Apr 1971

WITH -» GODREJ PRESS co SUPPLEMENT APRIL 1971 VOL. Vil No. 6 X- £ nem medium for old wisdom Price 50 Paise « 1 El tV'KOMC ENGINEERi > '¦w? •» A. I. E. E,(U. K.,) a ;i.e.e-e .LU-s.a ,) 4.1. Nls^r.T^cE. (India). Ra^io officer^ 1 i i RUTTl BULSARA MASS of 20.000 following Bulsara's acquittal: no fine, no imprisonment. Press Confiscated released after 9 months. Part payment towards cost of the case incur ­ red by Colonial Government for Soliciting Ser ­ vices of Attorney General invited from Tan ­ ganyika on refusal of Attorney General of Zanzibar to accept Government brief against Bulsara. (J ?¦ » Rutti Bulsara addressing a mass rally at Pemba. ( >«- ' I 4 Rutti Bulstaa {extreme right) with Mr. D. R. Pritt Q. C. (second from left) who had flown from London to defend Jomo Kenyatta (now Prime Minister of Kenya) and advise Mr. Bulsara.I 4 VOL. VII No. 6 CONTENTS Later Sassanian History Iran League News Prof Dinshah D. Kapedia APRIL 1971 Page 5 13 iS SUPPLEMENT Itol6 FACTS AND FAKES OF PARSI PANCHAYAI Managing Editor : P. B. WARDEN, M S. (Bom.), D.P.M. (Bom.) ADVISORY BOARD 35 J Major Sohrab R. Bamji F.C.R.A., F,R.S.A.» M.B.E. Major Adarbad Irani R.A.M.C., D.O.M.S. (Lond) D.O.(Oxon) Mrs. Gool K. Savakshah Dr. R. C. Cooper, M. Com., Ph.D. (Econ., F.C.A. Mr. Jahangir F. Shroff, j.P. Prof. Nadir Ardeshir Mody, M.A., LL.B. Dr. SohrabH. Batliwala, Ph. D. Mr. Bajon N. Desai, M.A., B.Ed. Mr. Farihurz Nariman (Architect Mr. Homi Burjor Dhalla, M.A (Harvard Mr. Mahyar Byramji Patel Single Copy : 50 paise. Yearly Subscription for 12 issues Rs. 6. Inland. Sh. 12/6 for U.K. and 2 dollars for U.S.A. Offlee Address : C/o. Warden’s (Mysore) Pvt. Ltd. 378, Grant Road, BOMBAY-7. I Published and edited by Editor-Proprietor P. B. Warden from 378, Grant Rd., Bombay 7. and printed by him at Sunita Art Printers, Allied Industrial Estate Unit 311, Mahim, Bombay-16, and Progressive Printers, 4 Mohtta Bhawan, Worli, Bombay- 18.>¦ Some Unfortunate Events In The History Of The Later Sassanian Period By Rashid Shahmardan Irani In my last talk at this Institute on the 16th February 1971, 1 spoke about the conquest of Yeman during the reign of King Anushirawon, and of how eight hundred brave and zealous Iranian soldiers fought against heavy odds in cm unfamiliar and foreign land. That was a prelude to my investigation that Iran was not conquered by the Arabs, but was defeated by the uprising of Iranian labourers in the guise of Islam, which was of a socialistic nature in the beginning. ' The eminent Iranian-Arabic scholar 'and Iranologist Sayy-ed Mohmad Ali Imam Shus- tori, to whom I had referred in my last lecture, in the preilude to one of his lectures on the Ancient Iranian Culture during the Ancient Iranian Week which is organised annually at Tehran by the Ancient Iranian Cultural So ­ ciety, said the following. "The history of every nation is an iden ­ tity card of that nation. Just as every one likes that his identity card may not be wrong ­ ly changed by some other interested person, similarly, a living nation too cannot tolerate anybody twisting the facts of its history deli ­ berately or through ignorance, especially if the alterations are made with personal moti ­ ves, or to show that nation as trivial, or try to darken the past glory of that nation. The time has now come when it is necessary that our own historical documents should be reviewed from cm Iranian point of view, on a scientific basis, and to judge them dispassionately, and to keep in mind those documents. the time to ovoid repeating the judgements passed by others about some of the great his­ It is now torical incidents of our motherland- Most of those judgements ore painted with the colour of religious, political and racial fanaticism. One of these wrong judgements is about the defeat of Iron during the rise of Islam.' This is cm untrue judgement, origination from reli ­ gious fanaticism and devotion to the muslim Khalifote, because in that period, what had not been defeated was the Iranian nation. Till the time the Iranian groups were not familiar with Islam, they fought tenaciously against Islam, But as soon as they came to know of the socialistic and classless tenets of Islam, they got converted to it, and began to fight for Islam. Upto the eleventh century A.D. most of the people of the province of Fars in the south, and the provinces of Marendoron, Gilan and Dailamcm in the north were follow ­ ing their own old religions. During that up­ surge, what was defeated was the rotten ele ­ ment in the religions and political organisa ­ tion of the later Sassanian period, which was based on class system. Any effort that tend ­ ed to encourage the landlords, the rich and the powerful were crushed. Truly, the rise of Islam was an internal revolution in Iran, and it was not forced from a foreign soil upon Iran." as Such is the considered opinion of a great Iranian scholar, deeply versed in Islamic well as Iranian culture. I shdll now speak about some internal conditions in Iron during the later Sassanian period, that tended to the downfall of the Em­ pire. Parsiana April 1971 5The seeds of unrest amongst the Iranian mosses were sown such earlier.* It was dur ­ ing the reign of Kobod (509 to 531 A.D.), the father of Anushirawan, that socialism was bom. In those days, the Iranian masses con ­ sisted of two parts . One was that of the rich landlords, nobles and government o dais. These had many wives, servants, mistresses and lived in all manner of luxury. The other was that of the poor and helpless labourers, who passed their lives os serfs and servants to the higher classes. Due to,, drought, there was scarcity of food. The landlords and the rich stored the com and wheat in their go- downs, land sold them at high, prices. Mazdok was one of the. Mubads. He rose in favour of the poor, and Began too reach the doctrine of equality, which today we call ’socialism'. The poor and hungry people flocked to him. The priests and the courtiers of the time were in ­ fluential and powerful people, and the King himself was perturbed by their power. With a v'iew to weaken and minimise their power, Kobod took the side of Mazdak, Mazdak had declared: "Why should some one own, many wives, servants and (luxury, whilst another re ­ mained single, lived with hard work and slept on an empty stomach. The rich should make free their mistresses, and open the doors to their granaries, and sell the com lat cheap rates to the poor." ' According to Firdausi, Kobad justified the claim of Mazdak during hiis audience with him. Whilst emerging from the King's Court, Mazdak told his followers and the other hun ­ gry peopi ’e to take the wheat wherever they could lay their hands upon it, and to pay a reasonable price for it. The poor and un ­ fortunate people started to loot the granaries of the rich, who complained to the King about thl's rict of the labourers. The King summon ­ ed Mazdak, who however according to Fir- dowsi's language explained that "O! King, If thou art ju.st, is it onv use the wheat which is kept in the stores. Many people died of star ­ vation, and the kffer was the filled-up store- ? Here, 1-would like to point out that during room with the wheat. With abundance there is delight in the world,'; The excess of riches It is not fair excess in every- of the wealthy is also unlawful, that some one should hove thing; The ifich and the poor ore the warp amid the woof of the country." The King ap­ proved of this view, and asked the rich to vacate the court.' It was his desire that his poorer subjects and the labourers should not live in misery. This reason led the nobles and; the courtters to imprison the King., When Anushirowon came to power, he niassgcred many of the generals and nobles w'hp had b,gen ,friends of his late father. He accused them of sodcdlsm, and massacred them, as well as the followers of Mozdok. He even killed his own brothers and uncles. Anushirawan began his reign by slaying the members of the Royal Famlily. What he started was finalised by shiruye, the son of Khusru Porviz, who killed all the members of the Royal Family. This cruel King, born of a Christian mother, was instrumental in bring- » ing about the downfall of the Sassanian Em­ pire. ( po- Anushirawan tried to strengthen his wer. Mozdok's doctrine of socialism was go ­ ing against his ambition, for socialism led to riots and uprisings amongst the labourers. For this reason, he killed Mozdok and his follow ­ ers. He tried his utmost to see that his sub- jecsts could live in peace and ease. The King was powerful, selfish and ambitious. His no ­ bles, courtiers and generals were worshippers of mammon and greedy. The prisst-oa'ss was orthodox and selfish. Therefore, the struggle between the rich and the poor went under ­ ground. But the seeds shown by Mozdok in the hearts of the poor were in the process of growth. During the reign of the later and wea ­ ker rulers, these seeds fructified, and Iran cra ­ shed together with the Iranians. This was -one. of .the .niaiu causes that led to the down ­ fall of :4b? .Sfi^sgnians. ¦ ,f the-time of the massacre of Mozdak and his followers, amid also earlier during the mlossacre 5 Parsiana April 1971c 5 e of Mani and his followers, these followers had gone underground, whilst those who felt themselves in imminent danger, fled to dis- suzerainty of the Sossanian rulers. from these people, many other Iranians, like from these people, many other Iranians, like businessmen, craftsmen and soldiers were also living in Arabia. Aports Just as the Parsis, after landing in India, one thousand and three hundred years ago, adopted Hindu names and customs, similarly, these Iranians in Arabia hod adopted Arabic names and customs. For that reason, we should not make the mistake of considering them as Arabs. ' Anushirowon was a staunch Zoroostrion, but he was tolterant of other Religions. Follo- ers of other Religions were freely allowed to follow their own faith and customs. One of his own wives, who was a Christian, had brought up her son Nushzod in the Christian faith. Anushirowon hod consented to it. This Nushzad, with the help of the Christians in Ir on , fought against his own age, but was killed. Even them, Anushirawan had permitted that his body be buried accord ­ ing to Christian rites. tcrfher in his old I The Law of Sassanian Iran required that the discipline amongst the military should be of a very high order. Sometimes, generals and armies defeated in war were put into the dcmiger of losing their lives. Severity to a defeated general somelfimes led to his revolt ­ ing, as in the case of Bahram Ohubina, who had been defeated in war with the Khazars, and who was rebuked by King Hormaz be ­ cause of it. » In the history of Iron, we come across many incidents, when the power and influen ­ ce of nobles and army generals hod dimini ­ shed the prestige of the King in the eyes the people. --------- — . Court becomes weak, and the civil and mi­ litary administration becomes disorganised. k of As a result of this,'the Imperial Noblas aod gemeralls becomes jeicflous of bea- Pafsiana April 1971 ch other, and quarrels and strifes ensue. With no power of hiSs own, the King becomes a puppet tin their hands. If h© tries to. oppose them, he stands in danger, of losing his throne and head, or ©Iso and his life in prison. In consequence, misfortune befalls the people. Such was the condition of Hormuz, the son of Anushirowani, when he assumed the throne of Iron.' His father and granfother, both were powerful Kings who were always fighting on the battlefields for th© splendour of Iron. Dur- nig their reigns, as a consequence of the was, some of the generals had become powerful and influential, and the people were paying their homage to them. ’ Hormuz come to th® throne in his old age. He hod not token much part in the wars. Instead of personally conducting the wars in the manner ofs father, who even at the age of eighty was supervising in the battlefields dur ­ ing the RomcSn wars, he used to remain in his palace and sit at peace and ease. At first, he was ’ . , subordinates. He dd not differentiate between the Religions. He regarded all Religions im­ partially. The priesthood very just ctnd kind, to the poor ctnd 'his objecting to this, and was asking why he was favouring the Christians and the Jews. To this, his reply was that Iron is a great country, with diffe­ rent religions and different groups hving there. A King should be impartial to aiU, and not fa­ vour any particular group, —But his courtiers were all selfish, vain cruel and hypocritical. By ^inventing false stories, they made the King fear his subjects, and the people to dislike the Kin g As a result of this, Hormuz killed all the secretaries and advisers of his father who were living happily and •w'ithout fear of any danger, and thereby mode miony enemies for himself in and outside the country. According to Masudi, Nirkhnd, Tabari and other hfflstori- ans, thirteen thousand nobles were killed by bis orders. ed, but it proves that an influential class of ndbles and couriliers was opposed to him. This tendency of the King to punish everyone with the some rod, without considering their position and prestige leads to the disorganisation of the was Perhaps this figure is exccggerat- I 1- rr dTn inis tration. A King should not allow the no­ bles to be so cruel, as to make their subordi ­ nates rise up in revolt. Such a revolution was begun in that, period that boh the high and the low were crushed. Tha Roman war still continued. Displea ­ sure of the nobles caused internial troubles for Hormuz. The Arab tribes, living in Iraq, who were always seeking for weakness at the cen ­ tre began to invade dities and loot and kill the people. The Turks began to attack Iran from the east, because of the instigation of the Ro ­ mans, who were tired of the long drawn-out wars with Iron. Those lands from which Ho- muz was getting taxes were looted end destro ­ yed, "leaving no sign of grass or vegetation." (Firdausi) Bahram Ohubina, a great general, defea­ ted the Turks, but he was not appreciated by the King. When he was defeated in the Cau­ casus war, the King rebuked him severely. Thereupon, Bahram rose up in revolt with all his officers and army and started to disobey th© King, for he was well aware of the grudge that the nobles bore against the Monarch. Finally, Hormuz was surrounded by the cour­ tiers, thrown into prison and blinded. Then, Bahram Chubinq, as the most powerful general and a descendant of the Parthian afmily, be ­ came King. When Khusru Parwiz ascended the throne 590 A.D., with th© help of the Roman Emper Morris, Iron was in the girp of internal warfare. Nob ’es and members ot fhe Royal Family, ge­ nerals and proud courtiers, were all hypocriti ­ cal and against each other. They paid no res ­ pect to the Crown. During the lintemal war, in the beginning of Khusru Parwiz's reign, many nobles, army officers and generals were killed because Khusru was suspicious of their loyalties. He even attacked his own uncles. Bahram Chu- bina also, dluring the short perid of his reign, killed many generals and nobles, whom he suspected of favouring the Royal Family. ru After, the Bahram Chubina episode, Khus- Porwiz consolidated his power. His army, under the command of shahr Varaz and Sha- hin began to invada Rome on two fronts. Syria, Palestine, Egypt upto the border of Abyssinia conquered by Shahr Varaz. On the other side, Shahi reacned upto the Bosphorus and Con ­ stantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire was in danger. According to Roman historians, the Jews, who had an old enmiity with the Christians, were aiding the Iranian army dur ­ ing the conquest of Palestine. When in fhe year 615 A.D., Jerusd ’em was conquered, the Jews were overjoyed. They began to loot the city and kill the Christians, Churches, as well os th© iomb of Christ were burnt by them. They found the Holy Cross, the original one, on which Christ had been actually crucified, and sent it as a booty to Iron. Accodring to histo ­ rians, thirty-five thousand Christians were eithei* killed or made slaves by the Jews. The blame of all the wrongs done in Jeruselem by the Jews to the Christians wtas laid at the door of Iran. Consequently, the f eelings of the Christians all over the world, specially of those in Iran, arose against the Zoroastrions, and the King. As mentioned in my lost discourse, Ye- mcm lost its sovereignty because of the Jews' massacre of the Christians. In the same way, the Saosonian Monarchy had to pay the simi­ lar price, to some extent because of the Jews. Shahr Varaz and ShaHini, because of their vic ­ tories, became porud, and were awaiting some excuse to rise in revolt. luxury red and se”en kilometres to the north-east of '4- Khusru was living in and peace at Dast Ker ah, one hund- rea ana se eu luiuuicircs lu the capital, and never visited any battlefield personally. For twenty-four years, he did not once care to visit his capital. There was en ­ mity and hypocrisy between the army officers also. The Christians from dll over the world began to invade Iron to avenge the upsetting of their emotions doused by the burning of the Holy Tomb, and also in order to recover their Holy Cross. Shahr Varaz disobeyed the King's orders to stop the march of the invading Chris ­ tians on Iron. On the contrary, the general made a secret pact with the Roman Emperor The Christians began invading, looting and 8 Parsiana April, 1971 Iburning cities of Iron, and then running away, lity, —th© rising feelings of hostility of th© Christians against the King due to he tyranny of the lews in Jerusolam- and for the removal of th© Holy Cross as booty to Iron, —combined with th© old age of the King himself, —-ad tho curses of the moraes, —os also ihe intrigues these happenings served to reduce the ?----- test and' most fortunate King of th© World ” into 3- The motive of Khusru in attacking Rome was to take revenge for his fotheiim-low Mor ­ ris, Who was killed in 602 A.D. by a revolting general by the name of Fokous, This Fokous in his turn was himself killed by rebels in 610 A.D. Hercules was elected the Roman Emperor. With the death of Fokoust, the motive of Khus­ ru was fulfilled, but instead of halting the war, then, due to his greed for amassing wealth, he continued the war and looted the rich. Even in Iron, accodring to Firdausi, he began to tax the poor. "Such a kind and just king became unjust. He took delight in being crued to his subjects. He extorted wealth form every one. He instigated one against the other. By this means, he extorted their wealth.' The praises of the past were turned into curses, because sheep became as cruel wolves. He brought upon himself a new anguish and pain; —and there 'vras no deslire except to hove new trea ­ sure." Instead of making peace with the Ra­ mans, just as Anushirowon hod done, he con ­ tinued the war, and conquered new territories, which extended right upto th© East to the bor ­ ders of the Turks, to the South to Abyssina and Yeman. The officers and soldiers were constan ­ tly beSng sent to far-off lands for waging war. They were tired and longed to return to their kith and kin. They were proud of themselves owing to their constant successes in battle. For slight excuses they rebelled. If the King had been a real statesman, he would have mode hiss headquarters near the front, to be aware of the activities of his army as well as the enemies. But unlike his grandfather Anu- shirawcm who even at the age of eighty, per ­ sonally supervised the war from this battle ­ field, Khusru was habituated to leading a lu ­ xurious life. He expected his general's at the battel fields to obey his orders. According to historians, during the Royal dinner, a thou ­ sand servants and butlers attended to the guests, whilst o thouscinid singers end musi­ cians played to please them, whilst the blood of his poor subjects was being shed on tho battlefie'id. Rebellion, jealousy and hypocrisy within the army, the priesthood and the nobi ­ at the harem and th© .•Imperial court, _

your work. You will remain entirely on your own as you are. If you have any ob- If as in the opinion of the clique Mr. our whom, outside our was formed with Bajan. We rightly took it administrator was (1) Still giving them a long rope will ran in Bulsara and Bajan engineered his you, the kind members of the electorate overthrow and Trustees acted as rabbits body ask Trustees about their findings before Bajan. It is, I suppose, their scant against Bulsara and myself? At least let courtesy to specific performance implied in them say what they found condemnatory Donor ’s intention. Please Trustees ! go against us, to act against us in such through the Gift Deed or Transfer Deed, atrocious manner of ordering me out of the Press premises, pestering, harrassing, demot- (ni) The Chairman Mr. Mulla, realised ing, condemning, dismissing Bulsara and from the very start the greatness of Bulsara rendering him jobless and helpless in every and the nonentity of Bajan. Before ap- way they could engineer, under misdirec- pointing Mr. Bajan Mr. Mulla in his capacity ¦tions from Bajan. as Chairman sent for Mr. Bulsara and told him openly and clearly that Trustees intend (m) Do they realise that one of the to appoint somebody for management and duties as Trustees of Parsi Punchayet is to said: “He will be an administrator-accoun- promote welfare and advancement of mem- tant. He will not in any way interefere with bers of the community in any manner or forrn. What have they done? Destroyed a great and good man to pamper, protect and jection I will not sanction the appointment.'' to shield Bajan-Vesuna collusion. With such assurance from such high per ­ sonality there was no room for doubt. Bul ­ sara agreed. In early days Bajan never Bajan was very efficient why was he denied interfered. Active interference started after extension? Messrs. Major, Irani, Katrak, our reporting misdeeds of Vesuna with Pastakia and others are still with Tatas. whom, outside our knowledge, a collusion Compared to Bulsara ’s great career which appears herein Bajan is an absolute that Bajan as administrator was finance nonentity having contacts only with cater- administrator or finance controller on ad- ers staff cooks, coolies and clerks of Taj ministrative side. Press was and is the exe- Mahal Hotel. Col. Sohni, Director-in-Charge cutive side and Bajan did not know anything of Hotels Ltd. of the House of Tatas had ex- of press and could not have any right to pressed dissatisfaction for Bajan. Why interfere with Bulsara. This was something should ’ an ignorant nonentetity have any new given to Bajan backdoors by some rights or powers over an experined printing interested Trustees to help him ^nd Vesuna veteran; especially after the Chairman had fulfil their evil motive against us. We are specifically put Bulsara as chief? straight and stood on the straight oath to honour the word of the Chairman. If other Bajan brought as extra hand one Mr. members for personal motive change the Dravid an accountant disapproved by Mr. original set up and introduce their own poli- Mathai from Tata Press. Are the Trustees tics in Panchayat management time has collecting Tata Curios? Have the trustees come when we shall have to rescue the fulfilled the letter and the spirit of the Trust Chairman today and other Trustees one by in throwing away Bulsara a great Zoroas- one hereafter from machinations of servants trian and replacing him by a non-Zoroastrian. against Trustees. Our non-violent non- This is not a question of communalism. It corporation with Bajan he reports to his set is contravening the terms, intentions and of gullible Trustees as indiscipline, hiding the spirit of the donor. It is another matter the essential fact that he had no power over if we did not have a competent person from Bulsara and therefore no question of indis- amongst us to take charge. We had a vete- cipline. 8 Parsiana April 1971 SUPL.(o) Lady Jehangir and Dr. Golwalla will please recall their own words. Lodg ­ ing complaint or complaints is no offence. We have not yet completed the list of the mal-practiceS carried out by Vesuna and sup­ ported by Bajan in relation to waste paper. That is a fruitful field for mal-practice but we stop somewhere until we are asked to be present before Trustees for inquiry. You will wonder how in the very face of every ­ thing looking straight-forward cheating can occur. (p) We are clamouring to talk to Trustees but they are so panicky to face us, because in heart of hearts they know they are wrong and doing wrong to others. That is why they never started inquiry. (q) They by wilful delay gave the collusion time to destroy evidence. That does not speak well of them. The clique did it in the vain hope of saving one of the Trustees. The clique would not give up clinging to Bajan. Their matter has reached a stage — — — to accept individual or joint responsibility as the Charity Commis ­ sioner may decide. responsibility Mr. (r) In individual Eruch Nadirshah would be answerable and matter done with as Trustee in charge. In joint responsibility the Charity Commissioner may at will proceed against Lady Jehangir as best prospect for quick recovery of the amount of Rs. 450,000 and the Lady may at leisure recover shares pro-rata from others. With that all the need of Bajan would van ­ ish, hoax of Bajan being administrator gene ­ ral would collapse and Bajan would go lock, stock and barrel out of the Panchayat. After all, in the end, with all intrigues he will have failed to achieve a dubious object. t (s) Bulsara and I would be grateful if Trustees will give us inspection or themsel ­ ves would take inspection of log-book of the time of Mr. Anklesaria. There blank columns of chalan numbers have been scratched out with lines by the delivery-van driver, Henry De Souza, himself. There you will find signatures of Anklesaria and Bul ­ sara. There you will find proofs you Trus ­ tees loudly clamoured for but never lifted your finger to secure proof. All that was not lethargy but fear of facing facts, for what is told is that inspection reveals nothing of the sorts you alleged. But no reply was given nor anybody of us sent for for ques ­ tioning and yet the Trustees allowed Bajan to go on with his machinations finally re ­ sulting in their order to keep me out (which is invalid and malafide order) and threw Bulsara out under one or other false reason, after making use of him and his machine worth Rs. 1,00,000/- for six years. It is after six years of efficient working, which would be available on records probation period is brought in. Those who engineered such mean and low tricks, unbecoming of the status of Trustees of Parsi Panchayat, will have hereby to face the public. After all a servant of the Panchayat cannot go farther than the Trustees would allow him to go. Who are these Trustees and why are they so sore? There are three restaurants on Sir Phirozshah Mehta Road, Fort. They are Mocambo, Paradise and Sailor. There junior accountants and C.A. students filling in their terms at times gather at tea-time. Some of them remark ­ ed after reading Mr. Hansotia ’s letter of Jam-e-Jamshed that Bajan must clearly manipulat accounts to show that loss of Rs. 450,000/- in Godrej Press as business loss and not loss from fraudulent practices. They discussed the details and came to the conclusions that it was impossible that a concern with nett earnings of Rs. 15,000/- per year can undergo loss of Rs. 450,000/- in four years. I joined the group and in ­ quired from them how accounts could be manipulated? They replied ; false vouchers for items that never came or came and sent back; ‘that can be detected by ratio of ma- Parsiana April 1971 SUPL. 9terials used to total out-put of work done. Fluctuation in prices of material used should be taken into account. If administrative expenses were fairly constant fraud would be established by inconsistencies. Bills may be reduced in amount to non-profitable level and get cash gratification. Material and/or finished products may go out without chalan and sold off. That can explain higher rates of material used to total cost of production. I asked : “Do you think any such thing may have occured? ” One of that group (a Parsi appearing for his final C.A. examination) said, “Most certainly ”. I asked is it possible that the Charity Commissioner can accept manipulated accounts? Acceptance or rejec ­ tion of accounts is their business. If mani ­ pulation of accounts is suspected is there any remedy? Yes ! You can inform the Charity Commissioner to reopen the account. You may even ask for appointing your own ac ­ countant but in that case the Charity Com ­ missioner may ask you to pay for expenses. Readers will kindly read these Facts and Fakes of the Parsi Punchayat not as an inci ­ dent but as a long term intrigue of Bajan- Vesuna collusion aided by some Trustees. My first letter to the Trustees dated 19th November 1970 has described the first move already initiated by Bajan to get some other Linotype service with a view to oust Bulsara. , Bajan has already expressed his ugly desire to several persons. In my letter of 21st December, 1970 appears his open threat to Bulsara. He told Mr. Daruwalla. “Hoo Jovooch KE BALSARO Hiya Kem rehech. Agar yeh jai nahito hoo javoo ”. ......................... I commented on it, “Tell him in my name that Bulsara will stay as the united voice of the community ”. That time clique. Contrariwise whatever filthy, silly or has come now for me to approach you. Uptil senseless fabrication of Bajan ’s intriguing now I carried on lone fight with those Trus- mind produces and presents to the clique the tees in clique with Bajan-Vesuna collusion; clique swallows it with gusto as healthy food I, gathering for me moral strength from the for their heart and mind. No one amongst life incident of Mahatma Gandhiji. When them is lacking in sense not to b,e able to Gandhiji was first time brought before the weigh the problems and their implications Court, the presiding Judge said : “Mr. but they resort to persistent wrong thinking Gandhi — voice of one man cannot be con- considered in public affairs ”. Gandhiji re ­ plied : “My Lord ! That is just what I am trying to prove wrong. ” Bajan was desparately peeved by our non-co-operation but hoped in vain to get co-operation by coercion, feeling secure under protection of clique Trustees to try desperate remedies for the desperate disease that afflicted him by our non-co-operation. He has the audacity to report our co-opera ­ tion as “indiscipline ”, without establishing his claim to expect co-operation. Despite repeated long correspondence not a single Trustee made any mention of expecting our co-operation with Bajan. Non-Co-operation was not indiscipline. It was putting him in his place. Any such expectation was flatly contrary to the instruction and assurance received from the Chairman. He is right. We follow him. We have faith in him and none in Bajan. Let us move on now to re ­ establish ourselves. ¦V I, jointly with Bulsara have written to Trustees three letters (1) dated 19.11.70, (2) dated 1.12.70 and (3) dated 21.. 12.70. The Trustees know their contents clearly well. Repetition will add nothing more. And further letters were sent individually to Mr. Mullan, Lady Jehangir, Mr. Mistry & Mr. Boman-Behram. They all were discussed by Trustees in their meetings. The real issue is that whatever the com­ plaints they be, what goes against Vesuna, and Bajan, as his protector goes against the grains of Lady Jehangir, Mr. Eruch Nadir ­ shah, Boman-Behram and Dr. Golwajla 10 Parsiana April 1971 SUPL.followed by persistent wrong-doing in harm- denied my statements. Under his misguid­ ing me and Mr. Bulsara particularly, be ­ cause we two are augur-eyed, observe, know all foul tricks. ance some of the Trustees have given spuri ­ ous credence to Bajan ’s talks and have acted upon them to my detriment and also to the detriment of my esteemed friend and col- We are therefore not wanted by Bajan- league, who has jointly with me exposed mal- Vesuna clique. We on our own cannot take practices in the adjoining Institute. Majority action. We can show and have shown where of the Trustees did not like these extra to act. Trustees have failed there miserably. ex-» posures at this critical juncture when they are already in the grip of the Charity Com ­ missioner in the matter of the Press. They t T 11 Thus emboldened Mr. Bajan, however, has crossed all limits of decency and carried have therefore raised silence to a cult which such fictitious and perfidious stories fabrica- has made them still, soundness and speech- ted from his own mind to the Trustees with less against our exposures which they are vainly fighting to overcome by some vicari ­ ous satisfaction in harrassing and hunting us out when in fact we are reporting only the avowed purpose of misguiding them. He has carried tales that I, Dr. Warden, insane, that I keep company of bad undesirable society, that I have given truth based on our conviction and observa- intoxicating alcoholic beverage to confound tions. In this Bajan functions as their ser- a witness to secure evidence favourable viceable instrument for our active harrass- to me and that I am an undesirable ment and for broadcasting whispers and mali- person to enter the premises of the cious fabrications. Press and the Institute. Some Trustees have thoughtlessly and some others have maliciously acted on his advice of this nature, and served notices departmentally to Mr. knows that it is about Godrej Press mess and Bulsara stopping his work by disconnecting coincidence of Trustees on advice of Bajan power to his machine unlawfully, and to serving us notice not to enter premises and myself to keep out of the premises of Public not to work Linotype etc. suspicion has Charity Trust, arbitrarily. spread that Bulsara and I are involved in em­ bezzlement. Mr. Bajan may have fostered Instead of making a laughing stock of such unfavourable falsehood is a possibility. Bajan some Trustees gave such lies their Mr. Bulsara and I flatly deny any insinuation spurious credence because it suited their of that nature from any source and challenge purpose of supporting Bajan who is under anybody to present any evidenc of our in- everybody ’s suspicion of doing some work volvement. an or Since extreme secrecy prevails in the back room of the premises and everybody everybody ’s suspicion of doing some work in extraordinary secrecy in the backroom of the premises allotted to him to carry out such work. This work is in relation to do ­ cuments, vouchers, books and other media Tuesday 23rd March, 1971, at about 6.15 p ’ of evidences to be made presentable to the when it was revealed that Mr. Hansotia Charity Commissioner. That is Bajan ’s real Trustee, said that Mr. Bajan informed him work. That Bajan is an administrator of the and other Trustees of the above matters and factory and the press is a pure hoax to cover induced him and Mr. Boman-Behram and the above-said real purpose of his appoint- other Trustees to swallow fictitious tales ment as an Accountant. This I have previ- about me and Mr. Bulsara. Mr. Boman- ously clarified in my correspondence with the Behram stated on hearsay statements of Mr. Trustees who have neither challenged nor Bajan that I Dr. Warden, was of unsound All these matters have come out in an informal meeting in Navsari Chambers on p.m.- I a nor Parsiana April 1791 SUPL.Pvt. Ltd., was done in the press. We have some instances and our issue of Parsiana of February, 1971, which is printed in the Godrej Press for the last six years was de­ liberately mal-handled under instructions from Mr. Bajan, thus deliberately rendering Lok-Sabha election news incongruous and delivered the copies of February issue over one month and one week after the due date to bring disrepute to our magazine, of which am the Editor. In the matter of periodical 4. mind, was a bad man, was keeping bad and undesirable company, was unscrupulous, and have made use of strong alcoholic beverage to secure false statements from one Henry de Souza, the driver of the delivery van carry ­ ing goods wihout chalan. He further stated that statements made by Mr. Bulsara and myself in writing to the Trustees about criminal propensities slyly working in the Institute as incidents of “mischiefs ” with the valuable machine of Mr. Bulsara worth about Rs. 100,000/- namely. Linotype, publications time is automatically the essence were not believable (by him) and were false of the contract. This was clearly done in statements to involve Mr. Bajan in derelic- very bad taste. Prior to that printing rate tion of his duties. Mr. Boman-Behram had of February issue from March 1971 onwards the audacity to say all that despite knowing was increased and even with that one Mr. Rohinton Jal Patel, who is now in England and I have made affidavits. He perhaps feels secure to make deliberate reck ­ less statements because Rohinton is away and he himself pretends to be gullible to Mr. Bajan ’s mischievous suggestion to my being non-compos-mentis, so that my evidence may be inadmissible. Details if needed hereafter. increase in rate notice was given that Parsiana shall not be nrinted in the Com-munity ’s own press, reasonis that Bulsara and I are augur eyed and for Bajan and Vesuna and some Trustees we are better out than in. Bajan was at the bottom of all that. Patience is a virtue. We are sure we shall be rewarded for our patience with our united voice. The following persons were present at the meeting : Mr. Minocher-Homji (the convener) There is a lot of foul play in removing Mr. Burjor Patel (Accountant M/s. Ghatalia Mr. Rutti Bulsara from managership and & Co.) Prof. Shehriar (K. C. College) Mr. Homi Dhalla M.A. (Hardward) Mrs. Jerbanoo A. Dhondy (Director, Jame-e- Jamshed) Mr. Adi Dhondy (Sub-Editor, Jam-e-Jamshed) Mr. Jimi Shroff (Solicitor, Little & Co.) Mr. Keki Sidhwa B.A., LLM. (Solicitor) Bhaishankar Kanga & Girdharlal). Mr. Nadir Turel and Myself (P. B. Warden) Solicitor Mr. ! electoral body of 100 (now 150) is and stays a dead body after casting votes. This body should be activated and awakened to a new sense of duty to intervene as and when ne ­ cessary. Copies of the issue of Parsiana have been sent to Manager of the Godrej Memo ­ rial Printing Press and to his two predeces ­ sors in whose time some work of printing for me and my Company, Warden ’s (Mysore) stopping use of his machine. It was only because of the use of his Linotype machine that large quantities of matter for printing could be turned out. It is the most sought for machine craved by each and every mo ­ dern press — but cannot secure it due to stringent import policy. Discontinuance of linotype service is bound to reduce turn over and bound to lessen revenue of the Trust. To that extent the Trustees are acting against the interest of the Trust in wild pursuits of Sidhwa suggested that Mr. Bajan ’s misdirections ,which are frankly vindictive in nature and aimed against us. We are aware that Mr. Bajan has com­ piled a lengthy hostile report against Mr. Bulsara. In spite of such lengthy report no specific charge has been levelled against Bulsara, who was summarily dismissed with ­ out any charge-sheet a fishy proceeding. 12 Parsiana April 1791 SUPL.On receiving order from you, Mr. Bulsara loss suffered by the Trust and the commu- and I shall appear before you or your in- nity. In my correspondence which appeared quiry committee to explain every detail of in Jame Jamshed subsequently. I had open ­ malpractices observed in envelop department ly stated, as a voter, for Mr. Eruch Nadir- and several of them reported to Trustees in vain. The Press has started making Profit from the very start of Bulsara taking over under the supervision of Trustee Mr. Maneck confidence and will continue to enjoy con- Mistry. It is a lie to whisper that Bajan fidence of voters and the community. Will brought the press to profitable working. Mr. Eruch Nadirshah rise to the occasion or evade the issue? shah now to resign as a Trustee and seek re ­ election which is the proper measure to show whether Mr. Eruch Nadirshah enjoys the All leakages were stopped under the direction of Trustee Mr. Maneck Mistry. Bharucha Baug episode exposed by the Accounts of the period will clarify the point, voter Mr. Erach Master is an outspoken and Envelop department even though working in laudable effort in the interest of the Parsi profit had a lot of leakages which stopped Punchayat. In that Mr. Eruch Nadirshah could have increased revenue of the Trust, was supervising construction work. Mr. In that sense the Trust lost something out Sanjana, the then retired engineer of Bom- of its total possible income. Thus in both bay Port Trust reported that Rs. 600,000/- departments the Trust suffered loss in reve- could have been saved by stricter survey of nue. When one of the employees went to tenders accepted. Late Sir Cowasjee Jehan- Bajan and told him of the irregularities Mr. gir, the then Chairman was deeply moved. Bajan replied : Yeh to mai bi janta hoo magar faida to hota hai na. ” t * The Cooper Trust has of late suffered losses. Faulty judgment led to false decision Our prayers are that if you find foul by the Trustees amongst whom Mr. Eruch m.eans used to remove Mr. Bulsara and me Nadirshah also numbers. you will restore him and declare my position as you find it after inquiry. In a separate In the meeting of Cyrus celebration article I introduce Mr. Bulsara to you to Committee Mr. Eruch Nadirshah is the Chair- facilitate proper assessment of his person- man and I am one of the members. In its ality and character against the background meeting of 2nd April, 1971 Mr. Nadirshah of foul play and the playmates. said that he was on Committee of 35 Trusts. The public is not interested in how many pies a man has a finger. Every pie must nourish Mr. Eruch Nadirshah is not able to look after a wide range and should resign from all Trusts which can do without him — special- It is known to the public that there is division of work amongst the Trustees and and not give deficiency disease. Obviously that Godrej Press and the Institute were in sole charge of Mr. Eruch Nadirshah as Trustee from 1957. Prof. Hansotia joined as second Trustee in charge in the year 1963 ly the Parsi Punchayat Trust, and Dr. Golwalla as third Trustee in charge in 1968. The explanation of Prof. Hansotia We now present our demands, which appeared in Jam-e-Jamshed of 6-3-1971 Arrangement was made pursuant to shows that in the mismanagement of the which Mr. Bulsara was asked to instal his "Press which has resulted in stupendous loss Linotype on the Trust Premises, considera- of Rs. 450,000/- as adnaited by the Board of tion being to do the work for Godrej Press Trustees, it is Mr. Eruch Nadirshah who is as and when entrusted at concessional rates answerable to the electorate (i.e. the voters) with liberty to do the work of outside orders for this mal-administration and the resultant on Linotype on any terms Mr. Bulsara may PARSIANA APRIL 1971 SUPL. 13arrange with them. Bulsara all these years did do the work of outside orders on his terms. Bulsara completely vacated the area in l»ts possession and never was he asked to vai It is therefore by right that Bulsara contig to stay on the premises where he is. il** V On termination of Murti ’s services as manager, the Board of Trustees gave Bul ­ sara charge of the Press as manager for additional consideration of a fixed monthly salary. This appointment was independent of and for an entirely different consideration than that mentioned in the matter of the this matter reveals that selective cutting off aforesaid Linotype service. In the circum ­ stances termination of Mr. Bulsara ’s services as manager of Godrej Press has nothing to that is terminated or none is touched. An do with the contract of installing and work ­ ing Linotype on his own terms to outsiders or on concessional rates to Godrej Press. Such situation had cropped up once. It is Bajan the accredited ageJit of the Trustees who has in a lawless manner got the power cable cut selectively for Bulsara ’s machine only, leaving all other cable connections intact. My inquiries in of cables is never done by B.E.S.T. on any account. It is either the entire power supply ¦4 outside agency like B.E.S.T. cannot on its own determine which particular machine is the cause of overload, assuming that there was over-load which remained undetected for over six years and suddenly came to the Mr. Bulsara being an upright, straight knowledge of B.E.S.T. at the point of time forward and perfectly honest man was never when Bajan was peeved and wanted Bulsara liked by Vesuna and he had engineered his to move out. Inspection of load was done removal as manager and succeeded in re ­ placing him by a man of his choice, one Mr. Master, an incompetent and undeserving wall flower who would do as Vesuna would wherever there is Bajan there is mystery, like him to do. At that time I forcefully put the caseof Mr. Bulsara and got him re ­ instated. Even during that short interval of six weeks or so Mr. Bulsara remained on the premises doing his work on his Linotype for Godrej Press and outsiders as per ori ­ ginal arrangement. by B.E.S.T. men once every three months. Bajan is on the premises for ten months. Now in the experience of everybody around Trustees, please understand your respon ­ sibility . Please get the power connection back again. You are in the same capacity as that of the land-lord who severes the electric connection of his tenant. Bajan is no specimen for you to follow. Throw him out from Panchayat Subsequently even during the period when Mr. Bulsara had for his convenience taken away the Linotype only and placed it Days before this disconnection rumour- in Cooper Trust Press, leaving his printing was heard that since Bulsara is not moving machine and other belongings on the premi ­ ses of the Panchayat Trust, The original ar ­ rangement remained as it is. Bulsara did work for outsiders on his own terms, as well in Commander Vaccha to do his dirty work as, did all the work of Godrej Press brought for him. I know Vaccha too well to believe to the new place as before on concessional that he did it on his own. He is the scape ­ rate. The Trustees of Parsi Panchayat con- goat of Panchayat office brought in for pro- tinued to collect the same consideration as fanation. Vaccha is a lovable specimen of before. Thus there is uninterrupted contin- man clean, incorruptible and genuinely good uity in consideration earned by the Trustees at heart. Parsi Community and the Trustees and never during this period of six years in particular may note that if good souls out power to Linotype will be disconnected. We expected it any day. What we really regret is that Bajan in order to do this roped 14 PARSIANA APRIL 1971 SUPL.4 cannot be corrupted they can at least be polluted by bad touch and you will regret along with me that the Trustees and their office-bearers have now become a closed circle for pollution and defilement of themselves (4) Immediately reconnect electric power and/br of other associated souls whose sane- unlawfully cut off ur er pretext of over- tity is thus corroded to achieve some dirty load detected by B.E.S.T. suddenly after purpose. I have spoken to Vaccha of this six years of working. on phone handed over to me by Bajan, and in the presence of Bajan from the Godrej Press itself, when he resented my entry there and put me on to Vaccha as secretary of the Panchayat to talk to as previously a notice was served on me to keep out of the Press signed by Vaccha in his ofifeial capacity as Secretary. I know what Vaccha thinks of Bajan as other members of the staff also do. ly and maliciously held up for last four months with a view to cripple him financially. (5) Compensate Bulsara with the amount he would have earned for his Linotype ser ­ vice lawlessly terminated, from that day upto restoration of service as manager, calculating compensation on basis of average earning of one calendar year from Godrej Press and private work thus lost to him. I Do you know why Sapur Desai resigned? He resigned for his self-respect . Bajan in ­ stigated some Trustees to order our Sapur to keep out of the Press, where he was coming for years regularly at stroke of ten once every week on Wednesday mornings to ins ­ pect the Press and the envelop department. Why is so much superinduced secrecy en ­ gendered in the work done by or assigned to Bajan (“Sorabdaru ” —as an Athornan) Has the Panchayat office become a “mandir ” for the consecration of a Sorabdaru ’s soul and the desecration of the souls of the rest of the “Vulgar? ” Let the accountants, executives, lawyers and the learned of the lore of the land explain this voodoo to us. jointly break this spell. Let us Our rightful demands: I (1) Remove Bajan, Dravid and Vesuna forth ­ with. (6) If on producing eye-witnesses Bajan is found in fault of failing to control un ­ authorised transit of envelops or enve ­ lop material going out without chalan he should be held personally liable for such material and for laxity in disposal of waste paper causing losses during the tenure of his office because he was in ­ formed in due time of the mal-practices. (7) If on producing eye-witnesses Vesuna is found in fault of allowing envelops or envelop materials to go out without chalan and for laxity in disposal of waste paper causing losses he should be made personally liable to make good the calculated losses retrospectively for the period permissible in law. (8) The Trustees should guarantee no victim- zation of witnesses now in service who may volunteer to give evidence. 1 (2) Restore Bulsara, who retrieved loss posi ­ tion to profit under guidance of Mr. Maneck Mistry, to his rightful place as manager of Godrej Press with full pay I have already drawn The attention of the Trustees that excessive incomprehensible secrecy in individuals indicates some feeling of guilt of the past and in an accountant retrospectively from the day foul plav ^^ar of its detection. My conclusion is removed him. that Bajan may be converting fraudulent losses into business losses to evade a catas- (3) Immediately pay him all Jiis dues such trophy somehow, somewhere for somebody, as salary, outstandings, bills etc. wrong- This was basically his assignment. If he Parsiana April 1971 SUPL 15was to manage the press and the envelop expectations the Trustees have taken action department his designation should have been against Bulsara and myself (instead of GENERAL Manager and not administrator against Bajan and Vesuna) without even accountant. Accounts is administration side, once giving us a hearing and without giving whereas Press is the Executive side about us any answer as to the nature of inquiry which our Chairman is absolutely explicit made by them and their findings. in his statement made to Mr. Bulsara. Bajan have therefore no recourse left except to has no jurisdiction over Bulsara. His inter- carry the matter to my readers with prayers ference is fraudulent intrusion. He is better to demand inquiry or approach the Parsi out than in the Panchayet. Bulsara must be public for their guidance and advice reinstated by Community ’s choice. organising action. We invite reaction from responsible members of the Community to take up the challenge in open inquiry or open press. against Bajan and Vesuna) without once g us any I for It has come to my knowledge that some of the Trustees had some time back decided to expel Mr. Bajan but influence was brought Copy to on them by some person high up in the com- Members of the Electoral Board of Parsi munity and the matter was dropped. This matter has been written in my letter to a Mr. Mydeo (present Manager) Trustee concerned but no reply was given. Mr. Shantaram (recent manager) Strengthened by such support Mr. Bajan by Mr. R. Bulsara (harrassed predecessor) misguiding some Trustees, succeeded in bar- Trustees, Parsi Punchayat ring my entry and later Mr. Bulsara ’s to Members of the Advisory Board of Parsiana clear his own way and that of Mr. Vesuna Advertisers patronizing Parsiana against whom allegations have been made in Prominent subscribers of Parsjana writing by me to the Trustees. The Trustees Editors of Publications sympathetic to have in their several meetings discussed my complaints and postponed taking any action. Prominent customers of Warden ’s (Mysore) This delay has given time to Mr. Bajan and Mr. Vesuna to their advantage against the Prominent Parsi Professionals complainants, namely, Mr. Bulsara and my- Prominent Parsi Business Executives self. We honestly believe that time has prominent Parsis of all categories for their given the former two opportunities to destroy evidence. Contrary to all common-sensibl Panchayat Parsiana Pvt. Ltd. opinion and guidance. p 16 PARSIANA APRIL 1971 SUPL,4 I •« Rutti BuLsora Ord from left) flying os V.I.P. from Zanzibar to Kenya, Cairo, Geneva, Mos ­ cow, Pekin os Secretory General of the Na­ tionalist Party and returning via Sudan. I Note: Mr. Bulsora's Contact with Dag Hammersjold when he visited Zanzibar brought freedom struggle nearer. Pictures and memorandum sent for from United Nations Orgonization to 'appear 'later. ¦<¦ 7* '¦ i- « Reg. MH 961 4 PET^t HOWARD ONE TIME WIZARD OF FLEET STREET CALLED EDITORS AND EDITORIAL STAFF ^^BLACK BROTHERHOOD OF INK" t:, *! J** I as editor of Parsiana Call upon this brotherhood to Select, Condense and Comment on this supplement to enlighten me and all concerned. To Momhers of tny Coinntnnity and the freinds of Community I recommend Parsiana for enliyhtement and yood readiny for and about The Pargig 7 VIJ. 6 » i i K...