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Died: Dr Mehroo Dhanjisha Bengalee, 82, eminent educationist and first lady vice chancellor of the Bombay University, erstwhile trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and Zoroastrian representative on the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on May 21, 2014 following renal failure.
"Dear madam who brought change in the lives of so many in this country…was humane, very accommodative, very sensitive,” appreciated Dr Rajan Welukar, current vice chancellor of the University of Mumbai at the condolence meeting convened by the BPP in  honor of its former trustee at the Indian Merchants’ Chamber on June 19. Four/five new buildings in the University campus were constructed during her tenure as vice chancellor, she being able to secure funds from the government as also the University Grants Commission, remarked Welukar. In favor of an interdisciplinary approach, she introduced 41 new degree/diploma/certificate programs that promoted vocationalization of education.

 

 

 

 

 

Her intellect, integrity, sincerity, helpfulness were commended by most of the speakers that evening. As elaborated senior counsel Nadir Modi, "Her industry had to be seen to be believed.” Irrespective of her health or other commitments, she would invariably make time for those who approached her.
During her BPP trusteeship from 1986-96, over 500 flats were constructed, pointed out BPP trustee Khojeste Mistree who had interacted with her from the time the Athravan Educational Trust sought to establish a chair for Zoroastrian Studies at the University of Bombay. Although "she was empathetic to our cause, this project got shelved” once she retired as vice chancellor, said Mistree, hoping to pursue their efforts once again. He also viewed her as "strongly traditional…incredibly honest/upright,” and recalled how she had dissented from the other trustees and maintained that the body of a Parsi lady who has married out of the community should not be permitted to be consigned at the Doongerwadi. A founder member of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ), they had recommended her name on the NCM and found her helpful when visas had to be procured for Pakistani nationals keen to make a pilgrimage tour to India.
During the three years when BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta and Bengalee were co-trustees, she came across as "very humane, kind, always on time… had great empathy for the poor.” In the last few months she was in the process of finalizing an agreement with the BPP to surrender her Cusrow Baug flat after her demise on the understanding that the BPP donate Rs 54 lakhs to the trust that she had founded. Mehta also read a tribute from Dinshaw Tamboly who had contested and won her BPP seat and thereafter forged "a long and genuine friendship.” Whenever Tamboly needed assistance on educational matters, he would draw on her expertise and conversely Bengalee would invite him to make presentations at the NCM on issues where he was better informed.
All over India there are 17 colleges and 29 schools established by Parsis, Bengalee had informed Parsiana during an interview (see "Concentrating on the Commission,” May 21, 2007) and was keen to approach the government for reservation of seats for the community. She had then maintained, "Most people do not realize that the best education is here. It has become a craze, a kind of madness to study abroad.” Under the aegis of the NCM she took up a three-month study on "The training and employment opportunities for Parsi Zoroastrians in Parsi establishments after SSC/HSC.” 
According to a progress report she had sent Parsiana for the year April 2008-March 2009, she attended 46 meetings, went on several tours, undertook two research studies, tackled many issues and attended to a large number of complaints. She even attended a special meeting with then Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to discuss reservation of seats for Parsi students in institutions established by Parsis, the problem of encroachment of Parsi properties and membership of the State Minorities Commission (see "Busy year for Bengalee,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, June 21, 2009).
"A trustee must be an educated individual, emotionally balanced, courageous and committed in spirit, curious and critical in thought, and creative and caring in action — an integrated personality,” Bengalee had opined when Parsiana had sought her views on an ideal trustee. It was during her tenure as trustee that the BPP introduced the Holiday Programme for Youth (HPY), Bengalee’s brainchild. This flagship project being now in its 28th year, its coordinator Azmin Mistry Vania referred to the conceiver as "a visionary, legend, inventor, master creator.”  
Describing her as "a human dynamo (with) boundless energy, zest for life, passion for teaching,” her former student and subsequently her peer Dr Elaine Charles who was principal of St Xavier’s Institute of Education (XIE) mentioned that Bengalee "always struck me as a woman of substance,” and dedicated an acrostic poem to her mentor. Yet another poem composed and read out in her honor that evening was by another ex-student, Freny Mehta, principal of the Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, who stated, "I owe my entire career to her.” In her "ode to Dr (Ms) Bengalee/Powerful pillar of the Parsi community,” Mehta described  her as "Firm, steady and strong/To you, the young and old did throng…”

 

 

 

 

 The only two projects for which the BPP is praised today were both initiated by Bengalee, claimed Rati Wadia, former principal of Queen Mary School, alluding to the HPY and the Punchayet’s efforts in conducting career conferences and workshops, offering coaching assistance, awarding scholarships and promoting entrepreneurs. Wadia chose to describe the "beloved teacher and professor of thousands of teachers and principals as ‘the guru of gurus.’” Cheerful and energetic, she would breeze into her classes "like a miniature tornado…thoroughly stimulating students and emphatically drilling ideas.”
In the condolence resolution read by BPP public relations officer Godrej Dotivala, Bengalee was described as "a fine orator and prolific writer,” having authored over a dozen compilations. Among the honors to have come her way was the "Educationist of the Century Award” from St Xavier’s College in 2003 and another recognition from the National Council of Educational Research and Training. "Simple and straightforward, there was not a touch of arrogance in her,” summed up Dotivala.
"An educationist par excellence, educating the youth was a passion with her,” commented BPP trustee Muncherji Cama whose mother Banoo’s decision to resume her academic career several years after marriage brought her as also the Cama family in close contact with Mehroo, as she insisted everyone in the family address her. When "the brilliant teacher” found out that Muncherji had a "mental block against algebra and geometry” she decided to take him under her wings and succinctly explain the concepts of geometry. At his school leaving examination, he was confident he had scored full 40 marks in arithmetic and 30 marks in the geometry section, but could only presume he was granted eight extra marks for rewriting some of the questions in the algebra section which he had not ventured to answer! The following year when a disappointed Muncherji got 99/100 in accountancy although he was so sure of scoring full marks, his parents advised him to be content with what he got. Bengalee though, convinced that "you must always encourage your child,” suggested that he make an application to the Bombay University for reevaluation when it was realized that Cama had not made a single error but the paper-setter had miscalculated the total marks that could be obtained as 99 instead of 100!
Whether in the corridors of the Bombay University or official functions of the BPP or as the Zoroastrian representative on the NCM in Delhi, she would wear typically Parsi dresses belted at the waist. To attend social functions at convenient hours may not have interested her but if she was told "a group of students needed counseling at 6 in the morning at Mulund” she would have agreed without hesitation, added Muncherji. Warm and friendly, she would accompany the Cama family on their holidays to Mahableshwar. To them, her handmade vasanu sent every year heralded the onset of winter.
At the launch of the Zoroastrian Information Centre under the auspices of the Foundation for Development of Udvada in 2008 "she supported us to the core although she belonged to the organization (WAPIZ) that was opposing us,” remarked Dastur Khurshed Dastoor. (Her estrangement with WAPIZ over Udvada may explain why out of the seven founder trustees, only one showed up for the condolence meet and why both the WAPIZ trustees on the BPP board had earlier opposed the holding of a condolence meet.) Admiring "the guts that lady had,” Dastoor mentioned that "she came for the inauguration, met with ministers in Gujarat.” She had then commented "I am fully convinced that visiting this Centre will fulfill all the questions of non-Zoroastrians…I do not share the fear that hundreds and thousands of people will come and mock us (see "We develop, we don’t destroy,” Parsiana, May 21, 2008).” Even when the P. P. Mistry High School in Udvada was facing a difficulty in adding on new classes, she got the necessary permission from then chief minister Narendra Modi, acknowledged Dastoor.
Bengalee’s education was at Bombay’s Gamadia Girls’ High School and subsequently St Teresa’s Convent after which she completed her graduation and postgraduation from St Xavier’s College. Besides earning her MA in economics and MEd in statistics and vocational guidance, she did her doctorate in psychology, postgraduation diploma in guidance and counselling, counsellors trainers’ certificate from Michigan state and diplomate in professional counselling from the International Academy of Professional Counselling and Psychotherapy, Kentucky, USA. Her years in the Girl Guide movement, she maintained, helped cultivate "character training, independence, team spirit, (enjoyment of) outdoor ventures.”
Describing herself as a "choost (staunch) Parsi” who was neither in favor of interfaith marriages nor the presence of non-Parsis at a geh sarna, she had revealed in an interview with Parsiana (see "Vice chancellor is new BPP trustee,” October 1986), "If I don’t begin my day with prayer, something seems to be amiss. It’s become an obsession. If you don’t pray, you feel incomplete.”
On behalf of Bengalee’s family, her relative Dr Lily Mistry commended the mentor’s "attitude, willpower and belief that enabled her to extend her vision and serve as an inspiration and an institution…”