G.D.Parekh, Indumati ,Humanist couple

Sib Narayan ray, V M Tarkunde

Indumati Parekh in Hyderabad

Govind.D.Parekh, Rector Bombay University, Humanist

Both Mr.  Mrs. Parekh were dedicated to Humanist Movement and to the
Renaissance initiated by  M.N.Roy.
While Govind.D.Parekh was alive and active, Indumati was doing medical service to
the poor in Bombay slums. Those days G.D. was known as a spokes
person of Radical Democratic Party and a famous speaker.
Avula Gopala Krishna Murthy recalled that he was a treat to the ears delivering
fluent speeches on the stage, exchanging glances with Roy, if he was there by his side,
joking, amongst the applause of the audience. Parekh would stop at once anytime Roy
frowned.
I did not know him then. After that we were together for 5 days during Dehradun
Study Camp in 1976-77. We met unexpectedly on train in the compartment while going to that
camp from Delhi. V.B.Karnik was also there. We traveled chit - chatting. In those
5 days of Study Camp Parekh participated on many occasions in the debate. As an
expert speaker he explained Roy’s policies of decentralization. They were very good
to hear but seemed not practicable.
There was a social get together in M.N.Roy’s house, 13, Mohini Road. Each from
different regions in their own style narrated their experiences and shared jokes as
Gowri and Indumathi were serving cocktails to everyone. Parekh made everybody
laugh. Malladi Rama Murthy, Guthikonda Narahari and I were there. RamaMurthy
does not drink. That day we encouraged him to drink and he too had a drink. We all
enjoyed.
Tarkunde’s eyes were wet with tears as he recalled the days he spent with Roy in
that house.
I used to meet Parekh in Bombay. He was working as University Rector and wrote
a book on General Education. He encouraged Prof A.B.Shah who worked with him in SIES college along with Sib Narayan ray.
Pareskh translated a book written by Lakshmana Sastry Joshi in Marathi into
English titled ‘The Critiq of Hinduism’. I translated  that in Telugu and published
in ‘Prasartitha’ a quarterly Telugu magazine.A.B.Shah published Parekh’s articles supporting some of the policies about Tilak in Humanist way quarterly.
 Parekh’s articles  appear in ‘Radical Humanist’.For some time G .D .was editor of Radical Humanist weekly.
After him Dr.Indumathi Parekh,  started serving the Bombay’s
underprivileged and found a place in their heart. She proved the importance of social
service by working in Humanist Movement with dedication. She brought forth the
issues of women.With her efforts she built M.N.Roy bhavan in Bombay which has become great center and international seminars were conducted in it.
We participated in small gatherings in her residence. She stayed as our house guest
with us in in Hyderabad.  Indumathi, along with Gowri malik,  used to shop
together in Hyderabad Old city.Komala helped them for local shopping in old city.
Indumathi toured Andhra many times. She released my translation work of
M.N.Roy’s biography ( by Sib Narayan ray) into Telugu at
Potti Sriramulu  Telugu University,Hyderabad.
She organized International Humanist Conferences quite successfully in Bombay.
She came to Washington while I was there in Washington for discussions to
plan Women welfare programmes ( around 1997). We met and discussed. As a leader of Humanist
Association she encouraged the volunteers and secretaries. She believed in practicing.
She was not a great writer, nor an orator. But International Humanists observed her
programs and said “not Mother Theresa, we must recognize Indumathi”.
  Tom Flynn, editor of Encyclopedia unbelief requested me to write about he which I contributed.
Levy Fragil called her Humanist Heroine.

Indumati, Dr Sivaram, registrar of Telugu University), Justice Avula Sambasivarao, while Innaiah speaking