“Mhow’s messiah”

Died: Dr Behram Manekshaw Masani, 87, an authority on Cantonment Laws and former president of the Mhow Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman, on June 29, 2010 at Bombay’s B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital following lung complications.

Just before Masani’s demise a special jashan was convened in June at the Mhow agiary praying for the recovery of the erstwhile president and secretary of the Anjuman. Subsequently, on behalf of the Anjuman, a specially penned appreciation commended: "He was amongst the most respected members of our community and legal faculty, even amongst the general public of Mhow and Indore… Many of us may not be even aware of the number of times Behram has attended the Civil Courts, SDM (sub divisional magistrate) and Tehsil offices and the Collectorate in Anjuman matters, without any fanfare or publicity, and has more often than not, paid stamp duties and other court expenses out of his own pocket, without a murmur. One thing he did not know how, and rarely remembered, was to submit a bill for professional services rendered, especially if it was a Zoroastrian client… He has helped numerous people with their legal matters such as drafting of will, property documents, etc…”

Dr Behram Masani: "pillar of strength for the community”

Since the 1960s he is known to have written in his "moti-naa-daana (pearl-like)” handwriting the account books of the Anjuman in Gujarati saving the association considerable expenses which would have otherwise been borne on salaries of accountants.

In honor of their "erstwhile president and working trustee …who had served the Anjuman so well for over half a century,” a condolence meeting was convened at the Dotiwalla Hall on July 18. Considering him a "pillar of strength for the Parsi community and Mhow folks,” Mhow resident Dina Appoo’s tribute stated, "We feel as though we have become orphans.”

Impressed by his "sagacity and deep knowledge of law that he possessed,” Darayas Master, president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat, noted in his condolence letter, "His presence at the meetings of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India was an asset to all concerned and his learned opinions were valued by all of us. I was personally moved by the thought and care that he had for the poor Parsis of village Elav for whom he was a benefactor.”

To Eruch Desai, senior partner of Mulla and Mulla and Craigie Blunt and Caroe, and former president of the Federation, Masani was "one of the nicest men and a perfect gentleman that I have met. His sterling qualities were also noticeable when he attended the meetings of the Federation…”

According to a senior lawyer, Masani’s knowledge about Cantonment Laws was the most comprehensive in India. In fact he graduated in law at the age of 48 and took up the legal profession thereafter practicing in the district and High Courts in Mhow and Indore. When looking after the in-laws’ ‘abkari’ business (that started with providing liquor to the British rulers) there were innumerable litigations for which he had to do the spadework. That experience and exposure gave him the confidence to earn a law degree and represent the family himself rather than engage lawyers, recalls his daughter Pervin Jehangir. The workaholic had completed his MA in economics and philosophy and even chose to do his PhD in paranormal psychology.

Former principal of the R. C. Jall Law College in Mhow, Masani’s selfless service was recalled by its present principal Sangeeta Sharma in her condolence message in Hindi. Condolence resolutions in Hindi were also received from the Bar Association, Mhow and the Asha Kala Kendra, an institute for the empowerment of women in the city which regarded him, his late wife Dolly and the family as their benefactors. Masani’s death was widely reported in the media in Mhow, both in Hindi and in English, with the weekly Priya Pathak of July 3 commenting that he was "Mhow’s messiah.”

The oldest member of the Rotary Club of Mhow, he had been "actively involved with the Club activities” since 1959, having served as its president and been a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship for his contribution to the Rotary Foundation. "(A) simple, humble, soft-spoken, learned man, (he was) a true Rotarian,” summed up Rishiraj Sharma, president of the Rotary Club. He was equally involved in the working of the Indian Red Cross Society as its managing committee member and vice president and their condolence letter in Hindi referred to his inspiring life and service to mankind.

Born in Bombay, Masani’s early education was at St Xavier’s School after which he went to Elphinstone College. He worked for the Imperial Bank of India (now State Bank of India) at its branches in Bombay, Surat and Karachi before he settled in Mhow subsequent to his marriage to Dolly Illava in 1950. His early exposure to Anjuman work was at the hands of his father-in-law Khan Bahadur Byramshaw Illava, Khan Bahadur Behramji Bhaya, Khan Saheb Rustomji Patel and Rustomji Cowasji Jall. During his 60 years of association with the Anjuman he served on the managing committee for 40 years, as its secretary for almost 12 years and its president for two terms.

"Being more of an intellectual, rather than pray for hours he would prefer reading religious texts. His work was his prayer,” sums up Jehangir. With his traditional leanings, dakhmenashini was considered the preferred mode of disposing the dead. He would look at different issues from an analytical and legal perspective rather than an emotional standpoint.

As noted the tribute commending his devotion to the Anjuman, "The remaining trustees often find themselves at a loss… A strong, silent and reticent man of few words, he had the inherent capacity of listening to and absorbing criticism, right or wrong, without trying to explain his point of view…”

The silent stalwart is survived by his daughter Pervin Jehangir.