Brain and brawn at Cusrow Baug

The six spanking new Pentium III computers with full multimedia, color monitors and cable Internet connectivity await Zoroastrian users at the new Computer Center on the first floor of the Cusrow Baug pavilion. Installed in a fully renovated room and inaugurat­ed on November 21, 2001, the Computer Center is designed not just for Baug residents, though Cusrow Baug is probably the first of the Parsi baugs to provide this facility, but for all members of the community.

"We have eliminated the use of phone lines and ISPs (Inter­net service providers),” explained web designer and Cusrow Baug resident Viraf B. Hansotia in his presentation at the inaugura­tion. Set up with handsome donations from philanthropist NarYman Dubash and Cusrow Baug cum Dubai resident Russi Patel, managing partner of BDO Patel and Al Saleh, Chartered Accountants, the Center will conduct classes in the basic aspects of computers like MS Office packages, Internet, e-mail, etc. Scanning, printout and surfing facilities will also be available to Zoroastrians at rates less than those charged by cyber cafes or other commercial establishments, Hanso­tia informed Parsiana. Tata Share Registry’s Dinyar Marfatia, also a Baug resident, will lend his expertise, with Hansotia running the classes in afternoon batches as well as on Sunday mornings as Parsis are "in another planet” on Sundays after dhansak, he jests.

Clockwise from far left: Gamadia, Dubash and Guzder at the Computer Center (Photo: Studio Sudder); Marfatia and Patel (Photo: Hilla Guzder); Bomi and Viraf Hansotia with Guzder and Dubash (Photo: Rusi Davar); the ladies gym (Photo: Hilla Guzder)

Dr Dinyar Gamadia, long-time president of The Cusrow Baug United Sports and Welfare League, thanked Dubash and Patel for the generosity that has enabled the League, on its 55th anni­versary, to set up not just the Computer Center, but a new ladies gymnasium, as well as a renovated medical center. "This is a magnificent colony and you have done a wonderful job,” commended Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Dadi Engineer. "But I have one request for the ladies — please do not build muscles! And don’t let the boys be deprived of the company of ladies and the eye for beauty. This should not lead to a segregation of the sexes!”

Describing Dubash as a "thorough Zoroastrian, a philanthro­pist and a sportsman with interest in cycling, rifle and pistol shooting and karate,” Gamadia informed the gathering on the green outside the pavilion that last year Dubash had given a donation for the existing gym situated over the main gate. A large number of Zoroastrians do utilize the facilities there, but a separate gym for the ladies of Cusrow Baug was suggested for those who prefer to train in the company of their own sex. Gamadia acknowl­edged the role played by Cusrow Baug resident Viraf Panthaki in setting up the gym. Panthaki, said Gamadia, is the only Parsi to be a national judge for weightlifting, power lifting and body building. He is also an international referee and has been coach of the Indian team in four world championships, returning that very day from Finland, yet was present at the function.

The medical center had been running for a number of years on the ground floor, Bomi Hansotia, treasurer of the League, told Parsiana. But Dubash and Patel’s benevolence facilitated its renovation and elevation into better premises. It is open to all residents of the "queen of colonies” at a nominal fee. The panel of doctors offering their free services for consultation are cardiologist Dinyar Gamadia, gynecologist Mehroo Hansotia, surgeon Rushad Udwadia, dentist Burzin Khan and homeopath Hutokshi Basta.

Renovated medical center (Photo: Hilla Guzder)

Briefly tracing the genesis of Cusrow Baug, BPP chairman Jamshed Guzder recalled with affection his association with Sir Ness Wadia. In the 1930s when the BB&CI (Bombay, Baroda and Central India) Railway, the precursor of today’s Western Railway, decided to terminate its services at Churchgate instead of at Colaba (where the present Badhwar Park is situated), Wadia with wisdom and foresight bought this piece of land at a good price, narrated Guzder. But he never wanted his statue to be placed in the open anywhere in the Baug as he said he would hate to see crows and pigeons sitting on his bald head!

Viraf Hansotia presented a brief audio-visual description of Dubash’s two books, The New World Encyclopedia of the Theory of Waves and The World of Waves and The New World Encyclopedia of the Theory of the Khoorshid Nigir­ishn, compiled after 45 years of research and experience. The League also felicitated, among others, Dinaz Patrawala, the first lady from Cusrow Baug to become an MLA (member of the legislative assembly).

Cusrow Baug’s website — www cusrowbaug.org, designed and set up by Viraf’s Online Systems — gives the latest updates about major events at the Baug and has been accessed by over 10,000 people since its inception in August ’99. "The site is important not just for what it shows but for what it does,” Viraf Hansotia said to Parsiana. The site can receive e-mails for residents of the Baug who do not have access to e-mail or a computer. The e-mail is then printed out and hand delivered to the concerned person. "This is our social obligation. I do not charge even for the printing,” he says, adding that it gives him great satisfaction to forward, for example, a message to elderly parents from their son living abroad. "The site is popular with Cusrow Baug resi­dents outside India. Very often they get to know the results of our volleyball matches even before our local residents do!”

Musical moments at the function were provided by Rustom’s Keyboard Ensemble, conducted by Rusi Karkaria, while Marazban Mehta presented a medley of tunes to enliven the proceedings during the contributory dinner catered by Tanaz Godiwalla.

The 14-member managing committee of the League headed by Gamadia has Ratoo Dastur and Mani Vajifdar as vice presidents, Bomi Hansotia as treasurer, Behram Khajotia and Hoshi Mody as joint secretaries, Gool Kotwal, Maneck Engineer, Feroze Deboo, Viraf Panthaki, Jimmy Colabawalla, Tehmasp Munshi, Dinyar Marfa­tia and Viraf Hansotia as members.