HISTORY OF D N MEHTA PARSI LYING-IN-HOSPITAL NAVSARI
(as narrated in the Mehta Vansavli)
Late Seth Dorabji Nanabhoy Mehta expired on Roj Asman Maha Adar, 1280YZ, 6-6-1911 at Navsari. In his honour his relatives and friends had donated a sum of Rs 7876 for different religious funds at the time of his uthamna. It was decided some important work should be carried out which would benefit Navsari Parsis. A committee of well-known gentlemen was appointed for this headed by his bother Seth Meherwanji Mehta.
Seth Meherwanji Mehta came to Navsari from Calcutta and held a meeting on 19-11-1911. All the members recommended there was a great need for a lying-in-hospital for ladies. On 17-05-1912 a temporary 4 bed Maternity hospital was started at Meherwanjis cottage in memory of his brother D N Mehta. In the first 4 months 4 beds were installed but more were required. As the place of Mehta Cottage was not sufficient, Meherwanji donated his huge hall and adjoining rooms from his bungalow called ‘Mehta Lodge’.
Later Meherwanji donated Rs 3,00,000 for building a new Parsi Lying in Hospital. It was decided that a photo of Meherwanji must be inaugurated at the Atash Behram by the hands of Phiroz Cursetji Sethna (grandson of D B Mehta of Calcutta).
Speech of the Hon. Phiroz Cursetji Sethna at the unveiling of the photograph of Meherwanji at the Atashbehram.
“You all know that the founder of this lying-in-hospital was Seth Meherwanji Mehta. He was the seventh generation of Behdin Ramji Sagar, (Mehta family name was originally Talati, then Sagar, then changed to Mehta) who held a prestigious position in Maleswar Anjuman.
Sir Phiroz then praised Meherwanji and his extensive charitable work for the Zarthosti community. He states that Meherwanji was known as the SHAH SODAGAR OF CALCUTTA.
He narrated a short history of the lying-in-hospital.
About 32 years ago the chief surgeon of the Government hospital, Edulji Rustumji Dadachanji, had a very bad experience with an uneducated mid-wife (dayan). These women used to cause the deaths of innocent wives and children. He together with others formed a committee to raise funds for a maternity hospital but only succeeded in collecting Rs 3,500.
At the same time there was an opposition to setting up the hospital. They feared that if a maternity home is built on the hill of Religion (Dharma ni Tekri) their religion would suffer. But public opinion was in favour of the hospital. Finally, the hospital was established by the funds donated by Meherwanji and the hospital was named after his brother Late D N Mehta as the D N Mehta Parsi Lying-In-Hospital.
The friends and well-wishers of Mehrwanji, including Lady Baimai Maneckji Antia and Khorshedbanu Dinshaw Bhagalia went from door to door to collect funds to put up a marble bust of Meherwanji in the compound of the Lying in Hospital. (2 busts were made. The second is in my home). The bust was inaugurated by Sir Phiroze Cursetji Sethna.
Marble Bust of Meherwanji N Mehta
- In the old days women after giving birth would rest and be taken care of at the lying in hospital for about 40 days (the postpartum Period).
Courtesy : Prochy Mehta
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