The devout Daboo
Died: Noshir Khurshed Daboo, 91, author and teacher of Zoroastrian studies, in Ahmedabad on July 5, 2013.
Describing Daboo as "a noted laureate and a devout Zarthosti," the president of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP) Brig (retd) Jahangir Anklesaria noted in his condolence message, "This loss of guidance, inspiration and imparting in depth knowledge of Zoroastrianism to the Parsi community of Ahmedabad cannot be expressed in words neither can we fathom the depth but can only feel it within each one of us."
Noshir Daboo (above and alongside) with (L-R) daughter-in-law Binaifer, wife Gool and son Navroz
The doors of his home were always open to members of all faiths, be they followers of the Dalai Lama or the Kanchi Sankaracharya or the former Chief Justice of India Sarosh Kapadia who wanted to gain knowledge on the Zoroastrian religion. He was always receptive to ideas. As mentioned his wife Gool, "Noshir was ready to face any criticism. He stood tall upholding his beliefs and principles just like his respected father Dasturji (Khurshed) Daboo." His unshaken faith in Lord Zarathushtra as also Theosophical teachings fortified him to use his "ball pen to serve his community in his own simple and humble way without any pomp or show."
To strengthen the spiritual fabric of the community he gave discourses on religious subjects on the radio and TV interviews. A regular contributor to Parsiana, Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly, Gujarat Vishwa Kosh, Daboo is known to have published 16 books on the ethics of the Zarathushti religion. With his flair for art and illustrations, his charts and visuals were used on the televised serials of Frohar Films. Besides contributing valuable sketches and information on Parsi tradition and culture to the Zarathushti Wing of the Ahmedabad City Museum Project, he had organized Parsika, a public exhibition of Parsi cultural heritage and the Zoroastrian religion which culminated in the two volumes of Parsika.
"We the members of the Gatha Study Circle always had the privilege of his erudition. He was a pillar of strength for the Parsi Montessori School. The staff and the members on the board of management always looked up to him in matters of academics and management," conveyed Armaity Davar, president of the Parsi Montessori Pre-Primary School.
Despite his father being a High Priest, Noshir was not ordained as a navar because his father, known to be a disciplinarian, had impressed on his three sons that they could become navars only if they were going to pursue mobedi as a full-time career and learn the 72 has.
An alumnus of Sir J. J. English School and Parsi Boys’ Orphanage in Surat for 15 years, Daboo had worked as a teacher and as senior house-master in these instututions after completing his graduation in Arts. Subsequently he worked as store purchaser with Tata Advance Mills at Ahmedabad for the next 20 years.
Chief officer of St John’s Ambulance Brigade for 30 years he had been recognized with the Silver First Aid Medal, Lay lecturer (government certificate), Queen Victoria Silver Medal and Mahatma Gandhi Gold Medal. He was a scout with the 5th Surat Rover Crew. During his Surat days he had also won the Firdawsi Tusi Prize in Persian.
Delighting in making the "best out of waste," his soap carvings, mango seed art, scrap paper and ball point pen greeting cards were a regular for family and friends. He also took the trouble to make cards full of red and blue sketches for every person from whom he received wedding or navjote invites. His art was displayed under the name of Roshni Art Creations since the word Roshni means light and it also had all the alphabets of his first name.
"In the sunset of his life when his legs were giving problems and physically he was in pain, his mental will power was strong and he kept on working…" appreciated Gool adding, "Just two days before his demise he was at his work desk with his dear ball pen in hand…"
In his last letter to Parsiana (see "The world beyond," Readers’ Forum, August 7, 2013), the devout Daboo had written, "Mental prayers are very effective. Caring for others, dedication and determination are the main platforms of a righteous life. We have to drive out Ahriman to please Ahura Mazda. In the present times it is difficult to follow the tarikats so we have to pay more attention to shriyat, the moral life. (Parsiana will miss his painstakingly hand written and composed letters – editors).
The simple savant is survived by his wife Gool and son Navroz.