Feb 1978

r 1 k SUPPLEMENT February 1978 Vol. 2 No. 2 Price 50p * THE BIG LIE 9^ For weeks before and after the Third Delhi and Secunderabad served no cutive committee of the Federation. World Zoroastrian Congress, a certain puipose? Only the West zone, of What were they doing that thcxpbjec- section of the community had been which the BPP is the dominant body, "" demanding that the Bombay Pars! has not held a zonal conference. Panchayat withdraw from the Federa- Therefore, one would be inclined to tion of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans deduce that the “serves no purpose” Delhi and Secunderabad served no of India. But the successful holding label applies to the Bombay trustees of the four and a half day Congress, where both the interests of the ortho­ dox and liberal sections of the com­ munity were served, belied the need brought people from all over the for such a move. Thus it was a shock , - • - • to learn that the BPP trustees, with After all, the Congress _was held the exception of one, had resolved at a meeting held on 25 January to “withdraw from and discontinue" membership in the Federation “with L tives were not fulfilled? The secretary, office and funds of the Federation are with the BPP. Whose fault is it that the Federation “failed to achieve” its objectives, as the BPP claims? rather than their brethren. And are —“Instead of promoting unity, the we also to assume that the Third World Zoroastrian Congress, which activities of the Federation are sowing seeds of discord in the community.” Were the office-bearers of the Fede- world to Bombay, served no purpose? ration the authors of the Navroz -11 *1.- /-I--------- ---- 1—Sheras? (“The Pateti Papers”, (“The Sherasl (“The Pateti Papers”, Parsiana, Dec-Jan ’77.) Who sowed the seeds of discord in the under the auspices of the Federation. If the community had waited for the the seeds of discord in the trustee Panchayat to take the initiative for election between Jamshed Guzder and Jimmy Shroff? (“A Tale of Two Jimmys”, Parsiana, January ’75.) Who threatened to bring morchas to the office of the BPP on more than one occasion? Who wrote that “it is really a matter of great pity that there is no harmony or peace between (the) membership in the Federation “with the meet, another 14 years would immediate effect” (text of resolution have elapsed as they did between the printed on page three). The reasons cited by the trustees for the withdrawal have little basis in fact. They claim that: —The Federation “has not served any ----- - _ ------ — ,---------- „ — - - . j useful purpose.” Are we to assume institution, the BPP should have seven trustees who have been trusted that a body comprising the leaders of closed shop many years ago. Has the with crores of r^iees for the benefit all the major Anjumans of India BPP fulfilled its obligation to uplift of more than 70,000 Parsis of our serves no purpose? That it is only the community? Has fxjverty in the community”? (“Pateti Papers”) the trustees of the Bombay Panchayat community declined or increased over The trustees are aggrieved that “un- who serve “any useful purpose?” the years? Has the number of house- warranted and unjustifiable attacks” Are the trustees implying that the less Parsis increased or decreased? have been made by “responsible re- zonal conferences held in Bangalore, The BPP has five trustees on the exe- presentatives of members of the second and third Congress. —The Federation “has failed to achieve the objects for which it was formed.” If failure to achieve objec­ tives is a cause for jettisoning an institution, the BPP should have all the major Anjumans of India the trustees" of" the Bombay Panchayat community declined or increased over who serve “any useful purpose?” the years? Has the number of house­ zonal conferences held in Bangalore, The BPP has five trustees on the exe-Federation on the credibility and T prestige of the Parsi Panchayat.” If by the “responsible representatives' this were grounds for withdrawal, of the Federation appear tame. The then every Panchayat trustee should trustees’ number one enemy is Shiavax have resigned due to the attacks they Nargolwala, president of the Delhi have been subject to from their fellow Parsi Anjuman, and one of the Fede­ ration’s four vice-presidents. As one of the speakers at the Congress, he won the loudest applause when he stated in regard to the BPP trustee In comparison, the remarks passed the Bombay Punchayet. When it suits them, they take shelter under the proposition that they are mere trustees of Funds and Properties and nothing more. On the other hand, when they desire the support of the orthodox section, they pose themselves as leaders or Akabars of the community which suits the orthodox section also. ’ Granted that Nargolwala may have committed a breach of etiquette but is now out-dated and it is alleged that the speech was delivered in his per- the trustees increasingly owe their sonal capacity, what he said is true election to a caucus of about 300 and he had said it all before voters. In the present democratic age i>5 have been subject to from their fellow trustees. What happened to their “aggrievement” when trustee Ms Nelie Noble wrote of trustee B. K. Boman-Behram’s “malicious and vin­ dictive nature”, likened his political election system that the “procedure standing to that of a “Lilliput posing as a giant” and referred to his Navroz Sher as (notings) as “a sign of old age”; when Hodiwala in referring to Boman-Behram noted, “the tricky it is necessary that every Parsi in and unhealthy methods adopted by Bombay should have a right to elect those in public life (who) achieve un- the trustees. “' ‘ necessary pride of power and forget through adult franchise under their past humble life”; when Boman- Behram in turn referred to Ms Noble’s High Court. In many other parts of “ignorance of public matters” and in ..................... ~ ----- - regard to another incident stated that “no one can believe such a story ex­ cept a person at the level of intelli­ gence of Miss Noble,’’ Boman-Behram labelled Hodiwala a chise is mainly responsible for the “convenient tool”? .95 99 99 at a public meeting held in Surat under the auspices of the Surat Parsi Panchayat to felicitate the members This can be done only of the Federation’s executive commit- ¦ a tee when they met there in November scheme to be approved by the Bombay 1976 (“The Dawn of the Federation”, Parsiana, Dec-Jan ’77). Only about 400 Parsis can directly vote in the India including Poona, Delhi, Calcutta etc., the trustees are now elected by elections for a trustee and as Boman- votes of all the members of the respec- ” tive Punchayet or Anjuman. In and when Bombay, the system of limited fran- Behram and Ms Noble control the largest number of the electoral votes (“The Orthodox Victory”, Parsiana,.. March ’74) no candidate can hope to ambivalent attitude of the trustees of be elected without their support. And imuniiluuul BB 31^ nao'oi riapoorji. I SI IS! I |i k^l III I 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 : 254262/212844 Gram: Ginframe Bombay’ ¦ I r Text of Punchayet Resolution To, The Punchayets and Anjumans affiliated to the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India. Dear Ladies/Gentlemen, At the Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Bombay Parsi Pun­ chayet Funds and Properties, held on Wednesday 25th January, 1978, in Bombay, after very careful con­ sideration all the Trustees, except one, came to the conclusion that it would be in the best interest of all concerned if the Bombay Parsi Punchayet were to withdraw from the Federation of the Parsi Zoro­ astrian Anjumans of India. Having arrived at this decision, they passed Resolutions a true copy of which is attached herewith for your information. Yours faithfully, for The Bombay Parsi Punchayet Funds & Properties (B. K. Boman-Behram) Chairman TRUE COPY OF RESOLUTIONS should withdraw from the Federa- PASSED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE BOMBAY PARSI PUNCHAYET FUNDS AND PROPERTIES AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 25TH the Federation of the Parsi Zoro- J ANU ARY, 1978. astrian Anjumans of India with immediate effect. ‘it is — FURTHER RESOLVED that the Parsi Punchayet of Bombay assures all the Anjumans of India and abroad that is will continue to exercise leadership and to extend the same guidance, co-operation and assistance as it has been doing since many decades. It is — FURTHER RESOLVED that the Parsi Punchayet of Bombay will take all such steps as may be neces­ sary to establish and maintain links with Zoroastrian organisations all over the world, as contemplated X ^x.wx,x.xv..x xzxx X.XW during the deliberations of the Ilird prestige of the Parsi Punchayet of Zoroastrian Congress in ixiv wil XX.X.X 333 It is — during which period the RESOLVED LASTLY that copies wvxx*xxx.x..xL Ixxxo IxxxxixwJ x.,^ xvx iv 3xxx' above Resolutions be for- guidance and assistance from all wyded to all Anjumans,^ ^ncha- over India and abroad. ' “In the above circumstances, all the Trustees of the Parsi Punchayet of Bombay, except one, after very mature consideration and after For the Trustees of the Parsi Pun­ weighing the pros and cons of the chayet Funds & Properties situation, have, reluctantly, come k . Boman-Behram) to the conclusion that it is in the Chairman best interests of the community that the Parsi Punchayet of Bombay 27th January, 1978. tion. “It is, therefore, now — RESOLVED that the Parsi Pun­ chayet of Bombay withdraws from and discontinues its membership of “For some time past, all but one of the present Trustees of the Parsi Punchayet of Bombay have been feeling that the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India has not served any useful purpose and has failed to achieve the objects for which it was formed. They also feel that instead of pro­ moting unity, the activities of the Federation are sowing seeds of discord in the community. The Trustees also feel aggrieved by the unwarranted and unjustifiable at­ tacks made by responsible repre­ sentatives of the members of the Federation on the credibility and piVJU^V VZX VUV' JL WXUX X WJUVUWJ WV XZX - Bombay, which has served the Bojnbay. community so well for over 300 years, ( ‘ community has looked up to it for yets and organisations of Zoroas- trians in India and abroad. CERTIFIED TRUE COPY it is the system, more than the indi- Thin End”, Parsiana, Oct-Nov ’77). vidual trustees, that has destroyed the There were smiles all round and and toasted the community’s health. From dwindling numbers, the decli social and economic status of Panchayat’s credibility and reduced Boman-Behram and Nargolwala community, the will and desire t( ' toasted the community’s health. From better still lived. With one fell sti I 4th to Sth January, the Third World delivered from behind closed d Zoroastrian Congress was held and through a dishonestly worded res despite all its shortcomings was a sue- tion, the Panchayat has undone cess. At last something positive had spirit of 1978. it to an object of derision, scorn and ridicule. The BPP has traditionally viewed the Federation as a threat to its hege­ mony and agreed to the formation of an all-India body only upon being been done in Bombay. People had given considerable weightage in the Federation’s Executive Council. What­ ever differences the BPP trustees may have had with the Federation have always been resolved amicably. The od at by the Federation but a last meeting of the council held in new sense of camaraderie and well- Poona, in September last year, ended being was evident, a feeling that some- on a note of reconciliation (“The come together, aired their views and shared their problems. No Congress report resolutions were passed in accord­ ance with the understanding arriv- how, despite all our failings, the Due to recent developments in the F ration of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumar India, the Parsiana report on the 1 World Zoroastrian Congress will aj in the March 1978 issue instead of February Supplement. IThe Voice of Dissent j / Of the seven trustees of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat, Eruch Byramsha Desai is the fifth in seniority and the youngest in ago. A partner in the prestigious law firm of Mulla & Mulla and Craigie Blunt & Caroe and director of several companies, the 46-yoar-old lawyer has been one of the Panchayat's foremost defenders. Thus when it was announced that "all the Trustees except one" were in favour of leaving the Federation, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that the lone vote of reason was cast by Desai. If his colleagues, however, behave true to form, Desai will not be permitted to exercise his considerable abilities for long on the board of trustees. We carry herewith in toto his note of dissent, explaining the reasons for his decision to oppose the Panchayat's withdrawal from the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India. -J I" Strictly Confidential January, 1978. Re: 3rd World Zoroastrian Congress and The All India Federation of Parsi Anjumans. Desai: “Deterring factor” to clear possibly the reservations in as mentioned in my manifesto when I contested the election for the Trusteeship, I am a firm believer in our Zoroastrian faith, traditions and practices and in the preservation of our 1 The Chairman’s note herein of the t------ - 12th January, 1978, was received by the minds of a few by reiterating that me m the box on or about loth m- stant, but since thereafter I had been twice out of Bombay including in res­ pect of our visit to Rajpipla on 21st and 22nd instant to ascertain the con- --------- — r - , dition of the brethren of our commu- our tenets, heritage and culture and ‘ nity there along with Dr. Miss. Noble would strongly deprecate any propa- and Mr Hodiwalla, I could not get the ganda from any quarter against these opportunity to read the same carefully established customs and tenets of our " till today. ancient religion. The decision there- Prior to this we had cursory dis- fore that I am arriving today, on the issue involved is in no way indicative of any departure on my part from this The Chairman in his Note has rais­ ed two main questions. Firstly, whe­ ther the All India Federation of Parsi Anjumans has since its inception been (b) since a large majority of the Parsis lived in Bombay, and since Parsi Punchayet, Bombay was looking after their interest, it was not necessary to form another Association as such an Association, was likely to con­ flict with our Punchayef, (c) that if a permanent Zoroastrian World Organisation was con­ templated, there was no neces­ sity of an All India Zoroastrian Association; (d) that it another body were to be started, there would be un­ necessary duplication of work; (e) that the Parsi Punchayet, Bom­ bay should not sacrifice its pre­ eminence among the Anjumans of India by consenting to be a unit of the Federation. It is pertinent, that inspite of all these being considered by the then Trustees, the Parsi Punchayet, Bom­ bay decided to join the Federation. I do not think that the past or the re­ cent attacks of Mr Nargolwala in the Press or at the 3rd World Zoroastrian Prior to this we had cursory dis­ cussion with the Chairman and some of our other collea^es on 19th Janu­ ary when we met in connection with stand, the matter of the form of receipt to be ' • issued in respect of the disputed cases of licensees and statutoiy tenants oc­ cupying the Trust buildings. At this meeting also, I had raised my doubts of any benefit to the community, or in the matter. in other words whether the original I have now carefully gone through objects and purposes of the Federa- the Note and have thoroughly applied tion have been accomplished to any my mind thereto. After so reading the appreciable extent. Secondly, whether note, I am unable to exactly focus the the time has now arrived for the Parsi maiA reason which should actuate us Punchayet of Bombay to withdraw at this stage to withdraw from the from the Federation. rnnarSs heS recently have anything Federation. All the points raised in With reference to the first question, ?.. asnects of the matter the Chairman’s note in support of the the Chairman has taken pains to go to do with these p withdrawal should have been and were through the past history, and has the^TruSees in join- considered by the then T^stees be- lucidly drawn attention to the argu- fore deciding to jom the Federation, as also by all concerned before con­ vening the 3rd World Zoroastrian „ Congress held recently. Nothing new Federation. The main arguments can- has transpired to affect this decision, ------------------------------—" as more fully elaborated hereafter. At the outset, I may make it clear, and would also take this opportunity other words whether the original ments raised then by some of our pre­ decessors, as also the Chairman, stres­ sing the desirability not to join the vassed then and now may be sum­ marised as under:— (a) that our Punchayet did similar work; said decision of the Trustees in join­ ing the Federation or to rescind the decision which had already been taken in the matter, by withdrawing from the Federation at this stage. In other words, nothing new has transpired which would in any way strengthen the force contained in these arguments, any the more than what existed at thementioned in the Chairman’s Note it­ self, and as is evidenced by the Rules and Regulations of the Federation, the Punchayet has been given a pre-emin­ ence, and it occupies a pride of place amongst the member Anjumans of the of the easiest conduit k' time the Trustees arrived at the afore­ said decision to join the Federation. It is noted from the Chairman’s Note, and also from other sources, that Mr Nargolwala has always levelled attacks on the Parsi Puncha­ yet, Bombay. By our withdrawing from the Federation, these attacks are not likely to minimise in any way ThC FG<ICI*SltiOn IS OI1C whatsoever. It is to be noted that the Federation or the World Zoroastrian Coi^resses are not the only forums pipes for contact with available to Mr Nargolwala to hurl the Other Pay! such attacks, I for one would not like to be placed in a situation of surrender, «njUlllanS. but would like to take the bull by the horns and meet the same by re­ maining in the Association, rather than by withdrawing away from it. It is also to be noted that the attacks by Mr Nargolwala at the meetings of the Federation are not the attacks by the Federation. His is a voice in the wilderness and in the few meetings of the Federation that I had the privilege to attend, I have not come across any other Anjuman carrying the burden of his song. Further the withdrawal of the Punchayet soon after his attacks at the recently held 3rd World Zoroas­ trian Congress, is bound to give a wrong impression in the minds of of our community. Beyond this and a few other things that i achieved I do not know, and canno imagine as to what such a Congress could achieve or was expected to ac hieve. At best it can be said that i has achieved no more or no less thai the previous two Congresses held ii the past. It has also been observed by th Chairman that the Orthodox sectioi of the Parsi community as well as th priestly class kept aloof from the Con gress, and as such, it was not repre sentative of the Parsi community ii Bombay which the Punchayet repres ents. It is also further contended tha had the Congress been held unde the auspices of the Parsi Punchaye instead of the Federation its succes would have been still greater am moreover would have attracted al sections of the Parsi community. With regard to the first contentior from what transpired prior to the hold ing of the Congress, we were all con scious of the fact that the orthodo: f i. tr I Federation. All the other Anjumans, barring possibly Delhi, have always given a respectful ear to the Bombay Parsee Punchayet and one glaring in­ stance which comes readily to my mind is when Mr Nargolwala was persuaded successfully to drop his move to do away with the provision whereby the Bombay Parsee Puncha- yet’s representative is the automatic Chairman of the Federation. . , , . , From the Note of the Chairman, it section and the priestly class migh appears that the main reason which boycott the Congress. Inspite of thi has weighed with him to suggest thie ^?s decided to go ahead with th course of withdrawal is the holding of ^the^Congress. fror the 3rd World Zoroastrian Congress ± and the proceedings which transpired entire orthodox section and the pnesi the same, I am not sure whether th I for one would not like to be placed in a situation of surrender^ but would like to Cake the bull by the horns and meet the same by remaining in the Association, rather than by withdrawing away from it. subscribe to the view many of our community, that Mr Nar- the 3rd World Zoroastrian Congress thereat. Here, it is important to bear masse avoided the ^or in mind the fact, that we had arrived at the decision to hold the 3rd World Zoroastrian Congress after taking into consideration all the eventualities, and the knowledge of what would trans­ pire thereat, and I do not think that! - - anything untoward has transpired orthodox and the priestly class avoic thereat, which has given a lie to these expectations. On the contrary, as the Chairman has rightly observed, the Congress was an organisational success which in fact, is a feather in the cap of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet at I WOUld UOt SlISO least to a limited extent. The fact that it was not an unqualified success, .. would apart from being debatable, WlUC tllC FC<lei*SCIOn nd! golwala’s views are gaining ground would not militate against the fine not SGFVGCl any USGfUl amongst a sizable portion of our achievement of the Bombay Parsi Pun- abt faUrril community, which in fact is not the chayet in this direction. On the ques- wr Tailtsu position. It is also pertinent to note that up to now, a permanent World Zoroas­ trian Organisation has not been form­ ed, which was one of the arguments One important fact that has emerged advanced not to have had the Federa­ tion of the present kind. I also do not think that the forma­ tion of the Federation or its activities have in any way sacrificed the pre­ eminence of the Punchayet amongst gathered is that all members of our the Anjumans of India. By remain- <---------- -.j —2— ing in the Federation, the Punchayet Zoroastrians, and that they were really gress as was the ^expectation in som does not sacrifice this position. On the ............................................... x - x contrary, it has been enhanced. As gress. This does not appear to be s considering the response which M B. H. Antia, Solicitor, received froi the audience when as a lone speake: he propounded the views of the orthc doxy. But, even assuming that th ed the Congress, can this be a groun today for the withdrawal from th Federation at this stage, when a achievement of the Bombay Parsi Pun­ chayet in this direction. On the ques­ tion of it being an unqualified success, tO SChfCVC the ObJCCtS I cannot fathom as to what more was - ----- expected to be derived from such a _ Congress than what it actually did. fOFIKieO, for which it was from the Congress as I see, is the great fillip which it has given to the mem- . . bers of our community in asserting before deciding to hold,the Congress their abiding faith in our Zoroastrian - - -- - — -- religion. The impression that I have withdrawal before holding the Con ___ ' ____ ___¦ gress. On the contrary, the fact ths community take pride in their being no fire works took place at the Cor these were within our contemplatio: If at all, there was a better case fc concerned about the decline in the quarter, makes the case for withdrs economic and other conditions wal now considerably weaker.With regard to the second conten­ tion that the orthodox class and the priestly class would have attended, had the Congress been held under the auspices of the Parsi Punchayet of Bombay instead of the Federation, all who know about the working of the Federation and the Congress, includ­ ing the members of our community full well knew that it was the Parsi ¦VOWlIllg neW HaS Punchayet which was virtually manag- transpired since the With regard to the loud murmurs in the community to the effect that the Parsi Punchayet got involved in mat­ ters which had best been left alone, it is pertinent that the decisions to hold by Mr Nargolwala in his paper which the Congress with the Parsi Puncha- * ' of these tirades, the then Trustees de­ cided to join the Federation. The Chairman has also referred to an iden­ tical attack against the Parsi Punchayet ing the show on and behind the stage, kMlXiMn 9w«i and not the Federation. The very th© SFCl fact that the Chairman and Mr World Zoroastrian Guzder handled the entire show and they together with Mr Justice Vima- dalal to some extent, took all decisions in the matter, indicate that all other mOmentOUS deClSlOn In constituents of the Federation had very little to say in the matter, and virtual- HaSte and hUrry. ly the show was that of the Parsi Pun­ chayet as represented by these three colleagues of ours. The Chairman has also observed that no concrete decisions have emer­ ged from the Congress which can be implemented to the benefit of the community. One could foresee even with the limited experience at his com­ mand as of mine, that no such deci­ sions are expected from such Con­ gresses. I do not think such a Con­ gress is the proper forum for such decisions. 7 above to the momentum it has j rated amongst the members of community. I have already referred - ----------- --------gene- ¦ our he read at the 3rd World Zoroastrian Congress, as well as in his speech. As stated above, the Parsi Punchayet was the virtual organiser of the Congress. The Organisers had selected the spea­ kers and they surely should have selected them with full knowledge of what the speakers were to speak or were expected to speak. Further, it is also significant to note that such Congresses are held only about once in ten years, as past experience has shown. The Chairman has also observed that the Parsi Punchayet, Bombay, has borne the burden of the administra­ tion of the Federation from its incep- yet playing the prominent role was tion, only to b^ repaid by unseemly taken, after full knowledge of all cir- * ' ~ cumstances and the possible conse­ quences. Even if these murmurs have some force we all were aware of such an eventuality, long prior to our hav­ ing reached the decision to hold the Congress. The Chairman has also referred to Bombay, remaining the attack of Mr Nargolwala against the Parsi Punchayet. Tn this connec­ tion it may be worthwhile drawing Federation and of the Surat Parsi, ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ " ’ , ’ ' ‘ ’ I this direction at least to some extent. The Chairman has also referred Congress to enable us to arrive at this attacks on the Trustees. I do not en­ visage that by withdrawing from the Federation these attacks will cease or lessen to any measurable extent. On the contrary, they will be augmented to a still greater extent by the Parsee Punchayet, ~ ¦ out of the Federation. In my view, the presence of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet in the the Parsi Punchayet. Tn this connec- attention to similar tirades of Mr Punchayet has some sobering effect in Nargolwala prior to the Bombay Pun­ chayet joining the Federation. Inspite With the Compliments of: N. S. GUZDER & CO. PRIVATE LTD. NEVILLE HOUSE, BALLARD ESTATE BOMBAY-l. 6r t L r I all fairness be said that it has n« served any useful purpose. Apa from what is stated above, tl frequent meetings of the Federatk enables the different Anjumans to q. Parsi Punchayets of " Bombay and change their views on various matte Surat in the Federation, is a deterring and solve the matters of commt factor to other Anjumans outside interest. It acts as a pivot for tl Bombay from venturing on a radical path in line of Mr Nargolwala’s sug­ gestions, as our experience has so Up to now been resisted, and resisted successfully, and this I believe we have been able to do, more firmly and with ease, by our remaining in the Federation. The very presence of the I 1 to Mr Nargolwala’s attacks on our well established customs and tenets of our religion. It is important to note that they only remain as attacks with­ out achieving any victory. This itself gives some strength to the Parsi Pun­ chayet by convincing those concerned that the Parsi Punchayet has stood firm on its ground and has refused to budge from its well established position regarding such matters, inspite of immense pressure. In amply shown, my view the proper time to with- draw from the Federation would be when the Federation is at the point of suggesting drastic reforms in this dir­ ection and in the event of our failure to resist such move(s). It is signifi­ cant to note that it is the presence of the Parsi Pimchayets at Bombay and Surat, that has upto now prevented a move in this direction. The proceed­ ings of the last meeting of the Execu­ tive Council at Poona is ‘ipsa locquatur.’ It is contended that the aim of Mr Nargolwala and his clan seems to be to gain the upper hand and control over the Federation by sustained and virulent propaganda to the detriment of the automony of the Punchayet and other Anjumans. I fail to understand Fund. I can say this, because with how by such virulent propaganda and all these I am actively concerned, attacks, the Delhi Anjuman can gain — - - the upper hand and control of the Federation. In fact, all the radical suggestions of Mr Nargolwala have interest. different Anjumans and it enables to assist more easily the differe Aiijumans in the country. Our ta in tnis direction will be difficult if n to withdra It would al: at Poona Finally, in my' view, several of the impossible were we other Anjumans, barring Delhi and its like (a very negligible number), do look upon the Parsi Punchayet at Bombay as the guiding force. The Federation is one of the easiest con­ duit pipes for contact with the other of Bombay being actively associal Parsi Anjumans. I would not also ’ ' "" subscribe to the view that the Federa­ tion has not served any useful purpose or failed to achieve the objects for which it was formed. Only as instan­ ces, it was through the Federation that irom the Federation. render the other Anjumans in t position of cattle without a shephei or as children without their paren In fact, without the Parsi Punchaj with the affairs of the Federation the extent as at present, the Federate is likely to go astray and venture ? a path which miglit be ultimate detrimental to the larger interest the community. With the Parsi Pu action was first initiated in respect of chayets of Bombay and Surat out the Adoption Bill and the amendments to the Parsee Marriage and Divorce the way, it will be far easier for t concerned Anjumans of the Fcderati Act. It is the Federation which has to sway the others and to have thi been seized of regularising the matters own way and profess to represt relating to the Kashmir Aranagah the community scattered over a lai Fund. I can say this, because with area of the country before varic " ' ’ \ '. authorities who matter in our count The Federation has been formed only This factor is capable of creati in the year 1970 and in this short some harm to the community even 1 time, it is too early to judge its perfor­ mance and actual utility. It caimot in The Parsi Connection k r The Parsis are a diverse and widespread community linked together by a common heritage but separated by the chasm of urban living. Communication within the community is limited to a chance meeting at a navjote, wedding, concert or natak. A more systematic means of staying in touch is necessary. That's why magazines like Parsiana exist. We keep you informed of events and personalities in the community. By doing so we contribute to the wealth of information on the peoples and traditions of this great land and so bring them closer together. Parsiana is your magazine. It needs your support if it is to continue to serve. Subscribe today or gift a subscription. For one year (eix issues) India^ seamail Rs. 32 or $4 or £2 airmail Rs. 75 or $9 or £4 For two years (twelve issues) India Rs. 30 seamail Rs. 60 or $7 .50 or £3.50 airmail Rs. 145 or $17 or £7.50 For U.S. personal cheques add $1.50 for bank charges. For Indian upeountry cheques add Re. 1.50. Cheques and drafts to be drawn in favour of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892. Bombay 400 001. Cash payment and money orders accepted care of the Hopeful Playgroup Centre, 40 Bastion Road (Opposite Cathedral School), Fort Bombay 400 001. Rs. 16 For further information phone 262624 All rates valid till 1977. a temporary period, which in i view, by our remaining in the Fed© tion, it will be possible to avoid. In short, I may conclude that i thing new has transpired since I holding of the 3rd World Zoroastri Congress to enable us to arrive at ti momentous decision in such ha and hurry. In any event, the sta has not yet come, and I trust, v never come, for us to withdraw fr< the Federation. In any view of I matter, this is the most inopportu time to withdraw, soon in the heel the 3rd World Zoroastrian Congre Of course this does not prevent rethinking on the line suggested the Chairman and arrive at a decisi in that direction at any time in futu should the occasion therefore ari With respect therefore to the Cha man and my other colleagues, ho ever much I would have l^ed to 1 in line with an unanimous decisii having regard to the above, I ; afraid, I cannot pressurise my c< science to do so against my will. < the contrary since I sincerely belie that withdrawal from the Federate will be against the interest of the coi munity, I would like my colleagues reconsider the matter in light of wl is stated above. E. B. D