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Died: Minoo Rustomji Shroff, 95, respected financial and management consultant who had headed apex community institutions like the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), The Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) and World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) as also economic and civic bodies like the Forum of Free Enterprise; in Bombay on April 14, 2024.

"We have lived a lot on our past glory oblivious of the responsibility for the future. The creed of tolerance and unity has started weakening in recent decades and must be resurrected through farsighted leadership and adjustment to contemporary realities. Acute fundamental, doctrinal and social differences have emerged, tearing at the very fabric of our community. The differences have splintered the community into diverse groups having different perceptions of the path the community must follow and adopt.” Shroff had made these observations in an article he had written for Parsiana’s golden jubilee issue  (see "Rumblers along the road,” November 7, 2013).

By that time he had completed his 22-year innings as BPP trustee (starting 1986 when he was elected as a Committee for Electoral Rights candidate), being the chair in the last five years, and had stepped down after steering the body through its first historic elections on the principles of universal adult franchise in 2008. As remarked Dinshaw Tamboly, managing trustee of  The WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trust Funds, and Shroff’s co-trustee on the Punchayet board, "It was my singular good fortune to have come into contact with Minoo… To spend time with him was a learning curve on how to analyze issues, consider all nuances and only thereafter proceed. Minoo as an economist and a corporate guru was great; greater still was his grip on managing with grace and goodwill the people who came for succor from various forms of distress. If I were to describe him in three short words, he was the living embodiment of ‘The Complete Man’ — the tag line of Raymond Ltd (a leading manufacturer of fine fabric where Shroff  was executive vice president).”

Likewise another BPP co-trustee Burjor Antia, senior partner of Mulla and Mulla that handled legal matters for Raymond and was associated with Shroff for about 40 years felt he epitomized not just "The Complete Man” but "‘The Complete Gentleman.’ We will never get such a noble and dedicated person in our life... His conduct as a director/trustee was exemplary and inspiring. He would go out of his way to help the poor and needy. When there were fierce differences between two trustees during board meetings he would try to calm them down and bring dignity to the boardroom. On such occasions, he was always calm, cool and courteous.  He brought honor and dignity to the BPP because of which the trust could get donations worth crores of rupees during his trusteeship.” 

Being the ex officio president of the FPZAI since 2003, Shroff was witness to the turbulence on the all-India body when the orthodox lobby tried to sabotage the proceedings beginning 2004. As Shroff had remarked, "One has just to read the proceedings of the FPZAI meetings during the last several years to realize that these are mere slugfests. Hardly any positive suggestions have emanated therefrom for the betterment of the community. What purpose then does the purported apex body serve?”

More productive for Shroff was lending his time and expertise as global president of the WZCC where his mentorship and guidance were genuinely appreciated. Heading this community institution for two terms, until the age of nearly 87 years, he had stepped down in December 2015. 

  above, from l: Dr Jamshed Irani, Shroff, Pallonji Mistry

His successor as WZCC global president, Edul Daver of New York, described him as "a community gem… He brought a sense of unity and camaraderie to our far-flung organization. His commitment to excellence and team spirit motivated us to do our best. I worked with him since 2011 and credit him for putting WZCC on a sound footing…  His was a life not just lived, but lived with purpose, with passion and with empathy.” Daver further acknowledged that their New York Dar-e-Mehr got a sizable donation from Pallonji Mistry of the Shapoorji Pallonji family thanks to Shroff’s recommendation.

Current WZCC global president Capt Percy Master who viewed Shroff as "a jewel of our community,” acknowledged the impetus he had received from Shroff to actively associate with and lead the WZCC just as "he put all his might behind this organization and tried to help the community prosper.” Having known him for nearly four decades from the time they bought adjacent plots in Khandala, Master was in awe of Shroff’s "discipline and compassion” and felt his life was worth emulating.

"His guidance enabled me to steer WZCC in the right direction,” stated Aspi Antia who was appointed as chief administrator of WZCC by Shroff. Describing him as "truly kind-hearted and caring,” Aspi appreciated that the president commanded respect for he was quick to "give credit when and where it was due.”

When Shroff was presented a memento by WZCC in December 2015, then India region director Pheroze Kharas had recalled how the president would generously donate "money for an event whenever he felt it needed some improvement to align it with his high standards… His reputation in the corporate world has helped enhance the image of WZCC. That apart, he helped us build a corpus through donations from community members. He has helped us develop contacts with institutions… Even before he became president, he helped members prepare a viable business plan, counseled and mentored them.” 

His memoirs, Not A Dull Moment, were released on his 87th birthday in 2016 by the chairman of the Godrej Group, Adi Godrej who described him as "a great son of India.” At that event, noted solicitor Nadir Modi had quoted Shakespeare, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. Minoo comes under all three categories.” Being the nephew of A. D. Shroff, "a financial colossus,” he was born great. He achieved greatness when his interactions with the Japanese resulted in his being conferred the rare honor of Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. He had greatness thrust upon him when he had a half hour interaction with the Queen of England, discussing community issues. As observed the event’s master of ceremonies Behroze Daruwalla who is currently global corporate secretary of WZCC, Shroff is known for his "kadar and kaalji (care and concern) for the people around him… his ability to build consensus and to express his thoughts frankly.”

Other corporate leaders who were quoted in the book were the chairman of Kotak and Company, Suresh Kotak who described Shroff as "a multifaceted personality” with impeccable ethics. The chairman of HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corporation) Deepak Parekh remarked that Shroff "held a statesman-like status but has preferred to underplay his achievements.” "Minoo has been my guru for over half a century,” stated Vijaypat Singhania, erstwhile chairman of Raymond Limited, referring to the times they "traveled abroad and stayed in the same room to save costs. I saw him awaking much before me and doing his early morning exercises. That accounts for his fitness.” 

  Shroff felicitated on winning trusteeship election in 1986

Over the years in his multifarious roles as president of the Bombay Management Association, Indo-Japanese Association, All India Manufacturers’ Organisation, and director of reputed companies like the J. K. Group, Piramals, Blue Star, Steel Tubes of India, Nagarjuna Group, Shrenuj, Airfreight, Gujarat Chemicals, Rallis…he had interacted with dignitaries from all walks of life.

An alumnus of the Bharda New High School, the necessity of being fluent in English was insisted upon by his mother Jerbai while his father Rustomji who was in the construction industry stressed on the importance of hard work, sound education and good grooming. Minoo graduated in science from St Xavier’s College while his first cousin Villoo, who was later to be his wife, was in the Arts faculty. Being good at table tennis, they teamed up as mixed double partners in college competitions. 

Following his graduation Minoo was keen to study textile technology in Manchester and was accepted by two institutes there. However on the recommendation of his uncle A. D. Shroff, he enrolled for a morning diploma course in commerce at Davar’s College and served as a trainee at The Investment Corporation of India Ltd (subsequently renamed as Tata Investment Corporation Ltd), studying how investment proposals were appraised as also the history of some of the prominent Tata companies. He was also encouraged to attend public lectures on finance and economic subjects and the annual general meetings of major companies. Subsequently he did a short course in cost accountancy which was then in a nascent stage and gained practical experience at National Ekco (subsequently renamed NELCO). Fellow of the London-based institutions, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the Institute of Directors, Minoo started as general manager of the engineering firm J. N. Marshall for five years before practicing as a management consultant. 

As Minoo had stated at a WZCC meet in 2010, India’s emerging economy offers enormous possibilities. "But you will never win if you don’t begin. There is a diffidence to launch out on one’s own, to give up the obvious benefits of a lucrative job for uncertainty and possible failure. Parsis arouse trust and confidence. What bogs them down is managing labor.”

He was concerned that young Zoroastrians today opt to remain single or to have only one child or none. He felt they are denying themselves the joy of caring, of sharing, of rearing children to carry on the legacy and of their companionship. Known to be a liberal in his religious views, he had opted for cremation and last rites at the Worli Prayer Hall. 

Admitting that "we elders have failed the youth by not setting inspiring examples by our own conduct and demeanor,” Minoo had reminded, "the bottleneck is at the top of the bottle and this bottleneck must be broken.” He recalled an old Persian saying: "He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep: wake him./ He who knows not, and knows that he knows not is humble: help him./ He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a fool: shun him./He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise, follow him.”

The inspirational leader is survived by his daughters Soona and Niloufer Noshir Mistry and sister Hilla Shroff.