When in Delhi, Elinor would come over and we would talk--about books, feministm, research, writing, teaching, India, the U.S., families, lives.... Over a simple meal with my daughter and me, she would share her wisdom and experiences. When she mentioned in passing that she was over 80, we were surprised. She was adventurous, hopping in and out of our rickety 3-wheelers, researching goddesses in remote Orissa villages (where she would wear a sari and try to pass off as local!). A swirl of ideas and projects, she was an inspirational figure, what with the depth of her engagements, the significance of her commitments, the fierce intelligence and passionate scholarship.
The last time Elinor was in India, I took her to the Aurobindo Ashram, which is charming, and she declared this is where she would stay her next time in India. I last met her in Nov 2014, when on a short trip to the U.S. I was able to spend a day with her. I was glad to see my friend's home, neat and manageable, the long desk full of papers, the windows looking onto green and skies. She spoke of her work, of her children, cherishing each, and other family members too. She spoke of art and spirituality and the university. The tremendous energy was right there, flowing in and through her, but a new sense of fragility as well.
I will remember Elinor: for the kindness of her eyes, the sparkle of her wit, the affection, the crisp conversation, and the wide, warm smile.
