66. There was no girl child born in his family for a 100 years...and then along came his granddaughter!

Thousand Full Moon: Shri. Lalit Parikh (81+)

Contributor: Shri. Lalit Parikh

Editor’s Note: My brother met Shri. Lalitji on an airplane from Mumbai to Newark. After exchanging some pleasantries they exchanged email addresses and parted ways. After a few days my brother wrote to Lalitji informing about the Thousand Full Moons blog and asked him whether he too could contribute by sending a narrative of a pleasant event from his life. My brother received a prompt email from Lalitji where he shared many joyous and amazing experiences from his accomplished life.

Here are some excerpts in Lalitji’s own words:

I was only a lecturer and my Head of the Department challenged me by saying that "Forget Professorship, you won't even become a reader, as you're not a Ph.D. Believe it or not, I started writing my thesis and completed in exactly six months and got my degree soon. Then I not only became Reader, even became Professor, Chairman and Head of the Department. I am proud of being Indian, More proud to have taught Hindi, our national language. I am happy and content with life and its achievements.

I enjoyed giving tuition to school students of all classes going to their homes for paltry fees. Eight-nine tuitions a day! I taught Jain Sadhvijis at five o'clock in the morning. I'm proud and felt honored that they gave me so much of respect and studied in the long veranda of their Hall in the bright street light. Normally they would not even see a male face at that early hour. But they as well as trustees of that Jain Organization had full faith in me. I used to run to my Morning College immediately after that. I would not take even tea at their charity breakfast kitchen meant for all devotees and visitors. I had to start after getting ready at 5 o'clock in the morning, catching the first bus to reach there, walking a lot too. Any way I enjoyed.

I visit India, my motherland every year with lot of excitement, taking tours to places in India as well as some foreign locations with Kesari Tours and Travels, the best organized Tour Company. When I introduce myself with a comment that I don't have a brother or a sister, to all my co-tourists, they immediately say in chorus:" We all are your brothers and sisters. We welcome you."

I keep myself busy by walking for 30 minutes morning and evening and writing short stories on computer. Computer and I-Pad are my best friends. With God's grace and inherited good genes (thanks to my respectable parents)  I don't have any medical problem so far, nor do I take any medicine. Being positively positive I am cent percent sure that I would celebrate my Hundredth year after just another 18 years.

Well now, I have to narrate the happiest experience of my and my late wife's life, my parents' life too... they were eighty plus at that time. There were no daughters born in our family for more than 100 years. My father had no sister. His father too had no sister.

A Jain Sadhu Maharajshri, whom I used to go and teach every day had told me three true predictions out of which one was: "No girls in your family for last hundred years and now a baby girl will be born, bringing real Good Luck to you all.

His words came true when my second son and daughter-in-law got a baby girl-whom I wanted to name Shatabdi, but as per her parents' wish she was named Shruti. Her arrival made all of us so happy that we all danced together spontaneously. She proved herself to be goddess Lakshmi bringing Good Luck to us.

65. Joy and Pride when her husband received his M. Sc. Degree!

Thousand Full Moon: Dr. Sushila Ram Sathe (81+).

Contributor: N

Sushila Ram Sathe (Sahasrabuddhe), (interview Oct 14, 2012)

Sushila has been practicing Ayurvedic Medicine for over 55+ years. She devoted to the wellbeing of families of Textile Mill workers in the heart of Mumbai. When I met her she was in great spirits and had many events to recall.  During our conversation her memories revolved mostly around her mother (now 99) and her late husband Dr. Ram Sathe.

When Sushila was young her family had moved from Girgaon in Mumbai to Dadar. Her Father was a school principal and always pushed for modern and non-religious ways for educating children.   Her mother being only 16 years older than her always treated her as a friend and became her mentor.  Sushila had a happy and contented childhood.

After completing her high school, she was accepted for the Ayurvedic (BAMS) degree studies in Potdar College.  Just before the second year examinations, her father passed away very suddenly.  It was a shocking and depressing event in her life. Her mother encouraged her to complete the course work.  With the family now facing a mountain of difficulties her mother rose to the challenge and started working part time at a nursery school. As a result Sushila could complete her BAMS degree successfully.  After graduation and a few years of work in hospitals, it was time to find a suitable groom.  Ram Sathe’s proposal from Bhusaval turned out to be an astrological match.  Sushila traveled to Bhusaval alone (a girl travelling long distances alone was rare in those days) to meet Ram.  The display of independence made her look like a typical ‘forward’ person from a big city.  Sushila was a working girl standing on her own two feet while the "boy," although had exceptionally distinguished academic success till B. Sc., was not financially independent.  She managed the meeting and associated questions-answer session before returning to Mumbai.  She distinctly remembers that Ram’s parents had asked her if she could sing!  She later asked Ram if he was interested in pursuing higher education after marriage and put a condition that in that case he will have to move to Mumbai to which he agreed.

After their marriage Ram and Sushila stayed with her family. Her mother and siblings got along splendidly with Ram.  He started working at Ruparel College, close to home, as a chemistry lab demonstrator, much below his level with a BSc degree, experience, and distinguished educational record.  It however gave him stability and an opportunity to take classes towards a Master's degree.  He studied hard for the course.   After many hardships he reached his goal. She remembers it to be the most memorable, joyous, and proud occasion for her when a Master of Science degree was conferred upon him. 

Although subsequently, he obtained a Ph.D. at Royal Institute of Science in London and later attained dazzling success by attaining distinction and standing first in his class of IAS(Indian Administrative Service) officers that Master's degree which was achieved after many hardships seems to give Sushila a deep rooted joy and satisfaction!