Appeal for funds

The Dadar-Matunga Parsi Zoroastrian Association, started by the founder of the Dadar Parsi Colony, the late Mancherji Edulji Joshi in 1925, caters to the varied cultural, educational and ameliorative requirements of the residents of the Colony and the larger community. Its aim is to promote social relationships and inculcate the right Zoroastrian spirit.

Among the various activities to which the Association devotes itself are the Bapaimai Poverty Relief Fund for which donations are collected and monthly aid given to the deserving old, infirm members of the community who have exhausted their retirement benefits due to inflation, sickness and falling rates of interest. The Association also extends medical help to deserving people on a one-time or even ongoing basis. Poor, deserving students are helped financially for pursuing their academic careers.

The Association organizes an annual exhibition-cum-sale for home entrepreneurs who make chutneys, pickles, jams, chocolates, stitch sudrehs and lenghas, weave kustis, manufacture religious artifacts like pictures, lamps, divas, who buy and resell clothes, footwear, artificial jewelry, saris and garas, sukhad and loban and a host of miscellaneous items. In addition, the Association organizes an annual gahanbar for the poor where 400 to 500 people are treated to a full lagan nu bhonu. This year the gahanbar was held on October 5.

Gahanbar for poor Parsis held on October 5, 2008

Five editions of the Dadar Parsi Colony Directory — listing the residents, essential services and a shopping guide — have been compiled and published by the Association.

The Association does not come under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act as it caters only to the community. Whatever money we collect goes toward the objects of the trust, the aim being to increase the poverty relief help given to the existing beneficiaries and also to cater to a long waiting list. Readers are requested to help this needy cause. Donations by cash or cheque favoring "The Dadar-Matunga Parsi Zoroastrian Association,” may be sent to the undersigned at 757, Road No. 7, Parsi Colony, Dadar, Bombay 400014, tel: 24148394.

RUSTOM C. CHOTHIA

President, Dadar-Matunga Parsi Zoroastrian Association