When after college hours Noshir Gotla would work at his uncle’s egg shop the 16-year-old would overhear his relative discussing the share market with a Gujarati customer. When he joined Burmah Shell years later in 1954, from his Rs 195 salary he would set aside Rs 10 every month to invest in shares. That value grew and the 84-year-old Rustom Baug resident who lives a frugal life has donated, over the past seven years or so, two crore plus rupees (USD 272,554+) to various charities in Bombay and Pardi.
"He does not own a car or a scooter. His home does not have an AC (air conditioner), nor does he have marble flooring and concealed lighting. Till a few years back he travelled by bus. Yet he and his wife, Katy, have through their personal funds got the Bhabha bunglis renovated,” narrated social worker Anahita Desai at the October 18, 2020 morning reopening ceremony. Desai served to coordinate the efforts between the donors and the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) managed Doongerwadi. Her husband Yazdi is the chairman of the BPP but following a stroke in mid-April this year he has not been attending BPP meetings, functions, etc.
Top row: interior of the renovated Bhabha bunglis;
2nd row, from l: at the inauguration; Katy and Noshir Gotla
Clockwise from above: plaque commemorating the Gotlas’ donation; Katy,
her cousin Freny Behramkamdin, Noshir, his sister Dinoo Irani;
Shehnaaz Khambatta, Anahita Desai, Viraf Mehta, Kersi Randeria
Noshir told the gathering his wife jocularly used to refer to him as kanjoos (miserly) but, as he observed, "the money I saved has now been well used.” He said he was born in Bombay but moved to a relative’s place in Pardi for his schooling on account of indifferent health. Returning to Bombay he appeared for an accountancy exam "seven times,” failing each time. He then appeared for a diploma in commerce exam from the Indian Merchants’ Chamber and passed at the first attempt. He joined Burmah Shell and served the company till 1994. He was awarded an honorary MBA (master of business administration) from Shivaji University by Shiv Sena founder leader Bal Thackeray. Noshir jokingly termed the acronym, "Member of the Bekaar (useless) Association.”
A small band of invitees including BPP trustees Kersi Randeria and Viraf Mehta and former BPP trustees Dinshaw Tamboly, Arnavaz Mistry and Khojeste Mistree were present for the scheduled 10.30 a.m. function that had to be delayed by 40 minutes as a paidust (funeral) was under way at another bungli. BPP deputy chief executive officer Shehnaaz Khambatta had mentioned in the invite that the two Bhabha bunglis were renovated at a cost of Rs 47 lakhs (USD 64,000).
Visiting the site at least twice a week with the contractors Nanji Mistry and his two sons Anil and Mehul, Noshir was "involved in every small detail,” from the tiles used, wall color shades, crockery, cutlery, cabinets for prayer books and so on, noted Anahita. Viraf, who gave the vote of thanks, noted subsequently that the Doongerwadi manager Vistaspar Mehta and his staff had been "very helpful and assisted in getting the work expedited.” The bunglis were to be inaugurated in April but because of the pandemic there was a delay. The number of invitees was also restricted on account of the partial lockdown.
Among the charities the Gotlas have assisted are the Helping Hands Charitable Trust run medical home for lonely senior citizens (Rs 1.11 crores, USD 151,267), the Victoria Memorial School for the Blind at Tardeo (Rs 36 lakhs, USD 49,060) and the Contractor Chawl at Byculla (Rs 5.3 lakhs, USD 7,222) where 21, mostly senior, Parsis reside.
"In the last century, Parsi sethias donated lavishly from their personal funds to set up institutions, build bunglis, renovate and restore agiaries and religious institutions. Sadly in the last few decades very few such philanthropists are found. Most of the work of renovation and maintenance (has) been done through donations from trusts and small amounts collected from community members,” stated Anahita. "So it is all the more commendable for an individual to give from his/her personal funds a huge amount for restoring a community/religious place. And it is even more commendable when the individual is not a titan of industry or a known face but for want of a better word just an ordinary Parsi bawaji.” Anahita noted that Noshir had contested the BPP trusteeship election in 2011 against her and Muncherji Cama, which Cama won.
Chatting with Parsiana after the event, Noshir said his son Percy, who is settled in Singapore, is married to Lily, a lady of Chinese descent. They have never claimed a share in the wealth or objected to their parents’ philanthropy. Lily, who is a chartered accountant, gave up a lucrative job and now devotes her time to voluntary causes, church activities and the like, he observed.
When Viraf came to wish Noshir goodbye, Parsiana informed the donor that the trustee worked in an equity investment firm. With a glint in his eye, Noshir advised him to "buy L&T Finance.”