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Parsiana
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Readers' Forum

“Golden glow”

This refers to your report on the golden anniversary celebrations of the Kai­khushru Pallonji Katrak Dar-E-Meher ("Golden glow,” Parsiana, February 7, 2012). I had sent an article on the history of the Dar-E-Meher to Dadi Mistry, president of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) for publication in the Dipanjali magazine which was launched by Sheila Dikshit in which I had written about the silver anniversary celebration held in December 1986 when I was president of the DPA.
I reproduce here the relevant extract from the article: "With the passage of 25 years, the board of trustees decided to celebrate the silver anniversary of the Dar-E-Meher from December 25 to 28, 1986. Unfortunately, the Anjuman suffered a great loss due to the tragic death of Shiavax Nargolwala in a car accident in Delhi on August 6, 1986. As per the rules of the Anjuman I took over as acting president in addition to my own duties as vice president. All the preparations initiated by Nargolwala were finalized with the full support and cooperation of my co-trustees.
"The celebration was inaugurated on December 25, 1986 by the then lieutenant governor of Delhi H. L. Kapur. There was a large gathering of delegates from anjumans from all over India who had been invited to attend the meeting of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) hosted by the DPA and held on December 27 and 28, 1986. Some eminent scholars of religion, history and culture were also present. Four Vada Dasturs from Udvada, Navsari, Surat and Poona graced the occasion and performed a special jashan in the Dar-E-Meher along with three local priests, Ervads Sohrabji Govadia, Cawas Bagli and Jamshed Dhabhar. A souvenir brought out on the occasion carried messages of greetings and felicitation from the President of India Zail Singh, Vice President R. Venkatraman, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and others. There were also messages from well wishers like founding family member Shirinbai K. Katrak and scholar of Zoroastrianism Mary Boyce. The function received ample media coverage.
"Now that the DPA is celebrating the golden anniversary of the Dar-E-Meher on December 19, 2011, I heartily wish DPA president Dadi E. Mistry, his co-trustees and all members of the Anjuman success on the completion of glorious 50 years of the consecration of The Kaikhushru Pallonji Katrak Dar-E-Meher in Delhi.”
I recall that the editorial team from Parsiana was present at the event 25 years ago when the FPZAI meeting was held in Delhi.
ZAL NOWSHERWANJI
skhodaiji@hotmail.com
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