Iran League’s honor roll

"I hope India produces more sportspersons, service officers, scientists who will lead this country in the future,” commented Commander Bahadur Kavina, Vir Chakra, when accepting the Maneckji Limji Hataria Trophy for Courage and Heroism jointly from Cowasjee Dinshaw, president of the Iran League (IL) and Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Mehta at the annual day and prize distribution function of the IL which was held on February 14, 2010 at Cama Baug in Bombay.

Having come from Poona to receive this honor, the ex-Navy officer remarked that "one of the reasons I am here is to encourage youngsters to join the armed forces” and to share his "fruitful and satisfying experience” of having seen four wars. Disregarding his father’s fears that "bomb paré (falls)” Kavina had joined the National Defence Academy in 1957 and considered himself "fortunate… to place myself in the line of fire. By God’s grace we could defeat the enemies and protect the motherland.”

"Unfortunately the focus of the organization has shifted from fostering cultural relations with Iran to organizing competitions. Restore Iran League’s main object,” urged chief guest Mehta whilst elaborating on the accomplishments of the legendary Hataria who had worked for the uplift of his Iranian Zoroastrian brethren in the mid-19th century. "In our humble way we are trying to do something for Iran,” clarified Vispi Dastur who as trustee and treasurer is the mainstay of this organization. He mentioned that the Iranian consulate and the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran are usually represented at the annual functions of the IL and IL also participates in a jashan on Hataria’s death anniversary in February at the H. B. Wadia Atas Bahram. Originally the IL used to send donations to four/five orphanages in Iran until foreign regulations necessitated discontinuation of this practice.

"The only way to survive as Parsi Irani Zarathushtis is to preserve the past and protect the future. This is what the IL is doing,” commented guest of honor BPP trustee Yazdi Desai who was happy that IL was "instilling a sense of pride in the youngsters to learn more about the religion, rites, customs through the various competitions they organize.”

The evening began with a jashan followed by a humbandagi conducted by students of the Dadar Athornan Institute. Two minutes’ silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives in the explosion at Poona’s German Bakery, the martyrs of the terrorist attack on Bombay on November 26, 2008, and other IL well-wishers like Khodaparast Cowasjee Dinshaw, Rustom Tirandaz and Dastur Meherji Meherjirana. The highlights of the League’s activities were read out by Tehmina Peer and a monajat was sung by Anahita Ramiyar Karanjia. Numismatist Pervez Patel spoke on the unique coins minted during Emperor Akbar’s reign to commemorate the Zoroastrian months.

At the Iran League function (from left) Yazdi Desai, Vispi Dastur, Pansy Mehta, Commander Bahadur Kavina, Dinshaw Mehta and Cowasjee Dinshaw

Introducing his new co-trustee on the dais Freny Adi Jehangir, Dastur conveyed the IL’s belief that the "youth is a trustee of posterity.” Besides Mehta and Desai, the other BPP trustees present that evening were Khojeste Mistree and Armaity Tirandaz.

Thirty trophies and 106 prizes were distributed to the successful participants of the competitions organized in 2009 which drew 305 entries, as noted the League’s newsletter inviting financial and other support from individuals and public charitable trusts to continue with their activities. Just the cost of polishing the trophies works out to nearly Rs 25,000, pointed out Dastur. The stars for the year 2009 were: Peenaz Dastur from the General category who won trophies for elocution, religious quiz and Parsi song; Roshan Dastur for Shah Nameh and Western vocal in the seniors category; Parizad Pestonjamasp for essay and elocution (seniors); Anahita Karanjia for Shah Nameh and elocution; and Shahzad Faroodi for western vocal and elocution in the juniors group. The other trophy winners in the general group were Hanoz Dastur (Shah Nameh), Kerman Cooper (essay), Yezdi Damania (rangoli), Feruzan Billimoria (drawing), Rubin Talati (western vocal) and Niyosha Gandhi (western instrumental). In the seniors group, trophies were also won by Pilloo Sidhwa (essay), Homai Bulsara (elocution), Zenobia Madan (religious quiz), Armaity Adajania (rangoli), Armin Bharucha (drawing), Silloo Shroff (Parsi song) and Kevin Garda (western instrumental). Among the juniors, trophies went to Eireen Bharucha (essay), Ranai Siganporia (religious quiz), Kaizeen Daruwalla (rangoli), Farna Disawala (drawing), Ashoi Dantra (Parsi song) and Tushna Shroff (western instrumental). One of the prize winners Pesi Sidhwa sang a popular western song whilst Nariman Mody rendered a Parsi one. Chief judge Silloo Shapoorjee proposed a vote of thanks. The program wound up with the singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti and the national anthem after which all those present repaired for dinner.