Colah’s commitment

Died: Mehli Parvez Colah, 52, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and trustee/financial advisor of 35 community organizations/trusts, on December 26, 2013 following complications arising from cancer.
During the 30 years he served the BPP, the last six of which were as CEO, "he took over the onerous responsibility of controlling all the multifarious departments of the BPP,” noted the resolution passed at the public condolence meeting convened by the Punchayet on January 16, 2014 at the Walchand Hirachand Hall of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber. Known for being "a workaholic with a genial disposition,” several of his trustees, colleagues and juniors attested to his diligence, approachability, sincerity and integrity.

Mehli Colah: a pillar of the Punchayet

Former BPP chairman Minoo Shroff who had come in touch with Colah since 1983 when the latter joined the Punchayet remembered being impressed by the young man "with a good grasp, very hardworking and willing to learn, conscientious and disciplined in an institution that works at a leisurely pace… He became a CEO by virtue of his competence, dedication and commitment. His integrity and commitment was his legacy.”
Erstwhile trustee Burjor Antia who being the solicitor for the BPP for the last 50 years had umpteen occasions to interact with Colah commended him for being "up-to-date in his work, knowledgeable, prompt, diligent, and never failing in his duty. He lived and died for the BPP.” Alluding to the recent conflicts within the BPP board arising from accusations against co-trustees of financial irregularities with both sides citing Colah as witness who had by then slipped into a coma, Antia expressed, "I believe that the time has now come when we should be united as a community and live like an undivided joint family… not only look after the organization but also stand by the members of his family.”
Among the current trustees who paid their tributes were chairman Dinshaw Mehta, Arnavaz Mistry and Armaity Tirandaz. "I have never seen anyone as interested in community affairs as he was,” stated Mehta, marveling at how he managed to forge "a closeness with every association” with which he was connected. Conversant with all affairs concerning the BPP, he even had plans to contest the next trusteeship elections, according to Mehta who despaired that he suffered a heart attack and the consequent cerebral stroke probably triggered by the "tension and turmoil in the boardroom.” Acknowledging that many of Colah’s colleagues too "feeling the same pressure…want to leave,” Mehta appealed to the Punchayet staff members who were present in large numbers, "Please bear with us. We have less than two years (before the next trusteeship elections). Please don’t lose heart.”

Speakers and audience at the condolence meet

"There was not a single problem that he could not solve for me,” said Mistry who needed to interact with him almost daily after she was elected trustee. Describing his "endearing qualities as being kind, understanding, hardworking, punctual, well versed in technology, meticulous in accounts,” Mistry added "everyone at the BPP loved and admired him.” They were happy that "he had bounced back,” after being treated for cancer. To offer solace to the family, Tirandaz recited two verses from the poem, "Miss me, but let me go.”
"He had colossal patience. With his unflappable temperament, he was calmness personified,” appreciated Falee Billimoria, partner of Kalyaniwalla and Mistry, recalling how they would turn to each other when either of them needed a second opinion on financial or fiscal matters concerning the Punchayet. Colah would "give a boost to our confidence” in trying times. "Meticulous and firm in his convictions…my respect for him has grown over the 15 years I have known him,” acknowledged Billimoria who felt the best tribute the Punchayet could pay him is "to work unitedly to ensure that the BPP retains its position as an eminent institution of the community.”
Not only would he write the accounts for innumerable trusts and charitable associations where he rendered honorary service he was always willing to help even the staff members file their personal income tax returns, mentioned Pheroze Patel, senior executive of the Punchayet, who appreciated that the doors to the cabin of the "dynamic CEO” were always open for his staff members and he would never tell them "pachhee aavjo (come later).” He also gave Colah credit for being able to establish cordial staff-union relations. "A staunch Zoroastrian and a firm believer in God,” until a day prior to his suffering a cardiac arrest, he was working for the success of the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress hosted by the BPP.
As corroborated one of the Class IV employees of the Punchayet Vijay Ayare whose tenure of service almost equaled Colah’s, he never tried to prove that he was a CEO but was more of a "big brother to us.” Yet another employee Sandeep Chaugule admired how Colah looked after the interests of the Punchayet, the Class IV employees as also the union, without sacrificing the interests of any of the three bodies when wage settlement agreements were drawn up.
"A man is known by the respect he gets from his subordinates,” observed Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada valuing the lessons he had learnt "from Mehli about administration of trusts.”

Azmin (left) and Anaita Colah,

"He had the incredible knack of making things easy for us,” attested Diana Marfatia, coordinator for several years of the Holiday Programme for Youth, remembering him as the single point of contact between them and the trust board. This program having successfully completed 27 years "without any hitch” she was hopeful that they would be able to continue for another 30 years.
"Every day is a learning experience for me with the variety of problems brought to my desk,” the evening’s master of ceremonies, Godrej Dotivala, public relations officer of the BPP recalled Colah’s words. Parsiana too had availed of Colah’s efficient and cordial working style. Around two months before he suffered a cardiac arrest in October, when Parsiana sought to meet him in connection with our article on the 170-year-old Bai Avabai Wadia (Indawalla) Agiary, he immediately made time for us in his busy schedule the next day. Being a trustee of this agiary as at several others, Colah had then commented, "Trustee thavaa kaun maagé? Maathaa fori nu kaam (Who wants to become a trustee when it is a thankless task?)”
"A fatherly figure” for the Parsi Ambulance Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade, he was a man of "few words” who preferred instead to practice the motto of their institution "service to humanity,” observed co-trustee of the Divison Aspi Sarkari who also works as senior executive of the Punchayet. Besides guiding them in matters of finance, he would also help collect donations.
An "eminent” alumnus, trustee and honorary secretary of the Bharda New High School, "with his deep commanding voice…and encouraging words he motivated the staff and his advice was appreciated by the trustees,” stated the principal of the School Vinita Lewis.
Colah had graduated in commerce and law from the Bombay University. His interest in community work had manifested itself since his college days when he would write accounts for Maneck Gheyara, the late president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat, revealed a condolence message from Mehli’s cousin Dorab Mistry, erstwhile president of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE). Blessed with a very cool mind and affable temperament, he seemed to have every situation/problem within his control, commented Dorab, terming Mehli "a rock of continuity…with legendary dedication.” According to him "the community has lost a true karma yogi (a person who labors regardless of the rewards).” Dorab’s message was read by another ZTFE past president Rusi Dalal who commended Colah’s "grasp of policies, finance and charity that led to a strengthening of bonds” between the BPP and the ZTFE.
Appreciating his sound guidance, generosity and ability to solve her problems, sometimes even before she expressed them, Colah’s 17-year-old daughter Azmin recalled her interactions with her father as, "only joyful, happy times.”
The diligent CEO is survived by his wife Anaita, daughter Azmin and brother Freddy.