Lean and learn

"There is no better time than now to move forward. We have lived on our past glory for very, very long,” asserted Behroze Daruwalla, the first woman president of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) India region. Addressing the members at the 19th annual general meeting (AGM) convened as a hybrid session with the majority present at the Banquet Room of West End Hotel on September 24, 2022 and 18 others joining on Zoom, Daruwalla stated, "WZCC believes in converting every challenge into an opportunity. The Zoom meetings started during the pandemic have now been replaced with hybrid meetings to promote greater inclusiveness.”

The India region currently has three active chapters. "We want to do better this year,” said the president, placing before the general body some of her observations. "The WZCC should not just be an organization of eminent speakers but a force to reckon with, growing in all spheres with a vision for the future generations.” The focus on the next generation could involve children as young as 10 years old. With social media trending, the youth prefer to turn to "Guru Google for answers as it doesn’t scold them. We need to empower our youth who are very active on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram,” she urged.
Since the WZCC offers the youth an opportunity to learn from the experience of well-balanced seniors, she stressed, "Amalgamation is what WZCC stands for. At WZCC, we don’t only focus on entrepreneurs but also professionals who can share knowledge and information. At webinars, faculty members provide guidance to students… Look at our group today. Where is the youth except for one or two in their 30s? Get them to join WZCC… Maybe it is our fault. Youth have acumen and strength. Let’s not over protect them. Let them lose. Let them take risks. Give them a little push. They will not disappoint you.” She referred to the youth handling the WZCC project "Job for every Zoro,” with financial funding from the seniors, where they contacted the human relations departments of firms, collected curriculum vitae of job aspirants and managed to secure jobs for 15 people.
With the Business Advisory Committee providing loans up to Rs 25 lakhs to upcoming entrepreneurs, she reiterated that WZCC could help with finance and mentoring to anyone interested in starting a business. "When people ask ‘What will I get from joining WZCC?’ I am surprised at their ignorance,” she mentioned.
"Those who are young must take tremendous initiative. It’s mind boggling how non-Parsis take a long jump in their careers,” reiterated WZCC corporate secretary Adi Siganporia filling in for India secretary Zerick Dastur who was unable to attend the AGM, being caught up in legal matters. Siganporia referred to one horticulturist who became a billionaire by investing in Tata shares alone.

In his secretary’s report, Dastur described the past year as "excellent” since they could hold a number of events, webinars, etc. He made a special reference to WZCC senior members Phiroze Kharas and Siganporia "for their years of dedicated service” and also lauded the cooperation of the administration office team of Aban Mistry, Ronnie Shrof, Urvax Chawda led by chief executive officer Aspi Antia. Siganporia described Antia as "the main pillar and backbone of WZCC.”
When presenting the consolidated annual accounts for the India region, treasurer Jimmy Khan stated that the annual income was Rs 31.68 lakh of which donations constituted Rs 20 lakh and interest on investments was nearly four lakh. Under expenses, the main heads were Rs 8.36 lakh on establishment and Rs 14.30 lakh on objects of the trust. The excess of income over expenditure this year was Rs 8.16 lakh which takes their cumulative surplus to Rs 27.76 lakh. Members who had queries regarding the accounts were invited to come to the WZCC office or send them by email. Farhad Hozdar and Company were reappointed auditors for the forthcoming year.

"Bring value to each other”
The Mumbai chapter, the largest of the WZCC chapters in India, added 25 new members in the past few months and their goal is to have 100 new members, said Chapter chair Xerxes Dastur. In addition to their regular event, Coffee with WZCC and another networking event at Ripon Club, they organized a fundraiser on August 21, 2022 when they staged a Parsi play, Mix Breed. Targeting 50 advertisements for their brochure, they were elated that they ended with 156! "We raised Rs 26 lakhs, although we spent six lakhs. If we put our mind to something, we can achieve… The youngsters, I think, are there. If we hold their interest, they will come. We have to create an environment where the youngsters and seniors can lean on each other. We can bring value to each other if we work together,” he stressed.
"The Pune chapter is trying to keep in line with the Mumbai chapter by holding regular monthly meetings. We try and empower our youth who come forward and help us,” said Chapter chair Tehmasp Bharucha. Of their 90 members, 10 are youth. At the meet to be organized by the Federation of Zoroastrian Youth Associations in Deolali this October, the Pune chapter will be sponsoring one female delegate and will also be conducting a workshop. Their ladies wing is also active. Their plans for the future involve a fundraising event, Coffee with WZCC and joint meetings with other Zoroastrian organizations in Poona.
The Bangalore chapter is 60 members strong, reported their secretary Dr Sanaya Patell. "We are building on our past and forging new initiatives. We believe in creating leaders with team building exercises,” she said. Connect over Coffee, webinars on health and the fitness industry; influencers and the power of social media were some of the other events planned. Their initiatives like Parsi Handicrafts and Artisans Fair, Parsi Bazar, Symposia for Charity have helped in creating a digital presence for WZCC. The new chair of the Bangalore chapter is Cyrus Bharucha who had joined on Zoom. "Filling in after Air Marshal Fali Major is daunting but with an awesome team around we hope for more meaningful programs,” he said.
The Women Entrepreneurs wing has representation not only on the three chapters in India but globally, reported Percis Dubash. They had three interesting webinars on Zoom where the average attendance was 60. Speaking on social sustainability, Dr Farah Shroff, a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health mentioned that multitasking by women is done out of necessity, according to recent research it is not recommended. "Never undervalue or undersell your passion,” was the message imparted by those who had turned their hobbies into a profession. Another inspirational session was conducted by former women’s hockey coach Arnavaz Damania who is founder of Connecting NGO, a nongovernmental organization that works to prevent suicides.
When reporting on the progress of the WZCC Youth Wing, Rashna Sanjana referred to their upcoming youth event on October 15, jointly with ZYNG [Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation, the youth body initially started under the umbrella of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) but now functioning independently] to reach more youth in the 18 to 35 age group. They hope to make such events a quarterly activity. They are also increasing their social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. "Thanks to (WZCC global president) Capt Percy Master we have tied up with a professional graphic art agency that will help us reintroduce WZCC to the youth, understand their needs and cater to them,” she stated. Their project "Job for every Zoro” succeeded in creating a large data base. The full day fun event that they conduct at the BPP run Holiday Programme for Youth helps students who have completed their school leaving examinations understand the dynamics of running a business.
The Business Advisory Committee has disbursed Rs 2,06,00,000 (USD 2,51,597) to 11 entrepreneurs and professionals of whom three have paid back their loans much before the due date. One of them, Cyrus Mistry, was present at the AGM. "He has done exceedingly well with clients in India and overseas. His most important characteristic is hard work,” acknowledged Siganporia. "We have been going through the applications of innumerable individuals,” said Siganporia. Besides extending loans, "10 well experienced professionals give them advice till they succeed in their endeavors.”
The Zoroastrian Faculty Network (ZFN), a joint initiative between WZCC and the Global Working Group, is trying to help students from India gain admission to universities abroad and to prepare them for 21st century careers. For the WZCC session at the 12th World Zoroastrian Congress (12WZC) held this July in New York, assistance came forth from the ZFN team. ZFN has also been active with the 12WZC Legacy Project and the WZCC global conclave scheduled in London from July 27 to 29, 2023.

"Broaden our horizon”
The international board is "in the process of launching associate membership for those outside the community. They will have no right to funding or awards,” announced global president Capt Percy Master. "Their presence will help us broaden our horizon, get to know their thinking. In this competitive world, we can’t be cocooned in our own world,” he explained the rationale. On the WZCC boards he recommended "a 50:50 ratio for seniors and youth. There are a lot of youngsters doing very well in the USA and Canada. Our youth has to be given more responsible positions,” he added. Likewise he recommended gender equality on all the boards. Membership cards, designed by Nozer Kerawalla, will shortly be introduced to create a sense of belongingness among the members. He was hopeful the quarterly WZCC newsletter, handled by Persis Sethna of UK and Zarine Kharas of Australia/Bangalore, with interesting graphics will contribute towards making WZCC into a global brand.
The three-fold formula for the community’s progress, he felt, lies in a strong educational base, pursuing a rewarding enterprise or career and making optimal use of the money earned to give back to society. Negative thinking regarding the survival of the community should be weeded out, he said recalling the words of Swami Vivekananda who described Zoroastrianism as "A peace loving religion that incorporates great spiritual value… God will never allow the flame of this religion to be extinguished.”
The evening ended with harmonica music by Arun Doshi, Rajiv Raaz and Naz-neen Gamadia followed by a hearty dinner.

"While making profit is good, the end objective has to be the larger good of mankind,” declared retired Bombay High Court Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla (pictured), the chief guest at the WZCC AGM, in his talk on "Parsi Entrepreneurship — A Legacy of Courage, Leadership and Philanthropy.” Known to have donated nearly Rs 1.5 crore to support community projects, Kathawalla added, "History only remembers with gratitude those who alleviate the woes of the human race.”
Commending the "entrepreneurship of our forefathers that has earned us immense goodwill,” Kathawalla dwelt on illustrious community forefathers — Jamsetji Tata, the Wadia shipbuilders, Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, Ardeshir Godrej — who succeeded in creating wealth for the nation, jobs for its people and philanthropy for the disadvantaged. He was happy that Parsi philanthropy continues as shown by the house of Godrej, the Shapoorji Pallonji Group and the Poonawallas of the Serum Institute of India. "Leaders temper fortune and philanthropy with great faith in religion. In the true spirit of the scriptures, every good deed is philanthropy in action,” stated Kathawalla.
Hailing from a long lineage of Parsi priests, Jamsetji Tata made the Tata brand famous by starting the steel industry, investing in technical education, harnessing hydropower, all of which helped India’s ascension to the league of developed nations. "He built the Taj Mahal Hotel and patriotically named the running company Indian Hotels, the only company in the Tata Group to not bear the Tata name.” In 1907 he started Tata Steel in Jamshedpur which supplied railway lines during World War I and provided tanks during World War II.
Jamsetji’s sons, Dorab and Ratan, created and seeded Tata philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, giving benefits to employees in the form of educational and medical aid. With Tata’s largesse estimated at USD 102.4 bn (Rs 7,60,778 crore), last year Jamsetji was at the top of the Philanthropists of the Century ranking by EdelGive Foundation and Hurun Research. Even recently, the Tata Group through the Tata Trusts donated Rs 2,500 crore during the pandemic as Jamsetji’s philanthropy and vision continue to guide the group.
Predating Tata were the Wadia shipbuilders. From the 15th century onwards when Surat was an important sea port, the Wadias have been in the shipping and subsequently textiles business. Lovji Nusserwanji Wadia is considered the founder of the shipping industry in Bombay. The Wadias built around 355 vessels over 150 years and went on to earn international acclaim. While their ship HMS Trincomalee is the oldest carrier yet afloat, HMS Minden has earned a place in history since the American national anthem is claimed to be composed during a voyage on this vessel. In1859, the Wadia scions diversified into textiles with the setting up of Bombay Dyeing. Lovji’s sons, Manekji and Bomanji, built on his enterprise and also philanthropy by founding two hospitals in Bombay and two colleges in Poona.
"Who can forget Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, the first Indian to be knighted by the British empire?” rhetorically enquired Kathawalla. A smattering of English and elementary bookkeeping were his only skills when he left Navsari at the age of 16 to seek a better life in Bombay. With his hard work and persistence he was gradually able to build up a lucrative trade in cotton and opium. Jejeebhoy’s sympathy for his countrymen made him contribute selflessly towards 126 notable public charities, his philanthropic endeavors having commenced in 1822 when he paid off the debts of farmers who had been imprisoned. His wife Avabai was no less a philanthropist and in 1841 contributed towards the construction of the Mahim Causeway that was completed four years later.
Ardeshir Godrej, the founder of the Godrej enterprise is known to have failed in his initial business forays until he ultimately "found luck with locks.” Currently 23% of the promoter holdings are devoted to philanthropy, supporting education, healthcare and environment. The Shapoorji Pallonji Group that has built landmarks in over 40 countries, from the Taj Mahal Hotel to the Palace in Muscat, also continues to be in the forefront of philanthropy, having recently contributed to the renovation of the Iranshah besides other fire temples. Dr Cyrus and Adar Poonawalla have adopted as their mission, vaccination of the poorest children by providing vaccines at affordable prices. Earlier Adar pledged Rs 100 crore towards Poona’s Clean City Initiative. The Villoo Poonawalla Hospital and their schools in different areas contribute to social causes.
"Enterprise is definitely in the genes of the community... There is a mistaken notion that the youth are not enterprising. We see them in the hospitality industry, setting up innumerable restaurants; in the field of fashion, making garas. Let us give them encouragement and inspiration to forge ahead. The WZCC is doing excellent work in reenergizing entrepreneurship. I would urge the Parsi (and) Irani youth to join WZCC in large numbers and avail of their programs, including mentorship…
"Raise the bar in business, be the best in whatever field you choose. There is a spirit of excellence in the community. Pursue with courage, innovation and philanthropy so that the community continues to thrive and survive in years to come,” he concluded.