Nagpur news

The 2005-06 edition of A Directory of the Nagpur Parsis listing 589 members was released by Ervad Naval Desai at the 110th salgirah celebrations of the Bai Hirabai Mulla Dar-e-Meher on November 20, 2005 on the lawns of Seth Billimoria Brothers Parsi Dharamshala. Despite his visual handicap Desai has a remarkable ability to remember telephone numbers and at one time could rattle off all the numbers of Nagpur Parsis, notes Shiraz Gimi, president of the Nagpur Parsi Gymkhana under whose auspices the Directory was published. Besides listing the names, residential and office address with telephone and mobile numbers and e-mail contacts, against each entry is also indicated the date of birth and blood group of the Nagpur resident. Most of the Nagpur Parsis fall in the O+ve blood group with the B+ve blood group coming next in line.

"Since printing the previous Directory in 2002 there has been a fall in numbers from 617 to 589. The number of families has also declined from 223 to 216. This is attributed to natural causes as well as migration to other cities. In fact since releasing the Directory we came to know that three persons have died and seven families have migrated to other places,” writes Gimi in his letter of January 3, 2006.

The 132-page Directory was sponsored by the World Zoroastrian Organi­sation Trust which donated Rs 30,000 to cover the expenses. Acknowledging the efforts of joint honorary secretary Rusi Godha, and Sohrab Kanga in the compilation and designing of the Directory, Gimi explained that the new edition kept getting delayed with the addition of the prefix ‘2’, the advent of Reliance and Tata Indicom, the P&T creating new exchanges and the change in Reliance and Tata Mobile numbers.

From left (top row): Meheroo Watchmaker, Gimi, Masani, Edul and Dilna­vaz Bhagwagar, Ervad Sohrabji Bharucha and Yezdi Bhagwagar; (second row): Desai, Shernaz Davar, Mistry, Gimi and Mehta; (third row): Kanga and Doongaji

Prior to the release of the Directory Khurshed M. Masani was felicitated by the Nagpur Parsi Anjuman and the Gymkhana on her appointment as principal of Nagpur’s J. N. Tata Parsi Girls High School. Felicitations were also accorded to two octogenarians, Peshotan Mehta and Dinshaw Mistry for their performance at the national level championship after which they have been selected to represent India at the International Arm Wrestling Competition at Kuala Lumpur in April 2006.

The winners of the Dr Dadi Balsara Indoor Sports Tournament 2005 won their prizes that evening. The Late Bapaimai J. Dastur Shield for Juniors was won by Meherzad Karbhari, Late Banu D. Bapuna Shield for Ladies by Girnaz Aspi Dadina and the Late Rustomji K. Bala Shield for Seniors by Rashid Karbhari for the 10th consecutive year. The Late Bai Baimai and Nardirshah Vazifdar Prizes for best bowler and batsman was won by Danush Doongaji. He was also the recipient of the Dr Dadi Balsara Trophy for Outstanding Sportsperson of the Year. The Anjuman Merit and Special Prizes were distributed by the president of the Anjuman Edul Bhagwagar and his wife Dilnavaz to students who had topped their classes in the annual school examinations as well as the board and university examinations. The Outstanding Parsi Achiever’s Award went to Arnavaz Kavarana, Nekshad Irani and Dinshaw Mistry.

Nazir (right) receiving award from former governor of Tamil Nadu Dr Bhisma Narain Singh (left) and election commissioner Dr G. V. G. Krishnamurti

The evening ended with an entertainment program organized by Tauby Bhagwagar, Parizad Major and Firozy Pestonji which saw the youngsters dancing to a number of popular Bollywood numbers. The members then did "full justice” to the Parsi cuisine.

In recognition of his "outstanding achievements,” Nagpur’s Percy Pheroze Nazir was honored with the Indira Gandhi Excellence Award by the Indian Solidarity Council, New Delhi at a function on September 11, 2005. This event was attended by central ministers, educationists, captains of business and industry, notes a press release forwarded by Bomi Heerjee. Even after retiring as chief architect of Western India Coalfields, Nagpur, Nazir’s interest in architecture, town planning and environmental conservation has not dimmed and he actively pursues different public and private projects and renders free and useful assistance to the Nagpur Anjuman, notes the write up.

The main aims and objectives as outlined by the Indian Solidarity Council include one clause: "To spotlight the extraordinary achievements of Indians in the fields of business and industry, science and technology, education, agriculture, letter and fine arts, and other creative fields and to honor them suitably through awards that symbolize public regard for them.” This is the seventh national honor that Nazir has won in the last six years.