Iran League impresses

Thirty trophies, 11 medals (Shahnameh Proficiency medals present­ed by Cowasjee Dinshaw) and 117 cash prizes were distributed at the annual function of the Iran League on October 30, 2004 when chairman emeritus of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet Jamshed Guzder was the chief guest. As explained co-ordinator and honorary treasurer Ervad Vispi Dastur, the numerous competitions in art, music, elocution, Shah Nameh recitation and quiz for all age-groups ensure that the Zoroastrian religion and Parsi/Irani culture and traditions are not forgotten.

Lt Gen (Retd) Adi Sethna, Zoroastrian representative on the National Commission for Minorities, who was the recipient of the Late Maneckji Hataria Trophy for Courage and Heroism impressed on the youth the significance of hard work and excellence. Among the other dignitaries present were Minoo Shroff, chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, S. S. Kashaninegad, deputy consul general of the Consulate of The Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Yousefi, director of Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ervad Irach Kuka, senior trustee of the Dadar Athornan Madressa and Ervad Dr Ramiyar Karanjia, principal of the Madressa.

At the Iran Lea-gue function (top row, from left): Shapoorjee, Sethna, Guzder, Dinshaw, Kasha-ninegad and Yousefi as children recite hambandagi; (below) Sethna receiving Hataria trophy (right) from Guzder

At the start of the function a jashan was led by Ervad Farzad Keki Ravji followed by a hambandagi performed by the students of the Dadar and the M. F. Cama Athornan Institute at Andheri. In the absence of president Jamsetjee Jejee­bhoy, vice president Dinshaw presided over the function and welcomed those present. Chief judge Silloo Shapoorjee who has been overseeing the music competitions for the last 20 years proposed a vote of thanks. Earlier she had been presented a memento in appreciation of her services.

The function ended with everyone joining Marzban Mehta and the students of the Bai Avabai Petit Girls High School in singing Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathoshti and the national anthem. Nearly 400 persons participated in the subsidized contributory dinner catered by Minoo Bharucha, notes a press release.