Rajmata, in a better world and hearts, you are

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 25

It was almost over 20  years ago and if my memory serves me right, it was 1997 or 1998, when I first met Rajmata Mohinder Kaur at a function on the sprawling lawn of Yadavindra Public School, which was founded by her husband Maharajadhiraj Yadavindra Singh Mohindra Bahadur of Patiala. 

We had a cricket match on February 2, the Founder’s Day. It is an event, where the old boys are given a tough competition by the present school team. 

That year, I was lucky enough to have sent the old students for a leather hunt as I was able to score freely and eventually went on to be named as the man of the match. As luck would have it, the Rajmata was the guest at the prize distribution ceremony that was to be followed by lunch. 

I recall how when my name was announced, I felt spring in my feet and ran to get my award from the chief guest who happened to be Mohinder Kaur — a pleasing personality with grey locks and a dupatta to cover her head. “Good job, beta! Well played”, I still remember what she said. I thanked her even as she smiled and touched my head for blessings. “Tie your shoe laces,” she said, as I turned back after receiving my award. 

After the award ceremony, the lunch on the hockey ground had another special guest — our former YPS principal Harish Dhillon. At the lunch table, usually the Patiala royals, who are associated with the school ever since its foundation — leave the venue for the old and present students to mingle and interact. However, on Mr Dhillon’s request, the 

Rajmata decided to stay 

for lunch. 

I was sitting in a corner enjoying a parantha with butter chicken when the school baira ji (mess boy) came to me saying her highness Rajmata Mohinder Kaur wanted to see me. My heart skipped a beat and I forgot my plate on the table. I felt if I committed something wrong or probably forgot to touch her feet when I accepted the award or probably I was talking too loudly. With a mixed bag of emotions, I approached her where she sitting with Mr Dhillon. 

As I greeted her, the humble lady as she was — asked me to sit politely. With all the courage and trembling hands, I sat across the table. “Have you finished eating,” she asked. “Yes”, I said. Then, she told me that though she had conferred the man of the match award on me, she had not seen me play and wanted to know about my cricket innings. The humbleness in her words mesmerised me and I started talking as a young boy would, on a lucky day when he had scored some runs. She heard me patiently and congratulated me. 

“My husband was fond of cricket,” she said. “He would play the whole day and loved cricketers. When I visit the school, it reminds me of him. By then, Mr Dhillon intervened and said he was happy that being his ex-student, (he had taught me English in Class VII), I deserved the prize. 

The interaction got over and I could not meet her for almost a couple of years, but in 1999 when YPS cricket team was off for a friendly fixture to The Doon School, Dehradun, our team had got a special invite for a high tea with the Rajmata at the New Moti Bagh Palace, and there was the lady who won me with her humble words and politeness. At the tea, she forgot my name, but recalled me as the same boy who had met her at the school a couple of years ago. She wished us luck and her pleasant smile still is fresh in my memories. 

On Monday evening, when the news of her demise came, I went into the flashback. May her soul rest in peace.