In memoriam - Toshi Malik

Dharmesh remembers:

It was probably my first day of arrival in Auroville, 22 years ago, when I got into an informal chat with an unassuming Punjabi lady, gracefully occupying the space at the Visitors’ Centre giving information on Auroville. She answered my very basic queries with patience, clarity and kind of an inviting note, which now I realise was the beginning of a long, intimate and inspirational communication. This was Toshi Malik, affectionally known as Toshiji.

Toshiji represented the ultimate, unconditional commitment which many Indian mothers, sisters and wives make to their families, in good times and in times of distress, in shaping careers and futures of their kin, making their kin’s dreams theirs and giving up their own. Santosh Malik represents that Spirit of the Women of India, in accompanying Prem Malik, an iconic Aurovilian, who helped shaping and grounding the Vision of Auroville, be it the land, finances, Government or corporate support, without which Auroville would have been probably missing a lot. She provided this unflinching support to the journey of many Aurovilians who plunged into this unknown experiment hosted by this country, leaving behind their luxurious lives, corporate careers or family businesses, joining a bunch of unknown, sometimes unruly, Aurovilians. As she passes on, she takes along many stories, experiences and struggles to which she has been a close witness.

Her style and grace were perhaps at times seen as a posh Punjabi high society presence in Auroville, something that did not fit in Auroville’s early years. But Toshiji carved out her own niche amongst the spiritual, intellectual and political discussions she was intimately part of. Sharing a close contact with most in the community of Auromodèle, especially with Asterji and Jayantbhai, Toshiji had always her own unique take on most situations, such as in the work she did for Bharat Nivas, the Pavilion of India. As an ardent reader, a scholar in her own right, she kept herself informed of the latest literary writings in India and the world. Toshiji was the one whose command of English, Hindi, and Sanskrit was handy for many translations of Auroville publications and brochures and she shared her Sanskrit knowledge with many Aurovilians.

In the early years of Auroville, she also gave lessons in Indian-style dressing to struggling Aurovilians who were caught-up in their sixties’ outfits. She kept her inimitable style statement intact for decades, even after being in Auroville for so long, in the midst of the craziness of Auroville and its ups, downs and twists and turns of organizational upheavals.

I was fortunate to have shared many evenings in her place chatting about all issues of Auroville life, also after Premji passed away, relishing her home cooked meals. The time I spent with her in her summer house in Ramgarh valley in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand was inspiring and invaluable. She had her own sense of humour in Punjabi style, at times making profound observations in the most humorous ways about some serous Aurovilians. But her support to the Auroville experiment in all its craziness was unflinching.

Toshiju lived up to the Master’s dream, that attracted most of us. She proved that being in Auroville and transforming oneself is surely not external. Toshiji represented humbly and quietly how one internalizes this freedom, this revolutionary idea and spiritual quest.

Toshiji, our respects, gratitude and admirations for your presence with which you graced Auroville.