Roj Dae-pa-Adar Mah Sherevar, 1381 Yz.
Today is the second death anniversary of Vada Dasturji Meherji Dastur Kekobad Meherjirana, the 16th Meherjirana.
To mark this solemn day, appropriate ceremonies were performed at his house in Navsari, at the Navsari Bhagarsath Atash Behram, at the Ustad Saheb Behramshah N. Shroff Daremeher at Mumbai and at the Mahella Patel Agiary in Mumbai.
It is now two years since the death of Dasturji, but I still remember vividly his silent personality and the superhuman efforts he made in indexing the various Khshnoom literature, thereby making it easy for students like me to locate any article on any topic. To mark this day, I have upploaded on to the Ilm-e-Khshnoom Skydrive, his monumental index of the Parsi Avaz newspaper which was published from 1947 to 1974. This clearly made index has hundreds of entries on various subjects which appeared in this paper and provides a valuable resource for any researcher.
I am also uploading here, some rare photographs of Dasturji Meherji through various phases of his life. These photographs, many extremely rare and valuable, have been handed over to me by Dasturji’s wife Meherbanu. I have finished scanning these and will shortly dedicate a separate website for these photographs and other documents relating to his life.
Here is a photograph of Dasturji Meherji on the day of his Navar. He stands besides a chair, which marks the Dasturi of his illustrious forefathers. On the chair is a photograph of the first Dasturji Meherjirana.
Here is another photograph showing a very young Dasturji Meherji.
Here is a photograph of the Vadi Daremeher, the second oldest Daremeher in India, after the Iranshah. This is the sacred place where over 10,000 boys of the Bhagarsath and other Anjumans passed through their Navar and Maratab ceremonies. Only those children who passed through these hallowed portals had their names entered in the Great Register of the Bhagarsath Anjuman and only they were authorised to perform ceremonies within the jurisdiction of the Bhagarsath Anjuman.
An extremely rare photograph of the original Sanad, or grant of land signed by the Emperor Akbar, given to the first Dasturji Meherjirana in appreciation of the valuable services which the great Dastur provided in the court of Akbar.
This exceedingly rare photograph shows an assembly being addressed by Vada Dasturji Kekobad (the 15th Meherjirana). I am putting this online to show the spiritual calibre and nature of the priests on the dias. Where have they all gone?
Another very rare and possibly one of the first photographs shows a huge gathering of Mobed Sahebs at the Vadi Daremeher felicitating some important members of the community. Observe the faces and dress of these Mobeds.
This photograph shows the old ancestral house of Dasturji Meherji’s biological parents – Osti Dhunmai and Ervad Peshotan Meherjirana in Navsari.
This rare certificate was handed by King Edward to Vada Dasturji Dorabji Mahiarji (the 14th Meherjirana) as a mark of respect to the leader of the Parsi community.
Vada Dasturji Meherji was extremely fond of Indian classical music as well as ghazals. Here is a photograph of Dasturji with the noted Parsi ghazal singer Pinaaz Masani.
A photograph of Dasturji Meherji’s wedding ceremony, being conducted by Dasturji Kekhushru Kutar and Dasturji Kaikhushru Jamasp Asa.
Another photograph of Dasturji at a wedding with other Dasturjis of that time. A very young Dasturji Firoze Kotwal is seen second from right.
Two photographs showing Dasturji interacting with JRD Tata on his visit to the Tata ancestral house in Navsari’s Dasturwad.
May Vada Dasturji Meherji Dastur Kekobad’s Ruvan progress through the regions of Chinvat and attain Anushehi at the earliest. May his Farohar guide our feeble efforts at Frashogard.com to carry forward his legacy of chronicling the vast Khshnoom literature.
Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram
JAN
