A thanksgiving jashan at the Dadabhoy and Mancherji Pestonji Wadia Agiary, a program of music and dance by children of Nowroze Baug, and the distribution of the late Khody P. Kolah Merit Scholarships to 90 Parsi students marked the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the Nowroze Baug Play Centre (NPC) on November 3, 2018, joint general secretary Yasmin Engineer informed Parsiana via email.
Top, from l: Yasmin Charna, Vinney Godiwala, Ruby Kermani, Parinaz Guard,
Kayzin Billimoria; above: children showcasing dancing skills
The prizes were given away by chief guest Yasmin Charna, head of boarding at the Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls’ High School. Vinney Godiwala of Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School topped the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) list with 97.4% while Ruby Kermani of Bai M. N. Gamadia Girls’ High School led the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) students with 95.6%. Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees Viraf Mehta and Xerxes Dastur gave away prizes to achievers from class one to graduation. Parinaz Guard of H. R. College was awarded the special prize donated by Prof Rohinton Sahuraja in memory of his parents the late Ratansha and Shirinbai Sahuraja for scoring 78.9% at the final BCom examination. Kayzin Billimoria of Sulochanadevi Singhania School was awarded the Bahadur Bulsara trophy for children of NPC members for scoring 92.4% at the school leaving level. "For the last over 16 years, (former BPP chairman) Dinshaw Mehta has been financing prize money from Firuzgar Charitable Trust,” noted Engineer. A special appreciation prize was given to Taurus Engineer for providing free training in football to the Baug’s children.
In her talk, Charna exhorted parents to motivate and encourage children to adopt a career of their choice. "Children should not engross themselves in their mobile (phones) all the time at the cost of their physical and mental growth,” she said.
The children’s dances were choreographed by Farzana Patel and Zambi Bacha. Dinner catered by Tanaz Godiwalla rounded off the evening.