The moment I learnt that social reformer Behramji Malbari (pictured) lies buried in the Parsi cemetery in Simla, it immediately brought back memories going to 1940, connecting his name to the narrow road tunnel some 80 or 100 ft below the Mall, near the Band Stand.
It was opposite the Parsi (Jassawala) owned Blessington Hotel and opened up on the other side of the road with a variety of shops. The Shroffs, Deboos, Sappy Dinshaw, Adi Daruwalla, Pajnigaras, Masters, the Karbharys and the Sorabjis amongst others referred to it as "Behramji-ni-tunnel,” jokingly or otherwise no one could say.
However now that we know a celebrated Simla Parsi once lived there in the first dozen years of the 20th century, it may indeed have been named after this remarkable gentleman from a bygone era.
RUSI SORABJI
California, USA
rustam@sorabji.org
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