15. It was always fun to be with Jolly Mamu

It was always fun to be with Jolly Mamu!

Gita and Ashok Shivpuri

We met Jolly Mamu and Moni Mami for the first time in 1975 when Gita and I visited Kolkata after marriage. We were served Bengali cuisine along with a lot of love. This initial meeting was very heartwarming and comforting as it gave me a feeling of genuine affection shown by a senior of my in-law’s family.

After that, we visited Kolkata several times, and during our stay, a visit to Jolly Mamu’s was a must. He was a sweet, simple, and straightforward person. We loved him a lot, and he equally reciprocated our affection. Once during our visit along with Vinni and Prem Bhai to Darjeeling, we broke the journey in Kolkata. Jolly Bhai came to meet us at Vinni’s place, and there he told us about his proposed visit to Swami Vivekanand’s Ashram at Belur Math with some other friends. He had hired a private taxi and invited me to join. During our drive he talked on many subjects like religion, politics, ethics, present generation, their thinking and view on life, and such other matters. At the Ashram, he walked us around the large campus, telling us every detail he knew about the Math. I very well could feel his devotion for the esteemed soul of Swami Vivekanand Ji, his philosophy as well as the great regard for Guru Parmahansji. The visit was followed with a simple, vegetarian Bengali style lunch [Prasad]. He was indeed excited in the way we enjoyed the food while squatting on the floor mats.

Another great memory of Jolly Mamu and Moni Mami is when they visited us in Madras. They stayed with us for two days, and my mother and both of us enjoyed their company. My mother

Back Row: Cousins Ladli, Shiela, Tejan Front Row: Jolly with cousin Suraj Kishen Munshi [photo taken in 1931 after Suraj’s release who had been jailed for his stand against British Rule]

especially loved chatting with them on all kinds of subjects till late evenings. As we were staying in a complex where a large number of IAS Officers were staying, some of whom Jolly Mamu and Moni Mami met, a question arose in my mind why Jolly Mamu chose a political career when he was eminently qualified to be selected in Indian Civil Services; something which his own father was keen on. Jolly Mamu replied that in his view, he could serve more people as a politician, being their representative, than as a bureaucrat.

Jolly Mamu and Vinni Shivpuri share their birthdays. While she was in Kolkata, I learned that they would celebrate their birthday together, and we had lots of fun. Despite his advanced age, Jolly Mamu kept his child ego state alive till the last, being the lively and humorous person that he always was.

Jolly with his nieces Sadhana and Sudha, daughters of his cousin Krishna [Didda Rani].

Rear Row: Cousin sisters of Kaul brothers- L to R: Krishna Takru [partially hidden], Dulari Sapru, Tej Kumari Kaul, Ladli Mushran [mother of Gita Shivpuri (nee Mushran)]. Front Row: Ashok and Gita Shivpuri.

Sitting L to R: Sanjay Kaul, Sudhir Dar, Jolly Kaul, Rummy Dar, Divya Kaul, Gita Kriplani (sister of late Anita Kaul)] Standing L to R : Rekha Kaul, Avantika (Dar) Khullar, Nikhil Kaul, Vishal Khullar, Anoop Kaul, Ajit Mulla, Sunita(Kaul) Mulla, Naveen Kaul, Gita Kaul; all at Sanjay’s Gurgaon flat for lunch.

On 27 Sep 2011, Gita and I attended Jolly Mamu’s 91st Birthday party along with Vinni’s at Sanju’s place in Worli, Mumbai, and we had a fantastic time that day.

I last met Jolly Mamu on 8 Feb 2020, at his Kolkata flat. He was in bed, but he told me he is fine. To me, he looked quite okay but weak due to the age factor. He was cheerful, agile, and very keen to converse and exchange updates in the family. I was fortunate that I could spend a good two hours with him that day. He informed me that he would be starting his hundredth year of life on 22nd September. I wished him in advance, and he thanked me in return.

Gita is Tribhuvan Mushran and Laddo’s (Jolly’s cousin) daughter and is married to Ashok.