While I am writing a short family history for you all, I felt it is my duty to include a brief narration about my mother, your great grand mother. Her name was Jameela Bi, daughter of late Janab Abdul Rahim.
My mother was one of the noblest ladies in our family and this opinion was shared by all the relatives who were associated with her. She had twelve children, (one son, the youngest, died in infancy). Indeed she extended her love and utmost care to all the children without any discrimination. You may say that this aspect is in all mothers. I agree, but there was a marked difference in her dealings compared to other mothers.
Examples of her greatness:
1. I have written previously that my grand father (Janab Mohammed Madar) had three sons and two daughters. While all three sons prospered in business after shifting to Bangarapet, the sisters remained poor comparatively. The elder sister continued her life in the same village until her end and the younger one shifted to several places, but unfortunately prosperity did not come her way. She had three daughters and three sons.
When the daughters attained marriageable ages our Phupa moved to Bangarapet. The daughters had to be married but there was no wealth to take care of even a single marriage. My mother rose to the occasion and took care of all their needs as if they were her own daughters. The other uncles and aunts remained aloof.
My mother could have adapted an easy way by asking my father to offer them some money to manage the proceedings themselves. No, she took care of every detail and all three marriages took place in our house. This kind of treatment is unheard of to relatives from husband's side.
2. It was the habit of my mother to eat almost all meals in the company of house maids, after every one had finished their meals. The maids ate the same meals as my mother. There was a Brahmin doctor by name Rajagopal in our town who used to visit our home occasionally. He once noticed the spectacle of the servants eating with the lady of the house and narrated this to many people calling it a legend.
3. She was the type of lady who to our knowledge never told a lie and never argued with anyone even when faced with allegations. She would be satisfied with anything provided by our father and never demanded except for her children.
4. During the last days of my father the type of assistance she extended was believed to be unique. This is what my father expressed to Hameed who happened to be near him before he expired. He said "Your mother is not an ordinary woman but an angel on earth".
Of course God has created many noble women/wives/mothers in this world and she was one among them.