Silver for Ushta- Te

"The Parsis of Ahmedabad in particular have a history of service to all communities,” noted chief guest Parzor director Dr Shernaz Cama, erstwhile resident of the city, who was felicitated with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Ushta-Te Foundation held on November 4, 2023 at Zoroastrian Hall, Kankaria. Speaking briefly on the history of the Ahmedabad Parsis she stated, "Reportedly, the Dordi family members were the first to welcome Mughal Emperor Jehangir to Ahmedabad in 1618 with gifts of perfume. Dosabhai Kothawala came with the British in 1780 while two sides of my family, the Vakils and the Karanjavalas, came to settle from Surat,” she pointed out. Cama recalled the philanthropy of Sir Nowroji Vakil and the encouragement he gave the women of his family, particularly Lady Bachubai and Sunabai Vakil, to be part of the town’s education and social service. "Other Parsi women have contributed to Ahmedabad’s (nongovernmental organizations) Jyoti Sangh, SEWA, Sarvar Mandal.” Cama noted that Ushta-Te founder and trustee emeritus Meher Medora and her team have kept the traditions of public service alive. Cama spoke to Parsiana after the event. Shirin Kanga, the Foundation’s managing trustee, mentioned that "it was because of the foresight and magnanimity of Medora that the Parsis of Ahmedabad have benefitted from Ushta-Te’s generosity for the last 25 years.” She sent a note to Parsiana on the event.

Top: Dr Shernaz Cama ( r) felicitated by Minnie Patel;

above, children of Zarathushti Awareness Group of Ahmedabad

An audiovisual depicting Ushta-Te Foundation’s work in the last quarter century, dance performances by the children of their Zarathushti Awareness Group of Ahmedabad (ZAGA) and a "generation walk” that included "enthusiastic” families joining the children in dancing to old Hindi tunes marked the silver jubilee of the establishment of the Foundation. The event saw 400 members and their guests in attendance. "The air was charged with a sense of sweet nostalgia as they relived pleasant memories and experiences of the eventful years gone by,” noted Kanga. As in prior years, academic excellence was recognized with scholarships and gifts. Those present included Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat president Brig Jahangir Anklesaria (retd) and Persis Khambatta, wife of the late industrialist Areez Khambatta.

A "scrumptious” feast sponsored by the Khambatta family in memory of their patriarch Areez and catered by Freny Daruwala of Surat brought the curtain down on the evening.

Along with Kanga, Minnie Patel and Pearl Sabavala serve as managing trustees of the Foundation. The Foundation assists community members and others with medical and educational aid and recognizes meritorious academic records of students and conducts religious and cultural activities.