Jeroo Dinshaw and English Literature: A Tribute
This is a tribute to my high school English teacher Jeroo Dinshaw (1941 - 2019) who taught in St. Helena's High School in Pune (pronounced Poo-nay), India. Not only did she instill in me a love for the language, she also introduced me to many classic books which I would never have heard of, growing up in 1990s, pre-internet India. After I graduated from school with the highest marks in English (94%), I stayed in touch with Mrs Dinshaw who insisted I call her Jeroo. A couple of years later, I left Pune for America, before beginning a new life as a married woman in Ireland. From then on, Jeroo and I stayed in touch, writing frequently to each other. She retired from her St. Helena's job around the same time I left India, and from 2005 onwards, I'd always visit her on my trips home - first at her old house on Bund Road, then at her apartment in Dongursee Park. Between 2005 and until her death in 2019, Jeroo became my closest confidante, offering support through difficult sit...
