We Are Who We Are Because Of Our Forefathers

January 17, 2020

On several occasions I have written extracts about my late grandfather, Dinshaw B. Avari, who was the patriarch of our Group.

I recently came across a “REPLY ADDRESS BY MR. DINSHAW B. AVARI GIVEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE FUNCTION HELD BY THE PARSI COMMUNITY OF KARACHI TO COMMEMORATE HIS 85^th BIRTHDAY on NOVEMBER 5, 1987 AND FELICITATE HIM”.

I also sincerely believe that “we are who we are because of our grandfather and my father’s” sincere, hard and untiring efforts and work ethics.

I thought the best way to share the hardships and tribulations that my grandfather went through to establish his family is to reproduce his speech – in short blogs over the course of this year.

There are some life’s lessons to be learnt from his words and I hope my family can emulate even a fraction of what he has done, for our children and future generations.

Dinshaw

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(1 of 12)

REPLY ADDRESS BY MR. DINSHAW B. AVARI GIVEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE FUNCTION HELD BY THE PARSI COMMUNITY OF KARACHI TO COMMEMORATE HIS 85^th BIRTHDAY on NOVEMBER 5, 1987 AND FELICITATE HIM

“Dear Colleagues and Friends - When I lost my parents at a very young age in Navsari, I was admitted to the Petit Parsi Orphanage in 1912 as a student. I was regarded a brilliant student in those days, as I used to stand first class first in all subjects. I passed my Matriculation Examination with great success and then joined the Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics, at Bombay.

Incidentally, a few days ago, I received a letter from Sir Dinshaw Petit, Baronet from Bombay, stating that the Petit Parsi Orphanage is having its Centenary in September 1988 at Poona. He wanted me, as the oldest student of the Orphanage, to give a lecture to the present students. Mr. Naval Tata who was also in the orphanage with me and whose son is now successor to Mr. J.R.D. Tata has also requested me to attend the Centenary Celebrations, and I have accepted the invitation to speak on this occasion.

I used to give tuitions to youngsters and continued my studies till I passed the Bachelor of Commerce Examination in October 1928. The desire was to join the Imperial Bank of India whose Officers Grade for B.Com Graduates was is 150/- per month but there was no vacancy. At every office which I applied for a job, they asked for references which I could not produce because except for the Teachers of the orphanage nobody else knew me.

Thereafter, I came to know that there was a vacancy for a Clerk in the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada at Bombay whose General Manager was Late Sir Phiroz Sethna.

When I went to see him, he called me into his office and told me that there was no vacancy. While I was waiting to be called in, I heard from the Head Clerk that another Clerk had resigned and that there was a vacancy available.   When I reminded him about this, he immediately appointed me on the same salary of Rs. 75/- as the other clerk was drawing. When I told him that it was a principal of the Imperial Bank to give a minimum salary of Rs. 150/- to B.Com Graduates who would get the Officers Grade, he at once said,  'Take the job or Leave it'. I said 'I accept the job because I am a needy person'. You will be surprised to know, that Sir Phiroz Sethna doubled my salary within three months and promoted me as Chief Accountant.”

(to be continued)