Bonds of a Grandma

 

 A little ray of sunshine, filled with happiness and love, is a grandmother. One of the most sacred bonds is the bond with the grandmother which remains the same across generations. I am sure each one of us will have amazing experiences related to our grandmothers. I had one such incredible connection with my Dadi.

 Bhabhi Ji (affectionately called), my grandmother, with a frail yet sturdy frame, had a luminous face, like a holy glow of the morning light. She drew her strength from Gurbani. The grind of hard life had taught her to empathize and be a strength to all. She was never tired of helping. She managed to live through difficult financial times and the biggest of partition without any brooding. She held the family together with her unconditional love and never forced her ideas on anyone. Her charisma and her gentle nature pulled everyone to her. She had the sheen of pure joy and happiness. Both young and old enjoyed her company.  We as her grandchildren longed for her company and enjoyed sharing our daily experiences with her. She never talked ill about anyone. In her spare time, she and my mom read out from the religious inspirational books. She was the best friend my mother ever had.  

She was articulate, read the Punjabi newspaper fully, and discussed world affairs with her journalist son. She had the forte of telling a story, without being patronizing, quietly weaving the magic in between. The inspirational stories about Sikh gurus told by her stayed with me which I enjoyed passing on to my daughter as an heirloom.

 She loved to read and followed Guru Granth Sahib’s teachings in her own life which she passed on to her atheist son and us grandchildren very well. Her practicality of imbibing the teachings to daily life was so good that we as grandchildren followed the teachings without being taught as a subject.

I have soothing memories of holding my grandmother’s hand walking with her to the Gurudwara for Guru Nanak Dev’s birthday celebrations, along with my teenage friends. All the food in the Gurudwara was cooked, served, and cleaned by volunteers peacefully and we had so much fun doing the seva. On wintry mornings we were woken up by the slow rhythmic singing of the Prabhat Pheries a few days before Gurpurab. It was a superb way to begin our day and we looked forward to it every morning.

 My grandmother was way ahead of her time. Cooking for her was all about nutrition. Bhabhi Ji used to cook food in a Sagli, a flat bottomed thick brass vessel, to preserve the vitamins and in turn enhancing the flavor. This was coming from a lady who was homeschooled. She pleasantly taught us to eat less than our hunger. Chopping fresh vegetables for cooking until the very end was her relaxing time. She felt worthy of eating breakfast only after chopping vegetables and picking up fallen leaves from the garden as that was her morning exercise.

 

 She had a broad outlook towards life as she never differentiated between me and my brother.  I felt pampered at times when on my brother’s birthday; I was given a gift first. If he was given a scooter to go to college, my father was ordered to get me a scooter right away.

 

Simplicity and balance in eating and life devoid of any lassitude were imbibed by sheer observation. Eating seasonal and healthy food, being passionate about your interests, and staying motivated were lessons well learned. Till today, my brother and I go back to her teachings, to find answers to our present-day troubles.

 

 Just thinking about her, all the blissful memories of my childhood have traveled to me from a great distance, to rejuvenate my soul. I will always miss her but sense her presence guiding me through life’s ups and downs.

She was a saint in the garb of an ordinary mortal.