Irani, a well-known Mysurean, who made a name in the field of education by starting Ideal Jawa Rotary Children’s School. She started her career as a nursery teacher in Delhi and later founded the Ideal Jawa Rotary School in 1968, which grew into one of the most prestigious schools in the city.
As an educationist, she gave major emphasis on parents, teacher and student interactions as part of the children’s overall development and was supported by Anglo Indian teachers, prioritising value-based practical education before it came into vogue.
Irani was married to industrialist Farrokh K Irani (or F K Irani), who started Ideal Jawa (India) Limited, the company which sold Jawa motorcycles and also famous Yezdi Road King bikes. She moved to Mysore in 1951, had two sons – Raian Irani, Kairus F Irani and a daughter – Morvarid Fernandez.
She started her political career in 1968 after getting nominated to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, where she served as a member until 1978. Between 1993 and 1995, she served in the Senate of the University of Mysore.
In 1995, she was nominated to the Parliament’s 10th Lok Sabha for one of the seats reserved for Anglo-Indians. Irani was vice-president of the Anglo-Indian Association.
Irani’s journey in social service started during World War II, where she volunteered and served in the St John’s Ambulance Corps and was awarded the Viceroy’s Certificate of Merit for her service.
Irani was heavily involved in social work for humanitarian causes, treating leprosy patients in Mysore, working as vice president of an orphanage, and as a trustee of numerous hospitals.
She was on the board of the P K Sanatorium and Trustee of Holdsworth Memorial Hospital (Mission Hospital) and also served as an executive member of Frank Anthony’s Public School, Cathedral High School in Bengaluru and board member of Laidlaw Memorial School, Nilgiris.
Irani had built the Chamundi Children’s Home in Mysuru which is still functioning to this day.
She passed away on April 10, 2003, but her memory lives on in the hearts of and minds of people who are trying to follow her ideals.
– Team Mysoorunews
