I hang my head in sad shame!
It almost breaks my heart to say this, but Gita Vir will not attend the next NSCC meeting. She wont be there to nudge us, remind us, guide us, give us sweets, not next time. Not ever..
You must have read about it in the Pune Mirror or heard about it: Gita, full of spirit, was going about her usual way; she was off to give a talk on good citizenship. Full of vigour of a girl of 21 (we always laughed when she reminded us she was in her 70's). She was on one of her activist missions. But while crossing Boat Club Road outside her house, she was hit by a motorcycle and was thrown into a heap of cement pavement blocks. She hit her head and suffered a fracture of the skull and was in a coma ever since. We all hoped that she would as is, it should be (and I find it difficult to say) as was her want, to fight all that ailed her and get well. However, unfortunately, the injuries were too immense and she passed away at 12:25 this afternoon..
The Mother of Activism, as I fondly called her, (Sandeep Khardekar had named her "the Raj Mata of Activism") Gita was one of the earliest of the Civic Activists of Pune, at a time when few knew, understood or cared about it. She was often a lone crusader but she fought bravely on. Elegantly dressed - always - from the top of her hairdo to the tips of her toes, and a lady - she never bad mouthed anybody (always made me take back my "not to be printed words"), nor did she ever descend to abuse. But always forthright, always bold, very determined, she was fearless in her crusade on whatever was wrong in her beautiful Pune..
She was concerned about the encroachments on footpaths. For the last 6 months she had been complaining about debris, rubble, bricks, pipes being kept on the footpath as well as illegal hawkers occupying space which is rightly meant for pedestrians. What supreme irony, that Gita met her end on the pile of pavement blocks that were on the footpath opposite her house..
She came to Pune 34 years ago and ever since then has been concerned with making Pune a better city, a green city, a city which our children and grandchildren can lead a great quality of life. It was her dream and now it's ours' to carry it forward in her name. Lets do it..
Yours in sadness and with a promise to fulfill Gita's dream,
Satish Khot
ps: The cremation is at 11:30am at Muktidham, Golibar Maidan, Shankershett Road, Pune 1.. Do come..
President, National Society for Clean Cities, Pune
#364, Clover Water Gardens, Kalyani Nagar, PUNE 411 006.
Tel: 9371221142; email: nsccpune@gmail.com
Attachment(s) from Urvi Sukul Singh
1 of 1 Photo(s)
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