The Tallest and the Shortest Lived

 

She was the tallest amongst us all who lived the shortest- barely 50+ and left us on this day ie 23rd August. Meenakshi di was not an ordinary person, she had a towering personality who led the boys and girls of street no. 7, Abohar (Punjab) and would invariably perform the best in pithoo and other street sports. As a student she was the best athlete, the best NCC cadet, the best orator. As a lecturer , she was the best Economics teacher who drew huge number of students in an otherwise dry subject as she made it immensely interesting being herself so passionate about the subject. She played great role in motivating students for the extra curricular activities like Rangoli, poetry, debates and symposia and the NSS. Her sense of humour made her very popular among her colleagues and students. Hers was a dominating personality who could not be taken for granted or ignored by anyone.

She was the only daughter who matched my father's intelligence in dictating us speeches to be delivered when we were students. It was like a competition between an old guard and mentor and a fire brand young blood as the tone and tenor differed. Needless to say, she was as much a hit when it came to bagging prizes in competitions by her younger siblings as daughters of our father.

She rose to be an Indian Economic Services(IES) officer that she served till her end. She was able to fulfill her dream of studying from London School of Economics. In fact she was a go getter and whatever she focused on, she was able to achieve because of her diligence, determination, grit and guts. She was an indomitable personality in whom we saw a sea change as a wife and daughter in law and doting mother of two beautiful daughters Megha and Sugandha. It was like a volte-face we witnessed in Meenakshi di. I think this is what all education and culture and sanskaras are about that a person should be able to not only adjust to changing scenarios in life but also be uncomplaining rather be happy in whatever life brings forth.

I vividly remember when she used to run the races as an athlete and by the time she would be about to touch the last leg , her teeth would clench and such dire urgency could be seen writ large on her face to hurry to touch the finishing line and win. Her race was run soon as God willed it.

We miss you a lot, Meenakshi di.