In your cover article "Prize medals: patronage and philanthropy” (Parsiana, October 7-20, 2020) it is mentioned that "It is not known for which particular prize the (Sorabji Shapurji Bengalee) medals (pictured) were awarded…” I believe I can throw some light on the matter.
Both Bengalee School and Gamadia Girls’ School came under the aegis of the Zoroastrian Girls’ School Association (also known as the Parsi Girls’ School Association). The Bengalee medal was awarded to the girl who stood first in Std III — from both Bengalee and Gamadia Schools. My late mother, Jerbanoo Vazifdar (née Khajurina) won the medal from the Bengalee Girls’ School in 1910-11 and, yes, it was a gold medal.
Later, the system was changed and the medal was given to each school in alternate years. In 1940-41, it was the turn of Gamadia School and I was the recipient. This too was a gold medal but a smaller version because of financial restrictions due to World War II. I still have both the medals with the bust of Sorabji Shapurji Bengalee imprinted on them.
NERGISH D. BUCHIA (née VAZIFDAR)
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