Nirmala Deshpande - A Truly Great Soul

May Her Soul Rest in Peace.

Nirmala Deshpande (1929-2008)

Pakistanis recall Nirmala Deshpande as a great humanist with a worldview which completely excluded partisanship in the Indo-Pakistan rivalry in the region. Her demise has saddened many because she championed the cause of the minorities neglected by states. Many Pakistanis will be individually bereaved because she went out of her way when they needed help in India.

Out of respect for her stature as a social worker, Deshpande was made a member of the Rajiya Sabha, the upper house of the parliament in India, in 1997, and she was also considered for the post of president of the republic, which ultimately went to another lady, Pratibha Patil. Unmarried under a vow of service, she was nominated for the 2005 Peace Prize on the basis of her services to India’s underprivileged and the minorities. Deshpande was also known to be the spirit behind the peace marches in Punjab and Kashmir when violence was at its peak in these regions. Her peace mission to Kashmir in 1994 and her initiative to organise an India-Pakistan meeting of citizens across the Lahore border in 1996 were some of her major achievements. We will miss her patronage of worthy causes and generosity of spirit.


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C05%5C04%5Cstory_4-5-2 008_pg3_1

'Didi' departs



Saturday, May 03, 2008
Scores of people across Pakistan have been mourning the death, in her New Delhi home, of peace activist Nirmala Deshpande. Known as 'Didi' to almost all who knew her, Deshpande, aged 79, had campaigned tirelessly for peace between Pakistan and India. She had travelled many times to Pakistan, always promoting her Gandhian ideal of peaceful co-existence. Her unflinching optimism, even at the worst of times, offered hope and a sense of direction on many occasions. It was this spirit which played a key role in establishing the vibrant peace movement that today exists on both sides of the border. It was as such fitting that a wreath from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was proudly displayed on her coffin, while condolence messages have poured in from Pakistan, as of course from within India, to her family. President Pervez Musharraf is among those expressing their condolences. Nirmala Didi departs at a time when there is still a great deal to be done in terms of building ties between Pakistan and India. The greater cooperation of the past few years has helped demolish some of the obstacles that prevent this. But many others remain in place. As Deshpande herself said on more than one occasion, the key to building peace is to enable and allow people to meet freely. Sadly, tight visa restrictions still prevent the people of India and Pakistan from moving closer to each other and in the process proving untrue the myths that have been constructed regarding the other country. People across the subcontinent must play a part in ensuring such hurdles are overcome and friendship is established, for in this lies the welfare of everyone in the region.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=110237

Nirmila Deshpande, a well known peace crusader of India, died on May 1, 2008, after a long period of illness. She was 79-years-old and left behind so many followers who like her, wanted peace.

http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=4462

From her early years she was a Gandhian and an enlightened person whose only aim in life was to work for the cause of humanity. Nirmila was the one by whose efforts the bus service between different cities of India and Pakistan particularly, between the Kashmiri people of both sides, were started.



She worked extensively all her life for peace among various religious and linguistic communities in India and to achieve this cause she undertook a 40,000-km padyatra (long march) across India to carry Mahatma Gandhi'''s message of Gram Swaraj. She firmly believed that although it was difficult to practice Gandhian principles, it was the only way towards a truly democratic society.

At the time of her death she was Chairperson of the Pakistan India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy, an organization with chapters all over India and Pakistan that works for peace in the region.

For peace in South Asia, she worked hard, particularly for a people to people dialogue between India and Pakistan and also between different countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, (SAARC).



The Asian Human Rights Commission expressing condolence over her death said that the South Asia has lost a great crusader of peace.



She remained closely associated with a very large number of diverse, dedicated and committed social and cultural organizations, a few prominent ones being the Indo-Pak Soldiers' Initiative for Peace (I.P.S.I.), Harijan Sevak Sangh (H.S.S.) and Association of Peoples of Asia (A.P.A.). The Peoples' Integration Council was one such association that was very dear to her heart which she had personally nurtured to mobilize all sections of the society for national integration and communal harmony and which led a Satyagraha on the Indo-Tibet border.



This was done in 1997 along with organising and participating in conferences, seminars and marches for the cause of Tibet and Burma. Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj (A.B.R.S.) was another one of her very close groups which has thousands of dedicated social activists committed to peace and non-violence, working in all parts of India.

Nirmila Deshpande was known as Didi (elder sister) all over South Asia and other parts of Asia. She was member of the Rajia Sabha (Upper House) and she was elected twice for its membership. She got three honorary doctorate degrees from different universities.



Didi was the writer of several books including novels, dramas and travelogues. The books written by her include, her memoirs of the days she spent with Vinoba Bhave (published in four languages- Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Gujarati). Another book she wrote was about the life and times of Vinoba Bhave (titled Vinoba, again in four languages Marathi, Hindi, English and Gujarati) and one on Gandhi and his ideology named Sewagram te Sewagram in Marathi. In addition she also edited a Hindi fortnightly, Nityanutan and a journal Maitri on service and spirituality.

She was awarded on so many occasions by so many organizations that she had herself lost count of them. A few very prominent ones include the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award and the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest citizen's award.

Didi will be remembered for her time as a peace crusader in a region which is on the verge of self destruction by racing to acquire nuclear arms over the importance of feeding millions of poverty ridden people.

The Passing Of Nirmala Deshpande

By Mirza A. Beg

http://www.countercurrents.org/beg020508.htm

Nirmala Deshpande, 79, a veteran Gandhian, died in her sleep at her home in Delhi, Thursday morning. It is natural to mourn the passing of a dear friend. Though I did not know her personally, I mourn her passing as if she was a close friend. We knew of her great sacrifice and struggle to keep the flame of humanity and justice alive against powerful winds of hatred and strife around the world, particularly in her homeland, India, the land of Gandhi.

Her being was a source of strength to many who saw and felt her piety. Many took sustenance from her selfless work for the downtrodden and marginalized in a fast changing society, where sectarianism has become entrenched in the halls of power. In that respect she became a dear friend to all who cared. To them she was popularly known as "Didi" (respected elder sister in Hindi).

Her passing is particularly sad, because she was a great soul. She was seventy-nine years old and no one has defied the law of nature to live forever. Her life was a beacon and her death should be a time of reflection. People like her are a gift to humanity by the providence. Fortunately humanity continues to produce people like her in every generation to carry the torch of humane concerns. Democracies, though imperfect, provide secular saints such as Nirmala Deshpande a modicum of sustenance to nudge the conscience of many to uphold the values we often preach, but do not practice.

All freedom and justice-loving Indians loved and respected her. Muslims, Christians and untouchables in India are especially indebted to this frail woman born in a Brahmin family, for her tireless efforts against discrimination and marginalization. Her fearless stand rallied many Indians against the pogrom carried out by the fascistic provincial government of Gujarat against Muslims in 2002, in which about 2,000 Muslims were brutally burned and massacred.

She saw the tyranny of governments cloaked in crass nationalism, used as an excuse to foster hatred. She tried to bring the peoples of India and Pakistan, former brothers, now contentious neighbors, towards understanding and amity. She knew that constitutional safeguards work only when the majority community considers it a duty to protect the minority rights. Therefore she took up the cause of marginalized minorities in India.

In her memory, Muslims all over the world, especially in India and Pakistan, owe it to Islam and humanity to convince the Muslim majorities in all countries to protect the rights of minorities. Thoughtful Muslims in Pakistan and Bangladesh have found their voices in Nirmala's Gandhian tradition to speak up for Hindu and Christian minorities. Their rights have been violated by some out of visceral hatred or financial gains, especially resulting from seemingly good, though egregious blasphemy laws.

Protecting the minorities is a test of civilization. It protects the rights of all. Looking the other way or ignoring small violations of human rights leads to greater discrimination and injustice.

She adhered to the best of the creeds that humanity offers. Widely known as a Gandhian, she was able to carry the torch of Gandhi Ji's ideals at a time when Gandhi Ji's name is reviled by a large section of Indian polity or at best is used only for ceremonial purposes by those who profit from his name, but consider his ideology and humanity to be impractical or at best, quaint.

Of course the Gandhian path that Nirmala Deshpandey traveled is difficult to follow. Gandhi Ji did not live an easy or opulent life. It is certainly much more difficult than succumbing to self interest in the pursuit of wealth and political power to the detriment of the weaker sections of the society.

Humanity has innate potential to rise above its selfish baser instincts, but only a few harness it to help lead their people towards a better tomorrow. She lived in the tradition of the great conscience keepers of their nations.

Mirza A. Beg writings are available at http://mirzasmusings.blogspot.com/

Eminent Pakistani social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi on Thursday condoled the death of Indian parliamentarian and veteran Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande, saying she had played a key role in promoting Indo-Pak ties.

In a message, Edhi and his wife Bilquis Edhi expressed grief and sorrow at the death of 80-year-old Deshpande, who died in her sleep early Thursday in New Delhi.

Noting that Deshpande was a pioneer in the independence movement along with Mahatma Gandhi, the couple said she had "played a vital role in promoting India-Pakistan friendship".

Bilquis Edhi said Deshpande had been impressed by her husband's social work and had been translating his biography into Hindi.

Her death had created a void in India and Pakistan and she would miss a "humanity loving friend", Bilquis said in her message.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/001200805011269.htm

May her great soul, and the soul of all such great Gandhians throughout India, rest in eternal peace.

Kaal bhai,

May her great soul, and the soul of all such great Gandhians throughout India, rest in eternal peace.

I second that.

Regards

Re: # 6: A true eulogy would be if a Pakistanis donate money to help Jagdeesh Kumar's family who was brutally murdered few week ago. Actions always speak louder than any thing else.

I wonder what will happen to the Gandhism, after these people die. Are the getting new followers.

Nkg,

(I wonder what will happen to the Gandhism, after these people die.)

Gandhianism will die with them.

(Are the getting new followers.)

Nope. Bjkumar was the last convert.

Regards

#11 by majumdar

Gandhianism will die with them.

Majumdar bhai, you're mistaken. Gandhians seem to be going great "guns" in Jinnah land. Read on:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0505/p06s01-wosc.html

An excerpt for Majumdar bhai:

"Al Qaeda and Taliban militants have the upper hand in these Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), where the region's colonial-era rules limit the new government's authority.

The job of overcoming these obstacles has largely fallen to the overlooked member of Pakistan's new ruling coalition, the Awami National Party (ANP). As Pashtuns, the ANP can talk to the Taliban as ethnic brothers. Yet as disciples of the nonviolence espoused by its late founder, Abdul Ghaffar Khan – the so-called "Frontier Gandhi" and follower of the Mahatma – the ANP is uniquely qualified to attempt peacemaking."

Let Gandhianism die...then we can demolish a few more masjids and we can stage a few more Godhras without guilty pangs...

Jai Siireee Raaaaammmm (spit pan wallah icon with a red ribbon on the forehead).....Now we are part of the brigade, let us grope women (muslims better) on the road now...nobody would dare to ask us anything...

Harishbhai,

(Gandhians seem to be going great "guns" in Jinnah land.)

I have always been optimistic about Pak's future. Maybe I need to reconsider now....

Vengat Garu,

(Let Gandhianism die)

Maybe we can give Gandhianism another chance.

1. We disarm our army.
2. When Pakis slap our left cheek (come asking for J&K) we give them our right cheek (NE) to them too.
3. We accept the right of neo-Moplahs and assorted fundoos to slaughter Hindoos.
4. We accept the right of neo-Moplahs and assorted fundoos to impose their obscurantist views on their fellow Muslims and scupper any chances they may have to come to terms with modernity.
5 We accept that the most debased of Muslim is superior in character to the most virtuous of Hindoos.
6. We oppose birth control.

Regards

Harishbhai,

All the best to our Verkottey Vilayeti friends!!!

Regards