“Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation” (Gibran)
Photo Credit: Fami (Australia)
It’s four years since our beloved aunt, Dr. Rahma Mohammed Kunju, passed away at her residence in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, on 11 July 2017.
Our sadness knows no bounds this year as her elder daughter cousin Fousia also left this world five days ago. It was a life of great sacrifice and dedication since her elder sister Hasana passed away in 1952, leaving three children in her hands. It was a long journey of life’s explorations and only a few could understand the depth of her love and affection.
We recall our last meeting with Rahma mami in in 2012, at her residence in Malaysia in 2012. Those three days with her in Subang Jaya were days of togetherness, great soul-searching and introspection, for all of us. She kept talking to Mini and myself for hours, telling her life-world experiences across countries. Faiz and her family took great care in looking after our stay and travel in Malaysia.We missed Fami (Australia) at that time though we talked over phone. We were actually longing to see all together – Fousia, Foumya, Fadiya, Fami and Faiz in Kerala.
Born in 1926 in Travancore, Rahma mami had her education in different places in Kerala, Aligarh, Karachi and London. She took her MBBS from Dow Medical College, Karachi before partition and did an advanced course in medicine in London. She had served at the MARA Institute of Technology and later Universiti Utara Malaysia. Having worked in Singapore and Malaysia for several decades, she won the hearts of people and received honours for her selfless service in Malaysia, which included the award she received for her meritorious service in the university, after retirement.
Rahma mami was one of the first Muslim women in Kerala who took a professional medical degree and served abroad for several decades.
We used to call her ‘Malaysian Mami’ with deep love and admiration. She was next to our beloved mother, if not almost equal to her, by all accounts.
Whenever she came to Kerala, her staying with us in Thiruvananthapuram was like a great reunion of minds. We still remember how she loved us all and considered our mother as a symbol of courage and resoluteness. Mami too was a great symbol of selfless courage and dedication.
Thanks Fami for correcting some factual errors
