"It’s time for the community to stand up and think! The legacy is past, but what about the future? The community is dwindling in numbers, quality and education,” exhorted Vada Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada on March 25, 2014 following a jashan performed by 21 priests at the pier of the Bombay Presidency Radio Club on the occasion of the Avan Ardavisur Banu parav, Avan roz, Avan mah. "Academic education should be coupled with religious education and money should be spent effectively for the excellence of our youth. Community institutions should do their work with professional expertise… Jaago (wake up) and let Navroz be a (time for) awakening. Down with the ‘crab’ mentality… let’s look beyond ourselves and rise to a better tomorrow.”
The legacy of businessman Dinshaw Merchant and Rustom Kuka is being continued by a committee comprising Kersi Limathwalla, Bakhtawar Merchant, Zarir Bhathena, Ervad Nadir Modi, Rusi Bhumgara and Kersi Commissariat, mentions a write-up received from Limathwalla. Financial support is extended by the Athornan Mandal, Bombay Zoroastrian Jashan Committee, Young Collegians’ Zoroastrian Association, World Zoroastrian Organisation and others. Compere for the evening was Zarine Commissariat. A monajat by Marazban Mehta was followed by a song composed by Rustom Chothia and sung by students of the Girton High School.
(Clockwise, from top l): devotees; jashan; Zarir Bhathena, Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji,
Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, Kersi Limathwalla; Zarine Commissariat
In his address Limathwalla appreciated the philanthropic work done by our forefathers while lamenting the shame brought to the community in recent months by its leaders who have besmirched its good name and integrity. We need professionals with managerial expertise and not petty minded power seekers; we need governance, not interference, he stressed. Limathwalla also emphasized the need for innovative schemes in the fields of education, care of the aged, working mothers and housing. "Give back to the community what it has given to you,” was his message.
Keynote speaker Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji dwelt on the historical background to Jamshedi Navroz which signifies not just the advent of spring but the battle between good and evil, where ultimately good triumphs.
The evening ended with a vote of thanks by Bhumgara, expressing gratitude to the management of the Radio Club and all those who had contributed to making the function a success, and the singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti.