Loud applause greeted the announcement by Homi Ustad, president of The Nowroze Baug Play Centre (NPC) that the Centre and Nowrosjee N. Wadia Welfare League (NNWWL) have decided to join hands and start organizing joint events in Nowroz Baug, paving the way for forming a single association in future. Ustad was speaking at the NPC’s 68th annual cultural program held on May 30, 2015 at Bombay’s Tejpal Auditorium, attended by Dinshaw Mehta, chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and his wife Pansy, Dhun Gagrat of the Wadia Committee of Management, Godrej Dotivala, public relations officer of the BPP and others, mentions a write-up sent to Parsiana by Yasmin Engineer, joint general secretary of NPC.
(Clockwise from top left): Homi Ustad; Hormazd Engineer, scene from natak;
Shirzad Bhathena receives memento from Dinshaw Mehta; Behram ni Sasu play
Photos: Pilzad Engineer
Ustad introduced the child president for the evening, Hormazd Engineer and highlighted different schemes run by the Play Centre. Lauding the efforts of volunteers in gathering funds and donations to keep these schemes operational, he requested more well-wishers to come forward to make these efforts self-sustaining. Referring to the collection of old newspapers, bottles and miscellaneous items from the residents of Nowroz Baug once a month, he informed the gathering that proceeds from the sale of these items help to pay the emoluments of some staff members, power bills for floodlights and the maintenance of sundry lights.
Engineer appreciated the services of NPC in the fields of sports, medical and educational aid and other cultural activities. He called upon the youngsters of the colony to join enthusiastically in the newspaper collection drive to augment the funds of the Centre, the write-up mentions.
Shirzad Bhathena, honorary treasurer of the NPC was declared Efficient Leader 2014-15 and was presented a memento by the BPP chairman. Ustad thanked all the donors, advertisers, volunteers, and especially Dinshaw and Hormuz Mehta, Rohinton Mehta, Zarir Bhathena and Dinshaw Tamboly for their support and financial assistance from time to time. He also shared that the evening’s entertainment had been sponsored by a well-wisher who did not want to be identified.
The business part over, the stage was taken over by Big Bang Productions who staged the Parsi Gujarati natak Behram ni Sasu, written by the late Pheroze Antia and directed by Sam Kerawalla which was enjoyed by all, the write-up concludes.