Godiwalla, the gourmand

Died: Neville Rohinton Godiwalla, 41, popular, large-hearted caterer, on May 18, 2001 in Bombay following cardiac arrest.

Although intimation of Godiwalla’s death could not be carried in the next day’s morning newspapers, there was such a large turnout of mourners at his paidust at Doongerwadi that it took nearly an hour for sezdo (filing in procession to pay one’s last respects to the dead) before his face could be covered, recall his associates. The uthamna prayers for the deceased were conducted in two places: in Bombay as also at Udvada where Godi­walla had spent many days towards the end of his life while he was in charge of the Globe Hotel initially and the Majestic Hotel latterly.

Gregarious Godiwalla

As business expanded so did his physical proportions but his genial smile and childlike innocence remained ever the same. "Despite the huge challenge obesity posed to him, he never allowed his creativity, wit or the passion to take on new challenges, dim,” acknowledged his friend and neighbor Noshir Dadra­wala in the Jam-e-Jamshed of June 3, 2001. "Neville was also very generous. Perhaps generous to a fault. Whatever he gave and to whosoever he gave, it was always with humility, grace and silence. God had blessed him with considerable wealth and he had the wisdom to use it for the weal of others,” added Dadrawala. Helping students with their school or college fees, financially supporting some khandhias at Bombay’s Doongerwadi, performing navjotes for children from poor Zoroastrian families, innumerable are the instances cited of aid extended by Godiwalla. Known to be "affable, loyal, loving and trusting,” Dadrawala wrote, "God alone knows how many people took advantage of that last trait.”

When Zoroastrian institutions were celebrating their jubilees or annual days, it was often Neville Godiwalla who was entrusted the catering. When the World Zoroastrian Organisation was organizing its different functions, the highlight of the evening was often Godiwalla’s repast. For gaham­bars and jashans frequently it was Godiwalla who was expected to tickle the diner’s palate. For those who could afford he would charge his full rates but many were the beneficiaries of his subsidized catering.

His values in life he had imbibed from his late parents, Freny and Rohinton, who had handed over the reins of the catering business to the children hoping they would be able to garnish it with fresh spices. After his schooling at Antonio D’Silva High School, Neville involved himself in his parents’ catering business. "To serve saas ni machhi and pulao dal you don’t need professional training,” Neville had maintained when Parsiana had spoken to him for information on his late mother (see "The queen of caterers,” Parsiana, June 1998). Following their mother’s demise, Neville and sister Tanaz (other sister Roxanne had opted to settle in France) worked together to promote the Godiwalla banner. But their different styles of functioning soon forced them to operate independently.

Beginning 1999 Neville tried to infuse a fresh lease of life at the Globe Hotel in Udvada. The ambitious Neville then concurrently took on the management of Hotel Majestic as well. Until his demise he continued with the Majestic although he had severed his ties with Globe by then.

"Gregarious and fun loving, his zest for life was infectious...He was happiest when surrounded by his vast circle of friends,” observed Meher Heroyce Moos in the Afternoon Despatch and Courier of May 19, 2001. Since it became impossible to accommodate his large frame in auditoriums and cinema houses, his entertainment was restricted to socializing, inviting his friends over to his house for meals before which he would be happily preoccupied in the kitchen experimenting with new delicacies. "He loved to eat and to make others eat,” reveals a family member. His passion for the theater saw him enact the occasional role in the late thespian Pearl Padamsee’s plays in his younger days. For a while he also taught drama to children, mentions a family source. His artistic aptitude found an expression in some beautiful glass bead creations.

Small dogs were always a favorite with the Godiwalla family. In fact, Neville’s constant companion, pet dog Fifi, who would accompany him on all his sojourns whether to Udvada or to the baugs when he was supervising the catering assignments, predeceased him barely two months earlier.

The generous caterer is survived by his sisters Roxanne Francis Ledru and Tanaz.

P. M. G.