Celebrating spring

"May you prosper, and be happy always and throughout the year!”

A strange greeting indeed from the breed of India’s income tax officers, generally perceived as killjoys! But then Manijeh Kherawala, former chairman of India’s Central Board of Direct Taxes and currently member of the Income Tax Settlement Commission, could never have been one of the "glum men barging into your home,” as noted Mithoo Jesia as she introduced the guest of honor at the Dadar Parsi Colony’s 27th annual spring gahanbar. Jesia has been the face of the Colony long before she became trustee of the Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust (MEJMT).

Emerging from the chrysalis that evening was Dilkhush Reporter, crowned Ms Kingfisher by Dadar’s vintage beauty queen Mehr Jesia Rampal — the climax of the day’s events.

Jamshedi Navroz had Zoroastrians in all their finery teeming the Dadar Parsi Colony Gymkhana grounds. "If this is the New Year…why are we not following the right calendar?” noted solicitor and MEJMT president Sohrab (Soli) Morris wondered aloud. A smiling Kherawala supported him: "It is a new day, a new year celebrated not only by Zoroastrians but also by other communities in India and outside — the Bahais, the Shia Muslims, the Kashmiri Brahmins also celebrate it as their New Year. The Hindu Shakhar calendar starts from March 21!”

With Parsi panache the question was buried in celebrating the achievements of oncologist Dr Boman Dhabhar, educationist Amy Kavarana, social worker and Akanksha founder Shaheen Mistri, veteran scouter Navroze Sigan­poria, each of them presented by the Trust with mementoes and flowers. Khurshed Daruvala of the Sterling and Wilson Group was recognized as the most outstanding young Colony-ite with an award in memory of the late Jal Mistry presented by the latter’s wife Arnavaz.

Young Zoroastrians — Farzan Vania and Zerick Dastoor — won the Najoo Marzban/Malcolm Palia awards for excellence in sports and academics respectively. Rashna Desai, Sanaya Ichhaporia, Pearl Barsiwala received the Rohinton Chinoy Memorial Awards for excellence in academics, sports, arts and culture respectively while six-year-old Rustom Makoojina was acclaimed an outstanding youngster.

Awards and prizes also flowed to the winners of the many competitions arranged in the preceding week by the Trust in sponsorship with a variety of corporates as well as community members seeking to boost youthful creativity. Thus while Cadbury promoted a Dark Bournville Cookery queen and Doy Soap selected a child "Doy Princess,” solicitor Shahrukh Kathawala sought a "creative child genius” and Hilla Builders sponsored "Trendy Tattoos.” ICICI Prudential sparked a "naughty, saucy depiction of funny Parsi surnames,” according to the report in Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly (April 8, 2007).

The formal part of the evening concluded, the audience was ripe for the beauty pageant sponsored by Antiquity, the United Breweries Group flagship. That the relationship between the Parsis of Dadar and Dr Vijay Mallya’s UB Group was no flash in the pan was attested to by UB’s Ashok Kapoor: "The Parsi community is known for living life king size…(It) not only patronizes our brands but has added a lot of pretty girls to our Kingfisher Airlines. It is a small community with a large heart. We will continue our sponsorship into the future.”

With Kainaz Billimoria acclaimed first runner-up, Bakhtaver Cooper acknowledged for her beautiful smile, and Karen Contractor — Ms Kaya Beautiful Skin — the second runner-up, the three rounds of the pageant conceived and directed by Arnaaz Rustom Irani, and hosted by Mahiyar Dastoor, came to an end. Sarosh Daruwalla’s Mazda Audio Video Lab captured the audiovisual highlights, Hanosh ‘DJ Osh’ Dubash provided music support, Shernaz Dada­chanji of Xanadu executed the finishing touches in hairstyles and makeup. Roxanne Buhariwala of F. H. Pavri and Sons ­— the third generation in the line — provided décor while Nozer Tantra of Zest Securities coordinated the guards.

A fireworks display said ‘finis’ to the night except for Tanaz Godiwalla’s repast and an acknowledgement of the many willing hands and minds and pockets — the trustees, benefactors and back office supporters — who made it all possible.

Arnavaz S. Mama