The grand old lady of Indian Army

The grand old lady of the Indian Army, widow of the 3rd Indian Army Chief, General SM Shrinagesh (May 1955 to May 1957) passed away on January 24, just short of her 102nd birthday. She has been a true source of inspiration to us, the junior ladies, who learnt so much from her rich life, replete with interesting stories and anecdotes.

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When I met her last just two months ago, I was quite amazed by her cheerful demeanour and her attempts to let me know that she recognized me. 

I first met Mrs Rajkumari Shrinagesh in September 1999, at a party hosted by General Shankar Roy Chowdhury at the Army House just before he retired. Mrs. Shrinagesh and Mrs Bimla Thapar, both wives of our former Chiefs, were present. Subsequently we met again and again after my husband, General VP Malik assumed command of the Indian Army. 

I was always struck by her innate grace and elegance, her immaculate sense of dress and the warmth and affection that she always showered on me. At that time she was almost 84 years old and I was amazed by her clarity of thought and the fact that she was so articulate.

There was so much that one could learn from such a gracious, charming lady and I was always bowled over by her thoughtful, appreciative thank-you notes written in her own neat hand, which she never failed to send across after every visit made to the Army House whether it was the Army Day or the Annual Garden Party.

After my husband's retirement when we moved to Panchkula, I was fortunate to be able to meet her frequently since she lived with her elder daughter, Mrs Premila Puri, and sometimes with her younger daughter, Mrs. Rohini Kapoor. She was very affectionate and I loved to visit her as often as I could. She was always elegantly dressed, wearing lovely, ornate jewelry, pearls around her neck, a flower tucked in her bun and had on a bright lipstick. She greeted me with delight and so much of warmth. One could speak to her at length and listen to her, wonderstruck, about all her fascinating never-ending narrations and anecdotes about her growing up as a little girl in Pakistan, her father who had been in the Indian Medical Corps and had seen active service in Mesopotamia and Iran, and also her marriage.

One is amazed at the spirit of all our grand old ladies — there is so much to learn from them, and to emulate.