Nirmala Nayak
July 22, 1953 ~ November 30, 2025
Nirmala Nayak was born in T. Nagar in the city of Madras, India – currently known as Chennai. She lived in T. Nagar her entire life but her circle of family and friends spanned many parts of the world. Her interests growing up were in music and movies. She was gifted with a beautiful voice that she used extensively for devotional music (bhajans), but also had a lot of interest in light music. She was a walking encyclopedia of movie trivia, and could recall names of cast members, songs, and musicians with consummate ease.
As the older sister to three brothers, she helped her mother in their upbringing, never shying away from any responsibilities. After her years in school and college, Nirmala pursued her interests in devotional music being associated with spiritual leaders like Divine Mother Sree Rama Devi and Sathya Sai Baba.
Meanwhile, Nirmala’s circle of friends grew rapidly as she put anyone she met at ease with her charming smile and humorous conversations. It did not matter whether the new acquaintances were senior executives, the staff in a restaurant or store, or even members of her medical team. She was quickly laughing and exchanging pleasantries with them. She truly had a heart of gold, always looking to help people in need, be it in kind or just words of cheer. She loved to make herself presentable for any occasion, from grocery shopping to weddings, and enjoyed wearing jasmine flowers in her hair. Over the years she had become extremely careful with what she ate, and earned the respect of her doctors and dieticians.
As far as family was concerned, she took care of her brothers after both parents has passed on relatively early, and fiercely defended her siblings in every situation. She adored her sister-in-law and was the doting aunt to her brother’s son, ensuring that he had the best experiences every time they met. The unbounded love and camaraderie were very evident between aunt and nephew, and she used every opportunity to shower him with everything he could want.
While Nirmala’s passing was very unexpected, she was blessed to have a departure with absolutely no suffering, having spent the last few days in the company of her immediate family.
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I have personally witnessed and enjoyed many of the beautiful facts stated in this lovely tribute to Nirmala Akka.β¨ππ½
Akka was such a wonderful lady adorned by a remarkably amiable disposition and a highly infectious, beautiful smile. She also had a great sense of empathy – I still remember how she had conducted herself when she had visited us to offer her genuine condolences when my Appa had passed away. She looked truly sorry and didn’t offer any painful advice to manage the grief. All she ever said was, “Only time can heal,” but the manner in which she had said that was so genuine, so heartfelt and so inexplicably soothing to me. I have always seen the happily joking aspect of her nature but only this moment made me realise how profoundly deep her empathy can be. Such a wonderful lady.ππ½π
She had great affection for her parents and was a great sister, great sister-in-law. The very mention of Avinash’s name was sufficient to make her face beam in delight! β¨β€
Akka certainly deserves the best. May Sri Andal Naachiyaar bless her Jivathma with sadgathi. ππ½πͺ·
I had lost touch with her for many years but connected back again early 2000. We both felt there was no gap, that had separated us. We caught on very quickly, where we left off.
She was the sweetest soul, always had a beautiful smile and great sense of humor. One of very few who could make you laugh instantly. Nirmala was a true Akka to her brothers, affectionate and loving as a mother would.
She was one to keep in touch and would greet me everyday, I was happy that she was going to be in the US and since we were more or less in the time zone, I was hoping to chat with her after she recovered from jet lag.
I was shocked to learn, she had passed away after having a great time with family and an old friend. Wherever you are Nimmi, you will brighten that place with your infectious smile and your fantastic humor would have people rolling with laughter. I wish I had known you sing, I would have asked you to sing and enjoyed that too.
I am going to miss you Nimmi, but will keep you alive remembering the days when your charming Amma would drop you at school and chat with us, to the days of my visit to your home and the day we spent having lunch and how well you were treated by the restaurant staff. And to the phone calls, to connecting you to our other two close friends. Also happy to see you sharing pictures of your visit to different places, and your daily meaningful greetings. I will miss you dearly my sweet friend. π€π©·π€π©·
Nirmala Akka was truly a very lovely and wonderful person. Manoj and I canβt believe that she is no more. We enjoyed our visits with her on our trips to Chennai. I liked looking at photos of outings she went for; Iβd pause to peer closely at them, to admire the beautiful sarees and outfits she wore. She used to call me Jingle Baby, and I will miss that very much. Most of all, we admired her for her kindness and generosity. Jasmine flowers will always remind us of her now, a sweet symbol of her positivity and the happiness that she brought to everyone she knew.
Om Shanthi.
Prayers for strength to the brothers during this most difficult times.
Prayers to Swami for akkaβs soul.
Sairam.. Nirmala Akka was a gentle soul. Her devotion to Swami is an inspiration. Prayers to Swami to bless her departed soul with eternal peace & grant strength to her brothers & the family.
Whenever she stepped out, she always made sure to bring something for my kids β a gesture that showed her affection and thoughtfulness. If we werenβt visible on the balcony, she would instantly sense that we were not around. She loved hearing the kidsβ excited shout-outs and enjoyed talking to them; they brought her joy, and she brought warmth to our home.
Her presence, kindness, and simplicity will always be remembered.
May her soul rest in peace. ποΈ
May her soul rest in peace.
Sairam, Nimmy as we knew her was a very warm, gentle and humorous person. Our weekly meeting was at Sundaram. We were always laughing in her company. I will miss her warmth and humor. Nimmy and her siblings’ relationship was a true role model to follow. Such brotherly love and motherly care is indeed rare. Prayers to Swami to Bless her soul and to give the family strength to bear this loss. Sairam
I pray swami for her Sathgathi π Sairam
The greatest Gift of God to any human being is ‘Death without Suffering ‘ which Akka could receive (though it is a shocking loss to others in the family). Fondly remember the nice bhajans Akka has sung in Sundaram cassettes. May her soul attain Sathgathi.
Fondly remember akka as a staunch Sai devotee. May her soul reach the lotus feet of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
I feel blessed to have been in her close circle for many years. Her sudden passing came as a shock. She called me when she left for America. I was waiting for her call upon returning. Little did I know it would become an endless wait. π’
May her soul Rest in peace
“Though their light has passed from this world, their memory will burn brightly in our hearts forever.
Though she was younger to me she became Akka to me also. A very nice person always smiling and gentle .Whenever she met me and my wife which was not often she used to praise us with complimentary words.Her leaving was a shock to us. But she has the blessings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba which is evident from the manner she breathed her last. May her soul rest in peace.My heartfelt condolences to Mr Niranjan and other family members.
She occupies a special place in our hearts and so do we, in her heart. She was a noble soul, an affectionate sister, a loving aunt, an affectionate Akka and an adorable friend to all she knew. A person with only good thoughts, words and an always stretched hand to give. She saw to it that everyone around her were happy. She believed and made others believe that laughter was the best medicine. Remember an incident were she made a depressed friend forget her pain and laugh heartily. That incident is unforgettable for us as we shared that girl’s pain. Unfortunately we lost her in a couple of months to covid. Nirmala will always be remembered for those few hours of happiness she gave her, unaware of her end. She treated family, friends and people who worked for her equally and with great respect. She was particular that we meet once a year for lunch, which was hosted by her and Niranjan. I can go on and on about all her adorable qualities. A biography can be written about her. When we, as friends, feel so much for her loss, can well imagine the plight of her brothers’, Sister in Law, Nephew. Time is the only healer of the pain they are undergoing right now. But the void she left as Sister, Sister in Law, Aunt, Akka and friend can never be filled.
We pray for her noble soul to rest in peace at the Lotus feet of BAGHAWAN.
Very fondly remembered by Asha, Devaki and Naayaki.
Her passing came as a shock to all of us, and itβs still hard to believe she is no longer with us.
May her soul rest in peace.
Wherever she is today, may she be surrounded by light, love, and comfort.
We will truly miss you, Akka. π€
Regards,
Anushree, Srijana, Poushali, Jyoti, Arnab, Megha, Komal, Poornima & Ushmita
Nirmala you are a beacon of light
You loved people with all your might.
Nirmala, you are a very pure soul
An adorable person on the whole.
You might be very small in stature
But giving abundantly was your nature
You had a big heart of gold
But BABA took you too soon into his fold.
We will all be missing you
But not long before we join you too.
Shower your love on us from where you are
You are dear and near to our heart, but yet so far.
Sairam. I was so fortunate to have been very close with the family from college days and at Sundaram.
As pointed out, Akka was truly showering her love and care on her brothers and the family.
I am fortunate to have known Akka and blessed by her kindness
I still remember the day when she congratulated me for the elevation as Principal of the college where Niri, Nami and I were students once.
In fact I cannot forget the bhajans she had sung like Hey Ram Bhagawan, Mandir me tum, Dayabhi Rama and so on.
She had a unique voice, easily differentiable from other voices.
Her singing, with proper pronunciation and Εruthi, was impeccable.
I was so fortunate that Akka treated me as another younger brother, giving me the right guidance as she did to Niri and Nami.
I pray Swami to bless her soul and give strength to the brothers.
Akka’s voice will be eternal through the numerous melodious Bhajans she has sung, helping numerous devotees to connect with The Lord. With Prayers,
Saradha.
Akka is very much special to me whenever she called me she used to say “emivey (what) bhagunnara (are u fine)” and then she used to laugh and says that’s how my telugu language.
But I Love those words π π
Ganesh chaturthi is very much special to me
She is the person who makes others happy
We miss you akka
Ever in my heart β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈππππ
Akka is very much special to me whenever she called me she used to say “emivey (what) bhagunnara (are u fine)” and then she used to laugh and says that’s how my telugu language.
But I Love those words π π
Ganesh chaturthi is very much special to me
She is the person who makes others happy
We miss you akka
Ever in my heart β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈππππ