Reprinted and edited with permission from Dr Vispi Jokhi’s blog: https//vhjokhi.blogspot.com
A long innings came to a relatively peaceful end on August 16, 2024 when my mother Piroja passed away at the age of 98. Sadly, during her last few years dementia had set in. However, my sister Pervin and caregivers looked after her very well to a dignified end. As I reflect on her long life I have the difficult task of putting in a few words a lifetime of experiences and also try and bring out the essence of her personality.
Her roles as mother and family matriarch, teacher and more at the J. B. Vachha High School for Parsi Girls (JBV), businesswoman and entrepreneur, alert citizen and reformer have been captured in her own words in "Rebel with a cause” (Parsiana, December 21, 2017).
Piroja Jokhi: hard work and intelligence
She loved me to a fault and could, like most mothers, be blind to my weaknesses. However, she instilled values of integrity and generosity in both her children. Our parents gave up a comfortable life in Gujarat to settle in Bombay to enable us to get a good education. My sister became a chartered accountant with Godrej and Boyce Mfg Co Ltd and I, an orthopedic surgeon. At present I am the chief cultural officer of Masina Hospital. For her grandchildren she was a strong influence: a friend and guide to my nephew Kayzad with whom she had long conversations and debates; my daughter Delna and she shared a bond of love which will remain forever. Both her grandchildren called her Mumaiji and Pila was her pet name. For my cousins she was an inspiring mother figure. The feelings they have expressed in the last few days make me understand how great her impact was. To my wife Daisy, she became a mother; she listening more to her than she did to me. She also was Mumaiji to my nephew’s wife Natasha and a loving great-grandmother to Ariana with whom she would play. With my Dad Homi she shared a partnership where intelligence and hard work combined to convert many ideas into successful business ventures. She was a very hard worker and an amazing cook.
She had a very long innings as a teacher at JBV. That she learnt and excelled in Hindi to get this job is a testimony to her tenacity and determination. She started giving tuitions in the evening and conducting school tours during the vacations. These served the dual purpose of earning extra income for the family and an opportunity for us children to travel. On retirement, she ran the School’s canteen. Unfortunately, she was not able to participate in the institution’s centenary celebrations in June 2024.
As pioneers of cable television way back in the 1980s, Jokhi Cables became a household name. From simple cable wired connections over which movies played on VCR were transmitted via wires, splitters and amplifiers to later satellite television and finally Internet Broadband, Jokhi Cables remained a relevant business till recently. These bold ventures were attempted by her without any business qualification or background, conducting them in her own unique style using native wisdom and embracing technology, albeit with some reluctance. Her example inspired her nephew Zubin Gandavia to achieve unprecedented business success, a fact he readily acknowledges.
In her last few decades she began to express her views on a number of subjects ranging from religion, community and national issues to spirituality (see https://pirojasreflections.wordpress.com).
She wrote boldly using research and life experiences to express viewpoints which were radical and reformist. She posed questions and offered practical solutions on many vexed issues. She fearlessly faced criticism from her detractors. She took on the high and mighty in the community and at times received harsh, abusive language, but was never deterred. Her thoughts on the disposal of the body after death created a storm in the community but resulted in catalyzing some reforms which to this day are a work in progress. As a family we respected her final wish to give of herself in death, donating her frail body for medical education and research. As in life so in death, this act may stir up a controversy, but we are of the firm conviction that we as family have done our duty towards her and I feel more families may be inspired to follow suit.
Rather than mourn for my parents, I have chosen to celebrate their lives and achievements. I pray that I may prove worthy of the legacy they have left behind.
"Laced with love”
Meher Gandevia-Billimoria
My aunt Piroja Jokhi was extraordinary in countless ways. As a family, we have all experienced her deep love and warmth, absorbed invaluable lessons and discovered how to navigate life through the inspiring example she set.
Her career was a testament to her perseverance; she poured her heart and soul into every task she undertook. As an entrepreneur, she managed the canteen at a school where she nourished the children with scrumptious meals laced with love. Later, she conducted tours to different destinations. Those who have been with her will vouch for that fact that she looked after everyone on the trip like family, ensuring she catered to their individual tastes so that they had a memorable time.
Always ahead of the curve, she started the cable television business almost as soon as it came into existence. She not only launched it in her area, but also helped my brother Zubin Gandavia set it up. I remember a couple of years ago, even from her hospital bed she was instructing her daughter Pervin on which shop would provide a better bargain on the wires and routers.
Piroja fui (father’s sister) was a passionate advocate for community issues, utilizing writing as a powerful tool for change. Her practical, solution-oriented articles not only highlighted critical challenges but also proposed action- able solutions, sparking off thoughtful dialogs. While many found her insights motivating, others expressed differing opinions, contributing to an energetic exchange of views.
She had an exhaustive repertoire of recipes and could prepare almost anything from patrel, to chocolates, to pickles, to dar ni pori, etc. For my dad’s prayers, she would prepare chocolates to place along with the chasni (sacred offerings of fruit, etc). All her dishes were more than just food, they were expressions of her love and care, and they created lasting memories for all of us. As a child, I remember the cake she would bake and send for every birthday. Later, after every visit to her home, my children and I would return with her goodies.
As a child, I eagerly anticipated the two weeks I spent at her house every summer. I vividly remember waking up each morning and heading to the kitchen to see what delightful breakfast she and Homi fua were preparing for me. I still cherish the joy of playing cards with them and my cousins, and the extra homemade ghee she generously added to my favorite dal chawal. She always made sure I enjoyed the season’s first mango before I returned home.
Whether caring for her mother Tehmina, supporting her brother and husband, or extending her boundless generosity to her extended family and loved ones, she left a legacy of giving. She made meaningful donations, her generosity touching many lives. She once explained that I had the opportunity to serve, inquiring in jest if I needed four beds to sleep!
When she received the last piece of jewelry from her mother, she divided it into seven portions, ensuring that each of her nieces received a share.
Piroja fui exemplified a life of purpose and compassion through her actions and values. As a trailblazer, she left an enduring legacy of cherished memories and profound influence on all of us who had the privilege of knowing her.
Endnote
Finding it difficult to engage priests from Bombay to recite the four-day obsequies, eventually priests from Poona met the family’s needs. The search for a suitable venue for the uthamna finally ended at the Sohrab Palamkote Hall in Dadar.