Birthday Celebrations, Speech of Dr. S. Swaminathan (sister of Shri Mataji) in Marathi (from Nirmala Yoga, Issue 25, Pages 36–38) Speech of Dr. S. Swaminathan Honourable guests, who have graced the occasion of my elder sister’s 60th birthday, my younger brothers and sisters and Sahaja Yogi brothers and sisters. This evening, I consider myself fortunate for getting this opportunity of saying a few words about Nirootai. We call her Nirootai* whom you know as Mataji Nirmala Devi. Nirootai and myself, we both grew up together and hence I had the privilege of being closely acquainted with her virtues and the dynamism of her personality. We were born when India was a slave country, yet, being born in an affluent and well-to-do family we did not suffer from any want or other problems of life. Our childhood days were spent happily and merrily. We were born at Chhindwara i.e. my elder brother Mr. Narendrakumar Salve,—who must be known to you all because today he is the Minister for Steel and Mines,—Nirootai, myself and my younger brother Mr. Balasaheb Salve, we four were born at Chhindwara; and the younger three brothers and sisters were born at Nagpur, because our father shifted to Nagpur in the year 1928. In the year 1930, which is supposed to be the most crucial year in the struggle for the Independece of our Nation, our life-style underwent a total change. Our father renounced his title of “Rao-Sahib” to join the Freedom movement. We were too young to Read More …