Madhuri was the younger of two daughters of Pratap and Saroj Kapur. She was born on 7th Sept, as a premature baby, due to a fall sustained by her mother while visiting a temple. As a growing child she was at the receiving end of her elder sibling’s ire, apparently for no defined reason. Here was a very chronic case of sibling enmity, bordering on the malevolent. Her charming looks, doll like appearance and demeanour with a lilting voice to match, made her an even more attractive and easy target for her predatory sister. This forced Madhuri to constantly seek the protection of her mother, making their bond grow stronger over the years. Over time they became virtually inseparable. With Pratap Dada passing away at the young age of only 60 years, following a cardiac arrest, this bond then forged into a titanium like linkage. Madhuri was schooled at Carmel Convent, Delhi and did her History (Honours) from Hindu College. She was a bright student but had to jettison any idea about higher education as she assumed full time responsibilities of running her home after her father’s demise. Added responsibility of her mother’s failing health, over the long span of nearly twenty years, gave her a Florence Nightingale like status. She put her whole life on hold for her mother, and even repeatedly postponed marriage due to this filial responsibility.
She carried a very heavy karmic burden, which she discharged smilingly. But despite her tribulations which lasted all through her growing up years, Madhuri metamorphosed into a charming young lady, with no signs of bitterness in her personality, but rather one who was gentle, kind and caring for one and all. She was a good conversationalist, well groomed and poised – a real head turner! Lying beneath that happy exterior was a core that was deeply spiritual and her levels of human attachments were monolithic. In fact, this to my mind was the singular factor, of course with blessings of The Divine that set our family on a journey that few can imagine.