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"The new world is before us. The future is going to be machine learning, artificial intelligence... Routine jobs are not going to be there in the future. So please try and ensure that you give entrepreneurship an opportunity,” urged Xerxes Dastur, Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee and chief guest at the 98th anniversary celebrations and prize distribution function of The Bombay Parsee Association (BPA). The event held at Cama Baug on November 17, 2018 started with a jashan performed by Ervads Marespand Dadachanji and Viraf Bhesania and was followed by a humbandagi recited by Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji.
While lauding the work of the BPA, Dastur advised: "There are no shortcuts to success and that should be the main aim for all the youngsters here. Whatever we do, let’s do it to the best of our ability always. The fabric of our Zoroastrian society has to be preserved. We have to pass on our virtues and traditions to the next generation.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest of honor that evening was civil engineer and social worker Jamshed Sukhadwalla who has spearheaded the drive against the Metro tunnels going underneath a portion of the H. B. Wadia Atash Behram. His address centered around the recent developments of the MMRCL (Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited). "We want to preserve the sanctity of our atash behrams and it is not very much that we are asking for. We are a secular nation and the right to practice our religion is assured by our constitution,” he addressed the audience, adding that the alignment of the Metro line between BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex) and Santacruz stations has been altered taking the route out of the campus of the Bombay University and making a new station called Vidyanagari. "They have also altered and redesigned the domestic airport terminal station to save a 100-year-old tree! Then why not our atash behrams (one which is 188-years-old, the other, 121 years)?” he questioned.
BPA president Vispi Dastur while welcoming the gathering advised, "Let us not be skeptical about the future of our community. Youth are the future of posterity. We are not living on past glory. Even today we are doing something or the other. The BPA achievement awardees are proof of that.” This year’s Achievement Awards were given to Aloo Shroff, Ervads Jamshed Kotwal and Marespand, Mahtaab Sidhwa, Ruby Kermani and Ashoi Dantra for excelling in various fields of endeavor. A trophy, certificate and a cash purse of Rs 5,000 accompanied each award.
Remembering the founding fathers of the BPA and moaning the recent loss of its vice president Rusi Gandhi and community photographer Cyrus Shroff who captured all BPA moments on camera, Vispi urged the gathering to observe a minute’s silence. Floral tributes were given to community stalwarts present in the audience.
Appreciating the "tremendous hard work that he (Vispi) and his team puts in throughout the year to keep events in the community going is absolutely commendable,” said Jam-e-Jamshed editor Shernaaz Engineer when requested to say a few words. The BPA-conducted prayer competitions is what the community really needs today, she opined. Drawing a parallel between prayer and breathing she asked: "We may wonder why do we need to pray? So I ask, ‘why do we need to breathe?’ For the same reason. Our breath sustains us and prayer in a way is the breath of the soul. It helps us connect with the divine. One needs to focus on the spiritual aspect of our lives. When troubles come tumbling down we realize the crutch that prayer brings.” Baugs really need to conduct religious classes. "If we inculcate the importance of prayers in the young, it will hold them in good stead in their later lives,” she noted.
The evening was enlivened by Kotwal who sang a monajat and Roshan Dastur who sang a medley of English songs.
Highlights of the various activities of the Association were read out by the Association’s committee member Pervin Sidhwa whereas Adale Patel introduced the awardees. Over 250 prize winners of the prayer and kusti weaving competitions organized by the Association took home the Navaz Jimi Kathawalla Memorial Prizes and trophies. The Kathawalla family was represented by Maharukh Noble. A complimentary dinner coupon was given to each winner.
In her vote of thanks award winner Shroff, who is also a BPA committee member, was profuse in her appreciation of Vispi. After the customary singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti and Jana Gana Mana, prize winners and guests enjoyed Jimmy Gadiwalla’s lagan nu bhonu.