The Original Muffler Man by Shubhra Krishan

Author:Shubhra Krishan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: null
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Meenu Jain

Daughter

The youngest of Kasturi Lal Jain’s children, Meenu is 14 years younger than Sunil Jain and seven years younger than Bipan Jain. Her sprightly countenance and pleasant manner are testimony to having been surrounded by warmth and affection all her life.

“Oh yes, I was the most pampered child,” she says, without hesitation. “Being the youngest had amazing advantages. If I was unwell, my father did not go to work! I loved to eat fruits for lunch, and if we fell short, he would go buy an armload of them for me. Small things that meant a lot and kept me in a cocoon of care all through childhood. Even today, he walks up to my place in the evenings, just to give me a box of jalebis or something that has been cooked at home.

“The greatest thing I have learned from my father is the art of building and maintaining relationships. I emphasise the word ‘maintaining’ because building them is the easy part—most people don’t do what it takes to nurture a relationship. My father has a natural affinity for bonding with and caring for people, and I learned that from him.

“Another wonderful trait he has is the spirit of giving without expecting anything in return. Be it the destitute, the sick or saints, he will step forward without hesitation to help out. In fact, he actively asks around if we know somebody who is in need, so that he can help. But even in giving, he has a principle: give only as much as the person needs, so that they value what they have received.

“Once, my son’s friend’s mother was seriously ill and required urgent surgery, and they had no funds. Hesitantly, I asked my father to help with some money, and he gave it to me, without questioning me even once. The lady has recovered fully and is a teacher in DAV School now.

“My father’s regular visits to our Jain saints are an act of complete faith. He just goes and sits by their feet, learning and imbibing, rather than crying about unhappiness. He loves to gift them yoga mats and asanas for meditation.

“Every year, on the 1st of January, my father makes donations to at least a dozen charities, including People for Animals, Beauty without Cruelty, UNICEF and a number of local gaushalas.

“This dedication to social causes is no longer a passion for him, it is an ambition, and he would be happiest if we, his children, carried it forward for eternity. His advice to us is specific: whatever you earn each month, set aside some of it to give away to those in need.

“The one pillar on which my father’s life stands is hard work. We have seen days of hard struggle, and equally, we have seen him emerge from them with the power of diligence. I am what I am today—an independent woman with a thriving business—because he and my entire family supported me through a rough phase and inspired me to stand on my own feet.

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