Obituary
Ms. SOPHIE REUBEN
(As reported in the last issue, Ms. Elizabeth Reuben, daughter of David Ezra
Reuben and Sophie Reuben, donated, in all, Rs. three lakhs, in memory of her
parents, to support the work of PUCL. A short life sketch of Sophie and David
Reuben - Chief Editor)
Mrs. Sophie Reuben,
who died on 17th September 1998, was the wife of the Justice David Ezra Reuben,
who retired as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court in 1953. Justice Reuben,
who was born in 1893 and died in 1980, belonged to the Bene-Israel Jewish community
of western Maharashtra. He entered the ICS in 1917, joining the Bihar cadre,
and later opting for the judiciary. He was a staunch in civil liberties and
social justice, and his wife fully shared his outlook and ideals. Born Sophie
Israel in 1908 she was a graduate in History and a teacher by profession. After
marriage and moving to another state and she did not give up her own interests.
She was an active member of the Bihar Council of Women, taking particular interest
in the field of child welfare and education. Thus, shortly before leaving Bihar,
she was associated with the founding by her friends Professor Abha Mitra and
Dr. Vilma Mellor of the Machuatoli Bustee School in Patna, and was particularly
happy at having been able to help at a crucial time. She died at the age of
90, age and ill health never having dimmed her social concerns and public spirited
ness. A contribution towards the work of the PUCL is a fitting memorial for
her.
-Elizabeth
(PUCL Bulletin, July 2000)