N. M. Wadia books

To commemorate the centenary of the N. M. Wadia Charities the trust has published the All-India Directory of Parsi Institutions compiled by community historian Marzban J. Giara. The 284-page book contains around 500 listings of fire temples, anjumans, associations, clubs, schools, colleges, libraries, dharamshalas, hospitals, etc.

"A book giving such details was published in the year 1911 by Shams-Ul-Ulema Ervad (Dr) Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Mody, containing a list of trusts and institutions of those times, most of which do not exist today. Therefore, the trustees felt the need to publish a directory giving up-to-date information regarding all such institutions which can serve as a handy reference book,” stated Wadia trust chairman Burjor Antia in the Directory’s foreword.

Terming the Directory "a comprehensive guide,” in the volume’s introduction, compiler Giara states, "This directory will increase the awareness of facilities, opportunities and resources available to the community. This in turn would result in better utilization of these community resources. It will also serve as a guide to philanthropists, big and small, who wish to contribute generously to causes dear to them.”

The Directory, released on May 2, 2010 on the occasion of the 147th salgireh of the Motlibai Wadia Adaran in Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari, is available for sale at Rs 200 from N. M. Wadia Charities, N. M. Wadia Building, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Bombay 400001. Tel: +91 22 22674271, email: nmwadiacharities@gmail.com

In October 2009 the trust published the book N. M. Wadia and His Foundation: The Next Fifty Years 1959-2009 authored by Giara. The 56-page history of the trust with color photographs was released on October 30 by industrialist Darius Forbes of Poona (see "How charity works,” Parsiana, December 7, 2009).

(L to R, above) At the Directory’s release function: Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla with author Marzban Giara; (alongside) trustees of the N. M. Wadia Charities Khushru Panthaky and Homi Talati

"It has been a remarkable journey for N. M. Wadia Charities as very few trusts have a track record of unbroken financial assistance to the downtrodden and economically disadvantaged members of our society,” noted Antia in the book’s foreword.

In 1961 on the occasion of the trust’s golden jubilee a book titled N. M. Wadia and his Foundation was authored by Sir Rustom Masani, a trustee of the charities. "This book has been reprinted by the trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) in 2004. As a part of the centenary celebrations, the trustees requested me to chronicle the epochs and noble work of N. M. Wadia Foundation from 1959 to 2000,” noted Giara in the book’s preface.

"The office records are replete with numerous scholarships, grants and aid given to individuals and institutions for medical, education, poverty relief, navjotes, weddings, funeral expenses, relief from natural calamities, handicapped and disabled and welfare activities.

"Over the decades the trustees have not only nurtured and administered judiciously as per the founder’s directives but they have also increased the corpus of the trust,” states the author.

Born on May 22, 1837 Nowrojee Maneckjee Wadia was the eldest son of Motlibai and Maneckjee Nowrojee. His father died when Nowrojee was a year old and his younger brother Nusser­wanjee was born after his father’s death. At the age of 20 both brothers "started trading on a grand scale in the name of M/s Jehangirji Wadia and Sons.” They amassed a fortune. Nowrojee was active in the Parsee Girls’ Schools Association amongst other social organizations. In his will he bequeathed over 1,00,00,000 rupees (around US $ 2,20,000) and directed the funds be used "to perform cosmopolitan charities,” notes Giara. The four trusts associated to the N. M. Wadia Charities are Bai Motlibai Wadia Udwada Atash Behram Trust, Bai Motlibai Wadia Baj Rojgar Trust, Bai Motlibai Wadia Charitable Trust, Seth Jehangirjee N. Wadia Daremeher — Dharamsala Trust, Gopipura, Surat.