"The shopaholics indulged in some of the latest fashion trends… funky accessories to glittery makeovers;” others "treated their taste buds and made their bellies happy with multiple cuisines and tasty treats offered by (various) brands,” wrote Pourushasp Mehta about the first event of ZYNG (Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation) after a new committee was formed in August/September last year. Held at Rustom Baug on January 25, 2020, the event titled "The BuzZYNG Flea” was attended by "over 800 Zoroastrians of all age groups,” noted Mehta. He wrote that the recently formed committee consisted of "like-minded individuals who had the zest to do something for the youth of our community, just like the earlier one… (We) ZYNG 2.0 will continually provide a platform for bringing Zoroastrian youth closer,” noted Mehta.
Meads (alcoholic beverages) and wines added buzz to the event, narrated Mehta. Entertainment was provided by songsters Shanaya Boyce, Khurshed Mogrelia, Sarosh Sidhva, Rehan Balaporia and Hushad Khan, backed up by disc jockey Zubin Fanibanda. "To top it all, (committee member and choreographer) Burzin Engineer and his crew of Khushnaaz Irani, Benafsha Kavarana, Kurush Dubash, Vaspan Bharucha, Jennifer Batliwalla, Dawood Qureshi and Fiona Karbhari enthralled the crowd with their energizing performances,” noted Mehta’s write-up. The 16th East Bombay Zoroastrian Scout Group engaged the kids and preteens with creative games. Cooking, tent pitching and observation-focused games encouraged team work, while the very small tots were occupied with games suitable for their age.
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1st row: Cakes to celebrate the new avatar of Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation;
2nd row, from l: Jim Sarbh, Benafsha Soonawalla, Shanaya Boyce, Hushad Khan, Khurshed Mogrelia,
Sarosh Sidhva and Rehan Balaporia at their inaugural event;
3rd row, from l, committee members, Pourushasp Mehta (standing extreme l)
and Burzin Engineer (seated 2nd row center); Event photos: Yazad Karai, Talisman Studios
dancers and an appreciative audience Photo: Jamshed Havewala
Actor Jim Sarbh spoke about what it meant "being a Parsi in the entertainment industry. He briefly went through his experiences in cinema and also touched on some advice he had for those interested,” noted Mehta. Those gathered included "some eminent personalities like MTV video jockey Benafsha Soonawalla, choreographer and ‘dance master’ Marzi Pestonji, model and actress Sanaya Pithawalla.” Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees Armaity Tirandaz, Viraf Mehta and Xerxes Dastur were present, as was former BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta, "to encourage the new committee of ZYNG 2.0,” Pourushasp noted.
"ZYNG 2.0 is working on an event on ‘Safety First whilst Riding Motorcycles’ and then an event to celebrate (Jamshedi) Navroz,” noted Pourushasp. Besides him and Engineer, the new committee includes collegians Farad Daruwalla, Delshad Navalmaneck, Burjis Zaveri and Fanibanda; children’s fitness trainer Fiona Karbhari; tax consultant Farhad Cooper; psychologist Boyce; business advisor Delzin Irani; entrepreneur and designer Zenya Pavri; hair salon owner Bianca Engineer; human resources manager Natalia Dalal.
ZYNG, in an earlier avatar had served as the youth wing of the BPP. Formed in 2009 to facilitate interaction among youth, the association was severed in November 2016 (see "Parting ways,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, December 21, 2016). BPP chairman Yazdi Desai had told the DNA that "BPP spent over one crore rupees on ZYNG. Provided them a separate office. It has basically only funded Viraf’s (Mehta) Parsi political ambitions... ZYNG were ashamed of associating with BPP as even their printed stationery had no mention of BPP. There was no accountability, there was no benefit to BPP’s objectives. The disassociation was inevitable.”
Engineer informed Parsiana on February 9 that "neither the BPP nor any other body is involved with ZYNG (now)… This group is funded by benevolent donors and is made up of our youth, run by our youth, for our youth. Private donors have very graciously and open-heartedly stepped forward to help us give a social platform to the Parsi/Irani youth of our community.”