Parveen Babi trust to help poor Babi community women

AHMEDABAD: After the Bombay high court upheld the legitimacy of the will of Parveen Babi — a glamorous film star of the 1970s and early '80s — her uncle Muradkhan Babi said that her trust's funds would be used to restart stitching and embroidery classes inside the family haveli for poor women of the Babi community. Parveen Babi had left 20% of her estate to Muradkhan and had given him the right to form a trust.
Muradkhan told TOI that in 1972 the star had formed the “Babi Association” and set aside two rooms of her haveli in Junagadh for running stitching and embroidery classes for poor women descendants of the community that traces its ancestry to Junagadh’s Babi dynasty.
“The association, which was shut down, will be revived and attached to the Parveen Babi Trust,” said Muradkhan. “The trust will continue running classes. The women will also be provided with free medicines.” Muradkhan said that the majority of the Babi community live in penury, driving autos and operating laaris (handcarts). He said the trust funds will also be used to help the community members start small enterprises. He said that Parveen Babi's will specifically mentions that 80% of the estate is meant for the trust, and 10% should be donated to Christian missionaries.
“I will shortly go to a church in Juhu, in Mumbai, which Parveen frequented and seek advice on donating the 10%,” said Muradkhan. In her will, Parveen Babi has stated, “My uncle Muradkhan of Junagadh shall form a trust named “Parveen Babi Trust” and shall be the managing trustee and president of the trust, and two other member of his family and two other persons of his choice shall be other trustees”.
The star, praising Muradkhan for his support and service to her family, has mentioned in her will that the trust should acquire or purchase — in memory of her mother Jamalbakhte — from the government the Dhanbia Haveli, where she lived as a tenant. The premises should be used as the trust office and for welfare works, Parveen Babi had stated in her will.