Respecting the achievers

The Bombay Parsee Association (BPA) which has rendered yeoman service in its 82 years of existence believes in encouraging the achievers in the community and especially the youth, noted Vispi Dastur, president of the Association at the annual function held at Cama Baug on October 19, 2002. In addition to the innumerable prizes presented to the winners of its prayer and kusti weaving competitions, this year the Association conferred its achievement awards to eight individuals, including four youth, who have shone in different fields of endeavor.

For religious studies and research, the late Roni Khan was awarded posthumously, for freemasonry, Soli Daru­walla, for social service and Lionism, Neville Mehta, for ballet, Pheroza Lally, for academics Farzana Wadia, Zenobia Chinoy and Zervin Baam, and for sports, Kyra Shroff.

At the Bombay Parsee Association felicitation (from left, back row): Peer, Arnavaz Mistry, Aloo Shroff, Guzder, Homai Mehta, Dastoor, Dinoo and Vispi Dastur. Center row: Lally, Daruwalla, Sherena Khan and Neville Mehta. Front row: Baam, Chinoy, Kyra Shroff and Wadia

Referring to the achievers who augur a bright future for the community, guest of honor Homai Mehta, director of the Sir J. J. College of Commerce, lambas­ted the pessimists who keep insisting that the community is dying. Chief guest Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada stressed the need to encourage the youth such that they feel motivated to excel while chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet Jamshed Guzder emphasized the importance of prayer and referred to the issues before the Punchayet.

The function commenced with a jashan ceremony led by Ervad Aspandiar Dadachanji and a hambandagi by the students of the Athornan Boarding Madressa. Those present then stood in silence in memory of the late Dastur Kekobad Dastoor, Khan, Cyrus Lalkaka and others.

The highlights of the Association’s activities were read by honorary general secretary Tehmina Peer, while joint honorary secretary Aloo Shroff proposed a vote of thanks. Music during the evening came from Homai Bulsara who sang a monajat on the Iranshah, and the children of the Bai Avabai Petit High School who sang Chhaiyé hamé Zarathushti and the national anthem. The function ended with a contributory dinner, all the prize winners being the guests of the Association.