Cultural awareness

To support The Nowroze Baug Play Centre’s tuition fees scheme chief guest Burjor Antia, trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), donated Rs 50,001 at the Centre’s 58th annual cultural program at Birla Matushri Sabha-garh on June 4, 2004. Recalling the munifi­cence of the Wadias who had built the first building at Nowroz Baug in 1906 which soon grew into a 18-building colony for the less fortunate, Antia felt that community organizations like the BPP should work for the welfare of the poor, noted a press re­lease forwarded by the president of the Play Centre Nari­man Mehta.

It is creditable that in Nowroz Baug, the band of youth under the leadership of Cyrus Siganporia has been doing useful social work by cleaning fire-temples and dakhmas throughout India, commended guest of honor Shihan Vispi Kapadia who promised a donation of Rs 50,001 to promote the sports related activities at the Baug.

Items presented at the Nowroz Baug show and generous guests Kapadia (top) and Antia, Guzder and Tamboly (below, from left)

As per their belief that a child is the center point of the Play Centre, 11-year-old Vistasp Ruzbeh Sutaria as the child president was given the honor of summarizing the Play Centre’s activities through the year and invite support and donations to their cause. Among the dignitaries present Jamshed Guzder gave a donation of Rs 15,000 and Dinshaw Mehta, Rs 25,000. Former No­wroz Baug resident Aspi Ustad forwarded a donation of Rs 12,000 from friends and members from New Zealand, and Shavak Ghadially, Rs 45,000 from friends and members from USA. The largest donation came from Rohinton J. Mehta who gave Rs 1,00,000 for the tuition fees scheme and Rs 1,00,000 for better water storage and drainage facilities at the Baug.

The entertainment program saw 112 "enthusiastic and energetic” participants regale the audience with their dances, music, play and ‘human pyramids.’ While the dance and music items were choreographed by Hormuzd B. Khambata, the 12 pyramids were masterminded by Siganporia. The efficiency leadership prize for 2003-04 was conferred on Nariman Mehta.