Direktlänk till inlägg 21 augusti 2011
It is quite clear what is my passion by now, but I have another one. Yesterday I saw the movie on Mother Teresa and I was reminded of my dear indian parsee friends in Pune, India, the Mehta family that lived that kind of what to me looked like a saintly life.
My grandfather Stig Spångfors had become good friends with this family through his work and many journeys to India with Lions International and when I graduated from University I was invited to stay with them on my travels in India.
Mr Dr Jal Mehta built a leprosy hospital on the basis of personal funds, then developed a factory industry to get the recovered patients a job and to integrate them into society. No holidays, always working endlessly to be able to help the ones that most needed it. When I asked Jal how he could go on and on without resting he said: The man worthwhile is the man who is always keeping a smile. Jal was always smiling. In a tragic accident their son Dr Minoo Mehta died in a avalanche on a climbing expedition to Mount Everest. The parents built a memorial hospital in the name of him. Jal also managed to create the India Serum Institute (together with the Poonawalla group) with the aim to make Inida self sufficient of vaccines.
Some years later the cured leprosy patients, workers at the factory, made a demonstration wanting raised salaries without being aware that their restored lives were created by the one they now turned themselves against. I think this action broke Jal's heart because he died some thim after this 2001. The Mehta's extraordinary humanitarian work had a big impact on the indian society as the recovered leprosy patients became considered normal citizens and were accepted by society.
I got very close to Mrs Dr Mehru Mehta who also devoted her lifte to helping people, she was known as a extraordinary surgeon, oncologist. Mehru was a tiny lady with fierce eyes and everyone called her 'Madam' as she had a fiery temperament. Her husband however did not fear her and giggled at her personality and sharp comments. Mehru was extremely intelligent lady and like another grandmother to me, I took care of her in the way I could. She taught me how to play a Beethoven tune on the piano and how to count to ten in Marathi. She loved Elvis and recited Shakespear. She gave me her mother's sari. I have deep respect of these people, they thought me what is great love of heart and they are India to me.
Here is an article on Mrs Mehru Mehta written by one of her students, Dr. Rajiv C. Sharangpani that I met when we went to see our friends 2007. http://www.drrajivsharangpani.com/medicine.htm
And another one http://health.virtualpune.com/mehta/mehta.shtml
My grandfather Stig Spångfors, Mr Dr Jal Mehta and her her Majesty the swedish Queen Silvia Bernadotte.