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"The first 25 years have gone by in a flash… It seems like only yesterday that the Centre opened its doors in the service of our community… The concept of managing a center for senior citizens was absolutely new to us… It was a learning curve for us all,” noted chairman of World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) Trusts (WZOT) Dinshaw Tamboly. He was speaking at an event to mark the silver jubilee of their Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Senior Citizens Centre in Navsari on January 4, 2023 held at the Shirvai party plot, part of the grounds of the Dosibai Kotwal Parsi Boys Orphanage. Stating that the Centre is a role model for other similar facilities, Tamboly attributed this to the fact that the Centre’s residents, donors, management team, staff and service providers "have worked harmoniously as a team.”
The chairman acknowledged the role played by the late philanthropist Scylla Vatcha in the funding of the Centre through the Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Deed of Settlement Fund. He had earlier told us that "she elevated the lifestyles of thousands of our community members” (see "Silver for the silver Centre,” Parsiana, January 7-20, 2023). "It is only fair that I should acknowledge my three very dear colleagues (co-trustees) who commenced this journey, my wife Bachi, Farokh Kasad and late Firoj Panthaky (‘with us from day one…he went with his boots on’), not to forget our very able administrator Sharmin Tamboly and our erstwhile manager Soli Vandrewala who for the first 23 years was with us but retired two years back due to indifferent health,” he appreciated. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  10. Dastur Keki Ravji Meherjirana

  11. Dastur Khurshed Dastoor;

 

 

 

 

"Time waits for no one; for an institution to remain vibrant, it is necessary to infuse new blood and in this too we have been fortunate having developed an effective and efficient succession team to take over the many welfare activities that our trusts undertake,” stated Dinshaw. Aspi Ambapardiwala, Cyrus Vandriwala and Rohinton Contractor are Navsari-based trustees while Farzana Mojgani, Freyaz Shroff and Homiyar Madan are from Bombay. WZOT comprises three trusts formed between 1991 and 1995 "focused on providing support to Zoroastrians living in India in diverse areas of human need,” notes their website. 
Two high priests were present at the function. Dastur Khurshed Dastoor mentioned he had a very long relationship with both Dinshaw and Bachi. "He stated he is aware of the welfare work they do and that ever since he was appointed Dastur, he has considered the Tambolys to be his friends, philosophers and guides,” noted trustee Shroff in a detailed report of the proceedings sent to Parsiana. Dastoor connected the work of the Tambolys to our Zoroastrian teachings and prescribed way of life, Shroff wrote.
Dastur Keki Ravji Meherjirana reiterated that he and his family have been associated with the Tamboly family at Navsari for over 100 years as their panthakis. He also mentioned that his maternal uncle was a resident at the Centre for many years and had stuck a note outside his room door: "People go to heaven when they die, but I am already in heaven whilst alive.”
Among those felicitated were resource persons Maharukh Chichgar of Surat, and Jehangir Bisney of Hyderabad with Viraf Deboo of Poona in absentia. This trio assists with due diligence for applications for support by WZOT received from their respective areas. Shroff noted that "honored guests” who were felicitated included Kersi Deboo, vice chairman, National Commission for Minorities; Roshan Ravji, wife of High Priest Ravji; dramatist Yazdi Karanjia "who has entertained the elderly at the Centre and at WZOTF events gratis since the inception;” Arzan Wadia, president, Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA ) and videographer Sarosh Daruwalla "who has over the last 25 years and more been providing gratis services to our three trusts.”
Wadia noted, "The Centre for seniors in Navsari is a beacon of hope for those who do not have much means in their old age. It’s an institution worth emulating in various cities and even in other countries. At FEZANA, the idea of a viable old age home has been on the wish list for many years now and our hope is that in the next decade, there will be one in North America. Dinshaw and his team have shown that with professional expertise and personal care one can work wonders.”
Various professionals and craftsmen who have supported the trusts over the years were felicitated: architect Jayant Mehta; builder Yazdi Kasad; Sharmin and manager Homi Mistry representing the Navsari staff; Vandrevala; attending medical professional Dr Zubin Saklat, physiotherapist Dr Shivani Joshi; yoga instructor Simin Bharda; plumber Fakhruddin Lokhandwala; provider of windows Omprakash Vishwakarma; painter Dilip Gotad; carpenter Ranglal Vishvakarma; electrician Kersasp Patel. "All who were felicitated were very grateful for being acknowledged… The carpenter, plumber, painter, window contractor and electrician and their families expressed gratitude as no one had earlier publicly honored them in such a gracious way,” Dinshaw told Parsiana after the event. 
Dastoor and Ravji released a brochure to mark the milestone anniversary. A video prepared by Daruwalla on the working of the Centre was released and screened.
As it was a cold evening some residents were unable to attend the function but a group of lady residents of the Centre braved the weather to be present and sing a welcome song. Karanjia, his wife Veera and daughter Chichgar had the audience in splits at the jokes in their skits, noted Shroff. Shahzad Karanjia and Delnaz Bhesania regaled the audience with popular old songs.
The morning had begun with a jashan led by Ravji with 10 other mobeds at the Centre in Pinjar Street. After the jashan, the High Priest led the attendees in a humbandagi. Ravji appreciated Bachi and Dinshaw for their hard work, dedication and commitment to community members. The formal part of the morning was concluded by the cutting of a cake by three of the Centre’s residents, Freny Mistry (97), Marzban Karkaria (86) and Lily Mevadwala (85).
The singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti and the national anthem followed by a meal catered by Soonu Kasad "brought the day to a memorable close,” noted Shroff.