Youthful zing

"I am ZYNG” (Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation),” proclaimed the colorful T-shirts worn by a large number of volunteers at the launch of ZYNG, the official youth group of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). "C’mon, guys, register with ZYNG and grab your free T-shirts. Take a picture at the ZYNG photo stall and see it on our website www.zyng.org You can also post your profile there,” exhorted the announcer at the Rustom Baug grounds on December 11, 2009.

The zing of things for the launch had started many days earlier with large and colorful hoardings prominently placed at the entrances of several Parsi baugs and colonies, visible even from the road outside, inviting Zoroastrian youth between the ages of 15-40 to gather in large numbers. The "gala event” with an entertainment program, "live band, food and game stalls and an on-stage extravaganza” was slated to be from 6 p.m. onwards. Yet at the scheduled hour, the most visible presence at the vast grounds were the volunteers — polite and charming, anxiously awaiting the arrival of numbers!

The BPP trustees themselves arrived more than an hour later and the event took off. Rock band "The Other People” kick started the show on a glitzy stage in a blast of sound and light, amidst flashing strobes and clouds of fog. "We’ll start it off easy and pick it up a little bit (as the place fills up),” said lead singer Zarir Warden. Large screens on either side reflected the goings-on to every part of the ground.

Enthusiastic core committee (top); cake-cutting by Shiamak Davar (right) and Dinshaw Mehta; (alongside) sizzle on stage. Photos: Superstar Video Labs

Months of hard work have seen the birth of ZYNG, stated mistress of ceremonies Arnaz Mirza, inviting chief guest Shiamak Davar on stage for the official inauguration. "He is an institution in himself and has set benchmarks in entertainment. A powerhouse of talent, Davar has revolutionized Bollywood dance,” she declared. His Victory Arts Foundation (a not-for-profit organization) spreads joy through the power of dance to the specially challenged, visually impaired, HIV/AIDS affected and other less privileged sections of society. "People made fun of me when I started (dancing),” asserted Davar. "It is good to see the community is doing something in the world of entertainment and arts…I hope this had happened many moons ago when I started dancing.”

As Davar released a bunch of white balloons into the sky, he was joined on stage by BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta. The BPP had launched a youth initiative some years ago too, Mehta stated. It was called Young Dimensions and "Rs 40 lakh had been sanctioned for its functioning.” The initiative fizzled out, he said. "The previous trustees were too interfering. We have learnt from our mistakes. We have given the youth complete independence. We should not interfere. Be it the ARZ (Association for the Revival of Zoroastrianism), the AZA (Alert Zoroastrians Association), etc, let the parents fight it out in the courts, the charity commissioner’s office… But let the kids unite and function in the interests of the community,” the BPP chairman asserted.

Dispensing with the traditional floral tributes, ZYNG presented balloons and chocolates to all the BPP trustees on stage — Mehta, Khojeste Mistree, Arnavaz Mistry, Armaity Tirandaz, Jimmy Mistry and Yazdi Desai. Trustee Noshir Dadrawala was conspicuous by his absence.

ZYNG aims to "bring the youth of the community together through a vibrant online networking website which will provide a platform for communication and discussion, events and an events calendar, a matrimony and career portal, social service as well as educational programs and other initiatives,” wrote Tashan Mistree on behalf of the ZYNG team in her letter of invitation. "ZYNG’s main aim is simply to energise the youth and bring the ZYNG back into the community.”

Seeking to strengthen youth connections, ZYNG brought on stage glamas­sadors of the movie and media worlds, corporate and professional achievers, sports personalities, etc, wearing "I am ZYNG” T-shirts. Nauheed Cyrusi, Ru­shad Rana, Khurshedcheher Lawyer, Dilkhush Reporter, Viraf Patel, Freddy Daruwalla, Jennifer Kotwal (actors and models), Ayesha Billimoria, Yohan Wadia, Rustom Patel (sports), Shahen Mistry, Sohrab Khushrushahi, Ashdin Turner (professions), etc walked the ramp, blowing kisses as the mistress of ceremonies repeatedly exhorted the crowd to be more energetic in applause. Displaying high voltage energy, however, were the dancers doing Indo-Western fusion and Bollywood numbers choreographed by Pearl Tirandaz, undulating abs and swinging hips spicing up the ambience!

Catering to all at the T-shirt stall; on target (below)

"At a Parsi function like this we must play Freddie Mercury,” said Warden as the rock band struck the I want to break free chord. Invited to gyrate freely in the open space in front of the VIP enclosure, a few youngsters responded, rather hesitantly at first, but the volume and tempo picked up as Mehta, his wife Pansy and Mistree were pulled on to the floor, resulting in the rather unusual sight of BPP trustees in the mood to groove!

"The management of ZYNG is left to its management committee which is composed of 23 dynamic individuals,” writes Mehta in his message of December 11, 2009 in the souvenir. "ZYNG has a unique method of functioning where all managing committee members function on the same level with no hierarchy. My fellow trustees and I have left the entire functioning of ZYNG to its managing committee with a strict policy of minimum interference…To my mind, it has begun on the right note and is the need of the hour for our community, which has isolated the youth through constant in-fighting and controversy…It is very important that the youth of our community learn to co-exist, while maintaining their individual opinion and recognizing other people’s right to theirs.” The ZYNG website mentions eligibility as "all Parsi/Irani Zoroastrians in accordance with BPP definition of Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian.”

ZYNG promises "fun and exciting events that increase interaction, hands-on training and professional development and social service programs.” Register with ZYNG, check out the events calendar, utilize the career and matrimony portals, etc, states the souvenir. A Paintball event (a fun game played individually or as a team) is scheduled for January 10, 2010 at Malcolm Baug at Jogeshwari.

"All of us on the managing committee come from different genres and have done well in our fields. A common interest to give back to the community brought us together,” explains Reporter. "Since I am on the committee I was contemplating whether I should walk the ramp at the inauguration, but my colleagues felt that as a young achiever I should walk with people known to the community.” "I felt proud that my achievement was being recognized and that I was given the opportunity to be on stage as an achiever,” remarks Lawyer. "It was for me a kind of milestone. ZYNG is still in its nascent stage. The desire to join should come from within. Youth today want much, much more than just maja, masti, khavanoo, peevanoo (fun, frolic, food and drink),” he added. "We have to sustain the growth. The community has expectations from us,” observes Reporter.