The Power of Punya (Reminiscing 'The Peak')

A tribute to Smt. Rishabha karnavat on her 90th birthday

When I was transferred to Jaipur in the year 1989, I stayed with my mother in law, Rishabha ji, in her sprawling house at Bapu Nagar, 'The Peak', commonly addressed as C-114, for about seven years. She was living all by herself after the death of her husband. During this period, I had a good occasion to understand and learn from her. Despite being quite disciplined about her religious pursuits, I found her extremely cool, kind, and caring. I learnt patience and forgiveness from her. There wasn't a single day when I felt uncomfortable living in my sasural, such was the respect she had showered upon me.

She always maintained that she is grateful that we stayed with her as she could continue her religious pursuits unabated and never felt the absence of her husband. In fact, she could complete a year-long penance called Varshi tapa (fasting for 36 hours, on alternate days for 13 lunar months and 13 days continuously). My wife always felt grateful to her as she could complete her Ph.D. while children were fully taken care of by her. I was grateful to her that we could get our own house constructed during this period.

Twenty years after we moved out, one day she shared with me a hand-written plain paper. It was a five-year-old document duly signed by her, attested by two of her closely known dignified persons. She wanted my opinion on the content. The paper suggested that her house, 'The peak' would be divided into three parts, one each to her two sons and one part for herself.

She had also recalled to me that one leading advocate, Mr. Vimal Choudhary living in the neighborhood had come to her once.  He needed space to park his car. He offered rent also, to which she denied but let him use the space. On that occasion, she sought his opinion about the division of her property amongst her sons. Mr. Choudhury strongly suggested that whenever she thinks of dividing the property, she should keep one part for herself. 

The document further stated that her share (one-third of the whole) will be further divided into three parts: one for each of her two daughters and one for herself. I told her that her daughters neither need it nor they wish to get a share from this property. I also informed her that at the time of the death of her husband, the daughters had already relinquished their rights in the property in favor of their brothers.

She explained that that's the precise reason why she wanted to give her daughters out of her own share without disturbing the shares of her sons. Also, giving to her daughters will make her happy. I advised her to share the document with her sons. She told me she had already done it and upon which initially they had suggested her to wait.

When at a certain point in time it was decided to go ahead with the wishes of the mother,  it was thought of making a multi-story building in a joint venture with some builder so the flats can be divided according to the formula set out by her. On exploring the market it was found that the builders are defaulting invariably, don't deliver in time & cheat the landowners at times. So as an alternative, it was thought proper to sell the house.

The house was sold out very smoothly and proceeds distributed amicably as per her wishes. Incidentally, the younger son, as if he had a premonition, survived only two years after the division but surely departed a satisfied soul.

I have seen any numbers of cases where the sale of land, division, and distribution of property have never been without some fuss, complications, delays, or acrimony.  It was nothing short of a miracle that a hardly educated, single, usually a pliable lady could accomplish such a major fiat in her infirm age. 

But if you know the power of Punya, good karma, and pious life, you won't be surprised.

The entire family and herself missed 'The Peak' a lot. She distinctively remembered when they had shifted into that house on 9th May 1965. She stayed there for about fifty years. She fondly reminisced that it was quite eventful, glorious, and auspicious for the family. I too remember the starry night of February 1976 when I took saat fere, the only marriage solemnized in the precincts of 'The Peak'. During the entire period, no death occurred in the house.

Given her religious disposition, she could weigh the practical advantages of her decision and quickly reconciled to the new situation. Renouncing mortals lead your way towards becoming immortal, say the Jain sages. 

Rishabha ji eventually found solace with her youngest daughter, my wife Rashmi, and thus is staying with us for the last seven years. She has been doing charity generously and is living her life in a dignified and religious way. We feel highly blessed to have such a saint-like soul with us. 

We heartily wish her long and comfortable life!

Author: Ramesh Kumar Jain  IAS (Retd.)

Edit & photos :Hina Mohnot