Aunty, passed away two weeks back.
Mrs. Chitra Singh, perhaps around 60 years old, breathed her last in a hospital in Bombay, suffering from leukemia.
She leaves behind a very loving husband and caring daughter and a son, all well settled.
She also left behind many of us who have forgotten her care in the years when our loved ones were far.
It was in 1981 or 82, that the hostel at St. Xavier’s school, Jaipur, decided to close the hostel part. We were around 200 of us in the hostel. I must have been eleven then.
We had all come to study at Jaipur from far off places all over the country, with diverse backgrounds; closure of the hostel would have meant a very difficult time reallocating, for all of us.
Her son, Nirlipt was a junior and living in the hostel with us and perhaps empathizing with the anguish of the parents, his parents decided to open their Jaipur residence for a accommodation for the really needy boys. Later, I was told, this was auntie’s personal decision which her husband whole heartedly supported. Though, in those days me like others thought it was a business decision, only realizing now, it could only be a women who would justify passion with rationale.
We had all called her aunty. We were 28 of us. 10 year old to 18 year olds, in an unprofessional run hostel but with the personal care and caress that only a deep hearted family could provide, with many a emotional events that concurred during the period of 9 years when the hostel closed, till everyone of us passed out of school, me being the last of the inmates of Brij Nikunj, had a ring side view of those years.
As we all left to find our own pastures and destiny in a pre cell phone and Facebook era, many of us can hardly relate to this gap of so many years and era’s. Like me, I am sure, many of us would have been postponing the day, till at some point we must have been wanting to thank aunty and the family enough. Perhaps waiting for that right moment when we could showcase, how the sapling had grown, which they had nurtured in those difficult years.
I am not sure how many of us had the opportunity and a chance to meet aunty in last few years. I did, meet her with my family a few years back, thank god for that, or else I would have had to repent all my life.
If where ever she is, does have an internet connection and manages to be one of the few who do occasionally read this space. I would like you to know, that, there hasn’t been a day or night that I have not thought of your face ever since I heard of your demise. I needed to thank you enough, for whatever, I am today, I am happy for the fact that you were a part of my life then and will be a cause of my nature and destiny. No human is perfect, and it is in these imperfections that I find peace and strength.
You will always remain an inspiration, a symbol of care to me.
Love you Aunty!
P.S - Though, I do find solace in the possibility that my father might be in good company up there!
