To the world, you might have been the best horologist—bringing any watch to life—but to me, you will always be Chote Papaji, my Nana. It filled me with immense pride when you came to pick me up from school, and I would excitedly tell my teachers that you were my Nana. As a child, your visits meant dal samosas from Panchkuian Road and a trip to Nani’s house. And, of course, who doesn’t love being spoiled at Nani’s house?
You loved to walk and spoke so
little, but your face always lit up when you shared stories of Partition. You
always had something to give—whether it was toys, pichkaris on Holi, or
crackers on Diwali. You continued the tradition even for my kids. Whether it
was a scary mask or a car with lights, your gifts were always unique.
You could do yoga asanas that
even the young struggled with. There was never a time I met you when you didn’t
notice my watch. You were overjoyed whenever we surprised you at the Connaught
Place repair showroom, and even more so when we brought you watches to fix. A
visit to your showroom as a child inevitably meant a new toy from Ram Chander
& Sons.
You were one of the rare few from
your generation who were truly forward-thinking. You raised a daughter who was
no damsel in distress—she drove around independently and had the freedom that
most girls in those times only dreamed of. She was fearless enough to tell you
that she had bunked school to watch a movie, and instead of reprimanding her,
you offered to buy tickets for her and her friends the next time. You prepared
your children well to withstand the storms and turbulences of life, and I will
always be indebted to you because my mother raised me the same way.
You worked long past the age when
most prefer to relax. While others became grumpy and fussy, you played with
your great-grandchildren as if you were their age, and even had a sweet tooth like small children. In the last few years, you
showed immense resilience and strength. They say home is where the heart is,
and it seemed as though you left your heart in the place where you spent most
of your life—but you never once expressed it. You built a strong family and
were truly blessed with a daughter-in-law (my mammi) who loved and cared for
you deeply and dedicatedly, more than anyone else.
I wish I had told you all this while
you were still here, but I know you are listening. People say we should
celebrate your life because you lived it well. But for me, there is no other Chote papaji, I will always feel your presence and each time
I remember you, I will say, Hari Om.
Your first grandchild,
Shilpa
