Events & Personalities
Iran League’s fervor
Pray regularly, do not forget the tenets of our ancient religion and lead a balanced and substantial life was the brief message of Homai Daruwala, chief guest at the annual day and prize distribution function of the Iran League (IL).
Held at Allbless Baug on April 15, 2017, the evening commenced with a jashan performed by the priests of Cama Baug agiary. A humbandagi led by the students of the two athornan institutes of Dadar and Andheri followed. To remember the founding fathers, past presidents and office bearers of the IL, the audience stood in silence for two minutes.
Welcoming the dignitaries and the audience Ervad Vispi Dastur, president of the IL, asserted that the young are the real "trustees of posterity who will prove their mettle in years to come.”
Held at Allbless Baug on April 15, 2017, the evening commenced with a jashan performed by the priests of Cama Baug agiary. A humbandagi led by the students of the two athornan institutes of Dadar and Andheri followed. To remember the founding fathers, past presidents and office bearers of the IL, the audience stood in silence for two minutes.
Welcoming the dignitaries and the audience Ervad Vispi Dastur, president of the IL, asserted that the young are the real "trustees of posterity who will prove their mettle in years to come.”
Clockwise from above left: Cmde Aspi Marker (Retd) with Ervad Vispi Dastur;
Sam Choksey with Homai Daruwala; Saroosh Dinshaw; Rustom Vakil; jashan in progress;
audience at the Iran League function
A qualified chartered accountant and current chairperson of The Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank Limited, Daruwala advised the youth to "walk away from fears and failures and walk towards happiness.” "Marry within the community if you want to sustain (your)selves,” was Vakil’s missive. Honorary chancellor of the Austrian Consulate in Bombay and current director of the Jasubhai Group of Companies, he emphasized the importance of religion and preserving age old Parsi traditions.
The Manekji Limji Hataria Trophy initiated for a member of the armed forces was awarded to Cmde Aspi Marker (Retd). Hailing from a family which had a member serving in the army, navy and air force, Marker is a decorated naval officer. Whilst presenting the Trophy, Dastur said that this recognition was long overdue. Marker mentioned that he kept delaying accepting this award not because he wasn’t worthy of it, but "because there were other officers senior to me, more worthy.” The veteran officer exhorted the youth to join the armed forces and to "serve the country with valor.”
Around 400 persons attended the function where the awardees — children and adults — went home with 30 trophies and 370 prizes. Speeches were interspersed with an English song and a monajat rendered by Roshan Dastur. Ervads Hormuzd Karanjia and Karl Sidhwa recited couplets from the Shahnameh in Gujarati and Persian. After singing the Parsi and national anthems, the gathering enjoyed caterer Jimmy Gadiwalla’s lagan nu bhonu.
Roxan A. Driver
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From the archive