A Parabia portrait

"She had great faith in our religion and atash behrams,” recalled Baroda Anjuman president Baman Cama referring to the late philanthropist Alice Parabia whose portrait was unveiled at a public function on the first floor hall of the Dadabhai Naoshirwan Modi Atash Behram in Surat on the evening of August 2, 2015. Her family had donated Rs 12,00,000 (US$ 18,215) in her memory for the renovation and painting of the Shahenshahi Atash Behram. Those present included Surat high priest Cyrus Dastur, the senior most priest of the Atash Behram Ervad Furdoonji Turel, other priests, the fire temple’s trustees, author Rusi Besania, Ervad (Dr) Parvez Bajan and Parabia’s two sons, Zarksis and Nekzad. The presidents and several trustees of the Surat and Baroda anjumans were present.

Alice’s husband Jehangir, knowing her religious leanings, had built a house for her in Udvada. Always a humble and warm person, "Alice treated rich and poor the same,” Cama noted. Thanks to her efforts, the Umrigar fire temple in Baroda was elevated from a dadgah to an adarian. "She helped us a lot,” he commented.
Baroda trustee Aspi Vajifdar referred to the "many navjotes and weddings she had had performed.” She assisted the sick, even sheltering them in her home. Describing Alice as "always smiling,” Bajan summed up her philanthropic outlook with the words, "What I earn I spend, what I saved I lost, what I gave, I have.” He then gave a 45-minute talk on the religion. Besania narrated the history of the Modi Atash Behram.
Architect and Atash Behram trustee Zawareh Wadia noted that the maintenance and repairs of old buildings "need funds” but that "money was not forthcoming.” He therefore lauded the magnanimity of the Parabia family in assisting the 192-year-old Atash Behram.