Best Wishes to Grand Daughter.

On 4th September it was our grand daughter's  birthday. She is in Boston.I wrote this post ,as a letter to her. Today I am sending our best wishes to her.              

Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric. ~Pam Brown

Becoming a mother is a great feeling. It is very fulfilling when you see THAT bundle of joy and realise that ‘it is the blood of your blood and the flesh of your flesh;. Like all other first time moms, I too had to learn a lot to bring up my first born. Reading books on the subject is so different from reality. Bookish knowledge cannot be completely depended upon. Ultimately it is the trial and error method which your inner instinct pronounces, has to be relied upon. You must be wondering why I am dwelling upon this point.  Well there is a reason behind it. Deepak was our first born and Rajita was Deepak and Kavita's first born.  The first born of our first born!! I was now no more a newbee to consult the world about ABC of bringing up a baby. I was now an experienced GRAND mother, who had all the time in the world to dote upon  my grand daughter,  my dear Rajita.  Dada and Dadi were first time grand parents and our happiness and pride was limitless on  seeing her kicking live  on 4^th September 1989.  It was also the  birth day of our beloved God, Lord Ganesha.

Grandparenthood , unlike parenthood, is not a job description, but a state of being, immutable as the sun in the sky. The title confers a fixed status in the child's universe as the ancestral head of the family. Your age, usually such a handicap in the 21st century, is suddenly an asset. As far as the child is concerned, she is almost as old as time itself, and her age still brings with it the traditional attributes of respect and wisdom, reinforced by fairy-tales and storybooks.

Sometimes we do not conform to the stereotype. We are different from other grandparents. Dada is more like a friend to his grandchildren. I am also, in a way a different Dadi,as compared to Dadi’s in general. I have knitted numberless shawls, caps and scarves for the family. My eccentricities led Rajita to allot the name 'Kuch Khatta Kuch Meetha‘and URL,’eccentricgrandmum” to my blog. It was solely her inspiration which prompted me write my book,Reverse Gear and also to start blogging.

As a baby, she was very cute. With dark black hairy growth, her smile cannot be described in words. When she refused to sleep at night, Dada used to sing Hari Om, which was so soothing, that she drifted into sleep.     As she she grew up she was a sweetie. I remember, she did not tolerate the sight of cushions arranged  on the sofa. The seniors in the family used to arrange them properly, but  she tip toed in the living room and threw the cushions mercilessly on the floor. Naughty! When the ironed clothes came from the laundry, she could not see them lying outside. They too were thrown like flying saucers on all corners of the house.  

    When we all,went to office, she was left alone in the house with the maid. Dada used to call  every day from his office. She used to recite all the nursery rhymes that she knew.  It was a treat for Dada.

 Her first day in the play school was an episode, which none of us in the family can ever forget. She did not enter the class, in spite of the class teacher’s orders/requests. The whole day she sat outside. When she wanted to go the toilet, she remarked that it was dirty. The teacher accompanied her to the toilet, exclusively meant for the principal, but Her Excellency did not approve of it.

      Her regular school, Mater Dei, contributed a lot in developing her personality, and inculcated in her a spirit of self confidence. She actively participated in co curricular activities. She was always an achiever. We always felt proud of her interest in choreography which took her to high positions . She took part in various competitions and brought several laurels.
When  her  younger sister, Ramita, was born, Rajita used to sleep with Dada and Dadi. Dada used to tell her stories from our scriptures.We are , I feel different from others.I feel different from other grandparents. We are not stereotype like other grandparents. We participated in her friends’ parties. I always loved to cook for the sisters. I always strived to pack goodies, as a surprise in her lunch box.

We were the happiest grand parents when she got admission in St. Stephan’s college. Her personality flowered and she became self confident in the company  friends like Zoya and Ritu. She started driving a car to the college. She obtained very good marks and got admission in IIT, Delhi, in MSc. Physics. Wonderful! Here too, along with  academics, she achieved in Dancing.

  It was a normal day, but a day of great significance when she got admission in P.hd.(Physics) in Boston University. She has made not only her family proud of  her, but the entire generation of Chawlas, Madassery and Madhatil(Maternal and paternal grand parents)  proud of  her.

We all pray that God may shower all His bounties on her in future.May she get name, fame and success in all her ventures. Wishing  her a very happy and bright birthday.


Written for Write Tribe  Pro Blogger week 5 Day39