Mar 1976

I 1 MAY 1976 PRICE Rs 3 Olhi » AM ______ a 4 rie a t • f \&!*- 4t I *•1 ©J 'b i I . E- March - May 1976 CONTENTS EDITOR'S COLUMN » readers ' FORUM^ *N THE NEWS the GIFT OF GUIV meet the press mirroring society by Pervin Mahoney' WITH A SONG ANd by Ruzbeh Antia ABADAN. ABADARAO, ABADI IS CHARITY Harmful ? A PRAYER by Fereza Paymaster by Oorab Mehta WHAT'S IN A SURNAME? Py Homi Dhalla ONA BICYCLE BUILT by Jeroo Gorimar dyeing in the For two IN the SUIULIGHT by Pervin Mahoney hw c^L*'**’ °^*'^^SIC •N MEMORIAM by Sanober Marker Parsiana < ¦h. 12 tradition-.; X IVl Ok a ¦¦ ^-"Ma Aadmanabhan o Page 3 7 13 15 17 19 23 ’ 24 28 33 36 41 42 45 47 *4 Navroz. depicting I at presented to the king it- 4»' f''- i• CAllimn' nonucallybetter-oirpatroQS for soon- pocket. His candidacy, he says, w WwlUXlllil to-be-defunct Parsi magazine, however, is dependent on the After playing a game of musical Annual subscription Rs. 16. Payment community wanting him to serve, cities, The Federation of the Parsi may be made in cash, typewriter * * * Zoroastrian Anjumans of India have ribbons, newsprint, film, zinc, dhan- In news from abroad, Ms Armaity settled on Bombay as the venue sak etc. Write Parsiana, GPO Box R. Irani has been elected president for the next Zoroastrian World Con- 892, Bombay 400001. of the Los Angeles Zoroastrian Asso- gress. The theme of the conference, * * * ciation. The organization is trying to be held in November 1977, is He helped win wars for this country, to build a library, notes her father “The Zoroastrian community in a He is India ’s first Field Marshal. And Rustom Irani, and anyone with changing world. ” Only Parsi Zoroas- yet there are people who question books to donate should write to her trians and Iranian Zoroastrians are his qualifications to be a trustee of at 5272 Los Adornis Way, Los eligible to be delegates, while obser- the Bombay Parsi Panchayat. While Angeles, California 90027. vers need be only Zoroastrians, thus it is true that a trust operates diffe- From San Francisco comes word ensuring the gathering ’s racial purity rently from a platoon, Sam H.F. J. that at the Navroz function held at and keeping the religion of Zoroaster (the last initial should actually be H, the Nataraja Restaurant this year, in its proper perspective. The see Parsiana, May 1974) Manekshaw it was decided to form a semi­ Congress had originally been sche- is serving at present on the board of formal association of Zoroastrians. duled for February next year, but several companies and is aware that About 100 adults and 30 children out-of-Bombay participants will be there is more to managing attended. “ At the moment it looks pleased to know that November is as a financial concern than wielding like the majority of us (this is the pleasant a mouth, despite it being the his baton and saying “Shabash. ” feedback from a questionnaire) peak of the marriage season. His organizational and admini- would be quite content to meet If you detect a note of bitterness strative skills that sustained the formally four times a year through there it’s because the large.majority armed forces in battle, should be planned events and get to know local of us on Parsiana are single. Even welcomed on any institution. Indeed, fellowZoroastrians, ” writes Farrokh though we faithfully read the matri- when asked whether he would be a Khambata, one of the two joint mouial columns we always lose out square peg in a round hole, his treasurers. “ Many have seriously because either we lack the necessary moustache all but bristled with expressed a need for religious gui- educational qualifications, have the indignation as he replied : “ I don’t dance or at least awareness to their wrong complexion, don’t measure up think so. ” children and a full-fledged but non- to the height requirement, don’t Of course the major drawback for practising priest (from Udwada) come from respectable enough fami- the Field Marshal ’s candidacy is that has agreed to hold regular monthly lies, or belong in the inappropriate he resides in the wilds of the Nilgiris, classes. income group. Therefore, in order to 600 miles away from the Parsi “ As many as six to seven Iranian raise dowries we composed the fortress of Bombay. But the soldier, Zoroastrian families are on our following plea : Lonely journalists who comes to Bombay once a month roster too and one of these days we with incomes in the negative bracket for company work, is willing to will ask them to give us a feel for and no future prospects, seek subs- double the number of visits and pay what it is like to be a Zarathusti in criptions from like>^minded but eco- the travel expenses out of his own Iran. ’TEN-SHUN ini “What is particularly ehcdurag- Katrak. Slides of ancient Persian the Behfamji Nowrosji Garnadia ing,” adds Khambata, “is that costumes were shown by courtesy Poly-Technic at 8 Gamadia Colony, many non-Zoroastrian spouses are of Jal Sidhwa. Following this was a Tardeo, is back in business. Under taking an active interest in the talk by visiting Ceylonese Zoroas- new management, the school ad^ planning and execution c. ------ events. x,.. --------- a----------- . From Australia, Ernani Giam- gave a brief ba^ground on the lish./Gujerati medium. Lulu , mv nvieuxaij ow.vni.j v. ---------4^ m 1? • 1 c Australian Zoroastrian Association nued with dancing, general merry- neer. Technical Exe^tive. in New South Wales writes to tell making and a delicious dinner. The New Activjty School ami the us of the group’s activities for nuai IS paiuvuiaiiy cuvuuiog- ivounA. ------------ —- ——„ j- t ........................ “is that costumes were shown by courtesy Poly-Technic at 8 Gamadia Colony, many non-Zoroastrian spouses are of Jal Sidhwa. Following this was a Tardeo, is back in business. Under of these triari Framroze Rustomjee, who mits students in Wireman s and events.” spoke on the meaning of Navroz and Fitter’s Trade Courses through Eng- From Australia, Ernani Giam- gave a brief background on the lish/Gujerati medium.” Interested buzzi, the honorary secretary of the Zoroastrian faith. The evening conti- parties may contact Minoo r. Engi- ¦ ¦ ¦ " • Before Rustomjee’s departure, he Activity High School on 2 N- 1975-76. W^ produce below an gave several talks at different venues Gamadia Road welcomes Parei stu- abridged report : at the Association ’s request. All dents, says its Director, Ms Daulat From August 1975 to date, our were well attended. A special sub- Doongaji. Though the pressure tor membership has increased to around committee is now busy drawing up admissions is great, cimcessions will 70 families which include nearly 200 further plans for more religious be made to promising Parsi students. Zoroastrians. We have had a busy gatherings. For those of limited economic me^s, nine months with committee We now have a library which financial aid will be given. 1 he Illite months with committee ..v... — -------j ------------- u , i e 4 meetings, picnics and outings which includes religious books, tapes and 22-year-old school, which was tound- are always well attended, despite slides. It is being managed by edby Ms Doongajiwith one studend, the vast distances one has to cover. Yashfara Mistree, the wife of our now has 850 and is presently We have also been publishing our monthly newsletter. The present committee has Meeting in July and hope to have an strongly felt the need for greater even busier year. Our President, . . ¦ emphasis on religion, jiarticularly Perves Marshal^ our committee At the time of going to press, we are i.. ...... ............. --- ------- - 2’, -----1- . p function was held at the West and fellow Zoroastrians m India. Pymble Community Hall, New South * * * Wales, and opened with the Tan- ---------------- • , • • 4 Durosti prayer given by Ms Piloo moan the lack of technical insti- . Sidhwa and Jangoo Unvala, followed tutions to train members of the extends its condolences to the public- by kusti prayers by Dr Peshotan community, will be pleased to learn minded Cowasjee Jehangir tamily. being managed by ed by Ms Doongaji with one student. committee J. d.jiILcLiU' IVlloUvV) Hlv viiiv VI vwi X4W TI r Vice-President, Dr Farrokh Mistree, managed by the Peroja Vasunia We shall hold our Annual General Educational Trust. * * * emphasis on religion, particularly Perves Marshall, our c---- ---- — . - . ~ ~ . in regard to children. The Navroz and I, send our best wishes to you grieved to inform our readers that f* J* ___ 1 _iJ 4-1^^ 1444A 7r.ocf".*!oo 1 Ti Tti H1 Ludy Himbai Cowasjee Jehangir, President of the Bombay Parsi In the field of education. Parsis who Panchayat passed away on 9th June following a coronary attack. Par si am Brown & Polson Custard Powder presents a delicious 'quick trick' Custard Delight A yummy way to give kids the goodness of milk every day. Take 4 tbsp BROWN & POLSON Custard ,. Powder and a little cold milk. Mix to a smooth cream. Heat j litre of milk, add the mixed custard powder and 4 tbsp sugar. Stir till mixture thickens. Pour into tightly greased dish. Cool until it sets. Garnish with nuts. Made from the finest ingredients, processed with extra care, BROWN & POLSON is truly the best Custard Powder you can buy I Variety Custard Powder pack with 6 popular flavours! y M Bl Brown 0 Polson ; Custard i POWDER Contains no eggs IT 2 a C Corn Products Co. (India) Pvt. Ltd. Shree Niwas House, H. Somani Marg Bombay 400001¦* J .h I H 1 fU “W, 'W Lf *j “ ffH/" "11 lit If Ife M ¦’ll DI ..,7— READERS' FORUM Air India trian could not enter fire-temples, or why dokhmenashini is a must. Then came a man named Mino- business circles here. and travel agents do this, for Parsiana is the Zoroastrian paper ------ , which is read and discussed the cher Pundole. His teachings prov- most amongst our community in ed most amongst our community in ed a fountain of inspiration, the U.S.A. and Canada, parti- particularly to the youth who had cularly in Montreal. As Zoroastrians abroad, our main concern is to teach our children the basic concepts of our religion. The Zoroastrian Asso­ ciation of Quebec does its best to through the Valley of Darkness keep our faith flourishing in this before he enters the Kingdom of part of the world. Fortunately we Light.” Gradually he consolidat- have five navar martabs from ed our faith, conducting religious Bombay and so we jashans on occasions like Jamshedi Navroz and house-warmings, deed more than 90 per cent of our fellow Zoroastrians are house owners here, which speaks for their ability and spirit of venture. As for language, I believe in moving with the times. We we drifted into other faiths. I too was one of those side-tracked ones. When I lamented these igno­ rant misdeeds, Minocher Saheb consoled me, ‘‘One has to pass part of the world. Fortunately we Light. perform classes at the Vachha Agiary ' ¦ every week; these still continue, according to his wish. Our group has increased in number, particularly after his demise. Our activities include performing navjotes of two de­ serving children every year, and offering sandalwood to eight at ash behrams every day as well as a small machi in Dady Seth Atash Behram in any one of the Gehs. We conduct a trip to eight atash Ih- Pilioo, Khodu, Homi . . . There is a deplorable tendency among Parsis to ‘abbreviate ’ our glorious names. Some glaring in­ stances are : Feroze (victorious) moving with the times, changed to Pilloo (meaning a chic- adopted Gujerati because keti in Parsi Gujerati); Khodadad landed on the west coast; had we (God given) changed to Khodu landed oti the other side of the (meaning God knows what); Hor- country, or in some other land, ------------- - --r — — ©— —7— mazdyar (friend of God) changed we would have surely adopted the behrams within J:hree days, which to Homi (meaning nothing at all), prevailing language. One has to " It is time that all concerned, speak the language of the land to particularly the younger genera- survive. Even our ancient scrip­ tion, took a stand against this vicious practice. We should revel in our glorious names and not Religion has no connection with any language. Has not the Bible been translated into many lan ­ guages ! over the globe? We need books on our ] culture in English for our children. Language should be mastered and used for one’s progress. Stick to one language, and you stagnate. N. D. REVITNA Pointe Claire, Canada allow anyone to play about with them. ARDESHIR SETHNA Calcutta interests even those who are not in our group, and organize an annual trip to Sanja'n and Bah- rot Mountain (where Pak Iran- shah remained for 12 years). We have stopped some Parsi girls studying in convent schools from being converted to Christianity, and its message spread inspired some Zoroastrians to 7.’_ ’__ 7 ’ stop smoking and dissuaded Parsi "refigion, history, and giris from marriage to non-Zoro- — - ¦ - - * ' ¦ astrians. Time alone will prove that Minocher Saheb ’s preachings were the solitary base on which the superstructure of Zoroastrianism rests. For those who believed in him, there was no explanation re­ quired; for those who did not, there was no explanation possible. ERVAD PERVEZ D. MITHAIWAIA survive. tures have been translated from Avesta to Zend and Persiati. some His Soul Marches On Sins of Omission I congratulate your artist for the cover of your February issue. The list of names is very interest­ ing. However. I would like to note that the name Dinaz is not listed. My 14-year-old grand ­ daughter is cross with Parsiana for the omission. I believe a list I wish to comment on the obitu- of male names is to follow. Now do not forget Rayomand or there iisnea m your reoruary issue. Tithes will be another angry 12-year-old. Any educated human being will > ’tne In regard to the Grindlays agree with me that a movement Our young priests are moving Bank advertisement, why not in- based on fanaticism cannot with- away from the priesthood because elude a few lines about facilities stand thunderstorms for over a they cannot make two ends meet, for foreign accounts; some Indian decade, let alone grow in number If we do not do something soon, ~ ¦ ¦ - -- Qjjj, priests will die out and if the priests die out the Parsis die out. Each Parsi earning more than Rs. 1,000 should contribute a minimum of Rs. 20 per month to­ wards the education of a priest’s ary of Minocher N. Pundole pub­ lished in your February issue. Any educated human being will based on fanaticism cannot with­ stand thunderstorms for over a banks do have them. Readers by leaps and bounds. If you con- abroad —^like me—^would like to fuse steadfastness with fanati- khow of such matters. Likewise, cism, you are mistaken. export oriented textile and chemi- In my own case, over the years cal manufacturers could include a number of doubts had troubl- information which would interest ed me, such as why a non-Zoroas-r child. Parsis in Poona, Karachi and Calcutta are doing a lot for the priests, why is the community in Bombay doing nothing? GOOL K. S. SHAVAKSHA "Priesthood by Caste?" In your feature “Should Priest­ hood Be By Caste? ” surprised to read the statement of one of the seven people interviewed: “Women should not be priests. They have never been priests before; they stuck to pre­ paring the malida." Dastur Dhalla, in his Zoroastrian Civilization, writes: “It appears that under certain circumstances, women also worked as priestesses. So sacred a work as that of offi­ ciating as a Zaota, or the chief priest, at a sacrificial ritual was not denied to their sex.” He bases his assertion on the Dinkard, Book VIII, which refers judge.” to ‘‘the Zoti duty of a woman or ‘_ 1 I was / / t i i , Illustration by Manjula Padman ahhan of law, and she could eveYi become _____ for ^his last statement, Das- child”. Evidently, even children Dhalla refers^^ again to the were trained in ceremonial ritual, which is logical for then they that the “proficiency of would grow up understanding the " " '¦ meaning of the sacrificial act. In another Pahlavi text, the Shayast-la-shayast (“The Proper and the Improper”), there is mention of women priests, woman is fit for priestly duty {Zotih) among women, and when she is consecrating the sacred law (akas-dad).. ” cake {damn)...” One of the points mentioned is: “The sacred cake of a disreputable woman is not to be consecrated, but is to be rendered ineligible (aviginako). A woman had to be virtuous and learned in priestly lore before she _ was permitted to take part in and with the Utmost severity, perform a ritual as a Zaota. It is of interest to note that women had substantial rights in ancient Iran. Dastur Dhalla writes: “She owned and managed property, could act as legally, against the guardian of a son dis­ inherited by his father, could legally conduct a plea in her husband ’s behalf, and manage his Madras. Why should Parsi women affairs in his ’name. She had the lag behind? privilege also of seeking redress in court against a cruel husband, and securing his punishment. The husband had no right to arrange a marriage for his Throughout my career, I have daughter without the approval felt that our young i—-— and consent of his wife. Her evidence was competent in a court marriage “A Dinkard, Book VIII, which states ; a woman who is acquainted with the law for a judgeship” is ‘‘above that of a full grown man unacquainted with the law. ” In an earlier chapter of the same book of the Dinkard, it is again emphasized ‘‘that the judgeship is to be given to him who is acquainted with the Women had to be as competent, if not more so, as men ih order to qualify as judges. Herodotus informs us that Iranian judges were held in the highest respect, ahd were elected for life. A mis­ carriage of justice was treated ¦ . Prob­ ably, only very brilliant and very ambitious women competed, side legal by side with men, for the coveted honour of a judgeship. In Ihdia today, there is no bar Parsi women qualifying as priests and judges. Dr Annama Chandy is an honour­ ed judge of the High Court of »» PILOO JUNGALWALLA New Delhi In High Places ' ’ “ J meh and women should try to get into our civil and military services. 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Phone: 270423 - 2721344 At oreseaat, the numbers are , thgsi for the examinations could from the government after a d,is- i i 4 * * tinguished 35 years of service, _ _ AX many top positions in­ Air Force, the Police, the Border eluding Advisor to the Governors Force, the Central of Gujerat and Orissa, Managing _ _ ,_ _ ” ; Director of Indian Airlines and iZ^fuily Service, and also to the Central Secretary, Department of Mines in Services such as the Indian Cus- the Ministry of Steel and Mines. toms, Indian Revenue, Indian Audit & Accounts, the Railways, the Banks, Posts and Telegraphs pitifully small but whoever has Ke organised by the community. reached the middle and top levels What I write applies to the reached the middle and top levels has done extremely well. A start of Rs. 700 and a graded Security scale, with some top appoint- ~ ments at Rs. 3,500, i comparable with industry; espe- daily with perquisites, such as the Reserve Police, the Indian Forest heavily subsidized accommoda ­ tion, free medical transport allowances, fund, pension and gratuity. Opportunities occur for seeing so many c . country and, in some top posts, tours, ’ ’ " ” ' take one to foreign countries. Above all is the satisfaction of the case of Purvjz^ Damry.^who working among people in the ” J' ’ most varied appointments imagin- was selected for the Indian Ad- able, Of course, hard work is necessary before taking the very competitive examinations —hard Secretary, work and coaching. But first, the c--------- facilities, provident and many others too numerous an d diverse to be mentioned. All A Hundred Years Ago Every elderly Parsi knows that UliU Uivciav LU uc x>i* ____ this is quite apart from the Public half a century ago, members of ~ -» .1 _ kio /^ommnmfv anVPTlTlirnUS. aiiu Liiv .ivv., ... his community were adventurous, K“on^gete VntTthe hard-working and interested in " ¦ industry, commerce and business. Yet in the issue of 18th May this year The Times of India has re­ produced a speech by K. R. Cama 3 Sector units and the services in different parts of the each state. ] __________ latter, one can eventually be pro­ deputations and felfowships moted to the top all India services. I can do no better than citing ¦tllV VCIOC , .1 .*0 i - t( A TT Started in the old Bombay State, appearing in the feature. A Hun- was selected for the Indian Ad- ministrative Service, and, after a term as Maharashtra ’s Finance competitive examinations —hard Secretary, rose to be Deputy »,uik ...... Governor of the Reserve Bank of candidates must be ready to work India. He has gone on to become anywhere in the country and to a high ranking United Nations leave the stultifying atmosphere man and is now at the Head- of Bombay. If they can get into ----- - the Foreign Service, they can serve anywhere in the world. Motivating talented young men i - * J and women and then coaching T/ze writer, who recently retired able. dred Years Ago”. f. “Mr. Cama, in the course of his lecture, said that the Parsecs now were "not so rich or energeti­ cally enterprising as of yore.... However reluctantly yet it must be owned that evil times have set in amongst the Parsees. Most of s oevrcitiiy. them are not only in an unpros- KERSHAsp SATARAWALA pcpous State, but many of them high ranking Uhited Nations ¦; now at the Head ­ quarters of the World Bank at Washington as Secretary. (Please turn to page 49 col. 3) Go east, go west— enjoy Swisscare all the way The world-renowned Swiss hospitality is at your service on all our 14 flights weekly from Bombay. Enjoy it in DC-10 comfort or in our tried-and-true DC-8s...with choice of tempting Continental cuisine or piping hot Indian vegetarian meals. V I I SWISSAIR ? For details call your IATA travel agent or the nearest Swissair office: \ Bombay 293535 Madras 82583 Ahmedabad 20401 Calcutta 444643 Delhi 44237 Bangalore 24062 &ieresilA2}tS^ 11In the News JEENA & COMPANY Two of the first Indians to be tile dyeing unit,” Bombay Dyeing dubbed Knight Commander of the is today one of India ’s finest mills Order of Merit of the Italian Re- with its products finding ready public are Parsis ; Jamshed Bha- - - — bha, trustee-in-charge of the National Centre for the Perform­ ing Arts and Zubin Mehta, the ception in 1879, the present chair- eminent music director and con- ductor of the Los Angeles Philhar ­ monic Orchestra. The congratulatory note to Bhabha from the Italian Ambas ­ sador to India, read, “By honour­ ing you I am honouring a per­ sonality who is certainly among the most illustrious of modern India. . The award, a white cross with a gold star and castles at its centre, was a tribute to Bhabha ’s contribution to the growth of cultural ties between India and Italy. Dr. Edmondo Anderlini, Consul-General of Italy, com­ mended his pioneering of the Michelangelo stamps in com­ memoration of the artist ’s 500th birth anniversary. Bhabha is a director of Tata Sons Ltd., and a trustee of seve­ ral public foundations, including the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the J. N. Tata endowment for higher education. He was recent- ____ ly appointed member of the ad- a biochemist at the Rubber Re- ministrative council of the UNESCO established Internation ­ al Fund for the Promotion of Cul­ ture. Bhabha is the only mem­ ber to be appointed from South and South-East Asia. Zubin Mehta, a friend and ardent admirer of Italy and Italian culture, was awarded the title by the Italian Consul-General at a function in Los Angeles. * * * The Wadia family founded tex­ tile concern, Bombay Dyeing, re­ ceived the national award for out­ standing export performance for Harayana, the year 1972-73 recently, at a 7.“ function held in Delhi’s Vigyan desperate combat^wUh her heavier Bhavan. A few weeks before, the " ‘ mill won the best export perfor- • mance award in the category of “textiles large-scale manufacturer exporter.” Started by Nowrosjee Wadia 97 years ago as a “simple, sin^e tex- markets all over the world. The Wadia family has been at the helm of the company since its in­ in man being Neville Wadia. His son. Nusli accepted the award. * * * Adi Godrej, a member of the renowned industrial family and director of Godrej Soaps, was re­ elected Chairman of the Com­ pound Livestock Feeds Manufac ­ turers’ Association of India at their ninth Annual General Meeting held recently. Godrej noted that the total pro­ duction of the Association mem­ bers had slumped in 1975 for the first time since its inception, lar ­ gely due to the “general recession­ ary situation in the economy.” He hoped the Government would now pursue “an output growth oriented policy.” The noted businessman is also the chairman of the reconstituted Development Council for Oils, Soaps and Detergents. * * Kuala Lumpur : S. J. Tata, * search Institute became the second man to receive the institute’s post­ graduate medal for his thesis on “The proteins ih the heavy frac ­ tion of hevea brasiliensis latex. ” Submitted to the University of Malaya as a Master of Science thesis, the paper was deemed to be of a very high quality by the selec­ tion committee. The award includes a $500 purse. * * * After mowing down feline opposi- sition from Delhi, Punjab and , 20-year old Pervin Shroff was locked in close and opponent. As 1,000 spectators in the vast contest arena of Delhi’s Talkotra Indoor Stadium watched in silence, 5'2" Pervih routed Ms V. Honup of Maharashtra B team, to become this year ’s All India {Please turn to page 56) (ESTD. 1900) IATA AIR CARGO Clearing, Forwarding Warehousing and Insurance Agents 10, Veer Nariman Road Fort, BOM BAY-1 Cable: Justitia ’ Telex: 2313 PHONE : 312032 Branches: E. Merc House 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani ( Formerly Theatre Road ) CALCUTTA-16 PHONE: 444711 •Jeena House,’ 50, Hanuman Road Connaught Circus NEW DELHI PHONE : 310821 131 "This place would become a center of our social and religious activities, where we can have a library, a place for worship and where we can have religion classes. We feel that such a place is a necessity and without which it will be extremely difficult and perhaps impossible to maintain our identity in this country. We are making a small but first step to a very desirable goal. In the tradition of Zoroastrian charity let us all contribute whatever one can, as often as one can, to this special fund. The goal we have set for ourselves, though modest for most communities, for us because of our small size seems at present like a dream. But on the fulfilment of that THE GIFT OF GUIV dream depends the very Survival of our community." The above plea was made by the office bearers of the Greater New York Zoroastrian Association to their members in June 1974. With a miniscule membership consisting mostly of young, professional people with school-going children just beginning to establish themselves in a new land, the dream seemed an impossible one. "After a year, we had fifteen hundred dollars in our special fund," noted the association's secretary, Lovji Cama. "That was just about enough money to buy one square foot of land in Manhattan." But somebody up there "moves in mysterious ways", writes Cama, and the Association realized their goal through the efforts of "three Iranian Zoroastrians, all with the name of Rustom." Parsiana carries below an abridged form of Game's written narration. considerable good will. For Parsis in India to realize the problems we faced, let them imagine they have to locate a place around seldom attends parties, Arbab Rus­ tam Guiv. (pronounced Geeve.) Guiv is the doyen of Iranian Zoroastrians. A millionaire busi­ nessman, his greatness lies not in Bombay to serve a community A his wealth but the use he has put scattered from Kalyan to Vihar, it to. Hi> charity has reached hot with another 10 to 15 per cent liv- only the Zoroastrians of Iran and ing beyond these limits. Imagine elsewhere but also other commu- ' ' ' ~ nities. After listening to Sarfeh, Guiv good property there is beyond your means. You cannot buy a piece of land and build Because the cost is high and time short. Next, try and to the Association and send him please as many Parsis as possible, an estimate of the amount requir- because you believe that the suc- ed. Characteristically Sarfeh chose cess of the venture has to be mea- Ervad Pervez Patel, who serves as sured by the amount of use ulti- priest to the community, to break mately made of the center by the the good news to the directors of community. You also have to the Association. The Board of Directors estimat- The first was the late Rustom Kermani, a man who made his fortune dealing in Persian carpets. Two years ago one of our mem­ bers, Farokh Patel, obtained a donation of $50 from him. year later, Patel and Naval Sidhwa, then vice-president of the Asso­ ciation, approached Kermani to see if he would consider giving a larger donation to the special fund. However, Kermani said his funds offered to buy a place in the New were committed to charitable York area for the Association. He causes in the Middle East and asked Sarfeh to convey the offer specifically to the building of an elementary school in Kerman. He instead directed them to Dr. Rostam Sarfeh in New York. Sarfeh is a doctor who till 15 years ago practised in Iran where he also started the magazine Hukt (Good Words). On Jamshedi Nav ­ roz in 1975 Sarfeh attended the ed that a suitable center could be ritual Jashan and dinner hosted by bought for about $110,000; about in a zone where there are only . the Association. The gathering of 200 Zoroastrians from Iran, India and Pakistan bore evidence that the These figures were sent to Guiv in community in the three states of New York, New Jersey and Con­ necticut were not lacking in spirit annually. He requested that all and were trying to establish themselves in this country. Sarfeh wanted to write about the associa ­ tion in Hukt. He was planning a trip to Iran, and armed with the constitution, by-laws, the annual able place. As all of us are em- report and the treasurer ’s state- that the central city of Bombay is out of bounds because the price of restrict yourself to property that is correctly zoned; for example, one cannot just buy a large house residential houses and convert it into a club or church. Perhaps now you will realize why it has early June and he graciously agreed taken us almost a year to find a to pay $110,000 and an extra $4,500 suitable place. In New York We only found pro- haste be made so that he could perty which was dilapidated or in see his gift realized as soon as deteriorating neighbourhoods. A possible. 13-year old church building was The directors and members of found by Patel in Clark, New the Association hunted for a suit- Jersey. The locality was good and the price reasonable. However, it was not centrally located. ment he left to spread the word, task of locating a property had In i At a party in Teheran he spoke to be done in the evenings and on Madam about the achievements of the Greater New York Association and the desire of its members to have a permanent home. Present at the function was a man who $4,500 would be required in addi ­ tion for maintenance expenses. ployed full-time elsewhere, the task of locating a property had mid-August Arbab L Guiv and New weekends, often driving a hundred York. Guiv was keen to see the miles to check out a site. About three pieces of property selected. 35 properties were inspected by On seeing the Clark Church he nearly all the directors. The work decided to buy it and an adjoin- was done, cheerfully and with visited (Please turn to page 49, col. 1) 15> - *•3^ *«. - - • Meet the Press “Sometime to note, a lot more needs to be done. —--------- ago statistics were taken out” noted a report pre­ pared by the Panchayat staff, “and it was found that there are nearly 4,000 cases on the pending list on -a -L_ r_--i r 1 ’ ’—" people were found to have applied who were engaged to be married and could not find accommodation; 310 cases were of dilapidated houses.” The number of applicants would be higher if women were per­ mitted to apply, but as their children would not be considered Parsis should they marry out of the com­ munity, the Panchayat reportedly insists on males making the application. “Our position has been made worse due to old -- ¦ - ’ - ’ -------- - “We have The invitation was simple enough. “At one of the Board Meetings the Trustees of the Parsi Panchayat ago had decided to meet the Parsi Press to discuss ] certain matters of importance to the Parsi Com- t-------- --------- * j v.. „ munity.” But the contents signaled the beginning the register of the Parsi Panchayat and about of a new epoch. After decades of following a closed door policy, the Trustees of the most power­ ful Parsi institution had relented, to editorial insistence that they take the community into con­ fidence. The official purpose of the meeting held at the Panchayat ’s premises on 25th May was to focus attention on two major problems facing the com­ munity: housing and the declining population. But - it also served as an opportunity for the beleaguered houses collapsing, noted Lady Jehan^n seven Trustees to answer their critics by listing their not got enough accommodation for them. We send J? T. * — ««I I TTTA l-lTT Zi TAI Q Till lAr IT 1 I cj accomplishments, especially in the field of housing, one thousand flats have been constructed by the Panchayat, ” noted the Board ’s President, Lady Hirabai Jehangir. Of these 750 were allotted to middle class families on rent and 250 sold on owner­ ship basis. ‘ the middle-class and not the poor,' “It was because we could not bring the rent down to what the poor could afford. Each building costs a minimum of five lakhs; people have said these struc­ tures are the best they have seen for the price.” The President further noted that 25 shops were constructed which had been “given to our fellow Zoroastrians both for business purposes as well as for professional work.” In addition the Panchayat has several new hous­ ing schemes in the pipeline thanks to two promised community, donations, one of eight lakhs from the Garib Zar- toshti Rethan Fund of which Trustee B. K. Boman- Behram is chairman, and the other of five lakhs from the newly established Godrej Foundation. t^7n'arTheF.*S?¥^rukh ”Dharams ’ala ’on “Hughes Rusi, who jointly own the Gujerati daily, roundly - - - J—--J -1-----------------“We print what the public thinks, said the elder Cama. “We don’t hear it (such criticism) from the , V V J T . J__ T-1______ hear it from the Kaiser-e-Hind." “That ’s why you hear it from the Bombay SuruuJcu,;' retorted Cama. Indeed, it was the persistent broadside from Samachar Editor J ehan Daruwala that was largely responsible for the Trustees following Guzder’s precedent in meeting with the Press to present their side of the story. Mind­ ful of the Panchayat ’s image as a hotbed of intrigue and politics, Guzder noted, “At our meetings we sometimes have up to 40 items on the agenda. Do you think it could be possible to go through them between 5.30 and 8 if we were to quarrel? ” Boman-Behram took the opportunity to remove {Please turn to page 49) them to sanatoriums till we find a place. ” And while forced to lead nomadic lives, sanatorium to another, the Trustees feel little can be done unless more money is forthcoming. - -------------- .. - j „ marriage to education, but no construction fund, 1________a-J T „ J-. TaKaarvia aaoaiiro tVIfVO<»V ffnr she continued housing) from other trusts and individuals* but From 1952 to 1974, a span of 23 years, nearly many families are ’ ; moving from one “You will ask me why we did this for lamented Lady Jehangir. Construction of residential flats is also being under­ Road by Noshir Irani ’s Bhakhtawar Construction denied the charge. Company. “Today the Trustees have uhder their control, 159 buildings and 1805 occupants, ” : ’ Jehangir. The figures make the Panchayat prob­ ably the largest landlord in Bombay, next to the government, and according to some has transformed Samachar, the Trust into a real estate agency. Aside from the Panchayat housing, 1650 occupants live in colonies constructed by the Wadia Trusts, and the total number of inhabitants living in Parsi trust properties is 6,250, says Trustee Erach Nadirshah. “If we take five persons to a family, ” he continued, a questionable figure considering that many Parsis remain single or marry late and have few children, “the Trusts have provided housing for 31,210 Parsis or 48 per cent of the community in Bombay. ” But as the Trustees themselves were at pains “We have funds for everything from 'We receive money (for nothing from the public as such. If they would even contribute small sums, it would help,” But with the Panchayat ’s image at an all time low, such aid would not be donated, unless, as the Trustees noted, the Press “strengthens our hands. ” As Trustee Jamshed Guzder told the gathering of newspaper proprietors and editors representing the Bombay Samachar, Kaiser-e-Hind, Jam-e-Jamshed and Parsiana, “A strong Panchayat means a strong The Trustees felt sections of the Press were eroding the public’s confidence in the Panchayat. Turning to Muncherji Cama of the Samachar, Boman- Behram asked: “Is the policy of your paper anti-Panchayat? ” Cama and his two sons. Noshir and ' the Gujerati daily, roundly ____ _ 'C—j- A.V ** said Lady Jam-e-Jamshed," noted Lady Jehangir. “We doh’t 1 _____ ? J_ £ aa.. U.la ’’ nPhoto by Manjula Padmanabhan Mirroring Society by Pervin Mahoney going to survive.” Indeed, self-scrutiny has been one of the major concerns of the AAA; although it started in 1945 as a fraternity where admen could swap expe­ riences, it has since devised a code of standard prac ­ tices, organized nationwide surveys, and liaised with bodies like the Press Commission. One major issue it took up was the recent proposal that all public-sector advertising would go to the State-owned Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity. Though not finalised, this policy caused anxious moments in the industry, coupled with the recession and the subsequent cut in clients’ budgets. “Mrs Gandhi just has to sneeze and budgets come tumbling down,” said Ms Wadia. “But actually last year was a boom year for quite a few agencies because for the first time the Indian businessman, faced with a sluggish market, didn’t go into his shell, but instead tried to vigorously pro­ mote sales through advertising. Also the agencies, fearing a slump in business, had tightened their belts. As for the ones that failed —well, no comment. Bud­ gets are cut after things have already gone bad. The client’s money buys less and less, and from this nearly static income, agencies have to meet increased expenses. It’s in the interest of newspapers to raise agencies ’ commissions from fifteen to twenty per cent, because most agencies work on a very low profit ratio —half to one-and-a half. ” Asked how she had such an impressive array of statistics at her well-manicured fingertips, Ms Wadia explained with a determinedly unweary smile, “The recession is something I’ve been asked about every week.” Whether an agency sinks or swims is also depend- I ent on the fact that most Indian publicity budgets are low by international standards. “One or two insertions in Time magazine will finish off the entire budget of an average advertiser, ” she noted. “Coupled with this is the fact that any medium in India only reaches small pockets of people. Television may prove the answer, but the Government is hesitant about allow, ing commercial TV because of the notion that it is unethical to create needs. Right now TV is so new that any ad will have maximum impact. Whereas radio is effective as a reminder medium, TV is like having a salesman in the drawing room.” However, this salesman is priced breathtakingly high: a spon­ sored show, with two 10-second slides in a 15- minute programme, costs Rs 4,000 per station per show; while a cinema slide costs Rs 400 a month. “Only the Government can afford to reach the villages, ” noted Ms Wadia. “At present the 3A has An ornate timepiece ticked the seconds away beside been given an assignment by the Ministry of Health a carved settee. On the terrace outside was a jungle to work out a family planning campaign in U.P., of house-plants, filling the room with a haze of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. ” Using unconven- gentle green. In her office high above Ballard tional media like puppet shows and travelling con- Estate, far removed from the smell of commerce, from certs, different motivations have been planned for stewed tea and frayed tempers, sat Nargis Wadia, different audiences : teenagers are urged to delay mar- dispensing coffee and good cheer. Founder of one of riage till they have secured jobs; couples are explained Bombay ’s most reputed advertising agencies, Inter the concept of ‘spacing ’ and urged to stop at two; and Publicity, her 21-year career from artist to managing mothers-in-law —“Did you know mothers-in-law are director had just been climaxed with her election as opinion leaders? ”—are asked not to jeopardise their president of the Advertising Agencies Association of children’s finances by insisting on a grandson. “You India, whose 49 member-agencies account for over don’t see results in a social campaign like this, till at least half your audience is convinced. Then the acceptors can put pressure on the rest,” declared Ms Wadia. “But the process is slow. ’.. ” Being a woman, did she object to advertisements 59 seventy per cent of India ’s total advertising turnover. “Such a lot of calumny has been heaped on our pro­ fession, especially in the present ideological climate," notes Ms Wadia, “that it needs to police itself if it’s 19J':??' ‘J V < aw * * -i ' ¦V1 ! r 1 1 using bosomy beauties flashing “come up and see me some time” Rances to sell products from cigarettes to crankshafts? ’ “No,” came the firm reply. “If women British packaging, are exploited as sex symbols, that ’s not the fault of ’ advertising. Advertising is amoral. It reflects current mores. That ’s how contemporary society sees women.” The hidden implication that only if you buy a particular brand will success, sex and satis ­ faction ensue, was dismissed with a worldly shrug. “I ing Lintas, think a much more serious question Js the ethics be- which ^promise to" make you six inches taller use taken on the same day and cleverly retouched with special lighting effects. Or take those ads which claim to make your hair stop falling. Maybe there are some 1----- ------- ,, advertising preys on the fears or deficiencies of a person.” When she is talking business it is hard to remem­ ber that Ms Wadia, whose husband Vinci is also a director in Inter Publicity, is the mother of two school-going boys, Roy and Riyad. “I became a visualizer thanks to mother,” said the first woman president of the AAA, drawing a cigSrette ffdffi S black and gold carton; we paused in brief homage to* 2.1,1-1- _ Then she resumed, “In those? days everyone did a B.A. You only went to art school if you didn’t do too well at school.’’ Having do4wf stints at Bombay ’s J. J. School of Art and London’s Central School of Art, she worked in the studio's of Air-Itidia and two British agencies befcire join' l„o LI—_ But finally she found it “limiting’’, knew that just changing jobs wouldn’t help,’’ she said. “So after my marriage we started a small design studio in our garage. ” And that was the birth of Now a 120 man agency with offices in Bombay, Delhi and Madras, Interpub’s first business was mainly with textiles: Sadhana and Modella. “Perhaps . ... ------- .c- ,--------- a woman. But I don’t think of myself as a woman executive. And I don’t think men and women are equal: in some things men are superior, in some, women. If we levelled everybody it would become extremely boring,” said Ms Wadia, the tip of her nose wrinkling ever so faintly. “Actually, Im a terribly conservative person.” Having do!ne‘ “1 hind a particular type of advertising. Those campaigns which promise to make you six inches taller use ‘before’ and ‘after ’ photographs which are^ actually Interpub. _ Delhi and Madras, fnterpub’s first business LlClJvC VxJUl IIAIX XC4.1X1 •*¦ J , - .. X 1-. T< --. herbs which prevent hair loss; but such I found it easier to get textile accounts because ni « • - • A happy occasion in the family? Share the good news through Parsianu ¦ » * ? Through the columns of Parsiana you can inform a wedding, navjot, birth, anniversary or any I .. to cover expenses, we'll carry a photograph and a write-up of the magazine plus a one-year i----------------- . in touch with the family, friends and old acquaintances whom you Let Parsiana be your correspondent I------------ ------------ Rate for printing a | The fee includes five copies of the issue and a one-year seamail subscriptions). ' 1 members of the community all over the world of happy and memorable event. For a nominal service charge of the occasion and send you five copies inland subscription for yourself or a friend. It's the best way of keeping don't often meet or write to. _¦ 'l because wherever there are Parsis. there s Parsiana. photograph, approximately sized x 3", and a 70-word caption • I : Rs. 110. inland subscription (add Rs. 16 for foreign Send your remittance along with a glossy print and a caption of upto 70 words, stating the principal people in the photograph (left to right), what the occasion was and when and where it was favour of Parsiana. Cash > » held, to Parsiana. G.P.O. Box 892. Bombay 400 001. Cheques to be drawn in Hopeful Playgroup Centre. 40 Bastion Road, Bombay payment and money orders accepted, care of 400 001. For further details phone 262624. ¦ t f t ff * * «****«’*¦'<> ii'O » *??'**** > I >???? t « ? 21S 3 I i1 I - With a Song and a Prayer By Ruzbeh Antia Bharucha ’s couplets at my house and begged me to use them for a programme. I read them and liked them and made them into a closely knit musical. ” Katrak ’s compositions have their roots in the tradition of Shah- nameh recitals and kirtans in the small-town Parsi mohollas of old. “In those days people sat and listened all night long, but today they all want to go home after two hours,” says Katrak. “It is impossible to relate the entire life­ story of Zoroaster in one program ­ me.” He has, therefore, divided it into four parts and each kirtan deals with only one of these four. The first part describes the condi­ tions on earth which led to the birth of the Prophet and the second tells the stories of his youth and childhood. The third section continues with the description of his old age and death, whilst the last is mainly about the spread of the religion after it received royal patronage at the court of King Gushtasp. The beginning and end of every Old Parsi patriarchs, long dead, the audience. This couplet became kirtan is unique. “I always start peered myopically from their dusty a refrain which was repeated at with hum-bandagi or community perches on the walls of the K. R. regular intervals during the next prayer, ” says Katrak. “I want to Cama Oriental Institute Library, hour and a half; in between was create the atmosphere of a prayer- Their life’s work, reduced to a long sequence of others, all in hall so that the audience settles heavy hard-bound tomes, lay un- praise of the Prophet, sung either down for the kirtan in a religious disturbed in glass-shuttered cup- solo or in chorus, at times to frame of mind.” The kirtans gen­ boards. Among these relics of the simple folk melodies and, at erally end with the singing of past sat rows of men and wome'n others, to more classical tunes, monajats (short Persian hymns), with heads covered, waiting for Here and there, Katrak pans- and the popular tune "Chhaye Hame the Oordad SoZ evening program- ed to explain a point, relate an Zarathosti' (‘We Are Zoroastrians ’). me to begin. In complete contrast to the general placidity, hopping audience laughed, sang and listen- from place to place, supervising the t2 2. _2___ __2 ..2_ loudspeaker arrangements, trying wanted them to. the microphone, was tall, thin, white-clad Pervez Katrak, a black silk cap covering his thinning hair and a pair of dark-rimmed specta ­ cles perched firmly on his pro­ minent nose. Everything in order, the audi ­ ence rose and recited the Ashem Vohu and Yatha Ahu Vairyo Katrak. “The proper English term together with Katrak and his musicians, * thus setting the tone for the kirtan that was to follow. To the strains of the harmonium, Zoroaster, punctuated by simple Katrak intoned in a sonorous bass the first of the fifty-seven coup­ lets penned by Behram Phiroze- its symbolism. He generally writes ' ' the kirtans and composes the music himself, “but the Khordad Sal programme was different,” he ex­ plains. “Some months ago a total the audience. This couplet became perches on the walls of the K. R. regular intervals during the next “ ~ - - - - -- between was a long sequence of others, all in praise of the Prophet, sung either solo or in chorus, at times to Here and there, Katrak paus ­ ed to explain a point, relate an . anecdote or crack a joke, and the Finally, Katrak passes the hat 21____ 1 1.-2,___ __ 2 11____ • around with an appeal to donate ed in silence as and when he generously. “Everybody gives ac ­ cording to his ability, and the money I collect is given entirely to some charity such as poor tnobeds' funds and kathi funds of agiaries, or poor students’ funds, hospitals and schools. I don’t Katrak ’s kirtans have been a familiar feature of the Parsi cul­ tural scene for over three years now. Derived from 'kirti na geeto gava' (songs of praise), a kirtan - has come to mean any narration charge anything for performing of a religious nature recited to the kirtan. ” accompaniment of music, explains Katrak ’s social consciousness would be musical discourse.” Kat- rak ’s recitals relate the myths and legends woven round the life of commentaries which convey the essence of the religion and explain shaw Bharucha in praise of Zoro­ aster. As the beats of the tabla slowly crept in, the same lines were taken up by the four ac ­ companying singers and finally by stranger left several copies of the kirtan.' Katrak ’s took root over 30 years ago during the struggle for independence. Bur- jo,rji Bharucha, the noted philan ­ thropist and freedom fighter, was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, “and it was through him {Please turn to page 43) Among the musicians who accompany Katrak in his Kirtans are : Navroze Mehta; Dhanmai Bhabha; Kersi Mistry; JalOo Bhesania; Silloo Shroff; Eruch Anklesaria; Minoo Vimadalal; Phiroze Gundevia; Behroze Motivala and Rustom Doongaji. 23If - ' ! Abadan, Abadarad, Abadi f. In this issue Parsiana publishes the list of male names from 'A " to "L ". The reason why the list of male names is almost twice as long as that of the female names, which we printed in our last issue, is open to debate, but one answer may be that the " progenitor of the Aryans" was a male. Gayomard. AH the names are of Iranian origin. In some cases we have furnished the Avestan {Av.}, Pahlavi {Pah!.} and Cuneiform {Cun.} forms. Some of the spellings may seem unusual to readers, but they approximate as closely as possible to the pronunciation in the original languages. The list is not comprehensive and readers are requested to draw omissions and errors to our attention so that corrections may be incorporated, should the list be produced in book form. We extend our thanks to the several scholars of Avesta and Pahlavi whose assistance made this project possible. The responsibility for any shortcomings is entirely ours. Parsiana staffers Sanober Marker, Pervin Mahoney, Veera Parbhu and Veera Pate! worked on the project. Alphabet Illustrations designed by Manjula Padmanabhan. AH rights reserved. r tx I ADARMAH Month of Adar ADARMARD A man of power ADARPADYAVAND Fire of power ADARVAN Fire protector ADEL Just AETHROPAITY Chief priest AFLAK Exalted AFLATUN Plato AHUMSTUT One who prays the Ahu {nvar} i.e. Yatha Ahu Vairyo AHUNAVAD Lord's will ; name of the first of the five Gathas of I Zarathushtra AHURAMAZDA Omniscient Lord of Existence AIRYAMAN Noble mind AMARDAD Immortality; Av. Ameretat: Pahl. Amurdad Powerful, strong ANOSH Immortal ; elixir ANOSHIRUVAN Having an immortal soul AORANG Glory, honour APIVEH Extremely good ARASH Truthfulness; righteousness; name of a famous archer of ancient Iran ; Av. Prekhsha: Pahl. Arish ARASTI Adorned; name of Zarathushtra's uncle; father of Mediomah ABADAN Prosperous ABADARAD One who possesses prosperity ABADI Prosperity ADAR Fire ; Av. Atar Pahl.Aft;/ ’ ADARBAD Protector of fire; name of a saint ADARBEHRAM Fire of success, victory ADARBURZIN Fire of exaltation ; name of son of hero Framroz; shortened form of Adarburzinmeher ADARBURZINMEHER Fire of exalted love and affection ; the third sacred fire of Sassanian Iran, that of husbandmen ADARFIROZ Fire of victory ADARFRA Fire of glory ADARGUSHNASP Fire dedicated to a war stallion; the second sacred fire of Sassanian Iran, that of warriors ; an emblem of military strength ADARHORMAZD Fire of God ADARHOSHANG Fire of knowledge and intelligence ADARKHORDAD Fire of glory ADARKHURSHED Fire of the sun ARDAFRAVASH Holy guardian spirit ARDASHIR Righteous ruler; Pahl.form of Av. Aretakhshathra ARDAKHOREH Having holy lustre ARD AVI RAF Holy resplendent hero ARDIBEHESHT Best righteousness ARDVAN Protector of holiness ARJASPA Having valuable horses; name of a Xyonian prince ARMIN A dweller of the garden of Eden; son of King Kobad ARSHAK Straightforward ARSHIS Blessing ARTAFARNIS Having holy glory ARTAXERXES Greek form of Ardashir ARVAND Swift; brave, courageous; Av. Aurvant; name of a mountain in old Iran ARYABURZIN Exalted Iranian ARZANI Worthy ASDIN Hope of religion ASFANDIAR Created by the holy spirit ASHAVAHISHT Best righteousness ASHRAF Noble ASHTAD Rectitude; name of an angel ASRAT Third ; Av. Thrita: father of hero Kersasp of the Sama family ASMAN Sky ASPANDAD Bountiful humility; earth; name of an angel ASPANDYAR Bountiful friend; Av. Spenta meaning bountiful AS PANTAMAN White one; family name of Zarathushtra ATBIN Name of the father of King Faredun ; Av. Athvyan AURVATASP One having swift horses; name of the father of Vishtaspa AYANGHAT Made of iron AYATHREM Name of the fourth Gahambar AZAD Noble AZADCHIHR Of noble appearance AZADAFROZ Shining nobly AZADMARD Noble man AZADSARV Noble cypress AZARKEVAN Fire of Saturn ; name of a famous dastur AZAR MIG Endearing, honoured, respected AZARZUSHNES Fire-like potency 24t BABAK Pahl. Papak'. ancestor of Sassanian King Ardashir BABAKAN Descendants of Babak BAGHODAT Created by God BAHADUR Valiant BAHMARD Good man BAKHTAFRIT Blessed by fortune BAKHTYAR Friend of fortune BALASH Name of a king ; another form of Valakhsh BAM DAT Dawn BAMSHAD Pleasant dawn BANDAR Port, harberor BARAZ Exalted BARMAK Name of a noble family in Iran BARMAN High minded BARZU, BURJOR Exalted ; Av. Berezat, name of an angel; name of grandson of hero Rustom BASTAVAR, BASTUR jName of a famous f ero ; Av. Bastavairi o rte who wears a tight armour round his chest; name of Zarir's son and King Gushtasp's nephew BEHBUD Good leader BEHMAN Good mind BEHMANYAR Having a friend with a good mind BEREZISHNU Highly pleasing BEREZAVANT Exalted BEHRAM Victorious; tiame of an cr.gcl BEHRAMCHOBIN Having a victorious club; name of a celebrated Iranian general BEHRAM DAD Created by victory BEHRAMGOR Sassanian King Behram famous for extraordinary ' skill in shooting 'gor' i.e. wild ass BEHRAMIAN Descended from the family of Behram BEHRUZ Good day BEHZAD Born of good family BEZAN Name of the son of Banugushnasp,the brave daughter of hero Rustom BOKHTAR Redeemer, saviour BUNDAR With a noble lineage BURZINCHEHER With ai'i exalted face BURZIN Exalted BURZINKURUSH Name of a teacher of Zarathushtra ; exalted sun BURZINMEHER, BUZARGMEHER Exalted love, great friendship CHAKHRaVAT Having a chariot CHAXSHNUSH Rejoicing ; narrie of Zarathushtra's ancestor CHEHERAZAD Of noble countenance CHUBIN Having a wooden mace, club or bat; nickname of the famous General Behram of King Khusro Parvez who used a wooden club DAD Law, justice; name of a a pious dastur DADAR Creator DADBANDAD Law-conforming DADBURZIN Exalted by law DADFARUK Shining by law DADFIRUZ Victorious by law DADGAR Judge DADMEHER Just law DAENOVAJANGH Religious force DANESHVAR Possessing knowledge, learned DARAYUS, DARIUS, DARYUS Possessing goodness; Cun. Darayavahu, name of the famous Achaemenian king DARA, DARAB, DARABSHAH, DARASHAH Name of a king, shah being an honorific DARAZDAST Long-handed ;-King Artaxerxes Longimanus was thus called DAVRAMESHI Having stout sheep DEHMEHER Friend of village DILAFRUZ Kindler of the heart DINSHAH Lord of religion DINYAR Friend of religion DIVBAND Binder of demons DRAVASP Having healthy horses; name of an angel to whom YashtlX {Gosh) is dedicated EMET Hope EMIN Secure, safe; arbitrator; supervisor ERACH Noble; name of the youngest son of King Faredun ESHKABUS Name of an enemy warrior, killed in battle by Rustom on foot, with one arrow ESTAKHRA Ancient Persepolis; Pahl. Stakh ar FAO LAD Steel FA RAVIN DAD Obtaining glory FARDAD Endowed with splendour FAREDUN Pahl. Freton', Av. Thraetaona meaning thrice strong; famous king of Iran, who killed Zohak FARHAD Cutter of stones; name of an Iranian who, to win his beloved Queen Shirin, dug through an immense mountain FARIBURZ Exalted glory FARJAN Wise, learned FARKHAN, FARKHANEH Behaving with propriety FARNBAG God's glory; the first sacred Fire of Sassanian Iran, that of priests and noblemen FARROKH Auspicious, blessed, happy 25FARROKHZAD, FARKHOZAD Auspiciously born FARROKHBAKHSH Bestower of joy, happiness FARROKHNEZAD Of blessed purity FRASHAVARD Av. Frash-ham~vareia: name of a son of King Gushtasp killed in battle with Arjasp FARUD Descent; name of the brother of King Kaykhusru FRAMARZ Merci|ful ; name of the son of hero Rustom. His exploits are narrated in Borzu Nameh and Framarz Nameh FIRDOUS Paradise FIRDOUSI Belonging to Paradise; nom de plume of the greatest poet of Iran FIROZ Victorious FRAHISRVA Celebrated FRASHAOSHTRA Having useful camels; name of a believer; brother of Jamasp, of the Hvogva family FRAVAK Forthright speaker; name of the father of King Hoshang and son of Siamak FREORTIS Farvardin: name of the first month geramig Dear; treasured ; name of one of the generals of King Gushtasp GILSHAH ' King of the earth ; another name of Gayomard GOBERU Cattle nourisher; name of the Zoroastrian ruling dynasty of Tabaristan gopatshah Lord of cattle GORAZE One who organises; Av. Varaze, name of an Iranian hero ; brother of King Gushtasp GORGIN Name of the court jester of King Kaykhusru GOSHNJAM Name of the father of Dastur Manushcheher GOVAD Name of an angel presiding over wind; name of 22nd day of each morith GUSHTASP Having a ready horse ; Av. Vishtaspa, Greek Hystaspis, Kayanian patron king of Zarathushtra GUSHNASP Possessing a stallion GUDARZ, GODREJ Father of Gev. A wise counsellor at the court of Iran GUSHTAHM Of a strong family GUSHVAR Ear-ring gaodhasti One who maintains animals GASHTAHAWI Very strong: name of the valiant son of King Naodar GAUBRUVA Cun. name of a Persian companion of Darius 1 GAVE, GEV Name of the son of Gudarz, and the husband of Banugushnasp, the brave daughter of Rustom GAYOMARD Mortal life; name of the progenitor of the Aryans HABUB Having good animals or cows; Av. Hvogva, family name of Jamasp HAECHATASPA One who sprinkles water on horses ; Av. Haechaiaspa, fourth ancestor of Zarathushtra ; family name of Zarathushtra HAFEZ Friend; name of a celebrated Sufi poet of Iran HAFTANBAD Made prosperous by seven planets HAKHAMANISH Friendly mind; name of the fifth ancestor of Darius the Great, after whom the Achaemenian dynasty was named HARDAR Eighth linear ancestor of Zarathushtra HARDARASHNA Severith ancestor of Zarathushtra HOM Name of an angel ; name of a medicinal plant HOMA Name of a bird of Iran HOMAYUN Auspicious; applied to royalty HOMFRASHMI Foremost Hom; name of a pious man who caught Afrasiab in his noose and handed him over to Kaykhusru HOMYAR Friend of the angel Hom HORMAZD Av. Ahura Mazda, Omniscient Lord of Existence hormazdad Created by Hormazd HORMAZDYAR Friend of Hormazd HOSH Intelligence hoshang Knowledge and intelligence ; Av. Haoshyangha. name of a Pishdadian king HOSHEDAR One who increases holiness; name of a future saviour hoshedarmah One who increases reverence, name of another future saviour HOSHYAR Clever; name of a learned mobed, disciple of Dastur Azar Kaiwan HUAFRID Well-created ; name of a king and his dynasty who ruled after the Kayanians HUKHSHTHRA Good ruler HUMAN Name of a Turanian hero HUSHAN Beautiful husrav Of good fame HUTAN Well-bodied HUVASPA Having good horses HUZVAK Good speaker HVARECH AES M AN Having eyes like the sun HVARECHITHRA Originated from the sun; Av. name of the second son of Zarathushtra IRANI A resident of Iran IRANSHAH King of Iran, used today for the holiest Fire enthroned at Udvada ISATV ASTRA Voluntary agriculturist; Av. name of eldest son of Zarathushtra ISFAHANI Of Isfahan ISHVAT Desired IZAD God; angel IZADYAR Friend of God JAMASP Possessor of sturdy horses; name of a minister of King Gushtasp who was the husband of Pouruchisti, youngest daughter of Zarathushtra JAMSHED The shining river Jam ; Av. Yima Khshaeta, famous Pishdadian king JAMSHIR Son of King Khusru Parviz who ruled for a brief period JANDAL Name of a wise counsellor of King Faredun, sent to the court of YamanI JANGI Warlike; brave JAVAN MARD Young man JAVIDAN Eternal, perpetual : name of the father of Ardashir, a signatory to the letter of the Zoroastrians of Khorasan to the Parsis, dated 880 A.Y. JEHAN World JEHANABAD One who makes the world prosper JEHANBAX Bestower of the world ; son of hero Framarz JEHANDAR Keeper of the world JEHANGIR Conqueror of the worlp JEHANJOY Stream of the world JEHAN MARD Man of the world JEHANSHAH King of the world JEHANSOZ Burner of the world: name of hero Barzu's son >¦ KAIKOBAD Name of founder of Kayanian dynasty : Av. Kavi Kavata. friend of royalty KAKUE Name of a general of King Faredun KALBAD Name of a Turanian hero KAM BYSIS Cambyses, the son of Cyrus the Great; Cun. Kambujiya or Kabujiya KAM DELE Desire of the heart KAMDIN Desire of religion KAM RAN Name of a learned Zoroastrian of Shiraz KAMUS Family name of Eshkabus, killed by Rustom with one arrow KERSASP Having lean horses: the celebrated Pishdadian hero KESHWAD Son of Karan ; name of a general of King Miriochehr KEVAN Saturn KHAKAN Emperor of China or Turkistan KHANVANT Shining KHARAD Wisdom: Av. Khratu: Pahl. Khrat: Pers. Khirad KHAZRAVAN Name of a Turanian hero KHOJASTEH Auspicious KHORAM Delightful, happy KHORUSHASP Having pleasant horses KHRUTASP Having hard horses; name of the father of Zohak KHOSRAV, KHUSRO Of good fame ; Av. Husrava: king; (compare'Caesar', 'Czar') KHUBCHEHER Having a fine face KHUBRUY With a good face KHUBYAR Having a good friend KHUDABANDEH Servant of God KHUDABAX Gift from God KHUDADAD Created by God KHUDAMARD Man of God KHUDAMORAD Desire of God KHUDAPARASHT Gcd'r. devotee KHUDARAM Joy of God KHUDAVANDEH God, Lord KHUDAYAD Memory of God KHUDAYAR Friend of God KHUFIRUZ With good victory KHUNSAND Contented, happy KHURDAD Perfection; Av. Haurvatat: name of the sixth day and the third month KHURSHID Sun, Av. Hvare Khshaeta, shining sun KARAN Name of an Iranian hero KARESHNU Name of a holy man KARIMAN Name of a son of hero Barzu KARIM DAD Created by the merciful God KAUS, KAVAS Name of a believer; Av. Kavay. his Farohar is invoked in Farvardin Yasht KARSIVAZ The wicked brother of King Afrasiab KAVAY Royal dynasty KAVEH Blacksmith KAYAN Name of the dynasty founded by Kaikobad KAYAN I Of the royal dynasty of Kayanians KAYANNUSH Kingly nectar; name of a brother of King Faredun KAYANSHAH King of the Kayanian dynasty KAYARAX Ancestor of King Kaikhusru KAYARMIN Name of a son of King Kaikobad ; Av. Kavi Arshna KAYGUSHTASP. KAYVISHTASP The Kayanian King Gushtasp, patron of Zarathushtra ; Av. Kavi Vishtaspa KAYKAVUS Name of son of King Kaikobad ; Av. Kavi U sad han KAYKHUSRU Of good fame; name of a Kayanian king KAYLOHRASP Father of King Gushtasp ; Av. Aurvataspa, swift horsed kaynashnin Successor to royalty KAYO MARZ Mortal life; another form of Gayomard KAYPASSEN A son of King Kaikobad ; Av. Kavi Ptsina KAYRAS Name of a son of King Kaikobad KAYZAD Born of royalty ; of the Kayanian family KERBAD An Iranian hero KERMANSHAH A hero king KHURSHIDCHEHER With a face like the sun ; name of Zarathushtra's son; Av. Hvarechithra KHUSHCHEHER Having pleasing features KHUSHMASTA Extremely joyous KHUSHNAVAZ Sweet comforter KHUSHROD Pleasant river KHUSHTABA Of a sweet disposition KOBAD Name of father of Khusru the Just KURUSH Cun. name of Achaemenian King Cyrus the Great LOHRASP Father of King Gushtasp: Av. Aurvatssps, having swift horses List to be concluded in next issue. I 27IS CHARITY HARMFUL? Interviews by Feroza Paymaster Jeroo Gorimar i 1 ! From the maternity ward to the Towers of Silence, a Parsi will find some institution or individual to lend him a hand. As Eckehard Kulke remarks in his erudite book. The Parsees in India, “There is hardly (another) community which has such a comprehensive public welfare system.” Parsi philanthropy has aided countless people, it has, accord ­ ing to critics, resulted in a com­ munity “consisting of a few gene­ rous Maecenas and a majority of matriculated or graduated welfare recipients lulled to sleep by chari ­ ties.” For as Kulke further notes “a large number of donations and endowments were rather aimed at a direct alleviation of need than at a real rehabilitation of those who had become needy.” But whatever the merits or demerits, charity is an integral part of the Zoroastrian credo. As the Ushtavaiti Gatha notes, “Happiness comes to him who seeks happiness for others.” It is the thought and direction one applies in pursuing that happiness, which determines the true worth of charity. But though has Gatha V II [ I: li .V s') • I: fr h - ;< it- < 4*.* i' . (f f mi Rumi Taraporevala, 46, Exchange Broker, A.P. H Taraporevala & Sons “I’m not against it. To some ex- tent it does kill initiative, but it is a necessary evil. Everybody |H needs a helping hand at some time in life. It’s not a stigma to ¦ accept help. m “Charity is also necessary from ^1 the donor’s point of view. It is ' i money well spent and the returns i are manifold. In medieval times there was the philosophy of tithe money; a tenth of your income was to be put aside for charity. The system may not be possible to that extent today but every- ! body should make a moderate contribution.” Taraporevala believes that aic should be given to people in need irrespective of whether they an poor or middle class. “It can b( in cash or kind, it all depends oi the individual. Compensation fo; work would be ideal for the ok and infirm. The young should no' be given cash, but I am all fo setting them up in business s( that they can make their owi way. Contributions to kathi am mukhtad funds are all very well but I would rather help a livinj person.”d- F Paridokht Bakshoi, 58, Housewife , “It depends on the recipient. If he people you feed, one may 1 , is an honourable man he will use the money well. If not, it will be squandered in eating, drinking and gambling. “The first priority for any charity should be education; then who are poor, educated, for constructing and supporting without parents. “If the father dharamsalas so the poor have a place- to stay, especially when they are moving from place to place. If a person wants to spend money for kriyakam, he must spend from his own pocket and not depend on others. Ghambars are good because out of every ten I hungry and in need of a me and you will have his blessings As for setting people up business, Ms Bakshoi feels he should be extended only to tho who are poor, educated, ai mother are there, they will alwa find means of helping their ov child somehow or the other. “All should give for charit It is because our forefathers d so much that today we ha ’ schools and hospitals from whi< everyone benefits.” Zarir Driver, 22, Student “No, it is not harmful. Charity generates humanitarian feelings used to create work by financh and a sense of closeness within projects or setting up skilled ai the community. Receiving aid is of cash doles. Money should 1 .¦'.1 semi-skilled people in busines not a stigma because everybody Feeding people once in- a whi does not really help. I think tl money being spent on housing a waste, because even charitab does not have the same opportu­ nities or capabilities. “But those who receive charity are not treated with respect. They housing is beyond the reach are made to stand in queues or ' told to come another day. This often makes deserving people who do not have money for ed reluctant to ask for help,” says Zarir. “If a charitable institution does not make full use of its re­ sources, it is harmful as donors will not come forward to help. “Charity cah kill initiative to religion. But to help another is an extent if it is given in the form the average . person. And chari is basically for the poor or tho cation, housing or to start a bus ness. “Everyone who can afford i should give to charity. I dor know if it is recommended in tl sort of religion. I I if V I Armaity Unwala, 29, Office Assistant H “It depends ofi how and to whom I the charity is given; whether it I reaches the people for whom it is B intended. I “Certain people deserve charity sand rupees might have a larj ¦ such as those who cannot work family or hopsing probler K or people who want to come up C” B in life and their only hitch is I money. Setting people up in busi- I ness is a more lasting form of helping or trying to better a pe I help. Ghambars for the poor as a son’s prospects, then charity is 1 means of charity is not a bad part of religion. Everybody shoul a idea; Mukhtads are not a waste of contribute but they feel th: J money because poor Parsis get a a chance to work as chasniwallasy Ms. Unwala feels the eligibilii of a recipient should not I determined by the income bra ket. “A person earning one thoi Charity should just be given 1 those who need it. “If you feel religion meat apru khavai gayu” (our money b been eaten up).r ¦ Soona Mirza, 44, Housewife “I am not against charity if it is productive and properly channell ­ ed. Charity implies a sense of your priorities; education, em- responsibility to the weaker sec- ployment opportunities, hospitals tions of society. But the dole system can be harmful if the re­ cipient gets used to living on aid. It demoralizes him. “The recipient should be made to work and earn. We should set up small-scale industries outside Bombay where younger people are given technical training. It would solve the housing and em­ ployment problems. The ones who have aptitude should be given scholarships for higher education. Only a bare minimum ? should be set aside for mukhtad and kathi funds. It is a matter of deciding education. and helping the poor are more important. ” Ms. Mirza, who hails from Hyderabad, says the trusts there are well administered. “I wouldn’t know much about charities here. But I feel the funds are ade ­ quate and much more can be done. Everybody who wants to, should contribute to charity. In Parsi homes charity is almost automatic. We have never abandoned our poor and needy.” K. D. Umrigar, 77, Freelance Journalist “No cause is better than charity, especially for those with aptitude, if administered correctly. Charity The old and the infirm are also does not degrade the receiver. But if it is given indiscriminately, it can be harmful. “Charity should be given to the poor and indigent and even to the middle class for higher edu­ cation, housing and the like,” says Umrigar. “Aid given to an educational institution is produc­ tive. If the young were encourag ­ ed to set themselves up in busi­ ness, the concern of the community. If you are religious minded, you should contribute to the kathi and mukhtad funds. For if we' don’t support them who will? In one of the Gathas, charity is recom­ mended. “We have had many philan ­ thropists in the community. If one has the means, one should set aside a part of one’s wealth for a it would be worthwhile good cause. ” Ik F'l 1 I Ji fci <. I 'V 4'W Meher Marker, 16, Student, St. Joseph's Convent Bte “No, I don’t think so. It does not giving doles. Money should be degrade the receiver if he has spent on something more purpose- pride and honour and uses the ful like housing rather than gham- money to build something on his own. On the other hand, there are some who just take and keep taking. “Charity should be in the form of housing, education, clothing. For instance, if you start a chari- table hospital, it is better than bars. At least people have a place to stay. ” Meher feels, everyone who can afford to give, should contribute, individually, or as a family. “Indi­ vidually, it gives far more happi ­ ness to the donor,” 31I. comment Parsi Shakespearewal las By Dorab R. Mehta The large audiences drawn by the plots with the emphasis on successfully presented bv Madon humour. He chose his'^characters Theatre As Tchild I aaged m Booibay prove that the from daily life and his comedies lighted to see on the staee of teTS* oveJwhXinr^S^peattan b t,*®’’ “1°”“ fountains, lrom°he Sa^d thenotenS he performed anywhere, even yawning caves as well as the huge tlXt of TV However of theM \ "T' “ '’¦'““Sht the first Parsis myriad comnanieT harflv o^ ? His plays required very to India. There was music and or two S E???! W exchanges spectacle galore in these lavish regularly. And yet Parsis were the pio­ neers in the art of drama in Bombay. The city’s t’ movement started way back in 1853 when an energetic Parsi, Faramji Gustadji popularly Paakjad Parin 'was the most known as ‘ Faloo Goos’ — start- " ed the first drama company: the Parsi Natak Mandli. Then follow- .muvi w ed other companies which put up fabulous" ^Vsodes plays not only in Gujerati but in ,____ languages like Hindi and pie pen name S.N.P. Few people Urdu. Even the first Hindu histo- ’ ’ - - a ric play, Karan Ghelo, was per- . formed by Cooverji Nazar with an all-star Parsi cast. All the re­ ligious ceremonies depicted in „„„ this play were also performed by t^y^fremember‘’fonSy. Parsi actors under the guidance of Hindu priests. At the same time, a number of Parsi dramatists were starting to write plays like Bomanji Kabraji and Jehangirji Khambata. Kab ­ raji, whose Bapna Shraap, Bholi Goal and Kaljug created a storm, derived his inspiration mainly from English novels and plays. Khambata ’s Mad-house and Juddin Zagole were equally popular. Then came “Pijam ” and “Gulfam ” — Phirozsha Marzban and Jehangirji Patel. “Pijam ”, who gained fame with Maasino Maako and Aflatoon, used intricate plots and long soliloquies. He loved spectacle, and introduced a novel angle in Aflatoon which other dramatists have also adopted now. It was a motion picture showing the arrival of certain characters by train which was in­ culcated in the fabric of the play. “Gulfam ”, author of Sukhlo Jamas and Kunwaru Mandal concentrated on simple human with the emphasis successfully presented by Madon from daily life and his comedies lighted to groups perform of dialogue carried the play, plays. " * Faando Fituri scored more than Then there was a short era of a century and yet remained The Parsi Medical Amateurs, popular. Another successful who performed mainly for the theatre dramatist was Rattonji Sethna love of it, bringing large amounts who, though a businessman, also- to various charities, mainly the Dr. Jehangir Wadia was the doyen of Parsi parodists, basing his creations on historical and 7 ' . ------------- .His famous humorous soliloquy of the Parsi Hamlet is still revived now and again by that veteran comedian. Fall Master. But in the modern theatre most Parsi playwrights have changed few who still divide their plays tragic. Most plays derive their inspiration from foreign plays. Today comedy is the rage of the ' get their daily worries. Formerly length the triumph of "good acters from daily life and mix bit of sex too! - ------ Medical Amateurs, Another r--------- "¦ ’ . - - was Rattonji Sethna love of it, bringing large wrote many plays, among which Parsi General Hospital. The late famous. A different direction was steer­ ed by a writer who revived the Shakespearean charame^.* t of the Shah- nama. He wrote under the sim- Mad-house were know that he was the well-known banker Sir Sorabji Pochkhana- walla of Central Bank fame. Pro- ___ cu ductions like Yazdezard Sheriar their outlook,° except for a '^ry and Khusrow Shirin, which even f • were into two sections — comic and t _¦ ' ¦ inspiration from foreign plays. Today comedy is the rage of the day because people wish to for­ get their daily worries. Formerly dramatists used to preach at length the triumph of good over evil, but now they pick up char ­ acters from daily life and mix humour with sarcasm and a little bit of sex too! Of the few modem Parsi play ­ wrights, Adi Marzban has been the most successful and has appealed not only to the Parsis but also to a wider cosmopolitan audience. His plays poke fun at our various fancies and foibles. I enjoyed Sagan-Ke-Waghan and Calendar Konnu immensely, but to my mind Asha Ke Nirasa was artistically his best play. Although because of its serious element, it was hot as successful as his other plays, yet the playwright cleverly brought into it the real fibre of life in all its tenderness and pathos. Today ’s one-set comedies ,X ¦*¦ ’St ?!; ft '/k mw to j(= f' I s\ HeRJ^u.x^ ¦PR.iNce OF OeNFMKC Ii * owe their birth to Adi’s imagina ­ tion. Here one cannot forget the resourcefulness of Adi’s produ- I struggled to establish the new best was his dramatisation of cer Pesi Khandalavala, who has unit and how our efforts were at late Mr. Bengali ’s novel Mami also contributed handsomely to last rewarded with success. Then Musafri, to which it is said t the revival of the regular Parsi followed productions like Gher a Parsi lady-writer also contri theatre. Ghungro Ne Ghotalo, Kutrani ted. Although today there are se ral women writers, none has tu ed to drama — I do not kn With his why Aloo Surti or Ama Pes intimate knowledge and deep do not think about it serious ’ „ " ' , - ¦ Zini Paymaster has writ jor soon became a successful some thought—provoking pla J X r Homai Lentin has been recer trying her hand at Parsi plays, 1 in the old style. Others who hi also contributed to the Parsi sti are writers like the late D Kapadia, Dr. Dara Hak Rohinton Mehta and Minoo N. man. If today Parsi plays have survive, they have to be writ from a wider angle so as to attr a cosmopolitan audience also, cause our plays cannot run o for a limited audience. unit — Tirangi Temul. 1 fondly amsukh Pandia ’s plays for remember today how Burjor and Parsi stage. To my mind Pav I struggled to establish the new ’ ' unit and how our efforts were at the revival of the regular Parsi followed productions like Gher theatre. C __ The long, lanky Firoz Antia was Puchhdi Wanki and Oogi Daha- promising playwright but fate • ~ - ¦ - took him away too early. Antia was an even greater aotor than Chandrakant Thakkar. a playwright and his character!- i 1_ 1. 1______________ __ sation of the simple Behram understanding of the theatre, Bui^ Irani will always be remembered, j ___ '______ His Behramni Sasu did extremely producer of Parsi plays for I.N.T. well at the box-office. It was the Originally we had hoped to en- Indian National Theatre who sponsored Antia ’s plays success- ___ ________ , fully. After his death Burjor Patel experimental plays with the usual the aegis of I-N.T\ encouraged nately today we seem to be more content with security and success at the box-office, relying mainly on direct adaptations of foreign Gujerati theatre but also the plays. Parsi theatre. Homi Tavadia and Eruch Pavri I had the privilege of writing have also made their mark. Pavri the first play for I.N.T.’s Parsi is still content to adapt Par- panni Daadh, which were ably directed by Pravin Joshi and rich the theatre with new ideas and enterprise, even to produce created a new Parsi unit under backing of Damubhai. Unfortu- t’*‘ 2 by the enterprising Damu Jhaveri, the man who has silently done a lot to revive not only the modern the first play for I.N.T.’s Parsi love at first ride aid©miEii©ini €©m©s Q , laifter dW o Dr, Ifs the smart new look of the Yezdi that wins so many riders' hearts. But the attraction turns to some- . thing more solid after the first ride. The ample power, the smoothness, the feeling of absolute and easy control. It's the bike of your dreams. And. as the years pass, .yw II become a firm believer in Yezdi, for its dependability. Its ease of servicing and its unbeatable fuel economy. Love begtris with the first ride. And endures forever. 'Bzai te 250 cc MODEL 'B* ^nufacturers: IDEAL JAWA (INDIA) Sales & Service Centres ail over India PVT, LTD. Mysore 570 002. SGS/IJ/5/75What ’s in a (Sur) NamcT CHlHOy V: Banker and from Adenwala to Zarthosty, 2s^re^s’^gnpo^s^history. Not only do W '^rfollowld. from the study of surnames especially, in the case o irnanies", presenieo at uie inihui imv,.... ----- - Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences a from and what occupations 1'. 6'' ¦f migrations, job patterns from the study of surnames India became quite distinct ... Scholar Homi Dhalla s paper, from Parsi Surnames" r— Congress of / Chicago. and social attitudes of_a__community ¦ after the exodus to from Avesta-Pahlavi presented at the Ninth International . . I _____ I_____CniQnPOC at After their migration to India, the Parsis lived for about six centuries mainly in Sanjan. Original natives Parsis lived for about six centuries mainly in Sanjan. Original natives of it, even if they do not live in Sanjan today, are ns San- jana. We know 1 events that took place during this period. Undoubtedly, some had moved to other parts of Western India, but it is only in 1142 that we come across the name of one Kamdin Zarthosht, who left San ­ jan for Navsari, to perform religi­ ous ceremonies there. Navsari became a Parsi strong hold. A name which is identified with this town, to this day, is that of Meherjee Rana. Over the cen­ turies, as the population of the Parsis increased and differences known as San- of Gujarat remained the of the Parsis for a long ’'T of the 19 th century, the Parsis reached the peak of ing towns centre of — ------- time. In the 18th and the ^^dy years Surat liSe^out Ae their prosperity The cause of their , ,1 t ._ 4-1,;,, migration to Bombay was the severe famine in Gujarat in 1790 cropped up among the priests, it valU or walla was necessary to elect a suitable roughly translated man as high priest (dastur}. Meher- — jee Rana was unanimously elected leader of the Navsari Parsis on March 12, 1579. So acclaimed was his wisdom that Emperor T^bar himself invited him to Delhi, to explain the tenets of the Zoro­ astrian faith to him. Meherjee Rana came to be deeply revered prompted by the Parsi community. Sensible of this, his family added his first name, Meherjee, to the family sur­ name, Rana. To this day, the Meherjee "Rana family is known thus in Navsari. We find later a concentration of Parsis in Surat. It was here that India —^^gal —m they came into prominence <— established contacts with the Dutch, the Armenians and the Portuguese. Surat and the adjoin- V 1‘ ‘b field of women’s education, and in spearheading the movement for legislation protecting young child­ ren from being exploited in facto ­ ries. The ancestors of this notable of the surrounding philanthropist hailed from the vil- -r e 4. Umra in Gujarat, and their surname was originally Umrigar. It was only when the faniUy mov­ ed to Bengal for trade, that they were called Bengallee. It was from Bombay that the Parsis commenced trade with Rangoon, Mecca, Jedda, Muscat Mauritius and the coast of Malaya in timber, rice, sugar, cotton anc spices. Surnames such as Singa porewalla, Adenwalla, Colombo walla, Hongkongwalla and Ran goonwalla, indicate the places the travelled to. Families which bea the surnames Chinai, Chinoy an Chinivalla today, show that thei migration to Bombay was the severe famine in Gujarat in 179U and the great fire of Surat in 1837. The names t. towns and villages of Surat and Navsari have stamped their iden­ tity on certain surnames. The sur­ name Bharucha, is derived from Bharuch; Adajania from Adajan; Bulsara from Bulsar; Khambatta from Khambat. Several such sur­ names, connoting their derbration from place-names, are followed by valla or walla which may be 1 as ‘from.’ Pardi- valla denotes a man frona the village of Pardi. Similarly, we have Madhivalla, Nargolvalla, Bhiwandi- valla, Daviervalla. The growing population, the* in- Cicttaius ----------- -------------- <411.4...— ------------- .1 . prising spirit of some to embark predecessors must have had traa on ' " creasing prosperity and the enter­ trade with foreign countrlfes, relations with China. "-3 move towards urbanization.. Those who migrated to Madras were known by the surname Madrasvalla. Records in­ form us that Parsis flourished there as influential merchants. There were others who ventured as far / as the eastern shores of of came to be called Bengallee. Among them, the name of Sorabji Bengal ­ lee stands out as a pioneer in the pursuit ‘ and trade. These families with the Tinker, Tailor ... As the Parsis increasingly pari cipated in the mainstream Indian life, they held various pos tions in the towns and villag they inhabited. Besides this, thi were also awarded titles by ti local authorities and the rulers the country. These were adopt by future generations as si names, most of which are even today. Many such titular St(ac- D a f t a r i (record- names are ; and Muslims. Among those " the Parsis have in common with the Hindus are Patel (village headman), Munshi (secretary, teacher), Sube- dar (army or j.,::___ (village accountant), Mehta (ac ­ countant, clerk), Kotwal (police magistrate), D a f t a r i (record­ keeper) and Desai (officer in charge of a district). Several Parsi families still bear the surname Desai. The Desais were a distinguished family of Navsari, influential both with the Moghul and the Maratha ments. Changa Asa, tne first ‘desai ’ in 1419. it d" ................... _ first time after centuries, an Indian , , ------------ oi was sent inquire about certain " ” ’ ’ questions which -----J com- communication between "I ? ®'8’ near Surat was conferred on Kavasji Rustom- ji by Emperor Akbar, for his great skill as a watch-maker. The family is even now known as Mirza. Jalal Iran with his illustrious Peshotan, on March 29, Both of them r—" in Iran and Peshotan, due to his (¦ • ’ ¦¦ ¦ - over languages, especially Ar?bfc, company ! name CAWNEThAkEK i! .fr™ S“«t, left for son, 1768. spent many years considerable learning and mastery over languages, especially Arabic, received the title of Mulla Firoz. Tom, Dick and Harry The Parsis, receptive to external influence, easily took to European ways. Becoming conversant with the English language and the man ­ ners of ¦ the British, they entered into business partnerships with the British, or joined European firms. It often happened that a Parsi who worked for a British company came to be identified by the name of his employer. Sometimes the Parsi himself adopted the name of the company or that of his employer as his surname. Certain ­ ly, a few sought refuge in this, for thus could they drop barrassing surname. There are a names, < ___ _ contemporary Parsis ing character structure of different generations. Some of the surnames m this category are Boyce, Lord, I lOlloo XT11 ' govern- uicnis. cnanga Asa, a very pious Parsi, was appointed tne hrst ‘desai ’ in 1419. it due to his initiative that for Parsi, Nariman Hoshang, socio-religious < needed clarification. Thus menced <— ___ the Parsis of India and those of Iran. Earning distinction at the Mog­ hul court and living Moghuls in different bu,u, vi j led to the adoption of Muslim was the an em- among the for Aur’coffid^hev'dT anglicised trade an parts of India barrassing surname “jmes which Parsi names A few of these bornV by nam^eT^ European Cabinetmaker, CoachbuUder ^Mm Parsi families even today are MuT are Sid British, which chant. Driver, Pleader Commit la (master, judge), Nazir (seer, and Earsis sariat. Printer, Writer,’ stfreffin guardian), Agha (nobleman, head) ina , ^’‘^^/^®”^°iistrate the chang- Banker, Doctor, Bonesetter pJv Sultan (ruler, monarch) ’ character structure of HifFprpnt Two titles which have £„x,;,vd as surnames are Mirza and Mulla Firoz. The title of Mirza Khosru generations. Sonte of the surnames son. Frenchman, Napoleon, Wai- commodity in which^he^Trnfli ss "j; s* K—;sf s' —SJ SS*„Si “¦ Seqsbs zaeis bhai as JeleebhoyrSha, Nanabhoy. Shakespearewalla The Parsis cultivated 1 ' many centuries after their* migra- 11?" a^so took to “P occupatio tne diverse trades and professions scavenger, sweeper, practised by the other ties. The vast c— survived SLAbEDAR . For- as land for Lakda- Mari- _ U/Wll I) common English terms suun as Chnwalla, Postwalla, Clubwalla, Junglewalla, Sodawaterwalla walla, to form Parsi From the study of ...t deduce that Parsis did : up the occupations of communi­ gamut of names in Scre- sumames. surnames we not take groom, or barber. ---------.*«»Muv«uun ini participation of the O the economic supers Y&tha-ahu-Vairyo The almost total tolerance responsible for the - J give-and-take which led ! community in superstructure of ther assimilation of certain Hindu customs by the Parsis, the adoption of the Gujarati language, and the sari as a dress for women. With the advent of the Muslims and Christians the social climate changed. Orthodox Parsis, strengthened by their conscious attempt at self-perpetuation, adopt ­ ed the names of certain prayers as their surnames, viz. Yatha-ahu- Vairyo and Yenghe-hatam. There were others who chose scriptural terms such as Athajamyat and Dregubyo for their surnames. The orthodox, viewing the culture im­ port with apprehension, may have resorted to adopting such names to indicate their steadfastness to their religious tradition. These surnames, however, are completely forgotten by present-day Parsis. Orthodox TOTPfcr Dev (devil), Golabi-gardun (pink- necked) and Marinigoon (sack of pepper). It is regrettable that these names are now forgotten; much of the piquancy they lent to Parsi names has been lost. Surnames which sound equally absurd, but are English terms, are Lion, My- dear, Bonnyface and Chess. We do not come across any families bear ­ ing these surnames today. The Jejeebhoy Dadabhoy Street in Bombay owes its name to an illustrious Parsi, Jejeebhoy Dada ­ bhoy Mugana (1786-1849), who was a well-known banker, broker and agent; Mugana, connoting ‘dumb’, was derived from a mute ancestor. The surname Tata originated as a nickname. Appa ­ rently, so hot-tempered was the original Tata that he came to be referred to as a tartar. The name stuck to the family, and was inherited by Jamsetji Tata (1839- 1904), the pioneering genius of modern Indian industry. There are several other instances of nicknames which, having' been Gujarati word for queen, appealed accepted both by the family and to the local inhabitants. Through society at large, were incorporated popular usage, the family gradually into the network of formal names, came to be called by the surname Ranina. Double-Barrel There is a class of extant sur­ names which are a combination of two first names such as Burjor Behram, Boman Behram, Edul Behram, and Dady Burjor. Extinct double-barrelled surnames which are not a combination of first names, are Jada Mehema, Jada Shapuma, Jiji Agana, Jiji Bhi- khana, Dada Pallanna, and Pesthan Challana. A large number of surnames in use today, originated from the ¦ hp Parsis being a c first names of local figures. Some disposed people, 4e find T whok Pink-necked The Parsis being range of bizarre names, many of eater), Ghorkhodu (grave-digger). Kuka, tion. When there was a high became inoperative. incidence of families bearing identical names, surnames to a great extent became non-functional, numerals —Panchia (relating thus enabling a spate of derisive five), Chhana (relating to six), or descriptive names to emerge. Bavan (fifty-two) and the ahglicized Inexplicably, there were a few surnames which originated from to These replaced the earlier sur­ names and were even transmitted to future generations. On the other hand, offensive names respon- cheerfully sible for having caused social rup- - ..V. « xYxxvxxe ture, such as Gookhau (refuse- of these are Virji from Virjibhai; range of bizarre names, many of eater), Ghorkhodu (grave-digger), Rana, Ranaji; Kuka, Kukaji; them defying intelligent interpreta- Kutra (dog), or Vandri (monkey) ^tcha, Vatchaji; Limji, Limji- tion. When there was a bhai; and Thuti, Thuthaji. incidence of Women’s lib Though Zoroastrians trace their descent through the male line, sur­ names illustrate how certain Other factors which shaped this Ninety-nine, families have adopted the names type of surname were: a strange of their female ancestors. Goolbai physical trait or characteristic of and Jeeaijee, two sisters who lived in Navsari, became so well- known because of their philan ­ thropic disposition, that future generations of that family took on the surname Goola Jaeena. The instance of ‘Bhikhi Ratna ’ shows how the first names of a I and wife, Bhikhi and Ratna, how type of surname were: a strange Surnames which appear amusing are those coined after the names of certain birds and animals. These the person; an individual ’s viola ­ tion of the social code; a ludicrous are mainly a relic of the past ex­ incident that may have occurred cept for the first two names cited in a person’s life; or his belong- here, which are still extant: Sarda ing to a particular trade. Of these (chameleon), Popat (parrot), Nolia surnames, a few still in use are: (mongoose), Wagh (tiger), Varoo Asli (ancient), Bhoot (ghost), Anjir- (wolf). Bulbul (Indian nightingale) husband bang (fig garden), Khodaiji (God), and Challi (sparrow). What may > were Bhot (dunce), Allawalli (simple- sound even more odd are surnames combined to form a surname. Al- ton), Ghambheer (serious), Wasi- which denote blood-relationships: though these two surnames have ’ ' ' ¦ ’ ' ............ ' • ” ' been forgotten, Ranina, which is in existence to­ day, had a similar origin. Bhot (dunce), Allawalli (simple­ ton), Ghambheer (serious), Wasi- kusi (stale) and Waghmaru (tiger Kaka (paternal uncle). Mama (maternal uncle), Bhanja (nephew), - — Masina (children of mother’s - • The carded today, are : Topchi (fibber), sister), Bhojai (sister-in-law). Ex­ mother of one Muncherji Eduljee f ’ ' - - • ; - ; Rani, the woman), Behra (deaf), Patla (thin). another was nam»d Ranibai. one, killer). Among those which are dis- Eski (fa^ionable), Batki (short cept for the last one, all these are ' ’ , still in popular use.”—'Wwi Ona Bicycle asjj? r-. -a ,•3 V Built For Two By Jeroo Gorimar ¦ training ” eveiy day for more tha an hour to build those muscles th; are not developed by cyclin “Cycling only helps the lower pa: of the body. The handlebars strai the hands, arms and shoulder The upper part of the body has t be exercised as well,” he say pointing to his powerful forearm: In school I used to be bulliet but with exercise and practice became stronger.” In fact his fin cycle race at Cowasjee Jehangi High School did not have a happ outcome. “I stood fifth and tha was because one rider fell off hi cycle. I wasn ’t serious about cycl ing till I competed for the Stat Championship for Juniors,” recall Rustom. At that time his fathei Adi, had been out of town. Fifteen year-old Rustom assembled th cycle himself and stood third Three years later in 1972 he woi the Junior Championship and eve: since continued to pedal his way t< victory. In 1974, he won the 1,(X){ metre sprint at the 29th Nationa Cycling Championship held ii Sonepat, Haryana, and earned the title of the ‘Fastest Cyclist’ ir India. The event was not held in the 1975 nationals. In the 1976 national meet at Patiala he won the individual championship, but in the prestigious 1,000 metre sprint he came second. As a report issued by the Maliarashtra State Cycling Association alleged, the event “was not organised on international As a child Rustom Havewalla often '' ~ thrwfn^ine 1948 World “oiym- lodged firmlv^n h Games in London. He was the Cycling vear^oiH c^n rwhich his son is now the b^o2X “ S“ “y® Have. cXX an5\ With names like Malcolm T zi* ? participant at the B. Malcolm Jollv Shroff D R Win bv th A Prac^ fvf c* apore^vallaj R. R. Noble, Pilloo .he a„Xv: Kp?on wtZ --‘-"''y >” swapped the silk cap for a cork and r3£“~~: =?=-?«¦;=.:: -sr;. Lajpatrai College also puts in long Parsi cvclistq hnt^ many drawbacks, ? T and Steel Mulla, and Mehli PalkhiwX e^ety"day S”®&nta^r M®^®^tiosh Hakim is a youngster SrXn who is coming up fast. in- pursuit and time trial. World Cycling Championships in B. Malcolm, Jolly Shroff, D. B. Taraporewalla,_R. R. Noble, Pilloo -- ----------- J in the news. . , r „ ---------------- “Those days were differentstandards and several other irre- uinereni, aularities wpr<> inriiiinz>/4 i— 4.1 notes the son. work in the Tata Iron and Steel 5^2nr'*&'SLt Me’hemosI* HakJris TarXn ^"ta Cruz to who is coming up fast, iold S m,S’ J “P^tsis are best for the sprir stamina ” cycling events like the in P’lrsuit and time triai S? w? practises Sikhs are good. They have strength Srint fft ^?s .“<*4“ but’' ^5SB important, ” notes Rustom. “Initi- you are in front facing the wind* the fellow behind you gets less wind resistance so he does not tire . ^And on Sunday, the day dividual God intended for rest, he practises — sprint. “It’s the final burst that ’ imivirtunt ” T>________ .., v± »p"?a “should remember the three M’s: mind, muscle and machine. If the smarter man will win. training rather than intensive training." the fellow behind gularities were indulged in by the host association. Aside from the institutional , another deterrent to cyclists is the high cost involved in buying and maintaining a racing machine. “In our country there IS no competent cycle manufacturer who can satisfy the needs of a handful of struggling cyclists,” says Rustom. “The ‘Speed King’ manu ­ factured by Hind Cycles is said to be the best and lightest cycle in India. But it is heavier than the heaviest English racing cycle. “The wheels needed are also of a special ^e. I recently bought a posed to be cheap. They normally cost around Rs. 800. The tyres have to be imported too. I have to beg friends abroad to get them for me and that proves very ex­ pensive. I have only one pair left; ( Please turn to page 53, col. 1) training. Maharashtrians lag far behind. They are fine for the Bombay —Poona race ’ / recently nought a Tn Rustom’s cacp riiA • strength, the smarter man will win. Adi, represented India in the 1946 traininl. ” Rnstom does “wei^t >»! Dyeing in the Sunlight upto 15 different processes,” ex- design studio of Bombay Dyeing, plained Ms Nelly Sethna, the noted building up the textile design de- wcavcr and textile designer who partment of Ahmedabad ’s presti- conceived, designed and organized gious National Institute of In­ corporations, embassies and exhi- - ¦ - '•* ¦” - -fc unusual distinction: a certificate of failure from the J. J. School of Art. She spent years in design re- tional pieces in India and Iran, on a Homi Bhabha Fellowship whose aim was to rejuvenate dying crafts. But it was while she was studying textile design in London that her interest in kalam- was design studio of Bombay Dyeing, weaver and textile designer who partment of Ahmedabad ’s pr^i" the^exhibition.^ “In bygone days sign, numerous assignments for such crafts were supported by rajas, corporations, embassies and exhi- Today who would pay for such bitions like Expo ‘70’, and one time-consuming work? , The mas- ’ ter craftsman, who is in his seven­ ties, had two hundred rupees in ---------- , . _ his bank account; ” and that after search and travel, collecting tradi- a lifetime’s work in pursuit of a tional pieces in India and Iran, craft that brooks no short-cuts in on a Homi Bhabha, Fellowship its laborious techniques. The pro­ cesses include bleaching in a solu- „ . j • tion of cowdung, starching with a was studying textile design mixture of boiled rice water and L.------- ----------- buffalo milk, hand-printing with kari was first kindled. While dyes made from plants, alum and walking through the long galleiy iron, and fixing the colours in the strong rays of the sun. The intri­ cate details are painted with a kalam, a pen fashioned from the centre stem of a i ' .' and pointed at the end to form a ------- _ nib. while the main forms of the had to find out where and how 59 of Indian fabrics in the Victoria and Albert Museum, one particu ­ lar janitor would always say to — ‘Little girl, this is froin your jhioned from the me, ‘Little girl, tnis is iroiu your palm-leaf, shaped country.’ I decided that if this The staid exhibition hall of Bom­ bay ’s Jehangir Art Gallery was transformed into a scene from a -—, ------ j -x. south Indian coastal village. Palm designs are printed from wooden it was done. > i. j leaves hung from the ceiling ran- blocks which have been in use for Many years later, when she and golL gSed manra forZ many decades. Some of the best, her husband Homi, a lawyer tum- muted^ bhajans played. On the however, lay hidden away in dark ed film-maker, were making a film walls glowed the subtle crimsons comers, i and earth yellows of the rare paint- 1 ed fabrics known as kalamkari, a 17th century art form now barely kept alive by a few craftsmen in two small centres in Andhra Pra- - ----------------- - desh Meticulouslv painted with “And so quite by chance I dis- survive. , . • SmleTSns w Sted from covered the most fantastic blocks “We got toWly mvolved in Cnd-carverbVks. ae exUbits of ancient carvings. There and project ” recalled Ms SeAna who, ranged from items of daily use like then I started to take prints on aside from redesigning the lay SSSoto Ser^ S toperies his aelaJfsmeT tn temnle hangings depicting gods Using the ancient blocks, Ms proving the lot of the cr^tsmen. id Xend?i|^ LSs srtding Sethna redesigned the way they "F” T tlXl Straight out of the Ramayana and were arranged on the matenah In- pushed till t a g Maf^hharata huge paislev motifs stead of a thin floral stripe being scheme was started, she not^, (descendants ’ of our kedamkari repeated without a break, for in- her soft voice impatient at the & wSi Iran), id sinuously stance, she used it as a borfer “N^wlt kaTa^Sa£ intertwined flowers from a garden round a totally different motif. The tape. Now at ^st a teaser gets of delights that would have pleas- results of such redesigning were a monthly salary of three hund *e°"S?h- .hMeiSy heron'fc^lay^i^o;’e™ about -ven rupees a da^ beauty of an unmechanized age utilitarian piece of material but However, the training scheme when artists were honoured, when worth was not measured in man ­ hours and when time was not money. “Each piece takes about two months to complete and undergoes blocks which have been in use for many however, lay hidden away in dark comers, i _ ’ homes of old craftsmen. member mentioning to Mr Naidu, the master craftsman, that after all these days he still hadn ’t taken me tu ms iiuiiic, aiiiiivvi XTX.Z uvv...... “And so quite by chance I dis- decades. Some of the best. 42 was my country’s handiwork, I just in godowns and in the for the Handicrafts Board, they Machilipatnam,*200 miles east of Hyderabad. Once a thriving cen- ____________ tr© of trade, it now had three small to'his home,” smiled Ms Sethna. kalamkari units barely managing to __ J _j quite by chance I dis- survive. covered the most fantastic blocks “We sot totally involved in our of ancient carvings. There and then I started to take prints on his otla.” ------ - Using the ancient blocks, Ms proving the lot of the craftsmen. ° 1 .____ J .-I-- _____ izoare wA niisliAd and 1 re- visited the sleepy coastal town of striding Sethna redesigned the way they were arranged on the material. In- stead of a thin floral stripe being scheme was started, repeated without a break, for in- I a results of such redesigning were ----------- , _____ evident in the exhibition, for each red rupees and with the leisurely item on display was not merely a utilitarian piece of material but 99 utilitarian piece or maieridi uul nuwcvw, unv also a structured work of art; the has not been jwhoUy ^ccessfm. true 1------ ---------- which is craft. The credentials Ms -------- ------------ brought to her task were impres- and factory workers. Migration has ® JI*____ .iji. _ / nizix»r.x. AO /*n1 71 blend of function and design New entrants do join, but many leave the arduous life of the Sethha craftsman to become bus-drivers sive: setting up and heading the {Please turn to page 49, col. 2)r scholars like Sir Jivanji Modi, Behramgor Anklesaria and Beh­ ram Pazdu. “But I went ahead be­ cause I was not happy at the ease with which Parsis were becoming converted mainly because they lacked knowledge and interest about their own religion.” -Katrak feels that the kirtan comments and explanations of his own, “but also because it has the maximum impact on the audience. A bhajan is a set poem in which the inner idea is often lost, and and music appeal to the people,” he explains. Katrak further enlivens his kirtans by presenting the legen- relevance to modern life. “People come to me and say that there aren ’t any miracles nowadays, so Katrak {Continued from page 23) that I met Gandhiji, ” Katrak re­ calls. “It was one of the greatest ________ ____________ moments of my life. I started riously culled from the work of working according to Gandhiji ’s ' “ ideal that anybody can do some­ thing for the country. I decided to help the national cause in my own way by teaching Hindi.” Kat ­ rak conducted free classes for over fifteen years, under the auspices of the Hindustani Prachar Sabha. It was his love of Hindi poetry _____ ____ that first^ gave rise to the idea of form is ideal for people, not only kirt^s. “I was invited by a Parsi because it allows the kathakar institution to give a lecture on some (story-teller) the freedom to add topic concerning the Parsis, ” the ' ‘ ' ' ’ ' ' ‘ vocalist recalls. Wanting to avoid controversies, he decided instead to speak on the great Hindi poet Sant Kabir and recite some of his poetry, .mv nmvi luva is uulu luu, auu “It was an achievement for a Parsi lectures can be very dull. Stories to speak On a Hindi poet in chaste Gujerati, and Hindi” he declares. The programme was a great suc­ cess even with the predominantly dary stories in the form of 'drama- Parsi audience, and invitations for tic dialogue and by tracing their repeat performances, not only in ‘ Bombay, but also at various pla ­ ces in India, began pour- ____ _ _________ ______ ing in. “The emotional and devo- why talk about them in kirtansl tional nature of the theme appeal- But I tell them that a whole house ed (to evervbodv. even the may bum down and just one child may be saved. Isn’t that miracle? ” Music plays an important part in the overall appeal of the kirtans. “In the past, the entire Shahnameh was recited in one monotonous tune, but now we need variety or the audience will be bored,” says Katrak. Yet the tunes have to maintain a basic sim­ plicity and regularity of rhythm to ensure the participation of the audience, which is so important to Katrak. “I want to make my audi ­ ence sing,” he declares. “Hindus have their bhajans and Christians have community singing in their Church services. Only Parsis do not have it. I use simple, catchy tunes based on Indian folk melodies so that my audience sings with me. tans himself and could find very little material in the Shahnameh. All the information had to be labo- Let Us Pray^ To Ahura Mazda A book of prayers for Zoro­ astrians in simple English with an exposition of the religion of Zarathushtra By Noshir H. Vajifdar Available from: • Union Press Homji Street, Fort, Bombay 400 001. J began pour- tional nature of the theme appeal- -J (to everybody, even the Parsis understood the poetry of Kabir after I had explained it,' says Katrak. “After the p— gramme, ladies came to me with tears in their eyes and took my hand. ” Katrak finds it more satis ­ fying to perform before cosmopoli­ tan audiences. “I can enhance the name of the community with the other communities,” he points out. At his kirtan on Kabir in Nasik, there was not a single Parsi in the audience. “They were all students doing a thesis on Kabir, and after the kirtan they came and asked me for suvichar, the way we ask for autographs, ” he recalls with pride. Though the Kabir kirtans were highly successful, a few Parsis were dissatisfied with their nature. “They never came to hear the xnj auuimcL ouxgo me. kirtans but kept asking me why I Many people have suggested that I related tales from other religions and not my own.” When invited to come and see for themselves that Kabir belonged to all religions, ______ , _ __ ________ _____ _ they only replied, “magaj fervi entertain, ” he emphasizes. “I want nakso! ” (it will confuse our think­ ing). It was then that Katrak con­ ceived a kirtan based on the life of Zoroaster. It was difficult work be­ cause Katrak had to write the kir- a pro- an • Mr. Sam S. Choksey, C/o Eastern Stores & Trading Co. Pvt. Ltd., 115 Nagdevi Street, Bombay 400 003. • Parsi Zoroastrian Association, 1 Saklat Place, Calcutta 700 013. • Mr. Rustam Saklath, 4 A Auckland Square, Calcutta 700 017. • Perina Printers, 77 General Patters Road, Madras 2. • Mrs. Mehroo J. Wadia, 21 LF Tansen Marg, New Delhi 1. use pop music to attract the youn­ ger generation of Parsis, but I pre­ fer to stick to Hindustani music. Besides, the basic idea is not to us to have some faith in our own religion and spread devotion and zeal. For me and the audience the whole thing is devotion.” a matter of Also available free of postage and packing charges at Ahmedabad, Poona, Bangalore and Ootacamund. Price Rs. 3. For particulars, please write to the author at ‘Braemar ’, Ootacamund- 643 001. Space donated by a welt-wisher1 < - The Sound of Music by Sanober Marker Hilla: ‘ They only want stars ’ Poised before the piano keyboard, fingers alternately clenched and held limp by her side, Hilla Khur- sedji closed her eyes for a moment. Then the 26year-old London­ based pianist launched into an ambitious recital distinguished by a mature ungimmicky style which had caused conductor Zubin Mehta to acclaim her a ‘great talent. ’ “Music was always in our family, ” notes Hilla, who began her musical career by resolutely clambering on to the keyboard at the age of three. After studying with Bombay ’s reputed teacher, Olga Craen, she won a place at Philadelphia ’s prestigious Curtis Institute of Music under the world- renowned pianist Rudolf Serkin. “He was extremely demanding a laborious daily schedule: five but fantastic, ” she recalled. “Everybody you met at Curtis was somebody where they came from can ’t spread yourself in too many her career, she confides, “Another and so we all felt we were the ways. If you do, you’ll end up musician may not be the ideal worst and got huge complexes, jack of all trades and master of husband, or you might be playing But.” she added with a smile, “we none,” says Hilla. Though she in Japan and he in China. At least soon recovered.” , plays from memory at a concert, with a nine to five jobber, one of Having found the U.S. too com- she always keeps the score open you is certain to be home.” mercialized —“they only want while practising. “Your memory The chic young musician, who stars ”—the pianist feels the best can play tricks on you,” she always wears a sudreh and kusti, place for a musical career is London. “I wouldn’t get the same opportunities in India. If I gave more than two concerts no one would come.” However, Hilla, missiveness “bothers” her some- who returned to India after two times. “You can maintain your disappears when she starts play- years to give a recital at Bombay ’s principles wherever you are, ” she ’ ' ' Patkar Hall under the aegis of the notes. “But I find that there is Time and Talents Club, feels that no feeling of community worship, her Indiahness helps the public not even at Zoroastrian House in abroad to identify her from among London, the scores of new young musi­ cians : “Audiences on the Con- was not even lit. Of course, those remarks. tinent, especially in France, love who look after it are all working says this is a very important con- the sari. ” people and can ’t be expected to cert, your contracts for others Behind llje applause and roses keep, the fire lit every day. There depend on this one. It puts an that won hilla the Opportunity was -In evening function at Navroz, emotional strain on you,” But from among eighty others to play but I wanted to go in the mom- at London’s famed Wigmore Hall last January, 'lies the bedrock of she waht 99 However, hours of practice, which increases as a performance nears. can ’t spread yourself in too many ways. If you do, you’ll end up “You in the mornings, reading and be­ ing with nature. While she feels that marriage would not impede none,” says Hilla. Though she in Japan and he in China. At feast plays from memory at a concert, she always keeps the score open while practising. “Your memory can play tricks on you,” she always wears a sudreh and kusti, observes. braces herself against stage-fright Living away from home, Hilla before each concert with a .prayer : has no problems relating to “I always said it, even as a British society, although its per­ missiveness times. problems relating to “I always said it, eveh girl, before anything important. ” Though her nervousness usually I remember going one New Year ’s morning and the fire was not even lit. Of course, those who look after it are all working people and can ’t be expected to ing, there are times when it perseveres and affects her per- formahce. “You have your posi­ tive days and your negative days — when you know whether it’s going to be all right or not,” she Sometimes the agent was an evening function at Navroz, ing as we do here.” Hilla relaxes by practising yoga i one. I- emotional strain on you,' she does not grudge it: “I love music so much it would be silly not to sacrifice other things for it.” 45IN * 6 I X” MEMORIAM t H car after en route to A tragic car accident cut short the career of noted theatre and travel personality Pesi Khandalavala on April 15 at the age of 45. For over two decades his name was synonymous with the familiar billing, “Directed by Adi Marzban; produced by Homi Lala and Pesi Khandalavala, ” the trio who toge­ ther produced a succession of slick comedies on the Gujerati and Eng­ lish stage. A partner in Lala ’s, the travel agency which organizes jolly pack- ^e tours all over India and abroad, Khandalavala was driving to Kal- yan with two vacationers who had missed their train to Kashmir ow­ ing to a schedule change. At Shah ­ pur in Thana district, the skidded and overturned; seeing to the needs of his co­ travellers, Khandalavala died of internal injuries hospital. His colleague of over 20 years, Adi Marzban, said, groping for words: “He was very pleasant, very easy. .. Ours was a unique agree ­ ment. We were partners but we sener rre never made a document; we just dom l^^Midn^ghi vJherVtheaufhoS worked as a team. We did more r<.Li iXs or than 50 plays together. They were Jinnah ’s ailing health, independence Marzban, together with Khanda ­ lavala and Lala, founded one of Bombay ’s most successful theatre companies, the Co-operative Play ­ ers, which toured in major cities __ __ _____ all over India and in many small columnist. Busybee, wrote in his towns in Gujerat. Among their tribute, “ Every evening for as most-talked-about productions was as I can remember, politicians, Ah\ Norman, which recently had journalists, lawyers, gathered in his its 101st performance. Though consulting room at Bombay House Khandalavala ’s role as a producer and conversation. ” Dr. Patel entailed everything from booking Chief Medical Officer for the theatre and printing the tickets Latas as well as a host of reputed to obtaining sponsors and arrang- ^ompanie^ such as Associated ing publicity, set design was his especial interest; on a recent invi­ tation to Germany he acquainted himself with new trends in theatre. A talented writer and actor, he was also active in broadcasting, was a visiting lecturer at Baroda ’s prestigious School of Music and Drama, and served on the advisory board of the Bhulabhai Desai Institute. He is survived by his wife. Drug Research Institute in Luckr “ He had a tenacious natui said his brother, Burjor, “ what he wanted to achieve, he achieve Born in Suvali near Surat, Dr. F studied at the College of Educa in Baroda before graduating f the Grant Medical College in 1! He arrived in Bombay with “ ju few introductory letters, ” noted nephew. Dr. Sorab Jhaveri. Ratan Karaka, an old friend Dr. Patel, recalls those early d and writes below her impress! of the reputed doctor. “ Jal had humble beginnings he was never ashamed to talk them. He came from a family modest means. He was a pleasai plump, cherubic man with li brown eyes. Altogether small bi he referred to himself as the ‘Poc Ivanhoe ’. Jal dressed in a pair well-tailored, sharkskin trousers prince’s coat with fascinating butt were as immaculate as his cloth He was known to change his atl about three or four times a d For years he lived in a little £ conditioned backroom at JMeherw shelf and a modest divan wh served as a bed. “ ‘Why don’t you live alittlemc Dr Patel: ^4 tenacious nature Dhun, and three sons, Jimmy, Karl and Sohrab. • From a small dispensary in Bazar p_X^ Ox . _ include Presidents Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto and f ’ princes and politicians. ary 14, 1976 of a heart attack at the Harkisandas Narotamdas Hospital, the 76-year-old doctor’s name figured and Larry Collins’ besfs711^7 Free- state that had Patel leaked news of would have teen deia'yed Sd pSh tion possibly averted. He was not only a good doctor, but a friend and confidant, " recalled his assistant of over 20 years, A. Gomes. And as The Evening News tribute, “Every evening for ”as long as I can remember, politicians. J lu p^^uvc uudt wiin idSvinating Duiii xJ Patel ’s down the front and white shoes wh of India, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto and a galaxy of statesmen, industrialists, princes and politicians. au jv±vi ciw °° J®™*' along with his books;'a ti Harkisandas Narotamdas Hospital, l-K_ _ _ii-< , • ’ prominently in Dominique Lapierre comfortaWy? ” I often asked hi {Please turn to page 55) Khandalavala: Worked as a team 4 for tea and conversation. ” Dr. Patel Tatas as well as a host of reputed companies such as Associated Cement Companies, The Central Bank, The Times of India, and the Cricket Club of India. He was the director of Postgraduate Studies and Research in pharmacology at Grant Medical College and Emeritus Pro­ fessor of Pharmacology. A fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, the International College of Angiology and the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Patel published several research papers and was Chairman of the CentralPress {Continued from page IT) would have to produce three children. “Three i: some of the ill will created towards the Panchayat replacement ratio:, ” noted Desai. It is also for not hosting a function to felicitate Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. T Editor, Jal Heerjibehdin," he noted the Panchayat ]... J _ _ ’ ’• ’ • 2 would be available for the occasion. A Rs. 1,700 would have to produce three children. limit set by the Government to curb the coun In reply to a query by Kaiser exploding population. Aside from providing housing and loan; young couples wishing to marry, Desai also sugg( the compiling of a register of all Parsis with formation on births, deaths, marriages, divo migration, achievements and related material, data would be confidential and made availabl Only iJ on report on the declining undertaking, reflected a growing awareness « of $150,000 for the three-and- The tired of nylon zari and plastic cut- t had written to the soldier asking if and when he would be available for the occasion. A Rs. 1,700 sandalwood casket was ordered from Surat and the grounds of the Cricket Club of India were booked, when the Field Marshal wrote a personal note to Lady Jehangir stating he had received a letter (from only a handful of specialists for study, u Shiavax Vakil) in regard to the function and as there community co-operates can this register be possi seemed to be some controversy over the presentation, said Desai, recalling a past incident when in regar he was declining the honour. some survey ah interviewee lodged an ahgry i Sapur Desai, a former joint secretary of the plaint with him about being asked personal quest Panchayat and author of several publications on That the Panchayat should consider sue! demography, presented a report on the declining undertaking, reflected a growing awareness on population. “Every year there are 300 more deaths part of the Trustees for the need of compreher thah births,” he noted. And if the present trend i " , continued, in another 75 years the community’s confronting the community. That consciousness numbers would dwindle to 40,000, as versus the the willingness to open a dialogue with the P 1971 census figure of 91,000. In order that the are the healthiest signs to emanate from population remain at its present level, each couple Panchayat in recent times. Guiv {Continuedfrom page 15) Dyeing {Continued from page 42) ing house and made an offer created an ironic situation; just as a of $150,000 for the three-and- growing section of city-dwellers, tively, with the revival of' a-half acre Qark property. The tired of nylon zari and plastic cut- share mania, the Parsees of owners then demanded $170,000. glass, are at last becoming aware of present day are much too j This news was relayed to Guiv who the value of honest creative craftsr thou^ it must be admitted had returned to Iran and he gra- ’ ’ ' ' ' ciously offered to pay the price. But the offer was refused and the chapter on this property ended. During this time the directors, crease their prices so the workers than shares in many a pri some members and Sarfeh had can get better wages, which in company, which in bursting been actively looking for a suitable turn will attract more workers,” only drowned the imagi property and a large, old house in explained Ms Sethna. “But they wealth of the Parsees, but New Rochelle which was being aren ’t confident enough to take up wise their real wealth —acquire used as a school has been settled this suggestion. The other impor- inherited—and which infatual on. Contracts are being drawn up. The building requires considerable ____ ___ ___ repair and renovation; most of who is constantly checking the Arbab ’s gift will be utilized for ' ‘ - repairs. The Association will have to find some of the money to main ­ tain it. The advantages of this place are that it is surrounded by a considerable area of land, is in a good locality, and is zoned for the kind of activities we intend to use it for. It is more or less cen­ trally located and approachable by public transportation from New York city where some of our mem­ bers who do not have cars live. And so the Association ’s dream came true. But they always believ­ ed it would. As the first plea for funds noted with striking pre­ science, “We have a history of survival against fantastic odds, both in India and in Iran, and with the help and guidance of Ahura Mazda, we will do the same here too and prosper.” information to effectively tackle the major prob confronting the community. That consciousness Forum {Continued from page 11 are without work, and com] the value of honest creative craftsr though it must be admitted* manship, the wheel has turned in those days the Parsees ' full circle: one manufacturing wealthy on fabulous reckon unit is totally without workers. Their wealth consisted then n “We have advised them to in- ly of hothing more substa crease their prices so the workers can get better wages, which in the property and a large, old house in explained Ms Sethna. aren ’t confident enough to take up this suggestion. The other impor­ tant problem is quality control. If they had invested in the pure ' of these airy nothings. Eve: their school and college lives, Parsee boys and young met there is no organizer on the spot work, the craft could still die.” Such casualties of the unequal time do not give that devc undivided attention to d studies, and that is why we such a larger number of Hit ¦ COj career in the prescribed time, because the young Parsees r struggle between small crafts units and massive industrialized plants will occur with increasing _ frequency, unless there is a change comjileting their in public attitude. “People go “ from the city to the villages to - teach, ” declared Ms Sethna. “But indulge to the pleasures^ of when I go to the villages, I am learning all the time. Kai seekhu, koi seekhu..” theatres, and frequent other places of amusements, they w their times and unvariably the matriculation after a co of failures. ” If Cama was living today, ] not know what words he w< have used to describe present Parsis. I am sure he would I said that economically and so ly. Parsis are down-trodden fit to be classified as a depre class, physically and men weak, in search of light Pervin Mahoney Pen Pals Hormuzda B. Davar, 15, Student, whose interests are reading, swim­ ming, games would like to have pen friends. Write to : 82, Ashokpalli, Kumarpur, Asansol, West Bengal.1 J i- i r 1 ANOTHER BANK OF INDIA SPECIAL! This new Scheme offers the combined benefits of our Monthly Income Certificates and Recurring Deposit Scheme in one super package. Save under this unique Scheme and give yourself the best possible return on your investment. It's easy! It's rewarding! a c I ^M>AS>B)OM(oa34B i«j S' for detaUt, ¦pttasa tm/uht at any of out Btanehaa. Bank of India I The Zoroastrian Co-operative Credit Bank Limited Z Interest upto 10 % on Fixed Deposit Accounts and 5i% on Savings Bank Accounts. Loans granted on moderate terms 16, HORNIMAN CIRCLE. BOMBAY 400 023 . PHONE : 269069 with minimum of work and maxi- mum remuneration, usually to be seen in fi.ve“Star hotels, daYicing, - drinking and enjoying hefty meals costing over a hundred rupees each. a R. N. RUSTOMH Calcutta's Grand Old Man Readers may be interested to know of the services rendered to the community by Jehangir ji Modi, Calcutta ’s esteemed philan ­ thropist who died last December at the age of 71. Scion of one of the city’s leading families, the son of the great scholar Sir Jivanji Modi contributed magnani ­ mously to a host of causes, such as Calcutta ’s Parsi Anjuman Funds, the Parsi Club, the Parsi Zoroastrian Association, the Amateur Dramatic Club and the Saklat Physical Culture Institute; he also had a ravangah hall built in memory of his uncle, the late Jamshedji R. Saklat, another noted philanthropist. Over the last fifty years Modi "not only- founded trusts and gave dona ­ tions but also collected funds from numerous friends in Calcutta ahd Bombay. Shunning publicity, he won the love and admiration of all and was the only Parsi of Calcutta to have been felicitated twice by the community. Calcutta also mourned Framjee Rustomjee (Banajee), who died last October at the age of 74. A trustee of the city’s first fire­ temple, which had been erected by one of his eminent ancestors, his family had dropped the sur­ name Banajee because it had often been confused with the Bengali surname Banerjee. A senior partner iti Messrs Sandersons and Morgans, he was * freemason. Association, A a distinguished DHUN MEHTA Sink or Swim I am sure many will agree that our youth shows scant respect for our religion and customs. Where does the fault lie? Are parents solely to blame for their children’s lack of interest? Or are the en­ vironment, education and indiffer­ ence of our Federation and various associations to blame? Parents are greatly handicapped by their paucity of religious knowledge. This inadequate knowledge does1 f not satisfy or convince today ’s ing communities. Ecology will youngsters. run its merciless, irrevocable Therefore, Parsi schools should course, unless we put in a Hercu- lay more stress upon our religion lean effort for survival. and customs. Meetings at regular What we need today is unity, intervals should be held where cohesion and cooperation but not speakers well-versed in our reli- competition, among the members gion should address the gathering, of our own community. Fissipar- Also various associations should ous, separative tendencies are provide Kustis at subsidized rates, growing—that ’s not a happy sign. If such measures are carried out Let us all come together at vari- we can restore our past glory. Or ous functions and seminars with else we sink.... common endeavour and rebuild our NAVAL B. VAKEEL Community which in the past has Secunderabad demonstrated inherent qualities of survival. else we sink.... Unhappy Sign Inter-caste marriages will be on the increase due to our sophisticated, artificial life. We are heading for a universal society in which there will be no distinction of caste or Books creed or religion. What we require wanted books on Zoroastrianism is a renaissance of our culture, our by Bartholomae, L. H. Mills, Darmes- religion and way of life which will teter, Speigal, J. H. Moulton. Anque- revitalize our community, Raci- til Du Perron. E. W. West, A. ally and genetically due to inter- Williams and The Sacred Books of marriage, there is a growing dete­ rioration of our stock and the manner in which it is replenished Villa, 3-6-12 Himayatnagar, Hydera- will submerge us in the neighbour- bad. Andhra Pradesh. N. N. BHARUCHA Udwada the East by Max Mueller. Write with prices to D. N. Viccajee, Viccajee With Best Compliments from LA-KOZY :: Furnishers & Interior Decorators « * AND I FARAMARZI GOGIA Private Ltd. * ? - * i (Architects & Designers) :: LAKOZY MANSION 21-Chowpatty Seaface, Bombay 400 007. Warden is good For sandalwood Head Office 378 Grant Road Bombay 400 007 and Branches Tel. 371464 Quality sandalwood Aggarbatties, gum benzoin (loban) and other Perfumes .—s I vr-. •» A GIFT OF LOVE FOR THOSE WHO TRULY DESERVE COMFORT ROCKING CHAIR With builtrin comfort Elegant, yet sturdy a VISIT Furnishers 6 Interior Decorators, La Kozy Mansion, Chowpatty Sea Face BOMBAY ,OPEN ON BANK HOLIDAYS 3 BROTHERS i «• ¦ •1 I V Havewalla (Continued from page 41) I don’t know what I’ll do,” says with a worried frown. Still, things are better than in his father ’s time when the senior Havewalla often didn’t even have the eight annas ’ fee needed to participate in a race. “I would borrow an ordinary cycle from a friend,” recalls Adi, “and people would laugh at me.” And the elec­ tion of Dinyar Jamshedji, seton of the Noble Paints Company, to the presidency of the Maharashtra State Cycling Association has proved a boon to the you'ng sports­ men. He’s doing a lot for us, notes Rustom. But whatever the prevailing conditions, what makes a champion As Rustom notes, tliiica iviivx. JU J.-— ------------1 - out. I feel like throwing my bike friend. he Statement tion of Dinyar Jamshedji, scion^of "of the Maharashtra Cycling Association has He’s doing a lot for us,” whatever the prevailing determination to succeed. “There are times when 1 feel completely worn out. I feel like throwing my bike behind some hedge and lying down on the grass. But I gnt my teeth and go on pedalling with added force. I don’t know where I get this added force, but I get it anyway. ” about Ownership and other Particulars about PARSIANA Form IV (See Rule 8) Bombay Bi-Monthly Jehangir R. Patel Indian G. Claridge & _Co. House, £'—1-1- 21— Bombay 400 001. Jehangir R. Patel Indian 285, J. Dadaji Marg, Bombay 400 007. Jehangir R. Patel Indian 285, J. Dadaji Marg, Bombay 400 007. Jehangir R. Patel 285, J. Dadaji Marg, Bombay 400 007- 1. Place of Publication 2. Periodicity of its publication 3. Printer’s name ........................ Nationality ........................ Address................................... 4. Publisher’s name ........................ Nationality ........................ Address........................ • ¦ 5. Editor’s name ........................ Nationality Address................................... 6. Names and addresses of Jndi- shareholders viduals who own the newspaper and partners or shareholders holding more than one per cent of the total capital. idge & Co. Ltd., Caxton Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, I Jehangir R. Patel, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true 1, jenangir is., raivi, --- to the best of my knowledge and beliel. Date : March 1, 1976. Sd/- JEHANGTR R. PATEL THE PARSI CONNECTION I I Subscription rates for India and abroad AH rates valid till February 1977 For a one year subscription of six issues Rs. 16 (save Rs. 2 over single copy price) diverse and widespread common heri- ' The Parsis are a community linked togethei• byj tagebutt . Communication ted to a u.-- a concert or a 1 of staying in . magazine I formed c. — i munity. By doing so we i of information on t'.: ; this great land and so bring them closer to- gethX. Parsiana is your magazine. It needs your The separated by the chasm of urban living, within the community is limi- chance meeting at a Navjot or wedding. 3r a natak. A more systematic means in touch is necessary. That's why a like Parsiana exists. We keep you in- - -.-.-3 contribute to the wealth the peoples and traditions of within the community is limi- natak. K more systematic means For a two-year subscription of twelve copies Rs. 30 in- of events and personalities in the com- support if it is to continue today and encourage c----- subscription to !-------------- touch. ___ J to serve. Subscribe others to do so or gift a someone you feel should be in (save Rs. 6 over single copy price) Foreign subscription rates inclusive of postage: For six issues by seamail : Rs.32 or $4 or £2 . (Tn « - £* A For twelve issues Rs. 60 or S7.5or £3.50 Rs.145 or $ 17 or £7 .50 by airmail ; Rs.75 or $9 or £ 4 IJ S oersonal cheques add $1 .50 to cover bank charges Indian upcountry cheques add Re.1 .50 for bank^c^ges Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favour of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400 001. ¦ -3 add Re.1 .50 for bank charges J;., - to be drawn in favour of Parsiana GPO Box 892, Bombay 400 001. K. Bomanji & Sons, Nalanda BookShop Sandalwood Shop, Taj Mahal Hotel. Next to Dadyseth gghib Singh and Sandalwood Shop, Agiary, F. Fountain, s^ns, Chemists, Princess Street. Bookshop. Veer Nariman Rd. k- rani Rnnksellers off Sir P. Mehta Rd. Swabal Stores, sTp m:™ T' Bombay 400 001. Colaba Causeway. ON SALE AT : Faredoon and Burjor, Strand Bookshop, Bombay 400 001. ,, President Hotel, Mehta's Sandak Bookshop Cuffe Parade. Mehta's Sanoal- wood Shop, Cama Baug. wood Shop, Near Aslaji's Agiary, Shapur Baug. Manneys Book ­ sellers, Poona. And at other stalls and bookshops, in Bombay. Or write to Parsiana. G.P.O Box 892. Phone : 262624si’.' * 4 ? (] - BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 CHOICE SCHOOLING FOR YOUR SON Recognised as a Public School by Department of Education —for Merit Scholars. Excellent Climate —All-round Edu- cation : Indian All Academic Subjects— Technical Subjects ; Radio and Wood-Work Tech­ nology, Farming —Training in Self-Government through Elected Boys’ Office-bearers, Games — Physical Training —Daily Assembly with Congre­ gational Prayers —Weekly intensive Geeta —Koran Excellent Modern Kitchen and Dining Room facilities —Airy Dormitories. Mode­ rate Fees. Concessions to Deserving Students. Zoroastrian — classes — APPLY TO THE MANA­ GING TRUSTEE P. N. Mehta Education Trust Cooks Building, S24 D. N. Road Bombay 400 001 or to the Principal. Memoriam (Continued from page 47} He always replied, ‘ Enough for me. Why do I want trappings? All I want is good company here in the evenings and respect from my fellow­ men. ’ He was an early riser who after his bath settled down to recite his kusti prayers and Behram Yasht. No one was to disturb him while he prayed. If there was a call from a sinking patient, he’d listen on the extension telephone, Avesta in hand, and indicate he would be there soon. His diagnoses were invariably correct. Whether you had measles or cancer he lifted your gloom. On his subject, pharmacology, he knew the last word and always said there wasn ’t a book, journal or magazine on medicine which he had not read. And except when he was reading, Jal hated being alone. He loved his late evening game of bridge followed by drinks and the most spicy dinners. “ He was proud of his galaxy of patients, but let anyone talk about a ‘second opinion ’ and it was the end. It hurt him to the quick. ‘ A second opinion? That means you’ve no faith in my treatment. Go ahead ’ but from then onwards the doctor was never the same. He felt it was a personal affront not to himself, but to his vast knowledge. Jal had a certain amount of understandable vanity but as he confided, it sprang from a deep faith in God. “ He liked a busy strenuous week, and disliked holidays because he felt lonely as there were few people in the clinics. O» most days flowers came in shoalfuls as did fruits, cakes, sweets and other presents. He’d have one look at them and then turning to his assistants say, ‘You better s^end this to so-and-so. I think it will be appreciated. ’ He was generous with his wealth. The only tilings which delighted him were the newest medical gadgets : a streamlined blood pressure set, an aesthetic look­ ing stethoscope^ a well-designed car ­ diogram machine. He liked a beauti ­ ful wristwatch and a soft moving­ pen. Aside from his medicinal acti ­ vities he took part in many Parsi plays usually playing hilarious roles. “ Jal was awarded the honorary rank of Surgeon Captain in the Indian Navy in 1962 and on the day his body was consigned to the Towers of Silence, the Navy band played The Last Post. All those who knew Jal Patel, said, ‘He would have liked that ..........’ ” A bachelor. Dr. Patel is survived by his sister, Hilla Jhaveri, and a brother, Burjor. ASIAN METAL AND WIRE INDUSTRIES On Approved List of Government of India Grams ; Metoolcorp Phone: 338186 Our Products: ® Rolling-Drawing and Coating as per I.S. and B.S. Specifications Copper-" Aluminium —Brass ® Wire-Strip-Rods Square and Round Sheets, Plate, Copper Tubes ® Refrigeration and Electrolytic qualit; ® Enamelled D.P.P. and D.C.C Wire of Copper and Aluminium (Fabrication Job Also Undertaken) Office: 50, Nagdevi St., Bombay 400 003. Factory: Rai Village, Bhaynder. Thana.I ''¦•n't i1 i /! t! News {Continued from page 13) Women’s Judo Champion. The fight was the most crucial, for it won for Maharashtra team A (Bombay) the National Women’s team championship. “I’m the athletic sort” says the petite, blue belt judo enthusiast l!r Meher Tarapore. . word —-** ^iv,*ar puBiuMu.me scnoiars prevailing ^ucational and includes hostel accommodation social customs hamper the progress of wom^’wontheRs. 1,000 first ------lyi pnze m the school section. “There College, jor further details IS discrimiMtipn against women or TL, Triu^^xpai, num bras.^od al, «bax is vin trains under K. N. Pastakia of Judo Kan, an amateur club with SS '<^12aing fe'>r gorto“Z's: it out in the initial stages when High School &nio/Table Tennis t"”® V/Ml O-ro ----- 1 _ n_ • t T a w*x**iu» XMXU.a WILU I Champion. Her other interests goal in mind. Dr Jal K. Wadu 1T1 AliiZl A .J _1_ a_*. ** of their “academic record plus essay on ancial position.” The scholars of women” won the Rs. 1,01X1 first is discriminatipn against women the 18-year-old campus of Bombay ^Homeopathic Med --------- ------- [ w or contact. The Principal, Bom r necessary and doesn’t solve any ­ thing.” Described by the 'school’s Vice Principal, Ms T. Shroff as. *. * “When the anti-religiqus wind blowing strong, throwing pec out of the religious field, frequ you are learning the falls and rolls. It tends to be slightly boring then. Later when you have fights its fun,” she says. Among the others who distin­ guished themselves at the Nation ­ als were Porus Mistry, Kersi Sethna, Hilla Katgara, Mehroo Mehta and Shemaz Anklesaria. ? * The winner of the International Women’s Year national essay v«uuuia«uu nun u sivs 16^ear-old, J. B. chemistry and biology, the^candi- Vachha High School student, ' - ’ - * to the religious fold.” With 1 include painting and elocution. * . ? ,'¦ * Parsi female students who are medically inclined can avail of five, newly established scholar ­ ships of three and a' half years duration, offered by the Homeo­ pathic Education Society. Open to The SpirTts* deserving students of all commirtii- ' ties who have passed the ipter- science examination with physics, dates will be selected on the basis CafcuttaTl * , * .• * Calcutta has written and publisl . a 36-page booklet, titled A f Zoroastrian Fundamentals. Qi six chapters, three deal with Ashem Vohu, the Yatha Fairo, and the Yenghe Hatam, i Ae rest focus on Fire Worst .1 and Dughdho (mother of Zarathushtra). 1 manual is priced at Rs. 8 and available from the, author at 2 Bepin Behari Ganguly Stre Zhqp-Qori Oh iinL^ UstJ ¦ Jo P • • • i 9 2 ¦¦¦ I I 5" — afiBifigllJ&atLIJcec^ agSfeAfert64iiU>iLy»VUi ¦ amayW And Company Private Limited Building Contractors & Civil Engineers Registered Office: 70, Medows Street, Fort, Bombay-400 001 Administrative Office: New India Centre, 17, Cooperage Road, Fort, Bombay-400 001 Phone : 254262/21^44 Gram; Ginframa Bombay