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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
bors. She guided her students very naturally, like a mother leading her kid to cross the road !
Not that she was lenient all the time, though. She always insisted on principles like honesty, responsibility, teamwork, and discipline and devotion to work. She was firm as head of a college or society or any other organization and set example by working hard herself. Her innate courtesy and fair-minded attitude put everyone at ease, and reminded them of good behavior-staff or students-wherever they were, in or out of college.
She never hesitated in speaking her mind if she found any interpretation of facts, .academically, defective, or shortsighted and misleading. With many reputed colleagues she indicated difference of opinion without fear or favour, and always condemned any kind of prejudice, parochialism or injustice. Her criticism though, was never biting or insulting or destructive. It was, rather kind, suggestive and constructive. Her typical Parsee humor took the edge out of it every time.
Her administrative abilities were evident in her management of the Maniben Nanavati College that became from a small college of girls into a highly reputed college for women. These were also evident when she became Director of College Development Council, and spruced up the Affiliated Colleges. Transparent in her dealings she always worked among the staff as first among equals. By arraging lectures of various topics solely for her lecturers, she encouraged continued learning, inter-disciplinary exchanges and thus provided new centers of interest to all. She thus rejuvenated their enthusiasm for work and themselves, and introduced new interests in their lives.
Such a personality, with a large circle of friends in India and abroad, almost a Mother. Figure to the students like us, is no longer amongst us-a sad yet an inevitable fact of life is that it comes to an end, some time. Maniben left for heavenly abode at 75, after a brief illness that did not stop her from continuing her work till last.
We all pray that her kind influence continues to inspire all those who knew her personally and they in tum inspire others similarly.
May God rest her soul. Dr. Sudha Mehta, a student of Maniben
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