Kavarana’s concerns

Our mother Silloo Kavarana was known by many loving names: granny, sweetie pie, cutie pie, Florence Nightingale, even Kissinger! Yes, she lived a selfless life, always placing everyone else’s needs before hers! I remember when I was quite ill as a youngster she had left me with my dad as she had to drop by and see another invalid and my dad scolded her to say, you can look after others but not your own daughter! To this she retorted he was there to look after me; the other person had no one!

Apart from her compassion for the downtrodden she was a very talented human being: from appliqué, embroidery, making beaded handbags, to designing a sari and cooking — mainly pastries and chocolates. My friends at school used to await my birthday each year with excitement as they knew I would be distributing home-made delicious chocolates! She loved flowers and decorating and arranging them. She never lost her desire to learn. Each summer she came to spend time with us she would join classes; she learnt to "paper tole,” do ceramics, try her hand at stained glass, even at the ripe age of 84! We have great reminders of her work throughout our homes which will inspire us to do the same for years.

She also believed in equality of gender. When she wanted me to have the opportunity to go abroad for further education she stood her ground against my dad’s assumption "ei to chhokri chhè, né panni jasé né badha paisa waste jasé (being a girl she’ll get married so why waste money on education)!” They sent me abroad at great financial sacrifice to both of them. She believed women could strive for higher positions and always encouraged them.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank many of her kind relatives and friends who stood steadfastly beside her during her last few days and weeks: Firoza Anklesaria, who dropped everything and came from Poona while Farrokh and I were abroad; Hutoxi Kotwal, Cooma Engineer, Hillie Dubash who visited her every day at home and mom always looked forward to their visits; Pansy Mehta (mom was like her sasooji always guiding her and Pansy always listened)! Mahrukh Noble (if I couldn’t get through to mom from Canada I knew she was talking to Mahrukh for hours on end!) and Arnavaz Mistry who she truly admired for changing the face of the J. J. Parsee Ward. Words will never be enough to thank everyone for their love and affection shown to her all these 86 years but we want them to know how much Farrokh and I appreciate their support.

We just wish she had lived long enough to see her great-grandchild Rushad, but we know she is watching and guiding him too.

GULOO AUSTIN

Canada