During a simple ceremony on June 8, 2013 in the hall of the Kayani Bungli at the Anjuman dakhma, Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and his son Adar formally handed over to the trustees of the Poona Parsi Panchayat (PPP) the completed project of constructing a boundary wall for the Poona Doongerwadi premises. A jashan was performed in memory of the late Villoo Poonawalla, it being the third anniversary of her death on that day, mentions PPP trustee Adi Engineer in an email sent to Parsiana.
Dr Cyrus Poonawalla receiving salver from Adi Engineer as Adar Poonawalla looks on
Doongerwadi entrance
Memorial plaque
Audience
Immediately after the paidast of his late wife in 2010, Poonawalla had initiated construction of the boundary wall to prevent trespass and encroachment on the vast and valuable Doongerwadi grounds. "During the time of her (Villoo’s) death when we were at the dakhma I was shown a large (plot of) land belonging to the Poona Parsee Panchayat (PPP) which was being encroached on and needed protection. I immediately committed to build a suitable boundary wall which would go around the entire property... I am pleased to confirm that most of this work has been completed,” Poonawalla had earlier revealed to Parsiana (January 7, 2012). The running length of the wall, built at considerable personal expenditure by the philanthropist, is approximately three kilometers, Engineer’s email notes.
Thanking Poonawalla and his son for their very generous donation, PPP chairperson Roshan Chindhy eloquently appreciated their magnanimity. Trustee Polly Patel presented the duo with shawls and bouquets, while Engineer presented the senior Poonawalla a silver salver on the occasion, the email concludes.