View source for Deena M. Mistri

{{short description|Pakistani educator}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

'''Deena M. Mistri''' (21 May 1925 {{endash}} 27 January 2011) was an [[educationalist|educator]] from Pakistan.<ref name=Tribune>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/110268/transitions-deena-mistri-former-principal-of-bvs-parsi-high-school-dies |title=Deena Mistri, former principal of BVS Parsi High School, dies|newspaper=[[The Express Tribune]]|date=27 January 2011|author1=Husna Anwar|author2=Saba Imtiaz|access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
[[File:Mom-21b.jpg|thumb|Mistri in 1950]]

Mistri was a member of the Parsi or [[Zoroastrian]] Community. She was born in [[Hyderabad, Sindh]], on 21 May 1925, to Dhunmai & Seth Pestonjee Jamshedji Soparivala.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

She married Minoo Mistri in 1949 who was an architect. They were married for 57 years. Her husband died in 2006.<ref name="dawn">[https://www.dawn.com/news/601975/educationist-deena-mistri-passes-away Educationist Deena Mistri passes Away]. ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]''. Published 27 January 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2021.</ref><ref name=Dawn3/>  Mistri received her Bachelor of Arts from the D.J. College in Karachi, now known as [[D.J. Sindh Government Science College]]. In those days, since Sindh was a part of the [[Bombay Presidency]], the degree was formally awarded by [[Bombay University]] in 1945, and then she received her BEd with Honors in 1958 from the Government Teachers' Training College in Karachi.<ref name=Dawn3>[https://www.dawn.com/news/604094/in-memorium-remembering-mrs-mistri In Memorium: Remembering Mrs Mistri]. ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]''. Published 5 February 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2021.</ref>

==Career==
Deena Mistri started teaching English to the secondary classes in 1951. She became the principal of the Bai Virbaijee Soparivala Parsi High School in 1972 and then served in that position for many years {{endash}} the same school that was founded by her great-grandfather Seth Shapurji Hormusji Soparivala in 1859.<ref name=Tribune/><ref name=Dawn3/>

It was after completing her B.A. degree that she started visiting the [[B.V.S. Parsi High School|B. V. S. Parsi High School]] and helping students with elocution competitions and started tutoring English to those that needed extra help. She took partial retirement from this school with a warm send-off party in 2004. Then she was employed at two other schools from 2004 to 2011.<ref name=Tribune/><ref name=Dawn2/>

She once told a major newspaper of Pakistan, "I think I was always a born teacher... I would take the servants' children and teach them the a, b, c".<ref name=Tribune/>

At the time of her death, Mistri was Chairperson of Westminster School and College, Karachi.<ref name="dawn" /><ref name=Dawn3/>

==Awards==
[[File:Deena Mushy23rd Mar sm.jpg|thumb|left|Pride of Performance by President Musharraf]]

She was awarded the [[Pride of Performance]] by the [[President of Pakistan]] – General [[Pervez Musharraf]] on 23 March 2002 for her contributions towards providing quality education in Pakistan for over 60 years.<ref name="dawn"/><ref name=Tribune/><ref name=Dawn2>[https://www.dawn.com/news/602922/deena-mistri-full-of-life-and-vigour Deena Mistri: full of life and vigour]. ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]''. Published 31 January 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2021.</ref><ref name=Dawn3/>

She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship from the US in 1962, where she completed her Diploma in Education. In America, she taught at the [[University of Athens]] in Ohio and at the [[University of Texas at Austin]] as a visiting professor.<ref name=Tribune/>

She was given Honorary Citizenship to Texas by Governor [[Price Daniel]] in 1962 for teaching at a local high school in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], Texas, and as a visiting professor at the [[University of Texas at Austin]].<ref name=Tribune/>

==Death==
Mistri died on 27 January 2011 at age 85 as a result of a brain infarction.<ref name="dawn"/> In 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy and had recovered. She is survived by her two sons. Her funeral was held on 29 January in Karachi, with over 2,000 attending her funeral to pay their last respects.<ref name=Tribune/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Authority control}}
{{Pride of Performance for Arts}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mistri, Deena M.}}
[[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]]
[[Category:Pakistani educators]]
[[Category:Pakistani women educators]]
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Parsi people]]
[[Category:Pakistani Zoroastrians]]
[[Category:Academics from Karachi]]