Over 40 years ago Khareghat Colony had only a Cricket Club, stated Bakhtawar Shroff, niece of the late Paeterasp Patel who founded the Khareghat Colony Youth Association (KCYA). Speaking at a function to felicitate Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees at Gallops, the restaurant at the Mahalaxmi Race Course on March 31, 2016, she said youngsters played on the ground where Spenta Building stands today. One day when the boys were returning from a match the girls asked "Hariya ké jeetya (did you win or lose)?” They had won and Patel’s daughter Jasmine rejoiced. Seeing this they told her: "Tu saani khush thaich? Taro baap to aapuné paisa nathi aapto (Why are you so happy? Your father does not give us money).” She raced home and spoke to her dad, who sent for the youngsters and asked them whether they would like to have to have an association, narrated Shroff.
In just 19 days the KCYA put up its first fund-raiser with plays in Gujarati and English as well as dance and music. Chief guest B. K. Boman Behram, then mayor of Bombay and BPP trustee, challenged Patel that the Association would not last beyond a few months. Patel responded that they would approach the trustee after a year and true to his word a year later he asked for and obtained the use of the last room at Parukh Dharamshalla for the KCYA . Many years later BPP chairperson Lady Hirabai Jehangir permitted KCYA activities in the Khareghat Memorial Hall, Shroff recalled.
(Top row l-r): Paeterasp Patel; Bakhtawar Shroff; KCYA committee members with honorees, also seen on bottom row
"All of us who grew up in those times have such fond and funny memories. I still remember one nargolio (seven tiles) incident. We were playing on the road and one granny, upset about us playing outside her home, came out in her gavan (gown) with a mathabanoo and sapats on her feet. She walked straight to the nargolio stones and kicked them with one leg. The youngsters were in shock. As she kicked… her sapat flew up in the air, did two somersaults and landed upright on the footpath. One of the boys picked it up… and walked to her holding the sapat carefully in his palms. It was a sight!”
During the past four decades the Association has organized all-Parsi competitions in drama, Indian vocal music, cycling, table tennis and carrom, Shroff listed. Providing a creative platform for children to display their talents in art, elocution, dancing, singing, play acting and fancy dress, KCYA has also hosted a career orientation program. Helping the needy in the field of education and for medical requirements is also part of its scope, she mentioned. The KCYA’s Dharmagyan Classes run by Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji and his son Hormaz and supported by Firoza Punthakey Mistree, help motivate children to know more about the religion. "The Colony is ours,” she said. "We will do everything to protect, preserve and nurture (it).”
Continuing with a tradition the KCYA felicitated the BPP trustees, present and outgoing in the presence of about 80 persons. BPP chairman Yazdi Desai, trustees Kersi Randeria, Zarir Bhathena, Armaity Tirandaz, Viraf Mehta were presented flowers and a custom made tabletop glass etched with the farohar motif. Trustees from the previous board chairman Dinshaw Mehta, Arnavaz Mistry and Jimmy Mistry were similarly honored. Guest of honor Homa Petit cut the celebratory cake while Shroff offered a piece to each one of the honorees. Chartered accountant Yezdi Bhagwagar was the other guest of honor.
In his vote of thanks Behman Katrak, KCYA treasurer expressed gratitude to the BPP trustees, staff and office bearers for their support; to the Dadachanjis and Punthakey Mistree for their help with the Dharmagyan Classes; to Gallops and its partners Jasmine (née Patel) and Iqbal Singh; to JAK Printers and its partners Khushru Patel and Aspi Forbes, members of the founder’s family; to the KCYA committee members and volunteers, the email notes.