The presence of chief guest industrialist Nadir Godrej at the Annual Day of the Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI) on December 22, 2018 "lent all the more significance, as he too belong(s) to a priestly family, and his sons (Ervads Burgess and Hormuzd) who (are) present, (are) ordained priests,” noted Athornan Mandal president Dastur Khurshed Dastoor.
A write-up on the event at the Mancherji Joshi Hall, presided over by Dastoor, was sent to Parsiana by DAI principal Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia.
Nadir Godrej (center) with Dastur Khurshed Dastoor (r) and
Ervad Cyrus Sidhwa (l) at the Dadar Athornan Institute’s Annual Day
Nadir rendered a poetic history of Zoroastrianism and the Institute and released the in-house magazine Knowledgiate, edited by Ervad Cyrus Sidhwa. Nadir’s wife Dr Rati recalled the role of priests in her life, and "how she vividly remembered every priest who had touched her life since childhood.” She distributed prizes to 20 students of the DAI for achievements in prayers, academics and sports. The Rustomji Panthaki outstanding ex-student award was presented to Ervad Marzee Kerawala by Dastoor. A skit was performed by the students capturing the history of the Institute that has entered the 100th year of its founding in 1919.
The Udvada high priest noted that in the "last few decades,” the DAI had "given more than 50 full-fledged priests” to the community. He made reference to the Empowering Mobeds initiative of the Mandal (jointly with WZO Trust Funds) "to train young priests to face the challenges of modern times.” While Karanjia provided the audience with the key events of the year gone by, a brochure highlighting DAI activities was released.