Pride and passion at HPY

HPY (Holiday Programme for Youth) is set to celebrate a landmark — its summer of silver next May! "Which community program can boast of such a feat (25 years)! The popularity of the Programme is evident in its numbers. It continues with even greater zest and dynamism,” stated Diana Marfatia, HPY’s mentor, at the inauguration of the 24th edition of the Programme on May 2, 2010 at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (BJPCI) in Bombay.

HPY has transcended being an annual event and has institutionalized itself, she said, with over 4,000 alumni, many of whom return repeatedly to the Programme as organizers and groups-in-charge. "This year we have 193 participants, 97 girls and 96 boys. One hundred and sixty-seven are from Bombay, 26 from as far as Calcutta, Madras, Nagpur, Navsari, Ahmedabad, etc. We even have one teenager from Dubai,” she announced. A staggering 80 schools are represented, 57 from Bombay, 23 from outside, she added.

Diana Marfatia;

For four weeks, HPY provides a merry mix to students tired after the titanic struggles of standard 10! Energy plus outdoor and indoor games, the fusion flavors of the fashion show and personality contests, the mot juste (right word) of debates and dramatics, the sensitivity of entertaining the aged, collecting blood for blood banks and other pursuits keep the teens occupied and entertained. HPY focuses on the nimbleness of new careers and the solidness of old ones. Talks on religion and tradition, aptitude testing, visits to the Nehru Science Centre, the Prince of Wales Museum, etc help the mind take wings. The Programme also parades the Parsi power list — eminent achievers who enlighten green-behind-the-ears youngsters on what it takes to move ahead in today’s world.

"This year we have introduced a workshop on journalism and (journalistic) writing, Sudoku and kabbadi competitions,” chief coordinator Azmin Mistry told a packed hall of participants, parents and invitees. This is a well-researched, well-planned Programme, so "gorge on it and garnish it with your own special flavor,” the dynamic 23-year-old exhorted the teenagers.

"HPY is the prestigious program of the BPP (Bombay Parsi Punchayet) for which it has garnered only bouquets over 24 years,” stated Navaz Sanjana, former principal of Girton High School. Students of today are street smart and techno savvy; they need a program that is innovative and evolving, she asserted. "Don’t huddle up (only with those you know); social interaction with peers from different institutions is most important,” she advised. With the BPP subsidizing costs, participants pay only a token registration fee of Rs 750, which includes a mid morning drink, lunch, tea, outdoor visits, activities, stationery, a HPY T-shirt, etc. BPP chief executive Mehli Colah, senior executive Cawas Panthaki and assistant executive Bakhtawar Dastur are on the organizing team.

(Clockwise from top left): Percy Ghandy, Dr Aashish Contractor, Noshir Dadrawala and Azmin Mistry.; Happy organizers with Mistry and Marfatia (seated 4th and 5th from left); Jimmy Mistry addressing the audience;

"It’s been five years in a row that I have been coming to HPY (in different capacities),” stated BPP trustee Jimmy Mistry who chaired the inauguration function. Moving around the hall, he presented the mike to many a nervous youngster, eliciting predictable replies on which career they proposed to embark on! "It’s fine to burn the midnight oil becoming a doctor, chartered accountant, etc. But do your homework. It’s not sensible to set a high target without knowing how to get there,” he declared. Passion should be the driving force, even while doing mundane or mediocre tasks: "A taxi driver who is passionless about his work probably drives a dirty cab, his clothes are not clean, he changes gears roughly. A man who loves his job drives smoothly, keeps a neat cab. Parsis are known to be passionate about dressing, painting, the professions, building institutions such as this (BJPCI), etc.” Laughingly saying that he was always a backbencher who changed about six schools and several very successful colleagues have also been backbenchers, entrepreneur Mistry noted that there is a dividing line between "having good fun and being successful or being an unsuccessful loser.” Ignite passion and progress will follow, he recommended.

"There are two kinds of fools — those who give advice and those who don’t take it! I will be in the first category in the hope that you won’t be in the second,” quipped guest of honor Percy Ghandy. A counsel in the Bombay High Court who represents the BPP in judicial matters, Ghandy has argued in landmark cases like the ambient air pollution case, forest lands case, in the matter of bandhs (strikes), etc, noted Mistry in his introduction of the guest of honor.

The Indian Constitution enjoins the state to provide free and compulsory education for children up to the age of 14, but that is currently not being implemented, Ghandy stated. "But there are great efforts to bring it about. You are privileged to come from educated backgrounds, with bodies like the BPP conducting programs like these, that too in the holidays. We sought hard to find out from elders which career to take,” he remarked. Life itself is the best teacher. The guru-shishya (teacher-pupil) relationship is considered sacred in our country and a nation can never hope to be free if it is ignorant. Safeguard your democratic rights, build your character and make informed choices, Ghandy advised.

(Top row): Zorabian Irani flanked by Urvazi Kotwal and Shahaan Davierwalla; fun at the fashion show; Below (from left): Minoshe Kathawala with Udwadia; Delzad Bajan, Anainah Patel, Zorabian Irani, Davierwalla and Khushmeen Sakhlot

"Here is yet another Parsi to be proud of, a passionate Parsi,” stated Mistry as he introduced chief guest Dr Aashish Contractor, cardiologist and HOD (head of department), Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation, Asian Heart Institute, Bombay. Planning and persistence pays, declared Contractor. "When Marfatia called me months ago asking if I would be available in May, I told her I don’t know what I’m doing next week! But you put in a lot of planning and you get an excellent end result. Excellence is not an act but a habit,” he said. Respect your body and treat it well. Eat healthy and stay away from tobacco. "Today we see so many patients below 40 who have had a heart attack,” the cardiologist noted.

Zoroastrians have always been trendsetters and have trod off the beaten path, be it in the field of professional Western dancing, championing animal rights and more. "Question everything but not for the sake of being contrary. Respect, but question. The silent majority is often drowned out by the shrill minority. To repeat famous words, ‘I may disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it,’” Contractor observed. The longer he lives, he said, the more he realizes the impact of attitude on life: "Ten percent of what happens to me may be due to circumstance, 90 percent is how I react to it. I can only play on the one string I have. No one compels us to do service to the community. No one is forcing you to care. But individual salvation depends on collective salvation.”

The venue of the valedictory function on May 30 was changed from Rustom Baug (where it was scheduled to be held in the open air) back to the BJPCI in view of signs of the monsoon arriving earlier than usual. The school’s heritage hall was abuzz with twittering teenagers, dressed to kill, bare backs, bare shoulders, smart suits and ubiquitous cell phones ready to capture prize-winning moments!

(From left) Top row: Jamsheed Master, Sheherazad Pavri, Arzan Dumasia, Vehzan Rustomjee, Johaan Daruwalla, Gulnaz Siganporia, Darayus Dhabhar and Kayzad Kuka Bottom row: Percy Bharucha, Mazda Disawalla, Farzan Shroff, Zenia Motafram, Vahishta Panthaki, Kaizad Dumasia, Fionika Nava and Karishma Contractor

"It is my proud privilege to preside over the valedictory function, ushering in the silver jubilee of a program which causes us great pride and is closest to the hearts of all the trustees,” stated BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta. The purpose of HPY is to inculcate values and impart direction, foster the spirit of integrity, honesty and enterprise for which the community is known, he added.

"I am but a student older than you. I have stumbled and fallen several times. Exams terrify me! At my medical exams, I was always asked questions on what I did not know, on portions which I had omitted!” recounted leading surgeon Dr Rushad Udwadia who was the guest of honor. Be conscious of your weaknesses and honest in your dealings, he urged the youngsters.

Udwadia noted that there are but 75,000 Parsis/Iranis in India (the 2001 census put the figure at 69,601 while the 2010 census will probably show a decline to 60,000-62,000) in a population of over a billion. He emphasized that there will be only 20,000 Parsis left in the next 20 years. "We are a fragmented and divided community. Even when there are the last two Parsis left, they will be arguing on whether conversion is necessary or not! We need to close ranks, develop a one-for-all and all-for-one spirit. We have fancy houses and broken homes. We have experts full of bitterness and anger. We need to appreciate the good in our own community. You kids of today are the hope of tomorrow. Do not let the religion die away with you,” the doctor prescribed.

"You have seen her simplicity and humility. Can you believe she is one of Bollywood’s top actresses?” queried Mehta in his introduction of chief guest Perizaad Zorabian Irani. "I do not like Hindi movies. They are bad or very bad. But my wife made me see Joggers’ Park (which stars Zorabian) and I was quite amazed. I really liked it. She has taken roles as varied as her real life resumé. She lives in the moment, on her own terms, to do justice to her dreams.”

"HPY is legitimate, it is substantial. The energy in the room was the same years ago as what I see today. I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and a six-month-old son. My priorities are different now. I would not perhaps make the effort to go for a college function, but HPY is different. My children will 110 percent be here when they grow up,” the bubbly actress put forward her personal perspective.

Zorabian spoke of four people (Zoroastrians) from whom she has learnt good lessons in life. "My parents are the best parents in the whole world. They taught me from my childhood that nothing was impossible as long as I was focused. I have the most amazing family,” she narrated. "My ballet teacher Tushna Dallas, a frail, quiet Parsi lady, is very clear and so disciplined in what she has to say,” Zorabian continued. After years of working on technique and training her to get it right on stage, she told the young performer: "Darling, learn to connect with your audience and to give joy. The only way to do that is to enjoy what you do.” At an interview for a job at New York’s Lexington Hotel (a Taj hotel), manager Sam Bhadha had asked her: "Why do you think you deserve this job? Because you are a Parsi?” "I was angry and upset, but I did get the job as assistant to the restaurant manager,” Zorabian related. "The Hotel was not doing well, but as we all worked hard to spread joy, it began to do better. Bhadha taught me the dignity of labor; that doing small jobs doesn’t make you small, it makes you great.” So give a Parsi a chance. We need to stand by each other and help the community, she encouraged.

Clockwise from top left : Shahan Heerjee, Ruxshin Watchmaker, Burjis Driver and Rukshin Maswa

Zorabian also delineated on the popular perception of Parsis being bau majéna (very nice), of the high levels of honesty generally associated with the community and the need to preserve this. "As you know, my husband Boman is a builder. One-and-a-half years ago he offered me an investment opportunity in a project he believed to be good. But I am a bad investor, so I dilly-dallied, saying, ‘I don’t know…’” The opportunity passed and when she evinced interest once again, the price had gone up by Rs 1,000 per square foot! "I gave you the opportunity then. Now pay the current price,” said Boman. "‘C’mon, I’m your wife, who will know?’ I told him. But Boman was adamant! This is how we should be,” she related.

With HPY very much a team effort, the "wacky, cool and downright hilarious organizers who transformed a ragtag bunch of 16-year-olds into reasonably mature adults” (in the words of participant Meher­naz Patel in her speech) were felicitated. Hos­haang Gotla, Rayo­mand Mistry, Huzan Forbes, Kaizeen Je­hangir, Danesh Irani, Khushnaz Daruwala, Khushnuma Daru­valla, Rohan Sanjana, Darius Panday, Sheriar Irani, Meherzeen Ava­sia, Parinaz Jal and Roshni Mogul stepped on stage to the usual cacophony of claps and whistles! The extended entertainment that followed the official part of the program saw participants shed their inhibitions, with bellies and bottoms wiggling to blaring Bollywood numbers in gay abandon!

Shahaan Davierwalla was this year’s Mr HPY and Urvazi Kotwal Ms HPY. Vehzan Rustomjee and Gulnaz Si­gan­poria were the respective runners-up. Minoshe Ka­thawala was adjudged the best sportsperson. Khu­shmeen Sakhlot, Delzad Bajan, Da­vierwalla and Ana­i­nah Patel were the best participants in each group. Jam­sheed Master was the best literary arts all rounder. Percy Bharucha and Zenia Motafram picked up the titles of best male and female model. Mazda Disawalla and Farzan Shroff tied for first place as best cat walker (male); Karishma Contractor and Fionika Nava were the best female cat walkers.

The Piroja Fali Forbes Award for securing 93.42 percent in the ICSE examination of March 2009 went to Jamshir Goorabian of Activity High School. Delnaz Palsetia won the BPP Award for scoring 93.69 percent at the SSC examination last year. The Seth Cursetjee F. Parekh Gold Medal was presented to Shirin Contractor for securing 78.62 percent in MA in Avesta-Pahlavi.

"HPY is such a super blend of learning with fun and friendships that it innately has a recipe that works,” Marfatia told Parsiana later. The BPP trustees, past and present, have been very supportive of HPY’s needs and grandiose plans too! she adds. A strong bank of ever-willing resource persons, committed parents, participants and organizers, along with a chief coordinator (Marfatia) who steered the Programme continuously for over two decades — almost a generation — have been HPY’s special strengths.

This year’s batch was amazingly enthusiastic and energetic, willing to get ahead on everything planned for them, Marfatia noted. "Parsi/Irani youth on the whole are intelligent and fun-loving but have to often be goaded/cajoled to follow rules and toe the line, but that is only typical of this age group across all communities and countries,” she asserted. "This year I must admit the disparity between the boys and girls was not that glaring though I can’t say that it was missing. The girls did do a wee bit better, but this year’s four best participants had two boys and two girls. They (the boys) also seemed fairly ambitious and had aspirations, which is a good sign.”

"From talent to leadership qualities, from creativity to sentimentality, this batch truly had the majority who were exceptionally good at most things. It was very difficult to judge and the number of ties in several competitions stand testimony to this fact,” remarks Azmin Mistry, for whom this was the second year as chief coordinator. This batch collected the maximum number of blood bottles too, she adds, with 255 bottles being donated to the St George’s and the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital. With her MA, Part II examinations in English literature coming plumb in the middle of HPY, "juggling between the two was challenging, taxing and yet exciting.” On May 30, she gave her entrance for BEd. "I also have my own business in referral marketing (recommendation over the internet which enables people to earn). I also provide web solutions like video broadcasting, video brochures, web meeting, web casting, etc with a company called My Video Talk Technologies Private Limited. This I do as a hobby,” she explains. She has been pursuing drama with the Universal Theatre Group for the past few years, mainly in the field of acting and directing for children at school level. "I enjoy multi-tasking! The satisfaction of grooming the youth to take on life is my own little contribution to the community.”

"I am a trained singer. I participated in the Mumbai Idol contest last December. HPY gave me a platform to showcase my talent,” asserted Johaan Daru­walla. "Two of us (Darayus Dha­bhar and I) gave an interview to a group who is going to make a documentary on HPY and on how we can help the community as a whole,” stated Kotwal. "I had been coaxed a lot by my cousins and friends to go to Bombay to attend HPY. I have surely benefited and attending has been worth it,” said Nagpur’s Ruxshin Watchmaker.

The HPY picnic at Mehta’s bungalow in Lonavla in mid June marks HPY’s first event of the 25th year. "The organizing committee has already started brainstorming,” asserts Azmin Mistry. "Our meetings resumed the very next week after the Programme ended. All I can say as of now is — we’ll do it in style!”