Great motivators

The quality of philanthropy was certainly not strained. It dropped in showers of benevolence on students and teachers at ZOSTA’s (The Zoroastrian Student Teacher Association) silver jubilee function in the form of cash awards, gold medals, shields and cash incentives.

A phenomenal Rs 11,52,000 came from a donor described by ZOSTA as a "very modest and unassuming person” who believes in "doing charity in his own quiet way.” Shahrukh Jimi Kathawalla, a practicing counsel of the Bombay High Court, sponsored the Navaz Katha­walla Memorial prizes and awards totalling Rs 11 lakhs, as well as hosted the dinner for all the awardees and invitees at the well-attended function at the Allbless Baug on February 29, 2004. The students securing the highest percentage in the Board and University examinations last year in the various groups received Rs 25,000 each while the second and third highest were awarded Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 each respectively. Every prizewinner received a cash award of Rs 1,000.

Kathawalla added further icing to the students’ cake with his generous offer to award the Jimi N. Kathawalla Memorial Prize of one lakh rupees to all Zoroastrian students appearing for the HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate) exam this year who subsequently manage to secure admission in the first year MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) in a medical college in Bombay on merit only. All students appearing for HSC who gain admission into IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) anywhere in India on merit only would also be given one lakh rupees.

ZOSTA managing committee (from left), seated: Billimoria, Commis­sariat, Daroga, Basla and Daman­walla. Standing: Marfatia, Sanjana, Patel, Mehta and Ghadiali

Expressing special appreciation for magnanimity of this magnitude, the master of ceremonies Freny Mehta, who is the principal of The Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, crystallized the feelings of the large gathering: "Is there need for words when his deeds speak for themselves?”

Sitting by choice not on stage but in the first row of invitees, Kathawalla was accompanied by his sister and co-donor Mahrukh Noble and other family members.

Securing 90.33 percent at the HSC (Science) exam in February 2003 and winning a 22 carat gold medal was Naomi Kotwal of Mithibai College. Farzana Marolia of Queen Mary School with 93 percent at the ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) exam secured the gold medal for topping the list of ICSE/CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) students, while Natasha Wadia of The J. B. Vachha High School with 89.73 percent won the gold medal for securing the highest marks among the students who appeared for the SSC (Secondary School Certificate) exam in March last year. All three gold medals were donated in memory of his late parents Hillamai and Manchershaw Bhathena by chartered accountant Zarir Bhathena who is also the managing director of Hilla Builders Private Limited. An ardent supporter of ZOSTA activities, Bhathena has been donating three gold medals for the past 15 years and this year also sponsored the ZOSTA replicas awarded to each student as well as shared in the expenses of the silver jubilee function.

Scherezed Parelvala of Jai Hind College with 83.50 percent secured the distinction of being fourth on the state merit list in the HSC (Arts) exam. Nazneen Icchaporia of R. A. Podar College with 88.17 percent was seventh on the state merit list, while Parvez Sethna with 87.83 percent and Benaifer Karkaria with 87.67 percent, both of Narsee Monjee College, were in the first 10 on the state merit list for HSC (Commerce).

Advocate and taxation specialist Homi Ranina, who has supported ZOSTA over the past 18 years, has donated three shields, as well as cash prizes in the graduate section. This year, Navaz Irani of K. C. College secured 76 percent and 16th rank in the merit list at the BA (Bachelor of Arts) exam; Delnaz Driver of N. M. College with 82.87 percent (first class first) and Neville Golwalla of Jai Hind College with 79.57 percent were awarded the shield for the BCom (Bachelor of Commerce) exam. Percy Avari of the Bombay Veterinary College and Pearl Singapore­walla of Poona University with 76.92 percent and 75.33 percent respectively were the winners for the BSc (Bachelor of Science) examination. Ranina also shared in the expenses of the silver jubilee function.

"Being publicly honored in the midst of one’s peers is a great motivator,” stated Bombay Parsi Puncha­yet (BPP) chairman Minoo Shroff who was the chief guest for the evening, appreciating the efforts of the almost 200 students from school to postgraduate level in the fields of engineering, medicine, law, education, management, etc who reaped their rewards in the face of cutthroat competition, often overcoming impediments like paper leakage, postponement of examinations, cheating, etc. Among the toppers was Dr Mazda Turel of Grant Medical College, with 70.88 percent and six distinctions at the MBBS exam, with Dr Tuhid Irani standing first from the Bharati Vidyapeeth, Poona with eight distinctions and fellow Poona collegian Dr Firoza Gandhi third among the ZOSTA winners in medical studies with 65.15 percent and three distinctions.

Khushru Wadia of the Shah and Anchor Kutchhi Engineering College ranked first in Bombay University with 72.63 percent in BE (Bachelor of Engineering), while Trushna Irani of Hansraj Jivandas College with 60.04 percent topped in the BEd (Bachelor of Education) exam. Danesh Chinoy of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore won the award for BPT (Bachelor of Physical Training). Meherzad Dastoor of Jai Hind College with 78.50 percent was the highest among ZOSTA awardees in the BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies) examination. Shehnaz Todiwala of the Shah Khimchand Mulji Law College, Bulsar with 61.10 percent picked up the prize for LLB (Bachelor of Laws).

Jehangir Bhadha of the University of Florida, USA with 87 percent in MSc (Master of Science) Geology topped the list of Masters level students. Cyrus Vaid of the University of Strathclyde (Glas­gow), UK secured 67.33 percent at the MBA (Master of Business Administration) level, while Hanoz Sukheshwalla of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies scored 71.40 percent at the MMS (Master of Management Studies) examination.

Khushnooma Deboo and Pearl Ches-son of The Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies with 67.65 percent at the MMM (Master of Marketing Management) and 64.35 percent at the MFM (Master of Finance Management) won in their respective categories. Cyrus Shroff with 56 percent topped the list of CA (Chartered Accountant) ZOSTA awardees at the examination conducted by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

In her welcome address, ZOSTA chairperson Zenobia Daroga, ex principal and member of the managing committee of the Bengallee Girls’ High School, narrated ZOSTA’s humble beginnings. In 1979, Dr Aloo Billimoria, then president of FOZAWAC (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations for Welfare and Culture) invited the principals of Parsi-managed schools for a meeting, with the aim of starting an association of students and teachers to work towards religious and cultural renaissance. Daulat Doongaji, who was at that time the principal of Activity High School, and a small group of educationists took up the challenge of forming the association. Many schools were reluctant at first and only three — the Activity High School, Bai Ruttonbai F. D. Panday Girls’ High School and The Sir C. J. (Cowasjee Jehangir) School — joined ZOSTA. A quarter century later, ZOSTA has 19 life member schools, 450 student members and nearly 400 tea- chers and principals as individual members. Of the early members, three were present at the function — Doongaji, Silloo Commissariat, ex principal and now administrator of Panday School who is currently ZOSTA’s vice chairperson and Dilnavaz Billimoria, headmistress of Hill Springs School (Pre-primary and primary).

In keeping with ZOSTA’s motto "Frashmi Aethrya” (Progress culturally), ZOSTA not only recognizes scholastic achievement but also conducts a variety of activities peppered with fun like talent contests, elocution, community songs, chalk purvanu (rangoli), etc. On ZOSTA Day each year, the green campus of Bandra’s Bai Avabai Petit Girls High School plays host to telematches, mini sports, etc. Among the highlight of activities is the annual trip to the Iranshah in Udvada for teachers as well as students.

Teachers with long and meritorious service are also honored annually, while workshops and seminars keep them up-to-date with modern teaching trends. "Despite the heavy work schedule of principals (most of whom are on the managing committee), we have diligently worked together as one big, happy family,” stated Daroga. The association honored octogenarian Doongaji, its first president, with a shawl. "I am very happy that my small pioneering effort has been recognized. No matter how old one may be one likes to be recognized,” Doongaji told the gathering. Also receiving a shawl was Zarine Amalsadvala, sister of Roshen Driver, the late principal of the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (BJPCI), under whose 14-year innings as ZOSTA president the association "bloomed and flourished.”

"I want you to remember that times have changed. If you do go abroad for higher studies, please remember to come back. India is emerging as a great power in the world. India will have a glorious future a couple of decades from now,” Ranina encouraged the students. "Yes, India is shining — in parts. The Parsi community is also shining — in parts!” smiled Shroff. Earnings are great today for youngsters, he said. We must keep our fold together so "do make a hard enough effort to find a Parsi partner,” he exhorted. The BPP is to soon set up a fertility clinic to help young people start and plan their families, he added.

Thanking all the generous donors, not only for the prizes for the students but for the felicitation of principals and teachers as well, Commissariat stated: "We teachers feel 10 feet tall... the specially calligraphed envelopes have touched our hearts.” Doffing her cap to the managing committee comprising Daroga, Commissariat, honorary secretary Zarine Basla, ex principal, The Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School, honorary treasurer Tehmina Damanwalla of the BJPCI, and members Billimoria, Gool Ghadiali, principal of The New Era School, Diana Marfatia, BJPCI principal, Navaz Sanjana, ex principal and administrator, Girton High School, Mehta and Abban Patel, principal of the C. J. School, Commissariat summed up: "Life is fragile; hold on with care, caution and sincere prayers.”

With everything official about the function over, students’ and teachers’ high spirits were leavened by the jiving, rocking and rolling of Salomi Roy Kapoor and Sundeep Soparkar’s dancers, rounded off with a Parsi dinner.