1 May 2008

Dear Esteemed Colleagues in Religions for Peace,

It is with deep sadness that Religions for Peace learned today of the passing of its Co-President, Dr. Nirmala Deshpande, at the age of 79 in New Delhi, India. Dr. Deshpande was affectionately known to those who worked with her as “Didi.” She was an early member of Religions for Peace in India.

Didi was born in 1929 in Nagpur, Maharastra. She was an eminent Gandhian and a member of the upper house of the Indian Parliament. Her immense contributions to the empowerment of women, promotion of communal harmony and rural development were undertaken in a multi-religious spirit profoundly marked by the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. She dedicated her life to the poor, the downtrodden and the marginalized.

Dr. Deshpande was awarded many prestigious prizes and her work with the Harijan Sevak Sangh and numerous other humanitarian organizations from her headquarters at Gandhi Ashram in New Delhi remains a profound testimony to her deep commitment to the spiritual and moral dimensions of genuine peace.

We shall miss her, even as the memory of her brilliant, committed and humble spirit gives us heart.

Condolences may be conveyed to the Gandhi Ashram, Kingsway Camp, New Delhi 110009
India.

Yours in partnership,