Saturday may be the Speech Day for our school, but TODAY is my Speech Day!
Dear Cathedralites around the world,
Many of us around the world are still recoiling from the demise of our dear friend, 56er Behram (Budni) Bhadniwalla on Friday 13th April 2007. 
Budni is in the first standing row,
on the extreme right, on his crutches.
Even yesterday, 58er Homi Khusrokhan, member of the Board of Governors of our School, was astounded when he heard of the passing. 57er Thomas (Tom) Korula sent me an email in which wrote: "Still have not gotten over Budni's passing away."
This is what our Alumni President, 81er Rajiv Bhatia, sent me on the day of Budni's funeral:
Dear Jacob
With a heavy heart my mother Pushpa (53) and I (81) went to the funeral, at 3:40 pm (IST) today. Fleur (57) was there too. I believe that and Pramilla (57) had come in earlier. We spoke to Carmie (Budni's widow) who appeared composed but the fatigue from a sleepless night was evident.
We waited in a `Bungli' (hall) at `Doongerwadi', while the prayers were being chanted. More about Zoroastrian funeral ceremonies at http://www.avesta.org/ritual/funeral.htm
As they took dear Behram away, we all prayed that his soul may rest in peace.
It was a pleasure to have known Dr. Behram - Budni - Badhniwalla. We will miss him but promise to keep up his zest for life and love of music.
regards
Rajiv
_______________________________________________________________________
Rajiv Bhatia (Barham, 1981 ICSE)
I still recall the first email Budni sent me after we were put together by our Physics Teacher, Willie Shiri in Toronto:
Dear Matthan,
My name is Dr.Behram T. Badhniwalla (Wilson House Batch 57), in school I was 'Budni' !
I used to walk on crutches during our green years.
Of course, I left my disability behind in 1959-60 (Praise be to the Good Lord).
Today my Wife, Carmie and I, have retired, and live in Pune.
From all the Cathedralites of our generation, and many have met u., the common factor is we both are holding on to our flocks!
I am forwarding a message from our teacher Mr Shiri, and I hope we communicate more often!
We have regular get-together of the Pune Cathedralites and shall revert later with more information!
Cheers for Now
Budni
Notice how he capitalised the word "Wife". That instantly told me what sort of loving and respectful person I was dealing with.
From that day on Budni and I were the closest of friends, collaborating on whatever we did, Budni pushing hard to gather “HIS FLOCK” together, while helping me by spreading the word about my Seventh Heaven Blog.
He paid me some the greatest tributes that I have received, that to this day I cherish. He did not want to take the credit for his role, prepared to pass it on to others. In one instance he wrote:
Jacob,
U r really a centre point of all Cathedralites.
Very proud of you & your spirit of 'Prima in India' stuff.
I have in fact told all of our 57rs to keep in touch via your blog which is really cool!
Keep up the good work & whenever u r in India ...sorry Pune we will have a special 'Bash' 4 u!.. and i promise u a great one like the one for Abe & the R.O.B.Gang
Cheers
& Warm regards to Annikki & the kids
from Carmie & Self
I basked in his reflected glory as Budni drove on his 57ers and many others to keep the ideals of our School.
Flock-gatherers are few: Sadhana (née Shah) Madhusadan, Gracie (née Hayeem) and Suhas Phadke among the 54ers, Bunny Rao of the 55ers, Meena (née Lele) Bhatt and HS (Ubi) Uberoi of the 56ers, Mithoo Malani of the 62/63ers, Shobha (née Agarwal) Jhunjhunwalla of the 57ers, Prakash Thadani of the 69ers are among those who stand out.
But Budni was our Shepherd extraordinary.
He inspired and drove many of us. He found the same intense joy as me when one, just one, more of our flock who had been lost was found.
54er Gracie Hayeem sent me this email:
from: Gracie Hayeem (California, USA)
date Apr 16, 2007 7:09 AM
subject Re: Budni's Obituary
Dear Jacob.
I am just Devastated with the sad news of Budni's passing away yesterday.
I just cannot comprehend it.
I did not even meet him after leaving Cathedral.
Abe was Instrumental in our connection. Because of the choir coming and Budni so graciously hosted them with a Party that was Memorable.
MUSIC , GOOD FOOD AND SONGS LOTS OF SINGING and many jokes.Budni and Carmie host Abe and his group in Pune-
I got in touch with Sadhana and mentioned to her that Budni lived in Poona and that my Brother Abe class of 57 was coming to Poona and Bombay with the choir. She should get in touch with my brothers friend Behram.
----BUDNI ______DR JAZZZ !! She of course got invited.
What a get together he had arranged Amazing!!
Also asked Sadhana if she could get in touch with Veronica Lely [Mudliar] our Blue House teacher as she knew Abe and would love to see her. Sadhana graciously brought her to the Party. She had a great time.
Budni's Graciousness and Caring and Thoughtfulness and concerns for others knew NO BOUNDARIES.
He even met a friend of mine whose parents were so worried about her. She was living in Poona in one of the Ashrams. He and Carmie checked on her and wrote her folks that she was A. O. K
What more can I say. The GENTLE MAN WAS ONE IN A MILLION.
She met Budni Too!!
And so the Friendship began via e mail and Budni actually called me one day, when he heard my health was not so good.
What a guy. At least I got to hear his voice. I ma sooooo happy and grateful for that.
We laughed and Joked and talked about so many things. He has been inviting me to come and visit him and Carmie in Poona, so he could make a great party and sing all the Oldie songs!!!
I feel so devastated that I will not receive any funny Emails from him.
I feel so sad that we cannot Josh any more about his emails!! But I have to remember that I was Privileged to have been part of his Circle of his Cathedral friends.
A Cathedralite is a Friend For Ever.
He even Knew Jehangeer Jehangeer. I was his K. G. teacher and his paths crossed with Budni's .
And For you Jacob, I know you will miss him great deal. He was always so excited to hear about news from a Cathedralite.
Our Prayers and loving thoughts and memories go to Carmie and their family and to ALLLLLLLL his Friends.
Our Great Memories of him while we were all connected was THE Best any Friend can ask for.
Shalom
Gracie
And when Budni sounded me out on his idea about a Health Foundation for Staff and Alumni Seniors, he wrote:
from: Behram Badhniwalla
Date: 11-Dec-2006 14:01
Subject: Hi There Jacob!
Hi There Jacob!
Yeah, I did go thro John's mail on your site, & the 56 re union believe me it was so interesting, it took me almost two & half hours ....going thro the 56 reunion. I think we should make your site, the official Cathedral site so every one is centralized.
Jacob will u kindly help me to promote the Idea of a "Cathedral Medical Foundation" For a long time it has been on my mind, about a year ago I did mention this to Saker!
This Foundation is based on the fact that today hospital admissions in India and overseas cost an arm & a leg. Although overseas Cathedralites do have state medical benifits, but the period of waiting is far too long for major surgery and a private surgery would cost both arms & a leg overseas.
Today India is coming up fast in professional management of the medical fraternity.. In fact the new thing is promoting ‘Medical tourism’, combining medical treatment in India + a short holiday, post - treatment!
For the overseas chap it falls far cheaper than a private treatment in their homeland. So with this concept in mind, I have been toying with this Idea, for quite some time, for us middle-class senior citizen Cathedralites.
Remember all of us are not affluent and covered by insurance so if we can create a Medical Fund in India, by voluntary contribution and make a Trust. The trust funds are handed over, to some good hospital (Like Jehangir Hospital in Pune or Bombay Hospital/Breach Candy/etc,etc with a provision for free/very nominal cost treatment for any Cathedralite over the age of 60 years.
As a family physician in my practice, my Seniors & teachers taught us medicine, where the main objective was our patient and not money, and under such Ideology I practiced in the poor locality of central Mumbai after working at Nanavati (Santa Cruz) & Masina (Byculla) Hospitals. I did full justice to my profession, I was even interviewed by 'The Boston Globe" at my clinic. So I can only modestly say that when I finished my work I was not an affluent physician, but a happy Dr. Jazz!
So looking back retrospectively, many of us at school did not necessarily come from rich families. My brother & I were educated by our parents who were middle class people, but valued education and that is how we were educated. Many of the Cathedralites, specially the Anglo-Indians & others, were on free or on scholarship! Adding up all these factors, many of our chaps are still not very well financially. I think a Medical Foundation for the senior citizen Cathedralites, would be an excellent venture!
Take my own example: I paid Rs. 31, 000/- from Sunday evening till Thursday Morning, at the Jehangir Hospital, managed by the 'Apollo Hospital' group. The Jehangir hospital is owned by our ex Cathedralites Jasmine & Jehangir Jehangir.
He was kind enough to visit me, and gave me a discount but still landed up paying about Rs. 26,000/- (Our association is thro' Jazz as his wife Jasmine (Sax) & Jehangir (Trumpet) are in the same Pune Jazz Club we meet regularly), and gave me a discount but still landed up paying about Rs. 26,000/-which was still a lot for a 3-4 days stay for anybody!
Please don’t misunderstand me Jacob, I am not, for one moment crying poverty. Carmie & I are very comfortable with our finances, but I know for sure, in the days to come people like us, both here in India & our overseas chaps, can easily get wiped out on medical expenses, so why not find a self help solution?
We can raise funds thro various means, like in 1982, I did a show "An Affair to Remember", at the Rang Bhavan for the Handicapped Children of Mumbai ie, "The fellowship of the Physically Handicapped" also known as FPH (Opp Haji Ali),I had raised in those day approximately Rs. 165,000/- for the FPH. ( The show had 47 Musicians on stage – doing the complete history of a Western music from 1910 till 1980’s, covering Dixie, big band, be-bop , contemporary Jazz, latin , Rock, Elvis, Beatles till Donna Summers & “Saturday Night Fever”. It really was a show to remember and I don’t think, I can ever do such a big show ever again, but maybe on a smaller scale with computer music, raise funds. I could try that !
We can start an active voluntary participation by all of us. I would be the first to donate Rs. 100,000/-towards this trust, if it can look after all of us in the future! There will be many of us who can contribute – u have 3000 of our chaps on your list so if u can toy with this Idea a little more …and come back and surprise me ;-)
With or without you, I am going to try, I am quite a determined chap u must have judged me by now, and as two heads are better than one, your help will be deeply appreciated, by all! Remember we also have some of our teachers still alive over “80”++, who could benefit!
Yes, Jacob, this project I think, is very feasible, if we all pool in our re-sources to make it a grand success.
So till u come back on this….take care & stay healthy!
Cheers
Budni
I did not take long, maybe a day or two, to let Budni know I was with him whole-heartedly. And he went at this with a vengance. Just at that time we had an email about our maths teacher, Mr. Karkaria, who had died in most tragic circumstances. This helped us build more momentum for Budni's Fund.
60er Ronny Karkaria, the son our maths teacher, Mr. Karkaria, on hearing of Budni's demise, wrote:
from Ronny Karkaria (Singapore)
subject RE: Budni's Obituary
Dear Jacob:
It is with deep regret that I have learnt today of the passing away of our dear Cathedralite Budni.
I am Rohni Karkaria (son of Mr. Karkaria) of the class of 60.
I had corresponded regularly with Budni regarding the Health Care Foundation for our present and ex-teachers and fellow Cathedralites.
It is indeed a great loss to us lose a person with so much foresight and as you have rightly put it, '"his dream of the Health Care Foundation (possibly now in his memory) should be completed by your 50th Year Reunion.'"
I, for one, had pledged a sum of money which I will full fill (God willing I remain alive after already having suffered three heart attacks).
My condolences to his family and to all fellow Cathedralites who had known him.
May his Soul rest in Peace and His Dream of the Health Care Foundation be fulfilled.
Rohni Karkaria
55er Bunny Rao, who, like Budni and me, has been keeping his flock of 55ers together, wrote:
from bunnyrao
date Apr 14, 2007 7:00 PM
subject Re: Budni's Obituary
I'm overwhelmed with the news.
Although I had only just come to know Budni we had developed a close and inseparable bond.
He truly enriched our lives.
Regards
bunny rao
56er Percy Mistri wrote:
from P Mistri
date Jan 1, 2002 12:25 AM
subject Obituary of a 57er, Budni Behramwalla
Dear Jacob,
This is Horrible News. What happened ? I am shocked.
Please convey our deepest CONDOLENCES to his dear wife.
I ( Frainy and I ) met him .............after 40 years or so in Poona.................... at a place called THE JAZZ GARDEN ........ .where
we had gone to play Jazz ............ there we met ........ofcourse I recognized him .......he briefly told my his life story and how he had miraculously shed his crutches ( and calipers ? ) ...........introduced us to his good wife .....and ..........I think they all called him Dr. Jazz
..............he was thrilled to hear us play and said he would invite our group down there again .......
I think we met Fleur there too .........not too sure ..........
By the way wasn't his name Behram Budniwalla ............nick named Budni ? .........living in Poona ......a doctor ....
Or are we speaking of different people ?
Talk to me ..............soon
Percy
56er Hasnain Chinwalla wrote:
from Chin (Toronto, Canada)
date Apr 14, 2007 2:27 PM
subject Re: Budni Behramwalla
Dear Jacob & Annikki,
Just read about the sad passing away of Budni, and I am in shock.
Although I did not know him personally, except for remembering him from school, I have received many jokes and anecdotes in my Inbox that originated from him, and forwarded by others, that brought me great pleasure.
Since you are in contact with his family, please convey my sympathies, and may his soul rest in peace.
Always
- Hasnain
And 56er Ubi wrote:
from HS Uberoi (Mumbai, India)
date Apr 14, 2007 10:32 AM
Dear Jacob,
I am shocked to hear of the very sad passing of Behram Badhniwalla.
It was only very recently that I had re-established contact with him after over 50 years.
His efforts to unite and keep the Cathedral family updated with his efforts by means of his multi-addressed emails were heart warming, and although some of his jokes startled a few, it was good to hear from him. I remember Behram as a little boy in school, on crutches.
I was looking forward to meeting up with him. But that was not to be.
On seeing your blog entry today, I spoke to Navroz,his elder brother who was in class with me.
Quite obviously he and the family are shattered.
He did enquire as to how I came to know. I told him I read it on your blog.
Seeing the huge effort that Behram was making to ensure that the 50th Anniversary of the graduating class of 57 is a resounding success, It would be most appropriate for his classmates to dedicate their Anniversary gathering to his memory. But that is their call.
It is sad that one more link from that great Cathedral chain has fallen.
Regards,
Ubi.
Many more such tributes to this outstanding human being, a Cathedralite, lie in my email Inbox. Whether we had met him or not, whether we knew him or not, Budni touched the hearts and lives of Cathedralites around the world.
It is important to realise that many of Budni's jokes that he sent out to all of us, had an underlying message. Many just read them and laughed. They appeared to be just jokes.
However, to me, they were so important, as Budni's character came through. The very important aspect of how beautiful it was to be alive, permeated through each email I received from him. Although sent to many, it was as if each email was sent to me, personally!
I use just one example from the hundreds he sent me:
from Budni
date 30th December 2005
PS: Many of u will be receiving my mail for the 1st time, so please excuse my very improper attitude (Very Un-British as we have not yet been introduced, and will do so very shortly)...but a Cathedralite is always a Cathedralite from any corner of the world.
People!
End of another year approching, nothing much achieved except the boom in our stock market, some thoughts as I see it, like.....
India is shining but our infra structure is far from the shine...
Pune is becoming crowded & more crowded...
Like the Indian media has awakend and people are fed up with corruption...
Like the corrupt & criminals are now accountable even if u have political connection...
Like the cable operators can no longer call the shots.....
Like we had a "Terrible Tuesday" in Mumbai when Bombs blue up trains on the Western Railway tracts killing thousands, but Mumbai was up an about the very next days...
Like the world wants to see a new order......
Like 'Sadaam Hussain's' pre planned sentence was carried out, without a single 'Bushy' men around .....
Like Iraq is ready for more slaughter with internal strifes.......
Like our planet is burning along with all the oil we are burning.....
Like there is much more bad news around, and I am afraid I'll have a nervous breakdown...
Like I am looking for a moment of Joy... I am searching..... I found it last night after a long telephonic call to Bill Shiri in Toronto, and he is looking forward to visit us at our G2G and wants to swing at our bash in Nov...
Like Bill's Clarinet playing is improving, after his 80th birthday gift from his wife Pushpa and wants to play with a band when he comes to India.....
Like.... after a close encounter with peripheral Cynosis ( 2nd Time) & seeing my own x-ray chest.. I gave up smoking after 48 years... (Pramila please note!! ;-) & also Carmie!!)
Like my lungs ....ARE TRYING TO GET MY BREATH BACK...... makes me feel great.....
Like I still hate " As u like eat"... "midsummer's night Dream".... "Othello"... "Twelth Night"... because it used to be the 1st Period after lunch on every friday at 2:05 and ......... Mr Ryder Salmon, mercilessly taught us Shakespeare... who never became my favourite!....
Like I still love Puns as it makes me laugh... .like....
Entries from the International Pun Contest sent to me by our very own Usha Shroff.. Charu's sister:
1. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, "I'm sorry sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
2. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says "Dam!"
3. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
4. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says "I've lost my electron." The other says "Are you sure?" The first replies "Yes, I'm positive."
5. Did you hear about the Buddhist monk that refused Novocain during a root canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.
6. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse." But why?" they asked, as they moved on.
"Because", he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."
7. A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other one goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan."(vahun) Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've see Ahmal."(em all)
8. The friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers for the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop.
Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that only Hugh can prevent florist friars.
9. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him (Oh man, this is so bad, it's good ...............) A super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
10. And finally, there was the person who sent ten different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh!
No pun in ten did.
&
My favorite game with Carmie (to pun on any word she said), while driving down from Pune to Golvad Ishe said "Wheel..." and I replied:
"Where there is a wheel there is a way"
So Ladies & Gentleman hope on Monday would be another day & another Year for all of us! & please please
...Stay fit & heaalthy...
Cheers
Budni
Dr.Behram T.Badhniwalla
Retd Family Physician
Wilson House
1957 Batch
It is possible to characterise Budni from these last couple of emails I received from him. They will remain among the ones that I will treasure.
In response to an idea that I was planning on for the school, yet to be publicised but shared with him and just a few others, he wrote, copying our School Principal, Ms. Meera Isaacs:
from Behram Badhniwalla
to Jacob Matthan
cc "Ms. Meera Isaacs"
subject Re: Introduction from a 59er
Jacob!!
What a wonderful suggestion by you......I hope Maam agrees !!
Jacob u do really have the Best CAT BLOG!
IT SHOWS YOUR DEDICATION!!
KEEP IT UP !-U MAKE US ALL PROUD!!
LET IT RIP...LET IT THUNDER!!!
Dr.Behram T. Badhniwalla
aka Budni 57er -Wilson House
And his very last email to me, just a few hours before he passed to a heavenly abode, as that is the only place available for such a caring loving human being and a Cathedralite:
from Behram Badhniwalla
date Apr 13, 2007 9:44 AM
subject Re: Introduction from a 59er
Jacob your blog should have an automatic-hyperlink with catalumini & vice versa.
Believe me that would would really be very 'Cool'.
What a "Cat-a-blog" it would be!!
Cheers.
Budni
Thank you, Budni, for allowing me to be your friend.
And, I am not angry (and have never been) that for the first three months of our relationship you dubbed me as "John". :-)
My Speech is over - it won't be the Official Speech at School Speech Day 2007 this Saturday, but I do sincerely wish it was.
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