Sterling scout

Jal Merwanji Khan who died on May 21, 2001 at the age of 84 was a scout leader in the Dadar Parsi Colony and a tireless promoter of charities and social causes, particularly for the education of Parsi children and youth.

Although he pursued his professional career as sales director of Associated Textiles with much enthusiasm, Khan’s real love was scouting. In 1927 the late Ardeshir Homavazir had founded the 100th Bombay Scouts in Dadar which he joined as one of the first wolf cubs. Very soon he was a scout and later the cubmaster of the pack (with the late Minoo Mehta as the co-cubmaster). They were the leaders of the pack when I joined the cubs in 1936 or 1937. My first vivid recollection is the camp that winter at Hubli. Having never left my home as a six-year-old I was unhappy for the first two days but was even more unhappy the last day of the camp when it was time to go home. This reversal was entirely due to Khan’s talent for understanding young boys and I was not the only one to feel that way. It was for me the beginning of a truly valuable friendship for the rest of his life. Besides the Sunday cub and scout meetings, I looked forward to meeting Khan at his home or on long walks (often to Antop Hill) when he would talk to or instruct me on just on any topic one cares to think of.

Cub mates Perin and Jal Khan

In the early 1940s he met Perin Cawasji Mistry who was soon persuaded to join Jal as the cubmistress. The five years of this joint venture between 1942-47 could be considered a courting period before they were married in 1947. The couple pursued their cubbing and scouting activities with great vigor and enthusiasm for another 40 years. Not having children of their own it effectively filled a big gap in their life together. Upon Jal’s retirement they were able to devote even more time to training and entertaining the youngsters. In his later years, with failing health and Perin’s diminishing eyesight, it was most touching to see Jal and Perin having 20 or so boys "camping” in their Dadar flat with Jal doing most of the cooking as well. This was true love for the cubbing movement.

Retirement also meant that Jal could continue his social work activities of helping and administering Parsi charities with even greater zeal. He was for several years until his death honorary treasurer of the Mancherji Joshi Memorial Education Fund, actively soliciting funds and being largely responsible for the Fund’s present healthy financial position. Thanks to his efforts countless Parsi boys and girls from needy families were ensured proper schooling and some were even financially helped with higher education and professional training. He would personally get to know every recipient of this aid and often invited them for a meal at his flat. Besides building up the Education Fund substantially, Jal was also an active member of management committees of The Parsi Central Association Cooperative Housing Society and The J. N. Petit Reading Room and Library in Dadar.

Jal and Perin were well known to many residents of the Dadar Parsi Colony. Partly because of Perin’s poor eyesight, Jal would dutifully accompany her to the Wadala bazaar daily and for evening walks around the Five Gardens when so many of their acquaintances would stop to chat with them. Invariably, one would be infected with their cheerfulness and interest in the welfare of others but with never a complaint about their own health problems or any difficulties at home or elsewhere. What a wonderful way to set an example to us all! Around the time of their golden wedding anniversary in 1997 they were among the select four couples whose life was documented by a television station in Bombay.

Jal’s sense of duty, responsibility, concern for others and ready willingness to help under any circumstances were exemplary.

Nothing very unusual is known about Jal’s early childhood and teenage years, except that he attended the Sir J. J. Fort Boys’ High School in Bombay as a free student and went to St Xavier’s College after matriculation. He repaid his college fees and a loan from his earnings from a part-time job as a clerk. At college he was an active member of the University Training Corps and a keen sportsman, being the university champion for the 10,000 m walk. Following his BSc degree he obtained the qualification of BSc (Tech) in textile chemistry which enabled him to secure a job with I.C.I. India Ltd, a post he held for only a brief period before joining Associated Textile Engineers. After spe­cialized training in Germany and the UK, Jal was appointed sales director which assured future financial stability.

Those of us who were privileged to have Jal as both a leader and a true friend feel enormously enriched.

Dr JAMSHED R. TATA

London, UK