I have written obits of people I knew and loved that came straight from my heart. And I have read obits like them that have touched my heart. One last weekend. In that cheery Saturday Zoroastrian tabloid ‘The Parsi Times’. My dear friend Dr. Aashish Contractor wrote it in memory of his father Soli Framroze Contractor, who passed away recently at the age of 85. That’s young for a Parsi of fairly robust health. But I don’t think Death cares about age. It comes by without invitation, and it sends no advance notice. And so the world lost ‘A Decent Man’ as Aashish says of Soli in his heartfelt obit.
I agree that Soli (I used to call him “Sir”) was a decent man. And more than that, he was a kind, warm and caring gentleman of old-world charm, wit, and wisdom. I knew him well because, more than friends, Aashish and I are like brothers of different mothers. His mother Dr. Shirin Wadia-Contractor, that utterly lovable, elegant, and distinguished homeopath who has treated most of Mumbai, is “Mom” to me. She used to write a Homeopathy column for my newspaper. And I know her since even before I got to know Aashish and his sister Naheed. I was fortunate to get this photo with Soli and Dr. Shirin on their 50th wedding anniversary.
In his obit, Aashish mentions how Soli lived his life based on the values of moral integrity, kindness, and goodwill. A jovial man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He was like Santa around the year. With a rumbling ho-ho-ho laugh. He was the example of classic middle-class, hardworking service. Staying with a single company (Macneill and Magor) all his life. And retiring with more friends than he had started out with. When he passed away, the family received messages from people that described Soli as the Prince of Little Gestures. Which came from the deepest recess of his heart and rested in the same place as the recipient’s heart.
The basic tenets of Zoroastrianism are Humata, Hukhta, and Huvarashta; good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Soli was a living example of these. Good deeds especially. They consisted of a million acts of daily kindness. Like helping an older person cross the road or chatting with the vegetable vendor and inquiring about his family. One gentleman told Aashish how Soli despite his advancing years once actually made the effort to cross the road and greet him in person. This is an age when we pass each other and pretend to be lost in our phones to prevent eye contact. But Soli was like that. A people person.
He passed away peacefully on November 7, of a severe brain hemorrhage. “It was one and done,” says Aashish. And this was a man who had barely spent three days in the hospital his entire life. Just a week ago the extended family of 20 holidayed in Dalhousie and Amritsar. Soli, as the patriarch, was in rollicking form. Singing and dancing with wild abandon. Aashish is a top-drawer doctor at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. He has put thousands of people who were treated for heart disease back on their feet. Giving them a second, third, and even fourth chance at life after a severe illness. “But my father had none,” he writes. That broke my heart. Rest in Peace, Sir.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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