Precious community assets must be
maintained, stated donor Capt Percy Master
"To say that the bungli has been renovated and repaired would be an insult to the donors. They have transformed the bungli,” said Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Anahita Desai addressing a hall full of invitees at the reopening of the 76-year-old Khanbahadur Bejon Manekji Hodiwala Bungli funerary prayer hall at Doongerwadi on December 27, 2023.
"The transformation took over five months and the Master family has spared no expense,” Desai noted. Arin, Percy, Xerrxes and Kainaz Master refurbished the bungli in memory of Xerrxes’s first wife Pinaz who was tragically struck down by a hit-and-run driver outside the Princess Victoria Mary Gymkhana on November 28, 2003 while on her way to attend an evening function. She was a day shy of her 28th birthday.
Top: Pinaz Master; from ext l, 1st row: Arin and Capt Percy Master;
2nd row, Xerrxes and Kainaz Master; lamp; refurbished Hodiwala Bungli
Photos: Farokh Mojia
Clockwise from top: jashan; kitchenette; room for bathing bodies; dining area; bedroom; verandah
From l, 1st row: Hoshang Jal, Anahita Desai, Dr Adil Malia, Capt Percy, Arin,
Maharukh Noble, Kainaz, Xerrxes; 2nd row: Persis Vatcha, Soonoo Buhariwalla,
Noshir and Katy Gotla, Homai Dadachanji
Julie and Mehernoz Hodiwala and their daughter Pearl Mehta
Addressing the gathering, the soft-spoken marine entrepreneur Capt Percy Master termed undertaking the refurbishments as "our duty…Whatever we can do, we should do. Ahura Mazda has directed us to do it. The strength of our religion and the continuity of our traditions” are determined by "how we maintain the structures our forefathers left behind.”
He had visited the bungli for a friend’s funerary ceremonies and, being a surveyor by profession, critically examined the structure. He is chairman of the Master Group of Companies that specializes in survey, inspection, testing, shipping, logistics and power (see "Anchor and activator,” Parsiana, December 21, 2022-January 6, 2023). Though the Masters had twice renovated the bungli earlier, he felt the third time it should be done "so things survive for a long time.” He recommended the BPP start a maintenance fund to look after the Doongerwadi structures. Noting the property value of 45 to 55 acres that comprise the estate he remarked, "If we cannot maintain the property, we have lost the plot.” He commended the BPP trustees, four of whom were present, for giving him a free hand with the renovation and not interfering. He "congratulated” them for the good work "they are doing.”
In addition to Desai, the other trustees present were Hoshang Jal, Maharukh Noble and Dr Adil Malia as also former trustee Khojeste Mistree. BPP chairwoman Armaity Tirandaz was not present after suffering "a nasty fall leading to fractures of her left femoral… as well as both hip joints,” on December 21, stated the Parsi Junction of December 31. Deputy chief executive officer of BPP Shehnaaz Khambatta welcomed the audience.
Desai, who is the moving force behind much of the restoration at Doongerwadi, noted that several past and present donors were present, including descendants of the original Hodiwala family after whom the Bungli and hall is named.
At the inauguration, Julie Hodiwala drew attention to the correct spelling of Hodiwala, noted Desai in an email to Parsiana. It has a single ‘l.’ On the bungli’s façade the name is inscribed in Gujarati. In the History of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet 1860-1960 by Sapur F. Desai, he has spelt the name with a single ‘l’ though a caption spells it with a double ‘l.’ The invite to the December function too also spells it with a double ‘l.’
Other donors who attended the function were presented bouquets. They included Persis Vatcha, Soonoo Buhariwalla, Katy and Noshir Gotla, and Homai Dadachanji.
Work on the Hodiwala Bungli started out "with a few necessary repairs and renovation” and snowballed to replacing the flooring, wall tiles, complete rewiring of the electricals, extensive repairs to the roof and false ceiling, replacing two water tanks, treating the furniture with melamine polish, replacing two iron staircases to access the two terraces, buying new mattresses and crockery, Anahita noted. "The two bathrooms are like 7-star bathrooms,” the trustee commented. She praised the contractor Khushru Sukhadia who was present "every day (and) laagni thi kaam keedhu (put his heart into the project).”
A person present at the function told Parsiana that it was a shame people did not stay in the bunglis for the three to four-day prayers, as was the custom. After the geh sarna, mourners opted instead to perform the subsequent funerary ceremonies at fire temples closer to their residences. But as the extract from Sapur Desai’s book cited below notes, the facilities for overnight stays started less than 100 years ago more as a matter of convenience than a religious requirement (or bhoi sachavanu — safeguarding the ground where the body had been placed). Even today those who do stay for the four-day duration liken Doongerwadi to behest (heaven) or a hill station, surrounded as they are by greenery, quiet, the chirping of birds and the opportunity to perhaps spot peacocks displaying their plumage on the pathways or amidst the trees on the forested terrain.
The evolution of the bunglis
The Hodiwala Bungli was erected in 1947 by Framroj, Eruchsha and Manekji Bejonji Hodiwala, according to Sapur Desai’s book. In his concise history of the trust, he narrates the progression:
Up to 1915 all bodies had to be borne by corpse-bearers to Doongerwadi from the residence of Parsis after the geh sarna ceremony. There was, however, a resting place behind the Parukh Dharamshala for bodies brought from long distances or from the mofussil, but principally this came into use during the bubonic plague of 1898. There were also facilities for bathing, etc for male mourners. But times began to change and better facilities were needed. The trustees requested donations from charity-minded Parsis to start building bunglis, i.e. places where the bodies could be brought from residences and all ceremonies performed there before and after consignment. At first the Punchayet built out of funds at its disposal a bungli at the lower level of the hill on Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Road, and then a donor came forward to build another. These bunglis were only for the geh sarna before disposal of the body at the Towers. From 1928 onwards the trustees built, from out of donations, bunglis at the upper level for the four days’ ceremonies. These include Bhabha, Wadia, Bennett, Hodiwala and Albless…
While the lower bunglis have just the bare necessities for at best an overnight stay, the upper bunglis have all facilities for mourners, especially ladies, to be comfortable...
The Hodiwala and Albless bunglis have large concourse halls for women mourners, well-appointed bedrooms and dining rooms with electric fans, and well-laid out kitchenette with electric fittings. The Wadia Bungli with its former two blocks has been converted into one large bungli. Electric fittings for kitchen use and fans have been provided in all other bunglis. All upper bunglis have retiring rooms. Funerals at residences are getting scarce and people prefer to take advantage of the facilities at Doongerwadi. There are caretakers to look after the comforts of the relatives of the deceased staying for four days in the bunglis. Ghee, oil, incense, sandalwood and, if necessary clothes for the dead are also provided to those who want them…
Formerly the mourners used to go to the upper bunglis from the steps provided near the two lower bunglis. In or about the year 1936 on the suggestion of Sir Phiroze Sethna, a BPP trustee, the hill was cut and an approach road constructed. Today it is a blessing for vehicles and pedestrians to reach the upper bunglis.
(Original text slightly edited for clarity)