"Mahatmaji’s spectacles have arrived this morning,” Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, secretary to Mohandas Gandhi (pictured) wrote to Baliwalla and Homi (BAH), opticians. "He is wearing them and says that as far as he can judge at present, they are quite alright,” the missive continues. A report in The Times of India (TOI) of April 9, 2017 traces the history of the store from 1899 when the first 
shop was opened in Kalbadevi by brothers Naoroji and Pirojsha Baliwalla. Naoroji would make the lenses in his glass grinding workshop while Pirojsha would hand craft the gold frames and fit the lenses. "Glass making, jewellery making and optometry was a common combination of trades in those days,” states the report. The name BAH evolved from a partnership formed by Naoroji’s son, also called Pirojsha, in 1913 with socialite Homi Guzder. The flagship store at Flora Fountain opened in 1916, with two more outlets — Parel in 1919 and Dhobi Talao in 1928 opening subsequently. By the 1950s, the business was also manufacturing ophthalmic instruments.
The third generation Baliwalla, Naval, also a pioneer in optometry education (he set up the Lotus College of Optometry in Juhu) made glasses for the country’s first President Dr Rajendra Prasad after he underwent surgery for cataract. The firm has over the years, served maharajas, foreign diplomats and the governors of Bombay, "starting with Sir Roger Lumley” who governed the presidency from 1937 to 1943, according to the company’s website.
"Call me old-fashioned but I feel that if someone wants to buy a pair of spectacles there’s no better way of doing so other than trying them on...how they look... feel... before you buy them,” 24-year-old Hormuz, fifth generation scion of the house of opticians, informs Parsiana on April 23, 2017. "Precise measurements, fitting and alignment are of utmost importance,” he states. Yet, the businessman is spearheading the firm’s foray into the digital world: an "online presence is very important... We post about the schemes and offers we have...We also give our customers updates when we get new frame and sunglass collections...but the human touch is still imperative.” Hormuz, who spends "half a day at the factory and half at the shops” says, "customer satisfaction has been our number one aim from the time my forefathers started...I think that’s a very Parsi trait. As a Parsi you just want to make others happy.” Zarir, Hormuz’s father, and director in the firm adds, "If we focus of integrity and keeping our customers happy, the future will always be bright.”
Hormuz’s aunt and Naval’s daughter Anahita Baliwalla Dastur, an optometrist who trained in the UK, says she sees old customers bringing in their grandchildren for their first pair of spectacles. What hasn’t changed is the mom-and-pop tradition, states the TOI report.