"I have always worked entirely for my own satisfaction with no expectations of rewards or accolades. To be the change you want to see in the world, you don’t have to be loud. You don’t have to be eloquent. You don’t have to be elected. You don’t even have to be particularly smart or well educated. You do, however, have to be committed. I never considered my work as a job but a pleasure,” noted administrator of the Bai R. F. D. Panday Girls’ High School and ex principal of Alexandra Girls’ English Institution Freny Mehta in an email to Parsiana. She was felicitated by the Lions Club of Bombay (Host) on Teachers’ Day, September 5, 2018. The Panday School, which functions under the auspices of the Garib Zarthostiona Rehthan Fund, completed 120 years last year (see "Website on their 120th,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, January 21, 2018); the Alexandra school established by Manockjee Cursetjee completed 155 years of its existence this September (see "Living legacy, Parsiana, May 21, 2013).
Felicitations on Teachers’ Day (from l): Freny Mehta, Cawas Lalkaka, Ratan Advani, Minoo Bilimoria, Kashmira Balsara
As principal of Alexandra, Mehta has supported and implemented several programs of the Lions Club, "especially the Lions Quest — Skills for Adolescence Programme and it benefitted hundreds of girls to have a smooth adolescent period.”
Also felicitated was Kashmira Balsara, principal of Bai B. S. Bengallee Girls High School, who noted that the "award has not only acknowledged my 25 years of teaching and leading the school but has also motivated me to...strive to make a difference in the lives of my students.” Bengalee School is being managed by The Parsee Girls’ School Association (PGSA) since its inception in 1858 and was established by Sorabjee Bengallee in memory of his mother Bhikhaijee. PGSA also runs the Bai M. N. Gamadia Girls’ School in the city.
The Club also felicitated four other teachers from sister communities. A note on the function received from chartered accountant and first vice president of the Club Zubin Billimoria stated that Mehta was felicitated by senior Lion Cawas Lalkaka and Balsara by past president Minoo Bilimoria. Club president Ratan Advani had earlier welcomed the guests while secretary Fatema Bootwala proposed a vote of thanks.