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A crusader and an inspiration

Co-founder of Fabindia, Bim Bissell was the force behind promotion of Indian handicrafts and handlooms
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Bim Bissell with long-time friend Poonam Muttreja (L) and actor Sharmila Tagore.
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Jaya Jaitly, founder of Dastkari Haat Samiti, calls her the ‘aesthetics behind Fabindia’. For Anuradha Kumra, former president (apparel), Fabindia, she was the ‘heart of the company’. Bimla Nanda Bissell, Bim to those who knew and loved her, was married to John Bissell, the founder of Fabindia. But Bim was much more. Many call her the vision and wind beneath John’s hard work in establishing the brand. Even after he passed away in 1998, Bim remained a life-long patron of Fabindia.

Born in 1932 in Lahore, Bim was a true blue Punjabi — colourful and warm. Everyone who knew her has a Bim story to tell. “Because, she made every individual, from a tiny child to an adult to an older person, feel special,” says her long-time friend Poonam Muttreja, who is executive director of the Population Foundation of India and one of the founders of Dastkar. “She touched hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. Bim was a force to reckon with. Actually, no one could reckon with the force that she was,” adds Muttreja.

Ratish Nanda, CEO of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, India, found her ability to build connections with people from all walks of life quite incredible. “I don’t know how she did it but she had deep connections with perhaps hundreds of people.”

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Agrees Kumra, “She was a maternal figure to many, many people and unfaltering in her ability to give love.”

Bim was a sum of many parts. But her every experience — whether at the Cottage Emporium, working with various US Ambassadors or her stint at the World Bank — had at its core the welfare of others. She co-founded Udyogini, an NGO that aimed at empowering asset-less and landless women, with Ela Bhatt of SEWA as its chair.

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Anuradha Kumra, former president (apparel), Fabindia, with Bim Bissell.

Diplomat and author Pavan K Varma calls her a visionary who had a deep commitment towards artisan welfare. “Her remarkable sense of aesthetics, her deep knowledge about Indian textiles and her sense of responsibility towards artisans ensured right design ideas, collaborations, marketing as well as best returns for artisans and the best products for consumers.”

Her zest for life and causes was unmatchable. “Bim had this vision of different projects catering to the well-being of different segments of society,” adds Jaya Jaitly. “Her school, Playhouse, was my children’s first memory of school, a happy and informal place, not like schools today where a Class I student gets a pile of homework.”

Veteran journalist Mrinal Pande, whose daughters, too, studied in Playhouse, recalls Bim as a “very concerned and indulgent teacher, who was in a subtle way a good disciplinarian, both for the children and the staff”. Interestingly, many of the teachers trained by her later went on to occupy key roles in Fabindia.

A Playhouse project for children was later set up at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi. “Bim helped get the funds,” says Nanda. “She was always so full of enthusiasm and appreciation that it made things worthwhile,” he adds.

In the last few years, Bim was facing many health issues, but nothing could dim her light. “She was on dialysis that had to be repeated every couple of days. Once, she wanted to attend a family wedding. Any other person would have hesitated, but Bim went straight to the airport from hospital and landed straight back two days later, but enjoying immensely in between,” remembers Muttreja.

Bim Bissell passed away on January 9. At a prayer meeting, her daughter Monsoon remembered her as someone who always showed up — whether for others, or herself and even life.

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