A 100 days before her 100th birthday Roshan Shroff’s family sent out invitations for the occasion. When the centenarian walked in on the arm of her niece Maharukh Vazifdar at Bandra’s Otter’s Club on September 13, 2024 she greeted each one by name as they wished her. Maharukh’s brother, Jimmy Motafram, was present with wife Perviz and children Pirzad and Kaizeen, who had flown in from abroad especially for the celebration. Also present was Maharukh’s husband Sohrab.
Centenarian Roshan Shroff (above and top) with family
The daughter of Khorshedbanoo and Maneckshah Shroff (he lived till age 97) and cousin of economist A. D. Shroff, Roshan’s siblings were Dara, Homai (who lived till 103) and Mani. Mani and her husband Faredoon Motafram, were based in Palanpur as he worked with Tata Vegetable Products. The firm closed down in 1951. In their absence Mani’s children Jimmy and Maharukh were cared for by Roshan masi (maternal aunt). Roshan, who never married, spent her longest working stint of 15 years behind the counter at the Bargain Basement of Bombay Dyeing.
Maharukh has fond memories of her aunt who "lived on the ground floor of her father’s bungalow and we on the first floor. Being unmarried, young and fond of music, dancing, travel, acting in concerts, she would play with us and take us wherever she went. So naturally we became her favorite nephew and niece. She was like a foster parent. Mom and she went out and did everything together and little me tagged along to movies, shopping et al,” said Maharukh, responding to Parsiana’s queries.
Roshan is socially popular, goes out with groups and likes Western music concerts. She used to travel to nearby places and went on one memorable trip to Europe and the UK. She is ever ready to go on outings and enjoys the occasional drive, says Maharukh. Reading the newspapers mindfully, she preserves clippings of interest for family members. As a Zoroastrian, she is open-minded, not rigid in religious matters, revealed family sources.
Her niece-in-law, Perviz, narrated anecdotes of the birthday girl’s spirit and how both her wards loved living it up with her as there were few rules and a generous heart to create fond memories with.
Mehroo Kotval