“The Craen legacy”

Reading the beautiful and very touching letter "The Craen legacy” by Zinnia Khajotia (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, May 7, 2012) brought a lump to my throat along with very vivid memories of my childhood when I used to visit the Craen household on Marine Drive every week with my little violin to study with my beloved teacher Monsieur Jules Craen the art of violin playing. He was a perfectionist but had mellowed with age and was patient enough to teach and tolerate the squeaky sounds generated by me on my fiddle. In years to come he had encouraged and trained me to appear for several music exams and would always be delighted with the outcome demonstrated by beaming smiles on his crinkly but still a very handsome visage.
From tales told by my grandmother who literally worshipped the Craens, members of my family who were proud and privileged to play in the orchestra under Jules’s baton included my beloved maasi (late) Freny Dara Mehta among others. Our popular (late) Mehli Mehta was the leader of this orchestra too — The Bombay Symphony truly founded by Jules Craen!
I am thrilled and extremely delighted that after so many years the Craens, both Jules and Olga, are finally receiving the recognition they truly deserve. They have indeed left behind a rich legacy in classical music and sweet memories which can never be forgotten!
VILLIE MEHER-HOMJI
Sydney, Australia
kersi5@bigpond.com