Zoroastrian News - اخبار زرتشتیان

he spanking new, state-of-the-art “Pherozeshah Mehta Bhavan and Research Centre” was inaugurated on 27th December 2006 at the hands of H.E. Shri S.M. Krishna the Governor of Maharahtra and Chancellor of the University of Mumbai. It was a memorable and inspiring evening that made every Zoroastrian heart swell with legitimate pride.

Parsis have always been in the forefront of academic excellence and the history of the Bombay University is replete with examples of outstanding students and faculty. ‘Pherozeshah Mehta Bhavan & Research Centre’, however, is a unique and lasting imprint that this miniscule community has left as a legacy in trust for the University. This tastefully designed and beautifully landscaped structure not only stands out and sparkles like a rare jewel at the sprawling Kalina campus but is also a living testimony of what a micro-minority community can do for the nation and the cause of secular education. It is a true saga of Zoroastrian enterprise and philanthropy in modern India.

The inauguration witnessed the crème of the community, including those who had come from abroad to pay tribute to all those individuals who had toiled day and night for more than a decade. It was also an opportunity to express gratitude to all those who had willingly and generously dug deep into their pockets to help create this marvelous edifice dedicated to the memory of Sir Pherozeshaw Mehta who was not only one of the founders of the Indian National Congress in 1885, but was also a maker of the city of Bombay and its municipal governance. More importantly, Sir Pherozeshah was closely associated with the University of Bombay and became its Vice Chancellor in 1915. This Bhavan is truly a Crowning Glory dedicated to the man who was once known as the ‘Uncrowned King of Bombay’. Incidentally, this beautiful complex is the only edifice in the country dedicated to Sir Pherozeshah Mehta.

Sir Pherozeshah was the first Parsi to pass the M.A. degree of the Bombay University and during his career in the Senate; he vehemently resisted government interference and fought for the autonomy of the University.

Sitting majestically in the sylvan surroundings of what is now called ‘Vidyanagri’ Pherozeshah Mehta Bhavan & research Centre houses both, the Chair and the Department of Civics & Politics of the University. The Bhavan will soon be abuzz with multifarious activities including Research Centres, such as a ‘Centre for Good Governance’, for ‘Human Rights and Citizenship’ and a ‘Centre for the study of Mumbai’. These three Centres will focus on emerging multidisciplinary areas like political economy, human rights, urban history and problems of the city, new trends of governance and the emergent role of civil society.

The Bhavan has a well-equipped Auditorium, a Seminar Room, a Library cum Research Centre, Students Common Rooms and classrooms. As architect of this edifice, Mr. I.M. Kadri, former Sheriff of Mumbai, has not only excelled himself but added value by offering his professional services totally free of charge.

The total cost of building this complex has come to about Rs. 60 million. The entire amount to complete the construction and equipping of specialized facilities in the Bhavan has been a first time ever effort launched by the University of Mumbai, wherein the members of the Sir Pherozeshah Mehta 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations Committee have not only collected the entire funds from private citizens, trusts and companies, but have been permitted to construct the Bhavan privately through specialized agencies and hand over the same to the University of Mumbai on completion.

This magnificent edifice would not have been possible but for the generosity of Mr. Jamshed N. Guzder who has donated Rs. 12.5 million for constructing and equipping of the Auditorium, and the Zartoshty Brothers of Iran

Mehraban and Late Faridoon) who donated Rs. 9 million for the construction and equipping of the Library. Both the Library and the Auditorium have been named after the donors. Various Tata companies, ACC, L&T and the Bombay Community Public Trust have also contributed for this project.

It was truly a proud moment in the modern history of the community when philanthropist Jamshed Guzder formally handed over the Bhavan to the Dr. Vijay Khole, the Vice Chancellor of the University. Heart warming messages were received from the President of India and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Mehraban Jamshid Zartoshty who was the very first to contribute for this project, wrote in a message dated 22nd December 2006 from San Diego:

“Today, India is at the centre of the world. India is known here in the United States on account of its software industry and its brain power. I am delighted that the Inauguration of this Bhavan is at the hands of Mr. S M Krishna who as Chief Minister of Karnataka did more than anyone else to put India and Bangalore on the world map.

“I pay tribute to all our fellow donors and in particular to my friend Jamshedji Guzder and to my dear friend Homai Modi and Professor Nawaz Mody. These two ladies have worked amazingly hard to raise funds and bring this project to fruition.

“I am also very proud that all the funds were raised voluntarily and a major portion came from the Zoroastrian community. This cements the close bonds between Zoroastrians and Mumbai and Zoroastrians and India. As someone who lived, studied and did business in Mumbai for 16 years, I am very proud of my Indian connection. India has attained its rightful place in the world today. I wish Mumbai University all success and thank the University for facilitating this Bhavan in memory of the great and noble Sir Pherozeshah Mehta.”

Dr. Vijay Khole paid glowing tribute to the contribution of the Parsi community particularly in the field of education and singled out Sir Pherozeshah Mehta as “a great humanitarian who believed in the humanization of knowledge’.

Mr. Jamshed Guzder after whom the auditorium has been named was so thrilled with the designing of the Bhavan and the acoustics of the auditorium that he said, “I never imagined that it would be so beautiful”.

The Bhavan has been handed over to the University under a solemn agreement that for all times to come it will be called “Pherozeshah Mehta Bhavan & Research Centre” and used only for the department of Civics and Politics. It has also been agreed that the auditorium and library will continue to be named in perpetuity after the donors and no other building or structure will be put up in the plot of 1.9 acres earmarked for the Bhavan.

H.E. Mr. S.M. Kriishna referred to Sir Pherozeshah as “the tallest nationalist and conscience keeper of Indian society”. He felt that this magnificent edifice will “help repay the insurmountable debt that the University owes to this great man after a long gap of 91 years”.

Dr. Nawaz B. Mody who holds the Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Chair at the Bombay University gave the vote of thanks. Mrs. Homai Modi anchored the entire event with meticulous precision and aplomb. In fact speaker after speaker that evening paid glowing tribute to the sincerity, dedication and hard work put in by both these ladies for the successful completion of this landmark project in the history of the Bombay University.

The work of the ‘Sir Pherozeshah Mehta 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations Committee’ is finally over and its distinguished members indeed have much to be proud for. In 1994 the University of Mumbai had set up the ‘Sir Pherozeshah Mehta 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations Committee’ to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sir Pherozeshah Mehta in a befitting manner. The Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Vijay Khole chaired the Committee, while Mr. Jamshed N. Guzder served as Vice Chairman. Other members of the Committee included eminent citizens of Mumbai and scholars like Mr. B.H. Antia, Mrs. Homai N. Modi, Dr. Y.D. Phadke, Mr. N.H. Seervai, Dr. M.D. David and Mr. S.V. Vaidya. Dr. (Mrs.) Nawaz B. Mody served as Member Secretary of the Committee. The late Mr. H.J.H. Taleyarkhan, Mr. Nani A. Palkhivala, Mr. Madhav Gadkari and Mr. J.K.S. Nicholson have also been members of the Committee.