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DEDICATION TO DUTYRespected Mausiji was not only an able leader and administrator, but an equally devoted and diligent person. Her skill was evident at home and outside alike. She had a keen sense of responsibility and believed in performing the smallest of the task to the best of her ability. What ever was the task that she undertook, however seemingly insignificant and mundance it was, she did it to such a perfection that it almost became a work of art. Mausiji believed that cleanliness was next to Godliness. Mausiji’s home was always as clean and sparkling as a mirror and everything was most orderly. Even the kitchen napkins were spotlessly clean. The pickle-jar covers were daintily embroidered. Inspite of her very busy and hectic schedule and her devotion to the Samiti, the house hold chores were never neglected. Mausiji was equally vigilant about the diet. Well-cooked, well balanced diet was attractively served with an added ingredient of affectionate care and abundant love. Mausiji’s style of performing puja was equally attractive. Irrespective of the fact whether she was at home or on a tour, she regularly worshipped the Tulsi. Beautiful and eye catching alpana was drawn before the Tulsi. Mausiji was very careful regarding the aesthetic appeal of the floral decorations. The puja thali looked very colourful and attractive. Even the floral garlands prepared by Mausiji were a work of art. In fact she had a rare aesthetic sense, which made even the most ordinary things look sublime. On returning from any journey, everything was put away neatly in its proper place. Mausiji believed in doing all her work by herself, without any wastage of time. Inspite of her busy schedule and all the responsibilities, Mausiji found time to go on pilgrimages. She had a keen sense of observation and on her return, gave graphic description on the places visited. Mausiji performed the daily puja with complete dedication and devotion, It was done in a most systematic manner. At one of the houses where Mausiji was put as a guest, she discovered that the puja deep (lamp) and the incense urn were lacking in the puja room, so, she quietly purchased those and added them. Her hostess was deeply touched by Mausiji’s gesture. Once, Mausiji visited a newly formed Shakha. All the Sevikas were full of enthusiasm and exited that Vandaniya Mausiji was visiting them. They even composed a song and sang it with great vigour and devotion. Yet, Mausiji was a bit unhappy. At the end of the song, Mausiji congratulated them for the beautiful composition, but suggested that a slight change was essential in it. A particular line of the song was, we are dedicated to Mausiji." Mausiji corrected, ‘The dedication should not be to an individual but to a task. The task is of the Samiti, of the organisation and of the nation. No person is greater than the task, whoever and however mighty she may be. I am also a sevika of the Samiti’. Thus, Mausiji never encouraged sycophancy. Mausiji was also blessed with an extra ordinary memory and grasping power. She knew all the Samiti songs by heart. She disliked the practice of singing any song by looking into the book. If she met any person once, she could remember his or her name and all the details even after a long passage of time. When the people visited her during her illness, they were amazed by her razor sharp memory. Even though she was meeting some of them after years she addressed them by their names and asked them detailed questions about their families. Even the illness could not fade an iota of her memory. Vandaniya Mausiji’s courtesy, her politeness and her ability to give importance to each and every individual, created a special image of the Samiti in the minds of the people. Once Mausiji went to deliver the Ramayan discourse in a city. The host’s old mother could not attend the same due to her age. But Mausiji endeared herself to the old lady by repeating the gist of the discourse to her every day. Mausiji was like a mother to all the Sevikas She kept a tab on all the details about their family members, economic conditions and so on. A national conference of the Sevikas was organised at Gwalior in 1971. All the Sevikas dressed in the uniform of the Samiti were gathering for the route march, and then Mausiji noticed that an elderly Sevika was quietly standing on one side. She was not in her uniform and helplessness was written large on her face. Mausiji, at once realised that her economic condition didn’t permit her to buy the saree of the uniform. At once, she called one of the Sevika organising the rally and giving her the money, told her to get one saree from the store. She then went to the elderly Sevika and giving her the saree, she said, "I am gifting you this saree as an elder sister. It would give me immense pleasure if you will wear it and join the route march." The tears of joy and gratitude filled the eyes of the sevika. The incident that occurred during the emergency days of 1976, also indicates how Mausiji took care of the Sevikas. Several family members of the Sevikas were imprisoned. Their other family members could meet them only once or twice a month. Some people from Nagpur were jailed at Nasik. It was difficult for a low-income group family to bear a lot of expenses for meeting their kith and kin traveling all the way to Nasik. The husband of one of the sevikas was jailed at Nasik. Mausiji made arrangements for sending this particular sevika to Nasik for the summer classes, which were being conducted there. Thus, she could meet her husband at least twice a month. When sevika was Conveyed Mausiji’s message she knew that the classes were simply a pretext of Mausii to keep her close to her husband. She was deeply moved and touching Mausiji’s feet, she exclaimed: "With the shield of your maternal care; Nothing can ever lack us here". Truly, it is very difficult to describe in words, the qualities and virtues of Vandaniya Mausiji. She was a rare gem, who combined in herself- The ability of leadership;The tenderness of. Motherhood;The proficiency in Duty;And the glow of Spiritual Beauty; |
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