“When I am remembered”

On the occasion of his 155th birth anniversary which fell on April 4, 2012, the Bombay Parsee Association (BPA) honored the memory of Sir Hormusji Cowasjee Dinshaw (Adenwalla) with BPA president Vispi Dastur garlanding his statue on Veer Nariman Road in Bombay. Saroosh Dinshaw, Hormusji’s great-grandson, Rutton Patel, Hormusji’s great-great-grandson, Adi Mehta and Cmde Aspi Marker, community activists also garlanded the statue, mentions a write-up received from the BPA.
Dastur noted that Sir Hormusji was founder patron of the BPA and founder president of the Iran League. Members of the family elaborated on how Sir Hormusji had established his business in Aden and helped Mahatma Gandhi. Other speakers on the occasion included Marker, Mehta, Yazdi Desai, Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee, Godrej Dotivala, BPP public relations officer and Marzban Giara, community historian. Tributes were also offered by the Cowasji Dinshaw Trust, Navsari Parsee Association, Youths Own Union and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay

(Above): Vispi Dastur (in jacket) addressing gathering at the statue of Sir Hormusji Cowasji Dinshaw at his 155th birth anniversary function organized by the Bombay Parsee Association. Line-up of family, friends and fans (below)

A family member read out a letter written by Sir Hormusji to his sons Framroze, Dinsha and Nusserwan on February 21, 1933, in which he expressed himself thus: "I have a feeling that my time for going for the last journey has arrived but I am not sorry and disappointed because of the same. In fact I am awaiting time with pleasure. I have a feeling that during my entire life, I have committed no wrong and I have not misappropriated properties or funds of anyone, nor has anybody been hurt or injured at my hand. I have always tried my level best to help all my family members. I have great faith, therefore that there is place reserved for me now in Heaven and that when I approach the Creator, I shall be given a warm welcome.
"Nobody should grieve over my death, but whenever I am remembered please have kusti prayers done and wish me well... At present our income is quite limited and therefore the expenditure should be incurred economically... It is my desire and order that you all should behave with great respect towards all your three uncles and two aunties (fuis). I shall be very happy in Heaven to observe your good behavior and will bless you for this.”
Those present at the birth anniversary commemoration included Freny Jehangir, Sir Hormusji’s great-granddaughter, Shernaaz and Baji Avari, Rustom Vakil, Rustom Cooper, Ratan Lalkaka, Adale Patel, Aloo Shroff, Tehmina Peer, Rusi and Gev Bhumgara, Parveen Sidhwa, Dr Homi Dhalla, Dr Viraf Kapadia, Dara Challa and Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji who led the humbandagi. Snack boxes were provided by Marker, the write-up says.