Events & Personalities
25 years of Zonta District 25
"Safe tomorrow Zonta endeavor” was the theme of the 13th Zonta International District 25 Conference held at Sofitel Hotel in Bombay from October 2-4, 2015. Zonta Clubs of Bombay I, Bombay III and Madras were joint hosts, after a gap of 12 years, mentions a write-up received from the organization. The event was attended by Zonta International (ZI) representative Susanne von Basselwitz of Germany, past ZI board director Dilruba Ahmed of Bangladesh along with delegates from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
(1st row): Zonta conference participants; (2nd row, l-r): Mohini Mathur; Kalpana Apte;
Dhun Panthaki; Dr Nayreen Daruwalla; Dr Shazneen Limjerwala
On the opening day, October 2, which is Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, Zonta District 25 governor Mahazaver Dalal spoke of the significance of the occasion. Theater actor Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal was felicitated for her zeal in raising voices against violence with edutainment (education and entertainment). It being the District’s silver anniversary, 12 past governors of District 25 were honored, 25 Zontans received ZI certificates and district mementos for committed membership ranging from 25 to 52 years. The elected district board for 2016-2018 was symbolically inducted.
At two workshops on the following days there were deliberations on "Impact on Global Issues of Women with UN and Zonta” and "Say No to Violence Against Women and the Girl Child” during which representatives from all the participating countries shared their experiences. Mohini Mathur was invited to speak on "UN and Zonta” and dwelt on the work of the Maharashtra United Nations Association in Bombay. Dr Shazneen Limjerwala, Dr Nayreen Daruwalla and Dhun Panthaki were observers who also stated that despite laws, education and awareness, violence is rampant for which the root causes need to be understood and addressed. Panthaki’s book, Education in Human Sexuality, was presented to Zonta Clubs of the District for school counselors to use while inculcating a holistic approach to the subject from an early age, the write-up notes.
At a memorial service tributes were paid to the late solicitor Mehra Shroff, honorary director of the Helen Keller Institute for Deaf and Deafblind Beroz Vacha, first woman chief engineer of Tamil Nadu state May George of Madras and entrepreneur beautician of Janet beauty products from the 1960s Janet Balasuriya of Colombo for their work in the Zonta movement.
Delegates were entertained by students of the Lady Engineer High School who performed classical and folk dances. Students of the School of Classical Ballet and Western Dance presented a contemporary ballet, Aspirations of Women. The Seva Sadan Society’s Primary English Medium School put up a play, Courage and Aspirations portraying the theme of the girl child.
At two workshops on the following days there were deliberations on "Impact on Global Issues of Women with UN and Zonta” and "Say No to Violence Against Women and the Girl Child” during which representatives from all the participating countries shared their experiences. Mohini Mathur was invited to speak on "UN and Zonta” and dwelt on the work of the Maharashtra United Nations Association in Bombay. Dr Shazneen Limjerwala, Dr Nayreen Daruwalla and Dhun Panthaki were observers who also stated that despite laws, education and awareness, violence is rampant for which the root causes need to be understood and addressed. Panthaki’s book, Education in Human Sexuality, was presented to Zonta Clubs of the District for school counselors to use while inculcating a holistic approach to the subject from an early age, the write-up notes.
At a memorial service tributes were paid to the late solicitor Mehra Shroff, honorary director of the Helen Keller Institute for Deaf and Deafblind Beroz Vacha, first woman chief engineer of Tamil Nadu state May George of Madras and entrepreneur beautician of Janet beauty products from the 1960s Janet Balasuriya of Colombo for their work in the Zonta movement.
Delegates were entertained by students of the Lady Engineer High School who performed classical and folk dances. Students of the School of Classical Ballet and Western Dance presented a contemporary ballet, Aspirations of Women. The Seva Sadan Society’s Primary English Medium School put up a play, Courage and Aspirations portraying the theme of the girl child.
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From the archive