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While no audiovisual could do full justice to the munificence and vision of Jerbai Wadia, the 15-minute presentation and the accompanying sound-and-light show on December 22, 2023 reflected the gratitude of the approximately 320 families that call the 100-year-old Rustom Baug (RB) home. A gala evening and dinner was the finale of the year-long celebration of Byculla’s iconic stone structured housing colony. Enacted by the colony children, with Wadia being played by Maisha Bhesania and Myrah Doodhwala to depict the benefactress at different stages of her life, the show had a few aha moments, not the least those that illustrated her humaneness. Speaker after speaker touched upon or elaborated on Wadia’s largesse.

Special invitee Ness Wadia, great-great-grandson of Jerbai said it was "humbling and emotional” to be present at the occasion. "Ness at Sir Ness Wadia pavilion (of RB),” he beamed, referring to the community center named after his great-grandfather. His message for the community: "Stick together… Somehow that has been lost lately,” he lamented.  

President of the Rustom Baug Welfare Association Burzis Taraporevala referred to the Baug residents as "the lucky chosen ones” to live in the colony. 

  Committee members Pashyn Sethna, Beroz Gazdar, Yazmeen Contractor, Hutoxi Doodhwala, 

"All our events and celebrations, especially our finale, have been our homage to Jerbai and to the Wadia family,” Taraporevala told Parsiana after the event. "Commemorating the centenary of RB is an overwhelming feeling… a once-in-a-lifetime happening and I consider myself blessed and fortunate to be here to mark this in its history,” he stated. "While celebrations, sports and interactive events were dotted throughout the year, the strongest feeling in our hearts has been one of gratitude... Immense gratitude to God Almighty and to Jerbai for her foresight and unconditional benevolence… We remain forever in her debt.” The president stated that "due to the infectious joy, enthusiasm and pride underlining this special year, every adult and every child in RB now knows so much about the life and generosity of Jerbai… Semper Gratus (Always grateful),” he ended.

Wife of Nowrosjee who established Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Company in 1879, Jerbai first constructed Nowroz Baug at Lalbaug in memory of her husband who passed away in 1899. Rustom Baug followed, as did Jer, Cusrow and Ness Baugs built/acquired by her sons Sir Ness and Sir Cusrow. Five of these constitute the Wadia Baugs now managed by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). 

Taraporevala was a young boy scout at the time of the golden jubilee of RB in 1973. Resentful that he was in uniform while "all others were in their finest Parsi clothes,” the high spot of the celebrations for him was being "instructed to remain with Sir Ness and the Wadia family members.” Being one of those roped in to present a guard of honor to the Wadias, Taraporevala recalled the 50-year-ago event at the closing ceremony.

The year-long centenary celebrations had been kicked off with a jashan, felicitation of senior citizens and a fun fair (see "A sense of gratitude,” Parsiana, February 7-20, 2023). Other events during the year included felicitation of the Baug workers, heritage walks and bus rides (see "Heritage environs,” Parsiana, April 21-May 6, 2023). A commemorative 10 gm silver coin designed by celebrations committee member Shahrukh Irani featured a profile of Jerbai.

Guest of honor, chairman of the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trusts, Dinshaw Tamboly commended Jerbai’s vision. "We shall be eternally grateful for the havens of peace” that owe their birth to Jerbai’s farsightedness in providing community housing, he stated. "The seed behind every inspired act the world has known has been planted by a woman, and led to its fruition by her gentle nudge,” he noted. On a personal note, he stated he received his corporate grooming in Bombay Dyeing. 

"Good deeds are remembered for years on end,” noted chief guest Justice Shahrukh Kathawala (retd). "It is only fitting that there is reverence for Jerbai” who has provided 1.8 mn sq ft of built up area for housing for the community, he stated. Parsis need to re-learn the art of giving, he said. "Our baugs have barkat (provide prosperity),” he stated. Many have prospered but are reluctant to contribute. "Should we not learn to help the trusts in any way possible?” he inquired rhetorically. The retired judge had happy memories of when as a child he was sent to the Baug to participate in elocution competitions. Tamboly and Kathawala’s addresses were preceded by short films on their achievements. 

 "We were given a hard copy of the details by the Wadia trust office… The script was written from that,” celebrations committee member and director Hutoxi Doodhwala told Parsiana after the event about the son-et-lumiere show. Vignettes from Jerbai’s childhood, her devotion to her cause and her compassion towards those in need came alive with a backdrop of stock Bombay images, including some recent ones. Tributes were paid to the dowager’s hands-on approach in the design and development of the 40,500 sq yards that became RB and the 13,500 sq yards that became Jer Baug. Her "non-Baug” charities were mentioned: Grants to maternity homes, hospitals, sanatoria and extensions to charitable clinics. Despite some incorrect information about the dates of deaths of Rustom and Nowrosjee, and the use of images that did not sync with the commentary, the show shed light on Jerbai’s life and times, stated Taraporevala. Scripted by Diana Khambatta, with voice by Yazmeen Contractor and visual compilation by Pashyn Sethna, the background score was by Arish Daruwalla; Pashyn was co-director with Hutoxi. 

Dr Vispi Jokhi, chief executive officer of the nearby Masina Hospital, termed the neighboring institutions "The Tale of the Two Jerbais,” explaining that Jerbai was also the name of the wife of the founder of the Hospital, Dr Hormusji Masina. The Hospital is now focussing on preventive care, he stated, advising the audience of the various new ventures of the healthcare facility. 

The fun part of the evening included pop numbers by international pop music stars Michael Buble and Abba, performed by colony resident Ava Contractor; tots who gyrated to Brazilian tunes; a fashion show featuring swimwear for the very young, denims for the tweens, sportswear, evening wear and saris. The dancing was choreographed by Zeenia and Pashyn Sethna, supported by Naazneen Engineer and Shiraz Mehta. The fashion show was choreographed by Kash Sanjana and Sharmin Doomasia, with bridal wear from Natasha Sethna’s N Creations. 

Those felicitated included committee members and the people who had supported the events during the year, Wadia trust functionaries, senior lawyer Burjor Antia and BPP trustees, among others. 

Tongue-in-cheek humor by the anchor, neurosurgeon Dr Mazda Turel, kept the audience in splits. Talking about the penchant of Baug residents to give names to their denizens, he reminisced about the Lollypop Gang. "They are Golden Girls now,” he said. Reportedly, the Chappal Gang loved to roam barefoot. Another group came down to play only when the mosquitoes came out. They were promptly named "Machchhar Gang.” He recollected the story of the venerable old lady who blamed the dampness of her ceiling to the burst hydrocele of the upstairs neighbor! 

"This unique gelling is possible only due to the foresight and generosity of Jerbai… She gave us the gift that keeps giving… Imagine… she gave away eight crore rupees (USD 960,000) in her lifetime… We owe our sense of community and comfort to her legacy of goodwill,” Turel stated.

Jerbai could have used the legacy her husband left her to create a safety net for herself. "But her strong sense of purpose and her determination to help the less fortunate prevailed… Her contribution was as vast as her compassion… Let us ensure we are always in a position to give,” he exhorted.  

A sumptuous meal catered by A Parsi Affair (Tanaz Godiwalla) followed.