Honoring their own

There is "no scientific data right now to prove or disprove” that the radiation from mobile towers causes cancer, said noted oncologist Dr Boman Dhabhar addressing a crowd of around 3,500 Parsis at the 33rd annual Festival of Spring Jamshedi Navroze Gambhar held by the Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust (MEJMT) at the Dadar Parsee Colony Gymkhana Grounds on March 21, 2013.

"Keep in (good) physical shape,” advised the mild-mannered, self-effacing physician to the gathering, many of whom were going to feast on a high caloric, five-course, patra nu bhonu dinner prepared by the leading Parsi caterer, Tanaz Godiwalla. The chief guest added that should anyone require "oncological guidance, I will be there” to provide it.
"Overwhelmed” by the accolades showered upon him by fellow colonists, Dhabhar remarked that the Parsis are "truly blessed, except for the dwindling numbers.” He recommended the ideals of "good thoughts, good words and good deeds…be integrated into (our) day-to-day life.” This would enable one to "climb the ladder of success…uphold Zoroastrian values and keep the flame burning.”
MEJMT trustee and honorary secretary Mithoo Jesia spoke of the physician’s "gentle, soothing, kind approach,” and his supportive wife Pouruchisti, while co-trustee and joint honorary treasurer Zareen Engineer spoke of Dhabhar’s "human touch” and how the physician worked on occasion till one and two in the morning. The souvenir brought out for the evening function referred to the N. K. Dhabhar Cancer Foundation for economically disadvantaged patients founded by the family in memory of Boman’s father, Nariman.

"He does not believe that patients are to be treated and then forgotten. Over the last few years he has been convening an annual symposium of his patients, past and present, who meet and greet one another, exchange notes on their experiences, are acknowledged by mementos, and receive the benefits of interesting and illuminating talks on their disease… a kinder and more endearing doctor will be very difficult to find,” stated the write-up.
Among the other colonists felicitated at the function were Sqn Ldr Parvez Jamasji, architect, engineer and town planner Rusi Khambatta, author Marzban Giara, president and head of the Institutional Equities of IIFL Limited (India Infoline Limited), Rishad Lalla and 14-year-old Jehan Daruvala of the Sahara Force India Academy.
Jamasji served "22 years in the Indian Air Force, logging 4,000 flying hours as a helicopter pilot.” He was "awarded the Veer Chakra by the President of India for gallantry during the Indo-Pak War of 1971.” Assigned to the Aviation Research Centre, he was awarded the Gaurav Puraskar in 1990 by the governor of Maharashtra. The brochure notes "his service record indicates that his helicopter once had engine failure over enemy territory but Parvez brought his helicopter back… On another occasion, the bullets came in through the chopper floor and into his leg… On landing he was taken to a makeshift hospital. It was not a full-fledged hospital but a tent. A doctor dipped a thermometer in alcohol and put it into the wound on his leg and it went through! That’s when he said that the anti-aircraft bullet had pierced through his leg and exited! The next day, Jamasji was back to doing what he loved best — flying.”

Khambatta was inducted in the "Hall of Fame” in November 2012 by Architects and Interiors India. His firm Rusi Khambatta Associates has undertaken development plans for the city of Calicut in Kerala, a township of 1,00,000 for the Heavy Engineering Corporation in Ranchi, and a host of industrial and institutional projects such as "sugar factories, spinning and weaving mills, paper plants, commercial and residential complexes, hospitals, railway stations, institutional and public buildings.” He is associated with several social and welfare causes as a trustee or a member of the managing committee including the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital, Coastal Zone Management, and Policy and Finance Board Committee of IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors).
Giara has published numerous books on Zoroastrianism and Parsi history, noted the souvenir. These include the Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples, The Zoroastrian Pilgrim’s Guide, Parsi Statues and the All India Directory of Parsi Institutions. "He has to his credit 35 other books, some authored or compiled by him, some translated from Gujarati into English. He is perhaps the only one in our community who has had a track record of consistent performance in bringing out new publications with his own resources, without seeking any sponsorship,” notes the souvenir.
"He is interested in devotional music and has compiled and published two song books Jarthosti Gayan Sangrah and Gaavo Maari Saathe Singalong Treasure Trove of Parsi Songs and also produced an audio CD of devotional hymns Zoroastrian Melodies. His latest album Khushali Ne Bandagina Geeto (Monajats — songs of joy and peace) was released in March 2013.”
Lalla’s division "caters to over 300 large institutional clients across the globe. To head and coordinate a team in a situation, the dynamics of which keep on changing frequently, calls for astute leadership skills. Rishad has over the years proved that he is amply endowed with the qualities required to be an integral part of the top management team of IIFL Limited, a publicly listed firm with a market cap of $ 400 million. IIFL is one of the largest financial services firm having a pan India presence consisting of 4,000 branches and a work force of 20,000 people.”
Daruvala is "the first and only Indian to receive an award at the CIK FIA (Commission Internationale de Karting Federation Internationale de l’ Automobile)” for his victory at the Asia Pacific KF3 Championship in Macau. Named Motorsport Person of the Year by ET (Economic Times) Zigwheels, Daruvala started his "career in mid-2009 after attending a training program with Rayo Racing. In 2010, he dominated the micro max category in India. He first won the JK Tyre Rookie Cup and then went on to be crowned national champion in the micro max category of the JK Tyre FMSCI National Rotax Karting Championship. In 2011 he entered the highly competitive Junior Category. He was quick from his very first event and went on to be crowned champion in the Malaysian ASK series in the Junior Yamaha category. Later in the year, Jehan won the wildcard seat for 12 to 13-year-olds in the Force India — One in a billion event.”
Mobeds Hoshedar Godrej Panthaki, panthaky of the Banaji Limji Agiary in Fort and Spenta Firdosh Karkaria, an MCom student and part-time priest were given the Rustom Faramna Agiary Award for 2013.
Winners of the Rohinton P. Chinoy Young Achievers Award 2013 for academic and sports excellence are Kaiorisa Doctor, Kainaz K. Khairabadi, Avan Tolat, Kaizaan Navdar, Tinaz Daruwala, Pakzhan Fitter, Jeshad Todivala, Vaishta Cooper and Natasha General.

MEJMT trustee and master of ceremonies Mahiyar Dastoor said the crowd at the Dadar event has been increasing every year with this year recording the largest number of people dining on Godiwalla and Talwar caterers’ repast. The planning of the program starts around end-January and every year they are "improving on the presentation of our shows,” especially in the technical aspects, states Dastoor. This year there were LED screens in the background. There was a mixture of Bollywood music and dances, and English songs. The dances were performed by around 200 children and adults, all from the Colony. Funding for the Gambhar is done through sponsors and sale of tickets and Jesia made it a point to thank former Central Bank of India chairman and managing director Homai Daruwalla for assistance in finding sponsors.
The other MEJMT trustees are Sohrab Morris, chairman, Tina Patel, joint honorary treasurer, Zarin Zaveri, Jimi Jesia, Dinyar Panthaki, Aspi Vasania and Daraius Zaiwala. The Trust was formed in May 1980 "to preserve the restrictive (Parsi only) covenant” of the Colony. The MEJMT which has a corpus of Rs 2.82 crores, assists the disadvantaged and also sees to the welfare and improvement of the Colony.