My mother Savitri Devi 39 warding of the evil-eye by circulating money immediately after the Anand Karaj in 1965 on our house terrace in Kalandar Chowk, Panipat and whole scenario is watched by me and near relatives.
In those days, marriages were not merely alliances between two individuals, they were sacred bonds between families, nurtured over generations. The elders took it upon themselves the responsibility of selecting suitable matches for their sons and daughters. It was considered a blessing to unite with a family whose values, character, and history were already known, having witnessed their joys and hardships alike.
Such was the depth of trust that sometimes alliances were decided even before a child was born. Promises made in friendship were honored as solemn commitments. One such instance touched our own family deeply. My grandmother, in her warmth and conviction, had once promised her dear friend that if a daughter were born into our family, she would be married into theirs.
My grandmother Karam Devi already committed her granddaughter Bhagwant (still in lap with Biji)for her future wedding alliance before She was born.
As time passed, and with the upheavals of partition and the limitations of communication in those days, when even a postcard was a precious link, such promises faded into the background. Families were scattered, and connections became difficult to trace.
Yet, destiny has its own way of fulfilling what is spoken with sincerity.
My grandmother’s friend’s son, Tirlok Singh, grew up to become a fine young man and joined the Indian Air Force. He was handsome, well-placed, and carried himself with dignity. Around the same time, my elder sister had completed her training as a teacher—graceful, educated, and grounded in strong values.
Newly-wed studio pic of Bhagwant and Tirlok Singh
Outwardly, some may have questioned the match. In those superficial comparisons, people noted differences, he being strikingly handsome, and my sister, though not so fair but bright, being more simple in appearance. There were whispers that such a union might face challenges.
But what truly mattered revealed itself in time.
My grandmother Karam Devi and her friend Chetni Bai whose son Trilok Singh was destined to marry my sister Bhagwant as decided by Karam Devi even before she was born.
The boy’s family was of exceptional character, principled, cultured, and deeply rooted in values. Their conduct reflected generations of integrity and grace. In that environment, my sister found not just acceptance, but respect, warmth, and a lifelong sense of belonging.
A rare pic of family in 1986 Gurgaon. Only Tirlok Singh Jija Ji is missing perhaps he is clicking the shot.
Today, as I reflect, I see how that promise, made so long ago, blossomed into a life of fulfillment. She now spends her time joyfully with her younger son, Sandeep are done to, in Toronto, while her elder son, Jagdeep, has made his home in Dallas, carrying forward the family’s legacy across continents.
Bhagwant with her two sons Jagdeep and Sandeep around my wedding time.
It reminds me that beyond appearances and momentary judgments, it is character, संस्कार (values), and the unseen threads of destiny that truly shape a life well lived.
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