“Glory for the ghazalkar”

The front cover story ("Glory for the ghazalkar,” Parsiana, July 21, 2009) brought back memories of another day in May 1978 when my family and I were staying at the Jodhpur Palace Hotel in Mount Abu after my visit to Udaipur as a judge for their first ever philatelic exhibition.

In the evening we were enchanted by the melodious voice of a lady singing classical/semiclassical songs; we thought it was a maharani or princess of Jodhpur’s royal family. Imagine our surprise when at the dinner table we met a Parsi family and were told that it was the daughter who had been doing her riyaz (practice). It was none other than Penaz Masani who was featured on the cover of Parsiana receiving the Padma Shri from the President of India.

In later years The Bombay Parsee Association was one of the first, if not the first to felicitate the singer on her achievements and we are indeed very happy that she has now been honored by the country.

VISPI S. DASTUR

President

The Bombay Parsee Association