Record entries

The 98-year-old Calcutta Parsee Amateur Dramatic Club (CPADC) features in the 2005 edition of the Limca Book of Records as "the longest serving Parsi theater in India and maybe the world,” writes Sarosh Vatcha who has been performing with the Calcutta troupe for the last six years. At the behest of Behram Dastur, chief executive of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, the 2005 edition also includes the accomplishments of five outstanding Zoroastrians: Dhunjisha Ma­neckji Jall for being the longest, continuously serving educationist in the British empire and Commonwealth; Jamshed N. Mehta of Karachi for being the longest, continuously serving mayor in the British empire and Commonwealth; Dr Dadabhai Naoroji, Sir Mancherjee Bhownaggree and Comrade Shapurji Saklatvala for their respective entry as first, second and third Indian members of parliament in the British House of Commons.

As per its tradition, this year too on Shahenshahi Navroz the CPADC staged a play free for the community. The drama Bairi Wagarna Behramji directed by Cyrus J. Madan and assisted by Yasmin Kapadia, was witnessed by the governor of West Bengal Gopal C. Gandhi and his wife who later joined the community for dinner at the Olpadwalla Hall, writes Vatcha.

From left: Dadabhai Naoroji, Sha-purji Saklatvala, Mancherjee Bhow-naggree (Photos: Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil), Jamshed Mehta with Maria Montes-sori (Photo: Jamshed Memorial Volume) and Dhunjisha Jall

In its first year of inception on September 14, 1907 the CPADC organized religious lectures and songs on Navroz. The next year they performed their first play Bholi Gool, the cast of which became the founder members of the Club. In 1915 rules and regulations were framed and a managing committee elected, Vatcha traces the history. Since 1923, after the first show for the community they would enact a second one for the Gujarati speaking community of Calcutta. The souvenir published on both the occasions helps to generate funds. After the expenses are paid for, the balance is donated to worthy charitable causes. The Club has different memorial funds, interest from which is disbursed every year as scholarship for the education of Parsi students.

For the first 47 years the Club had restricted membership to males as a result of which the female roles in their shows too would be enacted by men. In 1955, the first five lady members joined the Club and performed the ladies’ roles. Two of these ladies are still with the Club, writes Vatcha.

Cast of Bairi Wagarna Behramji staged by the Calcutta Parsee Amateur Dramatic Club

In the last few years while the show is in progress, two of their volunteers take charge of the children while the parents watch the show as the theater rules do not permit those under eight to be present! After the play the parents and children join in the festivities together.

Over the years the Pateti show has been performed without a break, keeping in mind the Club’s motto: "Service, discipline and unity.” Undeterred by heavy rains, floods, riots, etc they have persevered and attribute their success to the members’ sincerity and dedication, support and encouragement of the community and the Gujarati speaking public.