The community worldwide has rallied to help Cherag Soli Desai, the 20-year-old student who was grievously injured in a motorcycle accident in the early hours of December 16, 2012 while riding pillion behind Ervad Kayvan Meher Dastur who died on the spot (see "Untimely end,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, January 21, 2013). The enormous expenditure entailed — incurred and ongoing — being beyond the family’s financial means, appeals from community organizations have helped to raise funds to pay the youngster’s medical bills.
Desai, who had been in a coma and on the ventilator at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Belapur, New Bombay since December 16, 2012, was moved to the Hinduja Hospital at Mahim on January 26, 2013. When Parsiana spoke to his father Soli on February 22, 2013, we were informed that though Cherag’s progress was "good” according to the doctors, the road to recovery would be long. The right side of his brain is still affected, leaving his left side paralyzed, and four fractures remain on his face. Two facial fractures were operated on earlier, but the boy is still being fed through a tube. A blood clot was removed from his brain and a fractured leg operated on at the New Bombay hospital.
The hospital bills amounted to Rs 12 lakh in New Bombay, and so far more than five lakh rupees have been spent at the Hinduja Hospital. The remaining cost is estimated at another Rs 10 lakhs at least, Soli said. He was grateful for the amounts received so far, with the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Funds having donated Rs 6.5 lakhs, the Lady Navajbai Tata Trust Rs 4.3 lakhs, and relatives and friends sending amounts ranging from Rs 1,000 to one lakh. An appeal for funds published by Parsi Times on February 2, 2013 elicited donations as well. A similar appeal from Soli’s cousin Firdosh Bhathena in the USA, from Malcolm Deboo of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe in the UK and Kumi J. Daroowala of Bombay’s Rustom Baug whose Winter Relief Fund has contributed Rs 10,000 and has taken on the responsibility of generating financial assistance to Cherag, have all borne fruit.
Cherag trained to become a priest at the Dadar Athornan Institute and his grandfather served at the Rustom Framna Agiary in Dadar Parsee Colony for many years.
Cheques payable to "Mr Soli Desai” may be sent to him at Sripal Complex, B-5 Yamunaji, Virar (West) Dist Thana 401303, Maharashtra, India; Tel: +919960021017; email: solimdesai2011@hotmail.com.