NPC’s 68th anniversary

Even though the values so dear to our community are fading away, we are happy that other communities still respect us, said Shernaz Mehta, chairperson of the Zoroastrian Cooperative Bank Limited. She was chief guest at the 68th anniversary function of the Nowroze Baug Play Centre (NPC) on November 10, 2013 on the playground of that colony. "In our school days we were taught moral science and a lot of emphasis was put on values, which not only included ethics but also patriotism,” she mentioned. She regretted the lack of patriotism today, which is why the country has not progressed adequately even 66 years after independence.
Another problem which is affecting the community is our dwindling numbers. Youngsters need to take this matter very seriously, Mehta noted. She urged those who choose to go abroad to remember their parents with gratitude, to be faithful to their country for they would be deemed second class citizens anywhere else, and to practice the religion and uphold its great values, for we are lucky to be born into the Zoroastrian fold, as revealed in a write-up sent to Parsiana by Yasmin Engineer, joint honorary secretary of the NPC.

A social welfare center for children, youths and adults, the NPC’s celebrations were spread over a week, starting with a thanksgiving jashan on November 2 at the M. J. Wadia Agiary in Lalbaug. This was followed by a special outing on the occasion of Children’s Day when the NPC took 116 persons to Snow World and 5D movie at Storm Theatre at Phoenix Market City in Kurla on November 9. This is the first snow themed park in Bombay and the outing concluded with snacks and cold drinks, the write-up mentions.
At the main function on the following day, Homi Ustad gave a brief outline of the activities of the NPC, while welcoming Shernaz Mehta and her husband Dara, Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Mehta and trustee Armaity Tirandaz, Prof Rohinton Sahuraja, Dhun Gagrat, Rohinton and Hormuz Mehta. Ustad thanked Dinshaw Mehta for donating the cash prizes from his Fiuzgar Trust that are presented to awardees every year.

A new spin was given to the antaraskhi competition conducted by Spice Event Management Company using audio video screening. Eight teams of seniors and four teams of juniors participated under the supervision of Nazneen and Rushabbhai who played a key role. Prizes were given to the winning teams and runners up in both categories.

Chief guest Shernaz Mehta

This was followed by the distribution of merit scholarships and prizes to school and college going students from Nowroz Baug as well as the late Khody P. Kolah (founder of the NPC) All Parsi Open Scholarship Prizes to SSC and ICSE students of Bombay University who had obtained 90% and over marks. In all there were 78 prize winners who took home cash prizes, silver medals and trophies, the write-up notes. Among them, in various categories were Viraf Patrawala, Afreen Thanevala, Roxanne Jehangir, Piroza Master, Pinaz Deboo, Kaizeene Modi and Reyon Mazdayasna. The rotating trophy was donated by Shirin and Vispi Bulsara in memory of the latter’s late father Bahadur Bulsara.
Special prizes for efficiency in leadership for 2012-2013 were awarded to three leaders of the NPC, Armin Bavan, Shirzad Bhathena and Firdosh Khambatta. The prizes were given away by Dinshaw Mehta, Tirandaz, Sahuraja and the chief guest, mentions the write-up. The announcements were made by Naznin Govadia, secretary, cultural affairs of NPC. The program ended with the singing of the Parsi and national anthems followed by a contributory dinner catered by Yasmin and Adil Bhesadia which was savored by over 300 members, the write-up concludes.