Even today, the memory of this day sends shivers down my spine. It had only been three years since my marriage, I was still studying at the time. And yet, within those three years, I received from Lala Ji—my grandfather-in-law—affection and blessings worth three thousand years. He loved the tea I made for him at 4 a.m. every morning and the fritters and samosas I served him in the evening. He adored me, and at the same time, he was a man of strict discipline and firm principles. He was deeply just, impartial, fearless, and courageous—whatever he said, he practiced himself. As long as he lived, three generations of our family shared one kitchen and one roof. It is only when the elders of a family are strong and righteous that a joint family can thrive.
On the evening of September 8, I myself drove him home because he had to leave early the next morning. But destiny cannot be altered. On the morning of September 9, I cooked potato-pea curry and parathas with my own hands and served them to him before he left for Patiala. That evening, while Ashwini Ji and I were getting ready to attend an event, chaos suddenly erupted—Lala Ji had been shot. Ashwini Ji and Romesh Ji rushed away in the car at top speed, while I stood in shock, unable to comprehend who had shot Lala Ji and why. Coming from a simple family, I had never witnessed anything like this. Though ours was also a revolutionary family, those struggles were from a time before I was born. The fear I felt then cannot be put into words. From that day on, I even stopped driving. I was the only granddaughter-in-law blessed directly by Lala Ji. They say that interest is always dearer than the principal. I was the wife of his eldest and most beloved grandson, Ashwini Ji. Though Lala Ji loved his other three grandsons as well, his attachment and affection for Ashwini Ji were special. That is why he entrusted all his shares to him. He was a farsighted man who knew well that Ashwini Ji was a born journalist.
Lala Ji was staunchly against the dowry system. He solemnized the marriages of both his sons, and later that of his grandson Ashwini and me, in a temple for the symbolic amount of one rupee. Carrying forward this tradition, I too married off all three of my sons in Arya Samaj temples for one rupee. Truly, Lala Ji was an idealist and a patriot who spent 16 years in prison during the freedom struggle, and later gave his life for the unity of the nation. He strongly felt that there should be systems in place for the welfare of the elderly. During the last phase of his life, he wrote a series called “Jeevan Ki Sandhya” (“The Evening of Life”), because he often said that old age is the hardest stage of life. In it, he pointed out how even elders from good families suffer from loneliness and depression, while those from less fortunate households face not only emotional neglect but also physical ailments, social disregard, and economic struggles. Especially in times of inflation, when children begin to turn away from their parents, considering them a burden.
In his memory and that of his son, Ramesh Chandra Ji, the Varishth Nagrik Kesari Club was established under the Vridh Kesari Ramesh Chandra Trust. Its main objective is to eliminate feelings of loneliness and neglect among elders, restore their self-confidence and sense of security, increase awareness about health, and provide economic or medical assistance to those in need. This club has become a platform where elderly people can spend time with a sense of belonging and dignity. For their cultural and intellectual growth, the club organizes competitions, humor sessions, religious events, Mahamrityunjaya recitals, and more.
Inspired by Lala Ji, the world’s first Adoption System for Elders was created through this very club. Thousands of elderly people have already been adopted under this system. Adoption here does not mean taking an elder into one’s home; rather, it means bearing the costs of their medicines and basic needs so that they can continue to live peacefully with their own children and grandchildren in their own homes. Old-age homes may provide shelter and food, but they cannot give the warmth of belonging, respect, or mental security.
At the Varishth Nagrik Kesari Club, elders are given the items they need and served meals of their choice. Today, its branches are spread across the country, benefiting lakhs of senior citizens. If you wish to witness its work firsthand, you are invited on September 9. There is no greater peace than holding the hands of those who once taught us how to walk. They are not dust beneath our feet—they are the crown upon our foreheads. This is true service and the real tribute.
On this martyrdom day, my three sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and all the staff of Punjab Kesari bow with heartfelt homage to Lala Ji and remember him with great affection. When the protective shadow of a father is gone, the love of a grandfather and great-grandfather becomes a source of strength for the children.
