Meeting with Modi

The strategic plan to develop Udvada as a pilgrim center, which is being undertaken by UADA (Udvada Area Development Authority) set up by the Government of Gujarat, will focus on infrastructure development. An overview of this was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, high priest of Iranshah, Udvada who was accompanied by Homai Engineer, industrialist based in Vapi/Delhi, Jehangir R. J. Cama, hotelier and businessman from Ahmedabad, and Dinshaw Tamboly, chairman of the WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trust Funds, all of whom are connected with the Foundation for Development of Udvada (FDU). The delegation met Modi in Delhi on June 30, 2014, reveals an email received from Tamboly. There is no initiative to turn the town into a world heritage center. Modi assured the delegation his full support in their endeavors.

The problems faced by Parsi youth who after scoring high percentages are unable to get admissions into institutions of higher learning, even those endowed/founded by Parsi philanthropists where earlier a few seats were reserved for them, were also put forward. Expressing sympathy, Modi requested the delegation to compile and send him a list of such institutions so that he could have the matter examined and consider the community’s plea to reinstate some of the seats earlier reserved for Parsis. Other general issues concerning the welfare of the community were also discussed.
The delegation drew Modi’s attention to the sterling contribution of the late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and emphasized the desire to have the Bharat Ratna conferred on the outstanding soldier.
Since Modi holds our small but vibrant community in high esteem, he willingly agreed to visit Udvada again and meet with the Parsis at a later date, under the auspices of the FDU, notes Tamboly’s email.
Dastoor recited a benediction for Modi, invoking a long life filled with good health and a successful tenure as leader of the country which visibly moved the Prime Minister who expressed gratitude and reminisced about his earlier visit to Udvada in April 2011 when he had sought the blessings of Iranshah and received them in abundant measure.