Goodbye Dinshaw Kelawala..

Yesterday at 4.45 a.m. I got a phone call from my sister Dolly to inform me that Dr Dinshaw Kelawala had passed away in Panchgani, early in the morning.  He was 82.

Dinshawji had a very old connection with Baba and he didn't even realize it!!  Years ago, when he was a young boy, living in Satara with his grandmother, she rented out two of her bungalows (she was a very rich Parsi lady, with multiple properties) to a man and his companions.  They settled in, and he would often see this man walking around the compound, but since no one was allowed to disturb him, Dinshaw didn't think too much about it all.  The two bungalows were Rosewood and Grafton, and it was to Baba that his granny rented out the properties.   Of course, Dinshawji had no idea at all that this was Whom he had seen as a boy.

Years later, my sister Dolly went to work at the Dastur School Administrative Office.  As a trustee of the school board and also of the charitable trust's board that funded the 3 schools, Dinshawji was one of the persons she had to answer to, as the chief accountant and office manager.  Not only that, his wife Zerene was the principal of the primary school, and she became very fond of Dolly and adopted her, sort-of.  As time went on Dolly became an honorary member of the Kelawala-Divecha family, and Zerene's sister Najoo Divecha was like a foster mother to her, especially after my parents moved to Meherabad.  Since Dolly talked about Baba to them all, Dinshawji became interested and started reading Baba books.  It was then, in one of the books, that he realized that Baba had stayed in Satara at his family's bungalows!!!  And that he had seen Baba as a boy.

Time passed and he and the whole family became very close to Baba and to Eruch and all the Jessawalas.  They did in fact, become part of our family.  So it is with a very heavy heart that I, personally, say goodbye to Dinshawji.  He was a very intelligent, thoughtful, humorous, loving and kind man.  He was the Dean of the Symbiosis Law School for some years, and a very well-known authority on Trust and Contract Law.  His generosity was such that he would help anyone who came to him and asked.  Affectionately known as "Kaka" (Uncle) to many in Satara and Panchgani, his smiling face will be so missed by all who knew him.

Happy trails, Dinshawji.  Baba has you safe in His arms now, and we are happy for you.  But we will surely and sorely miss you.  Jai Meher Baba!