Earnest and young at HPY

'Striving for excellence' is the Pro­gramme's motto. "We are fully aware that we have to continue to maintain standards in an organization that is big on standing and repute," stated Diana Marfatia, chief coordina­tor of the Holiday Programme for Youth (HPY) in her wel­come address at the inaugura­tion of HPY's 20th successive summer program on May 1, 2006. "This year we have taken the responsibility to incorporate new things-focusing on dying Zoroastrian arts and customs such as kusti weaving, toran mak­ing and the teaching of Gujarati. A new dimension has been added with our fit­ness hour every morning."

"Like good wine, HPY has matured and got better and better," declared Priya Bhujwala-Aga, herself an HPYite and longtime organizing committee (OC) member who was master of ceremonies at the inauguration. Crisp, self-assured and radiantly pregnant, Bhujwala-Aga said that the multi-dimensional program has given back immense returns in the form of accomplishments and joy and "has been our wonderful home for 20 years."

HPY marked its 20th anniversary with the release of a special souvenir. the com­position of The HPY Song and a valedic­tory function on a grander scale at the Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary at Colaba.

Releasing the souvenir (from left) Dinshaw Tamboly (seated), Rustom Jeejeebhoy, So[i Dastur, Dadi' Engineer and Eruch Desai

This year's enrolment saw a prepon­derance ofboys (120) to girls (86), with 146 from Bombay and 59 from places in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, as well as Gurgaon (near Delhi), Jamshedpur, Ooty and one student from Dubai as well. Of the 80 different schools from which the children came, 36 were from outside Bombay. "We were bombarded with requests for accommodation and somehow managed to provide for 24 participants, in contrast to around half that number who ask for lodging every year," Marfatia said. With the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) sponsoring the program, participants pay but a token registration fee for the lunches, teas, visits, prizes, etc for which costs are incurred.

Senior BPP trustee and solicitor Dadi Engineer chaired the inaugural function at the heritage hall of the 115-year-old Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (BJPCI). Distinguished ad­vocate of the Supreme Court of India and tax expert Soli Dastur was the chief guest, solicitor Eruch Desai and BJPCI trustee Rustom N. B. Jeejeebhoy were guests ofhonor. At the valedictory func­tion on May 28, 2006 BPP chairman Minoo Shroff presided, with Dr Katy Dinshaw, director, Tata Memorial Cen­tre as chief guest and popular film and theater personality Perizaad Zorabian as guest of honor.

In his address, Engineer stated that HPY deserved "the biggest bouquet any­one could give." Engineer expressed special gratitude to a long list of people associated with the Programme over the years - Dr Mehroo Bengalee, ex BPP trustee whose brainchild HPY was, ex-BPP chief executive, the late Rustom Anklesaria, recently retired senior ex­ecutive Sheroo Master, present chief executive Behram Dastur, senior execu­tive Cawas Panthaki, office as­sistants Bakhtavar Dastur and Persi Mistry, Marfatia and her young team of Bhujwala-Aga, Shirzad Khory, Pearl Mistry, Hoshaang Gotla, Raika Gazder, Khursheed Mistry, Peshotan Kapadia, Azmin Mistry, Delaviz Gazder, Diana Bhathena, Rayomand Mistry and Delzin Tantra. "Organizing HPY is a backbreaking, challenging expe­rience. It is one of the most popular welfare activities of the BPP," notes 1Wasrer, lrm"d.fitF,'(Jfred fo._r a}most two decades with the Programme.

Enagineer introduced Soli Dastur as "perhaps the best tax brajn in the whole of India," a man extremely humble, modest and self !!ffacing who also has a very fine sense of humor. Soli Dastur's address to the students reflected the integrity he is known for: "Today you see things which were unheard of, undreamt of when we were your age. We went through an economy of shortages (in the pre-liberal­ization era). If you wanted a car, it had to be an Ambassador or you had to wait 20 years to book a Fiat. There was a ceiling of Rs 5,000 on salaries, anything more than that was disallowed for tax purposes. We lived in a misguided, socialist state." Today, one can earn five or even Rs 10 lakhs a month and there is nothing wrong with that, he added, provided you pay your taxes properly and do your civic duty. Freedom is to be admired, but handled with care as unrestricted freedom can lead to chaos.

Voicing his views forthrightly on community matters, Soli Dastur stated: "The community is dwindling. People say there is a dearth of accommodation.

In a way perhaps that is correct. But is it so very impoSSible for a wife to stay with her husband s family, as a joint family? Accept this mode of life. But young couples insist '. o, no, we must stay separately."' What is so special about us, Dastur asked, seeking a change of attitude. "Let us not always talk of the great Parsis of the past We have to pull up our socks. I strongly urge you to start something independently where you are the boss." Dastm asked the youth to differentiate betm:en custom and reli­gion. "Religion is enduring, custom can change, he noted. -rridon't say what I feel, I am not true to myself. I cannot look at myself in the mirror."

ExpresruJg his happiness at HPY being held at the BJPCI for the 11 u, year running. Jeejeebhoy said: "We are very proud to M\-e you here. You are the salt of the country and the community. It is up to you now how and where to take this country. e "ish you all the very best for your .'outhful future."

Touching on the efficacy of prayers Desai, senior partner ofMulla and Mulla and Craigie, Blunt and Caroe who is a fonner BPP trustee, pointed out that while Zoroastrians complained that our prayers are in a language we don't understand, the same was true of other religions as well. "The Gita is in Sanskrit, the Quran in Arabic, the Torah in Hebrew. What's wrongwiththat?lt's the sound, the vibra­tion which makes impressions on the mind," he declared.

The valedictory function was held in the open air on a midsummer night for the first time, thanks to the good offices of the Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary trustees who gave the large and luxurious pre­mises free of charge. "This is the first time in my 19 years ( at HPY) that I've seen two ladies (Dinshaw and Zorabian) adorn the stage (as chief guest and guest of honor) and lend such color and chann. It makes me feel young again!" s1niled Shroff. "The HPY cause is fantastic," enthused Zorabian. Vivacious as always and speak­ing from the heart, Zorabian shared with the students the three mantras of her own life - live well and do what makes you happy (by way of career); love well (par­ents, siblings, spouse) as love completes

you; give back to society. "Be nice to your driver, serve in small ways. Life is rough,

but don't lose focus. If you mess up the next five years, it will be very difficult to get back. Education is your strongest base. Build a network, stand by each other. Do well and rock the world!"

An eminent oncologist who has been awarded a Padma Shri by the Govern­ment oflndia, Dinshaw has been director at the Tata Memorial Centre in Bombay, one oflndia's leading cancer centers, for 11 years. "Our peril lies in our small numbers," she asserted. "We live in a fast changing world, mean and competitive. The old orthodoxy is going to kill us. To survive we have to be better than the best. I urge you all - please dare to dream. Persevere, the last strike often makes the difference. But don't sacrifice your hon­esty, integrity, values."

With great emotion, Marfatia com­mended her team of organizers who, she said, so often backbench their studies or jobs to give their all to HPY. "For years, Priya (Bhujwala-Aga) has been holding my hand (at HPY). She's a few weeks from delivery, but has been with us all day, every day. If I make an impulsive decision, she holds me back. Come with the infant next year, but Priya, we want you back." Receiving special mention this year were Khory (who has been with HPY for 11 years), the three Mistry sib­lings (Pearl, Annin and Rayomand), sis­ters RaikaandDelaviz Gazder, Khursheed Mistry, Kapadia, Hormuz Ragina, Bhathena and Gotla who, though still a student, was a competent and confident master of ceremonies at the closing func­tion. It was Kapadia and Ragina who composed the music for The HPY Song,

with lyrics by Raika Gazder.

Wearing the sash as Mr HPY and Ms HPY were Danesh Irani and Freyaan Anklesaria, with Ma.neck Kutar and Kaizeen Daruwalla the respective run­ners up. Hoozan Bastani and Rohan Sanjana were the best female and male models. Kaizad Aibara picked up the trophy for best sportsperson. With ex­HPYites putting on their dancing shoes to join the festivities at the Colaba Agiary, Marfatia, popularly known as Dee/Lady Dee received as always the loudest rounds of applause.

"It's been 13 years since I walked up HPY' s steps, wearing bellbottoms and walking the ramp," Urvakshi Mehta had said at the inauguration. "HPY has given me the widest and most treasured circle of friends. It has given me opportunities to speak at the World Zoroastrian Con­

gress in Houston. I met my husband Burzin at HPY. I am looking forward to

14 years hence when I will be one of the parents when our son Jamshed, just one year old now, will join HPY to spread his wings and fly."

A score at HPY

This year the Holiday Programme for Youth (HPY) turned 20. Conducted ev­ery month of May, HPY takes a motley crowd of Zoroastrian 15-year-olds fresh out from school from all parts of India - small town guys and girls to sophis­ticates from the cities - through activi­ties ranging from the academic to the artistic to the athletic. And the rites of passage at the four-week-long, power­packed, summer program sponsored by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) have seen many changes. The tentative teen in flared trousers and baggy shirt has been replaced by the cocky youngster of the 21 '1 century in jeans, skimpy skirts and spaghetti straps, on the infotech fast track in a shrinking world!

The landmarks are several. As per Programme sources, HPY alumni now number over 3,500, 19 couples have found their suitable boy/girl from within HPY, two couples from successive, youthful organizing committees (OC) have a child each, with a third mum-and­dad-to-be eagerly awaiting D-day! Be­tween 1993-2006, the Programme has had navjotes performed for 22 children from less well off stratas and cleaned 25 agiaries as part of their social service. Their energetic blood donation drives over the past 12 years have collected over 1,200 bottles of blood for different blood banks. "HPY is the longest and most successful non-commercial youth summer program in the world," an­nounces their 20tl' anniversary souvenir released on May 1, 2006.

The one common thread running through 20 years and weaving the col­lective tapestry together has been the strong presence of chief coordinator Diana Marfatia. For the first two years ('87-'88) Marfatia was the facilitator when Dr Ketayun Madon was HPY' s first coordinator. At that time it was a two-week program with an enrolment of around 60, conducted in the small, Khareghat Colony hall on Hughes Road. Handed the mantle of chief coordinator in 1989, Marfatia has captained HPY courageously, intuitively and imagina­tively. It is at her house that the OC (consisting of ex HPY-ites) meets once or twice a week for eight months prior to May each year, chalking out the nitty­gritties of the workshops/competitions/ visits/lists of speakers, etc that keep such a large number of noisy, restless teenagers interested, occupied and en­tertained for four weeks, with ne'er a rest even on a Sunday!

1. Khushnaz Daruwalla with Katy Dinshaw; 2. Kaizad Marolia with Perizaad Zorabian 3. Varzan Patel, Kaizeen Kolah, Kaizeen Daruwalla, Freyaan Anklesaria 4. Diana Marfatia (fourth from left, center row) and young organizers; 5. Spenta Havewalla, 6. Maneck Kutar, 7. Danesh Irani; 8. Singing The HPY Song with Peshotan Kapadia at the guitar; 9. Judges Hoorzan Irani and Scherezade Shroff; 10. Stepping out in style; 11. Soli Dastur; 12. Sheroo Master; 13. Minoa Shroff ( at mike) and dignitaries at the valedictory function Photos: C. C. Gandevia

The planer this . ·ear consisted of. as in earlier years, apti de e ting, career counseling, talks by eminent professionals in old and new age ca­reers, personali: devel­opment paren -child re­lationships, en ironment and health a ·areness ... Hobby afternoons wereenlivened with dance andrh 1hm,fashion, textile and jewelery designing, speech and drama. Visits in luded the Shantivan Park (the nature and herb garden outside Godrej Baug on apean Sea Road), the na al establishment INS Angre, the Braille Press Society for the Pre­vention of Cruelty to Animals, the J. J. Hospital Pan;i Ward, etc. The ex­travagance of youthful energy is channelized ea h year into swimming competitions, cricket, football, vol­leyball and basketball matches with attendant cheer leaders, high fives, smiles and sighs! The BJPCI turns into adventure arena when the chil­dren are taught to cope with emer­gency situations like escape from a burning building, how to execute a fireman's lift or give first aid. While ' speech time does occasionaJly turn Hobby afternoons wereenlivened with dance andrh 1hm,fashion, textile and jewelery designing, speech and drama. Visits in luded the Shantivan Park (the nature and herb garden outside Godrej Baug on apean Sea Road), the na al establishment INS Angre, the Braille Press Society for the Pre­vention of Cruelty to Animals, the J. J. Hospital Pan;i Ward, etc. The ex­travagance of youthful energy is channelized ea h year into swimming competitions, cricket, football, vol­leyball and basketball matches with attendant cheer leaders, high fives, smiles and sighs! The BJPCI turns into adventure arena when the chil­dren are taught to cope with emer­gency situations like escape from a burning building, how to execute a fireman's lift or give first aid. While ' speech time does occasionaJly turn snooze time, it's a time to disco dur­ing the hugely popular fashion show, when dozens of ex-HPYites suddenly decide to visit the school as they were .just passing by.

All Parsi rock band SCAR. midsummer evening at the Cdlaba Agiary, Nazneen Italia

Has HPY raised the bar, seen chang­ing patterns in the last decade? we query. Marfatia provides the perspec­tive: ''Today's parents believe they are their children's very, very good friends, that there should be no dis­tance between them. This 'best friend' equation often makes them give in more than they should. Parents have become extremely liberal- allowing late nights sleepovers, any kind of dress ... And the kids have so much money to spend! Baris ta, KFC, Noodle Bar, you name it, they've been there. Perhaps if the parents inculcated a little more discipline, we wouldn't have to do so. It is not only I who feels so, my young organizers think so too, but then they come from very, very balanced homes." Respect for author­ity (read parents and teachers) is get­ting diluted, she adds, "but we see to it that HPY rules are followed. We are not dictating. Kids don't like to be told what to do. We have to subtly inculcate values/dis­cipline."

"The kids clearly under­stand that the objective is not only fun. They have to focus on a career, on building mo­rale and confidence. This is not just all about winning. Ev­erybody takes part in every­thing and puts in effort," Marfatia told us. "Earlier we used to notice that the sense of achievement in the girls was more aggressive, but the boys have taken a spurt in the last three-four years. We haven't had to take much of the 'hey, c'mon guys, what are you doing, the girls are doing so well' approach!"

HPY is a good leveler too, chuckles the lady who as principal of BJPCI has her finger on the pulse of one's wonder years. "Some of them do come with a bit of an attitude, but by the end of the month they realize that others who they thought were less than themselves have done far better and that ·it is neither money nor the tag of an elitist school, but talent and ability that counts."