Born to a Muslim Dad (late) and Hindu Mom (late), 63-year old spinster Heera Nawaz emphatically professes her Faith in Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. A crucifix tops the shelves of her collection of awards and plaques celebrating her poetic and writing talents.
Over 30 years, she has to her credit 800 published works including motivational articles, short stories, poems, songs and short plays.
After a miraculous healing of a brain tumour and tuberculosis, she spends her time and talent reaching-out to people in deep despair.
Excerpts from an interview with Adolf Washington for readers of Indian Catholic Matters:
I understand you went through a tough time battling brain tumor and tuberculosis. Tell us of your experience.
Heera: During the Covid Pandemic in 2019 , after frequent episodes of breathlessness, I was diagnosed with brain tumour. Surgery was recommended but I couldn’t undergo the surgery as my oxygen saturation level was extremely low. Some doctors suggested medication instead of surgery. Meanwhile, due to delayed action, I completely lost sight in my right eye and was :additionally diagnosed with T.B.
Being a proactive person that you are as a school teacher and mentor, did you see hope?
Heera: From December 2019 to January 2020, I was hospitalised. There were several lows and highs. It was a question of life and death. My family rallied around to help, especially my sister Tara, who sacrificed her family chores and spent hours with me daily in the hospital. Though physically weak, I was mentally, emotionally, and spiritually strong. I remember crying out to God-ji to save me and to make me resilient in pain. I vowed to God-ji that if healed, I would become a beacon of hope and strength to other patients battling terminal illness. I promised God-ji, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit that I would become a warrior and spokesperson for God to help patients with terminal illnesses.
You were healed by Faith. Is that why you emphatically profess Faith in Jesus?
Heera: No. Not at all. Being healed is certainly a great miracle in my life. But I came to know God-ji, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit since my school and college days, as the institutions were run by Christian nuns, and I felt personally drawn towards God-ji, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. There was never any external influence on my love and fascination for the Christian religion and the wonderful teachings of the Bible. I have always listened-to and shared my faith experiences with others.
You have been spending your time rendering hope to people in distress, especially the terminally-ill. Did you have a ‘spiritual awakening’ experience?
Heera: Yes. I did have a spiritual awakening and a revelation while in the hospital. God speaks to us in amazing ways. I began to see purpose in my pain and began to feel that many are suffering more than me in different ways and I must reach-out to them with the strength I received. For the start, after my discharge from the hospital, I joyfully celebrated my birthday with ragpicker children. Ever since, I have been spending my time at Homes for the Aged, with acid-attack victims, with visually and physically challenged people.
How do you infuse faith and courage in the distressed people you have been reaching-out to?
Heera: I have been through emotional and physical pain so I understand what many experience. What distressed people need most is empathetic listening, words of hope, and a hand to hold. I write motivational poems, songs, and articles and go about reading poems or singing the songs to the people I meet. I help people ‘visualise’ healing and happiness.
Being a retired teacher and a spinster too, are there times you feel all alone?
Heera: Not at all. I have mentored to students for over two decades. I now give tuition mostly in English and French. But you can never really retire when you choose to continue doing good for others. God-ji, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit constantly inspire me to write and to reach out to others. We are never alone when we stay connected with God.
I continue my mission by giving motivational talks and reciting poems on God’s teachings and miracles. I motivate my students, relatives, and friends never to give up but to count on God-ji in difficult times. God-ji never gives-up on us.