Nagpur nuggets

After the president Edul F. Bhagwagar became the first life member of the Shree Nagpur and Kamthi Parsi Zarthosti Anjuman, 32 members enrolled in the new life membership category incorporated in the constitution. Effective January 31, 2003, on payment of Rs 1,000 life members have been accepted in the Anjuman, according to the Anjuman’s annual report and audited accounts for the year ended March 31, 2003.

With Rs 318,914 received as donations during the year, the corpus of the Anjuman rose from Rs 6,574,380 to Rs 6,893,294. A handsome donation of Rs 80,000 from Rooshad R. Patel was utilized for the renovation, extension of pathways, painting of prayer room and providing other facilities at the aramgah. A layout plan indicating the grave numbers and location that has been put up for the convenience of visitors was made possible by architect Percy Nazir, mentions the report.

The immovable property of the Anjuman is valued at Rs 5,104,547 and includes the Dar-e-Meher building with staff quarters, Kamdin Charity Chawl, Dharamshala building, Anjuman Memorial Blocks, A. H. Wadia Charity Building, Dr Dadi Balsara Apartments, Diwan Bahadur M. M. Mulla Memorial Blocks, Parsi Anjuman Apartments, Dadi Terrace. According to their accounts, Rs 163,400 is expended on maintenance of property, Rs 53,880 on electricity. Salaries (including bonus) accounted for an equally high expenditure of Rs 162,995.

The Anjuman expended Rs 26,715 on medical aid and Rs 8,296 on mediclaim policies. An additional Rs 71,400 was distributed as monthly aid to the needy members of the Anjuman. On education, Rs 14,966 was spent by the Anjuman including Rs 6,491 as merit prizes. In addition to Bhagwagar, the others serving the Anjuman are vice president Navroze Daver, honorary secretary Yezdi D. Bhagwagar, honorary treasurer Shiraz Doongaji, assistant honorary secretary Rusi Godha, assistant honorary treasurer Narges Desai, Meh­roo Watchmaker as lady member, Homi Kavarana, Dr Firoze Bharda, Dinshaw Mistry, Adil Bharucha and Jamshed Cas­sad as members; and Gev Avari, Rhoda Patel, Shiraz Gimi, Minoo Daruwalla, Navroze F. Bhagwagar and Rustom Hormusjee as nominated members.

Patel (left) receiving citation from Dr Jayant Apiajit while Dr Arun Satputley looks on

Elected lady member of the Anjuman for nearly 23 years and presently vice president of the Nagpur Parsi Gymkhana Dr Thrity Dinshaw Patel was awarded the best teacher award for the year 2004 by the Government of Maharashtra. She will be presented the award on September 5, 2004, observed as Teachers’ Day. Head of the department of law at the Nagpur University, with her 26 years of teaching experience, Patel is the seniormost faculty member, according to her bio data. Among the postgraduate diploma courses she has pioneered in the law department are: human rights and duties education, consumer law, cyber law and information technology, besides masters in human rights and duties education. She introduced the Human Rights Cell in the Nagpur University and was appointed as the nominee member of the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi for Nagpur Central Prison in 1998. She keeps filing public interest litigation for protecting the rights of prisoners and for consumer rights, mentions her curriculum vitae. Chairperson of the Board of Studies in Law and member of the Academic Council she was also the senate member of the Nagpur University from 1989-95.

Besides writing articles in innumerable books and journals, she has published a book on Personal Liberty, the foreword to which was penned by the late Nani Palkhivala. Among the community institutions she serves is the J. N. Tata Parsi Girls High School in Nagpur where she is on the board of trustees. Her source of inspiration has been her late brother Justice Hoshang D. Patel who was a judge of the Bombay High Court.