This is my AJI! She used to have a pet dog named Chilly and hence she has always been called "Chilly Aji"

She turns 92 today! NINETY TWO!

Born in Dulhe, her mom dad was a high court lawyer father and a very progressive mother hailing from the royal family of Bhor.

#Aji

Her mother was very progressive and sent her daughters to study at Huzurpaga Ladies College. She stayed in a Ladies Hostel where her room mate was the famous singer Malati Pande.

She got married to my Aba, a class I forest officer in 1952. They have lived the most enriching

life ever!

They were posted all over the western region, best illustrated by the fact that their 4 children were born in 4 different places:
-Palanpur Gujrat
-Dulhe
-Kolhapur
-Chanda now known as Chandrapur

She has ably raised her children while living in districts with dense

forests. Aba would be away 15 days of the month for duty and she would be alone in the huge government bunglows, with the staff, but still by herself and 4 children.

Their most memorable posting has to be Buldhana given that the entire family considers Buldhana our 2nd hometown

after Pune.

She used to drive a station wagon more than 60 years ago.

We talk about cross country road trips with iPhones and Google Maps today, with imported cars and western style expressways.

Aji Aba made a trip from Chandrapur to Pune with 4 children, ages ranging

from 4 months to 8 years in a Morris MINOR, yes MINOR car. They took turns to drive and were traveling for a week! Staying at government rest houses with no restaurants on the way!

I can't imagine doing that TODAY!

While in Buldhana, Aji and her daughters conducted swimming

classes for the local women in the huge lake near by.

They used Dalda tins as floats since there were nothing else available like today.

Some of the "students" were Nau-vari (9 yard saree) clad women!

When she was pregnant with her 4th child in rural Chandrapur, my Aba had

a life threatening encounter with a man eating tigress. The lack of adequate medical facilities and medications put him at a huge risk and was in a comatose condition for nearly a fortnight and in the hospital for 6 months.

She held forte in that small town away from family!

It was a miracle he survived.

In 1975 they moved to Apte Road Pune, to a 2 bedroom flat with her father in law and children, a huge contrast from the 36 acre government bunglow they had to themselves in Buldhana!

I always remember my Aji going to Fergussion tekdi with her

friends all 7 days of the week, followed by "thumri" aka breakfast at Vaishali.

She would take a detour to walk past our house to wave to my sister and I as we waited for the school rickshaw!

Going to stay at their house was a wonderful experience as she was a great cook but

an even better story teller. That played a huge role in our decision to move back, as I wanted to ensure my children got to enjoy their grandparents the way we did!

She was very fond of travelling and in the late 80's went on a "all girls trip" to Kashmir. They had booked the

trip through a local agent who disappeared with all their money, meant for the hotels, in Kashmir. How they managed to complete the trip is a testimony to her skills.

One day they were going to Panchgani in our jeep and the driver took ill. After 20 years of not driving, Aji

took over the wheel of the Jeep in Khambataki ghat and drove more than 50 kms on her own!

At 86, she went by herself to the US to spend time with her son and family in Edison NJ. I lived an hour away and repeatedly asked her "Aji khara sang. Tukhya barobar koni tari hota na?"

Today, she has 4 children, 7 grand children and 9 great grand children, ALL of whom she has spent quality time with!

Even today, Aji Aba refuse to move out of their flat on Apte Road where they have lived since 1975.

Her zest for life is unmatched and all of us are blessed

to her for being her!

Happy Birthday Aji!