Dear Readers,

This week the community sadly bid adieu to multiple brave and illustrious community stalwarts. The Parsi Flag flutters at half-mast, as community members mourn the loss of three of our treasured luminaries, in unfortunate, quick succession – Padma Shri Dr. Keki Gharda – Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of Gharda Chemicals Limited; Padma Shri Keki Daruwalla – celebrated English poet, former IPS officer and former Zoroastrian Member of the National Commission for Minorities; and Hanshi Percy Bahmani – the trailblazing and inspiring Master of Martial Arts.

In addition to being revered as ‘The Father of the Indian Agro-Chemical Industry’, Dr. Gharda was also a great philanthropist, having instituted the Gharda Foundation and The Bai Ratanbai Memorial Trust, amongst many other charitable initiatives, making a huge difference in the lives of the underprivileged. Keki Daruwalla earned national and international repute for his poems, shining as one of the tall feathers in our Parsi cap. Hanshi Percy Bahmani’s illustrious, global record-setting accomplishments in Martial Arts, were reason for much community and national pride.

This league of extraordinary gentlemen leaves behind inspiring and extraordinary legacies, for the rest of the community to cherish and be proud of, and hopefully, to learn from and tread upon the glorious precedents set by them. May Ahura Mazda grant Garothman Behest to their noble souls.

Have a good weekend!

– Anahita