Empowering editors

"With this fifth anniversary (June 2003) issue of Zend...I have decided to lay down my pen as editor. It is not a parting of ways with Zend or the Vadodara Parsi Panchayat trustees who have always willingly come forward to assist,” stated Pesi D. Muncherji in his parting missive.

"To say that we will miss him is an understatement,” noted Dara Hakim, trustee of Shree Parsi Panchayat, Vado-dara and coordinator for its house magazine Zend, in the June 2003 issue on the occasion of its fifth anniversary. Giving Muncherji credit for ensuring "the success of Zend which is read not only by our members but also widely in India and abroad,” Hakim added, "He has continuously given us articles of much interest (which were) also very educative... He is now more involved in the Godrej Archives and will be spending more time in (Bombay) for long periods...However he promises to send us articles and advice whenever needed.”

A young man of 24 with a passion for creative writing, photography, traveling and discussions, Adil Khushru Mara­wala has been appointed Muncherji’s successor. After graduating in arts Mara­wala is presently pursuing his masters in communication studies and occasionally freelances for publications like The Times of India. Community development projects, education of children, animal rights and the theater are his other interests, according to a write-up in the Zend of October 2003.

"Keeping in view the trustees’ belief that the youth should be promoted to take on more responsibilities with accountability and authority, we have selected a very young editorial board,” wrote Hakim. "We are confident that they will maintain the high standard established over the years and inject youthful but balanced views on a wide variety of issues.”

Assisting Marawala will be the correspondents, 21-year-old Pervin Cyrus Bhesania who is also pursuing her masters in communication studies after her arts graduation. She enjoys writing, poetry and drama. Twenty-two-year-old Janet Pervez Contractor has obtained a diploma in hotel management and computers after her graduation. In the past she has contributed religious articles to Zend and helped in data collection for a demographic profile of the community.

"As the coordinator I wish to assure you that this young team will surely deliver the goods. It would encourage them if you give us feedback and suggestions to improve the readability of this magazine,” declared Hakim.

The bilingual quarterly carries interesting information concerning the community projects in Vadodara and elsewhere. As reported in its June 2003 issue the Panchayat trustees have now covered 32 of its members in the age-group of 45 to 75 under the Mediclaim Insurance Scheme "to assist the needy members of the community in Baroda and meet their major expenses towards medical reimbursements.” In fact the Panchayat’s Medicare Reimbursement Scheme has been operating satisfactorily since many years, mentions the write-up.