Release of my book Dadi Nani ki Kahaani

(Click on image to enlarge it)

At a function held on 14th December, 2003, Shakun Narain’s book, ‘Dadi Nani Ki Kahaani’ was released by Deputy Prime Minister Shri L.K. Advani.  Mr. Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, is seated on the left, and Mrs. Indu Jain, chairperson of the Times Group, is standing on the right.

Dada Jashan Vaswani in his autograph to me wrote:‘Thankyou, dear Shakun, for all you are doing in service of the little ones.They are the light and life of the nation-the hope of the future’

Dev Anand shakes hands with a guest while Maya Shahani and I look on

Below is the speech of Shakun Narain read at the funtion.

Thank you, Akhil,

Reverend Dada Vaswani,

Honorable Shri L K Advaniji,

Shri Ram Jethmalani

Mrs Indu Jain

Mr Dev Anand

Mr Narayan Murthy,

Mr. Ratan Tata

Mrs Maya Shahani

Mr Kishore and Narain Shahani

Aftaab Shivdasani

Dignitaries, family and friends,

I wrote Dadi Nani ki Kahaani at my grandson Aditya’s request.

He asked me to send him a short note on Krishna so that he could share it with his friends. He lives in the US. I started sending these stories to some other children I knew and soon, not only children, but their parents were asking me to add them to my mailing list.

It is then that we realized that there was a need for Dadi Nani ki Kahaani of this kind.

At this Memorial Programme to commemorate the life of Dada K. T. Shahani, allow me, Maya, to pay a homage to my parents and in laws as well.

My father Mr Jamnadas Khiani passed on when I was only 4 yrs old. I was brought up by my mother Mrs Lajwanti Khiani, to who I owe my spiritual inclination. Thank you mummy, I wish you were here!

My in-laws Baba Sobhraj Jhamatmal Kimatrai and Ama Kishnibai groomed me. I married at the age of 20.

My husband Narain, children Sunder Madhavi Anuja supported and encouraged me in all that I did!

I address my husband Narain and daughter Anuja, as I stand here. Thank you for your trust and support.

This book has been made possible because of the encouragement of Mrs Indu JAIN, And Mrs Maya Shahani.

Thank you, Mr Ram Maheshwary, for insisting that I think BIG

We are core members of the Women’s Movement for Peace and Prosperity. Its pet name: WMPP.

My book speaks of the lives and teachings of Great Masters and a host of festivals.

It is time to celebrate the similarities and differences of various faiths.

My dream, dignitaries on the dais, is that at least one page is read at every school assembly hall daily…to instill values in our children…

Allow me to read you the last page of my book.

MY VISION

Dear Children,
I have a vision.
Do you know what a vision is?
To see something that has not happened yet.
It is something that I wish will happen.

Do you know what my vision is?
That the world stops fighting.
That it stops arguing, about which religion leads you to God.
Because the truth is, that if you truly understand the message of God, It asks us to love one another.

And that different religions are different pathways that take us to the same destination.

And then, I have another vision.
And that vision is that you, my grand-children are going to fulfill that dream!

Because you are going to understand the message of God, the way, He intended it to be.
And that is, that there should be peace on earth.

That we may disagree on certain points, but that at no time, we resort to destroy, the home, in which we all live in together.

And do you know where, and what that home, is?
You have guessed right.
That Home is Earth.
And we have to preserve it.

And you, my children, have to perform that task.
And I am sure that my vision will be fulfilled!
With love,
Dadi-Ma Nani-Ma

Article which appeared in the Bombay Times on 29-Dec-2003 on the book. (Click on image to enlarge it, as image is big it may take several seconds to load.)