"Let’s build a platform of cooperation amongst our entire community. Let the Bombay Parsee Association (BPA) be a shining example of how an organization which has withstood the test of time without any acrimony functioned peacefully for 96 years. Acrimony is a buzzword in our community these days. We as a community should find a way to work together and provide a better future for our next generation so that we can all hold our heads up high and proudly say, ‘We are Parsis and we are proud of it,’” said Ervad Xerxes Dastur, chief guest at the prize distribution function of the BPA on December 10, 2016 at Allbless Baug.
Dastur, a chartered accountant who is treasurer of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce, India Region, mentioned that entrepreneurship "is very close to my heart… If parents encourage their kids to be entrepreneurs and say that it’s okay to fail initially, that’s fine. Most entrepreneurs who make it don’t succeed at the first go. Most success stories that one reads about are only after multiple failures... You can’t smelt steel in one go. It takes seven steps to make a great sword,” he drew a parallel.
For guest of honor Errick Elavia, principal of Lady Engineer High School, the "biggest thing you all (youngsters) can do and must do is to love your parents. Remember after God in heaven they are god on earth for you. Love them, take care of them. When they are old, they have their tantrums. Remember when you were young they tolerated your tantrums.” He targeted the youth as "they need to be pushed up… Down the years we have stalwarts who have left an impression on our community. But now it is up to the young generation to carry the legacy forward.” Believing that every child is unique and gifted, the guest of honor advised the children in the audience to take part in competitions and win prizes. "When you win a prize that’s good, but to participate, to face the audience, to speak, that’s much better,” he ended.
(1st row, l-r): Ervads Vispi and Xerxes Dastur, Armaity Cooper, Errick Elavia,
(2nd row): Arzan Khambatta, Kayan Motashaw, Ervad Shavir Dastur, Roshny Munshi
The evening started with a jashan performed by Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji, followed by a humbandagi conducted by the young athornans of the Cama Athornan Institute. Highlights of the various BPA activities were read out by Pervin Sidhwa. A monajat and an English song were sung by Roshan Dastur.
"We don’t want to appreciate the Tatas and the Godrejs or other VIPs (very important persons) of the community. We want to appreciate those who are unknown amongst the community,” stated BPA president Ervad Vispi Dastur while welcoming the awardees, dignitaries, invitees and guests. The BPA Achievement Awards for 2016 went to Lion Armaity Cooper for social service; sculptor Arzan Khambatta for arts; businesswoman Kayan Motashaw for entrepreneurship; Ervad Shahvir Dastur for religion; and Roshny Munshi for academics.
The Navaz Jimi Kathawalla Memorial Prizes for various competitions were distributed by the chief guest, his wife Meher Dastur, Elavia, Maharukh Noble of the Kathawalla family and Jam-e-Jamshed editor Shernaaz Engineer. A complimentary dinner coupon accompanied each prize, courtesy the Kathawallas. BPA committee member Aloo Shroff proposed the vote of thanks. The function ended with 360 prize winners and guests partaking of Jimmy Gadiwalla’s bhonu.