"As I hand over the baton of presidency to a very capable young successor, Zerick Dastur, I am filled with optimism for the future of our organization,” stated Behroze Daruwalla at the 21st annual general meeting (AGM) of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) — India Region on September 7, 2024. Dastur will "lead us forward…with confidence, embracing new challenges and opportunities with the same spirit of dedication and integrity that has brought us this far,” added Daruwalla at the hybrid meeting conducted at West-End Hotel with some members joining in on Zoom. The India Region of WZCC comprises the Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore chapters.
Dastur who has been the honorary secretary of the India Region thanked Daruwalla for her three years of "dynamism, enthusiasm and energy.” He described her as "a spark… Every Wednesday she was like a general, leading by example, leading from the front.” Having joined WZCC about six years ago, Dastur commented, "Every year WZCC improves by leaps and bounds.” Seeing new opportunities created by those who have benefited from WZCC in the past he was hopeful this chain reaction will continue to contribute to WZCC’s growth.
The first lady president to serve the India region of WZCC, Daruwalla commented, "For the past three years of my tenure, WZCC has responded to the call of progress, innovation and unity.” Appreciating the cooperation of her committee members and colleagues "not for the hours you put into this work but the work you put into those hours,” Daruwalla acknowledged their help to "build a foundation that will continue to support and uplift our members.” She was grateful too to the "captain of our WZCC ship (global president) Capt Percy Master for his leadership and vision, serving as its backbone, devoting time and attention to the cause of WZCC.”
When presenting a summary of the balance sheet and the statement of accounts, Jimmy Khan as treasurer mentioned that the surplus of Rs 91 lakhs (USD 108,730) has actually been built over a period of 21 years. He specified that of the Rs 65 lakhs (USD 77,674) shown as donations on the balance sheet), Rs 51 lakhs (USD 60,944) were repayments against loans extended to entrepreneurs and Rs 14 lakhs (USD 16,730) were the surplus generated from the WZCC conclave in Poona in January 2024. Under expenditure, their maximum spend of Rs 45 lakhs (USD 53,774) was on entrepreneurial support extended to those who wanted to start or expand their business, and Rs 33 lakhs (USD 39,434) on meetings, seminars, conferences that come under objects of the trust. The other routine expenditure included six lakh rupees (USD 7,170) on establishment expenses, Rs 47,000 (USD 562) on legal and professional fees, and Rs 16,000 (USD 191) on depreciation.
Top: Zerick Dastur; above, from l: Capt Percy Master, Yazdi Tantra, Behroze Daruwalla Photo: Tiana Patel;
above, 2nd row from l: Farrokh Rustomji, Jimmy Khan, Aspi Antia, Xerxes Dastur
Photos: Tiana Patel, Tehmasp Bharucha, Pheroze Kharas, Adi Siganporia, Behnaz Nanavatti
On the nine- member board of directors in India, Behnaz Nanavatti has taken over as youth director from Rashna Sanjana. Besides the office bearers and the youth director, the other directors are Shernaz Siganporia, Farrokh Rustomji, Yezdi Batliwala, Farrokh Bhathena and Cyrus Bharucha with Aspi Antia as the chief executive officer.
In the reports from chapter chairs, Xerxes Dastur whose term as Mumbai head is coming to a close stated, "I’ve spent 15-16 years at WZCC.” Besides their signature program, "Coffee with WZCC,” some of the other interesting programs they organized were a tour of the Bombay High Court Museum followed by a networking lunch at Ripon Club, sessions on "Start-up to scale up,” "I’m the GPS (Global Positioning System) of my future,” "Easy Retirement,” and "Understanding Stress.”
"Unleashing the Power of Money” was yet another program organized by the WZCC Mumbai Chapter on August 3, according to a report sent by WZCC member and Gold Seal director Pilloo Aga. Just like an annual medical check-up is recommended, a yearly review of one’s financial health was advocated to ensure safety, liquidity and returns that bring higher yields than inflation in the long run. It was further stated: Work hard to earn money and then make the money work hard for you. Money lying in a savings bank account becomes an investment only when it is used to generate income.
Tehmasp Bharucha from Poona whose tenure as president is also ending introduced his successor Bhathena. Their working committee meets every month and they have a members’ get-together every quarter. They ensure there is no gender bias when inviting guest speakers. Some of their learnings were from sessions on the Art of Public Speaking and another from the owner of Café Bahar, Khuzaan Dalal. The highlight for the Pune Chapter was the successful global conclave they hosted in January 2024. Bharucha was happy to report that they had 15 new members during the year, most of them youth.
Joining on Zoom, Bharucha as Bangalore chapter chair referred to their members "negotiating opportunities and challenges, and accomplishing remarkable feats.” Their honorary secretary Dr Sanaya Patell mentioned the events they organized during the year, some of them being: navigating the skies: exploring UAV technology; a session on social media marketing; Dr Rashna Writer’s talk under the Expert Lecture series; and the Bangalore chapter’s much awaited The Marketplace Winter Bazaar that is an annual favorite where nearly 50 vendor artisans participate.
"The future of any community lies with the youth,” reminded Zerick Dastur. Nanavatti referred to the overnight youth conclave planned jointly with the Federation of Zoroastrian Youth Associations on October 12 and 13 in Goa to empower the youngsters. Twenty-five of the 30 registration slots have already been filled. Determined to bring more youngsters into the fold, Nanavatti referred to learning from youth bodies across the globe like the Zoroastrian Youth of North America and the Iranian Zoroastrian Youth Network. She mentioned that Master has been nudging them to grow and evolve, optimally using social media to arouse interest in their programs.
Some of the members present at the annual general meeting Photo: Tiana Patel
Speaking briefly on a project close to his heart, retired entrepreneur Pheroze Kharas reminded that the Business Advisory Committee gives financial assistance to entrepreneurs and professionals. It’s "not just about funding but also mentoring to achieve business success.” Over the years they have extended funds to 18 entrepreneurs, six of whom have fully repaid their loan and the remaining 12 are returning borrowed sums on schedule. Entrepreneurs seeking WZCC funding to develop their unique idea into a business are advised to study Kharas’s book Learning to Succeed, prepare a presentation to prove a credible business plan, arrange for two collaterals and sign three documents readied by lawyer Zerick Dastur.
Elaborating on the Zoroastrian Education Network were Prof Farrokh Mistree from the US, Dr Karishma Koka from the UK, both of whom had joined on Zoom, as also Rustomji, chief executive officer of the R. D. Sethna Scholarship Fund who was seated on the dais. To promote intellectual, economic and social value, they referred to the importance of knowledge and skill building through education and mentoring, employing a suitable strategy and tactics, and introducing a formal course on entrepreneurship. The Women Entrepreneurs wing constantly seeks to empower ladies to turn their hobbies into financially remunerative ventures.
In his brief remarks, Master advocated building "brand WZCC” and networking with the outside world. He advised the older generation to repeatedly remind their children and grandchildren "about what our community has achieved in India, their excellent philanthropic work… We are at a critical stage in the community’s existence. The orthodox and liberal factions are always at the crossroads. We are never going to progress if we are divided. If an action is required for the benefit of the community, we should do it. The future is in our hands.”
A garlanded photo frame of the late Minoo Shroff was placed on a side table as a mark of tribute to the erstwhile WZCC global president who had inspired a core team of professionals to serve the Chamber. His financial contributions to the WZCC projects and ability to raise funds prompted Master to suggest that the organization initiate the Minoo Shroff Memorial Fund to promote its entrepreneurship activities.
To honor Yazdi Tantra, chairman of the Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank Ltd and past WZCC global vice president who was recently recognized as the nation’s "Best Chairman of the Year” across Multi State Scheduled Urban Cooperative Banks at the Bharat Cooperative Banking Summit in 2024, a plaque was presented to him in the evening. A chartered accountant by profession who later started his own information technology company, On-Lyne, Tantra’s "commitment to service is not motivated by recognition but by a genuine desire to uplift and support our community… It is his humility… his dedication that we celebrate today,” announced Daruwalla.
"Earlier WZCC was more Bombay centric,” stated erstwhile India Region vice president Adi Siganporia in his closing remarks at the AGM. He expressed his gratitude to all who have been supporting the WZCC activities as also Feroze Sethna of Feroze Foods and Flavours who arranged for the free distribution of a bottle of non-alcoholic beer to all who attended the AGM.
Minoo Shroff: inspiring icon
Four cardinal principles
"Alcohol-free beer is very unParsi,” commented chief guest R. Gopalakrishnan, corporate advisor and author. Having enjoyed a long innings with Tatas, as executive director of Tata Sons Ltd and director of Tata Power, Tata Technologies, besides other companies like Unilever as chairman of Unilever Arabia, Gopalakrishnan has had a ringside view of Parsis in the corridors of power.
In awe of the founder of the Tata industrial empire Jamsetji Tata whom he considered "one of the greatest Indians of the 19th and 20th centuries,” Gopalakrishnan mentioned how "Tata had started his business with a philosophy that has stayed alive.” All the Tata establishments bear the words Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta as a reminder that good thoughts, words and deeds are to be implemented in one’s daily life, stated the chief guest.
While there have been many books on Jamsetji, Gopalakrishnan and his co-author Harish Bhat felt "this urge to write a modern-day commentary on Jamsetji.” Their book Jamsetji Tata: Powerful Learnings for Corporate Success is "not pedantic, not intellectual, there are no isms.” To re-live in his mind what Jamsetji’s life must have been, Gopalakrishnan visited Jamsetji’s birth place in Navsari; the impressive Esplanade House at Fort where his family lived; Ripon Club that he co-founded where he and his Parsi friends must have enjoyed their meals and reclined on easy chairs; the erstwhile Watson’s Hotel in Bombay to which Jamsetji is wrongly said to have been denied entry resulting in his building the Taj Mahal Hotel; the Brookwood cemetery in London and Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris where members of the Tata family were interred.
"We are pilgrims. We’ve walked the path; seen the frailties,” Gopalakrishnan spoke on behalf of himself and his co-author. Jamsetji had lived through "tumultuous times,” recounted the chief guest. Born in 1839 he had witnessed the Indian Mutiny and the Crimean War.
His father Nusserwanji made money stevedoring. Jamsetji would be traveling, in steamboats, 40% of the year, when he was able to establish connections with people. Among those who had influenced him were Swami Vivekananda, a meeting that led to the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science.
Describing him as "a pioneer with purpose,” Gopalakrishnan analyzed Jamsetji’s business acumen. He credited the entrepreneur with being familiar with the four cardinal principles: self awareness; protecting resources that help you do business; serving others before self; taking the toughest decision but implementing it with compassion. Jamsetji sought to build businesses that added value, not valuation, summed up Gopalakrishnan.
Wisdom for Start-ups from Grown-ups is yet another book that he has co-authored. "Respect the wisdom of experience even though oldies may look like their date has expired,” urged the writer.
"We have become great inheritors. We have to learn to be ancestors,” advocated the chief guest. Once reputed for being "entrepreneurs par excellence, unfortunately this can no longer be said of the Parsis. Something is missing in between. I don’t know what,” remarked the chief guest identifying himself as "an honorary Parsi who has not had his navjote.” His wife Geeta too has had a long association with Parsis that she joyfully recalled in "Ardhi Bawi (half Parsi),” (see Parsiana, August 7, 2015).
In his vote of thanks Siganporia mentioned how Jamsetji had good niyat (intentions); whose right hand represented generosity, and his left hand, patriotism; whose body showed simplicity and humility; and his heart, a proximity to his religion.
Certificate course
"The more you study, you realize the less you know,” reminded Prof (Dr) Shernaz Cama when familiarizing the audience with the online certificate course in Parsi-Zoroastrian Cultural and Heritage Studies open to all ages. Conducted under the joint auspices of Delhi based Parzor and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Bombay, due to global demand they had reopened admissions on September 7.
Prof (Dr) Shernaz Cama: guided study
Those enrolled are expected to complete a compulsory foundation course on philosophy, history and culture after which they can pursue their elective modules that include language, literature, history, tradition, contemporary studies (see "Synergistic studies,” Parsiana, August 21-September 6, 2024). "Don’t be frightened. It’s going to be a fun course,” assured Parzor founder director Cama hoping for financial support from WZCC members to defray the costs of those unable to pay the fees of Rs 60,000 (USD 717). Aga was the first to make a donation of Rs 60,000 towards this cause.