"If you are in trouble, close your eyes and look to your heart. It’s on the left but always right,” remarked well known thespian and trustee of the Surat Parsi Panchayat Yazdi Karanjia who was chief guest at the annual prize distribution function organized by the Iran League on February 18, 2012 at Cama Baug in Bombay. Lauding the Iran League for encouraging excellence in diverse spheres, Karanjia commented that performance in education alone should not be the sole determinant to gauge an individual’s ability. Reminding the parents present in the audience that their behavior at home is the first lesson to the children, in his entertaining speech Karanjia urged, "It is not important to go to heaven after you die; it is important to create heaven on earth with your good thoughts, words and deeds.” To a community fond of drinking and dining, he added "Jo dost lok mé peeta, woh swarg mé jaataa; jo bilkool nahi peeta woh Jaslok mé jaata (the ones who enjoy their social drinks go to heaven and those who don’t drink go to Jaslok Hospital)!”
(Clockwise from top): Shernaaz Engineer, Freny Jehangir, Vispi Dastur presenting Hataria Trophy to Air Marshal Adi Ghandhi; Adale Patel at mike, Silloo Shapoorjee, Sam Choksey and Yazdi Karanjia
Hoping that the twin values of courage and heroism would guide the community, in her speech as guest of honor, Jam-e-Jamshed editor Shernaaz Engineer observed how we are frequently willing "to roll up our sleeves and fight each other than to stand by our religion and face the threats” confronting the community. "May we be fearless in our crusade in pursuit of righteousness,” she added referring to the "Zoroastrian scriptures that teach us to act with courage and uphold the will of Ahura Mazda and resist the temptations of Ahriman.”
The Maneckji Limji Hataria Heroism Trophy was presented this year to Air Marshal Adi Ghandhi of Poona who is "perhaps the most decorated living retired armed forces officer,” from the community, stated Iran League president Vispi Dastur. "We need examples to follow within our community and our nation,” declared Ghandhi citing the instance of his father Rustomji who was one of the first three Parsi cyclists to travel 50,000 miles around the world in nine years in the 1930s. Calling upon the community members to be "pioneers in any field of excellence…to show the world that Parsis are still an important part of the nation building exercise,” the Air Marshal continued, "If there is anything I can do to help Parsis project themselves, I would be more than willing.”
Saluting the "Iranians living there and still following the Zoroastrian religion,” Ervad Parvez Bajan who visits Iran each year briefly alluded to the life of Hataria who is respected as "sant musafir” in Iran for toiling selflessly in getting the jezia tax abolished, establishing a madressa and a school for girls.
"A king is honored in his own kingdom whilst a wise man, especially one with a sense of humor, is honored wherever he goes,” commented Dastur appreciating the thoughts of the guest speakers and commending the participation last year of 456 community members from age three to 85 who showed their prowess in the different competitions organized by the Iran League — Shahnameh recitation, essay writing, elocution, religious quiz, drawing, rangoli, Parsi songs/monajats, western vocal and instrumental music. To give the audience a jhalak (glimpse) of the caliber of the competitions, Anahita Karanjia and Shahzad Faroodi impressed the audience with their Shahnameh recitation.
Giving an overview of the Iran League’s activities for 90 years was Tehmina Peer while Adale Patel introduced the speakers. Appreciating the support of his co-trustees Sam Choksey, Freny Jehangir, Saroosh Dinshaw, Dastur also expressed his gratefulness to his "entire team.” The function that commenced with a jashan ended with a dinner catered by Jimmy Gadiwala. Parinaz M. Gandhi