Dinshaw Avari- Trying my Hand at Blogging!

October 15, 2019 (In Gujrati, “Naatak” = “play”)   “ Mix Breed ”, based on a Parsi family who have to face “intermarriage” issues, is a light portrayal of the real-world issues our Community is facing.    With double meanings and inflections, the cast (90% of whom learnt Gujrati “ on the job ”!) entertained the Gujrati speaking communities of Karachi. The Script was written by Mrs Huzan Wadia, who has successfully acted & directed it in Mumbai; and selflessly extended the script on a gratis basis to Natalia Karanjia in Karachi, this play being the latter’s directorial debut.   Yay to Natalia! This is what Karachi, and Pakistan, lacks- ENTERTAINMENT.   We have food & drink and ………… hmmmmm.   Play and theatre is picking up in Pakistan but to a very restricted market.   The mainstream citizens do not get to enjoy theatre on a regular basis- whether drama, comedy, musical.   Our cast explained to me the ‘power’ of theatre – they...

May 14, 2019 The attached Quote by the late President of USA aptly describes the resolve & determination my grandfather & family have shown over the last seven decades. Over these decades, we have faced – and continue to do so - political problems, pressures & interferences; hotel politics; community politics; family crisis; business pressures; sports politics; monetary problems.   Is it because we are minorities? My late grandfather, Dinshaw B Avari, was an orphan in Mumbai.   Himself learning under a lantern, my grandfather gave tuitions to pay his way through college, obtaining a B.Com from Bombay University.   He started his career in the Sun Life Assurance Co of Canada and in 1929 was sent to Karachi to open the Company's office.   From this eventually led to the purchase of the Bristol Hotel in Karachi and the start of our family’s hospitality career.   When Beach Luxury Hotel opened in 1948, the property was requisitioned. ...