“Honored to lay a wreath”

Standing before the mausoleum of Jamsetji N. Tata at the Zoroastrian aramgah, Brookwood cemetery on May 19, 2015, the High Commissioner of India to the UK, Ranjan Mathai stated that he was "honored to have been able to lay a wreath in memory of the pioneer of industrialization in India.” He then requested that he be permitted solitude "for personal reflection and devotion,” noted a report of the event by Malcolm Deboo, president of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE).
On Tata’s 111th death anniversary, ZTFE had arranged for prayers by Ervad Yazad Bhadha in front of the mausoleum. Besides invoking the fravashi (guardian spirit) of Jamsetji, the prayers also remembered his sons Sir Dorab and Sir Ratan plus other members of the Tata family including R. D. Tata, J. R. D. Tata and Naval Tata. In conclusion Bhadha recited a Doa Tandorosti (good health benediction) for Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Naval Tata.

Brookwood cemetery, UK

Mathai was then given a tour of the Zoroastrian aramgah by Deboo, ZTFE vice president Behram Kapadia and trustee Rusi Dalal. Established in 1852, the Brookwood cemetery was at one time the largest cemetery in the world; today it is the largest in western Europe, states Deboo. Besides the mausoleums of Jamsetji, Sir Dorab and Sir Ratan, the aramgah includes mausoleums of Nowroji Nusserwanji Wadia and Jehangir Cowasjee Jehangir, plus graves of the famous shipbuilder and ZTFE founder trustee Ardaseer Cursetjee Wadia, Members of Parliament Sir Mancherjee Bhownaggree and Shapurji Saklatvala, Dorabji Pestonji Cama, the first Grand Masonic Officer of Asian descent in England and Wales, and Dr Cowasji Lalkaka who was shot by the Indian nationalist Madan Lal Dhingra.
Over high tea prepared by Armin’s Catering, Mathai was introduced to ZTFE members at the Brookwood Bungli built in 1901 by Jerbai Nowroji Wadia. Concluded Deboo, "The visit by the High Commissioner reflects the respect all Indians have for... the advancement of Indian entrepreneurship and industries as fulfilled by Jamsetji Tata who founded the Tata Group, India’s biggest conglomerate company. The spirit of that ethical entrepreneurship has been Jamsetji’s legacy that still prevails in India to this day.”
Four days prior, on May 15, ZTFE had organized a jashan to be followed by a benedictory prayer for Princess Charlotte who is fourth in line to the throne, born on May 2 to Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, for the continued peaceful and prosperous reign of the Queen and well-being of other members of the Royal family. This was followed by a humbandagi and dinner to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day [Victory in Europe Day commemorates the public holiday celebrated on May 8, 1945 (May 7 in Commonwealth realms) to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces]. At the National Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on May 10, Deboo and Kapadia represented the Zoroastrian community.