Remembering Gardin

Dermatologist Dr Homyar Gardin (pictured) who served Jamshedpur’s Tata Main Hospital from 1991 till succumbing to the coronavirus in September 2020, was the "fourth generation from the Gardin family to serve the Tatas and was very proud of the fact,” noted his wife Rukshana. The Times of India of September 25 quoted the Indian Medical Association as stating that Homyar "will be known for his service to those infected with HIV/AIDS.” Jharkhand state’s daily Avenue Mail noted that Homyar was the chairman of Tata Steel’s HIV/AIDS core committee. He had won The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Corporate Award for Business Response to HIV/AIDS 2008 for his work done through Tata Steel, added Rukshana. TERI was formerly known as Tata Energy Research Institute.
The congenial doctor was "one of the most mature and wise people in a room, but an overgrown teenager when among friends, jovial and always ready to help,” recalled Rukshana. She noted that Homyar was a bon vivant who "stayed in touch with his school buddies throughout and always made time for them.” (He) "went out for long Sunday drives…. choosing the farthest spot to eat, mostly for the drive and ensuring a nice long trip (see "Requiem for a friend,” Readers’ Forum, pg 8).” Rukshana recalled that he was "a true Freemason which reflected in every walk of his life… He volunteered and offered free clinic consultations and medical camps whenever helping those who couldn’t or would have trouble affording treatment.”
Hyderabad-born Homyar schooled in Jamshedpur and completed his medical studies in Patna. In 1997, he completed his master’s degree in business administration from XLRI — Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur. The couple have two sons, Danesh, who is an income tax advocate in Bangalore and Kaizad, who is a trainee in digital marketing, also in Bangalore.
"Some ancestor (of Homyar’s) was a station guard/driver of a train which was considered very prestigious. So, our surname was Gardi then. Over time it got Anglicized to Gardin… That’s all I know… not too sure, actually,” remarked Rukshana, when requested to elaborate on her surname.