Savita Kumari Tatia

Savita Kumari Tatia, lovingly known as Naniji, Badi Dadi, Nani Bhua, and Ma, passed away peacefully at home on January 1, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. in Carmel, Indiana, at the age of 97.

Born on May 1, 1928, in pre-partition India (now Rangpur, Pakistan) Savita Kumari Tatia lived a life shaped by history, scholarship, generosity, and remarkable personal strength. She studied at the Gandhi Ashram and was present with Mahatma Gandhi at the time of his assassination, an experience that deeply influenced her lifelong commitment to integrity, courage, and compassion.

She was the devoted wife of Dr. Nathmal Tatia, the renowned Jain scholar and former Vice Chancellor of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara University, and a steadfast partner in a life dedicated to learning, spirituality, and cross-cultural understanding. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Nathmal Tatia.

Savita accompanied her husband throughout his international academic career. She spent many summers in Japan, where he taught at Tokyo University and the Oki-do Yoga Institute, and later taught at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts as a visiting Professor from 1992-93. Years of travel made her both worldly and wise—curious, perceptive, and deeply grounded.

She was a woman of strength and sharp street smarts. Savita kept careful track of bank accounts and assets spread across countries and continents, and she never allowed herself to be misled. No one could pull a fast one on her. She knew when to spar and stand her ground, and when to soften and offer tenderness. That balance—firm yet loving—defined her character.

At her core, Savita was deeply interested in people. She formed lasting connections wherever she went, making others feel seen and valued. Friendship was central to her life, especially through her love of knitting. She made many close friends through this passion and donated countless hand-knit creations to hospitals, charities, and newborns—many babies beginning life wrapped in something she made by hand.

Her closest knitting companion was her dear friend Melanie Wise. Together they shared laughter, banter, and an easy rhythm—often finishing each other’s projects. Even on her final day, Savita wanted Melanie by her side, a testament to the depth of their bond.

Savita loved cards, particularly gin rummy, which she played until the very end—always determined to win. She also loved cooking and feeding people, believing food to be one of her greatest expressions of love. She was famous around the world for her samosas and kheera kachodi, dishes that became legend among family and friends. In her final days, her wishes reflected both humor and heart: Taco Bell nachos, and her daughter’s puri and mirchi achar.

Together, Savita and her husband were invited by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to England through his work with the Sacred Literature Trust. Prince Philip commissioned Prof. Tatia to translate key Jain scriptures into English, including the foundational Tattvartha Sutra, making Jain philosophy accessible to Western audiences and fostering interfaith understanding during a time of global conflict. This effort resulted in the publication of That Which Is: Tattvartha Sutra, a work that has profoundly benefited Western readers and the global Jain diaspora. Throughout this endeavor, Savita was a constant source of steadiness, encouragement, and quiet devotion.

Savita lived in the United States with her daughter and son-in-law, Vishakha and Babulal Banthia, since 1999. For more than two decades, they cared for her with extraordinary devotion, always placing her needs above their own. She was deeply proud of them, and their love and sacrifice were evident and remembered even in her final moments.

Although born Jain, Savita’s curiosity and openness embraced all religions. She believed in learning from diverse spiritual traditions and celebrated the shared humanity at their core. In her final moments, people from Jain, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian backgrounds were present, offering prayers and blessings—a reflection of the life she lived: inclusive, respectful, and full of love.

She is survived by her beloved daughter and son-in-law, Vishakha and Babulal Banthia; her cherished grandchildren, Asha Banthia, Smriti Banthia, and Anand Banthia (Kaanan Shah); and her adored great-grandchildren, Purvika Banthia, Kiyaan Banthia, and Zeevan Banthia.

Savita Kumari Tatia’s life was one of dignity, intelligence, generosity, joy, and quiet global influence. Her legacy lives on through her family, her friendships, the many people she fed, comforted, and protected, and the love she so instinctively gave.

Micchāmi Dukkaḍaṁ. May all harm be forgiven, may all souls be at peace, and may her soul continue its journey toward liberation with right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.