The journey for this baby girl is tough on Earth right from the beginning. From a girl child, to a daughter, to a sister, to a wife, to a mother, to a GuruMaa! Why such a difficult journey for her? She alone holds the capacity to take it in; inwards. Then transform it all for an outward journey; like the River Ganga, born in the Himalayas, but rushes the ocean. On the ways she comes across several situations, good, bad, ugly and finally, before she touches the ocean, she spreads herself into several small tribunals and even gives up her identity as Ganga and merges completely with Sagar.

Yes, this is the story of little girl called Lalita, whose extraordinary journey started at a tender age of 16.

Born to Shrimati Shanti & Sri Bhojraj Menda, in winter, on 1st November 1932, married at the age of 16 to the dynamic Sri Girdhar P. Hinduja, son of the legendary Shrimati Jamuna and Sri Parmanand D. Hinduja, widowed at a young age of 30. One must remember that way back in 1962 being a widow in India was considered a full stop to Life! Every aspect of life would come to a halt; more so socially. It was her father-in-law, Sri P. D. Hinduja, who took a bold step of sculpting her from the social bondages. It is then at that time and age, 45 years ago, that the true Lalita emerged as Lalita Girdhar Hinduja.

Making her pathway in the healthcare service at the P. D. Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre, (HNH); a shy, timid daughter-in-law and a doted upon sister-in-law, had taken her first step to serve mankind. Who would have imagined these little footsteps to leave footprints in the shifting sands of time.

A small dew drop falls in the open shell, the shell holds it tight, 'close to its heart', reaches the bottom of the ocean with gratitude and remains still, for years, nurturing that one drop. One day a beautiful pearl is offered to the world. Only a deeply devoted and dedicated soul can offer something so unique to the world.

One great human heart can recognize another. That's where her father-in-law Sri P. D. Hinduja, recognized the spark of service in his daughter-in-law. His one helping hand created several helping hands for Lalitaji.

In a way, a father had found his son (Girdhar) and a wife a husband (Girdhar); and a personal tragedy was transformed into a flame of service.

Sri P. D. Hinduja believed that 'HEALTHCARE & EDUCATION IS EVERY CITIZEN'S BIRTHRIGHT' and Lalitaji implemented this with all her dedication for nearly three decades of her life. She did not only dedicate herself to patients but also created an ambience and culture of a family unit at HNH, by being a mother figure to all the employees including doctors and other medical staff.

Dignified and elegantly dressed in her white attire she would be at HNH every day at 9:30 a.m. sharp. She valued the power of time, a matter of discipline.

There was not a day when Lalitaji did not go on her rounds to comfort the patients with her graceful smile and loving eyes. Just her presence made a lot of difference.

She had an art of balancing between running the hospital professionally and, when required, being a motherly figure for each and every employee.

It is with her blessings that the Hinduja Hospital Parivar was created; she infused a precious value system and helped understand the true meaning of "Selfless Service". She translated our founder's Sri. P.D .Hinduja's dream "QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR ALL" into a reality.

Her labor of love has bloomed today. Her unfailing trust in each one of us has inspired us to follow her exemplary example, to give sincerely of ourselves and to serve with a loving heart.

Today the shell has disappeared leaving behind a pearl - The Hinduja Hospital Parivar to be cherished and rejoiced. That's our Lalitaji, THE MOTHER OF PEARL!

Thanks to our torch bearer, Lalitaji, each one of us has embedded within us the five principles of our founder.

Lalitaji till date lives in our hearts as an adored sister-in-law of Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash, Ashok Hinduja, Uttami Nichani, Shanti Jumani, Sushila Chhabria and Shobha Chhabria. Loved sister of Sushila Makhija, Mohini Chhabria, Madhu S. Hinduja, Kanta Wadhwa, Jyoti Shroff, Jayshree Chhabria, Gopal, Ganshyam Ramesh, Mahesh Mendas and mother of Usha Shyam Raheja.

She was not only a parent to her loving daughter Usha, but a doting mother to all the children of Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok Hinduja. In her last days of battling cancer bravely, she expressed that one of her daughters Vinoo Shrichand Hinduja should be a part of the management and Usha Raheja should be with the patient care! Such was her foresight which is today fulfilled.