Iran League inspiration

"Opportunity only knocks once… Opportunities are easier recognized when they are leaving… Be an interested student… A teacher or mentor’s hindsight can become your foresight,” impressed Homai Daruwalla, chairman and managing director of the Central Bank of India, when addressing the gathering as guest of honor at the annual function of the Iran League on January 28, 2006. "Successful people realize their limitations but build on their strengths…It is better to be alone than to be in bad company… Integrity is the foundation of honesty,” she added.

"The first five years after graduation determine the path for the next 50 years,” mentioned Jimmy Mistry, managing director of Della Tecnica, who as the second guest of honor was persuading the youth not to settle "for mediocre white-collar secured jobs but to establish themselves in careers where they can promote themselves.” He then outlined the vision of his newly created Parsi Resource Group for the youth, priests and agiaries. "Unless you improve the quality of a priest’s life you can’t expect anything from him,” he noted, keen that agiaries become a place of networking, extending all kinds of help. "Be positive,” he reiterated.

In addition to Daruwalla and Mistry, chief guest Jamshed Guzder, chairman emeritus of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), vice president of the Iran League Cowasjee Dinshaw, vice consul general of the Consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran S. S. Kashani Nezad, former BPP trustee Rustom Tirandaz, and Delna Mistry distributed 121 cash prizes, 11 medals and 31 trophies that evening.

From left: Dinshaw, Daruwalla, Dastur, Delna and Jimmy Mistry, Guzder; Nezad (above) and Tirandaz Photos: Fali Palkhivala and Rusi Davar

Altogether 486 Parsis of all ages took part in the different competitions organized by the Iran League in 2005, outlined Ervad Vispi Dastur, coordinator and honorary treasurer. The competitions judged the participants’ proficiency in Shahnamah recitation, essay writing, elocution, religious quiz, drawing, rangoli, Parsi songs and monajats, western vocal and instrumental music.

Since its inception in 1922 the main objective of Iran League is to create in the hearts of the younger generation a love and reverence for the ancient land of Iran. It has been striving hard to continue to maintain cultural relations between Iran and the Indian Zarathushtis, notes its newsletter. Tirandaz was optimistic that with integrity and pursuit of hard work Parsis would bring glory to Iran once again.

The function started with a jashan led by Ervad Farzad Ravji and a hambandagi by the students of the Dadar Athornan Madressa and the M. F. Cama Athornan Institute. Chief judge Silloo Shapoorjee announced the prize winners and proposed a vote of thanks after which Marzban Mehta led the gathering in singing Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathoshti and the national anthem. Nearly 400 participated in the contributory dinner catered by Minoo Bharucha.