Under the Jasmine Tree | A Mother's Legacy of Love, Faith, Resilience & Family | Memoir of Motherhood, Loss & Life Lessons

About the Book

What remains when someone we love is no longer with us?

Under the Jasmine Tree is a deeply personal work of nonfiction that remembers a beloved mother, Ambika—affectionately called Ambu—and the extraordinary influence she had on her family and everyone around her. At its heart, this is a story of love, faith, perseverance, forgiveness, gratitude, and the memories that continue to shape a family long after a loved one is gone.

Through a collection of memories, reflections, poems, and remarkable incidents from her life, the book portrays a woman whose compassion extended beyond her immediate family. From caring for children who were not her own, to protecting those in danger, nurturing animals and nature, and holding her family together through difficult times, her life becomes a reflection on what it means to love without conditions.

Inside the book, readers will discover:

• A moving tribute to a mother whose presence shaped generations
• Stories of motherhood, family, sacrifice, and unconditional love
• Reflections on faith, God, forgiveness, gratitude, and resilience
• Memories of hardship, perseverance, and the pursuit of education
• Extraordinary encounters involving nature, folklore, intuition, and the supernatural
• Lessons about friendship, betrayal, compassion, courage, and human nature
• The lasting emotional impact of losing someone who was the centre of a family
• Poems and reflections that capture memories of childhood, home, and motherhood

From “Creation” and “A Woman of Value” to “The Rescue,” “Friends, Are They?,” “Water for Hunger,” “Trees of Trade,” and “Hearth in the Snow,” the book moves between intimate family memories and unusual experiences, creating a portrait of a woman remembered not only as a mother but as a source of strength, faith, and love.

Under the Jasmine Tree is ultimately about memory—the kind that survives loss. It invites readers to reflect on their own relationships, the people who shaped them, and the quiet acts of love that become a family's greatest inheritance.

About the Author

Effulgent Lunar is the author of Under the Jasmine Tree, a work of nonfiction inspired by the life, memories, values, and enduring influence of a beloved mother, Ambika. The book brings together personal memories, family experiences, reflections, poetry, and stories shaped by faith, love, resilience, and loss.

Through this deeply personal work, the author seeks to preserve the emotional legacy of a mother whose influence continues to live through her family, memories, and the values she passed on.