Mar 1981

v K S I 9" Li March 1961 Price Rs. 5 iI I" I S’ -UMW," r ) 4 ¦i, 4 March 1981 Volume 3 No. 9 } s fe' READERS’ FORUM EVENTS FERSONALITIES ZOROASTRIAI ' t I I They emphatically denied over and surnames are of non-Parsi over again that they had any interest origin, now accepted whatsoever in “reli^ous” reforms and that, in fact, they whole-heartedly sup- 1 . , „ . . _ . . toms, institutions, etc. and, among JiiWi-* •-»» ’xtl o % T* X *-**'*! sSS' Readers ’ views are wekoiiic on any subject of interest 4» Am community and should be sent to Hie Editor, Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, G.P. • to do so. Alternatively, women can remain unmarried (we have al­ ways had ait alarming peBcentage of but., how wUl thftihelp the This is , co is no w^*; one can are such a t^^ommunit^ ho what can I ’ ¦ '‘ ' simply Clause we he achiey^ by being'l&bomty What is referred to as a “religious reform”, therefore, is “reli­ gious” or a reform but oi||s a ques- is “reli- tion Of putting right these Injustices /l"^ -^ER if they so wM si&* start a virtual ri With foresight and thiidcu^ &8i ^B*».'-WF(. that our doors be opened indisc rima- support of all 1\ —__ -2 “ ‘ the practical proUems this could froht? for die- comniti- create (although I cannot forget that nity- Pv- ..2 Zarathushtra’s message was, in fact, for all mankind), but surely the ter­ rible injustice bom of fear and bigo­ try so far as these Parsi women are concerned must at least be put right? There must be any number of such women who have had to suffer un- Election Equality 1 jection which no one has a right to inflict upon them. If the children of Parsi men married to non-Parsi wo- _______________ ____________ , „ men can be accepted as Parsi Zoro- respect and follow the teachings of astrians, why can’t the children of Zarathu^htra. Parsi women married to non-Parsis? A Mother ’s Rights I think the Parsi community owes much to the Committee for Electoral Rights (CER) for the splendid job it has done in enlightening Bombay Parsis on its aims and educating them on their rights. CER comprises of a band of people who have devoted their valuable time and effort to per­ form selfless service to the commu ­ nity; they deserve praise and admira­ tion. Because I have been so full of en­ thusiasm and support for the CER, I was saddened and disappointed to learn, at a recent meeting I attended, . - . of their stance on “religious” issues, women married to non-Parsis? The Committee For Electoral Rights No doubt, because of the lies and What is the difference between these (CER) has taken a lead in giving wide mud-slinging that they have endured two sets of children? It is sometimes publicity through their circular Do from certain sections of the commu- argued that the children of these wo- You Know, about the working of the nity they perhaps felt it necessary to men would have non-Parsi surnames! Bombay Parsi Panchayet (BPP), and be very defensive (unnecessarily, I This argument is too absurd to coun- the community ’s voting rights. tenance f simply became most Parsi • be very defensive (unnecessarily, I think). i: DINA NAY A fl necessary heartache, anguish and re- We have taken our birth with pride ’ ' » as Zordastrians and therefore, no one should ever think of betraying our reli­ gion. It is desirable to stand united, to r k i; Why are^ d(»»«^^Al|ister '‘F’ 3I equated against Register “E” which is composed of “A, C & D” Registers which represents the whole Parsi com ­ munity? This voting system was evolv­ ed by our ancestors who were educat­ ed philanthropists, wanting to be in power because they were the donors. They did the right thing then. AU of us are now more democratic, sensible, reasonable and alive to our rights as adults. Our community is 99 percent educated and everyone has the right to demand adult franchise. Abolish Register “F” and all other Registers and combine them into one membership Register for the whole community without any preferences to the donors of Register .“F*. Donors should donate generously to the BPP for the welfare of the poor members of the community. But today the men who donate have no right to know where the money is going. There is no accountability to the donors or to the public. No one has any right to ask for annual progress reports. They cannot remove an inefficient trustee for ten years and, therefore, it comes to this that the ccMnmunity is at the mer ­ cy of the trustees for 10 years. We are all created equal and every member of our conununity, the donors, the rich, the middle-class and SO the poor members have equal rights to select their own Anjuman Committee. JAMSHED D. ENGINEER Serving Two Masters Personally, I do not think it wrong on the part of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat to deny Parsi women mar ­ ried to non-Parsis the right to register on its electoral rolls. The law may be in their favour, but can law interfere with religion? Would any true Zoro- astrian Parsi like to accept the opinion of a Parsi female marri^ outside the fold? If such a woman had any in­ terest in her own community would she have sought a life-partner from another community? No one can serve two masters. That is my opinion. FRENY DALAL In Praise Of Palkhivala I am glad that die world renown­ ed jurist, who served as Ambassador of India to the United States of Ame ­ rica, Nani Palkhivala, has come out with a bold statement giving his can­ did opinion and supporting it with authentic quotations and examples set out by other great men and scholars. He has done yomen service by speaking out to open the eyes of the Paisis and I am siir? that under his leadership many more enlightened ones in the community will take up the task of revitalization and rejuve­ nation of the great religion, not only to save it from degeneration but also to make it stand on the highest pe­ destal among other religions and be­ liefs the world over. To achieve this goal, we have to stand firm against the fanatics till they see and under­ stand the value of tolerance. Zarathushtra exhorted his audience to listen to him, think over what he had said and to accept his teachings only if their intellect and conscience approved, otherwise they were free to follow what they thought was best for them. . .and that, in doing so they did not sin. When Zarathushtra himself preach­ ed and invited people to embrace his teachings, how dare the so-call^ Zo- roastrians, who claim to be his fol­ lowers, prevent people front embrac ­ ing the religion? Are they above Za­ rathushtra who invited people to deli­ berate on his teachings and embrace his religion only after being convinced of its munificence? And who could be a greater demo­ crat today than Zarathushtra was thousands of years ago? ASPI KAI OSHTORI ! WITH BEST COMPLIMENTS FROM THE WHITE CLOUD PAPER MILLS 412, Gultekdi Road, PUNE-41TOO9. PIONEER MANUFACTURERS OF QUALITY 5 ? Filter Papers, • Filter Pad s • Filter Pulp in Ind ia IMITATED BY MANY EQUALLED BY NONE PHONE; 441078 GRAM: WHITECLOUD 5! i ( E I Salute to Danish My husband and I always had great respect for the late Darvish Irani, a well-known and well-loved figure at Doongarwadi, a friend of the dead and of those, who were left behind. I was deeply moved to read of the courage of Dr. Syrus Darvish Irani, in breaking away from the wrong custo­ ms laid down, over a hundred years ago, about covering the faces of our dead and not allowing their friends, from other communities, to pay their last respects. My heartfelt condolences to the me ­ mbers of the Darvish Irani family in their great loss and congratulations to Dr. Syrus, on his bold step forward. I do feel that other Zoroastrians should follow his lead. PERIN M. R. B. JEEJEEBHOY j Lala Tours Present Their Programme Of Summer Tours KASHMIR Dep. 14 April. 5 & 15 May ’81 Cost. Rs. 1,585/- SIMLA Kula Manall Chandigarh, B’Nangal Dep. 30 April ’81 Cost: Rs. 1,475/- NAINITAL Dep. 2 May ’81 Cosit: Rs. 1,025/- DARJEEL* Events and Personalities Republic Day Award Winner Prominent Maharashtra social worker and family planning pioneer, Avabai B. Wadia; was awarded the Padma Bushan, the third highest civilian ho­ nour bestowed by the Government of India. Wadia was among nine others who received this honour on Republic Day, 26 January 1981, from President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy. Wadia is one of the founder memb ­ ers of the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), of which she is the president since 1963. She is a member of several national and international committees and organizations of family planning, such as the Central Council of International Planned Par­ enthood Federation; the Governing Council of the Gandhigram Institute of Rural Health and Family Welfare; the Governing Board of the Family Planning Foundation, New Delhi; the Bombay Municipal Corporation Fami ­ ly Planning Implementation Commit ­ tee; the Joint Councils of Health and ___ _______ _____ _ Family Welfare, Government of India; er Bombay, for 20 years from 1957- mittee, Maharashtra State Govern- and organizations lilli t? HBBS •J ¦ I mittee of the blind, and was appoint­ ed honorary secretary for Employment in 1975. Starting her career in the welfare of j the blind by assisting in the raising of funds, Khambatta was the honorary secretary of the Fund Raising Com- I mittee for the Workshop for the Blind j and the first Finance Raising Secretary 1 of the NAB, a position she held for i almost 12 years, notes the bio-data. I As Delegate Observer, Khambatta I attended the Fourth General Assembly i of the World Council for the Welfare I of the Blind, at New Delhi .in 1969, a I symposium on Employment Opportu- I nities for the Educated Blind, in Ber- I lin, in 1972, and the Fifth Asian Con- I ference on Work for the Blifid, in I Hongkong, in 1978, states the bio-data. Bulsar Councillors Burjor C. Pardiwala, has been elected Wadia; ‘guiding spirit ’ president of the Bulsar Municipal Council, and five other Parsis have orary Metropolitan Magistrate, Great- captured seats in the Council of 25. The Parsis, Keki Phiroz Sluoff, Sha- pniji Chavda, Roshan K. Rnsi P. Shroff and Phiroz D. BilUmoiia the Programme Implementation Com- 1975, Wadia has also reportedly been ment; and the Working Group on population Policy Planning Commis- University, Tirupati, and been award- cast at the October elections accord- sion. New Delhi. ed the Padma Shri in the 1971 Repub- ing to reports. Bom in Colombo in 1913, and edu- lie Day Honours. The Zoroastrian Union Bulsar. cated in England, from where she . . (ZUB), a youth club, invited the local acquired her LL.B, degree from Lon- Blind Service Parsi community to join in felicitating don University, Wadia was called to The recipient of the Rustom Merwanji the six councillors, on 2 November, the Bar from Lincoln’s Inn in 1934, Alpaiwalla Memorial Award 1981, is notes the release, adding that ZUB and later returned home to practice Piloo Dorab Khambatta, honorary president Dr. Rustom D. Asana, a pre­ law at the Supreme Court of Ceylon, secretary of the National Association sidential award winner and emeritus states her life-sketch. Wadia’s choice for the Blind, (NAB). Presented by the professor of Botany, Dr. Jal Turel and of law as a career is said to have been NAB president Vijay M. Merchant, on ZUB secretary Bomi Mehemosh paid due to her interest, even then, in the 19 January, in Bombay, the award was tributes to the dedicatitm of the new condition of downtrodden women. When her family moved to Bombay, Wadia, who was by then so involv^ ing much need^ funds, promoting in the uplift of women, did not regi- employment of the blind, furthering ster herself at the Bombay Bar, but public relations, and in recognition of agitation in Bulsar, fetching passengers worked with several .women ’s organiz- (her) outstanding contribution as a from the station and delivering milk ations, her interest eventually leading voluntary worker”. during the curfew. Roshan Shroff is her to family planning and welfare. Secretary of the NAB since its inc- reportedly an active member of the states her life-sketch. eption in 1945, Khambatta is reported Hospital Committee, .looking after Inspired by the family planning to have started active interest in emp- family planning. Burjor Pardiwala and pioneers of the west, Wadia, is said to loyment possibilities for the blind in Firoz Billimoria are keen on “beauti- be “the guiding spirit” behind the su- 1964, as joint honorary secretary for fying the town, constructing shopping stained activities of the FPAI. An Hon- the Employment and Placement Com- centres, and looking after housing 13 made a Doctor of Laws (LL.B.) j¥o«- oris Causa, by the Sri Venkateswara captured 33 percent of the total votes University, Tirupati, and been award­ ed the Padma Shri in the 1971 Repub- 19 January, in Bombay, the award was tributes to the dedication of the new given to Khambatta in appreciation of councillors, and the work they have her “outstanding contribution in rais- already done for their town. Keki Shroff was said to have helped out at the time of the Nav Nir man (her) outstanding contribution as aI Roof Garden at Hotel HERITAGE • Weddings • Navjotes • Parties • R^eceptions Dinner Rs. 30/-per head Parsi, Moghlai or Continental cuisine including decorations, lighting and terrace garden charges. Snacks Rs. 16/- per head Soft drinks Rs. 4/- per head Capacity upto 300 persons for soft drink party Phone 394891 problems.. ”, states the release, ad­ ding that Shapurji Chawda, at 71, rid­ ing his B.S.A. motorbike around his ward, and Rusi Shroff, are both known to be eager and active social workers. Pardiwala, perhaps the youngest president of the Bulsar Municipal Council in its 150 year history, replac­ es Phiroz Rustomji Shroff, who volun­ tarily retired after 13 years as presi­ dent, notes the release. During his term of office. Shroff is said to have increased the Council budget from 30 lakhs to over a crore of rupees, cut down many taxes, provided the Adi- vasis and hutment dwellers tax free water, and the Harijan municipal workers ownership tenements on a 20 year instalment basis. He is also said to have initiated town planning, built a shopping centre named after Dada- bhai Naoroji, and improved the water situation. Baroda Youth League The recently established Parsi Zoro ­ astrian Youth League ot Baroda plan­ ned its first function for Jamshedi Nav- roz encouraged by the success of their Republic day celebrations, notes a release from Phiroz Surti, a retired railway engineer from Baroda. For the Republic day celebrations, a fancy dress competition, sports - and games were organized, for which there were 35 and 75 entries respectiv­ ely, including a two year-old child and 62 year-old retired railway officer, ac­ cording to the release. The fancy dress competition was judged by professor Aspi Rana, Meh- roo Palkhiwala and Behram Bhamga- ra, and the prizes were given away by Jehangir Parabia, an engineering con­ tractor and a prominent citizen of Ba­ roda, who donated a microphone and loudspeakers to the Youth League, notes the release. Jimmy Havewala, a trustee of the Baroda Parsi Panchayat proposed the vote of thanks; and Ar­ navaz J. Havewala, Mehru Bomi Patel, Phiroz Surti, Kersi Kavina, Murzban Khajotia and Tehmas Anklesaria are said to have worked to make the occa­ sion a success, states the release. At a “mammoth gathering” of Ba­ roda Parsis last November, the Baroda Parsi Panchayat established the Youth League under its auspicies, to bring together Parsi boys and girls on a com­ mon platform, in an effort to curb the “alarming” rise of marriages outside the community, in Baroda, notes the release. The inaugural function was at­ tended by Eruch Desai, trustee of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat, and Mrs Desai, Manek Geyara, president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat and re­ presentatives of other Gujarat Parsi Panchayats. With Compliments From GLOBE THEATRES PVT. LTD. Kstablishcd April 3,1915 day Panchayat, Controlling : REGAL BOMBAY CAPITOL BOMBAY GLOBE CALCUTTA ROXY MADRAS 15 LI I r f. I Master : ^psychiatrk president Mastering the Mind Dr. Roshen S. Masto*, well-known Pune psychiatrist was installed as the 33rd president of the Indian Psychia­ tric Society at a function held at the B. J. Medical College, Ahemedabad on 28 December 1980, states a press release. Master is Honorary Professor of Psychiatry at the B. J. Medical College and the Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, and is a pioneer worker in ment ­ al health, social psychiatry and the re­ habilitation of mentally retarded child­ ren in Maharashtra, notes the release. Credited with over 80 publications in scientific journals in India, the U.K. and the U.S.A., as well as a text book in psychiatry, she is a Foundation Fel­ low of the Royal College of Psychia­ trists, established in 1972, in the U.K., notes the write-up. In her presidential speech. Master stressed self-therapy through self- knowledge. Speed Swimmer India’s probable representative to the 1982 Asian Games is a 16 year-old, Willingdort Sports Club, Bombay, she bespectacled swimmer, Persis Madan. won six silver medals at the Junior Reportedly the first girl to break the Nationals at Delhi in 1974, at the age one minute barrier in the 100 yards of 10. From |hen on, she has set new Free-Style Women ’s Open Swimming meet records at the various competi- Competition, the lanky Persis won the tions she has participated in. ISkSO junior and senior 100 and 200 A First Year Junior College student metres butterfly championship at the of Arts at Bombay’s St. Xavier’s Col- All-India National Open Champion- lege, Persis says she trains daily for ships. She is also reported to have set two or three hours, studying and read- eight new meet records at the Trivan- ing in her spare time. A first class drum Junior National Age Group I.C.S.E. student from Queen Mary’s Championships in 1980, where she School, she finds that so far she has was adjudged best swimmer, and four managed her academic career and new meet records at the 1979 Triangu- swimming quite well. “No priorities”, lar Meet. (India, Sri Lanka and Bang- she claims, “I manage to fit in every- ladesh). thing.” The school and college autho- The daughter of Jamshed K. Ma- rities, she notes, grant her leave during dan, Bombay ’s prominent ear, nose competition time and for intensive and throat surgeon, Persis started training courses, one of which she has swimming at the age of nine, and took just completed at Fort Lauderdale, an immediate, “liking to water”. Florida, under Robert K. Miller, an Coached by Mr. N. Bhatena at the Olympic medallist. Madan : butterfly champion it IB sii-', - ¦ ¦ With Compliments From Starlite Electrical Works Electrical Engineers & Contractors Fem House, 13, Ormiston Road, BiHubay - 400 039 17 I I- I I £ El,'4' JEENA & COMPANY ESTD. 1900 f r bnir IATA AIR CARGO Clearing, Forwarding Warehousing and Insurance Agents 10, Vea* Nariman Road, Fort, Bombay-l. ! Cable ; ‘JUSTITIA’ Telex : 2313 Phone : 312032 Branches: E. Merc House 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani (Formerly Theatre Road) CALCUTTA46 Phone : 444711 ‘Jeena lio»w ’ 50, Hanuman Road Connaught Circus NEW DELHI PHONE : 310821 Governor Talyaridian | The new governor of the North Indian I Himalayan state of Sikkim is Homi J. I H. Talyaitiian, a former minister in I the Maharashtra State Cabinet and I India’s former Ambassador to Libya. I A well known figure in the social, I industrial and political circles in the B country the loquacious Talyaikhan 1 was chairman of the Maharashtra | State Financial Corporation, the presi- 1 dent of the International Tourism Council, Society of Goodwill and Culture, and a member of several state and national committees. Elected four times to the Maharash­ tra Legislative Assembly, Talyarkhan was a cabinet minister in Maharashtra where amongst the portfolios he held were health, food and civil supplies, housing, small savings, fisheries and tourism. Talyarkhan was the Indian delegate Ms t J Palamkote: co-wdinating ^ase oae in India, the new terminal is expected to meet the current international traffic requirement at Bombay, with a handl- 1^ ing capacity of an estimated 2.100 peak hour passengers. Its construction required the co-ordination of perhaps 50 major activities in various disci- Ifc plines notes the lAAI newsletter of October 1980. jH The new terminal opened almost 48 years after the start of commercial avi- ation in India, when J.R.D. Tata landed his now famous ^ss Moth at the Juhu airstrip in Bombay, with its cargo of mail from Karachi. In com­ memoration of that historic event, at Palamkote's suggestion, Tata’s Puss Moth now hangs from the ceiling of the Custom ’s hall at the new terminal. Palamkote took over as General Manager of the International Airpmts Authority of India on 1 January 1980, after serving as director of Bombay Airport since 1976, according to a bio­ data. Starting his career as a fighter pilot with the Indian Air Force in I Talyaikhan: Sild^ ^qi^intment to the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development II, (UNCTA- D), and also accompanied an Indian dele^tion to the West Asian countri­ es, notes his bio-data. 1944, Palamkote was awarded his In­ strument Rating Card and Instructor’s Category while undergoing a speciali­ st’s course in the U.K. in 1948-49, notes his bio-data. Posted as Flight Commander in the first Jet Squadron . Airport ’81 to be raised in India, and commander k iGiuup Cagitain A. M, Palarndhilc, who of a Jet Fighter Squadron, Palamkote retired as General Manager of the reportedly belongs to the Caterpillar International Airports Authority of Club, consisting of airmen who have India (lAAI), coordinated the activiti- parachuted to safety after having been es for Bombay ’s new Internatonial shot down. Passenger Terminal, the first phase of which was opened to traffic in Decern- The Way tO a Man ’s Pocket ber last year. Spenta, a small sales counter set up in Design^ for a two level clearance Secunderabad, by the ZoniMsliliiii system, reportedly the first of its kind Continued on page 53 19 ''niitOiBiliUBMIlialMliyZOROASTRI Navars for the New World Representing , the next generation of priests in the west, are two Montreal youngsters, 12 year-old Zubin Pan- thaki and 13 year-old Zubin Dastoor, The two Zubins came to Bombay recently to qualify as Navars under Rustom Panthaki of the Rustom Framna Agiary at Dadar. Though the facilities for initiation are not available in North America, the boys studied under the guidance of Dr. Ervad Jehan Bagli, ^itor of Gavashni, the ^arterly publication of the Zoroastrian Association of Quebec, (ZAO') and Ervad Kersi Bhe- dwar, notes (Dolly Dastoor, Zubin’s mother who is president of the ZAQ. The boys were initiated into the priest­ hood in December. The initiation took 28 days, during which they “prayed, ate and slept,” said Panthaki/ They could not touch any perishable njatter, had to wear gloves and sleep on leather mhts, but he added stoically, “everybody else does it, so we can do it.” “It was to our expectations”, added Zubin Dastoor, although he found the manner in which they washed the dishes with ashes and made the om- lettes, “odd”; he said he loved the from Iran. papri malido. “It was a sacrifice for the boys as well as for us parents, " commented heritage in music. Hanging, fipgfc-lnre^ 1 Dastoor s mother. Playtime had to be handicrafts, songs, poetry and a Piven lin. bollHAVS nnH firrw* J fl activities with all other ethnic com- fl munities^” jj _ The newsletter also points out that J ing the leave, but not forgetting the • the Canadian Government is actively i homework: “I had to turn the pages supporting the various' multicultural of my Shakespeare with tongs”, quip- societies and also have a Minister of ped Dastoor, who is an air cadet. Multiculturalism. Panthaki recalled his classmate ’s as- Annals ot tte Far East tonished reactions of, “Are you ever going to come back to school? ” you be able to get imarried? ” and “That young!”, when he told them he was going to be a priest. __ _ ____ _ ______ Both boys sat in as assistant priests information of our ancestors m the at Dastoor’s sister, Natasha’s navjot ' " on 2 January, this year, said Dastoor. Though Panthaki and Das' the 72nd and 73rd Navars resj to go through the Rustom Zoroastrians from North^ America to come to India to be initiated into the priesthood. About a year ago, Jehangir p. . - • 2_____ initiation ceremonies at the Jeejeebhoy hs tc Shorter Funeral Prayers The traditional Zoroastrian last.rites’ prayers are too long for the limited time available at western cemetaries for performing funeral ceremonies, notes a newsletter from the Zoroas­ trian Society of British Columbia (ZSBC). At the October 1980 meeting of the ZSBC Board of Directors, Jamshed Pavri, honorary treasurer the Society pointed out that the London Anjuman gets only 30 minutes at the cemetery for their funeral services. Therefore, a small Zoroastrian Funeral Service booklet in romanized English; and Gujarati scripts of the Avesta prayers with their English meanings has )^en prepared by the ZSBC. If a donor can be found for the jrojet^^ the Zoroastrians of British Columbia hope to publish about l/)00 such bOoklets for distribution in Canada anti else­ where. Cuttiiral Preserve The formation of a Zoroastiian Cul­ tural Group is also being considered ] by the ZSBC, according to an earlier | newsletter. “With the increase in 3 our numbers, especially with the new community members having come j mans for Welfare and Culture (FOZA- WAC) in Bombay, towards a trophy for the best female/male athlete at the FOZAWAC sports meet held on 27 and 28 December; and Rs 7,000 was donated to die Rayomand Com ­ mittee of Bombay, noUs th letter, adding that the l^BC actively considering the possibilities of a Zoroastrian Centre. thp news- is also ¦W ! I Navjot News i “In Singapore a Navjot ceremony is a rare occasion,” writesiSuna Kanga from Singapore, “So it ( was a very E. . .it now appeare,, possil^ j T^roastrian to form a! ,, , tiw* will jM^servp ®commented herita^ in music. Hanrina. fiiOrinre-. giveii up, holidays and free time de- arts and also participate in cultural voted to their training, leave to be • taken from their schools, which she noted, were very encouraging, grant­ homework: “I had to turn the pages supporting the various' multicultural ped Dastoor, who is an air cadet. 99 ii' 1 rfamna Agiary, they are amongst the first I Pavri reports that he has undertake I A "1 ! s '' 9 sA"' 5 ‘Will for the Hong Kong Truman, his I ’ “favourite subject of reading, collect- ing, collating and putting down on paper, the records achievements and -- ----- y .-T-- -—-J' Far East.” He hc^s tl» wll be completed by the year’s end. Pavri also notes, “The community our functions are getting crowded." It is indeed nice to see new faces all the their son Sherazad. ” The ceremony time and together with the increase in was performed by Ervad Vispi Dhalla, number, there is also an increase in talent which if properly harnessed, will I Z* . The ZSBC has donated Rs 1,500 to _ _____________ ____ the Federation of Zoroastrian Anju- flowers, notes Kanga. Sherzad ’s S^a^pore Navjot skx)r are Pavri also not^s. “The community , ’¦l^tivefy ¦in Vancouver is s^dily gllbwing and special day here wfien Khimheed and Tramria ‘ ----- number, there is also an increase in Dastur of California underwent the benefit everyone.” Agiary at Colaba in South Bombay. Yezdi M^ta celebrated the Navjot of their son Sherazad. ” The ceremony and was attended by relatives and friends of the Mehta’s from Ladia and Singapore, who enjoyed a buffet amid ­ st the traditional chalk-chandan and 21r Chicago Center i Artifacts of Parsi culture are sought ) by the Zoroastrian Association of j Metropolitan Chicago (ZAC), for their i proposed new Zoroastrian Center. Asli j carved furniture, divas, torans for I Agiary doors, Farohars, ajarghans khoomchas, cheepias, chamach, kara- sias and other ceremonial vessels, religious books, paintings and photo- ! graphs of artistic or historical value, j tape recordings or films of Gujarati songs or plays etc. “Such artifacts of Parsi culture will be deeply appreci­ ated, well cared for and preserved for posterity”, assures Rohinton Rivetna, president of the Association. As of 21 December 1980, the Asso­ ciation’s funds for the proposed Center stood at $ 39,500, noted the ZAC j newsletter of January 1981. The Arbab Guiv Foundation’s contribution to the Chicago community center of $ 150,000.00 is intended to be supple­ mented by ZAC through fund raising ventures. The center has been planned in three phases, the first phase will include a prayer room, an assembly hall and a library room, the second phase envi­ sages a priest’s residence and the third phase a guest house for visiting Zo­ roastrians, notes Rivetna. ZAC hopes the center “will provide furniture. H « «T rORE CHARHY OUtt.s CHARITY 1380 fl CBOWHIMG Bft'l Vakil seated with trophy: 6,000 raffle tickets ally for a young, newly married couple Mr. Singapore Charity like the Damns, who have just started Nineteeri-year-old Rahmdia B. Valdl out in life.” of Singapore, won the Mr Singapore Those willing to help should send Charity contest from 15 other parti­ their contributions directly to Mr and cipants, at the Shangri-la Hotel, Mrs Kersi P. Damri, 19312 West Lake Singapore, when he collected Singapote Drive. Miami, Florida 33015. $ 36.671 on behalf of the Spastic a religious and social focal point for Z.S.O. Sninnets Childrens Association of Singapore, our youth and the rest of the Zoroas- New York Philharmonic Conductor, Nation a Sir^apore news- trian community in the mid-western Zubin Mehta ’s baton was among the ^ptember 1980. United States.” “hot selling cdehritvXi” J the narrated how he collected the amount almost within a month, through dona­ tions, and raffle tickets, of which fe sold 6,000 for one Singapore dollar each. Besides the title and a trophy. Vakil also won a suit and a free ticket cSt Aeroflot, the Russian airline, to New Delhi, thanks to which he was able to make the detour to Bombay at his own expense. A sound movie camera, $ 600 in cash, a refrigerator, two calcula­ tors. pen, lighter, perfume, a food hamper, a radio cassette, a $ 100 gift at New York Philharmonic Conductor,. Zubin Mehta ’s baton was among the “hot selling celebrity items ” at the New York Association for the Blind’s 1980 “lighthouse ‘posh’ sale”, an­ nounces the Zoroastrian Association of Ontario’s (ZSO) December 1980 newsletter. Neville Rabadi of the Royal Cana­ dian Air Cadets Corps, has been chosen from 22 cadets across Canada for a two-week international ex­ change visit to England, where he will gain experience at the Royal Air Force bases, notes the October 1980 newsletter of the Z.S.O. Twenty-year-old Farokb Buhari- wala was awarded the W. Alan Curry voucher Tor clothes and a $ 50 gift Scholarship in anatomy by the Faculty of Medicine Research and Develop­ ment r S.O.S. from Miami Kersi and Mehroo Damri, victims of a road accident in Miami, are in need of monetary aid to help pay off hospi­ tal bills, court charges the mortgage on their house, as well as day to day living expenses, note the Parsis of Miami and Boca Raton, Florida, in a letter of appeal to the Zoroastrian Association of Quebec. The Damris, both Chartered Ac­ countants, newly married, and expect­ ing a baby were involved in a head-on collision with another car, on 8 June Scholarship in anatomy by the Faculty voucher for books, were Vakil s other 1980, notes the letter. The only sur- of Medicine Research and Develop- prizes, which he said were auctioned vivors of the accident. Kersi and rnent Foundation of the Dalhousie ^^d the money collected given to the Mehroo sustained multiple fractures of University, states the October news- Hans Anderson Club for underprivi- the arms, legs, jaw and nose, besides letter, adding that the Foundation’s lodged children. , other serious injuries, and had to un- studentships were established to en- Vakil, who is a Navor, is at present dergo extensive surgical operations, courage young scholars of excellent completing his two year conscription including plastic surgery for their dis- standards to seek a career in medical th® Service, figured faces. ‘ “They will be bed-ridden for another six months and unable to work for Faculty of Music of the^ University of quite some time. . .although they have some medical insurance.. .it is under­ standable how dificult it would be for anyone to meet the expenses, especi- news­ letter, adding that the Foundation’s studentships were established to en- . * , scholars of excellent completing his two year conscription research. where he jokes, “they teach you hoiv Neville Austin, a student with the to become a good clerk. Toronto has been awarded the Music Religion and Ravo Talent Foundation Award according A mini symposium on topics relate^ to the November 1980 newsletter of to the Zoroastrian religion is planned the Z.S.O. . »J 23 I ^iiiiiggiijiiliiiilliiii^^J p 1 1 1 News from the Media The Chinnery-China Connection When Sino-Indian relations are mentioned one thinks of those indefa­ tigable Chinese pilgrims who made their way over the mountains in search of Indian wisdom. More contempora ­ neously, one also thinks of the border dispute. But what is less obvious is the role Bombay played in the cultivation of relations with India’s overwhelm­ ing Asian neighbour. For this a vigor­ ous and forward-looking band of Far­ si s were mainly responsible and it was not long before their keen and calcu­ lating eyes fell on China as a source of profitable trade. More than half of Bombay ’s wealth in the early 19th century was in their hands and much of this wealth derived from the China trade. Thus by a curious combination of circumstances, Bombay ’s develop­ ment from a relatively insignificant is­ land into a major port city owed a great deal to China and the intrepid Parsis who were among the first groups of merchant adventurers in Canton. Old maps of the trading factories in Canton clearly demarcate that section of the waterfront in which the Parsis operated alongside the British, Ame ­ ricans. Danes and others. Of these Par- sis the most enterprising and colourful was Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy who visited China four times between 1800 and 1808, cooking his own food on board ship, living in insanitary and uncom ­ fortable quarters, being attacked by the hostile French, and narrowly es­ caping shipwreck. Those were indeed rugged days but to the Parsi entrepre­ neurs we are indebted for the porcel­ ain, tea, silks and other exotica that flowed into the country. Jamsetjee Jee­ jeebhoy negotiating with the astute Chinese in Canton became a familiar sight and is now a part of the lore of the China trade. It was at this point that history, again arranging its affairs with consummate skill, brought George Chinnery (1774-1852) onto the scene. This painter spent the first half of the 19th century in the Orient, mainly consummate relations tish ones were founded on opium and, indeed, looking at Chinnery paintings, one fancies that one catches the fant­ asy reek of opium. It was considered a great distinc­ tion in the Sino-Indian-British world of the commerce of those days to be painted by Chinnery, and although Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy’s place in Indian and Bombay history had been confirm­ ed by his accomplishments, that he was commemorated in a Chinnery ___ ___ ____________________ painting (now owned by Mr. John cal and aesthetic reasons. He himself Keswick, an old China hand) was one with which history regales us from time to time. In Bombay itself Jamsetjee was housed in the building which is now Handloom House, to which carriages came transporting celebrities of all kinds. Of one of his parties the Born- the opportunity of witnessing, even in India and China, painting portraits of Chinese merchant princes, of British taipans and other personalities whose exploits had been such as to merit pic­ torial documentation for posterity. Jamsetjee, by now prosperous and established, sat for Chinnery and we have in the portrait that Chinnery pro­ duced one of the earliest and most fascinating memorials which links India with China and England. Chin­ nery paintings now sell at enormous prices and are prized for both histori- ___________________________________________ . was as romantic a figure as Jeejeebhoy of those felicitous ordering ot events and the books of the period refer to ................ . ............. him as capturing in his paintings the atmosphere of the East-West relations of those times, as constantly running away from his debts and as freely in­ dulging in opium. Trading in opium and smoking it ------ were not then regarded as unusual or bay Courier wrote: We had seldom a vice. Parsi fortunes and many Bri- the opportunity of witnessing, even in 25 HNithe houses of the first European gentry i“ **-*- ’’ ’ ¦ agreeably and judiciously arranged, as this of Jamsetjee ’s.” He was the first citizen of Bombay to introduce ice and ice confectionary at his “entertain­ ments”, though after one of these some of the guests and Jamsetjee him ­ self were reported to have developed “colds”. What was there in the ethos of those days that produced men of such vig­ our and enterprise, whose adventuring brought Bombay, Parsis, China and Chinnery together within the romantic framework of the China trade? Bom­ bay’s contribution to this colourful chapter in Asian history was Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy and, from any point of view, it was indeed an extremely wor­ thy one. , ,, - a—J Hinnells does not feel much differ- in this Island, an entertainment so ently. He is also averse to the sug- N. J. NANPORIA (Times of India II January 1981) six years. At the end of that, he join- ed an Anglican church monastery, gestion of dispersing the Parsis out “The monks encouraged me to study of Bombay to relieve the economic and prepared me for a university en- pressures. trance examination”, he said. He went on to make a mark in his aca- I demic career. I Hinnells still walks with the aid of I a stick and a limp. Periodically, he I has to submit hirasdf to surgical ope- I rations of a hip bone. I He has a lively interest in sports I and had opened the innings for the I college staff association with the Eng- I land captain, Mike Brearly who taught I philosophy at the same university. “I I did not have many runs to my credit I but I could stay on for hours”. And I he always batted with a runner. When I it came to fielding, he was at the slips, a safe catcher. Hinnells also trained with the Derby Union Football Club and, being' J strong in soccer theory, worked out strategy for London University’s Kings Hinnells: “not a single Para student ” College, thus enabling them to win cups. His only lament is that he has still not got a single Parsi student to learn in his classrooms. “I have taught Hin­ dus, Muslims, Christians but so far not a single Parsi”. (Times of India 7 February 1981) City Crematorium a Health “Impact of Parsis on India Fascinating ” Although the numerical strength of the Parsis is declining at an alarming speed, the number of students taking uu^vi m to research on the community is in- Britain, titled. Role of Parsis in Bri- creasing. 'tish India (1862-1947), will have de- The community ’s religion, Zoroas- tailed accounts of the community and trianisto, f*- - ___ -----------------------• . * 1 L._;_ interest among the student fraternity culture. in the U.K. and the U.S. There will be moving chapters on “I have 90 students researching in- Madame Cama ’s vigorous fight for Hazard to various facets of Zoroastrianism,” ix ------ j n—j _ said John R. Hinnells, head of the University of Manchester’s depart­ ment of comparative religion. Hinnels has been particularly fasci­ nated by the Parsi community ’s enor- cnartty went for the poor, how they According “to Dr K “s” Endn^’ mous catalysing influence on Indian excluded richer Parsis to make way 75, who lives in Chandanwadi X’ soot from the crematorium is highly dangerous to the human body. It ge­ nerates a tuberculosis-type of disease called ‘pneumoconiosis ’, causing “fib­ rous growth in the lungs, very simi ­ lar to the one found in tuberculosis- afflicted textile mill workers,” Dr. Engineer contends, adding that “in xhildren, this disease can be fatal.” To this. Dr. Rajesh Chandan, a radiologist, who runs a clinic on Shamaldas Gandhi Marg (Princess Street), agrees, saying, “The incidence of tuberculosis is very high in this area, and since the majority of the population belongs to the lower classes, munity he has studied. Becau^ of a they cannot afford to get X-rayed. Hinnells’ book, a standard refer­ ence material, now under print in tish India (1862-1947), will have de- ___ tailed accounts of the community and has evoked considerable its members ’ contribution to the Indian There will be moving chapters freedom, the estrangement it caused Dead men tell no tales. But in in the family, her exile to France Chandanwadi, a crowded locality , . - 5?® the plea for return to India to near Marine Lines housing a cre- comp^tive religion. die on the soil of the motherland. matorium, the ashes of the dead are H^ls hasbeen particular^ fasci- How the Parsis made sure their riring to bring slow death to residents nated by the Parsi community s enor- charity went for the poor, how they • - ». A 2 m f .. J' - J JI _ Tv • . « ' social, political and economic life. ror me poor ot other communities in He start^ research study on the schools and how generously and un- He is in Bombay to make a dee^ liorating the distress those who ’ ....... . ¦ ¦ suffwed a natural calamity, are all being recorded in the forthcoming book. Hinnells’ initial inspiration to pursue to France Chandanwadi, near Marine Lines housing for the poor of other communities the schools and how generously and — - community ’s religion eight years ago. conditionally they took part in ame- JT- •- -- "—*• ................... - - study on the Parsis’ rich cultural heri­ tage, and to write a book in collabo­ ration with Dastur Jamasp-Asa. The demographic profile of Parsis . *.1^ * X -------------- --- V.*.* fcvr shows a one percent decline in its research into Zoroastrianism was de­ on numbers every year. This disturbing rived from.that religion’s influence trend, bearing a sharp contrast to ac- on the Jews and the“Christians. Cer- cretion of numbers in most other tain recondite facts of the Bible like Indian communities, is attributed to the concept of hell, heaven, resurrec- late marriages among Parsis because tion and angels have originated from of impecunious circumstances and Zoroastrianism, he feels, migration of a few. Hinnells’s life itself is It may be recalled that some months colourful than the role of the ago, an American professor of com- i __ _ __ ___________________ parative religion and a distinguished childhood affliction of tuberculosis of Besides TB, there is an equally high scholar of Zoroastrianism, Prof. Pang- the bone, he attended, only three years incidence of asthma and other bron- bom, exploded some months ago the of school, starting from the age of 12. chial diseases and even a few cases of myth of the Parsi prosperity. Most By 15, he was advised to discontinue lung cancer.” members of the community lived on because of inadequate academic stand­ doles and had to defer marital pro­ positions because of economic in­ security. no less com- the bone, he attended, only three years of school, starting from the age of 12. ards. He went to an arts school and took to painting landscapes for the next Even more significant is his con­ tention that the ash can cause teta­ nus if it falls on an open wound. “This ash, unlike normal ash, is hea- 27 ifi±I J I vier and oily. It easily adheres to any the chimney, but it generally fails to surface and if you try to brush it off, work when bodies are continuously it leaves an oily residue behind,” he brought in and the load is increased, explains. “This oiliness is probably Indeed, there have been occasions due to the human fat that bums dur- when the water chamber has burst ing cremation. ” due to overloading and caused dense Nargis Mistry, 40, a social worker smoke to float over the neighbour- crusading to reduce the nuisance that hood! the crematorium is causing, herself lives on Shamaldas Gandhi Marg and plained to the MBC on January 21, suffers from asthma —-a disease, she 1980. The former mayor, B. K. Bo- feels, she has contracted from the man-Behram, said the chimney was smoke emanating from the pyre. not tall enough and that the voltage A more illustrative case is that of used to cremate the bodies was not M. D. Bandivdekar, 60, retired elec­ trician-in-charge of the crematorium, t _____ its inception in 1^^ and, during his tenure there oontracted tuberculosa. _ He complains that operators working The list was presented to the then in the crematorium are themselves minister for urban development, P. G. left without much protection, and Kher. In April 1974, when Murli though they are housed near by, they Deora visited the site, he suggested that a standby- unit be set up and that the chimney be cleaned more often. On May 20, 1980, residents ap- _ - ¦ ¦ ...... • *1 and in September sent a letter to the municipal commissioner, B. K. Chow- gule. Finally, another letter was sent to the chief minister, A. R. Antulay, in October. In spite of all this, how­ ever, the matter, for all practical pur­ poses, is a dead issue. RAJU CHELLAM (Times of India 20 January 1981) In this regard, four councillors com- Homa sufficient. No further action was tak­ en, even though Tatas were willing Bandivdekar, worked there ever since to supply the additional voltage. As early as November 1970, the first signature campaign was started. themselves minister for urban development, P. G. left without much protection, and Kher. 7 are not entitled to medical insurance or superannuation benefits. The gross monthly salary of an operator is Rs. — —-j ------------- 550, while an electrician gets about ‘tmon crotrol cell Rs. 700 per month. - To mitigate the health hazards to operators, Bandtvdekar feels that the corporation should, at least, provide smoke screens and give monthly vaccinations against diseases likely to be contracted by the workers. The crematorium is open round the clock with operators working in three shifts (6 a.m., 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.) The normal charge for the cremation, of Crime novel a body is Rs. 50. For children, the by Bombay ’s Frcne Olbrich rate is reduced by haff. ' * A special 2 ft. by 6 ft, wooden cof-. fin is prepared, in which the body is placed, clothed, and a podium is erected inside the hall for the last rites. All communities and castes, re­ gardless of class, use the crematorium, more so during the monsoons when humidity is high and normal crema­ tion is difficult and time-consuming. Twelve boffies are admitted every day, each body - taking about one-and-a- half hours to bum completely, thus consuming 60,000 watts of power. Problems in the crematorium be­ gan when indigenous machines were installed in . 1968. These were inferior, outdated and required more mainten ­ ance. The previous machines, brought from Denmark in 1954, had,. ffiree qus writing only in 1976 when the furnace chambers, of which one was - - - ¦ shut down and used as a standbyf ________ _ ___ _______ ___ The present machines have only two and a secret yearning to write, she set chambers, which are continuously in to. The result was Desouza pays the operation. This frequently leads to price which was snapped up by Hein- overloading, resulting in breakdowns, emann and soon had a large fan fol- Another problem is the water sprin- lowing. But Freny had to pay a price kling system. This is meant to purify as well. the smoke before it is released through “My first book just happened to be is 1979 award-whiner Move Over Ellery Queen, SeUbt Spade. Inspector Ghote, Nero Wolfe and Father Browne — Inspector Frank Desouza of the Bombay police is here! At least, he is making waves in the West that have earned his creator, Freny Olbrich nee Dastoor, the Cur­ rent Crime award for the best British crime novel of 1979. Freny herself is married to a Ger­ man settled in Scotland and is also the daughter of an ex-police surgeon of Bombay. Which is where she got her ideas of creating Inspector Desouza and having him go through a series of adventures that is gripping crime buffs not only in England but further afield. Strangely enough, she _started seri- school where she is teaching English had a strike. With time on her hands to. The result was Desouza pays the Engineering Works engineers and SHIP REPAIRERS, QUALIFIED ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL & MARINE ENGINEERS. Senior Partner; H. B. BENGALI Head Office: Trapinex House. Fifth Floor, Room No. 504 & 506, 15, Sholapur Street, Bombay 400009. Deck Office: Odd. P. a V. Docks Clock Tower. Manson Rd., B<^^^4W009. Tel. Add. “FASTREPAIR”. Work Shop: 147, Tokersey Jivraj Road. Cotton Green, Bombay 400 015. Work Shop: Head Office; 86 04 44 Dock Office: 32 77 65/33 14 32 W. Shop. 44 28 85 Residence: 82 70 96 291^ a shtrian because at .1 I ST a c^^ thriller becauM I was than cover was a’ lot those at the. time. I wanted a shtrian because at .that time somefiiing completely original and there were many Goans in the police thoeght nobody had ever written a thriller set in Bombay before. I did mrt know about H. R. Keating and his gues, so I was more familiar with the ¦ — -................... - way their minds worked.” ' The details , of how the police work­ ed she got from her father, the rest she owes to her memory. Desouza in Star- force holding senior positions, and also because I had more Goan collea- Inspector Ghote. If I had known, 1 might never have come up with Desouza. “Anyway, I finished the book and because I wanted it to be a one-off, I dust especially is vintage Bombay, for made Inspector Desouza resign at the it sets the intrepid inspector in the end. But when Heinemann agreed to middle of^ investigations which take publish it, they also made it a condi-................. . tion of acceptance that I would write a few more, using the same hero. So I had to add another chapter, in which I make him withdraw his resignation.” It is a pity that the Bombayite has been deprived so far of these books. him into the heart of the film world. And who in Bombay does not like to read about film stars. But the yen to be a straight writer is there too, so Freny has now written a book about a Parsee boy, the young­ est son in a family whose history she For all* three, including Sweet and traces right up to Independence. And Deadly (for which Freny won the when she goes back to Scotland later award) and Desouza in Stardust would this week, she too has been accepted find a ready market in India and more for publication. especially in Bombay for the settings (Mid-day 13 January 1981) are achingly familiar. It is as if Freny is homesick and must bring back the atmosphere of the city where she lived for so long, as a school-girl, then a collegian at Elphinstone College and a . . lecturer at St. Xavier’s College, before G.P.O. to buy a First Day Cover com- ~ -- memorating the Seminar on the Great Indian Bustard. Irani’s interest in the Painting Philately On November 1, 1980 Jamshed Piroj- shaw Irani queued up at the Bombay IM * going to Oxford more than 20 years ago. had designed the stamp. Other philate­ lists scrutinising the First Day Cover are unlikely to notice anything very unusual about the stamp. But there is: it is the product of a specialised but little known discipline in the art of painting, a tradition of scientific paint­ ing that goes back to the great Ameri­ can naturalistic painter Audubon, of the early 19th century, and his contem­ porary British counterpart John Gould. Irani was himself only hazily aware of the scientific tradition in bird paint­ ing until 1964 when, as a 25-year old commercial artist, a set of fortuitous circumstances resulted in his putting a phone call through to Dr. Salim Ali, the internationally renowned ornitho­ logist. The call culminated in an invit­ ation to Irani to be the first Indian painter to do the colour plates of his monumental, 10 volume Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan, and thus launched him into the most satis­ fying stage of his artistic career. Dr. Salim All’s work demanded total accuracy. Every bird could not be painted life-size, but every bird had to be drawn in exact proportion to the real specimen: the length of the beak, wings, tail, limbs (known as tarsus), as Continued on gage 41 I I I with Best Compliments from Gharda Chemicals Private Limited Manufacturers of Dyes and Dye-Intermediates Pesticide Intermediates Process Consultants 48, Hill Road, Bandra, Bombay 400050. 31 • ----- -'-1 'iiiMMB—lyBPP ELECTIONS THE FINAL DAYS - f > !> 9 It was the pavements of Dadabhoy Naoroji Road that provided the final forum for the keenly contested Bom­ bay Parsi Panchayat Anjuman Com- || mittee elections. Over the course of I four weekends, a camaraderie deve- 1 loped between the member^ of the 1 two competing parties, the Committee j for Electoral Rights (CER) and the I Committee of i United Zoroastrians j (CUZ) outside the Sir Jamsetjee Jeeje- bhoy Institute building that houses the 9 Dickensian offices of the BPP. The fl scars of the rough-and-tumble camp- I aign slowly began to heal and talk of fl working together to achieve common fl purposes emerged. 3 EvCn in the final days of the elec- I tion. the trustees of the BPP whose I Chairman B. K. Boman-Behram is one I of the CUZ leaders along with Trustee I Nelie Noble, tried to obstruct meas- n ures to ensure a fair election. Once J again the CER leaders had to drag |jfe_ , the BPP trustees to court, this time for appointment of their observers on all the tables where counting of the votes take place and for more observ­ ers on the ‘D’ register for the final two days of the voting. The CER leaders’ fears were not without foundation. C March 14. one voter was charged with impersonation by the vigilant Pancha­ yat staff and handed over to the poIi- zealous doorkeepers, ce. He reportedly implicated one of the CUZ office bearers and is said to have made a statement to the police- to that effect. According to reports, another CUZ leader, a former police official, had the report altered. Duplicate certificates in large num ­ bers had been issued by the Panchayat reportedly to Noble and other CUZ leaders; several voters found when ___________ ___ ________________ they went to vote that someone else and posters with several tables spew- had already cast a vote in their name, ed along the length of the stone build- An elaborate police bandobast was i '. 2'1 made on the polling dates of February p^ies and a few independent candi- 21. 22 and 28 and March 1. 7, 8. 14 dates. Every weekend saw a ] and 15. Aside from some minor inci­ dents on the first day. polling was careful arrangements made by the munity was in danger. Jeeps went CUZ. However, in the final week of r : ¦ ¦¦’ ’ , ¦- about 10 minutes to complete the vot- exhorting Parsis to vote. court decision on the extra observers ing formalities. However, with the In Rustom Baug. a CER jeep ran and for once did not'headline it as a - trustees usual phobia of certain sec- into trouble when some residents, re- victory for the Panchayat In two of tions of the press, photographers were portedly GUZ sympathizers objected the other cases where the Panchayat not fwmitted to photograph the poll- and a minor scuffle ensued in which a suffered humiliating defeats in court ¦ ing. When Blitz correspondent. Ma- microphone was damaged. A bulldog one in regard to the Parsi women pro-’ ure NEWS t CER has won the iy Rertrt«. , Anjuman Committee II-' - - - ------- ---------- •I Police van stationed in frmit of the polling station neck Daver, who had been standing also reportedly growled menacingly at near the front gate along with press photographer Rashid Bamanbehram, On Saturday for almost an hour seeking permission to enter, finally tried to walk in, he weekends inserted by the two parties was physically jostled out by the over- i Nariman Mehta, one of the CER’s most active members. The newspap­ ers carried advertisements on the four and an occasional public meeting or two was held. The CER was forced to resort to advertisements in the Jam-e-Jamshed when it found that Jame Editor Adi Marzban refused to print any of the letters or articles supporting the CER. As Jamshed Kanga, the CER conve- hor, noted in a puWic meeting at Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Hall three days _____ ____ before the election, “The only way we was festooned with a host of banners can get anything into the Jame is by ¦ ¦ ¦¦__________paying for it.” Though Marzban had __ . in a private meeting with the CER ing manned by volunteers of both leaders promised to carry any materi- ______ ;_. al sent to him by die CER, once the prolifera- electioneering started in earnest, al- tion of new literature, with the CUZ most none Of the letters favouring the ,. , claiming the ndigion was in danger CER saw print while column after peaceful and orderly, thanks to the and the CER countering that the com- column appeared daily supporting the careful arrangements made by the munity was in danger. Jeeps went CUZ. However, in the final week of Panchayat with each voter requiring around to the various Parsi colonies the election, the Jame did carry the ing formalities. However, with the In every case the judgement went against the BPP trustees or they had to concede. The entrance to the polling station In Rustom Baug, a CER jeep ran into trouble when some residents, re- won (Be ’D’ '™ aroiad LOOQ 1y I ? • I a- I i I I .1 I NOS. e 1 i - IP ¦ 1 Ll I t )- s - M ‘B; I . - A 5 V<4uDteers outside die polling station and voters at entrance $ 7 < s 1 ww 8 I i /V- 1 Photographs: Rashid Bamanbehram in those times to perform the Geh sarna ceT&moay in the house and then carfy the corpse with its face uncover­ ed to the Tower of Silence. As this _____________________/ t sight for passersby on the streets, the Sabha wrote to the BPP to issue in­ structions that the face be covered. Boman-Behram co-authored the ing of the Dokhma facilities” and also promised to “strive my utmost to have the definition of a ‘Parsi’ fixed in law in such a way that it will debar any ---- Parsi marrying an alien, from being was unhygienic and an unpleasant considered a Parsi Zoroastrian.” An streets, the The burly Contractor, spoke at cz“ ' ; venting intercaste manages,” and en- him,” according to the Samachar, man of the BPP, thus publicly associ- Due to the Samachar’s espousal of li- ating the Panchayat on the side of the beral causes, the CER was wary of CUZ. Referring to the CER and its supporters the two writers stated, “The Parsi community is not likely to be misguided by the reformists ’ pro- poganda, which thrives on falsehood and intellectual dishonesty. If they succeed, woe betide the community! ” The article abounded with factual er­ rors and amounted to little more than a tirade against the CER and the “re- would release their campaign literature formists.” '¦ That Boman-Behram and Noble are ______ ___ amongst the CUZ leaders is common- the Samachar E^tor Jehan Daruwala ly known but while Boman-Behram tion on any register. Noble stood from the ‘IT register. The entry of the X.XX X. _ _____________ ____ zrr -L-1 ' ’ " supporting the ban on non-Parsis pay- the political fray, explained why the fessing the Zoroastrian faith but mar ­ ried to non-Parsis being allowed to register as voters and the other'pert­ aining to the extension of polling dat­ es from two to eight days, the Jame had termed them as victories for the trustees. When the paper was threat­ ened with legal action by Gagrat & Co., the noted Bombay law firm that championed the case of the six Parsi women married to non-Parsis, they finally carried the correct version of the Bombay High Court judge’s deci­ sion. The enigmatic Jame policy made the CER members resort to stuffing cyclostyled sheets into copies of the -. paper to get their message across to the A register were OHUnOUS the readers. However, after CER harbingers of big money member, Jal Ollia slipped his cyclost- entering Parsa politics, yled statement into the paper in the early hours of the morning, the Jame a few days later carried an item on ------------------ . _ its front page denouncing the practice to the Jame first and then the Sama- and saying it was done without the char. The CER leaders sent word to papers consent. uxv. ~~~— ------ ——, , . , , The Bombay. Samachar on the other not to raise any controversial religious chose this time not to stand for elec- hand attacked the CUZ and the Pan- issues, but Daruwala ignored the requ- tion on any register Noble st<^ chavat while extending support to the est and in one of his columns launch- from the ‘O’ register. The entry ot the CER. The Samachar also prominently ed a broadside against the^CUZ for BPP chairman published the court decisions on the Sw^i.*-*.****-.-^ — —--------- * - % ' ’*4. front page the very next day, while ing their last respects to the Parsi Panchayat repeatedly^opposed attem- xiwxiv 1 1 -/ 1 1 V V .J • T'**’ Kvr r*PP ATin the Jame would often delay such pub- dead. F - .. xv u 1 j- lication if it did not favour the BPP. The Blitz weekly had earned a sen- others to ensure the holding of a free The Samachar also took CUZ lead- es of articles on the elections, includ- and fair election and thereby forced er, Jal Contractor to task for his ex- The burly Contractor, spoke at a CER meeting about “physically pre­ venting intercaste marriages, ” and en- Boman-Behram co-authored quired whether the CER “would assist Blitz article in his capacity as'chair- .. <• o —_____________________ _____ -.X 4.1-.-. *0131) MiKlinIvr ocC/V*l_ 11X111) vv* ***- - --- ------------- - - Due to the Samacht^’ j' espousal of li- acknowledging the paper’s suport and The muricy manoeuvres on __ _____ __ •--- pts made by the CER leaders and The Blitz weekly had carried a seri­ es of articles on the elections, includ- - ------------ vx, —X _ _______ ...___-_____ __ ing one written by Boman-Behram the community to resort to the courts tremist stand on religious issues. A and B. K. Mistry, secretary of the of law. It is significant that in ®vety L-Parsis^aying their respects trustees or they had to concede. x-x..wJ <...______I;./. rrrip*- On the first day of the polling, the ures.'rhe"*custom?in fact,°started 100 CER leaders found to their dismay jvxxxo -fex. ... v.x~ I..!™.:___: that the Panchayat, without consult- numai Mazdayasne Sabha, a religious ing them, had changed their ballot- reform body founded by men such as serial numbers. The explanation given Dadabhoi Naoroji, K. R. Cama and was that one candidate, Pesi Cama, a Sheriar Bharucha. It was the custom retired colonel and executive had filed 35 UCnilSV SUIUU Ull IClIKiUUO Jioouvo. aiixu. x>.. 9 ------ .1 . j x 4. ?Ua former deputy commissioner of poUce, CUZ, wherein the duo daisied the bar case the judgement went against the widely respected m the community, on non-Parsis paying their respects «•’ + <»xr «» /-nncp <* Contractor emerg^ as one of the was based on ancient jreligiou^ CUZ leaders in the course of the cam- 1—- TL. paign. He favoured barring any Parsi years ago at the initiative of the Rah- male or female who married a non- ------- c„kv,„ .. ,.0. Parsi “from taking part in any religi­ ous ceremonies or attending or enter­ ing any agiary, atashbehram or avail­ ii !i e 1his nomination papers from both the known she was standing as an inde- While many of the 453 CER and k CUZ and the CER. It was only when both parties released their list of can­ didates that the duplication was noted. - Cama then opted to stand from the to the party faithfuls, several of the ¦ ' - bers and one observer each from the pendent candidate. CER and the CUZ. While many of the 453 CER and In the ‘A’ register which consists of CUZ candidates left the electioneering people who have donated Rs. 500 and VW V..W I.....J _____ 1 -2 over but less than Rs. 5,000, the 46 independent candidates who numbered CER endorsed candidates won by a about a dozen i throughout the four weekends, hand­ ing out their literature to voters. Am- li Sr lilt^wffich e"Sed from ‘'l!umb- ab^uTT'dozen remain^ present er 249 to ^15, had one less candidate, throughout the four weekends, hand- A register had ffie highest turnout of The Panchavat instead of leavine ‘ng out their literature to voters. Am- voters, over 96 per cent with 280 of Cama ’s nu£blank movld S the ongst the independents was Dr. Syrus the eligible 291 voters casting their cama s num^r Oianic, moved ail tne e f. ballot. Noble and her Pundolite group, numters up by one and allotted num- . followers of the late mystical leader, y 475 to Freny Ponda an independ- The only way we can get Minocher Pundole, had swept the ‘A’ ent candidate and one of the six Parsi anything info the ‘Jame ’ IS by ^974 ^^uld in all pro­ women to take the Panchayat to court paying for it ”. bability have won it again except for on the issue of votingnghts, thus - ---------- the courts of law. CFR'candidfltePA^^eaflet nnhlish^d^iv the controversial son of the late Boman-Behram and Noble’s strate- f shith doongetwadi keeper, Darrish Irani, gy for the ‘A’ register was to wait till ih<*rpnfte.r dnimino “th« rat rtiif Irani Came ffito the public eye when all the vanous groups and individuals ” aid^hal TFR ^e fct non-Patsis pay their last res- had submitted their applications on the bag, and that t^ CER was in _ ^pp December 1980. favour of Parsis rnamed to non-Par- that non-Parsis were to Just before the Panchayat doors SIS, one of the most controversial issu- baned from viewing the face of the were shut at 6 p.m., Noble’s support- dead. ers reportedly entered and after as- The CER, exceedingly sensitive to - - • • • _ the charge, immediately put up posters stating that Pemda was not a CER candidate and issued advertisements in the. press to that effect. Instruc­ tions to voters ' with the new ballot numbers, 249 to 474, were also print­ ed and given to voters outside the pol­ ling station. In a letter to the Kaiser- E-Hind, the Gujarati-English weekly, and in an advertisement in the Jame, Cama apologised for the inconveni­ ence caused while Ponda also let it be manned by two Panchayat staff mem- “The only way we can get anything info the ‘Jame ’ is by paying for it ”. I: I f Irani, the controversial son of the late doongerwadi keeper, Darvish Irani. Irani came into the public eye when he let non-Parsis pay their last res­ pects to Darvish despite the DPP tru­ stees’ dictum that non-Parsis were to be bMrad from viewing the face of the dead. . . Out of at totsd electorate of around certaining how many people had regi- 18,600', over 95650 Parsis vt^ed, that stered from the opposition groups, is 51 percent. Considering there was submitted their applications. Altoge- only one polling booth and v^ers had ther 140 voters were enrolled on the to travel from all parts of Boii^y and ‘A’ register on the last day, involving the suburbs to vote, the turnout was a total of Rs 70,000. But what Noble considerable. And compared to the and Boman-Behram had not counted on was a tough fight from the Rayo- mand Ccanmittee donors, people who in good faith had donated money to 1,500 votes cast in 1974, it was over a six-fold increase. The counting of votes began on 16th March at the Parsi Panchayat offices, the Panchayat fOr housing and whom Fifteen tables have been set up each With Best Compliments From the two trustees refused to enrol as voters on the ‘A’ register. ARMAYESH FOODS AND PROCESSING (PVT.) LTD. (Frozen Marine Products) ? I Advani Chambers (2nd Floor), Sir P. Mehta Road, Fort, Bombay-400 001. Tel. 258093, 259183. f k i !I: 7 •I r*' J -I 'I 5 I Spearheaded by the indefatigable y wn me r register was put at Because of the large number of seats usurer, Jer K. Bardi, two donors, 303, though actually the number was involved. PJ““Pshaw Udwadia and less as the Panchayat had erroneous- With each voter in the ‘D’ register Khodadad Boman Irani filed a plaint ly forgotten to strike out the names of being permitted to vote for 227 candi- in which they descnbed the trustees’ dead donors. Thus the ‘A’ register dates, the counting of votes would action as arbitrary, malicious fraud- was allotted 15 percent or 46 seats, the drag into April. As this issue of Pur­ ulent and in excess of and in fraud of ‘C’ register, 10 percent or 30 seats, sina goes to press, around 5,300 votes the powers ccmferred upon them. The and the ‘D’ register, 75 percent or 227 of the 8,791 cast in the ‘D’ register trustees, realising they had no legal seats. But while the ‘E’ register will were tallied, with the CER ahead bv pounds to fight on, agreed to register remain static at 303 for the next seven about 425 votes. the donors. years till a new Anjuman Committee With the counting of the votes, the elected in 1988, ots : Retail Shops : 331275 323262 351637 261573 Cable : WELFARE Bombay 39L 1 I Continued from page 31 also the total size. The specimens used me great orminoiogist's Handbook as ----- ¦ also for several other books, including al birds, dead and disembowelled but BZrcfs of Bhutan, Book of Indian Birds with their bones intact and stuffed with Birds of Eastern Himalayas all by cotton. These specimens, of which Salim Ali, Common Birds, by Salim , - rii ------X uiviiaiiy^ And Masts one of th^J^argest collections in Watching Birds by Mrs. Jamel Ara. After a decade of such patient work by Irani, Dr. Salim Ali was approach­ ed by the Posts and Telegraphs De- seiies. since completed hundreds of birds for the great ornithologist’s Handbook also for several other books, including in Asia, which are only meagerly uti­ lised and could easily cope with a manifold increase in interest and me­ mbership. LUIS S. R. VAS (Sunday Standard 11 January 1981) Deboo ’s World “There were times when 1 was in tears. I danced my heart out but could not make any contact with the drug ad­ dicts. They just sat there without responding.” Modern and classical dancer, Astad addicts rehabilitation centre in Canada. ------- _> case history of an addict before a group while the psychiatrists studied the patient’s res­ ponses. Astad is quite clear about his contribution to the rehabilitation effort:. “The psychiatrists used me.” The Canada encounter is one of the diverse experiences Astad has had during his eight years around the which were spent hitch­ achievements which clicked into place with the naturalness of a kaleidoscopic formation. He was chosen lead dancer in Rose Garden, the opera performed at the controversial Royal Sydney Opera as models for the paintings were actu- with their bones intact and stuffed with Bombay ’s Natural History Society /S**and*“hfe." Laeeq^’iShaUv Asia, about 25,000, are known as ‘skins’. Besides the precise proportion, the paintings had to capture the birds ___ ____ ____ __ in the typical ‘pose’ of their species. It partment for advice'*on'th^^cont^- would hardly do to show a ground plated ‘Indian Bird Stamps ’ series bird perched on a t^ branch. And Naturally enough the ornithologist xvxvucm anu classical aancer a sto. bi^iant plumage to turned to Irani for the designs, Irani 'Deboo. recalls his experience at a dru^^ be accurately reproduced in water obliged with a set of eight rough colour addicts iehabiiiiaiioncenir ‘ * colour but with equal exactness, the designs done in the actual, minuscular Astad used to act out the painter shades of the bill, ms, legs and stamp size, depicting a Crimson-brea- feet, as well.'And, of course, the back- sted Barbet, a Blossom-headed Para- ground had to reflect faithfully the ket, an Indian Pitta, a Black-headed birds natural habit: anything like a Oriole, a Pink-headed Duck, a Great bird in winter plumage shown in the Indian Bustard, a Western Tragopan backdrop of a summer landscape and a Monal Pheasant, Out of these, would be a scientiflc scandal of tragic four were selected and the final paint- dimensitms. ings, done six times larger than the But why bother about a painstaking- actual stamp sizes, were then submit- worm nve o ly elaborate painting technique in an ted. accepted, printed and the stamps hikine The ioumev ku age of the most amazing colour photo- released. Lu was spangled with graphy? “Photographs of aU birds are ’L ...................... . just not available,” says Irani, “and in have enabled him to combine his twin those that are available, all details are ’ not visible.” In any case, far from daunting him, the prospect of illustrat- some of his enthusiasm with a wider House durine its mg Sdim All s work only exhilarated public, Irani bemoans the general lack was the lone Indian artiste there^ H? infectious enthusiasm for of interest in nature among his com- has oartiXat^^ ?n Aly work, and All s natural courtesy patriots. As a telling example he points Art ^Festival^^razil ^197? Tnd and patience touched the artist, and to the facilities provided by the Bom- danced before th? r completely bowled him over. Irani has bay Natural History Society, the oldest and Thaitend. Ae dnlg addicts^o” Birds of Eastern Himalayas, all by Though thankful that circumstances love of nature and art in his work, which has permitted him to share some of his enthusiasm with i For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324. GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY 400007. TELEPHONE: 371483 4 appointed valuers by the government of INDIA 41 ir r. 1 S' BS J i ? 1 V J * t Deboo: dSvctae expmencc* Hon^oag. and the mayor of Los An ­ gela. He has performed with the ace ’ ] who dances out a performance design­ ed by a generation of gurus — the pat- I terns, themes, costumes, music, rhyth­ ms, everything is predetermined, jwe- pared by tradition — Astad has to be­ gin with a blank. A piece of music, usually contemporary European, sug­ gests a theme to him. The projection of his concept involves a multi-dimen ­ sional design; costumes, lights, sets, props, body language, changing rhyth­ ms, showmanship. And he is working in this country in isolation, as he is the only male modern dancer India can boast of. There are no encounters with other modern dance conceptions which could help him test his ability, give him a take-off base, or make compa- L risons. Hi hor this and many more reasons I fc! respect Astad ~ the man and ths art- 1^ - 1st. The compositions Astad devices J can only, flow out of a man who has experienced life deeply and responded % to those experiences sensitively, and with a powerful creativity. For exam ­ ple, as he dances the composition Ri­ tual, hot wax from the lit candles held in his hands drips on his bare chest. Later he extinguishes the flames with his palms. “Why do you do all that? Surely the wax and the flames must scald you?” I asked. Astad showed me his scarred palms. According to him, the undertones of masochism in the Ritual demanded this. Each creation often varies so very much from the other, that it is a won­ der that the same person has conceiv­ ed them. The satire in Model has ele­ ments of mime, wit and pathos. An Leach Weborny ? Dry Cleaners & layers ^k'groupRnkl^oZin LoX^nl modelled in Paris: Anand Shankars music, is basically ,¦ ? uiuuuicu III rans. zt__i- j , .. In fact .he list of the international “Jf . An- Cities where he has performed is too , long to be listed here. and. Astad con- 1"“^” eludes. “I have felt more rejection and Wanship devised with lights and frustration in this country than any- I here are many composi- where else. They kill your drive here.” which are woven around death Astad is a trained Kathakali dancer ® wanderings of a spirit after (under the guru. E. Krishna Pannicker) . and has studied the Jose Lemon tech- An liis expositions of a theme on nique in New York. But he has had to Astad is absolutely uninhibited, face remarks like; “Why do you want “ persem. he is old fashioned and to dance? You are 31 now. you can’t He is restless and full of laught- have a long career in dancing!” The “^hen were you bom? ” I asked Indian sponsors when willing, don’t “I® Ahe Year of the Pig”, he even appreciate what his art involves. I ask about audience reactions. They usually don’t want to think be- yes. I get it instantly. I love child- yond a few hundred rupees spent on r®®’s reactions: ‘Mummy see, his un­ theatre rent and * classified advertise- derwear can be seen.’ ments. It has been a job for him to ex- This reminds me of a delightful in­ plain to his sponsors that he needs cident that happened recently. Just special costumes and sets for his per- before his latest show, I went to the fomances. green room, and knocked on the door Costumes and sets; they are some of announcing myself. Astad was wearing the fascinating aspects of Astad’s a skintight, skin-coloured briefest of creativity. Unlike a classical dancer briefs; and nothing else. As I entered and’s music itself of joy strung toge­ ther. The One Cell Organism is pure death. In his expositions of a theme on Carpet Cleaning is our speciality 43¦? the room he hurriedly reached for a towel and wrapped it around his waist. Fifteen minutes later, I was among the audience full of males, females and children, and Astad was performing on the stage, wearing nothing else but those same briefs! t ir SHEELA BARSE (Sunday Standard 19 October 1980) Adi Marzban — Man of Many Parts Adi Marzban ’s personality is reflected in his office or that is at least what a student of psychiatry would say. It is housed in an old r^stone building in the Ballard Estate area, above the rumbles of the Jame press. It is a huge cavern, with a table slightly bigger than the vast table of governor O. P. Mehra and, unlike the governor’s, crowded with thousands of odd things. There are old medicine bottles, ink­ wells, hundreds of ball-pens, some of them still bundled in their rubber bands, books piled to the ceiling, pap­ ers scattered around. The editor some ­ times sits at on^ side of the table, sometimes at the other, I suppose dep­ ending on which side he can find room to put his paper down and write on it. And there are books in cases reaching up to the ceiling, which he does not lend. There is also an ante-room, with a couch and more books (joke books, crossword books, astrology hooks), where he sometimes offers his visitors phudina tea. This is where Adi edits the Jam-e- Jamshed, started by his great-great­ grandfather, Ferdoonji Marzban, in 1832. He talks with the interest of an antiquarian about his forefather. “He sold sola topees to Britishers, started the country’s first courier syst­ em, he also started the Bombay Sama- char, which was the first ever news­ paper to be brought out in India. Then, after some 15 years, he quarrel­ led with the people there and started the second newspaper in India, the Jame. He got the women of his house to cut the Gujarati types out for the press.” About the paper today, he says: “Besides the Parsis, it is read by all the Gujarati-speaking minorities, in­ cluding the Bohris and the Khojas.” The Parsi community, as is known by those interested in it, is at the mo ­ ment divided into three groups; the orthodox, the reformers and the indif­ ferent. I do not know where the chain­ smoking (smoking is forbidden in Zo­ roastrian religion) Adi stands in this division, but his paper is a little on the orthodox side. He. explains the posi­ tion: “We have no objection to re­ forms, provided they are well-conceiv­ thing else. The titles of his plays tell most of the story: Shireenbai Noo Shunt ini ketan, Cawasji Casanova, Ka- tariyu Gap, Gusiadji Ghore Chariya, Sukaigaila Sundarlal, Dinshajee No Dabba Goal, Maro Tehmul Evoo Ka­ te j Nahi (My Tehmul would never do Adi’s entry into the theatre was ed, well-thought of and constructive. But until somebody works out such reforms, we had better stick to our traditions.” Like all good Parsis, Adi Marzban is a great one for tradition. “I don’t want to lose my Par.si way of life,” he says. “When I go to a wedding or a that). • funeral, I wear Parsi clothes.” /.J?___ - - . ¦ But Adi is not a respecter of Parsis. through his father. The father was Pi- All. his plays, on stage and on the ‘ ' ’ ’ ’ radio, debunk the community, though with a certain amount of affection. The very first Parsi play he wrote (all the 50-odd Parsi plays that he has pro­ duced have been written by him), Chhaiye Hame J art host i (We Are Par­ sis). envisaged a Parsi heaven. There, at the gate, the guardian angel stood, checking the new arrivals. Each arrival was asked: “Are you a Parsi?” If he answered yes, then he was told. “You may go in.” Then he wrote Choopo Rustom. about a Parsi who prayed 20 times a day and then, on the quiet, did every- (C rojshaw Jehangirji Marzban, otherwise known as Pijam, a good writer and director. As a child, Adi used to be taken to the old Baliwalla, Victoria and othM theatres on Foras Road and Pl ay h OU* area and left standing in the wings. Of those days he says: “The audi­ ences were repeat audiences, they used to come again and again for the same plays. Like in the Hindi films today, the songs were very popular. When a song would start on the stage, ths house lights would come on, so that the audience could read the songs in their programme books and sing An affair to remember with fare to remember at the West End Hotel. A navjote, a lagan, a silver or golden wedding anniversary, a first-birthday party — these are highlights of your life. If you are looking for a beautiful setting to hold your celebration and at the same time want to treat your guests to the choicest food, come to us. The West End Hotel offers you the starlit splendour of its Terrace Garden. Choose the day and leave it to us. We give you our impeccable service. It's an occasion for rejoicing, so make it an unforgettable one at the West End Hotel. West End Hotel (c<<. 45, New Mariiie i ines. Bon 1 e!; 299 i ¦’ 1 ; eiu ¦< '• ¦ .'89/ madison WEHl2r4 45 ¦fcF-i r .r with the artistes. And in the aisles, the western music in tovwi, 4ees conjuring hawkers would move around selling tricks with cards, reads eyer^hing that badam-pista." comes his way, is Adi also started dabbling in the some standing. English theatre at an early age, in fact , L.-------------r- ---------------. of Bloomabury and J.B. Priestly’s Time the present theatre personalities began ter. Wife, Silla, shares the same inte- would be of those who did not. Today a.m. We are owls, not larks, s.ays the second generation of actors is with Adi. " him. Bomsi (Ah Norman) Nicholson, whose mother, Dinoo Nicholson, was with Adi. And Rohinton Mo(^, whose elder brother, Sarosh Mody, Has had a long association with him. Ruby Patel was brought to him as ?o’St”nrave\erin”your chMge7uhe Bombay, stayed in an old, two- and rather sout she cotio nor father' told him. And Hosi Vasunia bedroom flat mth their married son, was broueht to Adi bv his partner, 25-year-old Phiroze, his wife Homai her spalls of dizziness. &ne inou^ Pesi Khandalawalla. “We were casting and their younger, unmarried d^ght- ^.a^‘sable to ?itAing for Ah Norman, and Pesi brought er, Simoo. Sunoo’s marnage to Mmoo Min^ tojhe^ h<^pitaL^^^^ Hosi saying we should introduce some new talent. Adi himself is at his best, at least in my view and that of many others, in lii» vjujaiaii iaw\j panju. ---------------- - —_ _ ~ ago, he began a series known as the Phiroze and his wife, while the other with the artistes. And in the aisles, the comes his way, is Mornings and afternoons^ he edits fles his plays, then reads, listens to music, plays against his chess conapu- hoffle tBl\6:# p-ML Ip livipg »» ovciyviiiiis on the rocking ©hair art tead- an astrologer of ing a novel, waiting W bis fiancee. on he was a pioneer, beginning with Tilly his paper, evenings 6.30 to 9 he rehear- . IT’.*-.., fViAn rAoHc ll'CtAnq fft and the Conways. And who all among their^cTreers under himT*A *s^^ rests, they never go to bed before 2 ’ jjot larks, says BEHRAM CONTRACTOR (Sunday Mid-Day 14 December 1980) a.m. All in the Family Piroja and Shavaksa Shroff, middle ­ class residents of Grant Road, of had to be postponed as Shavaksa was in April 1970, recovering from a sec­ ond heart attack. Out of the two bed- his Gujarati radio plays. Many years rooms, one bedroom w^ given to Sunoo, to return home as the two of them were to go that evening to shop for their marriage. As Piroja was about to leave, there was a telephone ring. It was Sunoo informing Minoo that she was held up at work arid would not be able to return home till 6 p.m. When Piroja left the house there was nobody else there except Homai and Minoo. The maid-servant was on leave and was not expected to return till the next morning. Piroja walked the distance from her house to the bus stop and stood in the queue. Half an hour later she was still in the queue. She was 50 and rather stout and she could not 6 p.m. home, she rang the door bell. There the door bell. After about seven to eight minutes, the door was opened by Homai who was fumbling with the buttons of her blouse. Her hair _ _ 7 ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ' 1 by her son’s bedroom. The door was us^ to visit her the door and looked in. Her future son-in-law was lymg on her son s double bed. The windows of the room were closed. This was April and ^it tioned. Piroja’s mind was in a state of acute turmoil. Her daughter-in-law Iving at the Parsi General Hospital was no response. She kept on ringing in April 1970, recovering from a sec- ond heart attack. Out of the two bed­ rooms. ^ddhi DlSin»a, MaM. was shared by Piioja, Shavaksa and ™ dish!ydl 1 i I • v.o *T—• ,1 ™ “ ------ " Moreover the words, “I have done Phiroze agreed to her with Minoo what ought not to have that Homai give a wntten confession, adultery. It could be anything short u ------------------of adultery. Phiroze’s suit for divorce was dismissed. Homai wrote it wherein she confessed cooking and told Sunoo to call Homai not to have been done”. ------ -------------------- The next day Homai was outside over to her new house after she mar- FRENY PONDA (Times of India 4 January 1981) J 0 ai2!2s^a^ fg) 7* m f J •4lf^ 4^ A friendly smile and ... FRIENDLY ICECREAM W EXOTIC FLAVOURS A e z tu [ 1 '1 t STOCKIST lUAlUKI I KBECI^m.^ ii J J s • FRIEITDLT ICECREAM (BOMBAY) Majestie Shoppinj Centre, Shop No. 21-iS. Jegennath ShanhersiM Majastie Shopping Centre, Shop No, 21-25. Jagannath Shanhershetb M,, filrgaum, 8oinbay>4Q0 004 TEt • 368741 47 uatimi¦ 4 COMMENT THUS SPAKE RAJNEESH Bh^wan Shree Rajnee^ is the founder of the Rajneesh Foundation situated in Pune, Maharashtra. A colourful and controversial spiritual leader, Rajneesh has spoken out on a host of subjects including Zoroastrianism. Parsiana publishes an extract entitled “Zarathustra Must Have Had An Immense Sense Of Humour ”, from a discourse given by Rajneesh at the Shree Rajneesh Ashram. Zarathustra laughed loudly when he from the other extreme-^ie laughed, was hn.rn Tc* if fmiAQ me. utes after he was born. The obstetri- i cian noticed he had unusual muscle an hour later he heard control, his tiny left fist being tightly ____ clenched. When the doctor pried it about it?" open he found a contraceptive pill. Zarathustra must have laughed! Whether he laughed or not..,! am not __ ___ _ _ svn concerned about history, but to me cold. Either put my fathers back his laughter is very significant. The light the gas!“ world is in such a mess! Ordinarily children are born crying—that too is their judgement! They are saying, “My God! So this is the world I am born with these' pcopie'*a“nd he *sTa'rted v^th into?” Zarathustra has a different attitude. ing up he settled down to read. Half - — ------ 1 a muffled voice say, “What are you going to do ukA„t IfQ ” ° . Without taking his eyes off the newspaper he said, “Do about what?” The voice answered, “I am getting "- • 'or 99 If Zarathustra laughed, what wrong in it? He must have seen the whole stupidity, that he had to live laughter. The noted agnostic lecturer, Robert G. Ingersoll, said once: “No man with a sense of humour ever founded a very deep love for a religion." He is wrong — Zarathustra did. Of course, in about 99 percent of reli- gions, Ingersoll is right; bis statement is significant. He says no man with a sense of humour ever founded a re­ ligion. It is true about Jesus, about Buddha, about Mohammed, , about Krishna — it is absolutely true; these people don’t seem to have any sense ------- - Of humour—but it is not true about plucking it?” she said in a huff. Zarathustra. Maybe Ingersoll had ‘‘If Jhat’s the way you feel,” he never heard about Zarathustra. He is the only man known to have started his life with laughter — must ’ an immense sense of To begin your life with ; an easy matter. He must have prepared for it for many J Photo Copyright Rajneesh Foundation was born. Is it He must have been a man like' Bhagwan Sbree Rajoeesh; It must be hence I have true, because a man like Zarathustra Zarathustra comes into the world with great in­ sight. He must have seen the world' immediately — he must have seen the , _ . whole crazy scene! It depends on how ™®, nence 1 nave a very deep much intelligence you have. A few *OVe for Zarathustra, people take their whole lives to rea- — ¦ ' _ _____ _ lize that they have been living in a madhouse. He must have seen at the brought it home7buVhi*s" wife first moment that " ------ - ’ • - - place I am entering into!" And it is not only Zarathustra— every child, the moment the child be­ comes capable of focussing properly, myself, u. A I, 1 u- busied himself plucking it have had and when he was finally through he humour. He must have been a man like A man won a turkey in a raffle and . J - - ------, .,..e was This IS a crazy annoyed. “Who wants the bother of _ «•_ -^n,, , . , . , replied, “I will pluck it and cook it 99 he starts smiling, because he is then able to see what his father looks like! ___ _______ „„„ ___ raw tataaxauua A recent story tells about a baby trussed it and put it in the oven. But laughter is not who was giggling and laughing min- ¦ — ¦ ........... he forgot to light the gas. After wash- Rajneesh ’s morning discourse : “I am trying something like Zarathustra tried ”. ¦ «* » *1 ' - V "s V ' I • w* f -'ll »<" is _j I I i I f 49 i JE ( t i Maybe that laughter is the cause : he has a sense of humour. lives; he must have come ready. " '.........- " Christians say Jesus never laughed Why has Zarathustra failed? in his whole life; maybe they are ’' " - - right. I don’t want to believe it be­ cause that means a great condemna­ tion of Jesus, but if Christians .say so, , then, of course, who am I to disagree \yith them? They are the authorita­ tive people, at least about Jesus— they own Jesus! This may be one of the reasons why Jesus has succeeded in converting almost half of humanity to Christianity, — because people are sad. -Zarathustra more, has not found many followers, you . I’- ..vo „ mau. m know? His followers are confined kis delirious state he must have for- (largely) to Bombay—only a few thou- gotten all his philosophy and seri- sand. Why has Zarathustra failed? ousness, must have become more re- Maybe that" laughter is the cause: he laxed, must have forgotten that he was a philosopher and had to be serious—must have joked. To me, a sense of humour should be the foundation stone of the future religiousness of man. There is no need to be so serious. Man is the only animal who has the sense of humour. doctor said to him, “When you were ill you behaved like a true philoso­ pher: every time you came to yourself you made a joke.” Russell wrote afterward, “I never had a compliment that pleased me He himself was a serious man. In you sand. Why has Zarathustra faded? r ' - - - has a sense of humour. People are serious, sad, miserable, hence the cross of Jesus seems to be very appealing, because their life is also on the cross. They can under­ stand Jesus and his agony--they are passing through it. Their whole life is ---------- ---------- nothing but carrying a cross. They 7°'^ have never seen buffaloes laugh­ can find a deep affinity with Jesus, his crucifixion — they are also cruci- . . _______ tied. But what affinity can they find surd. It needs great intelligence to with 2Larathustra? Why did Zarathus- '---------- ’ trr. fail? Buddha has foimd millions of fol­ lowers; the whole of Asia is Bud- ........................... .. .......... .. - _____ _____ of followers; half the earth is Chris- ^ke the donkeys.^ Donkeys are very tian. Mohammedans are next to Christians — and Mohammed has no venous things, it seems, much disturb­ ousness, must have become more re- ing, or donkeys. Only man can have the sense of the ridiculous, of the ab- „ ----------------- .J have a sense of humour; on the low­ er planes it does not exist. And not even all human beings have it; those ______ who exist on lower planes of inielli- dhist. Christians have found millions g®nce are bound to serious—serious Mohammedans are next to serious ^ople, always thinking about sense of humour at dl. With a sword edjvith all the problems of the world, in his hand he is very serious, really serious. He is much concerned about your welfare—if you don’t listen to him he is ready to fight with you, but he is determined to convince you be­ cause he is determined to save your soul. Even if he has to use the sword he has to save you. How can he allow you to fall into hell? It is for your own sake. Zarathustra is the only person who has not been able to find followers. 1 can see the point: with a sense of humour, who is going to listen to you? I am again trying something like Zarathustra tried. My effort here is to prove Ingersoll wrong. I am trying to found a religion based totally on the sense of humour! Shakespeare and others have pun- ningly described the foolish ffetender to philosophy as foolosopher.ljly the same wordplay the philosophy of foolosophers is called foolosophy. Bertrand Russell was always criti­ cal of foolosophers, for their lack of both common sense and a sense of humour. He'tells how he was once near death with pneumonia, delirious for three weeks. After he revived, the ligence. At his first sight of the world he laughed. He could not contain himself, he could not resist the temp^ tation. Seeing where he was landed.., The laughter of Zarathustra looks irrational, but it is not irrational. To see the irrationality all armmd he must have been perceptive, very per­ ceptive. The story is strange. There are many miracles told about people like Jesus, Buddha, Mahavira, Krishna, but they are almost the same. The miracle of walking on water is repeat­ ed in thousands of stories; it is no­ thing special to Jesus. The miracle of curing people of their incurable disr eases is nothing new to Jesus. It is the same miracle being done by so many people around the world, in every tradition, in every religion. Even the miracle of raising the dead is not new; that too is a common miracle attributed to many people. All these miracles are meaningless, but Zarathustra’s miracle of laughing at the moment of his birth is really significant. A great Zen Master lay critically ill. As his doctor prepared to leave he said cheerfully, “I will see you in the morning. ” Although the dying Master knew his hours were numbered, he could not resist quipping, “Of course. But . will I see you?” ____ From the discourse series: I AM THAT Zarathustra seems to be of the high- (O Rajneesh Foundation, India est calibre, of the most refined intel- All rights reserved With Best Compliments From DIANA-ECLIPSE DRY CLEANERS AND DYERS. (1923-1980) 57 Years of clean service Holland House, Colaba Causeway, Bombay. Tel. 230619 he foolish fyjtei fooIosopher.Wy Parag, 27 Peddar Road, Bombay. Tel. 351987 51f f- > Ptoee MaakM of Hyderabad Cunderabad, selling Parsi delicacies prepared by local Zoroastrian ladies may have to shut down, fears Aloo R. Rustomfram, President of the Stree 1^1 17 Mandat High rent for the tiny shop, indifference and a decreasing demand for their produce amongst the local Zoroastrians, inadequate kitchen faci­ lities, and lack of funds, are some of the reasons for which Rustomfram feels Spenta will have to shut down. Launched as part of its ‘Project Self­ Help’, which aims at “ameliorating the condition of poor women by offering them employment and consequently making them self-reliant and self-res­ pecting”, the Mandal set up the kitch­ en and sales ;outlet; at 125, M. G. Road, Secunderabad, in October 1978, states Rustomfram. The Zoroastrian Stree Mandal of Secunderabad and Hyderabad was established in 1959, “in the teeth of opposition, scepticism and even ridi­ cule”, by a group of Zoroastrian ladies who felt that “poverty is a crime for those who do nothing about it”, notes • Rustomfram. Headed by a Managing Committee elected by its members, the Mandal’s activities include giving employment to Zoroastrian ladies, helping students financially, helping the sick, old and disabled with medical aid, a trade is taught to those able and willing lists Rustomfram, and adds that they hope to “discourage the common habit of indolence and asking for doles each month and encourage the spirit of work and self-reliance among deserv­ ing Zoroastrian ladies.” Each year a sum of over Rs. 27,575 is distributed among 40 needy families, says Rustomfram, plus the kitchen workers are given medical, educational and health grants every month, new clothes, bed linen, towels, etc. are distributed to the benificiaries yearly. indifference and a decreasing demand lities, and lack of funds, are some of Industrial Perfumes Ltd. (A TATA ROURE DUPONT ENTERPRISE) Leading Manufacturers of PERFUMERY COMPOUNDS AROMATIC CHEMICALS for Soaps * Cosmetics • Agarbatti Chewing Tobacco • Snuff • Panmasala etc. OFFICE & FACTORY: Hay Bunder Road, Tank Road P. O., Bombay-400 033. Phone: 370161 I f . i i Statement of Ownership and Other Parti ­ culars about Parsiana Form IV (Rule 8) Place of Publication: Bombay Periodicity of Publication: Monthly Printer, Publisher, Editor and Proprietor: * Jehangir R. Patel Nationality: Indian Address:-285 J. Dadaji Marg, Bombay 400 007. I, Jehangir R. Patel, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best ‘ of my knowledge and belief. Sd. (Jehangir R. Patel) 1 March 1981. I c 53 iU To continue with the work the as­ sociation has been doing for the past 20 years amongst the poor Zoroastri­ ans, the Mandal appeals to well wish­ ers for aid, requests Rustomfram. The Stree Mandal committee memb ­ ers include, vice presidents, Mrs. Y.F. S. Chinoy and Mrs. R. S. Plumber, hon. secretary. Dr. (Mrs.) R. M. Patell, hon. treasurer, Mrs. K. S. Rustom ­ fram, hon. jt. secretary, Mrs. R. M. Katrak, hon. jt. treasurer, Mrs, B. J. Mody and hon. jt. treasurer Spenta, Mrs. D. N, Chinoy. Katrak: devotional songs li- I i : I . with Best Compliments From SELVEL PUBLICITY & CONSULTANTS PVT. LTD 194, Dinshaw Vatcha Road, Ravindra Mansion Annexe, 4th Floor, Bombay-400 020. i i Katrak ’s Kirtans Well-known kirtankar, Parvez Katrak performed at the diamond jubilee cel­ ebrations of the Khan Bahadur Seth Edulji Sohrabji Chenoy Anjuman Dar- e-Meher, writes Naval B. Vakeel, member of the managing committee of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad. The two day programme was a “rare treat”, notes Vakeel, adding that “Kat­ rak was invited by the Gujarati Seva Mandal and the Rotarians of the twin cities at the palatial Ritz Hotel, where the non-Parsi audience was thrilled by the singing of the famous dohais of the saint-poet Kabir." Tel 240512, 240560. i ! Spotlight Jurist H. M. Seervai, of Bombay was one of the 1980 recipients of the Dadabhoy Naoroji -Memorial prize fund awards, given in recognition of his valuable contributions to the study of constitutional law and particularly in recognition of his book. Constitutional Law of India — A Critical Commen­ tary. {Times of India 15 November 1980). i I 55 (sMIF V TOYS Representative of foreign firm wishes tb purchase,: Foreign old toys made of tin, cast iron, wood etc. with or without wind up mechanism; old dolls made of porcelain, papier mache, wood, wax, preferably with original clothes; doll houses fully furnished or odd items, miniature doll house furniture in silver, porcelain, wood etc; old train sets and models of steam engines, ships, cars; complete tin or lead toy armies in original boxes or individual pieces; old metal money banks, musical boxes and any toys featuring Walt Disney characters; old children's books, magazines or comics. Hurry up and send a list of any of the above mentioned items that you desire to sell together with your expected price to: TOYS C/o. Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay-400 001. Yasmin her Ph. D. degree by the Bombay Uni- ber 1980). versity, in Ancient Indian Culture for her thesis on King Ajatashatru. Boxer Farhad Engineer of Dadar (Times of India 14 November 1980). F Setfana has been awarded December. (TAe Statesman, 4 Decern- Parsi Youths Assembly School, Bom­ bay, was adjudged the best boxer in the Inter School Boxing Tournament, on 13 December 1980. {Indian Express 14 Faribourz Nariman of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, Bombay, was elected unopiwsed as president for the December 1980). Iranian Studies section of the All India Oriental Conference to be held Cyclist Homi Bhathena. a 21 year at Jaipur in 1982. (Indian Express 15 old Pune collegian, won the 600 km November 1980). ‘Promise Stage Cycle Race’ from Ba­ roda to Bombay, when he completed the distance in 17 hours 49 minutes and 2 seconds. (Indian Express 15 De­ cember 1980). I Imm W Nariman : Iranian studies "1 Cricketer Diana Eduljee, Bombay ’s left-arm spinner and middle order bats- woman lead the Indian women ’s Illi cricket team in the first two tests H against England. (Indian Express 5 January 1981). Yatchsman Cyrus Hirjee wontheTal- pade Memorial Shield in the combin­ ed class handicap yatch racing in Bombay harbour. {Times oj India 9 January 1981). Special Executive Magistrate, Vispi ‘ Shapur Dastnr has been appointed a member of the Government of India’s new committee for the Promotion of Philately in India and Abroad: reap- Bakhtawar Khambatta, representing pointed member of the Government & Western Railways, set a new national - record of 13.26 metres, in the women ’s shot put event in die 46th Inter-Rail­ way Athletic Championships held in Delhi in December 1980 {Free Press Journal 3 December 1980). India’s Philatelic Advisory Committee in the Ministry of Communications, and is also the first Indian and non- westemer to be awarded the prestigi­ ous Roake International Trophy of the U.K., according to a release. Cyclist Khur^id Irmii of Kama- Chairman of the Atomic Enei Commission Of India Dr. Huani Sethna has been appointed principal taka, was adjudged the best woman cy­ clist in track events on winning the 10 _____ ____ ___ .. _____ km road race in the National Cycling secretary in. the Atomic Energy Dep- Championship held in Calcutta in artment, by the Government of India. Gift shopping at its best at |oSI the friendly Gift Shop at Bombay Swadeshi Stores Ltd, Sir P. M. Road, Bombay 400 001. Tel: 253443/252730 ZARTHUSTRA & FARVARESH ARTEFACTS & SILVER PENDANTS AVAILABLE f i ? ¦ 1 I 51i I ! i stuOTm j Darios Fanddle aaimed fhc Maharaja Patiala Trophy in the National Junior Squash Championship at the Ram Bagh Court, Jaipur on 17 January 1981. {Indian Express 19 January 1981). s ¦i With Best Compliments From J. B. Engineering Works Steel Fabrication & Sheet Metal Pressing 17-B, Mahal Estate, Mahakali Road, Andheri East, Bombay -400093 Phone : Off. 561915 58 B With Compliments From 1 Jh I '3 Variava : silvei medal H.M Road Safety Patrol Officer Khm- shed Noshir Variava of Surat is the first officer in Gujarat to get the silver medal for consistent good performance for the second time, according to a press release. Cyclist Armin Arethna was the win­ ner of a gold medal at the 14th Junior Nationals and Fourth Inter-State Cycling championship in Hyderabad in January this year, according to newspaper reports. MEHTA &CO Cotton of St. Mary’s Raymond Elavia SSC, set a new record of 4.31 metres in the midget boys long jump at the 88 Annual Athletic Meet of the Bom; bay High Schools held at Brabourne Stadium in January this year, and Bin- aisha Dhody of St. Agnes set two new records with 28.86 metres in the discus throw and 9.98 in the shot put in the girls junior section, according to news­ paper reports. APRIL ISSUE Due to limitations of space, the World Congress papers have been held over for the April issue as well as some Events and Personalities and Zoroast­ rians Abroad news items. Merchants %Vultures At Death The great wings hover Over the thighs Again a young girl’s Given over to death Where the bird presses His beak and tears Piece by piece This arm hand eye Every thing is given over Again: Women wail from Towers Persepolis destroyedjYez^degird’s daughter The bird keeps home A bracelet circles a young girl’s bones. **Navr<>z Mubarak ”!! From The Zoroastrian Minority ’s Representative to the the Islamic Constituent Asembly, Iran, 1979. He sat in Majlis in white Addressed it in Avestan Of god’s party than Satan’s He had no fright Parleying with Armenian, Assyrian (Bahai, Jew taboo) He voted with the government (Salute the rising sun) Keep distant As loving keeps from love Spoke a little on a mother’s right Dreamt without a word Of Anahita come into a garden With a sword Tehran 1981 Kashmirashid Homi Irani (Zainabadi) Deepak Arts • Outdoor Advertising • Hoardings • Commercial Artists • Painters Tel : 383608, 389096 At the Firetemple, Tehran A weak flame'flickers In the holy of holies fires dead Beyond a barred window The moneychangers have taken up the temple O lord how late in coming ... Ashes on forehead: humility I leave Having brought such a weak flame Ratan House, 12 Tribhuvan Road Bombay 400004. Hoshang Merchant Ii I s % Atmafcatha is the awtol — jrf the late Dr Mianeck Nusserwanji phalla, hi^ priest of the Pakis- pm Ftnsis and a rel^ous scholar et world repute. This is die twelvetli COTidensed mid edited extract from die English transdation of the book — Dastw Dhalla: The S^a of a Sold, by Gool and Behram Rnstornji, published by the Dastur Dhalla Memorial Inmute, Karachi. THE RELIGION OF DEVOTION The life of Dastur Dhalla-XII THE STORY SO FAR Born to a poor dastur family in Surat on 27 August 1875, Dhalla moved with his family to Karachi three years later. Al the age of eight he was married to five-year-old Cooverbai. After failing his matriculation, Dhalla sought employment while educating himself in religious matters. The Parsis of Karachi made arrangements for him to study for his masters degree in Iranian languages at Bombay University. While in Bombay, Dhalla came into contact with various Parsi religious factions. Mid also met several prominent Parsis of the times, among whom were Jamshedji Tata, Jeevanji Modi and Shapurji Saklatvala. With their assistance, Dhalla went to New York's Columbia University, where under the guidance of Professor A. V. W. Jackson, a well known Zoroastrian scholar of the west, Dhalla secured his Ph.D. in 1908. While in America, Dhdlla read widely on his own, attended and gave lectures, and grew interested and involved with the debate on cremation prevalent at the time. He lived a frugal life, remitting as much money home to Karachi for household expenses as he could. Four years in the west had altered Dhalla’s outlook to life and religion. He was now a reformist rather than an orthodox, ‘ interpreting the literature and sacred writings of the Zoroastrians according to the principles of philology, sociology, anthropology and philosophy. He was now the propagator of new concepts, examining Parsi customs and traditions in a scientific light, clearing up peculiar myths and fallacies regarding taro, menstruating women, dogs, hair and nails. the orthodox sect, written after the Persian Empire had disintegrated, that the grace of having performed the Getikhardi ceremony grows according to the number of years the performer lives after its performance. When he dies he is immediately shown his place in heaven which has been reserved for him, but if he fails to perform the Getikhardi ceremony his soul canned find accommodation in heaven. Amongst us, at the time of the Uth- amna ceremony the son of the deceas­ ed or his heir is made to recite certain set verses known as Gai, Sosh or Lakh. Before the assembly the heir hell to the eternal abode, from there promises to pray 1,25,000 Ahunavars onwards to the highest heaven and and to consecrate 30 daroons in dedi­ ever onwards to the habitation of cation to the deceased. In 1686 there Light where dwell the pure of heart was a major fight between the Sanjana In the sacred Gathas, Spitama Zara- and Bhagaria mobeds of Navsari thushtra teaches us quite the contrary, where two mobeds and six behdins Taking into consideration that eve^ were killed. Legal proceedings com- man and woman in an individual in menced against the accused at Surat, his own right, he teaches life’s eternal At that time Mody Cooverji Nana- and infallible lesson that, progress bhoy, a leader of the Anjuman used depends entirely upon the actions of his influence and had the mobeds each individual. The accumulated tre- acquitted. After four years when there asure of one man ’s good deeds cannot was a death in the Mody family, the be loaned to another, and no man ’s Anjuman at Navsari took up the res- burden of sin can be lightened by an- ponsibility of performing the Uthamna other. ceremony for the deceased and to pray The lofty Zoroastrian precept that 25,00,000 Ahimavars for him as a man ’s deeds and not his creeds or cere- mark of gratitude. monies are his salvation began to In Persia at the dawn of the Chah- weaken after Z^rathushtra’s passing rum, after the Uthamna ceremony, the away by the mingling of ancient Indo- leading mobed or the panthaky of the Iranian religious beliefs with his own town goes to the assemblege of men unadulterated faith. Pahlavi and Paz- and women and makes a note of the end books openly drift away from it prayere each volunteers to pray for the and invest ceremonies with the power salvation of the deceased. At such a to expiate sin and give them a place time, each according to his or her own of prestige. free will offers to pray 500 or 1,000 or According to the Patet prayer com- 2,000 Ahunavars or Ashem Vohus or posed in the Sassanian era the suppli- a certain number of Patets or Yashts. cant prays that at the time of his During the last 50 years the various death his heir should recite the Ashem communal institutions that have been Vohu and the Patet. He continues that established in many a town and city, it is his wish that after his death his perform public Jashans during the surviving children should be penitent course of the year. They appeal to the for his sins and they should perform community that if they wish to include the Sarosh and Getikhardi ceremonies the names of their dear departed ones for the salvation of his soul. It is said in these prayers they should pay in the Sad Dor, the popular book of Rs 100 per name or more ot less ac- For the devotee, ceremonies create an atmosphere of serenity, solemnity and sanctity. He visualizes miracles throu­ gh ceremonies and gives them a place of priority in religion. It is believed that ceremonies have the power to at­ tract spiritual forces and to ward off evil spirits. In sheer ignorance man be­ gins to believe that ceremonies will fulfil all his desires, that they will pur­ chase virtue on his behalf, that they will absolve him from sin; and as with the living, so also with the dead. The efficacy of the ceremonies performed for the dead will release a sinful soul and carry it onwards step by step from was a major fight between the Sanjana ________ t________ 'VT____.• where two mobeds and six behdins According to the Patet prayer com- During the last 50 years the various 61 ISII •- 1 in Ote ’ abte-i5«fe|W Wence and ingratitude have found a footing in the community, that the love of comfort ancl^pleasure has increased, then know that the morale of the community is in jeopardy and that the moral back­ bone of the community has been in­ jured. If that is lost, then all is lost. A 101 Nirangdins or a 101 Hcimayashts cannot fill the void. - -... . ¦ . . , . - , , -T o- TA- u TA As ceremonies increase, the burning families pay .for the inclusion of the religionist. Justice Sir Dinshaw Davar, sandalwood increases. The fire names of their dear ones in the Nam- sat on judgement, he declared such plays a central part in our religious grahn and believe to have earned for trusts legal. life, a fire is essential in our religious themselves a quota of virtue. With the passing of time as econo- ceremonies. We place the consecrated About the middle of the last century mic conditions altered, the trayfuls oi fire in a sanctum sanctorum as a sym- the Rahnumai Mazdayasnian Society, sweets and dry-fruits that had become bol of Ahura Mazda. Just as the new established by the educated reformists, part of the ceremonial creed lessened, custom of performing ceremonies in of the community, began to discuss On the one hand, while increasing ex- the name of the Anjuman has become the question of the ceremonial creed penses has been the cause of a decre- prevalent, there has arisen a zest for in a scientific ‘manner. There were ase in ceremonies family-wise, due to collecting public donations for pei- complaints about the poor of the com- the continued zeal and zest of the forming expensive Agar Macchis al munity incurring heavy debts for hav- orthodox to maintain the ceremonial the Atashbehram at Udvada on behalf ing expensive ceremonies performed creed, funds for the performance of of the Anjuman, as if individual san- merely to imitate the rich. The Parsi ceremonies have been established run- dalwood is not burnt in sufficient Panchayat of Bombay and the think- ning into lakhs. quantity. ing members of the community object- The new Atashbehram at Bombay The vast wealth that is expended ed to the distribution of trayfuls of and other Atashkadehs hold large per- on our ceremonies at least gives the sweets and dry-fruits on the occasion manent funds for ceremonies. The offi- satisfaction that it provides for the of a death anniversary. But these obj- cials of one such Atashkadeh appeal livelihood of priests. But the unlimited ections had no effect. The reformists yearly to the community that as the and reckless expense to feed the fire is took up the responsibility of speaking fund of Rs 1,00,000 collected for the to say the least, a sheer wastage of and writing in protest of such extra- purpose of performing ceremonies for money. Asho Z^rathushtra has cer- vagant practices. They conceded that Hama Anjuman to accumulate a store tainly not recomended this. ceremonials were an essential part of of virtue on behalf of the community religion. was not sufficient, and as it was ex­ Ceremonies create in the mind of tremely benefactory to have the Nir- the honest participant a sense of devo- angdin and other ceremonies perform- tion, a feeling of religious fervour, stir ed year after year, it should contribute TIVIVUOIJ LUYVOlUO lUC lUud. As in Bombay so also in other smal- B g^wth© 4^ the economic _ ceremonies performed for the benefit of the lining and of the dead also increased. cording to the amount stipulated by of the dead. Thus the trusts for cere- the association, and have it registered, monies for the dead began to be an- There is a generous response to this nulled. Eventually, in the beginning of request from the conununity. Some this century, when the conservtiave co- sat on judgement, he declared such With the passing of time as econo- The new Atashbehram at Bombay purpose of performing ceremonies for money. Asho Zarathushtra has cer- The vast amounts expended oh cere­ monies and sandalwood pose a seri- ^the nobler qualities of his heart and generously towards the fund, enrich his character. All this the re- / " ‘ forraists did not deny, but at the same ler and larger towns, the orthodox time they taught that a ceremony is sect continues to make public appeals merely the outer shell whereas religion to have more and more ceremonies is the kernel. They gave priority to performed. And our ceremony-ridden religious devotion, religious knowledge community continues to extend its and religious behaviour over cere- generous support. monies. The orthodox majority did not approve of this and accused the _ _ reformists of shutting the doors to claim that it is an infallible proof of ceremonials. the increasing religiousness of the As the economic prosperity of the community. Here their accounting is community grew the ceremonies per- at fault. Ceremonies are not the criteria formed for the benefit of the living and by which _to weigh the worth of religi- of the dead also increased. From the beginning of the last century some wealthy co-religionists started to speci­ fy large amounts in their wills to en­ sure the performance of ceremonies for the eternal peace and happiness of community clean in its public and pri­ vate dealings? On this basis alone can its religiousness be estimated. If an unbiased survey shows us that As the performance of ceremonies increase, the conservatives falsely pro- ousness. The religiousness or irreligi­ ousness of an individual or a society can only be measured according to its moral ethics. Is the community sound in its sincerity and its honesty? Is the their own souls and the souls of the members of their families, for genera­ tion after generation. Later, when some disputes arose in the community is losing its characteri- such families regarding the distribu­ tion of inheritance and cases were tak­ en to court, the legal authorities refus­ ed to sanction such permanently ear­ marked funds, not for the welfare of being dimmed, that enthusiasm, indu- the living but for the supposed benefit striousness and diligence are lacking stic of depending upon its own re­ sources, that the ardour of self-respect is diminishing, that the former ideal that death is better than begging is Warden is good For sandalwood Head Office 378 Grant Road Bombay 400 007 and B/anches Tel. 371464 Quality sandalwood Aggarbatties, gum benzoin (loban) and other Perfumes Si 6311 . their faint We lesD upon flic of morality and their failing Zoroastrian- sandalwood and crave in an un-Zoroastrian manner the privilege ism. to purchase salvation without personal effort. . I® ^^er to prevent the poorer sec- , tion of the community from unneces- ¦ ' sary expenditure on religious cere- ous question to the community from today such beliefs are prevalent in monies, the Rahnumai Mazdayasnian the economic and ethical stand-point, towns and villages. Society started, in 1951, to give guid- The false notion that by performing Our community ’s lamentable mania ance on proper lines. In 1859 it pub- many ceremonies and by burning for such idolworship only reveals their lished a list of the obligatory cere- much sandalwood all worldly desires pitiable mental attitude. They try to monies at the time of a Zoroastrian's are fulfilled and heaven is attainable s ' gives signs of the community ’s degrad- happiness from whatever source possi- ation. Instead of fashioning our own ble. They are not self reliant. They destiny, we lean upon the supposed magical powers of ceremonies and crave in an un-Zoroastrian manner, the to shoulder life’s burden. They do not i ‘ privilege to purchase salvation without have faith in their own kind. They do regarding the drain on the poor due to personal effort. not realize that in man ’s communica- Ceremonies pose not merely an eco- tion with man, subservience and servi- nomic problem but also a moral one. lity are shameful. It is equally regret- The desire to attain unearned credit table to depend upon the efficacy of a today such beliefs are prevalent in towns and villa^s. Our community ’s lamentable mania much sandalwood all worldly desires pitiable mental attitude. They try to snatch ready-made fame, success and death for the guidance of the commu ­ nity and had it reprinted time and again and distributed freely amongst have not the courage to stand on their the members of the community. Yet own feet. They do not h^e the skill there has been no decrease in cere- l monies. On the other hand, complaints the performance of ceremonies conti­ nue to be heard. The community believed the fate of man ’s soul after his death is not seal- through the power of ceremonies does few rupees to purchase ill-gotten and ed by his deeds in this world, but the not end with the community ’s craze undeserved rewards from some celesti- ceremonies performed in his memory for performing excessive ceremonies, al spirits instead of moulding their have the power to expiate his sins. If Despite our advanced education, of own personality by the force of their that soul is sinful, ceremonies can 125 years, the belief in ceremonies of innate intelligence. Their wild attempts wrench it from the jaws of hell, and other religions, in devas and temples, to attain their desires through saints by their force the soul is elevated in in pirs and tombs has not abated. Even and pirs and preists is a painful proof its spiritual status. Kermani Transport Service Truck Owners & Contractors II. O. & Admn. Office: Gurur Hinunat *A. Wing ’ 1st Floor, Dr. Mascheranes Road, Mazi^aon, Bombay 400 010. Phone: 393333 Booldng Office: 7-C, Dhobi Street, Opp. Jakejia Masjid, Bombay 400003. Phones : 320271-72 Ddiv^ Godown : B-Anjirwadi, Mount Road, Mazagaon, Bomhiqr 400010. Phone : 374174 ii ,1 i) i I Thana Godown : - Chitalsar, Manpada, S. V; Road, Next to TMwadyan Vidhvapeeth, TIuma. Phone : 594823 Vapi 0 Valsad Daily Regular Service to : * Billimora * i'«t “vcarJ * ? Navsaii Udhna * Surat 65 *Sfr f t Jb-r .V' W- With this conviction, the **weShSy man or woman takes pre^utions lifetime. They have the Zinderavan perfonns. ceremony performed while they are still alive to derive its benefit, though •tK i for this unethical mode of sustaining our priestly class. The world is imperfect. It is impel - feet in every field-of life — be it phy­ sical, mental, moral, social or religi­ ous. Man’s purpose is to steer it to- _______ _ r_______ J A mobed ’s liv^hood depends about the future during his or her own solely upon the ceremonies he lifetime. They have the Zinderavan performs, ceremony performed while they are _. still alive to derive its benefit, though . .. . . normally that ceremony is performed is hereditary, the brahmins, dasturs wards perfection. The perfected world, " on the first three days after a person’s and mobeds have made these two reli- the perfected man that is his salva- death. Some even have the whole gions more ritualistic than any other ------------ .co year’s ceremony p----------- ------ „ death their dear ones besides having Hindu religion, from the time a child these ceremonies performed at the is in the mother ’s womb, and continu- , . -s. . place of demise, have additional rites ing through his birth, christening, the individual. His salvation_ lies in performed at the birth-place of the janoi, and marriage, all aspects that. In the Gathas Spitama Zarathu- deceased or at Udvada. Besides the throughout the course of his life are shtra prays: “May we be the perfect- ors of the world, Ahura Mazda. All the minor and major Zoroastri- and ceremonies are summed up in the XX,.,.XX.. gions more ritualistic than any other tion. To work for the progress of man- performed. After religion in the world. However, in the kind — to seek its perfection and its ..................... “ "¦—- - -’--’'1 salvation through a life of sacrifice and service — that alone is the religion of death. Some even have the whole year’s ceremony ] these ceremonies performed at the performed at the birth-place of the janoi, and marriage, deceased or at Udvada. Besides the 1’ " regular Baj, Afringan, Stoom and interwined wi& ceremonies, normal ceremonies performed 365 A Zoroastrian’s life is not so inter­ days of the year, they perform other woven with rituals during his lifetime, major ceremonies like Barashnum, t-. ..L;:'; Getikhardi, Nirangdin, Hamayasht, concerned Zoroastrians have out-done Davajdeh, Novar, etc. ' tl*~ Seeing the rich, the poor and the number of ceremonies and in the prayers. The greatest ceremony middleclass are remorseful and envi- 1—„------------------ - , . , ,,, tz j.j z OUS of their fortunate friends who have The belief that rituals alter the destiny Yajashnes and 144 are reci- been able to buy a store of virtue that the soul has forged for itself is ed. The Devajadeh Hamayasht costs which will tjring them happiness in the completely contradictory to Zarathu- twwe (as much) and^ lasts^ for 264 days next world, whereas their poverty pre- ’ ' ’ ” ““ ’ vents them from performing ceremoni- . , es, for the souls of their dear ones in Pahlavi periods, hell. They are not to be blamed for / such thou^ts, for such un-Zoroastri- t - . -. . , . xv an precepts have been ingrained in It is but natural that his morning pray- on ceremonials, it can be stated that them since childhood. er would be a pleading for many cere- there is nothing like prayer or cere- The history of religion reveals that monies to fall to his lot. For him there mony in it.^ Its 22 chapters contain as Hindu and Zoroastrian priesthood i“ *’*" "’“y «««. aspects that. In the Gathas Spitama Zarathu- throughout the course of his life are A Zoroastrian’s life is not so inter- ......._____ .1___ ‘ '¦* ‘ . and ceremonies are summed up in the but where ceremonies for the dead are combined prayers of the Yajashne, ................2______ ___ ¦ * ! Visparad and Vendidad. Various cere- their-Hindu brethren, both in the monies contain extracts from these r IS lengto of time that they are continued, known as the Hama Yasht, In this 144 that the soul has forged for jtself is ed. The Devajadeh Hamayas^ costs shtra’s religion and is* the offspring and an equal number of prayers are of false precepts of later Avestan and recited. If we were to express an unbiased A mobed’s livelihood depends sole- opinion about the Vendidad which is ly upon the ceremonies he performs, considered the most important book It is but natural that his morning pray- -------------- er would be a pleading for many cere- is no other way. We are responsible completely irrelevent topics like prin- With Best Wishes From: DINSHAW SHAPOORJI & CO Transport Contractors — Fleet Owners — Crane Owners Staff Bus & Luxury Coach Operators Transporters of Heavy Machinery Bombay Branch : 92-C, Mohamedali Road, Bombay 400 003. Phone : 323977,339718. Gram : ‘Motor Truck ’ Head Office : Bombay-Poona Road, 414/3, Kasarwadi, Pimpri, Poona 411034. Phone : 82658, 83055-56 Branch Office : 13, Moledina Road, Poona-411 001. Phone : 22782 Gram : ‘Truck ’ Poona RM 67pogal <3i the dead, defilement, ptviSfe- P . 't" ¦ •• . t , I *"•» v'-J ation, Bareshnum, physicians’ dues, I social and economic laws, regulations I regarding comfort and happiness, I punishment ranging from 50 whip- I pings to 10,000, other military crimes, I care of dogs, customs of cutting the I hair or nails and reciting prayers prior I to burying them, pregnancy, menstru- I ation, confinment, narration about, I Ahriman ’s torment of Zarathushra, I mantras to cure illnesses, etc. And yet I the community squanders, lakhs of I rupees every year over these supposed- I ly incomparable prayers of the Ven- I di dad. I Zarathushtra’s religion of the Ga- I thas is a religion of devotion. Zara- I thushtra is the devotee of Ahura Maz- I da. Zarathushtra sacrifices his own life I and soul. He offers to His maker the I sum and substance of his existence. I Zarathushtra tells us that he who mak- I es an offering of the divine love of his I soul to Ahura Mazda is the true de- I votee — the I true Zarathoshti. I Zarathushtra calls Ahura Mazda his I Friend. Through the gift of the good I mind, through . concentration and I though a pure life, each one can be I Ahura Mazda’s friend. Zarathushtra I introduces Ahura Mazda as the friend, I brother and father of the good and the 1 noble. Zarathushtra asks Ahura Maz- I da for the help that a brother gives to I a brother. I Zarathushtra wishes that those who I accept his faith may ever strive to at- I tain and assimilate Arn^ti — the I Vedic Armaiti or the spirit of devo- I tion. He says that those who greet I Armaiti are made pure in heart. He I teaches us that the noblest prayer of I the aspirant is: “Armaiti’s devotion I be mine; may she become my very I own; through her may I reach Ahura Mqzda”. Man asks his Maker for innumer­ able gifts — gifts of cattle and com, comfort and wealth, prosperity and progress, success and fame, happiness and health, longevity and loving pro- I geny and many a blessing. Zarathush­ tra asks not for alms but for the giver of alms himself. Rather than receive gifts, he prays for the giver that lurks behind the gift. In the Gathas, the words that frequently flow from his sacred lips are “O, Ahura Mazda, I seek but a glimpse of thee. I long to lo„ , » 1 * _ J _ ....,1Grant Medical College, Bombay and obtained the H. P. Thakersey Gold Medal, notes his bio-data. Ankle­ saria was also a tutor in mid-wifery at the Grant Miedical College, from 1931 to 1934, after which he came to ____ ___ __ _____ Ahmedabad as the honorary head of ht, son Pesi, and 'datjit^" Mary ^e department of Obstetrics and Matbar, Bepsi Jasubhoy, Zerin Lai- Gynaecology at the V. S. General kaka and Sheroo Francis. Hospital and Chinoy Maternity Home, which he superintended, notes his life sketch. Anklesaria is .survived by his wife Dhun, son Behram, daughters Meher Soli Engineer, and Shirin, brother Khurdad and sister Maha Sohrab Cooper. > Anklesaria In 1951, when the communists took , over Shanghai, Talati was reportedly ^holarship and the Prince of Wales the last of the Parsi Trustees to leave China. He lived in Hong Kong for 20 years, before he retired- in 1970 in Bombay, notes his bio-data. Talati is survived by his wife Dow- ±e department of Obstetrics and Matbar, Bepsi Jasubhoy, Zerin Lai- Gynaecology at the V. S. General kaka and Sheroo Francis. Hospital and Chmoy Maternity Home, Bhiwantfiwala j I i President of the All India Obste­ trics and Gynac Federation, vice pre­ sident of the All India Medical Asso­ ciation, Anklesaria was also professor emeritus at the B. J. Medical College and Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, and Honorary consulting Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Shardaben Chi- manlal Lalbhai Hospital, Saraspur, noted the Free Press Journal of 26 September 1980. Gujarat chief minister Madhavsinh | Solanki said that in the death of | Anklesaria, Gujarat has “lost not only I its father of gynaecology but one of I its leading citizens and a philanthro- I pist of rare genius who had made tre- I mendous contributions to the quality I of life.” f As President of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat Anklesaria repre- sented Ahmedabad . on the Executive Council ot the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India where he voiced the orthodox point of view and was a vitriolic critic of the Delhi ] Parsi Anjuman. He lectured and wrote on religious subjects. Bom on 24 November 1906 into an Died; Sorab Maneckji Talati. 91. a former president of the Shanghai Parsi Anjuman. in Bombay on 6 Octo­ ber 1980. As president of the Anjuman, Tala­ ti is reported to have supervised the plans and construction of the new Prayer Hall Building in Shanghai, which was declared open by him on 21 August 1932. Talati augmented * the Trust Funds in Shanghai by deve­ loping new properties and increasing rental income, according to a press release. Bom in Surat rm 2 November 1889, Talati went to Shanghai in 1909 to take charge of the family business: and later married Dowlat Aderji Died: Erach A. Bhiwandiwala, 82. Mehta, of Nairobi in 1917, said to noted portrait painter and artist on 29 August 1980, in a Bombay infirmary. • The executor of several portraits pf British peers, members of parliament, royal families, Maharajas, Maharanis, Nawabs, scholars, saints, judges, poli­ ticians, poets and many a prominent Parsi, according to a bio-data and life sketch sent by his nephew, Bhi­ wandiwala. died in obscurity, honoured and unsung”. ; ¦ Bhiwandiwala “was a great Parsi artist, who walked with the masters of art, scholars, presidents and mo­ narchs. He was loved and respected... as a great artist”, wrote Bombay Samachar Editor Jehan Daruwala in his Parsi Tari Ar si column of 16 Nov­ ember 1980. Born in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra in 1898, Bhiwandiwala right from an early age displayed a genius for art, even “before he could read or wrke”, notes the life sketch. His career re ­ portedly began as an assistant to M/s 71 ¦?? “uri- Talatf•F’«« ' • J f J. F. Madon and Co., Calcutta, and later as an official of the Central Bank of India, but he is said to have de­ voted his spare time to the cultivation of his artistic talent, and was privi­ leged to have been admitted to the studio of the Bengali master J. P. Ganguli. “It was the Tatas who spotted the talent in this young man and sent him to England”, writes Daruwala in the Samachar, “there he trained under the great master Sir John Levery.” Bhiwandiwala was awarded a scholar­ ship from the Lord Northbrook Soci­ ety, London, and distinguished him­ self as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, notes *the life sketch. In 1976, Bhiwandiwala was report­ edly commissioned to paint the por­ trait of the former Shah of Iran and his family, and later, at the urgings of the Shah stayed on in Iran, only to have to flee when the revolution began. “Bhiwandiwala had to leave behind all his belongings and come away to Bombay, where due to shock f 1 s % 4C ' “ 'V' , J. Irani >s i greaseproof and Glasda^ in food packaging. ncMte W Ho- used , . Fn food packaging, notes Mo-data. ’ He is survived by Ms wife Jeroo and sons Kaikobad and Dadi, the noted puppeteer. Died; Adi K. Irani, 37, six times national champion in the super-heavy j and heavy class weightlifting, of a massive heart attack, at his Pune re­ sidence, on 4 December 1980. Winner of the 1965 Maharashtra Shree title, Irani was reported to I weigh 126 kgs. and Ms national ne- , cord of 520 pounds in the dead weight lift has so far remained unbeaten. ’4»* « *¦? .¦;s 9 . Continued from page 23 for 3 Fetraary 1981, notes a h^er A '7zk«»zxa A from the Zoroastrian Association of , Greater New York (ZAGNY) presi­ dent Fredy K. Patel, for which. Pro- fessor S. Shaked of the Univari^ of ’ Jerusalem is scheduled to speak on Zoroastrian Influence on Judaism; Professor J. Russel of Columbia Uni­ versity on ______ City University of New York at Zo- roastrian Ideas and WfiOt ReUgious Thmigkt; and Professor J. Stern also of the City Univeraty of New York on Reflections on Themes in Greek and Zoroastrian Religions. What ’s Cooking ZAGNY? ZAGNY experimented with a Zoroas­ trian cooking class, with the youngest group making ravo... “they eagerly learnt the art of cooking and the .1 Gujarati words for the various ingri- dents. The sight of girls and boys measuring the ingredients, stirring the -J The Good Religion in Armenia; Professor K. D. xrf tte Died: Dorabji Dadabhoy Podumjee, 67, well-known paper manufacturer^ on 3 July 1980, following an opera­ tion in England. Pudumjee is said t6 have pioneered the manufacture of speciality papers in India, which included natural trac­ ing paper, glazed imitation parch­ ment, teleprinter tape etc., thereby saving the country foreign exchange. On the Board of Directors of The Deccan Paper Mills Co. Ltd., he was also a past president of the Rotary Club and a keen Rotarian, according to a press release. - j - • In his capacity as technical director ^<^vo and peeling the almonds was a of The Pudumjee Pulp and Paper delight, commented Ivy Gandhi, the Mills, Pudumjee is reported to have ZAGNY joint secretary in the Noy­ shouldered the main responsibilities of ember^ newsletter. Kababs, vaghare^ planning and setting up ' *’ ’ ”* ““ ***“ pulp and paper mill near Chinchwad in Pune. Born in 1913, in Pune, Pudumjee was educated at Bombay ’s Bharda Pudumjee High School and Elphinstone College, p., . cards etc /wanted from where he graduated in science, P®®' eic./waniea and old age he almost lost his usual before leaving to study paper manu- Mills, Pudumjee is reported to have a modem chaval and kachoobar are next on the list at the cooking classes, notes the newsletter. _____ ------ ------- Advertiser wishes to buy OLD vigour and interest in life”, writes his facture and to gain expenence in Ger- picture postcards, photographs, cigarette nephew. man paper mills. Returning to India, His ability as a portrait painter on Pudumjee joined The Deccan Paper canvas was reported to have been ad- Mills, a family concern in Pune, states mired and appreciated by the art his bio-data. masters of England and Europe, who The years from 1955 to 1960 Pudum- considered him to be a versatile artist jee spent in Aden, assisting his father- of unusual ability. Bhiwandiwala has in-law with the management of the been given the epithet ‘the Orpen of renowned Cawasji Dinshaw and Bro- India.’ thers, after which he returned to Bhiwandiwala is survived by his Pune, and set up an integrated paper Box 892, Bombay 400 001. son, Kersi. mill for the manufacture of mainly . ¦ paper mills. Returning to India, Mills, a family concern in Pune, states The years from 1955 to 1960 Pudum- in-law with the management of the cards, playing cards, 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 expected prices to The Advertiser, (OLD) C/o. Parsiana, G.P.O. •1 1 *- A ¦J.