I do agree with Zoya, I don’t know but zoya name looks familiar to me, may be you were my nursery mate during 1973-75!
This immense & irreparable loss not only shocked me but Jamiaets much elder & younger to me.
She was famous as Mimmi baji for us & Mimmi aapa for people elder than me although her name was “Jamal Fatima”.
I already tried to sum up few moments on my blog last year.
It is almost impossible to describe your first teacher.
I was so young (about 3year old) when admitted to Jamia nursery.
Not clear with each & every aspect of happenings other than few faces & impression of first activities on the canvas of my innocent mind.
The very prominent were two.
Mimmi baji & Abdullah Bhai.
A lady or a second Mother to us is wearing a saree, & a prominent looking big spectacle & a lovely voice.
Story telling, various academic & sports activities with love & affection was so attractive that very few wants to leave nursery at 12.
There might be millions of happenings in ones life, thousands of people you come across meeting & hundreds of teacher you might experienced but there are very few you remember throughout your life.
You may remember those, who played a significant role to guide your life on the way to success.
Although Nursery students were not able to think about future, experience, career & all those difficult things waits for them on threshold, however, it was life taking shape under control guidance & careful hands of Mimmi baji & those associated little later.
Mimmi baji taught us to share our lunch box with others.
It may sound little important but Sharing lunch box lead to tolerance & cohesiveness among each other in many ways!
The first lesson learnt always mean too much for many & for me too.
Mimmi baji initiated with a right script on the canvas of our mind.
I do remember to receive invitation from Jamia nursery to attend annual function even after 12 years after leaving.
How much it touches you when you see mimmi baji remembering your name after 10-15-20 years?
It matter a lot to me.
I don’t remember complete name of my engineering mates from 1991 in 2008!
But she (mimmi baji) remembered all her students.
“Kullu nafsin zayeqatul maut”
Death is certain, life is uncertain.
Despite knowing the fact we all care, run & live for the uncertain thing.
Also we do care to retain few of them forever which we know is not possible.
She was one of the certain personalities in my uncertain life that will remain certain till shadow of uncertainty took over me.
Future become reality in present that passed quickly to dump it in past & within no time we lost in never ending black hole of the cruel past.
I dedicate this article to Mimmi baji & Pray ALLAH to shower blessings on her & rest her soul in peace.
Note: Did any one have photograph of Mimmi baji?
----- Original Message ----From: Zoya Ajmali
Today I go back through the memory lanes of those days when as a kid I used to go to jamia nursery.The only source of attraction for me in that school happened to be a frail short but sweeter than sweets lady called MIMMI BAJI.......Yes! I'm proud very very proud to say that she was my first & foremost teacher.She proved to be a Florence Nightingale in those days and also thereafter.Even though I left Jamia after nursery itself but she always remembered me and always showered her blessings in the little get togethers of jamia through which we met.A few years back I had the privilege of meeting her again and I very proudly showed my children MY VERY FIRST GUIDE OF LIFE.She again blessed me and my children too. I can still remember her warm smile of recognition as well as feel the warmth of her embrace. I pray to Allah For her Maghfirath.
