45. My brother gave me a brand new rupee coin

Thousand Moon: Shrimati Usha Bapat is 84 years old
Contributed By: Dr. R. Boradkar

Shrimati Bapat leads an active life.  In her younger days she was a member of  Rashtra Sevika Samiti.

At 84 she is the Secretary of Jyeshth Mahila Nagrik Sangh. She is a member of a Bhajni Mandal. She has good health  and is happy and content.

After marriage she spent some time in Pathankot.and had a home there. She has three Daughters and a son. All are well settled .She has eight grand sons and an equal number greatgrand sons .When all of them get together she feels like being in Gokul (a place where lord Krishna grew up).

She feels there should be Joy here Joy there Joy every where.[Anandi Anand] but realizes it can’t be so and looks on life as a “Package deal” with Joys and Sorrows. There are small moments of joy in every ones life and one must enjoy them fully. She tells us.

According to her the joy of being a mother was supreme.

Another moment of happiness in her life and in her own words.

It was Diwali. I must have been six or seven years old. I was playing in the court yard when I heard my mother calling I went in. My brother was there. All preparations were made for Ovalane (a ceremony where a sister honors her brother and the brother gives a a present as a token of his affection). It was a day of ‘Bhau Bij’ (Brother’s day).  Lamp was lighted and I performed the Ovalne ceremony. My brother gave me a brand new rupee coin as ovalni, I have not been able to forget the joy I had.

My sister gave me a Raja, Rani (king, queen) dolls as a present and we celebrated the marriage of the dolls . I was also presented with a Bhatukli Set (toy kitchen set). I still remember those play full days.

Many ask me as to how I am so happy and joyous at this age? I have a Poem for them:

Amhi krushnechya leki  2                               We are the daughters of Krishna 2

Mahabaleshwar nandini                                  Mahabaleshwars nandini

Janu Amrutwahini                                           As though carriers of Ambrosia

Aai amuchi Krushnabai                                   Our mother was Krishnabai

Amrut dhara pyalo Amhi 2                             We drank the nectar stream 2
Sardar Raste mothe dharmik                           Sardar Raste was very religious
Tyani bandhile sat ghat                                   He built seven stair wells on rivers
Aaichya utsavacha that                                    Where there is jubilations for the Godess
Tya ghatavar khelalo bagdalo amhi                 We played and frolicked there
Wai satyanath puri                                           Wai Satyanarayan Puri
Mandire subak sajiri                                        where the temples are beautiful
Janu dakshin Kashi khari                                as if it the south Varanasi
Ithe janmuni Dhanya jahalo amhi.                  we are blessed to be have born here.