Kulsum Bai Bachelani

Bachelani, Kulsum Bai August 10, 1933 - July 7, 2016 Beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, an adventurer who loved to travel to new lands and meet new people, and an enthusiastic cook who mastered recipes through instant memorization. Kulsum Bai married at the age of 14 to her husband of over 63 years, Aboo Bakr Bachelani, September 22, 1924 - February 5, 2010. Both paved new grounds, first as Asian immigrants to Uganda, and then as some of the first immigrants from Africa to Minnesota. While they were helped by the generosity of a number of people, they also faced daunting obstacles. Not only did they confront racism but also linguistic and economic hurdles, supporting eight children in a land where they hardly knew anyone. True to Kulsum Bai's and Aboo Bakr's nature, both were not only beloved by their children, but became a source of leadership for their community. Kulsum Bai and Aboo Bakr were true pioneers and will be sorely missed.

Published on July 17, 2016