A meeting was held at the Mancherji Joshi Hall of the Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI) on 29^th January, 2023, which was well attended by students and most parents, from Mumbai and Gujarat. The meeting was held to inform parents about the promising incentive scheme for current and prospective students of the Institute (Dadar Madressa), encouraging them to enroll and complete its curriculum.

The meeting commenced with a Hambandagi led by DAI’s Principal – Er. Dr. Ramiyar P. Karanjia, followed by Dinshaw Tamboly addressing the parents and explaining the scheme where each student would receive Rs. 5,000/- per month, set aside in his name in the WZO Trust Funds and compounded till he completes his Navar, Maratab and SSC. The cumulative amount (close to approximately Rs.8,00,000 to Rs.10,00,000), would be handed over to the students as an FD, after the stude  nt completes his SSC, and would be receivable after he attains the status of a major.

Dinshaw Tamboly also thanked and lauded Neville Sarkari, the primary donor of the scheme, who himself started from very humble beginnings, but was now in the US doing several philanthropic works. His concern about the future of Zoroastrian priests had him contribute Rupees Two Crores, after relentlessly working for days and months, with concerned people, to come up with a feasible blueprint of the scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, Neville Sarkari expressed the hope of seeing more students enroll in the Institute as it now stood out as the only training waterhole for future Zoroastrian priests. He hoped to see future Vada Dasturjis from among the students, who were sitting before him. He wished that the number of students would double at DAI and said he would donate further, as required.

Er. Dr. Karanjia stated that this was a historic occasion, as never before had such a large amount been earmarked for the better future of the priestly class. While many schemes had come and gone, this would stay on as the seed money had already been obtained and the scheme would function from its interest. He shared with student and parents how times had changed, and the community was looking after its priests and that it was now up to them to step up to the plate.

Benaifer Sahukar, Trustee – Empowering Mobeds, said that the students need not give up their other dreams, but could simultaneously work out as practicing full-fledged priests.

Concluding the meeting, Er. Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia said that with the launch of this promising scheme, a seed has been sown, which would grow a huge tree in the years to come, and bear magnificent fruits for the community’s future. Some parents also shared their views. The parents then voluntarily signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to participate in the scheme. Neville Sarkari, Bachi Tamboly and Dinshaw Tamboly were offered floral tributes and thanked for their immense contribution towards improving the priestly class and thus securing a brighter future for the Parsi community.

 

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Pic Courtesy: Sarosh Daruwalla