Jul 1980

i -¦'6July 1980 Volume 3 No. 3 r READERS’ FORUM EVENTS & PERSONALITIES ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD NEWS FROM THE MEDIA PAPER TIGER Amavaz Mama BURJOR BHARUCHA CENTENARY EQUITIES WITH A 100% YIELD Homi Kharas THE PRIESTLY TRADITION Firoze Kotwal FILLING THE VOID Gustasp Irani PUNDOLE: MESSIAH OR HERETIC? Faribourz Nariman WORLD CONGRESS PAPERS: A QUESTION OF APPROACH AUTOBIOGRAPHY: DASTUR DHALLA—VII IN MEMORIAM 3 6 11 15 17 19 21 22 25 28 30 35 40 COVER: Priestly Tradition: Designed by Manjula Padmanabhan EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Gustasp Irani EXECUTIVE EDITOR R. P. Thanavala DESIGN CONSULTANT Mini Boatwala DESIGN Ketayun Wankadia .ADVERTISING Feroza Chavda, Veer a Parbhu and Khushroo Amroliwalla MANAGEMENT Dr. Rustem and Zarin Billimoria CIRCULATION M. R. Ambujakshan Nair OFFICE Mathew M. George Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel at Clo H. L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers ground floor, 39 A. Nayak Colafc Marg, Fort, Bombay 400 001 and print­ ed by him at Kaiser-e-Hind Publishers and Printers, 300, Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400 001. All rights reserved. Address all editorial and business cor­ respondence to Parsiana G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001, Phone; 268739. Annual inland subscription: Rs. 20 for one year, (12 issues); Rs. 36 for two years, (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs. 36 one year, Rs. 65 two years; Airmail ~ Rs. 150 two years. For U.S. personal cheques add $ 1.50 to cover bank charges. For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs. for bank charges. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favour of Parsiana. Single copy price Rs. 3.50 and 50p. All rates subject to change in postal rates. Rs. 80 one year.( 1 I j In Memoriam Mr. Fall Meherji Variava, Director BLAZE ADVERTISING PVT. LTD. And ASSOCIATE COMPANIES. rri 2READERS' FORUM .'B psSi rA: • SK I. > I A t i i ) r*<* ^Rt**^** a ¦ 1 .... » t , „ t ‘ ‘ ¦ • »>*«(S*»* i * nit * ’ C .Ait** t •I ridiculous to expect ail Parsis to by us—Zoroastrians. One should feel IS ridiculous to expect dll rWI> >1 0 -------------------------- I 5F w w w w w k; h ..^,1^ k- .\ • < -if- k It, I ¦ ........... it if- Li ¦ :A. at, ';i! lnterriat!o;''d! Opef.it'ons Divr Engineering & Construction Contidclors, Bombay 400 039 I nd'a , If. n SHAPOORJI PALLOIMJI & CO. (PVT.) LTD. d.c . , 5Events and Personalities Woman at the Helm chairperson of the Commktee of the Ms Thrity H. J. Taleyarkhan, a well State _ known social worker and organizer where she is reported to have collect- Small ; astrians—men, women and children — Savings Programme, would pray” to Avan Ardvi Sur Banoo, Che Angel of Water, on her known social worker and organizer ........... x . . . . ,, , ™ . of long standing, was elected president ed millions of rupees as investment special day Ava Roj, Ava Mah. This of the Maharashtra State Women’s in the National Defence Collections. year on Ava Roj, Ava Mah an Avan Council, a premier women’s organiza­ tion in the State, for the year 1980-81. Earlier she had served twice as the elected vice president of the council presented India^ in a according to her bio-data. -r , A member of other social work stay m Libya where her ^husband, organizations, Taleyarkhan was the Ardvi Sur Prabh/festival and Jashan was held at the Radio Club, Bombay which the organizers hope, in the I number of welcome-programme, will “mark the mternational conferences. During her resumption of (this) wholesome practice which was abandoned for all these years.” A Hama Anjuman Jashan, or community jashan performed by 21 mobeds and led by Dastur Kekobad of Iranshah (Udvada), started the 2 April evening programme organiz­ ed jointly by Andheri Zoroastrian Born in Bombay and educated at St. Xavier’s College, Bombay Taleyar- khan has travelled widely and re- Homi, was India’s ambassador, she is reported to have successfully project­ ed India’s image in the Arab world. The day of the ‘Water Angel’ Nostalgia is “the scene near Church ­ gate Station of the steam-train days... . Where Eros Theatre and Asiatic Association (AZA), the Zoroastrian Stores are at present, there was a Building Fund (ZBF) and the Zoroas- sandy beach washed by the waves of trian Colony Association (ZCA) the Arabian Sea.. .and here, from according to a report sent by Dinshaw morning till sunset, hordes of Zoro- Merchant of AZA. The programme Building Fund (ZBF) and the Zoroas- according to a report sent by Dinshaw 7 I : « ‘x . Ait iRB't Taleyarkhan: Social Worker youngest person to have been award­ ed the Padmashri award by the % Government of India in 1965 notes her bio-data. Presently she is a member of the All India Handicrafts Board and the Governing Body of the National Council of Women in India. She also serves on the Board of Governors of the Institute of Cater­ ing Technology and Applied Nutrition. In the past Taleyarkhan has work ­ ed as the general secretary of the All India Women’s Food Council and V , •p ^'3 ^:J Prayers to the Water Angel: Some of the 21 Mobeds who performed the Jashan 6a' ;i ¦ ’^4" included a ‘Ham Bandagi,’ or prayers in which the entire gathering parti- c cipates, led by Kekobad, a talk by t-* , Khojeste Mistree of Zoroastrian Studies on the “Significance of Ava Yazad in Zoroastrian Scriptures” and ‘Jarthosti Jalso’ songs on the Parsi religion and culture compiled and O-, presented by Dali Palkhiwala. , Merchant delivered the welcome speech and Naval R. Unwala of ZCA proposed the vote of thanks. In his report Merchant quotes ¦ lx WXXX *.*-*~*. — » ---- G J .J millionaire who had witnessed the celebration of the occasion at Chow- pati beach at the turn of the century: “I do not expect in all my life to wit- p ; ness a religious ceremony which will [ ' so powerfully affect me as that of the k. Parsis on the beaches of Bombay.” Dr Samuel Lang in his book A Modern Zoroastrian endorses Carne­ gie’s views and adds: “Here is an ideal religious ceremony combining all that is true, most touching, and most sublime in the attitude of man towards the great unknown, ” Merchant adds. “Praying the Avan Yasht from Hormuzd Roj of Avan month for 40 days is supposed to fulfill ones desires, particularly in r"\ children, ” the welcome programme down to their seats as he, alone on observes. The programme adds: stage, went through a series of “Many have offered prayers to the modern dances which he had choreo- female Avan Ardvisur and have graphed himself. The programme begotten children as a result of their titled ‘Arabesque’ was held in April ^^igly governed by devoted prayers.” at the Patkar Hall and Prithvi technique. Theatre under the sponsership of the Max Muller Bhavan, Bombay. The item which evoked greatest of Guru E. Krishna, has performed in which the entire gathering parti- Ml of K- r Deboo: “Arabesque” “Modern and Classical” Dali In his report Merchant quotes from Andrew Carnegie, an American •11* ! .1.^ xTTifn aocaH fllft 4 ' '5^ Sil' / audience response was ‘disco dance’ where Deboo seemed to poke light fun Dance Performance by Deboo Astad Deboo greeted his audience as frozen statue, then slowly he started fnis more popular form of ‘modem to move to the urgings of the music dance’ with a ‘see-I’am-ihaving-a- himself into it completely. For the respect or hours he held his audience a adds : to the Ardvisur and have a result of their and as the tempo increased he threw good-time’ grin frozen on his face as ¦ ~ he went through the motions. But Deboo’s forte, as the press release described it, is in Indian Classical and Modern dance which becomes ap­ parent in the other items, where the movements of the body are increas- ' control and Bright Lights There were green lights, amber and red too, for 20-year-old Homi F. ¦ Warden, whose working model of an ¦ automatic traffic signal so impressed I the Traffic Police Department that ¦ they reportedly bought it off him to ¦ use in a district town of Maharashtra ¦ State. The model was originally put on ¦ display at the “Road Safety Week ¦ Traffic Police Exhibition held in ¦ Bombay in February and Nasik in April. H The facilities for fabricating the || traffic signal were reportedly provided B by the B. M. Gamadia Polytechnic ¦ where Warden completed a one year ¦ course in Electrical and mechanical I engineering in 1977. Presently Warden I is studying for the Maharashtra State PWD First Class Electrical | Supervisors examination. 9 “Though my first model (tr^c ¦ signal) was based on mechanical ¦ principles I expect to develop another ¦ electronic model,’” says Wardeii. “Then maybe I could go commercial,’’ he speculates. jn says >.«¦ p *1 Warden: positive signals Deboo, who is presently studying Kathakali (dance) under the guidance I J f VA * 1Djakarta, r “Talking of their journey, the boys their sights on cycling to Dubai and said they normally covered about 150 eventually hope to make it over-land kms a day. They would start in the to Europe! Any sponsors?” morning at 4 a.m., rest during the noon day heat and pedal on again till 9 p.m., ‘hitting the sack ’ at some way- in Bangkok, Djakarta, London, Manila, Mexico, New York, Rio De Janeiro, Sydney, Toronto, to mention a few cities, according to the Press - , _ release. He is also reported to have noonday heat and pedal on again till SPOTLIGHT given a Royal Command Performance p.m., ‘hitting the sack ’ at some way- Dr Fall Mehta, noted dentist of in Japan and Thailand, was the only side dhaba where everyone from the Bombay, has been elected president Indian artist at the Opening Festival owner to the truck-drivers and the of the All India Dental Council Season of the Royal Opera House bed-bugs in the khatias were most according to an ‘Executive Diary’ and was the lead dancer in the opera friendly. Villagers on the way-side column of the Economic Times... “Rose Garden.’" “Deboo’s remarkable gift has also proven to be of therapeutic value in the drug addicion programmes in Canada 99 friendly. Villagers on the way-side were curious but always helpful and hospitable. The four have now set and Hongkong, ” the press release notes. He is also reported to have conducted the National School of Drama in Delhi recently. I J NAGPUR: | Youth Salute R Instead of the usual army colonel, air | marshal, or police commissioner, 14- i year-old Naushad E. Bhagwagar declared open the 33rd Annual Athletic Meet of the St. Joseph ’s | Convent School and Junior College, Nagpur, some months ago, writes our Nagpur correspondent Dilnavaz E. Bhagwagar. “This is our way of salut­ ing the children of India and of the world, in this, the International Year of the Child, ” Sister Angela, Principal of the school, is reported to have said in her welcome speech. Naushad Bhagwagar, a tenth stan­ dard student of the St. Francis De Sales School, smartly took the salute at an impressive march past, accord- * ing to the report. Ten year old Shilpa Mankeshwar, the other dignitary of s the afternoon, gave away the prizes. f fUifl H-’h 5 -S-fl Mi The Biking Vikings “The exhiliration of the outdoors and a spirit of adventure spurred four young Parsi boys, between the ages of 18 and 20 to pedal their way to Secunderabad, some 500 Kms. away from Nagpur,” writes our Nagpur correspondent Dilnavaz Bhagwagar. The journey, which was made by Malcolm Bhamgara, Shahrukh Cas­ sad, Naushad Bhamgara and Aftab Bharucha, was sponsored by the . Forum of Young Zoroastrians (FOYZ) and the Parsi Cricket Gym­ khana of Nagpur, according to the report. “During their five day stay in Secunderabad, they were hosted and feted by the Parsi Zoroastrian Anju­ man of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. At a special felicitating function where Ms. Rohda Mistry, M.L.A. from AP, was the Chief Guest, Pro­ fessor Faroukh Vakil of Osmania University gave a talk on ‘The Role of Youth ’,” writes Bhagwagar. was of Chief Guest Bhagwagar: Presenting the school colours Five Parsi students cornered the academic limelight by winning a number of gold medals in various faculties at the Bombay University convocation held earlier this year, according to a report in the Gujarati daily The Bombay Samachar in an article captioned ‘They Grabbed all the Gold.’ The five students were: Mehelli R. Cama, Berjis M. Desai (two medals), Ms Freny K. Sanjana, Hoshang J. Engineer (three medals) and Ms Meher M. Hodiwala. The convocation was held on 31 March 1980. Cama was awarded the Kinloch Forbes Gold Medal for securing the highest number of marks in the sub­ ject Jurisprudence and Comparative Law in the Second L.L.B. examina­ tion held in 1978. Desai won the M. N. Wadia and the B. J. Patel Diamond Jubilee Memorial Trust Gold Medals for obtaining the highest total marks in the LL.B, examination held in 1979. Desai is reported to have started his higher studies in law at the Oxford University under a Rotarian Scholarship granted to him. Sanjana was awarded the Kashinath Trambak Telang Gold Medal for securing the highest marks in MA Philosopy examinations held in held “The Pedal Pushers” Four Nagpur youths who cycled to Secunderabad 500 km away (L to R) M, Bhamgara, Cassad, N. Bhamgara and Bharucha. 9 J1979. Engineer, in addition to winning the James Berckly Gold Medal for obtaining the highest marks in Civil Engineering of the B.E. examination of 1979, also won the S. B. Junnarak and the Rao Bahadur Rajadhyaksha Gold Medals for topping the merit list in two other subjects. Hodiwala secured the Devidas J. Desai Gold Medal for obtaining the highest number of marks in Com- merical Law I and Commercial Law 11 in the LL.M. examinations held in 1979. .. t r I amplifier scheme ” which he present- ' ed at the Session where students from all over the country meet to present their own new theories or inventions, note his parents. I Contractor discussed kinds of amplifiers, j difficulties that one encounters in the J higher class amplifiers and the pro- gress and developments that are going on in this field the world over.. . In his paper the various the technical Road Safety Petrol Officer, Khurshed Noshir Variava, of Surat, was award­ ed a cash prize and a Certificate of Merit by the District Superintendent of Police, Surat, for integrity, huma- Press Journal. Variava, who had earlier won the award twice in 1975 and 1979, was the only RSP officer in Gujarat to be recognised for his a 23-year gallantary... Kapadia, old final year B.E. student at the X tf uivijuuu xj.ii^jLLiw±mg, hd. Da Karkhanavala and Aspi Sangli, reportedly captured the gold In the ‘In Memoriam’ column of medal at the 1980 Students’ Technical Parsiana March 1980, we add that Session of the Institute of Engineers, Minocher D. Karkhanavala who The distinction^of being the first India held in Calcutta earlier this died on 17 November "a year. Contractor won the award for survived by his mother Mani. The National daily goes to Ms Coomi his paper “A new class A audio ommission is regreted. In yet another area of academic achievement, five Zoroastrian boys Contractor: speaking of speakers were placed in the first 50 candidates to have been declared successful in Kapoor of Delhi, writes Piloo N. nity and gallantry, reports the Free the Final Chartered Accounts exa- Jungalwalla, author of Fhe Parsis. mination (New Syllabus) held in Ms Kapoor works for Delhi edition November 1979, according to a letter " “ by Peshotan Nargolwala, published in of the Indian Express... the Bombay Samachar. The five Dinyar Russy Contractor, boys are: Mehemosh ” . " , " , Robinton Anklesaria. Dadiba Pan- Walchand College of Engineering, tbaki, Jehangir Irani ’ Bhesania.... M. D. Karkhanavala Indian woman Chief Reporter of year. Contractor won the award for “A new class A audio 1979 is also For quality printing of Annual Reports, Memorandums, Magazines, Programmes, Directories, etc. Contact : Kaiser - E - Hind Publishers & Printers 300, Perin Nariman Street, Fort, ( Behind Reserve Bank of India ) Bombay -400 001. Phone : 295709 r 10ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD is interested nevertheless. He points out that something will be worked out in his case and if necessary some inovative steps taken. NORTH AMERICA Canadian Mobeds Four young boys in Quebec, Canada, are preparing to become priests by attending special classes and courses organized by individual members of the Quebec Zoroastrian community, according to Dr Ervad Jehan Bagli, editor of Gavashni, the c ‘ publication of the Zoroastrian Associa­ tion of Quebec. Bagli who had visited India in May this year explains that the four boys, three of whom are from athornan (priestly) families and one from a behdin (lay) family, Zubin Panthaki, Khsnoom Panthaki, Zubin Dastoor and Jehangir Irani, are all around 12-years of age, very enthu ­ siastic, keen and serious about becom­ ing navars and mar a tabs. The significance of this development Bagli emphasises is that these four | boys represent the second generation | of the Zoroastrian community in the I North American Continent, that it I is the first reported case of the com- | munity being able to generate a supply I of priests from within itself rather I than depending totally on India for I their future supply. | The four boys meet regularly at I the homes of either Bagli, or Kersi | Bhedwar, who teach them the neces­ sary prayers and ceremonies that a ] priest should know. Yet it will be necessary for the boys to return to India for a while to be initiated into ; priesthood as these facilities are not Association of Greater New York ZAGNY fetes Zubin Mehta New York Philharmonic 111 ua 1 Director Zubin Mehta was felicitated qu^r^ly nearly 200 area Zoroastrians who • • attended a contributory luncheon and York Music K & J ' Mehta, at mike, as Erach Munshi, Darbe Mehr trustee, looks on With wife, Nancy, pondering the birth­ day cake icing a jashan hosted by the Zoroastrian “Mehta, sporting a salt-and-pepper ______ beard—a souvenir from a recent vaca- available in North America, Bagli (ZAGNY) earlier this year, reports tion—came with his wife Nancy, observes. In the case of the behdin r ~ ~ - ............... ... .. , , . boy however, there might be some contributor to Parsiana from North the maestro’s musical achievements problems in initiating him into the ' priesthood, but Bagli believes that the Arbab Guiv Darbe Mehr hall on this will not be a deterent as the boy 26 April. Porus Cooper, honorary editorial Speakers on behalf of ZAGNY lauded America. The function was held at and hailed him as an inspiration to everywhere, ” writes Zoroastrians Cooper. 9> 1 The Mehtas (centre) with Freddy Patel, pre­ sident of ZAGNY and Ms Armaity Patel 11The report adds: “the room was thick with excitement and Mehta, who was celebrating his 44th birthday, was treated to a large cake and a half ­ dozen standing ovations. “Responding to the unabashed adulation, Mehta remarked mischiv- ously how when he was a young boy one of his grandparents used to wonder why he had been given such an obscure first name. ‘Now I find Zubins everywhere I look in this room,’ he said.' “Payoff unsound debt (mortage debt is not unsound, provided you can always make payinents in bad times) and avoid paper investment (deposit a/c, bonds, annuities, mortgage invest­ ment etc.) Since money is going broke. “Sell off big city real estate (except perhaps your own house or farmland). “Be prepared for price controls, and a possible black market economy by buying ahead essentials for day to day living, which are in any case going to go up in prices, so you can’t lose by doing so.” For further information on the above talk Gavashni has offered to Preparing for the ‘Great Crash’ “We are heading for a crash — whether a soft-landing or otherwise — which could greatly affect Zoroastrian oblige those who write to them at assets unless defensive action is taken Gavashni, 12, Allancroft Rd, Kirkland, now,” warns a ‘concerned Zoroastrian* P- Q- H9J 2G9, Canada. in a talk given to the Zoroastrian Society of British Columbia, extracts of which are reproduced by the body of members to the quarterly publication of the Zoro ------— astrian Association of Quebec, Gav­ ashni. Extract of the talk “How to Angeles, for the years protect yourself during the coming -- ~ — bad years” deal with strategies against February this year. News of the possible runaway inflation. election was conveyed by Rustom A. The speaker refers to recommenda- ^as come visiting India tions by Mark Tier, editor of World Fos Angeles. Monetary Analyst, “a very sfirewd eco- Members of the committee are: nomist from Hongkong, ” who predicts Armity R. Irani, president, Rusi the behaviour of various forms of president, Ms Dhunmai investments: _____ ___ ’ ’ . ' _:__ vjvxxJ... Vaghaiwalla, honorary treasurer and silver.. .storeable food.. .farmland Arjani, pro^amme chair — ... ,, - . . . is: ZASC, 5272 Los Adornos Way, re^ Fos Angeles 90027. PAKISTAN Los Angeles Committee Executive Committee of the Zoro­ astrian Association of Southern Cali- 1980-82 was elected to office in eco- 'assets that will retain honorary secretary, Burjor purchasing power throught: Gold... Vaghaiwalla, honorary treasurer and silver.. .storeable food.. .farmland and Dogdo Arjani, programme chair — Swiss francs (may be)—assets that ^fhc^ad^dress of the associadon will loose initially, but recapture power after hyperinflation: i_ I estate.. .shares. .. others (furniture, etc.)—assets that will increase (in) purchasing power during hyperinfla- “The Star’ tion but loose it afterwards: collectors “Parsis in Karachi, as far as non­ coins and stamps.. .diamonds... anti- Parsis are concerned, have managed ques etc.” to remain a closed community. They Recommendations made by Howard lead an insular existence, maintaining Duff, “a very knowledgeable specialist a respectable distance in terms of with a big following”, in his book social fraternisation and cultural How to prosper during the coming cohesion, carrying an aura of aloof- had years are: “Store enough food ness, relishing their privacy as a and vitamins for a year, since there is p.vLwu.v ohvll," u'uovx> only a few days supply in most introduction to the article on Pakistan’s Parsis “Parsis in Karachi, ness, relishing their privacy protective shell, ” so observes the . . - _ ____ ! “The American/Canadian supermarkets, in Parsees: Survival or Extinction?” by case panic buying is trigered by a Hameed Zaman in the Karachi paper Teamster’s strike, shortage due to The Star. inflation, or whatever (please read the The clipping, submitted by Ervad book for detailed information on how Godrej D. Sidhwa, the “acting high Zoroastrian The Star. The clipping, submitted by Ervad best to do it). priest of the (Karachi) Parsis” and “Obtain one bag of junk silver honorary lecturer in 2_____ _ __ ($l,000.(X), face value of pre-1967 Theology and Ancient Iranian History Canadian dimes, quarters and half- at Karachi University, provides dollars) from a reputable coin dealer glimpses of the various social issues for each member of your family. Keep facing the community in Pakistan, at hand for insurance primarily in The article quotes Sidhwa on the case proper money starts to collapse social psychology and growth of the m future. The silver is also likely to Parsi race: “Socio-religiously we are multiply in value. Aryans while culturally we are ((I we 12 JEENA & COMPANY ESTD. 1900 IATA AIR CARGO Clearing, Forwarding Warehousing and Insurance Agents 10, Veer Nariman Road Fort, Bombay-1. Gable : ‘JUSTITIA’ Telex : 2313 Phone ; 312032 Branches: E. Merc House 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani (Formerly Theatre Road) CALCUTTA-16 Phone : 444711 ‘Jeena House* 50, Hanuman Road Connaught Circus NEW DELHI PHONE : 310821 7i 1 < ¦( li from Pakistan, was one of the “select of Pakistan; and he is an elected few” to be honoured with the Distin- director of the State managed Cement Semitics—did you notice the domes on the fire temples and the bulls support- . , ¦ - , r'r*Tr,«ar,x, ing the piflMS of Persepolis?” On the guished Member Award for 1979 by Company, qirestion of non-conversion Sidhwa the Society of Mining Engineers of the states: “Man is not bom with a body ^erican Institute of Mining SOUTH EAST ASIA alone. He comes in this world with the Engineers (AIME according to a seeds of his destined faith which he will acquire 1 nurtured him for nine months in her womb. This womb has shaped and moulded not only his psyche, but also the contours of his spiritual destiny.” In another part of the article Professor Firoze C. Daver, whose position or occupation is not detailed, comments on the question of inter- communal marriages: “We are against mixed marriages not on the grounds of our assumed superiority but because we emphatically maintain that our anT not” to be frivolously frittered away. We only wish that our com­ munal solidarity may not be shaken to the roots and that as a unified and compact community we may be left alone to serve God and man accord- xx^ix.**** ___ ___ - ing to our own rights and to the best ^gxico Institute of Technology. In of our capacities.” ,, ’ ---- -------rvoct According to the article “Karachi ’s first Tower of Silence, known as Ghadialy Dokhma, was consecrated in 1847. Presently there are two where on an i------ c>- ,. x - •• • —— ------ ------- -- ^l^iutSn^ D^hita °was Noshir F. Dastoor, noted personality t H 875 Ho™ xrith in the financial circles of Lahore and co^stjucted m 1875 Airport Pakistan, was elected the president ot ASities^S the Lahore Stock Exchange for 1980, the Civil Aviation Authorities launcn j^adir ed a campaign to eliminate yulturvS from the vicinity of Karachi s air space with the result that these two Towers of Silence have no vultures to attend the scavenging business Now the bodies are just exposed to the sun or to stray birds like crows or knes which circle ominously over the sit^ In conclusion the author of the article observes: “With a miniscule population (Karachi 4,500; Lahore 200; Quetta 50) the Parsi community is a very closely knit one. It hopes lo survive and flourish this way. Immigra­ tion to western Europe and North America has eroded Pakistan s P^^i population still further. Unofficial sources estimate Karachi s cv***^ --------------------------------------------------— population at only 2,500 today.. .It stock Exchange in 1971. the community that spearheaded the Recounting Dastoor’s other achieve- development of Karachi in this century merits Wankadia observes that in dies out, the loss will be tragic. With /\pril 1980 he was nominated as a the strategy for survival the com- member of the Provincial Council, Parsis of Hongkong riPQtinpri tnith which he news item in the Parsi Sansar, . , destined taitn wmcn ne Karachi bi-weeklv sent to Parsiana The Parsis were the first Indians to from his mother who had bi-week^, sent to t'arsiana interest in the China trade Thev n for nine months in her by Ms Mehran P. Kavasji. Jake interest in. me enma traae. iney n Tor mne monins ui iici , became the middlemen of the opium president and general trade—the most profitable commodity became the middlemen of the opium Bhappu, the report notes, has been the vice i— manager u ------- - ------------------------- and Development (MSRD), a wholly- xx . owned subsidiary of the Mountain Economic Digest article based upon States Mineral Enterprises Inc. for "" more than seven years. “He supervises many services at MSRD, including munity in Hongkong, assaying, minerology, pilotplant test­ ing, process development, computeris­ ed r______ ’----------------------------- engineering and geological and^hydro- "A doctorate of Science from the had spent 13 years as senior met^- vlcT^president of research with New set up by a Parsi family, and ffie XX ------- ktpiv “famous” Star Ferry which was also started by a Parsi. “The last Indian to hold public office,” the report adds, “the late Dhun Ruttonjee, retired as Stenior Council in 1968. Ruttonjee, who was born in Hongkong, was a legislative councillor for 15 years. His articulate but well-tempered criticism of the (previous) Sir David Trench adminis­ tration after the 1967 riots is memcn rable for students of “loyal opposition” important issue that faces us today is of Mountain States Research for the British East India Company." The extract appears in a Far Eastern an academic paper prepared by K. N. Vaid: “The Overseas Indian Com- The article, submitted by Homi 111 iuv,voo uv.viv iiiwx.v, Sethna who is posted with the United ed process simulation, environmental Nations in Rome also refers to the - X - . cufiiiivviiiiB mid ““d hydrc- influence of the Indian and Parsi religion and culture deserve to survive studies ” the report adds. community reflected in the names of Kix fr;,irxio„civ frittered doctorate of Science from the important roads, for instance, Bisney Colorado School of Mines, Bhappu Road and Mody Road. It also mentions had spent 13 years as senior metal- the Ruttonjee Sanatorium, “a leading lureist and research professor and chest clinic in this part of the world, ’ Vice ______ - Mexico Bureau of Mines and New ' ' _ ’ I 1968 he was awarded the Van Diest Gold Medal for Outstanding Achieve ­ ment by the Colorado School of ------- ----- , , . Mines according to the news clipping. Unofficial Member of the Legislative X xvowxxvxj ______ ______ ’ Council in 1968. Ruttonjee, who was average 50 bodies are disposed . Lahore born in Hongkong, was a legislative ----- *—councillor for 15 years. His articulate I but well-tempered criticism of the ; (previous) Sir David Trench adminis­ tration after the 1967 riots is memo- systems anywhere: ‘The single^most *1 - * _____ the problem of leadership. .. There is a vacuum of leadership waiting to be filled and I urge this government to fill (it) before it is too late.’ Rution- taken up by any other Indian Hong­ kong ‘belonger.’ ” Singapore Committee according to a report sent by Nadir H. Wankadia, vice president of the Lahore Parsi Anjuman. Prior to his election as president, Dastoor reported­ ly served as vice president of the Exchange for four consecutive years _____ and has represented the organization ^ttack has not been and the Punjab business community 1®^ s orave line oi au in a number of government councils and forums. Dastoor was born in Bharuch and studied initially at the place of his _ . birth and later in Ahmedabad from A new committee of office bearers tor where he obtained his B. Com. degree, the vear 1980 has been elected to according to credits Dastoor as being the first the two community organizations in person to start a Stock and Share Singapore, at its annual g®°eral business in post-independence Lahore meeting held on 3rd March 1 you, and being instrumental in establishing according to a report sent by Kutton Recounting Dastoor’s other achieve ­ ments Wankadia observes that in of leadership waiting to be > nea nis D. v-vui. uvgivC, the year 1980 has —-------- Wankadia. The report office by the Parsi Association, one ot sLalT d OLUVK aiiu. oiiigapviv, <*v ajr ' U 10SO post-independence Lahore meeting held on 3rd Marcn lyoo, M. H. Patel, president of the body. Members of the General Committee are: Patel, president; Jamshid K. Medora, vice president; Noshir J. me sinuvKv o*.*.*,^* __ ___ ***- _ _______ ____ - Mistry, secretary and treasurer; munitv has adopted, they alone can be Punjab, by the Governor of Punjab; Behram R. Vakil, Khus^ J. considered the^ best judges of their recently, in coordination with the Khajotia, Rohinton R. Marolia and own actions ” Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Dara E. Rupa, comnuttee mem^rs. own actions. ------. , j^gj^bers of the Managing,Com­ are: Medora, Vakil and Patel. Spotlight from Karachi... Development Board for ^e clevciop- Dr Roshan Boman Bhappu, originally ment of Central and Northern Zones secretary Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries, he founded a Financial ------------ __ Development Board for the develop- mittee of the Parsi Lodge Chanty, 13News from the Media Let there Be Light In Bombay, the coal-gas illumination was first demonstrated by a young Indian amateur, Ardaseer Cursetjee Wadia. The demonstration, which lagged behind a similar one in Europe by about four decades, preceded the commercial venture in this city by more than three decades. And, perhaps, this was the first demonstra­ tion of gas-light in this country. interruption. It was so intense that ever coal-gas plant of this country, m the eye at the distance of 1(X) feet his home at Mazagon. Even the could scarcely rest on it. Measuring Royal Society of London, in apprecia- its intensity by the method of shadows, tion to the capabilities of this young it seemed as powerful as a thousand Indian, elected him a member in wax candles. 1841. Judging from his background. Presumably on popular demand, it appears that Ardaseer most willing- another demonstration was arranged ly associated himself to the project of on March 6. The second demonstra- Electric Lighting and possibly made tion proved even more successful, significant contribution to it. The “The Town Hall was thronged with conjecture grows into a belief as one spectators of all creeds, castes, and notes that the contrivance was fabri- coloui^ — who expressed their delight cated in the dockyard where Ardaseer by repeated clapping of hands ” re- headed the . machine shop. Could ported th^ Times. anything have materialized there at The Bombay Times now conceded aU but for his help and co-operation? that on the previous occasion light One may recall here that Ardaseer’s did not come out altogether so bril- apponitment as the head of an liantly as had been anticipated; but establishment, which had many then, it was the first attempt of the Englishmen in its payroll, was already manipulators—^mere amateurs in a thorn in the flesh of many a science, who did their best to satisfy parochial Britisher. A few of them the public.” And it was the first time had even given vent to their resent- that the Times mentioned one more ment in the columns of newspapers, name. To quote; Captain Inglefield’s letter might have “We are indebted to the enterprise something to do with these narrow ' ¦ sentiments. Kudos to the objective journalism of The Bombay Times. Or else we would have never known the involve­ ment of an Indian amateur in the efforts of demonstration of Electric Light, for the first time in this city 1 of Capt. Inglefield and Cursetjee Ardaseer, Esq., of our Dockyard. .. Captain Inglefield, we regret to learn, soon leaves us; but it is to be hoped that his enterprising colleague, who is at the head of the engineer (sic) department of our dockyard will not _ . allow the novelty thus so fairly and, -perhaps, in this subcontinent, broached to fie at the rest. . . ” Journal; 2 March 19SQ • It appears, this report—^rather ^lainspeaking —of the Times earned IN THE NEWS “In a sleepy hamlet of Buchenbach of southern West Germany lives Dilnawaz Bana, an Indian with an unusual profession—curative eurhy- thmie, ” notes a Times oj India Sunday Magazine feature by Sima Mital. Eurhythmie, Bana explains in the article, is a form of sound-move­ ment therapy “based on the principle that sound, when supplemented with movement is potent enough to evoke in the patient a state of acute self­ realization.” For instance by pro- noimcing the letter ‘M’ with a deep took place about four decades later ^atitude for the Commodore s help ing the sound of the letter with the than that in the West, about three that “facilitated the success of the - - ¦ decades earlier than the commercial experiments.” Poor Ardaseer’s name the wrath of the ‘distinguished electro­ typist and electrician’ (Captain Inglefield). On March 10, most of the Bombay papers, except the Times carried a letter written by him. In the attached editorial note the Telegraph kept no secret of the Captain’s ire Wadia : Pioneering Engineer about the incorrect report of some newspaper. In the letter, the Captain Interestingly, the electric lighting gave a detailed account of his problems too was first demonstrated in this city and his dexterity in tackling them. At by a group of amateurs and events the end, he showered unequivocal occurred almost in a similar succes- praise on one Commodore Hawkins sion. That is, the first demonstration of the Indian Navy and expressed his electrician’ rhythmic wave of the arm is supposed --------- ------- - to cure a patient of asthma. venture and perhaps was the first in found no mention! Explaining how she came to get this subcontinent. As one analyses this incident in the interested in this form of therapy. The responsibility of design and light of prevalent situation, one is led Bana says: “I had obtained a degree supervision of the construction of to conclude that this was, perhaps, in psychology from Bombay Univer- ‘Voltaic Batteries’ for electric lighting one of the raw ‘deals’ to a native by sity and had also learnt Indian was entrusted to one Captain Inglefield a parochial Britisher. Ardasesr classical dancing^ so I wanted to of the Royal Navy. On 28 February, Cursetjee was, by far, an enterprizing combine my knowledge of psychology 1849, Bombay newspapers announc- person with a wonderful background, and dance and use movement as ed a special demonstration of the light In his youth, he successfully assembl- therapy. ” Before “her search came to in the Town Hall that evening. ed a steam-engine and fixed it to a an end” however, she had left India The exhibition was successful, boat constructed by himself. Steam- 12 years ago, given many dance doubts notwithstanding. According to engines, needless to say, were quite recitals in Iran, Peru, Syria and other the report of The Bombay Times, the uncommon in those days. Again, in coimtries and even worked as a light was sustained for about half an 1834, when he was merely 26, he graphologist, or handwriting analyst, hour, and it exhibited no flickering or fabricated and commissioned the first for a while in ’^^ienna.” 15PAPER TIGER Arnavaz Mama A rickety stairway leads to the office Maharashtra banded together to fight in readymade garments for the «npinicpc\f Tnmshpdii Rattanii & Co the obnoxious portions of the act, young. Khav ’s Vs? oltSr merchmits ’ proving Batliboi^^ point that “a little The system of distribution of the Heaos of eauipment littering the office, fear is required to move Indians in the major paper manufa^cturers today ?ipn?iv tSdfv tn th? Fneumbent’s right direction.” Batliboi was a part does not cater to “people like me who silently testify to the incimPent s 6 h premiums,” interest in mountain-c im g Chimanlal Shah founder of Chiman- says Batliboi. “Jimmy is hardly in y At an nntimip dpsk full of Bapcrs lals, described Jamshed ’s father tune with the 80s,” one school chum an^m^nrabha sit^f TaiSed Bathboi Merwanji as a “colourful personality declares grimly. Active participation ?h?l S a \Sedline with hi^ personal integrity who guid- in the association’s affairs may have WnS“and^dS^twinkUng ed theVra^e for over%2 years.” In .ouched peoples heans ,as Keshaylal has been at the receiving end of many ’ accolades recently at what IMC presi- dent Jimmy Guzdar called “a unique function.” Thirty-six paper traders in ¦ their individual capacity had organiz- H ed a special reception and dinner at H the Catholic Gym on Thursday 10th ¦ April 1980 where 600-700 people |B gathered to honour Jamshed Merwanji M Batliboi, “not in his official capacity a as outgoing president of the paper H traders association but for the out- H standing work he has done as ¦ dividual,” according to Arvind Shall H of the noted Chimanlal Paper « Company. W Batliboi had “worked yeiy hard tor the Paper Traders Association and the « Master Printers Association when he , was a printer,” attests Rusy Cama of the Bombay Samachar, recalling BatU- boi’s stint at printing as partner ot '; Conway Printers. Batliboi himseli says “The Association has always been a personal afiair. Whenever there is anything special to be done, I am available.” One such occasion was the prolong­ ed Matadi labour strike. “The Matadis called me a very obstinate fellow, created my effigy and gave me a mock funeral,” laughed Batliboi ere they scaled down their demand of 7j per bundle to accept the Chiet Minister’s prescription of Rs 2.4U instead. ed the trade for over 42 years.” In touched peoples hearts as Keshavlal this day and age, however, Batliboi R. Shah, founder of Keshavlal Amba- J5 I A 4^ r 1 - „ A; 'J “They called me a very obstinate fellow, created my effigy and gave me a mock funeral” g ¦ A "J'S , **^<**'95323* *« Batliboi (L) and Jairambai M. Patel, chairman of the Rohit Pulp and Paper Mills Ltd. who presided over the eulogies and presented the memento to Batliboi finds it hard to integrate the two. “I’ve been in the trade for 43 years. I must have attended most weddings his repudiation of a major paper and funerals,” he says but is loathe to manufacturer with dubious business discuss plans for the firm’s centenary practices as attested by the associa- which is barely five years away. His tion’s secretary, Navinbhai Shah, first born is qualifying as an architect; worthy of honour, not of emulation, the second, an only daughter, has “If there is unity among the traders, ' ¦ notes Batliboi. the paper traders’ Don book. ” But then, he concedes with a touch of irony, “patriotism and civic ___ __ consciousness is what we expect from husband, Bhicoo Batliboi specialises others. lai & Co., claims; but it is obvious that the trade as a whole considers manufacturer with dubious business A tailnrmade ooDortunity for opted for catering and hotel manage- notes Batliboi. the paper traders yon wTJ tiS new sE Tax Act nient. The youngest has just complet- Quixote, “the miUs can be brought to which branded any trader late at filing ed his SSC: the paper trade is not his ST returns a <----- him with the prospect in jail Forty thousand traders in activist was the new criminal and faced obviously on their minds, of six months Not to be outdone by her activist 17 I1 Burjor Bharucha Centenary sion” with the community at the Excelsior Theatre. The meeting, where Gandhi recalled the contribu­ tions of great Parsi patriots and called on the community to participate in the national movement, reportedly cleared up unnecessary misunderstand­ ings and eased the social tension. Bharucha ’s personal life-style was simple and hermit like. A strict • Il i r, in his Parsi Teri Arsi column. Born into a noted, and wealthy family on 5th July 1880, in Kathiawao, Gujarat, his father being the Chief Justice of Kathiawad and later Dewan . of Jamnagar, Bharucha gave up his to the freedom movement professional career as an accountant were SUSpect. The birth centenary of the late Burjor Bharucha, honorary secretary of the Indian National Congress and social reformer who strove for the social and economic upliftment of the poorer sections of the Parsi com­ munity will be commemorated by the Bombay community at a meeting scheduled for 7 July 1980. Th^ meeting which is jointly sponsored by the Youths ’ Own Union and the Bharucha Trust will be held at Cama Hall. , Bharucha was personally acquainted with leading national personalities including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar ­ lal Nehru, Vallabhai Patel, Dr Annie Besant and Abdul Gafur Khan with whom he worked in the North West Frontier Province for the national cause, according to his life-sketch prepared by Dr Sarosh W^adia, homeo- notes that Bharucha however, chose not to remain with the Indian National Congress and devoted the rest of his life to the welfare of the Parsi com­ munity. He travelled extensively bet- ween pockets of the community in the , rural areas of Gujarat, making youth and opening classes to teach sewing, handicrafts and other trades to illiterate women so that they could , earn a living for themselves says ! ' Wadia. Pardi, Bulsar, Gandevi, Billi- mora, Navsari and Surat were some of the places where these institutions were established. _ In Udvada, Bharucha also provided ment, notes his bio-data, the community residents with a gym- - ------ ------- - . khana and a hbrary according to provided the forum for a dialogue Wadia. Along with Dastur Dhalla of between Gandhi and the Parsi com- Karachi, who visited India in 1937, munity in Bombay when the com- Bharucha repeatedly mediated the munity’s sentiments to the national differences between the rival factions . which had split the Anjuman in Ud­ vada in two and provided the body with its first written constitution and by-laws. “He beheved in giving all he ha , ---------- tenarv commemoraiion mccuug wauia even sometimes more. He collected commimity s non-^a icp savs' “We want to pay tribute to a from every person who could afford it Gandhi s boycott the British - ' j^m^h for the country and passed it on to the reaUy needy ment led to Sid Ae community.. .to perpetuate and deserving, not by way of alms antagoiusin agmnst the ; P . memory.. .to inform those who but as a means of putting them on cha mvited Gantoi t their feet ” writes Jehan Daruwalla, Rajkiya Sabha, a body which he tiaa um nui k Edhor of the Bombay Samachar founded, to a “frank and open discus- existed. path and associate of Bharucha. Wadia iiGtcs that Bharucha however, chose not to remain with the Indian National rural areas of Gujarat, maKing j arrangements for the education of the ft* ft' Bharucba: Patriot and reformer to join tht national freedom move- Wadia recounts how Bharucha le Parsi com­ munity in Bombay when the com- ___ ... • ¦ -• 1 freedom movement vferQ suspected by the other Indian communities. It was during the 1920s when the Prince of Wales visited India and the Parsis were profuse in welcoming the Britisii Crown Prince. This in addition to the founded, to a “frank and open discus- “Bharucha provided the forum for a dialogue when the community’s sentiments vegetarian, he lived in a small single room at Esplanade Mansion in the Fort area of Bombay where be wash ­ ed his own clothes and cleaned his own room, Wadia recalls. During the last two decades of his life Bharucha became increasingly interested in homeopathic science. “What impressed him about this science was that so little medicine could serve so many people, and it was cheap. . .he saw in it the best medical system for the poorer masses,” says Wadia. With Wadia’s assistance he founded the Gamadia Colony Homeopathic Dispensary which ope­ rates on charitable lines even today. When Bharucha died on 24 June 1963 at the age of 82, a number of condolence meetings were convened in Bombay and Gujarat, including meetings held under the auspices of the Bombay Pradesh Congress Com­ mittee and the Bombay Municipal Corporation, according to Wadia. At the meeting called by the Sheriff of Bombay the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra State, Mr Kanamwar, presided over the proceedings. Wadia adds that the Bombay Parsi Pancha- yat, however, failed to hold a con­ dolence meeting for Bharucha, despite a petition signed by over 13,500 members of the community. Regard­ less of the BPP rebuff, Wadia notes, the community held its own meeting, over which Sir Rustom Masani presid­ ed, and where prominent leaders of the community paid glowing tributes to his memory. Commenting on the coming cen­ tenary commemoration meeting Wadia 19i I I Equities With A 100 % Yield (Parsi Style) Homi Kharas seat in the front row not only to obtain a good view of the directors or to exercise his right to address the Chair, but to ensure he appears prominently in the photograph to be published in the Company’s house organ. Back from the Meeting, Cowasji has one last look at the lavish 92- page Annual Report before selling it Strategy to get the maximum • yield for 30 paise to the channawalla on from each of the 20 shares he held. Amongst his shares, two of Rs 25 Young each, were in a leading group of tex- Cowasji Karai, a retired pensioner in ------ . his early seventies, had started life as from each of the 20 shares he held. the pavement. an accoimts clerk in one of Bombay’s Amongst his shares, two of Rs 25 Once in a whde Cowasji receives reputed business houses. Young each, were in a leading group of tex- a letter from the C Cowasji had no special qualifications tile mUls in Bombay. With the gov- mg a Plant Visit for jJ^eholdg^^ or aptitude; he was just hard working emment restriction on dividends. Thrown m for those ^tten^g . and ^scrupulously honest. After 39 Cowasii could count on a bare 12%. bus transpoil for the^ 45 km. return years of pen pushing at the same J desk, he was given a company fare- 1-----------------r - , - well with a gold watch and a small up to Rs 300 worth of textiles at lOyo pension discount—a cash benefit of Rs. 30. ______i restriction on dividends, Cowasji could count on a bare 12%. — ----- But then he received a set of share- trip (value Rs 4.50), a t/iw-lunch holder ’s coupons, enabling him to buy (value Rs 5) and a key-chain souv^r - - - (value Re 1) all adding up to a Rs. 10.50 benefit. No wonder Cowasji says a special thanksgiving prayer for the management after every such visit to the mills. In order to understand why Cowasji smirks every time he attends an annual general meeting, one must study the arithmetic: 1979-80 dividend at 12%—Rs 6; value of textile Around X’mas time Cowasji receiv- [ a post card to be signed by him The first four months of retirement found Cowasji still relishing his ed _ ----- modest pension, his watch and the and exchanged for the Company’s 12- coupons is^ farewell party picture in the company’s page art calender worth Rs 9. Twelve y-ompa y house organ. However, he soon began glamourous models garbed in the to realise that escalating prices of mills’ latest fabrics, for Cowasji to essential commodities made it im- peer at for the next 12 month^ • possible for him to make two ends “He had always prided himself as a shareholder of a dozen or so of India’s leading industrial enterprises” coupons—Rs 30; 1980 wall calen­ dar—Rs 9; bottle of fizz at AGM— 90 paisa; box of snacks at AGM— Rs 3.25; AR copy sold to Channa- wala—30 paise; Plant visit amenities —Rs 10.50 all totaling up to Rs 59.95 on an investment of Rs 50 only. A glorious return of 119.50%. When one considers that Cowasji has held these two shares for 18 years since he inherited a fifth of his grandpa’s small estate, one begins to realise how much he must have made additionally on the sale of fractional --------- issued to him every time the : a Bonus or Rights issue. At sunset and sunrise Cowasji hopes and prays that the Government , ¦ X Annual Gener^ may not issue ordinance to s^ meet. To land a job, at his age, seem- Meeting of the company and Cowasji ese ^8® mx-fr^ ^dividends for ed improbable. Besides, he did not trudges to the auditorium of the Indian q have the energy to work long hours. Merchants ’ Chamber. At the entrance ^nare o A thought struck him one evening he is handed a refreshments ’ coupon -——— — as he was strolling down Chowpatty which provides him with a bottle of Homi Kharas, is A thought struck him one evening he is handed a refreshments ’ coupon -——— — as he was strolling down Chowpatty which provides him with a bottle of Homi Kharas, is a beach. He had always prided himself Thums Up worth 90 paise and a box using executive and a as a shareholder of a dozen or so of of snacks worth Rs 3.25 containing a India’s leading industrial enterprises packet of wafers, a packet of chevda, though his total invested capital never two vadas a peda and a sachet of scent- exceeded Rs 500. That night he burn- ed supari thrown in for good measure, ed the midnight oil and planned a Cowasji makes sure of occupying a ‘^semi-retired’’ adver- member of the Board of Advertising Consultants {India) Limited. A keen photographer and hiker, he has been the past president of the Photographic Society of India and of the Bombay Hikers. 21The PriestlyjTradition Firoze Kotwai It is now 1000 years since the Parsis came to India as a small emigrant band, seeking a friendly haven where they could practise freely the religion of their forefathers. They were kindly received by the Hindus of the North ­ ern Konkan; and thereafter they creat­ ed their own small independent com­ munity within the framework of a tolerant and generous Hindu society. They had the friendliest relations with their Gujarati neighbours; and the structure of Indian society, with its many interdependent but separate groups, exactly fitted their own wishes, since it enabled them to make their contribution to society while keeping to their own ways of life and uphold ­ ing their own religious beliefs and observances, undisturbed. Down the centuries the Parsis had occasional contacts with their co­ religionists, the Zoroastrians of Iran; but these contacts were slight until the 17th century A.C.; and because of the state of society in Iran, and the difficulties of travel, they did not become frequent or important to the two communities until the 18th century. By that time the Zoroastrians of Iran had been greatly reduced in numbers, which had so shrunk that they had become a tiny minority, centred in just two towns. Iran was, however, the mother country of the faith; and so when education and prosperity made the Parsis more con­ scious of their ancient history, some of them began to look to their co­ religionists there as being the leading authorities on all matters of religion. The Parsis themselves, they thought, might gradually have altered some of the traditional ways of their forefathers under new influences in their adopted land. These people ignored the other possibility which exists, that down the centuries the Zoroastrians of Iran may themselves have been influenced in some respects by the Muslim society which had surrounded them and which exerted much pressure on them. Hence, when small differences in observance are to be found between the priestly usages of the two com­ munities, it is necessary to study these very carefully in an attempt to decide which represents the authentic ancient tradition. No easy assumptions can be Irani priest in 1720, and another was made. sent to Bombay from Iran for safety Fortunately such differences are not in the late 19th century, and was only small but are comparatively few, entrusted to the learned Godavra despite the many centuries of separa- scholar-priest, Ervad Tahmurasp Din­ tion: for both communities seem to shaw Anklesaria. The work was edited have been outstandingly faithful to in 1894 by Dastur Darab Sanjana, their heritage, upholding the ways of and in 1915 a pioneer translation of their ancestors with ardent fidelity, it was published by Mr. Sohrab J. And with regard to the priestiy tra- Bulsara. The nirangestan still presents enormous difficulties, however. It is composed in Middle Persian, which was the language of Iran at the time- of the Sasanian empire; and it is writ­ ten in the ambiguous Pahlavi script, which is very hard to read. To add to these difficulities is the nature of the work itself; for it was composed by priests for priests, in order to give instruction in the niceties of ritual usage, both in the “inner ceremonies”, to be performed at a sacred place, and the “outer ceremonies”, which may be celebrated in the home. The writers could assume, therefore, that those who read their words would have a good knowledge of the basic material, as trained priests, and need- The cave in Bahrot Hills: where the ed guidance only in details; and so Iranshah Atash Behram was reportedly they used a highly condensed style of kept for 12 years. •- - - - (reference: the book “1251st Anniversary of Installation of Sacred Iranshah Atash Behramy published by R. M. D. Chama- baugvala) dition, means exist to establish its exposition, with brief, allusive sen­ tences, full of technical terms. To understand the Nirangestan, therefore, one needs a twofold equipment: train­ ing as a Pahlavi scholar and experience as a practising priest. Once the work has been elucidated, it provides admir­ able material for testing the authenti ­ city of the Zoroastrian priestly tradi­ tion, since it enables one to compare living usages with the practice of well over a millennium ago. Before we enter into consideration of a particular instance in which the Nirangestan authenticates the Parsi tradition, it will be as well to look briefly at the history of the Parsi priesthood, in order to understand something of its own particular deve­ lopments. The Parsi pilgrim fathers performed in days of old. The most landed on the coast of Gujarat, not comprehensive and ancient of such far from Sanjan in the Northern books is the Nirangestan or “Book of Konkan, in Vikram Samvat 992- the Place of Rituals”, which represents 936 A.C., and it was at Sanjan that the tradition of Sasanian times, before they established their first home. There the conquest of Iran by the Arabs, they prospered and throve, priests and One manuscript of this invaluable laity alike. We do not know how many work was brought to Surat by an priests were among the first group of authenticity, apart from simply com­ paring the usages of Parsis and Iranis in modern times; for there have come down to us, preserved by the devotion of priestly copyists manuscripts of ancient works in which are described rituals and ceremonies as they were a “During the Muslim conquest of Gujarat, whole families of Parsi scholar­ priests were killed.” 22“Udvada was so tiny a place that it seemed at first a hard exile after Navsari.” settlers; but soon after the colony was established they were able to establish a sacred fire according to the due rites of their forefathers, a fire which the Sanjana priests have tended faithfully to the present day. Gradually as the community in­ most northerly panth, as it had earlier done Sanjan; for Khambat was sacked repeatedly during the Muslim wars of conquest, and there was tremendous loss of life and property. The last priests of the old Khambatta panth seem to have left the city early in the 17th century. Bharuch in its turn was much damaged by the Portuguese, who sacked and burnt the ancient port, again with great destruction, the Parsis suffering among the rest. Many priestly records must have been from the other panth. Since theirs is the oldest panth, they naturally have great prestige, and this therefore led in time to some uncertainty as to where the true Parsi tradition lay. Some of these small changes appear to derive from Irani tradition; for at about the time when the Sanjanas left Navsari, more contact was developing between the Parsis and their co­ religionists in Iran. Thus, for example, the Sanjanas of Udvada adopted the creased in numbers, laymen moved destroyed at the time. The old tradi- away to seek their fortunes in other tions were maintained, therefore, with ( towns of the Northern Konkan; and the greatest quietness and continuity ‘‘Parsis assumed that because the Iranis had remained in the mother­ country of the faith, they must necessarily possess the authentic tradition.” when they prospered, ffiey sent back, in the mainly rural area of Godavra, after a while, to Sanjan, asking for and at Navsari, which was too small priests to come to them to serve their a place to attract the greed of would- religious needs. So in course of time be conquerors. four other Parsi priestly groups or The golden age of tranquility and panths came into being, at towns or brotherly co-operation between the in districts strung out northward from Bhagarias and Sanjanas in Navsari Sanjan. The first of these, called the came gradually to an end during the j panth of the Bhagarias or “sharers ” late 17th and early 18 centuries. The (because they divided the priestly cause was essenti^y one of growing work among them on a strict pattern numbers. There was not enough work of sharing) was established at the little town of Navsari. There followed of both panths as they grew more Navsari) continued, like the . others in Godavra, and at the great numerous; and so quarrels developed Bhagarias, to lay out the deceased ports of Bharuch and Khambat. These between the younger and less disciplin- straight legs, and with vadan. panths were independent of one ed of them, which led in time to a matter of priestly observance, another in that each was responsible serious breach; and in the end the (jiggrences between the Parsis and for its own usages and discipline, and Sanjanas departed, with the sacred sgggt. trained its own young priests. All of fire, to settle in a little coastal village, assumed that because the them seem to have been established Udvada, in the region of their old by the 13th century A.C., although panthak. records remain scanty until the 17th century A.C. . .. .......... . """.. By that time the priests of the “The Sanjanas of Udvada oldest panih, the Sanjanas, had been adopted the Irani practice driven away from their ancient home; of crossing the legs of the for in the 15th century Sanjan was ' ' ' sacked during the Muslim conquest of Gujarat, and many of its inhabitants slain. Among those killed were, it seems, whole families of Parsi scholar priests. But those who tended the fire managed to carry it away to safety; and for a number of years they harmony among the Parsis with re- guarded it in remote places. Even- gard to rituals and observances, with _______ ____ _ ___________ . tuaUy they were invited by the Parsis probably only tiny local divergences for social or other reasons in both of Navsari to bring the sacred fire and in custom between the different panths. communities, which means that neither enthrone it in their town, and this was But it was natural that the Sanjanas has absolute authority. done, probably during the last decade should, after this breach, have felt To illustrate this with regard to the of the 15th century. And there the some measure of resentment against Parsi tradition, as preserved in its sacred fire remained for well over 200 their former hosts, the Bhagarias, purity in Navsari, let us consider one years, some seven generations. especially since Udvada was so tiny a passage from the J^irangestan. This is During this time Navsari was the place that it seemed at first a hard exile concerned with ceremonies of the stronghold of Parsi learning and after Navsari, with its large Parsi category called ajrinagan—that is, tradition, with priests of the two oldest population, its libraries of manuscripts ceremonies of praise and blessing panths, the Sanjanas and Bhagarias, and its ancient place of worship. And dedicated by name to different yazads. living harmoniously together and it seems that in order to mark the Most of these ceremonies may be striving to uphold the ancient ways; completeness of the break between and the presence of the sacred fire them and the Bhargarias, theSanjanas made the small town a place of began, after this time, to introduce today. Among the former ceremonies pilgrimage for all Parsis. During these ' " ' ‘ . .. ... centuries disaster overwhelmed the Irani practice of crossing the legs of the dead, and abandoned the Parsi one of covering the face of the Corpse with a padan, whereas the Sanjanas of the older centres of Nargol and Bulsar (who were not involved in the rift numerous; and so quarrels developed BWarias? lay"^ out*" the deceased in the little town to support the priests more ed of them, which led in time to a dead, and abandoned the Parsi one of covering the face. some Iranis had remained in the mother ­ country of the faith, they must neces­ sarily possess the authentic tradition in every respect; and so they tended to disparage the authenticity of their own inheritance. The only way by which the soundness of the two priestly traditions can in fact be tested is to go back to the ancient manuscripts; and when we make use of these; we find evidence to show that the priests of both communities, agreeing as they do in all major matters, have remain- Up to this time, as far as is known, do in all major matters, have remain- there had been complete general ed strikingly faithful to the ways of their forefathers. There are, however, tiny changes introduced here and there ... . communities, which means that neither ceremonies dedicated by name to different yazads. celebrated either at a sacred place, or in the home. This is the custom still certain small changes in their own the Nirangestan sets the afriiwgans of rituals, to mark themselves as apart Sros, Nog-nawar and Rastwo-Burzad. 23That of Nog-nawar, or nabar as we ........... HormayHvar • j .l . caU it t^y. is regularly solemnised “In ^roastrlani usage, each the xsnman ofX De by an imfiate as part of the ceremonies day IS dedicated to a Dahman should be fuxmkara visnesa araafravas be rasad: May it reach the hamkars and all the righteous In these two instances, therefore, we see in the first case essential faith ­ fulness to the old tradition, modified only slightly to meet a new social need that had developed; and in the second by which he is made priest; and divine bein6, a ‘Vazad’. ” according to the Nirangestan it should be performed during the Hawan Gah, that is, the first watch of the day, bet­ ween sunrise and noon; but present Parsi practice is for the initiate to celebrate it in the third watch, Uzerin Gah, that is, between 3 o’clock and sunset. The reason for this small change is that the Afrinagan i Nabar is solemnised on the first of the four days of initiation, and on that day it is customary among the Parsis to in­ vite all the Zoroastrians of the local community to witness the celebration by the initiate of the ya^na service— the main Zoroastrian act of worship, which can only take place in the Hasvan Gah. Accordingly there is little time remaining for the perfor­ mance in this gah of the Afrinagan also, and for convenience its celebra­ tion has been transferred to the Uzerin Gah. This is an example of small modification in observance bein; made for purely social reasons. Among the afrinagans which may be performed either at the fire temple or in the home, the Nirangestan mentions one which it identifies simply by its dedication (xsnuman), from which it is plain that this is the afrinagan known to imvasi^’. us now as the Afrinagan i Do Dahman. The Niiangestan states that this cere­ mony is to include the Avestan verses beginning ia ahmi nmane, as is the in­ variable custom still. Further, old manuscripts which give the text of case, utter fidelity. The afrinagans the various afrinagans enjoin that in minor ceremonies, without the pro- the Pazand introduction to the found significance and importance of Afrinagan i Do Dahman all the the yasna itself, or the baj ceremony; hamkars of the day should be invoked, when we see such scrupulous care In Zoroastrian usage each day is ever the centuries to perform these ............. a yazad; lesser ceremonies exactly as they had and the hamkars or “fellow workers ” been performed of old, we can be sure are other divinities who aid him in his the P^si priestly tradition, as beni^ guardianship of it. According- maintained in unbroken continuity in ! Navsari, is a trustworthy one, and dedicated to a divine beinj LXIV ? U1 IVllUW WOllVClO xxxv-%* UL WxVX, VVU VCUL Mt? are other divinities who aid him in his ll}c P^si priestly tradition. 24 a >g ly, it seems that the Afrinagan i Do Dahman is to be celebrated in honour of all these hamkars everyday; and this is exactly the usage of the conservative Bhagaria priests of Nav- Princess Street izt t sari, who duly celebrate it daily, just principal of the M. F. Cama Athoman as they do the baj ceremony called Institute at Andheri, is presently in the pani tay or lesser khub, in which too V 2___________ __ _ the hamkars of the day are always University. The article which invoked. In a manscript of the Khorda Avesta, copied from one written in A. Y. 1009, the original scribe, a venerable Sanjana priest, ~ deserving of the highest respect. Dastur Firoze M. Kotwal, high priest of the Wadiaji Atash Behram at Bombay^s f since 1977 anl former U. S. A. as a research scholar with Harvard ---- ------ 1 appears above was first published in the Journal of tht K. R. Cama Oriental Institute. No. 45. 1976 as “‘The Authenticity of the Parsi Dastur Priestly Tradition.” 1'1 I j For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324, GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY 400007. TELEPHONE: 371483 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIAZoroastrian Studies : Filling The Void I Gustasp Irani “In the autumn of 1977, Alan I Williams and Khojeste Mistree deliver- i ed a few lectures and presented a slide show, as an experimental venture to feel the pulse of the Zoroastrian com­ munity in Bombay. The enthusiastic response generated was a clear indica­ tion that Zoroastrians were interested and ready to rouse themselves from a state of apathy. Thus, the seed for the activities of Zoroastrian Studies (ZS) was sown in India.” So the January 1980 newsletter of ZS capsules the inception of the body whose “main aim and objective is to encourage, promote and support an awareness of the Zoroastrian religious tradition for those who seek it.” Two and a half [ ¦ years since this inception, ZS has circulated a questionnaire to the 1,800 members on its mailing list to evaluate its past, present and future fc , activities and on the basis of the in- S' formation provided by the 627 H . ' members who have responded the I organization feels that it is on the L I right path. . . Wx." “ZS is filling a gap, a religious vaccum, that exists in the com­ munity,” observes Mistree, the charis ­ matic Oxford graduate whoi has play­ ed a pivotal part in the organization. He refers to the results of the survey, ! conducted with the technical assis­ tance of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences to substantiate his claims: that 76.1% of the respondents Mistree attributes were of the opinion that greater response to ZS to the “scholastic and . awareness of the religion is the most professional” approach of the or- pressing need of the community; 46% confessed little knowledge of the religion when asked if ZS lectures conflicted with their own knowledge; 88% say 1---- — ----- 1 •78.2% would like to participate greater or lesser degree and 63.9% have offered their services cr expertise towards these projects. >5 the scene organizing and administra­ tive genius." Yet the past activities of ZS have ties of Mistree as can be surmised from the listing of achievements of ZS in the January 1980 newsletter, which was a part of the questionnaire survey. These activities were made possible with the assistance of a number of trusts, organisations and individuals, noteable among them Dr Freddie Mehta, director of Tata Economic Services, and Ketayim Mehta, solicitor with the noted law firm Mulla & Mulla Craigie, Blunt and Caroe. The greatest exposure for ZS has been through the organizing of public lectures in Bombay and other cities in India and abroad. In Bombay alone 27 lectures were organized between September 1977 and Decem­ ber 1979 of which Mistree held the stage alone on 20 occassions and shared it twice, according to the list. Mistree has also visited Calcutta, Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Poona, Thana, Bangalore, Delhi and Nagpur on the invitations of the Anjumans there. In addition he has delivered a number of lectures at various Parsi been able to generate a fund of good­ will. . .The community is fed up with controversies.. .Instead of fighting controversies we believe in doing our largely been woven around the activi- homework, ” says Mistree. Part of the homework was conduct­ ing the survey. The results, according to Mistree: “The community wants an educational religious organization of ¦ of h” Mistree: “No personality cult’ highly trained Zoroastrians who will housing estates in BycuUa, Dad ar, in turn produce the material to satisfy vile Parle and Jogeshwari. He has the needs of a young twentieth also made lecture tours of Australasia, century Zoroastrian.” Iran, the U. S. A. and Canada, three Mistree attributes the positive visits to the U. K. for academic, research and professional reasons, and recently in May he visited Karachi, Pakistan, to address the Zoroastrian the positive visits professional” approach of the ganization. “We seem to have attract­ ed the intelligentsia of the com­ munity. . .(and) we have youth j)n ziin incir uwu juivwit'.igv, our side, nv oajij px/iimxig, >— that ZS activities m^e about two thirds of the respondents had obtained their bachelor degree or were { ed the intelligentsia of the com­ recently in May he visited Karachi, ka&JSlCXXX, XV, «xx.x,xx,uu ™ community living there. »5 be says pointing ou^^that ,, parsis don’t like reading. We are the bearers of an oral xameu uicii uaeutivi uvgj.«.zv wx studying towards one Md the traaltion ^e survey stows that there are them appreciate the religion more; the orpanization’s programmes to a majority of respondents, 62%, were ' ’ below the age of 50. However, offered their services or Mistree takes pains to disassociate the projection of his own personality “hard core” from the success of ZS. “I don’t see - ’ - ’ _ ___ ___ - - [ says Mistree, explaining against the whole concept of pop " ¦ ¦ ' • cults and pop personalities,” he says course for ZS to steer, “Our aim is emphatically. Nevertheless^ to operate on the golden path of special mention cf — moderation, the middle of the road... Panthaky the executive swret^ ot the or “One of the objectives of the survey was t- 2.. community, ----- “= that this would largely determine the course for ZS to steer. “Our aim is __ to operate on the golden path of special mention luuuciauuu, luv xixxwxxxw -x-x *x.- ------------------ • it is one of the reasons why we have 175 or 28% of the respondents, tin "_ ______ •’ as Mistree sees them, who attend his lectures very regularly (76%-100%). In addition there are another 190 respondents or 30% who are moderately regular at his lectures _________ (50%-75%). On the question of of Ms Shemaz information content and interest of jrouuxxxixT xxxxz _____ _____ . "__ ‘ lectures around two thirds ZS, whom he describes as “the behind responded that they were “very infor- 25 to determine the mood of the myself as a personality figure... I am 99 cSts and pop personalities,” he says IP.academic activities.” One of the socio-economic acti­ vities is “an information service to offer solutions to possible problems.” Mistree explains that ZS has been receiving a number of calls and letters mative” (64.6%) and “very interest- people in distress: “people with ing” (66.9%). Further 87.3% res- ponded that they were either “very inspired” (46.5%) or “moderately inspired” (41.3%) and 42.9% claim­ ed retention above 50%. Only a marginal percent of the respondents have reacted negatively to the lectures. On the question of holding the lectures on weekends the respondents search surveys and^ welfare pro- are almost evenly split in their — - choice, 46.3% in favour of such arrangements and 49.1% against it. Other activities of ZS listed are the making of the audio-visual: “Revela­ tion.—A Light in Darkness, ” organiz­ ing a religious painting competition for the youth and the screening of a BBC production “The Sacred Fires.” The survey shows that of the 67.7% of the respondents who saw “Revela­ tion—A Light in Darkness ” 64.8% found it “extremely informative” and 57.% were “inspired to a great extent.” “Parsis don’t, as a rule, like reading. We are the bearers of an oral tradition. . .hence the audio-visual media has a greater impact,” Mistree observes. With the conducting of the survey, ZS appears to be entering a new phase of activities. The newsletter of January 1980 which accompanied the questionniare details in chart form the proposed “Zoroastrian Secretariat.” The plan envisages two major branches of activity: one ‘socio-economic af­ fairs’ and the other ‘religious affairs,’ which is further subdivided into ‘structured education’ and ‘priests.’ Mistree points out that much of the work of the proposed secretariat has already started. In the area of structur­ ed education, in addition to the con- _ - _ tinning practice of public lectures and generate through the ccmmunity. audio-visual presentations there are “Our community is one of the hchest Items listed as research, to which the survey testifies, training of teachers and running of religious study groups, towards which end an intensive ' evening course for 30 students, who appeals for accomodatmn of ZS meet twice weekly, Bvas started in ’ June 1979 and is scheduled to end in the middle of the current year. The . - Secretariat also proposes to publish its own building, books of high quality and under this “Psrsis and I-------------- scheme the book by Mary Boyce, something for nothing, says Mistree. Zoroastrians—Their Religious Beliefs However in the case of ZS it appears and Practices has already been that if the commumty is unable to released. Other items include “The invest in the orgamzation then in media of theatre ”, “Hightened cul- accordance with its verdict the tural awareness of festivals like ghambars ” and “The funding of “ I am against pop cults and pop personalities ” 55 55 55 26 family or marital problems, people considering suicide and the like, and we have l^en able to help them. ” He then adds: "I have also done a pro­ fessional course on marriage counsel­ ing which has proved to be most helpful. ” Other activities of the socio-economic scheme include rc- grammes for “spiritual and economic well-being.” In the matter relating to the welfare of the priests a foot note to the secretariat plan states: “For the survival of our religion. ZS is in the process of formulating a much needed plan to attract young boys to join the priesthood. Support and encourage­ ment has already been proffered by two of our distinguished priests.” Mistree hopes to establish a fund in the area of Rs 50 to 60 lacs which will be used to provide ZS sponsored priests with monthly remunerations in addition to their own earnings so as to equal what they would earn had they sought employment in commercial fields, and ^so to provide such facili­ ties as provident funds, bonus etc. In return the priests will be expected to do more than perform rituals. They will also be expected to involve them ­ selves in scholastic activities, travel to remote pockets of the community and keep the flame of the religion aglow in more than just physical terms. Much of the success of the secreta­ riat’s projects will however, depend on the availability of finance. Mistree observes. ZS on its own will be unable to generate the resources to the degree that is required and its effectiveness will largely hinge on what it can in the world but one of its chara ­ cteristics is that there is a lot of talk but not much action,” says Mistree. He speaks from experience. Repeated *^3 brought no response till the trustee of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute offered the organization premises at •'Parsis and Iranis seem to want something for nothing, ” says Mistree. invest in accordance organization will fade away, Mistree warns. With Compliments From GLOBE THEATRES PVT. LTD. Established April 3, 1915 Controlling ; ? REGAL BOMBAY CAPITOL BOMBAY * GLOBE CALCUTTA ? ROXY MADRASThe Zoroastrian Studies Survey An increase in the number of inter- fully and future activities shaped ac- the very high reaction of the marriages was selected as the major cordingly,” says Ms Vera Mehta, who respondents to the problem of inter­ problem facing the Zoroastrian com- teaches at the College of Social Work marriage. She explains that those at munity by 83.1% of the respondents affiliated to Bombay University and ZS expected the lack of religious to the survey conducted by Zoroastrian assisted in the preparation and execu- knowledge to have been ranked Studies. The survey was conducted tion of the survey. She notes also that higher as a problem than it was. The amongst the 1,800 members on the a 34.8% response to any survey con- interpretation paper of the survey ZS mailing list of which 627 respond- ducted through the postal system is prepared by ZS, comments on the ed. Other problems facing the com- considered a good response. One dis- < ’ ’ " „ ’ munity according to the results of the appointment however, was the poor community problem: “This (choice) survey and in order of urgency are: response from abroad. Lack of priests, (72.2%), Conversion The questionnaire of the survey , _ _ to other cults, (48.1%), Marital dated January 1980 was divided into tip in a more secular world, where disharmony, (24.4%), Lack of reli- five major sections. The first dealt the contact with other communities gious knowledge, (21.5%), Educa- with the personal bio-data of the 1 _ ", men, (17.3%) and Emancipation of opinion on the Zoroastrian Secretariat” women to men, (9.1%). The last two (an ambitious ZS plan to structure its items, the ZS interpretation of the survey observes “are also causes for the increase of marital disharmony. ” __ Greater awareness of the religion mark off three with the option that was i respondents (76.1%) as the most feel are relevant. The next three pressing need of the community. The sections solicited reactions to the other needs of the community in lecture series of ZS, the ZS audio- order of importance are: Commitment visual presentations and the degree to ¦ to work for community improvement, which the respondent was willing to (44.3%), Pride in one’s religion and commit himself or herself to the _ , community, (41.5%)j_ Respect for activities of ZS. This was done by have already obtained^ a bachelors minimizing conflicts (27.7%), Commu- ; moting religious scholarship (13.2%) audio-visual inspire you? To choice of intermarriage as the major ¦. . ¦' ' ¦ ) is so because of social conditions, with the younger generation growing up in Lack of priests, (72.2%), Conversion 1 ' ¦ . disharmony, (24.4%), hack of reli- Z__ ‘ ~----- - takes place easily. With a meager tional imbalance between women and respondent, the second, “Your general knowledge of religion and little op- * ~ ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦ “ ¦ ~ portunity for interaction with other Zoroastrians, there is minimal cultural heritage and a sense of belonging to ¦ , with which the the increase of marital disharmony. ” answers and asking the respondents to youngsters can identify.' _ __ ___ __ t Despite the fact that the survey was selected by the largest number of they list any others that they might restricted to members on the ZS ' •’ . . -________ -_______—_________ - mailing list, those at ZS believe that the sample was representative of the community and the results reflected to a degree the reactions of the conununity and more so of its educated young (about 62% various activities) tackled the social issue questions by listing possible the community, answers and asking the respondents to (44.3%), Pride in one’s religion and commit himself or herself to the priesthood (29.8%), Greater unity by listing the possible response in degree degree or higher qualification or are ¦ ' ¦?. and requesting the respondent to studying towards one, and over 60% nity based" programmes (27.3%), Pro- mark one. For instance, “Did the are below the age of 50). Yet in terms . '' ............ " ~ great of the scope of the “Evaluative ¦¦ ” siirvpv” thp orcraniyftrs annear to studying towards one, and over 60% are below the age of 50). Yet in terms /» .I t* .t _ x! and Marriage guidance (5.9%). “This was an evaluative survey so that the results could be studied care- a extent. To some extent, Not at all. Mehta observes that one of the surprise findings of the survey was survey” the organizers, ZS, appear to have met their primary objective —direction. Match your AMBITION to a CAREER To do so we offer you : • Diploma Course in Business Management (Oral/Postal) • Banking: C.A.I.I.B. Course (Postal & Oral) e Commerce :G.C.D. Course • Executive Secretarial Course • Private Secretarial Course • Telephone Operating • Telephone Operating-cum Receptionist Techniques • Shorthand & Typewriting • Punch Operating • Telex Operating ,»S> Enquire at : Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14^Nanabhoy Lane, Hu tat ma Chowk, BOMBAY 400 001, Tel: 251185 'Xi 27COMMENT PUNDOLE: MESSIAH OR HERETIC ? Faribourz Nariman Faribourz Nariman, a noted Avesta-Phalavi scholar hails the publication of the book ‘Pundole-Chalval : Zarthosti Dharmane Name Bhayankar Thagai* ( in Gujarati) 1980; pp. 131; Price Rs. 10, written by Dastur Dr Hormazdyar Mirza, high priest of the Iranshah Atash Behram in Udvada and principal of the Sir J. J. Z. Madressa and the Mullan Firoze Madressa. In the book Mirza attacks the mystic teachings of Minocher Pundole and his followers. For there shall arise false Christs and |F false prophets, and shall shew great | < signs and wonders; insomuch that, if F; it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. St. Matthew 24.24. the heretic concerned. In the case of thousands, ” but certain knowledgeable the Pundole-Chalyal: Zarthosti Dhar- persons hesitate to put the total mane Name Bhayankar Thagai (in number of Pundolites above seven Gujarati) Dastur Dr Hormazdyar hundred. A trustee of the Parsi Mirza has decided to take the Panchayat, Bombay, a couple of initiative. medical practitioners and a few pro­ fessionals are among the Pundolities m in the limelight. There are those who believe that the Kshnumists and the Pundolites have everything except the colour of their headgears in common—the for- mer opt for black and the latter for red. This is, to say the least, an asser- |H tion of falsehood. H| The Kshnumists have not come out |H with theories like “the necessity of a H vizir {adaran) where a king (atash- |H behram) exists;” the Pundolites have. ^1 Kshnumists like Ervad Firoze ' Masani and Dr Framroze Chiniwala ' had devoted themselves to the study iof some of the Iranian languages. In the case of the Pundolites the “sahibs ” are reported to have informed Pundole that “to translate the Avesta or to read a translation of the Avesta would be to give rise to atheism! ” Generally speaking, the Kshnumist leaders have respected the traditional viewpoint as interpreted by orthodox Minocher Pundole, the founder dasturs and scholars: the Pundolite of the Pundol$-movement, was born in leaders equate orthodoxy with innova- s seven ¦ 5-’ L Today, more than at any other time in the past, when democracy is the rule of the day, any man or woman may exercise their “democratic right ” to preach or propagate a “new reli­ gion.” Objections are not supposed to Bombay in 1908 and passed away in tion. be raised as long as the “new religion” ? does not turn out to be a tampering clerk in a private office. During the Mirza: ‘Defender of the faith’ 1975. He was working as a typist- with or a travesty of one of the Great last 15 years of his life. Pundole had Religions. Similarly, extremely deli- come in close contact with the sahibs cate scriptural issues may be discussed of the invisible Demavand Enclosure “Almost every onslaught on the traditional orthodoxy ____ ___________ _____________ x.x.v.x,,,u,x been followed by the without any inhibition by those who (kas) in Iran. According to the ©mergence of a Stalwart who are qualified, provided a proper forum Pundole souvenir, before Pundole exposes the heretic” is chosen for such discussions. On the other hand, an attempt to tamper he had no knowledge of Zoroastria- The Kshnumists have published with the doctrine, ritual and dogma of nism and that, during his life-span, he reports of their meetings and func- a religion would be tantamount to had never read a book on our religion, tions: the Pundolites refrain from heresy. A few years before his death. Pundole publishing anything as far as possible. The Zoroastrian Church, in its long started conducting religious classes. Before we come to Mirza’s book and chequered history, has seen the At present these classes are conducted proper however, we might recount attacks of many arch-heretics. In the by some leading Pundolites. Reports that he received his formal education last hundred years traditional ortho- of these discourses are not published, in Navsari. Bombay, Vienna and doxy has been attacked on quite a It is difficult to estimate the exact London. He is the principal of the few occasions. However, almost every number of the followers of Pundole. Sir J. J. Z. Madressa and the Mullan onslaught has been followed by the The souvenir claims that “within 10 Firoze Madressa since 1961. He is a emergence of a stalwart who exposes years his followers have increased by scholar of international repute, having souvenir, came in contact with the magav sahibs he had no knowledge of Zoroastria- 28I several research papers and publica- are exposed. The author ’s felicity in It is to be regretted that the author did I itons to his credit. He has delivered dealing with the “religious career” of not (perhaps, could not because of i lectures bearing on Iranian Studies in Pundole and a number of contradic- want of space) dilate on this point of various parts of the world. Mirza’s tory statements made by the leaders considerable importance. i task has been not only to expound of the movement is remarkable. Of the Zoroastrian doctrine in the light special interest is a chapter on “Un- of traditional orthodoxy, but also to Zoroastrian topics in Z--------Z;„- track, attack and deflate the heresies garb,” a part of which is devoted to perpetrated by those who put on the the “cutlets miracle in Udvada.” The ---- — ------- mantle of a Messiah. Devastating miracle occurred when a number of with and travestied the Zoroastrian clarity is the hall-mark of his speeches Pundolites were on their way to pay tradition, in terms that will be easily and writings. During the last four respects to eight atash behrams. While understood even by laymen having decades, Mirza has exposed many having meals at Udvada, cutlets were some idea of the outlines of Zoro- theosophists, reincamationists and not served, as they were not prepared astrianism. The questionable nature of iwiiii wiiv tzcp-^l^rly on that day. The leader of the Pundole’s teachings apart, the book supposed to represent Zoroastrian Pundolites ordered: “Open the frig goes to show that many leading ideas. and you shall have as many cutlets as Pundolites preach and act contrary to In his prefatory clarifications in his you want!” The manager opened the Pundole’s admonitions. The through- latest book Pundole-Chalved, Zarthosti frig, and lo, it was full of cutlets and ness and fairness with which the Dharmane Name Bhayankar Thagai, that, too, there was not a single cutlet author has sifted the material is written in Gujarati Mirza says, less or more than the number of praiseworthy. Individuals are mentio^ “readers of Jame Jamshed may have persons at the table! Later on it was ed only because of the prominent part fwixxxZ x'.xxxL xlxv xzvxxkvo Y.wxw ^zxxzlxxjwZ Zj 2.X.-1 US leaders Oi tne by a rich man’s chef in Bombay. From movement. If at all the author has what Mirza, citing R. A. Nicholson, used violence of words, it is not with _ - - - _ la view to “kill ” anybody; his sole to show, the “miracle” performed by intention is to warn the com- the Pundolite leader could as well be munity of the dangers of the ensnaring a travesty of the miracle performed by and misleading teaeffings trotted out the Sufi mentioned by Nicholson. by the PundoUtes in the name of In the chapter on “Ahura Mazda & Zoroastrianism. _ . Ohrmazd ” one may find proofs of the ] sense , - - ¦ Pundolites exhibit: *--------------------- xcxxxxxwxw., --------------------- . - the name of God and Ohrmazd is a before the scriptural, historic^, committed only by those who are At a time when Zoroastnan intel- projected. as the spokesmen ____ ___ trying their utmost to carry the day, the ai> pearance of this book is gratifying. Except for a few blemishes, the Mirza’s book is necessarily one - which falls in the category of the Zoroastrian “literature of indictment.” The main - -J purpose of this work is to underline The how the Pimdolites have tampered lllvvovpinouo, X twilit mystics who were popularly written noticTd^ tiie"'''^oun<^ment of the found that the cutlete were prep^ared played' by ffiem Pundole Religious Classes every Thursday. Since many years the sub­ ject namely ‘genuine details {khari Studies In Islamic Mysticism, goes on babado} oi Zoroastrian Religion,’ Kv remains the same, but generally speaking, the community is not aware of these ‘genuine details.’ ” (No sooner the book under review came out than a significant omission was noticed in by the PundoUtes in xxxxv. .xx_ Mirza’s blows are so well-timed of discrimination which the and well-placed that the theories and Ahura Mazda is fallacies of the Pundolites fall to pieces ine name oi vrou anu wiuuiazii is a oeiore me scnpimai, iiiavvxxv-wx, open the frig and you shall His.” Such blunders can be logical and legal issues raised by him. have as many cutlets as you . ....................... ’ - - ¦ ---- want.... and lo, it was full of cutlets.” ignorant about Avesta, Pahlavi and ligence is on a decline among those Pazend, for Ohrmazd (generally ^re projected as the spokesmen Hormazd in Gujarati) is nothing but community, when false Christs a later (Pahlavi-Pazend) form of and false prophets are trying their Avestan Ahura Mazda. The con- utmost to carry the day, the ap- tradictory statements regarding Zara- pearance of this book is Ratifying, thushtra are amusing, and the same __ _ __ ,2 ‘ ' can be said of the “origin” of the printing and ffie simple paper back Pundolite slogan kshnaothra ahurahe fleets with the requirement. The mazdao as well as the samples of the ~. . . the weekly announcements of the Pundole Religious Classes: the word khari ‘genuine’ was dropped.) With a view to acquiant us with these details the author has taken pains to quote in „ , ___ , „ , ------- * extenso from some of the pamphlets may be just sufficient to cover published by the foUowers of PuAdole, J Pn the cost. It would be m the mter^t of the writings of the leaders and pro- inhabitants of ffie J^mavand En- the community if some charitable pagators of the Pundole-movement closure. The Pundoldes, however, institutions or individuals were to and the letters and post cards receiv- come forward and purchase hundreds ed by the author froSi such persons. eye-opener for free One by one. the author sets them up in their own words and then cuts them down adroidy. The Pundole- can “te^dted "firom fi^e'“^ript^al movement is mdicted on several - - - - - ¦ - counts. Each one of the 21 chapters of the book has been embellished with ______ interesting sub headings. The printing Khurshed 'Babu. Of and publication of the Pundole Pamphlet and Souvenir is called _ _ _ __ _____ “a public fraud.” The pretensions of theory; and yet it is remark& that a “leading light. ” of the movement in C„ 7_ ______ 2_____________ Udvada, Mobed Behramashah Bharda ri^tly or wrongly, in the writing of expected prices to The Advertiser, (who, among other things, claims to the late theosophist scholar. Remark- (OLD) C|o. Parsiana, G.P.O. know the fate which awaits the soul able because the Pundolites are very Box 892, Bombay 400 001, Pundolite slogan kshnaothra ahurahe meets with the requirement. The while giving references or “scriptural , proofs ’ to support their theories. Let dictribiitinn us take the “king-vizir ” theory as an illustration. The shdhadat (testimony) ¦— is indicted on several works, ” among which are mentioned Rahnumae Din and Rahe Mazda- yasni—^both containing newspaper articles penned the late Dastur 2Z2 ' course, as I.2xx_. adds, not one of the five books referr­ ed to as “scriptures” support the the Pundolites should look for support. Old post cards etc. I wanted Advertiser wishes to buy OLD picture, postcards, photographs, cigarette cards, playing cards, Mirza posters, prints, illustrated books, albums and other related material. Willing to pay top prices for single items or entire collections. Please send, detailed list with (who, among other things, claims to the late theosophist scholar. Remark- i----- 2.- -----2— —1 able because the Pundolites are very of a man who opposes the movement) close to the Dabuites in many respects. 29World Congress Papers Social and Cultural Survey A QUESTION OF APPROACH Six papers on the “Social and Cultural Survey of Zoroastrians in the recent past and suggestions for the future” were presented at a single session of the Third World Zoroastrian Congress held in Bombay in 1978. Speakers presenting the papers were Dr Lovji Cama, presently the president of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) and research scientist with Merck & Co. USA, E.F. Desai, former joint secretary of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat (BPP), S. D. Nargolwala, president of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman and vice-president of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, Manouchehr Mobarake, member of Gorooh Zarthoshtian Taft va Tavabe, Teheran, Iran, R. S. Gae, former joint secretary to the Law Ministry and B. H. Antia, noted Bombay Solicitor. Dr Farhang Mehr, Chancellor of Phalavi University in Shiraz, Iran, also spoke briefly at the session. As the papers are of considerable length we reproduce in this issue of Parsiana edited versions of the papers by Nargolwala, who called on the community to recognize the writings on the wail and act if it wants to survive, and Antia, who believes that no sacrifice is too great to maintain the purity of the Zoroastrian religion and Parsi race. The paper by Cama appeared previously (Parsi ana, May 1980) and remaining will appear in the following issues. India continued to rise till 1941. But it has declined steadily since then. On the other hand the percentage of Parsis in Bombay which was 49 in 1901 has risen to more than 70 per cent now. This urbanisation coupled with lack of adequate housing has resulted in social and economic decline. There is a reluctance amongst the younger people in Bombay to go to other parts of India for better jobs or for establishing new businesses. The low birth rate and a higher death rate has not only led to the decline of popula­ tion, but also to a change in the age composition of the community with the result that elder persons are, to an increasing extent, dependent on social and financial support through community organisations. The number of marriages between Parsis and non- Parsis is increasing rapidly. This is creating social and cultural stress and tension. The growing tendency towards mixed marriages has led to a heated discussion about conversion into the Zoroastrian religion of the children of such marriages and the non-Parsi spouses. There has been a change in the occupational pattern of the corn­ ed paupers” is looming large on the munity resulting in partial socio-eco- horizon. nomic deterioration. Ignorance of Moreover, the fact that the Parsis the main tenets and the fundamental in Bombay are concentrated in hous- principles of the Zoroastrian religion ing colonies of a charitable nature has has increased. There is a lack of reduced their contacts with their education and religious teachers. Indian environment and has resulted in Culturally the Parsis are now with- a ghetto mentality. The leadership of out any sheet anchor. Their westernis- the priestly class has declined due to ed culture is out of tune with die rapid social change and secularisation. The revival of Indian cultural activities as ___ ” . a whole in post-independence India. Apart from the fact that it has lost The community is suffering from a organisation. Most Parsis know that their existence as a community is being threatened. But there is a reluctance to draw conclusions of a basic nature. As stated by Mr. Katrak in his book W/w are the Parsis? “they philosophise that as God has looked after them for TO BE OR NOT TO BE Shiavax D. Nargolwala This paper will mainly be concerned with the various problems facing the Parsi community in India today and their solutions. ITie social and cultural status of a community is closely allied Nargolwala: ‘threatened existence’ to its economic condition. The eco­ nomic condition of the community has been steadily deteriorating. The danger of becoming “a community of educat- priestly class is itself in great distress, a whole in post-independence India. Apart from the fact that it has lost The community is suffering from a its status, the need for amelioration lack of leadership and internal of this class is urgent. The Parsis are ’ ’ " still trying to preserve their elite con­ sciousness in order to make them forget the actual dangers to the com­ munity’s future. To understand the social and cul­ tural environment of the Parsis in — India, it is necessary to highlight the 1,200 years. He will continue to do so demographic characteristics of the for ever.” It is however more correct community. The, Parsi population in that God helps only those who help 30 V I ! I I t t 1 I I It “They (Parsis) philosophise that God has looked after them for 1,200 years, he will continue to do so for ever.” medicine, accountancy, architecture, etc., their strength in services like the I. A. S. and in the Armed Forces is becoming less and less. The tendency for the younger generation is to seek secure white-collar jobs confined to Bombay. The solution lies in setting up small scale and medium scale industries for the Parsis, particularly themselves. There is a continuous outside Bombay. It is necessary to set lament over the problems facing the up vocational guidance bureaux and community in India but hardly any to encourage the younger generation ~ to train for and to join the higher civil and military services. There is also considerable scope for the younger generation to set up small shops and agencies. There is need for a com­ prehensive socio-economic census of concrete solutions are offered for these problems. Demographic Trends Dr Kulke has estimated the Parsi population in the world in 1970 at 1,20,000, made up of 91,000 in India, the entire community m India. 5,500 in Pakistan, 18,000 in Iran, and about 5,000 living scattered in Ignorance of the Religion Europe, America, Africa and Far Jal R. Vimadalal, a trustee of the East. More than 70 per cent of the Bombay Panchayat, in a speech in Parsis in India live in Bombay and Poona has categoricaUy stated “the the decline in the Bombay population young Parsi of today knows practically is even greater than it appears at first nothing of his religion”. Even the sight because the Parsi population in parents with some exceptions know other parts of India has declined by very little of their religion. There is a migration to Bombay. Even a zero crying need for reUgious education growth rate wiU not be adequate for classes for the younger generation. For the Parsis. We must therefore aim at the older generation, on whom the even a modest rate of growth. The responsibility rests for training the solution lies in 2 or 3 main directions, younger generation, it is necessary to Firstly, early marriages should be have advanced lectures deUvered by encouraged. Lack of adequate hous- weU known scholars of the community, ing is the main obstacle in the way of Graded text books are already over- early marriages. This is more so in due. They should explain the cardinal Bombay than elsewhere in India, tenets of our religion in a simple and Therefore a very heavy responsibUity straight forward language. There lies on the Parsi Panchayat, Bombay, should be adequate translations in to undertake massive programmes for English, Hindi and Gujarati of our low cost housing. Establishment of sacred scriptures so that even if the marriage bureaux and subsidising of prayers are recited in Avesta Pahlavi, education of Parsi children would also the meaning is clearly known and encourage the growth of population. understood. Adherance to rigid and Migration by itself is not an adverse out moded customs and rituals is the factor as it does not lead to a reduc- bane of our community. Thousands of tion of the total Zoroastrian popula- rupees are spent on funeral and post- tion in the world. It rather betters the demise ceremonies by persons who economic conditions and prosperity of can ill-afford this expenditure. Lavish Zoroastrians as a whole. But instead expenditure is incurred in many cases of migration outside India, migration on marriage and Navjote ceremonies, from Bombay to other cities of India The Federation and the Parsi Pancha- should be encouraged as there are yat with the help of scholar priests better job and business opportunities should come forward with a statement for enterprising young men and of the minimum ceremonies to be women outside Bombay. performed on all such occasions. Economic Decline Inter-Community Marriages The economic decline of the com- It is not a problem peculiar to the munity has been quite marked since Parsi community. Inter-community Independence. This is partly because marriages are increasing in other com- of the rise of the other communities, in munities and some State Govem- industry and trade and partly because ments even encourage them. But the of the lack of the entrepreneurial problem assumes great importance for spirit among the younger generation of the Parsi community beacuse it leads Parsis. While the Parsis are still hold- to a decline in the Parsi population, ing their own in professions like law, Inter-community marriages cannot be BOYS’ TOWN Public School Naslk 2 CHOICE SCHOOLING FOR YOUR SON Recognised as a PubUc School by Department of Education — for Indian Merit Scholars. ExceUent CUmate — AU-round Education: AU Academic Subjects — Tech ­ nical Subjects: Radio and Wood- Work Technology, Farming — Training in Self-Government through Elected Boys’ Office­ bearers, Games — Physical Training — DaUy Assembly with Congregational Prayers — Week ­ ly intensive Zoroastrian — Geeta — Koran classes — ExceUent Modem Kitchen and Dining Room faculties — Airy Dormi­ tories. “Moderate Fees as per wish of the Founder so that the children of non-affluent parents are able to take advantage of the school. Substantial conces­ sions and freeships offered to deserving students. Zoroastrian social workers welcomed regard­ ing recommendation and admis­ sion of boys at concessional fees.” APPLY TO THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. Mehta Education Trust Cooks Building, 324 D. N. Road Bombay 400 001 or to the Principal 31“A Parsi woman who marries a non-Parsi but continues to be a Zoroastrian is, in law, fully entitled to enter into the Parsi Fire Temples.” prevented merely by threats and hostile attitudes from the orthodox sections. They can be reduced to a certain extent by social and cultural activities where young Parsi boys and girls can come into greater social contact with each other. So far as the question of conver­ sion was concerned, it was settled by the Privy Council decision (Saklat v. Bella) that a person bom in another religion and of non-Zoroastrian parents had the right to be converted into the Zoroastrian rehgion. This law stands even today. Bella’s appeal was allowed to the extent that she could enter and use the fire temple not as a matter of right but as a matter of discretion on the part of the trustees. Even, according to the Privy Council, the trustees had such a discretion, and obvioulsy if they exercised the discretion in favour of Bella they would not be committing any breach of trust. I must emphasis that we are here considering not the their discretion to enter the Fire use of the funds of a public or chari- Temple, table trust for the benefit of persons - ...... who are not objects of the trust. We __ _ _____ _ are here considering a case where the and a non-Parsi father into the Parsi “subject matter is of such a nature ~ • .................. that it will not hurt the lawful _________ ___ __ _ _ _ recipients if others share with them. ” have to be by a Navjote properly by the orthodox section of the com- It is desirable and necessary to accept children of a Parsi mother Zoroastrian community with suitable safeguards. The acceptance would The main apprehension entertained performed and by the written consent - non-Parsi father. Normally the munity in 1906 that the poorer mother has a greater religious influence the ether eemmen’-hes than the father over the child. If she cP « genuinely wishes with the consent of -- ------- -f the her husband to make the child a funds and properties of the Parsi Parsi Zoroastrian, there should be Punchayat no longer holds good. Most of the inter-community marriages are financially above the average. Such persons are quite well off and are in no need of any help from the Parsi funds and properties. Moreover, a Parsi woman who marries a non-Parsi but continues to be a Zoroastrian is, in law, fully entitled to entry into the Parsi Fire Temples and to die benefits of the Parsi funds and properties. The children of a Parsi father and non- Parsi mother are also Parsi Zoro- astrians in law. The only problem that now remains is the position of a non- Parsi father married to a Parsi mother and the children of such mar­ riage. The Privy Council has held that such children can be Zoroastrians and can be allowed by the Trustees at sections of the other communities wanted to i ~ ’ become entitled to the benefits of the her husband to make the child a no social or legal objection. Reform must sooner or later be adopted in India to put an end to a needless controversy. This can be done through a suitable amendment in the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Law. 32 The Zoroastrian Co-operative Credit Bank Limited Earn interest upto 10|% on Fixed Deposit Account and 5|% on Savings Bank Accounts Loans and Overdrafts granted on moderate terms. 16, HORNIMAN CIRCLE, BOMBAY 400 023. Phone ; 29 89 87 Disposal cf the Dead I personally am a believer in the system of Dokhmas wherever they exist. But if it is not possible to main­ tain the Dokhmas because of the scarcity of birds, then I see no objec­ tion to the system of burial. In the rare cases where both systems exist at one place, it should be left to the relatives of the deceased to decide which facility they would like to avail of. There should be no threat from the priests that they will not perform the funeral ceremonies if the burial system is availed of. As regards ‘Sezdo’, the system in Bombay is now antiquated. When a Parsi dies his non-Parsi friends and relations naturally would hke to pay their last homage to the deceased. To prevent them from doing so under the guise of antiquated customs and false religious doctrine will only harm the image of the Parsi community amongst the other communities. In Delhi this (Sezdo by non-Parsis) has been always permissible and the public image of the Parsi community has been enhanced thereby. - The question of crematoria for disposal of the dead in the Parsi com­ munity has been the subject of some controversy in recent years. There is no doubt in law the disposal of the dead body must be done in accordance with the wishes of the deceased or his near relatives. The question which arsies is whether a Parsi priest can perform the funeral and other cere­ monies in such cases. Some priests are already willing, and do perform such ceremonies. This is a matter of their own belief and conscience and calls for no controversy. There is no compulsion on anybody in such matters. t ! I i f- I i Iour religion, race, culture and tradi- knit community into the morass of an tions, and are violating the religious orphan ’s tribe. In the process our There is a clamour for conversion of persons of other communities to our religion under the guise of in- ___ __ creasing the number of Zoroastrians; 'the Navjot of children bom of J-*'— —.11 4-L. z4 z-wP "Dri-rnr-i • - •. - « ¦»i mothers and alien fathers to be treat­ ed as Zoroastrians; for ridiculing our religious tenets and ceremonies and to belittle our age-old traditions, customs and usages; for allowing the members ______ __ of the other religions to enter our amendm^nf ean change that position. Fire Temples; for allowing non Parsis ^yould create the absurd result to see the dead body after sachkar chfldren of such marriages ceremony. would belong to two different races. If any person dealing with this topic distinctly and clearly remembers the astrian” and “Parsi” there will not be scope for any controversy. Parsi girls marrying outside Some advocate that Parsi girls who are marrying outside the community should be treated as Parsi Zoro­ astrians. To my mind they were lost to the community and our religion on the day they married outside our community. Even our religious scrip­ tures condemn such marriages : Then Ahura Mazda replied “O Holy Zarathushtra those who are Mazdayasnis mixing their seeds with non-Mazdayasnis are committing sins.” (Vandidad Par agard 18 para 62) A bogie is raised evepi now and then that if you take a rigid view, our community will die down soon, but I would prefer quality rather than quantity and would like to see that our community may have few Zoro­ astrians following scrupulously the tenets of our religion instead of increasing the number by including the progeny of mixed marriages who do not understand our religion or the significance of its tenets or usages. extinction will be accelerated. Children of Parsi women and alien fathers religion under the guise of in­ fer allowing the children of Parsi p,^^- ^oman and alien father, follow­ ing the principles laid down by another famous Judgement of the Privy Cormcil in the Case of Saklat vs. Bella, children of Parsi women can never become Parsis. No law or as it would create the absurd result *9 Conversion to Zoroastrianism _ _ ___ _________ Before dealing with the first aspect difference between the words “Zoro- regarding the conversion to 2Loro- astrian religion so as to increase the number of Parsi Zoroastrians, one must bear in mind the two aspects of the matter, namely, Zoroastrianism is a religion whilst the Parsis are a race. You can convert a person to any religion, but you cannot convert a person to a race. No one can have any objection to a person converting himself to the Zoro­ astrian religion but it must be clearly understood that he will not be entitl­ ed to the benefit of any of our Trusts I Lack of Leadership The leaders must be enlightened, for- . . ward-looking and not afraid to tackle controversial problems and come to the right conclusions. The Parsi Panchayat of Bombay has in recent times failed to give such leadership to the community. This is because the Parsi Panchayat Board of Trustees is elected on a very narrow franchise based on an election procedure intro­ duced in 1906 with the approval of the Bombay High Court. “The trustees increasingly owe their election to a caucus of about 300 voters. This procedure is now outdated and it is alleged that the Trustees in­ creasingly owe their election to a caucus of about 300 voters. In the present democratic age it is necessary that every Parsi in Bombay should i have a right to elect the Trustees. This can be done only through adult franchise under a new scheme to be i approved by the Bombay High Court. In many other parts of India includ- - ing, Poona, Delhi, Calcutta, etc., the Trustees are now elected by voters of all the members of the respective Panchayats or Anjumans. QUALITY NOT QUANTITY Burjor H. Antia The law of genetics is no respecter of personalities. Across the corridors of history men have discovered that certain ethnic traits regulate the characteristics of every individual, tribe and race. Man is a creature of heredity and environment. So long as man retains the bonds of association with his tribe or race, these ethnic traits run like a golden thread across centuries of time and make their mark in the history of the age. We, the Parsis, are no exception to this rule. During 13 centuries, we have scrupulously retained our racial Antia: ‘Bounden duty’ identity and in the process have . enriched the heritage of our race. To such as, Agiaries, Atash Behrams, knowledge^ has become ve^ s‘^amy as appreciate the subject in its proper Dokhmas, as those Trusts are speci- - perspective, let us refresh our memory fically meant for Parsi Zoroastrians. that we migrated to India about 1300 P years ago so as U prevent the ----- ------ , __ _ --------- „ . _ onslaught of invading Arabs and to Parsis themselves who calmour for and religious ceremomes. Parsis should preserve our religion, race and culture permitting non-Parsis to have access in this part of the world. to these institutions. Scarcely do we We, Parsis led a simple, honest and ~ --------------- ----------------------- „ * - j hardworking life and always took knock at the doors of our Fire is our Dokhmanashini ceremony and great care for the preservation of our Temples. the Muktad ceremony. Dokhmanashini religion, culture and hereditary charac- Once the flood gates of conversion ceremony is the most scientific method * * ' "• -» of the Zoroastrians are forgetting our -— --------—--------- ------------ ----- aim and objectives in coming to India the lure of our opulent funds and ceremony is economical and ex- and also our obligations to preserve resources would submerge our closely peditious and it does not make any 33 Dokhmanashini is the best With the passage of time, our religious a result of which some of the Parsis _ ______ ___ ____ were more attracted to other religions _____________ J It "’is pertinent to note that in all rather than appreciating the impor- to prevent the these cases, it is a handful of the tance and significance of^ur reUgion make an honest endeavour to under- _ stand their religion and culture. The ever hear of a non-Parsi seeking to main target of vilification campaigns the Muktad ceremony. Dokhmanashini Once the flood gates of conversion ceremony is the most scientific method are open, quantity will replace quality, which does not pollute any element of The yearning for more numbers and nature. Moreover the Dokhmanashini great care for the preservation of our Temples, religion, culture and hereditary charac- '' teristics. Today it appears that some c; z____ ________ ““ - . aim and objectives in coming to India the lure of our opulent funds and ceremony“Zoroastrians are forgetting our aims and ohipptivoo »»» our aims and objectives in coming to India.” difference between rich non-Parsis prior to Sachkar ceremony. When the significance of our Sezdah ceremonies is explained to non-Parsis, they have accepted the position with ­ out any gnidge, but in our own com­ munity a few persons are unnecessari- Poor. ly raising this dispute so as to claim "2 . themselves as reformists. cremation. The aim of coming to India The aforesaid survey in the social and cultural field of Zoroastrians, indicate beyond doubt that some of us have forgotten the tenets of our religion and the purpose for which we came down to India: to preserve our religion and race, what our ancestors of pious memory vividly described as “Dini Pasbani and Bunyadi Pasbani.” mnerence between rich and pwi. Ihere is a fashion nowadays to dispose KT bodies by cremation. JNccqIcss to say that when. wAr cs ? j ship Fire, the system S Sstd of bodies by cremaUon is con&to t£ of principle of the Zoroastrian^gSn "“-Pa™’ ¦” o-r F,re Te„,ol it pollutes fire by cremation. Cremation and four days ceremony deaT cm^^nlt^of munny. mey should know tl relatives of pLS! h similar practices are being followed other religions and mmmnnJtiAc urn S to non-Parsis do not want to Sie fet foJr^Hnt of Parsis by entering f p°°’' Farsi Temnles. T ax ^-C - out man’s salvation. Those who are me that they had put up a false front 4-‘U/^ 4^zs.1x4 x-,.4! _____ 1 --.-rt . - , , , — --- ---- VXAW prxxv-ov XXXCiVLV (X {,• P request to‘ those who had mercy. Those who hold the outstretch- seen the Light and prayed that by whistling and by critical remarks. to dissuade them from taking missions tried to plead with the s and to quieten them. The , - ,, . , 7 ---------------~~o—------------------ --—— lecture ended thus and the young one but Jesus was cap^le of working one burst out laughing and assured Parsi boys accompained the American out mans salvation. Those who are me that they had put up a false front, missionary right upto the doorway, outside the fold of that religion are in The next day the priest made a making him appear ludicrous. After fhp TMTC rvF kiif lamp ___:i________________ -X X . xi 5 _ .. r , k- *1, X xt. • I.- 1- JI ¦ --------- ----- vxx^,.^ ».xxw .u«J years, on meeting Dr. Mott again m boundless shown the eagerness to forge ahead New York, I found that he had not mercy. Those who hold the outstretch- the previous day, to remain seated, forgotten the Parsi youths. such a hasty step and as the priests youths fTith the Compliments of : N. S. GUZDER & CO. Private Limited NEVILLE HOUSE, BALLARD ESTATE, it BOM BAY-400 038. 39 hIN MEMORIAM [ E r Died: Rustom Dbunjishaw Sidhwa, 82, one of the founders and directors of Grindwell Norton, Bharat Tiles and Marbles Pvt. Ltd., and Bharat Metal Printers amongst others, on 1 April 1980, of heart trouble, in Bombay. A former Chairman of the Asso­ ciation of Indian Industries, the Marble and Tile Merchants Asso­ ciation, and a member of the Indian Merchant ’s Chamber of Commerce, Sidhwa ’s motto was reported to be: “You can’t run a business if you can’t run with it.” Till the end, he was said to have been pouring over chemical directories in the hope of ---------- - -- -------—-r starting something new, introducing of a heart attack on 6 February new concepts and products, accord- ing to In House, the journal of Grindwell Norton. Grindwell. “He along with his asso­ ciates, continued to improvise, inno- nv.iuun vi uic j...ion s viuo ot vate and economise in order to keep Nagpur, his contribution to Lionism up the production and even expand. In this he was motivated by the twin objectives of self sufficiency in industrial production and creation of job opportunities,” says In House, the Grindwell journal. Sidhwa is survived by his wife, three daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren. A former Rotarian and a founder President of the Lion’s Qub of was recognized and appreciated at the Lion’s Internationa assembly at New Delhi. In a tribute to this well-known sons-in-law Died: Dhunjisha Pestonji Ruttanji Cassad, 73, prominent citizen, busi­ nessman and industrialist of Nagpur, 1980, at Nagpur. Director of the Byramji Mining Combine Pvt. Ltd., Bombay and the Bombay Suburban Electric Supply Company Ltd., Cassad was also Chairman, Managing Director and Liquidator the Nagpur Electric holding high offices in other organisa­ tions. Cassad, “belonged to a generation of executives who were sticklers for ,, efficiency and honesty when at work, j and who, in club life gave out the 1^4 best in fraternization and goodwill,” j comments The Nagpur Times in its citizen of Nagpur, the Nagpur Times \ editorial dated 9, February 1980. txt------------------ I “Though a very outspoken man, I Mr. Cassad was very popular both I because he was always helpful to ed himself with clean, honest social 5 others and because he championed work. . .Nagpur city has lost a j just causes, concerning mostly the guardian of high social values and a I development of Nagpur,” reports citizen of high social tastes and I The Hitavada, the oldest English polished manners.” I daily of Central India. C I Cassad began his education at St. Kamalrukh, Paul’s European High School in Rangoon. From there he went on to take his B.Sc. degree in physics and mathematics from the Deccan and The Bombay West Rotary Club Fergusson Colleges in Poona. After weekly bulletin. The Flying Carpet in obtaining his M.Sc. from the Banaras Its 15 October 1966 issue, des- Hindu University, he was an Edulji cnbes Sidhwa as a “crusader for Dinshaw Scholar for engineering at the „ • j good causes.” University College, London, from f^ashld D. Bamanbehram Bom on 2 lune 1898, into a where he was awarded his B.Sc. and large middle class family, Sidhwa was educated in Bombay, and his early plunge in business is reported to be as romantic as his success in it. He Quetta, '4-^ 1 Light and Power Company, besides Sidhwa a I Cassad says, “A fine citizen of Nagpur has passed away in the death of Mr. D.P.R. Cassad, who proudly associat- reports citizen of high social tastes and Cassad is survived by his wife ”, a daughter and two sons. M.Sc. degrees. According to his bio-data he was a consulting civil engineer at is remembered as the pioneer of the Mithapur. ------- was indigenous manufacture of tiles, as Engineer Emergency well as of metal printing. In 1940, in r“ “ - - - an effort to meet the war time short- i age of grinding wheels, he started Military Engineering, Roorkee. 40 well as of metal printing. In 1940, in Professional Photographer for Photos of Weddings, Navjotes and Birthday parties. Contact: Hat No. 3, First Floor, No. 6 Wadia Road, Bombay 400 007. and at Tata Qiemicals, He was also Civil x_.iiivi^ciivy Commissioner d, , “ Officer, Corps of the Indian Engineers, JT’ ^^’^eghat Colony, 30A Hughes and professor at the school of Bombay 400 007.