The last Play Centre's 60th

For 60 years the Nowroze Baug Play Centre battled all odds to survive. "Most organizations don’t last so long,” said scientist Dr Spenta Wadia who was the chief guest at the Centre’s diamond jubilee celebration which was sponsored by noted jurist and philanthropist Shahrukh Kathawalla.

Wadia who "spent the first 23 years of my life here,” stated they were, "a formative period.” He recalled the camping trips organized by the Play Centre that "took us out of this colony into (the rest of) India. It transformed us from small Parsi boys into Indian citizens.” Similarly when Wadia pursued studies at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Kanpur he was "transformed” from a Parsi into an Indian.

While a youth, Wadia worked in the colony’s library which subsequently closed down. He urged the gathering to "revive the library… with an internet connection.” The Sir Dorabjee Tata Trust would assist them financially in the project if they put forward a proposal, said Wadia. He also pledged to devote books to the library on his own.

Wadia credited his parents Nergish and the late Rusi for his and his brother’s "love of scholarship.” Noting that there was not a great "propensity to higher education” amongst Parsis, he felt his parent’s achievement stood out all the more.

Dr Spenta Wadia addressing the gathering

Referring to the "profound divide in our small community” Wadia stressed the moral basis of the religion Zarathushtra founded and the "freedom of moral choice” conferred on his followers. The religion had a "deep philosophical basis” whose "essence is profound and revolutionary.” He believed that many Parsis had "ill founded… misconceptions of what the Zoroastrian religion is.”

As a scientist at the reputed Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, (TIFR) which incidentally also completed 60 years, Wadia spoke of his "tiny contribution to science.” He was named by the Academy of Sciences of the Developing World as being amongst the eight scientists in 2004 who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of sciences. He was interested in the "question (asked) of the foundation of civilization. The meaning of life and why are we and what we are.”

Welcoming Wadia, his wife Leena who is also a scientist at TIFR, and his mother, the Play Centre president Nariman E. Mehta termed Wadia "an idealist” who after completing his doctorate in the USA chose to return to India.

Mehta also thanked Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman emeritus Jamshed N. Guzder who donated in memory of the late Jerbai N. Wadia, Rs 50,000 to the Centre and another Rs 50,000 to the Nowroze Baug maintenance and development fund.

BPP trustee Dinshaw Mehta sponsored the merit scholarships for school and college students as he has been doing for the past several years. Among the 75 students honored from Std I to the postgraduate level, the most notable were Farzana B. Wadia who topped Bombay University in the third year BCom exams securing 89.14 percent, Jehangir N. Tara who secured 92 percent in the ICSE exam, Kaizad F. Patel with 92.26 percent in the SSC exam and Arzin B. Dhei who got 97.75 percent in Std III.

Prof Rohinton Sah­u­raja, former principal of Podar College com­plimented Wadia and other students on their accomplishments.

Gayomard Kathawalla who chairs the maintenance committee noted around 1,500 Parsis reside in this the oldest of the Parsi baugs in the city; Jerbai Wadia even resided in Nowroze Baug to supervise the initial construction of the colony structures, he stated. Kathawalla also noted the number of divorces and interfaith marriages was low in Nowroze Baug.

The evening program included dance performances by the youth, compere Jasper Daruwala’s exhortions to "party” and "rock” and loud blaring music that made any form of conversation impossible.

All this was in sharp contrast to Wadia’s talk and the awarding of scholarships to talented young students The cementing factor however was the sumptuous dinner provided by Tanaz Godi­walla. Parsipanu in all its hues survives at Nowroze Baug.

Troubled history

The Nowroze Baug Play Centre founded in November 1946 under the leadership of Khody P. Kolah, had a troubled past. A 10-page souvenir published for the 60th anniversary states: "During the 1940s there were 12 play centers in Bombay with similar ideology deve­loped under the central leadership of a qualified and trained social organization, Zarthosti Un­nati Dwara.” Today only one survives.

The write-up goes on to note: The basic requirement for a Play Centre is an open playground. The then BPP trustees and some adults of Nowroze Baug wanted to erect a building on the ground. When the Play Centre resisted, the trustees withdrew the Centre’s recognition and all permissions to hold programs in Nowroze Baug were refused. Hence indoor activities were conducted at the late E. R. Mehta’s house and also between E and F blocks. A circulating library was housed first at E-18, subsequently at Rohinton Ghadially’s place and then at the Late Nariman P. Elavia’s house. All the three tenants received eviction notices. The Centre nonetheless marched ahead adding a number of activities such as merit scholarships, distribution of free exercise books, introduction of a free medical scheme, etc. During 1975-76 the late Burjorji F. Bharucha inspired Dr Sarosh Wadia to establish a free homeopathic dispensary in Nowroze Baug. As no place was given, three tenants Dadi F. Pastakia, Nariman E. Mehta and sometimes S. P. Ghadially volunteered to accommodate the dispensary once a week in their homes. The trustees took nine months to decide to refuse permission for the clinic. Undeterred the Centre organized an inaugural function on September 23, 1979 and till date has continued the free homeopathic consultation and medicines to the residents of Nowroze Baug and at a nominal charge to outsiders.

After the advent of the Committee for Electoral Rights in 1980, we have progressive and democratic minded persons who are elected as Trustees. The Play Centre at last got justice and recognition.

The Play Centre committee comprises 16 members from age 22 to 75. "The youth together with the elders blend together to bring out the best for Nowroze Baug,” writes Shirzad Bhathena, joint general secretary, aged 27. The other members are Ruzbeh Sutaria, Yasmin Engineer, Hormusji Mehta, Parvez Dee, Erach Bharucha, Perin Mehta, Cyrus Siganporia, Armin Bavan, Zubin Jasoomani, Pilzad Engineer, Pinky Bharucha, Noshir Sidhwa, Freddy Udachia and Kaiwan Amrolia.