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Rashmi-Rekha - Prof. Jagmohan Humar Jagmohan Humar is Chancellor’s Professor of Civil Engineering at Carleton University, Ottawa, a registered professional engineer in the province of Ontario and a Fellow of both the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering and the Engineering Institute of Canada. Among his professional contributions are: the publication of over 100 research articles and a textbook, and engineering consultancy services for several projects including the SkyDome of Toronto. He has a special love for arts and literature, writes Hindi poetry, and has published a book of Hindi poems. He has known Rashmi-Rekha for many years socially and through a shared interest in poetry.

A brilliant academic background in physics, professional standing in the field of information technology, an entrepreneurial instinct, virtuosity in art and painting, an inspired talent for creating poetry, a love for promoting the expression of life and art through film and documentary, and above all, a rare sense of compassion for the poor and the needy and those in pain – I never imagined that a single person could possess all those qualities, until I came to know Rashmi. We, I and my wife Yash, met Rashmi and her husband Rajendra Gupta some 20 years ago at a party hosted by a mutual friend. Even in our first meeting we developed a cordial relationship with the couple, no doubt because of their warm and affectionate nature and an utterly disarming humility. However, it was only after we came to know them better that I discovered the many talents of Rashmi, and her love for art that I happened to share, particularly in its expression through poetry. Over the years our acquaintance has grown into a close friendship as I have developed an admiration for the many qualities that Rashmi possesses.

Rashmi was born in 1949 in Varanasi, a city in the northern part of India seeped in religious tradition and history, but spent most of her childhood in the neighbouring city of Kanpur. Rashmi’s father was a caring and loving person, a friend and a guide to Rashmi, who always encouraged her by appreciating and admiring her work and accomplishments. However, it was from her mother that Rashmi acquired the softer side of her nature, and a love for art and the creative expression of her thoughts and emotions. Rashmi’s mother was one of the most loved and admired teacher in Kanpur who inspired respect for her intelligence and her cultured outlook in all who knew her.

Rashmi had her early schooling and college education in Kanpur, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in science. She then joined Banaras Hindu University, a much renowned seat of learning in Varanasi, from where she obtained her MSc and later enrolled for a PhD in Physics. She taught Physics at the Women’s college, BHU, while she worked for her PhD.

Rashmi was introduced to Rajendra by one of his childhood friends during the summer of 1975. Rajendra had a Ph.D. degree in Physics from Allahbad University. Rashmi believes to date that it was not only because she was thoroughly impressed by Rajendra in those rather brief encounters but also because she got some sort of spiritual guidance that she consented to marry him. They were married in November 1975 and left India soon afterwards moving to Winnipeg in the December of the same year. Later both Rajendra and Rashmi obtained temporary jobs at the University of Western Ontario. Rashmi wanted to pursue a career in Information technology, but there were no jobs in that field in London. Things started to change soon after their son Anshum was born. In 1978 Rajendra accepted the position of Research Officer at the National Research Council, Ottawa. Rashmi also obtained employment in Ottawa in the field of her choice.

From 1978 to 1995 Rajendra worked at the National Research Council, publishing over 100 research papers in prestigious professional journals and obtaining patents for 15 inventions. From 1983 to 1992 he also served as a visiting professor of electrical engineering at McGill University. While Rajendra’s career prospered, Rashmi also achieved new milestones in her profession. Her first employment was at the National Research Council in the field of information technology. She then moved to Andersen Consulting (currently named Accenture), and finally to the Human Resources Department of the Government of Canada. She became an expert in the design, development, and architecture of very large and complex databases.

In 1995 Rajendra gave up his position as a Senior Research Officer at the National Research Council of Canada to promote soymilk and its products based on an invention that Rajendra and Rashmi had patented. Rashmi continued to serve as Director of IT Architecture in the Government. Since 1995 Rajendra and Rashmi have established a highly successful business called ProSoya Inc., which licenses the technology for the production of soymilk and its products. Their Soy technology is now used in 40 countries including India, USA, Canada, and Russia for both commercial and humanitarian purposes. The soymilk produced by this technology is marketed in Canada under the name of SoNice and in USA under the name of Silk.

In 2002 Rashmi turned a new page in her illustrious life. She gave up her senior executive position in information technology to devote herself full time to what was most dear to her, next only to Rajendra, the promotion of art and service to the humanity. Rashmi is a painter of considerable talent and uses a variety of mediums for her creations, including watercolor, oil, acrylic and Batik. Her poems in the Hindi language give exquisite expression to her profound feelings about men and the society, and about our culture and our civilization. Even during her busy career in information technology she had continued her pursuits in Art and Poetry. However, to her the personal expression of art through painting and poetry was not sufficient. She wanted to share her appreciation of art and music with a wider audience. She set out to do so by supporting teaching of classical Indian vocal music at Carleton University. She also created Ragarang – a not-for-profit entity to stage Classical Indian Music. She then teamed up with Rajendra to produce a short clip, a documentary, and a feature film. The short clip is a 10-minute video of her own Hindi poetry that depicts the emotions of an immigrant about her motherland. The documentary, produced under the banner of Transvision Films (www.transvisionfilms.com), is entitled “Guilty or Not” and narrates the story of a man from the Bombay slum of Dharavi, who in spite of being a criminal in the eyes of the lawmaker was a Robin Hood to many.

The most ambitious of the visual production undertaken by Rashmi and Rajendra is a 90-minute feature film entitled A Passage to Ottawa, produced again under the banner of Transvision Films. The film tells the story of a young Indian boy who comes to Canada in search of a hero who could save her dying mother back home. The film garnered 5 international awards including 4 best film awards and a special mention at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival.

An ardent ambition of Rashmi, which she shares with Rajendra, is to dedicate herself to the service of humanity, to reach out to those who are most in need, and to alleviate the suffering of those in pain but with scarce resources to find comfort. During the past several years the two have developed a low cost machine to produce high quality soymilk using their patented technology. Acting as volunteers with Child Haven International and with the assistance of Canadian International Development Agency they have promoted the use of these machines for the production of soymilk in third world countries (Soya Cow – http://www.soyacow.com). Over one thousand machines are now in use in over 40 developed and developing countries, feeding over a million people and employing thousands. Child Haven earns royalties from these machines in support of orphanages in 4 countries.

The most recent humanitarian effort of Rashmi and Rajendra is also the most ambitious and the most praiseworthy. They are presently spearheading a campaign to raise 5 million dollars to set up a charitable cancer hospital in Allahabad, mainly to serve the underprivileged in the region through education, early diagnosis, state-of-the-art treatment, palliative care, and rehabilitation. In fact, the project, entitled Janseva Cancer Centre (http://www.janseva.com) is much wider in its scope. Its ultimate objective is to set up a series of such centers throughout India to serve the poor in need of treatment. Rashmi and Rajendra have pledged $1 million of their own savings to the project

In spite of the hectic pace that her activities command Rashmi frequently acts as a gracious host at social get-togethers that she holds at her home. I have often wondered what is the source of her energy and her commitment. Rashmi believes that Anshum was the one who brought good fortune and stability in their life. He was always a very happy and playful kid, but also very assertive and determined. Anshum has recently graduated from the University of Western Ontario as a Software Engineer and has been trotting the globe for the past four months.

Rashmi is quite eager to give credit to Rajendra for all her accomplishments. According to her Rajendra is an extremely determined, focused and hard working person. He frequently astonishes Rashmi with his innovative ideas, which often scare her because of their sheer magnitude and the level of commitment required to bring them to fruition. But the ideas are so compelling that Rashmi cannot help but be persuaded to join in with determination and resolve. The two often get into tough discussions and arguments, but the discussion is always tempered by the profound love and respect they hold for each other. Rajendra combines his dedication with a rare sense of compassion. When it comes to giving there is no hesitation in him. He often assures Rashmi, ‘life is like the water of a flowing river, the more we give the more God gives us back’.

At the Premier of "A Passage to Ottawa" sponsored by Child Haven at the Natural History Museum, Ottawa. From left to right: Dr Nat Shah, Child Haven Director, Hon. Sheila Copps, Canadian Heritage Minister, (who was hosting the event), Dr. Rajendra Gupta and Rashmi-Rekha, Producers of the film, Gaurav Seth, Director of the film, and Olga Seth.

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