Nov 1979

1 is- 9. ‘HZ/l I I November 1979 Price Rs. 3.50 fewJ' ' '¦ ¦§ 5 ** vSC-’- •i»fe ¦ ’ ’1 5 ' a4 - S?' ‘ P wX*' 1% 4-. > ¦ <3 ’! . --.i • ‘ ...... -5g\ :t •' **? *# ,J^ r ‘ •f f "' -Fetwraary ’80 Vol. 2"No. 11 pmSC» .......... Fa^ ¦< "Z t t «l< '5, A A?- c - Gii^b^ Irani exk ™ IWOm Wai Boatwala ART ASSISTANT Ni4eo Amroliwalla. Ketayun Waidtadla .VDVERTISINQ M Part^ Md Rafsiana is published by Patel at C|o H. L. r * C^atebers ground flop Murg, Fort, Bombay 4( *""" ’¦’— at KaiaaiCM i, 300, & 6 001. editorial a lo ly 400 061. ^001 -Hind i^ Nariman j ad ,«! •i I E«i rS t’ Sfe f JJsr, Adth^ *0 3^. Sox J 892, Be«ibay 400 061. 268730. Ammai inluid subscri^ption: Rs. 26 Bw .-,4^- lA r chaii^ in postal rates. OFFICE Mathew Mi? George in postd rates. * ‘!¦; i> 2" J ¦>9', gS ^''^SI READERS' FORUM »»11 * 4 f » t A iSTf * * * If * ^7-'' 4 I i' L, fcsi' -'•;**|**f;, l|n t >’»*(#»? ?*' Readers ’ views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. ; ing committee as.well as all honorary mander-in-Chief of the British Com- and paid ofl&ce bearers should be dealt with in detail. Our cardinal objective should be to keep politics out at any cost and to keep the body uncorrupt ­ ible. The word charity has played havoc with our community. Doles distribut ­ ed over the last 50 years could have built and financed a large number of enterprises and spared the poor Parsis the utter humiliation of lining up each month to receive a dole of Rs. 3 to Rs.5. Instead they would have been employed and had the opportunity to earn a living with self-respect. One of the responsibilities of the body should be to open the eyes of the community by conducting surveys to determine the literacy and employ ­ ment rate in the community. Since the last few years the Parsi popula ­ tion has been falling at an alarming rate. Against approximately 1,100 deaths in the community per year only 500 are born each year. If the apex body is launched on firm ------ - ------- , - grounds and can nrovide comfortable ponded. Any one wishing to be hoiking, with good education and the appointed to represent the Order ot fwportiinity tn ftam good incomes, the United Religions ” is requested to ’ cdirimunity by 2000 A.D. should be . apply to her. able to hold its head high once again. ’ ¦” " And why not? we are, so few. R. J. KATILA monwealth. I have not received any communication from them declining to accept the appointment. Perhaps they communicated but the Karachi postal service did not deliver these to me. Some seven years ago Dr Ernest Key, Litt. D. Dr Journalism & F. R. S. A. sent four autographed books of his authorship none of which the postal service has delivered to me. About five years back the “grand ­ prix ” for “Idealistic Literature ” was sent from Brazil. The postal service delivered the diploma but not the prize. I wrote to Brazil and was assured the prize was posted to me. Early in 1978, the “National Society of Published Poets ”, Riverview, Flo­ rida, U.S.A, awarded to m© the first prize for my poem but it is August and the prize is not delivered to me. 1 appointed Dr. (Miss) Lou Lu Tour the Commander-in-Chief for the Ame ­ ricas, 1270, Fifth Avenue, New York 10029, U.S.A, and the lady has res- appointed to represent the “Order of United Religions ” is requested to I will be very happy to receive any such application, and to appoint re ­ presentatives, but the wonderful Karachi postal service may not deliver the letters to ine. PESHOTON SOARABJl GOOLBAl DUBASH ‘Villa Esperanta' 7, Katrak Parses Colo.ny, Karachi 3, Pakistan. Journalism & but the Bottom Post Men folk have not brought about inter-religious co-operation, though there have been conferences of reli ­ gions. JS: A Hundred Year Ago I wished that women folk should be given a chance. Conse- Apex Body .q.—'t.—t-j — -------- The Trustees of the Parsi Panchayat United Religions ” made up of mostly have been telling us time and again that they are essentially a body creat ­ ed for managing various trusts and properties and that they do not repre ­ sent the community in religious, social, cultural, ethnic, economic and other matters of the community. In other words 60,000 Parsis of Bombay, forming over 70% of the total world population of Parsis have no repre ­ sentative body elected by them and that too in one of the worlds most ad­ vanced metropolice of a democratic country. There is an immediate need for --------- , creating a representative apex body towns and these Captains ’ have, the elected by adult franchise. No section ’ of the community is to be left out of the electoral rolls. Rules should be so framed and amended that no vested interest creep in or take advantage of them. The question of accountability der-in-Chief^ of every member of the body’s work- _ women, if not exclusively of women. The object of this “Order ” is to bring Of B^bay about a body of “United Religions ” Thp. Pa as there is of the “United Nations.” To do that I believe we should have a force of women. There should be one World Commander-in-Chief, an­ other Commander-in-Chief of the British Commonwealth & Europe and one of the Americas. These Com­ manders are authorized to appoint “Champions of the Order of United Religions ”, in different countries and States. These “Champions ” have tl» authority to appoint “Captains ” in An American View Of The Parsees ...The Parsep merchants are the sharpest, shrewdest, most enterprising, and progressive class in India. The trade of Bombay has long been in their hands or under their manage ­ ment in one capacity or another. The fame of Sir JamsCtjee Jeejeebhoy reached America long years ago, and his benefactions tQ Bombay are to be seen on every hand. But at present despair and gloom reign in almost every .godown and counting house, and commercial adventure is at a standstill... . Before th© cotton crash of ’65, the richest Parsee in the world was Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, whose fortune, divided among his three sons, was 80 lakhs, or 80,00,000 rupees authority to appoint “Lieutenants ” in districts of towns. Thus I had the honour of appoint ­ ing Her Imperial Highness ^Princess Princess ($4,000,000 less exchange). A man of five lakhs stood just at the threshold • 3 Ashraf of Iran the World Gomman- and H.R.H. Margaret of Great Britain the Com- among sons,of the temple of Plutiis where rich men are worshipped. Let me show you how he spends his income: Rent of bungalow, if hired, or its equivalent in interest on cost ...... Servants (indoor and outdoor) ................ ....... Horses and carriages, keeping ......................... Table expenses for the family (say of two adults and four children) ........ Dress of whole family (which includes rich satin wraps for the wife and daughters, but not dress making, for the Parsee ladies have no need of dressmakers, their clothes being almost altogether long wraps, which they wear without the help of pins, hooks, eyes, buttons or buckles), an average of ........... ........... . ............ Entertainment of guests at table ............... Grand ceremonies, such as the. investiture of boy or girl at the age of 1 with the peculiar shirt or sudra and waist cord —- kusti —, and the marriage feast ....................... . Total average monthly expenses of an average family of a Parsee of five lakhs fortune ................ Rupees per month 150 TOO 80 800 200 100 100 J 1030 New York Sun., Times of India. ‘Imam Khan’ at the Shiraz Parsi Dharmshala He looms large a shadow Morning The cypress avenue He is caretaker — gardener He labors A pomegranate ripens to a crack He contemplates His hat is his marking No other god-sign will he accept Sowing dog-bones in a bed So the greens grow better Turning over The soil His credential’ . The "mobeeP took him in Searching out his root in Yezd Bonafide Imam Khan is beneficiary and bounly So the sparrow too is fed. HO SANG MERCHANT With Compliments from empire ESTATE Liber^ Building 41/42 Marine Lines Bombay 400 020 1 4Events and Personalities “The Best Thing ” i “I think it’s th© best thing I can give my children. ” The gift that Ms Teh- mina Alphonse, a Parsi married to an American, gave her 7-year-old daugh­ ter, Lylah, was the performance of | her navjote ceremony. The nayjote i was performed on 2 August at Green- j lands, the Andhra PXadesh Guest j House in Secunderabad, by Dastur Framroze Bode and two other mobeds from Hyderabad. “I felt nice, but just a little ner ­ vous,” says Lylah. “I know all the (kusti) prayers and I say them twice a day. I like the navjote being done. ” The Alphonses intend to have die navjote of their other two children, also performed. “I had told Gerard (her husband) diat any children we have would be Zoroastrians and he agreed. The mother ’s influence is a very strong one and it is just right that they (the chil­ dren) take Up the mother ’s faith,” notes Tehmina, who resides in the U.S.A. She points out that with the Jews it is the practice that the child­ ren not only follow the faith of their ' mother but also use her name. “Gerard, ” she adds ‘‘is a Roman Catholic who lives his religion. ” ___ ______ ____ __ ____ __ ___ _ _____ _ _ ___ Except for a few people who threa- rants daily. “There is a lot of enthu- rat University, Ahmedabad. tened the other mobeds accompanying siasm for Parsi food (in the U.S.A.),” Dr Ratan Marshall of Surat sent Bode there was little opnosition to . B, ¦ ¦II * ’ 1 resources to the developing world Marker started his diplomatic career in the 1960s when he went to Ghana as Pakistan’s representative. He was later posted to Rumania, the USSR, the German Democratic Republic, Japan and eventually as his country ’s permanent representative and ambas ­ sador to the United Nations in Gen ­ eva, in which capacity he presently serves. Early this year Marker lost his wife, Diana, who died of cancer in Geneva on 4 January. A letter in the Paki^n Times noted: “she gave of herself un- stingingly, representing Pakistan in international conferences, writing her own speeches, campaigning for her country ’s point of view, unmindful of her slowly deteriorating health. ’ Noted Zoologist She works with rats and scholars and brushes shoulders with the world ’s leading authorities in Zoology. Her name appears in the “Directory of Indian Women Today—1976”, “Fam­ ous but nice ’ OUS India, Nations Who’s Who- ous...out nice. “Reference Asia — 1977” runs the Curries and Spice Cooking The noted Parsi is Dr Ms Nfloufer School in Princeton, New Jersey and Jamshed Chinoy, a research zoologist also provides bread to three restau- and lecturer in Zoology at the Guja- X 'V •' ¦ i*a Dastur Bode and Lylah : little nerv- tened the other mob^s accompanying siasm for Parsi food (in the U.S.A.) Bode there was little opnosition to tl- -___Z— 1 ' X ___ L- Z * the navjote, either from both the fami- RCA Corporation in PrinceTon. Next lies or the local Parsi anjuman, says {_ -• ____________ _ __ ______ Tehmina.. Only one of the mobeds, Lylah’s two brothers Navroze, aged field of academics and Zrology; “who was next in succession to beco- five and Cyrus, aged three. ----- ' ** * " ' ming the high priest, dropp^ out from the navjote, ” says Tehmina. The ‘77’ Spokesman navjote, which was attended by the A Pakistan diplomat, Jamsbed K. A. India because fehmina ’s mother. Group ’of 77 Developing Nations to Queen'*Mary ’s "in Delhi and "dien joined Roda Mistry, wanted it to be held in - - -*- • - ___ ‘ " Z Z" ZZZl U-Z—Z,, 1___ _ Z— the twin cities rather than in the financial issues before the developed obtained her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Zoo­ U.S.A. “My mother was very adamant nations. logy in 1959 and 1961 respectively, in from the beginning - that the children Marker,* who is Pakistan’s ambas- both instances topping the merit ijst he taken into the faith,” Tehmina sador and permanent representative with a first class. In 1966, she was spates. to the United Nations European awarded her doctorate degree from the Tehmina and Gerard were married Headquarters in Geneva as well as a M.S. University of Baroda, h« thesis in the U.S.A, where they reside and member of the country ’s delegation being “Studies on some aspects of the work. No ashirwad performed to the UNCTAD-V ccmference in - - - - when they , returned to India but the Manila in May 1'979, . will have to priest of Secunderabad and Hy- convince the technologicaUy advan- hlessdd the couple. Tehmina ced nations to transfer some of their she says. Ifer husband works for the Parsiana Chinoy’s bio-data which jj typewritten sheets to list in line for the thread ceremony are her achievements, all primarily in the ...................... ' ¦ ' Z : an five and Cyrus, aged three. additional 18 sheets list her 127 pub­ lications in scientific journals in India ‘77’ Spokesman and abroad. Z. Z _ , J------------ . Bom on 17 October 1939, Chinoy members of the a^uman, was held in Marker, has been selectwi by the finished her schooling in 1956 from Roda Mistry, wanted it to be held represrat their case on monetary and the Delhi University from where she nations. Marker,* who is Pakistan’s ambas- structure and physiology of the verte ­ brate dceletjd muscles. ” The scholarships hnd ofiief dis­ tinctions she has received run into 18 5 J .fl1 rfSf -J r ¦ <4* f monity. an eight member til P ¦¦ T! L Chinoy: ‘rats and scholars ’ iblic rela- i a vanced Avesta (^urse for children public r committee has tormed; M‘7raxid^00^SrTOmp£n^ in^ for poor and mi^e-dass Zoro- the first, second and third year res- j * pectiveiy. notes the report. The pro- Duildmg fund has been started. A gramme, which started in 1972 in- subsequent newsletter of the Pancha- eludes courses in the Avesta language S that the body has submit- the life of Zarathushtra, ai^ the ted plans for these new tc ’" ¦ - . _ the Poona Municipal Corporation^ The news bulletin adds that because of better financial management and in­ vestment of funds and a generous in­ crease in donations, the Committee for .---- uy ruie ana u Education their meaning, while those who are 10 Aid has Men able to step up its help and above are given the religious and to needy families, not only in terms of spiritual significance of these prayers, an increase in the number of benefi- A select group is taught Avesta and Claries, but also in the quantum of Gujarati and learn to write the prav- assistance in each case. ers in these scripts. In addition the Awording to me report, the total significance of the navjote. sudreh Panchayat members from kusti and other aspects of Zoroastria- tne five registers is 701 out of a total nism is also explained. ^ona Parsi population around 6.000. Ms Jeroo Pudumjee of Poona wri- K K^^sets of the Panchayat are stated tes to say that the activities of the to be oyer 15 lakhs and it has an Mandal began in 1962 under the pre- aimual mcome of over Rs. 1,60,000. sidentship of the late Prof. D. D. Ka- ’ trustees of the Panchayat are: Persi padia, the then president of the Poona j onapooni i snir cnmdfiy, Maneck Nusserwanji who began and conducted the ^klesana, Nozer Hormusji Homji, - -------- - - Nadirshaw Minocher- umjee and Rustomji Burjorji Patel. ~ Trust, Poona, a Aga, a member. Gandhi, however, stil f th® amelioration maintains affiliation to the classes in has the capacity of a guide and advisor also published their accounts for the Pudumjee adds wt the Mandal is hlndeTnm® Operated purely on a voluntary basis over 12 ghtident Rs. 50. — nr ¦¦ .. . the first, second and third year res- eludes courses in the Avesta language. buildings to history of the Zoroastrian religion and ancient Iran and is held every Sunday. The minutes also report the nature of the other classes for children in the age group of four to twelve. The very young are taught prayers by rote and .u ------ and above are given the religious and nism is also explained. Ms Jeroo Pudumjee of Poona wri- Mandal began in 1962 under the pre ­ sidentship of the late Prof. D. D. Ka- Anklesaria, Pershi Arde- Parsi Panchayat ^orabji "r."^Gandhi „ -- ------- ------- .. ... . . - items, including a three year research grant by the World Health Organiza ­ tion (WHO), and an invitation to par ­ ticipate in a research and teaching programme at Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey, U.S.A. She is also a rnember of 10 national and interna ­ tional societies, and was invited to participate in 32 conferences, semi ­ nars and symposiums held in India and abroad. In 1971 she received official recog ­ nition as a guide for Ph.D. students and since then has helped a number of students obtain their degrees. A Good Account 7 religious workers. While the Bombay Parsi Panchayat th^ In® struggles in vain to keep pace with studv cla«e« in wj. me rcui lecnnieai accounting deadlines, the other anju- “where over Poona Institute, is the present president of the mans, panchayats and associations in gM? ar ? Suaht the orgamzation. India are coping efficiently with the faS "'’"r r . task. Though their work load is less, ancient ’ Iran^hv 1,°^ .^cknow Hou^g Project gious classes for many years, has now ? homji, Ms Homai Nusserwanji Pud­ umjee and Rustomji Burjorji Patel. The Athoman Aid Trust, Poona, " of the ^estly cl^s since 1966,” has the capacity of a also published their accounts for the ~ ‘ handed over the responsibility owing to failing health to Ms Shirin Dastur, the joint secretary, and Ms Zinobia J a memter. Gandhi, however, still X «.x. .. . . . handed out cash and household items to 15 priests and 23 religious workers. and is funded by sympathetic donors. ^®tawala, principal ®^'the Petit Te^nkal organization. of Lucknow Housing Project ___ Luclmow housing project for poor Parsis have been competed, accord ­ ing to Ms BapsyB. Khodaiji, the social secretary and former president of the Lucknow Parsi Anjuman. The foun­ dation stone of the six flat building, the Kaikhashru Hormusji Katrak Block, was laid on 21 March 1978 on the property belonging to the Luck­ now Parsi Anjuman. The original, cost of the housing project was estimated at Rs. 2.10,000 or Rs. 35,000 per flat. However, with escalating prices, Khodaiji writes that of the ^w College of Poona anH for- • £tckji Kwkarfa proposed flats of the „X • X . Lucknow housing project for noor ers of the trust include chairperson Pnrfiio Kox.- k ....- ______ Mehroo Rustomji Boga, co-chairper- „ , . son. Ms Frannie Bejonji Boywala, ,Lx treasurer, Ms Rati Jal Gin- xvala and honorary secretary. Noshir Ardeshir Press. The accounting statement of the Borivli and Suburban Asociation for 1978 shows that the total assets of the • t iu "j XX. —-viauvil were Rs. 7,505.82 while m fcdia, h^ prepared cyclostyled the income for the year was Rs copies of their audited statements for 3 840 80 1977. ’ The annual report of the Poona Learn and Em xu ~ i r^yat notes that 13 meetings of Cash incentives have been introd«,d S' XtS* couM^t^l the Panchayat were held durmg the bv the “Dharam Guan v«ra ” rxnUoinTxo donation of Rs. year, out of which four trustejs, in- dX topX to e^rX^me the late Kaikhashru Kat- eluding the president, Pesi S. Ankle, younger mWrm'of thTo^nX and Ms Noshir Dhanji- satm. were present at g the meetings, to st^ ZoXtriantoT ai^S to XX’' .J ‘ i?*”'?' Aware of the Pandayat’s need to the mtont-. „ Mmii. eh,xr;i<.2 d “ an those who donate mamtam good relations with the com- Mandal meeting. ^Xe year ad- %ll*S^v^^’te ’^ia “S ' so are their staff and resources. The Surat Parsi Panchayat recently pub­ lished its accounts, copies of which were reportedly sent to donors and others; the Borivli and f Zoroastrian Association sent cyclo­ styled copies of their audited state ­ ment of accounts for 1978 to mem ­ bers. donors and subscribers of their newsletter while the Poona Parsi Pan- chayat, the second largest Panchayat As&^ti^ copies of their audited statements for 3 840 80 1911. > • . The annual report of the Poona Learn and Earn classes in Poona to year ad- 40,000 from the late Kaikhashru Kat-f K •fv* datScm of Ctollege, 3^ the |§ may W lasi. , enow Parsi Anjuman, New Build- ___ M Rbe'B»Bediw^dcsi- jS^®p|&ociatioS^''of t^ Govern- - " or Cbllege, Bombay. . in favwW of Tlwofih an oversight Instar ’s ini- Fund ~ 7nd to *1316 Luclmow P.S. The error is regretted. Anjmnan <^ce, C/o B. B. 14 Gantampalti, Lucknow' I I t i Khodaiji also writes that eight families are staying in the existing structures on the Anjuman property. (X &ese “six are widows and the rent of one widow is subsidised by the Anjuman besides giving her monetary help of Rs. 60 per month.” She adds that “according to Government rules this (the new six-flat block) is perhaps the last building, to be constructed in our Anjuman compound. ” -fele joint hono ­ rary in fee socio­ logy Students Assocartp# ’^ her Uiii- ___ ____ -«__________ verstty... ¦ tials had appeared as D. P. instead of Jimmy Patel, of Pune, was awarded — — ¦ ' the “Sahyadri Shree —' 79” title for the Maharashtra-level open best phy­ sique competition held recently in Bombay. Patel, who also holds the current Mr Maharashtra and Mr India titles was elected to represent India in the Mr Asia contest to be held in the Philippines..,.., Dilnaaz M. Patel, immediate past president of the Maha- laxmi Jaycees, has been awarded the Certificate of Merit by Jaycees Inter ­ national as fee “Most Outstanding Jaycee of the Year ” at the recent Hong Kong conference. Patel was fee only Indian to receive recognition at this co!nfereince......An invftation by fee German Foundation to attend an International seminar on ‘Role of Lib­ eralism ’ in the ‘North South Conflict’ at Spain has been extended to 19- year-old Ms Kashmira Sotaria of Bombay...Ms Rasfana ^ywalla was chosen as ‘Miss Mermaid — 1979’ at the National Maritime Day Ball in Bombay recently...... Noted homeo ­ path. Dr S. R. Wadia, who was on a feree-month tour of fee United States, is reported to be fee first . Indian homoeopath to be invited by the Na­ tional Centre for Homoeopathy to deliver a series of lectures at the an­ nual refresher course in Millersville... Jamshed N. Guzder, managing direc ­ tor of National Peroxide and director of Bombay Dyeing was elected the " the Indian Mer ­ chants Chamber Ms Roda Mis^ was elected president of fee Indian Council of Social Welfare for 1979-81 at the biennial session held recently in Hyderabad. Association Association and attended almost all the functions,” notes the BSZA news ­ letter. According to the bulletin, mem ­ bers of the Association scheduled a condolence meeting for 8 September to mourn Painter ’s death and to “pass a resolution expressing deep sorrow. ” Painter leaves behind his wife, two sons and a daughter. Don ’t Discard The next time you discard a greeting card Ms Jerbanoo B. Deboo, a social worker, requests you to redirect it her way. Deboo and her colleagues will touch up the cards be they pateii, Christmas, diwali, birthday, get-well, anniversary or any other card and prepare them for resale. In Memoriam The Vice-president of the Borivli ^d Suburlm Zoroastrian Association (BSZA) Sofarabji R. Painter, who died on 7 August 1979 at the age of 59, was a founder, life member of the Association, and “one of the oldest Parsi residents of Borivli who took a very keen interest in the affairs of the Soonawalla: Bhavnagar Award SPOTUWI JaBUH^ Jid Mbidan has won the cove ­ ted “Idear Agent ” Award for 1978 from the Association of L.I.C. Agents. Madan, who is 49, has sold 2,300 policies and has to his credit busi­ ness in force of Rs. 2.75 crores, mostly . ia ^ieSdSr of Ms Vera Confectioner, a 25 year-old — deaf student from India, has gradu ­ ated in liberal arts from Gallaudet College, Washington, reputed to be the only accredited liberal arts college for the deaf in the world. The BA degree awarded to her bears the signature of the Resident of the United States of America... Phiroze Fardoon Soona- wi^ has been awarded the Bhavna- The New Fire Temple State Scholarship for topping the merit list of students seeking admis ­ sion to medical colleges throughout Bombay. Hailing from a family of well-known doctors, 17-year-old Phi­ roze has been admitted to the G. S Medical College and K.E.M. Hospi ­ tal... Ms P. D. Anklesaria, a Bombay lawyer who won the Mithroff Edito­ rial Scholarship of the University of the Pacific, Salzburg, Austria left for Austria on a four month study tour. Anklesaria has also secured place- . _ ment in the United Nations Industrial ^bors^lovingly on the haunches Development Organisation ... Kash- ____ _ ______ Maraoeban BhanuAa topped her In January 1978 issue, Parsiana class in the final BA Sociology exa- 2. r r. r / • _ ’ in whose memory fee P. S. Dastur rao University, Baroda. A first class prepare them for resale. Proceeds from fee sales of these cards are dis­ tributed between various charities, notes Ms Deboo. In 1977, she says, Rs. .6,222 was donated to lepper and blind homes, hospitals and other ins­ titutions including Rs. 1,300 to the cyclone relief fund. In 1978 fee figure was Rs 6,515, including Rs. 901 for the flood relief fund, she notes. Cards may be sent to Ms Deboo C/o Leach & Webomy Washing C _ Hamam Street, Port, Bombay 400001 or at her residence at 3/5 Tata Mills Housing Society, Parel, Bombay 400012. Dr P. S. Dastur At Isfahan It is marble A staircase leads upwards The roof slants in rays to a chimney Topped by a ziggurat Conceived by a parsi Two stenotypists in piety donated ’-lue ___ir names though misspelled are lasting Outside a stone-carver Company, O/ a Bull-Man (he doesnh believe) He shall remain HOSHANG MERCHANT had referred to fee late Dr P. S. bastur mination from fee Maharaja Siyaji- 7 IZOROASTRIANS ABROAD Historic Landmaric instance, ZSBC project for the blind. The story of the Zoroastrian Society whereby five eye-camps were estab ­ board of directors right from its in- , . ception, except for the year 1975/76. of . British Columbia (ZSBC) one of lished in Uttar-Pradesh, or its yearly has been closely involved with aU spheres of its activities. Only 300 copies of the book have the oldest Zoroastrian associations Navroze present of a navjote cere- on the North American continent, is ] __ 2^ 7 " __ ____________ told in a 372-page tome titled ‘The hosting the celebrations on Friday been printed and can be obtained at Zoroastrian Society of British Colum August 21, 1970 officially recorded as a cost of Canadian $5.00 each, plus bia 1968-1978’. Compiled by Jam- Zoroastrian Day in Vancouver Citi- postage, by writing to the Society at shed Pa.vri, the ZSBCs honorary sec- zenship Court. 5693 Heather Street, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 3M3, Canada. “We (the Zoroas ­ trian community in North America) tion that has been achieved not only all seem to have one thing in com- “ mon,” Pavri concludes in his forward to the book, “namely to leave to our progeny the excellence of our religion and heritage. Unless something con­ crete takes shape, this will remain only a dream. ” mony to a needy child in India, or August 21, 1970 officially recorded as Zoroastrian Day in Vancouver Citi- iretary since its inception, and publish- Z ,2 .1. ed by the Society, the mimoeographed. Society suggests the degree of integra- lypewritten volume contains a wealth - .......................... of information on the pioneering acti­ vities of the community in the New World. “The principle objective of this tindertaking, ” ^vri writes in the pre ­ face, “is to inform our community _ ___ _ members ” whom he expects “will October 8, 1978 and the Disarma- keep the book safely for their children. ” He also hopes that “at least every 10 years, future genera ­ tions will bring out such books to maintain a proper record of their both these meetings, ’ Anjuman body.” oiofae A-nzvI-tirk-M With painstaking effort Pavri has compiled together minutes of impor ­ tant board and general body meet ­ ings. annual reports, financial state ­ ments, the constitution and by-laws of presentatives of New York, Chicago, the Society, papers prepared for Toronto and Montreal, “It was too special occasions, condolence mess- expensive for our Society to send a ages sent by the Society in case of representative to attend the meeting, ” deaths in the community, a list of ' navjote ceremonies performed by members and lists of members and directors; also included are sel^ted 1968 to 105 by 1978. Over this period Solomon Nigosian, special lecturer articles on the Zoroastrian religion Pavri estimates the Zoroastrian popu- of religious studies at the univeristy, and its roots in Iran and the New lation of British Columbia to have who delivered the first series will once World and the Fasli and the Parsi grown from 51 to 268. He traces the again be responsible for the current Shenshahi calender, the latter from community ’s roots back to 1859 when year ’s programme. “Nigosian ’s repu- 1756 to 2632 A.D, when the calendar Rustamji Hiribhai came to New York tation within the University commu- will eventually correct itself. (“He stayed for about a year and a nity ranks him as one of the most “Our ultimate hope happens to be half, had an interview with President knowledgeable exponents of our an­ that in the years to come, there will Buchanan but eventually returned to cient religion and history, ” the ZSO evolve a genuine Zoroastrian Anju- Bombay ”) and the 1860s when no’es. The current lecture series will cost each participant $70 and classes are scheduled for every Tuesday from 16 have made him the first Zoroastrian October to 18 December. Comment- to come to Canada, according to Pavri. Over the years other Zoroas- The llth annual report of the with other Zoroastrian communities in North America but also with the local community of British Columbia as a whole. “We participated in B.C. (British Columbia) Interfaith Thanks­ giving service at Temple Sholom on ment Week prayer meeting at the ONTARIO Canadian Memorial Church on Octo- Study of Zoroaririaulsm her 29, 1978. Ervad Ardaviraf Mino- In addition to reading and conducting cher-Homji read from the Gathas at religious classes to learn about the ¦ the report religion, Zoroastrians abroad are turn ­ ing to the academic community for scholastic guidance. A ten-lecture series on Zoroastrianism is fast be ­ coming a regular feature of the acade* mic programme of the School of Con­ tinuing Studies, at the University ol Toronto. The course which was con­ ducted for the first time in 1978-79 will be held once again during the the report adds. academic year 1979-80, according to Membership to the Society grew the newsletter of the Zoroastrian from 20 at the time of its inception in Society of Ontario (ZSO). 1968 to 105 by 1978. Over this period Pavri estimates the Zoroastrian popu- 99 states. Another section of the annual report records the first meeting of the “Zoroastrian Associations of North America ” on October 7, 1978 in Montreal which was attended by re- grown from 51 to 268. He traces the community ’s roots back to 1859 when (“He stayed for about a year and a that in the years to come, there vrill Buchanan but eventually returned to • Bombay ”) and the 1860s when man of Canada — or North Ame- Manecfcji Framji Javeri was prospect- rica, ” the minutes of the first meeting ing for gold in California and proba- prior to the establishment of the bly later in Bakerville which would Society records. The constitution • * '" " ~ ~ spells out the objectives in greater de ­ tail : “To promote the interests and welfare of, and render necessary ser ­ vice to Zoroastrian residents in Bri- business and later to settle perma- notes, tish Columbia...to promote know- nently. Zoroastrianism widely its historical ledge of the Zoroastrian religion...to However, since there is no indexa- development, the Prophet Zarathu- preserve, maintain and carry out pur- tion of the various topics covered by shtra and his sacred writings and poses of the Society, ” The last item the book a person desiring informa- teachings, the impact and influence of refers specifically to acquisition and tion on a specific subject might find Zoroastrianism on other religions, maintenance of bunal grounds, land himself reading more than what is and the present interaction of Zoroas- and buildings for worship or schools, required. trianism immersed in Hindu, Muslim donations and gifts._ and the mainten- The idea of publishing the book and Christian cultures. Other topics such as how best to keep Zoroastrian ­ ism alive and well on the North Ame- - ___ ___ _ _ ____________ -- rican continent were also discussed- of what the Sodety has achieved. For the Society and a member of the The enrolment from^y > tnemhei^ip 11 Bombay ”) and the 1860s when ing for gold in California and proba- ing on the 1978-79 programme which was conducted between 8 February trians visited the continent, first for and 12 April 1979 the newsletter business and later to settle perma- notes, ‘‘The course encompassed However, since there is no indexa ­ tion of the various topics covered by the book a person desiring informa ­ tion on a specific subject might find Zoroastrianism on other religions. and buildings for worship or schools, required. ¦ The idea of publishing the book ance of relationships with other was proposed at the 10th annual Zoroastrian bodies. meeting of the Society on 15 April Subsequent reports give a fair idea 1978. Pavri, a founder member of H sI f ! i I ii America judging from the ovations “He certainly had'the Zoroastrian New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, reportedfly accorded him by the community in Ontario in flui^.” the Pljiladelphia and the surrounding Zoroastrian coinmuniUes of Quebec, ZSO newsletter notes, “some agreed areas. The type^^tteij, ' numeo- Ontario and Greatei: New York. Be- with his views and others agreed to graphed publication, interspersed with tween October and December 1978, differ. Nevertheless he inspired us. advertisements, also includes a brief Mistree visited Montreal. Toronto, He introduced Zoroastrianism to us, list of select individuals under the Chicago and New York at the invita- explained the basic principles of the title of “Contacts with Zoroastrians tion of the associations, to spread the religion, the concept of two opposing in Other Areas ”. In addition there is ‘Good Word ’ about the Zoroastrian spirits of Good and Evil and the also a list of past and present mem ­ religion and its heritage through a Amesha Spentas, nature of prayer and bers of the Board of Directors. series of lectures, informal discussions rituals, the Navjote arid J ashen cere* The smaller Quebec directory, the and audio-visual demonstrations, monies and the theory and practice of first of its kind for the Association, ‘Mistree ’s ‘debut ” the bulletin of the Zoroastrianism. ” has about 78 entries of both member Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO) The Zoroastrian Association of and non-member Zoroastrians living writes ‘‘has proved that what the com- Greater New York bulletin describes in the Canadian province. An inter ­ munity seeks is more religious know- Mistree as “a young Zoroastrian who esting inclusion is a list of 24 Zoroas- ledge, either by word of mouth or studied to be a Chartered Accountant trian priests living in Quebe.c. Ontario through printed literature. ’’ in Erigland (and in whom) a transfer- and Vanvouver, Other features are Perhaps the rriost spirited response mation took place and his interest in the addresses of eight other commu ­ te Mistree ’s message was from Que- religion .grew to such an extent that tiity centres in North America a list bee where the December 1978 issue he gave it up and studied Zoroastrian- of past presidents and present mem- of Gavashni was dedicated to his visit, ism at Oxford and the University of bets of the Executive Committee, and Dr. Jehan Bagli writes in the editorial. London under Dr Mary Boyce. Be- the telephone numbers of frequently “With the power of his oratory, and cause of the overwhelmingly positive called or important institutions in his mastery over the Gathas, the response of our community to Kho- Canada such as hospitals, govern- Zoroastrian texts of the younger jeste ’s lecture series, ” the newsletter rnent offices and police offices. Avesta, and those of the middle Per- noted, “an additional lecture has been Cbpies of either directory may be sian literature, Khojeste portrayed a arranged. ” ordered by writing to ZAGNY, picture of confidence in the religion Arbab Rustam Guiv Darbe Mehr, of Zarathushtra sometimes overflowed Keeping track 249 Weyman Avenue, New Rochelle, into subjective opinion. With his The publication of directories has New York 10805, and The Zoroas- ability to lighten the heavy weight of become a regular and essential feature trian Association of Quebec; P.Q. Box the subject he spoke of, he over- of the Zoroastrian associations in 654. Station Tour De La Bourse, whelmed all those who heard him. North America. Montreal, Quebec H4Z 1J9. With his critical judgement of the The Zoroastrian Association of existing literature on our religion he Greater New York (ZAGNY) has SINGAPORE remov^ once and for all the dilemma published the third edition of its Singapore ’s Vakil Honoured of credibility, by suggesting some de- directory with a total listing of about “A large gathering of prominent finite alternative volumes. Finally. 256 member and non-member Zoroas- Singaporeans met at the Raffles Hotel his transposition of the 3500 years old trians living in the eastern states of to honour the High Priest, Ervad doctrine of the Mazdayasna religion, into an audio-visual of the most sop­ histicated order, using modern day i techniques, was the best example Of I starting of an ‘oral tradition ’ that to- j day’s generation can carry through I centuries with confidence. I “In short, Khojeste did more than 4 just stimulate the thinking (Good 1 Thought), he actually started people I talking (Good Words); and that is more than any visiting speaker ever I achieved during his visit to this part j of the world. These fires of enthu- I siasm must be continually fanned and Zarathoshties of today must learn to appreciate the finer doctrinal points embedded within the ritualistic per ­ formances. ” Among the many others who paid their individual tributes to Mistree in | Gavashni were Ness Lakdawala. “(He) awakened the inborn heritage of the Zoroastrian faith within us.”; Kaiser Golwalla; “my life is so much the richer for it.”; and Dinaz Mirza; I For many —especially the youngs­ ters —, it was their first structured ex- Bastur Vakil (second from right), who was honoured at a special function posure to our religion. Khojeste made in Singapore, with chief guest Ghows (second from left), solicitor general of religion come alive to us.” Singapore. “some agreed areas. cc »Z' i 13 r j• ! U Ratanshaw VakU for his and Malaysia Parsis during^tl^last 30 t I i s services to the Singapore and and Malaysia Parsis during the last 30 years, ’ according to a report by Ms. Feroza R. C. Cooper of Singa^ pw. The Chief Guest of the func­ tion was the Solicitor General of W. Ghows who re- QA,.. • J --- -------—¦'¦’¦J 111 lllC 1 vatu a, of was held on 1 over by A ------- I.I2C IL SoUcitor General called in Rowing terms 'selfless personal sacrifice, ”’the r5OTt “addr was held on w J V ’ presided over by Ms Behroze Setna, the president of Singapore Parsi Association. A citatiM by Rutton Patel, reportedly the oldest Parsi resident of Singapore Pi’esented at the occasion says of Vakil; he not only follows the prin- opal tenets of the Zoroastrian faith_ Good ^oughts. Good Words and Good Deeds —but also puts them into practice in everyday life.' VakU according to the citation be ­ came the high priest of the Parsi cc mumty in Singapore in 1949 and com- J on 29 May 1954 convened the first meet ­ ing of the Parsi Association of Singa­ pore. He represented the Pasis of Singapore and Malaysia at the First Zoroastrian Congress in Bombay and the World Conference on Religion and Peace in Kyoto and is the current representative of the Zoroastrian reli- ^on in the Council of Inter-Religious --------—vj 1.^ iXC 2d I yo J® of the Gita Ashram and the Hans Anderson Club and the governor of the Singapore Polytechnic and was a former president of the Lions Club of Singapore and former vice-president of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce. Vakil, who is the brother of the Bombay lawyer, Shiavax R Valal, was presented with a shawl and a gold memento by Ms. Nargis K Medora on behalf of the members of the Association. EUROPE A grave problem While the controversy over the use of dokhmas contutpes in India, mg the fate of eight graves in the Church of Berlin. Shapur Captain notes that the Zoroastrian Association of Europe (Incorporated) “pays for the mainten- ance of a part of a graveyard belong- Berlin. Eight grave maintenance costs have "now escalated considerably. ’ I would like to make a general appeal to the rela ­ tives of those buried at Berlin (the graveyard), to undertake to contribute towards the maintenance costs of the graves and the cemetery every year. If we are unable to get a response from the families of the deceased we may have to stop maintenance pay­ ments, (although we will do our best to avoid this) in which case the graves will be dug up and re-used by the Church. I sincerely hope that we will not come to that stage and that the re ­ latives to the deceased would respond to our request. ” „ _ . -— — the Zoroastrians in En^and are ponder- I i j J SERSON ElectrolytiG Ci^acitors t i For AU Electronic Applications From 12 VDC To 350 VDC I i Manufacturers : Serson Industries Pvt. Ltd. Pimpri P. F. P. O., Poona-18. Cable : EtcUoil Poona-18 * Phone ; 82379 ! 14News from the media his son their political support. It was explained that “in our reli ­ gion we shouldn’t do anything against the law of the land,” the Zoroastrian leader said. “We should be faithful to the law of the land.” Besides, he said, “being such a small minority, we cannot do anything anyway.” The problems they now face seem to be more in the realm of anxiety than reality. “The mullahs have been very kind to us, so far, ” one Zoroastrian said “but they may not be able to control all the people. ” It is the ordinary Moslem that worries the Zoroastrians. “It is the Iranian young people who don’t understand our place here and they sometimes make trouble, ” one said. ‘‘Some have even charged we are Communists. They just don’t understand the ideas of freedom and liberty. ” Zoroastrian religious life here cen ­ ters on a building in the downtown part of the city on what is called Zoroastrian Alley. Unpretentious from the outside, the building houses schoolrooms and meeting places ite upper floors. The first floor is the Zoroastrian sanctuary, where mem ­ bers of the community join in prayer five times a day, usually in the early mornings or evenings. Although Tehran has more Zoroas ­ trians, the religious center is really in and around Yazd in south-central Iran. Besides the main fire temple in nearby Kerman, the area also holds another major symbol of Zoroastrian ­ ism. the Towers of Silence. Now the Zoroastrians have adapted in order to survive, generally follow­ ing the burial practices of their rulers. The Towers of Silence no longer are used. This attitude of accepting at least some of the majority ’s laws and prac- L ) i Under siege in Iran Teheran, Iran —, For more than 2,500 yearsj the Zoroastrians have suffered invasion, massacre, persecutions, con­ version by the sword and exile. But they have survived — the last of the original Persians. Survived, but just barely. And now these people, a tiny mino ­ rity in a land awash with revolution ­ ary fervor and Moslem orthodoxy, are threatened again. At least they feel under siege. “We are very vulnerable here. We face great difficulties, ” a leader of the Zoroastrian community said, his voice soft with simpressed anxiety. Four years after the death of Mchammed, Arab armies swept into Persia and imposed Islam on the land. Those who resisted were killed or fled, mostly to what is now India and Pakistan. The handful who stayed had to adopt Moslem law and pay a heavy poll tax, which was not lifted until early this century by the Reza Shah, founder of the Pahlavi dynasty and father of the deposed Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. In addition to the poll tax, Zoroas ­ trians along with Jews suffered under . . - other burdens of Moslem rule. They Zoroastrians hope will were forced to live in ghettos, wear ’* identity badges and follow many Isla­ mic religious mandates. An example of the treatment of Zoroastrians and Jews was a regula ­ tion prohibiting them from going out­ side during a rain. It was thought that rain washing over them would corrupt the ground. Ever since such laws were rescind ­ ed by the Pahlavis, the Zoroastrians have been fairly treated, a community leader said, although no member of the sect has been eligible for high say that Moslem children should no government or military office and the longer attend non-Islamic schools, group has been limited to one mem ­ ber of parliament. In return for improving treatment, the Zoroastrians gave Reza Shah and on get them through this unsettled time. So far, it seems to be working. Only three arrests of Zoroastrians by the Islamic revolutionary committees have been confirmed. There has been one report of Zoroastrian property being confiscated. But there are signs of potential trouble. For instance, Zoroastrian schools are some of the best in Iran and depend heavily on Moslem stu­ dents to help pay the costs. But some elements in Khomaini ’s government Zoroastrians are highly educated, with more than 90% of their children attending college. They represent a percentage of the nation’s doctors and lawyers far out of proportion to their size. They tend to have a Western or cosmopolitan outlook because of their close relations with the larger Zoroas ­ trian communities in England and India. Most speak several languages. All this has led to resentment by many of their Moslem neighbours. What to do to protect themselves? In a word, nothing. Zoroastrian leaders here stay in touch with other minorities, particu ­ larly Jews, but this is a loose associa­ tion and everyone is very careful to say that the contacts are not aimed at the present government. Leaving Iran does not seem to be an attractive option for the Zoroas ­ trians still here. “We are not like the Jews, who can go to Israel, or even the Christians who have foundations in other coun­ tries, ” one Zoroastrian said. “This is our home. We have been here thousands of years and left only when forced out. We have been here through very hard conditions.” KENNETH FREED Los Angeles Times, 15/6/79 IN THE NEWS AND SPOTLIGHT Do you know of any Paisi who has won distinction in any special field of endeavour or has merit^ a mention m the press? If you fed that such information will be of interest to our readers please send it to the Editor, Spotlight or In the News, Parsiana, G. P. O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Items are subject to editing for rea- sons of space and clarity. In the News Diana Ratnagar, chairperson of the Beauty Without Cruelty organisation, who has been campaigning in Bom­ bay against cruelty and industrial ex ­ ploitation of animals by leather goods manufacturers was stung by an edi ­ torial m the Times oj India'. “Imagine man, the most blood-thirsty of ani­ mals, shedding tears for the manner in which a snake is skinned or an aged buffalo left to die. The tear-shedder would rather save the cattle than look steadily at the sight of starving human derelicts, living in appaling condi­ tions.” In a re-joinder in the Letters Column Ratnagar hit back: ‘‘Ironical ­ ly enough it (the question ‘Why the concern about animals when so many human beings are starving ’) comes from those very people who, if asked to do something to alleviate human suffering, wouldn’t help in the least. Reverence for all life is what counts and is true compassion. ”... “A popular person with handicap­ ped children and their parents at the 15I is i ¦ 1 ¦ ( 1 I Chiltow’s Orthopedic Hospital in Bombay is eminent surgeon Dr Perin MdUaferoze for she has brought much sweetness and , light into their lives, ” notes a Bombay Free Press Journal feature. Mullaferoze, who is a LRPC (London), a MRCP and a FRCS. is the Chief Orthopedic Surgeon and the Managing Director at the hospital. ‘‘A little enthusiasm and much ideal ­ ism ” is how she described the begin ­ ning of the project back in 1947, then a small clinic in a doctor ’s waiting room. Today the hospital has 50 beds and an out patient facility where 200 to 250 children come daily for treat ­ ment. Mullaferoze was also honour ­ ed with the Order of the British Em ­ pire (O.B.E.) in recognition of her services during World War 11. In 1943 she was appointed as Surgical Specialist with the rank of Major and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colo­ nel. .. Ms Mehroo Boga, chairperson of the action committee of the Society for the Rehabilitation of Paraplegics (per ­ sons paralysed below the waist due to spine injury), disclosed the progress bc^g made oni me Soci^^ unoer- .«^eet Your Entrepreneur ” faking to establish a Ra 25-lakh, 50- o^umn; of the Financial Express Bombay, introduces Wnoo Marpha- proprietor of Mazda Electronics, to its readers. The focus of the article is on the man, Marphatia, and how a small-scale entrepreneur survives in the electronics, industry in India. Mar ­ phatia says that business is “Real tough going.. .mine is basically a busi-. ness of contacts.” He explains that if he is unable to get orders from big manufacturers for assembling compo ­ nents his business suffers... “Most of the heroines wear falsies also the vamps ” the Free Press Jour­ neys film reporter got his information straight'from Ms Mani Rabadi, a leading costume designer of the film industry in Bombay. Commenting on her profession she says “In films everything has to be filmi. One can’t go for realistic dresses and the real colour schemes unless it is an art film...the costume is designed with one eye on the star ’s figure and another on her image. ”... ed the 1979 IMM Bata Gold Award for ‘‘Marketing Man of the year. ” The company, KaiSer-e-Hind notes, has grown from humble beginnings to be economically competitive with multinational giant companies which previously had monopolized certain markets like the toothpaste market... When Jal N. Bil ed after 11 years ’ With Compliments From r icria, who retir- _ — - ___ r- president of the Retail and Dispensing Chemists ’ As­ sociation (RDCA), was facilitated by the association, the Evening News of India sent a reporter to interview him. The RDCA, of which Billimoria was a founder member, has, apart from its struggle for better trade terms with pharmaceutical companies, also fought corruption in the Food and Drug Ad­ ministration which resulted in a large scale reshuffling of officials in the or ­ ganization, according to the report. Billimoria, who is the proprietor of Bills and Sons, recalls how over the years from 1932, when he opened his shop at Dadar, to the present day, modem drugs have been displacing the dispensing profession... being made on the Society ’s under- 1 • • _................................ 2_- bed treatment-cum-training centre at New Bombay, according to the Bom- bayman ’s Diary column of the Even­ ing News of India. Boga, the column writes, was also instrumental in estab ­ lishing Asia’s biggest paraplegic Home for disabled Jawans at Kirkee. Pune in 1974 and is also a member of the All-India Handicrafts Board and an, honorary advisor to a pilot silk bro- ¦ cade weaving centre at Surat. .. “A 78-year-old Parsi (Manebershah Framji Suraliwjda) is a widely sought- after orthopedic physician in Bombay, though he does not hold any medical degrees, ” notes an Indian Express news item. What makes Suraliwala, who comes from the village Madhi in Surat district, sought after is that he is able to set the,bones of his patients suffering from ailments like slip disc etc., by ‘‘thuds” and “kicks’‘ and with­ out the assistance of modem orthope ­ dic gadgets or equipment... Farrukh Ditondy, author of three books, “East End At Your Feet ”, ‘‘The Siege of Babylon” and “Come to Mecca ”, was the topic of discussion in the Bombayman ’s* Diary column of the Evening News of India. Dhondy, according to the column “has mostly been writing about young Asians and blacks in England (and) got involved in their political movement in Bri- tain.”... A. R, Balsara, managing partner of Balsara Hygiene Products was award- GLOBE THEATRES PVT. LTD. Established April 3, 1915 Controlling : The “Slightly different from other taxi drivers is Kersl Wadia, perhaps one of the few Parsis to have joined the profession, ” is the theme of a brief news item that appears in the Bom­ bay edition of the Times of India. Wadia according to the report, is not a member of any union and finds his work interesting as it gives him the opportunity to meet a variety of people every day... ? REGAL BOMBAY ? CAPITOL BOMBAY * GLOBE CALCUTTA ROXY MADRAS 17 biThird North American Congress New Zoroastrian Personality 1 A view of the audience at the Third N(wth American Congress. In the first row are Prof. Keki Irani of Columbia University (second from left) and to has left Dastur Firoze Kotwal, l^b priest of the Wa^ji Atash-Behram. Porus Cooper the Zoroastrian Association of Greater mouth was law; we lived in a time degrees of urgency by speakers from should involve the teaching of the 11 Zoroastrain groups in the United scriptures in English to make them States and Canada. more interesting to youths who know The problem facing the community no other language — an idea endorsed NEW YORK — Slowly but certainly in the United States and Canada was by visiting high priest Dastur N. Mino- a new Zoroastrian personality seems perhaps best articulated by Dolly chehr-Homji so long as the translation to be evolving on the North Amen- Dastoor, who combines motherhood preserved the spirit of the original. A can continent. The trend ran distinct- with a career as- clinical psychologist, third speaker recommended the ex- ly through all the deliberations at the and is president of the Zoroastrian change of books and tape recordings Third North American Zoroastrian Association of Quebec, in Canada: on Zoroastrian religious and cultural Conferattce and Symposium hosted by “We survived in an era when word of subjects. the Zoroastrian Association of Greater mouth was law; we lived in a time For the Iranian Zoroastrians and New Ybrk (ZAGNY) October 6 and 7. when religion and culture was trans- their sympathizers io the audience, The new personality is being shap- mitted in an environment where there apprehensive about the future of the ed by what one speaker called the was no opposition in the family, community under fundamentalist Mus- fear of being engulfed by the “elec- Today we live in a pluralistic society lim rule in Iran, the main issue seem- tronic sea ” of the New World where where all religious concepts are sub’ ed to be the insularity of the commu- I the handful of Zoroastrian immigrants ject to debate, nothing is accepted at nity. The issue came to a head when | from India, Pakistan, Africa and face value. Erach Munshi, a trustee of the New I Iran have chosen to make their seen- “We have often said that the hope York association ’s Dab© Meher re- I lar future. It is growing more and for the future lies in our children, vealed that the community could ob- 1 more anxious about the survival ot that we must educate them, have reh- tain the protection afford^ by aJBBJia- 1 the COTimunity as a distinct entity gious classes, etc. But what will we tion with the United Nations only if it 1 beyond the first few generations. It teach them? That we adult cannot pledged to open up to converts from still looks to the traditional center of agree on whether we should j^rtorm other faiths. We cannot have a close community in America. ” altout the survival ot that we must educate them, have reh- tain the protection afford^ by af&ha- ... . , . .. . , .. beyond the first few generations. It teach them? That we adult cannot pledged to open up to converts from spiritual authority, Bombay, for the wedding ceremonies for non-Zdroas- answers, but is despairing of getting trian spouses? That we cannot agree in America. ” one Iranian Zoroas- them. It hopes for salvation in ex- on whether we should or should not trian, less inhibited than his Parsi tending the characteristic adaptabi- permit persons not bom of Zoroas- brethren from India, told Minochehr- lity of the community beyond the trian parents to espouse the religion? Homji. The venerable high priest limits set by Bombay. That we adults cannot agree on the would not respond. The influential OflBciaUy the theme of the New way of disposing of our dead? That Iranian community leader. Dr. Ros- York symposium was “Historical the schisms which divide us in India tam Sarfeh, even called for a vote perspectives on Zoroastrianism. ” remain with us and divide us stiU? ’ on the issue. Later, talking to Par- Under (hat heading it featured an If the problem was diagonised as siana, Dastur Firoze Kotwal, head array of scholarly presentations on survival, the remedy that was most priest of the Wadiaji Atash. Behram the community ’s past in Iran and often recommended was “communica- in Bombay and currently a research India. But that in many respects was tion.” The word encompassed, several scholar at Harvard University, said only a coroUary to the more immedi- elements. One participant interpreted it was unreasonable to demand the ate question of the community ’s sur- it to mean the dissemination of infor- qimmnr y scrapping of a tradition viva! and prosperity in (he New mation about the activities of the that has help^ to preserve the com- World, a concern that was addressed different Zoroastrian groups operating munity ’s identity for over a thousand in different ways and with varying in North America. Another said it years. The last public word on the 18 ex- '¦? 'i' remain with us and divide us stiU? ’ < If the problem was diagonised as siana, Dastur Firoze Kotwal, head I I Ia 1 1^ F ! AT THE CONGRESS Lovji Cama ' Keki Irani Jehan Bagli JFaroke Mistree Willard Oxtoby Dastur MinOcher-Homji Erach Munshi Rustam Sarfeh Dolly Dastur Dale Bisdiop Alyar Deb^tani Janet Amigli 1 subject was had by Faroke Mistree, brother of the charismatic Khojesta Mistree and visiting here from Sydney, Australia. You cannot vote on an issue without studying it, said Mistrce suggesting the establishment of a com ’ mittee of community experts to study it. There Wes' no dearth of volunteers Later, as representatives of the particapating groups met in a caucus to discuss the formation of a fede ­ ration, the issue cropped up again Wasn’t the issue of opening up the community the crux of the matter and shouldn’t it be the chief aim of ths proposed umbrella group, asked Adi Davar of the fledging Washington, D.C., association. That set off a polite skirmish in which representa ­ tives from New York, Montreal, Van­ couver, Chicago and Philadelphia-New Jersey argued that it would be futile to list issues before a mechanism was set up to deal with them. Washington then reserved its options and the rest went on to accept a name for the federation : United Zoroastrian Asso­ ciations of North America (UZANA). The tough logitsic of bringing to­ gether repesentatives of the far-flung oganizations promise to insure that UZANA will not become a reality very soon. There is only so much business one can do over the telephone or by mail.. Besides there are differ ­ ing interests to reconcile. But Jchan Bagli, a past president of the Quebec association and the man chosen to coordinate the drafting of a constitu­ tion, says once it is formed the fede ­ ration should make the community more effective in protecting its inter ­ est. It could become, for instance, a persuasive spokesman for Zoroastrians who may face political peril elsewhere in the world. In that sense, he told Par si ana, the New York conference was a greater success than the one m Chicago two years ago, where the idea of a federation was flrst suggest­ ed. “It is slow going, but at least it's going,” he said. Porus Cooper is a young TLoroastrian journalist in the US.A. A jormer editorial staff member of the ‘‘Times oj India' in Bombay, Cooper received a degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York and worked with ‘India Abroad' before joining ‘The Courier-Post’ in New Jersey. He was invited to Israel recently on account of his editorials on the Middle East situation. Cooper was present at the Third North American Congress which he covered jor ‘Parsiana' on an honorary basis. 1: f' f 6 s N I. 19I Iran ’s Boat People - f t Gustasp Irani i from India who did a mechanical en- uviuv __________J________ __ gineering course in Iran and was em- hoid on to what foey had established, ployed by the National Iranian Gas “We have become — what you might the problem of relocation once agaim call — international nomads. ” Jeru G. f Irani might well have been articulat- Lx.... ... ..— —j — -- x z . . ing the sentiments of most of the other others moved to neighbouring Middle Company (NIGC) as a pipe^lme su- Indian Zoroastrians interviewed, who, Eastern countries. Those who could, perviser Tafti sutecnbes to the lais- like herself returned to India in the moved to the West, mainly the U.S.A., sez-faire philosophy and d^ not aftermath of the Iranian revolution. Canada and the U.K., and some re- approve of the economic socialism ot I turned to India India. He would like to settle in tne ’ legal firn in Teheran for the last four West biti would not ^d returning to years, was, however, commenting ou More Hosoit^le Shores Iran if he had the choice. Some decided to stay on in Iran and i JLnaian zoroasinans micivicwsu, wuu, Eastern countries. Those who could, like herself returned to India in the moved to the West, mainly the U.S.A., ’ Canada and the U.K., and some re ­ turned to India. I Jeru, who worked as a secretary in a 7. . , « . rw, 1_______ .1. _ 1___4. Mw H<^itAle Sho^^ ___ 'Islamic principles in Iran, caused con­ cern for -the safety of Iranian Zoroas- £V^The reu^ to so-c^ed fundamental « -r ___ IM IrQTI CflllRftfl con* recent return from Iran. All of those interviewed by Parsiana , . __ on their stay in Iran were undecided mans, the second Ingest Zoroastnan on'whether to re-settle in India or go abroad again. The general mood was countries. Many have already found in Australia, the Zoroastrian Associa- The disposition of em- community, outside India. In Canada. ployerS waS nOt three ZLoroastrian associations, British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario, and 1 ¦" K-jji ¦c 4- /'-'rtbimKia onpTw* nnd (hitano and favourable. • • their reacti ” to move to other Middle Eastern Columbia, Quebec ana vmiaiio, anu countries. Many have already found in Australia, the Zoroastrian Associa- ©n was: yOU haVO COme . jobs in these areas or are exploring tion of New South Wales, wrote to wrono place. the prospects of such openings. Given their respective govemments reques - the choice, most would prefer to settie ing their immigration departments to in the West but, as they themselves view applications of Iraman Zoroas- acknowledge, the possibility of getting trians sympatheticaUy ^d to grant the prospects of such openings. Given their respective governments request- •T. .. 4. * J* . riAftUrtmAnTC tn !¦ * they themselves view applications of Iranian Zoroas- was ..y - ... . . ------- gr?.nt Darayush D. Iram, a B.Coni., was These^ requests offered a job in Dubai with ^e Ame- with in Teheran. The in the West but, as tney uicmsoivcs »xizt4xx„4.x*.zxx., ------------ - ------- acknowledge, the possibility of getting trians sympathetically and to grant Darayush D. to, aLS;^T''A^e- there is mSe diffiSt. They fret about th^ r^^e stafos Thes^ requests offered a the prospects of settling in India again, were maite on beh^f rf those who rican based mternationd ^er^je Dara BaUmoria, a Y^e graduate and might wish to start their lives afresh company he was with m Teherm. The a senior engineer in Teheran construe- on more hospitable shores. few ^ospective tion company, summed up the mood While there is no news of the Aus- met in India had bee , \ . when he pointed out that in India one has to reconcile oneself to “low sala­ after aU we left India for those rea- “sympathetic consideration to appli- tation which he felt was fair, given sons in the first instance.' as ii were on more hospitable shores. While there is no news of the Aus- IxCUlUJ-L gUVVXlUUVJUVW ----------- —J---------- - 1* 4. tial reply of the Canadian authorities they were unable to make offers tnai was encouraging. They promised wo^d have met his minimum expec- tralian government ’s response, the ini- him, “sympathetic. ” Yet he noted that ? - - • _xl____ .1 _ _______ _____ 1^1 ~ z^ITorc ?tint cations made by Zordastrians at their the Indian environment, embassy in Teheran but suggested that / — this would apply only to Iranian na- ] tlOnalS. iu tt SUU0&4UV11V XVXWX, xxxw cxvwwxxxxvxxxxv ..xxxz --------- -- Low SalSriOS, tlign taxos (^^n^dian goyemment conveyed its National Iranian Company s and low savings ... we left India for those reas ­ ons in the first instance' ' 9) fc Apart from Darayush Irani only __ __ ___________ , chartered In a subsequent letter, the accountant who was attached to the Perci Darukhanavala, a VOUUUXUU --- - --- ----- -- - —- 1 J 1 z? al»Mty to ccmsider only those appli- (NIOC) retoery in Abadan, exploreo cants who were sponsored by relatives the possibility of employment in India, in Canada. Darukhanawalla says that the disposi- w..« ... *..w. ...«>- _ _______— Meanwhile for those who returned tion of employers was “not favourable • to India, the strug^e to come to .... their initial reaction was ‘you terms with their predicament goes on. Have come to the wrong place. ’ ” He Since the early 1970s, a number of Cawas Pardiwalla, a chartered accoun- spirit of enterprise and adventure to cosmetic and chemicals firm in Teh- disparity between the salwes that they make their fortunes in the land of their ran, captures the ambivalence of the could offer and that which he earned ancestors which was blessed with oil sentiments when he asks himself if the in Iran. Darukhanawalla suspwts tlmt and the promise of economic oppor ­ tunity. Overcoming the problems of acclimatising themselves to an alien culture and language, most were able life. He thinks not. Pardiwalla is wait- to establish themselves and start fami- ixxg, 2^^ LI., —„ ----- 2----- " --j------------------ . _ lies there. However, their plans and company that he worked for in Iran, prospects of returning to Iran with dre ams were swept aside with the on- to one of its Middle East branches, his Iranian wife. L rush of the Islamic revolution which He states that he would settle in India Accommodation is another inatter I eng ulfed the eonntry in early 1979. In if he had to. of concern for those who were inter- the wake of tiie economic collapse ’ ’ h fliat followed, they were faced with have come to the wrong place. ’ _ _____ _ ... _ __ _____,________________ explains that this not-so-encouraging Zoroastrians from India set out in the tant who worked for an international attitude was influenced cWefly ran, captures the ambivalence of the could offer and that which he earned five years he spent fo Iran should pose the employers were afraid that he a problem to his readjustment to India would soon be dissatisfied and leave, where he spent the major part of his He nevertheless, has some offers but XXX-. xx^ ___________'> is still undecided whether to acropt or ing for his new appointment from the reject them. He is also considering the to one of its Middle East branches, his Iranian wife. rush of the Islamic revolution which He states that he would settle in India Jal Tafti feels otherwise. “I will viewed; Since most had lived indepen- never settle in India,” says the B.Com . dently in Iran, they are now appre- 21 I ¦ r f [ , BSurpriwgty, they do not talk about 1 I r hensive of moving in with their fami ­ lies. Jeru Irani points oifi that “though the Shah returning to power but rat- ‘ " ! her follow the activities of former Prime Minister Shapur Bakhtyar in Paris as best as they can. They feel that Bakhtyar, who ruled the country for 36 days before the revolutionary forces took over, might have the ans­ wers to Iran ’s problems. They talk of the pre-revolutionary days, their struggle to establish them ­ selves, of Chela Kababs, of Iranian gourmet and customs that they have assimilated, of the good old days. They talk of the revolution, the fears that haunted them then, of the cold, can­ dle-lit, nights they spent without fuel or electricity, music or television, of sporadic gunfire that interrupted the silence of the night or the chanting of protesters. They talk of the post-re ­ volutionary Islamic courts, of the eco ­ nomic collapse, of shattered expecta ­ tions, of the bitterness of having to eventually leave and of the home- coming. And in their talk they betray deep emotions for a country they We ” when knew but briefly and have come to the rents wei^ Teheran, there was no pagri s^em and we could live comfortably without dipping into our savings.” She feels that the choice in India is one between investing their savings in accommodation or estab ­ lishing their own business. On the same premise, the Meher-Homji bro ­ thers Xerxes and Feroze, have invest ­ ed their savings in apartments in Poona and are decided on returning to the Middle East to rebuild their capital to start their own enterprises. Xerxes, who was the assistant financial controller of an International five-sta ’’ hotel in Teheran is awaiting his new appointment to one of the branches of the hotel in Saudi Arabia; while Feroze, who was the product engineer at the General Motors plant in Teheran, is exploring the possibility of finding employment in Ehibai. Deep Emotions -XVheii talking about their experience in Iran an unsuspecting nvVtckn referring to the country hints at the identify with in a’ special way. degree to which they have come to T 2___ .C.____________2.._ identify with Iran. They discuss news nationality were it not "for the revolu items that have been dug out from .tion? “Never ” was the emphatic res- tucked ¦ away comers of the news- ponse by Darayus Irani. “We are no) papers just as they had combed the fools”, answered Nina, Feroze Meher- Iranian papers for news about India. Homji ’s wife, who worked as a secre- They talk about the Shah and Kho- tary with an American company that raenini as personal acquaintances, was installing the telephone system of Iran. Mahrookh G. Irani, who was the secretary-cum-office manager of a legal firm in Teheran, explains that the propensity to opt for citizenship or to stay on in Iran after the revolution was greater among the not-so-highly- qualified as they were more apprehen ­ sive about their prospects in India or abroad. Those with families expressed the fear of bringing up their children in an environment alien to those they themselves grew up in and more speci ­ fically the problem of their children ’s education, a system they felt was sus­ pect in Iran. Compulsory military ser ­ vice for two years was another deter ­ rent from opting for citizenship. Per ­ haps the one common fear shared by aU was the nagging suspicion that Iran ’s prosperity wotfld not last long, a fear that was eventually well-ground ­ ed and confirmed by the revolution. Did the fear of religious persecu ­ tion of the minorities prompt them to leave? No, they say. However, they are cautiously apprehensive of such persecution becoming a reality in the future. Though the ruling clergy has Would they have taken up Iranian . reassured the minorities and there has been no blatant discrimination against the Zoroatsrian community they still remain sceptical especially of the common illiterate man who forms the backbone of the clergys popular sup- {Please turn to page 39) I ! !¦ 1 Match your AMBITION to a CAREER To do so we offer you : • Diploma Course in Business Management (Oral/Postal) • Banking: aA.LI.B. Course (Postal d Oral) e Commerce :G.C.B. Course • Executive Secretarial Course • Private Secretarial Course • Telephone Operating • Telephone Operating-cum Receptionist Techniques e Shorthand & Typewriting e Punch Operating • Telex Operating E, r h’ V3B ,»L Enquire at : Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14,Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk, BOM BAY 400 001. Tel : 251185 23 KIranian Zoroastri^ Anjuman /• Iiand ’s End? Gustasp Irani ( r ¦ of Teheran, a parallel but non-a£51iated the Zoroastrians in and around Yazd body in Tran. Processes set in motion and Kerman where the community to effect this transfer have come to a was concentrated. Another function standstill since the new Islamic revo- of the organization was to assist Zo- lutionary government came to power roastrians re-locate in India. in Iran early this year. In 1918 the Irani Zoroastrian re- Tronically enough while the fortunes sidents of Bombay founded the Ira- Under the pall of an impending court battle with the Government of Maha­ rashtra over its claims to the Palghar lands, from which about 75% of its annual income is reportedly derived, the new General" Committee of the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman of Bom­ bay took office earlier this year. The of the Anjuman body are on the wane nian Zoroastian Anjuman of Bombay committee, which will serve for a pe- dumig the re-emergence of Islamic in order to take a more , active and riod of five years from 1979 to 1984, fervour in Iran, it was back in the direct responsibility for their brethren faces perhaps the bleakest period in mid-nineteenth century when stringent back in Iran. The assets and activities the 61-year history of the Anjuman. Islamic restrictions on the minority of the Anjuman started to grow as Members contacted were hesitant to communities were being relaxed, that philanthropist donors entrusted the commit themselves to statements about the Anjuman traces its origins, body to care for the various charit- the Artjuman without first obtaining Around 1850 the Parsi community in able contributions for the uplift of permission from the president. Noshir India started to be concerned over the community. These included a nura- Muluk Irani, a noted Bombay busi- the plight of Zoroastrians living under ber of village schools in areas sur- nessman. They noted however, that the Islamic yoke back in Iran. In rounding Yazd and Kerman, the Mar- with the Anjuman ’s claims to the Pdx- ker Orphanage Institution builf by a ghar lands which are situated near . ................................. „ founder patron of the Anjuman, Pes- Dahanu in the Thane district of Maha- tonji D. Marker, the Boman Mater- rashtra being sub-judice, the effective- nity Home built by Gustad Khodadad ness of the organization will be severe- Irani which was later handed over to ly impaired especially if the court de- the Iranian Red Gross, or ‘Shir-e- cision should go against them. One Khurshed ’, to run, a vacant building viewed the future of the Anjuman as that was once the Ratan Tata Memo- “depending on the Palghar land” rial Hall and a plot of land at Tehran while anomer saw “no future ” with- Pars. cut the land. The income from the In recent times many of the insti- land is said to be about Rs. 3,50,000 tutions, especially the village schools, per annum. have been lying vacant as there has The election to the General Com- been a migratoin of Zoroastrians, the mittee which was scheduled for 14 youth in particular, towards the ur- April 1979 turned out to be a no- ban centres. According to an estiraa- contest as only 19 nominations were tion by Sarosh T, Lohrasbc, who has filed for the 28 available seats. Con- been the Anjuman ’s representative in sequently the 517 Irani Zoroastrians Iran since 1927, there were about who registered themselves as voters Anjuman WnUdin g at Palghar 1,028 Zoroastrian families, or 6,000 did not get to cast their ballot. Bom- Zoroastrians, living in and around bay was the only constituency that 1854 Maneckjee Limji Hataria was Yazd in 1966. Since then there has had the makings of a potential show- sent to Iran by an ad-hw committee been a steady exodus, mainly towards down when six nominations were filed to report on the conditions of the Tehran which has the largest concen- for its five allocated seats. The impen- community there and during the .same tration of the community at present, ding contest, however, fizzled out year the “Persian Zoroastrian Ame- in India Jamshed Khodoram Nas- when one of die nominees withdrew lioration Fund” was established with sabadi, as a token of appreciation for his name to facilitate the unanimity of Maneckji Nusserwanji Petit as presi- the legal assistance that Dinshaw Jee- the eleciton. The withdrawce. along dent. Apart from providing material^ jeebhoy Irani, a solicitor and founder with others, was later co-opted to the and financial assistance to the Iranian* president of the Anjuman. had rsn- body to fill in the uncontested seats. Zoroastrians, the Fund petitioned and dered him in getting possession of the -The total strength of the Committee prevailed upon the Iranian govern- Palghar land, donated around 2,000 is 40. ment to stop the discriminatory Jazia acres of the property to the Anjuman Another jKoWem that frustrates the poll-tax upon religious minorities. The to administer for die benefit of the Irani representative body is its efforts tax was eventually lifted in 1882. community. to transfer the assets located in Iran The Fund also starts to build The present problems of the Anju- to the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman schools, orphanages and hospitals for man started in 1962 when the land 25 r I- The Fund also started to build feceiling act came ceding act came into force on 26 development the Anjuman decided to Parsi school not taldna erants from January. Though the law did not donate its Iranian assets to the paaal- the gnye rnme nt > 1 apply to chantable bodies like the lei Iranian Anjuman of Teheran to One of the members of the newlv ^^the ^e£^lffidt^hk?d^hi^m However, the efforts were elected General Committee expressed i frustrated, for the present time at the view that the idea of distinction he actual possession- of the organiza- least, with the change in government between Irani Tomastrianc and Par«ic apply to charitable bodies like the lei Iranian Anjuman of Teheran above the ceiling limit should be in frustrated, P** tion at the time the law becomes effec ­ tive. Since the Palghar land was occa- _ ____ pied by a third party and not the ghar land and its Iranian estates, the Anjuman, the Government filed its • • - - claims to the land. However the An- juman had ^ready started court pro- Bombay ’s Fort area, securities with Panchayat has been mtwt ceeding to obtain the eviction of the the trustees cf tkc. . occupant before the law came into Panchayat and fixed “deposits *\^th basis the various nationalised banks in India, oiauvcs wiicn ine rancnayat nas turn ­ dispute which has led to a number of Income from these and other sources ed away requests from Irani Zoroas- meetings, discussions, negotiationsand — ------- -- ------- -------- - ¦- • H iidni Zzoroas the crux of the present court proceed ­ ings. ______________ ______ _ _ ____ _ The functioning of the Anjuman for higher studies, contributions to was further impaired by the introduc- c ' - - and It found itself unable to remit religion. noted Noshir M. Irani, president of adequate funds to support the run- xu. • picMucm m ning of its Iranian assets. Official donated Rs. 1,001 to the Golward Parsiana sanctions were obtained to send Rs, ~ -------- 60,(XX) per year and in 1968 the last remittance of Rs. 30,000 was made ___________ ,wjvwuv For want of funds the institutions in towards the building of a laboratory. tuuis< Iran started to suffer. In face of the The school is reported to be the only body. assets. to least, with the change in government between Irani Zoroastrians and Parsis m Iran. jg dated. He feels that there should Apart from its claims to the Pal- be a closer working agreement bet- T ween the Anjuman and the Bombay mam assets of the Anjuman comprise Parsi Panchayat, if not a total amai- of its offices at Kermani Building in gamation. He notes however, that the t area, securities with Panchayat has been most un,"coope- of the Bombay Parsi rative in this matter, especially in the r.,1 A * housing, where there were in­ stances when the Panchayat has turn ­ on the grounds that they should various nationalised banks in India, are dispersed in the form of quarterly trians _____ ____ ___ doles and educational assistance to approach th^ IrarTian ^^Aiijurnan"for poor 2toroastrians, grants to students help. ’ “I always argued that our other trusts and chanties and the sup- community is most spoiled. They ex- Recently the Anjuman reportedly the Anjuman, in an interview with ---------- 1 some years ago. Whether Parsi Home and another Rs. 50,000 the fault lies with the leadership or on behalf of the late Shapoor Irani the rank and file, the Iranian Zoroas- to the^ Behraniji^ Jeejeebhoy School trian Anjuman will have to chart new n courses if it is to remain a viable Who’s Who Past and Present Office Bearers of the First General K. Shokn, trustee; Soli H. Mubarakai, Conunitfee of 1918., vice-president; Zal K. Eranee, vice- T,,. , . president; and Jamshed B. Aga, vice- Dinshaw Jeejeebhoy Irani, president president. P“ • • -- Hurmaz Seheriar r tom Khodadad Shehraiar, s._____ Behmard Noshirwan, secretary; Aspen- _ . diar Namdar Murzban Kuchebeyosi, Jamshed S. Kermani, treasurer; Merwan Rustom Kasnabla Custom G. Kushesh, Jamshed R. trustee; Pestonji Cursetjee Eranee Ahrestani, Shapoor A. Irani, Keki J. (Aga), trustee; Rustom Sharukh Ker- -'barker, Ms Soona J, Irani, Ms Goola mani, trustee; and Merwan Mondai- ^ufti, Peshotan D. Nargolwala gar Khorabadi, trustee. und Noshir A. Udwadia. Past Presidents Dinshaw Jeejeebhoy Irani, Pestonjee Yazdaffi, Cursetjee Eranee (Aga), ~ Hormuzd, T ' “ ' Irani, Pestonji Dosabhoy Marker, r • '' ' gat and Dr Major Aderbad B. Irani. Aga, Present Office Bearers Noshir M. Irani, president and trus- t • t ... tee; Aspendiar T. Azarmi, vice-presi- H. Iram, Jehangirji K. Mar- dent and trustee; Shapur B. Irani, ’ trustee; Kaikhushru M. Yezdegardi, trustee; Behram, R, Atai, trustee; Hoshang B. Bakht, trustee; Aflatoon Dr Ardeshir Seheriar, vice-president; TT , Seheriar. vice-president; Woddag Comnrittee Mcaribns Rashid Jamshed, vice-president- Rus- Hara F. Devlahwalla, Khodayar K. . secretary K. Firoo, Jehangir B. ’ Irani, Rusi G. Yezdegardi, Mehera- ban K. Kola, ' ' Rustom G. Pestonji "cursetjer Eranee Ahrestani, Shapoor A. Irani, Keki J. K. Tafti, ] and Noshir A. Udwadia. General Committee Members Rustom K. Khanjari, Faredoon G. , Mehraban R. Bahmani, ___ Rustom Rustom K. Khushrovian, Behram S. Lt. Col. Merwan Sorab Afarin, Jehangir K. Abdehi, Merwan _ . „ , K. Yezdmaidi, Prof. Dinshaw M. Burjor Sorabji Aga, Rustom Khare- Irani, Ardeshir R. Khormai, Sam B. rk, T. T _ Vafadar K. Irani, Cyrus K. Kyani, Shapur S. Zohrabi. Patrons trustee; ker (patron ’s nominee) and Sohrab J. Irani (patron ’s nominee). Secretary Treasurer Mahyar B. Patel 26 Warden is good For sandalwood Head Office 378 Grant Road Bombay 400 007 and Branches Tel. 371464 1 Queihy eaadaiwood . Qum benzoin Omer Aggarbattles, (loban) and < PerftMMM t L ~Elections Aims Should any seat remain unrepre- “What elections? ” appears to be the he has voted in the previous election of constituencies and may co-opt an- standard response to and dismissal of or not. Only male Irani Zoroastrians other seven members from' within it- iny enquiry put to some of the mem- who have been resident of Bombay self. iers of die newly formed General for the last two years might stand for Though the rules state that only Committee of the Iranian Zoroastrian election by filling their name at the male Irani Zoroatsrians may stand for Anjuman about the recently scheduled Anjuman offices two months before elections, Parsis and women may oe elections. According to the election the election and must also stipulate co-opted into the organization. The rules of the Anjuman, at least, the the seat that is being contested. first Parsi representative was Pestonji objective is to have Irani Zoroastrians Should any seat remain unrepre- D. Marker, a founder patron of the elect representatives to protect and sented after the election, members of Anjuman. Subsequently two other promote the interest of their villages the General Committee may co-opt Parsis have also been co-opted. Pre- back in Iran, once in every five years. Zoroastrians to fill the vacancies, sently the only Parsi serving on the Accordingly there are 28 representa- Since the term of a trustee is seven body is Peshotam D. Nargolwala who tive seats to the General Body of years, those trustees who have not is also a member of the Working which five, the largest, are reserved been elected must be co-opted into Committee. for Bombay and the others distributed the body. In addition all patrons of Under the stewardship and encou- between the various provinces and the Anjuman, that is people who have ragement of the former president Dr villages in Iran. donated Rs. 25,000 or more and the Major Adebad B. Irani, the noted Any Irani Zoroastrian desiring to patron ’s nominee (three nominations Bombay eye specialist, two women register himself as a voter must do so are permitted) also form part of the were co-opted to the representative three months before the date schedul- General Committee. committee for the first time. Presently ed for the election and must stipulate The committee then elects an 18- Ms Sona J. Irani and Ms Goola K. the constituency from which he will member working committee as per a Tafti are also members of the Work ­ cast his ballot, regardless of whether prescribed sch^ule of representation ing Committee. f jit Tai'lntercontinental Hotel Bombay tm for putting up the imposing Mu^at Palace complex of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman—and completed it in time. QbMtS4feMlM MOW -Bomtov il^ 15 L- i jw LET’S BUILD THEM TOGHHER! Whether it's a five-star hotel, a Sultan's Palace, a hospital, a chemical factory, a fertiliser plant or a housing project — we have the expertise and I' I5F IbH__ _ ___ _ ____ ’W w w \AMapc w W W ....... x«Sf« ¦- *’’s H 5 L r iQiaff 5252^ ^v > SHAPOORJI PALLOMJI & CO. (PVT.) LTD 2.1 B1? F I 1 I ZX A ATAZlXXXm 1 Zl Cniinni HiH tint last InriQ IVIv uncle somA multiDlication tables were shot 'he life of ostur Dhalla-III School and Failure School did not last long. My uncle some multiplication tables were shot was anxious to give me the best and al me which I had to answer in a highest education possible. All his flash. By then sleep would be demano- hopes were harboured in me. Cos. ing its toll and my eyelids would droop was no consideration if expended on with drowsiness. In that state should educating me and from childhood it there be some slight slip in replying was dinned into me that education to' what would 37 x li make, all fey of lightning that would emerge^ from for himself there, had called open the skin sore with daily beatings. ..1_ 1 Never did my master allow me to Such a promising go out in the evening or to play cric ­ ket. Some friends who came to visit ueriam laymau - -------- US would venture to, advise fe^ I be town had be^ appointed fee Head aUowed to go to the Frere H^ on Mastef of a local vernacular Munici- >_ pal school. He wrote to my uncle to ply my honoured tutor would warn arrange boarding and lodging for him my uncle that it would not be his res ­ at Karachi. In response he was invited ponsibility if such frivolities shofe as a permanent guest m our. home, at no cost whatsoever. would be shared with him. In return dare to say: hopes were harboured in me. v,'a5 no <___ _ —--— 1- —jT- - ----- — educating me and from childhood it there be some slight slip in replying was dinned into me that education to' what would 37 x li make, all niy alone would pave the way to success sleep would vanish under the stroke and independence. His sister ’s son ''•““’’2“ had gone to China and after making the master ’s cane, which would tey a name f ‘ ' . . » i his brother ’s son too who was also well established. ! future lay ahead of me also. A certain layman from another town had been j Mastef of a local vernacular Munici- Saturdays to listen to the band. In w- turn me into a vagabond. My aunt uai nuaiQvv.vi -___ an^, sis'ter shed many a tear and at bestwedHm us 1w fee Jumighty tife^ in desperation the former woiid COW is being led to Whatever food Both professionaUy and personally to supervise my studies per- the slaughter house ”. My uncle him- ShSr Nus^rwanji j^y uncle beUeved that by the self was very unhappy at tiiMs S constat and continuous care and con- his eyes too would fiU wife tears. But Bom and b^ in poverty, he niy as it was a question of educating me ^Xow^mSed* ’SShJdJx knXledge would grow by leaps and and preparing me for the bo^ds and his cherished hope of see- ^e of a business magnu e pf-In^ ledbta Ttt? “S “ “ J ”«8nate of China Q'"l hewas not wfflmMo America vriiere he obt^iMd his docto ­ rate degree in Iranian languages from the Columbia University in New York. An outstanding scholm whose contri- _ ______ _____ _____ bntions to the refigion rank him Parsi pupils. My tutor took me to among the top scholars on the subject school with him and brought me home both in India and abroad, he was the again. As a teacher he was very vigi- c^pa^nate and revered high priest lant and conscientious. “Spare the rod n anu. child” was his maxim, hence he used the c^e, freely. Sun­ days and holidays were as strenuous as week days. On such holidays, after prayers he would announce feat if I studied attentively the whole day he would allow me to sit on fee door ­ step for an hour in the evening. The method of enjoying that free period would be that he would take his seat upon a chair in fee entrance and 1 would sit at his feet on fee steps. Just to while away fee hour he would go on testing my aptitude in mental sums. My greatest joy would be to go to ____ post some letters or to be sent on little some-other errand. My aunt had pity in on me and invented excuses to send sonaUy. My uncle believed that by the self was very unhappy at tiiMs constant and continuous care and con- his eyes too would fill wife tears. But cerh of a teafetor in fee home, my as it was a question of educating me imoWedge would grow by leaps and and preparing me for the importmt would be fulfilled. In my vernacular school the majo ­ rity of students were Hindus, a few were Muslims and there were two of the Karachi Panfa. Aek Afmakaflia is his autobiogra ­ phy pubUsiied by the Dastnr Dr Dhdla MemorM Institafe, Kara ­ chi and translated from Gujarati into EngUsh by Gool and Befaram Rns- tomji. Ibis is the third extract from the book which is being seriidized by Parsiana I displeasure of the tutor and bore everything with a bleeding heart. I was then nine years old. Two years passed by in such distress. All my love for learning vanished. I detest ­ ed reading and writing. Books w•'•9 suouuing Torces attentively with great joy. When I showed some sort of discon- of GV 11." Yet my daily experiences were very tent it would be my lot to study a different. I told my uncle that these discourse on the sweet fruits of con- were tales that would fill any heart tentment. Should I happen to be un- wages war against them. As I had with pride, but today laymen address- willing to awake at 4 in the early great faith in the efficacy of ‘taro ’, I ed mobeds with contempt and ridicul- hours of dawn, I had to be prepared used it lavishly. In Apnl 1891 two ed them as badshahs and religious to read a five to seven pages essay on young Parsi ladies had thrown them- mendicants. When women went on the malady of succumbing to the de- selves off the Rajabai Tower and sacri- rounds to invite people to some wed- mon of indolence. Over and above all ficed their precious lives in order to ding they sat in state m carriages while these sermons, he would write out in preserve their chastity. That night 1 the accompanying mobed was perched a beautiful hand ten or twelve points was very frightened at bedtime. I on the coach-box beside the driver, conducive to a pure and noble life, poured half a bottleful of ‘taro ’ around Expressing his sorrow at this state of frame them and hang them up in niy little bedstead. The obnoxious affairs my unde would explain thai front of my desk and gently advise odour filled the whole room. My wife ’s the reaon for this was that the Athor- 51 1He would conie home to lunch and to dine. The dis­ tance was short and could be walked dants were illiterate and therefore dis- He )vho ,is ,n!0t up business. This bit of good counsel had no effect on me. As I always secured good marks in other subjects I man­ aged to. retain my seat on the firs' bench, but my failure in sums was responsible for my missing the prize in the annuals. Parsi boys were generally less atten ­ tive to their studies and more mischie ­ vous and playful than boys of other communities. Moreover, should a tea ­ cher be timid or tolerent, the educa ­ tion of Parsi students of that grade was sure to suffer. nans of ancient ’ times were learned ‘ his burden I would dust and clean attu men, while their present-day descen- the benches there. He would come dants were illiterate and therefore dis- — dained. However this would not con ____ ____________________ ___ tiune for long. Sons of mobeds would within a couple of minutes, yet he . emetge as educated niien and the lay was obliged to rest for a moment or men would realize their error and give, two on the interlinking bridge, so fee- due respect. ' ble was he. To relieve the fatigue Despite all my uncle ’s care and caused by-the day’s drudgery, he was concern I did not pay sufficient atten- accustomed to take a very small -glass tion to my studies. My home-work of locally produced liquor with his was rarely done. Mathematics was my evening meal. He tried his utmost to weakest subject. When my cousin keep his limbs active and strained came to' know of this through my un- himself beyond capacity to contribute cle, he wrote from China that without his mite to the household expenditure mathematics all else was of no avail at any cost. I yearned to assuage his He who is ,not up to the mark in troubles and thought it advisable to exjuhting £aii , never succeed in any start earning as early as possible. This *- - ... idea did not appeal to my elders. They felt that this was no time for me to think of household expenses. My only duty was to study diligently. They strongly opposed my point of view. My studies progressed in such a half-hearted manner. An intense love of reading was bOm in me. And 1 was obsessed with the idea of becom ­ ing an author When I went to Navsari to become a Navar, two elderly mobeds were in retreat. At night they would tell tales of kings and courtiers. I would listen to them with rapt attention. I had nei ­ ther the knowledge nor the skill neces ­ sary to write a story. Yet after fre ­ quent alterations and amendments, a great deal of wastage of paper, ink and energy, I conjured up- a plot and started to scribble, all . unknown to my levered uncle. Seeing, me spend many more hours in concentration at my desk, everyone believed that good sense had ultimately prevailed and 1 was at long last paying greater atten ­ tion to my studies. I was in the matri ­ culation class then. In seven months the story was completed. At last,,! sumnioned courage one day and re ­ vealed all the details to my uncle. He was taken completely unawares and , -- I —1 a great deal of surprise and sadness. Exami ­ nations were fast approaching and, at ""'’h a time instead of studying my I*?* 1 "Parsi boys were gene- reHy less attentive to their studies and more mischievious than boys of other communities." At sixteen when I entered the 6th grade I was made the monitor of the class. In maths I was as weak as ever, due to my own fault. My English was good and often my essays were read , aloud in class. At the time of the An­ nual Prize Distribution I would be awarded the 1st prize in elocution. The senior members of my family were anxiously awaiting my gradua- my strange story caused him tion from the matriculation class, f ’ * whereas I was already eager to join ] ’ some service rather than study. There such was a reason for that We were poor, mind I TWs knowlege pained hin? deeply, at first had now increased to Rs. 15 The following morning, I teceived per month, father ’s health was long letter from him. Respecting always poor. On her death-bed, his <--------’ ’’ ’— ¦ ° ihother had enjoined on my uncle, to t pSsiblefer me to pass as my mathe- smely. go against me. busiiKsman'to 4 take tea ^d chapattis to China, I was now hAn+ a ___ g his counsel I began to pay greater atten ­ tion to my lessons. I knew it was im- * * ¦ r** veiY matics would surely go against BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nosik 2 CHOICE SCHOOLING FOR YOUR SON Recognised as a Public School by Department oTESuca^n^ for Indian Merit Scholars. Excellent Climate — All-round Education: All Academic Subjects - Tech- 5 nical Sul^ects: Radio and Wood- Work Technology, Far ming Training in Seif-GOvernmen t through Elected' Boys’ Office- . bearers, Games — Physicsd - Trainmg l?aily Assembly with , ly intensive ZorbastriajXr — Geeta Kwran classes —• Exce^eitt Modem Kitdien and Dining Room facilities — Airy- Dormi- tories. Moderate Fees. STANTIAL FREESHIPS QFFERED TO DES^VING STUDENTS. Any help from Social Workers welcome regarding recommendy;- tions and admission of boys. SUB- CONCESMGN ' APPLY TO THE MANACING trustee P. N. Mehta Education Trust Cooks Building, 324 p, N, Rgad Bombay 400 OOt or to fte Priacipal EvenKtaa me _________1 morn-World Congress Papers Keeping Pace With Change Religious Education Of Younger Generation Of Zoroastrians In India ¦i I. & Dr Homi Dfaaffla Four papers at the Third World Con ­ gress were devoted to the subject of “Religious Education for the Younger Generation of Zoroastrians in India and Abroad ”. The speakers were Dr Avan Godrej Billimoria, a psycho- logpust firom Chicago, Dr Homi Dhalla, a Zoroastrian s^>lar who teaches at the Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran, Ms Piloo (Nanavutty) Jungalw^la, noted author of books on Zoroastrian ­ ism, and Aspi Moddle, a m^agement consultant and former director of Hindustan Lever. We cany in this issue an edited version of the papers by Dhalla, Jnngidwalla mid Moddie. The paper by RMlhnnrig appeared earlier in the September 1979 issue of Parsiana SPIRIT OF CONVICTION Dr. Homi Dhdb Till the 19th century it was an axiom that religion was the core and motive force of education, the very founda- ' tion on which the edifice of education must be built. But the wave of secu ­ larism that followed the French Re ­ volution as well as other events, divor ­ ced education from religion. This in­ fluence soon spread to India where, coupled with the British jwlicy of neu ­ trality in matters of religion, it led to a predominantly secular type of pub­ lic education throughout the country'. Since then, secular education has been the order of the day in all public schools, though side by side, private schools run by certain religious deno ­ minations do conduct religious classes for students belonging to that parti ­ cular faith. However, convinces me that secularism has put ,. religion in the back seat. In all Go­ vernment grant-aided schools, classes in reli^cm eanast be held during my teaching experience school hours. Due to this inconveni- for the Promotion of Zoroastrian Re- ence and the excessive work-load, the ligious Knowledge and Education commonest plea of students is ‘No which took an active interest in pro ­ time ’ for religion. Every other subject viding religious instruction in the is carefully apportioned a time quota, various schools of Bombay. Classes Though an examination is held in re- k .t . lieion, the marks for this paper can- . not be included in die total. This adds areas tiU 1974, when they petered to the indifference with which a status- ¦¦ less subject (it is not part of the cur ­ riculum) is treated. Theorising is not At present, Zoroastnan reli^ous going to help. What can help, are the education is being imparted to all the school authorities, by reserving inviol- Parsi students in the Byramjee Jejee- able periods (out of school hours) bhoy .Parsi , Chantable Institution, for the study of religion, and by con- Lady Engineer Higjh School Bm vincing 2toroastrian students that this Maneckbai N. Gamadia Girls High lee Girls ’ High School, Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Fort Boys’ High School ----------------„ -- . and Sir Jainsetjee Jejeebhoy Fort haye_^ ------------------------Girls ’ Hi^ SchooL “ At their inc^ion, these institutions in religion were organised by the Bombay Parsi Panchayat in mofussil out as students had moved to urban locations. At present, riculum) is treated. Theorising is not £hoof^^utWtiesTby'resM^glnviol- Parsi students in'the Byramjee Jejee- able periods (out of school hours) bhoy .Parsi , Chantable Institution, for the study of religion, and by con- Lady Engineer High School Bm vincing 2toroastrian students that this Maneckbai N. Gamadia Girls High subiect is as important, and so valu- School, Bai Bhikhajj Shapurji Bengal- able, as any other. Religious Education in Pmsi Schoiite Educationists J • value of ethical prindples and so urg- _ ____________ ed for the teaching of religion. This meant only for TLoroastrian chil- need had been acknowledged the ^gjj. jj| recent years, to qualify leaders of the Parsi community who finve rnment grants, almost all arranged to provide religious imtruc- - tjjggg schools had to open their doors tion from very early times. A circular - - dated December 18, 1852, of ths Bombay Parsi Panchayat, states, that one class for imparting religious in­ struction to boys and three classes for girls were already in existence. From the records of the Bombay Para Panchayat we also learn that similar classes were being conducted under its auspices in the mofussil areas viz., Billimora, Daman, Surat, Nargol, Navsari, Tarapore, Bulsar, Broach, Davier and Gundevi. It was not only the Panchayat but also the Bombay Zoroastrian Jashan Committee, as well as the Society ‘Secularism has put religion in the back seat. ” to students from all communities. When this was done, the communal solidarity of a common religious tie was lost, to be replaced at will, by classes in religion. The sole Parsi school today, is the Byramji Jejee- bhoy Parsi Charitable Institution. As one of the religious instructors in these schools, I was concerned when I discovered that our youngsters had the scantiest possible knowledge about Zoroastrianism. To give them a perspective of their historical heri ­ tage and a pride in their cultural identity, I have introduced courses m Iranian and Parsi history. Relevance Our society has the quality of rapid and far-reaching change. Hence, in S3 a I 0 I“After the navjote, the parent ’s zeal for religion I I no reli^ous moulding of the growing adult. Zoroastrian parents must re ­ cognize this lacuna and make efforts — individual or concerted — to fill it. My observation is that students who go to convents and schools run by Christian organisations for the affluent upper middle-class, are deni ed even the religious instruction offer ­ ed by Parsi schools. Generally, these children grow up in a religious aridity, j unfamiliar with Zoroastrianism. It bj| should not be an onerous task for pa- ¦ rents to arrange for weekly classes, ¦ one to a neighbourhood. Parent — I'.niHi pttiuvipftLiviij besides ensuring attendance, will make for the religious t I * - u the process of religious education, all efforts ought to be made to make Zoroastrianism relevant to modem society. Children do not take kindly to bald assertions, e.g., ‘As truth is for all time, so is Zoroastrianism'. They are perceptibly interested when offered illustrations from our scrip ­ tures, which infuse vitality into Ue clSd'p^ticipation, lessons. , - ... ¦ Whatever the manner of teaching __________ be, it should takeinto consideration fQr “''£^7oas^rians' to go to their" own Schools! It is also time lor a correspondence course for religious It besides ensuring education of both. It is certainly time the mental level of the students. ?Ul too often teachers of rehgion in India Aspi D Moddie ‘ cult problem of a community wcil launched into the modem world, but finding itself rootless in its past, it may be desirable to lay down some basic propositions. on the individual level. Public dis- continue to come courses should be better organised ’ • and more frequent. Arrangements . ___ ;________ 2 " ' ’ -“d priests to be sent to other parts of India and abroad to lecture to Zoroas _ _ _______ __________ trian youth. These schemes may thj-ough the eyes and minds of Uie sound ^andiose, but they are a ne- ____ _ cessity if our religion is to remain Qj^er^words, the touchstone of all rapidly changing world. If this accepted, then the status quo The second proposition is that seeing and understanding should be _ . young, who represent the future. In cessity if our religion is to remain ^ther words, the touchstone of all meaningful to the younger generation think and do, must be its at home and overseas. The teachings of our Prophet have should be better organised is I______ , attitude must be more flexible. ignore this factor, with the result instruction to be offered to Zoroastrian that the lessons are abstruse. Senior children in any part of the world (m- students can be motivated into exam- India). ining the reasons for belief if the tea- The Parsi priesthood ought to play cher can present valid ones. 'Uiis will more dynamic part than it does in enable _ the student to form his own religious education of Zoroastrian The^ first basic proposition is that conyctions and acquire values that children. The community must stake . community, and particularly, the as he matures will become motives daim on the erudition of the Das- jj^ve the problem ofhvingwith of action. seeking knowledge from them change meaningfully. Change has To speak with the certainty need ­ ed to present.the trath forcefully the gtould'“Z maS^Tor ^hS“a7d teacher of Zoroastrianism should be well grounded in the various aspects of Zoroastrian studies. He ought to be conversant with ancient history so as to be able to interpret the back­ ground against which the Avesta was written. By reading contemporary ioumals, the teacher can keep abreast 'Ll! V... Ponnnt ofForrl IC^aviUUgs Ul uui r iwpxivt mirO pTOpOSlUOn IS Uiai lllC agreed co?clu?ionsol £*¦ Jotce to leaders of the comomnity in their modem scholarship. credibility with youth. The third proposition is that the Zoroastrians ttnough the centuries, jigerent groups in different parts of His message had sustained the rulers world, the panchayats and tne of the mi^ty Achaemenian'and Sas- trustees, cannot afford to confront sanian empires, besides influencing problems of change with a rigid some of the major world religions. It change and no-change dichotomy, is for educators now to let that mes- - ¦ ¦ ¦ sage once again breathe the spirit of conviction into the hearts of Zoroas ­ trian children and into the edifices of our institutions. On the one hand, there is the spirit of the yisperad which says: praise the sweet reasonableness that exists between the righteous religionists ”. On the other hand, there is the historical lesson of the GOOD COMMUNICATORS early panchayats in Western India, Aspi D. Middle which showed that periodically the The education of young ^roastnans authority of these very panchayats in many parts of the world may be “dwindled into insignificance and visualised m two parts: first the edu ­ cation at. the hands of parents and “We co- The Duty of Parents and Priests Although the role of the teacher is . crucial, that of the parent cannot be minimis ed. As the natural educators of their children, parents must shoul­ der the primary responsibility for religious knowledge. Unfortunately, their indifference and incompetence prevent them from doing this. Today there is no excuse for ignorance. Ele ­ mentary books on Zoroastrians can be fruitfully utilized as introductory works. Besides these, prayer books with a free translation of our daily prayers are also available in English and Gujarati. For children who have not been taught Gujarati, the Khor- deh Avesta in Roman sreipt can be used. After the child’s navjote, the pa­ years of adolescence there is little or In attempting to approach this diffi- drying up of cultural and religious 35 The education of young Zoroastrians i visualised in two parts: first the edu- priests upto Md beyond *e age^of c^dedTo th^?“ AnF tWs“was “so especially when their views became out-dated. The fourth proposition is that the fundamental educational problem of the Zoroastrian child is: (a) the their decisions failed to command re ­ spect and obedience previously ac- formal schooling and the second, the formal education system of the socie ­ ties in which they live. Our problem is with the first. rents ’ zeal tor religion flags. In the Baric PropositionsI. roots; (b) its identity and involve- move between these communities, to only good teachets, but a graded se- ment in a nucrosoopic community give talks to stimulate Hveiy int^est ries of religious text booksi for .w ages, which is now fragmented and spread and discussion on both the spiritual There is, therefore, a crying need to ^r die world, 'and (c) the absence Zoroastrians. tee which will plan and publish these of a clear perception of a body of The role of the priests is cardinal, books. We also need to reprint eat living values, which may serve as a especially in this in a nucrosoopic community give talks to stimulate Hveiy intwest ries of religious text books for ages. among so many odier societies ail and cultural aspects of present-day have a Standing Publications Commit- of a clear perception of a body of guide and support in a changing parents and children, problematic world. I 7 j — The fifth proposition is that this role beyond that of mere reciters ol ren. Full problem of the pre-school education prayers at f ‘ “ ’* is squarely the responsibility of some other religions, e.g. Christiani- parents, priests and local panchayats. ty and Buddhism, they need to regard The question is how these groups of thernselves as pastors of their ---- people begin to approach the problem munity, spreading messages of when they are so dispersed. The pro- passion, goodness, h blem of the education of Zoroastrian well-being; _ youth both religious and secular, members of the community in times must be dealt with in an organised way of stress and conflict and hardship, by local leaders, in each local There is a pristine simplicity about community. the essentials of Zoroastrianism, which needs to 1 ' Response to the Problem ritualistic dwkness into th^raoming These and many ^her '' questions Ironlcallv the richest community chila ’s awareness. The mess- should be answered by our schoiar- in South Asia in per capita terms is simple: it only needs good priests, and small pamphlets printed Parsi Zoroastrians, have practicaUy communicators with empathy and for ready reference. The young axe no research-based knowledge about imagination, their contemporary condition. As a result, diverse impressionistic opi ­ nion are banded about with regard to the cultural and socio-economic conditions of the community, includ­ ing, its apparently declining demo ­ graphic situation. Even its most edu ­ cated members do not seem to know the facts, the hard data, for the simple reason that it dees not exist. Therefore, the approach to every social problem of the community should begin with appropriate re ­ search. In the case of educational problem, it would be desirable to begin with a study of child-rearing practices of Zoroastrian children — even of mixed marriages after the Navjote; and of their priests also. Such interpretations of the Zoro ­ astrian religion and culture exist are in archaic idiom and con­ text, not sufficiently meaningful to the young generation of today, wlio are better educated. There is, there ­ fore, need for the community to muster its best brains to produce con­ temporary interpretations. To do all this, it will be necessary to commission I imaginative writers and creative peo- itelationship with her works now long out of print. The Zoroas- I would plead for a more modera- trian priests need to conceive their istic approach in teaching our child- ~ 'I use should be made of i the fire temple. As m such modern media as Radio and Television. Our youngsters today have keen and alert minds. They want to know what is the relevance of Zarathush- J , happiness and tra ’s teachings in the world as it is? and being supportive to Did he have anything to say on the ? nature of human consciousness? Certainly, he did. Do we believe in a life after death? Do we believe in reincarnation? What is Zarathush- be brought out of tra ’s explanation of the origin of evil? com- com- i the richest community have practicallv commumcators with empathy and for ready reference. - jjgQ kceu that the priests should know something about psychology so the problems they face today. —¦—— (DHALLA :Continued from Page 32')'- of my elders, it was imperative that 1 appear for the examination. other papers I fared well but I avoid­ ed even to^qipeM' fctf the maths paper. I failed, yet I wa^ declm%d successfhi in the results couimn pf the Jamc- Jamshed. A friend cmne, te congratu ­ late me. ^acts. I Registrar Who confirmed my failure. My failure was a severe disappoint ­ ment to my family. All their hopes in me were shattered. My uncle persuad ­ ed me not to lose heart and to con­ tinue my studies, but I refused to abide by his advice. From China wOrd arriv ­ ed that, not withstanding what had happened, I should ixepare to go to China now. Even this I did not obey. of — before and of their parents A A I \ ' ¦ that they could guide the young m k the oroblems thev facp. tndav iXU ^5 r 32)«/ < ¦ Piloo N. Jungalwalla . S' which MODERNISTIC APPROACH Piloo N. JungalwaDa Our children are growing up tremendous pressures. Secular dies have taken on such enormous dimensions that religious education is relegated to an afterthought. More ­ over, among young people all over the world, f knowledgeable and with doctrines and dogmas/ rituals pie to interpret, produce and pubhsh direct apprehension of the Di- the material which comes out of their vine. Our children need to be welt creativity through suitable literature, integrated in their faith so as to com- ¦ ¦ ¦ 7 J the teachings .of Zarathushtra with those of other audiovisuals, plays, tapes and L.Ps P^® contrast and films for both child and youth. *1-—i-*— The various local communities mi^t prophets and seers, emnmission cultural ambassadors to To achieve this 36 In all 4 I acquainted him the He referred to the University happened, I should ixepare to go to J China now. Even this I did not obey. i iinr ’pr Everyonc was most dejected. My i stu- wife ’s father feared that the future of his dearly loved and favourite youn­ gest daughter had been placed in the hands of a vagabond ami that naught but gloom was in store fty her, there is an impatience Old post cards etc. / wanted ’ ’ > Advertiser wishes to buy OLD and ceremonies. What is demanded picture, postcards, photographs, cigarette cards, playing cards, posters, prints, fflasWed ' albums and other related otateri^.r Willing to pay top prices .fin*,- , . single items or entire collections. Please send, detailed list with ‘ expected prices to lib' Advertiser, ’ , (OLD) Clo. Paiuma, 6.-1^. - aim we need not Box 892, Bombay jBBL To achieve thist KM ¦Hi IN MEMOfilAM Died: OUdMbi^ira H. Cama, 90, noted inseperable “if one dies so does the s;, phiWthrdbM, chairman of the M. F. other. If there are no priests there "WIHr CamiAthornan Madressa, founder of will be no religion and eventually no • the f^i Hunnershala, founder mem- community. ” By looking after the I beF; bF. the Bombay Gramophone priests he rendered a great service to Sb^efy and former president of. the tlje community, said Kotwal. Cama Philatelist Society of India, on 12 himself, according to a family source, ,£ May at his Bombay residence. . • , . , , “He was a devout Zoroastrian... who had a deep and sympathetic understanding of the plight of the priests, ” says Dastur Dr Firoze M. P. . _ Kotwal, high priest of the Wadiaji Bonabay Gramophone Society in 194p Atash-Behram and principal of the ' ’ ’ ’ ’ " M. F. Cama Athoman Madressa dur ­ ing Cama ’s stewardship. Nariman Bhagalia, who has been in the ser ­ vices of the Cowasji Jehangir family Buji Chenoy, said that “Cama infused ( for many years described Cama as a the love of music in all of us...he was [ man “with uncanny commonsense — a man of integrity. ” “Publicity was repungnant to him ” other. If there are no priests there community.' r/ 1 was “not a praying but a prayful man. ” A keen western music lover, “Cama ] and other enthusiastic music-lovers, inspired by Cama ’s ideals, formed the " • /~ / “ ¦ ;¦ to bring the benefits of good music to less-fortunate music lovers, ” the publication of the Society notes. A fellow founder-member of the’Society, k’' the love of music in all of us...he was [ the life and guiding spirit —’ the live > wire — behind the society. ” Chenoy says that Cama, among others, en- [, the Bon^xty Samachar noted in its couraged and assisted Mehli Mehta, t nHitliarv rvn “him •fof'hAt* fVia -FQTMrvnc ’7nKin I. obituary on him. __ ________ dedicating his talent and possessions to public and community service. This however, did not remain a mere sentiment, he put it to practice. ” A close family member says that Cama __ „ _______________ was against the idea of ornamental philately, photography and carpentry, membership of committees. The I’ source adds that at one stage the Society of India and at one time, ac- trusteeship to the Bombay Parsi Pan­ chayat was offered to Cama but he turned it down. “One could almost without exagge ­ ration say that Cama was the Bombay Gramophone Society, ” the Gramo ­ phone Society, which dedicated the programme of June to his memory, writes in its bulletin. Born in 1889, Cama joined the family business after graduating from St. Xavier College in Bombay. How­ ever, because of his many other inter ­ ests, he started to devote his time and energy to the community and served on the board of a number of chari ­ table and social institutions. He founded the Parsi Hunnershala to help boys who came to Bombay from villa^s to get a decent education and . ___ gainful employment. Towards the Sth January, end of his life, Cama took up the responsibility of chairman of the board of trustees of the M. F. r______ ___ ____ — Cama Athoman Madressa for priests plays and organized and participated and it was under his' guidance that major changes were introduced in the .. .__ „ running of the Madressa — changes Delhi Parsi Anjuman on 14 January that Kotwal feels were of great bene- at ______j fit to the^ pfi^ts. Kotwal says that Chairmanship of the Anjuman ’s pre- inferiority that Cama had “penetrating insight into sident, Shiavax Nargolwala, passed a the problems of the community — the resolution “appreciating ” Bagli’s many shortage of priesits, ” He knew that ”«*«"•/««« a«j,----------- — j *1.. the community and religion were shortage of jiiksits.' V. He believed in father of the famous conductor, Zubin to go abroad and pursue his interest in music. The trip, according to Chenoy, “set the ball rolling for Zubin.” Cama ’s other interests included He was the president of the Sbilatelisl Editor of its semi-annual cording to a family source, his per- f - , ---------- —- sonal collection ranked second only energy, his willingness and single- to that of King George. Jehangir Wadia, a close family friend, recalls Cama ’s easy sociable nature: “He could talk to anyone from 8 to 88.” Cama, according to Chenoy, “placed a huge premium on the character of a man ‘be a gentle ­ man if anything else ’ he would say,” recalls Chenoy. Cama is survived by his two daughters. Lady Jinoo Jehangir and Aloo. Bagli deep sense of sorrow, and grief we mopm his passing away.” Dadi Misery, a trustee of the Anju- publication Dipanjali relent to Bagli’s “indefatigable spirit and tire- minded devotion towards any work, whether it was arranging a social function, a community dinner, or reli ­ gious ceremonies and prayers or games and sports for the youth or drama and entertainment for all.' “To a great many he (Bagli) had become a vital force of life, a source of trust and faith and of inspiration, ” writes Sugan Bhatia in Dipanjali. Ava Khullar, who also pays tributes to Bagli in the magazine, writes that “for the Parsis of Delhi, Bagli was the focal point around which much that happened within the community volved. ” Born on 19 March 1923 iff Bombay, Bagli reportedly answered the priestly calling on the persuasion of his grand ­ Aside from his priestly duties, Bagli father. He took to the priesthood also managed the dharamshala and and performed many important kria- arranged, produced and acted in ' Died: Ervad Darains Ba^, head priest of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman, who actively participated in the social and cultural affairs of the capital ’s Parsis : of a heart attack, in Delhi on re- kaamo under his grandfather and later in the Tardeo Sethna Agiary. In in sporting events. a 1975 interview with Par^ana, _ A condolence meeting held by the Bagli recalled his stay in Bombay as . 7 “absolutely miserable. The priest in the Bhiwandiwalla Hall under the Bombay suffers from such a sense of t sometimes I felt ashamed to wear my pugri and go outside. ” On 16 January 1952 he went to Delhi after a brief stay in Agra. sident, Shiavax Nargolwala, passed _A.*_ CC._ • “services to the Anjuman and the to Delhi after a brief stay in Agra, community at large ” and “with a During that time the Delhi Parsi 37f f 1 -i 1 Noble Anjuman was still in its formative stages and did not have an A^ap^ of _ its own. Bagli performed his priestly duties and also managed the Mengusi Parsi Dharamshala which had opened only a few years earlier. In Decem ­ ber 1961, the Delhi Parsi Anjuman Agiary was inaugurated and Bagli was made its first head priest. Speaking of the time when he first came to Delhi, Bagli said in the Par­ siana interview: “I felt proud to wear my pugri. I got respect from people of other religions also...To­ day,” he added “I am very happy jind I don’t think there is any mobed as happy as me. ” “The performance of a religious ceremony was a task which involved him (Bagli) emotionally and aestheti ­ cally,” writes Khullar. Khullar also recalls the time when Bagli helped arrange the Navjote great gentleman and a great lover of ceremony of the child of a Christian humanity. ” He writes that Gilder lady whose Parsi husband had died was the first man of medicine to pro- earlier. “Daraius himself was unable to perform it (the navjote) due to a vow L_ 1—L -------------------- would not perform such navjotes) but of charge to the suffering alcoholics he arranged to have a friend perform in the seamen ’s ward at St. George ’s the ceremony. ” Khullar also recalls Hospital. . .he used to examine free of for a number of years. ” While imprisoned in the Poona jail in 1940 for his activities in the nation­ al freedom movement Gilder served as the private physician to Mahatma Gandhi, a fellow prison mate. He was also the health minister in the first Congress cabinet of B. G. Kher in ceremony of the child of a Christian humanity. represented the Anjuman on the Exe- i cutive Council of the Federation of s Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India. Born in Poona on 19 July 1916, Noble graduated from the Poona ’ Engineering College. He served as captain in the Indian army and was ’ on active duty during the World Wat II in Burma. He then joined the Government as an executive engineer. In 1969 he was appointed as the housing commissioner of Maharashtra and in 1972 as the chief engineer — buildings and communications. After his retirement he was appointed as chief technical consultant to the State Bank of India, in which capacity he was working until his death. Noble is survived by his wife Khor- shed, two sons and three daughters. mote the activities of the AA Bombay group and that he “was solely respon ­ sible for the allotment of six beds free ‘Daraius himself was unable he had given his father (that he he arranged to have a friend perform in the seamen ’s ward at St. George ’s the ceremony. ” Khullar also recalls Hospital. . .he used to examine free of how Bagli had wanted the funeral charge alcoholic patients almost daily ceremony of the Christian woman ’s ” husband to be performed in Delhi in­ stead of Bombay; “he was concerned for the Christian widow who he felt would be treated as an outsider in Bombay. In Delhi, he argued, she would have her rightful place by her husband’s side during the last rites. ” _ ___ _ „ Bagli staged and acted in a number 1938-39 and again held the same post of plays, including one during the Chinese aggression and another for Bangladesh Refugee Relief Fund. He enjoyed a good game of badminton and billiards, played cricket, normal ­ ly as the wicket-keeper, and was fond of driving. He reportedly never miss ­ ed any major football, hockey or cricket match played in Delhi. Bhatia writes “I still recall the institutions. He is survived by his moment when two football friends of daughter Dr (Ms) K. Gilder. Daraius walked into the Anjuman premises to enquire why he had not been at the game for the last two days. Alas! Daraius had played his last game a few hours back.” He is survived by his mother, wife, three sons and daughter. in the cabinet of 1946-52. His public service also included a term as mayor Saklatb of Bombay. Gilder withdrew from public life at the age of 76 but still served as chair ­ man of the S. K. Patil Arogyadhan at Malad, was connected to the Parsi ' and publisher of a number of books General Hospital and was a member of a number of social and charitable institutions. Died: Rustom Tehimirasp Saldath li, former president of the Parsi Zoroas ­ trian Association of Calcutta, author Died: Minoo Kaikhsroo Noble, 63. vice president and trustee of the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman, chief technical consultant to the State Bank of India and retired chief engineer and joint secretary to the Govern ­ ment of Maharashtra; on 17 May its . practice and prayers. 1979, of cerebral haemorrhage, in Died. Dr M. D. D. Gilder, 96, free ­ dom fighter, cabinet minister,, mayor Bombay. ¦ I “He was an esteemed trustee ” the •patron- Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman noted in the condolence message to his of Bombay, physician to Mahatma Gandhi and one of the “1 saints” of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Bombay; at his Malabar Hill residence on 20th May 1979. The AA Bombay chapter Chair ­ man, in a letter to the press paid tri ­ bute to Gilder as “a great patriot, a 38 on the Zoroastrian religion and a social worker; on 5 March 1979 at his Calcutta residence. Saklath was instrumental in the Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Cal­ cutta publishing six books on Zoroas ­ trianism by the eminent Gathic scholar, Jatindra Mohan Chatterji., and also in publishing the works of the late Framroz Rustomjee of Colombo who wrote on the religion, . .. Saklath i initiated religious classes for the 1 young in Calcutta and jointly with Piloo J ungal wall a authored the book Fravarane, ‘I Believe'. . “What endeared Rustom was not iiX bliv VVM.**ViVliVV lllVJJUgV VW - ---- - — ----------.,J family “who had endeared himself to only his seraphic smile and merry j J l\-«*z*kATzn AirAc* T'ru«abbit, or GdWildcks Irtnresslmi the ttoSW^ sim heard adven- x.™ ------ - Feop«r»^:^ — pride to what Iran stood fcM: to cultto MatokyaOTan^ZeroiBtrhHuam .as sift ral as spiritual values, led hl6 mtoerstood ft. She said with enffift- he unconquerable thwi otSct pre^toets, to Iton wq find nuttocs in ffis |aaiM far Iton’s andeift a cachet of hmnanitsaianism* He wish- h^g^ ^|Was toawat ffisovtoed ed people to be hapfiy and he pro- him a. bard tliM into the hW faifii hy Dr t turn to^toed h Ifeaffier is I ffia Stole <. •^¦Ai-^aauenjaSs^j,..^ n ;sbt-Ne^ was born beliefs >, Cf-.., ^^^m, 00 and H does not allow Sie feels “i in i It is WcftuseT ®dayasnan-Zoroastrimis who could not i IL .Z- ¦“ * ” ( express ttosto Wifcto ptiMW ft^ After 18, he studied of Mosleto reprisal. ” , ** | rr.. J -X J ea^l^toto to ufe j some Parsenji giKwe njoted low » > % 0^ 1 Wl#l.l«.,........ , -,. . „ •> «• ;/ f ]^.«M he dy "iwAf f(»^ JOT BoE^^mient , njKgS’ i-SrSSfiS&ft ; ’^'sasti! » #-*•*- ^..- -¦ -¦ ¦ •.. -¦'(¦¦•-, ¦'¦i''' •¦'<- -- •' ¦ '*¦- • R I. },. 3 £¦0^7?/ {a 4^-:, *iiJ? *