Two couples to be married soon, and seven potential couples. This was said to be the tangible result from the matrimonial meet organized in Ahmedabad by the Dhanjishaw and Manijeh Gamir Charitable Trust (DMGCT) on October 27 and 28, 2018. The seven are waiting for their parents and others to okay the move ahead, trustee Aspy Bharucha told Parsiana on November 5. The 111 participants, who were from Ahmedabad, Bombay, Surat, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Poona, Navsari and Jamshedpur among other places, included 31women and 80 men whose ages averaged 25 and 33 years respectively.
Games, with an eye on matrimony at Ahmedabad
Perhaps the potential couples were inspired by older community members who shared their experiences of marital life: Khushnuma and Delzad Khambatta (married for over 11 years), Pearl and Cyrus Sabawalla (over 31 years), Perinbanoo and Aspy Unwalla (over 41 years), noted Bharucha. While the participants were hosted at a three star hotel, the first evening of dance and fun was held at the Kankaria Zoroastrian Hall, stated a write-up from Bharucha. The opening sessions included icebreakers, self introductions, games and "getting to know you” games. Pearl Mistry, counsellor with the Jiyo Parsi program, gave a talk on Parsi demographics.
The propositions that "Girls are fussy” and "Boys are mama’s pets” debated within nine groups created for the purpose generated much heat with the females flatly refuting the allegation that they are fussy. The males too denied they were mama’s boys. The Mumbai Mirror (MM) of October 28 carried a report where an unnamed 28-year-old woman asserted that girls "had a right to have high standards.” A male present at the meet told MM that "we are attached to our mothers and we follow their instructions. They take decisions for us, but that does not mean we are mama’s boys.”
The idea of arranging the matrimonial meet was mooted by Ahmedbad Parsi Panchayet trustee Kety Daruwala. "Her idea was not (taken) seriously… when she approached private trusts in Ahmedabad” they balked at the cost. The DMGCT through its trustee (late) Porus Karanjawala decided to offer financial help, with assistance from the Parsi Youth League of Ahmedabad (PYLA). "The initial work for the meet was started way back in July this year — four months before the scheduled meet,” noted Bharucha. Parzor Jiyo Parsi project stepped in as coordinator.