Accolades and appreciation

"In the past decade, we have had quite a few success stories. Placements, mentoring, business start-ups, internships, educational assistance and a lot more. Every tick, however minor, has added to the overall sense of accomplishment,” said Pune Chapter chairman Viraf Deboo at the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) 10th anniversary celebration on July 5, 2014 at the Vivanta — Taj Blue Diamond hotel.
Over 170 members and working professionals from all over the country as well as prominent Parsi Zoroastrians graced the occasion for an evening of accolades and appreciation.
As the guests started walking in, they were greeted to the melodious music of 24-year-old Jansher Banajee on the keyboard. First up, the WZCC office bearers from Bombay were each felicitated with a bamboo plant and mugs with the signature WZCC logo. The Pune Chapter believes in "going green” and rather than giving flowers that wilt in a day, they decided to give each felicitated member a small bamboo plant, which not only lasts longer but is also a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
The WZCC Pune Chapter also gives "encouragement to our youth and women to shift to business from professions, or to start business at whatever small level is possible,” said Deboo, referring to the Women’s Entrepreneur (WE) wing that has been recently set up by the Chapter. Speaking about the 10-year-long journey, Deboo noted "the bulk of the responsibility has been shouldered by Adi Engineer (immediate past chairman), who is still around to guide and mentor us, whenever required.”
His term coming to an end, Deboo acknowledged, "it has been a motivating, satisfying and humbling experience.” However, tough questions, such as how the WZCC can be made more effective for community members and how the youth can be targeted and made members still remain. He believed that "the stalwarts and captains of industry must get involved in the WZCC and take an interest in its affairs.”

Photos: Natasha Deboo

Mahrukh Bharucha, proprietor and creative director of Expressions Unlimited!, a speech, drama and communication skills academy that caters to age groups 4 to 104 and the Poona representative of LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), the associate sponsor of the evening (along with Gera Builders), spoke about the importance of communication, whether it is human or digital, in today’s globalized world. Bharucha is also the head of the Pune Chapter’s WE wing, and she drew a parallel between the WZCC and LAMDA, saying that both focus on, and believe in, excellence and perfection.
Engineer who was presented with a plaque in appreciation of his exemplary service said that he believed that Poona, with its myriad opportunities and infrastructure, was the "best location” for new enterprises. Entrepreneurship "cannot be pressure-cooked, but must be nurtured and groomed,” he stated, observing that owing to the security and comfort that employment offers the young are wary of being in business.
Minoo Shroff, global president, WZCC, pointed out that secure jobs are now getting scarcer. As India is poised on the "verge of economic resurgence,” he urged youngsters to take to entrepreneurship and foresake the security and leisure of employment. He believed the youth need "advice and navigation.” Shroff also observed that more women are taking to entrepreneurship and this augurs well not just for the community, but for the country too. He wanted the WE wing to expand and be more active, so as to help and encourage more women to become self-reliant. Enjoying the trust of other communities Parsis should take advantage of this goodwill by setting up businesses in remote areas of India, advised Shroff before cautioning the youth that entrepreneurship is not "for the faint-hearted.” Aspiring entrepreneurs should be ready to face several failures before they finally succeed.
Shroff’s address was followed by a 45-minute lively panel discussion on the topic "The Indian Economy – Outlook, Possibilities, Global Role and Impact.” Umeed Kothavala, vice chairman of the WZCC Pune Chapter and recipient of the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award in 2010, moderated the discussion, which included panelists Deepak Mohoni (the man who coined the word ‘sensex’ in 1989), Suhasini Kirloskar, marketing chief GS Lab, Mark Luckey (managing director, WebSource Pacific) and Zubin Kabraji (regional director of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce in Poona). When asked about the current expectations and state of the Indian economy after the new government has come to power, Mohoni believed that "good times lie ahead” and that certain subsidies such as fertilizers and petrol will be faded out in the long run. Kabraji disagreed, opining that the government can only deliver if it is "prepared to take hard decisions” and that the country and the government needed to have a new business model in place if they were to benefit the Indian population.

WZCC Pune chapter team Photo: Natasha Deboo

On the question of the international perspective towards India, Australian Mark Luckey observed that though the sense of family and community is strong in India, "the huge gulf between the rich and the poor needs to be bridged soon.” Kirloskar referred to the mixed reactions with some foreigners feeling that India has a huge potential owing to its vast, untapped manpower, while others feel that the country is plagued by inflation and corruption and is teetering on the brink of economic failure.
Most panelists agreed that the need of the hour is skilled labor (though how to train so many people from varied backgrounds still remains a big question) and business models that do not ape other countries, but are "uniquely Indian.” Another key concern was the lack of skilled manpower in the manufacturing sector. Mohoni said that people moved from "the agrarian sector directly to the service sector,” which ultimately took a toll on the manufacturing sector.
The floor was then left open for audience questions, and various professionals and members raised several doubts about the future and stratagems that might help the country tide over economic slowdown.
The highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony. Having invited applications from everyone in the community who thought themselves or a friend worthy of being nominated, the WZCC core committee chose five distinguished Parsi Zoroastrians who they felt had contributed in their respective fields and made the Poona community proud.
The Special Achievement Award award was given to Zervaan Suratia, a 26-year-old professional race jockey who trains under Pesi Shroff and has won numerous awards, including being crowned Champion Jockey for the Mumbai Racing Season 2013, and being nominated as Leading Jockey Royal Western India Turf Club 2011-2012. As he couldn’t be present since he was racing in Bangalore, his parents collected the award on his behalf, saying that in a cut-throat sport such as horse racing, recognition like this does a great deal to buoy up enthusiasm and drive.
The next award for Outstanding Young Entrepreneur went to Khodadad Irani, for consistently showing entrepreneurship spirit, right from the age of 21, when he started his own event management company. He launched the very popular High Spirits Café, a resto-bar in Poona, in 2005, and currently also manages the Olive Bistro. Khodu, as he is fondly addressed by the community, thanked his friends and colleagues and said that he was grateful for the accolade.
Another awardee was the theater actress, seasoned speaker, debater, director and teacher, Firoza Bharucha who started the Poona Arts Theatre in 1978 and has been teaching speech, drama and communication skills for over 40 years. She has trained thousands of students for the Trinity College of London examinations, and most people in the audience, including the two comperes for the evening, had trained under her. Bharucha said that she was extremely humbled and overjoyed on receiving the Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur/Professional Award, and peppered her speech with anecdotes of different students who made her classes colorful and lively.

The award for Outstanding Entrepreneur/Professional was given to Porusasp Dadachanji, a marine engineer who started his career at the age of 18, and co-founded Kam-Avida Enviro Engineers Private Limited in 1994. Dadachanji was felicitated for the environment friendly work that Kam-Avida does. The company had eliminated the humiliating act of manual scavenging by introducing machines that treat human waste in sewers and prevent clogging. While accepting the award, Dadachanji reiterated that there is "no elevator to success,” and it is only through hard work that the goal can be reached.
Dara Damania, chief executive officer of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions, India, and vice-chairman of ThyssenKrupp Industries, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. As he was unable to attend since he was travelling abroad, his wife Arnavaz collected the award on his behalf and told the audience that in spite of being extremely busy with his business travels, her husband was a committed and caring family man who spent all his "rare” spare time in looking after, and playing with, his grandchildren, who were his "greatest source of joy.”

Photos: Umeed Kothavala

Before the guest of honor Farhad Forbes addressed the crowd, Deboo accompanied by Rati Forbes and Engineer cut the cake amidst applause and cheers. Farhad reminded the audience that Zoroastrianism is more than a religion; "it is a philosophy of life.” He said the WZCC has the same core values that any start-up organization must have. Service with integrity, impartiality, entrepreneurship and with a view to help society are important for all organizations. There is a "need to be innovative, as best practices cease to be the best when everyone follows them,” he said. In order to empower the work environment, there needs to be "freedom, yet accountability; you need to have fun at the workplace and treat everyone with compassion and respect, irrespective of their standing in society.”
Believing that the greatest gift you can give others is not money but education and entrepreneurship, Farhad concluded that "without sound guiding principles, no amount of growth, profitability or management will affect the organization.”
The formal part of the evening having come to an end, all the guests were extremely eager to dig into the sumptuous buffet and desserts!
The day had started with an interactive training session in the morning on "Effective Communication in the Professional World” with around 50 youngsters participating.
The training program, which was free and open to students, young working professionals and executives, took place at Extentia Towers, Poona. Freyan Bhathena, editor of Parsi Times, and Khurshid Irani, teacher conducted the sessions, where participants, through role-play games, were encouraged to shed all inhibitions and try and advertize and ‘sell’ their partner to an organization for a specific post. Other relevant training was also imparted.
All participants received a certificate from LAMDA and the WZCC.