Road renamed

A road in Andheri (West) stretching from the M. A. High School to the Telephone Exchange has been renamed Sir Shapoorji Bharucha Marg. Gurudas Kamat, minister for information technology and telecommunications, unveiled the plaque bearing the road’s new name at a function held in Bharucha Baug on June 13, 2009 in the presence of members of the legislative assembly, municipal corporators and other senior municipal officials of the area. Kamat’s wife Maharukh was also present, as per an e-mail received by Parsiana from Bahadur Avari, core committee member of the Bharucha Baug Association (BBA).

The function, organized by the BBA, was attended by Dinshaw Mehta, chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). Other BPP trustees, Arnavaz Mistry and Armaity Tirandaz were also present as were its chief executive officer Mehli Colah and senior executives. Over 100 residents of the Baug and nearby areas had gathered there as well, the write-up mentions.

Above: Gurudas Kamat unveils the pla-que honoring Sir Shapoorji Bharucha; Top: Kamat with dignitaries and Bharucha Baug residents

Mehta presented floral tributes to the minister and other dignitaries present. Kamat said it was his privilege to share in the joy of the Parsi community for the honor accorded to Sir Shapoorji Bharucha. He praised core committee members of the BBA for their efforts to commemorate their benefactor by prevailing on the Bombay Municipal Corporation to rename the road, the write-up reveals.

Sir Shapoorji Bharucha was a financial giant of his time known for his benevolent cosmopolitan philanthropy for which he was knighted by the British. The land on which Bharucha Baug stands was donated to the BPP in his memory by his family. The Baug will celebrate 50 years of its existence in 2010, and the BBA, with the cooperation of the BPP and residents of the centrally located colony is planning to celebrate this landmark event in a big way, the write-up concludes.