Hashmat Rahimtoola was born in Santa Cruz, Mumbai in 1943 to Indurani, a film star in Bollywood in the 40s. She grew up with a love of nature, playing in the garden of Ishrat Bungalow with her five brothers and sisters and visiting the lakes and hill stations beyond the city. She wrote her first poem at thirteen. She was educated by nuns at St. Teresa’s Convent and went on to study English Literature at St. Xavier’s Convent. There, she stood first for both her BA Honors in English Literature and her minor in Islamic Culture in Bombay University. For her highest achievements in Islamic Culture she was offered a scholarship for further studies at Al Azhar in Cairo, which she declined. She taught sixth grade for one year at Sacred Heart Boy’s School. She also tutored English Literature at Narsi Monjee College for five years, where she worked...