Ushta-te’s awards

Ahmedabad’s Ushta-te Foundation has received a heartening response for its latest project to address the needs of senior citizens, with 95 seniors having registered so far. Of the 1,737 Zoroastrians in Ahmedabad, 30 percent are over 60 years old, with three being in their nineties. To counter loneliness they are being provided home visits and other forms of assistance (see "Hamazor for seniors,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, February7, 2013). Honorary secretary Minnie Patel read out the annual report at the Foundation’s 13th Annual Awards and Entertainment program on February 9, 2013 after managing trustee Meher Medora had welcomed and introduced chief guest P. K. Laheri, retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service. Dr Armaity Davar, trustee of the Foundation, sent Parsiana an account about the event.
Seven special recognition awards and 11 academic excellence prizes were presented that evening. Persis Ginwala received the Achievers Award for her dedication as an independent professional social worker. She has interacted with the Dalits, the oppressed, worked for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Ruzan Khambatta received an Achievers Award for her path breaking development of software called HEART (Help Emergency Assistance Rescue Terminal), which the Gujarat Government plans to incorporate as part of its disaster management program, the email notes.

Sorab Mody of Mazda Engineering was presented a special Appreciation Award for his contribution to industrial development. He had earlier received the Udyog Ratna Award and the Excellence Award for Productivity, Management, Quality and Innovation, mentions the email. He was also lauded for employing many Zoroastrians over the years and looking after their welfare even after they had retired. Percy Avari, executive director of Mazda Limited, a qualified chemical engineer who recently completed his MBA in finance, obtained 82 percent marks, standing first in Gujarat. He received the Darayus R. Contractor Scholarship for Excellence in Mathematics or its Allied Subjects. Citations for all the awardees were read out by trustee Shirin Kanga, the email mentions.
Parsi Zoroastrian school and college going children of Ahmedabad were given due recognition for excellent performances in the X and XII board examinations and outstanding performances at the graduation and postgraduate levels. The Khursheed D. Randeria Award for Extracurricular Activities was shared by Kaazvin Kapadia and Rustom Dalal for English language proficiency skills and elocution and essay writing performances respectively.
The activities of the Foundation over the last 13 years were projected on a large screen, the CD for which was prepared by Delnaz Jokhi, who was also the program’s compere. Tiny tots then staged a play, The Joy of Giving, imparting invaluable lessons of selflessness and charity, written and directed by Perin Unwalla and assisted by Dogdo Doctor and Pervin Watchmaker. The next item, Chalo Agiary Jaiyé, scripted and directed by Kety Daruwala along with Roshan Rao was staged by children of an older age group who demonstrated the dos and don’ts of what is required during a visit to the agiary. The audience was regaled with dance performances by the little ones in the Gangnam style and a retro medley choreographed by Khushnum Solai. Dancing to the tune of a comic Parsi song Tara Sum Mara Sum was an exuberant Arshaan Daruwala. Dilshad Guard, Ruzeen Daruwala and Kashmira Gandhi provided assistance for these items.
The chief guest congratulated the awardees and prize winners, and pointed out that though Parsis are insignificant in numbers their contribution in all fields is of immense value. He also complimented Medora for the significant role she has played in various cosmopolitan NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) like Jyoti Sangh, Apang Manav Mandal and Mahipatram Ashram. Davar offered a vote of thanks and the evening ended with the singing of the Parsi and national anthems, the email concludes.