Mehernosh Shroff, Knight

Sir Mehernosh Shroff has been made a Knight of The Order of Royal Honor of Spain, headed by the King of that country, and has also been made a Royal Chancellor for his humanitarian and fund raising activities. In an e-mail sent to Parsiana, the newly minted knight outlines his wish list thus: "I have a dream to build centers and villages for the mentally infirm and to look after them for the rest of their lives and ensure they lead a meaningful life and are gainfully employed.” His various appeals to raise funds for the mentally infirm, autistic and Down’s syndrome children in various schools, especially the S. P. Sadhana School, have brought in substantial funds, he acknowledges.

A scanned notarized document in Spanish attached to the e-mail lists his achievements, the reasons why he was awarded this honor, and letters of privilege. A chief engineer and fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineers, Shroff is a master mariner. A self-made man, the owner of Seaworthy Shipping Services has small ships and tugs, and is chairman and managing director of Growmor (India) Private Limited. Shroff is involved with various causes "to give pride and dignity” to mentally challenged children, to the physically challenged, both children and adults, to aged persons, and to ensure marine and environment safety through "Ahimsa Warship of Peace and Protection,” the e-mail mentions. Among his other involvements is being ambassador for Acorn Art (art produced by mentally different and challenged children and adults; by physically infirm and challenged children and adults; and by aged senior citizens).

Sir Mehernosh Shroff: championing causes

The activist’s most recent involvement is with Hollywood actor and singer Nicholas Snow whose HIV AIDS and safe sex + HIV Testing Anthem will be sung in all Indian languages. Snow had sent Shroff the song "Power to be Strong” on Face­book with Hindi subtitles. Shroff responded that Snow’s target audience could neither read nor write, but they could hear and it would make good sense to have the song sung in Hindi and other Indian languages. The collaborators are in the process of approaching private and government trusts to fulfill this mission. Shroff is also looking for volunteers who can work with him on this. Many innocent young girls from the lower middle class are dying because they have married HIV+ men who have hidden their condition. One very young girl known to Shroff died within months of her marriage. This upset him so much that he decided to do something to remedy the situation.

Shroff may be contacted by e-mail at seaworthy@vsnl.com and on the mobile at +91 9322403761.