Aesthetic abode

Home is where the heart is and for Rhoda and Minoo Patel, it is at Katol Road, Nagpur. For the past nearly 50 years, they have lived, loved — and lost, here. Their roots in their home are as deep and tenacious as those of the towering eucalyptus tree in the garden, the first sapling they planted when their house was built.

Bombayites both, the Patels came to Nagpur in 1957, two years after they married. As one of two sons of an established and prosperous business family, Minoo had to move to Nagpur when their company, Patel Ghanshyamdas, bagged the sales agency for Empress Mills (J. N. Tata’s first industrial venture).

In spite of being born and bred in the upper echelons of Parsi society in Bombay, the young couple happily took to Nagpur. "The people of Nagpur were so warm and welcoming. That made it easy for us to feel accepted and at home, from the start,” said Rhoda. For the first two years after their move, they lived in a rented home. In 1960 Minoo’s family bought them an acre of land on whch to build their own home. The amount paid at that time, Rs 25,000, may sound like peanuts today, but it was a princely sum 50 years ago.

The open land on a quiet road with shady trees belonged to the family of Sir Bezonji Mehta. "One of the main considerations in buying this property was that it faced the Raj Bhavan boundary walls and we thought nothing would come up in front of it,” said Minoo. "But as the city grew, this hope was belied,” lamented Rhoda.

Sheodhanmal Mokha, a leading architect of Nagpur at the time, and Rusi Jamaji, a well-known contractor, completed the construction of the house in two years. "Rhoda would visit the site and supervise the work almost every day during the building and finishing process,” revealed Minoo. Even 50 years later, Rhoda’s artistic touch is visible in every pot and plant, in the arrangements and artefacts and most of all in the spit and polish, gleaming cleanliness of the place.

The interior of any home is a reflection of the owner’s personality. This is very evident in the

Patel home. The big, the bold and the beautiful arrangements and groupings are Rhoda’s all the way. The tranquil, meditative space where less is more is the Minoo effect.

(from top) Front view of bungalow; a burst of bougainvillea at the front gate and Minoo and Rhoda Patel

Very recently, Minoo has enclosed and air-conditioned a part of the front verandah with glass walls and a sliding glass door. This shuts out the heat, noise and dust, while bringing in the outdoors. In deference to the spectacular natural backdrop, the Patels have kept the interior sparse and simple. The space is almost Zen-like in its serenity. It is used for reading, reflecting and spending time with close friends.

The large drawing-cum-dining room is as functional and comfortable as it is beautiful. The flooring, the

curtains and most of the tapestry are in shades of off-white and beige, setting off the gleaming dark polish of teak, the vibrant colors of the artworks on the walls and the many priceless pieces of porcelain and crystal, each with a beauty and history of its own. The two tall cloisonné vases on either side of the sofa were bought from the Summer Palace of the Maharaja of Ooty. "The antique French armoire (cabinet) in the dining room has an even more interesting story,” revealed Rhoda. "It was salvaged from Freny Dadabhoy’s kitchen where it had spent the better part of its life, used for storing masalas!” Dadabhoy was the daughter of industrialist and politician Sir Maneckji Dada­bhoy. The center shelf of this elegant armoire displays a unique collectors’ item. "It is a Napoleon Bonaparte coronation commemorative coffee set which was gifted by Sir Cawasji Jehangir to my mother Sheroo and father Adi C. P. Wadia, on their wedding,” mentioned Rhoda. "There are only two of its kind in India, as far as my knowledge goes,” she added.

A beautiful liquor cabinet with a brass inlay design of chrysanthemums was bought in Hong Kong by Minoo’s mother, over 50 years ago. It opens up to reveal space for glasses, bottles and a bar counter to mix drinks.

A unique feature of the Patel home is that it has grown and evolved with the needs of its occupants. When Phiroze, the eldest of the three Patel sons married Anita in 1980, Rhoda and Minoo decided to build a home for him on top of their sprawling bungalow. "I always wanted the children to be close to us and yet have their own space,” explained Minoo.

Far left: Roshan and Dorab Patel’s living room; (above) Tanya Patel’s bedroom; and (alongside) lacquer work liquor cabinet with a brass inlay design of chrysanthemums

Dorab, the middle son, his wife Roshan and their two daughters Nasreen and Tanya live in the main bungalow to which some extensions were made when they got married. The younger couple have added their own touch of youthfulness and contemporary Indian art to the home they share with their parents. Roshan is very much into promoting promising Indian artists. She has her own small gallery in a room built over the car porch. Once in a while she has an exposition of artworks. For the rest of the time, interested persons come by appointment to see, appreciate and may-be buy.

Glass enclosed living room lets in beauty of nature (left); garden view

In 1983 Behram, the youngest got married. For him and his wife Kumi the Patels built an independent home in the same compound. "Near enough for the grandchildren to be in and out of the main house and a few yards far enough for the young couple to have their own independence and privacy,” explained Rhoda. "I derived a lot of satisfaction in seeing the boys’ homes being built,” added Minoo.

The garden is Rhoda’s pride and passion. Her eye for form and color is amply evident in the towering trees, colorful climbers, gnarled wood, terracotta pots and pebbled pathways through the green lawns.

The beauty of the Patel home in Nagpur is that while it has grown and evolved over the years, in essence and character it has remained the same — a beautiful, well kept Parsi home.