This 15 year old printed Tussar I picked up in boutique in a Madras near my sister’s house in Alwarpet is one sturdy saree . Worn and hand washed many times this salmon pink and black gem is what I reach out for when I have a long day at work with meetings in the second half for which you have to look smart and all there .
It was to be a pretty routine day ending with the Board Meeting of one the Non Profits working on Tobacco Control for which I had go to the other end of the city . The key words are of course , ‘It was to be ‘ and of course it was not. Not one bit routine .
Exactly as we sat down to have lunch , Hira Goma , my dear friend from the fishing village of Vasai landed up laden with fried pomfret caught and cooked that very morning . This is a periodic treat for us from Hira Bai and her bright , vibrant presence brings the glow of sunshine and the invigorating effervescence of the salt laden sea air into our basement offices . A sprightly 62 year old , the last decade of it spent coping with her Leukemia , Hira Bai , in her trade mark saree is inspiration to each one of us . She lets nothing come in the way of her routine ; be it accompanying her husband to sea to catch the fish she then sells at the market place and sometimes cooks for friends like us at The Max Foundation .
I asked her if I could share pictures of her in her beautiful saree and her story as well and she was only too eager to model the unique drape .
She said it was called Shilwor and 12 yards long . Tightly tied and wound around her slight firm form with the end of the Pallu tucked into the waist , the fisher woman saree allows for completely free movement . Picture her wont you ? Setting out to sea , casting the fishing net , drawing the catch in and then cleaning , cutting and cooking it and then getting the rest ready for the evening bazaar . And on days like this , setting out on the Bombay local bringing the fish to us all the way in Wprli ,
Today she had also brought some fish for another person she holds very dear to her heart . Someone who she says , and rightly so, had given her this lease of new life . The “Bada Saheb” as she calls him, at Novartis . Ranjit Shahani .
I remember she had asked me the last time if she could bring him some of her precious catch as she wanted to show her appreciation and gratitude to him for giving her her Davaai , for all these years . You see , she is one of the close to 18,000 patients who benefit from the drug access Programme put in place by Novartis that my Foundation manages.
And over the decade she has been in the Programme , she has met her Bada Saheb quite a few times at our various patient group meetings or events that Mr Shahani attends without fail. No matter where these meetings are held . And I have seen the lovely relationship they share . Caring respect and compassion on his side and unabashed admiration and a shy affection for him from her side . Somehow this has resulted in their finding a great common platform and it is a joy seeing them in conversation and how much at ease she is with him .
It was a happy coincidence that Mr Shahani was in office today and I was delighted to take Hira Bai to see him along with her offering of the freshly caught Pomfret and Surmai carefully packed in ice.
Of course both of them had to pay a small price for all the facilitating I did . Pose for pictures for my saree pact story today .
It happens every time . Inevitably so . My Saree finds its story each day . A slice of my life peopled with wonderful souls I love so dearly . Who are my friends , my work and my life .