Tata school concert

The monajat Khudavind O Khavind sung in the clear, sweet voices of girls of the primary section of the J. N. Tata Parsi Girls High School in Nagpur was the opening item at the Primary School’s concert held on the morning of November 27, 2012. The reverence and feeling with which the monajat was rendered warmed the hearts of the audience and belied the fact that there was not a single Parsi child in the 38-strong choir.
The School was started in 1920, soon after Jamsetji Tata set up his first industrial venture, the Empress Mills in Nagpur which resulted in an influx of Parsis from Bombay, Surat and Navsari to staff it. Since there was no good school for girls in Nagpur at that time, the Tatas donated the space and resources for starting one. Seven Parsi girls were its first students. Eight years short of celebrating its centenary, the School reflects the dwindling numbers in the community with the number of Parsi students reduced to three in a total strength of over 2,000 girls. The School imparts holistic education to girls from all faiths and strata of society.
After welcoming chief guest Dr Sandhya Nair, principal of the R. S. Mundhe College, the Primary School headmistress Whabeez Pithawalla paid tribute to the House of Tata, founders of the institution. She recounted the names of illustrious past principals and teachers of the School and acknowledged the role of the trustees. "Their collective wisdom drives us to ever higher levels of achievement. This year the School has added… a junior college,” she informed the audience. "A successful student (is) a child actualizing her potential,” she said, using the illustration of ability in any field being like a cheque which has no value until it is cashed. She also dwelt on the increasingly unhappy trend of parents not spending enough time with their children. "They do not know who their child’s best friend or favorite subject is or which book she is reading,” she lamented.

The entertainment comprised a Hawaiian dance by the little ones, no higher than two feet tall. There was spontaneous applause as girls in grass skirts and a hibiscus tucked behind their ears and (girls dressed as) boys in shorts and colorful flowered shirts swayed to music. A play each in Hindi, English and Gujarati were interspersed with songs by the choir, instrumental recitals, an Indian dance and a tableau. The leading role of Eruch in the Gujarati natak Musibat ma Padela Eruchshaw was played by Nazia Kapadia who took home the prize for best actor.
"From start to finish, the entire morning speaks volumes about the effort put in by teachers, parents and children,” appreciated the chief guest. She pointed out forcefully that parents are watched by their children 24x7. Since their values, actions and language are imbibed by the young ones, as role models parents play a very important part in what sort of adult their child will grow up to be.
The prize distribution, followed by the School song brought the curtain down on the event. Invitees leaving the venue were heard to remark, "The Parsi touch of punctuality and perfection continue to pervade the J. N. Tata Parsi Girls High School.”