India, Aug. 21 -- Two Parsi doctors from erstwhile Bombay (now Mumbai), Jal Patel and Jal Daeboo, will be posthumously honoured with one of Pakistan's highest civilian awards, the Nishan-e-Quaid-i-Azam, on March 23, 2027.

The honours list, issued on August 14, Pakistan's Independence Day, names the two doctors "for conferment on citizens of Pakistan and foreign nationals for exceptional achievements, excellence and courage in their respective fields".

The announcement has brought back attention to a little-known episode from the history of the subcontinent. It has also sparked interest among members of Mumbai's Parsi community.

Dr Patel was the physician treating Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Along with radiologist Jal ...