Joy at Jamshed Baug

A munificent donation of more than one-and-a-half crore rupees by Hongkong’s Keki Fakirji Jokhi made possible the rebuilding of the 154-year-old Jamshed Baug in Navsari, the chosen venue for innumerable navjotes, weddings, gam­bhars and religious ceremonies, according to a news report.

The inauguration of the newly built Jamshed Baug on January 11, 2004 was done by Jokhi who unveiled the marble inscription as also the portraits of Manijeh and Shapoorji Jokhi. Keki Jokhi referred to the generosity of his elder brother Shapoorji who had donated large sums to Navsari, his birthplace.

The jashan which preceded the inauguration was led by Dastur Meherji Meher­ji­rana of Navsari. Thirty-five priests participated in the jashan in which Ervads Rumi Panthaky and Kersasp Minochehrhomji played a leading role. Zoroastrians from Bombay, Surat and Valsad had come to join their compatriots in Navsari. Prominent among them were Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Dinshaw Tam­boly and his wife Bachi, president of the Surat Parsi Pan­chayat Darius Master, and trustees of the Sir J. J. Trust Fali Sarkari and Hector Mehta.

Trustee of the J. J. Trust as also the BPP, Burjor Antia acknowledged the generosity of Keki Jokhi, commending him for practising the Zoroastrian tenet of finding happiness by making others happy. He further felicitated the livewire of this project Doli Desai, building contractor Cyrus Unwalla and project supervisor Noshir Kasad whose contributions were recognized on the occasion as were the silent services of other volunteers and donors.

Built by Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, first baronet, in 1849, Jamshed Baug was inaugurated in his presence in 1850. It was built as a facility for the residents of Navsari and the neighboring areas. At the inauguration of the new premises his descendant Rustom Jejeebhoy was present who recalled the first baronet’s charitable and philanthropic deeds which resulted in the creation of innumerable educational and medical facilities, fire-temples and halls in India.

Among the new facilities created at Jamshed Baug are seven rooms, two of which are airconditioned, on the first floor. The well furnished rooms with twin beds, a sofa, attached bath and toilet can be booked by individuals or companies for their Parsi staff, mentions the chief executive of the Sir J. J. Charity Fund, Farrokh Rustomji. The rates are Rs 400 for an airconditioned room and Rs 200 for a non-aircondi­tioned room. The manager Nilufer Mandvivala provides boarding facilities too. For further details contact the Bombay office of Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Charity Fund on tel: 22673843, e-mail: sjjpbi @hotmail.com or Mandvivala, tel: 0263-7232525.