My father, Ervad Jal Sorabji Balsara, who died on September 7, 2025, was born on November 27, 1930 in Valsad. He lived a life rooted in faith, service and compassion, dedicating nearly seven decades to the spiritual and ritual needs of the Parsi community.
He studied at the Dadar Athornan Boarding Madressa from 1939 to 1945 to qualify as a sampoorna mobed (fully qualified priest). In his early years he performed high liturgical ceremonies at the Dadysett Atash Behram and from 1950 to 1958 worked as a boiwala at Calcutta’s Banaji Agiary.
Ervad Jal Balsara: a life of service
From 1958 till......