Legacy of Grace: My Mother, The Ultimate Giver
The name of the book, the author and the tagline; just as it goes it’s so true, unbelievably true. “Give and Take” byAdam Grant is in true sense ‘A Revolutionary Approach to Success.‘
I finished reading Give and Take in January 2026, and and I admit that I was late, late in buying and reading. But ‘better late than never.’ While I felt a pang of regret for not finding these words sooner, the clarity they provided was profound. The concept of “Givers” is very nicely elaborated as those rare individuals who contribute to the world without expecting anything in return. It took me until 2026 to fully find the words, but looking back, I realize, I was raised by the ‘Ultimate Giver‘.
The Audacity of Sacrifice
My mother’s entire life was a masterclass in the “Giver” philosophy, even when it cost her everything.
As, I enrolled in Engineering, she decided to quit her teacher job in a government school which was her permanent source of income and decided open a college for the girls students of our locality. At the time, as a student with two younger siblings, I’ll admit I was frustrated. I worried about our dwindling resources and the weight on my father’s shoulders.
I saw the Risk; she saw a Mission.
With no income in her hands, with her willpower and strong belief in her ownself, her journey to cater to the needs of a section of the society was successfully accomplished. For two decades, she poured her life into that noble cause, sacrificing her own comfort to ensure other daughters had a future.
Reflecting on a Life of Radical Giving 🤍
To many, she was a teacher, a leader, and a visionary. To me, she was the woman who walked away from the security of a government job, saw a need for a girls’ college in our locality and she traded her own comfort for their future.
The Heart Above the Self – Altruism Without Borders
Even after I entered the workforce and began giving her money, her hands remained “empty”, not because she lacked, but because she couldn’t stop sharing. She would immediately redirect my gifts to those she deemed more in need. I used to get frustrated to find out that she had given it away to someone she felt needed it more. We had our arguments, but she would just smile, fold her hands, and change the subject. Her values were a fortress that no logic of mine could breach. She didn’t need “things”; she needed to be of service.
For twenty years, her journey was never easy. It was often painful and filled with sacrifice. I’ll admit, I didn’t always understand it.
Leadership Without Ego with The Power of Humility
Her leadership was defined by a rare lack of ego. I still think about the day she was unanimously nominated as President of the Sadau Assam Lekhika Samaroh Samiti. Instead of taking the crown, she stepped aside for an elder, pleading with the committee to honor seniority first. “I have time,” she said. Even when political conspiracies tried to block her path two years later, her integrity was an impenetrable shield. She eventually led, not because she sought power, but because she had earned the absolute trust of her community.
A Final Testimony
She lived her life for the “other.” She proved that you don’t need a massive bank account to be the wealthiest person in the room, you just need a heart that knows no limits.
She didn’t leave behind an estate; she left behind a generation of empowered women and a community that was better because she breathed. Her journey was never easy, it was often paved with pain and struggle, but it was never aimless. She lived with a willpower that defied logic and a belief in others that defied cynicism. The massive crowd that poured in on the day of her passing was the only testimony she ever needed. They didn’t just come to mourn; they came to honor a woman who had spent her life building bridges for others to cross.
She was a Giver in the truest, most divine sense of the word.
Rest in peace, Maa. I finally understand. 🕊️
With so much of Gratitude to #Adam Grant # for the wonderful book…May God Bless.
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