“Striking a new chord”

Congratulations on a fine and detailed article on the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) featuring NCPA chairman Khushroo Suntook, my former classmate at St Xavier’s and Government Law College ("Striking a new chord,” Parsiana, November 21, 2010).

I have been a subscriber to Parsiana, the FEZANA Journal and Hamazor but rarely have I come across news about the NCPA and almost nothing that I can recall about SOI, so it was a real delight to read about the admirable work they are doing. As Suntook says, they deserve much greater support both from the Indian government and the private sector. Here, in the United States as well as in Western Europe great museums and performing arts organizations would perish without generous support from individuals, corporate and governmental funding. I am currently exploring the creation of a "North American Friends of SOI” to interest the generally well-endowed Indian community in the US and Canada. I realize it’s an uphill task but worth trying. Interested readers of Parsiana in the US may contact me at russanita@charter.net if they wish to join me in organizing this chapter of Friends of SOI.

RUSSY D. SUMARIWALLA

Founder-President, Global Philanthropy and Nonprofits

Medford, Oregon, USA

russanita@charter.net