Sister Margaret would make me read my essays to the class—and it gave me such pride and tremendous confidence to be singled out like that and encouraged. Later, most likely thanks to her, the school encouraged me to take part in an all-Bombay, inter-school essay writing competition, organised by the Zonta Club (Zonta International does advocacy for women and girls worldwide). I won the top prize, and brought an enormous shield back to the school. Later, I burst into tears when they said I could not take it home to show my Amma-Papa, as it was won by the school, and they would keep it there in a showcase so everyone could see it, and our school name would be carved on it, etc. Still, they made me feel very special when the Principal made me read out my prize-winning essay at assembly in front of the whole school the next morning.

When people ask me how I got into journalism and film, it is only for the kindness of mentors like Sr Margaret, and another very kind English teacher, who similarly encouraged me to read out my English essays to class, to whom I owe a lot—Miss Elba Fernandez, affectionately known as Nonny. As for film, my mentors include Amrit Gangar, wonderful film historian and scholar, who ran Screen Unit, where I learnt film appreciation, that has lasted me a lifetime. And the critics Maithili Rao and the late FG Jilani (Iqbal Masud), who were my mentors Eklavya-style. Above all, Dorothee Wenner, the Berlin Film Festival’s Delegate for Sub-Saharan Africa, my dearest colleague at the Berlinale, has been a most generous mentor and friend, guiding me about how Indian and South Asian cinema are perceived internationally—and much more in life. Indeed, my life is very rich, and I live in gratitude.

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Meenakshi Shedde is India and South Asia Delegate to the Berlin International Film Festival, National Award-winning critic, curator to festivals worldwide and journalist. 
Reach her at meenakshi.shedde@mid-day.com