call…, it was the saddest time of my life.
I am sure she knows that how I have cherished her memories, my good time with her ,her teaching of good values to me and I have tried to apply in my life.