“Proud to be a woman”

"I dedicate this award, as I have dedicated all my previous awards, to my mother, your mother, our mother India,” declared Prof (Dr) Zarin Turel who has recently retired as head of the department of nuclear chemistry, Institute of Science, Bombay. Turel was acknowledging the Woman of the Year 2005 citation and trophy, awarded to her by the Zonta Club of Bombay III. The event at Hotel Diplomat on April 16, 2005 marked the 26th anniversary charter night of the Club.

Essentially a research worker and teacher in applied sci­ence, Turel spoke of the application of nuclear chemistry and radio chemistry in the field of medicine in the tracking of cancerous tissues, in agricultural studies to determine the exact distance from the plant and the depth of the soil for the optimum application of fertilizers, in geology for the search of precious metals like platinum, etc. In the course of the years Turel has won a number of professional awards and was named the Outstan-ding Zarathushti Professional of 2003 by the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC). Turel, who had recently emerged from a major illness was all praise for physicians Farokh and Zarir Udwadia and surgeon Adi Nazir.

The evening’s second award — Encouragement Award 2005 — was presented to 17-year-old Preeti Phad who is appearing for her First Year BCom this year and was determined to go into the College of Catering to learn hotel management despite visual disability. When she was about six, it was discovered that Phad had a white spot in one eye which had become cancerous and the disease had even affected the optic nerve. Though the disease is now in remission, it was noted that her eyeball has been changed four times already and may need to be changed again. Phad has even been told that her second eye is in danger. The Club has been assisting the stoical, dedicated Phad over the years and, along with the rotating trophy presented her with a medal and a cash award of Rs 5,000.

From left: Dé, Dalal and Turel (receiving Woman of the Year award)

"I am so inspired, so deeply moved,” said chief guest, author and columnist Shobhaa Dé, wishing her family had been with her to witness "the commitment, dedication and sincerity” she had experienced that evening. Saluting Turel’s patriotism she hoped to recommend her for a Padma Vibhushan award: "Her dedica­tion makes one proud to be an Indian, proud to be a woman.”

Also present that evening was Beroze Watcha, director of the Hellen Keller Institute, together with her deaf-blind ward Mary to whom she conveyed much of the evening’s happenings in a kind of tactile braille. "We get into all kinds of traps,” said Dé, referring to the urban social milieu. "This organization shows that it is possible to walk away from these traps. Anyone can write a cheque, but here there is devotion, emotion, (the sharing of) time. It is a lesson in good citizenship, that there are still good people in our midst.”

The Club’s president Mahazaver Dalal welcomed the gathering and gave a short recount of Zonta’s history. Com-pere Freny Paghdi­wala kept the function moving at a steady pace. Past president Havovy Dotivala introduced Dé and vice president Parviz Mistry thanked the many who had worked to make the evening a success. The flow of talk was succeeded by the cutting of a celebratory cake, followed by dinner.

A. S. M.