Goodbye, Najma.
Najma was an incredibly kind woman with such a fierce spirit. I met her over 15 years ago when we both lived in Seattle and were attending graduate school. She was a very important mentor to me at a time when I was starving for such a thing. She had a stunning ability to give, which I don't know that I could have ever repaid her for. My favorite memory of her was when I was having a particularly tough day in the middle of dissertation writing and she made me dinner at her apartment. It was this glorious fish curry. I lay on her couch relaxing while this amazing smell emanated from the kitchen and brought with it, ultimate comfort. I watched her battle diabetes and cancer with ferocity. For her 60th birthday, I bought her a wig because she always said she wanted a glorious head of blond curls. Little did either of us know that she would be diagnosed with cancer by the end of the year and actually need a wig in the near future. Ah, I could write so many other stories. I moved to Minnesota and she back to Philadelphia. I went to visit her whenever I could, which was never often enough. Last time we talked, I told her about my daughter and she was so delighted. She said that wanted to get her dialysis stabilized and then I could bring baby girl for a visit. She never did. I found out about her passing because the holiday card that I sent to her was bounced back to me, many many months too late.
For a dear friend.
I met Najma more than half a century ago when we both came to IIMC.In the first year we were just batch mates but during the summer training we really got along very well. Najma was a graceous hostess & some of the most beautiful evenings were spent in her house.Her mother looked after me as if i was her son.Theirs was a close knit family .I have hardly seen so much warmth.Last time she was in India, we spoke over phone & what i got was abuse because i had visited KAKA & not her during my previous holidays.I visited US 12 times since 2006 & could have seen her at her place if i wanted.She had even sent me & ny wife a formal invitation.Feel guilty.My eyes swell with tears & there is a lump in my throat.Rest in peace, Najma.
Let us meet in the other world & we can talk endlessly.
Shashi
From an old friend
I knew Najma from my student days at IIM, Calcutta. Then we both came to Wharton, thanks to a wonderful professor, Shiv Gupta, who taught us at IIMC and then had moved to Wharton. Najma arrived a few days before me and was well settled in Philadelphia when I arrived. She helped me settle in many ways, for example, explaining the vegetarian choices and introducing me to Italian food and a Philly institution called Pagano's restaurant. Then I moved away and lost touch. Many years later, I returned to Philadelphia to take up a job at Reliance Insurance and Najma showed up at my office. Unfortunately, the connection was lost after a few years. I got to know about Najma's illness and got in touch with Najma. Wanted to visit Najma during my frequent trips to NJ from Florida, where I now live, but clearly there was a reluctance so we did not meet.
I remember Najma from Calcutta days -- a bubbly, talkative, intelligent person. She was willing to take on any challenge and give her best.
May her soul rest in peace. She will be missed by her many friends and admirers.
Arun Maheshwari
