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"It is our misfortune that 60 years after Independence the his­tory of Indian Independence is not being taught but is steadily being forgotten,” remarked the Government of Gujarat’s minister for law Ashok Bhatt. Chief guest at the evening function to felicitate outstanding members of the community on the lawns of the Zoroastrian Hall at Kanka­ria, Ahmedabad, on December 18, 2004, Bhatt recalled Madame Bhikhaiji Cama’s spontaneous crea­tion of a national flag for India in 1907, the con­tributions of Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Jamsetji Tata and others to the process of nation building. "The knowledge of their contribution to the nation’s history is important not only for Parsi youths but for India’s youths. It should be our duty to ensure their memory.”

Bhatt’s words were appropriate when the community had assem­bled to honor five outstanding performers — philanthropist Sam Dastur and legal eagle Kershasp Shethna, both of Ahmedabad who were felicitated by the host anjuman, and three youths who re­ceived the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India awards for excellence, viz Ahmedabad’s industrialist and marketer par excellence Piruz Khambatta and student Percy Bharucha and Delhi’s entrepreneur-sportsman Adil Nargowala.

Sharing the podium with Bhatt, Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP) president and founder of Pioma Industries Areez Khambatta, Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman and president of the Federation Minoo Shroff was advertising doyen Sam Balsara of Madison, who suggested five ways of helping the community to maintain its leadership role in Indian society.

From humble beginnings Dastur rose against all odds to join the elite few, notes the citation. Deeply influenced by the values inculcated by his mother, Dastur is a "true industrious Zoroastrian (who) worked hard to create wealth with honesty and integrity,” and is now giving back to society what he has gained from it, reads the citation. "Charity is in his blood” remarked Khambatta of the man who returned from London to give a very large donation to the APP. Dastur was presented his award by Balsara.

A former president of the APP, Shethna has been practicing in the Gujarat High Court since 1962, has been the vice chairman of the Bar Council of India for two years and chairman of its disciplinary committee for 10 years. The citation further notes that he served as president of the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association for 10 terms. In 1995 he was adjudged the Best Criminal Lawyer by the Indian Council of Jurists. But what is most commendable about Shethna is that "he has not merely donat­ed in cash but has given his time and energy to groom many a young Parsi into a successful lawyer. This effort by him is truly cherished as he has built careers for a lifetime in Ahmedabad,” notes the citation. "Law and religion is a rare combination, to be found among the best of Parsi lawyers,” added Khambatta. Bhatt presented Shethna the award on behalf of the APP.

Chairman and managing director of Rasna Limited, Piruz Areez Khambatta’s "aptitude for developing innovative concepts show­casing his inner entrepreneurial spirit” was recognized with the bestowal of the Federation’s Jamshed and Shirin Guzder Award as best youth for 2003. His marketing skills became evident when Rasna became the first Indian company to introduce combination flavors in India and launched "chhota (small) packs” favored by the urban lower middle class and the rural middle class markets, notes the citation. With seven factories, five sales offices, 24 warehous­es, 2,500 stockists, 15 lakh retailers and a 1,350 employees under Piruz’s direction, this ISO 9002 company has carved out a 93 percent share in a market where the other players include such international heavyweights as Coca Cola, Hindustan Lever and Pepsi, states the citation. The nation wide brand equity survey conducted by A. C. Nielsen and the Economic Times ranked Rasna as the most trusted brand in the Indian beverages market, adds the citation. 

A Bachelor of Law and of Bio-chemistry, Piruz has been associated with the manufacture and marketing operations of his father’s brainchild since he was 16 years old and is said to have acquired every related technical skill required in the operation plus attending management courses at the Wharton School in Philadelphia, USA and the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. Rasna’s advertising and marketing campaign from the story board stage to the final presentation as well as most promotion schemes remain under his personal purview, the cam­paigns winning awards each year. Beyond the company he is active­ly involved in the affairs of the food industry as co-chairman, west zone, of the All India Food Processors Association, execu­tive committee member of the Confederation of Indian Food and Trade Industry, chairman of the Confederation of the Indian Industry’s (CII) Gujarat Council and also of the CII’s Agro and Food Processing Council. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the food industry, he was awarded the Dadabhai Naoroji Millennium Award 2003, notes the citation. 

The shield and citation were presented to Piruz by Shroff on behalf of the Federation.

Outstanding student Percy Hervez Bharucha has made a name for himself in his St Xavier’s School, Loyola Hall by winning prizes at leadership camps, personality contests, debates and elocution competitions. Starting from the age of six, Bharucha has participated in singing and Hindi poetry competitions. He stood third in the Bournvita Quiz Contest 2000 and participated as a member of the under 14 school basketball team in the state level tournaments. This Golden Arrow Cub Scout of 2000 was judged the second best Junior NCC Cadet of India in 2004 at the Republic Day Camp and Prime Minister’s Rally, receiving a medal from the director general of the National Cadet Corps. In Febru­ary 2004 he was selected to receive the prestigious Governor’s Medal at Raj Bhavan, Gandhi Nagar. The tenth standard student, aspiring for a career in software engineering, was presented the Aloo Noshirwan Cama Award as best youth for 2004 by Areez Kham­batta.

Delhi Parsi Anjuman honorary secretary Adil Shiavax Nargol­wala’s achievements in car rallying and bike motocross received a belated acknowled­gement with the Dr Dadi Balsara Award for sports in 1990. Securing third position in the Delhi Automotive Racing Association rally of 1987 in the 0-186cc group while still in his teens, Nargolwala came in first in the Ceat Car Rally of 1989 with a blind navigator. He won the Escort Monsoon Car Rally in the 1,000cc class in 1990 and in the same year was runner-up in the Himalayan Car Rally in the Maruti 800 class. He has recorded the fastest sector timing in the Great Desert Hima­laya and came first in the open class in the DARA Motor Cross and third in cars as also motor cycles in the Delhi Autocross that year, the citation records his various wins. Nargol­wala serves as an official in some of the North Indian rallies and in all events that take place in Delhi. His excellence and commitment as an official of the Maruti Suzuki Raid de Himalaya 2004 has been commended by the Himalayan Motor Sports Association, notes the citation.

Simultaneously with his sports activities, while still in college and faced with the sudden loss of his father in a car accident, Nargolwala started his business of computer networks which continues to thrive. A consultant to the BPO (business process outsour­cing) and Call Centre Industry, Nargolwala set up a BPO for Microsoft. Trinity, an American company, has given him a Special Contribution Award for establishing the infrastructure and support for its BPO which currently employs 200 people and is growing in strength, records the citation. Nargolwala received his award at the hands of BPP trustee Dinshaw Tamboly.

In his welcome address Khambatta referred to the first ever meet of the Federation in Ahmedabad and of ways and means of serving the country: "Even in our prayers, the country is men­tioned first...When the Zoroastrian religion was at its peak, when Cyrus and Darius were ruling half the (known) world, they produced the world’s first charter of human rights. Our kings did not loot, they did not convert. Instead they gave resources for rebuilding the temples (of the conquered peoples).” He referred to "Bhatt’s soft corner for Parsis” and cited Balsara’s example to show that "Parsis succeed because of hard work, sincerity and principles.”

Called upon to address the audience Shroff noted that though the small diaspora of Parsis in India had "redeemed our faith, more than blended like sugar in the milk (of India’s hospitality), we cannot rest on our laurels. We must dialog regarding our problems and find a way forward.” As an instance of Parsi brand equity Shroff noted that former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s personal physician was always a Parsi and urged the assembled community to continue in the same "spirit of loyalty and respect for the nation” wherever they reside.

Introducing guest of honor Balsara as "one of the sharpest media minds in the country,” master of ceremony Firdosh Kapadia said Balsara was the third most powerful man in advertising in India, according to Mid Day and the sixth according to the Economic Times. "His media agency is the most admired for the second year in a row,” added Kapadia, citing heavyweight clients like Coca Cola, Pepsi and Hindus­tan Lever even though the firm is not  part of any international group. According to Kapadia, Balsara spends three hours a day commuting and goes to the agiary every day.

"Other communities in India have looked upon the Parsis as a privileged lot, a disciplined lot, a prosperous lot and I cannot help but feel that this adulation over a long period of time has lulled us into a certain amount of complacency and a fatalistic attitude and approach to life,” said Balsara in a thought provok­ing speech (see "The future, you must foresee,” pg 94).

Prof (Dr) Armaity Desai of Ahme­dabad introduced Bhatt with a  panegyric in Gujarati, tracing his career as corporator and member of the legislative assembly of Gujarat as "an institution in himself with the power and the will to help the underdog. Disregarding vote bank politics, he has always helped Parsis who have gone to him...He is the only politician who is available to the people even when no election is facing him.”

Acknowledging the Parsis as a "vibrant community,” Bhatt urged the audience to think of "our Gujarat.” Referring to the project to designate Udvada as a "yatradham” which he said is part of his office, the minister added in Gujarati, "We may not be able to make our obeisance before the sacred fire (of the Iranshah) but (are satisfied) to do obeisance before those who have done obei­sance before the fire.” The development of pilgrim tourism and heritage conservation, the establishment of a museum and research center as has been done for Jainism would help Indians to remem­ber the contribution of the Parsis to the nation, he noted. He also advocated the organization of health care camps for senior citizens in Ahmedabad, Navsari, Surat and their environs, depend­ing on where space is available. "We have learnt from you how to live among others abroad. Let us together make Udvada such that people come to see and pay respect to the (fire-temple) since they cannot do so to the fire,” said Bhatt and invited the gathering to celebrate Gujarat Day with the Government of Gujarat in Janu­ary 2005.

After a vote of thanks by APP committee member Katy Daruwal­la the audience of Federation delegates and the Ahmedabad anjuman members met and mingled and partook of the dinner hosted by the Panchayat and the Khambatta family.