Friday, March 8, 2024, marks the celebration of International Women’s Day. This special day recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The Editorial Team of SOI brings for you the enlightening and inspiring story of Dr Stuti Malhotra, a founder member of the CPS International.

Will you please enlighten our readers with some details about your formative years?

My dad’s family is from Jalandhar in Punjab. I’ve always been a shy and reserved girl, very emotional and not really into socializing. I used to feel nervous about meeting people, even if they visited our house. Since my mother worked in a Bank, I helped my mom with household tasks. I have a sister, and both of us were taught to be independent and handle things on our own. My mother always says that even if we have many servants, we should still know everything because not knowing makes us vulnerable to being deceived. So, from a young age, I took care of our home.

What memories of your parents do you cherish?

During our teenage years, my sister and I were often home alone, supervised by neighbours. Once, a neighbour complained that we were wandering outside when our mom was at work. When Mom came to know about it, she scolded us, but it turned out the neighbours had mistaken us for someone else. Despite the mix-up, we learned to take responsibility and not blame others.

In another incident, my sister and I were playing with the neighbour’s kids, and the neighbour’s daughter, who was known for being notorious, slapped me. When I went home crying, my mom was there. Instead of asking for details or whose fault it was, she scolded me. Knowing the girl was troublemaker, she said I shouldn’t have played with the girl. Mom made it clear she wouldn’t fight my battles; I had to handle things on my own. This upbringing taught us to be independent.

My dad, a mechanical engineer at Mother Dairy, always emphasized, “Work is Worship.” I witnessed my parents’ hard work and sincerity, instilling a strong work ethic in me. At home, we weren’t into ritualistic worship; my parents were easygoing. However, as I grew up, I became interested in rituals, superstitions, and other such things in my search for God.

Please shed some light on your early education and jobs.

I grew up in Delhi and went to Air Force Bal Bharati School. Later, I studied B. Com at Delhi University. I started working even before finishing my studies. Back in school, I gave tuition to contribute to my family’s finances. When I was in 12th grade, I taught commerce and Business Studies to 11th graders. I began working at Dover Technology Company, a Fortune 500 company, right after my final exams for graduation. Despite not knowing how to use a computer initially, I made a promise to learn and work hard, which I fulfilled. This job taught me a lot about dealing with people, working on computers, using Microsoft Excel, Tally, and various aspects of finance and corporate work. Being the youngest in the organization, everyone took care of me like a kid. I even spent extra time on Saturdays to learn more about computers.

Because I was paid on a daily basis, I had to stay at the office even after everyone else had gone home. I utilized that time to learn about Microsoft Excel and computers. Everyone at work trusted me so much that I would calculate my own salary, and the boss would sign the cheque without checking. It was a big responsibility not to break that trust. I was very careful, but I made a mistake one month and wrote my salary cheque for less money. When I gave it to my mother, she noticed. I couldn’t admit my mistake at the office because I was embarrassed of my mistake. So, I had to accept the lower amount that month as a penalty for my error.

Tell us something about Dr Rajat Malhotra, your husband.

After working for five years post-college, I married Rajat Malhotra in 2001, whom I consider a blessing from God. His support has been crucial in everything I’ve achieved. I joined American Express after marriage and worked there for 14 years. Despite being inclined towards spirituality, I pursued a Diploma in Business Administration and IFRS during my job. Later, I pursued my passion for religion by earning a Master’s in Religious Studies from Punjabi University, Patiala, followed by a Ph.D. from the Department of Guru Granth Sahib Studies at the same university.

What did you think about Islam before you met Maulana Wahiduddin Khan?

I have always been spiritual and on a quest to connect with my Creator. In my search, I tried various things, but I didn’t know much about Islam. I only knew the phrase “Allah-u -Akbar” which I thought meant King Akbar was the greatest. This shows my lack of knowledge about Islam. However, the positive aspect was that I was not biased and remained open-minded about other religions.

How were you introduced to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan? Kindly describe your first meeting.

As I mentioned, I’ve always been open-minded without biases towards Muslims or any other community. I knew Khalid Bhai from my school days. He used to teach English to my cousins at my aunt’s place, and I had met him there. Khalid Bhai also visited my home when I was in school. However, the visits stopped for a few years without any particular reason.

After many years one day, when my family was out for lunch, we unexpectedly met Khalid Bhai in the market. By that time, Khalid Bhai had met Maulana. He spoke about Maulana to me. I was desperately seeking answers at that time, feeling restless and frustrated as I couldn’t find solutions despite trying everything. This frustration even led to bad temper and conflicts.

When I met Khalid Bhai, he told me about Maulana, and I decided to meet him. It was October 2, 2001. I came with Khalid Bhai to meet Maulana and asked Maulana various questions. Maulana made me feel comfortable, and I didn’t hesitate to ask whatever was on my mind. My questions ranged from how to deal with my mom’s anger when I came home late from work to why there was so much suffering in the world. I even wondered why all the problems seemed to happen to me. Maulana patiently answered all my questions, giving me his undivided attention. That day, October 2, 2001, became a turning point in my life, and I am grateful to my Almighty for leading me to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Maulana explained the Creation Plan of God and introduced me to my Creator. He explained about Heaven and Hell and that all the problems are part of test. After listening to Maulana everything I wanted to know fell in place. For me it was like a jigsaw puzzle getting solved. I was so happy and contented that I had met Maulana Wahiduddin Khan and from then there was no looking back.

How did Maulana influence your way of thinking?

Maulana gave my life a clear purpose: to spread the message of peace and harmony. He completely transformed my life, guiding me from being a lost soul to living a life centred on God. His teachings helped me change from a crying, unsure person to a strong and confident girl. I went from being a negative thinker to adopting a positive mindset.

The lessons from Maulana wherein I was connected with my Creator helped me sail through my life. I applied his life formulas during my 14 years at American Express. These teachings made my corporate journey smooth, helping me build a good reputation at Amex and form lasting relationships. Maulana has transformed many lives, and I am one of them. Without meeting him, I can’t even imagine where I would be today.

How did Maulana encourage you to take up studies again after marriage?

Maulana broadened my perspective and guided me at every stage of life. I could talk to him about anything, and he would explain things. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Maulana loved all of humanity.

I was a vegetarian for some years, and Maulana instructed my husband, Rajat, never to force me to eat non-vegetarian food. Even when we ate together, he made sure there was vegetarian food for me. While food may not have been a big concern for him, it reflects his sensitivity towards people.

When I finished my Masters in Business Administration and IFRS, I wanted to study more. I asked Maulana if I should pursue a Masters in Religious Studies. His face lit up with a big smile, showing how happy he was. After completing that, I asked if I should do a Ph.D. in Sikhism and Islam. His immediate response was, “Neki aur puch puch” meaning for a good cause, you don’t need to ask.” That was my Maulana, always there to guide and support. I used to think I was very sensitive, but Maulana was even more so. It’s because when you genuinely care for humanity, you automatically become sensitive towards others.

What inspired you to wholly devote yourself to the CPS Mission?

As I mentioned, Maulana gave me a life mission to spread the message of peace and harmony. After working for 14 years at American Express, I wanted to quit my job and dedicate myself to the mission. I believed that if God had been kind enough to give me this message, it was my duty to share it with others. Maulana provided me with the purpose of life, and I couldn’t ignore this responsibility. I am grateful to God for blessing me with a supportive husband, Rajat Malhotra, who has always encouraged me. He has taken the responsibility of supporting me, allowing me to dedicate myself to the cause of God.

Maulana’s central teaching was about being connected to God. Kindly share with us the most inspiring teaching of Maulana which has helped you in this connection.

Maulana helped me connect with my Creator. The idea of reflecting and staying connected with God is crucial for me. It means you can communicate with God all the time, understanding that God is the most powerful while humans are not. I recall Maulana saying, “A believer is someone who is so conscious all the time and thinks twice before doing anything, even if it’s right, fearing it might turn out wrong.” Maulana made me mindful of God, making me aware that God is watching my every action. He also taught me the importance of looking within and staying humble. My prayer is always that even unconsciously, I shouldn’t hurt or trouble anyone.

Maulana always stressed the importance of high thinking and simple living. In a deeper sense, spirituality means thinking deeply, and outwardly, it means living simply. Self-management leads to spirituality. If you master self-management, you become a master of spirituality. According to Maulana, there is no greater wealth than spirituality, and to achieve it, one must learn the art of simple living and high thinking.

Maulana once quoted this one verse from Quran “And those who give to others what has been bestowed upon them with their hearts trembling at the thought that they must return to their Lord; it is they who vie with one another in doing good works and shall be the foremost in doing so.” (23: 60-61)

When God showed His reflection to Moses on Mount Tur, the mountain crumbled, and Moses fainted. But in Paradise, people will see because their nature in Paradise will be different. If you want to “see” God, there is a condition: A believer should adopt a personality like Prophet Moses, surrendering and trembling at the thought of catching a glimpse of God. Then one becomes a God-oriented person in the true sense. This thought always keeps me connected with my Creator.