Colors of childhood

Its focus is on dimples, not wrinkles! The Seventh Zochild Day on November 29, 2009 once again brought together over 2,000 Zoroastrian children from different parts of India. Feted and feasted by The Zoroastrian Children’s Foundation (ZCF) which organizes the event, the program on the day was presented as usual by the children, for the children. It made known on the public stage talents hitherto unknown — be it in song, dance, drama, or schoolgirls weaving patterns on roller skates! Indeed, few in the audience or outside would have guessed that Parsi girl boarders from a Bombay school could put together a team of teens and pre-teens on skates, with the sweat and skill behind the item so well appreciated it elicited a repeat performance!

"Every year has surpassed the previous year. We feel this has been the best so far,” says Kyoshi Vispy Kapadia, founder-chairman of the ZCF and the man behind the movement. A seventh dan karate black belt and chief coach of the Indian national team, Kapadia was recently awarded by the government of Maharashtra the prestigious Utkursht Kreeda Marg Darshak Puruskar as the best sports coach 2008-09.

What sets the Zochild program apart from others is its scale, concept, coordination and precise execution. Over 700 outstation children from Nagpur, Hyderabad-Secunderabad, Poona, Surat, Baroda, Navsari, Dahanu, Chikhli, Bulsar, Vangam, etc arrived in Bombay a day before the 29th. After lunch at Cama Baug, a special treat was a drive across Bombay’s newest wonder, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and a sight­seeing tour of the city, followed by a visit to the Nehru Science Centre and interaction with sci fi.

Next day was merry on a Sunday! Shepherded by an army of volunteers, over 60 buses picked up the local and outstation children dressed in uniform with identity cards pinned on, as early as 6.30 a.m. from designated points in the far suburbs to south Bombay and transported them to the 3,000-seat Shanmukhananda Hall at Sion.

With the Zochild flag and Indian tricolor hoisted on either side of the stage and the oath-taking accomplished, the welcome address this year was given not, as always, by Kapadia, but by his wife and co-trustee Shiraz, herself a karate black belt. "It is truly and aptly said the child is the father of the man…today is totally devoted to you,” she declared. Enjoy and cherish every moment and return each year to keep burning bright the flame of Zochild, she exhorted. The other ZCF trustees are social worker Perviz Dotivala, principal of Activity High School Perin Bagli and former principal of Bengalee Girls’ High School Zenobia Daroga.

"What began as a dream is now a magnum movement, overcoming serious and seemingly insurmountable obstacles (the program last year had to be rescheduled at almost the last moment due to the sudden terrorist attacks of November 26 in Bombay),” stated Hoshedar Khambatta, who comes down from Dubai each year to compere the program, making his voice heard in a hall reverberating with the sounds of screaming! "Dreams usually have an inspiration. We humbly dedicate the Seventh Zochild Day to the memory of Fareena Vispy Kapadia,” he stated. Vispy and Shiraz’s little daughter Fareena passed away some years ago after a very brief illness. The sudden and tragic loss motivated the couple to do something special for children, resulting in the setting up of ZCF.

From left (top): Dr Tehemton Udwadia, Perviz Dotivala, Vispy Kapadia, Ervad Asphandiar Dada-chanji, Shiraz Kapadia, Ratamai Peer, Perin Bagli, Sensei Cawas Billimoria ; (Bottom from left) Diana Marfatia, Boman Irani, Urvaksh Dhanda, Aspi Sarkari, Shi-reen and Meher Contractor

The items presented on November 29 were an adroit mix of candyfloss and the weighty, designed to animate and inspire. The pièce de résistance was of course Sheer-e-Shireen (The sweetened milk) and Jung-e-Variav (The battle of Variav) by the children of the Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust Dharmagyan Class. With full surround sound, dramatic lighting and an evocative set, Sheer-e-Shireen narrated the well-known story of Zoroastrians fleeing Iran in boats and their landing at Sanjan, the people "well-built, of gentle demeanor and exceptionally beautiful women” who won over the initial resistance of the local ruler Jadi Rana and his court with their philosophy of adding sweetness, not taking it away. Jung-e-Variav, set some years later, told the tale of young Khurshed and Mehernavaz about to be married, who lived in the village of Variav on the river Tapi and the tragedy that destiny had in store, when their village was attacked by warriors while the men folk were away attending a gahanbar in nearby Khambat. Powerfully enacted, the sincerity and innocence of the child actors made flaws fade into insignificance and left many a wet eye even among the white-haired invitees!

Tamé humné chokru aapo, hamé tamné chapru apyé (You give us a child and we will give you a house) by the children of Surat was a satire on the Parsi housing saga! A newly married couple approaches the trustees’ office straight from the wedding mandap (venue) to request a roof over their heads, then again a few months later when the wife is pregnant, yet again after the first child is born and after the second one too! Much of the dialog and the message, however, were lost as the voices of the actors were inaudible in an auditorium the size of the Shanmukhananda.

Above: On a roll; (bottom) skit from Surat, balancing fitness

Ever popular, particularly with the younger children for whom dialog was sometimes a bit too much to digest, were the dancing queens and their partners gyrating with gay abandon! The gaam no garbo (village garba) by the children of Navsari, the ballet sequence by J. B.Vatcha School, the aerobics, the western and Bollywood numbers by the various Parsi residential clusters like Malcolm Baug, Salsette Colony, Godrej Baug and schools like the Activity High School, the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution and Girton High School brought out the obvious joy of the participating children! The back bending, limb twisting "Eurhythmics” by the Avabai Petit Girls High School showcased the discipline, mental and physical strength of gymnastics while their roller skaters, including Kainaz Bharucha who has skated competitively at national level, elicited a huge round of applause.

Zochild Day also sees each year the felicitation of what Khambatta termed the "jewels of the community” who have achieved excellence in their professional fields. The awardees this year were Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji, Ratamai Peer, Dr Tehemton Udwadia, Sensei Cawas Billimoria, developer Boman Irani, Aspi Sarkari, Shireen Contractor and Meher Contractor.

Dadachanji has been the panthaky of Bombay’s Vatchaghandy Agiary for the past 26 years. He holds the unique distinction of being the first mobed to perform the boi ceremony at four different atashbehrams — the H. B. Wadia and Anjuman Atash behrams in Bombay and the Navsari and Surat Atash behrams. He has also performed 16 nirangdin ceremonies, stated Diana Marfatia who conducted this segment of the proceedings.

Young awardees (clockwise from top left): Vahista and Sanaya Kapadia, Jehaan Sabavala, Nashaita Patrawala, Arnavaz Karanjia, Adarvan Satha, Mehernaz Patel, Natasha Bana, Kayewan Karanjia, Ranai Siganporia, Diyaan Irani, Farshid Daruwalla, Firdous Satha, Kainaz Khairabadi, Kainaz Bharucha and Yazad Hataria

Peer is the only lady to have taught the Avesta prayers and the Gujarati language to hundreds of children over the past 33 years. She has given half a century of free, voluntary service to the community, it was noted.

A renowned surgeon and teacher, Udwadia has pioneered laparoscopic surgery in India and in the developing world. He has conducted workshops on minimal access surgery all over India, Nepal, Mexico, Brazil, China, Burma, Bangladesh, etc. Author of two landmark books on laparoscopic surgery, Udwadia has been honored with a Padma Shri by the President of India and an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II, among his other numerous awards and distinctions.

A sixth dan black belt in judo, Billimoria won a bronze medal at the Asian Games at Seoul in 1986, a silver at the Commonwealth Judo Tournament at Wales in 1992 and has represented India at the Barcelona Olympics. He has also won at Asian Sumo Championships and was honored with the Arjuna Award (the highest sports recognition in India) in 1993.

Young and enterprising, in a short span of 10 years Irani has made brand Rustomjee a well-recognized name in the world of real estate. Irani is also the founder and keystone of the Rustomjee International School at Dahisar in Bombay’s northern suburbs, known for its commitment to the all-round development of the students. Irani leads from the front, motivating and inspiring his team in realty development as well as education, the citation noted.

Sarkari is the present chairman and divisional commander of the Parsee Ambulance Division, which provides free service to all citizens irrespective of caste or creed. Sarkari has worked voluntarily since 1963 and has received in recognition a Seva Medal with five bars, Centenary long service medal and other awards. Sarkari is also a first aid trainer and has served during natural and manmade disasters, including the terrorist attacks in Bombay on November 26, 2008.

Shireen Contractor completed her masters in Avesta Pahlavi after several years of hard work, scoring 78 percent and standing first in Bombay University in MA. Meher Contractor has also completed her MA in Avesta Pahlavi, scoring 64 percent.

"My heart is thumping today! People ask what is the future of the community, will it survive. The answer is here,” declared Udwa­dia in his keynote address. "The organizers made a mistake in inviting me as a role model for the children,” he quipped. "I was extremely mischievous as a child and was asked to leave my school (St Mary’s) in my final year!” (For instigating his fellow students to bunk class so they could cheer their team at a cricket match!) "If you ask me to choose between studies and sport, I have no doubt in choosing sport. Study builds an individual, sport builds a team member, a Parsi of universal understanding.”

Udwadia narrated the story of how he failed the test for his pilot’s license at the Bombay Flying Club, despite a perfect take-off, air maneuvers, stall, spin, bank left and a perfect three-point landing! "I failed because I did not give enough importance to the pre-flight check list. The totality of a program is more important than any single aspect. There are no minor surgeries, only minor surgeons,” he asserted. Give of yourself — that is the ultimate charity. A billionaire giving a two crore donation is not as valuable as the charity of girls of a Parsi-run school who collected three lakh rupees to give a lady who lost her father in the terrorist attacks in November. Surgeons and other consultants work free, teach free for four to five hours every day for 30 years, he noted. Be good for the sake of being good, not for any reward in paradise, he encouraged.

Dr Mehroo Bengalee, member of the National Minorities Commission, exhorted the children to preserve the Zoroastrian genes, culture and ethos, as well as give due importance to daily prayers.

Recognizing merit in fields other than studies, Zochild Day also sees the felicitation of child awardees. Vahista Kapadia, junior black belt who has won medals at several state competitions, won a silver and a bronze in kumite at the recent Fifth Commonwealth Karate Championship at Johannesburg in South Africa. She also picked up a bronze at the Fifth World Gojukai Championship at Cape Town in October 2009. Sanaya Kapadia, junior ni dan black belt holder, was also part of the Indian team at the Fifth Commonwealth Championship at Johannesburg, winning a bronze in kumite. The Kapadia family has the rare distinction of having all five members, including the youngest Behram, holding black belts.

Yazad Hataria and Jehaan Sabavala were both selected to represent India in the World Junior and Cadet Karate Championship at Rabat, Morocco in November 2009, securing first place in the under-21 WKF Cup. Hataria and Sabavala had also won a bronze in team kata at the Fifth World Gojukai Karate Championship in October.

Kainaz Bharucha stood first in 300 m roller skating in Madhya Pradesh and won in the Seventh Inter-School National Skating Championship in Chandigarh for CBSE affiliated schools. Nashaita Patrawala was a finalist and semi-finalist respectively at state level in the ICSE schools annual athletic meet and the Bombay Suburban DSO (District Sports Office) athletic meet. She is also a black belt from the Global Martial Arts Academy and has won gold and silver medals. Kainaz Khairabadi has won silver at state level in judo and gold and silver at the Mayor’s Cup, the DSO meet, etc.

Arnavaz Karanjia of Baroda has represented Gujarat in the under-14 girls’ football team at Madras in December 2008. Firdous Satha has a best cub medal in scouting and has participated in the Fifth National Cyber and the Eighth National Science Olympiads. Adarvan Satha won third place at the Fifth National Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition in Madras and has also participated in the Eighth National Cyber Olympiad.

Farshid Daruwalla received a certificate of merit at the Spelling Bee Competition in category one at the national championship in Kerala in March 2009. Mehernaz Patel secured an ‘A’ grade with third rank at the All India Computer Knowledge Competition and is an accomplished speaker and girl guide. Diyaan Irani was ranked 10th in Term VI at the Fourth Maharashtra Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition 2008.

Natasha Bana won the first prize at a public speaking competition held by the Forum of Free Enterprise, as well as prizes in elocution and interschool personality contests and a position of merit in the TSI Maths Olympiad in 2008. Ranai Siganporia was declared School Champion at the Bombay Interschool Elocution Championship 2008 and has won at singing, rangoli and drawing contests. Kayewan Karanjia of Surat stood second in the 100 m run at the Gujarat state athletic meet and won at other events in athletics in Gujarat.

The ZCF also unfailingly felicitates present and former trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and donors like Scylla Vatcha, Persis Madon-Vatcha, Zarir Bhathena, Viraf and Rupi Chinoy, Khodu Irani, Cyrus Irani, Giev and Aban Patel, Vistasp Katrak and others. Also acknowledged are the "serious and quiet workers of ZCF” like Kersi Mistry, Dinaz and Neville Raimalwala, Kobad Kerawalla, Shahrukh and Tanaz Shroff… "It has been very gratifying that our donors, volunteers, teachers and others pool in their time and effort,” Kapadia asserts. "Each of them feels as passionately as my co-trustees and myself about every Zoroastrian child.”

"We start selecting the girls for the different items as early as July,” says Yasmin Charna of Bandra’s Avabai Petit School. "We have great fun, but prepare seriously too. Practice and rehearsals are at night and on weekends. We have around 130 boarders who come from villages in the interiors of Gujarat. Marazban Mani trained the girls for the gymnastics display and the roller skating, Marzban Mehta for the monajats. The School provides facilities for so many extra activities, ranging from sports to kusti weaving, so the girls get a balanced upbringing.”

"It is not necessarily the same set of children who come each year,” notes well-known dramatist Yazdi Karanjia of Surat. Many of them live in orphanages, he adds, and they thoroughly enjoy the food, the DJ music, the dance, and the frolic in the train! With the students’ ages ranging from primary to junior college level, what is fun for the young is sometimes siesta for the sophisticated teen!

Yet Zochild’s worth lies undoubtedly in its common cause, young and old acting in concert to retain the sense and sentiment of being a part of a microscopic community in a big, big world.