J. J. College relocates

With major repairs to their premises under way, the Sir J. J. College of Commerce moved on November 30, 2007, Tir mah, Tir roz, to the freshly painted first floor of the Parsi Lying-In Hospital in Bombay managed by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). Cutting the ceremonial ribbon in the presence of fellow trustees Dinshaw Mehta and Dadi Engineer, BPP officials, staff, students and guests, BPP chairman Minoo Shroff complimented principal Homai Mehta on "doing a great job, transforming the place.” Also present on the occasion was Padma Shri Dr Burjor Dastur, the ramrod straight nonagenarian chairman of the managing committee of the Hospital who continues to visit his consulting rooms every afternoon and whose opinion is still valued and sought by practitioners in the field of gynecology. Staff members of the Hospital were represented too.

Though the J. J. College Trust is autonomous, the College functions under the umbrella of the BPP. The building in which it was housed earlier (also owned by the BPP) is over a 100 years old and in urgent need of repairs. The place was on props and it was difficult to work there for fear that it would collapse at any time, so Mehta asked the BPP to move them out of the endangered structure. Mehta revealed to Parsiana that it took over two years of searching and negotiations before the present site became a reality.

Minoo Shroff cutting ribbon as (from left) Homai Mehta, Dr Burjor Dastur, Mehlli Colah, Dinshaw Mehta look on; (Below): management and staff of Sir J. J. College of Commerce

As of now, the admission process is on for the new term which is expected to commence in January. A smaller inflow of students is expected since the space available is limited. "There are more bathrooms than classrooms!” Mehta observed, stating that as the College will be located in the Hospital premises only until the former building is repaired and not on a permanent basis there is no point in using limited funds to make expensive alterations. The computer laboratory is already in place. Since the College is virtually between the two sites, no classes are being held yet. But activities have not stopped, Mehta revealed. The current modus operandi, she informed Parsiana, is for the College to conduct training programs and workshops at the clients’ premises. Also, recruitment remains an ongoing activity.

Mehta recounts that the College — with which she has been associated for 35 years and has been principal since 1989 — celebrated 50 years of existence in 2004, with a grand golden jubilee function.