Dhunjishah (Dhunji) Naterwalla "was instrumental in raising the standard of living for the pallbearers… He was a strong fighter for their rights… They were very poorly paid earlier,” a distraught Chandbibi Zaidi, president of the Mumbai Mazdoor Sabha (MMS) told Parsiana right after his uthamna. The 80-year-old general secretary of the Sabha passed away on September 3, 2022 after a
prolonged illness. The MMS has represented the workers and office staff of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital (PGH) for several years in their collective bargaining with the trustees.
Erstwhile BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta had negotiated at least four or five settlements with Naterwalla. "He was a very fair man…considerate and respectful,” noted Mehta, of his onetime schoolmate.
To ex BPP trustee Kersi Randeria, Naterwalla was a "trade unionist who became a friend… I found him extremely fair in his dealings.” Instrumental in working out a voluntary retirement scheme for BPP workers and staff with him (that was never implemented), Naterwalla held the welfare of employees "very close to his heart,” said Randeria. Past BPP trustee Noshir Dadrawala, who negotiated three union settlements with Naterwalla and Zaidi, told Parsiana that he was a "good friend to many.” Having known the trade unionist since the mid-1980s when Dadrawala worked with the PGH as assistant secretary, he stated that he learnt a lot from him about the art of union settlements. "He often took a strong stand on issues but was never violent in thought, word and deeds… His style was firm yet gentle.” Naterwalla will be remembered for his "balanced approach” between workers and employees, said Dadrawala.
Parsiana’s request for comments from BPP chairwoman Armaity Tirandaz was met with the response: "We will give an official response through the BPP.” None was received till the time of going to the press.
Top and above, 2nd from l: Dhunjishah Naterwalla with Kersi Randeria (l),
Chandbibi Zaidi (r) and pallbearers Photo: Jasmine D. Driver
"Prior to immersing himself completely in the field of trade unionism” Naterwalla was employed with the Tata Group of companies and more particularly the Swadeshi Mills, stated a condolence message from the Sabha. After the closure of the Mills, Naterwalla "plunged into the trade union field with full energy and led the battle from the front for more than two decades.” He took up the cause of workmen "all over Bombay, Thana, Nasik, Goa and Gujarat. Neither natural calamities nor his own sickness or grief ever prevented him from attending office daily” till he was bedridden from November 2021, noted the write-up.
The doughty unionist is survived by his son Urmaze.