BPZA Felicitates Naval Dalal On 103rd Birthday

The Bangalore Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman felicitated Naval Hormusji Dalal on his 103rd Birthday, on 27 November, 2017. Born in 1914 into a horse racing family, Naval’s elder brother Rusi, who was just a few years older than him, took him for admission to the Clarence Boys School in Bangalore, where the English headmistress christened him ‘Noel’ – the name that stuck with him ever since. Being of a mechanical and engineering bent of mind, he has been very good in fixing all household appliances and loved tinkering with cars and bikes – a trait he passed on to his two sons. When Tarapore & Co was constructing the Bangalore HAL Airport’s second runway, Noel did a stint with the firm, keeping the heavy machinery running. In 1948, Naval married Nergis (nee Tarapore), who is 95 years old today and together they will be celebrating their 70th Wedding Anniversary next year! Together they raised five kids, two boys and three girls – with the last pair of girls being twins, all of whom are settled abroad and dutifully take turns in visiting Bangalore to spend time with their aged parents.  Although the Dalals have lived in Bangalore for most of their adult lives, they had always kept a very low profile, and it is only some old time Parsis here who remember them because of their shiny DeSoto car – the only one in Bangalore in those days!