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"Good evening everyone,” she wished the gathering. When there was no response, with eyes wide, consternation writ large on her face, she again greeted the audience in a firmer tone. This time those that had gathered at the Holiday Programme for Youth (HPY) wished guest of honor Merzeen Doctor, founder principal of the Chatrabhuj Narsee School, located in Kandivali East, in unison. The sizzling heat did not dampen the spirits of the participants, parents, dignitaries and invitees gathered at the open-air grounds of Allbless Baug on May 28, 2023 to conclude the three-week-long Programme.
The stellar event of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), this year HPY was held at the Lady Engineer High School in Tardeo from May 7 to 28, with 105 participants (54 lasses and 51 lads) who had just shrugged off the baggage of their school years. Of these, 91 students were from the megapolis with 14 coming from as far off as Bangalore, Navsari, Surat, Poona, Ratlam, Dahanu and Thana. (Ten years ago, in 2003, the numbers were double — 220, with 99 girls and 121 boys. Last year the count was 67 girls with 61 boys, totaling 128. Due to the pandemic there was no HPY in 2020. It was conducted on a virtual platform in 2021 so that students who had passed their 10th standard exams in 2020 and 2021 could participate.) The HPY hosts a mosaic of activities from the academic to athletic, educative to entertaining, pleasurable to philanthropic and stimulates brain and brawn. 
"HPY has played a huge role in helping me find myself,” confessed Doctor. Not having grown up in a baug, Doctor was one of the two Parsi students in her class at Villa Theresa High School. So in 1996 her parents enrolled her for HPY so she could meet other Parsi children and learn more about the community. "Over the next month we were engaged in activities and events that challenged us, taught us and helped us make lifelong friends. And for some of us, this turned into something much more than friendship!” she said looking coyly at her husband Zal seated in the audience.
Sharing her three-point mantra for success, Doctor advised: "Love what you do and the path will find you. Some of you know exactly what profession you want to take up, but many of you are unsure. That’s okay. Follow your heart and do what you are passionate about. Work hard at whatever you undertake. Nothing and nobody can touch you if you are good at what you do. Earn your spot in the light. There is an artist, a professional inside each of you. Find it.”
Using the metaphor of a diamond that only sparkles after it is polished, the educator compared the gemstone to the young who have the ability to shine when someone recognizes their good facets and ignores their flaws. She advised parents to "invest in your child. Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles. They are all diamonds in the rough… After all, we are all made up of stardust…” she concluded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (From l) 1^st row: Pearl Singpurwalla, Yehaan Marker, Kiana Pavri, Darayus Daji and Daanya Irani;

  2^nd row: Laila Bacha, Mehernosh Avari, Katriena Hakim, Miron Shroff, Pashang Lavangia, Adil Majoo;

 

 

 

Speaking of his life experiences and his success story was chairman and managing director of the Rustomjee Group, Boman Irani. Having lost his father when he was on the threshold of manhood, Irani was thrust into the "real world.” So instead of saying "Why me?” he thought "Why not me?” and took on the responsibility of his father’s company. Talking of how opportunities can change one’s life, he said, "Work hard. Grab every opportunity you get because stepping out of your comfort zone will teach you something… If you don’t grab opportunities, you are not going to get far. Do not get cowed down. Say ‘I will stand up. I will fight back. I will come throught it and I will be much better,’” he impressed upon the youngsters.
"If life throws a storm at you, don’t run away because that storm will make you, create you. It will bring out so many aspects of your own being which you never knew… Don’t get beaten down by people who will talk about you behind your back. It’s not worth your time, your energy.” According to the entrepreneur it is very important to have gratitude in one’s heart. Help the downtrodden. Be there to give a helping hand, do not expect someone to help you.
Speaking of the "amazing platform that is HPY,” the dapper 54-year-old real estate developer offered to host the next year’s batch at a Rustomjee Group site or have his team address the children, many of whom may enjoy design or architecture. "Love makes the world go round. Keep the love alive. Keep the gratitude going. Keep coming back and contributing towards this,” he ended his address congratulating mentor Diana Marfatia while presenting her with a floral bouquet.
In her address, BPP chairwoman Armaity Tirandaz jested, "If anyone wants a house, don’t come to the BPP, go directly to Boman’s office.” She told the youngsters to "celebrate what you have accomplished today and become an inspiration for others. You will now be stepping out of your comfort zones and will face plenty of challenges,” she warned. "Things are not always going to be fun in the real world. But for the most part, you will get back what you give. It will be like a boomerang. Either catch it, or get hit in the face. Be a winner all the way… Be yourself, hold your conscience with pride and move forward,” were her sage words.
Taking the podium, Marfatia, who is the mainstay of the Programme, echoed the evening’s sentiments. "The valedictory function of any event evokes bitter sweet memories and feelings of elation and despondency. We feel elation because today marks the end of yet another successful HPY… And despondent because everyone who was here for the past three weeks — working, playing, sweating it out and enjoying together will now move on with their own lives. Perhaps they may not meet up that often but the friendships made here will last for a very long time.” The mentor advised participants to "undertake and do whatever you can to bring a smile on the faces of the people you interact with, all through your lives.”
The valedictory function started with a humbandagi by Ervad Hormuz Dadachanji. Present that evening were BPP trustees Tirandaz, Viraf Mehta, Anahita Desai, Hoshang Jal and Maharukh Noble. Bakhtawar Dastur, a BPP senior executive was specially thanked for all the back office work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among the key sessions of this Programme is the blood donation drive. Held on May 21, in association with the Tata Memorial Hospital, 142 bottles of blood were collected. Group Enactors received the coveted trophy.
As is the practice every year, an underpriviledged Zoroastrian child is initiated into the fold. This year, on May 14, young Natasha Farzad Astin was navjoted by five of the participants who are navars/maratabs.
May 24 was devoted to The World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) which organized a captivating session. The highlight of the event was a business simulation activity where each team was tasked with creating and selling four different types of flavored drinks. Teams were evaluated based on leadership, marketing and financial skills, teamwork, communication and overall sales. Various WZCC members spoke to the participants emphasizing the significance of youth empowerment. Team Creators emerged the winners.

 

Day one — The inaugural
Confessing that the opening two paragraphs of his speech were written by artificial intelligence (AI) from the ChatGPT App, chief guest Dr Aashish Contractor found that "fascinating and a bit scary too because it has the potential of revolutionizing the way we live, both for good and possibly bad.” 
According to the director of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine at the Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, "many of you may have made up your minds about what you want to be, many of you may have had your parents make up your mind for you, and many of you may have no clue what you would like to end up doing. It does not matter; listen to everything with an open mind. Have the courage to think differently. Do not go through life being a bystander.”
Warning the youngsters that there will be more examinations ahead, and that they will not be judged by marks on a sheet of paper, but by what they have learnt from personal experience, the genial doctor impressed upon the audience the importance of respecting one’s elders, teachers…
"I am sure all of you have already ‘checked’ out the audience, and have selected who you would like to know better,” he smiled. Some of these friendships will last a lifetime, and some will be like ships that pass by and never cross your path again. The only friend who will remain with you for life is your body. Respect it, treat it well. The health choices you make today will decide your future. Get regular exercise, eat healthy and stay away from tobacco were some thoughts he shared with the audience. Special mention was made of Contractor’s wife Phiroza, seated in the audience, who was a participant of the very first batch of the Programme, way back in 1987.
When he participated in the HPY batch of 1991, "we had only three options — Arts, Science and Commerce,” shared Zubin Mehta, managing director of Uniforms Unlimited, a leading uniform design and manufacturing company in India. "Things were different back then, education was different. But you have a lot more options today.”
Hailed as one of the main men behind the dugli revolution, Mehta spoke impromptu. "Take up something to your liking not just because your parents want you to do it. Take up a job, a profession that you like. Follow your own dreams, your own heart.” Don’t run after money, he counseled. "Let your heart do the thinking. Yes, money is important, but living your life is equally important. Enjoy yourself. You have only four to five years in college. Have a blast, make the most of it,” said Mehta who had been Mr HPY of his batch.
Encouraging the young audience to excel at everything they do was BPP trustee Xerxes Dastur. "The world is your oyster, and it is important that you remember your parents and teachers who have been your support system… Getting along within our community and respecting our culture, traditions and religion is the need of the hour,” he stressed.
The inaugural commenced with a short prayer by Ervad Firdaus Pavri. Among the dignitaries present that morning was deputy chief executive of the BPP Shehnaaz Khambatta and Lady Engineer High School principal Errick Elavia.