Commendable compendium

Just as the Zero Mile Stone pillar in Nagpur indicates the exact geographic center of India, central to this city was the Parsi community — once thriving, contributing greatly to the now defunct Empress Mills. There has been a recent resurgence of the community there with the advent of bawabuzz — the newsletter of the Nagpur Parsi Gymkhana (NPG) adjacent to the agiary, as also the publishing of the NPG Directory 2014-2015. Shiraz Gimi, NPG president, proudly presents both. There is something for everyone in bawabuzz. The lead article "A New Beginning,” provides details of events that took place during the course of the year.
Spearheading the NPG activities is the executive committee comprising president Gimi, vice president Meheroo Watchmaker, honorary secretary Tauby Bhagwagar, honorary treasurer Rohinton Mistry and honorary joint secretary Shernaz Daver. Members are Jamasp Bapuna, Khurshid Dalal, Cyrus Major, Shezad Doongaji, Vistasp Chinoy, Danush Doongaji, Parheez Gimi, Zervin Rana and Gulrukh Mehta.

The new Gymkhana committee "was infused with the fresh enthusiasm of young blood, all eager with their myriad ideas and schemes.” They also provided platforms for fun-filled evenings with adventure sports, where games like Bawa Fight-Legha Tight, obstacle races, old and young climbing, swinging ladders, rolling and hopping, allowed the adrenaline to flow liberally. There was a vegetarian gahanbar as well.
September marks the beginning of sports events and several trophies sponsored by Nagpurians are vied for. Among these are the Dr Dadi Balsara Memorial Indoor Sports Championship, Bapaimai J. Dastoor Shield for juniors, Banu D. Bapuna Shield for ladies and the Rustomji Bala Shield for seniors. To participate in the Jiji Irani Cricket Pentangular, 26 local cricketers traveled to Jamshedpur.
The agiary’s salgirah celebrations on Behram roz, Ardibehesht mah, witnessed a string of activities under the umbrella of "An evening at the carnival.” The cooking competition saw a mere sprinkling of entries but the evening quiz contest was packed with participants. Khordad Saal in August was celebrated with a get-together and Parsi bhonu.
Nataks never fail to attract crowds and Ek Minute ma Supra Saaf (All over in a minute) was no exception. A Hindi play, Dekho Magar Pyaar Se (Look on, but with love), was a hit as was an evening of monajat singing. For a healthy lifestyle, brain work was emphasized with the Banu Bapuna Memorial Open Bridge Tournament hosted by the NPG. The magazine also has a bawabuzz puzzle.
The bawabuzz carries a fortune forecast column by Bejanee Darupeenetight where personal consultations are offered only between 1 a.m. and 3.30 a.m. Covered in this issue are the Zodiac signs Aries, Taurus and Gemini. The Aries person is exhorted not to go to work and "not to look directly at lunatics, even if they are your immediate neighbors.” The sun is said to be ascending into the full house for Taurus and they are bidden "to make sure to wear sunscreen with SPF120+ (Superfine Parsi Fairness). Gemini is recommended to "eat as much kaacho kaando (raw onion) and kaachu lasan (raw garlic) as possible.” The cracks go on!
Aunty Mehroo’s delicious sali boti recipe, words of encouragement by Peroja Eduljee, advice by the Bawas on Bullets to follow traffic rules with no lane cutting and no stunts are all par for the course.
Homage was paid to entrepreneur philanthropist Balsara who passed away on June 19, 2014. He "bequeathed a handsome amount of one crore rupees to the NPG to be used mainly for sporting activities.” His generosity was acknowledged and the eulogy states that he had given three crore rupees to the Nagpur Parsi Anjuman.
Shernaz Awari, aged 13, recounted her experiences at the weekend camp of the Sunday prayer class. There were prayers, games, religious songs, puzzles, a treasure hunt and bonding days for the teenage participants. Merzish Godha earned the religious title of ervad at Bombay’s H. B. Wadia Atash Behram, we are informed. All activities and religious teaching — whether for the prayer class or young navars-to-be — are conducted by Narges Desai.
The 244-page NPG Directory, which carries an introduction by Gimi, provides images of most Nagpurians along with their addresses and blood groups. Interfaith married women have a separate section. Family units are specified for both sections. On the last page are emergency numbers for services like police, ambulance, hotels, 24-hour chemists and newspapers. Public utility numbers too are listed, such as for hospitals, electricity and area wise Nagpur Municipal Commission offices.
One section lists 50 Parsi dharamshalas in India from Agra to Vadodara with their addresses and contact numbers. This is followed by a list of Parsi trust funds and charities, mainly from Bombay. Non-resident life members of NPG are included, whether they reside in India or abroad.
Advertisements are unobtrusively tucked away at the end with the renowned national Dinshaw’s ice-cream brand occupying the back cover.