Putting it together

"No second person can help you in this delicate work,” says Tehmi Ghadialy, reiterating that all the restoration work needs to be undertaken single-handedly. "You can get complete satisfaction and the desired result only if you handle a shattered piece from A to Z.”

Have her clients always been happy with the piece restored? "No client has complained so far,” says Ghadialy, "and I am confident they will never have reason or occasion to do so. I will not take on a job if I feel it cannot be done. For example, clear glass cannot be restored without the joint lines showing.” The colors, glue, alloys and other materials needed to repair broken porcelain are sourced mainly from India. "Relying on imported stuff can be problematic if supplies run out,” she explains her logic.

The charge for each assignment varies "according to the work involved, not on the value of the object or the worth of the client,” says Ghadialy. "I made some mistakes earlier when I gave an estimate right away. Wiser with experience, I now make a study of the work and then give a quote.”

Antique vases, jars, statues and plates are known to be treasured by Parsi families and there are homes filled with priceless Satsuma and Celadon, where dinner table conversation revolves around Lladro and Lalique. But as Ghadialy explains, "While Parsis have the quality stuff, Marwaris and Sindhis have more in terms of quantity. Theirs is also more recently acquired.”

She has been involved with the restoration of antiques and porcelain only in the last three years. "It all started years ago with my father, Dady Ghadialy,” says Tehmi. "As his last name tells you, he was from a family of watch repairers. But he could repair anything that came his way. When his friends broke some thing, be it a watch, a vase or a wall plate and no one else could repair it, the most logical thing to do was ‘Ask Dady to fix it!’ And fix it he did. He was a wizard with his fingers.” There is the story of a man who gave his wife a priceless Japanese vase as an anniversary gift, while they were on a visit to Japan. On their way back it broke. The vase was shattered into 175 pieces. Without a clue about its shape or size, Ghadialy restored the vase to its original beauty, much to the joy of its owners.

Over a period of time, Dady began to specialize in restoring only porcelain, pottery, ivory, jade and marble. "Antique shops and art collectors, all know my father,” says Ghadialy with filial pride. But now, at age 90+ his eyes have dimmed and his fingers have lost their dexterity. Since his loyal, long time customers would not take a "No” from Dady, Ghadialy started restoration work under her dad’s supervision. "That is how I stepped into my dad’s shoes. And now he grudgingly concedes ‘You have done a better job than me,’” says Ghadialy, with a twinkle in her eyes.

Tehmi Ghadialy (top) and (above) damaged porcelain pieces restored by her

Before she got into the restoration business, Ghadialy was a teacher of English. "More specifically, a teacher of English to the Japanese community in Bombay. It started as private tuitions to Japanese friends and acquaintances. Then in 1990, I joined the Bombay Japanese School. You will be surprised at the number of Japanese nationals working in Bombay in the banks, trading companies and the electronic industry. Their children come to the Japanese School in Bombay.” In addition to English, Hindi and Gujarati, Tehmi is fluent in Japanese having visited the country 10 times.

While we digest this bit of ‘sushi’ Ghadialy mentions in passing that she was a stewardess with Indian Airlines from 1968 to 1988, retiring as deputy chief air hostess. She values the letters of appreciation she has received, commending her dedication to duty in times of airline strikes and other out of the ordinary situations. She was privileged to operate on VVIP flights for Prime Minister Morarji Desai, Prince Naruhito of Japan and the Prime Minister of Guyana. On retirement from Indian Airlines, Ghadialy was offered the job of chief instructor in Hyderabad but for personal reasons she could not leave Bombay.

Ghadialy then enrolled as a Government of India tourist guide, a job she does to this day with great enjoyment and enthusiasm.

"Teaching is my bread and butter,” says Ghadialy pragmatically. "Tourist work is seasonal. There are months with nothing to do. Restoration just came my way and, being artistically inclined, I am enjoying it… I am a workaholic and am happiest when I am busy doing things I like. I get depressed if I am idle.”

As a very young girl, she learnt ballet and the piano. Later she took up the violin and accordion. Ghadialy hands us a CD of songs cut by her. Titled Evergreens it has the best of songs from the ’50s and ’60s — Strangers In The Night, Sway, Besame Mucho and much, much more. All beautifully sung and making one want to dance! A poem of hers won the International Society of Poets Merit Award in 1995. She went to the USA to personally receive the award.

Happy to be a restorer, to meet new people and to take up new challenges, she would rather collect hearts than antiques, believing "To have a friend, be a friend.”

When we talk about religion, Ghadialy affirms she is a Zoroastrian believer, feels deeply about the religion and visits Udvada often. "Every step of my life, I feel someone is watching over me,” she says quietly. "Dad often admonishes ‘I don’t like you going out alone’ and I tell him ‘Dad, I am not alone. Zarthusht Sahib is always with me.’”

Diehard traditionalists and their attitudes make Ghadialy angry. "Some Parsis want to treat the Zoroastrian reli­­gion as a personal possession! Some things that are age-old, blessed and beautiful as the teachings of Zara­thushtra belong to the world and must be shared.”

Wondering whether we will be able to summarize her multifaceted life, the congenial lady suggests: "Tehmi Gha­dialy, Parsi by birth, Japanese through connections, European in manners, Indian by passport and a global citizen by choice.”

Those wishing to restore their priceless treasures can contact Ghadialy on tel no: 22002026, mobile: 9820334667 or e-mail: tehmi_jr@mtnl.net.in