Over 60 years of YCZA

The alumni day of the Young Collegian’s Zoroastrian Association (YCZA) was observed on June 16, 2013 at the Banaji Atash Behram Hall, with over 100 former members and their families in attendance, mentions Zarine Commissariat in an email sent to Parsiana.

Trustees of YCZA (from l): Dorab Tata, Kersi Commissariat, Dr Bakhtiar Bhesania and Ervad Nadir Modi

In a talent competition judged by theater persons Roshan and Dinyar Tirandaz along with lawyer Gool Kotwal, all of whom are ex-YCZAites, the first prize was won by the Driver children, Dinaz, Dilnaz and Ervad Farzad. Other prizes were awarded to Goolrukh Khambatta, Khorshed Mistry and Roshan Satarawala. Entertainment was provided by alumni Adi Mehta and Firdosh Tolat on the harmonica, while Marazban Mehta and his Darling Orchestra regaled the audience with catchy numbers. YCZA founder Ervad Nadir Modi expressed the sentiment that when Parsis irrespective of age get together with determination to do good for the community God blesses their efforts bountifully, the email notes.
The YCZA was formed over 60 years ago in 1952 by two young professors of Jai Hind College, Modi and Khurshed Sheriar, who were subsequently joined by professors from other colleges. Initially, the membership fee was two rupees per annum and the first recorded member was Dr Bakhtiar S. Bhesania, now senior partner of Mulla and Mulla, Cragie, Blunt and Caroe who recalls that the first weekend trip to Matheran was organized at an all inclusive cost of Rs 11. A trip to Aurangabad for three days set members back by Rs 25 and another to Delhi-Agra-Kashmir worked out to Rs 311 for 15 days!
The YCZA members met every Friday in the Sir Jivanji Modi Hall of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute at Lions Gate for activities such as Shahnameh recitals, debates, elocution competitions, socials, religious lectures, western classical music appreciation sessions, among others. Many a marital bond was forged at these get-togethers of youngsters. Over the years the Book Fund of the YCZA has helped innumerable students who were loaned books for the academic year at a very nominal charge, lists the email. The most recent alumni evening was compered by Commissariat and the dinner that followed was catered by Ervad Nariman Dalal, the email mentions.