Readers' Forum
“Ronny’s theme”
The article "Ronny’s theme,” about Rohinton Irani’s Music Academy in Poona (Parsiana, December 21, 2011) turned out to be an unexpected surprise. What a transition within an Irani family from the pursuits of the father to the career of the son!
Rohinton Irani’s father was a sportsman, a legend in a very rugged field of competitive sports. There is very brief reference to him in the article to the effect that Adi Kaikashroo Irani was a weight lifter employed with the Central Railway. That’s a phenomenal understatement for a man who dominated the sport of weight lifting and bodybuilding (now split into two) with his massive physical strength and immense muscular proportions! Essentially it was to his credit that he was able to dominate both fields, and do power-lifting as well at the highest level.
In a letter ("Tribute to Adi Irani,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, March 1981) I had mentioned: "In the Iron Game where bodybuilding and weight lifting are considered different sports, Adi Irani excelled in both. Further, not all weight lifters participate in what is called ‘power-lifting.’ Adi created a Maharashtra state ‘dead lift’ record several years ago. It stands unbroken to this day.”
The best part about this gentle giant was the possession of a very well muscled physique. Even in the USA and elsewhere, there have been very few weight lifting champions who were champion bodybuilders as well.
Two stalwart Zoroastrian bodybuilders in the twilight of their careers (middle age) made a final competitive appearance at The Mr Maharashtra Shree contest in Poona in 1965, at a time when a young Adi Irani made his debut. The former fared very well for their age but the youngster was unbeatable. One of the stalwarts was the great Boman Balsara, the first Mr Bombay title winner, before Maharashtra state had been formed. I had penned a tribute to him in Parsiana in the issue of June 7, 2011. The other was a champion in his own right, Pesi Patrawala, who served the Godrej Group in their security department.
A little humorous digression into the popularity of Adi Irani in Poona will show how well he was known and liked. A generous soul, he would often lend me his two-wheeler to use while I was in Poona. A friend advised me: "If a traffic cop finds that you have parked the vehicle wrongly just say that it is not yours but belongs to Adi Irani. He will smile and let you go.”
RASHID G. KHOSRAVI
Rohinton Irani’s father was a sportsman, a legend in a very rugged field of competitive sports. There is very brief reference to him in the article to the effect that Adi Kaikashroo Irani was a weight lifter employed with the Central Railway. That’s a phenomenal understatement for a man who dominated the sport of weight lifting and bodybuilding (now split into two) with his massive physical strength and immense muscular proportions! Essentially it was to his credit that he was able to dominate both fields, and do power-lifting as well at the highest level.
In a letter ("Tribute to Adi Irani,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, March 1981) I had mentioned: "In the Iron Game where bodybuilding and weight lifting are considered different sports, Adi Irani excelled in both. Further, not all weight lifters participate in what is called ‘power-lifting.’ Adi created a Maharashtra state ‘dead lift’ record several years ago. It stands unbroken to this day.”
The best part about this gentle giant was the possession of a very well muscled physique. Even in the USA and elsewhere, there have been very few weight lifting champions who were champion bodybuilders as well.
Two stalwart Zoroastrian bodybuilders in the twilight of their careers (middle age) made a final competitive appearance at The Mr Maharashtra Shree contest in Poona in 1965, at a time when a young Adi Irani made his debut. The former fared very well for their age but the youngster was unbeatable. One of the stalwarts was the great Boman Balsara, the first Mr Bombay title winner, before Maharashtra state had been formed. I had penned a tribute to him in Parsiana in the issue of June 7, 2011. The other was a champion in his own right, Pesi Patrawala, who served the Godrej Group in their security department.
A little humorous digression into the popularity of Adi Irani in Poona will show how well he was known and liked. A generous soul, he would often lend me his two-wheeler to use while I was in Poona. A friend advised me: "If a traffic cop finds that you have parked the vehicle wrongly just say that it is not yours but belongs to Adi Irani. He will smile and let you go.”
RASHID G. KHOSRAVI
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