“The canvas of charity”

It was a pleasure to read the article "The canvas of charity” (Parsiana, February 21, 2008) on the "iron lady” Jer Bardy. I first met Jer Aunty in the late 1960s in London where she had gone to earn a living in order to save enough money to buy her wonderful and beautiful daughter Dhanoo the best for her wedding trousseau. This she did at the "young” age of 60+ when most people were retiring!

Jer Aunty has been an inspiration for our generation, showing us the importance of true principles — being truthful even to the point of hurting another’s feelings; being content and having little desire for material things. How many people know that in her famous "forest scene” she has incorporated all the stitches known to the world of embroidery — and she worked at it without even sketching the design!

Jer Aunty, we are better humans for having known you. Every minute of my interaction with you has been both interesting and memorable.

GULOO M. AUSTIN

London, Ontario, Canada