As her name implies, the widow is an elderly widow, formerly married to a powerful Rajah in the north of India. Industrious, irascible and, and sharp, she is a formidable woman. When not traveling the country in her large, comfortably bullock cart, she manages the affairs of her family and large estate. Despite her abrasive personality, however, she proves to be an invaluable ally and friend to Kim and the lama, extending her hospitality to them on numerous occasions. When Kim falls ill at the end of the novel, for instance, she takes personal charge of his health, ensuring his speedy recovery. Thus, despite their playful accusations of superficiality and chattiness, both Kim and the lama acknowledge her so-called “merit,” with Kim going so far as to call her “Mother.” If, in the widow’s own words, there are two types of women, “those that take men’s strength, and those that put it back,” she belongs to the latter camp.