The scholarly dozen

The United States of America was the most preferred destination for pursuing higher studies as seven of the 12 Zoroastrian scholars selected by The Jamsetjee Nusserwanjee Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians chose to study there. Four opted for the United Kingdom and one will go to France.
The select group for 2014-2015 has seven women and five men. Of them eight are from Bombay, two from Poona and one each from Ahmedabad and New Delhi. Last year the Endowment received 17 applications from community students of which only four were selected, all being women! According to Dr Nawaz Mody, advisor to the Endowment, "the number of Parsi applicants for the J. N. Tata loan scholarship have remained the same (at 17).” A total of 115 scholars were selected this year, she adds.
Early childhood education, biomedical sciences, computer science, branding and marketing, clinical psychology, environmental economics and climate change, aeronautics and astronautics, counselling and psychotherapy, social policy and development, business administration, sustainable management and design engineering are the subjects of interest of these successful candidates.
To give so others could learn was the aim of Sir Jamsetjee Tata who founded The J. N. Tata Endowment Scholarship in 1892 with a fund of Rs 25 lakhs. The Trust was renamed in 1939.

Zinnia Bharucha of Ahmedabad plans to earn her MSc in counselling and psychotherapy at UK’s University of Edinburgh. She would like to follow it up with a doctorate and also study advanced healing techniques like clinical hypnotherapy, mind power, etc. She pursued academic studies at Mount Carmel High School and completed her BA degree in psychology from St Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad. To design a career in this field on her return to the country is Bharucha’s future plan.

Sustainable management is what Shaheen Contractor will be studying for an MS degree from USA’s Columbia University. Her early education was at St Mary’s High School, Poona followed by a business administration degree from the Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies, Symbiosis International University, Poona. On her return Contractor would like to work on projects contributing towards environmental and livelihood sustainability.

Aerospace, Aeronautics and Astronautics is what Zarvan Damania will pursue for his MS degree at the Arizona State University, USA. He completed his schooling from the St Joseph High School, Bombay and acquired a BTech degree in mechanical engineering from the Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International University, Poona. "To contribute to the future of aircraft development in the aviation industry” is Damania’s mission.

Hofstra University in the States is where Farah Irani is headed to get her MBA degree. She had studied at Canossa Convent and acquired her BCom degree from the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Bombay.

Jazeel Limzerwala heads to USA’s Mayo Graduate School with a fellowship to do a PhD in biomedical sciences. His goal is to translate his findings into clinically relevant applications to treat and understand cancer better. He plans to return to India to set up his own treatment and research center in collaboration with the private sector or government to improve the quality of life of cancer patients in India. This Bombay student’s early education was at Don Bosco High School followed by a BSc from K. C. College and an MSc in biotechnology from Ramnarain Ruia College.

France is the destination for Nushad Merchant who completed his schooling at The Dadar Parsee Youths Assembly High School and a BA in French from the University Department of French Studies, Bombay. He honed his working skills at the French Consulate where he was executive assistant to the Consul General. He proceeds to the Audencia Nantes School of Management where he will receive an international master’s degree in management, specializing in branding and marketing. Merchant hopes to make a career in the luxury goods segment in the field of branding and marketing.

Alexandrian Delnaz Paliwalla is headed to the UK where she will study at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her specialization: an MSc degree in social policy and development. An H. R. College alumnus she worked with Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited in its development finance department. After completing the course she would like to lead an India-focussed NGO (nongovernmental organization) which helps to address the needs of the country.

Coming from the country’s capital is Sonia Patel who studied at the Springdales School and completed her BA honors degree in economics from Jesus and Mary College. The London School of Economics and Political Science has admitted her to pursue a masters degree in environmental economics and climate change. She hopes to complete her doctorate in the same field and return to India to establish her own organization which will strive to resolve "development versus environment” conflicts and work towards sustainable development.

Shehroo Pudumjee has been awarded a fellowship at the Central Michigan University in the US to pursue a PhD degree in clinical psychology specializing in Personality and Neuro Psychological Assessment. This Poona lady is an alumnus of St Mary’s High School. A BA in psychology from Pune University was followed by an MSc in clinical psychology from Bangalore’s Christ University. She then gained experience as a psychologist at Poona’s Ruby Hall Clinic. "To set up a mental health institute in India to cater to the needs of the urban population as well as have satellite units in the rural areas” is Pudumjee’s goal.

To develop "better early childhood care centers and play groups in rural and urban settings” is the dream of this Girtonian. After earning a masters degree in early childhood education from the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Columbia University’s Teacher’s College, USA, Ayesha Rabadi would like to return to India. She pursued a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art, University of Mumbai and has since worked with a children’s activity center — Banoo’s Fit Kids Factory — focussing on "play with a purpose.”

Hailing from Poona is Kaivan Wadia who has secured admission at the University of Texas in Austin, USA where he will pursue an MS degree in computer science. After his academic studies from Bishop’s School in Poona, Wadia went to Tamil Nadu to complete his BTech from the S. R. M. University. After completing the course he would like to set up one of the largest game development studios in India and would also like to develop educational games to provide "a stimulating and energizing environment” for students.