44. "Ladies First", said the honourable minister and asked me to enter first.

Thousand Full Moon: Shrimati Kamal Vasant Bhave, She lives in Pune, India. 
Contributed By: Dr. R. Boradkar

The story of Shrimati Bhave is remarkable. She served in defence for 44 years, which is considered as an exclusively male domain.

This is what she has to say...

I retired as a gazetted officer from the Defence Department after serving for 44 years. Before my retirement, the department had organized an exhibition of spare parts for Tanks. The sub depot where I was working as a commanding officer had also participated in that exhibition. I was supposed to look after this particular section. The exhibition was managed and looked after by Army Officers who were males and I was the only female civilian officer there. The exhibition was inaugurated by the then Honourable Defence minister.

When he came to our section, I received him, giving him a bouquet of flowers. The senior officers were against this and were unwilling to permit initially, but then agreed to it and gave me to go head as I was to felicitate him.

After the inauguration, a party was arranged for the Honourable Minister, the invited guests and the army officers. As a woman, I was not allowed to attend. But my Army Officer colleagues fought on my behalf .They argued that I was an Officer [though a woman] and that I was working with them from the beginning and I should be allowed to attend the party. I was then granted permission to attend.

The officer’s mess was decorated for the party. There were two doors and they used to be opened exactly at the time of the party. According to protocol the chief guest was supposed to be the first to enter. The Honorable  Defense Minister was the chief guest and he was expected to enter but he didn’t .He looked around and said I see here a woman officer and lets follow the rule Ladies First and asked me to enter first.

This was an honor conferred on me and that too by the Hon. Defense Minister of India. This was the crowning Glory of my life and a treasure that I keep close to my heart.

Shrimati Kamal Vasant Bhave

43. He raised his hand and said “Be happy my son” ...

Thousand Moon: Shri Moreshwar Govind Bal

Contributed By: Dr. R. Boradkar

Shri  Moreshwar Govind Bal is 82 years old and is a staunch devotee of Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot.He writes about his spiritual experience and considers himself fortunate that he was the chosen one.

He makes it clear in the beginning that  his experience is not  a fantasy or his imagination. He is also very clear in his mind that it was  not a dream . . He emphatically states that he was not sleeping or day dreaming and was wide awake when it occurred. His elder sister  Shrimati Sharada Joshi who was with  him  bears a witness to what happened.

And now his experience in his own words.

“I opted for voluntary retirement form the bank where I was working in 1980..I used to spend my time reading Dnyaneshwari,  Dasbodh  and other religious books. I also attended the religious discourses and met sadhus and saints in Mumbai.. I was leading a happy life .I never had any craze for money so I had no problems. Life to me was enjoyable as it was.

It was some day in December 1983  and  I had been to Ghatkopar in Mumbai  to visit my elder sister. .We chatted for a while, had our lunch and then decided to rest for sometime. It must have been about 1:30 pm or so and there came a mendicant. He was standing in the court yard and asking for alms. He was chanting the names of gods and goddesses .  We,[ there were three of us] did not pay any attention to him and did not get up thinking he might get tired and go away. When the mendicant saw that no one was  was paying any attention he loudly uttered “Swami Akkalkotwale ” Hearing these words I instantly got up as these were the words hailing my Guru. The verandah  where we were resting had an  iron grill and a gate, so I went near the  gate. There out side the gate I saw a man with very bright eyes wearing a saffron gown, wooden slippers [Khadava] holding a trident in his hand. I was thrilled and did not know what to do. I steadily looked at him and feeling very joyous opened the gate. The mendicant said, ‘ I am hungry .Give me something to eat’ .I told the man that this was not my house and that I was a guest here.. My sister was watching us. In a city like Mumbai it’s not safe to let anyone in so she was just sitting and watching.

But the mendicant did not budge and said give me whatever you have got .I just had a coin in my pocket which I was going to give him when he said come out in the courtyard and then offer the coin. So I went out in the courtyard and gave him the coin .He smiled and then said “Do you want anything my son?” I said  “ No . I don’t want anything. I am happy and contented.” He raised his hand and said “Be happy my son” and turned to go .and went away. I was probably in a state of trance and came to my senses in a wink of an eye .I started looking for him but he was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished. My  sister inquired in the neighbourhood but no one had seen him. I was sorry I had not even bowed to him or paid obeisance..

This I consider the happiest moment of my life as I was the only one who had the ‘Darshan” of the Guru whom I revered .and that too in flesh and blood.”

Shri Bal  couldn’t have asked for  anything more as he had the divine grace .showered on him and that  was what he was striving for.

42. On this day I experienced the happiest jolt of my life...

This is absolute joy!!! I know Smt. Abhyankar from Delhi. We used to live 5 minutes from her. We called her Abhyankar Bai as she was my sister's English teacher. I have participated in programs written by her for the local Marathi Mandal. I cannot believe that the blog will now have her story. Thanks to Dr. Boradkar and all his efforts that I got to see and read about her happiest moment in life...

Thousand Moon: Shrimati Sushila  Abhyankar

Contributed by: Dr. R. Boradkar

We used to visit Abhyankars quite  often when they were in Pune. Advancing age and dwindling health compelled them to shift to Delhi where Pradeep , their son lives. Abhyankars belonged to Pune  and liked it with all its idiosyncrasies  but most probably their heart belonged to Delhi and they had nostalgic memories of their fairly long  stay in the Capital city of  India

Shrimati Sushila  Abhyankar lives in Delhi with her son Pradeep Abhyankar. She did her B.A.[Honours} from Ferguson College Pune and B.Ed. from Tilak  College Of Education  Pune.She served as a Teacher in Parle Tilak Vidyalaya Parle from 1945 to 1956.

After 1956 she shifted to Delhi .In Delhi she joined Minority School run by Maharashtrian Association as an Honorary faculty  member and worked for more than 20 years. With the help of her colleagues , she managed to take the school from pre primary level to the level of High School. She also worked as a Manager  in the school for 4 years. The school named Chougule Public School is an English Medium School and also has  facilities for teaching  Hindi and Marathi languages.

And now lets see what she has to say about her Happiest moment.

                         Here comes the moment of utmost Happiness.

                         [Kshan Ala Bhaggyacha]

“I am now 90 years old and at the fag end of my life, standing before God. If God  asks me which is the moment of utmost joy in your  life, I would unhesitatingly say Oh God it’s the 5^th February 2012.This day is the day of ecstasy for me .On this day I experienced  the happiest jolt in my life .Till the last moment I knew nothing. I only knew that on this day we were to celebrate the “ Dohal Jevan “ of my Grand Daughter in Law Sou. Neha Abhyankar  my grand sons wife .This was a joyous  occasion and I was participating  whole heartedly and with unparalleled  enthusiasm.

It was the morning of 5^th February. At about 11 a.m. I reached a big hall. The guests relatives and others had already gathered there. There  were men and women and everybody was greeting me. The morning was pleasantly cool. Soft music filled the atmosphere. .There was joy every where. I was ushered to a front seat where I sat. There were many people known to me and all were greeting me in a traditional way.

 There was a  decorated Swing right in front and my grand daughter in law, wearing a green sari[Shalu] was occupying it. My daughter in law Sou Vidya and Sou. Neha's mother were on their toes running here and there. Every one had gathered around the swing. Cameras were clicking. All were greeting Sou Neha. I too got up, went to Sou Neha, gave her some sweets and greeted her and wished her well. I then went back to my seat and sat there beholding what ever was happening.

It was then that I saw a huge big Balance on my left hand side. It was also decorated. I didn’t understand as to why a decorated balance was there  It had no business to be there in to days  function. I was just wondering and asking myself as to why it was there, but couldn’t find an answer.

It was then that my son Pradeep  came to me  took my hand   and  started taking  me towards the balance. Like a puppet I went with him and reached the balance. There was my son Pradeep and his wife Vidya on one side and my daughter Sou Padmini Joshi and her husband Shri Vijay Joshi  on the other side . . All my four grandsons were there  and all were smiling. Pradeep then told the gathering “ My mother has completed 90 years and we have gathered here to felicitate her on this occasion.” Every body clapped and expressed their joy. Gently I was made to sit in one pan and was garlanded with a garland of currency notes and flowers .I was so overwhelmed that I just couldn’t speak. It was as if I was in a trance. In the other pan they were putting Panchamrut. I then realized that they were having a celebration of PANCHAMRUTI  TULA  for me. In the meanwhile someone spoke on the subject MOTHER  and some poems were recited. The celebration[Sohala}  lasted for about fifteen to twenty minutes. I was then gently  led back to my chair. I distributed sugar and honey to the women who were there and the celebration was over. All my relatives including those from Pune  gathered round me. I  had lots of questions to ask but then I was profoundly  happy  and these two celebrations had filled my mind  with contentment so much that I totally lost my appetite

The guests were enjoying the food. Heartily. I was still being showered with  greetings, good wishes and presents , rather a bounty of them. The Twin functions were happily over. The guests dispersed and we were left to ourselves, the family members only. Again there was chatting ,while partaking food and a good bit of a very happy laughter. We  returned home in a state of gay abandon.

I was still pestered by the question How did this happen? Who did it ? and the answers were not  forthcoming.

 But I soon got a clarification. The idea was mooted by my grandchildren  Samir and Amit Abhyankar. And the plan was deftly  executed by my son Pradeep and his wife Sou Vidya. Good I didn’t know. Ignorance is bliss it is said.

In retrospect I realize that I have mixed feelings .Its difficult to think objectively ,and find out what was gained and what was lost in life. I am an ordinary woman and I lay no claims to any greatness in life. For me this function  was unforgettable.

I take no credit for this but feel that the credit goes to the elderly people who brought me up with grace , care , love and a proper culture and also to those who taught me  and wished me well. My strength lies in this belief of mine. We have to learn to pick up happiness and discard misery.

This felicitation is really felicitating the elders and the two generations next to my own  have participated joyfully  in it is something  really great, as I feel it, and I consider myself fortunate for that.

I wish all of them  a very bright future  and pray that they fare well in their life.

All  the best and for all the time to come , for all of them.

Shrimati  Sushila  Abhyankar

New Delhi

.