Dadabhai’s dwelling

Dr Shernaz Cama, director of the UNESCO Parzor Project and Parzor Foundation, is understandably pleased with Dara K. Deboo of Navsari, thanking him in an e-mail "for taking the initiative to buy and protect the Dadabhai Naoroji house” as it will enhance Parzor’s plan to protect the Parsi Vad of Navsari. Cama has been working with Priyanka Gonawala to create a complete conservation plan for the Parsi heritage of Navsari. Gonawala, a conservation expert trained at the School of Planning Architecture where Prof Kavas Kapadia is teacher and expert in urban planning, has created conservation guidelines for the purpose, Cama mentions in her e-mail. Kapadia is a trustee of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman.

When Parsiana contacted Deboo over the telephone to ask about the development, he said he has acquired the property. However, he has not been forthcoming about details of his plans to convert the house, which was slated for demolition by it previous owner, into a museum.

On May 28, 2008, the CNN-IBN website had reported that there was a hue and cry when the previous owner, Prakash Joshi, sold the historic premises to a builder for a paltry nine lakh rupees. Joshi explained that an "acute financial crisis” had compelled him to take the step. The Dadabhai Naoroji Smruti Vyakhyayanmala and even the government had been making attempts to stall the sale, and considering their sentiments Joshi wanted them to buy the house from him, but when no one came forward he sold it off, the website mentions.

At that time the civil authorities were hopeful that the house could be converted into a memorial to the Grand Old Man of India. Perhaps, now that dream will be fulfilled.