Enhancing education

"In the last three-and-a-half years we have been in the happy position of having inaugurated three new school buildings in Valsad, Navsari and Surat,” announced Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, Eighth Baronet at the inauguration function of the Shapoorji Fakirji Jokhi Building for the Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy High School at Dandi Road, Navsari. The new building was declared open on January 26, 2012 by Hong Kong based philanthropist Keki Fakirji Jokhi who had provided the wherewithal for the project, notes Marzban Giara in a write-up sent to Parsiana.

On their arrival Jokhi and his wife Javer were given a traditional welcome at the entrance. To the strains of the school band, the standard-bearers marched ahead of the guests carrying aloft the school flag and the flags of its four hou­ses, namely Nao­roji, Wadia, Petit and Tata. Students lining both sides of the driveway from the main gate to the school building cheered the guests.

A jashan ceremony led by Dastur Kaikhushroo Navroze Dastoor Meherji­rana, performed on the premises, was attended by members of the Jokhi family, Sir Jamsetjee and his wife Lady Delara, trustees of the Sir J. J. Parsee Benevolent Institution and prominent Parsis of Navsari. The write-up mentions that after the ceremony a bronze statue of the founder, Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, First Baronet, was garlanded by Javer Jokhi while her husband unveiled a marble plaque.

After Meherjirana had invoked the blessings of Ahura Mazda on the new School building, Tanaz Patrawala, the principal said, "This beautiful and wonderful building is the result of coordinated work” amongst the donor Keki Jokhi, architects and government officials. In his tribute to the founder, the current Sir Jamsetjee marveled, "It is absolutely incredible that in spite of his own modest beginnings and lack of formal education, Sir Jamsetjee had the foresight and vision to establish a trust which manages several schools in Bombay, Valsad, Navsari and Surat, and caters to the intellectual requirements of more than 5,000 boys and girls. What Sir Jamsetjee conceived was not an impulsive benevolence which breeds dependence amongst its beneficiaries. On the contrary, there is scarcely a better example of thoughtfulness and benevolence, so nobly blended, to lift successive generations of students to a higher plane of knowledge and self-reliance,” the write-up quotes him.

Acknowledging Jokhi’s magnanimity, Sir Jamsetjee said, "Today we bear witness to the culmination of an endeavor whose seed was sown 11 years ago. For us trustees it is a day of hope and optimism. ...Thanks entirely to the largesse of Mr Jokhi, we have given life and meaning to a brand new creation. The significance of today’s occasion extends well beyond the inauguration of this School building. Our anticipation of what this School will achieve for its students, and in time what our students go forth and accomplish for this School, is unquestionably the more important dimension.”

Top row, from l: Lady Delara and Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy listen to Dastur Meherjirana; Javer and Keki Jokhi with Sir Jamsetjee, holding sketch of building. Second row, from l: Rajeev Garg shakes hands with Dr Jehangir B. Mistry; Daryes, Rustom, Javer, Keki and Roxy Jokhi

Sir Jamsetjee informed those present that "this is not the first time that Mr Jokhi has come forward to help our various establishments in Navsari. In 1995, he bore the cost of constructing a new school building for the Sett R. J. J. High School (and)... in 2004 (that of)... Jamshed Baug. He also donated handsomely towards the refurbishment of our Lady Avabai Jejee­bhoy Agiary at Male­sar in Navsari. We believe that without (his) involvement we cannot succeed, and with (his) involvement we cannot fail.” He ended his speech "with hope and faith that this School will continue to march ahead in its quest to stimulate, motivate and edu­-cate generations of youth in the unfolding future.”

The Jokhis were presented a shawl and a sketch of the new School building. Keki Jokhi informed those present, "This year marks the birth centenary of my brother Shapoorji Fakirji Jokhi. Sixteen years ago I inaugurated the new building for the Sett R. J. J. High School in Navsari. Sir Jamsetjee had the vision to start schools in Gujarat. The Sir J. J. Parsee Benevolent Institution has taken his vision forward by starting English medium schools in Valsad and Navsari.” He then generously pledged Rs 10 lakh in memory of his late brother as a corpus donation to the Institution, for giving awards and prizes to their students, the write-up reveals.

The entertainment program comprised the screening of a short documentary on the life of the founder, after which students of the pre-primary section gave a performance on "Go Green,” to spread the message of "reduce, reuse and recycle.” A Rajasthani folk dance was presented by students of the secondary section. Mementoes were given to Behzad Kharas and Rajeev Garg, architects, and Cyrus Unwala of Premier Construction Company, and all three were thanked for their services.

Trustee Rustom N. B. Jeejeebhoy, in his vote of thanks remarked, "Pride brings shame, humility brings wisdom. For 163 years our Institution has enjoyed the blessings of education. Those who pass through the portals of this new School building will always remember the vision of Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy.”

The function concluded with lunch at Jamshed Baug.