In honor of Mr. Framroze K. Patel, ZAGNY is proud to announce the formation of a new fund:
The Goolbai Kaikhushroo Patel fund for the benefit of The Surat Parsi Orphanage.
ZAGNY has allocated $25,000 from its Critical Assistance fund as seed money for the new Goolbai Kaikhushroo Patel Fund. All interest earned on this amount will be sent to the Surat Parsi Orphanage annually. In addition, the ZAGNY Board will from time to time as it deems appropriate, supplement the interest earned with additional funds from its Critical Assistance fund. Mr. Framroze Patel will assist in the annual disbursement of funds to the Surat Parsi Orphanage.
You can donate online at ZAGNY.org
About Framroze K. Patel
Mr. Framroze K. Patel is a long-standing and respected ZAGNY member. He has served ZAGNY as a board member for several years and has been a Past President of ZAGNY. Framroze has also served as the President of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) for two terms.
Framroze is an accountant by profession. Framroze has been ZAGNY’s ONLY accountant for the past 40 years. Framroze also reviews ZAGNY’s books of accounts and the books of accounts of many other non-profits, including FEZANA and other Zoroastrian Associations in North America. All of this is pro bono.
About Surat Parsi Orphanage
The Surat Parsi Orphanage (SPO) was established during 1912 by Seth Rustomji Muncherji Kooka, who lost his only son at the age of 21. Till the 1940’s, Jaijimai Kooka (Rustomji’s only daughter) was a major benefactor of the SPO.
Since its inception till date, probably more than 15,000 students have been educated because of the generosity of the Kooka family and other Zarathusti donors. Most of the boarders at the SPO were from present day Gujarat. The families after 1947 independence were required to pay a princely sum of 1.5 “Anna” (less than 10% of an Indian Rupee) per annum. If the families could not pay that sum, the Surat Parsi Panchayet would pay the amount to the SPO. Borders would stay in the orphanage and during the day would attend Sir J. J. High School. If a student wished to pursue higher technical education, he/she would be enrolled in Parekh Technical School. If a student wished to pursue higher education in Science or Commerce, Surat Parsi Panchayet would pay the tuition fee and examination fees, in addition to the cost of books. The student would attend college during the day and return to the orphanage every evening.
Till 1970’s the student population averaged 160-180 in a typical year. However, in 2013 the student population has dropped to a mere 35 students, even though SPO neither charges the students any fee nor insists on donations. The significant drop in student population is attributed to the fact that Zarathusti families in Southern Gujarat are so poor that they have to make a very difficult choice to either send their child to the orphanage or make him/her work in the field as a laborer.
Currently, the Surat Parsi Panchayet (which manages the SPO) spends about 8,000 Indian Rupees per child per year. Needless to say, the SPO needs the financial support from those who have financial resources to help those in need.
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