Play Centre’s 70th

All Zoroastrian parents seeking holistic development (other than academics) for their girl child — such as speech, drama, ballet, martial arts, culinary skills, state of the art dance, etc — will be accepted with open arms by the Gamadia School, with a complete freeship if needed, said Zarine Rabadi, principal of the School. As chief guest at the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Nowroz Baug Play Centre (NPC) held at the Nowroz Baug Playground on November 7, 2015 she was addressing a gathering of about 450 community members. A well-known educationist, Rabadi had received the Teacher of the Year 2014-15 Award from Lions International, mentions a write-up sent by Yasmin Engineer, NPC’s honorary secretary.
Felicitated on the occasion were Dinshaw Tamboly of The World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Funds (WZOTF) and his wife Bachi, Prof Rohinton Sahuraja, noted academic in the field of economics and Nariman Mehta, president emeritus of NPC. Referred to as a "living karmayogi” for his dedication and yeoman services to the poor and needy, Tamboly’s assistance to the NPC through the WZOTF was gratefully acknowledged. Tamboly received a shawl from Mehta who described him as an "anmol ratna (priceless gem)” of the community. A citation read out by advocate Franak Contractor was handed to him by Gayomard Kathawalla, vice president of NPC and a silver memento was presented by Homi Ustad, NPC president, the write-up mentions. Bachi, who has assisted him in his endeavors, was presented a gift and flowers. A short video acquainted the audience with the work of the WZOTF. Thanking the NPC for honoring him, Tamboly admitted that he was experiencing mixed feelings — absolute joy and immense humility. Since he and NPC are of exactly the same age, he said he was glad to be participating in the celebrations!

Newly elected trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) Zarir Bhathena and Kersi Randeria were in attendance along with sitting trustee Armaity Tirandaz.
Tiny toddlers and teenagers danced to the tune of Bollywood songs, while members of the NPC who are taking music lessons from Nowroze Mamlatdar exhibited their virtuosity on the keyboard, mouth organ and singing. They were Aryan Bomanji, Zanaida Bhiwandiwalla, Firdosh Khambatta, Meher Porbunderwalla, Mahiyar Khambatta and Tushna Mehta, the write-up notes.
Eighty-four students received scholarships from the NPC this year. The late Khody P. Kolah prizes went to Miron Wankadia of Lilavati Podar High School for scoring 97% in the ICSE exams and Ketayun Mistry from J. B. Vatcha High School for scoring 94.6% in SSC. Pinaz Deboo of J. B. Vatcha High School who scored 93.4%, the highest percentage from students of Nowroz Baug, received the rotating trophy donated by Shirin and Vispi Bulsara in memory of their late father Bahadur Bulsara. Nilufer Tata from H. R. College of Commerce, received the Shirinbai and Ratanshah Sahuraja All Parsis Open Scholarship for scoring 88.14% in the BCom exam. Cash prizes were donated by former BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta in memory of his late father Rusi Mehta from the Firuzgar Charitable Trust, for which NPC expressed gratitude, the write-up notes.
After the singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti and the national anthem the gathering enjoyed a contributory dinner catered by Tanaz Godiwalla.