Parsi Philanthropy has been predominant in two areas – Education and Healthcare. These two are essential components of a happy, healthy and purposeful society. In the early 1900s, members of the affluent Chenoy family of Secunderabad understood that wealth created is meaningfully utilized for the betterment of society, and they set up various institutions that would serve their fellow community members. Seth Eduljee Chenai helped establish the Chenai Parsi Fire Temple and the Dharamsala and set up many other charities. Amongst his illustrious grandsons was the unassuming, kind and generous – hearted Jehangirji Jamshedji Chenai, who believed that ‘education’ would provide a chance to all to share the fruits of a good life and that would be the key to the future success of the community. So, in memory of his wife, he established the Bai Ratanbai Jehangirji Parsi Elementary School on Roj Khorshed, Mah Amardad, Y.Z. 1288 (January,19, 1919). Even in those early times, Jehangirji had realized the value of ‘girls’ education’ and the school provided for an inclusive education in a co-educational environment.

For more than five decades the BRJC Parsi School remained the first schooling option for Parsi families of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, which at the time were a part of the Nizam’s domain. The curriculum provided for a healthy mix of religious learning along with subjects like History, Geography, Economics, Logic and the Languages –English, Gujarati and Urdu. In 1933 the school upgraded to a Middle School and in 1974/75 it gained recognition as a High School affiliated to the State Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh.

During the early years of the school, with Faramroze Hirji Khurshed as the Head Master from 1952 -1919, the emphasis was on discipline, a sound foundation of religious and cultural education, coupled with modern learning. Most of the staff comprised lady teachers with the known exceptions being Mehtaji who taught mathematics and Gujarati and Shamsuddin Saheb who taught Urdu. The school put up annual plays (nataks) that were musicals based on stories from the shahnameh and scripted and composed by the HM Parsi Seths and their families, community members and parents of the students were invited to these treats only to leave at the end of the evening with emotions running high and hearts chastened.

Even in those days, excursions to various cities in India formed a part of the curriculum, because it was believed that travelling complemented education.