Died: Hormazdyar Shahpurshah Dalal, 89, community researcher and author, on March 30, 2006 following medical complications that arose after a road accident resulted in a pelvic fracture.
With his incessant love for learning and sharing his knowledge only last year Dalal had published his tome, The Parsis – 1947-2001, delineating after four years of research the accomplishments of Parsis after Independence. At the behest of the National Minorities Commission he had submitted a research paper "The Story of Parsi Philanthropy” from 1728 to the beginning of the 20th century.
Earlier for the Bombay Parsi Punchayet he had authored booklets on Veer Nariman, Sorabjee Bengalee, Behramji Malbari, Dr Homi Bhabha, Adi Marzban and Dr Sir Jivanji J. Modi, and in the mid 1960s had compiled two volumes of Parsi Prakash.
He had authored books in Gujarati too and his Gulmohor Ni Bahar won the first prize of the Sahitya Akademi, Gujarat. Among the books he authored in Gujarati was Parsi Praja. With his command over Gujarati and Hindi, several books in English was he asked to translate in these languages. At the behest of the Parsi Vegetarian and Temperance Society he translated the Gujarati works of Kaikhushru Kabraji, Behramshah Shroff and others into English.
Dalal: love for learning
Writing though was Dalal’s second career. He spent the prime of his life at the All India Radio (AIR) which he had joined in the year India won its independence. Starting as a program executive in 1947, he retired 27 years later as assistant station director. During this time the medical, legal, educational and youth programs that he introduced were greatly enjoyed by his listeners, recalls his wife Dr Dina. Gujarati speaking listeners particularly appreciated Adi Marzban’s one-act plays which were then regularly broadcasted. In 1965 Dalal received the bursary of the Imperial Relations Trust to study sound broadcasting and television with the prestigious British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
After retiring from the AIR Dalal focused on his research and writing work. He wrote about 150 articles for The Bombay Samachar in the mid 1970s. He also wrote essays in the periodicals Jan Shakti, Granth and Navroze, and prior to joining AIR had gained work experience working in the editorial section of Bombay Chronicle and Bombay Sentinel. During his years of association with the now defunct Zoroastrian Community Development Institute (founded by Dr Jamshed Modi) he compiled a directory of 1,200 Zoroastrian trusts in Maharashtra, and authored papers on the socioeconomic condition of the Bombay fire temples and community housing.
Ahmedabad born Dalal had studied at Bhavnagar’s Alfred High School and graduated in English literature from Bombay’s Wilson College. He later taught English there and to the cadets of the Training Ship Dufferin. At the Bombay College of Journalism and the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan he conducted mass communication courses.
Dalal enjoyed traveling and had extensively toured Europe. With his love for art, sculpture, paintings, drama he was ever keen to assist upcoming artists like the time when he helped artisans from Rajkot to display their exhibits in Bombay.
His treasure trove of books on English literature, mass communication, fine arts, religion, etc he donated to the Wilson College and the J. J. College of Art and Architecture so that future generations could share his love for learning.
The assiduous author is survived by his wife Dr Dina and sister Goolestan Tarapore.