LAHORE: Internationally -renowned artist, social crusader and peace activist Jimmy Engineer on Tuesday said that the sole purpose behind his goodwill tours of different countries and displaying his creative art is to tell the world that Pakistan has great people, great culture and great artists.

He said that displaying his artwork in foreign countries carries a message as lots of people do not know about Pakistan and this is the best way to convey the message.

Jimmy said this while delivering a talk about his life, art and Pakistan during the display of his creative work while interacting with visitors at his talk in Ontario. The event was organised by his cousin Neely Engineer and was a great success as hundreds of community members including Pakistan’s Consul General Imran Siddique, members of the Canadian parliament and councillors also showed up.

Jimmy said he wears four hats. He is a social worker, an artist, a human rights worker and a peace activist. “As an artist, I am an idealistic person, as a social worker I have to be very compassionate as I have to help the people, as a human rights activist I have to fight for the people’s rights so, I have to be aggressive and as a peace activist I have to talk about peace,” he said.

According to a message received here, Jimmy highly praised those who visited the venue of the exhibition to view his paintings. The visitors included Senator Salma Ataullah Jan, MP Iqra Khalid, MPP Khalid Rasheed, Consul General of Turkey in Canada Erdeniz, Flato Developments Inc President Shakir Rehmatullah, Canada-Pakistan Business Council President Samir Dossal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mindshare Workspace Mississauga Robert Martellaci and Ontario Zoroastrian President Neville Patrawala.

The artwork displayed in the exhibition, which has since concluded after running successfully for more than a week. It depicted not just colours of Pakistani culture but also the suffering of a person in need. Some of the artwork took onlookers to the countryside and paintings of the Mughal architecture.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/10/09/only-travel-world-to-market-pakistan-jimmy-engineer/

The history of a behemoth that is also the history of Indian industry

T.R. Doongaji hails from Nagpur, the place where Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata started his first venture, Empress Mills, in 1877. When he was around six years old, Doongaji’s cousin would take him to the fire temple where, before entering, he would ask him to touch his head to a bust of “the founder” placed on a pedestal. “I did what he asked me to,” says Doongaji. “Today, I realise that my entire identity is this name.” A J.N. Tata scholar, he spent 52 years (42 in executive capacity) with Tata Group and was managing director in three group companies.

Article by Rachna Tyagi | TNN

A few years ago, some politicians in Nagpur wanted to rename the convocation hall of Nagpur University, the J.N. Tata Hall, to a local leader’s name. A friend from Nagpur called Doongaji, asking if he knew about it. Doongaji dug into the Tata Central Archives to see how the hall was given the name. “We found that the Empress Mills Nagpur had contributed to the funding of the hall, and we had the complete record. We recently won that case in the High Court. I will not allow anybody doing anything with Tata’s name or property,” says the proud Parsi.

Few companies command this kind of loyalty from its people. And, Doongaji attributes it to the leadership of Tata Group. “Between the founder and Cyrus [Mistry], there have been four chairmen—three were knighted and one is a Bharat Ratna,” says Doongaji. “How many groups can claim that quality of leadership?”

It all started when Jamsetji bought a ten-acre piece of marshy land from the Nagpur king and set up Empress Mills. (It was registered in Bombay in 1874 as Central India Spinning, Weaving and Manufacturing Company Limited. Jamsetji had started a trading company in 1868.)

Jamsetji did not want his employees to work in the squalid conditions that he had seen in Lancashire’s cotton mills. So, at Empress Mills, he ensured proper ventilation and had an apparatus installed for humidifying air. Sprinklers were installed to reduce damage by accidental fires. He also set up a provident fund scheme, the first of its kind in India, and an accident compensation fund.

When Jamsetji returned to Bombay, he had made enough money and he turned his attention to purchasing property. Soon, he became one of the wealthiest men in the country. He then began investing in the industrial future of India and drew up plans for many ambitious projects.

The first family: (Standing from left) Jamsetji Tata’s younger son Ratan, Jamsetji and Ratan’s wife; (sitting from left) Jamsetji’s wife Hirabai, Dorabji’s wife Meherbai and Dorabji.

During a visit to the US, at the behest of industrialist George Westinghouse, Jamsetji saw the hydroelectric project at the Niagara Falls. Jamsetji had been planning a hydroelectric project in India and the visit firmed up the decision. In the Lonavala and Khandala areas of the Western Ghats, which gets one of the heaviest rainfalls in the world and has the right kind of soil, valleys and slopes, he began the work for the Tata Hydroelectric Supply Company. Gigantic pipes forced water to the foot of the mountain at Khopoli, where at the power house, it would be converted into electrical energy. This project turned out be a game-changer, as it provided electricity to the growing city of Bombay.

Tata Hydroelectric Supply Company was registered as a public concern on November 7, 1910, and it commissioned the project on February 11, 1915, when Lord Willingdon, the governor of Bombay, inaugurated it. “Today, the major chunk of our power is being supplied to industries, hospitals and residences,” says Rajesh G. Naik, head of operations and maintenance, Tata Power. The total capacity of the plant is 447mw.

A big attraction at the project is the 14-acre garden in Lonavala. Jamsetji had a keen interest in gardens, and he brought home plants and seeds from all over the world. When the steel plant at Jamshedpur was being constructed, he wrote a detailed letter to his son, Dorabji, on the fast-growing variety of trees that he wanted him to plant on the site. Said Vivek Vishwasrao, head of biodiversity at Tata Power: “We fall in the northern part of the Western Ghats which is a major bio-diversity hotspot. Some of the species of plants, animals and birds found here are not found anywhere in the world.” Similarly, the beautiful Tata Baug, built in 1891 on 22 acres in Navsari, is maintained by Dr Rohinton Avari, who has a doctoral degree in landscape horticulture.

Jamsetji was an “omnivorous reader”, and a fan of Dickens and Thackeray. “He was fond of driving, a good judge of horseflesh, and duly proud of his well-bred Arabs, English Hackneys or Hungarians, and of his smart turnout. At times he enjoyed sailing and boating, and entertaining his friends at picnic parties,” writes Frank Harris in his book Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata: A Chronicle of His Life.

When it comes to ‘firsts’, however, Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata’s achievements stand out. From obtaining India’s first pilot’s licence to starting the first cancer hospital in the country, J.R.D. Tata sowed the seeds for a better India. His father, R.D. Tata, was a nephew of Jamsetji’s mother, and his mother, Suzanne Briere, a French citizen. He was born in Paris and spent his childhood in France. After his father’s death, he succeeded him to become a director of Tata Sons at the age of 22.

J.R.D. became Tata Sons chairman in 1938, at the age of 34. The group had 14 companies then. When he stepped down in 1991, there were 95. But his contributions went well beyond Tata Group and its businesses. For instance, he helped Homi Bhabha set up India’s atomic energy programme. Then he helped Homi Bhabha’s brother Jamshed Bhabha set up the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai.

Matter of loyalty: T.R. Doongaji | Janak Bhat

The brightest star among the companies that J.R.D. started was Tata Airlines (which later became Air India), as it quickly earned a global reputation as one of the finest carriers. “J.R.D. would always say that Air India was his first love, and I would hope that he would say that Tata Steel was his second,” says J.J. Irani, former managing director of Tata Steel. “He would laugh at that, but he never gave me an answer.”

Irani says J.R.D. was parsimonious. “Even though he was at the helm of the Tata Group for 53 years, he never owned a personal plane,” he says. “The house he stayed in was not his own; it was rented.”

“J.R.D. was a man of principles,” says Irani. “One day he came to office looking glum, and at lunch he said, ‘I’ve lost my pen set. I was very attached to it.’ I made a note of it. A few days later, I was in London, and I dug it out, bought it and on my return gave it to him. His first impression was that of great happiness. ‘Yes, exactly like mine,’ he said. Then I saw his expression changing. ‘No, Jamshed, this would be breaking my principle of accepting gifts from officers,’ he said. I said, ‘But, no one would know.’ And he said something very important, ‘Yes, I know you won’t tell anybody, but I would know, and that’s not acceptable to me.’ He returned it to me. I still have it.”

J.R.D. worked through empowerment, and was a master delegator. “He created stalwarts like [Sumant] Moolgaokar, [Russi] Mody, [Ajit] Kerkar and [Darbari] Seth,” says Doongaji. “He operated through empowering people.”

Ratan Naval Tata, who took over from J.R.D. in 1991, had an entirely different task at hand. “Liberalisation suddenly happened when Ratan Tata took over, and Tata holding in Tata Steel was just four per cent. Ratan had the task of protecting it. So, again, consolidation had to happen. He actually insulated us from becoming sitting ducks for takeovers. It was a big task, and he has achieved that,” says Doongaji.

It is said that many of Ratan Tata’s business moves were not just cold, calculated decisions. “He is a person who uses his right brain a lot,” says R. Gopalakrishnan, author & corporate adviser at Mindworks and a former Tata employee. “Most managers are trained to use their left brain, to be logical, analytical and nobody uses only his left or his right brain. Artists and musicians are trained to use their right brain. Ratan Tata had an unusual combination, I found, where he would allow enough play for his intuition. Maybe coming out of his personality or his training in architecture.”

Ratan Tata spearheaded the group’s global pursuits. It was not just the big-bang purchases like Jaguar-Land Rover or Corus Steel, but also a well-thought-out expansion leveraging the group’s strengths. Tata Chemicals, for instance, had been in the business of salt and soda ash for decades. Then a time came when it was felt that it should start looking for markets other than India. “At that point of time, Ratan Tata had the view that we could be in counter-cyclical products or in counter-cyclical markets; all markets do not go into a downturn at the same time,” says R. Mukundan, managing director, Tata Chemicals. “And, the second view was that if India was going to be open, everybody was going to come in. We were strong enough in India; are we not going to go and address them? Are we just going to be sitting here?”

Ratan Tata | Amey Mansabdar

Tata Chemicals’ strategy was to link the lowest-cost production centre in the world with the most attractive market through the best supply chain. Today, Tata Chemicals’ biggest operation is in Wyoming, US. “It is two and a half million tonnes of naturally mined soda ash. It is a brilliant acquisition which has played out very well for the company; it has been profitable from day one and continues to pay us dividends,” says Mukundan.

One of Tata Group’s biggest investments in India has been the Rs 25,000 crore steel plant in Kalinganagar in Odisha. It is nothing less than a new beginning for the steel giant. “With 3,000 acres of land, we are expanding from three million to eight million tonnes, and we can easily double that if we have the appetite, the money and the balance sheet,” says T.V. Narendran, CEO and managing director, Tata Steel. “It will be one of the most efficient steel plants in the world once we have completed the expansion at eight million tonnes.”

Tata’s future, however, is expected to be less dependent on the traditional businesses; but even the future businesses will be dependent on the Tata brand. “In the aerospace industry, credibility, quality and dependability are extremely crucial, and there is very strong resistance to move from one supplier to another because these things are critical,” says Banmali Agrawala, president (infrastructure, defence and aerospace), about how it got to do business with the likes of Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky. “So, it is not just cost; there is a whole ecosystem of trust that goes with it. I think we have built that over the last seven years, and in many cases, we are now the single-source suppliers to many of the global OEMs.” Recently, for instance, Boeing was very happy that Tata delivered an order for the fuselage for the Apache helicopters ahead of schedule.

Agrawala says Ratan Tata is a rockstar. He recalls an incident when they were travelling together and talking about planes. “He knows a lot about planes,” says Agrawala. “He educated me about what kind of fighter aircraft featured in the movie Top Gun. I would ask him, how can you make out and he would say, ‘Look at this particular feature, and that’s how you make it out’.” He says Ratan’s mild demeanour is not to be mistaken for weakness. “If we are bidding for a project, we have got to win; if we are trying to buy something, we need to end up buying it; and we better not fail,” says Agrawala.

Guenter Butschek, who had a long career at Mercedes-Benz and a shorter one at Airbus, visited India in 2015 on Diwali week. He loved it, and concluded that if he got a job offer, he and his wife would be “ready for incredible India”. He got many offers, and it was Tata Motors that attracted his attention. He joined the company in 2016, and quickly realised that it had lost a little bit of track and market share in the past few years, and there was “some work required in order to stop the bleeding, to turn the company around and to get it back to its old glory”. “You cannot continuously bleed as a company while trying to reach this higher purpose as far as community is concerned,” he says.

Butschek was amazed at the unique corporate culture at Tata. “The most striking part is Tata’s culturally embedded commitment to the community,” he says. “To say that I am working for a company which is a huge economic powerhouse—but at the same time, a powerhouse as far as nation building and the community support is concerned—made it a very attractive offering.”

Butschek has a clear plan for Tata Motors. “The first quarter [of the next fiscal] is when you will be seeing the Harrier [compact SUV], in its five-seater version, on the road as a diesel version, and in September you are going to see the seven-seater. The premium hatch 45X, which has attracted the attention of many, is going to be in the market in the second half of the first quarter.”

Tata’s 150 years of existence has been the history of Indian industry. And there is only one reason it continues to be as relevant. “The first word associated with Tata is trust,” says Doongaji. “It is the most trusted name. In any country, what is the most important thing that makes you trustworthy? Currency.” Jamsetji Tata is the only businessman to appear on the currency of a country. “You will have Washington or Lincoln, but you will not find a businessman,” he says. “On his 175th birth anniversary, the government of India released a 0100 coin and a 05 coin with Jamsetji Tata’s face on it. What does it say? Epitome of trust, that’s us.

Located in Karachi, Jamshed Road was established in 1922. Stretching between M.A. Jinnah Road and Jail Road, most of the houses that once stood on Jamshed Road have been demolished and replaced by high-rise apartment complexes and commercial enterprises, such as auto repair workshops, banks and grocery stores.

Jamshed Road is named after Jamshed Nusserwanjee, a prominent Parsi philanthropist of his time. Fondly known as ‘the Builder of Modern Karachi’ Nusserwanjee was the first mayor of Karachi and the president of Karachi Municipality where he served for 12 years and transformed the city into a great and important metropolis. He also developed a first cooperative housing society (known as Jamshed Quarters) which is located there, catering to the city’s growing middle class. What is more is that he was a close friend of Mr Jinnah.

As you drive down Jamshed Road, you will see remnants of small houses built in classic British colonial architecture. Not only that, once you step off the road, you will see quarter-like houses that were once used by the officers and government employees in the Raj period, one of them is known as 1865, which according to the residents, was used as a storage place for arms and ammunition by the British army .

Jamshed Road is home to a string of desi cuisine, which offers biryani, haleem, nihari as well as samosas and pakorays. A few bakeries are also located there for lovers of all things sweet. Recreational avenues are limited to a few parks. However, if you go to the adjacent M.A. Jinnah Road there you will find several parks, educational institutions, healthcare facilities as well as shopping and recreational avenues, in addition to the well-known iconic Quaid’s mausoleum, Islamia College and TDF Ghar.

Although traffic, hustle bustle and rapid commercialisation can take its toll, Jamshed Road still retains its old-world charm.

https://writerlogophile.wordpress.com/2018/10/14/in-memory-of-a-parsi-philanthropist/

Global Working Group (GWG)

Proposed Scheme for Welfare of Senior Citizen Mobeds

The Global Working Group (GWG), at their annual meetings, have decided to extend financial support to Mobeds, who having catered to the spiritual needs of the community, unfortunately in their old age continue to subsist in economically challenged circumstances.

The Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hong Kong, Canton & Macao have taken the initiative and successfully managed to convince a foreign based corporate to commit financial support for this proposal.

It has been decided by GWG – ZCK HK, to extend financial support to:

1. Economically challenged Mobed Couples and Mobeds who are single or widowed, 60 years and over whose total income is less than Rs.50,000 per month.
2. Economically challenged widows of Mobeds, 60 years and over whose total income is less than Rs. 25,000 per month.

The WZO Trust Funds have been requested to compile a Pan India list of Mobeds who meet the eligibility criteria mentioned above and are interested in receiving support, which will be disbursed on a quarterly basis.

Interested applicants will need to make available two passport size photographs, and should it be thought necessary, to make available bank pass books and other relevant documents for verification.

As the intent is to launch the proposed scheme from the quarter Jan / March 2019 onwards, Mobed couples, single or widowed Mobeds and widows of Mobeds, meeting the eligibility criteria and interested in receiving the support may please write immediately mentioning age, income, attach two photographs of each applicant and send the same to the address below, no later than November 30, 2018:

The WZO Trust Funds,
C-1, Hermes House,
Mama Parmanand Marg,
Opera House,
Mumbai 400 004.

GUJARAT EXPRESS & FLYING RANEE SUPERFAST TRAIN GIVEN HALT AT SANJAN STATION

ON 16th NOVEMBER, 2018 FOR ONE DAY ONLY

In order to facilitate members of Parsi community to attend the celebration of their Historic Annual Sanjan Day, Western Railway will provide stoppage of 2 minutes to Train No. 22953/22954 Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad Gujarat Express and Train No. 12921/12922 Mumbai Central – Surat Flying Ranee Superfast Express at Sanjan railway station on Friday, 16th November, 2018 for one day only.

CPRO, Western Railway forwarded by Mehernosh Fitter +919892301884

ZOROASTRIANS ADDED TO THE NATIONAL SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE

For over two decades, the ZTFE has been lobbying the UK Government to include a Zoroastrian representative as part of the faiths and belief groups at the annual National Service of Remembrance held at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, on Sunday closest to 11th November.

I am glad to report that on Wednesday 17th October, the UK Government website, link below, reported that Zoroastrians will be represented from this year on Sunday 11th November 2018, being the centenary of the WWI Armistice.

This breaking news was reported in the press, including the The Times, Wednesday 17th October 2018, on page 25, as attached. Also the Business Standard in India, as pasted below.

It should be noted that this happy outcome would not have been possible without the relentless campaigning of our patron Lord Karan F Bilimoria CBE on behalf of our community. We must recognise and record our thanks!

Also our gratitude to the Faith Minister Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), for pursuing this matter with his counterpart at the Department of Culture, Sports and Media (DCMS).

Best wishes

Malcolm Deboo
President – ZTFE

Click Here for the link to the UK Government Website

Stressing on probity in public life, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on Monday hailed late PM Lal Bahadur Shastri for his “integrity and moral uprightness” and said the education system needed to highlight contribution of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Addressing a gathering after presenting the 19th Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration to eminent jurist Fali S Nariman, Naidu said Shastri didn’t have two sets of principles one for public consumption and other for personal life.
“Even after 52 years of his demise, we still remember him for his values, commitment, courage, and also dedication,” he said.
He said India has a rich tradition of respecting women dating back to the Vedas and Upanishads and that the country should not lose sight of such historical traditions.
Nariman said he was happy “not just because Lal Bahadur Shastri is a great name in India’s history, but also because it (the award) is to be presented by another great son of India, Venkaiah Naidu”.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vp-confers-lal-bahadur-shastri-award-on-fali-nariman/articleshow/66324619.cms

Mistry Ventures LLP to invest in and nurture start-ups across the world

“Mistakes,Failures, Insults,Frustration,Rejection…Are part of Progress and Growth. Nobody has ever achieved anything worthy without facing these.”

All of us has watched

The mass migration

Of innocent human beings

Fleeing war hatred violence

They are herded like cattle

Through or stopped at  the gates

As though being taken to the

Slaughter house to meet their fate!!

Some of us”Zoroastians” (Women)

Are suffering the same fate

When arriving at the juncture

Whether to follow or not

Follow the Faith?

Those who believe

In a Pure Chaste Religion

If at the gates one was

Denied entry or one’s

“Precious cargo”

Snatched  away

What would your

Options be?

Defy the law or with

Your precious cargo

Return back to your country

Atash Behrams & Agiaries

Can someday be rebuild

But the utter sheer destruction

Of humanity as well

The cost can never be “Refilled”.

Open one’s eyes wide

Observe the world

Around you

Very cozy to shut

The world out

And live in your

Cozy little cacoon

Choicest Happiness

Farida Bam

The pop-up curated by Perzen Patel, known for her catering service The Bawi Bride Kitchen, will feature dishes authentic to the community and common to a Parsi wedding menu

Mamaji’s curry and rice

If marriages are about two people, then Indian weddings are about two people, their families, and possibly, everyone on the mailing list, too. The Parsi community is not be left out either, offering an exquisite feast at lagans.ADVERTISINGinRead invented by Teads

“I am from a catering background and when we were in college, we had to do 50 outdoors each year. Everybody wanted to go for Parsi weddings because that’s where we would get to taste the best food, and especially those big patra ni pomfrets. So, Parsi food has always been something that I really enjoyed,” shares Sumit Gambhir, co-owner of Bombay Vintage at Colaba, ahead of a month-long pop-up, Lagan Nu Bhonu, beginning today at the restaurant. The pop-up curated by Perzen Patel, known for her catering service The Bawi Bride Kitchen, will feature dishes authentic to the community and common to a Parsi wedding menu.

Kolah nu achaar na pattice

“You are likely to find dishes like the patra ni machchi, jardaloo chicken, and pulao dal at a Parsi wedding. And while this pop-up is about wedding food, it is also about the more rarer dishes that you would find at a Parsi wedding. Earlier, guests or relatives settled overseas would come and stay with the family and the wedding would become a three-to-four-day affair. So, these dishes are the ones that would be served to guests for lunch or dinner at home, rather than the food that was prepared for the main ceremony,” Patel clarifies. And this comes through in the eclectic menu with dishes such as kolah nu achaarna pattice, a traditional carrot and dry-fruit pickle that she has re-imagined as a cutlet, Mamaiji’s curry and rice, a prawn curry recipe Patel inherited from her grandmother, and dhandaar and lagan no patio, a tangy tomato curry served with rice and a Parsi version of the yellow dal, that will be on offer.

Perzen Patel

Not long ago, Gambhir also hosted a pop-up highlighting traditional fare from the kitchens of the city’s diverse Catholic communities in the city, from Goans to the East Indians. “We are inspired by the communities and the people who have helped build Bombay as a city. People tend to think about chaats and street food when they think of food in the city, but there is so much more. We are trying to collaborate with people who are passionate about their culinary heritage and who come from different backgrounds,” he says, reflecting on what urged him to host these regionally inclined pop ups.

ON: Today, 12 pm to 1 am
AT: Indian Mercantile Mansion, Regal Circle, Colaba.
CALL: 22880017

Suman Mahfuz Quazi – https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-food-month-long-feast-in-colaba-celebrates-parsi-lagan-fare/19933195

A rehearsal session at Drona Natya Mandal at Dankaur in Greater Noida; Parsi theatre is known for giving importance to width of the stage, number of curtains and chandeliers and wooden cutouts.(Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Purblind to the shimmer of metropolitan cities and away from modern-day art spaces, a Parsi theatre group in Dankaur, a small town in west Uttar Pradesh, has been cultivating a culture of theatre among its people and weaving in social messages through their performances for over 90 years.

Every monsoon, during Janmashtami, Hindus and Muslims sit with each other inside the premises of a temple to cheer for the artistes of Drona Natya Mandal, the local Parsi theatre group, which has enthralled audiences with its social, historical and religious plays over the years.

To reach Dankaur, one has to take a left turn towards a service road, about 15 kilometres after entering the Yamuna Expressway from Zero Point in Greater Noida, which leads to a dilapidated archway — welcoming you to the sleepy town. Dankaur, like many other small towns in India, remains relatively unknown, much like the vibrant culture of its people and the rich tradition of its performance arts. Here, the two communities bond over festivities and music as the town, with a population of about 15,000-16,000 people, cherishes the handful of artistes who have become local celebrities in their own right.

“The people of Dankaur have been anchored to each other since centuries and it has been made possible due to the common culture of music and performing arts. The theatre group continues to escalate that legacy and does the important job of bringing communities together,” says Qadir Khan, a resident and social activist from Dankaur.

The theatre group organises five plays every year during the 12-day Janmashtami celebrations at the Dronacharya temple. The temple complex, consisting of five to six smaller temples and a large temple for Guru Dronacharya, is the principal community centre in Dankaur, where people from all communities come to celebrate festivals. It was in the news recently when police officers had to be deployed after the district wing of the Hindu Yuva Vahini had objected to the long-standing tradition of organising Qawwali inside the temple premises.

A view of Drona Natya Mandali which is 93-year-old Parsi theatre group in Dankaur, in Greater Noida. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

“We try to keep the content (of the plays) relatable to our audiences because of the mixed population, which is why our historical and social plays set in the Mughal or the British era are people’s favourites. Among our famous plays are ‘Veer Haqiqat Rai’, ‘Sikandar Poros’, ‘Amar Singh Rathod’, ‘BA Pass Mazdoor’ and ‘Danveer Karna’. One of our most memorable characters has been a Qazi in the play ‘Veer Haqiqat Rai’ — people have memorised the character’s sublime dialogues,” Manoj Tyagi, president, Drona Natya Mandal, says.

The theatre group, comprising 25 members, all men from Dankaur, has performed over 150 different plays since its foundation in 1923 by late Mangat Ram, who hailed from Sikandarabad and has worked with Prithvi Raj Kapoor in erstwhile Bombay before returning to his roots, as per credentials seen by HT.

Parsi theatre art form was introduced by Parsi artistes in India in the mid-19th century where larger-than-life sets and cut-outs were used and epics were enacted for long hours. The Mandali boasts of being one of the rare surviving Parsi theatre groups in the era of modern, nihilistic performance art forms.

“We strictly follow the basic layout of the Parsi theatre art form, where details such as width of the stage, height of the pillars, number of curtains and chandeliers, wooden cutouts as well as timing of each scene are predefined. We need an interval of at least 15 minutes after each scene as changing sets is an arduous task. We are continuing the tradition started by Mangat Ram. Today, theatre is in the veins of Dankaur,” says Tyagi.

However, all members of the group have day jobs.

They work as clerks, accountants, shopkeepers, entrepreneurs, advocates and farmers. However, when it comes to casting for the plays or day-to-day management of the group, their dedication is unwavering.

One such local celebrity is Mukesh Jain, a bespectacled man in his late forties, who works as a clerk in the town’s postal department Monday to Saturday, 10 months a year. For the other two months, he is a senior artiste in the Drona Natya Mandali, where his job is to supervise the group as its treasurer.

“We maintain the running cost of the theatre group out of our own pockets as this is something embedded in our culture. The cost of costumes, make-up, props, sets and backgrounds, sound system, is borne by us. Every year, we deliver performances that become the talk of the town,” says Jain.

Similarly, 50-year-old Shalendra Govil, whose who runs a clothes showroom, screens potential artistes.

“The core team begins practising in public two months prior to final performance. This attracts a huge crowd, including people interested in theatre. We select new artistes from the lot and train them for two hours every day. I decide the roles for them,” says Govil.

Each member of the core team has his own tale to narrate as to how he came to join the theatre. All the stories have a pattern — they were attracted after watching the veterans of Dankaur perform on stage. Soon, they were trained by the older generation.

“I started watching plays in Dankaur at the age of four and was hooked. I decided to join the theatre group. My first role was at the age of 10. I played the character of Shabari, the woman who fed fruits to Lord Rama in the jungle. I have been part of this group since then and my friends recognise me by the characters I have enacted so far. This is how we inculcate the culture of theatre in the kids,” says 27-year-old Sandeep Bhati, who works as an insurance agent.

The theatre group has its own set of in-house rules.

“It is compulsory for each debut artiste to perform the role of a woman character. We believe when a man enacts a woman on stage, he shreds all hesitations and opens up. We want that from our artistes,” says Tyagi.

Women of Dankaur, however, have not made it to the core team of the group yet as the Parsi theatre form has long held the “tradition” of male artistes performing female roles. “We invite women artistes from Delhi whenever the character demands mature treatment. The smaller female roles are still given to our male artists,” adds Tyagi.

The artistes say they have immense respect for the departed members of the group. The theatre group office has several portraits of veteran artistes who worked with Mangat Ram. “We consider Narayan Das Manglik our inspiration — his versatility is unmatched. Other artistes such as Gopal Krishna Gaur and Mohammad Illiyas have also left a mark. Today, people remember the departed souls of Drona Natya Mandali by the roles they played,” says Purshottam Singh, an elderly member of the group.

One of the key elements of the Parsi theatre style is the energy with which artistes deliver their dialogues. “It’s almost unbelievable how one man started the tradition of theatre in Dankaur. Since then, we have taught this art form to children without any formal training. The former members of the theatre group have trained us to deliver dialogues without sound systems and we continue training the children that way. They have left a legacy behind and we manage to fill that void,” says Tyagi.

As the Drona Natya Mandal inches towards 100 years of existence, it has become an intrinsic part of the town where children watch the show spellbound with stars in their eyes, men whistle for their local heroes and women bond over shared festivities.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/how-a-parsi-theatre-group-in-up-s-dankaur-has-been-weaving-social-fabric-for-nine-decades/story-8VWNAiBOtieCRwkEmyTGGM.html?fbclid=IwAR2j0CjUjIc5MyPyXjXgZDoRROny6G39f7lYi2E7DPv-f8dngGd9kYS4SzQ

Trump Interviews Parsi Law Professor to Take Up DC Circuit Court Seat Vacated by Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh

President Donald Trump has reportedly interviewed Indian American law professor Neomi Rao to serve on the DC Circuit Court, to fill the position vacated by new Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who was confirmed last month.

If confirmed, Rao would be the first Parsi jurist to serve in the Circuit Court, Arzan Wadia, editor and publisher of Parsi Khabar, told India-West.

Trump’s meeting with Rao was first reported by the online news site Axios. The DC Circuit Court is often referred to as the most powerful court in the nation, second only to the U.S. Supreme Court, because of its proximity to federal agencies.

Axios reported that – post interview – sources briefed on the meeting said Trump was not impressed by Rao. However, she may still be appointed to the court, as Trump has stated his intent to nominate a minority woman to fill the role, and a potential “feeder” to the Supreme Court. A source told Axios that Trump is reconsidering his initial impression of Rao.

“Rao’s advantages: She’s well respected at the OMB, knows regulatory law back to front, has the advantage of already being Senate-confirmed and is well-liked by several key Democratic senators,” opined the publication.

The Washington Times reported that former White House counsel Don McGahn recommended Rao to Trump for the open DC circuit court seat.

Rao, 44, currently heads up the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget at the White House. She was confirmed to OIRA by the Senate on July 10, 2017. The New York Times reported that OIRA – a somewhat obscure agency created by former President Jimmy Carter’s administration to approve government data collections and determine whether agencies have sufficiently addressed problems during rule-making – is at the heart of Trump’s politically-charged agenda to overhaul government regulations.

Rao is the founding director of the Center for the Study of the Administrative State at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. In an op-ed for The Washington Post last year, as the Senate was considering Rao’s confirmation to OIRA, GMU law professor Jonathan Adler termed Rao “a well-respected administrative law expert” who was a “superlative pick” for the post.

Adler noted that Rao has clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, has served in the Bush administration, and as a staffer on the Senate Judiciary Committee, effectively serving in all three branches of the federal government.

Rao is the daughter of Zerin Rao and Jehangir Narioshang Rao, both Parsi physicians from India; she was raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and graduated from Yale. Rao then attended the University of Chicago Law School. She is married to attorney Alan Lefkowitz and has two children.

https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/trump-interviews-parsi-law-professor-to-take-up-dc-circuit/article_6fc80626-dc70-11e8-87c0-c7105e3e57b3.html

Endeavour by Micro Minority Community – Parsi Zoroastrians

Matrimonial Meet at Ahmedabad. 

The Government of India even do take care with interest of micro minority / mallest communities in India.  There are many facilities being provided by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.  In case of Parsi Zoroastrians community, which is accounted as most micro minority community in India to influence the boys and girls to get married at an early age, produce more children and increase the population.   A question is raised – whether the community by name Parsi Zoroastrians in India is a Minority community.    Answer is big NO.   They are accounted under head “Others”.   This was brought to the notice by Mrs. Pearl Mistry, Counselor of Jiyo Parsi Programme, being undertaken by PARZOR Foundation under influence of Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.   She had highlighted in an opening of the event speech that Parsis Zoroastrians according to latest 2011 census, Parsis in India are accounted at 57,264, against one of the earliest census in 1941 at 114,000.   May be by 2021, when the pupulationof India will be at 1.3 trillion, 130 crore, the number of Parsis expected at 58,000 for which increase there are number of schemes being mooted by Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.   The population of Parsis in India is at present level of 00.0048% of total population of India.  Parsi  community is not placed as a Minority since they are less than 100,000 population.   They are accounted as part of the class of minority community under head “Others”.   

An idea of arranging Matrimonial Meet was mooted by one Mrs. Kety Daruwala, a Trustee in Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat as also holding Trusteeship with many other trusts in Ahmedabad.  Her idea was not accounted seriously, however, when she approached likeminded private other trusts in Ahmedabad since major requirement to arrange such a meet was Finance and Physical attendance.   Both came to her rescue – a trust by name D&MGCT – Dhanjishaw and Manijeh Gamir Charitable Trust when one of the Trustee – Mr.Porus Karanjawala was there [He died in last August only], decided to offer financial help, while physical work was accepted by a group of young generation – PYLA – Parsi Youth League of Ahmedabad.   The testators of the trust, late Dhanjishaw and Manijeh had no children but keeping in mind todays reality of having married life and children, to keep on population of the Parsis at a reasonable level had created the trust with one of the objective which was fulfilled by the present trustees.   The initiative work of the meet was started way back in July this year – 4 months before schedule meet took place on 27^th and 28^th October 2018.   Tragic death of Porus during last August was main loss of guidance, however, other trustees, Mr. Aspy Bharucha and Mr. Jamshed Shroff took initiative to make the event successful. 

It is rightly said that for a good cause the Great God always remain present to help.   Accounting this in mind, PARZOR, Jiyo Parsi joined as co-ordinator of the event.   Their contribution was widely accepted by the Trustee – Mr.Aspy Bharucha in his opening speech of the session on 27^th October.  

There were 144 registration took place, out of which 112 confirmed to participate.   The ratio was like 1 girl to 3 boys.   There were 31 girls confirmed to attend against 81 boys.   However accounting few to drop out and few to join on last movement, there were almost 111 participants between 31 girls and 80 boys.   The participants were from across India, accounting main cities – the host Ahmedabad, then Mumbai, Surat, Hyderabad/Secunderabad, Pune, Navsari, Jamshedpur, and many.    The organisers had meticulously planned participants stay at one three star hotel with all relative requirements like stay in, food, conference, etc., etc..   Very first night stay was accounted with fun and food – dance and dinner at a community’s place at Kankaria Zorastrian Hall which was bigger to enjoy.   The main theme in having two days stay was that far off from places when young generation came to a purposeful event should know each other well, have enough dialogued and personality exchange, etc.. The two days events went with opening session, serious warming of the session, self-introduction, games, knowing liking and disliking and few debatable points accounted.    

Most important debatable points were from each side – from Girls – it was “Boys are Mama’s pet” and “Girls are Fussy”.   Total participants were divided into 9 groups, and each groups were asked to present issues both in favour and against, of course each side presented very well present burning issues within the community.   Boys had flatly refused to accept the version “Boys are Mana’s pet”.   Good debate took between the 9 groups and was Boys argued against such a belief and proved to the level that “Boys are not Mama’s Boys”.    Likewise, Girls also refused with the version that “Girls are Fussy”.   Most of the girls today are highly educated and that by any chance they have their high standard requirement.   They don’t like at all to be called “Girls are Fussy” in as much as they are better of in education, professional and or employment career, earning good salary and would always love to see that their counterpart is equally carries higher education, good employment with descent salary, etc…   Any refusal from the girls should not be accounted as “Girls are Fussy”.   By any standard, they are having higher choice and understanding likewise seen in other communities as well.  . 

The participants, both Boys and Girls, at the event were well balanced accounting Education, and placement as either employment or professionally.   Equally they were at part.   Also they were well placed both in Professional as also Employment Career with higher income earning.  The average age group amongst the boys was around 33 years whereas in case of girls it was around 25.   Both gender were found equally good in games both mental strain and physical strain were decided.  The fun and joy during both days shared by each one as great event with good harmony amongst themselves.   Many have closure to each other though they stay apart from one corner of the country to another one, as also within participation from own city, they have come together first time.    

Two days sessions ended with quite good result.   The organizer could know at the end of two days event that there were two couple could confirm that they have found right type of their match and decided to be united soon.   There were other 7 also equally found their choice of mate to decide in near future of their united life.   The participants liked the session of “Self Introduction of Married Life” wherein, three couple from Ahmedabad were selected – one with 42 years of marriage anniversary and when both were from different places across India with almost 1400 km., distance, second with 31 years of marriage anniversary, being well settled in their family a career, and third one with almost 16 years of marriage anniversary well placed in business established.   Each one narrated how and what adjustments were made by them for their successful married life.   

The Feedback was collected from each of the participant to arrange next session better than the one held recently.   This was the 5^th such session arranged in last 2 decade in Ahmedabad.   Most of the participants have offered “Good” to “Very Good” ratings.   Each one liked arrangement made by the Organiser and commended the work performed by the volunteers.   Most of the participant opined “yes” when asking their views on the event whether they have been satisfied and gained out of the event.  

Mr. Aspy Bharucha the trustee and convener of the event thanked all participants particularly those who had come from far off place.  He thanked personally each of the organizer – Mrs. Kety Daruwala, and Mr. & Mrs. Jamshed Shroof, and volunteers with whose help the success of the event had taken place, to name few – all PYLA committee members, Mr. & Mrs. Arize Bokdawala, Hoshedar Daboo, Cyrus Darwalla, Bomi Shethana, Mrs.Pearl Mistry from JIYO Parsi office at Mumbai.   He thanked Mrs.Pearl Mistry who stayed with the event for two days and conducted various sessions which were of very high standard to understand what the Government, Jiyo Parsi are and would like to do for the community.     

Day 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JefBF3jh7AH7d5Lk6

Day 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/b2VkfsWTetVPm4C36

Spread across eight acres, the cost of restoring the facade, internal structure and roof of the premises is estimated at ₹22 crore

The restoration plans of 116-year-old Masina Hospital in Byculla will witness the collaboration of the country’s two eminent communities, the Parsis and the Jews.

Once the residence of wealthy Jewish businessman David Sassoon, the palatial bungalow overlooking lush gardens and a fountain was gifted by the Sassoon family to a Parsi doctor, Hormasji Manekji Masina, who founded the hospital. The community members have now joined hands to reach out to many more people from diverse backgrounds and raise funds for the restoration.

Phase-wise restoration

“We are in the process of forming the Masina Hospital Restoration Committee. Once the core committee is formed, based on their recommendations, we will reach out to as many people as possible to raise funds,” said Dr. Vispi Jokhi, medical director of the hospital.

Conservation architect Vikas Dilawari has submitted a report which estimates that the overall restoration cost of the external facade, internal structure and roof will go up to ₹22 crore. “We can take it up in a phase-wise manner,” said Dr. Jokhi, who has had meetings with Ralphy Jhirad, president of Bene Israel heritage museum and genealogical research centre, to involve Jews as well. “We have shortlisted the names of people who will be concerned with this restoration and can help raise funds. We will also be reaching out to the descendants of David Sassoon spread across countries,” said Mr. Jhirad, adding that even if the community has dwindled in numbers, its legacy needs to be preserved.

Preserving a period

Spread across eight acres, the hospital premises consist of the palace building which houses the administration and out patient departments, the Kharas Memorial Centre, which consists of the wards and operation theaters, Masina annexe building, which has the cardiac, IVF facilities and deluxe beds, a chemotherapy and palliative care wing and a psychiatry wing.

The campus has lush gardens, an ornamental fountain and five marble statues which are over 100 years old. The bungalow, built in Renaissance style, first housed a four-bed hospital managed by Dr. Masina.

The hospital has now expanded to 270 beds. “Restoration of the Masina Hospital is important because we have very little 19th century and mid-19th century architecture left in the city. Most of it is late 19th century,” Mr. Dilawari told The Hindu.

Mr. Dilawari has proposed external repairs to bring back the lost details, as also interior repairs keeping in mind the upgradation of services required in a hospital set- up, and the restoration of the roof.

“The structure originally had a timber roof. But it has now been changed to one large asbestos roof. If the funds do flow in, restoration of the roof will also be considered,” said Mr. Dilawari.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/parsis-jews-join-hands-for-masina-hospital-restoration/article25430298.ece

Dr. D.M. Pestonjee, who served the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad for over two decades (1979-2001) as professor of Organizational Behavior, has recently received the Indian Academy of Management (INDAM)’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Dr. Pestonjee has had a very illustrious career. In November 2000 he was conferred the title of Honorary Professor of the Albert Schweitzer International University, Geneva (Switzerland). 

He was Dean, Faculty of Applied Management, CEPT University, Ahmedabad. 

Presently he’s GSPL Chair Professor at School of Petroleum Management, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar. 

Professor Pestonjee has been active as a trainer and consultant with WHO, USAID, OXFAM and UNESCO.

Courtesy: Jame Jamshed

Navy scientist selected for ONR’s Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Science

Photo By John Williams | 181104-N-PO203-0194 ARLINGTON, Va. (Nov. 5, 2018) Dr. Adi Bulsara makes some remarks… read more

UNITED STATES

11.06.2018

Story by Patric Petrie

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific  

SAN DIEGO —Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) is proud to announce Dr. Adi Bulsara has been selected by the Office of Naval Research for the Dr. Fred E. Saalfeld Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Science. Bulsara will be honored during a ceremony at the Office of Naval Research in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 5, 2018. 

Bulsara, the U.S. Navy ‘s Distinguished Scientist for Nonlinear Dynamics, is being honored for his contributions in the area of physics of nonlinear dynamic systems, stochastic resonance phenomenon and other noise-mediated cooperative phenomena. 

In 1991, Bulsara and his collaborators postulated the importance of the “Stochastic Resonance” phenomenon in the processing of information by sensory neurons; this work was recognized by the prestigious journal Nature. His work in the physics of coupled arrays of nonlinear dynamic devices (e.g. neurons, superconducting quantum interference devices, and room temperature magnetometers) was featured on the cover of Physics Today in 1996 and led to his being awarded SSC Pacific’s highest recognition, the Lauritsen-Bennet Award for Excellence in Science. Currently, this work, along with other innovations from his group have led to a compact, cheap and very sensitive magnetometer that is being tested for a variety of land and sea applications

Bulsara was invited to serve as a visiting scientist with the Office of Naval Research (ONR)-Global in London during 2004-2006, and in Tokyo from 2008-2009. He has numerous academic collaborations regularly reviews, and serves as final publication authority of journal manuscripts; he also has 20 awarded patents, with five patents pending, and some 220 journal articles. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2004 and a member of the National Academy of Inventors in 2016.

Bulsara is the first member of SSC Pacific to receive this award.

For more information, please contact Patric Petrie in the SSC Pacific Public Affairs Office at (619) 553-4395 or email Arlene.petrie@navy.mil.
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SSC Pacific’s mission: To conduct research, development, engineering, and support of integrated command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber, and space systems across all warfighting domains, and to rapidly prototype, conduct test and evaluation, and provide acquisition, installation, and in-service engineering support. http://www.spawar.navy.mil/pacific.

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/299027/navy-scientist-selected-onrs-outstanding-lifetime-achievement-science