August is a month of feasting. Last week's Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations meant a redolent, traditional Konkani feast for lunch, that included madgane, patolyo, peas ambat, muggya-bibbe sukke, batatya song, padwal phodyo and ambemohar rice, mostly sent by my sister Sarayu Kamat. Before that, on Independence Day, Madhura Vayal had sent puran poli, a Maharashtrian sweet, stuffed chapati, in her healthy dabba. It seems a very Maharashtrian thing to do.

Every time I eat puran poli, I remember Shalan Chavan, then principal of the Victoria Memorial School for the Blind at Tardeo, where I was a volunteer for years. Every Independence Day, she would personally roll out and roast about 200 puran polis for the 100 blind students. They had cooks, of course, but she always made these herself. I doubt the management knows or cares about her devotion beyond the call of duty. The VMSB is a free, residential school for mostly underprivileged blind students till the 8th standard. Many are from rural areas; some are orphans: when parents bring their children for admission, they often abandon them and are never seen again. So, the fact that it has a residential hostel, in a way turns even children with parents into orphans. Horrific. Shalan was aware of this. That if they were home, may be some mothers would have made puran polis for their children, if they could afford it. That is why she always considered all the children her own, and made the puran polis herself, rolling each one with love, affectionately encouraging the children to eat more, and generously adding fragrant toop (ghee) on top. I salute the warrior of love that is Shalan Chavan. How many school principals do you know who would do this for their students? There are hundreds of unsung heroes in India, who give lovingly of themselves.