With a song on their lips

On the 103rd birth anniversary of Kavi Firoze Batliwalla, the Bombay Parsee Association (BPA) along with the Youths Own Union (YOU) paid tribute to the man who composed the Parsi anthem Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti, with a function in the auditorium of the J. J. School, Fort, on September 15, 2015. BPA president Ervad Vispi Dastur, the Kavi’s great-grandson, along with religion teacher Ratamai Peer and her daughter Tehmina who are carrying forward the work of YOU, organized the event, mentions a write-up by Shernaz Avari which was forwarded to Parsiana by the BPA.
The poet’s photo was garlanded by members of his family including granddaughters Mehroo Batliwalla, Thrity Dalal and great-great-grandson Ervad Xerxes Dastur. Dalal sang one of the Kavi’s compositions. Viraf Daruwalla on the harmonium along with Jamshed Kotwal and Bapsy Giara sang monajats and musical versions of the prayers Jasmé Avengé Mazda and Sarosh Baj. Monajats were also presented by two children of Gamadia School.
The function, which began with a humbandagi led by Tehmina Peer ended with a vote of thanks by Rustom Cooper.

Kavi Firoze Batliwalla (top); group photo of his descendants at function organized by BPA and YOU