The Sir Rustom Masani Elocution Competition was held on the Institute premises on Saturday January 22, 2011. This annual competition was open to all under-graduate and post-graduate students of the University of Mumbai and the S.N.D.T Women’s University.

Each candidate was permitted to speak for 3 to 5 minutes on any one of the following subjects :-

a.     The Queens of India

b.    The Wadas of Maharashtra

c.      The Relevance of Ancient Epics in the Computer Age

d.    Religious Tolerance – Myth or Reality

The first three candidates were awarded cash prizes of Rs.700, Rs.500 and Rs.300, respectively, the name of the First Prize winner to be inscribed on the Rotating Trophy.  The trophy, the property of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, will be kept on the Institute premises.

This year sixteen candidates participated, representing eight colleges. The prize winners were:

1st Prize	Mr Nigel D’Cruz	St Xavier’s Institute of Education
2nd Prize	Ms Dhanashree Perumal	SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce
3rd Prize	Ms Tanvi Nair	Ramnarain Ruia College
3rd Prize	Ms Erica Fernandes	St Xavier’s Institute of Education

 The judges for this competition were:

Dr Nasreen Fazalbhoy,

Mrs Tamar Marge Gubbay, and

Dr Jehangir Mistry

This Elocution Competition will be held on the Institute premises on SATURDAY, 22 JANUARY 2011, at 2.30 p.m.

           The following are the rules for participation in the Competition :-

1.     The Competition is open to all under-graduate and post-graduate students of the University of Mumbai and the S.N.D.T Women’s University.

2.     Candidates desiring to take part in the Competition must produce a Certificate from the Heads of the Colleges/University Departments showing that they are bonafide students of the Colleges/Departments concerned.

3.     Not more than four entries per College/Department will be accepted.

4.     There is no entrance fee for this Competition.

5.     Each candidate may speak for 3 to 5 minutes on any one of the following subjects :-

a.     The Queens of India

b.    The Wadas of Maharashtra

c.      The Relevance of Ancient Epics in the Computer Age

d.    Religious Tolerance – Myth or Reality

6.     If necessary, an elimination round may be held.

7.     Candidates desiring to take part in the Competition must hand in their names, selected subjects and certificates as required under Rule 2 above, to the Trustee and Joint Honorary Secretary, K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, on or before Wednesday, 19 January 2011  (Entry Form enclosed).

8.     The first three candidates will be awarded cash prizes of Rs.700/-, Rs.500/- and Rs.300/-, respectively.  One or more consolation prizes of Rs.200/- will be awarded at the discretion of the Judges.

9.     The name of the First Prize winner will be inscribed on the Rotating Trophy.  The trophy will be the property of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute and will be kept in the said Institute.

10.            In awarding the prizes, the Judges will take into consideration the subject matter as well as delivery and presentation by each candidate.

11.            Marks will be deducted by the judges for reading out the speech or for referring to notes while speaking.

12.            The decision of the Judges will be final and binding on the candidate.

The FHB Sethna Legacy Trust has sponsored a research project on the geneology of the Seth And Sethna Families: 1930 - 2010 at the K R Cama Oriental Institute, under the supervision of Dr. (Mrs.) Nawaz B. Mody, former Head and Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Professor of Civics & Politics, University of Bombay.

The Seth  and Sethna families are the decendents of Mr. Rustom Manekji who was born in Surat in 1635 and was an influential member of the Parsi community in that town. He undertook business with private shippers and was the Surat broker for the East India Company and later, of the United East India Company. He also had extensive business dealings wirh the Moghuls and the Marathas.

Due to his influential position, coupled with his generosity, he received the title of Seth which in later years was adopted as the family surname. The Bombay Seth Khandan came into prominence after the foundation of a Trust of Religious Charities by Manokji Nowroji, the grandson of Rustom Manekji. Later, the Seth family was also known as the Sethna family.

Two volumes on the geneology of the Seth and Sethna families have already been published. These trace the family history from its founder, Rustom Manekji (1653 - 1721) to 1930. Both the volumes are in Gujarati and were authored by Jalbhai Ardeshir Seth and Shapurji Kavasji Hodiwala.

The project now aims at updating the family geneology from 1930 to 2010, as well as to translate the earlier volumes from Gujarati into English.

All members of the Seth and Sethna families are requested to help with information, literature and minuate which might be helpful.

Please call or write with particulars to Ms. Louiza Rodrigues, C/o. The K R Cama Oriental Institute Building, 2nd Floor, 136, Bombay Samachar Road, Bombay 400 023. You may also send an e-mail to sethnafamily@rediffmail.com. Louiza may also be contacted on her cell 'phone - 9224221193 between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.