A Jamshedi Navroz dinner, a heritage walk in the neighborhood and bus rides for youngsters marked the continuing celebrations for Rustom Baug’s (RB) centenary year. The events were conceptualized by celebrations committee member Hutoxi Doodhwala with Khushnuma Ferzandi and Roxane Khodaiji. Doodhwala made "special mention of disc jockey Mahiyar Engineer, the super tasty dinner by Zubin Rupa, the photography by Zal Cassinath… and the tenants who brought goodies for the table for all to partake” at the dinner.
Clockwise from above: seeing heritage sites from the top deck of a bus;
walking to heritage sites in Byculla; celebrating Navroz Photo: Zal Cassinath
"Around 55 enthusiasts, smartly turned out in T-shirts and caps with the Rustom Baug logo, assembled on the grounds on February 12 to get a feel of the history of Byculla… Noshir Lavangia (a certified guide with Maharashtra Tourism) provided interesting tidbits on each of the landmarks,” noted Doodhwala. A brief history of the Wadia family (that endowed the Baug) was followed by an amble to Masina Hospital where joint chief executive officer of the facility, Dr Vispi Jokhi "touched on the main building, a heritage structure, which needs urgent repairs and appealed for community support.” Stops at the 110-year-old Gloria Church and a pit stop for tea and khari biscuits provided by Porus Zainabadi of the Regal Restaurant followed. "We were surprised to hear that this Gothic-style church was originally located below the Mazagon Hill… The school attached to it was the alma mater of many of the students of RB… The warm hospitality offered at Regal sent us back in time when we stopped here for our mawa cakes and mutton patties before going for a movie to Palace Cinema next door,” stated Doodhwala.
Byculla Market, the Ambedkar Memorial Railway Hospital which once housed classes for the Elphinstone College, the M. B. Mewawala Agiary, where panthaky Ervad (Dr) Parvez Bajan filled the participants in on its history, were other stops. Next on the list was the Bhau Daji Lad Museum built in 1872, one of the oldest in the city. Walks past Regina Pacis Convent, the Byculla police station and the statue of Cursetji Manockji (Khada Parsi) followed. "From there we turned back home to RB where a delicious brunch awaited us.”
The colony holds a significant place for Sydneysiders as well. Said Farida Irani, "We are quite a few, may be about 60 of us, from RB. Mahrukh Mundal (Kasad) and I decided to have a small get-together at our Australian Zoroastrian Association (AZA) house on April 2, 2023 so people originating from RB could connect and celebrate the 100th anniversary of this amazing baug… Khushruk, Mahrukh’s sister and her husband Dyanesh Pai helped us organize delicious chaat. We booked the outdoors area of AZA house (Arbab Rustom Guiv Daremeher) for the celebration and around 33 attended. We had a great time connecting with each other. Dr Cyrus Irani (retired orthopedic surgeon in Sydney who has helped the community a lot) was present with his wife Helen.” F. J.