May mosaic

I found the Parsiana of May 21, 2018 interesting with several stories that caught my reading fancy. The cover of the Cama Convalescent Home at Bandra had good, soft colors and was pleasing to the eye. What a great legacy Shirinbai Cama has left behind in the form of the Convalescent Home on Bandra sea face. The facility it provides to Parsis at affordable prices is a tremendous boon considering today’s costs.
I enjoyed reading the entire issue with interest, which I rarely do, because a new issue arrives before I can finish the previous one which invariably goes to the bottom of the pile.
As regards "A new flame burns bright” (Editorial Viewpoint) I support the establishment of a new fire temple at Poona which welcomes Parsis married to persons of other faiths, and more importantly, if I understand correctly, also performs navjotes of those children born of such unions.
I was sad to learn of the passing of Britannia restaurant’s Meherwan Kohinoor. Perhaps he was among the last of the great Irani eatery owners who was present during World War II when Iranis pledged support to the Crown and kept their establishments open for the soldiers transiting through Bombay.
The article on Khurshed Antia ("Transformative technology”) was superb. It reaffirms my conviction that India has the most brilliant engineers, doctors, computer programmers. If only they would have been given full and unrestricted support by the Government with no red tape involved! I wonder what became of Antia’s bungalow in Matheran.
Then there is the most amazing story of Framroz Rustomjee ("Prayers for children,” Books) of Colombo, Ceylon. I am wondering if he was the same Rustomjee my wife and I met in Colombo in October 1971. I remember he had sent a black English limousine, with a driver in spotless white uniform and cap, who drove us to his bungalow. Dinner was served on a long table with all the plates and cutlery carefully assembled.
Who was "The solicitor” in Bejis Desai’s Unforgettable Bawas? Can readers be given a clue? Oh yes, I dearly miss the chicken patties of Morenas and Company at Flora Fountain. Others have tried to copy the item, but they are not the same.
Dr ARDESHIR B. DAMANIA
Davis, California
abdamania@yahoo.com

The editors reply
Desai has chosen not to divulge the identity of the "Unforgettable Bawas” he features. Even the editorial team of Parsiana is not privy to the names of the individuals he portrays.