Paulo
In the evening of Sunday, 2nd December, our friend and brother Paul Israel Berdah, better known as Paulo of Tanto, left his body at the age of 71 in a Parisian hospital where he had been treated for a cancer which he suffered since early 2017.
Paulo, born in Tunis and of French nationality, was an accomplished dentist in France who used to travel in India during his holidays. On one of these trips in the early nineties he discovered Auroville, where Andre Hababou directed him to AV’s Dental Clinic. Upon meeting Jacques, an immediate bonding took place between the two dentists and since the mid-nineties Paulo came, along with his wife Claudine, almost every year to help his friend out in the Clinic. He also wholeheartedly plunged into Sri Aurobindo and Mother’s works, specifically into ‘Savitri’, which research deepened along the years.
Once pensioned, Paulo and Claudine came over and moved into their house in Petite Ferme in Auromodèle. In 2008 Paulo officially joined Auroville and, while still working at Dental Clinic, gradually his attention shifted and he became involved in the very early stages of the setting up of Tanto Pizzeria, of which he was co-executive from the very onset. His gentle, easy going presence became the perfect counterpart of Tanto’s Daniel and the two of them worked along very well.
Many Aurovilians will know Paulo from there. His pleasant demeanour and happy-go-lucky stance in life, combined with his bossa nova songs while accompanying himself on the guitar, endeared him to many and he will be acutely missed.
On the late evening of Saturday 1 December, some of his Aurovilian family and friends came together at Matrimandir’s Banyan Tree, in a prayer for a peaceful transitioning toward the Light for this friendly, unassuming man.
Our warmest condolences go out to his wife Claudine and niece Elisa, to Jacques and to Daniel, and to all who were close to him.
See Also
