Gulestan Rustom Billimoria
Gulestan Rustom Billimoria was an Indian philanthropist, social worker, writer and painter, best known for her services for the special needs children of Mumbai. She served as the Sheriff of Mumbai in 1957 and was the lady superintendent of The Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, Mumbai from 1922 to 1937.
Born Gulestan J. Bhadurjee, Billimoria did her schooling at Girton High School and college studies at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai during which period she was a fellow of the University of Mumbai for two terms and a member of the university senate. After her marriage to Rustomji Bomanji Billimoria, the founder of Bel-Air Hospital of Indian Red Cross Society and a Padma Bhushan recipient, she took over the management of the functions of the hospital. Later, she helped found the Savera Special School Gulestan And Billimoria School, Mumbai of the Maharashtra State Women's Council, an institution for the mentally and physically handicapped children.
Billimoria was a known painter and one of her paintings has been exhibited at the Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai (present-day Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. She also wrote a number of articles on special needs children. The Government of India awarded her the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, in 1972. Gulestan and Rustom Billimoria Endowment Lecture is an annual event organized in her honor.
