“Let your children go forth”

"Chin up. Good luck,” read the two-line telegram that Maj Gen Soli N. Pavri (retd) received from his mother Dhun when she was informed that her "only child” would not be coming home before the commencement of the Bangladesh War in 1971. "All soldiers and officers were allowed to go home on a very brief visit to meet their loved ones because one didn’t know whether one would come back standing or horizontal in a casket… She did not hold me back and ask me to come home. She did not ask me to be careful, not to do anything silly or stupid. Not to get myself injured or hurt. She behaved like a brave Indian mother who sent forth her son to fight for the nation.” The major general was addressing the gathering at The Bombay Parsee Association’s (BPA) 94th annual prize distribution function at Allbless Baug on November 22, 2014.
"Profoundly delighted to be amongst my own,” as chief guest of the evening Pavri urged young mothers in the audience to let their children decide their own destiny. "Let your children go forth into this world and carve out their own name and niche. Don’t handhold them beyond what is necessary. You will do more harm than good,” was the message he left them with.
Apart from the Bangladesh War, the decorated officer saw action during the Kargil Operations and has fought ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) insurgents in that state as part of his many responsibilities.

All photos by Cyrus Shroff and Farokh Mojia

"When prophets of gloom and doom are forecasting a horrible time for us, let us have courage, confidence and consultations instead of controversies, contradictions and conflicts,” was the optimistic opinion of BPA president Vispi S. Dastur.
The evening’s guest of honor chartered accountant Bomi Hansotia recalled his Boy Scout days. The discipline and training he received have stood him in good stead throughout his life. He reiterated the fun he had as a young Scout who was taught "to do one good deed a day.” He was particularly appreciative of Dastur who despite an active chartered accountancy practice, can spare the time and give his all "to organize every program that the BPA holds throughout the year.” He felicitated Dastur with a garland.
The evening started with a khushali nu jashan performed by Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji alongwith his son Hormaz.
Young Shahzad Faroodi rendered an episode from the Shahnameh in Persian, the Gujarati translation of which was given by Hormaz Karanjia after which a monajat, Khudavind O Khavind, was sung by Roshan Dastur and by two students of the Dadar Athornan Institute.
The BPA Achievement Awards were presented to five Zoroastrians who had excelled in their chosen fields of endeavor.
Aspi Framroze Sarkari joined the Parsi Ambulance Division in 1963 as a cadet. He rose in the ranks from cadet sergeant in 1969 to corporal in 1982, sergeant in 1988, ambulance officer in 1991, divisional commander in 2004. He was transferred to reserve in 2013. Recipient of the Seva Medal with five bars, the meritorious service medal, the centenary long service medal, Sarkari is also a first aid trainer. He has rendered services during emergencies like fires, house collapses, riots, floods and earthquakes. He has served during the relief operations of the Gujarat earthquake, tsunami, and rescue and relief operations during the 26/11/2008 terrorist attack, reads the synopsis in the BPA’s newsletter distributed to all present that evening.
Joining the Girl Guide movement at the age of seven, Jasmine Jamshed Mistry has led in every field of guiding. Recipent of the Silver Star at the hands of the President of India Pranab Mukherjee in 2013, Mistry is presently a national level leader trainer, district training commissioner of the East Bombay District and assistant state training commissioner of Maharashtra State Bharat Scouts and Guides. Completing 50 years in the guiding movement, she is now a full time yoga teacher, mentions her brief.
The next recipient was Delna Mehernosh Talati. An alumnus of the J. B. Petit High School for Girls, at the 2014 ICSE board exams Talati was a topper among Parsi students with 96%. She was earlier felicitated by the FOZAWAC (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations for Welfare and Culture), Smile Foundation, Alert India and the Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness.
"Multi-talented young man” Jamsheed K. Master is a TYBCom student at K. C. College who is also pursuing a chartered accountancy course. Being one of the five students selected from over 25,000 applicants from Bombay for The Times of India’s ‘I Lead India’ campaign, Master is the youngest member of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce. Among the accolades that have come his way are the NKP Salve Model Indian Parliament Award in 2013 and 2014, Management Maestro title at N. M. College’s annual festival Kiran, the Zoroastrian Children’s Foundation’s Young Achiever’s Award...

As a nine-year-old Jehan Jamshed Daboo took up the badminton racquet and has participated in tournaments ever since. The differently abled youngster (he has a hearing impediment) has proved that liabilities should not hinder an individual’s progress, which made Dastur remark, "He has pursued his goals even in the face of difficulties and has converted his adversities into opportunities.” Winning laurels for his country and himself Daboo is currently ranked India No. 31 in the world in the deaf category. He has represented India in the 22nd Deaflympics in Bulgaria in 2013 and at the 3rd World Deaf Badminton Championship at South Korea (2011) where he won a medal for being the youngest player of the championship, the newsletter mentioned. At the All India Games for the Deaf this year, he won two silver medals in the individual open round in the men’s category (singles and doubles) and a bronze in the team championship. The teenager studying at H. R. College currently trains at the Tata Padukone Badminton Academy at Churchgate under former national badminton champion Hufrish Nariman.
For keeping the tradition of weaving kustis alive, eight women were awarded cash prizes courtesy the Parsee Vegetarian and Temperance Society. But not before its president Nariman Modi registered his disappointment at the way the sudreh and kusti are made today. These are "religious implements and should be made in a proper manner.” According to him, a kusti should be cut by a priest after reciting certain prayers. "Né sadra ni tau étli kharab haalath kari naakhéli chè. Pèhllé éné sleeveless banavi nakhiyo, pachhi strapwalo (We have reduced the sudreh to a very bad state. First we made it sleeveless, then with straps)… Even the men’s sudrehs have become sleeveless,” he lamented.
Prominent among the BPA activities is the prayer competition held at the beginning of every year at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsi Charitable Institution. This attracts around 300 to 400 participants with a separate group for athornans and students of the two boarding madressas. The evening saw 112 winners (including those who won the kusti spinning and weaving competitions in the juniors and seniors categories) being given the Navaz Jimi Kathawalla Memorial Prizes which included cash and a complimentary dinner coupon each. Arish Solai, Mahiyar Marfatia, Xerxes Bajan, Sherevar Mehenty, Ervad Rooyintan Mehenty and Shernaz Irani were the trophy winners in their respective age groups for this year’s prayer competition. The deft fingers for weaving kustis fetched Homai Giara the winning award.

Left: A section of the audience. Above: Shahzad Faroodi (mike in hand) with Hormaz Karanjia

Started in 1920 by Vikaji Taraporewalla, an architect by profession who has to his credit the building of the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital, along with other likeminded individuals, the BPA conducts competitions in kusti spinning and weaving, essay, elocution and Shahnameh recitation. Amongst its other activities are free distribution of exercise books, and donations for educational, medical and other causes. It encourages academic and sports activities through FOZAWAC and is perhaps the only civic organization which pays annual homage to the fallen heroes of all the wars fought on Indian soil. Steering this association are Dastur with Rusi Gandhi and Nadir Modi (vice presidents), Tehmina Peer (honorary general secretary), Aloo Shroff (honorary joint secretary), Adale Patel (honorary treasurer) and Arnavaz Mistry, Soli Mistry, Rusi Bhumgara, Dinoo Dastur and Pervin Sidhwa (committee members).
"No one person can (play) a Western classical musical symphony. It requires the concerted efforts of a full orchestra. We look forward to the active participation and continued support of our donors and well-wishers and the cooperation of our committee and other members as it is only with united efforts that good and great deeds are done,” was Dastur’s parting message, after which came the call of "jamva chalo ji (come let’s eat)” for the gathering who feasted on Jimmy Gadiwalla’s sumptuous meal but not before singing Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti and Jana Gana Mana.