Nafisa Joseph
Nafisa Joseph
Nafisa Joseph
Nafisa Joseph
Nafisa Joseph
Nafisa Joseph
Nafisa Joseph
Remembering an Angel:
Miss India
Nafisa Joesph
by Kevin Caruso
Nafisa Joseph, from Bangalore, India, began her successful modeling career at the age of 13. And in 1997, she was crowned Miss India at the young age of 19.
Nafisa Joseph did extensive television work, which included hosting "Housefull" for five years, which appeared on the MTV India channel, and hosting "Style," which was a show about fashion.
She was also a dedicated opponent against cruelty to animals, and she fought diligently for animal rights.
About 15 months ago, she began dating Gautam Khanduja, who was an auto parts exporter, and the two fell in love. He proposed to her, and she accepted. And they were set to be married next month.
Nafisa was overjoyed about the upcoming marriage. "It was quite apparent that she was very excited about getting married to Guatam. She had spoken openly about him for quite some time," said Ramesh Menon, a friend of Nafisa.
And Nafisa and Khanduja were building a business together. "After quitting MTV, she had formed a TV production company last year called '2's Company' of which Guatam was the backbone," said Menon.
Everything seemed to be going spectacularly well for this young woman.
But Nafisa did not know that Khanduja was actually a loser who was already married.
Nafisa found out about a joint bank account that Khanduja had with his wife, and she confronted him about it.
"When my daughter confronted her fiancé, he refused to answer her queries," said Nirmal Joseph, Nafisa's father. "When she asked him to produce his divorce papers, he refused to do that as well."
Nafisa was deeply depressed when she was at home on July 29th, and had a long talk with her mother and a close friend.
"Apparently, she was upset with her fiancé's behavior and her mother and friend had counseled her," said a police officer.
After the long talk, Nafisa said that she wanted to be alone for awhile, so she went into her bedroom and locked the door.
She then hanged herself.
She was 25.
"Khanduja is responsible for driving her to suicide," said Nafisa's father.
We miss you Nafisa.
And we will never forget you.
You are an angel now.
