Outstanding Zarathushtis

While the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) has an­nounced its "Outstanding Zarathushti” 2003 awards in the ‘en­trepreneur’ and ‘professional’ categories, nominations have already been invited for the awards for the year 2004 in the same categories. Its website www.wzcc.net mentions March 31, 2005 as the last date for receiving nominations in the prescribed format which is available on their website.

For 2003, Farrokh R. Patel of USA was the "Outstanding Zarathushti Entrepreneur,” Prof (Dr) Zarin R. Turel of Bombay the "Outstanding Zarathushti Professional,” and Zenobia and Zubin Tantra of USA the "Outstanding Young Zara­thushti Professional/Entrepreneur.” Prominent Bombay businessman Pallonji S. Mistry of Shapoorji Pallonji and Company has been recognized as "Eminent Zarathushti Businessman Worldwide,” according to the reports posted on the WZCC website.

Patel began his career with Union Carbide in India and USA. In 1982, he started Pegasus Products Incorporated, a custom swimming pool liner fabrication company "where the sales in the first year alone exceeded a quarter of a million dollars. In 1992, Patel formed the Cover Company manufacturing pool safety covers. In 2003, Pegasus occupied a 40,000 sq ft professional office complex and... a 55,000 sq ft production facility.” In 2000, Patel formed Breeze Corporation which sells free standing above ground swimming pool kits. Patel is also a consultant in addition to managing 30 full-time employees and 15 seasonal employees. "His community service includes outsourcing work through a work-study program for a school for disadvantaged children,” including being a member of the board, as well as fund­raising, states a write-up from the WZCC. Patel has also been active in the formation of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York and in activities of the darbe-meher.

Outstanding Zarathushtis (from left) Patel with Firdosh Mehta, Zubin Tantra receiving trophy from Mehta

Turel has "outstanding achievements in the field of nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry. (She) has been a pioneer in the multidis­ciplinary field of neutron activation analysis as a potential tool,” states WZCC. Recently retired as professor and head of nuclear chemistry, Institute of Science, Bombay, Turel is cur­rently dean of the science faculty, HSNC Board, Bombay. Turel has published more than 175 research papers and made presentations in countries like Japan, UK, USA, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Brazil. Her research contributions are in areas of medicine (cancer research), environmental and agricul­ture studies and geology. Among the numerous accolades she has received are the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Silver Jubilee Award, the Best Teacher of Bombay University award and the Dr M. V. Ramaniah Lifetime Achievement Award.

"They have grown their enterprise from one physical therapy clinic to four (with a fifth in the works) in just five years,” states the WZCC, commending Zubin and Zenobia Tantra’s professionalism and entrepreneurial spirit. Graduating from Bombay University in Physical Therapy, Zubin "became a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner from Ant Baniel in San Rafael, California” in 1997. He has been a licensed phy­sical therapist in the Chicago area since 1992 and his areas of special interest are orthopedic and neurologic physical therapy. Zubin has great experience in working with patients following joint replacement in wound care and in movement disorders like Parkin­son’s Disease, dystonia and strokes.

Zenobia Tantra’s special interest includes management of patients with soft tissue injuries and fibrom­yalgia. She gradu­ated from the University of Illinois in Chicago in 1997 and completed her internship at the University of Chicago, Copley Memorial and Riverdale Medical Center where she worked with patients with acute and chronic back injuries and a variety of orthopedic cases. Zenobia was selected in 1994 in the Who’s Who of students in American colleges and universities. She is also a member of the Golden Keys National Honors Society.

The WZCC also states that its Middle East chapter "has come forward to develop a WZCC Journal.” The first issue is expected in February 2005 and "the team is working hard towards making it a quarterly.” Initially, the WZCC will be looking for sponsors for each issue. The Journal committee is under the supervision and direction of Meher Bhesania, chapter chair, Middle East region. The WZCC also has budding chapters in Austra­lia and Pakistan.