Mrs De Mello - Plight of the needy! Melville De Mello All India Radio Commentator - Gandhi's Funeral 24
THE ANGLO INDIAN NETWORK
Regards,
Peter
From: Joe Bailey <joe.b...@bigpond.com>
Date: 30 May 2012 15:04
Subject: Mrs De Mello - Plight of the needy! Melville De Mello All India Radio Commentator - Gandhi's Funeral 24
To: joe.b...@bigpond.com
Hi Harry and Joe,
please see the attached link and message about the plight of Mrs D'Mello. Many want to help and I was wondering if you Harry, can arrange this through AITW or through Blair Williams or someone else in India? I met Mrs D'Mello in Hyd in 08/09 and she is lovely lady not deserving of this treatment. How can we help her soon?
Please let me know so I can pass on the message as to how we can contribute to this poor lady's plight.
God Bless &
Kind Regards
Kerry
---------- Forwarded
message ----------
From: Radha Nair <radha...@yahoo.com>
Date: 25 May 2012
14:45
Subject: INDIA
SHINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To: Kerry Edwards
Dear Kerry,
I am writing to you now on another matter. You remember Mr. Melville de Mellow , who once used to compere the Forces program on All India Radio,.
Well his wife Mrs. Jane de Mellow , 95 has been denied her measly pension of Rs.1,500/( which works out to $ 27 per month)- 2 years back. I am sending you the link to the TOI/Delhi edition report published on 13 th May.
I was horrified to read this account, as this is the worst thing that could happen to a senior citizen, who also happens to be the wife of the best broadcaster India has ever produced.
Mrs. de Mellow, lives all by herself, has no children, is almost deaf and has multiple health problems. And in this helpless stage in her life the GOI has made this wonderful change in her life.
This is India shining! Kerry you are lucky to be in Australia. You have a good social security system in place, which I know takes care of its senior citizens. While here in India, this what they do to their elderly. Read on
In response to this article, I contacted a few influential people connected with All India Radio. They have taken it up with the Ministry of Broadcasting as well as Prasara Bharati, to ensure that she will be given proper financial assistance. I only hope they expedite matters , as time is running out for this fine lady.
Do write when you can. My best wishes to you and your family,
Radha
Hi Gents,
here is the detail for contributions to Mrs D'Mello...being an Old
Cottonian myself for a short time, it's heartening to see the response. Please
pass on to your contacts.
Kind Regards
Kerry
---------- Forwarded
message ----------
From: Radha Nair <radha...@yahoo.com>
Date: 29 May 2012
18:40
Subject: Re: INDIA
SHINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To: Kerry Edwards>
Dear Kerry,
Thank you for responding to my appeal for Mrs. Jane De Mellow.
You could please get in touch with Old Cottonians, for they are taking an active role in helping Mrs. Jane de Mellow, as Mr. Melville de Mellow was an old Cottonian.
I am enclosing the article on their appeal to the public to help Mrs. Jane de Mellow as well as the link to their website for your kind attention and also those who have come forward to help her. Their contact details are given in this website
http://oldcottonians.org/magazine/tag/coralie-emma-de-mellow/
Assistance sought from OCs for Coralie DeMello [OC Melville DeMello's widow]
Posted on May 21, 2012
Dear OCs,
In continuation to the message I sent earlier, we have decided to take the following measures based on the information currently available to us.
Mrs Coralie DeMello is in dire need, given her age and condition, of physical care and assistance. She needs a person to help and assist her with simple household chores. Moving around the house, answering the doorbell or being assisted to the toilet are some of the typical activities for which she needs support. So, we will immediately, and as an interim measure, arrange for a reliable and capable person to be with her on a regular basis. We will then quickly assess her complete needs within the first few days and extend further help on a need basis.
The OCs charter does not provide for anything in the nature of assistance that we now envisage. So, and in order not to delay proceedings, I am setting about opening a bank account jointly in the following names:
Neel Kamal Mehra, Vijay Khurana and B. M. Singh. We will be joint signatories to this account.
The cause is good and there has been a spontaneous out-pouring from several of you, urging the OCA into action. We are responding to these wonderful requests. I will take charge of this matter with assistance from anyone who is willing and capable of offering their time to visit and look after Mrs DeMello. Right now we need contributions and the generous and kind hearted are urged to send in whatever they can voluntarily contribute for Mrs DeMello’s assistance. This account will be kept only for this purpose and we will render details on the OCA website.
You may send in your cheques written out to any one of the names listed above at the following address:
The Old
Cottonians Association.
1, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Hauz Khas,
New Delhi 110016 India
Any suggestions will be always more than welcome but right now I would urge you to send in your contributions to ease the life of the wife of a remarkable and outstanding OC who did so much for our country and our School!!
I look forward to hearing from
you.
Yours sincerely,
B. M. Singh
President
OCA India
May 22nd 2012
EDITOR: Click here to
read the ASSISTANCE SUPPORT PAGE
Posted in Post | Tagged Assistance, Coralie Emma de Mellow, Melville de Mello, News about OCs,OCA India
Help for Old Cottonian Melville de Mello’s widow
Posted on May 16, 2012
Dear OCs
The denial of pension to Melville de Mello‘s widow, Coralie who is now 95 years old is a shame. We Old Cottonians must unite and assist the lady as she is the widow of a distinguished OC who was an icon. We all will remember, with a touch of nostalgia and pride, his live commentary on the Republic Day parades. This is an appeal to all OCs, asking you to step forward and assist.
With regards
BM Singh
OCA India President
Quoted from The Times of India publication:
For 2 years, AIR icon’s widow denied Rs 1.5k monthly pension
NEW DELHI: For 95-year-old fragile Coralie Emma de Mellow, every day is a struggle against red tape for restoration of a measly monthly pension of Rs 1,500, which was stopped less than two years after it was granted in recognition of her husband Melville’s iconic stature as a commentator and newscaster in the All India Radio(AIR).
Melville left a legendary legacy in live commentary. He was a crowd-stopper commentator, who created a record and shot into fame by his moving non-stop account for seven hours from an AIR van on Mahatma Gandhi’s last journey from Birla House to Rajghat in 1948.
His account of Republic Day parades for years -in his inimitable baritone in impeccable English – is still remembered more than two decades after he passed away at the age of 76 in 1989. He had the ability of transporting the adrenalin rush of a thrilling hockey match between India and Pakistan to millions of living rooms where radio used to occupy a pride of place.
The present generation mat have forgotten the excitement of live radio commentary and Melville’s gifted expertise in making listener watch the match through his voice. The authorities have forgotten that government had honoured Melville with Padma Shri in recognition of his services in AIR and Doordarshan.
Coralie fondly remembers her husband’s career from a lieutenant to an ace commentator in AIR. And she is so proud of her husband that she finds it awkward to beg for the paltry Rs 1,500 that was granted to her in March, 2008, by the government in recognition of Melville’s immense contribution to radio and TV in their nascent years in India.
But, her friends know how in her advanced years she needs this pittance. Advocate Brijesh Kalappa tried to impress upon her plight with Prasar Bharati, but was told that there was no provision for grant of monthly pension. He was promised that the Prasar Bharati CEO would try to release a lump sum amount for her. Even Congress MP and AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes wrote to information and broadcasting minister on November 17, 2011, about the suspension of pension from January 14, 2010, and sought its early resumption. But, nothing has yielded results so far.
Posted in News, Post | Tagged Assistance, Coralie Emma de Mellow, Melville de Mello, News about OCs, OC | 8 Replies
http://oldcottonians.org/magazine/tag/coralie-emma-de-mellow/
Thank you Kerry for your magnanimous gesture. God will bless you and your family always.
warm regards,
Radha.
From: Kerry Edwards
To: Radha Nair:
Tuesday, 29 May 2012, 13:25
Subject: Re: INDIA SHINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Radha
many here have read the plight of Mrs D'Mello and want to help...where can they send some money to assist?
I was also going to get in touch with some AIs who run charitys
there...please let me know soon.
Kind Regards
Kerry
On 26 May 2012 07:23, Kerry Edwards <ozm...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Radha
nice ot hear from you. I have been quite busy at work with my project which ends June. I actually met Mrs D'Mello at my cousins in Hyd when visiting in 08/09. She seemed such a lovely lady. It is indeed a shocking thing to see the poor lady suffer like this. I hope it is resloved soon.
Yes I see Tony on RC FB page - no he has not contacted me.
Hope all is well with you and the heat is not too bad in Pune!
My regards to you and the family as well.
Kind Regards
Kerry
IF YOU FORWARD MY EMAILS AS A COURTESY PLEASE REMOVE ALL PRECEDING EMAIL ADDRESSES INCLUDING MINE. BLIND COPY (bcc) IF YOU CAN AS IT AVOID SPAMMERS USING ADDRESSES.
Hi Kerry, Joe,
We are trying our best to do something for Mrs. de Mellow.
Let's keep our fingers crossed....
Regards,
Harry
From: Harry MacLure
<harrym...@yahoo.com>
To: margaret deefholts WILLIAMS Blair LIONEL LUMB Brian & Shirley
Cc: Radha Nair <radha
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 1:58 PM
Subject: Mrs. Jane de Mellow
Hi Margaret,
It is indeed sad to hear about Mrs.de Mellow.
But since I'm based in Chennai, there's not much
I can do except for writing to a few Anglo-Indian friends
in Delhi. But what we really need is someone or some charity
like CTR working in conjunction with The All India Anglo-
Indian Association in Delhi to hire a full-time Ayah to stay
with Mrs.de Mellow. As Radha says at Mrs.de Mellow's age she'd
surely be experiencing memory lapses and would need someone
to look after her on a daily basis. Volunteer workers these days
are hard to find; we have to pay an Ayah a monthly salary to stay
with Mrs.de Mellow and see to all her needs.
I don't mind publishing an article in the next issue of Anglos In The Wind
outlining her plight and urging our readers to contribute towards her
welfare, but if Blair could figure out a way of helping Mrs.de Mellow on
a monthly basis, it would be faster, regular and not sporadic.
I'd like to hear from you / Blair on this.
Warm regards,
Harry
Harry MacLure, Editor-Publisher
Anglos In The Wind
The International Magazine for Anglo-Indians.
Editorial Office:
AITW, A-77, 'Book Nook', 3rd Avenue,
Anna Nagar East, Chennai - 600 102, India.
Phone: +91 - 44 - 4208 0058.
E-mail: harrym...@yahoo.com / ai...@hotmail.com
From: margaret deefholts
To: WILLIAMS Blair >; LIONEL
LUMB Brian & Shirley Harry
MacLure <harrym...@yahoo.com>
Cc: Radha Nair
<radha...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 12:16 PM
Subject: Fwd: Mrs. Jane de Mellow
Hi
Blair, Lionel, Shirley and Harry,
This e-mail is shocking! Radha is a well reputed journalist, and I have
no doubts whatsoever about her genuine concern and indignation as expressed in
her e-mail to me below.
Most of you will remember Melville DeMellow on All India Radio - and it is just
dreadful to think that his widow is now in such straitened circumstances
without any help whatsoever from the Government or even from the Anglo Indian
Association in Delhi or the All India branch. If you have any contacts
with people who can be of assistance on an ongoing basis - both from a
financial perspective and in practical day to day volunteer work, could you
please push for help?
Best,
Margaret
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Forwarded message ----------
From: Radha Nair >
Date: Thu, May 24, 2012 at 4:11 AM
Subject: Mrs. Jane de Mellow
To: margaret deefolts >
Dear Margaret,
I don't know whether you remember me. I am Radha, a free lance writer, based in Pune. How are you?
About 3 years back I had written to you and sent you some of my articles. And then we lost contact.
Today I am writing to you on a matter of great urgency. After I read a report, which was published in the Times of India/Delhi edition dated 13 th May/2012, I was shocked and disgusted by the manner , the wife of Melville de Mellow, one of the best broadcasters that India has ever produced is being treated.
I am sending you the link for your perusal
For 2 years, AIR icon’s widow denied Rs 1.5k monthly pension
Then on 22nd May, some one whom I know in Delhi visited Mrs. de Mellow after reading this horrible report
What she related to me was indeed very painful to hear... the conditions under which Mrs. De Mellow is living is pathetic. She lives alone. There is no one to take care of her.
One Mr. Bhatia, who had been a typist with Mr. De Mellow comes in once a month ! and buys her soap toothpaste and other basics. ( In fact it was he, who brought Mrs Jane de Mellows tragic state of affairs to the attention of TOI)
What about vegetables, milk and the other day to day needs... who gets it for her? She is 95, so will be prone to memory lapses... will she remember where she has kept the soap or toothpaste bought for her? Who pays her electricity bills, and all the other sundry bills? What if she needs a new pair of specs? who takes her for a check up?... What if she trips and falls at night? . Her very vulnerable situation puts her at the mercy of so many. And people today are so ruthless, where it concerns the elderly! All these thoughts kept worrying me
It seems she cannot hear at all. So when someone rings the bell the response is after a long time. There is another reason for the delay in opening the front door. She has become infirm, and walks with a slow shuffle.
In your growing up years Margaret, you must have surely heard Mr.. Melville de Mellow read out the news for All India Radio, and must have also listened to his very popular requests program 'A Date with you'
Once they had been the toast of Delhi. Melville passed away in 1989. He was 76 then. His widow Jane de Mellow is now 95 and this report will shock you by the lackadaisical manner the Indian government is treating the wife of this much respected broadcaster.
The De Mellows had no children, and so today she lives all by herself, coping with multiple health problems and erratic domestic help. Those who once enjoyed her fabled hospitality, have conveniently distanced themselves from her.
And now this ultimate blow to a person in her 95th year,--- when she should be forgetting the cares of the world and should be looked after with love and care,--- the Government of India , decided, 2 years back to take away her meager pension of Rs. 1,500/- which works out to $ 27 per month!!!!!!!!!!
What a magnanimous gesture on the part of the holier - than- thou GOI, and all those who virtuously uphold the so called Indian traditions.. What traditions do we have to speak of?
Margaret I have written to you in such detail for a special reason, so that you get a clear perspective pf Mrs. De Mellows plight. You are a very influential person in the Anglo Indian community. Your voice, where it concerns such legitimate issues will be definitely heard in the Anglo Indian circles, specifically because this lady happens to be a much respected Anglo-Indian. In India the Anglo –Indian community is a minority.
Can you please bring Mrs. De Mellow’s terrible case to the attention of the Anglo Indian forums around the world, and ensure that some one attached to the Delhi branch of the Anglo Indian community office, goes personally to Mrs. De Mellow, studies the harsh conditions she is facing, and extends the maximum help that they can to this fine lady.
Money is not everything, but a comforting presence in her home is ..
It is of utmost importance that a compassionate person should be there, to genuinely take care of her personal needs in her last years.
That she has managed this far on her own, is itself unbelievable!
This is the only way we can pay back to Melville de Mellow, for all his magnificent contributions to All India Radio
I have already written to the First Director general of Doordarshan, Shri P.V. Krishnamurhty, to Dr. B.G. Verghese, a highly respected journalist based in Delhi, who was the former editor of The Hindustan Times and The Indian Express, and a few other contacts.
They too are moving heaven and earth, but to get past Indian red tape, and political bungle ups is a monumental task , one, which like all things Indian, will take years to be resolved , by which time it will be of no use to Mrs. Jane de Mellow.
This is a plea from the heart. Please take this issue up as quickly as you can, for time is running out for Mrs. De Mellow.
I have never met Mrs. Jane de Mellow, but have had the privilege to talk to her on 4 wonderful occasions 3 years back, and all I can say is, that she is an angel, one who deserves to be treated with deep love and respect.
I keenly look forward to your response. I can give you Mrs. Jane de Mellow’s postal address and phone number when you require it.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Radha
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