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"The streetlights were turned off. Traffic was halted for almost one-and-a-half hours. Forty-three volunteers were making paavis” for the sacred Tavri fire that was on the last leg of its journey from the Vachaghandhy Agiary on Hughes Road to its final abode at the Shapoorji Fakirji Jokhi Agiary in Godrej Baug on December 21, 1999. The highlights of the momentous journey when the fire was shifted from Navsari to Bombay were recalled by chief guest Dinshaw Tamboly, chairman of the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trusts, at the 20th anniversary celebrations. An estimated 5,000 community members had enthusiastically participated in the consecration of the fire temple in the pre-dawn hours as against the 20th  anniversary event that was delayed by nearly 40 minutes as there were barely 50 people in attendance at the scheduled start at 6.30 p.m. at Eco Park in Godrej Baug on December 16, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cavalcade of 16 Sumos from Navsari, via Sanjan to Bombay was accompanied by police escort throughout the journey. En route, as they crossed Andheri at 4 a.m. around 40 people from the Salsette Parsi Colony were lined along the road, enthusiastically waving out, added Tamboly who had played a crucial role in getting permissions and funds from the Jokhi family for the fire to be enthroned in Bombay. "This sacred fire is 181 years old,” Tamboly impressed on the gathering. It remained at its original abode in Tavri for 126 years after which it was taken to Navsari in 1964. Tamboly remembered being among the 100 odd devotees who had witnessed the first shift as a 19-year-old.
"A fire temple is a storehouse of all positive energies in the universe,” mentioned Farhad Hozdar, president of the Godrej Baug Residents Welfare Association (GBRWA). "If you only pray when you are in trouble, you are in trouble,” he quoted an unknown author. While the baugs preserve the "unique ethos” of the community, "they are cocooning youth from the outside world. There is no urge to compete, to excel… There is a mindset for freebies,” he observed. Reminded of Gandhiji’s words, he urged the youth to "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
He referred to the solid waste management pilot project introduced by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet in Godrej Baug in December 2019 with the installation of three composters and a shredder. Its success though would depend on all households taking their responsibility seriously by "segregating waste at home and safeguarding our environment,” stated Hozdar.
"Most of us live mechanically without questioning the purpose of our life,” observed keynote speaker Dr Vispi Jokhi, medical director at the Masina Hospital since 2016 who has put the institution "on the path to revival and progress” with a vision "to become the first choice for value and healthcare.” According to Jokhi, Masina, as an institution founded by Dr Hormasji Masina as a four-bedded hospital in 1902, epitomizes "brand Parsi… charity and ethical practice.” The mental health facility and burns unit continue at Masina despite being loss making propositions because the management is convinced they add value to society. At their Hospital, "SMART goals are meant to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.”
 In his address on "Giving Back to the Society through Positive Action,” Jokhi counseled, "Find your passion (swadharma) in life. Incentive (or rewards) should be the byproduct of initiative,” he believed. Alluding to the importance of "positive choices in our personal, everyday life that could make a difference to the world,” he recommended pursuing a humane lifestyle that included water conservation, rainwater harvesting, care for animals and vegetation. "Each single day you become vegan, you contribute food for 12 hungry people in the world,” stressed the vegan. He referred to the newly installed 500 kg bio waste plant at Masina that will generate enough gas to fuel one kitchen. Apparently Rustom Baug and Jer Baug in the vicinity have been invited to transport their bio waste to Masina too.
Concerned that "in our fast paced life we neglect to care for the vulnerable sections,” he referred to the volunteer opportunities offered by Masina and the Ahura Support Group that looks after the differently abled. Commending the community in Calcutta for introducing a buddy system where seniors are offered support, Jokhi asked rhetorically, "I don’t know why we can’t do this in our own baugs?”
The evening celebrations started with a hama anjuman maachi in the Uzirin gah followed by a jashan at the Agiary. The function at Eco Park commenced with a humbandagi and included a welcome song and other presentations by the children of Godrej Baug trained by Jer Nargolwalla and other seniors. For achievements in academics, sports and other fields, several residents were felicitated at the hands of Tamboly and Jokhi. The second edition of Godrej Baug Connect was released on the occasion with credit given to Nilufer Nasirabadwala, chairperson of the Membership Committee for taking the initiative. While honorary general secretary Shahrukh Bilimoria served as master of ceremonies, vice president of the Association Neville Daroga proposed a vote of thanks.                        
                                   Parinaz M. Gandhi