Ms. Virbala Desai (Masala Chat Project)

Description

Virbala Desai, 79, is a retired Montessori school teacher and one of the pioneer members of the Indian community in Chicago. The interview includes discussion of her first impressions of New York City as a newlywed shortly after her arranged marriage. She has masters degrees in Psychology and Early Childhood Education and taught Montessori school for twenty five years. She discusses her deep involvement with the Ramakrishna Mission Society and Gita study, the history and philosophy of which she shares in detail. Other topics discussed include: her large joint family, the cosmopolitan nature of Mumbai, the community of international doctors that supported one another in the US.