Remembering “Mehru Sir”

Mehernosh Karanjia was a "great actor (who) has taken an exit from the stage and (is) now in the photo frame,” said past president of Surat’s Parsi Pragati Mandal (PPM) Aspi Rao about the passing away of the actor and director of Parsi drama, teacher at Cambay Institute of Commerce and the Meher Yazad Academy of Dramatics on February 5, 2018. Rao was speaking at a condolence meeting called by Samast Surat Sheher Parsi Anjuman (SSSPA) and the Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP) on February 11 at the Pestonji Kalabhai Vakil Kadmi Atash Behram. Mehernosh’s sibling dramatist Yazdi Karanjia talked of their "inseparable bond,” while Yazdi’s wife Veera called Mehernosh a "caring brother and friend.” Representatives of the various Zoroastrian associations of the city shared their reminiscences of Mehernosh.

"On behalf of the SSSPA, Yasmin Dotivala read out the shok patra (condolence message) which was handed over to Mehernosh’s wife Perin and their son Kayewan by SPP president Jamshed Dotivala,” noted Cyrus Dotivala, who sent a note on the event to Parsiana. Dilshad Bhathena who spoke on behalf of Mehernosh’s students recalled "how good a teacher ‘Mehru Sir’ was” and how he inculcated in them important morals and values in life. They treated him as a father figure, reported Cyrus.
The meeting started with a prayer by Dastur Cyrus Dastur and a solemn melody rendered by songster Aman Lekhadia. Jamshed noted "how difficult it was for the family and community to cope with this loss.” President of PPM Noshir Pestonjamasp and Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat president Mahtab Variava remembered how "‘Mehernosh uncle,’ as known to all, was always around with his charming smile and solid support.” Others who shared reminiscences of the late dramatist were close family friend and trustee of the Atash Behram Burzin Chiniwala; Parvez Variava of Nanpura Zarthosti Anjuman; family friend Hoshang Hilluwala; Bag-e-Parsa Adarian trustee and school friend of the departed Jimmy Kharadi. Manager of the Trust Management Office Roshni Dastoor shared memories on behalf of the approximately 40 trusts within Surat that the Office manages.
Chartered accountant Rajesh Desai recalled how the late Mehernosh "never worried about generating income... he trained kids for free in his Meher Yazad Academy of Dramatics. Narrating anecdotes from Mehernosh’s life, Perin thanked those who participated in the meeting. The meeting ended with a prayer recited by the departed’s elder brother Rohin and a slide show of photographs of "Mehernosh the actor, teacher, motivator and a trusted friend to all.”
Ex-vice chancellor of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Dak-sheshThakar spoke about how death could be tackled by family members.