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My mother’s name was Nand Rani Malhotra (1924-1999) but
except for official purposes all knew her by just her home name of, Nando. One
of the most significant phases of her life was spent in Nainital and she loved
this town, as did the people of Nainital who met her then in the fifties and
knew her simply by her home name of Nando. The more humble of Kumaon who came
to know her closely said she is a Devi but to me she was just mother. She lived
a simple life of a housewife serving her family with full dedication but
simultaneously she did not miss an opportunity to serve anyone she came across.
In Nainital she contributed her opinion to the leading voices of the town
urging them to retain the best of customs and unique heritage of the town that
the British had created and left. Some of these continue until this day.
She was a spiritual lady who loved Lord Hanuman keeping a fast in his honor and to thank him every Tuesday most of her life. She also had huge faith in Sikh Gurudwaras and never failed to visit one whenever the opportunity permitted. She left a message for all through her life, and it was this,
She was a spiritual lady who loved Lord Hanuman keeping a fast in his honor and to thank him every Tuesday most of her life. She also had huge faith in Sikh Gurudwaras and never failed to visit one whenever the opportunity permitted. She left a message for all through her life, and it was this,
She lived this very simple message in life, that happiness lies not in pursuing one's own desires but in serving others one is thrown with in life, in love, truth and simplicity, in being content with whatever the Universe provides from time to time in His Infinite wisdom and not in our limited one, and bearing with fortitude whatever one’s karma has in store, good or bad, remaining cheerful in whatever the circumstances if it is a hut of the poorest or a mansion, in poor health or good, in poverty or prosperity, if it is in fine clothing and gold or in simple garments of the poorest, just exceedingly clean as per her habit, that she chose mostly at home when guests were not around. She washed her own clothes and that of the family with her own hands, beating some with a stick to clean, early every morning before anyone else was up at home, despite having aides for as long as she was on her feet until 1990. May her soul rest in peace and continue to shine the light for others in need of it.
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| An old picture of Nand Rani (Nando) Malhotra from around 1950 with her first born Deepak Malhotra |
A mother's love provides security to a child, in many cases even for as long as she lives, but when one is old, one can find security in the love of the Mother Goddess for the love of the earthly mother is only from a spark of Her divine love that pervades the universe.
A Biograhical Note on Nand Rani Malhotra can be found and downloaded online at:
https://www.scribd.com/document/381767619/Nand-Rani-Malhotra
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