Died: Scylla Rustom Vatcha, 96, committed benefactor known for her immeasurable largesse to community causes and individuals in need of support as managing trustee of the Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Trust Fund (MPBJTF); on March 17, 2020 in Bombay.
"Scylla was a visionary who believed that philanthropy lies at the heart of human greatness. Her generosity was the outward expression of her inner attitude of compassion and loving kindness towards economically and physically challenged and elderly human beings in different forms of distress,” summed up Dinshaw Tamboly, chairman of the WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trust Funds (WZOTF) that was able to launch different schemes for the community thanks to Vatcha’s incessant funding from the Maneckbai Jeejeebhoy estate that she managed.
Scylla Vatcha: the essence of philanthropy
When the WZO Trust became operational in 1991, it mainly depended on Vatcha’s munificence. "Her response was always with alacrity and laced with generosity. Interacting and working closely with her was an education in itself… We learnt from her example that the essence of philanthropy was not about money but about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs and helping them,” acknowledged Tamboly. Magnanimous donations from her helped WZOTF uplift the poor farmers in Gujarat, motivate young full-time mobeds, promote self employment schemes by offering interest free financial loans, establish the Senior Citizens Centre and other residential facilities in Navsari, build the Sanatorium in Sanjan…
Maneckbai was a relative of Scylla’s late husband Rustom and the funds accruing from the sale of her estate at Pedder Road resulted in thousands of Zoroastrians receiving timely medical and educational assistance. "Give till it hurts” was Scylla’s credo, as related by her daughter-in-law Persis when the recently renovated toilet block at Doongerwadi in Bombay was inaugurated on January 14. A sizable donation of Rs 16 lakhs from MPBJTF had resulted in this improved facility.
Describing her as "a philanthropic... patron of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA),” chairman Khushroo Suntook who had known her for over five decades appreciated her generous donations sent annually. He particularly valued her evidence in favor of NCPA when Dr Jamshed Bhabha’s estate bequeathed to NCPA was being claimed as a heritage property.
Having known Scylla for the last 30 years and impressed with her "dedicated and untiring services and sacrifices,” noted solicitor Burjor Antia considered her "an archangel of our community. She was very methodical in her work and was a kind-hearted and compassionate person.” When she helped people throughout India, she would decide "all applications for help on merits irrespective of which small or big personality had recommended it.”
"Jal and I first got to know Silloo (as we called her) when the Hong Kong House was being built at Godrej Baug,” recalled Pervin Shroff, erstwhile trustee of the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao (ZCFHCM). "Silloo was on the Rayomand Committee, the ladies of which were instrumental in vetting the applicants (for housing in the mid 1980s). At that time Silloo introduced us to a few young students who had admissions for postgraduate programs abroad. Silloo’s trust was limited to India so the ZCFHCM stepped in to help out at her request.”
Having bonded over their mutual interest in healing, meditation and reading spiritual texts, on one of Pervin’s visits to Bombay, Scylla encouraged a few of her associates to take workshops with Pervin who shared her understanding and knowledge of the healing arts.
Persisting in her efforts "with courage and tenacity… in spite of a walker as her daily companion in the last few years,” the nonagenarian "never forgot a birthday, anniversary or any auspicious occasion; her good wishes were always the first for any member of our family!” appreciated Pervin.
"Despite the inordinate amount of social work that she did, she was always very modest and private about it,” remarked gynecologist and environmentalist Dr Anahita Pandole who commended Scylla’s "tremendous sense of purpose… razor sharp memory and a natural empathy for those who were less fortunate.”
Scylla continued to play an active role in the management of MPBJTF until the last couple of months, mentioned Persis. She marveled at the way the committed social worker would be at her desk at 9 a.m. every day to vet the loads of appeals they received. Preferring to aid deserving individuals directly in addition to extending support to institutions, her letterbox at home was filled with applications dropped in regularly. Scylla would remember everyone’s needs and problems. Persis recalled the number of occasions when desperate family members approached her saying the hospital was not releasing the body of their deceased relative as they were unable to clear the outstanding bills. Scylla’s prompt payment invariably ensured the last rites were duly performed the next day.
The benevolent lady whom Persis described as "bhanaar-ganaar (religious minded) had opted for cremation. She prayed regularly and during muktads had 12 vases on a table at her residence for the dear departed members of her family. Until the end she was also a trustee of the Pirojbai Vatcha Agiary at Fort.
Scylla’s schooling was at an Irish convent in Burma. "Very clever, she was always held up as an example,” fondly remembered her sister Jean Moos. Their family, that included parents Dr Kaikobad and Freny Jungalwalla, and their five children relocated from Burma to Bombay during World War II. "We almost came as refugees to India,” stated Moos reminiscing of those days on the steamer when Scylla was on crutches because she was recuperating from a fall but never once complained. "Stoic since those days, she would always think of others.” To assist the War efforts Scylla had enlisted for the Women’s Army Corps India. She would also participate in amateur theatricals when a student at St Xavier’s College from where she earned a BA (Hons) degree. After marriage she helped out at the R. S. Vatcha gas station on Hughes Road owned by her husband. Very sociable in those days, she entertained lavishly. Scylla took on the mantle of running the charities after Rustom’s demise nearly four decades ago.
"March was a particularly challenging month, losing two precious, beloved aunts in the space of five days,” remarked Rati Forbes, daughter of Scylla and Tehmi Gazdar’s (see "Applause for the accompanist”) elder sister Amy Bhabha.
"I symbiotically learnt a lot from her,” stated Persis who relocated to India over 15 years ago to look after Scylla when she had a fall. Describing her as "a doting grandmother,” Persis revealed that her healthy lifestyle ensured that she had no nagging medical complaints. Scylla was a vegetarian who refused to partake of even onion and garlic.
When she fell ill early this year she insisted on being taken to The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital where earlier she had facilitated the establishment of the Geriatric Wing. For orthopedic surgeon Dr Jamshed Bunshah, this accorded an opportunity to meet her for the first time despite having known her from the time he started his medical practice in 1994. During all these years he must have spoken to her over the phone for not more than five times. Viewing her as "an amazing person,” he mentioned that whenever he referred a deserving patient to her for financial assistance, his note was "always honored. I don’t think any patient ever came back without a donation.” During her hospital stay, when he personally thanked her for her unstinting support, she maintained, "There is no need to thank. It is my duty.”
The unassuming benefactor is survived by her son Sorab and sister Jean Moos.