His presence was the "surprise” element reserved for the end. As Boman Irani, the affable Bollywood actor walked into the St Mary’s School auditorium on December 10, 2023 to attend the 19th Zochild Day (ZCD) amidst much cheering from the over 900 children, guests and invitees after the finale at around 4.15 p.m, young and old alike rushed to shake his hand and take selfies.
The sleepy neighborhood of Mazgaon awoke to the noise of busloads of children being ferried to the venue of the Zochild Day, hosted under the auspices of the Zoroastrian Children’s Foundation (ZCF). Created and curated following the tragic passing of Fareena Kapadia, all of five-and-a-half years, the eldest child of ZCF founder Hanshi Vispi Kapadia and his wife Shiraz, theirs is a registered public charitable trust with donations exempt under the relevant sections of the Income Tax Act. This year the Zochild Day had for the first time a theme — East Meets West. DJ Osh set the pace for the day with his pulsating music, while Hoshedar Khambatta, the ever popular anchor started the day’s proceedings. Over 1,000 voices repeated the Zochild Day oath with Vispi, who when the recital appeared low key asked the audience "Nasto khadho ké (Have you eaten breakfast)?” when he did not get a satisfactory response. After the customary hoisting of the Indian and ZCF flags, the ZCD anthem was sung with gusto. With lyrics and music composed by the late Gulnar Tafti, the song was sung by students of the Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls’ High School, The Alexandra Girls’ English Institution and Activity High School.
Kicking off the program were students of the Avabai School, guided by their superintendent Yasmin Charna and music teacher Viraf Daruwala. Their mellifluous voices rang out the monajat Khudavind Khavind and Énu naam té Bawaji (His name is Bawaji) (with lyrics and music by the late Adi Mirza). An English hymn was also rendered by them.
The dance items followed a meditative prayer dance by Gamadia Colony children, a zumba and malkhamb fusion by the Avabai girls. Exploring the old and the new, the Activity students performed a fusion dance with foot tapping musical accompaniment, after which Kashmira Sanjana did a solo dance number.
Ervad Darayus Bajan of the Seth Bomanji Merwanji Mevawala Agiary chose to talk about the seven Amesha Spentas (which is the logo of the ZCF). A chartered accountant, Bajan works at International Asset Reconstruction Company.
"Our Mazdayasni religion believes in the worship of one God — Ahura Mazda who created the various elements of nature (sky, earth, water, fire), the plants and animal kingdom and lastly, man on the six gahanbar days…
"The human being is the most magnificent creation of Dadar Ahura Mazda because he gave man the capacity to think by which man can benefit from his (Ahura Mazda’s) creations.” After elucidating on the virtues of each of the Ameshaspands, Bajan mentioned that "man’s soul is immortal and after physical death, the soul continues to live. The quality of a new life depends upon the deeds one has performed in this life.”
Top: Vispi (l) and Shiraz Kapadia; top and above: children dancing on and off stage
Regarding agiary etiquette, the priest exhorted the attendees to "always wear your sudreh and kusti and visit an agiary as often as possible. Just like how we need to charge our mobile phones regularly, we need to recharge our spiritual selves.” Wear decent clothes, wash hands after untying shoe laces, do the kusti and pray from the Khordeh Avesta before the atash padshah. One should not take photographs and videos in the agiary or holy places as that creates conflict with the holy atmosphere and vibrations generated by prayers. Most importantly, remember to switch off your mobile phones, he advised.
The ZCF felicitates children for excellence in fields other than academics as also stalwarts from the community to serve as an inspiration and present role models. The awardees for 2023 were women’s cricket legend Diana Edulji and renowned neurosurgeon Dr Mazda Turel (both receiving the Jewel of the Community award). The three winners of the Zochild Award of Distinction were Goa Ironman Burzin Engineer, car racing champion Diana Pundole and Bollywood stunt woman Sanober Pardiwalla. The Zochild Rising Star award was presented to Freya Jijina and Vivaan Mehta (judo), Khurshid Chinoy (kickboxing), Rhea Dastur (international story telling and sports), Rehaan Bacha (grappling) and Shazaad Olpadwalla (taekwondo). A special felicitation was accorded to 85-year-old Ervad Faramroze Bhada for a lifetime of dedication to the Iranshah Atash Behram. The awards ceremony was compered by ZCF committee member Hutoxi Aibara and thanks offered to all who had contributed to make the day a success.
Discipline, dedication and determination were displayed by students of the All India Gojukai Karatedo. Ably conducted by Vispy’s son Behram and senior instructor Kauri Ganatra, the karatekas showed off their martial arts skills with aplomb.
Slated to speak just before lunchtime, Turel grinned while apologizing for "coming between this program and a four letter word which starts with f… food…
From far l, top row: organizing committee members Kobad Kerawalla, Kashmira Kapadia, Veera Mundroina,
Hoshedar Khambatta, Nancy Dalal, Hutoxi Aibara, Vispi and Behram Kapadia, Perin Bagli, Sanaya and Shiraz Kapadia,
Urvax and Yasmin Dhanda, Diana Marfatia and Dinaz Raimalwalla
From l, top row : Ervad Faramroze Bhada, awardees Diana Edulji,
Dr Mazda Turel, Burzin Engineer, Diana Pundole, Sanober Pardiwalla,
2nd row: Freya Jijina, Vivaan Mehta, Khurshid Chinoy,
Rhea Dastur, Rehaan Bacha, Shazaad Olpadwalla
Ervad Darayus Bajan (l), Viraf Daruwala
Top: Boman Irani, star of the day; above: entertainment
"We have just one life to live and our generation unfortunately is conditioned to believe that we have to have only one passion and follow that diligently till the end of our lives. But things have changed. We can be good at multiple things,” believed the young neurosurgeon. "Do not limit yourself to only one vocation, one profession. You have the ability to excel at multiple options; this is possible because we are learning how to optimize the potential of the human brain, of which we use only 10%…” In his opinion the brain is three pounds of jelly consisting of a 100 billion neurons that you can hold in the palm of your hand and use to contemplate the vastness of interstellar space.
Grateful for being acknowledged and appreciated, the doctor punctuated his talk with anecdotes of trials and tribulations from his medical career. His advice included: Control your diet, reduce saturated fats, sleep adequately, go for a walk, swim, take a safari, spend some time in the forest, disconnect from your TV/mobile screens, be with nature. And lastly, "fill your life with gratitude. Say ‘Thank You’ for everything that you have. Choose joy… passionately, relentlessly.”
A solo dance was performed by Gamadia Colony resident Rayan Raimalwala, followed by the dancers from Surat after which the Avabai girls displayed their "terpsichorean” (dancing) skills.
Post lunch singers Daruwalla and Naynaz Munsaf regaled the audience with Indian and retro songs. To ensure that no one fell asleep after the heavy lunch, Behram and Khambatta engaged the children in a challenging quiz. Dance performances continued till the evening. The boys from Poona’s J. N. Petit Technical School twisted and twirled in an Indo-Western fusion followed by the dancers from Nirlon Colony. The children of Gamadia Colony rocked the stage in a scintillating finale.
A day prior — December 9, all the youngsters who had come from places like Baroda, Surat, Navsari, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Poona were taken to SMAAASH, an entertainment arena in Parel, where they had fun.
Arriving straight from the airport after a shoot in Trivandrum, Irani was undoubtedly the star of the show. "Life ma (in life) never assume anything. Do not assume that if you do two or three movies, you are famous and the world is supposed to know who you are. Your deeds are what count. Remember it doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, just do your work… Keep doing good things and giving back to society. Fame will come, fame will go. Money will come, money will go but your deeds will always remain. Fame, name, money baddhu theek chhè (is all okay), but give back,” stressed the sought after actor who has his own production company, Irani Movietone.
Drawing on his personal experiences during his journey to stardom, Irani mentioned that he was most overwhelmed to be at his alma mater. Very shy as a child, Irani said he never opened his mouth while attending St Mary’s. But he was happy performing on stage, a potential which his mother Jerbanoo recognized and encouraged.
"As children we are different from what we grow up to become… Never judge others. Give the person a chance to bloom… Keep reinventing yourself, do your thing. Follow your heart. Do what you love. It doesn’t matter if you fail. Find your calling and do what you love,” he advised. "Dream, but act on your dream. Don’t say ‘I would have, I could have, I should have.’ Just do it… Success doesn’t come overnight.”
After the vote of thanks by Sanaya Kapadia and lowering of the flags, the children were sent home with bags of goodies and a promise that next year being the 20th anniversary, the ZCD will be "dhamakédar (explosive).”