Reaping the rewards

"Nobody can rob you of your intelligence and education. Concentrate on your studies today and in future you will reap the rewards. Success only comes to those who have burnt the midnight oil… Be devoted and above all be true to yourself,” senior counsel Firoze Andhya­rujina, chief guest at the annual prize distribution function organized by The Bombay Parsee Association (BPA) at Allbless Baug on November 13, 2008 urged the youth. "It is essential for Parsis to cultivate entrepreneurship. Do not go in for service and be contented.” When addressing the parents Andhyarujina added, "We shouldn’t be afraid of the dwindling numbers or of the future. Our children and our youth are our only hope for the future. Place them in the right direction and teach them essentials like truth, values of life, importance of prayers... Aapré paisa banaava Hindus­tan maa nathi aayaa pun dharam saa­cha­vaa (We have not come to India to make money but to preserve our religion),” noted the taxation expert commending the BPA for "doing yeoman service to preserve the institutions for which we stand.”

Confident that the "youths will further enhance the standards set by our forefathers,” guest of honor Cmde Aspi Marker (retd) referred to the characteristics that "distinguish the community… morals, values, accountability,” and reminded the gathering that "honesty is an extremely important document.” For the BPA conducted annual event every Fravardin parav at the War Memorial at Khareghat Colony, paying homage to the Zoroastrian members of the Armed Forces who had laid down their lives for the cause of their country, Marker was hopeful of bringing in trumpeters from the Indian Navy to play the Last Post.

To prove that "the community has not forgotten them, to appreciate their achievements and to inspire others,” BPA president Vispi Dastur gave a warm welcome to the "distinguished personalities on and off the dais,” especially the six recipients of the BPA achievement awards: Dr Farokh Master, consulting homeopath and professor of medicine who has authored 51 books and innumerable research articles; Cavas Eduljee who retired as a motorman in the Central Railway after a 37-year track record of service without a single accident or loss of life; Capt Jimmy Sarbh, founder president of the Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association with 28 years of experience in the marine industry, having designed, managed and operated port assets worth approximately US $ 1.3 billion; Khushnam Godiwalla of Poona who stood first in Maharashtra in the Higher Secondary Certificate (Commerce) examination in March 2008, scoring 93 percent; Khush­num Patel of Dhirubhai Ambani International School who scored 96.57 percent at the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education examination in March 2008; and Rooyinton Mehenty, aged five years, who has won prizes at an inter-school karate competition and has already learnt by heart the five big gahs, Atash Nyaish and Doa Nam Satayish only by listening to his father Ervad Nozer praying.

In his acceptance speech Sarbh gave credit to the "tough lady…Rati Aunty (Ratamai Peer) who taught me the Zoroastrian prayers, never letting me off the hook,” and reminisced about the frequent trips to Udvada in years past when homeopath Master and he would travel by the night train to Udvada and take a bath at the station the next morning before proceeding to the Atash Behram. He presented a donation of Rs 21,000 to Tehmina Peer, joint honorary secretary of the BPA, with whom he had "grown up in Police Court Lane.”

On behalf of the three Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustees who were present that evening, chairman Dinshaw Mehta,Yazdi Desai and himself, Rustom Tirandaz referred to Parsis as the "bridge between all communities. We are the people who created modern India… who can help the nation to survive in the era of darkness.” He was particularly appreciative of the Zoroastrian ladies felicitated that evening who, despite "living in penury, continue to spin kustis at affordable rates, binding our community together.”

Acclaiming the dedication of the 11 ladies who have been spinning and weaving kustis for more than 50 years, Ratamai Peer called each of them to the dais where they were felicitated with monetary prizes financed by the Parsee Vegetarian and Temperance Society. Those felicitated were Roda Deboo (mother of well-known dancer Astad Deboo) who has been spinning kustis for 75 years, Goolamai Turel, Tehmina Bagli, Freny Sutaria, Aloo Patrawala, Jerbanoo Nargolwala, Mani Ukaji, Gover Gotla, Khorshed Desai, Jer Bharucha and Kety Makhania.

Thereafter prizes were distributed to the many winners of the 88th Prayer, Kusti Weaving and Spinning competitions organized earlier by the BPA at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsi Charitable Insti­tution. Thanks to Shahrukh Katha­walla’s largesse, in addition to the Navaz Jimi Kathawalla Memorial cash prizes, each of the winners was presented two complimentary dinner coupons for the meal catered by Tanaz Godiwalla. Nearly 300 competitors, ranging in age from three to 80 years, had participated in this event on February 17, 2008.

Parinaz M. Gandhi