Parsi-Link

Will Iranshah's Grace Be Wasted Upon Us?

2011-04-25T05:19:00.000-07:00

Iranshah, refurbished recently...

Iranshah, the way it was...

April 24.
A supremely sanctified day has dawned upon us! Today, the ninth day of the ninth month of the Parsi calendar, Roj Adar Mah Adar, is the perfect occasion to humbly venerate the beneficent glory of our Atash Padshah Sahebs. Generations of devout Parsis have invested their faith in the Holy Fires.
Today, we also celebrate the 1290th Salgreh of our Iranshah Saheb. Can one even fathom the sheer span of this sweeping time frame, extending over close to 13 centuries? Rare is the Parsi who in all these 1290 years would not have bowed his or her head before this King of Holy Fires.
While Iranshah has undoubtedly bestowed untold blessings upon us, perhaps it’s pertinent to reflect upon our present-day worthiness for His grace. Are we acting in a manner that does justice to the benedictions being showered upon us by our ancient and efficacious fires?
Well over 1000 years ago, our journey of faith commenced with one objective: to preserve the religion and the race. All those who left Iran for unknown shores, our noble and fore-sighted ancestors, put the preservation of our Parsi legacy above personal comfort and convenience. They willingly staked everything – their homes, their fortunes, their friends and all things familiar – and set sail to keep the faith.
Once here, with much dedication and discipline, they stuck to time-tested principles that guaranteed our survival. Pioneering and forward thinking in their approach, they also reinforced the foundation of the faith. Realising that we would always be a small and stand-alone sect within the Indian mainstream, they endowed us with enough Trusts to take care of all of our worldly needs, so we’d never be wanting for anything: housing, medicine, education and so much more.
They integrated seamlessly into the cosmopolitan framework of society, contributing in many ways that enriched public life, earning the sort of glittering goodwill that still holds us in good stead. Yet, they took care to assiduously safeguard the Parsi identity. They saw no shame in preserving and perpetuating our Parsipanu, as it’s something that is uniquely our own. You can discard your destiny only at your own peril.
So, is it that our generation has suddenly stumbled upon insurmountable challenges? Is it that we have miraculously come upon the wisdom to debunk the spiritual sagacity of generations of seers and scholars? Obsessed as we are with the here and now, are we forgetting to look at the larger picture? Should we focus on long term survival or short term expediency?
An occasion like the 1290th Salgreh of Iranshah raises these questions. What if our forefathers hadn’t been steadfast and single-minded when it came to sticking to the straight path? What if they had veered away, for one reason or another – and there are so many reasons one can find when it comes to wanting to do one’s own thing!
Iranshah has bountifully blessed us over 1290 years. How can we ensure that 1290 years hence, Iranshah will still be able to bless our flock?
Many noble Fravashis, over 1000 years ago, sacrificed a lot to give us this day. Gentle reader, wont Iranshah’s grace be wasted if we don’t promise to do as much?
editorjamejamshed@gmail.com

Something To Remember Us By

2010-09-23T03:35:00.000-07:00

Whenever we hear of a tragic, untimely death, or even a much-awaited release at the end of one of those lingering-a-bit-too-long life spans, the pang we feel is only partly for the soul that has passed into the unknown, leaving bereft family and friends behind.
More significantly, it serves as an uncomfortable reminder of our own date with fate. No one is born to live forever. Yet in the bustle of our blinkered lives we tend to believe the bubble will never burst. Then, suddenly, it does – but it was always meant to, a little bit earlier or later.
We are immortal only to the extent of the values we immortalize. The young Naval Officer, Lt Cdr Firdaus Mogal, who bravely jumped to his death in Mumbai recently, in a bid to save a fellow sailor who had fallen off his submarine, will forever enshrine courage and commitment to duty that will inspire countless others.
Our lives are worth something only if they serve the larger plan of upholding the Divine Order that enables righteousness and the highest truth to triumph. This happens when we live a life of purpose. The late Lt Cdr Mogal not only lived on purpose, fulfilling his dream of serving the nation as a committed Naval officer, but also died upholding his purpose, courageously attending to the call of duty.
Blessed was he and his death is not in vain, because his life’s mission of service before self is now a beacon of light for all those who’re letting time pass them by without pursuing their purpose. Whiling away the days allotted to us and lethargically ignoring the impetus to live our best lives is an affliction that brings no glory.
Sometimes, it’s difficult to determine what our purpose is. At the Ava Roj Humbandagi, held at the Bhikha Behram kua, as a tight circle including a busload of young girls from the Ava Bai Petit School clustered around the sacred well, Ervad Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia spoke eloquently about finding our purpose through prayer.
Divine Order, he explained, guides every aspect of our lives and of all creation. It’s the inherent energy and intelligence that can cause a towering tree to grow out of a tiny seed, the sun to rise and set infallibly every day, the seasons to come and go, the tide to ebb and flow.
Divine Order can direct our journey through this lifetime, if we invoke Ahura Mazda’s grace. Our prayers become a powerful tool in helping us attune our life’s pursuits with our higher purpose.
I believe other benchmarks are the noble lives of those who passed on, whose good works become the guiding lights of our destiny. Every soul leaves behind an incomplete story. We exist to further the unfinished aspirations of our ancestors.
May the Fravashis of our dear departed and the Divine Immortals bless our community and give us the wisdom to carry forward all the values our illustrious Parsi predecessors lived and died for – so this ongoing, inspiring legacy of luminosity remains something to remember us by.
editorjamejamshed@gmail.com

Why the New Tata CEO Matters So Much to Parsis

2010-08-10T01:31:00.000-07:00

Ratan N. Tata, Chairman, Indian Hotels Ltd. at the Company's 109th AGM on Aug 5 in Mumbai

Understandably, everybody is all agog. The countdown to Ratan Tata’s retirement has officially begun with the appointment of a committee to select his successor. Like all good things, his winning inning at the helm of the Tata Group must inevitably come to an end. While admiring his grace in letting go by meticulously adhering to his own guideline of stepping off at 75, there’s the inevitable twinge that comes with the end of an era.
Under his leadership, the Tata Group has prospered. He has, with understated sagacity and admirable work ethic, exalted not just Brand Tata but Brand India in business circles around the world.
But, above all, and perhaps without his realizing it, he has reinforced Brand Parsi better than anyone in recent times. Ratan Tata, for all his low profile modesty, is the best known Parsi on the planet.
For a community that is so small in numbers, such an illustrious Brand Ambassador is an irreplaceable asset. One is not being parochial by basking in the Parsiness of his personality! That sense of fair play, that adherence to ethics, that gumption in venturing into realms just a little out of reach (Jaguar, Corus), that determination to excel, that humility… all of this and more is just, well, deeply embedded in the DNA.
These are values that have been instilled in us by our forefathers and we gratefully acknowledge the debt and depth of this lineage by living up to it as best as we can. Many Parsis do this in their own simple sphere of activity; Ratan Tata has epitomized and exemplified it on a global panoramic platform to justifiable acclaim.
He is as aapro as they come – perhaps, a wee bit more than most other celebrated Sons of the Sudreh.
The heads of the House of Tatas have been admired and adored by the community down the ages. For JRD Tata, this realization dawned in the dusk of his years. He then confessed that he never quite understood why the Parsis had consistently showered so much love upon him when he had never done anything tangible for the community.
However, for most Parsis, our ethos and identity is in many ways synonymous with the House of Tatas. All the way from Jamsetji, who remains a hero even amongst GenNext, to the reigning Ratan, Parsis feel incredibly proprietary about the House of Tatas. Most of us have personal histories that are intertwined with the Tata empire – may the sun never set upon it.
And this goes way beyond the multi-billion valuation of the Group. It’s not about wealth but about a shared vision and values, generation after generation. While the new heir will (and must) be picked on merit, many in the community (and beyond) are rooting for both a Parsi and a Tata.
For well over a century, ‘Tata’ and ‘Parsi’ have been two sides of the same coin – it’s the currency millions across the world have faith in. We are willing to bank on it yet again!
editorjamejamshed@gmail.com

To subscribe to Jam-e-Jamshed, the leading Parsi publication, write to jame1832@gmail.com

2010-06-19T02:43:00.000-07:00

Banish those Botas!

What, for most Parsis, is the worst word in the English language? It begins with the letter ‘V’… ‘Vegetarian’!
No affront or insult could possibly be worse than the blood-curdling indignation, alarm and aversion that ‘V for Vegetarian’ induces. Parents almost always never teach it to their children, preferring A for Aleti-Paleti, B for Boomla, C for Chhamna… instead.
When it comes to tucking in, bawajis just cannot do without their botas – reformists and traditionalists alike. Food is the great leveler for every Parsi reveller!
Suggesting vegetarianism is akin to asking Warren Anderson to return to India and take some accountability for the Bhopal gas tragedy – it’s pointless and a perfect waste of time. So why are we bothering to bring it up?
Well, it’s Bahman mahino – that time of year when we’re supposed to spare poor little animals the tragic plight of being butchered, basted, broiled, baked and barbecued for our meals – at the very least on some days of the month.
Ouch!
Should you decide to continue reading ahead, a few unresolved questions: Are animals meant to be eaten? We have heard of the food chain and how vegetables are intended to be eaten by animals and, conversely, animals are supposed to be eaten by human beings. This is theoretical the ‘cycle of life’, but is it really so?
Do animals hurt as much as we do? In their final moments, as the fish is hooked and writhing for that last breath before being forever stilled for saas-ni-machhi, or the goat is hacked and bled to death for Sunday’s dhansak-kawab, or the chicken is slaughtered and de-feathered for those deep fried faarchas, in their final moments, do animals feel the pang of separation from the little families they have nurtured… or been nurtured by? Do they wish they could spend a few more moments on God’s great earth, unfettered under a blue sky (or a starlit one), instead of having their lives snuffed out for voracious human palates?
Parsis have been indomitably feasting on animals for the longest time. We even seem to delight in all their bits and parts with grisly zeal – puchri, doki, pag, bheja, kalejee, paya, khariya, jeebh… go on, feed your greed!
Our lagans and navjotes are occasions for mass animal slaughter. Of course, we don’t feel guilty since we don’t actually kill the animals ourselves – we just pay the butchers to do so and enjoy our meal. Which is how it should be, isnt it? Our social conditioning ensures we don’t get unduly bothered.
Vegetarians are often asked, aren’t you killing plants when you eat them? Perhaps. Or perhaps not – most fruits and vegetables are the offerings of plants and trees. You seldom eat the whole plant or tree itself.
Animals on the other hand are, well, animate. They run, they yelp, they see, they react, they bleed. Ironically, as a community, we love animals and care for them with the sort of deep devotion you don’t often find.
Bahman mahino, then, ordains a little more respect and a little more restraint when it comes to making a meal out of innocent animals. They have a right to life too.
editorjamejamshed@gmail.com

Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla Bereaved

2010-06-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

Late Villoo Poonawalla with Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla at the Mahalakshmi Race Course in Mumbai earlier this year

Villoo Poonawalla, wife of Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla and mother of Adar, passed away on June 8, leaving an irreplaceable void in the Poonawalla family. She is also mourned by daughter-in-law Natasha and grandson Cyrus, as well as other family members and friends.
Villoo Poonawalla was a low profile and graceful lady, preferring to live out of the spotlight. However, she was the backbone of her family and lived up to the proverb: Behind every successful man, there is a woman.
Gracious and graceful, she was often spotted at the Race Course, sharing her husband’s passion for racing. At the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multimillion, held this year at the Mahalakshmi Race Course on February 28, she was, as every year, the hostess with the mostess!
However, her life was not merely all glitz and glamour. Deeply religious, she was a proud and practicing Parsi till the very end. In a recent (albeit rare) interview, Dr. Poonawalla had confessed, “My wife, Villoo, comes from a priestly Athornan family (nee Panthaky) and is a devout Parsi – very religious. She prays for several hours every day.”

Perhaps, Dr. Poonawalla’s stupendous success was wrought, in some measure, by the power of her prayers.
At the all-Parsi youth meet held in Pune last month, it is said that it was at her insistence that her son, Adar, came forward with a generous sponsorship to enable the event organisors meet the expenses.
One wishes eternal behesht for her soul. May her love for our community and our religion be a legacy that forever guides the Poonawalla family, so that the virtues of philanthropy, compassion and community service continue to perpetuate her memory. R.I.P.

* This article appeared in the Jam-e-Jamshed dated Sunday, June 13, 2010. To subscribe to the Jame email: jame1832@gmail.com

2010-06-11T04:08:00.000-07:00

Apologies...

This blog has not been updated in a long time. Apologies to all those who have taken, and are taking, the trouble to visit it and have found it static!

Truth is, life has been anything but static.

Ever since I assumed Editorship of Jam-e-Jamshed on 14.1.2010, there has barely been time to blink. The paper, at 178-years, is Asia's second oldest and the responsibility is both an honour as well as onerous. The Jame is part and parcel of many, many Parsi homes in India and abroad (if you don't get it, do consider subscribing). We are committed to keeping this much-loved community institution robust and raring-to-go!

Will, in the coming weeks, continue to post more columns...

Till then, thanks for taking the trouble to drop by!

Why Dokhmenishini is Ordained in Zoroastrianism

2009-10-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

ERVAD DR. RAMIYAR PARVEZ KARANJIA, is the Principal of the Dadar Athornan Institute and the Sir J. J. Z. and Mullan Feroze Madressas (Institute for Indo-Iranian Studies). He has obtained his Masters and Doctorate in Avesta-Pahlavi from Bombay University. He conducts courses, classes, gives talks, organises seminars and presents papers on the Zoroastrian religion, spirituality and Iranian history all over the world, for children, youth and adults. He has authored various books and papers and has worked as a research scholar with several prestigious Universities and Institutes in Germany and Moscow.
Here, he explains why Parsi/Irani Zoroastrians need to follow the ordained practice of Dokhmenashini, and abstain from alternate methods of disposal after death.

Q. What is the significance of Dokhmenishini?
A. Dokhmenishini, the Zoroastrian mode of the disposal of the dead, is designed to ensure theological correctness, ecological safeguards and spiritual fortification. It also harnesses the powers of disinfection of the sun and the wind. Exposure of the body is very essential from a spiritual point of view, as it’s through the rays of the sun that the spirit is drawn upwards.

Q. Perhaps our ancestors weren’t aware of cremation, hence the present reservation against it?
A. Our ancestors were well aware of the method of disposal of the dead by burning. They were even aware that it is the worst form of defiling fire and, that is why, among the 16 fires comprising an Atash Behram, the fire called ‘murde-suz’ (or fire from a burning corpse) is used after purifying and consecrating it the most number of times.

Q. Is even electric cremation considered incorrect?
A. Cremation, or burning the body, either through the traditional mode or electric mode, is considered incorrect in the Zoroastrian tradition for several reasons. Fire is given great reverence in the Zoroastrian religion, and so is air. Cremation (even electric cremation) is responsible for polluting fire as well as air. The Avesta talks about at least six different fires. Latent energy in all matter is considered as fire – hence, electricity is also a form of fire.

People argue that electric cremation isn’t ‘fire’. Then by what process is the body reduced to ashes within a few minutes? Moreover, after the body reaches a temperature of 600 degrees centigrade, it actually bursts out in flames. Oxford Dictionary (p.193) defines meaning of Cremation: Burning as method of disposing of corpses. Incinerate (p.408): Consume by fire.

Q. Are there specific religious injunctions against cremation?
A. The following are the references from Zoroastrian scriptures against burning of Nasu – that is human dead matter – in any form. Nasu not only creates physical pollution and putridity, it is also responsible for creating spiritual imbalance – referred to in our religion as Druji-i-Nasu – for the following reasons:

1. A corpse is the greatest source of Nasa (putrefaction) in the world. Burning a corpse desecrates fire, which we worship as the living representative of Ahura Mazda. Putting any putrefying matter on fire is a sin.

2. One of the chapters of the Husparam Nask deals with the sin of throwing bodily refuse in the fire.

3. Burning Nasu is considered to be a ‘margarjan’ sin, i.e., a sin worthy of being punished by death. Burning of the hair on the body is also considered a ‘margarjan’ sin, as hair and nail are also nasa.

4. A man burning matter is considered worthy of contempt, as the religion considers such an act partly responsible for natural calamities like climate fluctuations. It is further stated that imbalances in ecology like extremely severe winters are due to burning Nasu.

5. Wood contaminated by Nasu is also forbidden to be taken to fire. Fire is to be kept at least three paces away from Nasu.

6. It is meritorious for a person to prevent a corpse from burning. (Vd.VIII.81)

7. It is a sin to either take dead matter/Nasu near fire or water or vice-versa (Patet Pashemani V).

8. The soul of the person who takes Nasu to the fire is never liberated from hell.

9. Fires at three different places – where the person dies, where the body was kept after Sachkar, and at Sagdi – protects the soul for the first three days from the demon Vizaresh.

10. The tenth chapter of the Sudkar Nask deals with the complaint of fire to Ahura Mazda. When fire is used to burn even a blister or corn, or hair and filth falls on fire, or a child burns itself by fire due to the carelessness of the parents, or when fire is blown upon, it becomes unhappy.

Q. Some Parsis feel cremation is more dignified. Would you agree?
A. Each method of disposal is as ‘dignified’ as you deem it to be. It’s a fact that while being burnt the skull bursts, and faeces comes out of the mouth and rectum. Scientifically, too, burning a corpse is a health hazard as it gives rise to air pollution through the release of carbon and nitrogenous gases and other bone ash and protein residues emitted by the burning body. Those who live near an electric crematorium face this problem.

Q. If cremation is unacceptable in Mumbai, why is it acceptable in other cities/countries?
A. Cremation is unacceptable, according to our Zoroastrian religion, anywhere in the world. Wherever there are no Dakhmas, one has to avail other modes of disposal to dispose the corpse. However, where Dakhmas are available it’s a part of our religious requirement to consign the body therein. It’s pertinent to note here that when our ancestors came to India, and later in India when they settled at different places, the first thing they would do is construct a Dakhma and consecrate it, because they considered it paramount to the well-being of their soul and spiritual evolution after death.

Q. Why deny Parsis their prayers for four days (in case they opt cremation), and then start prayers thereafter?
A. Parsis started having second thoughts and doubts about their Dokhmenishini system, especially after coming in touch with Western culture, which looked down upon it as “barbaric” – in Iran due to the close proximity of the Shah with the Europeans and in India with that of the British.

In India, the elders of the religion realised this trend long ago and, therefore, to set discipline among their flock decreed that wherever there were Dakhmas Zoroastrians needed to confine their dead bodies to them. If they do not do so, then to show them that they are wrong and that their after-death prayers will not be effective enough, it was decided that priests be informed not to perform the four-day death rituals for such people who select a mode of disposal, which is not acceptable to the religion – even though the correct mode is available to them.

Q. But yet, when Parsis die in places where there are no Dakhmas, the four-day prayers are performed for all alternate disposals?
A. If a body is disposed in other ways, where Dokhmenishini is not available, they are not willingly choosing the mode. It is out of compulsion of circumstance, which the religious elders understood. Hence, no such restrictions were kept for places where Dakhmas are not available.

Q. Surely people have freedom of choice and can choose their mode of disposal?
A. Freedom of choice is a much-maligned term. Freedom, too, has its limits. When we are part of a larger body or society, we have to adhere to its discipline and laws. In civil society, we cannot roam without our clothes on. In the same way, we cannot go to a school without a uniform, at least in India. Similarly, a house has its own rules and so does a country. A religion, likewise, has certain requirements of its adherents – one of which is the mode of disposal of the dead.

Q. Is it right to penalise priests who offer to perform last rights for cremations?
A. Consigning bodies to cremation is considered wrong, as explained earlier. Priests who knowingly assist community members in pursuing the wrong path are, hence, wrong too. They’re accomplices to a wrong-doing, and are going against the wishes of the religious elders who have very valid reasons for guiding the community along the right path – a path that will ensure our progress and preservation. The larger good must always prevail over personal will and fancy.

Q. Is the present system of Dokhmenishini functioning optimally in Mumbai?
A. The physical (I will not talk of the Astral and spiritual aspects here) system of Dokhmenishini works on 3 main principles, according to the Vendidad:
a. It should be on an elevated place
b. It should be exposed to the rays of the sun (both the heat and light giving ones, as well as infra)
c. It should be exposed to carrion (preferable vultures; kites, eagles and crows also work, albeit slowly and less effectively)
Of the 3 above, a. and b. are there and c. has slowed down – b. is not optimal during monsoons. In spite of the above short comings, Dokhmenashini works. It has not failed. A bit slowed down, yes, but highly functional anyway. Even in its less-than-perfectly-optimal state, it’s still the best system for us.

Q. Is it fair that inter-married family members/friends cannot be part of traditional Zoroastrian last rites?
A. On account of certain spiritual requirements no Zoroastrian prayers and rituals can be performed in the presence of non-Zoroastrians, or even Zoroastrians who are in a certain ritually impure state. The same rule applies for entry to Fire-Temples as also for rituals and ceremonies pertaining to the deceased. It’s not on account of discrimination or high-handedness that non-Zoroastrian family members and friends are requested not to be part of these rituals. These rules are for the betterment of the soul of the deceased, as well as for the well-being of the living. One should not have hard-feelings on account of these rules.

Q. Finally, how important is Dokhmenishini for the Zoroastrian soul and what happens to those souls who don’t opt for it?
A. In spiritual matters, one has to go by the wisdom of the scriptures (given by the Prophet and other spiritually advanced souls) as well as the traditions laid down by our worthy and noble ancestors. Both the above sources regard Dokhmenishini as essential for the speedy release of the soul and its Astral components from the material world and the subsequent judgment and progress of the soul. For the unfortunate souls who do not get the benefit of Dokhmenishini, this process is evidently much slower and more painful.

Bibliography of Sources for this interview:
1. Bharucha, S.D., Rististan, Bombay, 1917.
2. Boyce Mary, ZOROASTRIANS Their religious beliefs and practices, London, 1979.
3. Darmesteter James, The Sacred Books of the East, The Zend Avesta Part I, Oxford, 1895.
4. Dhabhar Bamanji N., The Persian Rivayats of Hormazyar Frmarz, Bombay, 1932
5. Jamasp Asa Dastur Kaikhushru J., Arda Viraf Nameh, Bombay 1902.
6. Kanga Kavasji E., Vendidad, Bombay 1874.
7. West E.W., The Sacred Books of the East, Pahlavi Texts Part XXIV, Oxford, 1885.
8. West E.W., The Sacred Books of the East, Pahlavi Texts Part XXXVII, Oxford, 1892

* This interview appeared in the October ’09 issue of The BPP Review of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet

Dr. Keki Gharda: Man with a Mission

2009-09-27T04:15:00.000-07:00

By Shernaaz Engineer

In recent months, the papers have been buzzing with the news that Gharda Chemicals, the second-largest agro-chemical company in India (Rs. 950-crore turnover), is likely to be sold. Dr. Keki Gharda, Chairman and MD, a veteran chemical scientist, and his wife, Abaan, have planned a public trust to use sale proceeds for philanthropy and to promote industrial research. Here, Dr. Keki Gharda affords a profoundly personal glimpse into his life, times, mission and vision… in his own words.

I saw what attachment to money did…
I was born on September 25, 1929, of Kadmi Zoroastrian parents. My parents (father Hormusji Dinshawji Gharda and mother Ratanbai Gharda nee Madon) were both from Athornan families. I never became a navar, as I thought it a waste of important years of my life. I’m somewhat of an agnostic, but an honest man. Of course, one does not preclude the other!
My father was an MA in English – in fact, he was one of the early few to do their MA from the Bombay University back in 1901. My mother studied until the fourth standard. There was a prejudice in those days that menstruating girls had to be taken out of school. But she nursed a passion for learning and I found as a child that she was very well read. However, she was self-trained and the English classics were her favourites. Her father was a medical doctor and a very interesting man. He, too, was very well read and I remember borrowing books from him. He had a wonderful memory, even in his 90s. He would engage me in arguments over Shakespeare’s plays, which I borrowed from him to read. If you mentioned a quote, he knew the Act and Scene it was from! He was also a humanist and a philanthropist. Not only would he not charge poor patients, but he’d give them money to buy better food. As I grew up, this stayed at the back of my mind.
From my father’s side, my paternal grandfather was a practicing senior priest in one of the Atash Behrams – I cannot recall which one. We stayed in a joint family. Both my grandfathers lived long lives (paternal beyond 85 and maternal beyond 95) so I have longevity in my genes! My father was one of four sons and several daughters, and he never practised as a priest but as an interpreter at the Bombay High Court. I was barely five when my paternal grandpa died and our joint family broke up. Two of my uncles were a bit crooked and persuaded my grandfather to give them his property. This soured my father a great deal and he continued fretting about it. We had an acrimonious household and I felt this was a stupid way of living. I was a conventional religious person until that point. I still wear my ‘sudreh’ and ‘kusti’, even though I’m agnostic. I saw that despite being religious, my father was attached to money and made himself unnecessarily unhappy.
We lived in a rented place in Bandra on Hill Road, and I would tell him that it was alright as we were comfortable in most ways. I schooled at St. Stanislaus, where they did not teach any vernacular language so I have poor familiarity with Gujarati. I used to go to the Petit Library to borrow books, and my mother and I would read them. My mother often told me to study and not read so many books. I told her: I come first in class, I am doing my job; now you do yours and leave me alone! I was extraordinarily talented – there’s no point beating about the bush. I went to the Elphinstone College, which drew bright students from all over, but I did well there too. My mother had, by then, started telling me often: It’s your duty to make as much money as you can honestly throughout your life, but you should die poor. She told me her father did the same thing – giving away a lot in charity.
I had two sisters and was slightly pampered as the youngest male child. Besides, we Paris are conceited because our skin colour is a little light! However, my parents only admitted me to primary school – thereafter I made it on my own merit. By the age of 15 I was functioning as the head of our household. My elder sisters were quarrelsome and had their own mind. I used to control them because my father could not!

Gharda Chemicals was thrust on me…
I believe you are what you are because of your genes (85 percent) and the remaining is shaped by your environment, which also you cannot always choose. I think we’re creatures of chance floating around the cosmos and have no reason to be conceited. I am gifted with good brains and believe I have unusual talents to be used for the benefit of others. Most people search for happiness through the accumulation of material wealth. I also accumulate wealth – but for others. That gives me happiness and continues to motivate me. I’m a Parsi Zoroastrian, and in the Parsi culture there is a large emphasis on work ethic. That is why Parsis have been largely successful.
When I look back on how I started Gharda Chemicals, I must concede it was virtually thrust upon me. I had finished my PhD in the US with three scholarships from three leading chemical companies – incidentally I am now competing with them and making them uncomfortable! I did well, studying and later teaching (Chemical Engineering for a while at the University of Oklahoma). I came back to India after six years to see my parents and found that my father was hospitalised. During my visit, he died. My mother was left all alone, and she didn’t know much about money. She told me to stay back. I had a permanent job in the US and they said they could hold it for a year. I told them it was unlikely I would return. I worked as a Consultant for some time. I felt I was being underpaid. So I saved some money, and my sisters and mother all put together some and I started Gharda Chemicals with Rs. 2 lakh in 1964. We began operating in 1966. Gharda’s first product was a dye called German Blue. This used to be made by a big multinational and I started out copying them. But in two to three years I improved it and made it a superior product at a lower price. From the start of my career I was making multinationals ‘run’! My business was run on both idealism and pragmatism. My idealism was that if I could make something cheaper, it was wrong to sell it at a much higher price. My pragmatism was that this drove away competition!
When you start a business, for the first five years there is generally no profit and you don’t pay the staff any bonus. But we started doing so almost immediately and over the years have had very little labour problems. We’ve had one or two strikes and I’d tell the workers I don’t care for money, but you will lose your livelihood. They would come back to work, saying their wives sent them back!
We have grown with internal resources. We stared with Rs. 2 lakh and today have over Rs. 500 crore (capital plus reserves). And this is after paying all our taxed honestly. Our current valuation is between Rs. 1,000-1,200 crore. We sell our goods all over the world, with the exception of Japan. We started with just nine people. I used to work 16-hours-a-day, coming home after midnight. The neighbours asked my wife, Abaan, if I had a mistress. She would say yes – Chemical Technology! I remember telling my wife one day – I have two loves, my work and you; but work will always come first.
Today, we have 1800 people across four factories. Our factories are world-class and we have met all the ISO standards for chemical manufacture and continue to have a strong emphasis on R&D.

No pressure to live fancily…
My wife, Abaan is a graduate from St. Xavier’s College and she did her PhD from the University of Mumbai. We live a simple life, and since both of us are PhD’s I used to joke that she had the most educated driver and I had the most educated cook anybody could have! For years we kept no servants – a year ago we started employing a part-timer. Abaan still cooks. I used to wash my own clothes, not out of spirit of masochism but because I am not fortune’s hostage. My wife, I must say, has never asked me for anything – not even jewellery. We run the house on about Rs.10,000 per month, and we have never been under any pressure to live a fancy lifestyle. If she sometimes falls short of cash, she adds a little out of her own savings!
I am now in the process of creating the Abaan and Keki Gharda Foundation, on the lines of the Belinda and Bill Gates Foundation (with a contribution of Rs. 600-700 crore). The new Foundation will comprise: 1.The Gharda Foundation, which is a social work organisation running two small hospitals in Dombivili and Lote (on the Mumbai-Goa road); 2. A research foundation, which will undertake research (my passion) and also generate funds through research for the Foundation.
Over the years, we have instituted various welfare projects. We have a mobile clinic that goes into the villages near our factories to offer health care advice. We have mobile libraries attached to each factory and they go from village to village. We have two hospitals, which I mentioned earlier, run to high standards. We have also started an Engineering College in the Konkan region, near Chiplun, called the Gharda Institute of Technology (GIT), and it offers Chemical/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science. I have already spent Rs. 40 crore on it and will spend another 10. We have 60 students, all selected through the Common Entrance Test. If any Parsi students show an inclination for engineering and get through the Common Entrance Test, then I could help them with admissions through my management quota. But for me to reserve seats for Parsis may not be possible. Within the next five years I see the institute getting the top accreditations in the country. We are also exploring the option of students getting an MBA in the fifth year of their engineering degree, in association with the Wellingkar Institute.
As Parsis, we have a legacy of hard work and social service. There have been so many institutes built with Parsi money in our country. (In my case, Parsi money and parsimony could be an apt pun!). As Parsis we are barely 50,000 in India’s one billion population. Yet in all the professions, in whatever field, there is always at least one Parsi right at the top! In my own field, several accolades have come my way, but the one I cherish is the American Institute of Chemists Award – this is generally an award given to chemists (not chemical engineers) and three out of ten winners of this award go on to win the Nobel Prize. I was the first Asian to get it. Now, I am in the process of selling my company and focusing on my two passions: social work and research. I have some innovative ideas for research and, who knows, I may end up with the Nobel Prize!

This artilce appeared in Jame Jamshed, dated Sept 27, '09

Young Zoroastrians: This One’s for You!

2009-06-16T05:06:00.000-07:00

My nephew, Jehan Engineer, a budding young Zoroastrian -- may his tribe increase!

“Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as I can before handing it on to future generations” – GBS

Young Zoroastrian Friends…
Mired as we are in myriad controversies, the community’s GenNext needs to shake off all sloth and stand up to the test, because the future certainly belongs to all you budding young stars! You are, each one of you, perhaps even without your realizing it, a bright light that signifies the promise of better tomorrow for the community.

As our potential young leaders, in whatever way each one of you chooses to explore your lives, and the unique gifts you have been given, there is the fervent wish that you all remain committed Zoroastrians, unfailing in your efforts to preserve and protect our precious little community, and steadfast in your adherence to the Zoroastrian values of integrity, compassion, and unity.

Right now, you are at the beginning of a beautiful journey – one that will reveal your destiny to you. Most of you have barely begun to tap your potential. May much success crown your endeavors – but success doesn’t come merely by daydreaming, thinking big or talking big. Anybody can do that. And, to be fair, there’s no harm in having a grand vision for your lives. In fact, you must take a little time out and quietly contemplate how you want your future to map out in the years to come.

But this has to be followed with a lot of hard work, discipline, and by developing various skills that will enable you get ahead in the race of life.

When I was crossing the cusp between adolescence and adulthood, as many of you are today, I would often ask myself – how does one create success in one’s life? And, to be honest, this is a question many of us continue to ask ourselves at various stages throughout our lives, not because we merely want to amass great wealth, name and fame, but because it’s really important to be the best you can be at every point in time. Each one of us was born to fulfill a certain dream – and we need to realize that dream, we need to forge that path and arrive at that goal in best manner we can.

The choice, however, is always entirely yours. You can either strive to become your best self, and see how much satisfaction and fulfillment this brings you and those around you. Or you can be a second rate or even a third rate version of yourself – somebody who will one day retire with regrets, frustrated at not having made the grade, having backed out or buckled down when you could and should have been a positive role model whom others in the community would look up to with respect and regard.

It is true that as Parsis we have been greatly blessed with a legacy of luminosity. We have a long line of leading lights in every single vocation under the sun – from music to medicine, from industry to academics, from the various professions one can think of to path-breaking innovations one cannot even think of… Parsis have been enterprising and acclaimed and at the forefront of public life in this country, and abroad, for years on end. What is it, then, that made such a small group of people, our forefathers, so eminent in the past – and what is it that is making many of us so complacent in present times that we appear to be losing our lustre?

Where are the young Parsis in public life today? Where are the university toppers, the super achievers in the various professions we were once famed for? The entrepreneurs of a new generation who are creating empires not just for personal gain but public good? It’s true that the younger generation is barely visible today, and many are calling it the generation of the Missing Parsis, because they’re seldom seen or heard of in the public domain.

The intention is not to initiate the blame game. It’s easy to blame internal failures on extraneous factors. One can blame parents, teachers, the syllabus, the system, the government or even the BPP… Increasingly, the community is blaming the BPP for everything, and we have to realise that it is our duty to collaborate collectively in order to fashion a vibrant future for our community. The onus will, increasingly, be upon the youth to undertake this testing task. But before you set upon the mission of forging a future for the community, you need to forge your own future first.

Bear in mind that you would do well not miss the opportunity of a lifetime to create worthy lives for yourselves. There will be challenges, difficulties, set backs. Nothing worthwhile was ever achieved without struggle. But in the ultimate analysis, there are just no excuses. Our forefathers did it – and they did it at a time when success did not seem as easy to come by. We have so much going for us today. We just have to seize every opportunity we get and stride ahead.

And if you don’t do it, young friends, you will not only be letting yourselves and your families down, but you will be letting down an entire generation within our community. Parsi children who follow will not have the inspiration to carry on because you will not have given them anything to look forward to.

So, even as you enjoy your youth, and the carefree joy of these days, consider the cycle of life. Today you are starting out starry-eyed and the world is full of hope – live up to it with responsibility and respect for what you have been given. And pass on our invaluable Zoroastrian legacy to the next generation.

If there is one final thought I’d like to leave you with it would be to choose your life’s milestones with care...

Pick a career that best fits your inner calling.

Elect a professional path that doesn’t require you to compromise with your conscience.

Judiciously select a Zoroastrian spouse so that the community grows and thrives through you.

Look for the right role models to inspire you, as the wrong people will only lead you astray.

Stand by your parents, because they are your biggest strength. Follow determinedly and devotedly the timeless tenets of our Faith, since this is the moral compass that will unfailingly guide you.

And, finally, celebrate the big blessing of being Ahura Mazda’s Zoroastrian representatives on this earth, in this lifetime.

Your birth was not an accident of fate, but part of a perfect divine plan. Honour it. And despite the challenges of our contemporary lives, tread the Zoroastrian path to success. You won’t regret it!

* This article appeared in Jame (June 14, ’09), and was excerpted from the Valedictory Address I gave students of the ‘Holiday Programme for Youth’ held by the BPP this summer

Happy Birthday – 150-years-old today!

2009-04-22T02:55:00.000-07:00

The Sorabji Thoothi Agiary was built in 1859 and is recently renovated with painstaking care

People have birthdays, and places do too. Sacrosanct places that are awash with a vibrancy which the passing years just cannot wear away – and sustain us with a grace that gets more generous as time goes by.

For many Parsis, one such sanctuary for the soul is the Sorabji Thoothi Agiary at Walkeshwar, which turns 150-years-old today.

What a beautiful and bountiful bastion of faith this is, with its blessed well skirting the shimmering rim of Mumbai’s Queen’s Necklace, and sanctified by the waters of the Arabian Sea.

The Thoothi Agiary was recently renovated by the generous endeavours of the Bapuna siblings, and it’s mobed, Ervad Kersi Gonda, the righteous priest who has devotedly tended to the Holy Fire for close to a quarter of a century, affirms that countless faithful folk have had their wishes fulfilled down the years, following the timeless tenets of the Zoroastrian faith without compromise or controversy.

It is his fervent wish on the occasion of the 150th birthday of the Agiary that the Parsi community should preserve, protect and prudently propagate its unique legacy, without falling prey to petty and pernicious politicking, or rushing recklessly into reform, so that the flame of our faith continues to burn bright forever.

This brings us to another haloed precinct of the Parsi faith, the Banaji Limji Agiary at Fort, which celebrates its 300th anniversary on April 24. Three awesome centuries of nurturing, inspiring, blessing and bestowing its boons upon generation after generation of Parsis!

These two ancient, sacred fires should, fittingly, be the beacon of hope that brings all of us out of the dark alley of despondency… and the self-destructive dramatics that could well bring the curtains down on us. Unless we, like our forefathers, stay unwaveringly devoted to the very reason why they fled Iran and came to India: to preserve our fires and our faith.

The old style of the Thoothi Agiary has been maintained throughout the renovation

The prayer hall at Thoothi Agiary, with portraits of our illustrious forefathers, none of who ever advocated radical reform as the solution for our survival!

The wishing well at Thoothi Agiary. Devotees affirm it has wish-bestowing powers, and its right by the sea

Inside the Thoothi Agiary, where the flame of our faith has bestowed its boons for 150 years... and many more to follow!

Armaity Tirandaz: A well-earned victory

2009-04-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

The winner takes it all! Initially shy, Armaity came into her own on the campaign trail with force and felicity. Picture by Hoshang Nekoo

Armaity Rustom Tirandaz is the newly-elected Trustee of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat (BPP), having won the recent election that was necessitated by the untimely demise of her late husband, Rustom.

For the largely peace-loving Parsi community of Mumbai, it is fitting that a gentle and competent person like her has been installed at the apex institution, hopefully bringing to an end weeks of vicious acrimony and some really “yellow-yellow dirty fellow” journalism!

The manner in which the death of a little girl was twisted into an election gimmick, to disgrace and defame the sitting BPP Trustees, many of them supporters of Mrs. Tirandaz’s candidature, with a view to jeopardising her chances, has all come to naught. The community has proved, yet again, that it wishes to abide by decorum and tradition, and will put in place Trustees who will not compromise upon either.

Despite relentless and ruthless attempts to browbeat the electorate through slander, scandal-mongering and the surreptitious camouflaging of an unholy agenda (by some vested interests out to hijack its peace and preservation), the Paris community has yet again prudently picked out the right person who will best serve its larger interests.

This, of course, doesn’t go down too well with certain people, who keep rearing their obdurate heads. But, perhaps, they need to heed the message behind the mandate: that these are the Trustees the community has selected and elected. And while defeat may be a devastating thing, there is also something called accepting it gracefully.

Congratulations to Armaity Tirandaz, and...

To her wonderful family who has stood by her at a time when they were overcoming the anguish of losing their patriarch, putting aside much personal pain to don the mantle of public service...

To the many people who campaigned for her with great grit and gumption...

To all the sitting Trustees of the BPP because they now have their ‘Super Seven’ Board back in full strength, and can put skirmishes aside to start afresh and live up to the faith the community has vested in them...

And to those Parsis who, in the silence of their souls, time and again, find the strength to come out and do the right thing, despite the cacophony of these very conflicted times.

With Jimmy Mistry, who stood by her despite many other defectors in Dadar, post Rustom's demise

With elder son, Faredoon, on the night she won the election! Photo by Viraf Hansotia

First Wives Club! Pansy Dinshaw Mehta, Delna Jimmy Mistry, Firoza Khojeste Mistree and Anahita Yazdi Desai (not in pic) were rock-solid in their support

Victory is finally here for Armaity and her team! Rustom's soul will rejoice... this is his victory too!

I will never let the community down: Armaity Rustom Tirandaz

2009-04-02T23:34:00.000-07:00

With her poignant grace in the face of enormous personal grief, and her spunky determination to give the community her best, Armaity Rustom Tirandaz is a profile in courage.

While unbiased voters will judge her on her merits, it’s not surprising that some of the biggest and best names in the community have come forward to endorse her candidature: Farrokh Kavarana of Tatas, eminent lawyer Homi Ranina, former Chairman of the Central Bank of India, Homai Daruwalla – and many more. Worthy individuals, who could be (and perhaps should) be Trustees of the BPP in their own right – yet they have stepped forward to stress that she is the right choice.

If one pauses to think – and think one must before one votes – it stands to reason that people of such unblemished stature would only commend a credible candidate to the community.

Yet a perception has been created that Armaity Rustom Tirandaz is, at best, a sympathy seeker. However, in the course of this interview, she comes across as calm and competent, and she does not play on sentiment. Her resume is robust. And while it’s true that being the wife of Rustom Tirandaz cannot be counted upon as a qualification for Trusteeship – neither should it be deemed a disqualification.

Over to the lady, then, as we seek to clarify some preconceptions – and clear many misconceptions…

What does one call you – Rabri Devi (as you have recently been rechristened) or Armaity Rustom Tirandaz?
I was born Armaity Karani and, by marriage, became Armaity Rustom Tirandaz. I cannot be anyone but myself! While I yearn, strive and struggle to fill my Rustom’s shoes, I certainly cannot wear anyone else’s but my own.

Ideologically, where do you stand on crucial community issues?
I have no qualms confessing that I’m a traditionalist. However, this does not mean there should be no progress for the betterment of the community. I’m all for change – but not when it comes to our religious tenets, which are time-honoured and must be treasured. I am totally against cremation – no Cremate ni Bungli and no four-day prayers for those opting for cremation. Neither do I advocate intermarriage – I had told my children a long time ago that whenever they married, it should be within the community. Intermarried Zoroastrian women know from the start that they need to make a choice between their spouse and their religion – and they make it willingly, so why raise a fuss later?

It’s being suggested that you have almost been coerced into contesting this election, propped up by people who want to use you as a puppet?
There is a two-letter word in the English language, which is not unknown to me – ‘NO’. If I were not keen, or if I felt I was not qualified to rise to the challenge of Trusteeship, I would have said no. As I have in the past. Let me explain…

When Rustom was in politics, and he was a Corporator for 17 years, our ward changed its ‘complexion’ many times. At one point it became a Woman’s Ward, and at that time Rustom was very keen for me to contest since it was a ward where we had worked very hard and were very well respected. But I said no. I refused. Nobody, not even my husband, could push me into doing something I did not believe in doing.

This time, when I was asked, I consulted my conscience and after due consideration I accepted because I believe I can contribute meaningfully.

Yet it is feared that you will be a ‘rubber stamp’ to Dinshaw Mehta…
I want to ask, why only Dinshaw Mehta? There are six other Trustees who have as much say over everything that happens at the BPP. Will I be a rubber stamp to them all? Rustom’s colleagues are well aware that I’m the sort of person who will not let anything get past if it goes against my grain. I’m perceptive enough to know my priorities, and principled enough to stand by them. Ultimately, I’m answerable not to any individual but to my conscience and my community – I will never let them down.

How does it feel when you’re called “just a housewife”?
It feels wonderful! I’m proud of the title, and so are most housewives, because it connotes love, sacrifice, a capacity for sharing and caring and creating something strong, vibrant and wonderful: A happy family. The same values that I brought to my family are the ones I will bring to the BPP and to the community. Women are natural negotiators, but they know where to draw the line and will let no harm come to those they care for. I’m sure the community will appreciate these values.

But you are more than a housewife…
I’m a qualified Physiotherapist from KEM Hospital, and I have been associated with several social causes for many years. I have never spoken about them, because it seems strange to do so. However, since I have been asked I will confess that I have worked with the Jai Vakeel School for the handicapped for over 13 years, the Dadar Blind School, The Sakarbai Petit Hospital for animals for the last 18 years, the Bandra Hospice for the terminally ill for over 10 years, the Shelter for Girls in Distress, and so on. I have also been shoulder-to-shoulder with Rustom since the start of his political career in 1970, and while I have been actively involved in public life, I have not been very much in the public eye.

Your critics say we need professionals in the BPP…
Am I not a professional? And what ‘profession’ do you need to serve the BPP? You can outsource many things, but not the spirit of service, the integrity to uphold the right values, and the determination to do your best by your community. I bring all of this with me, in addition to my academic qualifications.

As a front-running candidate for Trusteeship, what is your vision for the Parsi community?
I think we should do as much as we can to alleviate the suffering of our poor. We need to arrive at how many people live below the poverty line, and set into place special schemes to help them. The Merit Rating for Housing needs to be followed diligently, and those deserving a house must get one. We need to work on many fronts to ensure that our youth get all the opportunities they can. Above all, my vision for the community is one of unity. I have redefined ‘Community’ as ‘Kom ni Unity’. I will do everything to heal the rift that divides us. Rustom was an expert at diffusing tense situations – he would come up with something so witty that it would smoothen frayed nerves fast enough! I may not have his talent, but I’m prepared to try.

His victory in the October elections was, perhaps, the only genuine moral victory any candidate could claim. Rustom Tirandaz won with virtually no budget, no publicity, no hate speeches, no lavish banquets…
Yes, he won solely on the strength of the love, admiration and faith the community had in him. When he wanted to contest, we were all trying to dissuade him. But he had full faith that he would win thanks to Universal Adult Franchise. He believed the community would recognise the hard work he’d put in. He kept telling us, this is my last chance. Let me go ahead and contest my last election…

How has the experience of your maiden campaign been?
It has been heart warming. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve been getting. Although initially shy of public speaking, I seem to have overcome that and feel empowered to be able to offer myself in service. Seeing the crowd response has been emotionally uplifting.

Are you a practicing Zoroastrian? The Parsi Press reported you were a Theosophist…
Theosophy is not a religion – it’s a philosophy. Of course I am a practicing Zoroastrian, what else can I be?

Would you abide by the guidance of the High Priests on matters of religion?
Yes. The High Priests have a deep understanding of the faith and the best interests of the community at heart.

Since this is your first election, and you’ve put so much at stake in terms of personal commitment, what will happen if you lose?
I would not consider myself a loser – I would still continue to perpetuate Rustom’s legacy and vision because I understand it and I believe in it. However, as a lone individual I may not be able to succeed to the extent that I could if I were part of an organisation like the BPP, which is deeply committed to social welfare.

Let me stress, this election is not about power or fame or position. Because should I win, I know I will not be able to take sole credit for it. It will not be my victory, it will also be Rustom’s victory – a victory for the service he rendered, and for the service I will be able to render, to the community.

I have no connection with AZA: MANECK ENGINEER

2009-04-02T03:03:00.000-07:00

Maneck Engineer, BPP Candidate, says he will never contest again if he loses this election

Maneck Engineer is no stranger to the Parsi Zoroastrian community in Mumbai. As a former Trustee of the BPP, and a reputed professional, his soft spoken and down-to-earth demeanour has always been appreciated. Despite having lost the last election in October, he has bravely flung himself into the fray again. Predictably, several dormant controversies have clambered out of the closet. However, it needs to be acknowledged that this is an election where ideology matters as much as ability.

Today the community is split ideologically. In a nutshell, what do you stand for?
I stand for change, without infringing upon our traditions and culture. The world is changing and we have to accept some changes. We don’t dress today the way we did 100 years ago – but that hasn’t affected our traditions.

Have you abandoned the AFP banner this time – or is it the other way around?
The AFP was only a temporary arrangement. We came together to fight the October election so that a group of seven like-minded people could get elected and work harmoniously. Unfortunately, only one person got through.

Was that a huge disappointment?
Of course… definitely.

When people are elected as Trustees should they work unitedly for the community, or continue their factional fights?
I think there should be no politics in a Trust body. Factional fighting should cease. But, then, there are differences even within a family.

Do you think the courts are an appropriate forum to sort out the community’s differences?
We should not go to the courts and we should not create tamashas on TV. People are laughing at us. We should sit around together and resolve our differences. I’m prepared to try and bring about reconciliation.

You resigned citing irreconcilable differences with Dinshaw Mehta. How will you work harmoniously with him if elected?
I have no problems. I have known Dinshaw for 30 years, and we have still not had a box fight! For the sake of the community I’m willing to sit down with him… I am sure he will also give in.

As a prominent candidate in this election, what is your mission for the Parsi community?
The bogey of housing has to be resolved. It will take 3-5 years to remove the list if we categorise people properly. Many people are offered homes in the Western suburbs – but they refuse to move there. So just building in the suburbs isn’t enough.

The younger generation is migrating. If you go through the statistics you will see that the Parsi population between 25-40 years is almost missing in India. For instance, both my daughters are in Australia. The younger generation wants to keep out of ‘bawaji’ politics, and many don’t get a good quality of life with independent housing in India. If we don’t look after their needs more will go away. I believe Parsis can survive (as we have for 1400 years) and keep our identity, traditions and culture only if we live in Mumbai/India. If young Parsis from abroad want to come back, we have to encourage that… the BPP should say here is a house.

Could you enumerate upon your achievements during your last term as Trustee…
A new layout was drawn up for Neville Baug at Nirlon, and a building was put up. I am proud to say that Neville Baug is coming up as a really nice colony. I was also responsible for the solar panels and the greening at Doongerwadi. When I joined there were only 5 solars, but today there are 12 and all are working effectively – we had to modify and tropicalise them. I also worked on the 45-year old Kapadia Building at A.H. Wadia Baug. They had written it off, but we repaired it and today the tenants are happy. Redevelopment has to be done judiciously. Often repairing is a better option.

You stand by Dokhmenishini and the Doongerwadi?
I’m not against Doogerwadi; I’m in favour of it. But because of the vultures becoming extinct we had to go in for solar panels, which are working very well. I’m totally against cremation. At the same time, if it’s somebody’s wish I cannot stop them. I’m not in favour of conversion either.

You call yourself traditional and say you stand by Dokhmenishini. Yet you did not sign the affidavit against the Cremate-ni-bungli?
I wasn’t in India at the time, and since I’d missed the discussions on the subject I decided to abstain from signing either for or against it.

So are you for or against it?
I am totally against a Cremate-ni-bungli at Doongerwadi. It would be against the settlors’ wishes. But we could have one at another location.

Meaning?
You may not be aware, but earlier we had bunglis at various locations across Mumbai. I have lived at Cusrow Baug since my first birthday, and we had one there. When my grandfather died, he was taken there and the prayers commenced. The body was later consigned at Doongerwadi. Likewise, there were other bunglis. We could consider giving one to those who wish to opt for cremation. After all, we cannot stop anybody. Why bring about a split in the community – why come in the way?

How much reverence do you give to the views of the High Priests? Or do you, like some, believe the Parsis should pretty much do as they please?
No, I don’t believe that. But the priests should be united – they need to resolve their differences amongst themselves. There should be a Dasturan Dastur, like the Pope, and they should speak only in one voice.

But we don’t have a Papal tradition, and our High Priests have been virtually unanimous on key issues…
You are right. They should have a say in religious matters. They are highly educated and understand their responsibilities.

The BPP is a hotbed of politics – now more than ever before. What motivates you to stick your head into the crossfire?
I have a burning desire to serve my community. These are the few years at the end of my life when I can serve. I began my association with the BPP back in the CER days with (late) Siloo Kavarana. It has been an interesting tryst, I have enjoyed it! I don’t like to malign, and only retaliate when I am compelled. I had supported the candidature of (late) Rustom Tirandaz – I think it was in the 1995/96 elections. I helped him win. But in the next elections I stood against him because I felt he had joined hands with Dinshaw.

You are professionally associated with Godrej. It's felt that some members of the family influence you in the context of the pro-reform agenda?
No, my bosses have never tried to influence me in any way. They will never interfere.

It's also said that Smita (Godrej) Crishna, who is associated with the Association for Inter Married Zoroastrians (AIMZ), exerts influence over you in matters concerning inter-married Parsi women?
She may discuss matters with me… it’s not that she influences me.

Do you support navjotes for children of inter-married Parsi women?
I wouldn’t like to comment on that.

Your friend (and former colleague) Kersi Randeria and his AZA are filing numerous cases, running aggressive election campaigns… all of which must cost a lot of money. Who is funding AZA?
I have no idea. Probably Kersi is using his own money. Let me be frank, I don’t know. Kersi has taken this cause to his heart. But there may also be some others involved… I don’t know. I am not in close touch with Kersi, no matter what Dinshaw says. We meet sometimes. But very often I don’t even know what affidavits or cases they file. I have no connection with that organisation (AZA). In fact, Bergis (Desai) was much closer to Dinshaw than to me. We don’t know why they suddenly split up…

Any parting thoughts?
We need harmony in the community. The youth are important; they are the real wealth of the community… not our lands or assets. The BPP should have specialised committees on every subject, with just one or two Trustees connected with each committee, and there should be a budget for everything with proper management.

What happens if you lose the election?
I’ll forget about it and never contest again. I think ours is one of the finest communities and we can survive only if we help ourselves. By bickering we will not achieve anything, expect destroying ourselves. We have survived for 1400 years and we will survive till the end of time… I’m sure. I’m not a religious scholar, but from what I’ve read we once ruled half the world. We may be on the top again some day.

What will take us there?
Behramshah Varzavand, perhaps.

Really?
Anything can happen! We must have faith in our religion and in ourselves.

Here’s wishing you the best, Mr. Engineer…

BPP Election Commences on April 4, 2009

2009-04-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

Rustom Tirandaz’s untimely demise has necessitated another election, and the four candidates in the fray are as follows:

Armaity Rustom Tirandaz
Maneck H. Engineer
Tehemton Dumasia
Ervad Adi Govadia

The polling schedule is as under:

April 4 – Bharucha Baug, Andheri
April 5 – Cusrow Baug, Colaba
April 11 – Khareghat Colony, Hughes Road
April 12 – Parsi Colony, Dadar
April 19 – Rustom Baug, Byculla

Trouble being brewed… BPP being targeted

2009-03-12T23:31:00.000-07:00

Seems like yesterday that the felicitations for the new BPP Board were on in full swing... Today, the mood is rife with strife and looming litigation

The beleaguered Bombay Parsi Panchayat (BPP) is in for more… and yet more… trouble. If President Barack Obama finds that his hair is greying after a mere 44 days in office, he should thank his lucky stars he is nowhere near the BPP! As most would by now probably know, the harried BPP Trustees are losing their hair, their appetite, their sleep and their peace of mind – for no apparent fault.

Earnest and assiduous in the discharge of their duties (for most of the part), and validated by the mandate of the entire community via the first ever general elections, they are being needlessly heckled over the issue of flat allotments. Things have come to such a pass that a so-called dismissal decree has reportedly been issued. Of course, it is being contested.

However, a little perspective would not be out of place. Of the stipulated 104 flat allotments (the current bone of contention), the BPP has long since agreed to a majority of cases. A minority of applicants were found unsuitable and all that the Trustees requested was the time and opportunity to submit them to further scrutiny, so that less deserving people don’t get hustled and muscled through by the maverick masterminds of unnecessary dissent.

Debate and discourse are the fundamental fulcrums of any democracy. But to warp them into disruptive and disgraceful politicking, driven by personal vendetta, does no decent person any credit.

Unfortunately, decency and decorum have been thrown to the winds as the community witnessed a blatant bout of lies being bandied about on a recent television show, which made every simple-hearted, honest-to-goodness Parsi cringe to the core (fortunately much of the community still falls into the category of right-thinking people wanting to do the right thing).

Anybody who was under any illusion that the televised venting of vituperation against the Trustees, with underprivileged Parsis propped up as pawns in the game, did the community any good is definitely delusional.

Let it not be forgotten: There is an elected Panchayat in place right now. And the Trustees have a very fresh stamp of support from the entire community. They are fully capable of executing the tasks they have been entrusted with. If the community did not want them there, they would not be in office. Their functioning cannot endlessly be called to question, nor their decisions berated, bulldozed and bludgeoned by some people who were pummelled at the polls!

Those trying to undermine the present BPP board need to understand and appreciate that the current Trustees are the people’s choice. Period.

They have got to be supported and they will be supported, because this is the Parsi Punchayet – and every Parsi who has cast his or her vote for the sitting Trustees will stand by them unflinchingly and honourably. That is the Parsi ethos. All other ugliness is an aberration.

Rustom Tirandaz, R.I.P.

2009-01-27T05:27:00.000-08:00

The late Rustom Tirandaz, on the day he won the BPP election (October 2008), elated and determined to forge ahead...

On Republic Day (January 26), when one was at the lovely, lively annual concert of the Activity High School at Peddar Road, vivaciously put together by Principal Perin Bagli and her talented young students, in the crowd there was a lovable lion-in-winter, with his snowy beard and benign smile, Rustom Tirandaz, enjoying the foot-tapping dances with wife Armaity.

The next morning (January 27), he was summoned to a destination so far away that we’ve lost him forever. Rustomji surely had no idea on that Monday evening that these were the last few hours of his life – and neither did we, because we put off the urge to walk across during intermission to say hello, keeping it for another time. Alas!

However, it was a fitting tribute to his spunk and indefatigable spirit that the end came swiftly and suddenly, with no suffering. And he went, quite literally, on his feet…

He was a good man, with much goodwill – which was amply demonstrated at the recent Parsi Punchayet elections, when his surprise victory was greeted with joy.

Being a politician, and a former Mumbai Corporator, he had the propensity to be able to work the crowd with much gusto at any public gathering. He could make fiery speeches at the drop of a hat, full of wit and bravado, endangered by his ability to repeatedly put his foot into his mouth! But his gregarious disposition, easy accessibility, and genuine enthusiasm to do his best for the community won him much admiration.

It is a huge loss to the BPP to be bereft of its Vice-Chairman. A fearless voice against the lobby that is furiously working to debilitate and dishonour the august Punchayet, poor Rustom Tirandaz had, in recent weeks, been bearing the brunt of their enormous ire. Yet every time they whimpered, he roared; and often when they simpered, he snored – too bored to be bothered!

Perhaps, he wasn’t always right in the manner in which he expressed himself. Perhaps, his no-holds-barred bluntness was a slap in the face of those too Machiavellian for the community’s good. However, he was not someone who would cause the community pain – for personal gain.

His death is not just sudden and untimely, but an irreversible blow to the community that had come to count upon as a friend in need. We needed him at this juncture, as a BPP veteran, to help Chairman Dinshaw Mehta steer the course through choppy waters. Our little boat has lost a mighty oarsman.

Let us pray for his family – his gentle wife, who has had to endure so much on account of his passion for public life and the consequences thereof, his children, his brother Diniar Tirandaz, and other family members and close friends, who will feel his absence like gaping void in the gut.

As for the rest of the Parsi and Zoroastrian Irani community, let us learn what we can from his life and continue his good work, diligently and determinedly, without fear or favour, but with ample fervour, in the best interests of the faith. May the person who eventually steps into his shoes at the BPP be attuned to his ethos of service before self – and be as impassioned a champion for the community, with the tenacity to hold firm against disruptive forces.

Rustomji, we’ll miss you. And if we flounder, do holler down at us from heaven…

Chairman Saheb!

2008-10-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

Dinshaw Mehta Takes Over As BPP

Chairman

They say when you really want something, the whole universe conspires to give it to you -- despite the conspiracies hatched against you!

Today at noon, when the newly-elected BPP Board met for the very first time, Dinshaw Mehta sat in the Chairman's seat.

We are told it was the most natural thing for him to do since he is, by convention, the rightful occupant of the position, by virtue of seniority, having completed two successful previous terms as Trustee.

BPP CEO Mehli Colah confirmed later that when the new Board met, Dinshawji was appointed Chairman.

Carrying the mandate of the community as he does, may he now lead us with the vision and the sagacity that we so sorely need.

We wish him the very best for the seven years ahead. Do you have ideas, suggestions, expectations or a road-map for the new Chairman and his team?

Post them on the blog, or email me (zfeatures@gmail.com), and I'll put them forward. This is, after all a 'People's Punchayet', voted in through Universal Adult Franchise. The community has given them its vote -- now the Chairman and his team must honour its committment to act in our best interest at all times.

Final Results

2008-10-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

This is the final tally of votes as polled at the BPP Elections 2008 by all 32 candidates:

1 Arnavaz Jal Mistry - 10030
2 Dinshaw Rusi Mehta - 6791
3 Jimmy Rusi Mistry - 6588
4 Khojeste Pudam Mistree - 5292
5 Yazdi Hosi Desai - 5101
6 Rustom Sheriar Tirandaz - 4790
7 Noshir Homi Dadrawala - 4681

8 Nadir Ardeshir Modi - 4648

9 Ketayun Ardeshir Dinshaw - 4601

10 Manek Hormusjee Engineer - 4224

11 Keki Minoo Mistry - 4109

12 Bomi Darasha Kavina - 3828

13 Shirin Dara Choksey - 3752

14 Muncherji Nusserwanji Cama - 3634

15 Byram Nanabhoy Jeejeebhoy - 3391

16 Phiroze Cawasji Amroliwalla - 2719

17 Danesh Kaikhushroo Nejadkay - 1622

18 Urvax Kekhashru Dhanda - 1239

19 Dr. Syrus Darvish Irani - 1211

20 Ervad Framroze Sohrabji Mirza - 1048

21 Tehmtan Jamshedji Dumasia - 935

22 Viraf Jehangir Kapadia - 924

23 Kuresh Behram Zorabi - 661

24 Darayus Behram Kabraji - 645

25 Adil Dinshaw Irani - 603

26 Er. Yezdi Pestonji Framji Panthaki - 494

27 Tehmasp Rustomji Mogul - 435

28 Farrokh Pheroze Munsiff - 211

29 Kersi Minocher Patel - 205

30 Yazdi Framroze Madon - 200

31 Cyrus Aspi Patel - 169

32 Sarosh Nadirshaw Gandhi - 164

BPP Gets it’s ‘Super Seven’!

2008-10-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

From left to right: Rustom Tirandaz, Dinshaw Mehta, Khojeste Mistree, Arnavaz Mistry, Yazdi Desai, Noshir Dadrawala, Jimmy Mistry

What a historic moment for the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), the apex body of the Zoroastrian community, when its new Board of seven Trustees, voted in by the first-ever Universal Adult Franchise, was declared this evening at the packed-to-capacity Banaji Atash Behram Hall.

The ‘Super Seven’ comprises Arnavaz Mistry (10030 votes), Dinshaw Mehta (6791 votes), Jimmy Mistry (6588 votes), Khojeste Mistry (5292 votes), Yazdi Desai (5101 votes), Rustom Tirandaz (4790 votes) and Noshir Dadrawala (4681 votes).

The new Board is to assume office at noon on October 23, at the BPP office at Fort. The community can now heave a sigh of relief that weeks of frenzied duelling for the seven seats is now finally over – and the life can hopefully return to normal again!

The grand finale, however, was not without its nail biting moments. Until well into the afternoon, the situation seemed static, with the same candidates in the lead, in exactly the same order. Then, slowly, once the Dadar ballot boxes were opened, the picture began changing.

Dr. Ketayun Dinshaw started slipping from seventh place, and Rustom Tirandaz (who had been at that slot a day ago) returned. Not only did he consolidate his place there, he then jumped up the queue to sixth place, putting Noshir Dadrawala at seven. Nadir Modi, who has been a respected community stalwart, and was one of the popular candidates in the reckoning, finished close behind Dadrawala at 4648 votes.

The people’s verdict is, necessarily, reflective of the people’s pulse. And there’s no doubt in anybody’s mind now that the community has given a clear vote for tradition and traditionalists.

Dinshaw Mehta and the WAPIZ duo of Khojeste Mistree and Yazdi Desai are confirmed religious conformists, as is Rustom Tirandaz, an old associate of Mehta and a former BPP Trustee.

Arnavaz Mistry is an acclaimed social worker, with her heart in the right place, and this explains the overwhelming faith placed in her with a record 10,000 plus votes. Jimmy Mistry is the new kid-on-the-block, raring to get the community going, but also a traditionalist who has affirmed “I’m 100 per cent orthodox” (in an earlier interview with your columnist).

That leaves the sole representative of the AFP in the BPP, Noshir Dadrawala. He has long been admired for his religious scholarship and writings, and for being a traditionalist, something he defended time and again during the election when his leanings were called into question.

The mood was upbeat, as the newly-elected Trustees exulted in their victory. It was especially heartening to see Khojeste Mistry and Noshir Dadrawala, whose WAPIZ and AFP, respectively, have been gunning for each other these past weeks, shaking hands and promising to work together harmoniously. Both confirmed they meant it when they said, “Let bygones be bygones.”

This is the spirit with which the new Trustees must assume office. The community has been riddled with rift, and sorely needs a healing touch. The new Board must endeavour to act cohesively, placing the interests of the community in housing, education, old age care, and welfare above petty politicking. They should also be determined to respect the people’s verdict and last out the seven-year term without drama. The community cannot afford another election.

BPP Poll Counting

2008-10-22T02:26:00.000-07:00

DAY 3, in progress
Vote counting is in progress and just post-lunch this was the tally:
1. Arnavaz Mistry - 8,398 votes
2. Dinshaw Mehta - 5,898 votes
3. Jimmy Mistry - 5,392 votes
4. Khojeste Mistree - 4,622 votes
5. Yazdi Desai - 4,460 votes
6. Noshir Dadrawalla - 4,049 votes
7. Dr. Ketayun Dinshaw - 3,912 votes

The Dadar boxes have just been opened. These are the last lot of boxes remaining, so results will finally come in later this evening. Until then...

Avhe Poll Khulech!

2008-10-21T11:18:00.002-07:00

Results on Day 2
Counting was still progressing when this post was published, so there are bound to be changes by the time they close for the day (which, I was told, could be around 2 a.m. or even later). The Banaji Astash Behram Hall is to be vacated on Thurday morning for a wedding, one is told, so they are hurrying up to finish the counting by tomorrow evening.

The Khareghat, Rustom Baug, and Cusrow Baug boxes are all done. The votes from the Andheri boxes were being counted at the time this was written (just after midnight).

The results are as follows:
1. Arnavaz Mistry - 6410 votes
2. Dinshaw Mehta - 4646 votes
3. Jimmy Mistry - 4003 votes
4. Khojeste Mistree - 3631 votes
5. Yazdi Desai - 3509 votes
6. Noshir Dadrawalla - 3040 votes
7. Dr. Ketayun Dinshaw - 2935 votes
will keep you posted....

Avhe Poll Khulse…

2008-10-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Results at the End of Day 1
The moment of reckoning has arrived. At a little past two p.m. on October 20, at the Banaji Atash Behram Hall, the counting of the ballots began with the Khareghat boxes being opened first. At the end of the day, the leads were as follows:

Arnavaz Mistry – 1704 votes
Dinshaw Mehta – 1349 votes
Jimmy Mistry – 1120 votes
Khojeste Mistry – 1006 votes
Yazdi Desai – 913 votes
Shirin Choksey – 767 votes
Bomi Kavina – 756 votes

Of course, this shall be subject to change day by day, and later minute by minute. Following close on the heels are Noshir Dadrawalla (737 votes) and Dr. Ketayun Dinshaw (695 votes). The community has cast its verdict. Now, we eagerly await the unfolding results…

Why are the Parsis spoiling for a fight?

2008-10-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

By the time dusk fell over the Dadar Parsi Colony on Sunday, some 13,500 Parsi/Irani Zoroastrians had cast their votes at the various centres where the BPP election was conducted over three weekends (all the way from South Mumbai to the suburbs). From a total of approximately 27,000 registrations, making allowances for some duplications and migrations, a ball-park fifty per cent turn out ratio is not bad at all.

The Parsis got into the mood of the moment and, mayhem apart, made sure they exercised their franchise, including the elderly and infirm, who infamously made it to the front page of the ‘Mumbai Mirror’ in an expose that shocked the community.

Clearly, this election has not brought out the best in us, and it will take us some time to live its disruptive despair down. Neither is there any sense in repeating all that repulsed us – the dirty tricks, the mudslinging, the brash money power that was flaunted in everybody’s face by any candidate who could afford to do so, the complete absence of a code of conduct – none of which should resurface at future elections.

But the whole point of problems is that their solutions should be worked upon, in as agreeable and ethical a manner as possible – and in a way that does credit to the reputation of Parsis as an educated and enlightened community.

Irreconcilable Ideologies
It is now as clear as the sky on a cloudless October morning that the community is split wide open. There are, among the various issues we are wrestling with, the predominantly pugnacious one of divisive beliefs.

Any hope of a reasonable rapprochement between the traditionalists and the reformists has been scuttled by reported incidents of intimidation and violence. Reports that came in from Dadar on Sunday were shocking, with police complaints being registered and the protagonists (key players from both factions) playing the inevitable blame game.

Since we were not eye witnesses to the incident, it becomes impossible to pass judgement, except that when prominent people get embroiled in unsavoury episodes, that involve allegations of aggression, it sends disturbing signals through the community. Most of us are, today, just befuddled bystanders awaiting the return of better sense, as the slanging bouts rage on.

But symptomatic eruptions are only manifestations of an underlying malaise. And we know what it is. When two diametrically disparate ideologies are struggling to dominate, the community is going to be continually pulled in two different directions. The vicious wear and tear of this power struggle is wearing us out, however well disguised it may be.

On the face of it, everybody in this election has committed themselves to upholding tradition and respecting the religion by rejecting conversion and cremation. Huge amounts have been spent in order to ostensibly advertise the intention to abide by the faith, because it was, perhaps, discovered that the electorate is largely conservative and not in the mood for radical reform.

So, many erstwhile agendas were quickly cloaked, as Born-Again ‘Believers’ did a ‘radical’ roundabout turn from their reformist mission and swore, no less, that personal preferences would never be allowed to impinge upon the Punchayet.

Brave words – and ones we are willing to take at face value – but it will be interesting to see exactly how these promises play out. Because if everybody is admittedly on the same ideological page, why is there so much discord?

Enlightened Leadership
Will these elections really give the community what it needs: enlightened leadership that can weld the warring factions into a working partnership? Or is this an idealistic pipedream?

Perhaps, we need to look outside of ourselves, since the global village is now a universal phenomenon. Extremism only breeds terrorism, and partnership creates prosperity. Can people with differing points of view be brought to common ground, for the greater good of the community?

Here is where we need dynamic leaders, who can rise above politics, power play and see the larger picture. The High Priests have to play a more proactive role. And, for this, the community has to respectfully solicit their guidance because on matters of religion, which are so crucial to resolving our conflicts and, in the long run, will determine our survival, there is no better authority we could defer to than the learned High Priests.

For too long have we marginalised them and, in the absence of our real leaders (the High Priests along with other right thinking elders who can chart a unifying vision), virtually anybody with a loud voice jumps up and appoints himself a wannabe leader, demanding obeisance to freely express opinions that are often absurd.

And, ultimately, if East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet, can we at least agree to live and let live? Or maybe even disagree a little more agreeably, without an obsessive desperation to dominate, because through these ongoing conflicts nobody is convincing anyone, anyway – and, eventually, we just may have to go our own separate ways. A chronically dysfunctional marriage has to end in divorce.

But, before that, can an earnest attempt at least be made to harmonise the two sides and see if we can emerge more cohesive again?

Perhaps, Dinshaw Mehta, who is, by all accounts, foremost in the reckoning as the next BPP President, and who has been recently declared by some as the Brand Ambassador for “Fevicol”, could attempt, with his new Board of Trustees, to stick together the unstuck hinges on both sides – jaraa barobar, “Fevicol” saathe!

Seriously, the new BPP Board owes to it to community to at least try and bring back some amity into our messy midst again. Before another brawl breaks out…

An ‘Independent’ Point of View

2008-10-16T10:30:00.001-07:00

As the BPP election winds down, with the grand finale this weekend at the Dadar Parsi Colony (the bastion of the community), an interminable journey over a very bumpy road will come to a welcome halt.

But before we bound out in relief and block the bizarre shenanigans out, there are many lessons to be learnt – and it will be to our peril if we ignore them. To make some sense of the nonsense that has consumed us, will be an important exercise in self-examination. And one that will have to be undertaken, if the unique Universal Adult Franchise scheme is to evolve into a more mature exercise.

Right now, perhaps, it would be interesting to look at the elections through the eyes of a few of the independent candidates, who decided to brave the ballot brouhaha solo, for reasons best known to them, having neither the backing nor the big bucks that some of the lead players do.

The two rival groups are actually quite insulated. Despite their combative positions, and whether you or I agree with their ideology or not, the hurly burly of the election makes little or no difference to them as they have powerful, mega money-bag backers, and a well-cultivated constituency they are catering to, whose support they can count upon.

A few (very few) of the independent candidates are persons of affluent means and they, too, are well ensconced in their wealth, having the infrastructure in place to conduct a campaign that costs a lot – in terms of time, energy and money.

But what of those who are attempting to paint on a very large canvas, with a very small easel? The majority of candidates (18 according to our estimate), who are doing this more as a solitary endeavour, with rationed resources, hoping to be the dark horses who will bolt past the finishing line and find themselves favoured with victory? Well, their surprise will be as great as ours!

And while we wish each of the candidates, irrespective of affiliation or intention, the very best in this last phase of the polls, because a democratic process is so much larger than our own preferences and perceptions, we focus on a few independents, to see how the election has been treating them…

Phiroze Amroliwalla
“This isn’t my first election. I contested in 1993, when there were two vacancies and 1600 voters. I was an Independent candidate even then. I believe in being independent as I don’t like to get influenced by anybody on issues – the good of the community matters above all else. Trusteeship means not violating the trust of the community. I was among the first to pioneer Universal Adult Franchise – it was on my 1993 manifesto. It hasn’t quite worked out the way I would’ve wanted it to. I had asked for a fresh voter register, based on proof of address and identity. The BPP has merely taken the existing register, with many people who have passed away or migrated still on it, and there’s no authentic data bank available within the community regarding the electorate – their age group, professions and so on. We also don’t have a Code of Conduct.

“The liberty to spend crores affects the chances of independent candidates. My time and integrity is worth more that the crores many others have spent. I’m not a consumer product to be marketed – the way some candidates are being pitched to the public. I have 25 yrs of social work behind me. I would like to join the community in asking certain candidates, ‘What is there in the BPP board room that you are spending crores to get in?’ I have hardly spent a lakh, and feel I have overspent! It’s my own money, no donor, group or company is subsidising me. My cost per vote is hardly 10 rupees – for others it’s thousands of rupees. I’m disappointed candidates feel the need to spend so much. You must earn your votes – not buy them.”

Rustom Tirandaz
“For me, as an independent candidate, the single biggest disappointment is that a ‘dirty tricks department’ has been working overtime through the Parsi press, and they have ganged up against one man – Dinshaw Mehta. This has made me sad. But Adult Franchise is a great phenomenon. On the first day, 500 people went back without voting. I could never have imagined this happening in the past! The enthusiasm has galvanised and unified the community.

“After 41 years in public life, and after having been a BPP Trustee in the past, I need to just let people know I am in the fray today. I don’t have to give dinner, lunch and breakfast to anybody. I’d much rather not become a Trustee, if this is how it has to be done. My ball game is different. I don’t have to prove my bonafides.

“But all things said and done, Parsis have high personal integrity. The BPP employees may not be very well paid, but they have the highest integrity. Some candidates fear rigging, duplication of votes and so on, but I think our people have a conscience. Parsis don’t cheat.

“Lastly, look at how people are coming out to vote in such large numbers! This proves without doubt that the BPP is the real world body of Zoroastrians. Now, nobody can ever claim to be representing a world body because all those world bodies put together will not have 27,000 Zoroastrian members, like the BPP does!”

Urvax Dhanda
“Because there is no Code of Conduct, independent candidates like myself are facing lots problems. Since the bigger players are spending so much money, we too are being compelled to stretch our resources and are getting dragged into making exorbitant expenses over these elections. In earlier elections, this was never there.

“I am also upset with the manner in which they are conducting the elections. Pre-marked or ‘crossed’ ballot papers are surfacing. Once it can be a mistake, or even twice or thrice, but more than that and we are beginning to suspect foul play. When we bring this to the notice of the Election President, it is just dismissed.

“At Bharucha Baug, last Sunday, the box with fresh ballots papers, that should come sealed, came with the seal broken. The Election President did not allow us to do even a random check to see if the ballot papers inside were not tampered with. The attitude of the Election President is very disheartening. Right in the beginning many of us had complained about this, but no notice was taken. Independent candidates are just ignored and taken for granted. As a result, most of us have lost faith in this election – although we are fighting to the finish. Even many voters are keeping away because they wonder what is the use of coming to out vote if there could be rigging and people who haven’t been voted for end up in the Punchayet? But the good thing of being an Independent is the support one gets from the community – they seem quite fed up of the ‘groups’. ”

Dr. Kuresh Zorabi
“Having contested political elections before, since I am from the Nationalist Congress Party, I find this BPP election rather amusing. There are many malpractices. When we try to point them out, as independents, our voice is not heard. As it is, many of us find the Election President rather biased towards one group. Firstly, all campaigning should have ceased 48 hours prior to the elections. Here you have candidates almost following voters into the booths, trying to influence them, induce them, offer them food and goodies. It is like a mela!

“There was no need to take so many weeks over it, either. They should have had it over one weekend, and declared the results within a week. We have become a joke. In political circles I keep getting asked, ‘Parsi log ka election kabhi finish hoga!’ We are a small community, and our election process cannot take four weeks. People are just getting fed up – both the voters and the candidates. Whenever the elections are held next, there needs to be a proper Code of Conduct so that in the future we do a better job of the elections.”

To the Polls, the Parsis go…

2008-10-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

And so it has come to pass that the Parsis are in the throes of the polls. America shall follow some weeks later, and the barrage of candidates, still landing up at our doorsteps, almost has us wondering whether Barack Obama might come campaigning into our baugs – loudspeaker and food packets in hand! With elections in the air, just about anything can happen. And we Parsis are quite a constituency – small in numbers, but certainly not insignificant.

The tremendous Parsi zeal to overcome the odds was in full evidence on both weekends, especially as on the first day at Khareghat Colony people stood in queues for up to three hours to validate their votes. The teething trouble miraculously vanished overnight, and thereafter all has been calm on the bawa front… Are you kidding! Not a day goes by without some squeamish skirmish.

But despite the glitches, the good thing is we’re getting closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. This election has really been crucial for the community, and it’s heartening to see such strong numbers coming out to give their vote and participate in a democratic exercise that will enable us to chart the course ahead.

Of course, we’re reminded of that fateful flight from Persia, over a thousand years ago, so starkly and strikingly shown on stage recently by Mallika Sarabhai in the dance drama, ‘And Then They Came to India’, courtesy Dr. Villoo Morawala Patel’s Avesthagen.

And, we wonder, as we negotiate through turbulent waters today, what would those few shiploads of our ancestors be thinking and feeling about these elections – if they could? Would they wonder whether all their hardship, their travels and travails through hell and high water, had been worth the while? After all, they too could have inter-married, converted, and adopted alternate methods of disposal then and there in Persia, and spared themselves the trouble of charting an unknown course to India. And we wouldn’t even be fighting today, divided into our contentious and combative camps, because we would have become a footnote in history as the race that committed genetic hara-kiri.

Are we on the verge of committing heretic hara-kiri, a thousand-odd years later? That would be a shame. But with the community out to vote in such large numbers, one is hopeful. What has kept us going all along, through the best and worst of times, is our unflinching faith. If we can hold on to it, as we have in the past, and make a wise choice, even as we head into the last of our ‘voting weekends’, the huge effort and expense of holding these elections will be vindicated.

Calling GenNext
The average voter profile appears to be tilting in favour of the older segment within the community. Not too many young faces are seen. What could be the reason? Is it apathy? We know of several friends and contemporaries who just never got round to getting themselves registered. Reason – too busy, not interested, plain lethargy.

Another explanation could be the miserable manner in which community elders are conducting themselves, with hate campaigns circulating relentlessly. Many young people just don’t see the point of partaking in a process that has struck such a discordant, dismal note. To enthuse the youth, the focus will have to shift from antagonism to idealism, from bitter to better agendas.

Vote for me…
Campaigning appears to be continuing almost all the way into the balloting booth. It’s amusing to see some candidates rushing to greet voters and hissing numbers at them – hoping this last ditch effort will enable a ‘cross’ to be cast in their favour.

Surely most people who’re coming in to vote have already decided who to pick, and such blatant attempts at self-promotion would be in vain? At any rate, some code of conduct should be put in place at the election venue at least.

What’s on the menu?
Trust the Parsis to turn almost anything into a party. While there are differences of opinion on everything under the sun within the community, there’s utter unanimity when it comes to eating.

Food packets are virtually being passed around along with the ballot papers. At every venue, there’s a new menu! On Sunday, at Andheri’s Bharucha Baug, there was falooda and fortune cookies, in addition to other heavy snacks. Do Parsis think better on a full stomach? You bet!

Sinners v/s Saints
In the ultimate analysis, nobody’s perfect. Yesterday’s heroes are today’s villains – and tomorrow’s heroes again – depending upon which paper you’re reading. Virtues are exaggerated and shortcomings amplified, to the point where minute molehills start resembling entire mountains ranges.

One keeps having to sift the chaff from the grain and, frankly, it’s getting exhausting. It will be a good thing when the elections conclude this Sunday. At least some overworked imaginations will get some rest – and the community a break from all the bilious bickering.

Just in jest
Apropos of a hoarding Mumbai woke up to last week – it seems it was a bit disconcerting and disappointed quite a few Parsis, who don’t particularly enjoy community matters being put out into the public domain.

To quickly paraphrase, we’re told the hoarding went – ‘Vote for AFP: Na na…’

Oops! Are we mistaken? Perhaps it was – ‘Vote for AFP: Na na… Chudasama!’

Whatever it may have been, poor Mr. Chudasama, the genial do-gooder, misguidedly got embroiled in the pot-boiler of Parsi politics. He should, at the very outset, have said Na na…

Meet Rustom Hormazdiyar: BPP's Bristling Election President!

2008-10-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

Rustom Hormazdiyar faces the prospect of an exceptionally onerous October. As Election President for the first-ever BPP ballot by Universal Adult Franchise, he is overseeing voting, over three consecutive weekends, by the Parsi community across the city, and the eventual declaration of results by the twenty-seventh of this month.

Several issues have already arisen: his alleged partisan stance, chaos on the first day, a few pre-marked ballot papers, and no code of conduct, in the absence of which campaigning continues almost all the way into the ballot booths, smear attacks against candidates persist, and big money continues to be splashed to impress and entice voters.

In a bid to ensure that fairness and transparency is maintained throughout the election process, Rustom Hormazidiyar, although self-effacing and a confessed “introvert”, agreed to be interviewed. It must be conceded that despite the reservations of some candidates, there would be few takers for his job!

You are in the saddle again. Tell us a bit about past BPP elections…
The first time I was invited to preside over the BPP elections was in 1981. Back then, there was a movement in the Parsi community to reform electoral practices. Previously, the Trustees were elected by the ‘Sau nu mandal’ – or a group of 100 people, which was later expanded into an Electoral College.

Even in 1981 there were two rival groups, one of which was the Committee of Electoral Reforms (CER) – a radical group wanting reform within the community. At the time, B.K. Boman-Behram, the then Chairman of the BPP, appointed me Election President – he was staunchly orthodox in his views.

Jamshed Kanga and others in the CER questioned my appointment. They thought I would be prejudiced against them because Boman-Behram had appointed me, and since he was orthodox I would be orthodox too (nothing is further from the truth – I am completely modern in my views!).

That year Boman-Behram became Mayor of Bombay and the elections were very vexing – the CER made his life miserable. He got a heart attack. Caring little, the CER continued to harass him. There was an erroneous perception in the community that he was corrupt and took money for allotting flats. But Boman-Behram was a man of sterling integrity. Lady Cowasji Jehangir, who was the BPP Chairman before him, said at the felicitation held in his honour at Cusrow Baug that she firmly believed his middle name was integrity – such was her faith in him. He was venerated by all other communities except Parsis.

Why the persistent allegation that you are pro-AFP in this election?
I’ve got friends in the AFP, some of who were very anti Boman-Behram in the 1981 elections and accused me of being his man. But I am nobody’s man. I am the man picked for preserving the election’s sanctity, which has to be maintained at any cost. Boman-Behram knew I was impartial and would not take anybody’s side. Even this time when I was appointed, a lot of efforts were made to malign me, but five of the six Trustees stood by me.

Since 1981, every time there has been a BPP election, they have invited me as the Election President (except in 1993, when I was abroad). I am totally independent and refuse to take sides. I have never voted in any election, because I did not belong to the Electoral College. This June, I donated Rs. 25,000 to become a Donor Member under the new scheme, but I have no intention of voting for anybody. When they asked me what my donation was for I said jocularly: “For a crematorium at Doongerwadi!”

I have contributed to the Doongerwadi Fund because it costs a lot to consign a body at the Doongerwadi, and the fund is always in a deficit. We Parsis have become too dependent on the BPP for everything from birth to death, and expect it to subsidise our lives, while many of its Trust suffer deficits. So I thought of contributing to the Doongerwadi trust. Personally, though, I have no problems with a crematorium coming up at Doongerwadi.

How will you ensure neutral supervision of the elections in these trying times?
You cannot convincingly prove to anybody that you are honest. People jump to conclusions without any evidence. If I was supposedly partial to Boman-Behram (who was a staunch orthodox) in 1981, how can I be partial to the AFP (who are just the opposite) today? Lack of understanding and often no attempt at understanding is the root of the trouble in our community.

In 1981 I changed the counting procedure. Both Chairman Boman-Behram and CEO Anklesaria said the CER would pounce on me. I said, let them. I go by the People’s Representation Act 1951 on all points where the BPP Act is silent. A private election scheme cannot have all points covered in its Act.

Tampered ballot papers have been surfacing?
I will explain exactly what happened at Khareghat Colony (where the allegation of tampered ballot papers arose), when all 32 candidates are before me at the time of counting the ballots. We are an alarmist community. Let your conscience be the final arbiter, is what I believe in. Forget about anybody’s opinion – it does not matter to me. I am now 81-years-old, how much longer will I live? What good will tinkering with the election process do to me?

What about the safety of the ballot boxes?
They are secure in a ‘strong room’ and we have totally ensured their safety. They are sealed in the presence of the candidates, who will also be present at the time of breaking the seal open.

What process is in place to count the votes fairly and squarely?
We will conduct the entire exercise at Khareghat Colony. All the candidates will be present. People are fearing the worst and attributing motives to everybody. Even a saint would have been doubted in these circumstances. What is at stake? Seven Trustees you can get rid of seven years later – or even take to court, in the interim, if you are unhappy with their functioning. I am fed up with all this mud-slinging.

You’re obviously upset over the current allegations. But by your own admission you were attacked in 1981 also…
My conscience is clear, although I am considered to be a very eccentric Parsi! But I believe no Election President can be partisan – or he must be dropped like a hot potato. I have a track record of 28 years; nobody can match it. Prior to my retirement, I was General Manager and Company Secretary with Ahura Chemicals for 22 years. People know what I am about. But nobody is perfect, and neither am I. I have stopped expecting people to change, because I cannot change myself.

Who are the key people in your team?
I have two scrutineers, who remain in the presence of the ballot boxes all along. They guide the voters. After the election process they will help to pick out ballot papers, which are invalid. This should be done prior to the counting process, but this will be resented by some candidates. We can’t appease every one. We will follow certain practices. The computerised results, as they are counted vote by vote, will be watched by the candidates. It will take some days to count thousand of votes. Results will be declared by October 27.

How come there is no code of conduct?
Do you have to be told to behave honestly? The unfortunate part is the BPP never envisioned somebody would come out and splash such big money. Ordinarily, this is called an election malpractice. But why are so-called educated Parsis falling for it? Are they so hungry that they require a free dinner? There is an umbilical connection between Parsis and food! Yes, practises have to be framed for electioneering.

The first day fiasco upset many…
At Khareghat Colony we had restraints of space and we were slightly delayed, because of which there was a huge queue. I am sorry about that. This never happens generally. All arrangements are handled by the BPP – I’ve nothing to do with them and am not supposed to organise them. But the next day at Rustom Baug was very smooth.

Calling all Parsi Voters, Your Attention Please...

2008-10-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

D-day is here – the first of three successive ‘voting weekends’, which will bring us our ‘Super Seven’ for the brand new BPP board! By now, much murky water has flown under the bridge and the reflections we’ve been seeing of many a candidate, courtesy the conjectures made by rivals, are rather morbid.

Not surprisingly, most Parsis are incessantly asking: Who do we vote for?

There is confusion, uncertainty and apprehension. Many people are finding it difficult to pick seven straight aces from a pack comprising quite some jokers! However, it is our contention that we should desist from getting personal.

While expressing a point of view is perfectly valid, attacking another person isn’t. Everybody is entitled to follow their own path. It’s only when this jeopardises our faith that we must protest, not against the person, per se, but against the path he/she is pushing us to pursue.

Every determined Zoroastrian who stays steadfast to the faith is Ahura Mazda’s soldier – and His army can never be vanquished. Each voter today is one such soldier, and needs to value the unique gift that has been bestowed upon us through Universal Adult Franchise.

To make an unwise decision would be to let down future generations, because the wrong people within the apex body will set the wrong agenda that will undo centuries of our unique and lustrous lineage, and the standing of our community, which has to be preserved, without cutting corners.

So, who do we vote for? The answer is simple: Let us vote for those who are completely committed to preserving the faith, without any compromise. We need to vote into power people who have, time and again, defended the many pillars of Zoroastrianism, including Dokhmenashini, not merely by empty words, but by actions that have upheld its sanctity, even as they have worked toward strengthening this esteemed institution.

Yes, we need to vote for people who have not succumbed to the pressure of supporting the demand for a ‘Cremate ni Bunglee’ at Doongerwadi, because that was never the intention of the Settlors when they created a community haven for Dokhmenashini. This, however, isn’t the only issue.

We need to vote for people who are not pro-conversion, and be very wary of those who talk about ‘Parsi-panu’ rather glibly on public platforms (but are actually supporting agencies that are setting up so-called ‘Cosmopolitan agiaries’). The purity of our agiaries is paramount, and opening them up unwisely will only accelerate intermarriages and the final decimation of our fold. In olden days, even if five Parsis went to a small town in India, the wealthiest among them established an agiary, a dar-e-meher, or a dadgah in the house.

They survived in very small numbers in the remotest Indian outposts (Kanpur, Agra, Allepi, Hubli and so on), only because they were staunch. How can we, today, slight their sacrifices by suggesting that what they did was old-fashioned and we need to “move with the times” instead?

On the contrary, we need to vote for people who have worked with, and will continue to work with, and not against, the learned High Priests, whose guidance on religious matters is crucial to our community.

This humble submission is placed before you: If you have a medical problem, won’t you go to a top doctor? If your accounts are a mess, will you not take the advice of competent Chartered Accountant? If you need to build a bungalow or redo your home, won't you engage an architect/interior designer? Then why is it that on religious matters we don’t go to our learned High Priests (the best possible experts on the subject), but allow a section of the lawyer lobby to lead us into the Courts instead, where mostly non-Parsi judges (with the greatest respect to them) are expected to deliver religious interpretations of our ancient and sacred faith?

Think about it. We need to save our community from such misguided litigation and the consequences thereof. We most certainly need to vote in new Trustees who will stand firm by the faith. And not sympathise with all those who want to scratch their private itches publicly, while inflicting open wounds upon the community, expecting the courts to then embalm their aberrations!

We need to vote into the BPP Trustees who have done some service to the community, which has served our best interests, because past performance is a good judge of whether future promises will be borne – or still born.

Accelerated education for our youth, empowering them professionally, encouraging marriages within the community at an earlier age (with a focus to facilitate a two-child family, with some childcare infrastructure in the baugs), looking after the aged, and a vibrant agenda that energises the community is the need of the hour.

We need Trustees who can deliver this. And, there’s no reason why, with the community’s support, they can’t.

Carefully, thoughtfully, and with a prayer, we need to cast our votes – for progress, along with preservation. Let us have a BPP Board that will bode well for our community and our religion. All else will follow. Because if we lose our religion and Zoroastrian ethos, nothing else will matter.

PS: The picture atop this blog is of the ruins of Persepolis. The Parsis lost all they had in Persia. Will the same happen in India again, if people who aren’t committed to the faith get elected as Trustees and end up destroying our legacy… one sincerely hopes not.

Khojeste Mistree: Keeping the Faith

2008-09-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

It must take some courage to be Khojeste Mistree! For years he has been relentlessly reviled and rebuked – yet has stood steadfast to the principles of the faith, without fear or favour.

His scholarship is astounding, his erudition inspiring, and he is arguably the Brand Ambassador for the Zoroastrian faith today, both nationally and internationally. Yet, there is a section that tears him down, without understanding or appreciating the vital role he is playing in bridging the past with the present, and the future, so we don’t repeat history’s mistake of losing what we have – under siege, from within and without.

Marginalised and misunderstood, even his detractors will concede he deserves a fair hearing…

Why is religion so important in these elections?
Our identity and religion are linked. Hence, religion becomes an important ingredient of our identity – and vice versa. At this juncture, the community has the opportunity to endorse the two once and for all, because without our religion we will lose our identity.

What are the key issues?
Since the past seven years the community has been convulsed over Dokhmenashini. Yet, despite everything negative printed and propagated against it, 96.25 per cent of Parsis/Irani Zarathushtis still opt for it. This has surprised the reformist element. The other hot potato is conversion. An impression of gender inequity has been created. However, we have a 100-year tradition of accepting the progeny of intermarried men, because we follow a patrilinear pattern (incidentally, I haven’t created it so I wonder why people hold it against me!). The Jews, on the other hand, who are also a minority, wrestled with similar issues and allowed only the girls’ children into their fold (and not the boys’ –until this day) because they follow a matrilinear system. You can either follow one or the other.

How did your journey into Zoroastrian scholarship start?
I gave up my CA practice in England, even as I was being offered a partnership in the firm, which was unusual for an Asian in those days. I went, instead, to Oxford to study our religion academically and from an intellectual point of view. I went through the whole gamut of our theology, ancient language, history and other facets that facilitated a better understanding. With this background I had the vision of making Zoroastrianism more accessible to my community, so I came to India to share the beauty and greatness of our faith. I thought to myself – how best can I do this? The answer was through education. So Shernaz Panthaky and I set up Zoroastrian Studies (ZS) in 1979 – with the intention of disseminating religious knowledge in a modern way. Let me add, my vision for the community is not only religious.

What else is on your agenda?
Through ZS, very early on, I realised that while we’re a wealthy community, there are pockets of poverty that need continued social welfare. For years I have been going to poor Parsi homes in Mumbai, Surat, Navsari and across Gujarat – stressing the core ZS belief that the haves must help the have-nots. Poverty alleviation remains an issue for us.

Another ongoing issue is raising the level of education in Parsi schools. Here, again, I’ve been working for decades, creating awareness for a better type of education for our poorer Parsi children.

Why did you start WAPIZ?
I found that although I was working diligently in the area of religious education for years, on important issues appertaining to the community my voice was one in the wilderness. Seven years ago, the Doongerwadi came into the eye of a storm, with some very rich and influential Parsis claiming it was a health hazard. In order to intellectually combat the misinformation, I realised I needed a platform – or else the community’s boat would sink. That is when WAPIZ was formed. We were successful in preventing a ‘Cremate ni Bunglee’ from being given even then.

We also opposed the formation of a World ‘Zoroastrian’ body, from which the ‘Parsi/Irani’ nomenclature had been dropped. Again, we democratically fought it by being nominated through smaller anjumans so we could attend Federation meetings. The reformists came without being affiliated to any place, as representatives of Mumbai. If we tried to do the same thing, we were debarred! So we had to get smaller anjumans to nominate us and at the Federation meeting, by a 90 per cent majority, we were able to defeat the move to join a World Body where the definition of ‘Zoroastrian’ was unacceptable to the community.

With WAPIZ, we are thinking of the wellbeing of the community not just for today or tomorrow, but for a long time to come.

Why are you so controversial?
I have been relentlessly battered by a very biased Parsi press, which is controlled by rich and radical ‘reformist’ groups. It suits them to build me as a figure of hate, to continually attack me, my wife, children, and even my late parents. These are people with vested interests. To them, being traditional is like being from the Taliban. Tomorrow, if I sang the reformist tune, I would be their darling beyond anybody’s belief! But I have to sleep with my conscience, and for the last 30 years have worked without compromising our religion in any way. Why do the learned High Priests support WAPIZ completely? It is because ours is the view of religious scholarship, of tradition, of following the right Zoroastrian path. Is that a crime?

Why is your WAPIZ page so strident?
Maybe we’re human, and after years of swallowing untruths told about us we are retaliating and telling our side of the story, sharing with the community what we think they also need to know. Maybe if the Parsi press started giving us a fair deal, things could change.

How will you coalesce with a mixed BPP board?
One will always work from the position of consensus, unless people want to do things that are ethically or religiously wrong. I’m only too happy to work together to bring about a better quality of life for the community, to initiate welfare, education and youth activities, religious education, and whatever else is in the best interest of the community.

Why does the WAPIZ panel have only four candidates?
Because we realise the community does not want any one group to dominate the Punchayet. And we respect that. We are four individuals who have like-minded goals and beliefs. We are not divergent in any way – on our panel you will not find someone claiming to be traditional, someone claiming to be reformist (although no one is claiming that any longer!).

We have a track record through WAPIZ that proves our credentials. We are telling the truth – if we say we are here to preserve the religion, you can check our record and see we have never done anything against the faith. We have never supported conversion or cremation or anything that goes against the learned High Priests’ valued guidance. We are not claiming to do anything we have not already done.

Dinshaw Mehta is in an alliance with you?
Yes, WAPIZ endorses Dinshaw Mehta because we require a sense of continuity in the BPP.

People feel you are hypocritical…
In my personal life, I have not violated even the tiniest bit of tradition. I practice what I preach. Yes, my brother has married out. I couldn’t stop him. My nephews do visit agiaries – thanks to a legal judgement given before my birth! I have never stopped children of intermarried men from availing of their rights – although personally I prefer both boys and girls marrying within the community to preserve our unique racial and religious profile. My mother was cremated as she expired in the US. It was my brother’s decision – I didn’t attend her funeral. Her prayers were said as per the custom laid down for all Parsis expiring abroad, where Dokhmenashini isn’t available. I have neither made any religious rules, nor broken them.

It’s alleged you’re in the “business of religion”…
I want to tell our youngsters, please stop studying and wasting your time! Join me instead, there’s big money to be made! (He says in jest).

The truth is I’ve invested a lot of my own money into what I do. I’m a person of independent means, and it’s nobody’s business how I live. But I must clarify, I have never asked for first class tickets or fat fees in advance for a lecture. Today, if I were a top lawyer, doctor, or accountant, I could do this and would even be admired for it! But a religious scholar isn’t allowed such privileges. Anyway, I have neither expected nor asked for them.

JIMMY MISTRY: “I’m not eyeing the BPP with ambition”

2008-09-25T11:16:00.001-07:00

Jimmy Mistry should have had an identity crisis by now, because he’s so many different things to so many people. To some he is the flashy guy who flaunts his fancy cars and goes over-the-top with his extravagance! To others he is a bawa Barack, the youthful agent of change, who organises friendship rallies and Gary Lawyer dinner-and-dance nights at the Dadar Gymkhana (like he has this Sunday).

Still others see him as a spendthrift and allege he is sometimes in financial straits. Yet, for many, he is a philanthropist who has dug into his pockets time and again, to support a slew of causes adopted under the umbrella of his Parsi Resource Group (PRG), where many volunteers come forward to work with him for the uplift of the community.

Will the real Jimmy Mistry please stand up! Well, the only way, is to let him have his say…

Why do you want to become a BPP Trustee?
I desperately want to bring change into the community. Let us understand one thing. I don’t need the BPP to get anything going for me. I have too much going for me already, whether it is on the work front or with PRG. But given my ability to drive things to a logical conclusion, I can shake, rattle, roll, push and even kick people into action, in order to make things happen. It doesn’t make sense for me to put my time into it otherwise. I intend to take over certain things and make them happen, and move in with my infrastructure if necessary to ensure that this gets done.

Any specific plans?
A cashless medical scheme across the community would be the first. According to my research, there are 50,000 plus Parsis in Mumbai. Let us assume 1000 or even 2000 of them need housing, this means barely 10 per cent of the community has a housing problem. Then why is it that housing takes up 90 per cent of our energy! My focus would be to improve the living conditions of those who have been housed.

How do you intend doing it?
As I see it, the community has three big challenges. Ninety per cent have a roof over their heads. But medical expenses are a big issue. As parents grow older, their life’s savings get spent on hospitalisation and often their children also have to dip into their savings. For the past three years, I have been paying out of my own pocket for cashless medical insurance for mobeds, their wives and children. Countless mobeds have benefited from this. It is well known that in a group policy the premium comes down by 40 per cent. So the whole community can come under this umbrella. Those who can afford will pay their own premium, and for those who cannot we’ll pitch in. I wish to bring out a certified list of poor Parsis in Mumbai, where the collective family income is less than Rs. 15,000, which will be verified by the baug committees for authenticity. Once we have that data, we will look out for donors to subsidise these families.

The next challenge is education and jobs for our youth. I am very serious about getting Minority Status for the community and Dr. Mehroo Bengalee has recommended my name to the Maharashtra Chief Minister for appointment to the State Minorities Commission. I want to hold a referendum on our Minority Status issue, so that when we take our petition to Delhi some Parsis don’t stand up and say we don’t need this. It is my intention to go in for Minority Status within a year’s time.

The third challenge is retaining Parsi property within the community. I opposed the proposal to turn the Cama Athornan Madressa into an international school because I believe community property has to be used for community purposes.

There’s a great fear of letting a builder into the BPP…
I know. But you require a builder if you want to solve the massive housing issues that keep arising. Who better than a builder to help with municipal laws, government permissions, repairs, and so on? I am developing a township in Indore right now that is the size of Dadar Parsi Colony and Matunga put together. Let me bring that expertise in. And I repeat, no Parsi property will ever go into the hands of a non-Parsi as far as I am around. Besides, I will be with six other Trustees, so it is not as though I can do what I like at the BPP.

Your own building in Dadar, Della Tower, is mired in controversy.
Yes, there was litigation, protests and petitions, but the courts dismissed them. Let someone come forward and prove there is one thing wrong with what I have done. I have re-housed all the old tenants, ensured that the ‘Parsi-only’ covenant status has been kept, when I could have had it annulled and sold the flats at far higher rates to non-Parsis, if my intentions were not on track. And I am creating a 9000-square feet Zoroastrian exhibition centre that will tell our story to the younger generation. I have also spent Rs. six crore on the Persian elevation of the building to assert our pride in our roots and culture. I want this building to be a symbolic masterpiece for the Parsi community. I have recently acquired an old Kutchi building at Wadala, where the covenant status had lapsed. I have restored the covenant to ‘Parsi-only’.

Why are you spending so much on your campaign?
I am grateful to God for blessing me with abundance and am only doing my best to reach out to the community that is spread all over Mumbai. How else do I connect with them, unless I organise election meetings? Please also realise that such a lot of ill has been spoken about me that I need a fair chance to counter it. Also, it’s a fact that I pull in large crowds, so I have to ensure people can hear and see – hence the lights, the projection screens, the stage. When I do something, it has to be up to a certain standard. Do I have a choice about not spending? But it’s true that because of me the others have ended up spending more than they would have. My brochures and hoardings are slick – I like doing things well!

Are you in alliance with any group?
Not at all – my campaign is going so well it speaks for itself. I see myself as the bridge that will connect everyone. Let’s face it, we’re going to get WAPIZ, AFP and independents into the BPP. I can talk straight and won’t be cowed down, and can be the connecting point between the others.

Will you be able to get along well within the BPP?
When you are on the job, you do it and move on. If you cannot do it, you shouldn’t be there. It’s time we had a professional work culture within the BPP, starting with the Trustees.

Where do you stand on religious issues?
I am completely orthodox and do not support any change within the religion. We have no right to change anything that has been part of our religion and rituals for hundreds of years. I am totally opposed to a ‘Cremate Ni Bunglee’ at Doongerwadi. Those who want to opt for alternate systems of disposal should buy their own piece of land and construct their own ‘bunglees’ or prayers halls. This cannot happen inside Doogerwadi or any of our agiaries. They must also arrange for their own priests, and not expect any of our priests to oblige.

Whatever anybody may say, through PRG I head the largest mobed’s association in the world today, and I have not tried to change a thing because I claim no understanding of our religion, only a great love for it. Whether it is conversion or anything else, things must continue as they are. Because one small change results in a string of changes – and the repercussions come much later.

Are you all set for Trusteeship?
I’m not eyeing the BPP with ambition. I believe I am destined to bring change into the community. Just give me one year – and see the difference I make. Despite all my professional achievements, what brings me real pride and joy is when I see myself doing something for my community.

NADIR MODI: Nobody can ‘Remote Control’ me

2008-09-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

Nadir Modi, well-known legal eagle, and has been assiduously involved with community activities for aeons. He is certainly no stranger to anyone even remotely connected with Parsi matters, although he has preferred to shun the spotlight.

A man of his eminence could have been nominated to the Punchayet, instead of being put through the rigours of an election, with all its attending accusations, apprehensions, and ill will. But life is a great leveller, indeed justly so, and if there is anything these testing times are teaching the community it is that everybody is equal before an electorate, freshly fuelled by the adrenalin of Universal Adult Franchise.

So Nadir Modi steps into the dock and agrees to talk, in what is, admittedly, a very rare interview…

Q. What is the crucial need of the hour for the community?
A. The strategic need is both quantitative and qualitative uplift. The problem of declining numbers needs to be addressed. As there is a quantitative decline, the qualitative part also suffers since the number of Parsis who can be up there in different streams, whether it is the Services, the private sector, or different professions, also suffers. This is a problem that will require the help of many experts, in many areas, to redress. That it has been done in the past, history affirms. Of course, it would be a slow growth programme.

Q. What is the main issue?
A. The problem with our community is that a lot of young people confess that if they could have found a suitable life mate from within the community, they would not have married out. It is for similar reasons that many remain unmarried.

Years ago, Professor Sheriar and I were teaching at the Jai Hind College. We were in our early twenties and our Principal was a great admirer of the legendary Jamshed Mehta of Karachi. He allowed us to start the Young Collegians Zoroastrian Association (YCZA), with members from all other colleges. Those days, students had more time and we, being younger, were more in tune with their aims. The organisation grew automatically. We started with nothing but the desire to come together. We found that the community had a warm heart and wanted to help young people. We approached Sir Homi Mody who, at his age, used to avoid functions, but he came and boosted our association. Adi Marazban came, and so did Bobby Taleyarkhan. We used to organise talks, picnics, bhel and sail parties around the harbour, Udvada and Navsari trips and lots of hikes. We had a series of events called ‘Free Fridays’. It was largely left to the students to manage, and as they came together, had fun, argued, and formed friendships, many fell in love and got married. There is a mile-long list of Parsi couples who emerged out of the YCZA!

None of this happened by design. I have come to the conclusion that people do not marry to increase the numbers of the community. They marry because Mother Nature prompts them to mate. I have encountered countless grown up people being overcome with emotion and weeping because their son or daughter has married outside the community. The truth is young people want to be left alone. Most would keep older people at bay! This is the reason we seldom see young faces at community functions, because the young seek out the young. What we need is to set up the infrastructure where they feel they are ruling the roost, and not set it up in a ham-handed way. In each baug or colony, if we can provide that infrastructure, enthuse young leaders, then Mother Nature would do her work!

What is happening now with inter-communal marriages is that Mother Nature is once again doing her work. There was a time when every tenth person in Mumbai was a Parsi – this is certified by the Census of the late 18th or early 19th century. Young Parsis no longer meet so many other young Parsis today, and in most cases it is just a lack of contact.

Q. Was it difficult to reconcile to your children marrying out of the community?
A. One can reconcile to just about anything in life… these are painful areas to recount and recollect.

Q. What would be your priority upon assuming Trusteeship?
A. I would not like to assume anything, least of all winning the election! But given the chance I would like to see unity. If, as Trustees, we can work like friends, then even if we disagree we would carry no animus. We could, perhaps, occasionally give into each other.

Q. What about the differences, which seem irreconcilable?
A. Where are there? Let us run through them… Regarding the crematorium at Doongerwadi, I can say in capital letters: NO. It only brings home the necessity for increased communication within the community. There is an originating summons pending in the Bombay High Court, filed by Jamsheed Kanga, Dr. Aspi Golwalla and Homi Khusrokhan, raising two questions: Firstly, does the Doongerwadi trust deed enjoin the Trustees to give the bunglees for the last rites of persons opting for alternate methods of disposal, and, secondly, if it does not enjoin this does it allow it?

You may wonder why the Trust deed does not speak clearly in the first place. The fact is it was written in a different age, and the language can now be reinterpreted.

Q. The community would like to know your opinion.
A. Trustees cannot have personal opinions. Technically, they are caretakers and not owners of the Trusts they oversee, and they are bound by the Trust Deed. My personal opinion is that we must obey the law, as we are a law abiding community.

But having stayed at Doongerwadi for four days when both my parents passed away, I can say that it is, for Parsis, a God-blessed place. It is so beautiful and soothing, with Nature’s healing touch that you fall “half in love with easeful death” (as Keats wrote).

Any kind of disposal of a dead body necessarily has its emotional overtones. But contrary to what people say about Doongerwadi being a health hazard, I have seen reports of the WHO stating that cadavers not brought in touch with the water don’t show signs of spreading disease.

Of course, people object to there being a slight smell at times, but what happens when you drive past Sassoon Dock! You cannot change the system just because of a slight smell. And there is little doubt that when Doogerwadi was set up, it was not contemplated for anything other than Dokhmenashini. Also, I have friends who stay near Chandanwadi and the black smoke that comes into their homes is a real problem.

Q. Where do you stand on ‘acceptance’ or conversion?
A. To my mind it is an invitation to disaster. It creates hostility and is harmful in the extreme. The 1909 judgement defines who a Parsi is, and that legally sanctioned definition is accepted today.

Q. Your leadership of the Athornan Mandal is under cloud because of your litigation against a priest.
A. That is a professional matter. I take up the brief of anyone who comes to me.

Q. Is there no moral obligation to protect a priest, as head of the Mandal?
A. I am morally obliged to not just protect but even help a priest, and I have spoken with him several times in my office. The present Trustees decided not to have the Panthanky system and offered this priest the Manager’s post instead. He declined and decided to fight in court. I think it is now more of a legal question than a moral one.

Q. There are apprehensions that the promoters of your panel could influence you with their radical views.
A. If they think they can they are mistaken. Whatever be their values, they are their own. I have not sold my soul or mortgaged my mind. I am not a pliant person – not a yes man. Nobody can remote control me.

Q. Will you have the time?
A. One always makes time for what one wants to do.

Q. And this is what you really want to do?
A. I have readily agreed, but not hungrily agreed. I would be very careful of anybody who is hungry for the office. One has offered, and one believes in a Greater Will. We are all subservient to that Will.

The Importance of being Dinshaw Mehta!

2008-09-18T22:32:00.002-07:00

Dinshaw Mehta is in the eye of a storm. Conversely, there are those who insist that Dinshaw Mehta is ‘the storm’! He is a volley of unstoppable energy that has turned the otherwise placid Punchayet upside-down and inside-out. He has his hecklers, vocal and voluble ones, but he also has his supporters – from amongst the rank and file of the community, all the way up to the High Priests – who see him as an approachable, earnest and incredibly hard working Trustee who has, over his past two terms in office, consistently delivered, despite the damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don’t campaign against him.

He is standing for elections again. And the din of his detractors is deafening. Are they merely a bunch of empty vessels making noise? Or is there smoke behind the ire of their fire? Either way, it’s only fair Dinshawji has his say.

Q. Is there life beyond housing at the BPP?
A. It’s a huge priority, but not the only one. Today we have about 900 persons on the waiting list and from amongst them about 700 are genuine and we must provide them with homes. But, apart from them, I would like our housing schemes to also include a lot more Parsis who live outside the baugs. I believe bringing them into the fold will greatly enhance community life. One in five marriages is an inter-caste one, and that isn’t good for us. Parsis must marry within the community, and living within the Baug culture encourages intermingling. Navroze Baug is the best example of the maximum number of Parsi weddings taking place within a baug. I would like to see this happen across baugs and would love to bring many more Parsis into our baugs through redevelopment, since that is now an option open to us.

However, I am totally against the sale of Parsi properties and opposed the proposal to sell the Parsi Lying-in hospital, the Marazban Sanitorium in Lonavala, and so on. Neither do we need the so-called builder lobby to step in. The Punchayet is fully capable of developing its own properties and retaining them within the community.

Q. More construction/allotment means more controversies for you?
A. Let people say what they want to. There are always disgruntled elements, although I try to help as many people as I can. It is now being alleged that only my friends get flats, in which case half the community could be called my friends since I have helped so many people! Take the case of Maneck Davar – he has paid the Punchayet well above the offer we had at the time, and this is known those making false allegations. He was given the flat with the consent of all the other Trustees, so why am I being blamed?

Q. Why are you being blamed?
A. It’s pure slander and personal victimisation, as I have fallen out with my one time friend and business partner, who is himself taking an active interest in Parsi politics. Ideologically, we fell apart when he started demanding a crematorium at the Doongerwadi. When virtually the entire community opposed it, he came back with the innocent proposal of a ‘cremate ni bungli’ at Doongarwadi, where prayers could be said for those opting for alternate methods of disposal. I was open to it, until he revealed that his intent was to get a toe-hold into Doongerwadi through the ‘cremate ni bungli’ and eventually bring a crematorium in.

I was alarmed, as this is certainly not in the interest of our community. He has very radical views about ‘acceptance’, ‘conversion’ and ‘cosmopolitan agiaries’, which I cannot subscribe to. He is now seeking to be the king-maker of the community and I am paying the price for blocking his path. In religious matters I believe we need to go by the guidance of our High Priests.

(Mr. Mehta elaborated further upon the above the above at his public meeting at Godrej Baug, and sought to clarify that the many allegations against him are baseless and motivated).

Q. Your Co-Trustees have also not found it easy to work with you?
A. That’s untrue. We may disagree on policy issues, but all decisions, especially flat allotments, are taken jointly by all of us.

Q. Another allegation is irregularities at the time of flat allotments/sale…
A. All payments are made by cheque to the Punchayet, although at times we do get brokers involved. Say someone comes to sell his flat, claiming he has an offer for just thirty lakhs. In reality, he may have an offer for forty. So we ask a broker to get a few more clients and bids, in order to assess the right market price. Brokers sometimes lie and ask for a couple of lakhs in cash, saying the Trustees are asking for it. When this comes to light, we blacklist the broker.

Q. What about the Doongerwadi hoardings issue?
A. In 2000 the late Siloo Kavarana came up with a suggestion to generate revenue for the Doongerwadi through hoardings. When all the Trustees agreed, in 2001 we got five contractors to bid and were offered between Rs. 600 to Rs. 850 per square foot. Tony Lewis was the highest bidder. Then Anahita Pundole went on her crusade and everything went into limbo. Meanwhile, Doongerwadi was declared a heritage precinct. We finally got back to all the original bidders, asking them to get both Heritage and BMC sanctions and revert if they were interested. This was in 2006, and only Lewis managed it. He was awarded the contract at Rs. 1200 per square foot, with a 10 per cent escalation every year. Anahita Pundole agitated again and we made it clear to Lewis that not a single tree was to be cut or we would cancel his contract. We did that, when he started cutting some trees, and that is where the matter stands.

Q. How will you get along with your co-Trustees this time?
A. I’m very comfortable with most of the candidates. I have known Nadir Modi and Noshir Dadrawalla for years. There should be no problem. I would be really happy to work with WAPIZ. Rustom Tirandaz has been a former colleague; Arnavaz Mistry is a social worker. There are many other good people.

Q. Is the acrimony getting to you?
A. At every election there is acrimony. If I show you the cuttings of the 2001 elections you’ll see it was much the same. Only those who are attacking me now were supporting me then!

Q. What else is on your agenda?
A. We have to look after our poor more effectively by bringing all the Trusts together and ensuring that piecemeal doles are consolidated into a substantial sum. We have to encourage marriages within the community and preserve our religion. And we need to increase the BPP corpus.

Q. Your family background is in politics?
A. My late father, brother and sister have all been Corporators from the same seat since 1965. We have never lost an election. Almost always, the contesting candidates have lost their deposits! There must be something good my family has done to get this sort of adulation from the area we represent. In 1981, when I decided against opting for mainstream politics, but got into Parsi politics instead, my father wondered whether it was a wise decision! But I had already made up my mind.

Election imbroglio

2008-09-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

As the elections get more feverish, in the onslaught of over-reactions, there are unintended casualties. One such involves a prestigious community institution for which we have the highest regard, a hospital that is impeccably run in the service of Parsis.

A senior representative of the hospital wishes to clarify (read previous post for details) that the authorities had not intended to influence doctors into supporting a particular panel. As it turns out, a petition in support of the panel was made available to doctors willing to sign it “of their own accord”. Hence, there should be no discord! If some doctors did not share this perception, there could have been a misunderstanding.

While signature campaigns have their pitfalls, we hope the matter rests, and the management can continue with their sterling social service.

Oh Doctor, You're in Trouble!

2008-09-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

With regard to the support that a certain high profile panel of contestants is claiming from leading doctors within the community, it has been brought to notice that some top doctors, whose names are cited, are feeling rather slighted.

Privately, they have expressed disapproval over the manner in which they were tacitly coerced into putting their signatures on the campaign by bigwigs associated with the hospital where they are all empanelled.

They feel there was no need for them to be dragged into a political dilemma by publicly making them endorse a particular panel, when there are good candidates across the board. So, why did they put their signatures? A couple of them confessed that to not conform would be to recklessly ruffle the feathers of the big birds.

Which reminds us of a witty ditty, suitably modified: “Oh Doctor, you’re in trouble. Well, goodness gracious me. For every time a certain man is standing next to thee... A flush comes to the face and the pulse begins to race. It goes BPP/BPP, BPP/BPP, BPP/BPP boom!”

This brings us to another question: what sort of panel would need the ‘support’ of so many top, multi-disciplinary doctors? Certainly not a very healthy one!

However, this is said in lighter vein. What appears unhealthy are only the tactics, which are not necessarily perpetrated personally by the candidates of the said panel.

New Trustees Need: Time, Talent, & Tenacity to Preserve our Tenets

2008-09-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

Finally, we come down to the quintessential question that justifies life’s journey: how much time do we have?

This is being asked over and over again in the context of the various candidates and their ability to commit themselves to the onerous task of Trusteeship. While it’s true that some people appear way too over-committed to be able to spare the time needed to attend to a large Trust like the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, and its many attending and ongoing issues, it’s ultimately up to each individual to be able to deliver – and there’s no prescribed formula for time management.

Some very successful people effectively subscribe to the adage: the more you do, the more you can do. Their energy, acumen, and ability to multi-task efficiently, is inspiring, and there’s no reason to assume they will not give off their best once they have committed themselves to something.

On the other hand, we get fliers slid under our door almost every day from some very well-intentioned candidates, claiming to have the time – but to what avail? Especially since these candidates haven’t the experience or ability to give leadership at the apex level, which the BPP really needs.

Ultimately, it’s a balance of time, talent, temperament, the tenacity to hold steadfast on to our traditions, and the temerity to take on those who mischievously undermine time-honoured tenets for vested interests, that will define the next Trustees of the BPP.

Let us, together, determine who these seven worthies will be. In the coming weeks, this column will bring you interviews with leading players – one-on-one conversations, frank, forthright and fearless – that will enable us to objectively make up our minds.

Cast your vote online

2008-09-15T02:44:00.000-07:00

For the first time in the history of the community there is a live, online opinion poll where you can vote for your preference for the Trustee of the Bombay Parsee Panchayet (BPP).

Click on http://zoroastrians.net/bpp-elections/ to view the candidates, their manifestoes/profiles (where available), and then cast your vote online.

Your voice is important and should be heard. Cast your vote in large numbers and contribute to the process!

Please also feel free to pass this on to your friends and relatives who would be interested.

Let’s Stop This Trustee Bashing

2008-09-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

It’s unbecoming of an enlightened community like ours, that such humungous hatred has, in recent times, been hurled at the Trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), now in their last days in office.

Not just unbecoming but ironic too, because the most virulent and vocal of BPP bashers are today among the very people who are trying every trick in the trade to step into the shoes they have so savagely stomped upon!

But the outgoing Trustees of the BPP must have some merit, and you don’t have to believe everything you are led to, even if it comes via a so-called “shocking video film” that, not surprisingly, thrashes the Trustees (calling them “small men with no heart”) and, then, surprisingly, sidles up to two of them for support!

Lest the community forgets, it is these Trustees we have turned to over the past several years and, human lapses notwithstanding, they are, individually and collectively, men of stature, although we may not have agreed with them on everything.

The least we can do is give them a fitting farewell with a kind word for all that has been done. At least a lot hasn’t been undone, as could well be the case with some of the newcomers.

Strident campaigning is one thing, diligent delivery quite another. Blaming one’s predecessors is a tempting ploy for electioneering, but it can also be a pitfall when performance doesn’t match promise. Anyone who has any experience of working as a Trustee will affirm that it is essentially a thankless task!

More so since our community is plagued with a feed-off-the-BPP syndrome. Almost from birth, every Mumbai Parsi believes it is the BPP’s bounden duty to house him, educate him, support him, sponsor him, and then some! Anything that goes wrong in a Parsi’s life is eventually blamed on the BPP. This has to stop.

The BPP is here to facilitate the community, not to spoon feed it. Parsis have to take the onus of their lives in their own hands and stop playing the blame game, fuelled by those who ostensibly hate the BPP, but inherently harbour the ambition of being at its helm themselves!

Meanwhile, our final felicitations to Minoo Shroff, Burjor Antia, Dinshaw Tamboly, Dadi Engineer, Dinshaw Mehta and Maneck Engineer, for negotiating rocky seas, and occasionally rocking each other’s boat – but hanging in there through hell and high water, anyway!

AFP’s 8 x 7

2008-09-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Will AFP’s date with fate be blighted by its 8? Arguably, its panel is glittering and glamorous and almost intimidating in its invincibility. But is too much of a good thing really not such a good thing, after all?

With just seven seats for Trusteeship at the BPP, community members are asking several questions after the rather late inclusion of Munchi Cama as the eighth worthy on the AFP panel. The most poignant one is: who do we drop? Up until this point, the AFP had been pressing for its entire panel to be propelled into the Punchayet but now, perforce, one person will have to be pitch forked out of the party.

Would the AFP like to tell the community who that person should be? Should we eliminate at random, or in tandem?

In any case, the buzz is that somebody could be backing out. After all, Homi Khusrokhan reportedly did, and rather late in the day we’re told, which is when Dr. Katy Dinshaw was quickly brought in. Well, as the AFP plays musical chairs with its panel, unseating someone will be inevitable.

Minority Matters

2008-09-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Dr. Syrus Darvish Irani, a General Medical Practitioner from Mahim, who is contesting the BPP elections, points out some interesting facts in his manifesto, which should set the community thinking.

Until the 1980’s there were five reserved seats for Parsi/Irani youth at Walchand Engineering College, Sangli. Today’s scenario: Hardly any reserved seats available in professional colleges.

He adds, “In the 1990s I tried my level best to impress upon the community to intervene in the Supreme Court regarding reservations for Parsis. However, none ventured into it. The theme was ‘we Parsees do not need reservations’. After that, I personally met the then Chairman of the Minority Commission, who advised me to come through the Punchayet and stake my claim of 2% reservation for Parsi/Irani youth in professional colleges. During that period, the Mandal Commission was the only way to intervene in the Supreme Court; but I failed to gain momentum.”

He further points out: According to the 2001 census (Government of India): 0.0069% of the total population is Parsi – 69,601; 13.4% of the total population is Muslim – 151 million; 2.34% of the total population is Christian – 24 million.

“Currently there are reservations for all other minorities, including Muslims and Christians, in professional colleges, but none for Parsis and Iranis.”

We wonder what Dr. Syrus Darvish Irani’s chances are at the BPP polls, but we hope he pursues his plan for procuring Minority Status nonetheless, along with several other contestants who have also put in on their manifestoes, whether they too win or not.

Some issues ought to be beyond winning/losing. And securing education opportunities for our largely marginalised Parsi/Irani kids needs to be unanimously high on everybody’s priority list. In these over-competitive times, where admissions close at well over 90 per cent for all professional courses, we are highly disadvantaged being so small in number, with quotas and reservations abounding for most others.

WAPIZ must strengthen its wicket, with a United-7 ticket

2008-09-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

It is our contention that the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) seems to be underselling itself with just four nominations. Since they, too, are presenting a panel, shouldn’t have computed a complete one? Leaving three gaps in the grid isn’t entirely sound.

Their appeal that the community can fill them in with “like minded” candidates is a bit of a riddle. Like-mindedness with WAPIZ can be a bit daunting, as many are found wanting! Perhaps WAPIZ should identify who they consider compatible and make the election maze a tad easier to navigate.

Khojeste Mistry was questioned about this at a campaign meeting. He was of the belief that the four panellists WAPIZ has put out are a cohesive group, sharing the same vision and mission, and he hopes all four could get elected to the BPP so that they could then be in a majority. Beyond that, the community is free to pick its other three, said he, pushing the “like minded” pitch yet again to ensure a common ground within the BPP among the final seven trustees.

But in this election, with so many differing ideologies, and strong contenders who stand for them, it seems unlikely that any one point of view will hold complete sway over the BPP. It will have to be an amalgam of ideas, aspirants and issues.

It is in WAPIZ’s interests to align with three others and present a United-7 to community, so that they can then steer their team into the Punchayet more effectively. Failing which, one sees a lot of cross-voting happening and WAPIZ’s four may or may not score.

Why I’m writing Parsi-Link

2008-09-10T05:11:00.001-07:00

If you are a Parsi, you are probably aware that the community, in the throes of election politics, is in turmoil. Much of what is appearing in print right now is motivated, vitiated with personal vendetta and invariably paid for by one or another organisation, or individual, vying for Trusteeship.

It has come to such a pass that there is virtually no freedom of the press within the community, no independent voice, no democratic dialogue that is the very basis of informed and expedient opinion-making.

Cutting loose from the clutter of name-calling, BPP bashing, attacking individuals and playing the partisan game, Parsi-Link is a platform that offers a level playing field, as there is no official/unofficial agenda and no affiliation whatsoever with any of the contesting groups or individuals.

While it’s inevitable that opinions will be expressed, frankly and freely, and may or may not find favour depending upon the persuasion of the person perusing this page, this is not a commercial venture and nothing that appears here, not a word, will have been paid for by any group or individual directly or indirectly connected with the elections. It becomes necessary to state this loud and clear as extremely partisan posturing is being passed for editorial comment in recent times.

Readers are more than welcome to share their points of view, since we believe that together we can come to a better understanding of what best serves our interests – and decide upon the people who will represent us in the Punchayet effectively to administer this.

We need to rationalise without rancour, explore with exploding and, finally, shortlist without short changing the community and its future generations. By judiciously bestowing the benefit of benevolent and diligent Trusteeship upon the apex organisation, we will fulfil our tryst with destiny.

This is a unique opportunity for us, many of us first-time voters under the Universal Adult Franchise scheme, to choose all seven Trustees simultaneously. Let us not waste a single vote.

So, who’s on your wish list? Do write in with your comments and tell me what you think of the current pre-election imbroglio, the candidates, and the key issues we need to be focusing upon. This is the time to get together purposefully and do our bit to elect the right people to lead us.

Who Wants to Be a Parsi Punchayet Trustee!

2008-09-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is a historic moment for the Parsi community. For the first time ever, through the newly formalised Universal Adult Franchise scheme, community members will be able to vote for the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) elections commencing October 4 onwards.

What is also unique is that all seven trustees will be elected simultaneously. Previously, every time a seat or two fell vacant upon expiry of a term (or a Trustee), elections for just that seat (or two) would be held via a closed system that did permit the participation of the entire community.

This time its all seven seats at one go and the entire community (or at least those adult voters who have registered) can step out and stamp their favourites on the ballot sheets. While various luminaries, and some not quite so luminous folk, have offered their services for the top tickets in the community’s apex organisation, much mayhem ensues.

Apart from a lot of independent candidates, two dominant groups, the traditionalists and the reformists, are fighting each other in a bloody war of words, values, and vituperation. The valour is missing, or at least misplaced. While some guys have some growing up to do, the community has important issues at hand. Although all the candidates are promising to resolve them almost effortlessly, it’s pertinent to point the predominant ones out:

1. FLAME OF FAITH: Why did the Parsis come to India? A sense of history is crucial in these times of instant self-gratification. We fled Persia because of the threat to our religion and undertook an arduous journey with only one intention – to preserve the faith, with which our identity is inextricably linked. Once in India, previous generations, full of illustrious achievers, stuck steadfast to religious principles, without cutting corners for convenience or political connivance. Today, we need Trustees who genuinely appreciate and abide by the doctrines of the faith and, in matters of dispute, do not discount the counsel of our learned High Priests. The Catholics don’t pooh-pooh the Pope, the Hindus don’t slight their Shankaracharyas, nor do the Muslims marginalise their mullahs. But some haughty Parsis heckle the High Priests and, surely, our Trustees shouldn't be from their ranks?

2. IT’S MONEY, HONEY: This seems to be an election based on money power. Pages are being bought in publications and, in some cases, publications are being bought over entirely (although surreptitiously) to advertise not so much the ideology of the controlling group, but to malign rivals. This is certainly a first. So are flashy campaign meetings with refreshment boxes, glib power point presentations, huge billboards, glossy pamphlets and video shows, being held all over with staggering frequency. While this may be a casualty of contemporary commercialisation, it’s interesting to see who is financing whom, and why. Let us scratch the surface and uncover who the key financiers are, because they could control the candidates they are fielding, like the infamous remote control! And in cases where individuals are self-funding to the extent of spending crores on their campaign, the community is wondering why?

3. WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA: On the face of it everybody, no matter what their persuasion, reformist or traditional, is claiming the same manifesto. They all want to preserve the religion, resolve the housing crisis, look after the aged, and generally wave their magic wands and turn the Punchayet pumpkin into a fantasy carriage that can fly us to the moon! But before we go over it in ecstasy, let us put promises aside and check the track record of each candidate. What have they done for the community in the past, how well have they served the faith, and have they kept the faith at all? There’s a lot of big talk. How many can walk the talk?

4. MORAL OF THE STORY: Ethics are a clincher. Being a small community, it’s not difficult to discover the ethical core of each candidate. Whether its financial dealings, spiritual and religious leanings, or behavioural gleanings, we need to create an ethical scorecard for each and segregate those who top from those who flop.

5. CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT: The Punchayet cannot be the exclusive preserve of any one group, much as they may want it. Those who are excessively groupie and cannot collaborate for the larger interest of the community will be a liability. If there’s one thing our current BPP Trustees were unanimous about, it was that there was nothing they were ever unanimous about! The ability to rise above infighting is essential.

As we get into the coming weeks more ideas will emerge, more insights accrue. But there are certain fundamentals we cannot compromise upon in our quest for the Super Seven. Is the Parsi community up to the challenge? You bet! Surviving and thriving despite the odds is, like longevity, in our bawa genes.

Know Your Candidates

2008-09-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

The BPP’s yet to release a formal list of candidates for the elections. A preliminary telephone call to a senior office bearer revealed a reluctance to share it at this point as the date for withdrawals is September 18. Thereafter, the final list will be available.

In the interim, it’s in the interest of all to know who the players are. While some are high profile and extremely well-publicised, others are less known. Since our intention is to play fair, we present as comprehensive a list as we could compile. But it is by no means conclusive. So those who may have been omitted by default can contact us and we will subsequently rectify their non-inclusion.

AFP
Munchi Cama
Noshir Dadrawala
Soli Dastur
Dr. Ketayun Dinshaw
Maneck Engineer
Byram Jeejeebhoy
Keki Mistry
Nadir Modi

WAPIZ
Shirin Choksey
Yezdi Desai
Bomi Kavina
Khojeste Mistree

INDEPENDENTS
Phiroze Amroliwalla
Tehmtan Dumasia
Urvax Dhanda
Darayus Kabraji
Viraf Kapadia
Dinshaw Mehta
Framroze Mirza
Arnavaz Mistry
Jimmy Mistry
Tehmasp Mogul
Farrokh Munsiff
Danesh Nejadkay
Yezdi Panthaky
Cyrus Patel
Rustom Tirandaz
Dr. Kuresh Zorabi

Crux of Zoroastrianism

2008-09-04T22:33:00.000-07:00

Many non-Parsis often wonder what the crux of Zoroastrianism, the religion we Parsis owe our allegiance and existence to, is. As revealed by the Prophet Zarathushtra, or Spitama Asho Zarthost Sahib, as we call him, it is the divine triumvirate of Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds.

There it is – as simple as that! But to live by it is a challenge.

GOOD THOUGHTS
The mind is where it all begins. Hence, it’s imperative that it be kept clear of unnecessary clutter, negativity, jealousy, hatred, pride, and their ominous ilk. Prayer, and the power of positive thinking, can keep the mind on course at all times, and that is the key to living a balanced life.

GOOD WORDS
Next in the Zoroastrian triumvirate comes Good Words, because words have power – and what you say can manifest into your reality. So unless you have something good to say, refrain from doing so for words, like arrows, once expelled cannot be retracted. Words can devastate and divide even the closest relationships, and they are an external manifestation of one’s inner state. So if the mind is attuned to piety, as the Prophet Zarathusthra ordains, words must follow in the same vein.

GOOD DEEDS
Finally, everything comes to naught without Good Deeds. All the best intentions in the world are useless unless followed up with timely and effective action. Zoroastrianism is a faith that stresses greatly upon “doing”. You are not required to sit in prayer or penance for hours on end. But if you go out and actually help someone or do a good deed, it is a prayer in action.

FIRE OF FAITH
There is yet another potent force that epitomises the Zoroastrian faith: Fire. However, the Parsis have wrongly been called “fire worshippers”. In reality, the holy fire is an embodiment of the Almighty. It bestows its radiance and munificence upon a Zoroastrian seeker, illuminating his/her path through life. The Zoroastrian religion does not demand too much from its followers. All you need to do is stay on the right path and be a righteous soul, living by the Truth to the best of your ability.

Values are placed at a premium on the Parsi list of priorities. Integrity, grace, goodness, generosity, and decorum are inculcated from early on, and it’s hoped most Parsis would abide by them through their lives.

Of course, times have changed and so has the community. Many would bemoan the loss of values in society overall, and amongst Parsis as well. But, by and large, there’s still the sense of standing by the right thing. And that is what has kept the community going all these years. And will see us through the testing times we are navigating right now.

India’s Parsis: What Makes Them Special?

2008-09-04T00:20:00.000-07:00

What is it that keeps the Parsis of India going, so many years after they migrated to the country? Quite simply: Faith and Values, which are the twin cornerstones of their survival down the years.

As most would know, Zoroastrianism is the world’s oldest revealed religion. Exactly how far back it dates is open to speculation. But it certainly goes back thousands of years. Through all these years, the Zoroastrians have kept the flame of faith burning with admirable devotion, although without any unnecessary aggression.

The Parsis who came to India as migrant from Persia, gave a covenant to the Rana of Gujarat when they landed at Sanjan over a thousand years ago, promising they would never permit conversion. The Rana was concerned that the ‘foreigners’ from Persia would convert his flock to another faith.

That promise has been kept to this day and the Parsis have more or less kept to themselves in matters religious, but when it comes to contributing to Indian society they have not shied away in any which way.

From establishing schools, hospitals, and institutions of all kinds, to bequeathing their wealth to a host of cosmopolitan, charitable causes, as well as community projects, they have kept adding to the rich lustre of Indian public life, like the proverbial sugar-in-the-milk.

Some of the country’s most illustrious sons and daughters have been Parsis. Be it in politics, medicine, law, the media, business and enterprise, entertainment, or social work, there has been a legion of legendary Parsis who have performed, and continue to, brilliantly and to the best of their ability.

Inborn in the Parsi ethos is a sense of goodwill for others, and this has stood the community in good stead. Never anti-national, disruptive or divisive, the Parsis have only sought to enrich India, the country they came to and today unequivocally consider home, having left Persia with absolutely nothing centuries ago.

And it is to India’s eternal credit that she has assimilated the Parsis, who have heaped their gratitude and talents upon her in double measure with their sparkling contribution.

Parsi Politics: Desperate Times

2008-09-03T06:21:00.000-07:00

With the elections oncoming, dishing the dirt on one probable Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) candidate after another seems to be the community’s pass time. As the date draws closer, and the contest gets more capricious, the daggers, which are already drawn, will dig in deeper still – and the wounds will be more vicious.

Even the US Presidential elections, keenly as they are being contested around contentious causes, appear like a gentle garden party compared to our street-fight style of ballot battling.

ACRIMONIOUS ACRONYMS
What a pity, isn’t it? Increasingly, one is becoming disappointed by our lack of grace. For years, one has held on, steadfast to the notion of all we stand for – integrity, impeccable public conduct, personal decorum, a value-based upbringing that isn’t violated by opportunism, and respect for others.

All of that seems to have been subverted in the past few years as a slew of Acrimonious Acronyms slug it out for power. Whether it’s AZA, WAPIZ, ARZ, BPP, AIMZ, PRG, WZO, AFP, and whatever else, all of them have been embroiled in petty politicking and desperately trying to outmanoeuvre each other, whilst simultaneously attempting to manipulate the community into supporting their ideology and actions.

The result is the Parsis are today so fractured, so faction-ridden, so frayed that we have lost the very essence of who we are. And each of the Acrimonious Acronyms has played its part in the process. In trying to grab their slice of the community cake, all they have left are crumbs.

Average Parsis are not concerned with the perennial warring between groups. While ideologies can be debated and points of view countered, petty personal attacks are pointless. They only sully the ethos and atmosphere of the community, filling minds with mistrust and hearts with misgiving.

SURFEIT OF SCEPTICISM
Today, there’s not a single leader, or possible leader, amongst Parsis, who has not been shred to shards. Nobody trusts anybody any more, least of all if the person is standing for elections. Attacks are launched, fast and furious. This leaves the community confused, cantankerous and crushed. After all, if you cannot trust anybody to lead you, what purpose are the forthcoming elections going to serve?

As it is, nobody gets along with anyone. If the final Parsi Punchayet Board is going to be a coalition, with differing ideologies and personal egos pulling in very contrary directions, with the Trustees themselves having been discredited by their detractors, what are we thrusting the apex organisation of the community into – irretraceable chaos?

Perhaps, all those who are whipping up passions like egg whites in a badly set soufflé need to understand that we’re all falling flat. What we need, more than ever before, is cooperation and communion. Differing points of view have their place, but not at the cost of our unity.

Mutual respect will have to replace rancour and disruptive rivalry. There are far too many issues we need to focus on for our very survival as a community today, and these are far more crucial than our differences. We need Trustees who understand this, and inspire faith in the community that they can collaborate effectively. We can sometimes agree to disagree. But to be disagreeably disagreeable all the time is defeating.

May the coming months bring us the unity we so desperately need, and the leadership to take us ahead.

(This post first appeared in Jam-e-Jamshed)