A Tribute to Our Beloved MosiMrs. Indra Khanna was born on October 13th, 1939 in Multan. She was the eldest daughter of Seth Bhagwan Daas and Shrimati Navnind Kapoor. She moved to New Delhi, India at the age of 8 during the tumultuous times of the partition where she grew up with her three brothers and two sisters in the warm and close knit environment of Kamla Nagar fondly referred to as the “27D club”.
Indra Mosi was always a caring and loving person, a dutiful daughter and responsible and fun older sister. Growing up while Nani would be busy with household duties and Nanaji would be busy at work, Mosi and her siblings would enjoy the days together chatting and playing with each other. Whenever Indra Mosi was invited to go see a movie or do something fun she would always take her little sisters with her too. Mom has fond memories of when Mosi was 6 years old and Mom was 2 years old. At that age, they all enjoyed flying kites and Mom in her attempts to fly a kite on the second floor patio almost fell off. Mosi held on to her dress as much as she could but Mosi being tall and thin and Mom being small and chubby, ultimately lead to an imbalance of forces, and Mom fell off the roof. Mosi cried and cried blaming herself for letting her little sister falling off the roof. Mosi always had a big heart, if her little sisters liked anything she would give and share without hesistation.
Mosi graduated from a private high school and went to college. In her second year of college, she came home one day to find a suitor would be coming to visit their home. She was told he came from a good family and was a professor in engineering at University of Roorkee. Mosi had such a grace and charisma about her, that in their 10 minutes of interaction, Jijaji fell in love. After the engagement, he wrote a letter to her little sisters requesting them to bring Mosi to a café in the university area. Mosi in her shyness showed up 3 hrs late, but Jijaji had already left. Mosi and Jijaji were married in the 1960s and started a life together in Roorkee UP. Mosi was so affectionate and attached to her siblings that she wanted to bring them with her on her Honeymoon! On April 28th, 1961, after 12 hours of difficult labor Mosi gave birth to Anju Khanna as the first grandchild of Seth Bhagwan Daas and Shrimati Navnind Kapoor followed by Rajesh Khanna and like this the next generation started.
As caring and affectionate as she was as a sister, being a mother came naturally to Mosi. Even though she was busy as a mother and wife, she still stayed a big part of the 27D club helping her sisters find good grooms and helping her loved ones lead happy lives. Mosi always put others first.
Growing up, Mosi was like a second mom to us. She encouraged us to learn dance and loved watching us perform and sing all of our bhajans. She introduced us to her favorite hobbies of shopping and jewlery, and how much fun we would all have trying on new saris, langas, and picking out new earrings and necklaces. Whenever we would visit India, Mosi’s home felt like home. She would make sure all our favorite dishes were made. A true romantic at heart, if one of her nephews or nieces fell in love, Mosi would help support their case with their parents.
Mosi believed in doing good things. When her dear servant became affected with tuberculosis, she made sure she got the complete treatment and made sure her children were taken care of. She believed in helping those in need and acted on these beliefs.
Even though Mosi was gentle, kind, and soft hearted, when it came to challenging times, Mosi was a true Punjabni Khatri, she remained strong and inspired those around her to be strong and maintain a positive outlook. Mosi was diagnosed with a difficult to treat oral cancer in 2006. She underwent surgery and battled several rounds of painful radiation and chemotherapy. Even though she suffered with pain and nausea, she remained strong for her family and loved ones and maintained a positive outlook for those around her. She would say, “What is going to happen, is going to happen. We should not get sad or depressed. Just live one day at a time.” And like that, she would wake up every morning and live each day as she had lived it before, picking out a nice outfit with matching bangles, setting her hair, and making sure everyone around her is taken care of.
Many of us did not get to say goodbye to Mosi. But we hope she hears us in our prayers. Mosi you have been an inspiration and role model to us all. We will miss you and you will always remain a part of our thoughts and heart. We pray to Bhagwanji that your soul is at peace and to give strength to all of us and especially Jijaji, Anju Didi, and Rajesh Bhaiya. When we think of you, we are reminded of our favorite verse from the Bhagwad Geeta:
“These are the main characteristics of all my sincere devotees: (1) Hating none, (2) to be loving and kind to all, (3) free from attachment and the sense of 'Mine' (4) undisturbed in pain and pleasure (5) forgiving (6) always ocntent (7) constant in contemplation (8) ever self controlled (9) of firm resolve (10) with mind and intellect firmly fixed on Me, (11) not distubring others, (12) not disturbed by others (13) not jumping about in the ecstasy in worldly joys (14) absolutely free from feelings of envy, fear, and anxiety (15) not depending on the external world for one's own peace of mind (16) physically clean and mentally pure (17) efficient (18) free from desires and worries (19) not arrogating to onself the credit for actions (20) not putting any value on material gains and material losses, as the world in unreal and perishable (21) loving equallly those who injure and those who help (22) unaffected by honour and dishonour, remaining the same in joy and grief, heat and cold, as these are only passing phases (23) looking at praise and censure with a detached mind (24) mostly silent (25) content with whatever is available and (26) not having any other shelter than Me. Such devotees are indeed very very dear to Me. When they have these qualities they need not seek Me; for I shall be running after them -- I love them so much indeed.” Shri Bhagawad Geeta, Chapter 12, Verses 17-19.
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