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Sashes jostled with ties, bows with badges, stripes with squares among the riot of colors of the uniforms of the school children attending the Zochild Day (ZCD) celebrations at the Sri Shanmukhananda Auditorium on Sunday, November 30, 2014. A much awaited day in the calendar of the community’s young, the ZCD, now in its 12th year, is the brainchild of Shihan Vispy Kapadia, noted 7th dan karateka and is held under the auspices of the Zoroastrian Children’s Foundation (ZCF) of which he is chairman.
Sion was abuzz with activity witnessing over 2,500 Zoroastrian children being ferried from the length and breadth of the city, right from Thana in the north to Colaba, the southern most tip of Bombay. The minute logistics of mass transportation were undertaken by Adventure Education Tours (Mumbai) Private Limited. Headed by the husband-wife team of Sharukh and Tanaz Shroff, they ensured that every single child reached the venue by 8.30 a.m. Outstation children coming from Baroda, Poona, Dahanu, Secunderabad, Navsari, Surat, Nagpur and Ahmedabad were picked up from the railway stations a day prior, giving them an added bonus of merrymaking on November 29.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lanky lads were housed at the M. F. Cama Athornan Institute in Andheri while the Cama Convalescent Home and the Bhabha Sanatorium in Bandra hosted the lissom lasses. The extra treat for them was at Cama Baug where they had an interactive session with Ervad Parvez Bajan, the main speaker of the day, followed by lunch. It was off to Tejpal Auditorium next where the out-of-towners enjoyed a play, Savaksa ni Sex Badlai by Blazzing Fire Productions under the directorship of Vistasp Gotla. Then back to Cama Baug for fun, merriment and feasting, for a sumptuous meal catered by Jimmy Gadiwalla.
Sunday morning started with the hoisting of flags. The Indian tricolor fluttered alongside the Zochild flag, standing as silent sentinels on either side of the vast stage as Kapadia led the audience through the oath taking ceremony. Pledging to "uphold the tenets of our faith and keep the fires of our great ancient religion always burning bright,” they repeated after Kapadia. So eager were they that even when he told them, "Amna na bolta (don’t repeat now)” the children could not contain themselves and chorused in unison, "I hereby declare the 12th Zochild Day open.” He wished everyone present "Zochild Day Mubarak to you all.”
After the rendition of the Zochild anthem sung with gusto, a hush fell over the audience as veteran community singer Marzban Mehta sang Pal, pal dil ké paas (Every moment you are close to us) in tribute to the memory of Fareena, the eldest child of Kapadia and his wife Shiraz, who passed away in 1998 when she was just five-and-a-half years old. She is the main inspiration behind ZCD.
Taking over the stage was the charismatic and eloquent master of ceremonies Hoshedar Khambatta who, though residing in Dubai, makes it a point to be present on ZCD. Calling the children "our future, our hope, our treasure and our tomorrow,” who will be the "torchbearers of our wonderful community,” his words were greeted with loud applause. Heads covered with scarves, the sari clad students of the Bai Avabai F. Petit Girls’ High School sang monajats and religious songs, their mellifluous voices guided by Mehta who was accompanied by his band. From Surat came children who performed a garba. Ghagra cholis gave way to glitzy outfits as they put up a fusion dance. Cute and cherubic were the tots from Poona’s J. N. Petit Technical Institute doing a Honey Bunny item. The elder boys took over to groove to dances choreographed by themselves. Also from Poona came Benaz Kias who strutted her stuff to popular numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first keynote speaker of the day was religious scholar and principal of the Dadar Athornan Institute Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia who impressed on the young minds that "the most important things in life — happiness, contentment, peace, courage, confidence, success, prosperity and love — are connected with what is inside us and not what is outside.” Calling the kusti a "composite packet,” performing this ritual is a "full exercise of your body, mind and spirit” which acts as a boundary against evil. He likened the sacred vest to a school uniform. "Just as your school uniform gives you an identity, the sudreh gives us a religious identity, a sense of security.”
His concluding words were, "Religion… has to be embraced wholeheartedly, not half heartedly.”
Keeping the audience spellbound, literally, was young magician Zenia Mehli Bhumgara. A Merlin awardee (the highest award for a magician globally), her sleight-of-hand and deft fingers produced doves out of nowhere, turned paper roses into confetti…
Noshir Dadrawala, former Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee and charity management expert took the young and old on a visual tour of Iran by recounting our centuries’ old history that "helps us understand who we are, from where we come and what we belong to,” and the concept of light and darkness in Zoroastrianism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He ended his 30-minute talk with a plea to his young friends: "We adjusted, we adapted but most important we never gave up. There is no Alexander that is threatening us. Today there is no Arab that is threatening us. The threat is within. We are our own worst enemies. Give up that defeatist attitude, learn from this history, rise above your problems and God bless you.”  
The "Jewels of the Community” awards are given to stalwarts and this year were presented to eye surgeon Dr Keiki Mehta, Olympic sprinter and current president of the Athletics Federation of India Adille Sumariwalla, holistic and fitness guru Mickey Mehta, Parsi stage artiste Pervez Mehta, and community historian and author Marazban Giara. The Zochild Youth awardees were para games table tennis champion Yezdi Bhamgara, jockey Yasshan Khambatta, Mercedes-Benz service advisor Russi Boyce, web designer Sohrab Vakharia and magician Bhumgara. Fourteen students from Stds III to XII were selected to receive the Child Excellence Award: Aaryan Jogina (maths olympiad), Darius Jogina (art), Ervad Farzad Driver (religious studies), Ervad Ardeshirshaw Nariman (athletics), Menita Lala (athletics/football), Minnat Lala (equestrian), Cheragh Kamode (individual kata), Zareik Irani (abacus/spelling), Pourushaspa Bulsara (class improvement), Zeshah Davar (shot put), Zarastyn Mistry (football), Taronish Patva (basketball), Barzin Contractor (music) and Urvaksh Irani (Cambridge topper).
The formal felicitations over, Diana Vakharia from Navsari performed a contemporary solo dance which was followed by a political satire Achhé Din Ayéngé put up by the students of the Activity High School.
In his brief 10-minute talk the third keynote speaker Mickey Mehta stressed the importance of the mantra Khshnaothra Ahurahe Mazdao. Mehta (who was introduced as "an institution personified”) recounted his school days at Nasik’s Boys’ Town School and remembered the sage counsel of his principal, the "much-loved” Bejon Desai. "Jaaré évvu kai bhi thai, ké aiiyya ké tah man nai laagé, ekkaj mantra chhè (when something happens or your mind is wavering, there is only one mantra) that will transform you and transcend you: Khshnaothra Ahurahe Mazdao. He urged the youngsters to "grow up and contribute to the community, to mankind. You are so unique in your own individual talent, find that, know that, believe in yourself and be super successful. Nothing can stop you... Let your spirit triumph.”
Reaching the top of the stage and into the hearts of the audience were the girls of Avabai Petit School who did the rope malkhambh. Tutored under the eagle eye of their instructor Ervad Marazban Maney they performed each twist and turn with precision, poise and much practice. After felicitating Maney and Yasmin Charna, superintendent of the School, Kapadia mentioned that while doing karate moves, students always use mats. "But these children here were performing without any mats! If anyone had fallen, God forbid, they would have broken their heads!”   
A broken string of his guitar didn’t deter Rusi Karanjia and his band The Crooked Groove from belting out English numbers.
A wholesome vegetarian lunch satiated growling tummies. The razzmatazz started post lunch. Avalanche, a band of three S. B. Bharucha Baug youngsters — Nashaita Patrawalla (keyboard), Yohanne Irani (drums) and Xerxes Taleyarkhan (guitar) set the mood for the remainder of the afternoon. The huge, cavernous, two-tiered hall reverberated and echoed with claps, screams, jeers and whistles as each school or colony cheered and egged on their peers during all the performances.
Girton High School girls shook a leg to the popular Gujarati number Maara sam, maara sam, mané laagéch bairaono gam (I’m afraid I’m not appealing to women) which was choreographed by ex-student Dinaz Driver. Khushnaz Irani led the girls in the second item, a Hollywood dance mix.
Karaoke king Zubin Sanjana brought the audience to its feet. His rendering of popular old and the latest Hindi film songs saw youngsters wriggling in their seats while some were bold enough to dance in the aisles.
Choreographed by two Std IX students, Kaiwan Davar and Sherangej Driver, The Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution boys showcased their nimble footed talent. It was then the turn of Contractor who came all the way from Baroda. His deft and nimble fingers flew over the Casio keyboard to give those present an audio treat. The finale to the day’s program was performed by the youngsters of Malcolm Baug. DJ Osh with his pulsating and feet-stomping music ensured that there was never a dull moment.
In her vote of thanks, Sanaya Kapadia made a special mention of Scylla Vatcha, Persis Madon Vatcha, Aban and Khodu Irani, Drs Zenobia and Keiki Mehta among others for always coming forward and giving in cash or kind.
In his message published in the souvenir released on the occasion Kapadia acknowledged: "In all situations remember that power can be easily abused, but true power is one that empowers others as well. It is easy to add to one’s own knowledge, but the truly enlightened person is the one who brings wisdom and light to all minds.
"As we come together today in a renewed spirit of oneness and cheer, let us together celebrate the many blessings that life has given us. Each day let us bless our homes, our parents, our siblings, our families, our friends, our places of work and worship. Life is filled with complaints and petty grievances, but if you focus always upon your blessings, your life will overflow with abundance.”
The bedrock of ZCF (a registered public charitable trust) is Kapadia’s organizing committee comprising trustees Perviz F. Dotivala, Perin S. Bagli, Zenobia P. Daroga and Shiraz Kapadia. Lending their expertise as committee members are Silloo S. Commissariat, Khorshed S. Kapadia, Diana D. Marfatia, Urvax and Yasmin Dhanda, Kobad Kerawalla, Dinaz Raimalwala, Veera Mundroina, Marzban Mehta, Hoshedar F. Khambatta, Dilnavaz B. Billimoria, Hutoxi D. Aibara, Nancy Dalal and Kashmira Kapadia.
As the words of the ZCD anthem rang out… "Parsi children are we and we’re proud of that fact/Part of a great community, there’s no denying that. We gather each year to proudly proclaim, From north or south or east or west amé Parsi chhaiyé (we are Parsis),” with a bag of goodies tucked under an arm and a satisfied smile on their faces at the prospect of the Baskin Robbins ice cream cup awaiting them in their respective buses, the children went home looking forward to marking yet another ZCD in their 2015 calendar.