The Club in Madras

Navroz, on August 18, 2015, marked the 85th year of the Phiroj Clubwala Memorial Hall and The Madras Parsi Association, whose destinies are interlinked. The Club, as it is referred to by the Zoroastrians of Madras, was packed with members enjoying a lively band and buffet dinner. A token of appreciation was given to every family, mentions an write-up on the event sent to Parsiana by Zarin Mistry who has provided a brief history of these community institutions in that southern outpost.
The Madras Parsi Zarthosti Anjuman was formed in 1900. Parsis had been residing there for about a century but lacked an agiary or a meeting place. Phiroj Muncherji Clubwala donated a plot of land and funds to construct a Dar-e-Mehr in Royapuram in 1907. In 1927, the Anjuman purchased a colonial style bungalow near the agiary and named it the Phiroj Clubwala Memorial Hall to honor his memory. The Madras Parsi Association was formed in 1930, initiated by Phiroj’s son Nogi. After Nogi’s untimely death in 1934, the Club observed Nogi Memorial Day every year on November 15, with sporting activities and distribution of prizes. This was later changed to November 14, to coincide with Children’s Day. Nogi’s young widow Mary went on to become one of the foremost social service workers in the country.

(Clockwise from top): Phiroj Clubwala Memorial Hall; Nogi Piroj Clubwala; Greenfields

Navroz celebrations in Madras

With the passage of time the Memorial Hall became dilapidated as it lacked funds for renovation and restoration. When Mani and Jehangir Clubwala arrived in Madras on transfer, Mani became honorary secretary and initiated a major fund collection drive which lasted seven years. In 1977 Jehanbux Tarapore, a leading engineering contractor, generously offered to construct the new building under his supervision. The foundation stone of the new Memorial Hall was laid in 1978 and the new hall-cum-auditorium was opened in June 1980, which was also the golden jubilee of the Madras Parsi Association. This was celebrated with great rejoicing on Nogi Memorial Day.
In 1987 the Association began to organize a fellowship dinner for the community on the last Saturday of every month. There are now eight to 10 functions a year, including a gahanbar which is hosted by individual members. During the centenary celebrations of the Jal Phiroj Clubwala Dar-e-Mehr the Anjuman renovated and air-conditioned the Phiroj Clubwala Memorial Hall using donations raised by the community. The corpus has now increased thanks to members, friends as also donations from The Phil and Mary Clubwala Jadhav Trust which Mary set up in memory of her son Phil who passed away at a young age.
Over the years the Club has been the venue for many celebrations – birthdays, weddings, navjotes and anniversaries. The Association aims to provide entertainment and wholesome fare at very reasonable rates so that every member of the community can benefit. However, attendance has dropped over the years and the seniors far outnumber the young ones, though that trend is not confined to Madras, writes Mistry. Normal attendance now is around 120.