In rural Bengal I have witnessed the fairest of the fair working alongside the poorest of the poor, to provide livelihoods that are soon self-sustaining with steadily increasing incomes, built on the dignity of self-help and entrepreneurial spirit in both women and men. This is in such sharp contrast to a "community of professional beggars” mentioned in the second paragraph of your editorial "Chary of charity” (Parsiana, September 7-20, 2020).
Sketches by Mehlli Gobhai reproduced courtesy Nawshir and
Khursheed Khurody from their private collection
Your cover story in the same issue, "In memory of Mehlli,” brought back many memories. Mehlli Gobhai was my neighbor and our families close friends at Darbhanga Mansion on Carmichael Road. His pencil sketches of nudes are to me the essence of Mehlli. I have a few to which I owe my sense of space and the influence of line.
NAWSHR D.KHURODY
ndkhurody@gmail.com
...