Bonding in Borivli

Notwithstanding the torrential rains lashing the city on August 23, 2003, the chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet Minoo Shroff, chairman emeritus Jamshed Guzder, trustees Silloo Kavarana, Dinshaw Tamboly and Dadi Engineer travelled 50 km from South Bombay to join in the New Year celebrations organized by the Borivli and Suburban Zoroastrian Association (BASZA), notes a press release from the Association summarizing the day’s proceedings.

While Shroff congratulated the hosts for organizing such successful events every year, Guzder appreciated the bond of unity displayed by the Association members under their president Noshir Paghdiwalla. Engineer and Tamboly further encouraged the BASZA members with their words of solidarity.

For the Borivli Parsis who spend nearly three hours daily commuting back and forth from work, the monthly get-togethers serve to promote a healthy bonding, mentioned Paghdiwalla. He was thankful to the Rustomjee Group of Companies, particularly Boman Irani, Percy and Susan Chowdhary, for so willingly placing, free of cost at the BASZA disposal, the premises and infrastructure at the Rustomjee International School at Borivli.

To keep alive the Zoroastrian ethos amongst the youth and the elderly who otherwise feel alienated in the vast intercommunal diaspora of the suburbs, BASZA regularly organizes religious lectures, debates, colloquiums and seminars as also social and cultural events and pilgrimage tours.

At the August 23 function compered by Jennifer Paghdiwalla BASZA children who had fared well in academics and sports were awarded prizes at the hands of Shroff. Then followed a humorous variety entertainment program presented by Pervez Mehta and directed by Sam Kerawala. Marzban Mehta rendered some popular Parsi Gujarati songs. The evening ended with a sumptuous dinner catered by Ketayun and Bomi Khambata.