Rusi K Dalal was born in Zanzibar in 1935, where his father had migrated earlier on from Surat. Rusi completed his schooling in Zanzibar and in 1952 left for higher education in Mumbai. In 1957 he graduated as a Civil Engineer from Poona University and returned to Zanzibar for a brief period.
In 1959, Rusi left for London to pursue postgraduate studies at London University. He soon acquired professional and chartered engineering status and commenced working as a structural and civil engineer, rising to Partnership level in a renowned consulting engineering firm..
Rusi was always interested in Indian and Zoroastrian community affairs in the United Kingdom. In 1984 he joined the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, established in 1861 by Dadabhai Naoroji. As such, it is the oldest established ethnic institution in the UK. Rusi held many offices in the ZTFE, and was elected its President from 1994 to 1997. For the past 15 years to date he has been a Senior Trustee of the ZTFE.
During all his tenures of office, he took part in and promoted inter-faith dialogue. He worked towards acceptance of ethnic minorities into the social and cultural lives of the United Kingdom. He actively participated in the World Parliaments of Religions held in Chicago (1993), South Africa (1999), Barcelona (2005) etc and developed close liaison and dialogue with world leaders like the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In March 1993, Rusi was invited by the Commonwealth Office to represent Zoroastrians for the first time at the annual Commonwealth Day Celebrations held at Westminster Abbey and met Her Majesty the Queen and other leading members of the royal family. He continued to meet political leaders and dignitaries, at other official gatherings and meetings he attended.
Throughout his tenures of office at the ZTFE, Rusi maintained close liaison with the Indian High Commission to promote close ties between the Non-Resident Indians in the UK and India.
On 25th January 2003, on the eve of the India Republic Day, Rusi was honoured at the International Congress of Non Resident Indians in Delhi with the “Hind Rattan” Award, for his outstanding services, achievements and contributions. The Award was presented by Shri K R Narayanan, former President of India.
Rusi was felicitated as an Honorary Life Member of the ZTFE in 2016 for meritorious services rendered to the Trust Funds and to the Zoroastrian community at large in the UK, for well over 30 years.
Rusi met Roshan and they married in London in 1961. They have four children and seven grandchildren.