Daboo’s deeds

Noshir Daboo (pictured), whose birth centenary fell on October 5, 2021, was an erudite scholar and prolific writer who passed away in Ahmedabad on July 5, 2013 at the age of 92. Born in Surat on October 5, 1921 to Jerbanoo and Vada Dastur Khurshed Dabu, who served the Wadiaji Atash Behram in Bombay for 29 years, Daboo married Goolbanu (Goolcher) in 1952, a union that lasted for nearly 61 years.
Like his father before him, Daboo became principal of the Parsi Boys’ School and also taught at the Sir J. J. School in Surat. To make studies more interesting for students, he used colorful charts and graphics, using systems similar to the modern day Power Point Presentation.
In 1964, Daboo moved from Surat to Ahmedabad and joined Tata Advance Mills (1964-1982) where he handled the entire purchasing functions of the stores. He also began to teach Zoroastrians who had a spiritual or Theosophical bent of mind the social customs, rituals and tarikats of the Mazdayasni Din. Daboo involved himself in matters of the Parsis of Ahmedabad and their anjuman. Ignoring the recurring pain in an infected hip wound from an earlier fracture, he would start his day with writing his trademark postcards to all who had sent him queries. Even in his 90s he would busy himself with the affairs of the Ushta-Te Foundation of which he was patron and life member. He was nominated to the board of many Parsi charitable trusts and of the Parsi Montessori School of Ahmedabad.
A prolific writer on subjects of socio-religious importance, he contributed articles and poems for over 60 years to the Jam-e-Jamshed. On his demise, when Parsiana and Jamé paid him tribute, the latter’s editor acknowledged several colorful postcards received from him. Daboo also scripted, directed and acted in skits and plays, some which were later telecast. Daboo had a sense of humor and would describe himself as a lakhpati, not as in millionaire but because he was a pati (husband) who also liked to write (in Gujarati, lakhvanu).
He received many awards and was felicitated by community forums as well as interfaith organizations. The Mahatma Gandhi Sewa gold medal was presented to him for meritorious civil service to society; Gujarat Vidyapith conferred the Gyaan Pith Award for his scholarly submission "Ahimsa, Jarthosti Dharam ni Najarey Rasaalo (An Account of Nonviolence Through Zoroastrian Eyes).”
When he was invited to speak by The Sarva Dharam Parishad as a Zarathushti representative his lecture, "A Study of Zoroastrianism, and its effects on other religions,” was much acclaimed. To The K. R. Cama Oriental Institute in Bombay he submitted a paper on the morals, philosophy and historical richness of Ferdowsi, as depicted in the Shahnameh.
Later, with Ervad (Dr) Cyrus Dastoor of Farohar Films, Daboo became involved with the Ahmedabad Museum Project (Paldi). Two books of his charts were published by them. The exhibition at the Hutheesing Art Gallery in Ahmedabad (Parsika 1 and 2), displayed 115 of his hand drawn color charts about our culture and religion which he gifted to the Museum and Information Centre at Udvada for permanent exhibition.
Daboo authored several books, including Vilakshan Vibhuti, a biography of the late Dr Firoze Davar, professor at Gujarat College and a former trustee of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP). His biography of his father was titled Ruhshaad Dastur Khurshed Dabu ni Jivan Zalak (A Glimpse into the Life of the Venerable Dastur Khurshed Dabu). In Dini Doravani, he translated into Gujarati several scholarly talks by Ervad (Dr) Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Modi. A website has been created for his articles, poems, art, books and lectures: https://noshirdabooarticles.wixsite.com/articlesingujarati
BURJOR DABOO
burkhurdar@gmail.com