Surat’s stalwarts honored

Surat’s two respected "youngmen” Rusi Besania and Noshir Dabhoiwala were felicitated for their sterling service to the community at a function organized by the Parsi Pragati Mandal (PPM) on March 26, 2007 as per a write-up sent to Parsiana by PPM secretaries Aspi Rao and Parizad Chipia. It was the seventh death anniversary of Dabhoiwala’s wife Mehru, and the function began with a bandagi by Dastur Cyrus Dastur.

Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal felicitated Besania an author of 26 books, and philanthropist Dabhoi­wala on behalf of the PPM and the Athornan Mandal. Later, Dastur spoke of the divine soul of Ustad Behramshah Shroff who, a 100 years earlier, had given his first oration on atash and Ilm-e-Khshnoom at the Bag-e-Parsa Adarian in Surat. He said the Surat Athornan Mandal was proud to honor president Besania for the activities of the PPM and for the informative literature on Zoroastrianism presented by him to the community. Vice president Dabhoiwala was commended for his numerous charities and his readiness to help community members at all times. Also felicitated with love and gratitude were Dastur himself and 17 other mobeds who received shawls and flowers. It being the 60th year of the Mandal, other Zoroastrian achievers from various fields like social service, media, dramatics, home guards, rifle shooting, table tennis and arm wrestling were also honored.

Rusi Besania and Noshir Dabhoiwala (fourth and fifth from left respectively) flanked by (L to R) Yasmin Dotivala, Darayus Master, Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal, Yasmin Besania, Dastur Cyrus Dastur and Arvind Mehta

While releasing the second edition of the Shahnameh written by Besania, Darayas Master, president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat, emphasized that the youth should read the book as it would inspire them to become brave, truthful, honest and sincere citizens.

Yasmin Jamshed Dotivala, an active Lion, recalled the days when she had worked with Besania who has served the Mandal for 40 years, successfully organizing religious and social functions. Yazdi Karanjia, Ervad Faredoon Turel, Faramroz Bhamgara and others graced the occasion. Charming little Carol Zarir Vaid applied tillis (red dots) on the foreheads of all dignitaries while program committee chairperson Keshmira Jimmy Kharadi read out messages sent by well-wishers from all over India. Farzana Vispi Kharadi ably compered the event which ended with a vote of thanks by Dara Behramkamdin.