Dec 1981

I /) >*. ¦ ‘ £ * ft! I ¦ < s ? X s* b S’ 5 o "* 2. 3- ’•to'l VK<****^ •* , ^.4 r <- z If HOMO XONC^ SOUTH <¦«<»»*•> -c- H- i-N'A'------- ---- s A I - ft** I Hong Kong Calling The latest addition to the international, newsletter, network is Parvanda, a smart, mimeographed publication _____ ____ issued by the Zoroastrian Charity dated ,5th November 1834 which was i.. 3_____ f Funds of Hong Kong, Canton and signed by nine leading community present Zoroastrian Building I .. Macao. Edited by Jimmy Minoo Mas- ¦ . ----- . ... . _ ter, a young marketing executive in the Hong Kong Tourist Association, the publication derives its name from the 13th name of Ahuramazda, as enumer ­ ated in the 101 Names of Ahuramazda, and means ‘in touch with all. ’ “We ’ name for our new ­ sletter, ” notes Master, “and have taken •» 7 ins in 1822. and in 1861 a house in Elgin Street was “The first recorded name as ‘China purchased. In 1871 another house in Canton Anjuman ’ appears in a letter Shelly Street was purchased. The house in Elgin Street was sold off in 1930. The J on members. There were about 70 Parsis in Leighton Road, where the community < meets for prayers and social events, was built in the year 1931. “In the year 1854 a fund for the relief Canton at that time. “A general meeting of the Zoroas ­ trian community was held in Canton on 19th September 1845 and it was decided of destitute Chinese was started. The to properly create a fund for the pur- trustees even today send donations to pose of buying and maintaining burial worthy charities out of this fund which grounds in the various ports and places where Parsis were trading, to render financial assistance to anyone in diffi- our logo,” the latter being designed by culty, to perform religious ceremonies Ms J. Jackson of Corporate Communi­ cation Ltd. There are 182 Zoroastrians in the ‘i Uny, throbbing British Crown Colony ' of Hong Kong according to the Zoroas ­ trian Anjuman of Hong Kong 1980 directory. The trustees are Sammy Nasarwanjee Shroff, president, Erach ’f’ Mancherji Mehta, secretary, Rustom Khurshedji Pavri, Noshir Pheroz Pavri < and Keki F. Jokhi. Ervad Rustomji ¦' t"- o H thought this a fitting the Sacred Flame and the Afarghan as a’ has grown substantially since then... “At the meeting of the Zoroastrian community held at Canton on 19th Sep ­ tember 1845, the fund which is presently and do other charitable deeds. They known as ‘Zoroastrian Charity Funds named it ‘China Zarthusti Anjuman ’. Of Hong Kong, Canton and Macao ’ Dhunjibhai Behramjee Rana, Nusser- was founded for religious, charitable wanji Bomanji Modi, Cowasji Shapurji and benevolent purposes. The fund in Lanagrana and Ruttonjee Hormasjee those times was managed and con- Camajee were appointed the first trus- ducted by the trustees appointed for the tees. “The Parsis were allotted a plot at Happy Valley, Hong Kong, for their rules and regulations passed from time cemetery in October 1845. In July 1847 a piece of land was also obtained at Whampoa for the purpose. The land for into millions of Hong Kong dollars, the cemetary in Macao was given by the According to the financial statement for Portuguese government in 1847. the year ended 31st December, 1980, “As the funds grew, the Anjuman prepared by auditors Dhun Sukhesh- embarked upon charitable activities walla and Company, the share invest- and started remitting money to India ments at market value alone are over 16 for charitable and religious purposes million Hong Kong dollars which is since the year 1848. With the opening of around three and a quarter crore Shanghai to foreign trade, branch offi- rupees. In 1980, about a lakh and a half ces of Parsi firms were opened there and in 1854, the Canton Anjuman sent a sum of S700.00 for the purpose of estab ­ lishing a cemetery there. ‘The Shanghai Cemetery Trust Funds’ as the Shanghai ble causes in India, the latest being ‘Ava Anjuman was known then, were self- Bang ’ a housing colony built in Navsari . XVUV.U supporting and their assets grew quite by Shapoor and Manijeh Fakirji Jokhi, ip Vancouver, Canada, the rapidly. former residents of Navsari. K Zbroastrian Charity Funds of Hong “ Kong, Canton and Macao had its orig- I’ purpose from the principal members of the community according to certain 'T ail - ,. Ranaji Pavri is the resident “Mobed , Saheb ” replacing Ervad Jalejar Shia- , vakshaw Kuka, the former “Mobed Saheb ” of Shanghai. In July 1981, the Anjuman celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Zoroastrian building, a community center at Leighton Road. The ceremonies sche- \ duled for 6th July had to be delayed a day “due to a typhoon, ” notes Par- } vanda. “The Zoroastrian Building was suitably decorated wUh chok, garlands ;¦ and floral arrangements. ” According to a history of the Anju- 5 man prepared by Jamshed K. Pavri, a ;> former resident of Hong Kong now A Zbroastrian Charity Funds of Hong “To have a Zoroastrian house in Hong Kong, a list was circulated in 1857 to time. ” Today the assets of the Anjuman run rupees were donated to charitable causes in India. Individually, Hong Kong Zoroastri- ans have donated large sums to charita- 5 ¦ ¦ i diB,' I I :-ssw RKLK.iON i 'i US Jews open their arms to BY ALEX BRUMMER IN WASHINGTON converts JUDAISM in the United States, the biggest Jewish community in the world has marched into a. “c „ „ii;, a uc RefoYmTMovement P^selytes" to the faith? ^rong Union of American Hebrew Union of American Hebrew Congrega- “Wha. we propose, in'e'ffccVi's Sing ?r?m7hTTolT± launch a massive effort tn trnncfrirm ai__ i____ . ~ attitude of an entire 000,0,;^;-™ b„-rh Co -/ton, a has been ---------- conversion) into a determined --reaction. ” The Reform Jewish Movement which tion, said at the conference in Boston; seeking proselytes to the faith. The action, taken by the one-million ­ strong Union of American Hphrnm &. new era with a deci ­ resigned, embarrased acquiescene (to has eschewed conversions since the 16th century, when it was discouraged by the vigorous pursuit of heretics by the Christian Churches, The new policy won final app the biennial conference of 735 i can Reform <----- ‘ extensive three-year study. In i passed a resolution noting that “Juda ­ ism is f ' Jews has been cism among those advocating change, . - — J note that Abraham and Ruth were not Jews by birth. Conversion, it has been argued, —- ------ 1 an integral part of Judaism since biblical times. The new order does not mean, how ­ ever, that Jewish missionaries will join other evangelists private homes, < at airports. The broad goal is to create a more hospitable climate for non-Jewish marriage partners and their childfen and to those seeking a religious identity. Among the more radical departures from tradition which has been approved IS that the children of a mixed marriage . ~ 1 as Jewish, irrespec ­ tive of whether it is the n^other or father who was born to the religion. Histori ­ cally, Jewishness, in the eyes of the rab ­ bis, could be passed on to children only fhroixtk Q I. 1__ . •' a source of strong criti- -------- ---- join on the doorsteps of on street corners, or , ----- - <4. more hospitable climate for non-Jewish marriage partners and their children and to those seeking a religious identity. Among the more radical departures from tradition which has been approved flourished among German Jews in thf* children of a mixed marriage .ntut * is the mo^'Seml'^o'f p . IO ii VUlll* of at the —I can be expected to controversy around the Children of a mixed marriage should approval at ¦ - J Ameri- congregations after an „ -1 approv ­ ing Its recommendations delegates z;3ScS“ == embrace it ”. As a result of the Reform be regarded as Jewish, irrespective of whether it is the mother or father who was born to the religion. whether it is the mother or father Reform Movement Move- reverberate in active Jewish com- It will seek to bring non-Jewish partners in mixed marriagesto Judaism. world, particularly among orthodox communities which have historically taken a negative attitude to Attention has been focused through a Jewish-born mother. conversion. . ---- i on the conversion question by the rising level of inter-marriage between Jews and non-Jews in American and most West- uiing non-Jewish partners in mixed ^^‘^ent surveys show marriages to Judaism, and will also aim of American Jews have been at those with no religious lies wdhX ” sTXT'™l°e: ‘ “f churches. However, the plan resists anv governing conversions, at ••sheep-stealing- fro., othe^ beXX^sVnXXTsX^ A third of American Jews have been marrying out of the faith. ment ’s action it will r converts to the religion. It will seek bring non-Jewish ---- campaign to draw ¦ •.» t O non-Jews in American and r strict rules most West- governing conversions To speed the fresh Reform —_ a S5 million fund, to be spent over five years. This would be aimed at providing material to fulfil the intent of the resolu ­ tions passed in Boston. approach, the I congregations propose to set up ) 1 I < _ _ 1 A _ 1 . . The architect of the ogue members, and their children have This lack of openness towards non- the GUARDIAN, DECEMBER 20 1981 SUBMITTED BY ZARIR CAMA 7 1.5 -e- X ?y I®’ COMMENT Qfl/*! Q*W1 K ¦ li- The Lost Vision The religion of Zarathosht, is a way of life on which no racial group has exclu ­ sive rights. Th^ prophet of our religion had a vision - a vision of World Faith. Perhaps when the religion of Zarathosht factory in practice. However, he went to entered into the time frame of recorded history, this vision was lost. As the time went by the religious tradition and the National history of Iranians amalgam ­ ated, and Zoroastrianism emerged as a religious heritage, to be enjoyed only by the people of Iranian ancestry. How­ ever, the vision of Zarathosht about Maz- dayasnan as the religion of World Communities often surfaces, when we, Zarathosht, and his efforts to Hve and come across individuals or groups, who practice it as closely to the letter of the independently evolve, a dedication to religion, becomes apparent, when he the religion of Zarathosht, with or with ­ out introduction from an adherent. A case in point is that of a young Dr. Jehan Bagli tion of several descriptions. I believe it they should tie the Kusti and when the] to be faithfully reproduced ”. Regarding become instructed, attentive to religioi the elaborate weaving of the Kusti, the reproduction was no doubt less satis- and stedfast the barashnom should bi administered to them ” Zoroastrians - their beliefs and practices, by Mary great lengths and search to bring it to his Boyce (1979). mental satisfaction. This is clearly evi ­ dent, when he says, that, “I was able to find a hollow cording of approximately correct dimensions. This I unbraided at religion of Zarathosht was open to tho! the ends and rewove in an approxima ­ tion of the traditional Kusti ”. However, the most impressive gesture of Peterson ’s faith in the religion of One can go on with many more sucH situations. But one very importanl aspect of these situations was that thl i b S'0,1 I r- 1 r. I » h' ;1, i r'' “My greatest hope is to have a real Navjote and wear a real Sudreh and Kusti”. tells us that “Consecration (of Kusti) were accomplished by reciting approp ­ riate prayers as detailed by J.J. Modi - The Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the Parsees”. He further tells us that he has worn this Sudreh and Kusti impro­ vised as above, for the last five years. He who wished of their own freewill td. practice it. They were no doubl instructed into it before ritualistid acceptance was observed. | Thus neither the Prophet Zoroastei nor the priests of the early times would have denied individuals like Peterson the right to live as a true Zoroastriaii However, because of the restrictiorJ imposed (perhaps justifiably so, undei “I began to think of my renews it four times daily, and observes philosophy as being essentially Zoroastrian. ” the circumstances of the time) by th« later day community, that the origina vision of prophet Zarathosht to mak< the religion of Ahura,Mazda, the Work faith, is aggressively thwarted. In North America, the existinj Zoroastrian organisations shouli ponder over this matter, and througli Nyaishes as convenient. He ended his letter by saying, “My greatest hope pf course, is to have a real Navjote and wear a real Sudreh and Kusti ”. Peterson ’s case may be unique or it may represent one of those many indi­ viduals of non-lranian, (or non-parsi) origin whose sincere wish to live as a Zoroastrian is thwarted by the non- receptive character of the community. That this non-acceptance dogma came American Joseph H. Peterson who wrote to the Zoroastrian Association of Quebec, about how his flame of life was enlightened by the Zoroastrian way of life. In his letter he said “I first learned about Zoroaster ten years ago . . . this discovery was sparked by a book which caught my eye in the library one day. This was the two volume SBE (Sacred Books of the East) edition of the Zend about much later in the history, is evi- North America (UZANA) draw up a Avesta . . . This particular philosophy denced by the fact that King Khosrow plan of action outlining conditions anc impressed me so much, that I began to (531 A.D.) accepted a population of think of my philosophy as being essen ­ tially Zoroastrian. I continued reading whatever I could find, on this great reli ­ gion, and soon discovered the great debt which Christianity owes to it ”. All this Peterson did without contact of any sort with Zoroastrians. Asked about how he improvised the Sudreh and Kusti, Peterson replied, “I dayasna. The answer of the priests was, have tailored a sudreh myself from white cambric according to a compila- United Zoroastrian Association o: circumstances under which a sincere and desirous individual of non-lranian origin can be accepted as a full Zoroas ­ trian, without reservation,. Such a docu­ ment should then be presented to othei Turks and allowed them to be instructed - if they so wished - and accepted them into the Zoroastrian fold. As late as in the fifteenth century, the Parsis consulted Iranian priests on this Zoroastrian organisations in the Work very question, asking them if they to make them aware of our efforts to should allow their Hindu servantsXvho fulfill the great vision of the prophet wished- to accept the religion of Maz- Zarathosht. “If servant boys and girls have faith in the Good Religion, then it is proper that Dr. Ervad Jehan Bagli, is I he Editor of Gavashni, the quarterly publication of the Zoroastrian Asso-- ciation of Ouebec. 8 *' 4 * as -t lime Hill (I I fl I J 7 I ’^1 ¦ 1 fl ¦ f ^3 *4’ 4’ r 1' -V A t I 'ftrst r7/£ JUDGJ^MENT SO FA R Petit vs Jeejeebhoy Ill- Failure to prove Conversion rhave referred to all the witnesses called through the Burushnum alone can per- by the Plaintiffs for the purpose of prov- form these ceremonies. The othei ing that there have been instances of an ceremonies, which are known as Outq entire alien or Juddin being converted Liturgical ceremonies, are performed b] into the Zoroastrian faith and admitted the ordinary Mobed. In 1903 R. D. Tata married according to Parsi rites, a French lady, after having into the Parsi community, except one ; her navjote performed. Tata claimed his and this one I have purposely left last for gical ceremonies of the Zoroastrian reli wife “had become a Parsi professing C , ' -- - the Zoroastrian faith and consequently important witness called on behalf of Zoroastrian born child usually betweei she was entitled to participate in all the Plaintiffs from their standpoint, the age of 7 and 9, is invested with Sudn the charitable and religious Funds and ' This witness is Sorabji Bomanji Pun- and Kusti —the sacred shirt and girdlj Institutions of the Parsis’’ including thaky, a Parsi priest from Surat. which are the outer symbols of the pro the right to enter fire temples and have Before I proceed to discuss the evi- fession of the Zoroastrian Faith. On The Navjot is one of the Outer Litur discussion, as he is by far the most gion. It is a ceremony whereby J the Plaintiffs from their standpoint, the age of? and 9, is invested with Sudn thaky, a Parsi priest from Surat. the right to enter fire temples and have her body consigned to the Towers of Silence. Thus the scene was set for the historic priesthood. The community of Zoroas- court case of Petit vs Jeejeebhoy, also known as “The Parsi Punchayet Case.” The question before the two judges of and laymen. A Mobed must be the son the Bombay High Court, Justice cf _ M.,'—. , rr Frank C. O. Beaman and Justice become a Mobed. To be a Parsi priest he the benefit of Zoroastrians. Dirtshaw Dhanjibhoy baver, was must be born of a father who is a priest. whether a person born in another faith The Mobeds at one time objected to give but converted to Zoroastriqnism ’ ' was entitled to the benefits of certain community trusts. dence given by this witness, I ought here Mobed alone can perform thjs ceren to explain the constitution of the Parsi ' ony. The Plaintiffs contend in this su that the mere performance of lhe Navjt ceremony on a Juddin is sufficient t trians is divided into two classes — Mobeds and Behedins —that is, priests make him or her a full-fledged Zoroa; _ 2 1--^ . - - - - . , entitle him or her to all th of a Mobed. A Behedin can never benefits of all charities established f( their daughters in marriage to Behedins, and this had led to very heated controv ­ ersy in the community as is shown in this The plaintiffs (Sir Dinsha Maneckji case. Although, at the present time. Petit; Tata and others) contended Zoroastrianism enjoins and practices conversion and that converts are entitled to all the benefits provided. The class. A Mobed ’s son may take to any - - • — - other walk of life : he is pot restricted to his father ’s profession. He may take to other occupation in life : when he does this he is known as Athornan. A Behedins ’s son, however, can never admitted a Juddin (person belonging to be a Mobed. It will thus be seen that a another religion) into their fold. They admit, however, that children The priestly class amongst tl Zoroastrians of India, as a rule, consis of respectable, religious, conscientiou God-fearing men; but as is commc amongst all communities, there ai some black sheep amongst them wh are always ready to subordinate the; consciences to mundane consideratioi there is no active restriction, the Mobeds generally confine the marriage of their children amongst their own and do almost anything for money, at the Plaintiffs ’ witness, Sobrafc Bomanji Punthaky, is a typical instan of the latter class.'If the Plaintiffs ’ coj tentions were to prevail, the Parsi cot munity would be entirely at the mercy such men as this one; for it would open to him to inundate the communi man born of a Mobed father becomes a with thousands of undesirable aliei Mobed by right of his birth. No qualifi- born of a Zoroastrian father by an alien cations —moral, religious, or educa- mother has been admitted into their fold by the performance of the Navjote ceremony. ’’ defendants (Sir Jamsetji Jeejeehhoy and others) while admitting that Zoroastrianism permits conversion state that “ever since their (Parsis) advent into India (they) have not He himself says, one priest is sufficie to perform the Navjot ceremony ai that the priest wants nobody’s perm sion to do so. If I have formed a h estimate of this man ’s morality a honesty, he himself is responsible for He has made no attempts to disguise tional —are required of him. He takes religious training under his father or other male relations, and when he ne plaintiffs'called certain witness’s arrives at the age of discretion, he fol- to “give some concrete instances of 1... ’ . --- -- conversion of Juddins to Zoroastrianism,’’ fledged priest. A certain number of true character, and has by his evidei mate of his moral conceptions. I extri lows his father ’s profession as a full- priests go through the higher religious enabled the Court to form a true es purificatory ceremony known as i___ Burushnum. They are then qualified for below a few of the sentiments he g< ’ > expression to, showing his concepti which are known as Inner Liturgical of morality in life, from, I presume, ceremonies. Priests who have gone priestly point of view : Daver in the part of the judgement printed in the last two issues of Parsiana the performance of certain ceremonies discredited the evidence presented ’ ’ ’ ’ “ ’ ’ "- -- --1 by the witnesses. 10i- i 1 It has not established being invested with a Sudra and Kusti and admitted 1 ¦'''2 one single instance of a Juddin... ------- [ into the fold of Zoroaster. “I have given instances of Parsis | keeping alien women as their mistresses. I One was of the Liquor Contractor artd I the other of the Priest Faramdaroo. It is I not an uncommon thing for Parsis,to I keep alien womeTi as their mistresses. I Whether it is reputable or not is the I business of the man who keeps the I woman. ]Vhere is the disrepute uj keep- I mg women like thatMany do it... It is a I common thing for Parsis to keep Dubri I women as their mistresses at Surat and I elsewhere in the Districts. It was very I common at first and it prevails to a I certain extent now.”.....“It is common I amongst Parsi Priests to keep alien " women as their mistresses. They ought not to do it. It leads to adverse com­ ment. ” In my opinion, this man libelled the Parsi community of Surat and his own class when he said this practice was common amongst them. It is possible, as I have said before, that some Parsis iri the districts of Gujarat, and possibly some Parsis in Surat itself, indulged in this disreputable practice ; but to say that it is common practice is, I think, to libel the whole Community. And as to Priests, there has been nothing wha ­ tever before us to show that their class indulged in th^ vice this witness attrib- has attempted to besmirch hfs < before the Court. i ’—...... " My object, however, in c'—- ‘ '^ho —........ witness ’s evi- Mahomedan i ’ • • _ . ----- J y to him, a Mahomedan husband ---- 1 L- . the Parsi told him not to do on, however, to say ; asked me payment to me I would have done it. keeping alien women as their mistresses" p------- . the other of the Priest Faramdaroo. It is not an uncommon thing for Parsis,to keep alien womeTi as their mistresses. Whether it is reputable or not is the business of the man who keeps the woman. ]Vhere is the disrepute uj keep- whose evidence the Plaintiffs relied t„ > prove, in the words of the witness him- to 1 I ¦(>/ t i»Bi Parsi community of Surat and his SK libel the whole Community. And as to Priests, there has been nothing wha ­ tever before us to show that their class indulged in the vice this witness attrib- s*-., luancis wnen ti ’’ PO'^ket, is as elastic as his •a ! self, that it had been the custom for a .i I long time in his Community -----------j to convert aliens to the Zoroastrian religion. After haying expressed his “independent opinion,” within the ruling of the Privy Council case I have referred to before now, this witness began his evidence by giving instances which he said were well known to him. He was then made to pared evidence, intended to corroborate the witnesses Bhownagree and Khus- rubjiai. He began talking about things as if he knew them personally, but it was “ soon discovered that many incidents he else. Speaking of converts in the Bhowna ­ gree family, he said : “The children of these original converts were invested with Sudra and Kusti in my presence. ” He spoke of other similar incidents as if r~ '---- ’¦ • the end of the haying expressed his “independent Council case I have referred to before now, this witness began his evidence by giving instances which he said were well known to him. He was then made to give what appeared to be carefully pre ­ pared evidence, intended to corroborate the witnesses Bhownagree and Khus- — if he knew them personally, but it was spoke of were told to him by*someb^v 4 .J '''"a A] * for all Shiavax Chavda, usually dressed in white pyjama and kurta, is a contrast to the gay symmetry of colour that he creates. His work has dominated the Bombay ‘artscape ’fdr over four decades and reached far beyond. Despite being internationally recognised and having his canvasses in places of honour in sev ­ eral collections, including those of the late President Sukarno of Indonesia, the Godrej ’s, Tata ’s and Mafatlal ’s, Chavda remains unassuming, and almost recluse-like in his dedication to his work. He lives with his wife Khurshid and daughter Jeroo in a fourth-floor apart ment in the heart of the city, at Dhobita- lao behind Metro, seeming however, to keep himself aloof from Bombay ’s bus* tie. A short walk across the terrace leads to a circular room, divided into two. One half is used by the Nritya Jyoti Dance Academy run by his wife, the other half is Chavda ’s studio. Here again, in a profusion of books and paintings, together with professional , trappings like a large easel and paint brushes, Chavda works daily on his paintings, often to the musical back- ground provided by the dance classes in session. Thorough Education With meticulous care, that later manif ­ ested itself in his painting, Chavda nur­ tured his creative abilities to fruition' with sound and systematic study. He graduated from the Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay, and then received a diploma from the Slade School of Fine Arts, London. Having studied undei noted persons in the art world— Professor Randolf Schwabe, R.G. Eve- sand and Vladimir Polunin, a contemporary of Picasso —Chavda acquired a sound knowledge ol: draughtsmanship, drawing composi- tion and colour, though at this Stage h^ felt very English in his style. He was alsc a student at the Academic de la Grande I$ 4 ii -*»ir ( 7?*^- Seasons Chaumiere, Paris, and at the St Martin School of Art, London. Realising even then the need for greater care of paint ­ ings, he studied restoration with Hel ­ mut Ruhemann, the chief restorer at the National Gallery, London. After having completed his academic training, Chavda left behind tional class-room sketches, scenes and landscapes. He was more interested in experimenting with figures in movement —capturing them on the limited space of his canvas. Some of his first sketches were of animals. These, drawn from animals in the Karl Hegen- beck Circus, were made ^s a student in Bombay. “This German circus was set up where the Bombay Stationery Mart is situated today, ” Chavda remembers. With his immense love for animals, the young artist visited the circus regularly to sketch the beasts. ‘‘ ‘ ‘ __ ____ naked and offer a real test to one ’s skills that he “insists on retaining recognisa- the Taraporewalla Aquarium most of lar painting. He finally approached the the time. But consistently, throi^h it all, artist and asked that if the painting was Chavda ’s orie passionate involvement not sold by the end of the exhibition, remained with the human form—in could he have it at a price he could’ what he saw people doing around him, afford. Chavda, unhesitatingly, working, dancing, singing. He was reserved the painting for him imme- greatly influenced by the carvings at diately. Khajuraho and the Lakshminarayan Temples in Bhopal, the Ramayana Murals sculptures in Java. In his youth Chavda Chavda also has several murals to his had also studied Indian classical dance credit in Bombay, New Delhi and in and classical music which really excited Washington DC. This last, made for the him. At dance recitals he makes from 50 Air-India office is 10 feet by 15 feet and to 100 sketches in an evening.' “I am depicts a procession of Mogul elephants constantly looking at the posture and and maharajahs. Ina rare touch of hum ­ sketching, ” he says, his sketchbook in our in his work, the maharajah hand, with perfectly drawn little figures resembled the office managerand one of of dancers on every page. “One has to be the princesses, his secretary. very quick, he adds. Chavda ’s most recent murals are In 1948 Chavda was invited by the painted at the top of the sweep of stair- Chavda ’s most recent murals are . f'- -------- — V* HIV jnvvu VI ataii" Assamese Government to paint their tri- way at the new National Centre for the conven- common bals. He covered 2,000 miles in a jeep. Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman mzirA going right up to the Tibetan border and Point and when lit are on public view sketched the Nisimi, Abor and Naga through the huge glass windows, tribes, capturing their costumes and folk Twenty-one feet by 30 feet each these rituals. • - - • For almost 20 years Chavda painted mainly dancers. In the early 6O’s he began to move away from dancers and first exhibition in the Princes Room at representationals. the Taj Mahal Hotel at a time when Only a little delineation here and there was no proper art gallery in the there, gives a clue to the subject, ” — .1 . . ... explains Chavda of the semi-abstract form he had progressed into. Contra- “Animals are dieting his critics who felt at the time going right up to the Tibetan border and Point and when lit are inspired by diagrams for meditation used in tantric art. Chavda has ceme a long way since his _ __________ __________ ,t the Taj Mahal Hotel at a time when city. Since that first public viewing, Chavda shows his usual consistency in choice of the same venue. “One should appreciate Chavda ’s shows year after year, since 1945, each of them improv­ ing on the previous presentation, ” says a critic in the Indian Express. “You ate bound to change. You have to renounce a unique collection of drawings of Bali- the artist. ’’ “ ’ nese masks. He had sketched these With several museums all over the masks, made of papier mache, in the world like the Victoria and Albert ".^ of draughtsmanship. There are no clothes to cover up weaknesses in draw ­ ings,” Chavda explains. Chavda also went through a phase of drawing Cocks in all their strutting glory and their blaze of colour, challenging his vast and varied palate. “He started keep ­ ing poultry in Lonavala and we thought ^¦dbeeau„gchicke„."saysKhursh1d. .reasured/T^^se a« ;„r;'u;;rdurin^ N\“.iop\",’oXryTE Q ncjmAro ^Ua cf J a; Dinshaw Nariman (seated, with handout- stretched) personaliy supervising work. The Parsi Dairy Farm shop on Princess Street: a taste of the good old days. i The Milky Way w I There are a few establishments which still provide a taste of the good old days in Bombay —the Parsi Dairy Farm shop on Princess. Street (at the bottom of the flyover) is one of them. Established in 1916 it is run by the four Nariman brothers, Dinshaw, Meherwan, Naval and Rusi and one sis­ ter Jeroo — yes, in true joint family style, “We wouldn’t have survived for 65 years. ” punned one of them, “if we were not truly joined! , “Less than four annas a litre — that was the price of milk during my father ’s days when he started the business with a can of milk right here on Princess Street. ” said the eldest of the brothers, Dinshaw. ... repeated quiet sentiment cannot is also another indication of the times. 1 7, !!" of O" th' of Engineer Building « I’osgoneup twicettay«r honest and goodness. We are here (better known as Parsi Dairy bniWinJ I to meet the ever-mcreasina oroductinn todav because we have nexrer u__ j ____ ... . those who corne to our shop personally stock and presently they have about 40 to buy 15 paise or 25 paise worth of of these. milk,” said Rusi Nariman. About 8,000-10,000 litres of milk are In fact, bulk orders during festival distributed daily to the lucky citizens of times are turned down if it means “ depriving the common man. Judging by Greater Bombay and although delivery - - ~ , starts at 4 o’clock and 4 o’clock may not the crowd purchasing one thing or be an agreeable time to be woken up by another around me I believe him. the door-bell — there is a list of 500 Add the words “Parsi Dairy ” to any people “dying” to get Parsi Dairy milk! dairy product or sweetmeat — be it Their 200-odd force of delivery boys milV- nkoA ____ _ 1.1_ . 1 • . Ill 1*1 ¦ n milk, ghee, butter, cream, kulfi, yogurt or halwa, you know that quality is gua ­ ranteed. ! i ¦ in their blue shirts and khaki shorts are a familiar sight on the road if you’re taking a walk at this hour. “Our clientele includes peons and , 1 ministers, ” inserted one of the brothers but on second thoughts asked me to Articulate Twosome * The brothers I met, Dinshaw and Rusi, „___________ __ are not a very articulate twosome but forget the minister bit! Which I suppose their repeated quiet sentiment cannot ’ .............. ' ' ' but impress : “It ’s a small story of is also another indication of the times. On the premises of Engineer Building "I to meet the ever-increasing production today because we have never tampered the changing times but still value for money — which is something one can ­ not say of the Greater Bombay Milk Scheme, recent newspaper reports revealed that it is running at a loss of 16 crores each year! Not to forget the “leg ­ alised adulteration ” which their “toned milk”.... “Our’s is pure whole milk, we don’t deal with toned milk and this milk or that milk and our customers include costs. It is undoubtedly an indication of is housed the laboratory wh^te milk is tested for its fat content twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon (there are two deliveries daily) — “We test a hundred samples each time, our milk has a 7 per cent fat content ’’-which of course is more than whole milk. Government whole milk has a fat content of only 6 per cent half the time it is not available. with the quality of our products. ” And there are any number of Bombayites who ’ll willin^y endorse this. Life begins on the Parsi Dairy pre- mises at 1 o’clock in the morning when the milk arrives from their farm at San- jan, 140 kms away on the Bombay- goes on in. Ahmedabad Highway. More than 300 animals graze — 90 per cent of which are buffaloes and the rest cows. Four years^ ago the high-yielding English Huge vessels Frisian cow was introduced in their In another room milk boils in huge Conld. OH page 36 17 Trisian' 1 II t ¦’> to creep up silently behind a tall, power ­ fully-built he lacked the courage; he was physically 18 VISPY KAPADIA £ King of Karate A foarth-dan black belt, he*8 India’s finest exponent of this ancient art of self-defence. The easiest way to get hurt in Bombay is too small to put up his fists against a 1969, at the age of 16. After achieving bevy of bullies. Today he would readily reasonable level of proficiency in f | 1; 100 kg.) and deal take on the whole bunch, and walk away years he went to Japan in 1974, a L , the massive back a goodish whack. If from the scene of battle after routing achieved the proud distinction of g I you’re lucky enough to get away with- them all. ‘‘Karate wasn ’t among my ting his black belt, the young r out any broken bones, you will give that hobbies or likes when I was a kid, ” he karateka in India to do so. The honoi I- t^arficiilar a tn ’Ho frz\t*n _ x r___ ’ particular back a wide berth from then reminisces. ‘ ‘It was sheer desire to be didn’t come easily. Karate is not for I on. ‘‘Fellows who know me don’t try able to defend myself adequately that weak and the squeamish; one must that kind of stunt, ” grins Vispy got me into karate. ” Kapadia, fourth-dan black belt and " chief instructor and director of the ton player in his school and college days, famous Goju-kan school of karate. prepared to bear injuries suffered di Vispy was actually a superb badmin- ing practice fights and training. I ’ martial art also lays great empha Nimble and aggressive, he would mow on discipline. The schedule he wi which is affiliated to the Zen-Nippon his opponents down with a series of hard through in Japan was tough. It star! r Karate-do Gojukai, Japan —the head of and accurate smashes, and his ability to with warm-up and callisthenics for t which is the ‘living god of karate ’, Han- last out three games at a furious pace, hours in the morning, went on tc shi Gogen Yamaguchi. ‘‘If the blow He won the individual inter-school and three-hour session of ‘Kihon ’—pracl ' . ’ ¦ inter-collegiate titles, captained Bom- ing the basics, like giving and absorb! ¦ . ‘ _________________ _ ______-!< reflexes take ovjsr, and I will probably partnership with Prakash Padukone in came the ‘kathas ’, the ballet-like fo ------------- :¦¦¦ internationals against the visiting of dance full of punches and kicks. I comes unexpectedly, when I am dream- i ' _ . . _____ ing of something else, my unconscious bay University, and played doubles in hundreds of kicks and punches. Ni wheel round and deliver a kick to the 1 ' ‘ _........................._ ___ _ ____ ______________ groin in the same movement. ” Not very Indonesian team in 1972. At one stage, through these kathas that finesse pleasant for a practical joker. Living in one of Bombay ’s near ghet ­ tos was no pleasant experience for he was ranked No. 3 in India among the developed, juniors. Two hours of kathas were folloiw It was with a view to improve his by ‘bonkai ’, explanation of the kathi ( teenager Vispy Kapadia. It wasn ’t that physical condition for badminton and Every movement in a katha has a spec i self-defence that he took up karate in significance. Finally, and most pain s /t.. *» ¦ 1" J .a * 7 xl f 1 I L I igM 8Bs f ¦J -I by Shirish5^adk4rni. Gentlemen, July 1981 Photo credits: and cover photo courtesy: Gentlemen and Mukesh Parpiani '1- it i of all, was body conditioning —taking parents were with me all the way, ” re- taneous appreciation, theycould under ­ kicks in tender places like the solar calls Vispy with a soft look in his eye. stand how the man had managed to plexus, abdomen, back, thighs, etc. “My mother sold some of her marriage worthy of the certificate and ceremonial BUck belts are even allowed to let fly jewellery to pay my fare to Japan the sword presented to him earlier in the with kicks to the groin! Attheendofthe firsttime. We did not have much money evening on stage by the great Yamaguchi day, the students had gone through al- at the time, and it was a big risk to take. I himself. most twelve hours of training and prac- am happy to say it has paid off.” In- And yet, there had come a time when tice. deedi it has. For today, Vispy runs three Vispy had felt like giving it all up. The Serious injuries are part and parcel of schools of karate —at Byculla, Dadar black moment had come in Mauritius, a karateka’s progress. Vispy’s most and Vile Parle, each of which he visits at when Vispy was matched against a black serious one was in 1977 in Japan when least three days in a week. The schools belt who had fought dirty, and had in- his sparring partner, Ivan of Indonesia are doing roaring business, with karate jured some students of the 21-member kicked him in the ribs, and broke the as a sport having gained tremendous squad that Vispy had taken over. At the floating one. “That was the time I saw popularity over the last 15 months, best opportunity, Vispy let fly with a the greatness ofmy guru, Yamaguchi ”, especially after Yamaguchi ’s second venomous kick to the face, squashedhis says Vispy. “He put a hand on my rib, visit to India. Vispy gave a spectacular rival ’s nose, and broke the front two meditated for almost two hours, and display at an exhibition performance teeth. “He came the next morning to then just put a little powder and a piece watched by 3,000 spectators and, of me, and apologised for having fought of paper on it. I was not to bathe the next course, Yamaguchi. Six blocks of ice dirty, but one look at his face made me ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------------/—u — KA V™ feel sick,” remembers Vispy. “It was swollen and disfigured; and I could not eat for two days after that, because of i day. What was absolutely unbelievable (each weighing 150 kg., and requiring was that, apart from a blackish patch six students to carry) were placed on over the rib, there was no pain; I was ab- wooden benches on the stage. Then solutely fine, and could take part in Vispy broke each of them down the cen- the sheer memory of that gruesome practice. ” tre^ one after the other, with just one The sacrifices made in the pursuit of blow with the knife edge of the hand. As the sport were not bv Vispy alone. “My the spectators cameto their feet in spon- sight. I felt like giving up karate alto ­ gether. But I got over it; and I have since conliriued overleaf 19 *;4' ’ * Sh * I i < ! <:¦ ^5 IV Sh *¦ J ' With Co'mpliments From n ' ^1^ ,'4t 5 “-3 !i* J- Si 11*4'' V' i' (*, T' h 20 EMPIRE ESTATE Liberty Building 41/42 Marine Lines Bombay 400020 Warden is good For sandalwood Head Office 378 Grant Road Bombay 400007 and Branehea Tel. 371484 Quality aafldalwood AQgarbattiea. gum benzoin (loban) and other Perfumes, vowed never to hit anyone sQhard there- r fc '¦ I i. ! ¦ ¦¦ after. * “What people may not realise is that it is too easy to kill a man. We know all the pressure points of the body, and even a light touch in the right place could be lethal. And that is all the more reason why it is dangerous to learn karate from someone who is not Quali ­ fied to teach it. ” It was a dig at the numerous schools of karate that have burgeoned in Bombay and Madras with ­ in the last one year; and are run by “half-bakcd chups who don ’t know the first thing about karate. ” Karate, Vispy feels, is learnt with g. basic respect for the art, and it requires total dedication and circumspection. Which is why Vispy is a martinet on discipline. He himself works like a cart ­ horse, doing personal training for two hours every day, and thep teaching at his schools for about six hours^ It is hard work, and it is rare that he rehuns home > ‘ t before ten at night. Kan^ iebves h^ little timejor the other pleaswes of life, but it allows him to travel and meet peo ­ ple, and to listen at any time to beat and pop music. He also loves good food but, contrary to the experience of most peo ­ ple, has no problem maintaining his weight. “If I eat too much, I just sweat it out the next day, ” he grins. Otherwise, that extra kilo might well make his mule ­ kick even more painful to the recipient. - .TJ^3 % ToHmmbomummm Hook —Bombtv Whether it's a five-star hotel, a Sultan's Palace, a hospital, a chemical factory, a fertiliser plant or a housing project — we have the expertise and experience—to handle any turn-key construction project anywhere in the world. Over the last 100 years we have not only pioneered the construction industry in our country but spread our wings to Muscat and the Middle East —where against competition from the best Construction companies, we won the contract HBTSfgWBgMiyWWBi.B for putting up the Impb^g. Muscat Palace complex of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman—and completed it in time. The multiplicity of projects carried out by us over several decades has resulted in the building up of J expertiseiin numerous aspects of the construction j industry. We proudly offer 1 this expenise for any J construction project 1 and propose Is for joint J ventures would be 3 welcome. I 0 s )' J ObMl-Slwnton HoM —Bonk^ fl 1 f ‘ 4 I y '4 1 ¦'fi '5^ J ¦ X'l For Pure Diamonds J i .'I ft. »J '’2 JEWELLERS 324. GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY 400007. TELEPHONE: 3714S3 appointed valuers by the government of INOIA ''''' ***mo' J ' t." '.I I |! I ¦ Of marriage, prejudice and the Udvada Anjuman j Aek Atmakatha is the autobiography of the late Dr. Maneck Nusser- wanji Dhalla, high priest of the Pakistan Parkis and a scholar of world repute. This is the 20th edited and condensed extract from the book “Dastur Dhalla - The Saga of a soul ” - an English translation by Gool and Bfehram Rustomji of the original Gujarati, published by the Dastur Dhalla Memorial Institute, Karachi. .^KEK ATMAKATHA i..' I I ¦ 22 The Life of Dastur Dhalla XX THE STORY so FA R Born to a poor Dastur family in Surat on 27 August 1875, Dhalla moved with his family to Karachi three years later. He was married to five-year-old Cooverbai when he was eight years old. After failing his matriculation, Dhalla sought employment while educating himself in religious matters. With the assistance of the Karachi Parsis, Dhalla studied Irattiari languages in Bombay and then proceeded to Columbia University in New York, where he was awarded a Ph.D. in 1908. On his return to India he was nominated head priest of Karachi in which capacity he tried to critically evaluate old religious beliefs and custom fin the light of his broadened outlook. He was active in forming a Zoroastrian Conference to study the problem of the community but his efforts met with severe criticism from orthodox groups. The conference floundered on the issue of religious controversy and in 1919 after the seventh session, closed down. Amid the controversy the emotionally charged issue of performing the Navjote ceremony of non-Par sis arose, to be followed by controversies over whether dancing was immoral and should Parsi women be barred from acting on the public stage. r r ¦ ¦ k The IraiHhah fire temple in Udvada j E’ig-rs If T" 53 -TWBsSjMMVNITW^’^ f*!; ¦y t I ! 'W suitable partner of a priestly breed is not on the horizon do they most reluctantly relent and display the large-heartedness of accepting an eligible behdin bache ­ lor. We were ever ready to iron out the differences that divided families or to mediate and smoothen in secret the deli ­ cate discords and disharmonies of home life and to cement ties that were about to be severed. We had to be prepared to face strange circumstances created in enter into partnership irrespective of the name of religion. A young, devoted their lineage. As a result of higher education the community has become more advanced commendation During the fifty years of our marriage many changes had been introduced in the community ’s mode of living. In those days almost all girls of marriagea ­ ble age were wedded. Today many a home harbours maidens ripe for mar ­ riage who, to their parents ’ distress, remain single. Living has become expensive. The community has advanced culturally. Opportunities for boys, both parties would henceforth the intermingling of men and women and cementing friendships have increased, yet only a few love-marriages result from such social contacts. Youths usually welcoi^e large dowries. Fami- and cultured. Yet this superstition still lies that are unable to cope with the lingers in certain families. The respohsi- dowry system are saddled with spinsters bility of initiating the superstition lies conjugal ties to be sinful. He slept on a who spend their lives in single blessed- on the shoulders of the priests of olden ness. Not many young men are prepared days. Today many a behdin family is to shoulder the responsibility of wedded life without the assistance of in-laws. Thanks to my wife our three sons and three daughters had joined the ranks of our mobeds have been called ‘andhia- matrimony and our progeny had mul­ tiplied. Of our three daughters-in-law and three sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law and one son-in-law are ‘behdins ’. Even today many families deem it inauspi ­ cious for the off-spring of the priest ­ class and the laity to be joined in holy bonds of wedlock. We do not find any evidence in our Avesta-Pahlavi books of the feelings of people in ancient Iran lawyers, teachers, service-men or busi- regarding this matter. In India distinct discord about such marriages was first witnessed in Surat. In 1728 the mobeds of that city called a meeting of their own kind and passed a biased resolution that the priests were privileged to marry beh ­ din maidens but priestly families would not give their daughters in marriage to pitious advent of the offspring of an the laity. As the dispute waxed, fifty .•••-- years later, ip 1778, the Parsi Panchayat do not desist even from publishing their at Bombay resolved that the behdins would neither give their daughters to athornans nor would they take daugh- priestly parentage is bound to bring dis- ters of priestly families. In other words, the exchange of girls on both sides ter ­ minated. They also resolved to excommunicate sible, to allow their daughters to be those who disregarded this decision and betrothed to behdins; and only when a such instances occured. As rancour rose the government intervened as mediator and appointed a committee to examine the details. The nrobeds claimed that Even today, many families since ages they had the right to marry behdin girls but not to give their daugh ­ ters into behdin families. They were off-Spring of the priest-claSS unable to supply any evidence in sup­ port of their arguments. At last in 1831 to end the controversy the Bombay in Wedlock. Families that are unable to cope with the dowry system are saddled with spinsters. Panchayat passed a fresh resolution to the effect that, should the mobeds agree to let their daughters marry behdin averse to accepting an athornan bride. A ritualistic priestly sect of Hindus is known as ardhvaryu. In this-country couple was living in peace and har ­ mony. By chance the young husband got involved with an esoteric religious sect and gradually his thinking took such a turn that he began to believe mat spread upon the floor at a distance from his wife and indulged- in many such celibate practices. To preserve the honour of the home his wife and family tolerated his whims in silence for quite some time, but eventually they turned to us in despair. Under such conditions we were obliged to deal with exceptional rus’ from ancient times — a corruption of the word ‘ardhvaryu ’. Hence even educated men and women today patience and skill for days and even for imagine that to accept the daughter of weeks at times. ’^But when all kinds of an ‘andhiaru ’ is to invite ‘andharu ’ or ‘darkness ’ into the home. The superstition seems to apply even to those who have abandoned the prac ­ tice of priesthood since decades and whose sons are prosperous doctors. stratagem and contrivances ended in a joyous reunion, we enjoyed the deep satisfaction of having done our duty. Honours It is an ancient practice for the govern ­ ment of a country to confer titles and decorations upon its subjects. In the subcontinent, the government has two different modes of conferring titles on Hindus and Muslims. Hindus are honoured as Raobahadurs and Raosa- hebs whereas Muslims are decorated as Khan Bahadurs and Khan Sahebs. The latter form is conferred upon Parsis. When the laurels of knowledge are ‘andhiaru ’. Some credulous creatures placed upon the brows of a Hindu pun- . ........... _ ' dit he is honoured ^as a ‘Maha Maho- sad plight in the papers, as though to padhya ’. The title of ‘Shams-ul-Ulema ’ is conferred upon Muslims in similar cases. Four decades ago the Muslim maul- nessmen. If perchance some inauspi ­ cious event takes place in the home of a behdin family who has accepted an athornan bride, and if such sad situa ­ tions happen to repeat themselves in rapid succession, the sole cause of the evil destiny is believed to be the unpro- prove that the acceptance of a bride of aster into the family. On the other hand, those of priestly lineage, but practising vis appealed to the government that as various professions, avoid, as far as pos- deem it inauspicious for the and the laity, to be joined the term ‘Shams-ul-Ulema ’ related to the Ulemas of their faith only it should not be conferred upon Parsis. The government wrote to the Right Honou­ rable Sir Jamshedji to prepare a list of titles from which it could select one for Parsi scholars. Thereupon a committee comprised of some of our leaders was appointed which prepared such a list. One of the suggested titles on the list was ‘Vidhya Patti ’, — ‘the lord of knowledge ’. Ridiculing the suggestion, the ‘Hindi Panch ’ which was being pub- 23 ../ij ?? {i. 1 t, I, i 1 1 .1 ? ! '1 ft ’'-¦a I- i 1 ‘ If r':. 1Y ‘ IL-t Io I;, if 1 j lished then, stated that slight alteration thoughtfulness they were now consider- later we set out for America again, she would give them again to me to wear. She treated her American dresses in the same manner. We voyaged from Kara ­ chi to New York by second class. The train journeys in Europe and America were covered by third. Despite the stric ­ test economy, expenses always mounted high. The publication of my book alone cost seven to eiglit thousand rupees. Due to absence of demand, half or more of the expense of every book resulted in a loss to me. Hence in spite of the profits accruing from the ¦ sale of my wife ’s purchases, at the termi ­ nation of every trip we were burdened^ with a debt of two or three thousand* rupees. in word-structure — instead of‘Vidhya ing to raise a storey OVer st, But suffi- Patti ’ the title ‘Petna Vathya ’ (a slave of cient funds were not forthcoming, the stomach) better befitted the present- Meanwhile an invitation arrived from day condition of oUr religious leaders. Jehangirji Hormusji Cama, the Eventually the government put an end extremely efficient Managing Director to the matter and continued to confer ofthe ‘MancherjiCama Athornan Insti- upon Parsis the same title as Muslims, tute ’ at Bombay, to deliver a series of Rumour reached us that the title of eight lectures there. The institute pres- ‘Shamsul Ulema ’was to be conferred on ented me with a generous honorarium me. Immediately the mistress of my for it. Besides this, that enthusiastic gen- , home commenced lessons on the neces- tieman won the cooperation of some sity and advantages of accepting titles, esteemed leaders of the community and In good humour she taught me that organized my lecture-tour with the ‘Shams ’ means the ‘sun’. Hence, by the Anjumans of various cities. We tra- acceptance a title of its denomina- veiled for three months in fifteen large tion, the sun would shine more benevo- and small townships of Bombay, lently on me and naturally, my radiance Poona, Nagpur and Gujerat and 1 deli- and brilliance would be augmented, vered thirty six talks during that period. Since the moon reflects the radiance of At all these places I was presented with the sun, its rays falling upon me would purses of varying amounts, the proceeds the distinguished privilege of perform- glorify her who was my moon and my of which totalled twenty-five thousand, ing the opening ceremony of the beauti- satellite. I became a disciple of her phi- Thus besides building an additional ful building of the K. R. Cama Oriental losophic teachings and made her per ­ suasive mind my own. Later, when the Collector of Karachi enquired whether I would accept the title of ‘Shamsul The yOUng husband gOt Ulema ’should it be conferred upon me • by the government, without the slightest mvolved With an eSOtenC hesitation I replied in a single word : rcligioUS SCCt and began ‘Bismiiiaif —(God’s will done). believe Conjugal ties to Since the commencement of the con- . j o ference of this title upon the savants of be sinful. our community, it had been conferred upon Dastur Hoshang and Dastur Kai- floor above our premises, the sum kobad of Poona and Dastur Peshotan, helped to a large extent to meet with the Dastur Darab Sanjana and Erwad Jee- expenses of our fifth and possibly our vanji Mody of Bombay. All these five final trip to America and the estimate of devout religious leaders have left this Rs.8000/- that had been received for world. I was offered this honour in June having my new book printed there. 1935. Since some time the holder of Thanks to the kindness and considera- such a title is given a life-time ’s annual tion of the community I have had the emolument of Rs. 100/-by the gover- excellent opportunity of rendering some rare and selective literature for the nment. The Vendidad demands that a faithful service as an itinerant mission- development ot Parsi culture. One true Athravan should seek for knowl- ary by speaking and writing to radiate edge late into the night. That the government offers to pay for the mid­ night oil that a student burns should be considered a boon. The recent arrangement of maintain- far-off countries of the East and West ing the High Priest of Karachi on a —five times in Europe and America and monthly salary dependent upon the once in Iran, China and Japan, monthly subscriptions that are col- “ lected. This system is precarious. As these subscriptions have decreased due rupee would be needed we had fifteen to various reasons, since some years I annas nine pies. After spending a have been receiving Rs. 100/- less per hundred we would have to stinge for a month from the Anjuman than decided quartet,, for that additional quarter was upon. But the effect of this decrease is never ours. We exercised extreme econ- not felt thanks to the kindness of friends omy on our tours. On returning from and admirers. Twenty years ago they every trip my wife ’s first duty was to air had purchased a small bungalow and gifted it to us on the occasion of my eldest daughter ’s marriage. In their 24 of which totalled twenty-five thousand. Thus besides building an additional During our travels we were obliged to return to Bombay for a day. I was given Ulema ’ should it be conferred upon me by the government, without the slightest Institute which has been founded in the / holy memory of the late, learned, scho- 1 lar, Khurshedji Rustomji Cama. This * magnificent mansion will continue to - remind posterity of the precious services j: of two of oureuridite and talented scho- E lars. The central lecture-hall of this Insti ­ tute has Been dedicated to the sacred memory of Shamsul Ulma Sir Jeevanji Jamshedji Mody, the jewel which lends lustre to the Athornan fold. Here many ' a learned scholar will deliver wise and enlightened sermons. Another similar institute built as a memorial to the renowned pundit, 'Sir Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, is rendering mem- !¦ orable service amongst us. In like > manner the Cama Institute has to create • such important work is the compilation f- the noble name, work and teachings of of a Zoroastrian Encyclopedia. The Zarathustra as described in the ninth ‘ha ’ of-the Yajashne, not only in the cities of the subcontinent but also in The means to fulfil my religious mis­ sion was always fractional. Where a honourable Chairman of the Anjuman here, Khan Bahadur Sir Cavasjee Hor- musjee Katrak, told me some time back that our Governor wished to read the- most recent authentic history of the t reign of otir forefathers. In response to- ' ' the deihand for the latest I could offer- ; nothing but Rawlison's Volumes pub- lished seven decades ago in the Victo-i i' rian era. The Institute has to take up this and other such great 'works and to- render invaluable literary service. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UDVADA ANJUMAN Udvada is the sacred centre of the Parsi my suits and over-coats and to store them away with care. She did this twice community. The Zoroastrian life of a year and when, seven or eight years Udvada is dependent upon the sacredlI ¦I ¦¦ llllimil 11 Hill OWL Bl J ..TLTlC^ A. 1 ‘sahcttthf ’sanctorum ’. All means of live ­ lihood are centred around it. The thou ­ sands of devout pilgrims that go there been administered through the Trustees every year from every town and city - - - take with them means of sustenance. On them depends all trade and commerce. Orders for innumerable ceremonies arrive from all quarters and are noted there. Large quantities of sandalwood are placed on several ‘machis ’. Our com­ munity offers to the sacred ‘Iranshah ’ silver that can be accounted in thou ­ sands. Ceremonies and ‘Machis ’ are under the jurisdiction of ‘punthakies ’ “ "'‘Iher of the Dasturs is a pun- They Were the Puritans who finding fault with the established practi- a,;. resulTof fee^l Karachi and other cities prepared syste- were mounting. From ^ime to fime^the ,1. verdict, nine priestly famt- matic constitutions on more or less sim- well-wishers of the community at Bom- 1 to intervene and bring peace amongst the parties, but without success. The selfless and courageous Burjorji Faramji Bharuch^, who had since years sacrificed his health, wealth and knowl­ edge to infusing a new spirit into the life and living conditions of Udvada, and the Unvala sect there, requested my humble services in the beginning of 1936 to bring about an understanding between the contesting camps and to crown with success the move to attain a constitution for the Anjuman. I accepted the challenge with great plea ­ sure. Ahura Mazda was my guide and protector and it took two whole years to fulfil the mission successfully with the co-operation of all concerned. During that period my wife and I visited Udvada on four different occasions. Thus, abiding there for weeks on every visit, on the Whole we lived in Udvada for two and a half months. In the beginning of 1936 when we embarked upon our peace-making mis­ sion the Udvada Anjuman was divided Since early times, in Bombay and else ­ where, the funds of the Anjumans had of the Panchayats of respective places. The move to regularize its election and to bracket its responsibility commensu ­ rate with the times, started in the begin ­ ning of this century. When such a legal constitution came into force in the Bombay Panchayat, the Anjumans at were anxjous to design a new pattern in the religious life of Udvada. as a Sect ’ from the surname of the family of their accepted elders. On the authority of the presumed ne^y understanding and inspiration that they had received, these good people intro ­ duced certain alterations in prayers and ceremonies according to their own wis­ dom and became more loyal practition ­ ers of conventions. They were the Puritans who were anxious ta.,design a new pattern in the religious life of Udvada. Like the outsiders and laymen they had become critics., Being inhabit ­ ants of the place, they were bent upon Karachi and other cities prepared syste- liae fc J ,1 • , .* niatic constitutions on more or less sim- wcn-wisncrs oi me C' les of Sanjan and their heirs are the sole ilar lines and began to administer the bay had attempted awful guardians of this ancient ‘Kebla ’ funds under their jurisdiction accord- bring peace among! and they alone have the right to enjoy its ingly. Hence it was not surprising that income. Generations have passed but there was a demand for such alterations these servers who pay obeisance to the sacred fire have not moved with the times and conditions and, in the 20th ordinary request for constitutional century are still living the life of the 17th changes. Here it was not merely the century. Deprived of sound education " ' - • • they have remained backward and are ever dependent on alms. On the other _____ ______ _ ngmaauu hand, their brethren in neighbouring responsibilities as well as the complaints Navsari, not finding sufficient suste- r----- ’ nance at their doorstep left their hearths wood for ‘Machis ’, etc. that needed 7o and homes and plunged into adventure be solved legally. and, by the sweat of their brow, became independent. Education altered their destiny and they have become the com- and amendments at Udvada. But here, there was something more than the question of the administration of funds, but the wider problem of the nomina ­ tion of two dasturs and their rights and regarding the utilization of the sandal ­ wood for ‘Machis ’, etc. that needed to Whenever a new religion is founded, or a new sect is formed in an established faith, a fresh religious fervour and zeal munity s leaders in public life, thus burns within the breast of its newly- making the athornan fold more lustrous formed following. They believe them- an^ luminous. selves to be the saviours and reformers the community has experienced of the chaos that has been created in the innumerable strifes and struggles religious life of men. They feel they are between various ‘punthaks ’ — ----- - ¦ - amongst the members of the self-same diocese during its twelve hundred years forward of existence in this land. But in Udvada, during the last forty years, not thou ­ sands but lakhs of rupees have gone down the drain in courts and high f ¦ ¦ - - cases to the chagrin of the community throughout the country. All hearts have been pained at the constant complaints of the misuse and misappropriation of the sandalwood dedicated to the sacred fire for ceremonials. Twenty-five years ago, certain spirited athornans took up cudgels to cleanse and regularize the auu cunvcnuons. i nis society lound as Anjuman ’s accredited disorganisation its faithful adherents many athornans. or even j-t <'i the guardians and the sustainers of cere ­ monials and rituals, hence they come — to .work with a missionary ardour. Before their enthusiasm abates subsides and the fervour into two parties, known as the Anjuman • of their faith cools down, they succeed party and the Unvala party Both the courts and appeal courts in fighting om rtliS “fe of rcugious me or tne society. it was definitely in the majority. These parties had been quarrelling since some been presiding over them passed away v onzi fkaif ______ • . ‘.'..J of their faith cools down, they succeed party and the Unvala party. Both the 4 1 the cudgels to cleanse and regularize the and to set it on a constitutional basis. Such was the state of affairs in Udvada. Through some imaginary, invisible and esoteric Zoroastrian group, a society known as “Ilmaksh- num” ( which made a queer claim to reveal a new light in Zoroastrian ceremonies and conventions. This society found as They came to be known as the ‘Unvala it was definitely in the majority. These parties had been quarrelling since some time. Just then the good priests who had and their successors were nominated canie into existence in Udvada according to tradition. The Unvala sect proclaimed these nominations to be unconstitutional as elected without the sanction of the Anjuman, and refused to invite the newly appointed Dasturs on important occasions like the Navar or 7 i I 'llIf '¦ 1 ( 1 H >1 ¦ I 1 '.¦M 4- WL'J. ; ¦ 5i Nirangdin ceremony or to ask their par — that one was senior to the other, permission, or to pay respect to them or His colleague and the adherents of that to cooperate with them. In short they flock argued even more forcefully that did not accept or recognize them as ’ ’ ' ‘ Dasturs. It was necessary to repudiate this objection before venturing upon the leges, task of framing a constitution for the Anjuman. With the cooperation and coordination of the gentlemen con­ cerned, this question was_amicably amongst us to speak of them and write _____________ ___ of them as High Priests. There is only these have been refuted, their one Dastur in Karachi yet he is known as the High Priest of Karachi. The same is the case concerning the dasturs of other regions. Turning over the pages of fourth party, composed of sixty , sent a the holders of both prelacies were on an equal footing and have always been llmakhshnumites, enjoying equal status and equal privi- dasturs, their privileges and preroga ­ tives, and the constitution of the Anju­ man, were being debated. The Unvalas who were in alliance with the were conducting ceremonies and prayers in a manner alien to tradition. Certain gentlemen As if it were insufficient to designate placed in my hands a strong protest to our dasturs of India as the Dastur of a add items in the draft constituUon to certain city, it has become a rule put an end to such affairs, and informed _ ' me in no uncertain terms that unless party settled within three weeks. The Anju- man ’s meeting that was called on 30th March 1936 passed a resolution of agreement regarding this subject. There was rejoicing in all quarters and as a ___________ _ _____________vumpuacu uj joyful proclSmation of the mitigation of the ‘Parsi Prakash ’it will be found that members*^ of ^the Unvala sect, misunderstanding, a procession accom- its famous writer affixes the word ‘vada ’ counter-protest to the effect that should panied by a band marched through the or ‘high ’ with the name of any previous there be any attempt to stop them from streets of the city. d’" ' It was decided that on my return to mentioning the appointment of his Karachi I was to prepare a draft consti ­ tution within two months and send it for the approval, alterations and amend ­ ments of both parties. As arranged, within the prescribed time-limit, I sent would not pass the constitution. Two parties had split into three and now a fourth came into existence. The its famous writer affixes the word ‘vada ’ or‘high ’with the name of any previous dastur of Udvada who passes away or in performing ceremonies and rituals as they had done since two decades according to their own religious beliefs. suc­ cessor or in discussing some of his pub- ___________________ ___________ lie achievements. Hence it follows that they would withdraw their cooperation A is‘high ’and so is B‘high ’. Yet when " * both dasturs are present in an assembly, printed copies of the draft constitution and responsibilities would be slightly to workers at Udvada and places out- ¦ • ¦ side Udvada. Meanwhile circumstance took a new turn and a controversy was created as to the personal rights and privileges of the two Dasturs and, over and above the two primary factions of authority while drafting the rules and it was obvious that the scales of rights tilted depending upon who sits on the chair placed to the right or who com­ mences a prayer ceremony. In spite of that, if care is not taken to give the heirs of both parties equal the Anjuman and the Unvalas, two regulations of the first constitution in independent parties of the Dasturs were the history of the Anjuman, the agree- formed, and so instead of two, three ' independent parties of the Dasturs were the history of the Anjuman, the formed, and so instead of two, three parties came into being. About 200 years ago, from amongst the Mobeds who had brought the sacred fire to Udvada, the Anjuman had chosen two leaders as their Dasturs. No rules and regulations had been framed The Unvalas who Were in regarding the scope of their authority. Shaikh Sadi has said that ten beggars can sleep comfortably under a single Ilmakhshnumites, Were coverlet, but two kings cannot be accommodated within a single kingdom. from the framing of the constitution. ¦ Since a long time the Anjuman at Udvada had been disturbed by the alter ­ ations and additions to ceremonies that had been introduced in the name of Ilmakhshnum. Due to this rift many a happy family had broken up. In some homes the father would conduct prayers and ceremonies in the established style whe- * reas his son would work in a contrary manner according to the teachings of the new party. In this way there was 1 son. I ment that had been arrived at would be nullified and the progress of framing the disharmony between father and constitution endangered. It took a year brother and brother, uncle and nephew. Many elders complained to us about this with heavy hearts and tear-dimmed eyes. They informed us that as the Ilmakhshnumites exerted an immense influence in Bombay and as ceremonies were being performed through the Boyce Trust Fund towards which gener ­ ous subscriptions were contributed, the younger generation was drawn towards them to the distress of the elders. This was true. On the other hand, the members of the Unvala clan who had imbibed a faith in Ilmakhshnum, had for twenty years practised the religion in its altered form, and were convinced of its veracity. Both parties viewed their own partic ­ ular beliefs with deep feeling, and pre ­ sumed they were in the right, and looked upon the newly-created party as mon sense, broad-mindedness and guilty of having introduced thirty-three cooperativeness prevailed and two very niajor and minor alterations in the ----- realm of prayers and rituals. The most Amongst the three factions that had important change was the system of per- alliance with the conducting ceremonies and Sirniiariy, in a small society like the prayers ill a manner alien Anjuman at Udvada, it was not possible for two Dasturs to live side by side in the same domain. Yet, the spiritual heirs of both these seats of priesthood had for and a half to solve this problem. As two whole centuries, ministered usual in such cases, at times hours or devoutly to the holy ‘Iranshah ’ and reigned amicably and in harmony as guides of the priestly class. In framing the constitution of the of utility demanded our greatest attenti- Anjuman it was but natural that the question of the rights and privileges of mon sense, broad-mindedness and guilty of having introducedf thirty-three the two dasturs be ol prime importance. t ¦ - . . < The Dastur who was adorning the difficult questions were solved, throne of one party, his family and his / ' * followers vehemently maintained the evolved up to that time, a variety of forming the ‘kusti ’ ceremony with the authority of the two dasturs was not at subjects like the nomination of the two Sarosh Baaj ‘Xnum’. It takes more time to tradition. ministered usual in such cases, at times hours even days of heated discussions arise over every point or every word. The one word whose meaning, derivation, scope on and time was ‘'high ’. Ultimately com- authority of the two dasturs was not at subjects like the nomination of the two 28W-* 1 MIMm ' ¦? 1 V r >* JEENA & COMPANY ESTD. im to do the ‘Kusti ’ in this new manner than it ‘did to perform it according to estab ­ lished practice. Considering the condi­ tions prevailing in the community at present, it could be surmised that some members must be performing the ‘Kusti ’ ceremony hardly once a day. Another smaller percentage does not even wear the ‘sadra ’ and ‘Kusti ’. In spite of this. IATA AIR CARGO Clearing, Forwarding Waiihonsing and Insurance Agents b I 1/ 10, Veer Nariman Road, Fort, Bombay-1. Cable : ‘JUSTITIA’ Telex : 2313 Phone : 312032 Branches: E. Merc House 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani (Formeriy Theatre Road) CALCUTTA-16 Phone : 444711 ‘Jeena House ’ 50, Hanuman Road Connaught Circus NEW DELHI PHONE : 310821 It was not a question of proving which method of performing the Kusti ceremony was porrect but of safeguarding the sentiments of both parties. disputes regarding religious observan ­ ces are rampant. Those performing the Kusti ceremony in the new fashion believe it to be the true and correct way. This was their honest belief. It was not a question of proving which method of performing the Kusti ceremony was correct but of safe-guarding the senti ­ ments of both parties. While the constitution was being drafted and passed, so many heated controversies arose from time to time regarding certain questions, that the agreement was on the point of being abrogated. Similarly this delicate ques ­ tion regarding rituals and praj^ers Ten beggers can sleep comfortably under a coverlet but two kings cannot be accommodated within a single kingdom. dashed against the rock of dissension and the vessel of the constitution was in danger of being ship-wrecked. By the grace of God and the wisdom of all concerned, this impediment too was removed and the draft of the constitu ­ tion crossed this hurdle. Ten years have elapsed since then, the constitution is being adhered to at will, party spirit has to a large extent been abolished and there is peace and cooperation in the Udvada Anjuman. BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a PnWic School by the Department of Education for Indian Merit Scholars. Excel* lent Climate — Alkround Education : All Academic Subjects —Tech ­ nical Subjects: Workshop Tech ­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance. Carpentry & Farm ­ ing. Training in Sdf-Government through Elected Boys ’ Office bearers. Ganics —Physical Train ­ ing — Daily Assembly with Congregati<»al Prayers — Week ­ ly intensive Zoroastrian - Geeta- Koran classes — Excellent Modem Kitchen and Dming Room facilities — Airy Dormi ­ tories. Moderate Fees, Freeships and Concessions to Deserv ing Students. 4 Apply^o — THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building. 324 Dr. D. N. Road, Bombay 400 001. 'I TOBECONTINUeO 31as ij a record- lysed his of listen to ¦ J jI 1 i K <-'i <-'r ! f F S1 / Was unknown ---- s were told him I IN my many years as a re d ^ishore chatteqee ' —— ------------- Ca^ls, and .rapped out B^h's s^is S! BoccherS uTTh ¦ realized sSme^t'^^" 7“’"® I said - -ay for a very yelf and^XVhX^eVeto^^^^^ remember the sense I when i realized 'ar ­ out Bach ’s sons area (a newspaper from the red light I me to a complete col- t behind why < away from this was .ha, he had ,o«d"h.7re^oidrr„d efewidV ” '’«"8i”eMmeone eises child home: a child reared —- tured, cared for and i advertisement led I,oss°bl ** Son“ausTft bchinc possibly as a token payment for enter- nment 6f another variety). I have been accused of "»ve result of a slight 1 phrase used c Ring”sent to reason _ records incredible enthusiast one felt sad about taking J 4.U.* • ... . ® smuggling gold, the misinterpretation of a me by a friend from Aus- that he was selling his records and I said on the cover of Wagner ’s traha Bnt „ ® Aus- iraha. But, perhaps the most fascinating ArS,"r“F *"1¦"5' -Si Araeshir Erachshaw TalavprUmr. . ----- most enthusiastic and knowtedge ’abfc hta^ “ ^’'¦7 guide that a young record P«n . mm on a bright could ever hopito hair Indeed, A.E.Talayerkhan make a person r u personal reason. ?¦ ^alayerkha , . -- O l««*il wj him on a bright Sunday auction. Unable to find would X„ t shoulder. I wer^. defective. Oh 'ioTIFriTS m^n I had could have cared for his records more whicTi' Tl’"® shorts no one could have catalogued, codified th for him and priced his records with greater ‘’’’n legs, which accuracy and honesty. No. he had ana ier map7 of pap- - , J'*'****& It could ever hope to have. make a person weep for having bought z^e, XT _x V _ ¦ no. For no man ! records more. V -J* t M- . 'J K., •»? 'sf 'V> b-- ntai^ZlT ors&f'XS man when I first met that ‘ morning at an any records, I able records Over the of incomp; were all for sale. X’ 1“:" s p.a'„;::^h “ sX" f^^: ally interviewed each and every pros- fn the ' interviewed me finishi ’efore let- ier mache,swayed .Ke';;; weather. The legs ended in a pair of was not just selling his wr"V^T- so fraU that I his 7^®’ ^’"‘‘‘ng good homes for was afraid he would disinteSate favourite children. the that made . , *AAuotv ai pointing morning. “You someone tapped fiirn»d 4 collection turned to face i’ I ever seen. sweet music after records here, cc-~ ; The pair of shorts sleek blue r—' towards what turned disintegrate any -words Unfulfilled Promise won’t get of’^westerTcollection Scke?un records can be picKed up for money (thanks tn a industry ’s RnceUi: Pnn«L ¦ x t 1 connexions) but in ' I met Mr everything depended — disap- Today a fairly come to my house ”. ___ J now took me to a sports car and we drove off nzt* A.__ « *-*** picked up for i ’ thp 1 ? ¦ ¦----- wnat turned out to be a gold t i , v when I mine of recprds. On the way he tafked luc^7h^^" ’ ucpenoed on J incessantly about music, asked mp .S^'amophone industry had ; about my favourites and urged mp "’ono- perer and Karajan ’s early Philharmonia recordings of the Beethoven sympho- Selraii S: ‘^'t SEX ^antelh and Dinu Lipatti, by Edwin th7^pp7 few from industry ’s Russian .......way he talked luck' music, asked l_- and urged me to. repertoire of mono- recordings of the Beethoven .1 k* the Beecham legacy. There ise in the air of the rc reissued in stereo, but the remains unfulfilled. Almost ; ¦ ___ _ Wednesday club (concerts < was a prom- records being/ - promise still famous J -----------s every Wed- ' SS?*’’ O-iU- ing) created by Phillips for . ,he every Wed-t I i'*"' ! very rare ,1? r v if I , i- « rtcorfs to rfher collector. This special m^or collection conristed mostly txf chamber music, including early HMV recordings of the Amadeus Quartet and the Quar- teto Italiano (when the group recorded for Columbia), recordings by Tosca ­ nini, and others. No one ever went to his house with ­ out returning with, not just a disc, but a decided curiosity and love for classical music. His appreciation was infectious and I shall never forget the way he made me listen to the Sibelius Sixty Sym- “ ' ’ ’ ” ' -2. -..-animper- lect sympathy, rating it far below his other symphonies. When he played a record before someone bought it, I knew it must have been a special favour- I ite and that he was taking a last linger- I ing farewell from the music he had ! ^'11 recorf shofis also went dry on classical music except for a few released during Christmas, which for some reason was considered propitious for listening to classical music. The collector therefore, depended entirely on auctions, the secondhand market and private sales. My accidental encounter With A.E.Talayerkhan was more than lucky. It was he who introduced me to the chaml^r music of Mozart, Schubert monophonic era of the gramophone industry the only chamber music records availgble were the sonatas of Beethoven (played by Cladio Arrau) and the “Trout ”. The chamber music ^^1^ pricc Talayerkhan mg loicwcu irom me music he had harged was simply getting some of the cherished and lived with In his latpr V1,”™' “P^iunce actual demonstrations^^top^ ?nd he Pae»f -hat whose music would otherwise have remained for me cold and teasing words in a book Adi Talayerkhan did not sell e..v s.ccvc now opened the door to the ally introduced world of great music for young and enthusiastic listeners. If Adi Talayerkhan had decided to take up record-selling as a profession instead of adopting it ___ ____ good homes for his children in his dying years, he would have not only set an example in honesty and integrity but also taught everyone how to take care of market. The o . I The classical music. The collector therefore, industry the only chamber Beethoven (played by Clad^o Arrau) u’T'_____ *»'« • _ ' experience for the price Talayerkhan would always be kept on the table and we made our selection guided by his excellent additions and annotations on the sleeve notes, in which, he gradu- --------1 a system of abbrevia ­ tions, cutting out the earlier florid and nostalgic comments such as “Verdi ‘La Traviata ’ Note: one of the loveliest of operas. Slight crackle side 3, 4, and 5. I .... --------------- “-e'-j *•* rvi^ guud condition. Magnificent orchestration One-fifth the price. Early during our acquaintance he ms collection came from the early years of the LP (1948-1956). Yet when I bought them in the mid-sixties they were as good as new. Each record was kept in specially prepared cardboard outer Jackets over and above the record s own outer jackets and nlastic sheetc her! rTu- P^^stic .„g love Wltn othi Sheets. He had classified his records into believed that records v------- • ” three categories —one “*<*1 iccoros man ¦ -- . A popular just moving objects in polyvinylchloride as a means of finding Hear it and decide. Largely in very good «« by all means, ” he would say, “but oilly to those who are serious about music,” as if pronouncing judgement on the ulti ­ mate fate of all record collectors. He never allowed his Norwegian second wife to touch his discs. Discography was a world in which he moved alone, shar- others like him, who ’ were more than (Waltzes, Neopolitan songV^Pa^i Polyvinylchloride pective buyer was introduced into his L evT^to^he sterTo aae house he was handed over one of these d r . • ' catalogues, depending on Talayerk- from his house with a han ’s own assessment of the visitor ’s serious interest and involvement in music. For instance, I was introduced to his third catalogue, the “special ” collec ­ tion, only after I had been buyer for over a year. Later, I learnt to regret this for I Returning from his house with a handful of records I do not know why I had always felt a tinge of melancholy like witnessing a sunset, the twilight of a God of the discographic world. Undoubtedly, A.E. Talayerkhan raised city Will ever see again. a regular record collecting to a levef l tloubt this The Statesman, Calcutta, ! 17 August 1981. Agresmenf A ^2 V I ••' •'w Whan JaAanaas' hasband Bomai diad ha left her a tidy sum. That started the trouble Just bow to invest it? tn mind—Monthly Intarast l^sit Sdmmal Just imogina —a regular income | every month —and no work involved." I But daughter Karbanoo counted on the I |UlAM*«a BlaalA:_l7 . a . . ¦ future requiremehts~?he money' w'iS more than double in 8 years." The air grew thick with schemas. Freddy, business-like, opted for the Current Account. Putlibai sighed about the Fixed Deposit. I^t they all agreed oh one thing. Central Bank- Bomsi after alt bad made his money there. branch. We'll advise you* as we did*"* in intnd~ll^thly Intarast l^sit Sdtaina Just imagina —a ragular incoina month>_and na work invotvad." i But daughter Karbanoo counted on the Money Multiptier.' "TMOk of the family's more than double in 8 years." business-like, opted for the Current Central Bonk- Borasi after alt bad made his money there. B«A branch. We 11 advise you* as we did Jerbanoo. how best to invest your money. CutrolB onfcoflndfa (A Qovemnwnt W InUit UndMUking) Th* Bank that movs out to pabiMe and glacM inttawub/CBi/i 33 5?® ' ‘^1 )¦ ¦'W 47^'F’ V -• 15" DAM E There is an indefinable aura of tragedy around Phero2a Lally. She ’s half-real, half-unreal and the nearest thing to a around Phero2a Lally. She ’s half-real prima donna ballerina that I’ve ex ­ perienced. When I visited Pheroza at home to in­ terview her she chatted quickly with several high-pitched Oobhs, Ah. . .hhs and Eeees they overwhelmed me for a while and then became a part of her per ­ sonality. An amazing person, a miracle. For starters, listen to her: “My life began with Mummy. She taught me the rudi­ i i a I { ‘i 'jS tai ii* 11 Hi ! 1 ments of ballet right from the time I was two-and-a-half years old. I had no for­ mal training until I went to London at seven. “I have an unusually supple back, quite unusual. I’ve legs that go right up . thereat 180degrees —front, side, back, everywhere, 180 degrees! ’’ I did not believe her until later on she took me to her studio and showed off to me. Pheroza has a penchant for repeating words thrice to express herself: “Ohhh ... when I came back at 12 or so to • Bombay it was very, very, very difficult for me, a terrific struggle, a fantastic, fantastic, fantastic struggle. There was nobody to teach me. ’ ’ This was when-she returned with a five-year stint at the Art Education School in London where she lived with ,) ; , t>*.'Sl*-5ii»r-' >I>K’'^U^ her el^ibter. And after that she got a dance again, sdiola^ip to study two-and-a-half Pheroza was .’’ And in some 11 months was dancing again on stage. In an effort to be independent. “W01, from what I can see there is - __ _ n®t much of a future ftjy ballet over years with the Bolshoi Ballet School in In an effort to be independent, here, there is not much of a future. I Moscow: “The Bolshoi is the most Pheroza, in 1975, did start ballet classes really don’t know in which direction my life is going. Because I teally, really, really don’t know. The only thing that matters to me is that there is dance in me, in me, in me! ’’ And with that she flung her arms divine place in the world, my temple , my house of worship. ” In London, Pheroza had taken all the solute waste of time. It ’s all very deman- five grade exams of the London Koyal ding, a hard and strenuous life and more Academy of Dance for children and than anything a life of dedication, finished with honours —she was “The children just haven ’t got the presented with a volume of Anna burning desire and their mothers, all Pavlova ’s life. ... “Anna Pavlova is they want to know is, ‘When will my my heroine, my idol, my everything! ” she exclaimed. Her youthful ardour is contagious and I found myself respon ­ ding to this half-child, half-woman hand and led me to her studio. A large, dancer. uncluttered room with a practice bar, a Did the woman take over when she re- long mirror and a gramophone. I watch- fused to disclose her age? “Eeee. ...” ed fascinated a^ she bent her slight body around her father and said impulsively, she fluttered her eyelashes, “I am what I this way and that way with fluid grace, “He ’s my life and soul. I just want to dance till I dle! ” I left Pheroza Lally clutching to Her bosom her pink satin ballet shoes which came all the way from America and cost at the House of Soviet Culture but they were a washout. “Teaching is an ab- darling get on Stage? ’They want instant “He ’s God, the greatest dearest, dearest, dearest person in the world to me. ” success ; In classical ballet ! ” With that Pheroza took me by the this way and that way with fluid grace, am. ” So be it. sinking and rising with effortless ease. In Moscow Pheroza graduated with And, in between, she looked at me and the highest certificates of merit, the asked. “You like? ” Of course. ... “Otlechno ”, and learnt how to speak fluent Russian. And then the heartbreaks began. Her daily. According to her, and she should them they were as hard as rock instead know, ballet originated in the court of of soft and delicate: “Breaking them in King Louis XIV the “sun-king”. It was a French export bi Taglioni, an Italian, on her toes flew. ” In modern times there is George his daughter ’s life is based on that Balanchine of the New York City Ballet legend. Company —at the age of 77 he still dances and teaches. Then there is Peter Martin, Susanne Farrall who can be considered the prima ballerina in America. In England, of course, “there is my darling Margot Fonteyn ”, and Rudolf Nureyev. A ballet dancer, Pheroza said, must put in at least five hours of practice about $22. Surprisingly, when I felt “The only thing that matters to me is that there is dance in me, in me, in me !” is very hard, ’’ Pheroza said, “You Can ^it was Marie break someone ’s head with them! ’’ io first went up Her father, a charming Mr. Pheroze “She didn’t dance, she Lally, gifted me a card with the words “Expect a miracle ’ ’ printed on it . I guess w< Her father, a charming Mr. Pheroze beloved mother passed away in 1967 and her father became her driving force: “He ’s everything to me. I can ’t tell you, he ’s not a man, he ’s an angel, he ’s not an angel, he ’s God, the greatest, dearest, dearest, dearest person in the world to me. I don’t need another man in my life! ’’ On her return to India Pheroza met Chopin and Schubert, but naturally! with a near-fatal accident in 1971. She lost her balance near the window ai$d went hurtling down from the third floor, a drop of 80 feet: “All my bones defeatedly she replied, were broken. My head, arms, elbows, ribs, back. My eyes were injured. Doc­ tors said I would not live. I lost my hair! I was unconscious.’’ In all this her legs alone remained unharmed! “When I came around I was full of despair and death-wishes. But Daddy took my ballet shoes and put them on my feet and promised me that I would “It was very very very difficult for me, a terrific struggle, a fantastic, Pheroza could talk on the subject for fantastic, fantastic Struggle. ’* hours, I realized. Her collection of records include Bach, Beethoven, And finally, she answered the one ques ­ tion which she had been avoiding: What is she going to do now?*-Somewhat' r-\RA PATEL ¦Midday 19 July ISfKI)‘3 ‘i * 1 f' I I i te f I. r K" Cotttii: from page 17 “hudis ” over flames —“We use up about 10 cylinders of Burshane gas daily, ” explained Dinshaw Nariman, while conducting us around. There is a room where kulfi and yogurt is made, where the butter is churned in a machine made to specification in India, a cold storage, a room where the milk sachets are sealed. Only 30 per cent of the milk is distrib ­ uted in sachets in spite bf the obvious advantages of this method; the use of milk sachets means an increase of “30 paise per sachet. ” At the mention of profits, he smiled. We make enough to survive in a nice ijomnav naiwa" accordinc to a Ben- _ ' 't.- ' * . way, after all our customers cannot gali friend of mine, are the best things in chocolate ’figs ^ba^nT^alar^ th^ese ^opaymorea^tis^Themottoof Indian s^tmeats-when I visit^er jS:a;e^^":h™i^^^ occasionaUy in Bhopal her standing and Bhelpuri House adjoining the main instructions are not to turn up without shop at Princess Street these two items from Bombay ! in the meantime I recommend the Parsi Dairy “sutarfeni ” even to non- sweet-toothed Bombayites. Essentially a Gujarati sweet, it melts in the mouth without much effort — to say the least I’d serve it to Prince Charles himself. Parsi Dairy “sutarfeni ” (with its gen- ' erous sprinkling of pistachio and ' cream is a superlative desert ! by Tara Patel, Mid-day September 26, 1981. U' I I funning and accounting^ It is the saga of the first generation — in its early 50’s — smoothly paving the Bb '''®y fo*’ the next generation which is Bb already involving itself in the business Hfl from scratch. Five families encompassing 14 members may not be a very large joint - ! is that and eat together family but the important thing they all live, work and eat t( happily. iPerhaps Dhiry pro il, S' the least known of the Parsi Diiry products is their collection of Delivery starts at four a. m. yogurt which was introduced into the The Parsi Dairy s “sutarfeni ” and fa 12 flavours - honey, jeera, pineap- InfTlhaV nSlIWQ** fzx o "Dam. « •» * . . ’ market two or three years ago, it comes “Bombay halwa ”, according to a. Ben- the family business “Truth is light ”(or is it the other way around?) is etched on their milk bottles and one knows that it is no mere piece of mockery. After milk it is natural that they Modern Look should have branched into Indian Much of the modern streamlining sweets in 1920 (they had about 20 Mar- * - • -- - wari cooks brought specially from Jai ­ pur to prepare these sweets), in 1928 came their kulfi “which is Indian ice- J came in when one of the brothers. Naval Nari ­ man went to Bangalore and did a course in dairy management. He is in charge of - the farm and techn<4«)»i!CnI side of the ciuus sprinauna oi nu »'»«>"<« »“«) with fresh from the l930’s onwards. butter, ghee, yogurt administration and the hundred and ----- one things to be done in the day-to-day SERSON Electrolytic Capacitors For All Electronic Applications Ftx>m 12 VDC To 350 VDC Manufacturers: Serwn Industries Pvt. Ltd. Pfanpri P.F.P.O., Pooiia48« Cable : Efcbfoil PoonaJS. Phone : 82379 as * r 1