Amitabh146;s mother

I am of the same vintage as Big B8217;s parents, Teji and Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and my acquaintance with them goes back to the early fifties.

I am of the same vintage as Big B8217;s parents, Teji and Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and my acquaintance with them goes back to the early fifties. I was with All India Radio, and both of them would come for radio broadcast every once in a while.

Teji Bachchan was a very personable lady, attractive and always immaculately dressed. One summer in the late fifties, Teji and I ran into each other at Nainital, where I had gone on a vacation. I was delighted to see her and I remember her telling me that she had admitted her two sons into a prestigious school there. We had long walks together and chatted freely.

During one of these afternoon strolls, Teji invited me to walk along with her up the hill on the other side of the lake to a temple 8212; the local Hanuman mandir 8212; where she wanted to offer prayers. She went on to add that this particular temple was very special inasmuch as whatever wish you made in obeisance before the deity there, would come true. I readily agreed to accompany her.

The pathway we walked up was rocky and uneven. By the time we reached the temple, I was tired. But not Teji. As we entered the small, sparsely lit, sanctum of the temple, she opened her purse and took out some money by way of an offering to the deity. At that moment I realised that I had not brought my purse. Teji at once read the dismay on my face and pushed a rupee and a chavanni a quarter rupee coin of that time into my hand. She was the first to go in. Having stayed in deep meditation for a while, she gestured to me to follow. I touched the Lord8217;s feet, placed the offering of the borrowed money there and prayed. But I wondered whether it was truly reverential to make an offering with borrowed money.

On our way back Teji voluntarily disclosed that she had prayed solely for the prosperity and glory of her sons. When we got back to the mall and were about to part company, I promised to return her money, but she lightly brushed the subject aside. Later I did try to clear my debt with her, but she wouldn8217;t hear of it.

Looking back, it seems to me that maybe Big B8217;s fortunes were made when his mother prayed at that small mountainside temple that evening almost fifty years ago.