Everlasting Grace!

Snehprabha! Prabha means light. But if it is only light, then sometimes it can become harsh. Light can create heat. But if along with light there is warmth of the heart i.e. Sneh, then the light becomes gentle. Sneh also means oil. When there is such light with gentle affections, then it soothes. And maybe due to such gentleness with light, such a person can remain positive even in the middle of great deal of sorrow and pain and can shine like a gentle flame!

My grandmother- Smt. Snehprabha Narayanrao Welankar lived for more than nine decades. Her three brothers fought in Europe and Africa during the World War II! She witnessed times right from the English to the Android! Life and times changed so much, but she adjusted happily and she always remained contemporary! She had to endure untimely and painful deaths of her son, son in law and also her daughter. But she remained strong. Due to dementia, my grandfather forgot her and later on he left us. Their togetherness of sixty years ended. But she remained positive. She had to closely experience severe illness of her second daughter, she was a constant witness to her pain. But she remained unmoved. Despite of so many harsh and unwanted experiences in life, she always remained happy and satisfied. My Grandmother! Despite of so many adversities by life, she was always smiling and cheerful! Her granddaughter’s father in law had said this when she was 92, “You look so fresh! Even today you are so beautiful, then how you must have been at earlier times!”

She was born in 1931. In her memoirs, she would sometimes tell about that distant past. She was born as Snehprabha Joshirao in a small village Morshi near Amrawati in Maharashtra. She had five brothers and six sisters. In today’s terms, she was like a tomboy right from her childhood. She would play sports of boys. She would climb on a tree, play badminton and also cycle. It was a middle class family. She got educated in a school for some years and later on she continued education privately. Due to her passion for music, she went on to learn it. Before her marriage, she also worked in All India Radio, Nagpur for some time. She was a sister of brothers fighting the war, so she also had equal energy and determination. Even in those days, she did many different things. She later completed her degree. Later on she completed her M.A. in Music.

Around 1950, she was married to my grandfather. As my grandfather was a civil engineer, he was traveling. So they had to stay at odd locations like Bhilai and Mancherial. After 1960, my grandfather settled in Parbhani in central Maharashtra. Those were hard days with struggles. They would live at construction sites. Sometimes the area would be unknown. My grandfather was a social person and he would invite many people to home. He was also doing RSS work. So always some people would visit or stay in houses. RSS activists would stay. In today’s times, even if one person is gonna come to house for a lunch, one thinks much! In those times, plenty of persons would be always there. Many poor students also would come for meals. My grandmother did her part affectionately. In those days, there were no facilities or help that is available today. People would stay at distances and there were no tools to contact. Facilities were not there, but affection, warmth, loving heart and generosity to give was overwhelming.

My grandmother- my Aaji would sometimes talk about those days. Then we would come to know how she was connected with people, how she took initiatives for women and hoe they helped the poor students. For studying music further, she found a capable teacher in Ghulam Rasool sir in Parbhani. Even her joining his class was a sort of odd thing in 60’s in Parbhani, a small town then. Later on she went to places such as Mumbai and Allahabad for appearing for her examinations of Music- alone or sometimes with her four year old daughter and a company of a friend. She continued her music sadhana. Later on she started her own Music classes. For four decades, she shared her knowledge with next generation- her daughters in law and also her grandchildren. She encouraged her own daughter to follow a unique path. My uncle brought up in presence of my grandparents became a life-time activist for RSS. My Aaji worked for Rashtra Sevika Samiti in Parbhani. She also brought other women in this work. In this family environment my father and all family members took inspiration to work for the society. This was tricked down even to her grandchildren and we also could take inspiration.

She would tell about her life in those days and how our grandfather was. But she would also talk about those days- the people and the life in general. Sometimes my grandfather would stay in another place. There was no option of sending the message. Even if a letter is sent, it would take five- six days to reach. Even in such adversities, people were so attached with each other. People would help. And needs were very scarce. Manner of living the life had depth. People were connected with farms, trees and even animals. My grandmother was accompanied by dogs. She had even experienced the pain of a dog mother whose puppies would always leave her after their birth. When she would return after some programmes in late hours, such dogs would go to the main road to “receive” her. In those days, our house in Parbhani was very lonely. Even from a distance the dog would know that she is coming! In a way those were very slow and non- happening days and the life in general at that time. Almost without any facilities and accessories. But still happiness and satisfaction in those days is so unique. Today there are myriads of facilities, but such satisfaction and happiness is so rare.

My this grandmother left us on 4 May 2025 at the age of 94 years. Actually, we do not feel that she left us. We actually feel her silent flame around us. Till now, she was with us as a person. Henceforth she will be with us as a presence. Not as a flower, but as a fragrance she will be with us.

Her living and being would always be a guiding light. Despite of so many strokes of sorrow and despite of plenty of toiling, never ever any trace of harshness was found in her personality. Rather, she would reiterate how beautiful those days were, how happy were they in those years! She would express her gratitude for many. She would share memories of those people. Today, people get fed of life or blame people after just one bad experience. But she had never thought in this way. There was sorrow and troubles. But she also had the formula of remaining happy and remaining in the present moment. Even when she was 92 years, she was walking and active. Later on due to a serious fracture, her walking stopped. But she continued what she could do- she would read, write, would try to know what is happening in the world. She would sing songs, listen discourses. When she would sing some song, her face would shine with tremendous glow! Even when she was 94, she was writing her memoirs. She would call many people and talk to them! Even in such old age, her smile and cheer were worth observing.

There is much to learn and take inspiration from her. I feel secret of her long life and being happy is her being in present. She always did more physical exercises than mental exercises. Complaining was not in her nature. When she was 90, she had to leave Parbhani and come to Pune. She had myriads of memory there! Her everything got changed. After the injury, she became dependent on others. But she happily accepted it. And yes, she donated her eyes. She never required a spectacle. Her needs were little. Her passion for music, her willingness to do for other helped her channelize her energy to creative things. That’s why in the twilight of her life, her body decayed, her legs were tired, but her smiling face never changed! The oil and even the wick of the lamp got burned, but her light remained!  

-Niranjan Welankar 09422108376. Date of writing: 10 May 2025.