My boudi's chhordi was my chhordi as well. I met her both in Bangalore and in Alipore Kolkata. I found her to be one of the most caring person in the world. But more than that her life represented to me a life that saw monentous changes in history, so many places from her birthplace in Pahartoli to the nooks and crannies of this vast sub-continent, yet she remained so true to her self in all that she did. Only through Rabindranath Tagore can I truly comprehend the depth of her existence. "Ei kothati mone rekho, tomader ei hashi khelai, ami je gaan geye chilem, mone rekho......"

Ever smiling "Hasmukh" Mashima. So difficult to pay tribute to a person who lightened everybody's woes whosoever came in touch with her. To describe her would mean heaping a lot of superlative phrases. So , in plain and simple terms she was dignity personified , full of grace and charming. Like her great grand children I too am besotted with her. Mashima' your persona is etched in my memory as I am walking through the twilight years of my life. Wherever you are fare thee well.

Greatest great-grandmother. I love her, and her spinach curry. The most prominent memory I have of her, is telling me that I was her favorite child, out of her children, grand-children, and great-grand-children. I was later told, that this was told to everyone, but I refuse to believe that.

Gone but never forgotten.