Arnie (Arnavaz) Mehta who wrote "Merry month of May” (Parsiana, February 7-20, 2022), a nostalgic account of her childhood days spent in Davier, is my first cousin (kaka-ni-dikri — father’s brother’s daughter). The house in the photograph was our ancestral home in Davier. In her piece there are references to Gulki (Goolbai), my mother, and to Keku kaka, my father. Mehta has also mentioned that "Keku kaka’s children Rati, Adi, and Fredy (myself) were closest to us, and with them we enjoyed a happy, carefree and fun filled childhood.” So true!
Mehta also refers to our teachers, Bhagwanji and Premo (the compounder). I did study at "Gam ni school” for two years. Because of that, the late Dastur Khurshed Dabu (who was principal of the Surat Parsi Orphanage) made me skip the third standard and promoted me to the fourth standard. Bhagwanji and Premo were excellent teachers, to which I can testify.
Mehta did not reveal that she scored 198 out of 200 in mathematics at the SSC level.
Rati, Adi, and I were all educated in Parsi orphanages. Rati was so young that her navjote was performed in the presence of Lady Hamabai Petit at the Avabai Petit Girls Orphanage in Bandra. Adi was educated at the Petit Orphanage in Parel and later in Poona.
The Patel family’s ancestral bungalow in Davier
Adi passed away in Chicago on the day Barak Obama made history when he was elected the first colored President of the USA. Rati passed away at the age of 91, on August 15, 2022. I was very close to her; she stepped into Goolbai’s shoes and took good care of me. All her life she made time to help others. A beautiful soul.
I have remained in touch with Rumi, Roshan, and Arnie (Homi kaka’s children).
D. V. M. Patel (of Daver and Patel Law firm, located diagonally opposite Metro Cinema) and noted jurist Fali Nariman were regular visitors at kaka’s house, as were jurists Nani Paklhivala, Shiavax Vakil and the Chiniwalla brothers, to name a few. I am still in touch with Nariman.
Both Bacha kaki (aunt) and Homi kaka were truly noble souls, and soft-spoken. Goolbai received respect from both of them. I recall that whenever kaka was reading The Times of India I would snatch it away because I wanted to read it first. He would not raise his voice but would allow me to read the newspaper. Naturally, Rati, Adi and I felt the void when we lost our father. However, kaka and kaki did their best, loving us as if we were their own. Their contribution cannot be measured in dollars and cents. Because of their support, I am certain that Goolbai’s life was made more bearable.
Homi kaka, though not politically inclined, used to participate in agricultural fairs conducted by the then government. When I was on vacation, he would take me to such events. At one of these fairs, I met Bombay’s chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan in Vasai. I met Shantilal Shah, law minister in Morarji Desai’s cabinet, at the Agricultural School for the Blind at Bhilad. One of my best memories is of meeting Godavari Paruleker, a left-leaning freedom fighter and a prominent figure in the Warli Revolt of 1945.
We six were part of one happy, united family, thanks to Goolbai, Bacha kaki and Homi kaka.
May you liveth healthy the nights you liveth is the prayer of the Patels.
FRAMROZE K. PATEL
West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
goolbai56@gmail.com