A nonagenarian walking enthusiast, a college student who won a personality contest, a carer for caregivers in hospitals and an entrepreneur who is "making a difference” were featured in Volume 7 of bawabuzz, the quarterly newsletter of the Nagpur Parsi Gymkhana. Khurshid Dalal, editor of the publication informed Parsiana on April 11, 2017 that for each issue they "look hard to feature achievers from our 450-strong community members.”
Ninety-two year old Peshotan Mehta, fondly called Uncle Pesho, participated in a walkathon organized by the Rotary Club of Nagpur on February 5, this being his 14th consecutive year of participation! A fortnight later, at an inter college cultural fest, "Vedh,” organized by R. S. Mundle Dharampeth Arts and Commerce College, Peenaz Chinoy walked away with the second prize in a personality contest.
Above, from left, Peshotan Mehta, Khushroo Poacha,
Monica Bhagwagar Top: Peenaz Chinoy (extreme right)
Khushroo Poacha, whose Seva Kitchen (see "Cooking for carers,” Parsiana, July 21, 2016) works from over seven cities with a band of volunteers who provide meals and snacks to caregivers in hospitals in over nine cities, was invited by the National Innovation Foundation to attend a three-day round table conference from March 4-6 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi, with global innovators, vice-chancellors of universities and civil servants. He spoke on "Social Innovations for large scale societal impact,” he informed Parsiana on April 10. Others present at the conference included Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakhi engineer, who spoke on his work with water conservation through ice stupas, and a director from the Grameen Bank, the Bangladeshi Nobel Prize winning microfinance organization. Poacha informed that he is keen to expand his meals-for-carers service to Bombay and reiterated he could be contacted on
poachas@gmail.com.
At the annual Power Women Awards hosted by Femina Poona, Monica Bhagwagar was recognized with an award for 2016-2017. She was also honored by Vidarbha Industries Association for being a successful entrepreneur. Bhagwagar runs a handmade paper products business.