Honoring Dadar’s greats

At the entrance to the Dadar Parsi Colony stands the statue of its founder, Mancherji Edalji Joshi whose foresight and vision created the verdant colony nearly 80 years ago which houses so many Parsis today. In a fitting tribute to this great man, a chowk at the entrance was named "Mancherji E. Joshi Chowk” on December 20, 2008, Mithoo Jesia, resident and trustee of the Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust informed Parsiana in a write-up brought to the office by Aspi Vasania, also a trustee.

Another chowk, at the junction of Jame Jamshed Road and Khareghat Road, was dedicated by the Trust to the memory of late Bapaimai Faramroze Dalal. Jesia states that Dalal was a social worker and religious scholar. "The lady with the helping hand” was best known as the pioneer of the "one anna fund” which even today extends help to scores of the under privileged in the community. The "Bai Bapaimai F. Dalal Chowk” will remain a lasting tribute to this fine philanthropist.

Jesia writes that the Trust, under whose auspices the two chowks were named, is sincerely thankful to deputy municipal commissioner Suhas Kar­vande, municipal councilor F north ward Ragunath Thawai, former municipal councilor Govardhan Chauhan and senior police inspector Sunil Deshmukh for their substantial support and assistance in helping the Colony’s nearly 10,000 residents realize their dream of installing the chowks in memory of these community stalwarts.