Roshni Rustomji-Kerns's Archival Objects: A Farohar Frame, A Watch Necklace, A Gifted Candle
DESCRIPTION
In this slideshow, you will see:
A Farohar frame Roshni Rustomji-Kerns keeps near and dear to herself. The Farohar is a winged sun disk with a seated figure in the center and is a meaningful symbol from old Persia and in Zoroastrianism represents the guardian angel. In her oral history interview, Roshni shared her strong belief in the guardian angel.
A necklace with a watch. In her oral history interview, Roshni selected this object as one of the things she'd keep in a time capsule. Instead of an engagement ring, Chuck, Roshni's husband, got her a watch on a necklace because he had heard her say that watches have never worked on her wrist and that she used to really admire the necklace with a watch that one of her Dad's aunts used to wear long ago. She wears the watch necklace every day and considers it "my wedding ring."
A candle gifted to Roshni by her friend, Isabel Gruen, in Mexico. Roshni shared in her oral history interview that Isabel was the daughter of her very dear friends/guardians Walter and Alexandra Gruen--in Mexico via WWII Germany. Walter had been imprisoned in three different concentration camps. She considered Isabel as a daughter and Isabel gave Roshni the candle on one of her visits to Mexico City as a token of her love and of their "connection" through many lives. Isabel died in a car accident about a week after she gave Roshni the candle. Roshni had kept the candle wrapped in its original wrapping until a few minutes before her husband took the photo, when she unwrapped it for the picture. It has always had a scent of sandalwood. Roshni shared that her mother made the candle a symbol of Roshni's name. On her Navjote and other important celebrations for Roshni, her mother would "draw" a wonderful candle in chalk at the entrance gate.
ADDITIONAL METADATA
Date: April 10, 2022
Subject(s): Roshni Rustomji-Kerns
Type: Photograph
Source: Archival Creators Fellowship Program
Creator: Sharmeen Mehri
Contributor: Roshni Rustomji-Kerns
Location: Alameda , California
PROVENANCE
Collection: Sharmeen Mehri Fellowship Project
Donor: Roshni Rustomji-Kerns
Item History: 2022-07-14 (created); 2022-07-19 (modified)
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