Deena M. Mistri
Encyclopedia
Deena M. Mistri was an educationalist from Pakistan.
She was married to Minoo Mistri, an architect
, for 57 years. They had two sons Farhad and Afshad Mistri.
Mrs. Mistri finished her Bachelors of Arts from the Bombay University in 1945. It is after completing her B.A. that she started visiting the B.V.S. and helping students with elocution competitions and started tutoring English to those that needed extra help. She was only 20 years young when she decided to go into teaching.
She started teaching English to the secondary classes at the B.V.S. in 1951. She was the first lady teacher to teach the secondary classes during those days. She completed her B.Ed. with Honors in 1958 from the University of Karachi
.
While she was teaching at the B.V.S. she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship from the US in 1961, where she completed her Diploma in Education. In America she taught at the University of Athens - Ohio
and at the University of Austin - Texas
as a visiting professor.
She and her colleagues were invited to the White House Rose Garden, where President John F. Kennedy gave a short welcome speech and greeted them.
She was given Honorary Citizenship to Texas from Governor Price Daniel in 1962 for teaching at a local high school in Austin and as a visiting Professor at UT Austin.
On her way back from the States she was invited by the British Council to observe the British teaching system in London.
Mrs. Deena M. Mistri served the Bai Virbaijee Soparivala Parsi High School for 55 years. The same school that was founded by her great grand father Seth Shapurji Hormusji Soparivala - in 1859.
Her time was the golden period for the school, which churned out future leaders in their fields like medicine, engineering, business and politics. Situated on prime property in the middle of Saddar, Mrs. Mistri turned down many an offer to move the school away to areas like Clifton and Defence. She also stayed away from overly commercializing B.V.S., keeping the school morning shift only and retaining only the matriculation system instead of having dual standards of matriculation and Cambridge. She simply used to respond to demands of parents to the need of Cambridge system by saying “I can’t have class difference within one boundary wall”.
B.V.S. Parsi High School is still one of the most sought after schools in Karachi after the reputation and legacy she left behind. The Government of Education - Sind, rated B.V.S. "The Best Private Boys School for the Millennium" in Sindh
, Pakistan
.
During her tenure as a Principal B.V.S. secured 100% results in the Science and General Groups. With almost 99% of students securing A grade.
Mrs. Mistri was awarded the "Pride of Performance" by the President of Pakistan - General Pervez Musharraf on 23rd Mach 2002 for the contribution she has rendered towards providing quality education in Pakistan.
At the time of her death, Mistri was Chairperson of Westminster School and College, Karachi and a consultant at The Accel School, Karachi. She worked till the week before her passing.
" by the President of Pakistan
- General Pervez Musharraf
on 23rd March 2002 for the invaluable contribution she has rendered towards providing quality education in Pakistan for over 60 years.
Early life and family
Mrs. Mistri was a member of the Zoroastrian Community. Born in Hyderabad Sind on 21st May, 1925 to Dhunmai & Seth Pestonjee Jamshedji Soparivala.She was married to Minoo Mistri, an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, for 57 years. They had two sons Farhad and Afshad Mistri.
Mrs. Mistri finished her Bachelors of Arts from the Bombay University in 1945. It is after completing her B.A. that she started visiting the B.V.S. and helping students with elocution competitions and started tutoring English to those that needed extra help. She was only 20 years young when she decided to go into teaching.
She started teaching English to the secondary classes at the B.V.S. in 1951. She was the first lady teacher to teach the secondary classes during those days. She completed her B.Ed. with Honors in 1958 from the University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
.
While she was teaching at the B.V.S. she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship from the US in 1961, where she completed her Diploma in Education. In America she taught at the University of Athens - Ohio
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
and at the University of Austin - Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
as a visiting professor.
She and her colleagues were invited to the White House Rose Garden, where President John F. Kennedy gave a short welcome speech and greeted them.
She was given Honorary Citizenship to Texas from Governor Price Daniel in 1962 for teaching at a local high school in Austin and as a visiting Professor at UT Austin.
On her way back from the States she was invited by the British Council to observe the British teaching system in London.
Mrs. Deena M. Mistri served the Bai Virbaijee Soparivala Parsi High School for 55 years. The same school that was founded by her great grand father Seth Shapurji Hormusji Soparivala - in 1859.
Career
After 21 years of service, she became the Principal of the B.V.S. in 1972.Her time was the golden period for the school, which churned out future leaders in their fields like medicine, engineering, business and politics. Situated on prime property in the middle of Saddar, Mrs. Mistri turned down many an offer to move the school away to areas like Clifton and Defence. She also stayed away from overly commercializing B.V.S., keeping the school morning shift only and retaining only the matriculation system instead of having dual standards of matriculation and Cambridge. She simply used to respond to demands of parents to the need of Cambridge system by saying “I can’t have class difference within one boundary wall”.
B.V.S. Parsi High School is still one of the most sought after schools in Karachi after the reputation and legacy she left behind. The Government of Education - Sind, rated B.V.S. "The Best Private Boys School for the Millennium" in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
During her tenure as a Principal B.V.S. secured 100% results in the Science and General Groups. With almost 99% of students securing A grade.
Mrs. Mistri was awarded the "Pride of Performance" by the President of Pakistan - General Pervez Musharraf on 23rd Mach 2002 for the contribution she has rendered towards providing quality education in Pakistan.
Partial Retirement
Mrs. Mistri took partial retirement after working full time at the B.V.S. till 2004. She was employed at two schools from 2004-2011.At the time of her death, Mistri was Chairperson of Westminster School and College, Karachi and a consultant at The Accel School, Karachi. She worked till the week before her passing.
Health
In 1991, Mrs. Mistri successfully fought her battle with breast cancer. She was treated with radiation therapy at George Washington University Hospital that kept her (3rd stage) cancer in remission for over 20 years.Awards
She was awarded the "Pride of PerformancePride of Performance
Pride of Performance , is one of the highest civil award given and conferred by the Pakistan Government to Pakistan's citizens in recognition of distinguished merit in the fields of Literature, Arts, Sports, Medicines, and Science for civilians in most particular cases.The announcement of civil...
" by the President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
- General Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
on 23rd March 2002 for the invaluable contribution she has rendered towards providing quality education in Pakistan for over 60 years.
Death
Mistri died on 27th January 2011 as a result a brain infarction. Her funeral was held on the 29th of January in Karachi, with over 2000 attending her funeral to pay their last respects.External Links
- Death of an eminent educationist: Mrs. Deena Mistri
- Remembering Mrs. Mistri
- Tribune
- DAWN
- Deena Mistri Full of Life and Vigour
External Links
- Mrs. Deena M. Mistri
- Deena Mistri BVS. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
- Death of an eminent educationist: Mrs. Deena Mistri
- Remembering Mrs. Mistri