New board in Borivli

The Borivli and Suburban Zoroastrian Association (BASZA) has received an infusion of fresh blood with the unanimous election of the new executive committee at the annual general meeting held on September 17, 2011, mentions the BASZA Newsletter (issue 1/2011-12) edited by Khurshed Pastakia. The editor mentioned in the Newsletter that the Association had been inactive for the past two or three years and expressed the hope that the new committee would "be able to work harmoniously and purposefully to... bring all of us together more often.” The committee now comprises Minoo Khan, president; Marazban Mehta, vice president; Pastakia, secretary; Jimmy Adajania, joint secretary; Perviz Khan, treasurer; and committee members Yazdi Motiwalla and Minoo Kotwal. The new office bearers welcomed aboard are Adajania, P. Khan and Kotwal who willingly volunteered their services.

The BASZA Newsletter which, thanks to the "excellent penmanship of Noshir Paghdiwalla” had "gained a certain amount of recognition...is being recast in a new mold.” Thanking Paghdiwalla "richly” for having been "part of the struggle in raising our Association to the glory it enjoyed and in ably leading it for many years as treasurer, secretary and finally president,” Pastakia wrote that he was certain Paghdiwalla’s "passion and commitment to BASZA will ensure his and his cherubic wife Ruby’s continued and active participation in our Asso-ciation’s programs.”

At Parsiana’s request Pastakia provided detailed information about the new board. President Khan, who retired from Bank of India is, in addition to his responsibilities at BASZA, honorary treasurer of World Zoroastrian Organisation India, president of Shree Bal Vyayam Mandir (formerly Shri Farokh A. Khan Gymnasium) and managing committee member of the Parsi Gymkhana. The "unassuming but solid worker” has been active in doing the Association’s work during the many years he had served as committee member.

Clockwise from top l: Minoo Khan, Marazban Mehta Jimmy Adajania, Perviz Khan, Yazdi Motiwalla, Ervad Minoo Kotwal and Khurshed Pastakia

Vice president Marazban Mehta, well known in the Parsi entertainment industry as leader of the Darling Orchestra that is popular at many lagans and navjotes, is "the soul of BASZA” keeping all its programs "alive and kicking.” Starting his career in singing and acting in nataks at the age of five, he is an accomplished musician, playing a variety of drums like the congo, bongo, dholak and octopad. He has participated in Adi Marz­ban’s variety entertainment shows and appeared in the very first episode of Aavo Mari Saathe. His accomplishments include acting in stage shows at Parsi New Year and Jamshedi Navroz, setting music scores for Sam Kerawala’s plays and teaching the girl students of Bai Avabai Petit School monajats and other Parsi songs. His is the lead voice in the well received album of Parsi songs titled Chhaiyé Hamé Zar­thoshti that is available on CDs and audio cassettes, the write-up informs.

Pastakia has been with the Association since 1976, serving in his current post as BASZA secretary for many years. A professional chartered accountant and partner in the accounting and consul-tancy firm Deloitte, he is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India’s Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. He has authored several authoritative technical publications of the Institute, and is often invited as speaker at seminars and workshops conducted by the Institute, its regional councils and industry all over India. Pastakia was a lecturer for over 10 years at the S.N.D.T. University and head of the Department of Accountancy at the post-graduate level as well as member of the University’s Board of Studies and its Academic Council. A sportsman, he is a fourth dan black belt in judo, having been coach and manager of Indian judo teams and serving as technical secretary of the Judo Federation of India for over 12 years, as per the write-up.

Newcomer Jimmy Adajania, BASZA joint secretary, brings with him "excellent administrative and entrepreneurial skills.” An engineer with his own business Nikko Systems Private Limited, he has in technical collaboration with a Japanese company been involved for the past 16 years in designing, engineering and manufacturing air pollution control equipment for use in steel plants in India and abroad.

Another new entrant to the committee is Perviz Khan, who retired from HSBC Securities Private Limited as assistant manager, finance. She has been the silent force behind her husband Minoo in all BASZA activities over the years as well as matters concerning the Gymnasium.

Committee member Yazdi Motiwalla, whose "sage advice is always cherished” by the committee, passes on the baton of treasurer to Perviz Khan. A quiet and non pretentious worker, he retired from Dai-ichi Karkaria Limited as deputy general manager, accounts. The longest serving member, he has been with BASZA for over 30 years, many of which were as very "competent treasurer whose skill at managing the Association’s funds has seen them grow over the years,” notes the write-up.

Ervad Minoo Kotwal, a first timer, is a practicing priest who is the mainstay of BASZA’s religious ceremonies and programs, having done his navar and maratab from Navsari and ordained at Andheri’s M. F. Cama Athornan Institute. During his tenure with the Union Bank of India and even after his retirement, Kotwal has been escorting foreign tours. "Having cut his teeth with the famous Lala Tours,” the widely traveled Kotwal lends his expertise to a number of tour and travel companies. His great sense of humor endears him to all, the write-up mentions.