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Parsiana
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Complete Issue

Sep 1974

D > » » » SEPTEMBER 1974 Price Rs. J M J a ¦ > ¦ JI P/\KISTAM 10 PAISA W >‘^>>ryc V •*« ¦ fcl » ...1 .* ¦ iT a T ¦ ¦ 'y' ;S?' ) c .f « ¦ ¦ -•i IV ¦ I mi M r &i). /la ; I < ¦ M M a a. '-i •.¦f t bastion nf overseas PSrsis, aM body. Lac^ of finanei^ requests tv,. - drow a blank. Having establfehe<^ duals whp pould spare time for the ovejr the yearsi their., organizntiailal leg work, has ham- aft^^e today seems to be one of pered the growth of associations rican counterparts, off the qther ahead. Jehan Ba^ of Mon- editor’s ebtoui' Ever since _ homes they have had an urge leave them. In Parsis tms ti *¦ men for articles 4rpm there and the absence of ret^d indm- Ji requests .C-, .. fheins^tt ovejr the years^ their. ‘don^ nock the boat. ’ Their Ame- , in j^erica. hand telieve in going, full speed ahead. Qr. Jehan Ba^ of Mon- _ ____ _ , , > 'treal, on a recent visit to Bombay Children brought leadership but found none forA- coming. He now feels tne Quebec Association should for ­ mulate policy in light of their over- One question faced .t^ dl seas Zoroastruu® ?|yoided by most, is that Eiarriage. < foreign Llvaxy Vll Cl IWVIXU VXiJiV fcW J,rxz*x..****j V/UllVll Vll W*Wl*^**fc sought direction from the local land cannot be expee) marry within 1^0-coS males who marry out at least their children are ednsidered Parsis but for the women it is not so. Rather ly Parsis are scattered all 360 degrees ot this joyless Quebec Association should for- westem environment. Bagli, like than formulate any regulations, many others also feels the most association have left matters label ‘Parsi ’ is irrelevant in the to the individuals concerned. Thus overseas context. They consi- Ms Dolly (Kotwal) Advani of „ der themselves as citizens of their Minneapolis was planning to have the Navjote ceremony of her two children performed as they came I of age. Her husband, Indru, fav- , ours the idea as he feels, ‘‘he is not in a position to impart reli ­ gious instruction to the children. He feels the mother is closer to the children. ” Says Ms Advani. ‘‘Wei basically believe there is one L God so it doesn ’t make a difference f which way you approach him. ”. Unless ’reforms are introduced, ? I parsis will be head^ghis- I kjtq^T books, warns ^m/TOote.' | the context. They consi- respective countries practising the W.j. <«<9 ,9 Unless ’reforms are introduced, j^aj^sis will be heac^^for 1^- books, warns ^fe;4mote.' In Iran too preforms are being adopted. Conversion is permitted and the towers of silence have long given way to burial grounds. ‘‘There is nothing mentioned in have built 4^ trait can be traced back at least 1,300 years when due, to reasons of health we fled Persil^ 'tor India ’s hospitable -shdres. That gjobe- trottin^ instinct still lurks within and to ‘ ‘ " over ti world. To keep .track of them and their doings one would need the resources of the ClA, the network of Interpol apd die'facilities of a satellite; ‘ The iiext best bet is to rely on the post office —but then not everybody is a good corres- pondent. So finally information is ¦gathered from those peripatetic sofhls, who having left for greener pastores, ifethrn for a navjote or a iwr|age^or a funeral. Thus this issue was long in the making as articles and interviews trickled in over the course of the y^. .Bak* despite all our efforts, the end product is far from com- prehen^we. We have just scrat- chbd the Mirface. Information from some countries is Mill forth ­ coming and other matter we have in hand has to be? held over due to limitations of space. After India, the largest num ­ ber of Zoroastrians reside in Iran, around 25,000. The next largest concentration, about 5,500 is in Pakistan, mostly around Karachi. There are approximately 2,000 Parsis in En^and and a simi ­ lar number on the American ipAtittent. Africa has around 1,100. Australia and Hong Kong have ----- about 150 each.. All these figures Erach Munshi of the Greater New are educated guesses made by York Association are still in the people from the places concerned, process of building up their organi- Judging from the response we .. . received to our queries, the most among local Zoroastrians in the in business With a few in govem- active group oJ Zoroastrians association. In Chicago, a similar ment sendee, notes Zartoshty;^ m Abroad is oh the American conti- < of Canada can rightly be consi-. Americari Zqroastrians Jo^naef,, dered the <|oyen of overseas ‘ ' Zoroastrians. As honorary secre ­ tary and director of the Zoroas- ——-----it / . trian Society of British Coluinbla questioned what rigtt W * difficulty fim^g^ ^^s.^ and as a Parsi historian, his con- t ’ ‘ ’* ’ " xx-——» tribution is lei^on. It was largely the U.S. through his efforts that the first —- , — ¦ ¦ dir aetory nf that blems inherent in Starting any ven-%. ^says Zartoshty. He attributes t^fe , continent was compileu. uuic, ax* ™ TliougM England Im be^wi the soon becoming an ineffectual local loss or interest. The families mov- I' n i 1? ¦ ¦ < xx;- - o II ¦ -- our religion favouring dokhma- qt burial, ” says Merwan J. Zartoshty, i^s ¦ MM ___ __ « Ms Advani: 'The mother is closer' Zoroastrian faith. Lovji Cama and a prominent member of the Zoroastrian community and who along with hjs brother, Fa^doon, is one of the leading manufacturers in Iran. “The dead must be dis ­ posed in the best possible way available at |he time. ” Arouiid 20,060 Zoroastrians liVe * & # zation and creating an interest in the Teherffla area, most of them group of Zoroastrians association, in vnicago, a buuiiai m nvivau io M.I attcmpf by Kekj Bhote misfired, , Yhssd -rthdre are around 3,500, nent. Jamshed Khurshedji Pavri when with a viejv to bringing all agriodturists; about 1,500 - - ¦ ¦ ¦ Z.,.__:;^±.:??Z' 2aroastriaas are spread over the Chicagoans, launched ' the, \|ai^ian, Karman and Shiraz. Yazd Zoroastrian Association of Ame-' Wes ’" once the center of Zoroas- rica. patsis elsewhere^ itamediate]^ j^^nism bur today city^has to claim itself the'Kdrsi Capital of ago we had indte than fifty .L- Z.Z. The-unexpected outcry, * priests. Now there are four or coupled with ,*all the usual, pre- . five-of which three are elderly, ” Zoroastrian Association of Ame- ¥ - f'- *¦ & turc, resulted in the assodatioh -'decline to the ‘*amall income ain ‘ *7 4- Byramjee, who ij a Kfenyan citizen, about in his Cusrow Bang address “¦ ¦ T bn Jamshedi Navroz:.* “Perhaps many o^ you may not know Mr is only bne fire temple in Africa. ' Jimmy Gohtractor of the saga of ¦’ his life. He was the owner of five distilleries in Western India until ' the day prohibition closed them down completely. With what re ­ mained he went to Assam and built a plywood factory and a sawmill. One night they were des> troyed in an earthquake. He re- a year, is five. Everywhere we have built them, and two years later his a burial ground. ” Religious in- factories and all he had were ¦ ' “ ' That * ' • ed to Teheran. The children be- E_,___ _________________________ came doetofs, engineers,, architects, , Those who haVe stayed on are well philosophers —but not mobeds. We settled and happy, he notes. There ? are trying to help from India. ’ We have received some applica- i tions and are planning to fi^e some nb ’^ower of silence in Africa, nor I. of them to Teherin and, Yazd. is there any move to have, one. They will have to look after, the says Byram jee. “There will not ' atash behram, perfOTm religious be enough corpses for the birds; ceremonies and explain the reli- the community is so small. Dur- gion. ” As Dinslmw Behram Irani, ing all my life, the maximum hum- vice president pf^* the Iranian ber of deaths I have known of in • Zoroastrian Anjuman in India “ ritrted following a recent trip to a burial ground. ” Religious in ­ Iran, “the exodus of Zbfoastrians struction is given to children by washed away in a flood. i from Yazd has resujted in the pro- Sohrab Rabadi, a teacher by pro- would be enough to break any perties of our ancestors, so covet- fession. Anjuman members help man ’s heart —but not Jimmy ’s. He edly kept for the last 1,300 years, < J ................................... .... being either sold or left behind Byramjee says he himself has offi- unattended. ” ' . . - . _ In Africa the npmber of Parsis has dwindled to around 1,100, nqjes Jamshed D. Byramjee of like to remain as a separate entity. Nairobi, a trustee of the Nairobi “ ¦Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman and a itrepreneur. After thefee who had not It is located in Zanzibar. There is , I “prominent entrepreneur, independence t ___ ___ optld for African citizenship had to gradually leave. “The coun ­ tries would like to give preference to their own peoplfe, ” said peoplfe, I j I I Sohrab Rabadi, a teacher by pro ­ fession. out with the religious services. . went to his friend, Mr. Nari Rus- “¦ tomji, who was then the Dewan of Sikkim; Rustomji helped him ob- ciated at several ceremonies. Des ­ pite the small numbers, Byramjee , tain a licence to build a distillery at notes the Parsis in Africa “would Rangpo. After that was successful, he built two more distilleries, one in Nepal and the other in Bhutan. A lifetime in journalism can turn anyone into a cynic. But oc-- casionally even in our clouded lives a ray of light penetrates and we feel the financial bankruptcy, loss of health and unqualified un- »9 The educated Africans don ’t mind. The Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak day and many people are invited for the function. Freedom of reli ­ gion for all citizens has been imbued in the constitution. ’’ In Nepal there are a few Parsis, one of whoni Neville Wadia spoke happiness are partly worth the oc- NATIONAL AND GRINDLAYS -^the international bank at the nation's service. 'wS t I i L ^7 I fl . < b Bi ATIONAL O * ANE> I .' Bombay Branches. 90/94, Mahatma Gandhi Road. Lloyds Branch, 270/273, Dr. D. N. Road. 110/111. Kazi Syed Street, Mandvi. Mint Road. Lloyds Branch, 21/29 Shamaldas Gandhi Marg. 24B, Club Road. Byculla. Advani Chambers, August Kranti Marg, Cumballa Hill. Shivwji Mandir, N.C. Kelkar . Road, Dadar. 6SF, Linking Road, Santacruz. Shivaji Path, Jambhii Naka, Thana. Smitkiran 377, Swamy < Vivekananda Road, , Wla Parle. JI 43, Mahatma Gandhi Road, GR(NOLA¥S ehatkopar (East). T NATldMAL AMD •-# EUMVK UNITED INCORPORATED WliiE UNftEO KINGDOi^. TME LIABILITY OF MEMBERS IS PMITED. , •W" ¦R: * » 4 * “-,e" oiQh Others in- ‘'sign 4o IMri fantih^^iOf awe or ciiriousity, Wgr -Calcutta a : a^y ! excitement Min th^ dftl^nee ’^f . .......g, views on these Idteiy . , of the first sights to^^j^t families cha^ifull^ that 1 will be that Of a corpse be- ’ they wer^ indifieraw^«^q^© be is being carried out in the reader ’s community thejt ’would In the twW feitfib ’of Hyderabad ig that a and Secund^bad; the atfrtude of being car- cupational hazards. ThfB it was after reacSi^ Mtedlle Wadia ’s in ­ stressed the -deed for reforms in 'When evety mortfing on awli^hihg, the Patei ‘'Panchayat election one* < ‘ ¦ - * systemj ‘^'that seven offide-going them _____ ___ ____ ------ - __ ____ ____ , Parsis, Dinshaw K. Tonxboly, Pur- ing devoured. Alreadya det^e any method d^ldfed ^Bg^n by die . Vez J. Dholoo, Kekobad S. Ba^- - *.« wala, Jal F. Langrana, Kroze M. Khan, Murzban L Billimoria ' and it won ’t be long before'the subject " were very rare Dara S. Mahuvawalla decided is taken up by the other media, electoral reforms had t© be intro- Reports, are circulatin] duced. So tb^JJ piit^ Hseveral colour film of a corpse advertisement^^in tto Pai«i press ried into a tower has been shot requesting like-minded Parsis to by an American television ciw. write in. T^ r< ' ‘ ....... < ¦ - — piipatipnal hazards. terview ia ’d^ last issue where he cahnot be-expePted to do tl^ same columns of T/ze Indtetn Express and to follow it. ’’i 'The eictreme So piit^ssiseveral colour film of a corpse the Anjuman. t© their pell results was less sangufiie. In a short cryp-. , tic note the Ahjuman *inemb^t^ ’ write in.^Th^ reeled over 300 While the trustees of the Bonv were informed that “the Com!^- replies from people of all ages and bay Parsi Panchayat have adopted tee hWng call^ for* an dpihion walks of life. ‘*An 80 year old in- ' ' ’ ’ ’ ’ - valid with faMing sight wrote in to ! , - " \............. work but he would contribute to said Tomboly. of the dead. The Calcutta Parsi While the response from the edu ­ cated strata was encouraging, the seven noted the response from the Parsi colonies was extremely poor, A^ yet the crusaders are novices in the field of Parsi politicking; but their initial enthusiasm more Up fo¥ the lack of an imme ­ diate plan of action. No doubt as they become more knowl ­ edgeable, as they organize and attend meetings, answer the incessant queries and grow deaf from all the shouting, they will ; realize what a Herculean task they ' have undertaken and they may well wonder why they forsook the ............. ............ tranquility of private life for the . ~ and 60 per cent were ‘Tn feivour hurly burly of Pat^si politicsi" But Zoroastnan Assosa^on riie dead being shown to oth|r it is for the rest of us to whW ^ual_report sachkar them on and keepttheir interest . alive. So write in to any of thern you agree that in order to ptese^e care of, Parsiana offering your services. was less sangufiie. In a short cryp- While the trustees of the^Bom- were informed that “the Comihft- an ostrich-like stance on the prob- poll from^the Community.of the lem. Anjumans in other parts of T^jtt Cities who are membtts of say he couldn ’t help with the leg India have at least been polling the Anjuman oh the subject of ¦’ thdr constituents on the disposal disposal of thp ^dead aftd allied X-. , XX j matters and having frjund that hardly 15 per ceift fiaV^f re^ondi^ and even of the 1*5 per cent, over ¦ 50 per cent are hot in favour of going against the age old WaditiOn of the disposal ^of the dead; h®ife ' decided not to take ahy Ortner steps and to close the subject once and for all. ” What^the'sAnjinnhn note failed to point out' was that though 175 felt dokhThtmdshfyti was the best method for disposal and 129 favoured burial ____ _ mation, 58 per-cent were" in fay- sepai^e burial^uh<^ 69 pet ce4t were in favou# of the priesti p^;^ * fQi^BXxqg the ilfeftmorfies for th^ w^oopted -for ^rial or crematiBi iranquiiiiy oi priyaie me'lormc * • . , » ..i ’ • ‘x hurly burly of Pat^si politicsi- Zoroastrian them on and keep' their interest the exposes/ their than makes Zartoshty: A need for priests '¦ C! our of the Aa/umaa -proyiding & w^ in favoui of the prfi^ti ’pl •» < reply to their two questions: Do completion of Gehsami ” Ciear^ •> w. . - this was a vote for reforms Bfr peace and harmony in tlw com- ignoring it the Anjutean has d(^ munity, it is essential to give free- ® ' dom of choice to every individual or family to decide the method of obj^t to the use of Ravangah and on consuming the body of a suici^ on the time honoured institution extension of normal facilities to the by poison ease. The Poona p^ will no longer be from what Nadir families who prefer a method other bearers were said fast surrounding mid over shadow- The controversy over the this was a vote for reform^ J ignoring it the Anjuman has doi^ a great disservice to fts member^, From Poona comes gruesoH' k- Towers of Silence is heating up again. But this time the attack or family to decide the method of From Poona comes tfie gruesome disposal? And secondly do you report of forty-five vitftures dyiife people gradugliy move into the ing freedom of choice in the exer- m^tatehed personiml from Doot- -¦ ¦¦<¦"¦ ¦*;< - -........................- - - ------------ s iposal. . editorial in the latest isstje . ^xwuxx»xxxxs o««xxvxTT- . 'XiJ^ewUe, on the second que^-^ Dipmjalit the haft yearly join ­ ing the Dooagerwadi estate they tion, S€% of those^*^o an&Wef^ nal of* the S)elhi Pani Anjumpn are going to be concer^d by the did nbt object to the fapift^ c< states, “There is no^oubt that ’a proximity of lhe ctowers. 'As Ipng Ravan^ being ’-f^ven t® suitable alternative to the dokhrr^ as the dekhifia^"weretdisfimt and whQ^feferre(f any niethod'othw Tiasf to be found soon, preferably not visibl»to the'eye, the^contro- ‘ ’ ' " - • • • • - ~ » ver^ Jhtifted^ ithiB;S:^nuu.. than dokhmanashini. by consensus, and the Bomb^ Tt was ’a vei^ h^thy.abdha)my -P-w^WFat^as a ’ • • d.x**? chbose the method oi dis^ gion. hi these circunistances, the th^udommiEEH^ loofc i upon __ -------- ----- . . * • .Jfeaoira^^biMiMrttdte greater initi- posal ot his body in the sure imd Trustees «£ the J^hi Parsx Anjiv pathte; M ? the matter. Those atisfying knowlec^ .th«d t^^ re- j wish to perpetrate the exist- 1/ ing piswtice rdy, tomewhat iUogi- ’ caUy bn reli^QUS sanction and .................. . dqhht whatever that ^6 dpkhma why the more sensible method of Parsi leaders. Mc Ramesh Sanz- as -free to man would do well to take a sec<^ .J ,5 UK at- UdLVxa -x uaaaa^ The Nehru Museum and Library in New iDelhi is on the lodtout quired prayers and rituals will be look at their Tuling. ’ ___ _________________ ___ %“Here ,in Delhi the customary ancient custom. There can be no method of disposal is burial though for portraits and paintings of great dquht whatever that the __________ why the more sensible method of Parsi leaders. Mc Ramesh Sanz- has no r elig ions basis as such. The cremation has-been discouraged is giri, the Art Director for The argument of' ancient tradition is ' difficult to understand. On the Times of India has writtan to us somewhat anachronistic in the pre- subject of cremation the Board of requesting help in locating the sent tipie s and. conditions. What Trustees of the Delhi Parsi Anju- same and noting The Times has is more unreasonable, is the ijan man had some years ago obtained ‘‘decided to make a complete in ­ placed oh tite priests performing the written opinion of Dastur ventory and photographic rword ceremomes for those wishing alter- Hormazdaya Mirza. The learned of such pictures and portraits in native methods of disposal. It is Dastur expressed his personal the eblleCticwi ofvarious organiza- difficult to understand the logic opinion against cremation which tionS and h(ell-known families in ¦ - . — - . _ . - „ ’ . ’ ~ ’ People or institutions an official ruling. That the dis- having such paintings are reciiwst- posai of a dead body by burning ed to write in to Mr. Sanzgiri or On the Times of India has written to us native methods of disposal. It is of a priest being allowed to per- therBoard of Trustees adopted as Bombay- ’’ form the required rites in the case ~ - -• ™ of a burial, say in Delhi, and not . , , _ being permitted to do the same does not ! defile the fire has been Parsiana. ' ~ - - - - - J Those who appreciate the 1974 learned Parsis. In any case, elec- Parsiana calendar will be dis- tric crematoriums now exist in that all rituals and ceremonies all major towns and one does not must necessarily be performed by require a fire at all for the purpose. “Tests, cannot a man hope to The fact that the Calcutta Parsi \ to heaven if a few sincere * ' prayers ^e recited by his rela ­ tives ^d friends at his cremation or burial? Death like religion is a person^ matter. One should feel prohibit^ by the Zoroastrian reli- of a burial, say in Delhi, and not I ' .•? / ;. ¦' ¦' in Bombay simply on the ground convincingly argued by many that a dokhma exists there. Al- ’ . - • - though it is an axiom of our faith appointed to know we can ’t per ­ form an encore for 1975. We are still very much in the red and all our resources are pooled in to keep ‘the magazine going. We lost over Rs. 2,000 on our last calendar Anjuman were at one time exa ­ mining the possibility of esta]t>lish- ing ‘ a crematorium should con- and this year with all the rise in vince us that cremation is not prices it is justbeyond our means Our ajjolog^. 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Bombay-400038 pTelepbeAa 288161(12 lines) I Tel^'.011-2205 B 011-3519 - 15 Paifc StraeL CalcutM-700 018 Telapttone: 240388 B 249580 ’FW*¦ . - i 1 Ji ***-’~*'*^'^ J liTTERS 1 II who habitually wear this he tmlj. and everbody fe"; Anyko ”. «nn.a,r«l Io he satisfied with fashion HOW, aspeCBlly W If the persons who know *thfr are no more interested in them, who will wear a pugtee ^g the future? Besides don ’t thiiJc it is a p^liar thing . shareholder had referred to Jam- appeared to be satisfied with Wadiq ’s reply. However, Wadia as he stood before the microphone appeared disturbed/ Turning to his son, Nusli, he asked in a subdued voice full of coiKem, “But what about Khordad Sal? ” It was only luv oauici yxv when Nusli informed him that a? Iranian headgear. When 11^^ Bombay Dyeing remaihs closed on visited Iras 1 / saw Zoroastn^ Khordad Sal also that Wadia ap- priests wearing a torban akin>; peared satisfied and proceeded with those shown in the picture the work at hand. ''' r ’2“ titua a. Paan* NeviSe Wadia. through 1^ good thou^ts, words and deeds has wotf Sl the hSrts of aU Parsis. M The^ WwP about the future generations of- a similar .tuAan 4^t black Wadias? It is for us to see to it* colour, while Zoroastrmns have^.> ark artv bBS; z that Nusli ^adia does not awiy from Be Parsi community. We must impress upon various -y —— --;---------------------------- . Parsi organizations —Cusrow Bang Zori^trians centuries back? Welfare League, Rustom “ Baug To my humble belief, the^ . Association, Navroz Baug Play Parsee Pugree is an inverted Centre, Petit Parsi General Hos- of fbe cow which the community , pital —the importance of associat- venerated once upon a tune. Bait ing him with their organizations, I still think the pugree is a i^ .. SA . \ Sjt, - 4“V‘ ,.xvb wear the same? is not at I ZoroastriiSt priests wearfhg a turban akin>|p .7 , I ' page 13 of Pcrjadna titled *A. by mobeds in Dadiseth silhilar tuAan ; but black ha NerilleWndia thM ” Nusli >dia does not drift Ms; a wMte tiirbM. .Ca^^ any ; , t A ^'^3 ftom Me Parsi cominiinity. It was a "“f. We- must impress upon various on what was the heaMt^ m Iiah interview with_I^lUe Wadiai It p^rsi organizations-Cosrow Bang of Zor^rtans cmturies back? was one of th© best I have ever welfare Leasue Rustom Bang To W hmnble belief, the present hIS' P".”’ 7““ A^Sdot Nairoz Bang Pky I’arsee Pugree is an inverted were both pertinent and probmg, (^entre Petit Parsi General Hos- of the cow which the community, ^d the replies given by Wadia, pitai-4he importance of associat- venerated once upon a time. thought-provoking and scholarly. with their organizations, I still think the pugree is a. Jk.; • That Wadia entertains very by inviting him to preside over plica of that worn by Ko^ strong feelings for the Parsi com- - — - •’ munity is a known fact. But very few Parsis know that he has similar feelings for the Zoroastrian religion also, despite the fact that he is a Protestant Christian belonging to h » *»o**V^ *); •ww* iL.„ the work at hand. a their functions. The Wadia family Banias when we first landed at Div. « means a lot to our community and They wore similar pugrees ana . we simply cannot afford to lose it. several photographs are. there hi A I____ -._1___ A__ ___ _ , a.— ........2^- nrtfciitoUfl Dara J. Contractor ’ , - , . . - shape and size IS the* . our fore^fathers u^d 40 Be Church of En^Md. In the strain and styue of daily made of^t cldth and 1 would ite Id cite just one '^ken we Parsis delight in run- black sldny one which is instance of whidi I was a witness, nmg .down one another at present. vumu cuaw * pleasure to read jNwide Wa been borrowed, as with many trf 4. temples for one to verify. our forefathers used 40 life when we Parsis delight iu run- black sldny one which is used4 " :. This could also hav0 pleasure to read Wwiile waaia s been borrowed, as with many -trf thought provojcffig, roaster. In the first weekx^ April 1971 Wadia was presiding over the Annual General Meeting ------ of Bombay Dyeing at Patkar Hall, ing the Church of England —Imt I called upon the shareholders to hearts a Parsi- question him about the working of the Company, Taking his turn at the microphone, one shareholder disapproved of the practice of keep ­ ing the offices of the Company clos ­ ed on Jamshedi Nowroz, though it had ceased to be a public holiday, and further questioned the pro ­ priety of the Company spending annually some fe.s. 500 for notices Wadia ignored"^ the first part W the question, but informed the ^ardiQ^W. Notices were pub ­ lished to avoid inconveniences to . 1__ r ______- — -- ¦ .... ; • ¦ thiqg happened ffiat should glad- in various daily papors to that Jh^^vs. *1 I 'have read with *4hten8®tyy^r;« interviews with varlous persons in tiSHOU lU »VVJU UlVUU¥V«*y“»-viJ uv die public SQ^ thing happened that/should glad- Twfli^t of the think denthc hwitajotaU Ws- The you should h^ve interviewed those isf ^e qg^tion, but informed the Zi. FXROKB iaHeRTER , niot«gnig*e( ADVERTISINQ-J FASHION • INDUSTRML GINE 10MM fr35MM Phone: 203723 «<« PateFChambers, 5th floor^ Gun bow Street, Fort, Bombay-1 7¦91 r- •« friends. rfelers ot Gujerat are to survive. I quite ^t^ w^th dead for Hindus ® it will P^ce and KatbM^ smury or two him «iat it is only through tUepages the wsL M * J l^k, usodrto WMr pugrees and of your paper, can you start an un- strongly ffecommend^ur meoioa ours ’ cmditbe a modification of biased campaign, of disposal by vtilwrfes to nfif the - sam0> Some of our stupid, and orthodox fellow Hindus, as the poor _^wn- - - trodden can, with great i^irf to their pocket, keep the surroundings clean and healthy withouf flesh- back, used ; to w^r pugrees and of your paper, can you start an un- oUrs be a modification of campaign. Some of our stupid, and orthodox ligion cannot liave their children ’s navjotes performed. And Parsi girls burning smoke polluting the sur- married outside the religion are rounding areas. barred from entering our atash behrams a^aries even though question as the cost of power is they have not (Ranged their reli- rising, fuses deliberately go c^, gion. I knew of an incident, when half-burnt bodies are thrown jh the child of a Parsi father who had rounding areas. A crematorium is out of the rising, fuses deliberately go c^, Our fetah, worn by many, looks customs must go. such as. that like an inverted “rape/i ” (vessel) Parsi 3^1s m^med outside the r^ with felt and strap over it to make it lode more dignified. It is good forr those who religiously wear it habitually, but for others it is more ornamental, something to be Worn at Naviots or marriages, to be carried in the hands or left on J, ot an mmoeni. w^n half-burnt bodies are thrown Jn a ‘Chair. It is only worm all the the cMd of a Parsifather w^ h^ rivers or the sea to be swalloWed time at a funeral or fire temple, married a non-Parsi, was debarred by the vultures of the waters, viz. w it is not at all convenient crocoddes etcetera. Bfi^ .is after an hour or two on the head. Can we not devise some better and, more comfortable headgear? ‘ S-RWama (Suggestions are welcome^Ed.) toriums must cope up with epiide- mics producing iOO por^s at ja time. extremely delighted to Doongerwadi ResdhitijMi I was extremely delighted to read in Parsfam, news of the r&- pealii^ of the infamous Doonger ­ wadi resolution which had required Parsis to sign a statement to the effect that non-Parsis will be ban ­ ned from attending funeral prayers or viewing the dead after ceremo ­ nies. The rescinding of the act is not to be regarded merely as a vote four to two, but as a resounding victory for all those who put first the brotherhood of mankind. Those who withdraw into their "" shells of orthodoxy and are fighting to maintain an outdated status quo. should have the interests of the community at heart, not try to con ­ trol its religion. The next step to be fought for. in my opinion, is the elimination of double standards so that Parsi girls who marry outside can bring up their children in their faith if so desired. It was equally delightful to read about ‘Busybee ’ in your Pateti issue. Why hasn ’t someone thought of putting him into the Parsi Pan- chayat Ip enliven the murderous atmosphere there? Kashmira B. Baria from entering an apiary. And if men crocodiles etcetera. Bribing is and women Who have mairied common practice to get liie dis- Parsis wish to become ZOrOastrians posal in the crematoriums ddhe they should be allowed tq become before the others. The crehia- Zoroastrians since, after all, our prbphet himself converted fol- Jqwers otherwfee we would not time. * Also the cost bf upkeep bf have our religion today. Un- d crematorium is hi^ due to the s_ Qf teefahi^ sW. Tbhs of timber will be saved all over fortunately one is apt to get a bit heated over this —that _____ ___________ _ ___ is why I have noticed, that you have India every day if we adopt kept a perfect balance with the cor ­ rect sense of humour in your papet. Bhicoo Manekshaw method. K. B. Sififfi Nagpw Switch to the Towers The cost of timber etcetera for burning the dead has become costly. I was wracking my brain as to how to reduce the cost of disposing dead bbdies. A “copy of your Parsiana was found in a Charitable Myth People give a misleading picture of the causes for the downfall of the Zoroastrian religion .by sayii^ that the price of sandalwQod is 'v -til Rs 70 per .kilo, a 20 yard In^id'of mull cloth for sudrehs cos^ Rs' 80 -r „ J and a kusfi costs Rs 30 &d that library. On going through ^^1found die performance •Of religious cere- monies is, therefore, diflScult. A sudreh serves the purpose of a cotton vest and after the ceremony it is worn by ihe^persOn through- . out the day. Thus the coat of a 4 controversy ra^ng among Parsis ’ ® as to the disposd of their dead. I n^t admit, your method of disposal by the vultures is practi ­ cally at no cost except what is incurred in keeping the Towers of vest is saved. It is not necessary Silence clean. Thus I feel this is that the sudreh be stitched <>f mull a solution for the disposal of the cloth. It may be of standard cloth I was distressed to read Mr. War- den*s Partchaiat Piiections. Some ­ thing dtnstic nnwfh he done-r-if v/e Sir W. Arthur Lewis DYNAMiCr rACTOMW ORIENT Full Cloth with Jacket : Rs. 18.50 In these Dorab Tata Memorial Lectures the renowned economist jpxplores these crucial prohlfems from the the fastest way to stimulate growth through a satisfactorily and yet encourage growth : and the role LONGMAN Nicol Road developed countries : _ „ . the fastest way to stimulate growth through a B^uard Est Ae d^xelppment rIwi : how to distribute, income Bombay \ . - - * production for exports in stiihuletrng prot^l^Q^ 400 0” ror ibe*H0me market. aMcosting Rs 1.75 per j^etre. Twenty ting of the kustis. Thus two paise I have noticed that the Editor ’s yards of (doth will produce 15 per day go for charity sudrehs and will last for ty^ years. Parsis and the other two j among Column, and the questions you adc the cross-section of our commumty on various topics are veiy laudable. However, in one of your next ^sues 1 woul(k suggest you take up the cause of young entrepreneurs and per month per family as a minimum without any collateral or financial sudmks and will last for ty^ years. Parsis and the other two paise per The cosf of cotton ve^ will be day is the cost of wool which, un- the same as 20 yards of mull cloth, fortunately, goes to the open if not more. The cost of sudrehs market, is, therefore, ngt prohibitive. The kusti should be thick and Christians in general pay Rs 1.50 the difficulties they face specifically a bit longer than the required size. month per family as a minimum without any collateral or financial A kusti lasts for two years. Thus subscription for the Church and backing from various financial the cost a kusti is Rs 1.25 per w.ii .z. .i.. ------ 1*.^......* .. W... AV... . .. ¦ J • , A , . We can start kusti banks where l®®ted at the church itself. As for kustis with broken ends may be sandalwood, it is not compulsoty , collected by donation. These kustis *^5® to be noted that in can then be mended by shortening general poor Parsis go to the fire the lengths with new ends, making only^on^ or twice a year many religious societies, such wood and five paise for the upkeep . It is; to be remembered that priests. Well-to-do families give institutions. This is something which needs immediate attention as I feel that there is enough talent and entrepre ­ neurial ability within our com ­ munity, especially going back to a couple of decades. The foresight and the pioneering spirit which our month —thtfr is four paise per day, more per month and more is col- T"’ ¦ - - - - 4.1.. -I...-- T. a _ with broken ends may be sandalwood, it is not compulsory ''.2___ 2—. T2___ 2.___ 2„ then be mended by shortening general poor Parsis go to the fire them suitable for children. There and offer a 25 paise stick of sandal ­ arc many religious societies, such wood and five paise for the upkeep . _ . as The Raj^i Society, The Vege- fi*"® temple, which also is forefathers manifested by ventur- tarian Society, and The Rahanumae compulsory. I am soriy^.to ing to distant places to set up busi- Mandal, which can have their own tarian Society, and The Rahanumae compulsory. I am sorry .^.to Mandal, which can have their own kusti bank for distribution among hearted Farsi ’ and ‘Parsi, thy community grow, the certified poor. * "ame is charity. ’ . . ¦ I would request you to invite sug- It is believed that people are K. D. Chargeman gestions and guidance from the bom in certain religious sects due learned industrialists of our com- to the order of God and not by ___ munity which you have portrayed chance and that people should re- ^<"“8 Entrepreneurs wittily in your June-July tn^n in the fold by making some I have been going through Parsiana issue, because if the vital guidance sacrifice, for instaqpe, setting aside ' with keen interest, specifically thatisneededisnot giveuandim- four ‘paise day for a ku^i. since it discusses burning topics mediately, the progress of ‘the ctwa- Besides, out of these four paise about the amelioration of our com- munity dwindling wouldibe mudi per day, two paise goes to the munity whose numbers are fast fasterinviewdltherdiffiiealtecono- inob^ family which does the knit- dwindling. mic situation*^ which will get worse explode the myth of the ‘large nesses and factories helped the hearted Parsi ’ and ‘Parsi, thy ' ‘ name is charity. ’ K. D. Chargeman Young Entrepreneurs since it discusses burning topics mediately,the progress of» the cenn- about the amafioration of our com- From experience comes faith... A young adventurer goes to sea, with love and vigilance behind him. A sudden wave may turn him back, but he will try again. We are all adventurers in the plan of life. Big or little—yourijg or old—ideas botn of courage are proved through experience. '¦ Little adventurer to num of the world... from experience comes fai^. .The pHoelass Ingredient of every produlbt is the honor and integrity 4>f ite maker MRABHM CNOItCluilMITED Wttlf WMn, BAROIMir ( A Century of Experience Builds Faith th* R.giumd rM(l.inMk of E. R. Squibb Ct Son*. Ine., of which SH.bh«' ClMmlcl. LimiiM m th* UcChMd U**n. ten 3 1V and is noto^ munity 4lt.M >*¦ - 5 St- ' ’ . ¦ ¦ ¦ help the' e«nn- the materialistic and ieeontyiBc . needs of the community were iajfact Dadi E. Mis^y self.-generated within the oom* . employment and the better i^ass of enroloyment. Tcday, unfortunately, tian spirit ^act New Delhi munity, by larger pocenta^ employment and the better das dee. stona^ decline of th# achieve ­ ments our community is the declining. The majority^ of Paisis . p would rather be in service than in look Mcl^op the achiev^ents The principal reasons for opting for service rather than for business are (1) There are less wor ­ ries and tension in service ^an in businerat and (2) fewer oppoitum-^ ties to raise the capital required for business. • Under the above circumstances, I feel that the trustees of the Parsi Panchayat should in fact devote their thinking and energies in establishing an industrial base. Un ­ fortunately, however, our commu ­ nity, or at least certain sections of our community take great pride in projecting themselves as orthodox, or otherwise, instead' of tacldin^ the imminent problems by priori ­ ties. It is regretted that, the priori ­ ties are mixed up. I feel that the basic and immediate need of our community is to encourage the growth of industrial activity amongst its members, which would in the long run bring forth concrete results. Hector H. Mehta «t> me the basin c«i^ . .. .... ........ mimts of our community is t^ curdled by our commwty. ^ .. . . of the stalwarts of our community of bygone days, such as Jamshedji Tata, Sir Jamshedji Jeejibhoy, Sir ^hramjee J^jibhoy, Sir Ness of enterprise amongst' Parsis. i| • would rather be in service than in ‘ OVER 1700 I ¦ ^0“ ¦f ' ' Finest Hotels, . Restaurants and Shops ¦ -‘K. Spread all pver |n V Ohdy House, aO^ Vtr Natfanm Road, ¦ BOM SAY-400 023, Tel: 291249 Cable: DINCLUB 11<1 ;.x. i T • Q A. ¦ I *« >. ft j£ 4^ JCLou/t Cama the honorary Sec­ retary of the Greater New York ^oroastrian Association). came to the United States in i960, after graduating from Bom ­ bay with a B.Sc. (Tech.) degree f in Hiarmaceutical Sciences, to do ^y M.S. at Columbia Umversity m New York, with the help of a Tata Scholarship. Why ws I motivated to come to the U.S.? Probably because I realized that i would learn more in my field if I got my Masters degree from the U.S. than if I continued fur ­ ther in India. It was also a sense t>f adventure that brought me here, t saw my friends going abroad and I felt that I would lose out in future competition if I did not get a degree from the U.S. ; WWle I Was doing my Masters ¦ •pt Columbia in Pharmacy, my thoiigW^ about what I wanted to do in ^es future crystallized and I realized that if I was to do pesearch in the dijscoveiy <)f aew Meld to chemistry and get a Ph.b. Uuckily I was able to get into the X by Lovji Cama The above is a brief history of wound up unhappy and eventually my professional career in the U.S. I think I have been quite success ­ ful in my profession and I enjoy what I am doing. What made me came back here. Thus like many other Indian friends, I traded a successful and . satisfying professional career for choose to stay in the U.S.? I life among old friends, family and community. In this kind of trade ­ off one loses almost as much as one gains, unless one bias moved ¦ . This was not the case for me personally and as far as I can tell is not the case for a self. What is more, a few friends large majority of Parsis and Indians here. If now one feels this way, is there anything One can do about it? How does one go about compensating for what one has lost in terms of old friends, family and community, when one has lost that sense of home? One answer is to form new friends (preferably American only) forget your family, community and re ­ ligion and dissolve into' the American way of . life, adopting American values. For some this is the solution, but for most of us a solution such as this would be a total loss of identity. As Parsis I think we are always very conscious-Of our identity and very proud Of it; for many of us It appears to me then that I think it is more important than we realize and some of us realize it only when we get out of India and especially pombay. Since I grew up outside Bom ­ bay before I wept to college, I ,..... . - was alwhys subconiSbioudy aware _ _________ as ns M because not ice of my sense of as a >a^ a Senior Research Chemist. ; tak^ nrecautions aeainst it. ” Broueht un in India I cannot think I realized that I had over educated myself for the oppor ­ tunities in India. I realized that _ „ , it would be almost impossible for away from home to run away me to go to . India and find the from it. This was not the case kind of work I was interested in * ” '“¦* ““ and for which I had trained my- of mine who returned to give India a chance, did not make it, ^rugs, I would have to change my Ph.D. program in the Chemistry Department of Columbia Univer- sity and in due time under an excellent teacher and researcher, Prof. Gilbert Stork, 1 got iriy de ­ gree in 1966. I worked two more pears with Wirt as a research fellow while getting my immigra ­ tion status smd ^n took my and present job nt Merdc Sharp l^hme .Kese^xti Lnhoratorij ¦**] if our comnniaity jpbt survive into the seccod abd Oird generatbh and U *: will not be because Anseriom society has hun^y jdisMbed tak^ nrecautions aeainst it. ”* Wedding^- pcrfermed hy moheds is a rare occasion for us and a jashan ceKTRQny is only slightly more student population to families. The form these have to come from long need for a Zoroastrian Associa- distances, giving up a day from tion was now felt and. ,«! 1973 their own family pleasures and A Greater New .York w?^ fonn^d cost. The Parsis here feel that 4 A ___ :_______ +U-. if to try to solve some of the prob- they impose now and which ^e will face in the often. The mobeds all have re- The biggest problem as I can see arises from the mini scale size of our community which is scat ­ tered over a large area thereby making it difficult to come to ­ gether often. Thus unlike Parsis in Bombay, or Parsis in smaller towns of India, where they live together in colonies or mohalas, we cannot reinforce our Parsi- ness, at least not easily. Our children here do not have a chance to grow up together, and go to the same schools as we did in India. Also we are totally cut off from the ritualistic aspects of our re- identify myself as an American laws die number of Parsis^ in- fat least 'Mt yet), and having treased to about' 180 adults in lived in the U.S. for so long I 19.71 and the nature of our , . cannoUretW to India and call population changed from a mainly frequent. The mobeds who per- It a real home. Incidentally these t.. ------ r-tr ------------------------.__ _ feeling are common to all immi- need for a Zoroastrian Associa- distances, giving up a day from grants to'the U.S. Being a Parsi, tion was now felt andfo 1973 their own family pleasures and however, I have something that the Zoroastrian, Association of duties and often at their own for me does not change witq my ----- ------------- — location —it is my identity as a to try to solve some of the prob- they impose on the mobeds a . Parsi. This sense of being a Parsi lems that we as .a community face they request their services too does not come from being very now and which ^e will face in the often. The mobeds all have re ­ religious, like a majority of future. gular jobs of their own which of Parsis back in India and here I rp. ac t nan course has to be their prime con- think I tarn just pragmatic. I am problem as I can mobedi is a service not ardigious, howerer, neither mini scale siK willingly petfoim as a do I looTfor satisfaction in re- fteX ‘'"'y ‘<>‘>>= ligions Other than Zoroastrianism. tn nnmn tn These are problems ^of the lie basic philosophy of our reli- J'immigrant Pareis, what about gion is to be good in thought, word ? Bombay or Parsis in smaller children bom or reared here; and deed because it is the path 'Xre thSliS '’here will- their Parsi identic of tappiness and that happn^ together in colonies or SJ/inte. IS the result of proper choice cannot reinforce our Parsi- up m fodia or throughout one ’s life. This sense q Pakistan at least know who they of being a Parsi, this identity, then children here do not have a where their roots are, and stands as an anchor^orme and for u ^o erow uo toeether and not know their religion many of my ParsrlriCnds in the sXd?^^ ffid ^hey have at least a / United States. Most of my Parsi jjjjja knowledge of it as a living religion, friends here have a very similar ’ ' They have seen the inside of an background to me. They came as Also we are totally cut off from agiary or an atash-behram, they students, did well, found well- the ritualistic aspects of our re- have been to Iran-Shah in Udvada^ paying interesting jobs which they ligion. Not only do we not have and know the significance of that* could not give up and so took an agiary or atash-behram to wor- particular fire and the promise our advantage of the relaxed immigra- ship at but we do not even have a ancestors gave before it, to hold tion laws between 1966 and 1970 place of our own to meet and on to their identity and their and stayed on as U.S. immigrants, socialize. A naviote or a Parsi religion —in what was then a A few have even become citizens. ‘The Parsi community around New York, which has grown from about 25 in 1960 to about 180 how, consists of highly educated, professional people (the immigra ­ tion laws have seen to that). When I first came here there were perhaps 20-25 Parsis in the area mostly students and on Pateti and Jamshedi Navroze someone would invite friends and have a party at home. With time the 20-25 Parsis grew to between 50 to 60 and at that time, around 1966, a few of us decided to get together and rent a hall at the International House on Pateti and Jamshedi Navroze and cook Parsi food and invite every Par^ in the New York area to come to dinner. The cost of the dinner was taken care of by collecting a contribu ­ tion, but no one made a profit. About 60 Parsis attended those an agiary or atash-behram to wor ­ ship at but we do not even have a A navjote or a Pars! religion —in foreign country for them. To the Parsi child growing up in the United States it is very difficult to know who he is and what his religion is. A few have knowledgeable parents who will teach them a little of our history and our prayers; most will by ’¦ example learn from their parents the ethics of Zoroastrianism but the child never sees here.Jiis re ­ ligion as a living religion. He will not see the rituals performed. ,He will not know the dark, cool interior of . an agiary or atash- behram or its smell of sukhar or hear the clanging of the bell and the music of the mobed's prayer as the geh is changed. It may even be difficult for the child to believe that in an agiary or atash- behram the fire must bum always socialize. * I ’T t ‘"•'it' 'it 'I 1; r V 11 1 ¦< and continuously, and that fire traces its source to the fire brought from Iran and through that, through flames kept alive through thousands of years to “ Being a Parsi, however, have someflung for w first dinners, which became quite popular, because ?for many of us it was a rare, e ban ce to eat Parsi , , J- r ----- r- —” — food and talk Parsi talk.. With, twn—it IS my idwitity as a Zarathustra.himself, the relaxation the immigration ’’ Will a child brought^P with- ~ 1 mivugiL Liivu^diiua VI ycar& tv docs not chsuigc^^ul my perhaps that fire blessed by »(< *-1?, t »*- *''TO|i^buousiy infiueqgsd by •Rie daiK, cl®is6 ideas? Brow • can 'Tme ‘?•IM . ........... ! te JSSsitiu^amsm He will cool inteifer qI an agiary or ataslklg|nani> or its smell of sukhar or hear the clanging of theAdU and the music of _____ the mobed’s prayer as the* geh Jrian? "Gf c^eAh^/iia of ____ is ch^Sgedk ” melting pot is not as stroi^ as it • i, „ may seem; partly it is ah ideal, with other Zoroastrian children . Almost every American proudly ' traces his origin (through a mere 200 years at best) to his ^rigins Ireland or any* other country 6f him if he refuses to bear t^ bur- _ ___ And a burden it isFfor U is not easy for a child to learp that he is different, unless he is'jprpud of this difference knows where if comes from and knows that ft has always been so for l,400^^^ars. Thus for the hommunity sur ­ vive, our children must not bnl^ have their identity as ZoroastrianS ' j and Parsis but also be proud of it and desire' to keep it from generation to generation. This sense of identity must be built and - , . , . .................................. reinforced. He must know what have never heard of a religion generation and further, it wiH his religion has to offer and that called Zoroastrianism? Or worse, not be because American society jg g religion which in its basic children who have heard the has hungrily absorbed us but be- principles allows one to function name Zoroaster associated only cause we will not have taken exceedingly well in a modern and with magic (the word magic is precautions against it. K the mobile society. derived from Magi —a Zoroas- Zoroastrian child in the U.S. does changing world we must i trian priest of Sassanian times). ’------ ------------------ - ’------- . How does this child still remain a Zbroastnah when he or she is 4 chil4 remain a ^Otoastrian ^xhm the idea of America'itself fe to be the melting pot bf all the cul ­ tures of the world? Would it not be un-Amcrican to be a Zofoas? 1$ id * B confla- attracting IhoiisaDds to its ways of life, it fe rather a candle in tlfe df evi^ ^^^mnastrian. ” 99 /out these influences, remain a Zoroastrian? I think we are asking for a miracle if we want this to happen. Yet if the com ­ munity is to survive in this ( performed, as it was performed years back. So it is certainly not nearly 1,400 years ago in India. * ' ' ’ Will yfQ have the ability to per ­ form it? One does not know, the land of individual freedom Should wt even try it? Can our and this includes the freedom to lives be meaningful if we do not? follow your own religion, thus I that would try and blend us into oblivion. It appears to me then that in Britain, Italy! (^ri^y, PpUhd, except his brothers and sisters, if he sees that he is alone in the situation of being a Zoroastrian child, then one can hardly blame liviaiiu VI any vi.xic;i vvuxxla^ vj . ~ v . ¦ ' txxuxxxvT VW .xwx.v.v .........................- Europc uud Asla. If hc js Jcwish den and^pride of being a ^roa^- country this miracle must be , he traeea his orgin thoiisani^ of trian^ nr « nr un-American to be a Zoroastrian. ¦America after all is, above all. One does not know even the there is hope, despite the forces answer to that! The problems above derive from what the child misses; what about the problems caused by if our community does not sur- growing up with 'children who vive into the second and third not be because American society has hungrily absorbed us but be ­ cause we will not have taken ____t it. K the Zoroastrian child in the U.S. do^ not know his community beyond g^japt change, but not>so that J the family and a few select frfendSi disappear. How shirwe do if he 11^ no chance to grc^ up tjiis7 No one person can give the With best TOiyipliments of ¦ ¥ K*’’ » A. DHI R Industrial Consultant Office: ^>D, ShoTshed. Building Sth nodi. Sil P. M. Road FoFt, Bomb^ 1 Phone: 2^1595 -> Residence: Shanker Sadan. Flat 24, 3rd noo» Opp. Matalachmi Hospital, (Sast) Boznl>ay 22 •*' . . 1 this? No one person can give the answer, the answer must be arrived at by bringing our heads to- gether and working out solutions in the light of the society we live in, ^olutio^s that will allow us to mctioh and grow in the pre ­ sent times and at the same time allow us to keep that promise our ancestors gave before Iran- Shah almost 1,400 years ago. Some will say that the two things are not possible but our history tells , ns otherwise. But if we keep our heads in the sand, instead of us ­ ing them and assume that we do not have a i changs is bad, then problem that all 4, then thOsrecasters, of doom may well prt^f ’ to be J Will Zoroastrianism survive m the United States and Canada? I think it will depend on Zoroas- /Brians themselves. If they believe ; In themselves, look out after them- ’ I ,^lws and their Teligion'and most P mporWt ot all,if they cap make ‘ (Contirtued ’impage 23^ ^ 3 }As-' » ? A larg^ pd^on of the Zoroas- and fcusft* and do you ex|>ect ’your triansA^ ^ continent children to dp so? ' reside^hk Canada. There are at Answer: I do weat^the and lea^ Zoroastrian t Associa,- However, I stron^y Believe of hll inter-marriages without dis- i^s^ in that fugged northern that wearing ja sudra and k^wti tinction. . -ommtiy, namely the-Zoroastrian dpes not make one a Zoroastrian. : How do yoi\ view the SwW of British Columbia, the These are only amgng the identi- Zo^oastrian * Society of Ontario, fying features pf the rdigion. tbe Parsi-made laws and arrive at a xsidonal and logical solution for die acceptance of the consequences in that fugged northern that wearing ja sudra tinction. . -ommtry, namely the- Zoroastrian does not make one a Zoroastrian. pjfesijion : of British Columbia, the These are only am^ng the identi- dispo^ of dead? Zofoastrian * Society of Ontario, fying features pf the rdigion. Answer*. On this point, Zoroas- ¦ and the Zoroastrian Association of Eliminating tibese markers could tr ian s abroad have a clear choiee : On this point, Zoroas- 0uebec. lead a loss of individuality h^eenburiid and cremation. The ' ’» Dr. Jehan F. Bagli of Montreal iS the religion, wd thm: is fib® 41^' question of the Tower of Silence .one of the mainstays of the Quebec metric opposite of pay goal afid does not cpme into the picture. Of the two options, earth must be protected from being filled up by dead bodies and there ­ by put out of use )roas- 1" 3ioSd^Sn ‘Wstorl Zoroastrians in North AmerfCa^^e ^an concepts. Individuals at the in a situation wherp they wduld^* helm of the ’ affairs are paranoic Question.', pyr ypy wear tfie sudrq f<;mc^ tp evo^e (/Continued the perpetuation of Zoroastrianism. The majority of those who wear these markers know little of the responsibilities that go with I expect them tQ undei^and the responsibilities that go with this It is a steriliser. Frfjm a . apparel. Question'. How do you view inter-marriage? Answer '. Anybody residing in the Western World in general, and on this North American continent in particular, has to regard inter ­ marriage, as a direct consequence of their choice to settle in the element, so' that others alive may West. Inter-marriages are not ac ­ ceptable to Parsis, but should be : How do you view the ^acceptable to 2k)roastrians. -community in^ Bombay? thushtra, to the best of my ^qwl- A^fteer: The answer to this wffi edge; has said nothing a^nSt - ’^asi^to be based largely on hear- inter-marriage. ......... * why Parsis are against intej- _______ , _____ ____ marriages is that they have not , community in Bombay is ric|t evolved themselves to accept the financially, but ve^ ppor in their consequences oT such events. ' ¦’ - - - Zoroastrians in North Anam^ ait Itie main reason say and little on personal ej^ri- e against inter- >noes. I believe, that generally the trian concepts. Individuals at the !•»* *l I lu 1 ¦ « F% 'Ml/i TO/ Lp'd zWr ¦ Sx^ I. J , "S I’f 1 p' ]¦’ a/A bz. kn«te*| hi '*' ” f' iv* (A/j 7 oPi rtl i x? •} x* l‘ J women and one man we inter- does the viewed for the following two PARSIS THROUGH FORUIGM GYBS Interviews by Joan Contractor As the number of f arsis travelling overseas increases, so t’____ ________ __ possibility of their meeting and articles : niarrying people from other coun­ tries. While a large number of such couples settle abroad, a handful do return. There are over too foreign women married to Parsis in Bombay. The number of foreign husbands is considerably less as the couples would pro­ bably 'opt for the man's country. “I don ’t think of my husband as a Paxsi. He is just my kind of per- son. ’^' says Nuvart Mehta, who pro ­ vide an excellent example of how wjell a person with strong views and a de^ite sense of identity can ad ­ just to an entirely different environ ­ ment. Ms Mehjra, who used to take J-y. ¦ . ... .' part in demonstrations for tl^ Spa- How do these i^^vidut^.view nish txjysdist cause in her young- communityfl How^^e er days, says that, she has fmutd - they been receitied' it! i-In jio diffic ulty in adjusting pc ^gca b^ iptq the_ problems and asjOTatio^ t6hat faith would they', toise th^ ^trnjita. ishe Peasicxfsxaaa^ cAiW^? , TAese ore some she jdpies find Ot tl^ a»n Dj^rig her childhoqn^^Jiad l«en questions we put to the twelve ni^ “The thing with Parsls isbtliat '^ '^u^bt to regard the Paxsis as the ‘ the Parsi communiiy^ How^i^e the^ been received it! i tn they are modem one minute, old- fashioned tl» next, ” she comment ­ ed while describing how they can be liberal about certain things and yet deeply orthodox about such things as burial practices arid reli- . giqus rites. Ms Mehta has studied Persian history and has not only a , good idea about Parsi ecfeiriooies '. apd customs but having grown up as jan Armenian Christian in Tur- , Z key,wholikethel^rsisareamino- 4iy corimaun^ in that counter, she - £e^, that she has a special insight with which Parsis are feced tMay;-L—MLIJWimW * *' V '“I X- , *» . «• Uttle ol< ladies |ove me. I get4»B ' with Parsis. The cidture shoelc warf tere.** 5 jack of Sensitivity towar^ the com- ditions in which they live. As for Parsi husbands, she feels that th^ are “good providers ” and if Ihcy also like a well-kept home and joy good food she remarics, It is not that my husband expects it. But of things done for him. ” “I think that. Parsis jire intellec ­ tually curious 'and broad-thinking and very fond of music, ” wys hfe Elizabeth Bharucha; who l±e Ms Patuck has been in India for - - ---------- and who as a devoted tdble wiSh people who are so fond of Western music. It was at the University of Michigan that she met her husband,'* while she was taking a degree in music and he in engi ­ neering. After coming to Bmbay Ms Bharucha has spent her time m teaching people the piano and play ­ ing the organ for a local Protestant - church. She has also written articles and reviews on music and confesses a fondness for writing poetry. Hav ­ ing returned recently from the U.S. she made some interesting observa ­ tions on the d2fereot whereas her friends in th^ U.S^ in having servants, they did non^ neieMity ihZn i luxury and that she remarks, mentioning some of enemieB the Arm?- jaian*€hri 7 la war in , , . r Persians • fou^t 4he Christiafis- m ansuccessful atternpt to convert them. Ms Mehta believes that this battle proves that the early, Zoroa ­ strians were as militant about their e* religion as any of the other people Navjotes and the large sums of toe time and possibly as intole- money spent d ’ering to*®'* nr/'asu rant also.. She findsMt curious that She feels that such gatherings might very few Parsis she has talked to have been alright in the old days appear to b? aw?ie of this conflict, when hot many records were kept Ms Jvlehta w?nt to the U.S.A. to finish her education, from where ^p and joined whaf promised to be an exciting career in the Foreign • Service. H« early assignments sent her to Mexico and Latoi America, where she picked up Spanish which ' she speaks fluently. It was during another assignment to Bombay at the USIS that she met her husband; toey got married in a simple cere ­ mony at a Bombay church. Though she gave tip her diplomatic career, Ms Mehta has continued to remain ____ a 1 " ' y ' ’ for chil dren and as a volunteer in a consumer guidance organization, ’she also tuns a small export busi ­ ness and admits that she feels com- pletely at home in Bombay. Like Ms Mehta.,.Ms Bomanjee (not her real name) has lived in Bombay for more than twenty • years and through an odd co-inci- ' E dence also* met her husband while _working at the USIS.- Ms Boman- • W has very definite views on the - _ Subiect in quertion and outlined difficulty in being accepted and ‘ them in her clear, precise; diction, found toot to? p*«pl** ’^t to allow her real family were Jn particular mostjKmd name to appear in print. Ms Bo- J- *»*"**- " maniee says that she first became studying Asian History at a Mi^-w^^.University. After, her • a I- * « ph^griany and she speaks of the things she wouy like changed, in thl year 45k AD when the “They have cqnfuseU their religion, ng . fo ught tthe Christiafis'" in with other issues. Like trying to say that Zoroastrianism is much older than it actually is/ ’ She also disapproves of the large crowds ¥• i,active, working'in iav*. ux oviioiviTivrf - ----------- ditions in which they liw. As for are “good providers ” and if tofiSf xxxux. dke a weU-kept home and joy good food she remarks, It is S’lX aTp'aS SStoi a^d he is ^astomed .«.„haviug tt.es. money spent during these occasioi^ have been alright in the old days and live witnesses were needed, but feels they are out of context today. ; mauv vcurs and wno as a ucvutcu musicophUefeelscsi^ian,^^; regional language with their com ­ munal bias, and in the same spirit has ensured that her two children can celebrate and enjoy all the re ­ ligious festivals in India, such as Christmas, Pateti and Ganpati. “What do I know about the Parsi religion? ” repeated Ms Bob ­ bie Patuck with a smile. “I know that I cannot go into a fire temple. ” 9» hiSnS "But, ” continues Ms Patuck, who is E±.u±' ’“ a a dtholic, "I Ohly bel.eve in one God and know that other people may see him in different ways. It does not matter in you pray to him. ” Ms Patuck is a t [erem wavs, xt uuuo wu ..xw what language here and in th^.S. She f»« with household chores.9 -'V * * ¦ ^i> c. - d(i ''i ' V- M I I Ua Pre only tauglit. paay<4in fn IiFa in TlnmHftV. SHft L , her children got used . ‘ to doing works , as a secretary-translator in \._j,some pf the •work around the l__ 'L, L ’L s . house. , practises Yoga, enjoys playing bad- Frequent advice On how to minton and strumming her guitar. straighten her daughfer ’s nose by She first heard of Zoroastrians in , puUing it, and the wonders of gripe connection with a description of the ' *. water for a small child, are some of Towers of Silence which she came n _____________ ___ _ ____ • to accept while trying to adjust to ______ ___ _ . , . ’ a Parsi way pf life. Being a nurse Nietzsche ’s famous work Thus accepted in India. She has always who first came to India to work at Spake ZaratKustra. Ms Mistry to keep her sense of humour at^ ” ¦ ~ ~ ’ • hand in dealing with her employees. sideratp husbands and that" if she A. vivacious blonde with warm brown eyes, Ms Vakeel finds time in spite of her career to do her* needlework and collect paintings which are strikingly displayed in her apartment. She is also con ­ cerned with the upbringing of ____________ ____ her three children whom she wants who has been living in Bombay for to grow up into honest, truthful and ¦ ¦ ~ ¦¦ 2 2..—___ , Wherever they might choose to live. She com ­ plains that Indian children often get spoilt and are not allowed to develop any self-confidence by get- gaji has two children, the older ting accustomed to servants who do ¦ * ¦ all the work for them. “Parsis are very Western, which makes it easier. They accept diversity, ” jshe explains to show that she has not met with any hostility from her Parsi relations. She adds that while Parsis are open any friendly with foreigners, they feel the pressure of poverty in India and their status as a minority group; this tends to make them too conscious of their belongings and pwhaps leads them to be over-suspicious in their deal ­ ings with employees and servants. “No, it is the other way around- vxxd and America. She has Parsis have no pride for India, ’’ raisis «re uuiy lou^uv piajvio, three sons who understand Gujerati answered Manuela Daruwala when . they aren ’t taught the principles of and know, Parsi prayers. They have asked y^hether Pareis were juejudic- ' Me-rdi^mi.P " had their nayjotes ^^nd 'identify ©d agamst forei^ers.^ Manuela,, , “Pas^ prayefs close the mind to ' themselves as Parsis ’but Ms Mina j^O'* comes from Galif L H- * ¦ ¦¦-?> i. i a?! J «-< M; feels that Parsis make very con- *J •7* _j. can heritage, finds that Parsis are a to particularly loving group of people, she Living hi the Dadar Parsi Colony man-speaking Pqxsi ,woraen in ^rtieular ^ah be ly appears fo “ mo^Mlirthriglit and- s^-asscrti^^ ! J * J'\•- * .4- Wi TK ENGUSH COroiECTION “Have you heard l^e joke about the Archbishop of Canterbury? ” 1 ‘Parsls have cloa^4 minds in r6- ggid 6> ceftaia com- meAte4 ’ describmg one occasion , Wk M dinner i^ce the food, being v^etarian, Served in'The scrahd^fed^d his ^stt»mplaihe^ alkmt tiemct, but ' it£siMcd M eating tbe m^ with a knife ^d iork. “There yott are, I told him, now S|ou can see why die thcdis have scisttches on them. To me this littl^ incident brings Out what ’s so wrong'abwt the Parsis. 7 They feel superior about . thmgs they have no right tp ’l^ aipericff ; about. I don ’t see what^. wroi^ in • eating out of thalis. We Mve sq^ Gujerathi friends, and to my of thinking their way of is more suitably adapted to th© sur ­ roundings, ” he said, emphatically denying that he had come to India with all the standard romantic fantasies and was being critical of f' has been very limited. “One of my *he com ­ asked Sean Mahoney, squitming at ¦ the thought of having to face an interview. Sean (pronounced shown) was reluctant, not from any sense of bashfulness, but sit ­ ting comfortably in the living room of his Parsi in-laws felt that it would seem somewhat ungratefid for him to disclose his candid views about the community. In spite of his red hair and clear por ­ celain blue eyes, be blended very casually into his temporary Parsi background. A freelance graphic and interior designer by profession, with diplomas in Art and Design, he likes to work with his hands. He is currently making his own furniture, whidi he designs him ­ self, and was therefore wearing his sifttur ’s outfit of white floppy pants ______ ____ ______ and ganji with a slightly studied friends in England was a mixture of pride and defiance. _ ----- “The first thing I did after meeting Pervin was to look up the - ....... Encyclopaedia Britannica, ” said Sean, not because this compendium of knowledge would supply all the information he wanted to know . . _ about his future wife, but because long. If one lives m a country its he wanted to learn about the silly to behave as if one has noth- pitsfa of whom he had never heard ing to do with it. ai>P«\ ‘o y* ’.”?'.' until then. Subsequently his know- ’ " — * - — «rA« ledge was amplified while on a visit to- India, prior to his mar- . , , , riage, and during the last twelve English clothes. .. I^^ mean months when he and Pervin have been trying to settle down in Bombay. “I l&e to find out about things. .. ___ ____ to think a little more deeply about things which have a trace of In- them, ” < / ‘ _____ ' " , felt could be one reason why some don ’t mean bronzes and the more people might find his views diflB- obvious things like that. But any \ " ”, 3 materials or anything that would no different from anyone suggest an Indian backgroimd. ” Sean. f ¦* - - # 1 Bengalee designer. He was a reser- lanrasies ana was oemg criujai or voir of information on India. He the Parsis ^because they did pot had many western values but not more rooted m India, “I think this business of aping live up to his illusions. quFte as much as ‘Pervui. He was “I am not being critical, about _ ______ :them, ”, said Sean fedingjhat all think Ais business of aping his ©fiorts to tak^i^ the West has just gone on too of things were being* thwarfled, . w,. —- --------------- u ’c “I think I had better tell you about the Archbisl^ of Can- lUg lU uv TTivxA "ff-------- -------- * ' have too great a regard: for the Archbishop of Canterbury went to - ‘ West; they have adopted English New York, a reporter went up to manners, the English language, him and a^ed him whether he^w^s look at their homes ”, he said “a portrait of Charles Dickens, a photograph of Queen Elizabeth, a Spanish ghUeon ---- As a designer I find it upsetting not to see more 4 .i ij * West; they have adopted English New York, a r^rter went up to just going to visit the strip clubs. “Are ' there any strip clubs in New York? ” the Archbishop a^ed in mild surprise, only to ^d, that the next morning ’s newspapers carried as their headlines, “Archbishop of _______________ _ ____ _______ ________ __ __________ Canterbury wants to ki^W*- ‘-W explained Sean, which he Hiap .... culture. .; if you must. I there any -strip cltAs*^ in ¦ ' ’ York? ’ ” Having displayed a true I^- man ’s^ fondness ’ for telBng a sto^, Sean who claims tiiatnn ^te of his l> >1 * cult to acc^t. Basically Parsis were k_ " * . . , else, he went on cautiously, still thinking no doubt of the Arch ­ bishop of Canterbury whose expe ­ rience he refuse^ to divulge. “The conditions here are veiy similar to ____ ______ __ those encounter^ ' unnecfcs^ry in an Indian climate, the ahelf/^The^nietalc^uMier rolled ' no dmculty m being accepted. - hf ^hims elf liked^to wear a fcurto around slowly ‘ %id "a ‘.delicate . •T find in my dealings —financial whfch he thought.was the most ^Western time tinl^ gaily tiuwugh and social —with people. I’m more ‘ » at ease with Parsis. If they say ; tiie heat, but he^ knew ^that ^mpst marvdlww ^piece of something they are more likely tij mean it. ” But he notes his contact with other communities ?in India frivolous apparel. This attitude was carried to even j-ed hair and very*tishr ainie, he fi ' greater extremes with clothes, he is ’“±““ -j*— felt, having noticed the Parsi ten- is a Persianf ’ Wound up the inter- greater extremes with clothes, he f„.. ’ "v ¦ ^7 _____ . , - . . dency tb go about in full Shirt, suit, view by shewing m© tfre fttinguifte and tie, all of which felt were coffin shaped nsaactKnt .tiiat^l^^^ - unnecessary in an Indian climate. * * - He Jiimself liked^ to wear a kutta “no more an Irishman/titan Peivin around slowly * wd "a ‘.delicate natur^ and se^ible garment for the steamy Indian air. Pafsi mCT would shudder at the ship? ’’said Sean. • ____ ___ _ 4.1........1*4. ««« 'eiliz*l*- .J. very* thought of indulging iq such “Isn ’t .ft a o-aftsmaiv Geeta Docta** . Vi 4 - •i . I I: k 1» w Foreiga 2l} Ik exani^e JBO8® s^ proud of tb^ jtotU^ heritage and wto yyhen a^ed vriiSf Ber was, ? hot feel like seccHid-class citCKns. all but feels that this Parsi exclu- sivene^ ppuld-ipive a bad pffect on h^ chiW^* She expressed concern that her children might regard iseryants^ as a IqwQr breed of huiha- nity and that they have leirntjokes ^about members of other c ommuri i- • ties at their Gujerati school. She fwls however that there is a defi­ nite advantage in marrymg into the Parsi community, because in an era where values are changing so fast as to not have meaning. Parsis have a stable family life and, she notes, “Parsis tend to have a more lasting attitude towards marriage. ” . .. „ . . . , . , . about Zoroastrianism in school “Zoroastrianism is the IS an ^glishwoman who is also oldest monotheistic religion. Some- ^once^^ with the prejudices that how that stuck in mv mind. ” Shf. her children might pick up and has noticed that, while they do not make any communal distinctions, they do differentiate between them- selves and poorer children. Ms En ­ gineer works with her husband and says that while havjotes have been performed for her children, she rnem uo wnen she does have them n ' • • . , would also like to see that they IndSr^klds^^Sn^fa™ ’ e.xtmguished and the grow up with Christian values. She she sa™ “are kind that Zarathustra started felt that her children were able to about their Indian backaround 1 of years ago, will slowly Aiuk of themselves both as Parsis :X7k[dJ ”tXow?KheiJ M o^^re VMaiorS and as foreigners and gave the Indian roots. I want them to be careXugh. “l am a Parsi Ideally 1 would like them to devel- _ Englishman. “In California all Indians stick *" ¦ ' ' ' ‘ ............... and no commun^ distinc- ‘ Westward {Continued from page tS) Irons are made, ” said Elena Oorab- ji, surprised to hear that they are made here. Ms Dorabji who is only on a visit to Bombay and normally lives with her Parsi husband in California, was naturally able to see things from a slightly different perspective. She was most enthu ­ siastic about being part of the Parsi community and says that what Strack her most when she first heard about Zoroastrianism was that “Zoroastrianism is the how that stuck m my mind. ” She had no trouble in being accepted amE frapkly admits, “AU the little bld ladies love me. I get r- "~“- well with Parsis. The culture shock was zero. ” She does not have any children at present but is very defi ­ nite on how she would like to bring Jem up when she does have them dually get extinguished and the A Inf" nf innian Vt/ic m ¦f op an intematirinal outlook; their children believe in it, and ip'^ still in them the faith and pfWe in ourselves which has stood us through the 1,400 yeara in India, I see no reason why it will not. If on the other hand, we remain interested only in our close family and our own personal, selfish, well-being and if we ignore the fact that we have obligations be ­ yond family and self to Zoroas ­ trianism^' we will not survive. The fire of Zoroastrianism is no longer a huge conflagration attracting thousands to its way of life, it rather a candle in the lieart of every Zoroastrian. Only if these on very candles remain together will there he a viable fire which will be passed on from generation to generation. If we go our separate ways, then these candles will gra- want my kids to know about their followers of his religion did Indian roots. I want them to be ’ ° I •« .r. > ‘WUTV IS NEVER i« WCIOEHT-IT IS ALWAYS THE RESULT 0f‘( INTELLIGENT EFFORT.” -4ohn i^kin mSIQN eXPERTLV ' IPRWEDFROM MALTj h AllR)m«O HOPSF rxf^ORT; GJ».!.I 1 ^jnLSNnrj^* (beer I tv: A.B.O, COWTAUM. INoiA' WfSTOaNMT C Wim Compliments of: ' * ASSOCIATEO BREWERIE^ & DISTM.LfeRliS~CORTAL|M, INDIA , (Member oh,NoaMr Irani Sroi^ oft^panies.) - — - - — * . ¦¥-• » K** Letters from page U) iwm the community Their chil-, Horizons {Continued from p&ge 17\ ¦ *'" HrAn . 5irA Arlsma-t-A/l olM*rs«>zl i»»'- - - . ‘ about making adjustments m the Zoroastrian way of life, thus put- ' ting into jeopardy the very sur- . vival of this great religion. There is little leadership in a group of Zoroastrians that should constitute, the guiding light for the sri^ll groups .around the world. This V attitude is forcing the smaller groups to find adjustments to suit . . dren are educated abroad in to lead a hfe of luxury,-}ie wants ‘factories ’. Their parents have no to ’^ay in- posh apartments, own .knowledge of what Tarsi ’ ineans, cars, have periodical entertainment so they fail to educate their off- and dUnpers in posh hotels. .................... While members of other com- ., munities work hard, earn degrees . and qualifications, our youngsters pass the S.S.C. and seek jobs in banks or insurance companies. When members of other com- niunities meet, they talk and talk foreign countries, do not bother about business. Our youngsters to know or belong to the religion talk about which movie is worth and community in India. seeing. There are immense fields children are lost. I am sure there spring in religious matters. Fifty years ago Parsis who went abroad had one foot in the for ­ eign country and the other, in India. Today the Parsis who leave for their circumstances, while at the AM '4*«m . «• ^4* A«a , • . . J • t same time, attempting to perpetu ­ ate Zoroastrianism. This could Their lead to auwanted fragmentation of open in the country. Government are many who would like to speak weakness Of^tl^ Bombay is out to assist any one who comes ’ * -_ 2_-_ 1_ .1„L 1_ 1________ forth with plans and ideas to start happy with their new lot' and standing of the ‘Mean ’ between small or large industries. But no whether they choose to return. excess and deficiency) —a comer- Parsi comes forth to enter into t Vnnw spvpmI ttk Parci stone of Zoroastrian ethics. This business or small-scale industries, famines with aced members un- resulted in their inability to Unless youngsters discard all ideas emtdoyed living on pensions or coinpromise with the generation of of luxurious living and devote their capitals unable to meet ^oday, Aose traditions which have time and energy tO business we expenses without seXantc or been handed down without neces- will only be fit for classification u L cantina tn rptnm tn India sarily disturbing the foundation as a backward conwruaity. » R. N. Rustomji ings, but thev have now no con- To sum the Zoroasfrians. The greatest —'----, Z—commu- put in public whether they are nity leaders is their lack of under ­ small or large industries. But no whether they choose to return. I know several U.K. Parsi families, with aged members, un- employed, living on pensions or on small capitals, unable to meet expenses, without servants or help, wanting to return to India for peace and religious surround ­ ings, but they have now no con- To sum up, Zoroastrianism — tacts. The Bombay Parsis should a religion without dogmas —in help them. Bombay, is heading to the defeat of its own purpose because of its degeneration into dogmatic up, Lost Horizons Parsis in foreign countries are ignoring the Parsis of India. By doing so they are moving away Sarosh Khajotia London theology. it THE COMMUNITY FARES WEU AT TATAS ^5 !;?¦ w<§S^ ¦ :>: Community welfare is a social responsibility voluntarily accepted by Tatas many years ago. It was this sense of responsibility that prompted Sir Ratan Tata to finance studies into the causes of poverty in 1912, and the Tata Trusts to establish institutions like the Tata Memorial Hospital for Cancer Research and treatment and the Tata institute of Social Sciences. In fact, Tatas have gone so far as to turn the entire town of Jamshedpor into a model in community living. There are wide roads, ' tree-liped avenues, hospitals and* family clinics, and schools which any community would be proud of. S$>:5 .Vi; •SS: BS»’- H SsW H S¥Sre%^*- S^oSTOSKtftJ ’ft?8S5w«S‘a5SS5»>>J Iw -.’•’•’••XWAS* y w TATA BIMTBRPRI8E8 ¦ ¦ .V Jw X• z :«•« •.- * V t'5 » J’-’" SJf " •f 6^ ¦if > ^-?^v ’ B‘. ;iir ¦ *: ?!* * •* "f ».W^ 5^ a s tAJtUialu iUty l\., . ¦¦ ^- ¦ — •¦ . '^***^'_^'^ |» «—... ...,_, I SWR^W? * Y ¦<-»<<•;•* ¦4Oj ( -> . - •So, >*4 i L X' u B 'P/ (t*<->r-#,5qS^j^pWMto W.iw •¦• A S’fJ y®‘ w ?vlt 1 '3f'' > ^•- -V P .'5' ^^4 ^^1 Sketch by Maiflula Padmanabhan THE ETERNAL FLAME OF YAZD Of the English daily, Kayhan International, pub- The heart of lished in Teheran, is among the first non-Zoroastrians permitted to enter the fire temple in Yazd. In tm article titled “^The Immortal Fire” he tells of the experience, thustran fire temple at night. ^as huming in a brass brazier. ---2 L_ ___ was_a^ow there, the small fire reminiscent of a great past. We were among the very few holy fire, non-^rathustrans admitted „ . uv. « In Yazd we visited the ^^thustran fire''still ablaze is thuston fke tXle T*"® 4,000 years old. It is pre. We barf tn ctt*iira qP + 1, 4. * Zarathustran to gain admission, to served and revived five times a Me sm^^SrfXi^^a ^he fire in few seconds but it helped us see she admitted b^ai^e Yazd is only 700 years old al- our way had written a thesis on the though the city once had the oldest Iwide tte ,jmau Ate admitted "pt ^50^ an entire civilization ! was of ^y thesis but in our capacity as journalists, “people who should speak the Truth, ” according to the Mubad (Priest) guarding the I ?^' to non- AccoKjing to legend the oldest some 4,000 years old. f' ff '^. served and revived five tim es fire temple in Iran, The old fire tempU was turnedr after the Moslim , certain that many nuuriages tpi^. was then that ' pi^ between the Fars<^ a j^ hs took the holy India «md the natives ol that . country in the early stages of the The Zarathustran settlement in the subcontinent. Isolating themselves, the Zara- . From thustrans certainly succeeded in history of maintaining most of their miginal into a invasi^ the 2^ fire with-them and left for India. Il “ .-It was then that on to note'. of Zarathustranism is, "the history of Iran hntil and persecution. in the ii^^arance of Islam, on it is a I ’ " ' unrivalled heroism, suffering and characteristics, folklore and tradi- steadfastness in the face of tions. But they would be diflScult misery and persecution. We to understand as a community if have evidence that most Iranians separated from the general Iranian were still faithful to their context within which they have ancestral religion centuries after the advent of Islam. Later, however, Iranian BOTS’ TOWN Public scbeel, Nasik 2 their two been living. Talking to leading .Zarathustrans in Yazd, I was amazed to find that dynasties, notably the Buyids, did they held so many Muslim pre- much to force the Mazdeans to judi ces to be “r"''* become Muslims. “ ' Forced conversions were the fiuenced Christianity, practice even until 60 or 70 years ‘ “ ago. Around Yazd there are vil- to even CHOICE SCHOOLING FOR YOUR SdN pure truth ”, ^rathustranism has definitely in- ~ _ Judaism and Islam. But its influence on „ Shi ’ism, the Iranian version of lages inhabited by people called Islam, is particularly marked, the jadidis (the newly converted) Talking to th© Yazdi Mazdeans who have mixed the Mazdean confirmed my previous thoughts religion with Islam and who have concerning the inter-action of both Zarathustran and Muslim Mazdean religion and Shi ’ism. names. Until a few years ago the It is only in recent years that Zarathustrans considered the ques- the Zarathustrans of Yazd have tiqn of accepting new converts as succeeded in reaching a modus “unthinkable ”. Today, they are vivendi with their Muslim fellow beginning to change their minds, citizens. There were no massacres For one thing they have realized of the Zarathustrans in the past that many Iranian Muslims are but nothing was done to make becoming attracted to their an ­ cestral faith for nationalistic reasons. Recognised as a Public School by Department of Indian Education —fdr Merit Scholars, Excellent Climate —All-round Edu- cation : their lives particularly enjoyable. cestral faith Today, they are an important reasons. This attraction has led community in Yazd, they have to a situation in which Mazdean their own association and Majlis scholarship is no longer reserved deputy, and seem to be getting to the Zarathustrans. Most of our along fairly well with other re- leading authorities on the religion • W s ¦ 1 I dream is to encourage their fel ­ low Zarathustrans to return “home ” from India. Some Parsees __ _________ ____ of India still consider Iran their months ago. The old guard to holy country ” of Mazda. So far. married to Zara- ligious groups in the town. Their and its history are now Muslims. The question of conversion was raised during a stormy session of the association in Teheran a few --------- _____ _ t,-*were rightful fatherland as well as the fuming with rage when the sub- “holy country ” of Mazda. So far, ject was tabled. But the younger however, only a few of them have thinkers supported “an open door ” returned to this country. policy. Marriage within the confines In the end it was decided that of the community over several “outsiders ” married to Zara- centuries has led to the creation thustrans should be accepted into of a distinct Zarathustran type the “family ” provided they wish that is easily recognisable. But the it. Scores of Zarathustrans educat ­ claim of racial purity and Arya- ed in America and Europe have nism advanced by some Mazdean ‘ foreign wives who can now become hotheads has no basis in fact. Many Negro slaves and Turkish __ __ ___ _ ____ ____ _ seiYanfe^, of the Zarathustrans, jadidis (the newly converted) were Gowt^ed tq the .tpligion shoidd he readmitted to the fold centuries adding theiy own if th^ desire. So far, how8^ ¦ racial ^a$^eteristi« to ; tio active attempts have been blend. At the same _ time it is made to gain new converts. of a distinct Zarathustran type the “family ” provided they wish ed in America and Europe have' Mazdeans. It was also decided that the All Academic Subjects — Technical Subject! : Radio and Wood-Work Tech­ nology. Farming^Trmni^^ Self-Government through Elected Boys* Office-bearers, Games — ¦ Physical Training —Daily Assembly with Congre­ gational Prayers- ^Weekly intensive Qeeta —Koran classes — Excellent Modem Kitch^ and Dining Room facilities —Airy Dormitories. Mode­ rate Fees. Concessions to Deserving Students. Zoroastrian — APPLY TO PRINCIPAL FOR ADMISSION 9Women on the PanckO^ of Trust? Interviews by Feroza Paymaster Though Parsi women outnumber men by 46,470 to 44,796 their standing- in the community is far inferior to their numerical clout ITiey are second class citizens in the political, religious, social and economic spheres. If they marry out their children are not consi ­ dered Parsis; during menstruation . they are treated as untouchables, barred from attending any place of worship. But nowhere is the dis ­ crimination as blatant and obvi ­ ous as it is* on that premier insti ­ tution of Parsis throughout the world: the Bombay Parsi Pan- chayat. The rules of that august body permit only three of the seven trustees to be women at any given time, thus ensuring a male dominated Panchayat. Before this law came into effect in 1970, they were limited to ope seat. At pre ­ sent there are only two women trustees : Eady Hirabai Jehangir and Dr. Nelie Noble. So our in- iterview question, is the limit of . three fair, could be considered an academic one. But we asked it in the hope that it may arouse an ' awareness amongst Parsis, women in particular, and goad them onto action. (Photos: Farokh Reporter) V A Lack s.. new in tke k J ____. “;-Jz -SE. l'''/» - p IP* I V, Rumi Daruwalla, 34, Project Engineer, Tata Electric Companies “Why should sex be a condition? I don ’t think this rule is necessary. Maybe it was framed to satisfy the male ego by making men feel that females are inferior. I would defi ­ nitely vote against it. If someone . is fit to be in a position and has an impulsive opinion though. ” worked for it, to be barred just be ­ cause that person is a female, is not fair. _ ___ _ __ ___ ‘Rather than have a majority of feels ¦ four: community is quite ¦“ * * * * ’------— - J - .1 — -1. ------------ a balance of the two. Men get given .an equal status. Hardly .(me or two per cent could be following customs like the menstruation a? ’ But, of the children of .npit-^arsi fathers and. Par» not being considered Psuri, he says “I am ^raid this is answer generally. There have been specific examples when women have made men look like fools. 1 think their capabilities would be equal to those of men. Women are more trustworthy, than men; this is just As regards Parsi women being second class citizens. Daruwalla “L____ . ... ......... either of the sexes, there should be broad-minded, and' womem are a balance of the t'wo. 1 ’ „ ’ along better with women and vice versa. Like in our typing pool, for —— instance, if there were a (X)uple of tglm^' more men, things would be more " peaceful, ” As to whether men ceremonies for 19 pairs (pcuzs) and followers of the religious though in the past all these used n j-i- to b® occupi^ today uot cveu 40 per cent are ut^ized at a time. Mirza and the Anjuman state the controversy started four years ago when Behramshah Bharda, a priest, along with another, alleged- associate fire bums. The group who are mystic, Minocher Pundole, note that every atash behram, with the exception of Dadyseth, has an adaran and, therefore, as Pundolite Phiroze Batliwala notes, Iranshah must have a vazir. ” __ _ _ Accpnding tp Batliwala when the ly tried to make changes in the rated the Iranshah fire and also the Anjuman in spite of several • r '"¦'' ¦ ' _¦ ¦ . ' ¦ , th& iranshah was ultimately traditional systems, they persisted in doing so and hence were denied permission to perform the Nirang- din ceremony. The ban was later , ., The Anjuman claims Polson. Moti Mahal, Sir O. Vatcha'Mtead, “tbp give Behramshah is a staunch disciple of :^en Pundole, a person who professes to possess mystical powers and at whose instance Behrarnshah made changes in the ceremonies he pen- Warden is good For sandaiwood Head Office 378 Grant Road Bombay 400 007 and Branches Tel. 371464 Quality eanddwood AggartMttlM, oum _ (loban) and omer Ferfuipes I fl F*' an im benzoin mit jjCphstruction, as the adimm _ - was not necessary and would be a that in several vU- cause df dispute iii th? small town. 'it V] H., MVr? IHI t * by OtfiKa 'I f Ms. Coomi Wadia, Conductor of, the Pardnjoti Academy Chorus Bombay, has fetiirniU fecentty from a tour of Europe,, where her choir receiv^ the ,first prize at the intemationed Choral Eestival of Miezyzdroje. The trophy was given by the Polish Bro^casting and Television, services. A small boy watched intently as his mother (^imbed the conductor ’s podium. There was a short pause before Coomi Wadia raised her arms and led the .Paranjoti choir through another inspired perform ­ ance. Every time a particular piece was over, she turned and bowed gravely at the audience, always remembering, however, to reserve a smile fey the very spe ­ cial member in the audience. For Ms, Wadia, music is very much a fhared family experience, for be ­ sides her son, her husband, >lariman Wadia, is not only the Assisfanfr^C^nductor of the choir, but One rof Its chief male singers also. Asked to' describe how it felt like to ^ing |O his wife ’s tune Mr. Wadia said exubwantly, “Wonder ­ ful! She makes beautiful music. ” perform the most pagan things, ” said Ms Wadia comment- * ing on the mistaken idea that most people have, that choral music must necessarily mean “church music ”. Almost half the programme is composed of , folk music, and a great many eff these have been ar ­ ranged by Victor Paranjoti him ­ self from Konkani ir, ; and f^ct^lys^tB^^vir the did hot know .of course that w'e* portunity to listen soma of dja (Ejections :th^ lj^c^ ifhtQr,taise had won the paze..The hews,was ©^ choirs from A over against^ it K is* We^mized caWed tous^eh we wereinDen- worlds She-aoriced tbat th^ Ah^" mu^. *T d|Bn*t c^S^^ mark. There werefifteen choira ahd * ban choir was the only one which time. “Communist countries have the discipline which is essential for a good choir, ” remarked Ms Wadia who having attended the Inter- ^n^nh came towards me, picked val at the Lincoln Centre for the ^Jthe hem of my saree and lyssed Performing Arts in New. York as did hot know .of course that vre* , . - , had won the paze..The hews,was against* it w is* We^mized cabled to us ^eh we were inDen- had won the yaze. Tlie news, was mark. There were fifteen choira aftds' 1 * 9- *v ¦**' ¦' was not >Th^ ’ ttafi** It was while ’ singing with the have firs selected best ,Angers ' Bsaiib^ Madfigal' ‘-Society under, self. ” fromlading universities. Vicfcr Faraikj^ that Goomi Wadia “The 0^ thing was, ’* she noted, mrt. Ber future husband who be- “that ’^y had the besf singers loi^ fji th^v^li-known JC. l^adia gift, ” an tli«|j^rUs was not aS j^U knit as * .fanufy . of wm^U^s. Mr. *Wadia, ^u^ncdd th^ofters who were used to sing- v^o in th J«progq|mme brochure ing together all thes time. shown with a beard' wearing We are really like a fan^y, ”. 'yhat hf descr»je§ as his “St. John she said of the Paranjoti choir who look ” related, an amus- m^e a splendid visual impressionf^ mcidenf which occurred dur-, on the Stage with the women in , **^8 their l^t trip when he was brilliant red Benaras sareeswith stopped at the^ Customs barrier gold motifs, standing in front of the men dad in black shutcoats. Ms Wadia stands in front, a small > slim figure, in a saree identical to the other ladies but in black silk; as .the ‘.chorus start to sing she seems to grow taller and more commanding tiff in the end one only nofices^er; “We used to have more Parsis in the j^l, ” Ms Wadia noted, “but * * shown with a beard' wearing . the time. amus- the height from which you can you have it in you, ydu can find the ideal way of worshipping tffm. ” ©f one of the Communist count- f « 'fiad** It *was while* si^gin^ wil#[ the have first of all to ’be true to your- “Mu§i(f/ ’ she feBUalso, speaking with -deep conviction, ‘IS Qod ’s and* this had, necessarily in- - ,, . . , . I her, a^tuda to her j«li- to sing- v^o in th^ progrpame brochure gidfe,» “We ^1» worship the same God and. follow his teachings. 1 think people jieed, something to hang orf to. Prayers arid my belief in God have given me great strength through a very taxing period in my life. Music^to nfe is __ __ ________ _____ .1, " - I ries. “I had grown a beard during reach God. through this gift^ if the course of an illness I had last ¦year, but my passport showed me clean shaven. So the chap looked at the photograph and then at my beard and insisted that I should Shave it off ri^t there. And that is exactly what I had to do. ” Both the Wadias started off with an early interest in the piano, but from the moment they heard the t ’aranjoti choir they dedicated themselves wholly to choral music. Ms Wadia talked almost reveren- “I want young people to • make tly of Paranjoti ’s musical genius good music, ” she noted. But there are older people also who are ac- coufitants, secretaries and house ­ wives. Ms Wadia herself works in an advertising company which seems all but incredible consider ­ ing thex effort she puts into the choir. For apart from conducting it, she also organises the more practical aspects, of having a con ­ cert, the tickets, the progranyne, and the advertisements. “I am ex ­ acting, ’^ she^ admits, “without be ­ ing exactingjyou (?an ’t achieye any ­ thing. ” . :h< really now w« have people from all communities.'* There are more women than men and a great many of her singers are students. good music, ” she noted. But there >> MARRIAGE EDUCATIQN » COUNSELLING BUREAU A non profit • Organisation of Trained* Social' Workers ' Offers: • Marriage Preparation Course for couples, a series .of 8 sessions based on psychology and experience of other institutions with stress pn sanctity of marriage Mnd religion • Marriage Cpunsellirig And in the near fflture^ • Marrjage ' Educatibn* Course; for couplef • Carriage Arralysr? " ’ discussions and c » studies amongmarded and felt that continuing the Paran- joti choir was the aptest way of paying tribute to his memory. “I learnt a lot from him. The music we made together was so enjoy ­ able and he had a great regard for my musical ability. ” In follow ­ ing in Victor Paranjoti ’s footsteps, Ms Wadia made it clear, however, tl^at she did not believe in walking uttder his shadow. “People come up and say to me, ‘He didn ’t do this. Why are you doing it?* I re- ¦ fuse to be an imitator of Paranjoti. Each one is an individual and you a * ¦'i Ute Paraajoti Chqir: ‘ FFe perform the most ptisan'Pic by Peavkfi Pepor-ter) t.. I i. - . „ .... >¦' ¦" discussions and case . studies among tnarded ’ dpuples r , * fior encfutries.'please write fa: Marriage Education CQUh^glMng Btifeau G.P.©z Bd?C 19J4 a:. A« ¦ih'' T % In memoriam ¦tiu 1 Wt*;; .ii * /j?u bffi 'ff «! The death of ^ Neville Chinoy on September 9th in an aeroplane disaster oner the Middle East left an immeasurable void both in the world of music and amongst his family and'friends. Though he was only 19, his mastery at the piano earned him praise from all quar­ ters as well as a three-year scholar ­ ship at the Curtis School of Music t in Philadelphia. Sheryar Ookerjee, an old family friend of the Chinoys, visited tl^n a few days prior Neville^s ill-fated departure and recalled seeing the young pianist , any attempts at showing off or of seated shirtless, before the piano, ¦’ ’ playing Bach. Oykerjee writes: One oeuld see his broad muscu ­ lar back and shoulders, his power ­ ful forearms and Hands. He sat like a rock, head bent slightly down, looking with full concentration at the keys; only his fingers and arms moved. His hands Were relaxed and beautifully poised. Only a few ’days earlier some ­ one had requested him to play the Italian Concerto but he said he was ‘ played it without a ’ score and a • i--i i- II the age of 13 he began to study under Kendall Taylor in England, but he felt so home-sick that he returned to Bombay within a few When his father was asked whether Neville regretted very mttch that his studies had to be cut short he Replied, “Not at all, he is .perfectly happy to be here. ”, • . Now that he was much ^der he “not ready ”; yet today he disapproved those unpleasant mannerisms so many pianists pick up. He did not shake his head or look up drea ­ mily at the ceiling or crouch oyer months, the keyboard in the-soft passages. His was a genuine absorption ini the task before him. Either as a young boy in shorts sporting an elegant bow tie and entertaining the audience during the intervals at some college dramatic competi- could stick it out at Philadelphia, tion or playing with an orchestra, his devotion to music was total. He I of pianists who but every long vacation broi^ht him back to Bombay, and he re ­ fused to leave till the very last “cheated ”. He specially referred to day of the vacation. “If you keep “ your departure right to the very end, what will happen if you fall ill? ” his father asked him. very stropg, ” said Neville, feW days later performed it with Rachmaninoff ’s Second Piano Con- exquisite shading and beauty. This ... - incident was characteristic of omitted playing some of the diffi- ill? ” his father asked him. “I’m Neville. Though shy and unpretent cult notes in the score. He himself very stropg, ” said Neville, “even tious he was not reluctant to play possessed artistic integrity and if I’m ill I’ll still be able to fly. ” for you but he was extremely self- hoped to master and play the con- Neville lived for only at thM of critical and would not perform if < ‘ ’ .. . - - - he Was ‘not ready. ’ l______ ' • prodigious technical admitted '’that Rachm^lnoff beating out th ’e thundering chords of the Appassionato or flying with mcredibk swiftness through the _ ___ _________ ___ __ complexities of Chopin ’s Grand . and saw him play had no such Major md Ms Rnigfoin VaziMai-; Polonaise would h^e mude one,, doubts. As one of his teaphers said, in a car accident while touring think ffiey^ were^ thCj easiesf of ^re^was no music for the piano with their son and daughter-in law “not very difficult ” and this Was no affectation. There was nothing certo, in which even great pianists omitted playing some of the diffi ­ cult notes in the score. He himself he was ‘not ready. ’ mastery. To see his deft fingers hoped to master and play the con- Neville lived for only at third of ^rto ,^thout “cheating ” soon the normal human span, but he ^er lie got to Philadelphia. He packed into it what most others ~ was do iiot fit into twfce fSat time; he very difficult and so was Liszt. At lived his life to the brim. It was times Neville had doubts whether ekthiguished too soon, but while he was really good enough to take he had it he made it shine veiy musif as a eare^r. Those who heard brightly. Polonaise would have made one^ doubts. As one of his teaphers said. pieces. He hiinself said they were that-Ni^ille could not have tackled. in Nevada, America. Major Vazif- dar, 58, was the Chief'Engineer of was devoted to his family to a the Bombay Port * Trusts from wrtch he retired in September At* arfer 31 years of service. His wife, Devoted as he was to music, he affected about Neville; he put on degree unusual in an age of “alienar- no airs. His playing jv«s devoid of tion ” and “generation gaps ”. / i 38 *. A WM » 4. ,K Aloo (nee Mehta) was in charge of Public Relations for Fariyas Hotel. The couple were eminent mW' bers of ’the community who dis ­ tinguished themselves in many spheres. Major Vazifdar played a _ _______ notable part i^ the development avoid an oncoming vehicle that of the Bombay Port. He was Chair ­ man of the Institute of Engineers (Bombay) and was connected with a number of technical institutions Maj. and Ms Vazifdar ** Major Vajifdar was to have in Indonesia as a oonsult^t had gong to >Mnerica to visit their son, Phiroze, arid daughtef-in-laW, Makiko. It was while swerving to the Vazifdars ’ car rolled over an remained consciou s ‘ till he breathed his last. Hormasji Pherd^^ah Shro< 62. Director & Chief Executive Officer (Operations), Tata Chemicals Ltd.; in a car accident near Kfrthapur while on company work,. Mr. Shroff, who had served the company for over 34 years, held an M.Sc. degree many resp^ibfe^ posts, his last, Qemical'Engineer'! being M Official Litpidalor under jp, ’ University of Wis- J. D. Choksey for Au: India and , trianism running, into a edition, ,A nativb of Bhavnagar State, Mr. Ranina completed most of formal education in Bombay. He . , started his legal career but rctipinM to Bhavnagar to continue a family ,tra<ytion-of over 60 years of service , to the state. He was appointed tief Customs Officer and also held ! position of Director of Cbm- <merce and Indhst^y. He was President of *the Bhavnagar Parsi Anjuman. Due to indifferent health he retired from state service»after 16 years «nd joined Air-India, and Air India Intemationaf since its Inception. Aftw the liquidation formalities taken up a United Nations* post for the airline companies were in Indonesia as a consult&t on completed in 1971, Ranina was ask ­ ports and harboursf' The Couple ed to continue working, and atteiid- ’ ¦ ¦___________... . ed office every week. It was on his way to office, while negotiating a turn,* that his car was struck by a police van. Mr. Ranina, who was ______ __ ______ ____ ___ driying at the tiqie, was removed to embankment and in its tragic wake ^t^ George ’s Hospital ^ where^^he cut short the couple ’s well-lived ~~ “ lives. and committees appointed by the jehangic ManChei^ah Raniiia, 79, Indian Government. He had pub ­ lished over 20 papers on various aspects of dock and harbour en ­ gineering. A graduate in civil engineering tom Bombay University. Major An advocate by profession, be Md Vazifdar joined the Port Trust m rnany rAcpr,«c,w.» hsc um -------- . 1938. He opted for war service arid being as Official Liquidator urider from 1942 till the end of fhe War C ~ — - was with the Corps of Royal the Air India Intematipnal com- Indian Engineers in which he saw panics following nationalization, active service in the Middle East and South East Asia. He won the Burma Star, the War Medal, Defence Medal and was the recipi ­ ent of a Japanese sword. The Major was a Freemason of 30 years standing and a keen Rotarian. Ms Vazifdar, a post graduate degree holder in English Literature was active in rehabilitation cen ­ tres and social work. She took up the public relations post because, as jjer family members explained, Cyrus "ffie"" ’Great" Ceiebratiopj “she loved to work with people. ” Committee. He took an ’activp*inte- She was a veteran gardener and rest in ’ drama, writing and f^ging t Honorary Secretary of the Rahnu- mae Mazdayasnan Sabha, and an active member of various other Zoroastrian associations and trusts; in a ear accident on 26th August. He was travelling from Mithapur to Jamnagar on the afternoon of November 1st along with Mr. & Q, Pujari, the company ’s Administra- tiVe Manager in Mithapur, and Shri Bhupatsiph a company chauf ­ feur when theri^ver o^ rip oncoming cement trubk reportedly lost con ­ trol of his ’vehicle due to a suddeit . axle breakdown and collided head- on wi^ the Tata car? Shri Bhupat- sinh, 32, was killed instantly, while Mri ‘Shroff and Mr ’ Pujari died in the Mithapur -Hospital shortly thereafter. Mr. Shroff had cdebrated ’ 62nd birthday ’ just the day* beifofe. < . , rni? T- • J e -------- --------- ’ ¦ **—=¦ To the memhers of all the above prize from The Friends of hjs qvwi plays, the proceeds from families, many of whom are known tl«ji^E|ees for her garden in Pot^i. w charity. He personally'to members of the Par- S3ie and the Major were trustees — - - ” =—. ... . , , on rile ^irinbai Dinshaw Trust. Aside from the Rahnumae Sabha in whose activities he took a keen interest and devoted much time and energy for over 35 years, he was vice-president of the Iran League, and served on the managing com ­ mittee of the Indo-Iranian Cultural Society and the Parsi Lying-in-Hos ­ pital. He was a trustee of the Boys ’ Town School in Nasik. The Avabai * Pavri School, Joint Secretary of The All India Federation of Zoroastrian Anjumans and treasurer of the Committee. He took an activeinte- his own plays, the proceeds from families, many of whom are known wrote on religious topics, his book jzana staff, we extend our heartfelt The Essential Principles of Zoroas- condolences. * ¦ •jC' Ift
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