"A rebel with..."

The reminiscences about his mother, Bapsey, by Jehangir Sabavala ("A rebel with many causes,” Parsiana, March 2004) hearken to an era when Parsis displayed strong individuality. My wife, Ratty (then Daruvala), vividly recalls the fund-raising event organized by Sabavala at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay for the benefit of the Animal Welfare Association. Being active even then as a dog-lover, she was there to lend a hand with her two Shetland Sheep­dogs, Boko and Nella. One held in its mouth the souvenir for sale, while the other held a basket to collect the proceeds. The dogs’ appealing looks helped, no doubt, to enhance the collec­tion.

Sabavala was there with her big, fat, pink and pretty pet pig, with an enormous green bow around its neck to more than match the wearer’s ample dimensions. The horse that climbed up the granite stairs of the Taj Mahal Hotel was Ataturk, a gorgeous white steed, with its owner, the late Jimmy Bharucha astride.

Ratty also recalls that Sabavala took her dolls (the rotund ones Jehangir talks of) so seriously that she would even send them off to stay for a few days with her friends, much as one would send one’s child. On one such occasion, Sabavala phoned to enquire the following morning how her doll was doing, and was aghast when she was told that the doll had been locked up in a cupboard, which was the host’s way of keeping it from harm’s way!

PHIROZE B. JAVERI

Sabavala: a compassionate person

Jehangir Sabavala’s tribute to his mother ("A rebel with many causes,” Parsiana, March 2004) has prompted me to write about this lady whom I had the pleasure of knowing, as we both were on the committee of the all-India Animal Welfare Association. Saba­vala joined this committee only after she became vegetarian — till then she had refused to do so. Behind her brusque exterior, she was essentially a kind and compassionate human being. There was nothing mean or petty about her and all of us admired her, though some were secretly afraid of her.

I loved her and often remember her and the other stalwarts like Freny H. Wadia, her sister Jenny F. Khambatta and Mehra D. Malegamwalla, who worked unselfishly for the cause of waifs and strays of our city. Sometimes Sabavala could not wear shoes due to the swelling on her feet so she would descend on us, in sapats. But that did not deter her from working hard for the cause of animals. I believe, when an old retainer (gardener) was ill and in the Tata Hospital, Sabavala would go, with nouris­hments twice a day to Parel. Wish there were more such unselfish people, who thought of others and worked for causes, instead of wasting money on lavish style navjotes/weddings.

NERGISH K. PLUMBER