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The legal profession in Bombay in the late 50s was a different scene altogether. The dual system was prospering (a solicitor had no right of appearance before the courts, which was the preserve of counsel, who did not deal directly with clients but only through the instructing solicitor). Most solicitor firms were Hoon, Bawa and Mangaldas (one man show) types; engaged largely in real estate conveyancing and litigation. They operated from Pickwickian offices, wading through rotting yellow-paged briefs covered with dust. Legal notices were unduly long ("I met your Mr Desai yesterday on the staircase of the High Court when he took out a sheaf of papers from his left coat pocket and gave it to me. Upon being asked of its contents, Mr Desai said that he would go back to his office and record the contents; whereupon, I protested, blah blah blah”). Five rupees for each page of the notice and 10 rupees for each page of a conveyance containing a million redundant recitals of title, were standard fees. Burjor Antia articled as a clerk under his Master (as they were pompously called), one Framroz Sukhia, a senior partner of Vaccha and Company and a simple good soul. During his three-year stint with Sukhia, Antia learnt the ropes of the profession.
The solicitors’ exams, conducted by the Bombay Incorporated Law Society, was not an easy affair. In those days, it was even more of a memory test. Learning Avesta prayers by heart enabled Burjor to pass this exam at first attempt — no easy task. As war drums on the Chinese border grew louder, Antia’s career as a solicitor commenced on May 1, 1962 with the venerable firm of Mulla and Mulla and Craigie Blunt and Caroe.
It was so natural for Antia to join Mulla and Mulla. Over the decades, this firm would become synonymous with Burjor Antia. In 1962, Mulla was India’s premier full services law firm. Founded by the legendary Sir Dinshaw Mulla, a legal genius who went on to become a judge of the Bombay High Court and a Privy Councillor; and his brother Rustomji, in 1895; the firm housed eminent Parsi solicitors — Nadirsha Mulla, Shiavax Vakil, Nanavati, Khambatta, Noshir Petigara — all doyens commanding great respect. In just 10 years, in 1972, Antia was elevated as an equity partner. His continuing innings with the firm has already crossed 57 years. Without the slightest exaggeration, Antia is today a part and parcel of Mulla and Mulla folklore.
He got married rather late, at 40, to Roshen Hormusji Billimoria, at the Dadysett Atash Behram.
Antia is a solid lawyer, having a mastery over the first principles of law in his areas of practice. In his time and era, there was no super specialization. Although essentially he is a disputes resolution lawyer, he also had a substantial practice in non-contentious matters like banking and finance, indirect taxes (particularly, excise — including the watershed Voltas case which made him nationally known) and real estate. In the courts, he was a doughty fighter. Never nasty, but not giving any quarter to his opponents either. When he was fighting for a Parsi charity against a villainous builder (mostly, pro bono), he became a tiger.
Years ago, he was representing one of the warring parties in the Parsi Dairy Farm family litigation. Due to some friend’s insistence, I had to intervene on behalf of an opponent. Within minutes of receiving our legal notice, Antia was on the phone (always landline). "Dikra (Child),” he said, "how can you litigate against an institution which feeds doodh, mithai and malai (milk, sweetmeats and cream) to our entire community?” We were flummoxed. Next morning, we were in his room exploring a potential settlement. As is his wont, he entered the cabin, prayed fervently, summoned his favorite peon to order tea for us; when we informed him that his other opposing solicitor (a non-Parsi) had been waiting for a long time in the reception, he kindly called him into his chamber and apologized for the delay.
Antia is a hands-on professional. At 85, he attended virtually every conference and court hearing in the recent Mumbai Metro matter (Antia is a trustee of the Iranshah, Anjumanna and Banaji Atash Behrams, Aslaji Agiary and Bhikha Behram Well and several other associations in Bombay, Surat, Navsari, Poona as also other charitable associate organizations) making a total of 25. Until a few years ago, he was an ubiquitous figure in the High Court, darting from one court room to the other. Clients would walk with him from Mulla’s office to the courts, only to snatch a few minutes of his advice. At times, when he was hassled by a dozen juniors in the morning, he would impatiently blurt out, "Arré bawa, jaldi bolo! Ghadiyal né chaavi marvano bhi time nathi! Arre, nukh kaapvano bhi time nathi (Oh dear, speak up, fast! I don’t have time to wind my wrist watch or even trim my nails)!”
Tenacious and detail oriented, Antia was a feared opponent; not easy to overcome. For legal work and otherwise he travelled throughout India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Delhi to Darjeeling.  He also travelled throughout the world from Los Angeles to Tokyo but in his view Switzerland is heaven on earth.
He was a part time professor of constitutional law at the Government Law College, Bombay (then, the most prestigious alma mater of Nani Palkhivala, Hormusji Seervai, Fali Nariman, Soli Sorabjee)…
Antia has served his community and faith so admirably that he deserves being called the optimal Parsi. Trustee of fire temples, several large Parsi charities, estates of philanthropic Parsis and also the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. Antia has devoted oodles of time and money to further the cause of his co-religionists.
While he has always given primacy to Parsis, secular causes too have benefitted. On his 75th  and 80th birthdays, he financed 75 and 80 Jaipur (artificial) legs, and 75 and 80 free cataract surgeries.
Undoubtedly, he is a traditionalist in religious matters, but never rabid. In his numerous articles in the Jam-e-Jamshed Antia has advocated peaceful co-existence between the orthodox and reformists without passing value judgment on either. Since the last 10 years, Antia has turned a vegetarian and teetotaller. He practices yoga and pranayama twice daily, which accounts for the youthful glow on his octogenarian face.

Tribute

We are gathered here on this date,

Mr Burjor Antia’s 85^th birthday to

celebrate.

During this period of his life span,

He has done more good deeds than most men can.

He sits on the boards of many a trust,

But claims of charity always come first.

Money has never been his claim to fame,

But to help the poor is indeed his aim.

Of his childhood, we are unaware, it’s true,

But his parents’ and teachers’ scholarly knowledge he did accrue.

Religious studies he certainly did imbibe,

For on our religion he is a well-known scribe.

To spread the understanding of Zoroastrianism is a self-made task,

Create pride in our heritage both in young and old is what he asks,

For his legal excellence and honesty, he is well-known,

Keeps so busy that he never knows how the time has flown.