More than 30 years after the release of her first novel, The Turning, on Jamshedi Navroz, Armin Wandrewala’s next novel, The Moment of the Banyan, was released fortuitously on yet another auspicious day, Gudi Padva, March 30, 2025. The venue of the launch was also emotional for the author, the Jamasp Tata Pavilion, under the auspices of the Bandra Tata Blocks Welfare Association (BTBWA), in the Parsi colony where Wandrewala grew up, notes a press release.
Dr Nilufer Bharucha, distinguished academician and author, released the book. Also gracing the occasion was Bharucha’s husband, Dr Sridhar Rajeswaran, professor and poet.
Bharucha commended the novel in glowing terms, particularly the "solid research” she said she saw had gone into it, the minutiae it contained, prophesying that the book was not just relevant today, but would remain relevant in the years to come. The novel contains moments of joy, happiness, also sadness and tragedy. Overall, it is a positive read!
Rajeswaran read out a wonderful poem he had written for Wandrewala, which she protested was far too generous, and more than she deserved.
Bharucha commented that she saw bits of Wandrewala in one of the characters, to which the author laughingly responded: "Only bits!”
From l: Dr Nilufer Bharucha,
Armin Wandrewala and Dr Sridhar
Rajeswaran
The Moment of the Banyan, published by Vakils, Feffer and Simons Private Limited, though a work of fiction, is more than just a novel. It is the story of an extended multi-generational Parsi Zoroastrian family set from 1895 over the next 100 years or so: their lives, loves, hates, betrayals, trials and triumphs. The novel provides glimpses of the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian way of life in the villages, towns, the then Bombay, the diaspora abroad, also insights into the Zoroastrian religion, the culture, rituals, reet rivaaj (customs), the delicious cuisine and colorful language.
It is a human story, which could be the story of any family, weaving into the fictional narrative the special stories of this minuscule yet highly visible and vibrant community. These stories have been crying out to be documented and preserved, and now are! As Wandrewala says, the demographics do not paint a very healthy picture, and our unique stories need to be told and preserved for posterity, for our future generations, lest they fade away and be lost in the mists of time. The book is a repository for generations to come — to be read, re-read and handed down! The author said this was her humble tribute, her gift to the community.
Wandrewala thanked the trustees of the Bai Hirabai Tata Memorial Trust for permission to use the Pavilion, the managing committee of the BTBWA, the volunteers, Drs Bharucha and Rajeswaran, their research associate Kirti Risbud, Bimal Mehta and his team from Vakils, and the attendees.
The Moment of the Banyan is available online at Amazon: India, US, UK — which also serves Europe — and Canada, M & J Services, at select bookstores, and from the publishers.