Smt. Saraswati Devi

Smt. Saraswati Devi hailed from the village of Bijwasan in Delhi State.  She was from Jatrana gotra and belonged to a well-known and big farming family. Her father was a renowned figure in Rana Khap and at the time of his death (at very old age), his family performed ‘kaaj’ in the village, where all the families of Bigwasan village were invited over the meal. She was married to Ch. Banwari Lal at a very young age.  Though she never had the opportunity to attend school, she was an intelligent and hard-working woman. Ram Singh, her first son, was born in 1933.  The boy was hardly five years old when he lost his father. She had another girl child, Parmeshwari after Ram Singh who passed away at a very early age. The death of her husband was a great shock to her and the family.

After the lapse of one year, she was remarried to Hardwari Lal-II who was the only son of Dada Roop Chand offered to support the family of his younger brother. It was performed as per the Aryan custom of KAREWA (Chadar Andaji) in the presence of elders from our family and those of Saraswati, who came especially from her village. Thus, Saraswati was re-established in her life. Soon she was blessed with three daughters, Savitri, Sushila, and Renu and two sons, Raj Singh and Surender Kumar Dalal. Although she was not educated yet with her continuous efforts, all the children got good education and were brought up well under her supervision. Her elder daughters Savitri and Sushil also shared the concern of their mother to look after their younger siblings, particularly Surender and Renu. They brought them up like their own children. Today, all of them are well-placed leading a happy and prosperous life. Her elder daughter was topper in her school in Matriculation Examination and got distinction in F.Sc. (Medical).

She always helped the needy and kept the door of her house open at all times, particularly for obtaining education. She used to receive and welcome a number of persons visiting them from the village in search of getting jobs in the Farm at Hissar, for purchasing milch animals particularly cows and other related assignments. In addition to the responsibility of two families, all the children of both families and other close relatives particularly bua Hardyee, her brothers’ daughters, stayed with her for better education. She always encouraged and provided support to the children of domestic servants for studies.

Smt. Saraswati was a very sincere, humble and kind-hearted lady. Her unconditional love and affection towards children and grandchildren is unforgettable. She brought up her granddaughter, Sunita and grandson, Kuldeep under her care from a very young age. Her son Surender looked after her grandchildren, particularly Kuldeep like his own son. Similarly, she also looked after the children of her two serving daughters during day time. Their children enjoyed her company during their childhood at Hissar. All these children still keep remembering her and reminisce about their days spent in her company and her affection towards them.

She was a very religious minded lady and used to spend most of her time in performing ‘puja’ in the ‘mandir’ established in her own house at Hissar. She never took breakfast without taking bath and performing puja. She extended her love for nature and the ecosystem by feeding birds, cows, pet dogs, cats and other animals in her house. She was very well looked after by her both daughters, particularly Sushil, who was living very close to her house. Sushil spent most of her time with her mother during her old age of life. Her children particularly Gullu used to give her company and assist in small household work.

After the death of her husband, the younger son Surender once shifted her permanently to his flat in Delhi, where she stayed for some weeks. But internally her mind and feelings were in her old premises at Hissar from where her husband had breathed his last. So she decided to return to her house in Hissar. She left for her Heavenly abode on 9^th January 1996 and was cremated with full honours in presence of a lot of gathering from the town and her close relatives at Hisar, where her husband was cremated.