Paris to Pune

A witness of the Second World War traumas in France,Nishthtai had no qualms about her quest to explore the world. Against all odds,after the war,the iron jawed angel determined to make a difference established a guesthouse for elderly people with her friends in Belgium. But her love for India tucked in some quite corner of her heart resurfaced. “I was very much impressed with the appeal by the Vatican Church to meet non-Christians. I was already fascinated by India,the Hindu culture and spirituality,” she says.

In 1970 she landed in Mumbai with just a suitcase. “I could go to Nirmala Niketan but wanted to come to Pune. I had heard a lot about the city and UoP,” she says.

With her first few days in camp area,Nishthatai shifted to Sneha Sadan where she got to interact with families of the likes of CP Bhishikar,the editor of Tarun Bharat and Girish Natu. Besides teaching,her social work was also taking shape. She worked with Lata Bhishikar for Dnyanprabodhini and then started French language courses in Barnabas’ Ahmednagar College. During the period she also stayed with the family of socialist leader Shirubhau Limaye. “I also stayed with a couple who had inter-caste marriage,the husband was Muslim and wife was a Brahmin. It was revolutionary at that time and Limaye had helped her tie the knot,” reminisces Nishthatai.

In 1974-75 Nishthatai shifted to a place owned by Sneha Sadan near Kashewadi slums. Her teaching in the varsity was going on. In the meanwhile,she had already learnt Marathi. “With the help of mayor Datta Ekbote,I could finally start a school where I started conducting evening classes. We taught them and made them aware of personal hygiene,” recalls Nisththatai.

After an NGO took over Nishthatai started a cultural centre that is now looked after a medical trust,Sevadham. Handing over the baton to the trust she came back to Pune.Having lived a great life,now she spends her time writing books in her flat at Athashree,a residential complex for the elderly people in Baner. Her enthusiasm though has no ending ,“The joy of being is everlasting,”she smiles.

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