We Remember   

Bibha Mukherjee passed away on May 23rd in Allentown, PA. She is survived by her loving husband, Kanai, daughters Anuradha and Arundhati, son Aseet and six grandchildren. The following was written by her husband Dr. Kanai Mukherjee A life to Celebrate One can write a book on the impressive life of this lady. Born in India in 1926, she received her Masters degree in Geography from Calcutta University (1946) at a time when higher education for women in India was still uncommon. She then went on to obtain a PhD from the University of Iowa in 1964. She was a professor at Benares Hindu University in India for 16 years and later at Morgan State University in Baltimore for 35 years. She retired in 2000 after teaching for over 50 years. She achieved success professionally while maintaining a strong commitment to her friends and family. In her quiet, unassuming way, she helped countless people through all manners of difficulty. She is most remembered for her selfless generosity, strong personality, love of knowledge and dedication to the Hindu culture. Loved and respected by all who knew her, she touched their lives in a special way. OM! Asatoma Satgamaya Tomasoma Jyotirgamaya Mrityorma Amritangamaya Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti! Oh Lord! Lead me from falsehood unto truth Lead me from darkness unto light Lead me from death unto immortality Peace! Peace! Peace! [From Brihadaranyaka Upanishad] Friends and relations of Mukherjees: You are not here to attend the funeral service of a great soul, my wife, Bibha Mukherjee. It is her farewell party as she is returning home. It is a joyous occasion. There is no pastor or any eloquent speaker. I would like to share with you my experience with her during her last few days. This will tell us how to prepare ourselves for our final journey. Her life was full of service to people and encouraging them to attain the best to serve the creator. She was quiet spoken yet firm in her believes. Most of the time I spoke for her. This reminds me of an instance. My grandson was then two or three years old. He always wanted me to tell him stories but he had no patience to listen to the story. So, when I start to tell the story, he may even slip out and do something else. It was one day when I started to tell a story, he moved to the next room and started to play with his toys. I stopped as I thought he is not interested. He came running like a bullet. “Why did you stop?” I said, “You are not here to listen to me story.” “That does not matter, keep talking.” And then he shoots out. I am sure Bibha is laughing there, as she always did, and asked me to repeat my stories again and again. She was a great listener. Before my retirement I told Bibha that I want to marry again in order to keep up the modern tradition. She was not the least disturbed. She said, “I have to teach the new bride how to cook your favorites dishes otherwise you will end up eating only cold cut sandwiches.” During her last few days I stayed with her practically round the clock. I never knew that silence could be so enjoyable. At night when I came back home for few hours of sleep, she pathetically looked at me, asking me not to go. But I had to keep myself going. This gave me an opportunity to review my life. Holding her hands, I realized how precious she was to so many. Last two days her face had a divine glow, she looked lot younger, her wrinkles disappeared and the nurses kept watching her with awe. The change came very slowly. She was not an ordinary woman. A woman who blended tradition with modernization. It was during this time one of my friends sent me a poem. This was a translation of one of the Tagore’s poem, the Indian poet who received Nobel Prize in 1913, on the final journey of our lives. She heard it many times and I would like to read that to you before I conclude. O helmsman, in your boat I’ll tread The ocean of peace that lies ahead. You will be the comrade here after. Take, take me in your arm’s shelter. In my journey into the infinite Will burn the polestar ever bright. You deliverer, your grace, your forgiveness, Will be the only fare for this journey limitless. The bond with this earth may now severed be. With open arms let the universe embrace me. The infinite unknown —- To my heart may it be known.