At the inauguration of the restored Dhunbai Tarachand lower bungli at Doongerwadi on January 31, 2021, the 74-year-old donor Soonu Buhariwalla broke down while recalling her late husband, Hoshang, in whose memory she made the handsome donation of Rs 18 lakhs. "I loved my husband very much. I want to be with him,” she cried, her voice breaking. She described him as a "noble, generous hearted husband who helped all... My husband protects me...when people try to trick me... I pray that even in my next life I get the same husband but not so much money because I have found that many people try to cheat you.” She and her husband invested wisely in shares. Their only child, son Burzin, whose name also appears on the commemorative plaque inside the bungli along with Hoshang and two others, died 22 years ago.
From l, 1st row: Soonu and Hoshang Buhariwalla;
renovated Tarachand bungli; inset: plaque;
2nd row, standing: Karyesh and Sherry Patel, Kersi Randeria, Anahita Desai,
Viraf Mehta, Xerxes Dastur; seated: Armaity Tirandaz, Soonu;
Shehnaaz Khambatta, Vistaspar Mehta, Khushru Sukhadia;
3rd row: audience; interior view of the bungli Photos: Farokh Mojia
Soonu told the gathering she suffered from Hepatitis C, a liver disorder. But in the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) she found "my strength. (WAPIZ chief executive officer) Anahita Desai has been a pillar of strength. She is a good advisor.”
Speaking at the event held in the bungli, Desai termed Soonu, "a living embodiment of ‘Parsi thy name is charity.’” Following the death of Hoshang in July last year, the elderly lady has donated "more than two crore rupees (USD 274,685) to various community causes.” She has also "donated her bungalow in Khardi to Ahura Support,” a trust that works with differently-abled persons, noted Desai.
Social workers and friends Karyesh and Sherry Patel convinced Soonu to renovate a bungli at Doongerwadi. Desai mentioned that the Dadar resident opted for the 100-year-old lower bungli as she wished to assist the poor who use its facility where the charges are lower compared to those situated higher up in the complex. "She was very involved in the project and gave suggestions... She has a very astute business sense and selected the right contractor,” Khushru Sukhadia for the job. Desai noted Sukhadia had placed a portrait of Zoroaster in the bungli and treated the renovation as "not just another commercial project.”
A jashan preceding the inauguration was performed by Ervads Darius and Yazad Bajan. Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Armaity Tirandaz thanked Soonu on behalf of the BPP that manages Doongerwadi. Other BPP trustees present were Kersi Randeria, Viraf Mehta and Xerxes Dastur. BPP deputy chief executive officer Shehnaaz Khambatta welcomed the guests while Doongerwadi manager Vistaspar Mehta and BPP staff members were on hand to assist.