Archive

The Allahabad Parsis were a happy but orthodox lot and got together on any excuse like picnics, jashans and tari (toddy) parties. Numbering approximately  200, the Parsis then dwelt in bungalows with tiled roofs. There were no cycle rickshaws then. Though small in numbers Parsis topped in many professions.

 Let us start with the great freedom fighter Feroze J. Gandhi. Indira Nehru and Feroze got married in Allahabad and the Parsis of that city were invited to the wedding. Gandhi’s ashes are buried in the Allahabad aramgah. He had one sister, Tehmina, and two brothers. She  was inspector of schools.

In the educational and medical fields Prof J. K. Mehta served as head of the department of economics and Dr P. E. Dustoor as chancellor, University of Allahabad. Dr Ratan Sagar, a professor of animal husbandry, was an examiner at various universities. Dr Hirjee was a remarkable dentist and Dr Sapal Kaikusroo Mehta, a leading surgeon.

Making their mark in business were Sunny Kotwal (Cavendish Hotel), Framroz Patel (Royal Hotel), Roda Gandhi (Hotel Finaro). The Ghandhis ran a cinema called Palace. Dali K. Edulji was cinema operator, Jamshed M. Patel and M. B. Mistry were photographers.  

As general merchants J. R. Guzder did business in wine, cigarettes and ice cream. C. D. Motishaw had established himself as a reputed importer of cars, motorcycles, cycles and sewing machines in Uttar Pradesh in the early 1890s. 

Keshru Ghadialy had a jewelry shop and was a leading dispenser of free herbal medicines. Parsis use to flock to his residence. Savak Maneckji Nanavati was partner of Kohinoor Chemist.

Mr Sethia owned an Irani bakery in Allahabad. Keki Sorabji Buchia was the only seller of toddy. He was also a railway contractor for electric goods.

In government service were Rustom Khusroo Ghandhi who had served as ADC to Indira Gandhi and was later appointed governor of Himachal Pradesh. Jal Muncherjee served the Indian Railways as manager.

Allahabad’s most outstanding philanthropist though was businessman Shapoorji Ghandhi who acquired vast lands and buildings in Civil Lines. He employed Parsis who later went on to become outstanding businessmen themselves. He not only built the Palace cinema but also the Jalejar Shapoorji Ghandhi Daremeher which was opened to Zoroastrians on March 23, 1930. The daremeher used to be washed with well water in those days. Shapoorji had built an aramgah with a bungli and four wells which he later handed over to the Allahabad Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman.