Homes for the needy

The new four-storey Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Memorial Building for housing poor and needy Zoroastrians in Valsad was inaugurated by Dastur (Dr) Peshotan H. Mirza on April 25, 2010 after a jashan ceremony was performed there. The project, which cost Rs 84,88,238 was funded by the trustees of the Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Deed of Settlement Fund through the Valsad Parsi Anjuman Trust Funds. The building has 21 flats for housing as many families and keys of the flats were handed over to the allottees at the inauguration, Marzban Giara, writer and community historian informed Parsiana over the e-mail.

Top: Valsad’s Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Memorial Building Alongside: Areez Khambatta inaugurating the building with Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza and others

After Sam R. Chothia, managing trustee of the Valsad Parsi Anjuman welcomed those present, Mirza spoke on the exalted status of fire in the Zoroastrian religion. The Anjuman felicitated Areez Khambatta, chairman, World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthosh­tis and vice president, Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, West Zone B for his leadership and generosity. Khambatta lauded the trustees for defending tradition and supporting other anjumans against the formation of a cosmopolitan world body, holding it up as an example for others to follow. A vote of thanks was given by Burjor Cowasji Pardiwalla, president of the Anjuman, followed by a get-together and dinner at Bejon Baug, Giara concludes.