Dear Brothers & Sisters,

News of Hansaben Patel of GCH, London

Hansaben was born 27 August 1940 in Surat, Bardoli Kharwasa, Gujarat, India.  She had four sisters and two brothers. Hansaben, from a young age, was very devoted to Shiva. Hansaben was married with two sons (Nareshbhai and Anilbhai) and one daughter (Shilaben) who all live in the USA. She also has five grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She took knowledge in 1979 in West Bromwich. Jyotiben from Dubai gave Hansaben the course and she, along with Manuben and Hansaben Prabhu, all came to knowledge at the same time. From the 80s Hansaben started to attend class in Tennyson Road and then began to help in the kitchen. Dadi Janki, seeing Hansaben’s qualities of cooking bhog and brahma Bhojan, asked Hansaben to come and stay in Baba’s house. Brijben and Ansuyamata were also part of supporting Baba’s bhandara in the 80s.

Once Global Co-operation House opened, Hansaben took full responsibility of the kitchen from 1991. The mothers that attended morning class each morning, helped Hansaben in the kitchen. Hansaben’s main specialty was her organising and management skills, and of course many dishes that are still remembered today. She always prepared in advance for programmes ranging from 50 to 1,000 and she inspired the mothers and brothers to cooperate and maintain a yogi atmosphere. Dadi Janki always praised Hansaben as she and all mothers would never miss the Murli, they would prepare before class and then attend Murli and then later continue.

Hansaben and the mothers were masters of creating various types of toli and, again, her perfection and precision was her specialty, making sure that each piece of toli was exactly the same size. So perfection and also cleanliness in the kitchen were deep principles that Hansaben upheld.

Hansaben’s daily activity was from the morning hours when she would be in the kitchen from 5.30am, and then in the afternoon she would spend time calling her service companions, family members, and the many that she remembered, and she touched souls to come to Baba’s house or stay close.

In April 2023, Hansaben had a nasty fall, after which her health began to deteriorate. In October 2024, with courage, she decided to have a hip operation which was a success, but due to her age, the body went through various settlements and she stayed in hospital for nearly three months. During this whole time Hansaben remained very strong and many visited her in hospital regularly. On Friday, 24 January, 2025, at Amrit Vela (between 4am and 5am) Hansaben quietly passed away in the hospital, the atmosphere in the room was very peaceful and light.

We shall fondly remember Hansaben for all the service she did and the souls she sustained and brought closer to Baba.

The funeral took place on 29 January 2025. We send our good wishes in Baba’s remembrance to Hansaben and her family.

With love,
In Baba’s yaad,

BK Jayanti