BUZY brings in new blood

Wafts of religiosity, elements of entrepreneurship and dollops of fun were offered to the 160 delegates who registered for the 19th All India Zoroastrian Youth Meet in Baroda from November 6-8, 2010. Organized by the Baroda United Zoroastrian Youth (BUZY, pronounced BeZee) under the auspices of the Federation of Zoroastrian Youth Associations of India (FOZYA), the meet that sought to promote camaraderie saw participation from the local Baroda youngsters besides those who had gathered from the neighboring Gujarat regions of Ahmedabad, Navsari, Bharuch, Dahod, Surat, Pardi and Val­sad; further away from Vapi in Maha­rashtra as also the other Parsi strongholds of Bombay, Poona and Nagpur; and from distant Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The largest contingent of 31 came from Ahmedabad.

Participants in the game Shaving the Balloon; (inset) Rustom Patell;

The entourage of vehicles that landed at the venue — the International campus of Ambe School/M. S. Hostel on the outskirts of Baroda were surprised to witness throngs of religious pilgrims on the premises. Only later did they learn that there were 3,000 devotees of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, observing maun vrat (pledge of silence), with whom the boisterous bawas and bawis would be sharing space! Their presence notwithstanding, the community youth enjoyed their daily dose of dining and dancing along with other interactive sessions planned for each day.

Keki Gandhi being felicitated by Dastur Khurshed Dastoor

A jashan led by Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, High Priest of Udvada, commenced the proceedings on the first day. BUZY president Rustom Patell extended a friendly welcome to all the guests after which Baman Cama, president of Shree Parsi Panchayat Vadodara, stressed on the importance of holding such youth meets for the community’s growth. FOZYA president Mabrin Nanavatti referred to the Asso­ciation’s activities and the new committee’s efforts to revive the organization to its former self. Whilst releasing the souvenir Dastoor spoke about the challenges today’s youth are facing in terms of religion and community affairs.

A special felicitation was planned for Keki Gandhi, former joint honorary secretary of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India and former director of Machine Tools (India) Limited. He was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award "in recognition of his long and devoted service to the community and the youth in particular (see "Fillip for FOZYA,” pg 22).”

Also honored for their constant encouragement and support to BUZY and the Baroda youth were Jal Patel and Dr Rumy Mistry. A retired financial business consultant, Patel is currently part of the Federation of Gujarat Industries as leader of the Asset Management Committee and serves as a consultant at Jewel Consumer Care Private Limited. He recently stepped down as president of the Baroda Panchayat although he will continue to participate in its various activities. After working for 34 years in the Faculty of Technology and Engineering at Baroda’s M. S. University, Mistry retired as professor and head of its textile engineering department. Currently he is advisor to the vice chancellor (foreign funds) and also helps the UNESCO assisted Parzor project and the Baroda Panchayat.

Above: International campus of Ambe School/M. S. Hostel (left) with some delegates at the start of another day; (alongside) Business Bazi-gars session in progress

Amongst the events planned for the young participants, maximum interest was generated in the interactive session on success conducted by Animesh Bhatt from The Times of India. He elaborated on the different versions and interpretations of success and the modes of overcoming obstacles. Citing some interesting stories from his professional and personal life, his speech elicited many questions from the audience.

Another lively session was "Sell your product” that was introduced at the suggestion of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce. The delegates were divided into four teams and each team had to come up with a product that was new to the market, whilst focusing on its core selling point, its potential value, proposed advertising campaign and progress chart. Their creativity led them to propose biodegradable toilet paper, customer needs based financial website, biodegradable condoms and even musical condoms! The product plans were to be judged by a panel with the winner declared by Adil Wadia, area manager of IndusInd Bank, Gujarat.

The previous day, the youth had benefited from the session Business Bazigars where young entrepreneurs or bazigars from different work backgrounds were invited to create an awareness of how operations have to be conducted with the available resources and within the parameters specified. Rohinton Kavina, Kaizad Engineer, Nanavatti, Adarviraf Sinor and Manek Kalyaniwala were the panel members who were selected for starting their own business house or taking their family’s existing business to new heights. This session was coordinated by entrepreneur Dilnaz Homavala who is professor at the Management College of M. S. University. A series of questions were directed at the panel to gain from their expertise.

Yet another informative speech was by Prof Snehal Nagarseth who shared the findings of her incisive study of Parsi homes of different towns and villages in Gujarat and the stories they tell. Associate professor at Faculty of Design, CEPT University, Ahmeda­bad, teaching interior design and architecture programs for over 15 years, Nagarseth gave an outline of the lives and functionality of Parsi homes in the 19th and 20th century with insights into the past and lessons for the future.

One session that did not take off as planned was "Do you want to find a Bawaji mate?” Looking at the age group of the delegates, the coordinator Dr Shazneen Limjerwala who has done her doctorate from the University of Lancashire, decided to turn the session into a friendly introduction cum ice-breaker. Those delegates interested in the prospect of marriage had a separate session with her the next evening.

Actually the participants had many opportunities to socialize during the three days starting with the ice-breakers on the first day following which the DJ played music that made the group groove till way past dinner time. In fact dinner and dance brought each day to a close. The paint-ball session required one entire evening to accommodate every delegate to use the heavy firearm that was technically just a paint-ball gun. After some good shots and some poor misses, the game ended with five happy winning team members, all from different cities.

On the last afternoon the delegates were free to visit Baroda city and enjoy shopping. The closing ceremony in the evening started with games like Shaving the Balloon, Wrap the Mummy and Gulp the Yukkiest of Health Drinks. These were followed by presentation of mementoes to the delegates and words of thanks from the delegates and Nanavatti. Catering for most meals was entrusted to the local favorites, Cherag Caterers.

For the organizing committee comprising Rustom Patell, Dilshad Patell, Chalet Wadia, Farhad Wadia, Firoz Vimadalal, Behnaaz Vimadalal, Arnoz Daruwala, Berjis Ginwalla, Farhad Mandviwala, Kurush Karanjia, Janet Contractor and Vaspar Vajifdar, the closing ceremony marked the culmination of over three months of effort. Responsibilities were divided based on knowledge of the task and management ability of each member.

The timing of this meet "could have been better,” concluded the organizers when they realized that registration of delegates was not as high as expected. They had charged Rs 650 as early bird registration fees and Rs 900 for those who submitted their names later. Only 10 percent of the delegates, mainly those from Bombay and Poona, had come for this meet after attending the last youth meet in Poona six months ago. Additionally Surat’s annual cricket tournament and the planning of the Holiday Programme for Youths’ silver jubilee function in Bombay were the other factors that contributed to poor attendance. Although initially disappointed, the hosts realized that limited numbers facilitated easy mingling amongst all. The fact that many of them are staying in touch with each other via social networking sites portends good beginnings.

Another accomplishment of the meet was that the hosts were able to bring in a lot of new blood in the BUZY group. Many of the members being new, for them it was a good experience to organize such a mega event.

BUZY’s organizing committee

Fillip for FOZYA

As acknowledged FOZYA founder member Porus Karanjawalla, "Keki Uncle is a person who has always given his unqualified support and assistance to FOZYA during the 20 years of its existence… In fact FOZYA was formed under his able guidance…” During Karanjawalla’s tenure as president of FOZYA the two of them had their "share of differences on community affairs but we both have always believed in the wisdom of the adage to agree to disagree…”

Another trait of Gandhi that Karanjawalla "admired and continues to admire… is that after putting forward his submission he would always say, ‘béta (child) this is my suggestion, now it is left to you.’ This will make you all realize how humble he has been in his functioning with the youth unlike many others sitting in corridors of power who prefer to practice the theory of ‘command and demand’ while dealing with the youth and would always want to use the youth for their petty political gains.”

(Above) Animesh Bhatt, (left) and Dr Shazneen Limjerwala conducting sessions; (alongside, from far left) winners of the paint-ball event; Mabrin Nanavatti and Farhad Wadia

Echoing Karanjawalla’s sentiments through his message sent from Hydera­bad was Jehangir Bisney, founder president of FOZYA who commended Gandhi’s "amazing passion for life. In his eighties now (he)… has never been satisfied with the ordinary. A remarkable person, Keki Uncle has been a friend, guide and philosopher to generations of youth. At an age when most people would have gone into retirement, he was always on the go, working virtually round the clock, excited by innovative ideas that he would implement with extraordinary passion… He lives his life in his own inimitable style… Keki Uncle too never cares about what people think about him or his style of functioning.” Pleased that FOZYA’s first Lifetime Achievement Award was being conferred on Gandhi, Bisney wrote, "The people who make a difference in one’s life are not the ones with the most credentials… the most money… or the most awards… They simply are the ones who care the most. Keki Uncle, you are one of them.”

With inputs from Farhad Wadia, Dilshad Patell, Porus Karanjawalla and Jehangir Bisney.