RT. WBRO. SOHRAB RUSTAM DAVAR

DISTRICT GRAND MASTER 1944-1949

In the absence of Rt. WBro. W.A.C Bromham who had passed away, WBro. Sohrab Davar presided over the March 1944 Communication of the DGL and was installed as the District Grand Master.

Rt. WBro. Sohrab Davar was not only the first Indian DGM for Bombay, but, also the first Indian DGM under the English Constitution in the whole of India. (It may be mentioned here that a Parsi Brother, Nasarwanji Nowroji Parakh, was installed DGM of Burma in 1932).

Rt. WBro. Sir Reginald Spence and Sir Roger Lumley, Past DGMs sent messages of congratulations to the new DGM.

In September 1944, Rt. WBro. Sohrab Davar unveiled the portrait of the late Rt. WBro. Bromham.

In March 1945, the death of Rt. WBro. W.A.C. Haig-Brown was reported.

Lodge Bromham No. 6175, Bombay and Lodge Katni No. 6189, Katni were both consecrated in 1945 and the total of Lodges was raised to 55.

Lodge Star of India No. 6365 was consecrated by Rt. WBro. Sohrab Davar on 8th February 1947. The total of Lodages now stood at 56 – the peak touched in the District.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Earl of Harewood, died. His Grace the Duke of Devonshire succeeded him as the Grand Master and the Earl of Scarbrough (formerly Sir Roger Lumley, DGM Bombay) as Deputy Grand Master.

The number of Lodges in the District were reduced by four in 1948:
Lodge Orion in the West No. 415, Poona
Lodge Light of the Craft No. 3265, Jubbulpore and
Lodge Ubique in the East No. 3338, Kirkee were transferred to London.

Lodge Indus No. 4325, Karachi, was closed owing to the retirement of a large majority of its members from India.

The Duke of Devonshire was installed as Grand Master by H.M. the King in March.

As a result of the transfer of four Lodges to London, there was a drop in the number of Masons in the District from 3,801 to 3,361.

Rt. WBro. Sohrab Davar DGM presided over the DGL in March 1949, but he soon fell ill and resigned in August after about five and half years’ service in that high office. Regrettably, he passed away in December.