I was moved to tears by the revealing obit on Dr Aloo Dastur ("The gutsy Gandhian,” In Memoriam, Parsiana, January 21, 2011).
I draw inspiration from learning that a Parsi lady could achieve so much and contribute much more while maintaining such a self-effacing attitude. Dastur’s contributions, so poignantly set out by you, are extraordinary, to say the very least. Her generous and altruistic spirit in reaching out not just to rural Indians, but also urchins and hawkers in her own street is truly touching; surely Gandhiji would have lauded his ward himself!
Dastur’s vision for India is a veritable road-map for true Indian progress — beyond clichéd GDP (gross domestic product) figures. Thank you, Parsiana, for so vividly chronicling the life of such a giant amongst us.
MALCOLM R. PRINTER
malcolmrprinter@yahoo.com