Two Zoroastrians, Hormusji Cama, managing director of Bombay Samachar Private Limited and Dr Yazdi Italia, research scientist, featured in the list of Padma Awards announced by the union government on the eve of Republic Day, January 25, 2024. Cama was recognized with a Padma Bhushan for his services to literature, education and journalism, and Italia with a Padma Shri for his pioneering work in combating sickle cell anemia.
Hormusji Cama (l); Dr Yazdi Italia
Cama has been associated with the Mumbai Samachar daily for over four decades, his family having published the newspaper since 1933. It is widely believed to be Asia’s first extant newspaper today. He has served as chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations for the year 2018-2019. Earlier he was president of the Indian Newspaper Society for two terms as well as chairman of the Press Trust of India and Media Research Users Council.
Italia is known for developing India’s first Sickle Cell Anemia Control Program which has since 1978 improved the lives of over 15 lakh tribals of Gujarat. The Program was recognized with a Prime Minister’s Award as a model project. Besides serving as honorary director of this Gujarat government Program, Italia is co-investigator for many Indian Council of Medical Research projects. In 2022 Italia was felicitated with a Gujarat government award for his contribution to health services in the state.
The Padma Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan usually around March/April annually.
Parsiana will carry interviews with the two Parsi awardees in a subsequent issue.
Farrokh Jijina