With tears dripping from my eyes, I am recalling some of Vanaja Akka’s qualities. She was an inspiring person and always did some service for humanity. Her helping hand was extended to many. She was sympathetic and kind to the suffering and did all that she could even unmindful of her personal discomfort and physical strain. She had endeared herself to everyone of us by her grand simplicity, easy accessibility, goodness, sociability and eagerness to understand other’s difficulties with a view to render all possible help. Vanaja Akka was interested in attending Bhagavat Gita Lectures, religious discourses and Bhajans. She was an ardent Devotee of Shri Ramakrishna Math and shall ever inspire all those who came in contact with her. Vanaja Akka always stuck to her principles. Her purity and love and service for its own sake were spoken eloquently. She was a very good teacher and I consider her, a jewel among the members of the teaching profession. She would be always in the midst of her colleagues, friends and relatives cutting jokes. She would talk without any reservation to anyone who went to her. She never felt it beneath her dignity to move equally with people of lower ranks. Her life was one of service and sacrifice. Her life was an example for this slogan which says, ‘you are entitled only to do your duty, do not care for the result’. She was not only a selfless worker but also an untiring worker. All letters wrote by her to her friends and relatives were full of details as required by them. She would write interesting and lengthy letters. She was always punctual and responsible. She attributed the credit of inheriting these qualities from her father who was also a teacher. She was sincere, dedicated and committed to her work. She loved to cook. My father used to say ‘Vanaja you are a Lady of Taste’. She was God fearing. She was loved by one and all. She lived a perfect useful life. She stands for her name for the best the best qualities she had. J- Jovial V- Virtuous A- Able N- Nice A- Admirable J- Just A- Achievable Vanaja was my beloved sister, friend and colleague. We worked together in Sri Sarada Vidyalaya for 30 years. We did M Ed together. She retired after completion of her full meritorious service. She was open minded and affectionate. Akka, we will ever cherish you in our hearts with warmest and happiest memories. May your pious soul repose in peace at the feet of Bhagawan for ever. Mythili, Maternal cousin