The elegant educationist

Died: Dr Khorshed Dinshah Madon, 87, principal of Davar’s College of Commerce and author of several publications, on March 13, 2005 in Bombay following complications caused by diabetes.

"The world of education has lost one of its founding pillars and a leading light. Her contribution to vocational education has been pioneering and most sustained. She has left a rich legacy in the form of Davar’s institute…” ack­now­ledged former sheriff Bakul Patel cherishing memories of their "genial, warm and sincere friendship.”

On the occasion of the centenary of the Davar’s College of Commerce, Ban­king, Computers, Secretarial and Language Studies (First Counter) five years ago Madon happily related to Parsiana (see "Dedication at Davar’s,” November 2000) how her father Prof Sohrab Davar had pioneered commerce education in India. After the passing away of her father in 1949 until 1985 she functioned as joint principal with her twin brothers Rustom and Nanabhoy. When they opted to set up separate divisions under their respective control Madon became principal of the first counter with daughter Deena Thacker helping out as vice principal. As the demand for their courses grew, the versatile ladies set up a branch in Vashi and two in Goa. Thacker marveled at her mother’s "tremendous staying capacity, a coping capacity…to work…with never a complaint. If the air-conditioning is not working, even if the lights and fans go off and everybody is complaining she (could) calmly conduct a seminar or training program…”

Madon: mentor and matriarch

Innumerable were the in-company training programs in business communication, socialization, personality development, time management, public relations, etc that she conducted for reputed companies. In fact on January 29 this year when she was incapacitated by a paralytic stroke she was scheduled to conduct a full day session at the Department of Atomic Energy. In the following months as her health deteriorated with the paralysis aggravated by her diabetic condition, the doctors were considering suspending the life support systems onto which she was hooked but the mentally alert Madon indicated that she did not believe in euthanasia. She even wanted to be read Kiran Bedi’s book, I dare. When her neurologist Dr M. A. Khan observed his patient’s filial commitment to make a success of Davar’s College he remarked, "What a father’s daughter!”

"She was a picture of dignity,” sum­med up solicitor-general of India Goolam Vahanvati. To her goes the credit of introducing the first grooming and personality development course now called "Elegance – Davar’s Finishing School.” Describing Madon as "elegance and grace personified,” one of her past students Priya Dasilva re­cal­led, "She was always modestly dressed and extremely well groomed. Her dressing was absolutely ‘no frills!’ Her voice was always soft but convincing.” After marriage she was invariably attired in a sari worn Parsi style although in her heyday she was considered the toast of the city with her impeccable taste and western outfits.

"She was like an elder sister to all the staff and students at Davar’s. She gave so much love and real care to all…How can we ever forget her courage and sincerity of purpose?” wrote Prof Meher Master-Moos in her condolence letter. Moti Antia-Irani who was Madon’s personal secretary had conveyed, "She is like a mother to all…She has her own special way of dealing with problems. From peons to higher-ups she will never utter a harsh word to anyone. If she is very annoyed she will at most say, ‘Aré soo (what is this)? Don’t you think this is not right?’” She ensured that slow learners and disabled students got the necessary encouragement and those with financial difficulties were given free coaching, notes her profile.

Madon’s quest for knowledge and the ability to impart the same to her students never ceased. She had studied at the Cathedral and John Connon School, the Government Law College and the London School of Economics. She earned a PhD from the Bombay University and qualified as an advocate of the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court of India. Her late husband Dinshah was chief justice of the Bombay High Court and was subsequently promoted to the Supreme Court. At the Cathedral School she is known to have started the commerce division and even taught there. She was honorary lecturer in comparative company law for the LLM classes at the postgraduate department of the Bombay University and a member of the ad hoc committee for management studies at the University for several years. Madon was also former examiner and paper setter in business law for The Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Many are the books she had authored, co-authored or edited on law, office administration and management.

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of England and of the Institute of Directors of England, Madon had served as chairman of the board of studies in business law of the All India Management Association and of the Bombay chapter of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators of England, notes her life profile.

The committed educationist is survived by her daughters Deena Shardul Thacker and Dr Homai McDowell, and son Dinyar.