Practicing and preaching

"Preach only what you practice; give to the community what you have achieved from this institution,” Udvada High Priest Dastur Khurshed Dastoor told those assembled to mark the annual day of the Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI) for priestly training, and the 100th birth anniversary of its ex-principal, the late Ervad Rustomji Panthaki on December 10, 2017. Tributes were paid to Panthaki by the Athornan Mandal trustee Ervad (Dr) Parvez Bajan, the deceased’s brother Jal and social worker Mithoo Jesia.
The Parsi Zoroastrian member of the National Commission for Minorities, Dastoor lamented that the community had little regard for the priestly class, especially in the last century. He recalled that many schemes were presented for the welfare of priests, "but rarely were they fully implemented or sustained,” stated an email dated January 2, 2018 on the proceedings, received from the Institute’s principal Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia.

Students of the Dadar Athornan Institute singing the national anthem (Photo: Dolly Divecha)

Ervads Rustomji Panthaki (l) and Pallonji Dastur

Dastoor was presiding over the function that commenced with paying tribute to the late Ervad Pallonji Dastur, one of the senior most committee members of the Mandal that runs the Institute. Dastur passed away as a result of a train accident in Udvada in December 2017. Recipient of the Rustomji Panthaki Award for the Best Ex-student of DAI, Dastoor was also felicitated by the Mandal’s vice president Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji.
Presenting the annual report of the Institute, Karanjia told those present that there were three new admissions during the year, taking the total strength to 23. Two students were ordained as navars and one also completed his maratab ceremony, he reported. Ervad Farzan Dastur passed his school leaving certificate examination with 86%, topping all Parsi students at the Dadar Parsi Youths Assembly High School, while Ervad Amavand Panthaky was selected as assistant head boy of the School.
Knowledgiate, the Institute’s annual in-house publication, edited by Ervad Cyrus Sidhva, a teacher at the Institute and also at the School, was released by Jal, Panthaki’s sister Jerbanoo Nargolwala and nephew Darius. Prizes were distributed to 22 students for excellence in prayers, academic achievements and extra-curricular activities by chief guest and principal of the J. B. Vachha High School Banoo Makujina who praised the holistic developmental approach of the Institute. Prayer teacher Ervad Kersi Karanjia proposed a vote of thanks.
Two monajats, an English and Gujarati song, and a skit in Gujarati followed. The program concluded with refreshments.