On January 21, 2007 over 200 Parsis assembled in Nagpur, the gentlemen dressed in daglis and the ladies in finely embroidered or traditional kor ni saris, to felicitate Vice Admiral Rustom F. Contractor, Director General Coast Guard and his wife Thrity at a function jointly organized by the Nagpur and Kamthi Parsi Zarthosti Anjuman and the Nagpur Parsi Gymkhana.
The Anjuman takes great pride in its local heroes, and Nagpur-born Contractor holds a high ranking position in the Indian Navy, commanding great respect within and outside the armed forces. Welcoming the guests, Anjuman president Edul Bhagwagar said: "In spite of reaching this height of success Rusi remains approachable, affectionate and humble in speech and action. To me, this is his greatest quality.”
Contractor and his wife were led up a red carpet to the Nagpur Agiary where the panthaky, Ervad Sohrabji Bharucha prayed a tandarosti for their well-being, before proceeding to the dharamshala lawns where Gymkhana secretary Mehroo Watchmaker welcomed them with a traditional aachu meechu. Shiraz Gimi, president of the Gymkhana presented Contractor with a silver salver and shawl. A scroll of honor was read by the Anjuman’s honorary secretary Yezdi Bhagwagar. The scroll, a silver salver and shawl were then presented to the chief guest on behalf of the Anjuman.
In her introduction Parizad Major informed that Contractor’s early education was at the local J. N. Tata and the St. Francis de Sales high schools. He topped the All India Entrance Exam to the National Defence Academy at Khadakvasla, is an alumnus of the College of Naval Warfare, Bombay and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London. Contractor has been Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Southern Naval Command, Kochi and Flag Officer Western Fleet, the sword arm of the Indian Navy, commanding INS Rajput and INS Ranvijay. He also held prestigious command of the Navy’s aircraft carrier, INS Viraat.
Rustom Contractor and wife Thrity at Nagpur function (top); with Shiraz Gimi (far left) and Edul Bhagwagar (centre). Left: Contractor, humble hero
For exceptional devotion to duty, Contractor was awarded the Naosena Medal in 2002. As Assistant Chief of Naval staff at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India, in 2005.
Contractor said that the basic education he received in Nagpur and the core values imbibed from his family and community have stood him in good stead. He acknowledged the presence of his octogenarian aunt in the audience and was sorry his mother could not make it because of advanced age. "My mother brought me up to be what I am today,” said Contractor, leaving many a mother’s eye glistening with unshed tears of pride and joy.
"I have always liked a uniform and the discipline that goes with it. As a gangly schoolboy, I remember going with the others in my class for the Junior NCC recruitment. I was not selected. For the next three months I went every Saturday, till I was finally selected. I got my first uniform. There has been no looking back.” Candidly admitting that one of his reasons for joining the Navy was the (mis)conception that there would be no more studies, he soon realized how wrong he was.
Contractor exhorted the younger generation to join the defence forces. "It is a good life. You have heard the saying ‘Join the Navy and see the world.’ There are very few continents that I have not been to. As a naval officer, as an Indian and as a Parsi, I have been accorded recognition and respect wherever I have gone.”
After a vote of thanks by Watchmaker, spirits rose over the cocktail hour, enlivened by a live band of The Guards Regimental Centre and followed, in true Parsi tradition, by a superb dinner.
D. E. B.