Mumbai:
Two Mumbai-based Parsi siblings, Bawas Bamji and his sister-in-law Alubai Bamji, have left behind a small fortune for their two household staff, who diligently served them in their last days of ill health and loneliness. The Bamjis resided at Queens Chambers in Marine Lines. While Alubai - a noted hockey player - expired a couple of years ago at the age of 79, Kawas, a retired chartered accountant, passed away in May 2010, at the age of 90.
Subsequent to the joint will, signed and executed by the Bamjis, Anita Dalkiwala (30), a cook and Bharti Vandaria (42), a household help, who live in the middle-class surroundings of Dhobi Talao, have now inherited a sum of Rs 40 lakhs.
"I was never fortunate enough to attend school due to financial restraints, but now my daughter Ashwini, shall not suffer the same fate. For 16 years, I did the household chores for the Bamjis to support my six-member family. They live in a 250-square feet chawl and I earn a monthly salary of Rs 3,000," said Vandaria.
Vandaria added that her ex employees did not have any immediate next of kin: "About two years ago, Kawas saheb fell and fractured his leg. He was admitted to Bacha hospital for months. He appreciated the care and affection showered by both Anita and me. We nursed him back to health, tending to him as we would our own father. It was then that he informed us about his intention to nominate us in his will."
Welcoming the decision taken by the Bamjis, Vandaria's uncle Pushpasen Rajput stated that Kawas and Alubai had a choice of leaving behind their assets to a trust or a religious association, but decided to reward those who took care of him.
"There is a lesson to be learnt here. Such generosity and far sightedness is rare and should be appreciated. They have given hope and a new lease of life to two families and their generations to come," he said.
Dalkiwala, who served as a cook for over 15 years at the Bamji household, supports an unemployed husband, a sister-in law and two children. The cook did not want to make news of the will public, fearing that her relatives would harass her for non-refundable loans and donations.
Subsequent to the joint will, signed and executed by the Bamjis, Anita Dalkiwala (30), a cook and Bharti Vandaria (42), a household help, who live in the middle-class surroundings of Dhobi Talao, have now inherited a sum of Rs 40 lakhs.
"I was never fortunate enough to attend school due to financial restraints, but now my daughter Ashwini, shall not suffer the same fate. For 16 years, I did the household chores for the Bamjis to support my six-member family. They live in a 250-square feet chawl and I earn a monthly salary of Rs 3,000," said Vandaria.
Vandaria added that her ex employees did not have any immediate next of kin: "About two years ago, Kawas saheb fell and fractured his leg. He was admitted to Bacha hospital for months. He appreciated the care and affection showered by both Anita and me. We nursed him back to health, tending to him as we would our own father. It was then that he informed us about his intention to nominate us in his will."
Welcoming the decision taken by the Bamjis, Vandaria's uncle Pushpasen Rajput stated that Kawas and Alubai had a choice of leaving behind their assets to a trust or a religious association, but decided to reward those who took care of him.
"There is a lesson to be learnt here. Such generosity and far sightedness is rare and should be appreciated. They have given hope and a new lease of life to two families and their generations to come," he said.
Dalkiwala, who served as a cook for over 15 years at the Bamji household, supports an unemployed husband, a sister-in law and two children. The cook did not want to make news of the will public, fearing that her relatives would harass her for non-refundable loans and donations.
