Allahabad’s anchor

Died: Capt Homi P. Dandiwalla, 81, trustee-president of the Allahabad Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman (APZA), on October 26, 2008 at his residence in Allahabad following a short illness.

"He devoted all his energies and did the best he could to keep the Anjuman going in spite of the falling population and lack of interest from most of the members,” acknowledged APZA vice president Rustom Gandhi. At a condolence meeting held on November 23, 2008 the Anjuman expressed "its deep gratitude and appreciation for the tremendous service rendered by (him) in the capacity of trustee-president of the APZA for more than 23 years despite his numerous ailments and personal problems. We shall always remain indebted to him.”

Capt Homi Dandi­walla: devoted energiesa

"During his tenure as president Capt Dandiwalla and his wife Shireen attended almost all meetings of the executive council and general body (of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India) to represent the Allahabad Anjuman even though it meant traveling to distant locations,” sometimes having to change trains at junctions, walking up the length of platforms, climbing up and down staircases, despite a permanent deformity which had left a 50 percent disability in both his feet, appreciated Keki Gandhi, joint honorary secretary of the Federation. "Dandiwalla was no passive spectator. He not only voiced his views and observations during the proceedings but also read out detailed reports on the situation in his Anjuman and took copious notes of the proceedings which he read out at the next meeting of his Anjuman. He also recorded the notes in the minutes of the Anjuman meeting and forwarded the same to the Federation secretariat. His presence will be sorely missed at future meetings of the Federation,” added Keki Gandhi.

Dandiwalla had taken up residence in Allahabad after a career in the merchant navy. He was first elected to the office of trustee-president on August 13, 1985 for a period of three years and thereafter continued to be reelected unanimously. At the time of his seventh consecutive reelection as president, Dandiwalla had proudly conveyed that 16 of the 18 members being present at the annual general body meeting of the APZA on March 21, 2004, indicating an 88.88 percent attendance "speaks volumes.” Continuing with his responsibilities at the age of 78 despite physical disabilities he had written (see "Assembling in Allahabad,” Parsiana, June 2004), "I have just completed supervising repairs at the bungli at the APZA aramgah sitting from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day…I am very sure that now the APZA Bazam Hall will also start functioning — it needs extensive repairs and a lot of other work has to be done.” At the executive council meeting of the Federation in Bombay in June 2003, Dandiwalla had commented that with the declining interest rates and escalating expenditures the only way for the Anjuman to avoid deficits was to turn the Bazam Hall into a money-earning asset. At an estimated cost of two lakh rupees, to be raised from generous philanthropists, they hoped to renovate the Hall.

"Only 27 Parsis are left in Allahabad,” Dandiwalla’s report at the Federation meeting was quoted in Parsiana, December 7, 2006. The agewise breakup "is not very encouraging… most are in the senior citizens’ group,” he had regretted. Last year the Allahabad aramgah was renovated to make the grounds more decent and respectable with funds released by All India Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi. Amongst the graves there is that of Feroze Gandhi, husband of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

To sustain the fire at the Jalejar Shapoorji Ghandhi Dar-e-Meher in Allahabad in the absence of a priest has been a struggle for their small anjuman. Thus when the Federation initiated the paramobed project in the 1980s, the Allahabad Anjuman was among the first to engage a behdin trained in priestly duties to attend to the religious needs of the community. When the paramobed was on leave or took ill, ever the dutiful, Dandiwalla would tend the fire.

The conscientious president is survived by his wife Shireen.

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