Surveyor’s sensitivity

The late Lion Nerges Surveyor who passed away on July 20, 2003 had perfect leadership qualities which were appreciated even by the District. She was the president of the Lions Club of Cuffe Parade during its silver jubilee year.

Very caring and generous, she could not see anybody suffering. With the funds she had helped raise, Rs 70,000 were donated to the Munshi Yojna Institute for mentally challenged children, a jeep to the Leprosy Home at Panvel and a huge sum for the Geeta Nagar School for slum children, the permanent project of her home club, the Lions Club of Cuffe Parade when she got the Best President of the Year Award. She was also decorated with a pin by the Lions Clubs International.

She was a friend, philosopher and guide to all. While on a project at Maswan, an Adivasi pada (hamlet) 150 km from Bombay, moved by the poverty of the thin, hungry Adivasis wearing rags, she raised Rs 4,000/5,000 on the spot to buy food for the Adivasis.

Her work for leprosy (as also the prostitutes of Kamathipura) was commendable. She worked for the lepers of Taloja, Ackworth and Panvel and was the committee chairperson for leprosy the year she died. She always used to arrange her projects very meticulously and would make transport arrangements for those members who wanted to attend the projects. The Club has decided to carry out a project in her memory this year.

Wife of eminent engineer Lion Ratan Surveyor, she was particularly happy as both her children, Rashna and Darius found their life partners from the Parsi community. The day before she died she had dutifully attended the funeral of one of our colleague’s father. The next morning none of us could believe that she was no more in our midst.

NEELA GOKHALE