A Gentle, Compassionate and Kind Human Person…  These are the words that resonate with me when I think of my father.  His contributions to Navi Mumbai and many other charitable organizations are exemplary.  I want to write a few words on my relationship with him as his son.  Our relationship had several chapters throughout his life, each at different times…enriching in unique ways.

As a young boy, I remember his encouragement for me to learn, to enjoy and to experience everything that life has to offer.  From Sports to Arts…from School to Movies…the sky was the limit.  I have fond memories of my walks with him, holding his hand, every Sunday morning to the local mutton shop to buy meat for our favorite mutton curry, a dish we enjoyed together a lot.  I have memories of him teaching me to play cricket in the small terrace of our apartment in Sector 1, Vashi.  On some weekends, we used to ride the Harbor train together all the way to Fort, watch movies, go to the Rani-Bagh (zoo) and have a fantastic time eating Vada-Pavs, Pav Bhaji and downing Coconut juice.  These were happy times with my father, which I cherish and miss a lot.  His loving and protective hold on my hand will forever be etched in my memory. 

Then, came my teenage years; and for my dear friends and family members who know me during those times, you will agree that I should start off by tipping my hat to my father for tolerating me so well amid my acts of mischief, mayhem and a penchant for rebellion.  There are some things I did that my father did not know, and God Bless his Soul, it is better that way.   His rules were simple: Keep your grades high, and you get more freedom.  Looking back, I think I ran with the latter putting less credence on the former.  He played a principal role in guiding this angry teenager towards adult hood.  Do not react to immature adults who tell a chief town planner’s teenage son, “Cidco Building Teda Banatha Hain (Cidco makes crooked buildings)”.  When my response would have been “Tere Berojgaar Baap ko Bhej Building Sidha Karne (Then, send your unemployed father to make the building straight)”; he taught me to maintain dignity and silence and win people over with kindness and understanding.  I will admit I am still learning this trait, which he exemplified with stoic courage and self-belief.  While my teenage years were not too different from others growing up in India at that time, with academic, peer, social and all kinds of pressure, I was lucky to have an understanding father.  At around this time, my father also pursued an active interest in paper-machie sculpture.  There were many artistic creations from him, and one particular making – a monolithic abstract “Ganesha” has become his signature gift to friends and family members.  It stands as a testament to his artistic abilities and creative genius in keeping things simple and beautiful.  While I did not inherit his artistic abilities, the motivation and principles reflected in his work serve as a source of inspiration to me every day. 

Later on, when I was trying to gain a foothold and establish a new life in the States, I felt his absence profoundly.  Although, he was not there physically, his gentle voice on the phone and encouraging letters gave me confidence to push ahead despite setbacks.  I remember how he embraced my wife, Beth into the family at our wedding, by referring to her as his own daughter. We cherish his loving, playful times as Ajoba (Grandfather) to my elder daughter, Anoushka.  Alas, his health deteriorated rapidly in the past few years, and while I wish he could spend more time with us and both his grand-daughters, I know he is no longer in pain and suffering.

I will miss him dearly...Rest in Peace, Baba

Dearest Daddy

I am so sad that you are no longer with us. You were the most important person in my life...

I have always admired you for the generous, kind and inspiring person you were to several people. You were a  great father, a superb architect and one of the nicest people I have known in my life. You were humble and had a heart of gold, never judging people and always willing to help. You were loved by several people and I am sure they will remember your good deeds and miss you.

I will look back at all the times we spent together with much happiness and I will cherish those memories forever...

I know that the last decade has been very hard on you and all your health problems made life extremely difficult. I am happy that your suffering has ended and you are in a better place but I am upset that this means you are no longer with us.

You were a great human being, a source of inspiration to many many people and will no doubt be fondly remembered and cherished by all those people.

You will remain a constant source of inspiration for me and I aspire to live my life with the same values and principles that defined you.

I love you so much and I hope you are at peace.

Lots of love always...

Pallu 

Dear Mrs Parab

The news of passing away of Mr Datta Parab has deeply saddened all of us. He was loved and respected by all his former colleagues, fellow members and friends. He was an unconventional and original thinker. He was a simple and transparent person with a positive bias for the weaker. He believed in inclusiveness and strived to achieve that objective in his professional work and personal relationship with others. As Chief Architect and Planner of CIDCO, he left his imprint on the development of Navi Mumbai. He was one of the senior most members of the Mumbai Regional Chapter of the Institute of Town Planners and guided the Chapter's activities.

The members and office bearers of the Maharashtra (Mumbai) Regional Chapter of the ITPI, offer their condolences to you and your children and deeply sympathise with you in this hour of bereavement.