My great-grandmother Ajaib Kaur, whom we lovingly called ‘Manji’ (pronounced maa-jee), was our hero.  She was not only loving and kind but also brave and respected by all.  Although her life was tough, she never complained of her hardships, challenges or restrictions, which were many, including, loosing her husband early from injuries sustained during WW1;  loosing everything (home, farm, livestock, family, friends, etc.), becoming displaced, ferrying a bullock-cart with her son (my grandfather Ranjit Singh) for over three months thru dangerous carnage of 1947 partition of India, and starting a new life as a refugee with nothing; becoming paralyzed on the entire left side of her body in the early 70’s rendered her house-bound and with mobility challenges, till her passing in 1991; etc.

She practically raised my father and he in return has great love, respect, devotion, adoration, and reverence for her.  He has very fond childhood memories of her including how she would be worried and look for him whenever he would run late from his errand of bringing ‘pathe’ (fodder for the cattle), and how he could spot the light from her lantern in the field; how she told him stories of the Gurus – their glory and sacrifices; how she was strict regarding studies; how she made the best ‘dahi-vada’ that even his teachers would ask for (and how he had to make a special run home to bring it them on days Manji made them); how she was immense respected in the village that everyone irrespective of age called her ‘Bhua’ (father’s sister); etc. My memories of her is seeing her happiness each time we visited her, and how talked to us, gave us her wisdom, allowed us to groom her, and play with her rustic wheelchair (sometimes with her in it).

What we know of Manji is that she was born in Badhni Kalan village near Moga (where the family also settled after partition) in the Dhaliwal Clan to Nidhan Singh (date of birth and mother’s name unknown).  It is said that a ‘Gwad’ named ‘Dhana Pati’ in the village was named after her father (‘Gwad’ or ‘Pati’ is part of the village where people of the same clan live).  She was married to my great grandfather Inder Singh and was his second-wife and bore him a son (my grandfather Ranjit Singh).  Babaji Inder Singh is believed to have succumbed to his injuries around 1934-35 during the  ‘Kate Di Bimari’ (plague epidemic) in Punjab.  

In closing,  Manji was a woman of grit, strong values, and faith.  She was steadfast, disciplined, clear-headed, committed, realistic, resilient and responsible, who believed in honest work, strengthening family bonds/connections and enduring relationships. She was a wise woman who everyone went to for advice, direction and reassurance.  We, her descendants, not only thank her for her dedication, perseverance and steadiness, but also for being a strong role-model and inspiration to how to live life with resolve and tenacity despite life’s challenges and setbacks.  Thank you Manji for everything and we all love you.