Back home too, the craze for chiffon and georgette fell through the cracks of the synthetic textile industry and paved the way for ethnic saris. When Indian was in, Pupul was never far behind. Her awareness of western tastes found full bloom in the success of the handpicked Indian artists at the Festivals of India in London, France and America. True, she faced flak initially for the festivals and for closeting herself with her coterie, but she brushed it off saying she preferred working with small effective groups instead of lumbering institutions. "She was deeply sincere in her pursuit of knowledge, not only in the visual art of textile designing, but also in music and literature. She succeeded in changing perceptions of India abroad at a profound level," says Tas-neem Mehta, convenor of INTACHs Mumbai chapter. Sadly, shes left no heir.