“Zochild Day is here to stay”

Within 45 seconds of the grand opening of the Ninth Zo-child Day on November 20, 2011, the sound system of the Shanmukhananda Hall decided to play truant for 45 minutes! Visualize the auditorium, packed to the rafters with 2,800 people excited and geared up for the day. Their spirits however were not dampened. In fact, their appetite was whetted when the anchor and compere appropriately said, "The only handicap in life is a bad attitude!” From then on there was no looking back as the action packed day unfurled in all its pomp and pageantry, offering a colorful kaleidoscope of cultural and religious edutainment.
The show began with the hall hushed into silence at the sensitive rendition of Pal pal dil ké pas by singer Marazban Mehta as a tribute to the inspiration behind Zochild Day, the late Fareena Vispy Kapadia.

Above: A still from Neki ni Khareedi; Vispy Kapadia taking the Zochild Day oath (center); and Arvind Inamdar reciting the Zoroastrian prayers

A traditional monajat (devotional hymn in praise of Ahura Mazda’s eternal glory) by the youngsters of Tata Blocks, Bandra, was followed by a medley of songs by the Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls’ High School students which included a few religious numbers as well. Then continued a panoply of rollicking fun — Bollywood dance masala by youngsters from Salsette and later by Gamadia Colony; the weaving of the Lagaan story into their gripping eight-minute dance drama by the Ava Baug icons from Navsari; well calibrated gymnastics performed by the irrepressible Yasmin Charna’s troupe from Avabai Petit School and a Hindi musical by Activity High School that was well received by the audience.
Nine years ago the Zoroastrian Children’s Foundation (ZCF) instituted the Jewel of the Community Award, to honor community titans whose contributions and achievements have left an indelible stamp of excellence in their chosen craft. For 2011 the award in the senior/adult category was bestowed on noted oncologist Dr Baman Dhabar; Indian cricketer Diana Edulji; senior solicitor Dadi Engineer; musician Kersi Lord; Godrej Dotivala, Public Relations Officer of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet; and Firoza Driver, the winner of the Best Secretary of the Year Contest, All India and Asia Pacific, 2010. The Youth Achievers who were felicitated were Sub Lieutenant Zariab Ranji, a pilot with the Indian Navy; medical practitioner and national volley ball and hand ball player Dr Fratoon Patrawala; concurrent BTech and MTech holder Edul Patel who ranked first at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bom­bay; and author of text books on information technology Firuza Aibara.

Youngsters participating in the talent parade (first and second rows); youth from Navsari with their Lagaan act and Vahishta Kapadia on drums (3rd row); (alongside) and (below) children awardees

The outstanding achievers in the Children’s category were mostly from the sports field with several medal winners in karate at the Commonwealth Games: Bakhtiyar Navalmaneck, Feroze Patel, Rushad Captain and Urvaksh Tangri; karate champion at the district level and youngest navar Rooyintan Mehenty; judo champions at the district level and national competitions Manthrach and Mithrem Jagirdar; state level swimming champion of Gujarat Kayzad Mistry; district level aquatic champion Hushrav Buhariwalla; national football player Nadir Guzdar; and state level chess champion Tinaz Mistry. In the performing arts category were singer Arish Bhiwandiwala and Bharat Natyam dancer Armin Bodhanwala. Additionally Marzban Jiwasa was felicitated for being a gold medallist at the Chartered Accountancy examination and fourth in Gujarat; Jamsheed Master for writing in different publications; and Shiruy Daver, technorobotic champion and fourth ranker at the International Informatics Olympiad.
The keynote speaker, an oratorical giant who had held the audience spellbound a few years back was invited once again to wax eloquent on the intricacies of our religion. Former Director General of Police Arvind Inamdar had 2,800 people virtually at the edge of their seats with one of the finest speeches. He further amazed the audience with his recitation of the Ashem Vohu and Yatha Ahu Variyo, his head duly covered. The compere aptly epitomized this erudite colossus when he said: "Qualification allows me to teach, experience empowers me to educate.”
Next, the anchor skillfully wove a tapestry of past performances, extolling the fastidious production values and mastery of stage craft. Led by Mithoo Jesia, the Mancherji Eduljee Joshi Trust presented the fictional Neki ni Khareedi.
From dance to fusion and singing to ballet, the talent parade displayed it all — the youngsters of the community strutted their stuff and wowed the audience. The ultimate performance was by drummer Vahishta Kapadia’s newly formed band Genesis 2.
Post lunch, legal luminary and guest speaker Dadi Engineer shared his views with the youngsters. The tone for the rest of the afternoon was set when the anchor asked "Are you ready to have fun?” and over 2,000 voices resonated in deafening unison: "Yes!”

(Left to right) 1st row: "Community jewels” Dr Baman Dhabar, Diana Edulji, Godrej Dotivala, Sub Lieutenant Zariab Ranji and Firoza Driver. 2nd row: Dr Keiki Mistry,r Porus Turner, Dadi Engineer, BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta, BPP trustee
Armaity Tirandaz and Noshir Dadrawala. 3rd row: Jimi Jesia, Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, Hanosh Dubash, Mahiyar Dastoor, Mithoo Jesia, Yasmin Charna and Marazban Mehta

Terpsichorean skills took over with a vengeance. Dance after scintillating dance followed. Girton High School with a dynamic western dance, Poona’s Petit School with their east meets west fusion, Surat with their Bollywood mix, the Shiamak Davar trained girls from Avabai Petit School with their electrifying performance and the visually stunning Bee Boying by the Bawa Breakers left the audience standing on their feet, screaming for an encore. The Zochild finale was an adrenalin pumping dance performed by the students of Activity High School and choreographed by Pearl Tirandaz of Pearl Dance Acadamy.
The day came to a close with the vote of thanks proposed by young Sanaya Kapadia followed by the solemn closing ceremony led by the founder chairman of ZCF, Kyoshi Vispy Kapadia.

(Above) ZCF committee members; (below): Children of the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsi Charitable Institution, The Alexandra Girls English Institution, Bai Ratanbai F. D. Pandey Girls High School and Girton High School singing the Zochild Day anthem

The extravaganza had actually commenced a day earlier when more than 600 children from outside Bombay trooped into Cama Baug for a sumptuous lunch followed by an evening of edutainment at the Tejpal auditorium. The highlight of the function was an interactive session with Noshir Dadra­wala, expert on trusts and former BPP trus­tee who is knowledgeable on religious matters, sti­mu­lating the minds of the youngsters with his talk on the seven Ameshaspands. Among the other items, mathemagician Minoo Jokhi and a hilarious play by Nency Dalal had the children enthralled. The group later headed for Cama Baug for an evening of frolic and they danced to the tunes of the Midas of Music — DJ Osh, followed by dinner.
The validation of this mega movement is supported by the benevolence and patronage of donors and well-wishers who have appreciated the enormity of the noble but demanding task. It is the result of a meticulous, back-breaking, nerve-jangling six-month effort by the dedicated trustees, committee members and volunteers of the ZCF. Just the arrival of busloads of Zoroastrians to the Shanmukhananda Hall on November 20 was itself a logistical marvel.
Marking a milestone for Zoroastrian children worldwide, 2012 will herald the 10th Zochild day. As the Zochild juggernaut rolls on… the slogan has caught on: "The Zochild Day is here to stay.”