Stamping his memory

The governor of Gujarat Om Kohli released a postage stamp bearing the image of statesman Dr Dadabhai Naoroji at Nowrojee Hall in Ahmedabad on December 29, 2017. Unveiled to coincide with the 100th year of his passing on June 30, 1917, this is the fourth time Naoroji’s visage appears on an Indian stamp. Others present at the function included Udvada High Priest and Parsi Zoroastrian representative on the National Commission for Minorities, Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, the city’s municipal commissioner Mukesh Kumar, chief post master general Gautam Bhattacharya, chairman of the city’s heritage conservation committee P. K. Ghosh, Ushta-Te Foundation trustee Meher Medora and Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP) chairman Brig Jahangir Anklesaria (Retd). The release of the brown colored five-rupee stamp measuring 5.5 cm by 3.5 cm took place at the 110-year-old Hall in conjunction with a "Parsi Fest.”
The new stamp depicts, in addition to Naoroji’s profile, the buildings of the Elphinstone College and the Udvada Atash Behram. Naoroji was among the first Indians to teach mathematics and philosophy at the College. According to the postal department’s brochure available on their website, the fire temple "symbolizes the contribution of Naoroji in spreading the message of Zoroastrian concepts and promoting social reforms in the Parsi community.” The brochure extols Naoroji’s many achievements, calling him "one of the guiding lights in the late 19th century who played a cardinal role in shaping India’s destiny.” The designer of the stamp and the first day cover is Sankha Samanta who has designed 14 of the 33 stamps issued by India commemorating Mohandas Gandhi.
Naoroji, the veteran educator has been previously honored in 1963, with a 15 paise olive green 2.9 cm x 3.9 cm stamp to mark his birth anniversary that year. In August 1993, a six-rupee, multi colored, 3.3 cm x 2.8 cm stamp marked the 100th year of his election to the House of Commons in the UK. The statesman is remembered in a one rupee 1985 stamp, along with other presidents of the Indian National Congress, issued to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the political body. A five-rupee coin issued in 2003 also commemorates the liberal thinker.
Vispi Dastur, president of the Empire of India Philatelic Society had informed Parsiana that the stamp was to be issued but a date had not been set (see "Naoroji remembered,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, October 7, 2017). The postal department "was possibly waiting for the right moment to release it,” he stated while speaking to us on January 10, 2018. "Any stamp in honor of a Parsi is welcome, as in the future there may not be any (to so honor),” he said forebodingly.

Assistant professor of South Asian history at the University of South Carolina Dinyar Patel, who has co-authored a book on Naoroji’s correspondence Dadabhai Naoroji – Selected Private Papers, and is working on a biography of the Grand Old Man of India as he was fondly called, told Parsiana: "It is appropriate for Naoroji to be commemorated with a postage stamp, given how many letters he wrote during his lifetime… (He was) known for his diligent habit of responding to the voluminous correspondence he received from various parties…Gandhi even commented on this habit — that Naoroji eschewed a typewriter and, in his 70s and 80s, continued to respond to correspondence by hand.”
Jointly organized by the heritage cell of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, APP and the Foundation, the Fest was part of various programs held in the city to commemorate the heritage status bestowed on the walled city of Ahmedabad by The World Heritage Committee (WHC) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), details a note from APP.
The function, compered by Khushnum Avari, began with a prayer led by Dastoor. Consultant at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the city Dr Behramgor Dastoor spoke on the contribution of Parsis of Ahmedabad while retired academician Armaity Davar informed the audience of the founding families and prominent community members of the city. Also a retired educationist, Shirin Kanga revealed the contribution of Parsis to education and social work. Retired IIM professor Dinyar Pestonjee highlighted the work of the community’s entrepreneurs while the contribution of community institutions and professionals was noted by architect Ervad Xerxes Rao.

The entrance of the Hall was decorated with traditional garas and kors contributed by various residents of the city and arranged by Villu Mirza. The note states that Binaifer Dastur and Nitash Tarapore had arranged the display of "paintings of the owners (Vakils of Nowrojee Hall) by painter Raja Ravi Verma.” Old crockery and household items were available for viewing, as also books for sale. Pearl Sabavala guided those interested to know more about the Vakils in a tour of the Hall. A short audiovisual on the Parsis of Ahmedabad and their contribution to the growth of the city was also shown, states the note. The guests were served tea and Parsi snacks in the main foyer of the Hall.
A replica of a kebla set up on the Hall’s grounds, complete with a bell, afarganyu, sukhad and kathi was manned by Ervads Khushru Ghadiali and Vazaan Dastur. The mobeds explained Zoroastrian rituals "to all who came to enquire.” A display of antique cars owned and maintained by Navroz Tarapore was available for invitees who "click(ed) photographs with these beautiful machines.” The APP note acknowledges the role of Mirza, Tarapore, Sabavala, Binaifer Dastur, Oorvaksh Medora and Armaity Shroff in the "planning and precise conduct of the event.”
"Quite a few eminent non-Parsi personalities were invited… (they) took the opportunity to actually learn a lot about Parsipanu” states the APP note, detailing the food stalls that sold Parsi delicacies "like dhansak, dar ni pori, patra ni machhi and cutlets (which were) gorged upon by all.” Purple Flower, a live band comprising Vispi Siganporia, Harmony Siganporia and Mark Damania entertained the audience, states the write-up.