“Valsad agiary celebrations”

The renovated Seth Navroji Jehangirji Gamadia Dare Meher, Valsad ("Valsad agiary celebrations,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, March 7, 2007), was served by my father, the late Ervad Sorabji Rustomji Sanjana for 60 years until his death on July 25, 2002 at the age of 92.

The climate of Valsad being good, many retired persons chose to settle there. In 1819 AC Ervad Jamshed Bhaiji built a dare meher at his own cost at Nana Parsivad, Valsad where he served with faith. Many years later the dare meher was rebuilt by Ervad Hormazji B. Chinoy. In 1847 AC Khurshedji and Jehangirji Hormazji Chinoy renovated the building. In 1741 the Iranshah Atash Padshah had come to this dare meher before shifting to Udvada in 1742.

Er Sorabji Sanjana: sterling service

Many years later Navroji Jehangirji Gamadia, a landlord from Bombay, purchased a new plot nearby and under his supervision the Navroji J. Gamadia Dare Meher was built. After Ervads Phirojji Pestonji and his son Khurshedji, my grandfather, Ervad Rustomji Burjorji San­jana, was brought from Quetta and appointed panthaky. He had performed the navjote ceremony of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. In July 1943, on the death of Rustomji, Sorabji step­ped into his father’s shoes.

My father was born in Quetta on March 24, 1911. His education began at Zoroastrian Primary School, Quetta and he passed his matriculation in 1928 from Bai Avabai High School, Valsad, where the late Lt Gen Adi Sethna, president of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman had studied. My father was a social worker who served people of all castes and creeds.

He always maintained: "If you bow to the Almighty Lord, Ahura Mazda will help and guide you.”

ALOO ADI DRIVER

Valsad