"We want to continue, whatever happens…Whatever we do is with a good heart…Want to do more and more for the future,” Perviz Nalladaru, president of the 64-year-old Zoroastrian Stree Mandal (ZSM) Secunderabad-Hyderabad told Parsiana on October 19, 2023. "We were formed mainly to help senior citizens,” she elaborated. The Mandal now assists 23 families including the families of eight priests and eight helpers in the three agiaries and the tower of silence, under their programs for financial, medical and educational aid. ZSM spends approximately Rs 11 lakhs annually on these programs.
Perviz Nalladaru and Hoofrish Hozdar Bisney (4th and 5th from l) with committee members and beneficiaries
of the Zoroastrian Stree Mandal Secunderabad-Hyderabad
At a khushali nu (joyous thanksgiving) jashan, housie and lunch, at the Parsi Dharamshala on September 18, a cash envelope was given to the beneficiaries of ZSM who attended. "Some household items and clothes which were donated by members were distributed to the beneficiaries for their personal use,” committee member Hoofrish Hozdar Bisney told Parsiana. The jashan was performed by Ervads Aspi Patel and Jehangir Pilcher. Lunch was catered by Abad Wadia and soft drinks contributed by Shahveer Irroni, noted Hozdar Bisney.
On Parsi New Year, August 16, the committee members extended financial aid to eight young children who had performed well academically. ZSM also donates to various social organizations like the Spastics Society of India and old age homes. Fundraising activities of the Mandal include housie, musical nights and lucky draws. They had a small fundraiser in 2022 and are planning a tombola night this year.
The ZSM has 270 members, many of whom have been associated with it for a quarter century, said Nalladaru. Membership is open to Zoroastrian women from Hyderabad and Secunderabad settled anywhere in the world; the life membership fee is Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 for patron membership.
Affiliated to the Indian Council of Social Welfare, ZSM was founded in 1959. Hozdar Bisney recapped the history of the women’s group. For the first two years the ZSM didn’t have any president. Late Soona Chenoy was nominated the first president in 1961. "The ladies voluntarily took up designated responsibilities and therefore the need for elections never arose.” President of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad (PZASH), Goolbanoo Chenoy was one of the founder members of the ZSM "and continues to guide the Mandal.”
"Decades ago” the Mandal had donated Rs 1,00,000 to PZASH when that body was falling short of funds to build a residential block in Bapu Bagh, Secunderabad, stated Hozdar Bisney. Hoofrish’s husband Jehangir is a PZASH trustee.
The office bearers of ZSM are, besides Nalladaru, vice president Pouruchisti Katrak, honorary secretary Armin Wadia, honorary treasurer Zarine Pestonji, joint honorary secretaries Farida Antia and Sooni Batliwala. Committee members include, besides Hoofrish, Kaity Chenoy, Jeroo Debara, Khorshed Mehta, Shernavaz Baria, Rashna Mistry and Khursheed Jilla.