New Bombay meet

At the bi-annual meeting of the New Bombay Zoroastrian Association Charitable Trust (NBZACT) held at the Regal Room of Hotel Day’s Inn, on September 1, 2007 chief guest Jimmy Mistry, well-known philanthropist and chairman of the Parsi Resource Group (PRG), graciously agreed to provide nine lakh rupees and promised further help in future to fulfill the dreams of the New Bombay Parsi community to have an agiary in their vicinity. A total of 65 members and their guests were present on the occasion, informs Sharukh Doctor, president of NBZACT in a write-up sent to Parsiana by e-mail. Mistry’s wife Delna, noted social workers Arnavaz Mistry and Soonoo Andhyarujina also graced the occasion.

The dress code for the evening was traditional Parsi attire. Silloo Mahava and Behram Antroliwalla were adjudged winners in their respective categories. They were awarded prizes of Rs 500 each, which they promptly donated to the NBZACT. Antroliwalla doubled his donation to Rs 1,000.

Before the chief guest arrived, the gathering sang Parsi Gujarati songs under the baton of Mahava and Rashna Doctor. Sharukh Doctor spoke briefly about the application for land allotment with the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharash­tra Limited (CIDCO). He informed the gathering that the total cost of 1,000 square metres of land would be in the region of Rs 41 lakhs plus stamp duty and registration fees, of which the Trust had already collected about Rs 22 lakhs. He offered to donate an additional Rs10 lakhs if the deficit of nine lakh rupees could be covered by other members of the community. Mistry stepped in at this stage and also offered free architectural services for the project. Thereafter all the donors present at the function were felicitated by NBZA with Mistry presenting a red rose to each one.

A lively discussion followed between Mistry and the NBZA members on the problems facing the Parsi community. Ways and means for encouraging the younger generation to participate in community matters were discussed with Mistry inviting youngsters from NBZA to join PRG and get involved. Arnavaz Mistry, an aspirant for the post of trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, gave a brief background of the work undertaken by her and her family.

The meeting ended with members and guests partaking of cocktails and a sumptuous dinner.

Doctor adds an update on the agiary plot to be procured from CIDCO. The managing director of CIDCO has sanctioned a plot of up to 1,000 square metres to NBZACT, which is in the process of selecting it and Mistry was requested to use his contacts with CIDCO to obtain a suitable plot. The association is still short of four lakh rupees even after taking into account Mistry’s nine lakhs, since stamp duty and registration charges need to be paid as well.