In memory of Mehroo

"I cannot visualize what my late wife would have to say about all this,” says Dara Hansotia, waving to the family members, friends, well-wishers, residents of New Bombay and professional colleagues of the deceased at a jashan ceremony to mark the completion of the Dr Mehroo Dara Hansotia Memorial Hall in Koparkhairane, New Bombay, on April 9, 2016 next to the upcoming agiary there. "Maybe she would be happy,” he says wistfully, revealing that she always wanted "to do more and more” in her chosen field of medicine — obstetrics and gynecology. Former president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India, Mehroo had established a fertility clinic in Bombay in the late 1960s with her associate Dr Sadhana Desai and together they delivered the first invitro fertilization baby in the private sector.

Jashan in progress

Dara Hansotia at entrance to the hall; right: Dr Mehroo

The four-storeyed building on the 1,000 sq m plot in New Bombay will accommodate two air-conditioned halls on the two lower floors. The cost of one of the halls — rupees one crore — on the second floor, is being borne by Hansotia. In addition to funding the construction of the hall, he had donated one crore rupees to The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital in May 2014 in memory of his late wife (see "In Hansotia’s honor,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana December 7, 2014). The modest man "who always wanted to stay in the background” reveals that he feels humbled when he reads about Parsi philanthropists who "do so much for the community… my contribution is very small.”
Hansotia explains how his interest in the then nascent idea of a place of worship in New Bombay started: "I read about an advertisement from The New Bombay Zoroastrian Association Charitable Trust (TNBZACT) looking for donors for their project to acquire land to house a proposed agiary,” he informs, smiling gently. The more he interacted with the eager trustees of that Trust, the more he got interested "in their seriousness of purpose,” he says. He is happy that the proceeds from renting out the 2,600 sq ft Hall for use by all communities will be used to maintain the agiary.
At 11 a.m. the jashan performed by two mobeds from Seth N. H. Karani Agiary in Cusrow Baug commenced in the Hall. Decorated with pictures, press cuttings and other memorabilia from the career of the late doctor, the airy place was packed with nearly a 100 people. After partaking of chasni, the Hansotia family (Dara, brother Bomi and sister-in-law Goolu with nephews and nieces) thanked those who participated in the jashan and invited them to partake of a sumptuous lunch. Buses were thoughtfully arranged by the Hansotia family to ferry Cusrow Baug residents (where the Hansotias reside) and others, to and from the New Bombay venue.
"At least 400 Zoroastrians of the New Bombay area are waiting for the agiary to become operational,” says Sharukh Doctor, president of TNBZACT who was present for the jashan. The Trust was set up in 1993 and till now has been organizing semi-annual get-togethers for the 250 plus Zoroastrian residents of the vicinity. A resident of New Bombay since 1977, and a chemical engineer by profession, Doctor informs us categorically that the fire temple that is being set up by the Trust was never intended to be open to all faiths, as feared in certain quarters. The amount that was collected so far by the trustees has been utilized in the construction of the two halls and the agiary, mentions Doctor. They are looking for donors for the third and fourth floors, where it is intended to build an old age home for community members.

Clockwise from above: proposed kebla, Sharukh Doctor, side view of agiary

Members of Hansotia family with Goolu, Dara and Bomi (fifth, sixth and seventh from left)

The agiary is 95% ready, says Doctor, revealing that the mobeds’ quarters are being given finishing touches. Will they be able to source two mobeds, given the prevailing shortage of priests Parsiana asked? "Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada had promised to help us source them,” he responds. We may start with one mobed, he states.
It was initially proposed that the upcoming agiary would receive the holy fire from Pestonji Aslaji Doongaji Agiary in Bharuch, the South Gujarat town with four places of worship and a population of 100 Zoroastrians. But two residents of nearby Ankleshwar, Percy Hansotia and Kaizad Sethna have moved the Bharuch district court and filed for a stay against the shifting. The court has received an undertaking from the trustees of that Agiary that the fire would not be moved (see "Bickering in Bharuch,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, March 7, 2016). While a hearing was fixed for the Monday after the jashan, Doctor informed us in a follow-up call that the hearing is postponed to April 30 but he was not hopeful of progress, it being the last working day prior to the summer break for the court.
A sum of one crore rupees was received from the executors and trustees of the estate of Shirinbai K. Doongaji, a lady with roots in Bharuch towards the construction of the New Bombay agiary for which the foundation stone was laid on June 15, 2014 (see "Faithfully laying the foundation,” Parsiana, July 7, 2014). Cyrus Doongaji, a trustee of the Doongaji Agiary, who was at the jashan will be inducted as a trustee of TNBZACT.
Hopeful that a favorable legal decision will be forthcoming soon, Doctor informs us that the Trust must obtain an occupancy certificate for the agiary and the adjacent building before the end of 2016, otherwise "there will be a heavy penalty to be paid to CIDCO” (City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra) that provided the land to TNBZACT for the agiary and halls at "a highly concessional rate.” He is hopeful of obtaining the necessary approvals within three months of submitting an application by end May this year.