ABSTRACT
Sir Mancherjee Merwanjee Bhownaggree (1851-1933) is usually remembered as the second Indian (and Parsi) to be elected to the British Parliament (McLeod forthcoming). Hinnells has reminded us that Bhownaggree was also a leader of the British Zoroastrian community (Hinnells 2005: 366-75, 340-52). This chapter examines yet another facet of Bhownaggree’s life: several projects that he undertook to commemorate his deceased sister Ave. It touches on Parsi and British mourning practices of the late nineteenth century, and on philanthropy as both an element of mourning and a social and political statement. It argues that Ave’s death, and the failure of one of the memorial projects, played roles in Bhownaggree’s decision to make London his home rather than Bombay. At the same time, the expensive memorial projects helped pave the way for Bhownaggree’s entry into Parliament.
