Bone millers chief

President for over 20 years of the Agra Parsi Anjuman, Hosang R. Debara was unanimously elected as president of the All India Bone Millers Association for the year 2006. "It is for the first time that a Parsi Zoroastrian has been elected as the president of the All India Bone Millers Association which is a representative body of bone millers and animal based fertilizer industry in India interacting with the state, national and foreign governments in matters concerning bone millers, notes a press release from the Agra Anjuman. Among the Parsi firms that have long been associated with this business are Rallis India Limited (a Tata Group company) and Chembur Bone and Fertilizer Company Private Limited (controlled by Rustam and Jahangir Dubash).

Debara: dependable

"The Parsis of Agra and Mathura look up to him whenever in trouble,” writes the secretary of the Agra Anjuman R. H. Khambatta, acknowledging how Debara made "radical changes in the working of the Dharamshala and Anjuman” when he took over as secretary in 1976 to help make it financially independent. After 10 years as secretary he was made president in 1985. The Agra Anjuman has been one of the founder members of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India and has supported the Federation in its different activities, notes the write-up.

Active with the Lions Club in Agra having served it in various capacities, Debara has been recognized with different awards including the Best Zone Chairman. A keen and dedicated Freemason, he has held high ranks in the Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India and Grand Lodge of India and has been awarded the Long Time Service Jewel, adds the release.