THE LEGEND : My NANAJI : SRI JUGAL KISHORE JHUNJHUNWALA

Late Sri Jugal Kishore Ji Jhunjhunwala (9 September 1940 -20 November 2019)

On 20th of October, 2019 I was scheduled to fly to Da Nang, Vietnam in the night to attend my cousin brother's wedding. That morning I got the news that my Nanaji (maternal grand father) was critically unwell. He was 89 at that time. He had led a full life but he was such an extra-ordinary human being that I was not prepared to let go of him. However, he passed away that evening around 4.30pm at age 89. His last rites were held the next day, on 21st of October, 2019 which was a very auspicious day according to Hindu Calender ('Mangsir ki Navami'...this was the day when 'Rani Sati Dadi' had become a Sati. 'Rani Sati', also identified as Narayani Devi and referred to as Dadiji (grandmother), is said to be a Rajasthani woman who lived sometime between the 13th and the 17th century and committed sati (self-immolation) on her husband's death. My NaniMaa (maternal grandmother)was an ardent devotee of Rani Sati Dadi and so is my entire maternal side of the family.

I was one of his favourite of 10 grandchildren, I will make this claim on his behalf as I knew he loved me very dearly...He lived by himself in a beautiful old fashioned bungalow [along with a central chowk (piece of land) and a gaushaala (cowshed)] in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa since 2005, the year my NaniMaa passed away. I would call him almost every single day and Kolkata, being close to Bhubaneshwar, we would meet quite often. Times spent with him are forever etched in my heart and part of my most cherished memories...

Nanaji lived life on his own terms, very much like a KING, and till his last breaths, people were dependent on him whereas he was fiercely independent. His father, Late Sri Deo Karan Ji Jhunjhunwala was one of the first industrialists of Orissa and I am blessed to be one of his descendants. My great grandfather was instrumental in establishing the RAM MANDIR in Bhubaneshwar, for which Nanaji relentlessly served as a founder trustee till the very end. Both Bade Nanaji and Nanaji were great visionaries and philanthropists. They have set up charitable hospitals and education centres in Orissa at a time and age where government support was unheard of. Being Nanaji's granddaughter is a matter of great pride for me as well as makes me shoulder this great and difficult responsibility of living up to his values.

There are so many stories about Nanaji that I can go on and on. He once told me on a phone call that I should never lie to anyone, as if I lie, I will have to say 10 lies more to hide my lie and it would in turn lower my dignity. He was a great host, one of the best I have seen by far in my life and he lived the value of 'Atithi Devo Bhavah' or 'treat your guests like God'. No wonder that many Shankaracharyas and even Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji have visited our ancestral home in Bhubaneshwar.

All he asked me was for 'spending 2 days with him' in the Puja Holidays... Alas I could not give him those 2 days because of a series of circumstances which prevented me from visiting him.

I got those 2 days with him after he left his physical body when I did not leave his side and sat next to his mortal remains like a rock..this was on 20th and 21st of November.

We later postponed our trip to Vietnam by a day and attended the wedding amidst a flurry and roller coaster of emotions. 

I rememeber I could not breathe properly that night and at 1.30 am my husband had to go fetch a nasal spray for me...

I learnt the lesson that while our elders are there, we must make the most of it and spend as much time as we can with them....

Sharing few lines which I wrote for him..

You were the captain of my team,

I was the apple of your eyes,

You gave me so much care and love,

You were always there by my side..

In you I seeked inspiration,

In you I could confide,

In you I found my friend,

As well as mentor and my guide..

You lived life like a king,

You played beautifully each role,

One of the finest human being I knew,

You are a blessed and godly soul.

You inculcated in us great values,

You walked the talk all along,

Always steady like a rock,

Independent and so very strong !

Generous and pious,

You led an exemplary life,

You kept a smile on 

Even in times of strife..

Times spent with you are so memorable,

They could not but leave a trace,

I miss your warmth, your gentle touch,

I miss the divine glow on your face...

I miss your familiar smell,

I miss your robust voice,

I miss your child like enthusiasm,

In your company we did rejoice !

I miss the innumerable days spent together

I miss the meals and card sessions with you..

I miss your ready wit and humour 

And funny one-liners too..

Blessed am I to be part of you,

Grateful to be in your family tree,

As you transcend to higher planes ,

You leave behind a grand legacy!

Love you my dearest Nanaji 

PS: The credit for the first 2 lines of this poem goes to my dear friend Avni Vyas