Reading the In Memoriam column on Jamshed (Jimmy) Hormusji Wadia ("On a timber trail,” Parsiana, February 7, 2017), brought back wonderful, warm memories of our beloved Uncle Jimmy, my late mother Khorshed Wadia Ezekiel’s favorite cousin.
Always cheerful and full of humor and life, Uncle Jimmy was also an accomplished cricketer and represented the strong St Xavier’s College team of the early 1940s which had in its ranks some future test cricketers. But he had to give up the game on the passing of his father in 1944 after which he took up the family timber business.
Jamshed Wadia (left) with Rusi Mody, 1942
Uncle Jimmy’s eldest brother Jal, who passed away in 1971 at the age of 59, represented the Parsis in the famous Bombay Pentangular cricket tournament and Bombay in the Ranji Trophy as an opening batsman.
We often corresponded on cricket matters and he sent me some wonderful cricket photos (pictured). On his 90th birthday I had sent Uncle Jimmy a mail: "Just one six and a four and you will reach your century. His response: "I am an opening batsman, I don’t hit sixes!”
Uncle Jimmy was loved by all who knew him and will be dearly missed. I truly believe with the passing of my mother last October and now Uncle Jimmy, a golden generation of the Parsi community is coming to an end.
GUL-FRAAZ (GULU) EZEKIEL
New Delhi
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