On 24^th September, 2022, WZCC held its 19^th India Region Annual General Meeting (AGM) at a glitzy function in South Mumbai. Attended by WZCC members, guests and dignitaries, the AGM was ably conducted by Adi Siganporia who commenced the function, inviting Behroze Daruwalla, President – India Region to share the welcome note and present the India Region Report. She shared how WZCC transformed challenges to opportunities, especially during the pandemic, when meetings were held over digital platforms, which had engendered increased participation and inclusiveness WZCC Chapters worldwide.

She said that WZCC had come a long way, now providing, in addition to commercial and professional expertise, also Social, Educational and hardcore financial assistance. She was glad that India region had greatly increased activities and started focusing on the youth, using social media to connect with them. With WZCC’s main aim being providing knowledge and assistance to entrepreneurs and professionals, she detailed upon WZCC’s various Wings – ‘WE’ Women entrepreneurs Wing, Youth Wing, Business Advisory Board, Zoroastrian Faculty Network, which helped enrich members.

While Chapter Chairs of Mumbai and Pune – Xerxes Dastur and Tehmasp Bharucha, respectively – presented chapter activities for the year, Dr. Sanaya Patell (Secretary) shared the activities for the Bengaluru Chapter; Jimmy Khan (Treasurer – India Region) presented the Financial Report along with Zerick Dastur (Secretary); Youth Director, India Region, Rashna Sanjana-Aga presented the Youth Wing’s report. Rashna shared that the Youth Wing had focused on the job-market for Zoroastrian Youth, where 15 youth had already benefitted.

Adi Siganporia presented the Business Advisory Committee report, showing that eleven members had partaken of the interest-free funding provided by WZCC. This was followed by a report on ZFN (Zoroastrian Faculty Network), a WZCC project, which assists Indian Zoroastrian students to gain admission into foreign Universities. Percis Dubash then spoke of the webinars organized by ‘WE’ Wing.

Next came the highlight of the evening, with Chief Guest – Justice (Retd) Shahrukh Kathawalla, who spoke on ‘Parsi Entrepreneurship – A Legacy of Courage, Leadership and Philanthropy’, and the immense Parsi contribution to India. He tracked the history of Parsis back to the 8^th century when they migrated from Persia (Iran) to India to avoid persecution from Arab conquests. He shared how Parsis had been at the forefront of many social and economic reforms in India – starting out as agriculturists initially, and partaking of the cotton boom, largely fueled by Parsi entrepreneurs, leading to the establishment of business houses like the Petits, Wadias, Tatas, Godrej, Pallonji. He spke how Jamshedji Tata, founder of the Tata group, was a pioneer and revered as the ‘Father of Indian Industry’. He extolled the Parsi contribution in other fields including legal luminaries and the military. He urged Parsi youth to join WZCC and avail the networking and other various opportunities offered so they could take forward the Parsi legacy of business and philanthropy.

The musical entertainment for the evening was provided by the trio – Arun Doshi, Rajiv Raj and Nazneen Gamadia, which the audience enjoyed greatly. Adi Siganporia gave the vote of thanks, making a special mention of the excellent leadership provided by WZCC CEO – Aspi Antia and thanking all for their presence, as also the various Committee Members and Central Administrative Office staff under Aspi Antia. The evening concluded with networking and dinner.