My mother, Elizabeth Varughese, who has died aged 73, was a fine art and English teacher. She was known to most people as Prema, which means love and affection – love permeated everything she did.
Born in Kerala, India, Prema was the youngest daughter of Curumthodathil Perumarathinkal Philipose and Mary (nee Kurian), who was a homemaker while the children were growing up, then taught at a women’s college. Prema was sister to Molly and Mon, and went to All Saints girls’ boarding school in Nainital, in the foothills of the Himalayas, where she was taught by missionaries.
