This has reference to the letter "Parsi grave in Bastar” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, August 21-September 6, 2021). The name on the grave is that of my father, Pestonji Navroji Kharas.
At the time of my father’s demise, I was 13 years old and a student of Cathedral and John Connon School. The story of this incident and his demise, as I recall, is as follows: My father was a keen hunter. He had gone to the Bastar forest area with his friend Mr Pundole of Duke’s drinks. They used to go out hunting together. On the day of the accident he requested Pundole to go ahead as he wanted to rest and would join him later with the guide.
After the incident the guide recounted that while they were in the forest my father shot a huge wild buffalo which fell on the ground and appeared to be dead. As my father walked towards the buffalo, it got up and charged. My father aimed his rifle at the animal and pulled the trigger, but the bullet got jammed. Apparently the buffalo was close enough to gore him to death, after which the animal fell down dead.
After a short time my mother, accompanied by her brother Pilloo Sakhidas, and her brother-in-law visited the burial site.
I cannot recall what they had done to construct a concrete cover over the grave with the marble plaque as shown in the photograph which appeared in Parsiana.
My father was the proprietor of Pestonji and Company located next to Albless Baug. He used to design and make jewelry with the help of four artisans in the shop. He had also set up an electroplating facility in the same premises for chrome and silver plating.
After his demise the business was managed by my uncle Pilloo and my mother. Later, the electroplating facility was moved to a factory building in Prabhadevi, while the jewelry business continued in the same premises.
PHEROZE KHARAS
pkharas@hotmail.com