Fulsome praise was lavished and cherished memories shared on March 16, 2024 at a prayer meeting at the Bai B. S. Bengallee Girls’ High School to commemorate the 24 years that the late former principal Zenobia Daroga had dedicated to her students and to the School. In attendance were academicians she had known, teachers and students of the School and relatives, besides the trustees and managing committee members of the Parsi Girls’ School Association (PGSA) that manages the School as well as the Bai M. N. Gamadia Girls’ High School.
Current principal Madhura Khanolkar recalled Daroga’s dynamism and mentorship to "shape the careers of numerous individuals.” Principal of Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls High School Diana Marfatia described her as a "sparkling personality, extremely soft-spoken and loving… She was looked upon with pride for her different roles.” [Daroga was also a trustee of the Zoroastrian Children’s Foundation (ZCF) and ex chairperson and trustee of Zoroastrian Student Teacher Association (ZOSTA).] Former principal of Alexandra Girls’ English Institution Freny Mehta, who shared her birthday with Daroga, had known the deceased for seven decades. She dwelt on Daroga’s caring nature and her meticulousness while former principal of Queen Mary School and managing committee member of PGSA Rati Wadia mentioned Daroga’s philosophy of "simple living and high thinking” and her kindness. Chairperson of ZCF Vispi Kapadia said that Daroga inspired him to start the Zochild program under the banner of ZCF "after which there was no looking back… Her absence is a great loss.”
Daroga’s daughter Kerafrid Damania stated that her mother’s "life revolved around Bengallee School… (She was) always concerned about the well-being of her students and teachers... She cherished her close association with the members” of both ZOSTA and ZCF. The principal "found great joy in the happiness, success and progress of others… I feel blessed with the legacy of relationships that she has left behind for me.”
President of the board of trustees of PGSA Kersi Commissariat remembered her as a "strict disciplinarian” but "kind at heart because of which she was loved by all” while PGSA trustee and honorary secretary Zubin Billimoria who had known her for two decades referred to her as a "great educationist with an impeccable personality.”
Top: "kind-hearted, strict disciplinarian” Zenobia Daroga;
above, from l: Zubin Billimoria, Kersi Commissariat, Kerafrid Damania, Madhura Khanolkar
Others who shared memories included Jerry Engineer who recalled that Daroga was "instrumental in launching her career” towards being "a progressive teacher;” Girl Guide captain Jasmine Mistry; teacher Benaifer Mehta; and Preeti Shekhawat who represented all the ex-students.
The meeting started with two minutes of silence followed by a prayer by Ervad Cyrus Darbari. Former School teacher Engineer who had worked closely with Daroga conducted the meeting.