Pragati Mandal’s diamond

The diamond jubilee year of the Parsi Pragati Mandal Surat was brought to an end with the staging of the play Maniben.Com starring Smruti Irani, the well-known TV star of the popular serial Kyun ki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi and the release of the compilation 60 Years — A reminiscence authored by Yasmin Jamshed Dotivala, notes a report of the event by the Mandal secretaries Parizad Chipia and Armin Rao.

In his welcome speech, president of the Mandal Rusi Besania referred to the organization’s multifold activities over the last 60 years in the academic, social and religious fields and how they are integrated with national interests. He further appreciated the dedication of the chief guest Dinshaw Tamboly and his wife Bachi and their support to the Mandal and the Zoroastrian community at large.

Tamboly remembered the founder couple of the Pragati Mandal Dinamai and Dr Minocher Contractor and lauded the efforts of the present team including Besania, Noshir Dabhoiwala, Dotivala and Dara Behramkamdin for pursuing the vision and dreams of the Contractors. The Tambolys were presented a plaque, shawl and flowers by Besania, Dabhoiwala and the president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP) Darayas Master. Felicitation was also accorded to Master for guiding the Panchayat to implement the residential housing project and to plant babul trees at Doongerwadi.

Her years of association with the Mandal were recalled by Dotivala whose book gives a detailed account with photographs of the Mandal’s activities in years past. She also referred to Besania’s assistance in compiling the book.

From left: Dinshaw Tamboly, Smruti Irani, Rusi Besania, Bachi Tamboly, Darayas Master and Noshir Dabhoiwala Bottom: Committee members and guests at the Pragati Mandal function

Acknowledging the love, acceptance, and respect showered on her by the Parsi community, the star of the show Irani stated, "Every night I manage to make the viewers cry using glycerin in my eyes. But for the first time it is your love, dear audience, which is making tears roll down my cheeks.” She further related an incident when she was questioned by a reporter as to the most cherished moments of her life during the past six years when she has been in the limelight and she replied it was the day when her four-year-old son recited Ashem Vohu and Kem-na-Mazda for the first time. Expressing her pride on carrying the name Smruti Zubin Irani she noted, "It is only the Zoroastrian community which places both the daughter and daughter-in-law on the same plank of love and dignity, be it in the house or in public.” The Parsi community’s love for life should be retained, she reiterated.

The function which commenced with a prayer by Dilnaz Viraf Besania and reading of messages from the "illustrious son of Surat” Burjor Antia and Dastur Meherji Meherjirana of Navsari by Keshmira Kharadi, ended with a community dinner sponsored by Dabhoiwala and catered by Cyrus Nogamawala and Freny and Nozer Daruwala. Thanks were also expressed to the SPP president, and trustees Parvez Bastawala, Jamshed Doti­­vala, Jimmy Patalwala, Jimmy Kharadi, Hormazdyar Patel, Yazdi Karanjia and Homai Shethna.