Ahmedabad’s achievers

There is a small section of our community which does no good and does not allow others to do any good either, lamented Dastur Khurshed K. Das­toor, high priest of Udvada’s Iranshah Atash Behram, in an obvious reference to the opposition he has been facing in his efforts to improve the status of that center of pilgrimage. He was speaking as chief guest at a function organized by the Roda and Savak Mohudawala Charitable Trust (RSMCT) to felicitate achievers on January 5, 2008 at Zoroastrian Hall, Kankaria, Ahme­dabad, as per a write-up e-mailed to Parsiana by Porus Karanjawalla, trustee of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP).

Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, centre, with trustees and award winners

The achievers were honored for excellence in their careers as professionals, businessmen or for rendering yeoman service for the betterment of others. Katy Daruwalla was recognized for her contribution to community welfare, Pearl Sabavala for being a young professional, Dr Shazneen Commissariat for research, science and technology and young Delzad Khambatta for his entrepreneurship. Also felicitated was Ervad Godrej Panthaky, now retired, for his long and devoted services at the Vakil Anjuman Adaryan in Ahmedabad. Dastoor congratulated the awardees on their stupendous achievements, expressing confidence that they would continue to excel in their respective fields. He then presented each of the awardees with a shawl, a bouquet of flowers and a memento. Panthaky additionally received a purse on behalf of RSMCT.

APP president Kersi J. Shethna dazzled all present with his oratory.

While trustee Aspy Bharucha welcomed all present, trustee Ardaviraf Mehta proposed a vote of thanks. Karanjawalla thanked the young volunteers for their help and presented each one, as also master of ceremonies Kaizad Dalal with a small token of appreciation. The awards function ended with the singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti, followed by a sumptuous dinner for around 500.