Surat’s worthy women

In pursuit of "a happy yet healthy community” the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat (ZWAS) has been conducting different activities each month to show their concern for the welfare of the community and humanity at large. By twice staging the hilarious comedy Kutra Ni Puchhdi Vanki performed by the Yazdi Karanjia Group they were able to raise funds for the victims of the tsunami tragedy as also to beautify the Modi Shahenshahi Atash Behram. A pap smear test was conducted at a nominal price to diagnose cancer among women, notes a report of their activities sent by ZWAS founder trustee Maharukh Chichgar.

For the students different activities were conducted through the months of April-May. Youngsters from standards nine to 12 were offered an aptitude test followed by a career counseling session. Children from standards four to eight were given a summer treat in the form of a Z-fun camp when students from Navsari too participated. During this two-day camp on May 14 and 15, 2005, the children got an opportunity to visit the Mongini’s cake factory, museum, planetarium, aquarium, revolving restaurant at Tex-Plazzo Hotel and Club-One for swimming, followed by talent time where every kid got a chance to showcase his/her talent. The next day started with the members of the Laughing Club giving the youngsters reasons to laugh and exercise. Thereafter they were taken to the Modi Atash Behram and the Goti-na-adarian and Dara Behramkamdin gave them insights into the religion and Avesta prayers. A slide show on the life of Zarathushtra was presented by Rohin Karanjia. The children then had fun learning dance and ramp walk with Kainaz Kapadia and Farida Anklesaria and glass painting with Gulshan Chiniwala, Pearl Wadia, Gulshan Dumasia and Rhea Vakil. On the final evening the children exhibited their stage confidence and displayed the dances they had learnt to the special invitees including the president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP) Darayus Master and other trustees. After expressing their views on the camp everyone enjoyed a hearty repast and the children were sent home with a return kit.

Participants at the sports camp organized by the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat

Also popular during the May holidays was the four-day sports extravaganza from May 19-22 which included events like badminton, chess, table tennis, carom, arm wrestling and volley ball. The best all rounder of the meet was Nekzad Dordi who captained the Rustompura volley ball team, was the runner up in the carom doubles event as also the men badminton doubles.

All the events were organized and managed by the members of ZWAS with the able and caring guidance of trustees Chichgar and Piloo Bhathena, president Binaifer Engineer, secretaries Khushnaz Italia and Dilnaz Kharadi, committee chairpersons Vira Karanjia, Perin Karanjia, Anahita Mistry and Maharukh Davierwala, active members Mani Jehangir, Chiniwala, Anklesaria, Kapadia, Wadia, Farnaz Besania and Tanaz Coachman, and advisors Yasmin Dotivala and Dilshad Lashkari. The ZWAS was also appreciative of the cooperation from different Zoroastrian institutions like the SPP, the Sir J. J. School, Parsi Girls’ Orphanage, chairperson Ratan Gyara and committee members of the Parsi Gymkhana, and the other donors and sponsors including Master, Parvez Bastawala, Jamshed Dotivala, Dara Mistry, Kersi Tavadia, the trustees of the Mevawala Trust, Bhikhaji and Maharukh Davierwala.