Jun 1982

I i I I i / L LA ui c CN l» ff) 0) c ? ¦ft 't?/’ I. !*¦ IA •> 1 .i R H <• 4*? ¦s*« , ¦ ¦ '-'* r'^- ¦¦ o. . # {' ':4« >>¦ : ,v » ft 1 ¦,^- .->* / ; a l^-.. * k2 .‘3« ^5 ¦4-- f I i I 4 iJune 1982, Volume 4 No 12 Cover design: by Mini Boatwala i I, S' r fc. f ...Cji EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel EXECUTIVE EDITOR R.P. Thanavala ASSOCIATE EDITOR Abraham Mathai ASSISTANT EDITOR ' Usha Albuquerque _ CONSULTANT Annual inland subscription: Rs 30 for one year (12 issues); Rs 55 for two ypars (24 issues); Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs 60 for one year, Rs 110 for two years; Airmail Rs 120 for one year, Rs 215 for two years. S' I I. Readers'Forum Events and Per^nalities Business Boofc Rce^iew : The High Priests of Adoption Sarkari's Culture by Dadi M. Darbary The Pars! Punchayet Case-IX In Mempriam The Life of Dastur Dhalla-XXV 3 6 8 13 14 18 21 26 29 DESIGN ASSISTANT Kranti Shilotri ADVERTISING Veera Patel Zarin Billimoria MANAGEMENT Hanita Irani Cheryl D'Penha Minoo Patel CIRCULATION O.e. G^inoy Parsiana is published by Jehangif R. Patel at C/o. H. L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, groiindfloor, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay, 400001, printed by him atJydtilndustries, 324 A toZ Industrial Estate, Bombay 400013 and phototypeset at Pecord Printers, Bombay 400 009. All rights reserved. Address all editorial and business correspondence to Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 don Phbhe 268730. For U. S. personaLcheques iadd $2 to cover bank charges. For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 3 for bank charges. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favour of Parsiaha. Single copy price Rs.5 and Re 1. All rates subject to change in postal rates. f LrT I? -¦M* i orum views are wetoome oin any sUMefet^ interest to the 'BommunitV and should be sent to the Editor, Readers' Forum, Parsiana, Q.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001 . Letters are sUbjeot to editing for reasons of space and clarity. Politics of Healing ” ¦.fit an interview with the new president of the Bombay Parsi Panchayet, Dr Aspi ' F. Golwalla, (“The Politics of Healing,- ’ P'arsiana, March 1982) nauch impor­ tance was given to the housing problem of the Bombay Parsis, and perhaps rightly so. When Golwalla stated that the declin­ ing number of eomrUunity members was w f' F ' 'ij r k r Eckehard Kulke in his book The Par- sees in India notes, “The number flC. Parsi marriages in Bombay did, to hc'"^ sure, increase betw^n 1901 and 194^^ H from 379 to 463. This increase of 22 pef^'J cent must be compared, however, with a population increase of Bombay Parsis j of 29 per cent, so that there is actually a decline in the willingness to marry. The- number of divorces simultaneously has / increased in the last decades. While, iny, 1,881, 75.9 per cent of all adult Parsisf - were married and only 16.1 per cent were single, the ratio was almost even in 1911 with 47.4 per cent married and 48 . per cent unmarried and had become the ; opposite in 1931 with41.4 percent mar- ' ried and 55.9 per cent single.” Dr Malini Karkal {Marriage amorig; Parsis^Demography - India, /975Jstates: As many as 40 per cent of the ‘never/ married ’ males had ‘low income’ as the reason for their being ‘single.’ An addi-' '^ tional 6.4 per cent males in the group" found ‘lack of acconSrhbdation ’ as the reason, whereas five per cent expressed- g the major portion of the Parsi popula ­ tion is of aged people — mostly over 50 years. ; Students-, from foreign universities^ have colle^d facts and figures, inter­ viewed several people, made compara ­ tive studies and come to certain conclusions on Parsi demography. Very little attention is paid to their studies by our community. Dr Paul Mark Axel­ rod, a student of the University of North another important subject facing the Carolina conducted a study of tlie Parsi community he was asked: “Aside from population problem in his thesis entitled housing are there other reasons for the “A Social and Demographic Composi- population decline ?” His reply was: “It tion of Parsis, Saraswat Brahmins and is mainly housing. There are problems Jains in Bombay ” (1974). According to of unemployment, higher standard of him. Parsis because of the influence of living etc. but housing is the biggest western culture have accepted the idea problem.” - oTprivacy and married couples would The dual problems of a decline in like to have a separate roOm. They will numbers, and housing, are correlated to prefer not to marry till this minimum a considerable extent. However, there requirement is satisfied. The most diffi- are other reasons for the decline in the cult thing in Bombay is to get a room at number of marriages and in the number a fair or moderate rental, of community members. J .pill ** uu V* U i of the causes of the decline. In the May children only or no children. According both males and females keep on post- "¦ poning marriage till a certain level of education and income is achieved. This 5» that *low income’ and ‘lack of accommo- - dation ’ to be the deterrents to their mar- riage. Five per cent males said that they^ . did not find a partner Who was ‘suitable ’ to their tastes. The above statemehts by the ‘never married ’ males may be indicative of the 'Z^ situation that prevails in the comniun- ity. The Parsis as a community have, -.v achieved a high standartT of life. Since' g the community lives in clusters and is a closed one, deviation from the norm is ? difficult. Under’ these circumstancest I M' As a result there are no marriages or An excess of deaths over births is one late marriages, with either one or two 1976 issue of ParsiOha, a report (Meet to Axelrod, this western idea oTprrvacy the Press) notes “Sapur Desai, a former is one of the main reasons for the low . joint secretary of the BPP,' and author of number of marriages and consequently results in higher ages at marriage. ’ ¦ * ’ • • — ¦ “High age at marriage of Parsi s females coupled with an increasing pro- portion remaining ‘single’ has resulted | in declining fertility in the community. .J The inadequate data on completed fer- ? tility which shows decline in total fertil- J ity rate also supports the feeling that 'it the Presss) notes “Sapur Desai, ai former is one of the main reasons for the low several publications on demography, the decline of numbers, presented a report on the declining pop- Axelrod further concludes that Parsis ulation. ‘Every year there are 300 more prefer to live independently which is not ........ ..... so evident in other communities. In sis- present trend continued, in another 75 ter communities, graduates were found years the community’s numbers would to be in favour of the joint family sys- .z,zzz „„ '.z~z ____ _____3 . .. - census figure of 91,000..In order thatthe to how they would like to spend a there is a high incidence of voluntary • • ............... - • control of fertility di^ng the mafi^ied. - The limitation, of fertility among the married'may be a result of efforts of the J married to maintain the desired socio-* .J economic standards. The decline in fer- * i tility over past several years has brought about a decline in the number of young. „ j persons. This in itr tu^ has influenced . the incidence and the trend of marriages ' .9^1 |; uiaiiun. iZrVCiy ycai uicic aic j>uv luviv I deaths than births,’ he noted. And if the f F'" r dwindle to 40,000 as versus the 1971 tern. When several people were asked as , population remain at its present level, holiday — with friends or relations, a each couple should have to produce majority of Parsis said they would three children. ‘Three is the replacement prefer to be with their friends, while the ratio, ’noted Desai. ” answers were quite the contrary from The figdres of deaths over births Saraswat Brahmins and Jains. Westerni- amongst Bombay Parsis are soaring sation has not changed their views as far every year. In 1971, the excess figure was as family ties are concerned. They still 343. It continued to increase every year maintain the joint family system, reaching the figure of 438 in 1979. In In a society where the male member 1980, the figure was 419 (Statistical Out- firmly believes that it is his own personal in die ^community. ” line, BPP 1981). Perhaps the percent- liability to maintain his w4{e and child- age is more in places other than Bombay, especially in Gujarat, where be low. reaching the figure of 438 in 1979. In ren the ^rcentage of births is Ijound to With the current tfeatl of Parsi. women marrying outside the commas Tty, mixed marria|^s may turn tobc , 9, ¦fe« J, an ad< nuroli w E«3 5 .dblgMne in -joined aa a full Yozd^- uab ami lUerafftire has been preserved in one bf the alasbbeb- for thousands of years by (be rel'^iaiiis^ respoit^i-'-'^^cms nt ^mbay and it is expected that heads and savants. When the Instimte /jf ip numbers^ =^e' many more will follow suit. In thSs feay,, has devised a scheipefor the better edu-' by the holy new mobeds will benefit from the above. - cattoA of the athornanlbM!^, it is the jgsjll^ibslbr preabhesthat people scheme and, in addition, they will also boundendutyofallathomanstosendat. and have children so that ’ receive subsidies every month. least one son to the M.F. (Zama Atfebtr O continues to function. It is We also need educated mobeds to nan Institute for being trained as a full- , m^pnreligionand Zoroastrianism, our religion. With this end in view the Institute is going to re-introduce the S.S.C. Course from June'1982, so that in one the aia^beh- • '\a1__ iLfil A-1__ 1__ !• 1-. We also need educated mobeds to that thou^ there areso many maintain the high tradition and tenets of fledged, educated mobed. l^nonSpnreligionand Zoroastrianism, our religion. With this end in view the Fordetailed information please contact this jgmut is hardly ever stressed. Institute is going to re-introduce the the Principal, The M.F. Cama Athor- ' Ratan R. Marshall S.S C. Course from June' 1982, SO that nan Institute, Cama Road, Andheri special Officer ' t|,g intelligent youth of our priestly class (West), Bombay 400 057. Parsi Punchayet Board, Surat. ® / ,, u- i. j . .. may not be debarred from higher educa- jantsetjeeJejeebhoy, Am tion. Fresh students will be admitted An app^l to AtnOmBnS j .. .. .r TheM-RCamaAtlwmanlnsMute ' Over the last 30 years the number of able ’ Yo^thregar mobeds in our commun- , ity has been dwindling. There are not j enough mobeds to look after our agiar- , ies and atash behrams. It has also been observed t...^.,,^, I after receiving the full traif^j ggWii^the I Cama Ajhornan^jlll^e, young ’ mobeds prs^^^ig^bobedi do not earn enough foftWeir maintenance and as L such^ disheartened and take upservice ; , f or join other professions. Realising the frustrafibn of the young mpbeds^ the trustees and managing committee of the MiF. Cama Athornan Institute have introduced, since July an attmctive scheme for the ameli- r may not be debarred from higher educa ­ tion. Fresh students will be admitted between the ages of six and eight. The Institute will arrangelo get admission of . . __ the boys for their academic "Studies in OCftI oWimming vnsmp Seth Madhavdas High School at And- heri. The teachers at the Institute will help tl^ students in their studies. Those ‘ ip£s who do n ot wish to go in for the ___C. Course will be trained in reli­ gious and ritual studies at the Institute. In this way, the Institute willensure that the community is not starved of well trained and educated mobeds in future. Those students who, after passing the S.S.C. wish to undertake further studies with Avesta and Pahalvi as special sub- iects, will' be encouraged and helped World Sea Raceat Rome in I979ahdih .«¦- National Swimming Champion Minoo ? Anklesaria, though deaf and dumb since birth, has effectively represented Mahar rashtra State in seven National Swim­ ming Championships, winning in all, nine gold medals, eight silver medals and one bronze medal for the period from 1972 to 1977. In 1975 he was selected to represent India at the Junior Asian Games at - Seoul. He was selected twice for the f p oration of Parsi priests SO that more and more young athornans may follow the profession. As per the new scheme, as soon as a fresh student enters the Institute, the trustees depoisitev^ry month Rs 100 in a Recurring Deposit Account in the Union ^nk of India for a period of seven >«ars. When a student completes the laid down course of seven years and is j ordained navaf and maratab from the Ipstitute, and thereafter if he serves in ’ any agiary or atash behram as a full- financially in their college studies by the tjmemobed for 15 years, then at the end Institute. " Stialents who are initiated in the ffs 54,000 at the present rate of interest, mobedi profession need financial aid. Jje >«a ''^Jl C.i •*., ' . -k-S € B - I tf. *iSJ* ’S" .*¦ ¦, L -* i> or , ¦*..*»*’ Anklesaria: no teadicap 1981. He was selected for the World Sea Race at Syria in 1981, for swinamu^ the English Channel in 1981 and fm the Silent Olympics in West Germany in 1981. By winning laurels in swimminij* 5'^ Minoo has demons^ated he is not:^ one to be daunted by his handicap. today he has never entered the Han-/ dicaf^Competitiona Even taoee prmse-" , tute has been giving a subsidy of Rs 1 SB worthy is that Minoo is an amateiv MMFtime at Cama Madressa of tlK said period he will receive a sum of U-.. . . .... .. .. Jh the event of the student discontinuing For this purpose the Institute has a tpe Mobedi profession within the 15 separate project. It is arranging to col- ' j^ars period the accumulated amount lect large funds and fresh mebeds will be will revert to the trustees. In case, how- helped from these funds. ever, he isincapacitated ordies within.l5 As a first step towards the ameliora- x ever, he iswcapadtated ordies within 15 y^ars, the accupmsted^anwunt will be tion of Yozdathregar mobeds, the Insti^ paid to the mobeid- or to his fiominee, 1 Tbd'e is podouHthat the above scheme per month to each of 23 Yozdathregars swammer and not a professional. He is will of gr^^^ancial help to our performing religioiis ceremonies in 23 years old and emptojwd as an In^ec- mobeds, ,, Bombay, Navsari. Udvada and ’ tor ip the,Quality OsBrtr^ Diwipn at Some of the institute The total subsidy b theyear t9^{pven' TELCQ. Tbs \\ *’ * " ‘ . and _ lament mid assista^ yozdsftimegeerM’'¦ * ‘ j^^^f^.^liafatab to Yo2d»thre^r mobeds amount^ to imm should •’J *“ *-*¦«- <. Adi x ibta r .-^ ’«$ alS^te.^ate&o.'^L 9*^i) V string of national and state wins under training for the * internatibiBl event. , her belt including the J unior and Senior “Unfortunately thereis no propcrcourse National championships for Road Rae- for us to practice on, here in Borhbay, > Maharashtra who required Rs 2BJMX) Commerce) student of R. A. Podar Col- late evenings,” says Rakfeshth.Tlieylwe ___________________ / ¦ u ¦ - ’ / ' " " ......... . jdonships from 2^ August to 4 Sep- been training With Firdaus Irani, a The youngest of the group, Arethna, 1 . - pion, and a student of Std. XII at the accessories for their imported bicycles 1 April this year she rode off with the Sporting Chance Three young women cyclists from ing. A final year B. Coin-(Bachelor of so WerideonfheroadSeai^^peBM^tj^and j' each to particii^te in the World'Cham- f iember at Leirester in England, haive former state champion. found sponsors. Anuin Arethua^ Avan “ Antia and Rakhsbin Patel, have been selected to represent the country at this r intcmatipnal event, where Indian cyclists will be participating for the first time in 20 years. I With women’s cycling a relatively new lege of Gommerce, Bombay,'she has to leave for England a few wod}«.i^ *] * ~ ¦ ¦ I advance of the event for a vigorous coaching programme, to accihnaUze _J_____________________________ __________________ themselves to the ro^s and weather J 17,isthe}uniorstateandnationalcham-: conditions. Moreover cycle parts and J Mithibai College of Arts, Bombay. In may also have'to be bought. | ¦ ¦ ¦ * ‘ Expressing. happiness^ about find | silver medal at the Asian Cycling Cham- ing the necessary funds, Armin, Avan J pionship in Bangkok, Thailand. and Rakhshin feel that their parttcipa- | Practicing for almost three to four tion in this international event would be hours every day, the girls are furiously a great confidence building experience J . for them, and a n opportunity to witness, J ¦HHIIB learn from the, best in 1 ‘f Student-Teacher I I Association ] ‘To promote a religious and cultural 'fl renaissance among students and to fl Ubrifiig out their latent talents throu^ S f competitions and contests’ is the goal of fl the two year old Zoroastrian Student- ] Teacher Association (ZOST A), notes a 1 I press release issued by ZOSTA presi- • | I dent, Ms; D. Doongaji. r Founded by the principals and 8 r4' BrirhAfa i Patd: national rbad-iacing teachers of some Parsi managed ¦ (^cHi^award. champton. competitive event on the national scene, Armin Arethna: natfamal junior cycling champ, fc- the girls bad to find the funds for \ coadiing and training as well as the return fare to England. ' ,• The Maharashtra Cycling Association affiliated to the Cycling"Federation of India had also made an appeal for “a sporting gesture” from sports patrons; i Cyclists are now allowed to race and train under the sponsor’s banner and b’' display the sponsor’s name and logb on their clothing and equipment. Prospec­ tive sponsors stand to gain cohsiderabfe publicity. ‘ 1 Avan? 20,. the first woman awardee for the Shiv ^affhj^fi- State Award; in Cycling^, is a fimdyiraf'R.'Se'fBachelor lege, Bombay. The winner of scvemi ................................1 and state t^ycling ^ents, she isTrainidg • ? *•¦ •- ¦ V publicity. '• r ^^'’ ' y> r ¦ - 3f '7? *• ' ':^ i - « the Shiv ^affij^d- State Award; in Cycling^, is a fmid'yitef'R.'Se'XBachelor of Scienise>'stadCnt!of St. Xavier ’s Col­ lege, Bombay. The winner of sCveAl gold and iittver idedals in the natiohal and state cycling ^euts, she isTminidg fe. . under a fonner-'flsBiOnal cham^^ z Ba^ .tihileolm. Rakfashin, 20, also has a .... ..t4. r- [r F- f !•' E. t ¦ k t f out a “feirly dinmunity problems in admission, and a Zoroastrian Hous- of diseases by dmgless methods. is essential fOT a solution”, is the spirit ing Development Corporation or Bank = He was appointed a member of the the Zoroastrian Community Develop- 1 ment Institute. The four-paged, printed, scale, quarterly will keep readers informed of tlw developmeiussk^ithc Institute, as _________________ _____________ ____ ______ _____________ h-.t-t.t-l well as generate ideas, suggestimis and Peshotan Peer, 28, as a religious scho- several nature cure organiigi ^^fwK Jus- comments. ' The ZCDl, a project of the Havrash- 4 'A& Ssi’’ £'* B SteeMge: safe and sound 35 The fibidc of Oman, Middielg^taMthe 1942. “There was no income tax appli- 1 Indian Bank, Madras, have one thing in cable in Hyderabad and the government | common: an almost impenetrable secur- was quite e^usiastig|i^g^j^^oiwag- i ity system made by Steelage* ftidustries ing the small enl®B^pww®rt*'ll6eAirwyn j Ltd., Bombay. The safe deposit vaults, Steel Company was estiftbiished with 1 safes, vault doors and currency chests, 50% financial participati^-frbm the | all bear the ‘Steelage ’ mark. With its P & state and with Erani as managing diree- | L aceddnt showing a turnover of Rs. 7.5 tor. The claustrophobia ’of working .j crores. Steelage entered its golden jubi- under si^neone cr^ on to him and a 1 lee this year. For the company, there is a ehastened' buL wiser Erani returned to J ' double cause for celebration since over his old, baM, ‘ the years it has managed to secure a He started ah^ si^ificant place in the security systems name Steelage : market. his old factory dep^dlhgon hisbld con* 1 But K. H. Erani, the rather reclusive tacts. Till the Chubb collaboration in ~ j executive chairman and managing 1951, this‘me-too’fouhd ittou^ going, j director of Steelage doesn’t believe The market was dominate^ by Godrej "I much in fanfare. He shuns publicity, and bankers shooed Erani away when I For 50 years he has been involved in he approached them.. ... I what he calls “the fight for quality. Top Today all steelage proftacts except j 1111948.. a. new Today all steelage products except quality is the base of everything,” he those meant for expw^^gii^ry the Chubb says. And Steelage products are backed brand name, ” expbiMS Xp^wnjBhed|l, .¦ j. by the technology of those master Ipck- I smiths, Chubb and Sons Lock add S^fe I Company Limited, U.K. STTRIKING OUT I An electrical engineer from the VJTI I (Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute), I Bombay, Erani, ioined Godrej & Boyce j Mfg. Co.in 1928. Working fdr a year as I personal assistant to A.B. Godrej, Era* I ni’s keen mind spotted the market I potential for steel furniture and security I equipment. “I was young and rash joint managing director. In 1951, Erani I then,” he recalls, “and I decided to strike attended an industrial exhibition in < L out on my own.” London wheje he happeja^ to Visit the .. I Withacapitalbase of Rs. Il,(X)0(“all Chubb Stall. This chandc encounter I borrowed”) the modest factory of the led to & fruitful collaboration which I Allwyn Steel Equipment Company (as has lasted three decades. I Steelage ’was then called) was set up in I Mazagaon in 1932. Initially the product ; ESTABLISHED NAME I range was limited to offiw furniture— _ ___ I steel cabinets, almirahs, shelving racks, ment changed the fortunes of theebm- I filing cabinets and desks. A few safes pany which was till then selling Rs. 5 I were manufactured and Erani slowly lakhs worth of products annually. ____________________________I started getting better versed in the tech- Within five years the turnover has spir- nology of security equipment. His pre- ailed to Rs 60 lakhs. Tbe^bahk® which vious experience at (Jodrej had already had earlier refused tp grant an given him a good grounding in the tech- audience to Erani started recognising XMr'and Mw K»H. Sawri: safe products nology. the existence of his small unit. Today In 1933, Steelage supplied safe dep- ! ><•?“ > £ . s. “A modem safe can Have up 1 to 100 million combinations, J and the chance of finding | the correct conibination J through trial and error is I refsiote.” _ _______________ ; \ 1 This technological piggyback- aita^c- ' i 1 Si -1 iiic CAia»iciivc uft lua dumu uiiii^ t uuaj -:¦ ; Steelage is ap es^li^d name as far as ] osit locker cabinets to the Bombay Bd- tfe >?ottccjned, and lion Exchangei'The concept of coHedtive the C^p^^li^^dtsfes the Chartered , securitywas quite new at that time. T^at of OMMHaaHiBMHlriHnMHHHHHaHHl Hon Exchangel'The concept of coHedtlve . -. ; ‘ ¦ - \ L___ ;..:L- ¦¦¦ . --...- “I was yo’^ng and rash then, same year, they fitted in a Stfongfoom onH t tn ctrikp door in a batik at Salaranpur. ' anu 1 ucbHjcy Impatient to expand his capital base," conjpany has changed its out on my own.” - .. dotu' in a batik at Salara.npur. ’; Impatient to expand his capital ba^,' Erani shifted shop to Hyderabad in product-mix over the years. Steel furni-A security ^tem is an expensive affair and could cost up to Rs. 50,000. ture forms only a very smaU part of its Stwlage security i^ough to crack. output. Now Steeb^ offers a foul *" * * security package. This consists of-two I--. - (different kii^k safes —fire and bur- Erani.admits, “There is no safe in the as Erani.admits, mere is no saie in inc anoir auu vuwu v«oi. wp w secuniy pacKagc. HUS vuiiaiovB v*-v»TM world that cannot be broken open with “TIk bulk of of sections—the pl^ical security division the right materials and given sufficient banks and large msfitt^as, aocordmg , time.” Steelage safes are manufactured to’ Jamshedji. with the thinner body on the outside and the thicker body inside. The logic being SERVICE CONSCIOUS that when a safe is broken open, the Today they enjoy the security of a com- going becomes progressively more diffi- fortable order -book position. But as cult Jamshedji puts it, “we are in a business 7^ The ma nufacturing process involves where quality control and after sales ser- shearing, forming, machining, welding vice is viul.” While the normal after and assembly of steel plates, sheets and sales service is handled by a force of structurals. All products are cleaned by trained mechanics, senior service engi- the shot blasting process and painted neers Uke care of emergencies, immediately thereafter. The safes are subjected to strenuous * tests to ensure that they really are fail- _ M safe. Jamshedji gives the example of five who was called in by a lady who was I their firesafe record cabinet which has unable to open her safe. The code was ¦ passed a stringent test at the Central based on her age. The executive had to ---- - .. . .. . ask only a single question before hitting upon the right answer. The lady had apparently forgotten to adjust the com- then raised and immediately bination to take into account her last • • ! Quite often the answer may not be so shearing, forming, machining, welding I structurals. All products are cleaned by trained mechanics, senior service engi- In this aspect. Steelage follows the pattern of its service conscious collabor ­ ator. There is a story of a Chubb execu- **< I k ¦ Building Research Institute, Rourkee. 7'he cabinet was filled with documents jiunsMi: crMdiig s^urlty and and kept in a furnace at 8OOOC. dropped on a brick rubble bed. Thereafter birthday! glary resistant,torch and drill resistant — it was returned to thefurnace in an upside vault doors and strongroom doors, four down position and subjected to 1,029®C types of safe deposit lockers, and small for two hours. At the end of it all, when safes and cash boxes); and the fire secur- the cabinet was opened, it was found ity division (portable fire extinguishers, that the papers had merely turned a little fire alarm systems, burglar alarms). The brownish. sales ratio is a steady 60:40 for these two Steelage has also developed another divisions. tough nut—the only genuine “jewellers” The Minimax fire equipment division safe in India. Called the torch and drill was established in 1971 when Chubb resisting safe, it can withstand even the single,” and Sons, UK, diversified into the fire SOOO^C flame of oxyacetylene cutting security business and bought over Min- equipment. “But professional safe imax (UK). As pioneers in the field, breakers in the west are always one step Minimax had been supplying fire extin- ahead; they have developed a thermic guishers to the Indian market since lance which has a flame of 3500®G. We 1903. When Steelage took over the Min- are lucky that in India, our burglars are imax operations in India, the company amateurisH ’Jamshedji says with a smile, had a limited product range (gun metal fire fighting accessories in addition to Steelage ’s safeguards extinguishers). The Minimax factory at Ambattur in Madras currently produces a much wider range of fire fighting equipment. Their automatic fire alarm systems and smoke detectors have | passed even the rigprous requirements | of the Indian Space Research Organisa ­ tion in Thumba. “We are not selling a product, we are selling security.” a j^4 HARD NUT TO CRACK “A modern safe can have up to 100 mil­ lion combinations, and the chance of finding the correct combination through trial and error is remote. The only way to crack such a safe would be to use an oxy-acetylene flame or explo- sives,"according to J. S. Jamshedji, who took over as joint managing director of his fatherrin-Jaw ’s. business... in . J 97J, comments Jamshedji. The company once received an SOS from a client in the Middle East. That situation required strong arm tactics and the safe had to be broken. Another, problem arises when a strong room or vault door gets stuck. In this case the specially built emergency door has to be opened. While retaining its character of an old fashioned family business. Steelage has also moved with the times. Most of its key executives (administration, manu ­ facturing, marketing, sales and finance) are professionals. But the tenor of the business remains conservative. “We do not believe in overstretching ourselves," Jamshedji says modestly. The employees number over a thousand and they have six branch offices in the four metro cities, and Bangalore and Kanpur and over 70 dealers in a country wide network. In 1971 Steelage entered the export market exporting security equipment to the Middle East and Africa. Exports do not carry the associate brand name Chubb. The market overseas has been growing steadily to encompass even the most security conscious country—USA, «\ ¦ con- and great-grand son of the pioneer, lenge “...it undoubtedly has to be s^n stand- Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, is a bachelor that way, ” lie t^Ah^dia'iyfday “It is a 89 heavy who studied architecture and structural challenge. There's a great deal that can iian Bank,Iran <—• .. . . .. where they sell special^ form to the highest-iiMgtt ards. In 1974 Ste<^^^S vault doors in tfS^^wlan Bank, Iran engineering at Gornell University^ USA. be done if one looks'at the future, for a price of . 02,575. The current Following a six year spell at TISCO and export tumotfl^Wa. 50 lakhs. “And we then at TELCO, Ratan has been hope to r I"' says confld^Jly. With the customer base expanded to __ _________ include hotels, offices, and private century-old Cenlraf India Spinning, J- . -a. . 1'J • 1 • a a . • . . . _ _ _ _ * . ® , marketing strategy has been suitably altered. Low key advertising in the gen­ eral press and by direct mail continues. ____ _____________ _ ______ ____ Recently they have launched a TES Tatas in the coming years. ” He would director of Godrej Soaps and other (technical evaluation service) campaign. I’* __ _______j . This involves free technical evaluation employment of new techniques and new to people who own safes made before 1940. “Most of thew-Kf^ safes can be ; cracked open like sardine cans, ” says i Jamshedji quoting his advertisement. | 'And in an effort to boost sales we are 1 trying to make people more security I conscious.” The service ificfudes devis- I ing the right security system to meet the I needs of the organisation. As F. R. Iraqi I account controller of Dattaram Adver- I * rising Pvt. Ltd., the advertising agency I handling the Steelage account, explains, I We are not selling a product, we are I selling security.” I Backed as it is by the technical excel- I lence of Chubb this is a security, which I even old Scrooge would be more than Ratan Tata: high technology growth satisfied with. imo^l^Ra.501akhs “Andwe f “1??. L it by 1^3,7 Jamshedji direclor-inchafge of National Radio and Electronics Corporation (NELCO) and for a while was given charge of the households in addition to banks, the Weaving and Manufacturing Mills. Livestock Feeds Chairman I ¦ RE-ELECTED as chaiitnan of the In an interview with India Today, a Compound Livestock Feeds Manufac- leading national newsmagazine, Ratan turers' Association cd India, for 1982- Tata spoke of.“a strategic plan for the 83, is Nadir Go<^, 31, a like to see the group expand with the Godrej enterprises. A graduate in chemical engineering ?.< I ... Godrej: re-elected s’ technology. “By and large one would from the Massachusetts Institute of like to see the Tatas get into the higher Technology in the U.S.A.^ Godrej holds technology areas, and make greater a post-graduate degree from Stanford investments in those areas than they University in California, and a Master have today. ” Plans for the future could of Business Administration degree from include growth in areas “such as usage the Harvard Business School in Massa- of steel, applications of steel... in vehi- chusetts,U.S.A. cles, steel and possibly power and In pursuance of an agreed plan to make allied industries... I see ourselves grow- way for the younger generation, ” Ratan ing possibly in processing of foods, in N. Tata, 44, was elected chairman of the fertilizers and in chemicals. ” board of Tata Industries in succession to The man Ratan succeeds, Jeh^ngir J.R.D. Tata who resigned from this Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, 77, aviator adventurer, romanticist, businessman For the first time the Zoroastrian Co­ Tata Industries and the apex body, and an ardent patron of the arts, heads a operative Credit Bank's deposits have Tata Sons, are private holding and Rs 2,000 crore empire which includes crossed the one crore rupee (Rs investment companies closely held by power generation, steel, chemicals, 1,00,00,000) mark, noted the bank's •the Tata family and public charitable computers, textiles and transport, president Rustom A. Gagrat, at the trusts floated by them, and matters of Moreover, taking advantage of the bank's 54th annual general meeting held consequence to the Tata industrial units recent shift in Government policy the in October 1981. are traditionally decided by the direc- Tatas plan to expand into core and “This perfmmance itself should be tors of these two companies. Though infrastructural areas, with a massive considered encouraging in view of the JRD remains chairman of Tata Sons modernization, diversification and fact that attractive schemes and rates of and several major Tata companies, expansion leap that could double the interest on deposits were tiered fay non- senior tnemlters of the Tata group group’is present size over the next five bankinginstitutibns. ”The piWhi^^ u-i _ii u-i....... accmiflts y^ entSag June I%I is Rs Ratan, who could become the fourth 5,41,911 as against Rs 3,81,160 the pre­ generation Tata to head thK, empire, idous year, noted Gagfisj. SUBRATA ROY and NAAZNEEN KARMALI Reprinted with permission of Business India November 9-22, 1981 The Tata Heir The man Ratan succeeds, Jeji^ngir Co-operative’s Crore and several major Tata companies, expansion leap that could double the interest on deposits were fueled fawnon- QAM • A.«» ¦- - — ' ' A k A _ ____ _ ____ S_ * '. « • a ' _ L J. ' . ' -*¦ believe that in all ptobability ^tan years. Tata will eventually succeed him as head of the entire group of companies. Ratan Tata, eldest son of Naval Tata, sees his recent appointment as a cb^- Y%>us year, jnoted Ga^^, “The Bank plans Jo enlarge not onfy M 'I = '-•¦I(¦ r i ( k I' t ( A Uberat Speaks the volume of busincss but "also to enlar^ the scopd'^ttii'i^i^ities,” said ‘ " , - Gagrat. “The Batik ^also plans to a^st Fifdaus Kanga members in various banking facilities Let Par»S think by para Cama, published by theauthor, and undertake banking operations car- P®"****- Pdee Re i, pages 45. ried out by other co-operative banks of a Many Parsis today are torn between like nature. ” two sharply differing philosophical At present due to various restrictions, trends^ Their westernised upbringing the bank^ functioning is hampered, has taught them the supremacy of rea- noted Gagrat. “On the one hand the son. The recent religious revival R^rve Bank of India has been asking preaches tlw importancedffaith antfthe the Bank to enlarge the scope and area value of mysjicism. So thechoice before of its activities by giving loans, the Parsis today appears to be one between Repstrar of Co-operative Societies has abandoning reason and forsaking their been rejecting the Hank ’s proposals for religion. Dara Cama ’s booklet is important because it provides for a reconciliation diversification of funds and enlarging of business activities.... “At the Annual General Meeting of between these two conflicting trends, the Bank beldon lAthCtetober, l^V? we Cama, who is a successful businessman, amended the Bye-laws for authorising is the author of three controversial pub- the Bank to grant loans on security of ownership flats as housing has been a difficult problem for the^mi^bers of the community and thurHBank wanted to lications: Righteousness, We Parsis anA help those who were in need of accom- The Flame. He is a protestant- and an modatidn by giving loans to enable iconoclast, who defines Zot’dast'riariism them to purchase flats on ownership as a system of ethics rather than a theol- basis. The Bye4aw was amended subject ogy. The problem it deals with is not to the permission of the Registrar of Co- God but the unethical mam Cama rec- operative Societies. I am sorry to say ognizes the “gathas ” as the only scrip­ that the Registrar rejected the amend- ture and rejects all rituals that were not ment in consequence of which the Bank directly preached by Zarathushtra. He has filed an appeal with the Divisional refuses to accept prayers and rituals as Joint Registrar of Co-operative Socie- paths to God. He believes that prayers ties, Bombay, and the appeal has not yet are educative sermons addressed to been heard and disposed of nowforl'/2 men who can achieve happiness by lead- years notwithstanding various efforts ing the good life preached. Rituals, on our part to request the Registrar to according tq Cama, are almost totally expedite the disposal of the appeal. ” borrowed from the Hindus or from the In the lighijarif.the bank^ proposed ancient Indo-lranian tradition. expansion, larger premises are being sou- expedite the of the appeal. ” expansion;4arger premises are being sou- Cama ’s views are radical arid are ght and a separate reserve fund with an bound to stir up fierce opposition. He initial deposit of two lakh rupees has calls for the abolition of the “dokha- been created. , mas ” and for the transformation of fire The bank ’s managing committee temples into housing colonies. He feels comprises: Gagrat, Noshir S. PocJikha- that ceremonies for the dead are useless nawalai Nanahhoy B. Jeejeebhoy, since a man ’s acts determine his happi- Cowayee N. ffinshaw, Jehangir F. ness in life and after death. Shroff, .l.J. Gandevia, Homa D. Petit, * ’ ~ J L I." ' T R. Andhyarujina, Homi P. Ranina, sionally written work. B.S. BulSara and Limji C. Mistry. “Let Parsis Think” is not-a profes- •x BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a PaMEc Sdioirf by the Departlsmit of Education for Indiui Merit ScAolais. Exed^ lent C&ule , JTS' ABabnd EdocaHM": AB Armhanif Sdbiecl^Tccli- idmd SdbieclB: WoriedMp Tedi- nology, Meohanidal St, Electrical' MidtttoihaMes. Oupentcy “St ing. m Sd^Gevemmeet through Elected OflSce bearers. GaMR^Physkal TVab- — Da^ AmbU^ wMi CoagragaROMd fiRQieiil —¦ Week­ ly intensive Zbroastrian -/Oieeta- Koran class^ — Exc^lmit C&ule, , Ream — lUtef- Dontf* torftK, Moderate Fees. Frecshipe md Concessioos to Deserving Students. Ampfy to~ TOB MAN4|5^ TRUSlW ,5 '41 Old post cards etc./wanted Advertiser wishes to buy OLD 'picture postcards, photographs, cig. cards, playing eards, posters, prints, illustrated books, albums and other related material. Willing to pay top prices for single itoms or entire collections. Please send, detailed list with expected prices to The Advertiser, (OLD) G/o. Parsiana, G.P.O. Box Bombay r**-- in Indian history aD the legal issues at great fea^. The There cannot be a person who is nova iiAfw Wmm High Priests ccmumssion appeared to be greatly Parsi by race but is a Zor<»sUian by t,, b« Nawt Uttawla >»> Bombay impressed by the argpments put for- Anrfrhntnmi- ¦, air-mddceil to to nMct the Prime ward; both religious and le^l. A writ- aaM«fci.« -' Mis jadiia Gandhi and ten statenaent was also handed over to the Cotamission. ” Ste Ada^^rimi of Ghad4 Extracts hrom the stateipent: ren Bdl o« idlgioas gpoundsTsO nottsapremideaseKsaedby thepresir Oastaifs* Reasons For Prayhig F - relatives performed- This Jtot idranoe in his journ^ in the next world ally- A flusi is sodally and religiously riage ihix-up. That is why Parsis ar® || . . . . . . - •.naCArUA ttlAir r9<*i»l <9 iMlnarifod^folh^i^^h^^ which has tte^^ij^ous germ of Zara- J ao«.r ti M-and hnmanitv. The religious tenets and .. _ ~ a ¦ - -- - —f are the preforiotions which Trafitoaml Evidim» For The Cmicept a MMcdFiamraK An^ The liberate in him or her the spiritual Of Itarial F^yr ' „ „„ 1 Pihne Munster energy and strength to discharge these The Zoroastnan Religion lap stress on itsspiritu^jnstitutions andpnkats. J A-.^^i^^ESreher^iMi fieowse irfthis iiiterwove^social^M^ The «i!?S 1 —ic;—A re^steus stroctiHCi tl«re chnnot be a "r * " ° Wi-er, i^rwad Kailr- Puiri Who is not aZoToastriaB and there ^awn procedure; ^o als^ cannot be a Zoroastrian who is n^ a DolAn^th^cred ' j tu Chmnuirion tnfr" '***^ riMn^r^ -on t Pmm. Parsi means Para Zoroastriau. dead Parsis. These are regarded as the Theie eami^t be Reconvert ZoiORstri^ conversion is ordained or aOowed or enjoined in the Zpfoastriaii rehgion. It is a spiritual truth that j because of different tvciy r»i»lin reM«MVM Vjr ivaa^wwo waaa- - , - . • ‘J nund to get the ceremonies of his wave-^lcngths in a non-ParSl, _ ____________ t o^ ht^s die so^ tlK deceased to sdvanoe in his journ^ >n the next world but also helps the living relatives spiritu- a .disturbance is caused in the atmosphere. was reoaved omimended to lead an active and truth- anxious to prese^e their racial gene, cwarioris. a prayer of Uessmgs was reriM by Mailed FiainniK Asria. The thg Pihnc Munster tfa; refigbaapaiBS • ^V- ‘l , »w i***’ W' ft ¦¥ f" [S' -« J ’i' , s S^.’? •O. •. ' liv-*;. .»>¦ S' ’¦»?a Front left: Meherjirana, Mirza, Kotwal, Aloo Chibber, Ms Gandbi, Antia and Dastoor: opfaag for total cutanB- Zarathushtra commands to convert evil there can never be a eanmmmd riot ! into good they read conversion of a Mohammedan to a Parsi ! For instance, . Dr. Dhalla, in his Zoroastrian Theol- . ogy, “The Dinkart sanctions even the use of force for the conversion of the aliens ” ( Thank God, Parsis in India never 1 dreamt of conversion, or use of force for conversion!! We submit that advocating conver­ sion is a kind of fanaticism. A Christian trying to convert a Hindu will have to say, “My religion is better than yours” or “Christ is superior to Krishna ” A Parsi cannot say t—,--------- . taught by his Prophet that all religions sion m the preset resol^ henceforth not to admit even the chud- len of Para fatbns by afim modiefs. ” And thm Resedutum has been Sid- Ipwed by sevexal odm icsolntuHBS fram thne to time vdMcin Ac Cotminmty has gone on e^nessing its disa^Mwal towards ctrnveisitm and awy genetic mix vAeth^ thiougb a Bhni huAer w Para mother, by a non Farsi i^nnbc. SwA Resdutkms were pasad in 1942^ emanate from Ahura ’s Divine Plan and 1947,1^, J978. They are on lecmd of for every man the religion of his birth is the Insthutirms un^rt" jdhosc au^iices prescribed as a paA to his salvation. If Aqr were passed in puHic nieetmgs. The fWing to convert I- When this truth is appreciated in our coonH^^ j PSraCbmmimi^hasnewerencouiagc places of greatest sanctity. No non-Parsi is allowed to enter them. This does not arise odt of any disrespect for a non- Parsi, but is based on a spiritual truth I that because of different wave-lengths in a non-Parsi a disturbance is caused in the atmosphere. In the most modern times when ESP is an established fact, when psychotronic generators are at work, when the individual constitution of the experimenter is found to enter into and affect his experiment, the fact of the wave disturbance by a non-Parsi cannot be ruled out. Only a Parsi born of both Parsi par ­ ents is allowed entry in these sacred pla- . ces; and in the interior room where the sacred Fire burns or where ceremonies are performed, only the Mobed-priest has entry and none else, though a Parsi. Any conversion or any genetic mix-up is, therefore, entirely inconsistent with these religious sanctions, commands, traditions and customs, f The alleged evidence for conversion from religious writings, relied on by sbme Parsis, is highly twisted and tor­ tured. When Zarathushtra calls upon l^is disciples to fight eVil, these evidence- jB^enMnte At Conrti Justice Davar has. in his Judgement in 1901 stated ftiat Zoranstiim idigion enjoins conversion. We submit (i) that this is not a correct staiemraft and (iQ that it is not Inndbig on the Phis Cmn- munity. Davar J. has reooided inhis Judgement: *nbat the Farsi Coumramly of Bdanlwy at a pidrlic meeting hdd or ^os^^^Wbriiy Ibtt the cbiM. pF and iton-Pani ^Hbi;t-. test father and wsiRParsi we untmift on iti thesis no dMIj of« Patsik.m^ mother. Both are not Farsb. ' We are firmiy of the v»w that conver- si^ and "genetic mix up will lead our c^inunity complex extinction; and - ^option be an active ingredient for dbaoimion. This is a ^ave and /s0ious threat to our very existence, jtis ’ a, survival prObttJI^iWe, the Indian Par- meritorious service to ‘the country -right from fighting for its i^ependemee to fij^tingin the battle snthecbiM. si^ and "genetic mix up wtli lead our cc^inunity complex extinction; and ...................... SUi , ....... _ /sc<,,'---------- ----- , . a survival ----- ---- sis, have rendered ineritt-l_^------ s. We do bopeihat the Gc^emment |Ma will not become a\party to our Iction. A community and a religion h^ not by mere numbers. External ipibg of .lari^ numbers as Parsi ^^frbns without the inherent fire Me in-bera meial characteristics^ ilF.never lead to survival. t^C^lerate d complete mix-up and l^re total wiping off. Our strength bever been in number. Our spiritual an^ religious equipnunt is the only sourw of all our energies and services and the only Secret of oar survival for |2 centuries in tl^ our great country. We also submit that any ammidment to the Adoption Bill purjwrting to pre­ serve religious rights woiud only lead to ‘ litigations and all the uncertainties att ­ ached to them. We, therefore, pray for total exemption. J tl ^¦4iHhirf^ii'-y I i -aJhfnffi' I f3u With Compliments Frmn EMPIRE ESTATE - >1 AW. .Al <3^ < If^den it good X f^anndahwod K Haadt^fiea /-- 37a^w.r^.RiMd Bpmb»y400tXn and Branches , Tat 371464 Quality sandalwood Aggarbatties, gum benzoin (boban) and other Perfumes Liberty AiUdbig 41/4St Markle Unea Bmnbay 400 » A- r3 "IK glfehmurasp ^arkari land the Culture ^of Physiques IMi M. Dai^tfy ^^t-s t^ ‘ >•. •* t« •« o' <* 3'^ . Physical^culthw^o^s instRni^fitiaBi^^, donations by Parsi a;^ Irani thhts tthd . "3 individuals, were a icommon featui^^ ’i Bombay between the'late twenties and ' - the middle of dti& ceiftyry. Th^ J put to advanUgeit>2hr^strian yeeufb aspiring for the Body JEkautiful titl^ Among the surviving ‘Cultures* is the Sarkari Health Home situated ’ O» the second floor of an old structure in the- * 5 Batliwala compound at Sleater Boad. The lights tufen on there, every hlorn- ing at five, when the first batch of young men starts coming in fora work­ out. The gymnasium is a hall. a combi­ nation of two adjacent rooms of the fiat * with a coir carpet in one section (to absorb the sound and protect the floor­ ing from bar bells and steel plates). Bashes the usual apparatus such as ¦';.ie ;?; ’’ ¦t Weight training most effective. J t- * the parallel bars, “chin-up* bar, bar ' ' bells, dumb-bells and mirrors,aone see§ a steam bath, vibration maehfenes tor ' massage, a stationary bike and various other gadgets. The walls are covered with photo­ graphs and pictures of mus'clf nten'jL Sandow, Me Fadden, Samartino and* Sarkari himself. For added inspiration, some poeme and proverbs adorn the walls. “Wea ­ kness is a Crime” says one ^f them. There are four hook ettsea^ filled with books antt magazines on hpaRh and diet. Some twuted remains of thick steel .bars ahdo^r obgecU; hear evidence.oT a vajriety of feats oT stren^th. / > At »tah^ i^r tl»t eidrant^.atts 3^-*' kari watc|^g the youngmen Stt ' 1 I •<®,Hr. C LamingtonRoad. From the beginning, the. physical culture shows staged - them, were mainly, in aid of chantflks and deserving institutions. A ' gramme at Panchgani io 1944 fetched n g me yeaia .,,z ................ - handsome amount of Rs. 11,000 whicM. less than 400 boys and 50 girls . was donated to the Batha Girls School W “ Fund.- An Englishman who witnessed wis show, insisted that a repeat perfor­ mance be given by the Sarkari troupe the very next day in Poona. Overnight ¦ I E £ si r. the Sarkaris kept their institution open p to all castesAnd religions. The fees were I Rs 5-per month. F; Oufing the years 1930 to 1941, there I were no I------ on the rolls of the Health Home. To- I day, Sarkari ’s pupils number about 35 I Ttoys andlO women. The fresare Rs 10 per month with an entrance fee of Rs 2. There are extra fees for the use of special apparatus. There are separate sessions/ arrangements and preparations were, tor^OT and women, spaced from 5.30 made and tickets were sold out within a , a.ra to t2.00 noon and from 4.00 p.m. Sarkari, the weight. “¦^Sris were mueh in demand training building the body, but it is always best to follow what is most suited to the individual ’s constitution, age and other* ; a special factors. . A self taught physical culturist, Sar.- ! forstaging physical displays both in and t outsido itesmbay. Tlmr troupe was the - first to perform on the stage of the newly opened Eros Theatre, in r “7~ ’ [ftg out “Chalo benefit show in aid of the Red Cross, aro (come on now, on with your exer- out»4e^ l^bay. Tlmf eroupe .b^a ^^Pa ****** z^«a tKo cfckno A'Tfl f Tht^Siwhartw-''^^^ of iKr - f and occasioni^yi^ i \ hi^e ! Vato ba^S^i stop the talk)- W on with your exer- visiW Surat and Navsari. cises.” , Tehmuraspk Hormusji Sarkari who late forties, 1 first came to know of Teh- was born at Nargol, will complete 85 murasp Sarkari. There were at least 50 years on 3rd September 1982. His wife participants in the show, which featured Jer, who conducts the ladies batches at all aspects of physical fitness, from gym- the gymnasiunii.falsohails from Nargol. nasties and acrobatics to feats of SarkariV inieresl in physical culture strength. Sarkari ’s commentary was first kindled when, as he recalls, he colourful and fluent. To prove that “declared iniehooffife as possessed physical fitness does not decline with a weak age (he had already entered his fifties) he calmly bent some bars around his __________... ’ 1 1_____ , . appointed in 1924 chain and handed them out to the r Dadabhoy audience. on funds and donations from trusts and philanthropists, the Sarkaris have all along worked on their own steam. Even recall tile Sarkaris; The troupe also years on 3rd Sej^mber 1982. His wife participants in the show, which featured I I I Bombay, he -^i appointe ™ Principal of ^^'Ifehjeebhoy WAS .....:was-.. __ of unbound plaque and J heart. ” 7 Following hi^ college education in Ml I t- w School, 41^ 8^^ at Lamington Road, S^rl^aris Health Home was first started in. .1924 at Patuck House on Sarfcari aapportteg a car on his baek> Road, XJ ¦- I 2 khri proudly lists hi^ fh^ios — Nai^i.^3 Palkhiwala-, Zubin Mehta, the presc^V^ Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy,' to nani^ the Hungarian -wrestler^ better kno^n. Palkhiwala-, Zubin Mehta, the preseuT L.. /. . .............\ few. A personal friend, was Emil Zaiy^- as ‘King Kong’who Sarkari remembw 'J as a thorough gentleman. In Sarkari ’s opinion, Eugen SandoW- , was the pioneer of modern physical cul-. ture. Among the interesting‘relics’ ‘museum’ is the bar bell used by Sando^ himself. Another prominent exhibit is||< four-foot statue of Sarkari ’s balanced 7 nwk?’o^ned ouT the links of a thick physique at forty. * - . ., A photograph on the wall shows Saj^ kari lifting a car on his back. Sarkari Whilst other ‘cultures’ were founded explained, “the photo was taken i»" « ¦ moment before the car (with its fom occupants) tipped over and fell on-tk^;^® ground due to a slight error in judge- ment on the part of Odhu, the driver.* J Fortunately the injuries to the I pants were of a minor nature. Safkarfe^ I got a jerk in his back, but was afcle I perform the feat again seven dayklaiepi^ I Still sought after to judge- I Beautiful ” contests and wrestling I both in and out of Bombay, SarkarFs^^ I running commentaries at these evesnts •< I are always a treat. s I He believes that it is lack of exerci^/ I that brings on heart disease, tieirniafan^ I digestion problems and adds, “If is I ¦ never too late to exercise.” 4* - -- ; T'l' itf fm-i'nT ifL I ' ; padi M. Dtfbary. awnot^fidt^mdadmiref- ' ............. .............. iiJinarcftiieerBndatt aiduanir phatogi^iigig^., 4 -» »»Petit vs Jeeieebhoy IX Exclusion of Converts THE JUDGEMENT^b FAR f X In 1903. R,D. Tata married according to Torsi rites, a French lady, after having her navjote performed. Tata claimed his wife “had become a Parsiprofessing the Zoroastrian religion and consequently she was entitled to participate in all the charitable and religious Funds and Institutions of the Par sis” inekudbtg the right to I have not the smallest doubt that, if the the Plaintiffs would succeed in encom- contingency of an alien being ever passing the disintegration and ruin of admitted into the religion had been present to the mind of the founders as being even most remotely possible, they would have made special provisions to ? I? s -•Si t-' the whole Parsi community. We were told by the learned Counsel for the Defendants that the Parsis were proud of the fact that there were no street beg­ gars and professional prostitutes amcmgst the Parsi Community and the Community took cafe of its own paup ­ ers and cripples. If the Plaintiffs ’con­ tentions prevailed, the Community would very soon have no reason to boast of these characteristics of their race, and the Parsis would soon cease to exist as a Community by reason of the rapid invasion of all pauper Sweepers and Dubras of Gujerat, who would, no doubt, be attracted to the Holy Mazdi- asni religion by reason of the 53 lacs oj rupees in the possession of the Defend­ ants, and the other advantages- of belonging to the Anjuman of the Holy Zoroastrians of Bombay. It must be remembered that the ques­ tion must not be judged from the stand ­ point that, in the present instance, the Plaintiffs are fighting for the admission of an educated 4 . -sa I % fl' When a male of the Zoroastrian Community is seen with any female Df alien creed, then excommunicate him. %• a ve|y* very Iftnited 'number of Parsis. and every expression used conveys but efforts of the Plaintiffs succeeded ? They x 'When establishing Charitable Institu- one meaning, v/z., that they are for the had to resort to witnesses like Sorabji tions, or endowing Funds for religious use and benefit of the members of that Punthakey to prove instances of con- : dr c^ritablec^j^cts, the ruling idea Community. version. In think lam doing no injustice appears always to be that itisforthd On this subject, it iS important to to the Plaintiffs when 1 say that they realized that their efforts hopelessly On this subject, it iS important to i: benefit of the Community of the place remember that we are not asked to where -the Institution is founded or the construe formal documents founding broke down. It Was stated they had t Fund is endo^^^i<- the Institutions. They are more or less more evidence of the same kind. Why I Wherever Par^s settle down ih a „i«lk»mal documents, relating in some did not they call it ? But supposing, for L place in sufficient numbers fo ftel the way to the Institutions, none formally one moment, that the instances the want of a Toweretrgf^ll^s^y or Fund founding any one of them, such as a Plaintiffs ’witnesses spoke of, inclusive I for maintainifiMd^n establishment of Deed of Conveyance or a Declaration of the two converted Negroes-who, I cbrpaO ’h^iml^^hey founded these Of Trust. believe, existed in Sorabji^imagination L Institutions either by general subscrip- * ¦ community spread over many centres of If wealthy charitably-inclined Parsi documents at all. For instance, there are India? ; The attempt to prove that it was cus- 1^ lnstitufiOBS:apd>'j^f|nd$.are-for the use most ancient Towers out of five; there tomary amongst the Parsis to convert ft and'bel)efit-<^^^l^C(toi^unity of that are no documents relating to one of the Juddins hopelessly broke down, and it ft place.'New..ccHtm^, who settle perman- Sagdis; there are no documents relating appeared to me that it was deliberately, walla ’s house; and the only document doned. Then, is the usage proved by a release passed by the Executors of the sion of Akbar to Zoroastrmnism at Founders years after the death of the some time of his life, or by the supposed Founder. secret conversion of three learned Pan- How is the court to ascertain the mentioned in the Dhup Nirang? ibvtoe place, he Trust relating to these Institutions, The Plaintiffs form a powerful combi- of Silence which are toe greater portion of the nation - powerful in the possession of : Fund is endo^w^- 1 Wherever Par^s settle down in a informal documents, relating in some r 1' ¦ \ ¦ * ¦ ¦ ¦ ' " want of a Tower or Fund founding any one of them, such as a i^i^^hey founded these of Trust. It is also of importance to remember alone, would that prove usage in a large tions amongst themselves, or some that, in many instances, there are no t. i 1 • . . _ J T* ¦_ • . J _______.i _ L i _ 1 I t a t_ _ _ K ; founded them at his own expense. The no documents relating to three of the InstitufiOBS:S(gd>'j^f|nd$-are-for the use most ancient Towers out of five; there tomary amongst the Parsis to convert and'behefit -^^^l^CcmiShunity of that are no documents relating to one of the Juddins hopelessly broke down, and it IP ently in the place, contribute towards to The Fort Nasakhana and the Sagdi- and at tlw same time most wisely, aban- w the upkeep of thCv Institutions and add i R to the Funds a^rding to their means relating to the Baharkote Nasakhana is such instances as the supposed conver- H on all ausp^ous and unauspicious .. . - > . R occasions. When someco-religionist vis- its the place* heis, as a matter of course, H' ajlo^^ to Agiary of the place, K'* ahd if he would ui ¦siicnvc wiiivn are inc greater portion oi tnc |»woavaaivr«j vi R' of that placj^tlhQ.'unless he has settled Institutions in question in the suit? By wealth, influence, and position; and if s K dowinthe|^^" ’ ' . the Ahjt^t^'^^^B^t place. W Supposing a;|^rty of Parsis was tra- M veiling in -they would all be ________ _ _______ ___ w allowi^, wtthp^j^U^ion, to go into ascertaining what has been the usage unfair presumption thaHhey failed - not X the Atash ^h^m or Agiary of the pla- prevailing in the Community and what for want of means to procure evidence, W visit/id*say their prayers, to " ‘ " . - . K foake tltelr obeisance to the Sacred Fire, K and-present j^hHalWc^ to the Fire _________________ _ _ ________- R’ Vempte, and thake mtmey presents to entirely concur in this view, and am wil- H the priesu atti^lB io the Institutions. », Ifsonu^onet^the party died, his corpse B would be catx^ to, arid disposed of in, • the nearest av|i)lai}fo. Tower, The mere tions. written to a Parsi at Poona-by the whole ft extension ctf those privileges do not What has been th« usage prevailing Anjuman of.Bombay on the 17th June, make them tl» m^i^nters of a particular amongst the Parsis ? They have .been in 1824. It is written in the name of the ® anjuman of a . particular place. The India for over 1200 years. The Plaintiffs ’ whole Anjuman of Bombay and signed «' Institutions awf Fimds that are the stde.have spared no expense or labour by toe then most leading memhersof the % subje^opuRttf ;4^^Pltoiiti^KHi in this suit - toprove that it is the usage amongst toe- - Community. .It ft. were ^of ^lfi^'hhdowed and founded Parsis to convert . Juddihs and admit *^ithout tti« permission of the Bom- ft for the Parsi. CWmitofry of Bombay, them to their religion. How have the hay Punchayct, (you) shall not give per- ^,he is not a member of ascertaining the Usage prevailing in the they so hopelessly failed to establish, to Community and by the tenets of the the satisfaction of the Court, one single Founders. The Court must aswrtain the instance of an authentic convereion of a intentions of the Founders, by first Juddin to Zoroastrianism, it is notan were the tenets oftheFmmdere of those ifh existed, and not forwantofstrenuous charities. That is what the learned coun- .efforts: they failed because theyattemp- sel for the Plaintiffs has himself urged. 1 ted to prove a usage that never existed. Then let us ermine what were the ling to apply those tests to find out who tenets of tl» Founders. There is not the were the objects intended to be benefits- smallest difficulty in ascertaining the ted the Founders of these benefac- tenets bf the Founders. Take a letter witlen to a Parsi at Poona hy the whole What has been usage prevailing Anjuman of.Bombay on the 17th June, •^1 '^1.-A 3% A It appears that in the year 1828 immorality amongst the men of the Community was on the increase. * mission to any man, whose wife may be the Community), you make a firm buu- ~ ‘ ___J 1 Z??* living, to marry a second wife; (you) dobust at once. When a male of the by the Anjuman were not dead letters, shall not give permission to any woman Zoroastrian Community is seen with (whose husband may be living) to marry any female of alien creed, then excom- a second husband; and (you) shall not give permission to invest with the sacred should not be put in the Tower of invested” by priests, the Punchayet, at shirt the child by a woman of alien Sitence even. Then they will take care; their meeting held on the 28th of June, creed.” and if you make such strong minutes 1836, resolved to call a meeting of the while sitting in the public, then this mat- Anjuman to have all the priests and the ter can be remedied after great trouble.” Parsis concerned excommunicated. The agitation against admitting child­ ren bom of Parsi fathers by alien moth- Punchayet, held on the 20th of July, ers seems to have continued, and the 1850, it was resolved that certain priests. shirt the child by a woman of alien That the Resolutions passed in 1830 but were rigorously enforced, is evident from two instances, where it was proved municate him, and at his death he that illegitimate children of Parsis were Take a letter addressed by Cursetji Maneckji, a member of the Punchayet, to his colleagues, on the 10th of August, 1826. It seems that a Parsi gentleman had a Parsi servant, named Navia, who put on a Sudra on a woman of an alien creed suggestions in this letter were eventually who invested the illegitimate children of and kept her in his house. The master of < ' ’ " ’ ' “ this man was ordered to “get the Londi’s P ’ “ (slave ’s) Sudra taken off by the hand of yound and old, ” met at a Fire Temple on the said servant Navia. ” Mr. Cursetji *----- " calls a meeting of his colleagues to con­ sider the conduct of this man, and after reciting the order to take off the Sudra , and liberate the Londi, he says: —“We, all the persons sitting in the Punchayet, together shall tell the said Parsi servant definitely decided that thenceforth Navia what we may think necessary to tell him, so that no one may do such a thing again." The same letter refers to a boy about other punishment are prescribed against chayet to allow the child to be invested It appears that at a meeting of the carried out; for it appears that the whole a Parsi by his mistress of another creed, Parsi Community, “rich and poor, should be punished by being prevented from performing any function in any of the 11th of August, 1830, and passed the Fire Temples, which practically most drastic Resolutions against the means deprivation of the means of earn- admission of such children. The Resolu- ing livelihood as priests any longer, tions recite that much harm was caused In the earlier part of my judgement, I tions recite that much harm was caused In the earlier part of my judgement, I to the religion by taking into it the child- have referred to an account of a Pun- ren by kept-women, and therefore it was chayet meeting, held on the 17th of ” , ________ 1 no August, 1818, given in the “Parsi Pra- such children were to be invested with kash. ” It appears that a Parsi brought an Sudra and Kusti, and the pains and illegitimate daughter of his from Thana penalties of excommunication and and begged the permission of the Pun- who^ origin there ^emed to be some the priests who may stealthily invest with Sudra and Kusti. This permission .. , .................................... was given after considerable difficulty, and it was resolved that thenceforward . - - . --------------------------------- no child of a Parsi by an alien wife was 1828 immorality amongst the men of the tions to realise how intense must have to be invested without the permission of Community was on the increase, and the been the feeling in 1830 against the the Punchayet. . ---------------- -J --------------i The facts to be gathered from these children, that is children by alien moth- fathers. Exhibits appear to be that, in the early From an account of a meeting of the part of the last century, Parsi children J ten on the 12th December, 1828, by Punchayet, held on the 29th of July, by alien mothers were allowed to be I Wadi^i Nowrqji Jamshedji to Franyi 1835, it appears that a Parsi brought an invested with Sudra and Kusti without Cowasji and Jamsedji Jijibhai, he indig- infant illegitimate child of his to his rela- much difficulty, but when the evil grew, nantly complains that some people tions in Bombay and, representing that there was opposition to this practice, invest such children without the permis- it was a Parsi child, got the usual cerem- and at first such practices were sought to be restricted by making the previous permission of the Punchayet necessary, but later on the feeling against such admissions grew stronger and it was resolved not to admit such children at all, and various pains and penalties were prescribed for those who transgressed the Resolutions passed by the Anjuman. UT doubt and suggests inquiries into the matter. It appears further, that in the year such a child. Any family who harboured such a child is ordered to be also excom­ municated. One has to read the Resolu­ tions to realise how intense must have I question of what are called “optside admission of even children by Parsi I" ^1- -*1J____ «« a1. _ < • ii •« « 1 1* -- *« .- f ers, was being discussed. In a letter writ- I ’ nantly complains that some people tions in Bombay and, representing that J invest such children without the permis- it was a Parsi child, got the usual cerem- f sion of the Punchayet, and when other onies performed arid had the child car- people ask for permission, it is withheld, ried to the Tower. The account states He deplores the uncertainty respecting how the Tower had to be re-purified. - r----------- ----------------------- —TW **a^ A«.FTTWX IIMW VW MV IV-pVAllAAVVIy the children born of alien mistresses and how the Burushnum of the officiating I J public notice to the Community, and i . ........... ;______ * . .1 s whenever there are such children, do not gious ceremonies in connection with says: priest was taken as broken, and how the “Therefore, in accordance with what whole family of the Parsi was excom- was decided by Wadiaji Jamsetji, give municated, so much so that the priests 1 were prohibited to perform any reli- E give permission at dnc^ to take them (in that family. Tobecontinued 25 -Si r <1 ''' 4!f»' -¦*/ . sC*^ fc-' 5.-- t*-' ¦ f ¦¦'¦' *• k, , *' h'' ’¦'H' :f fei'-C" fet k I ¦ r 26 a'- '¦f "CAMA CHRONICLE '“•K. 9 .SM. •a/* B S3- X £«: sri'-*’ :<=W "a*. “r ? I ff there was onethat Muncherji fine, splendid figure in white; broad- Cama enjoyed reiatmg, it was about the shouldered, strong, tough, always newspaper he loved. The Bombay Sttm- dressed in the long Parsi coat with hiS achar. . About how as a young businessman. agement only to find the bills unpaid, associated with his life and career. ” Among the papers that Cama pub- The Bombay Sentinel. “It was here that was reared a whole generation of young men...who were nationalists at heart, _ . ------- who knew what the freedom struggle ningjS newspaper, Cama and his family meant, who fought and braved all the the time of his death on 15 January, Empire in the world,” said Karanjia. 1982, the Samachar was one of the most “And behind them, anOnymously^m an respected publications in the country atmosphere of total self-effacement head crowned with a black shining ‘ \ .. I think, in that orthodoxy lay the values pt^tse. That was his orthodoxy and, I he had sblS-.'gl^s to the. paper ’s man- Thecddest newspaper in Asia had fallen pn b^ times; even its publication was lished were The Bombay Chronicle irregular. Finally he stepped in asa cred­ itor dhd took over the reins of the bank ­ rupt concern. Despite having no experience in run- |. slowly turned^the company around. At onslaughts of the biggest and mightiest __ 15 January, Empire in the world,’’ said Karanjia. a 1 < I ,» J tWtfWUMR THE BOMBAY SAMACHAR iflW «. 4>1 fc^wiiiiiii amwim M a .«<>» ««a wA* ««nH _ w M I*' Hi ibwS (Mi ' WH « p «CMkA «M MAlml 4« 4a« «e«n *M*Ni Aw Mm aa M. MMi « ******* ***• ** *** trfnw * Y** **^ *•***•** • liK Aag hA H lUfciUL *1 *• *? aia. #HH M *** w Am* la mmB (^I *. <«imU «a^ a mA u!ij5 **'****•****’**’** w Ml AMniiL itWRi UM w »•«» -MH * WM A RtaM VH****WW*1>«*« TvJSi ** 1 Ml MH MM Am tew •“* «*** MUI. U.M* tt»a m a, ** -4** I ML A«m AM M WM* «<|K| Mt Ma H H .A 1 J AM4a* --------A-SZIS «lM inrit >mU wh4 , d tteu .« .a e.. to his death, he donated a building to the ter sold for 13 lakh rupees, noted Shia- vax R. Vakil, an erstwhile trustee of the person who truly loved his community would have made such a gift, said Vakil. Though his age and health did not rupees for the permit him to work a full day, Cama accompanied by his wife, Avabai (nee Jeejeebhoy), made it a point to attend the red brick. Samachar building in the building: in front is HornimanCir- cle, named after a former Editor of The Bombay Chronicle, Benjamin Horni- man; the road on which the building stands is named after the Editor of The .1 Abdullah Brelvi: and a little further, one of the main arteries of the business section is named Bombay Samachar Marg. Though the building and the decor are reminiscent of former times, the latest printing technology has, and is _ ...J company safe in the hands of his sons, Nusserwan and Rustom, and in turn their sons active in the concern, Cama and Avabai would pass a pleasant two or three hours at the office inquiring about develop­ ments, chatting with visitors, comment­ ing on the day ’s news. Guests were trealed to large cups of tea, sandwiches and biscuits. Cama had a wry sense of humour and enjoyed a good laugh. ¦ His dress and demeanor often belied his keen and perceptive business mind ____J was member of the cab ble of wielding. Bereft ofany osten- .Muncherjr ^ma bought a paper munity in Bombay. “We in the share Bombay ’s Fort area. History surrounds and converted It into a nationallnstitu- “cpcctcd th;:; ...uvi. '' ¦¦ ¦¦ . . 7 tion, noted eminent jurist, Nani Palkhi- that for us it had become more a habit walla at the Sheriff’s i ' ;_____..mi.na- “Muncherji belived that no community das Vora, president of the Bombay could survive unless there is a continu- Stock Exchange, the largest and most lianas is nameo alter the E. OUS process of rejuvenation... it was (his) important in the country. “Till we got Bombav Sentinel Sved endeavour to ensure that neither hk Th^ oo/wooy ^sentinel, bazaar respected this paper so much meeting, than a newspaper, ” said Laldas Jamna- could survive unless there is a continu- Stock Exchange, the largest and most ' ' r- --------------- —- — J . TTV. endeavour to ^ ensure that neither his The Bombay Saniachar m our hands, - own community, nor the nation stood tea had no taste for us*, we respected The Bombay Samachar for the depen- n^xizc It /voi/A *’ Born on 25 June 1895 in Bombay to own community, nor the nation stood tea had no taste for us still.” 'Th- Under Cama ’s stewardship, the Sam- dable news it gave. ” achar was in the forefront of social C_... „„ change, especially in the community. Nusserwanji Muncherji Cama, a lawyer ” Time after time, the paper took up and Virbaiji, the wrath of nuraerqus groups and indi- graduate of Bharda High'^SchooIVnd viduals claiming to represent the Elphinstone College. Along orthodoxy. Even the holding of the others, Gama founded thv u. Parsi Anjuman meeting was opposed by Cama, Norton and Company in the > several religious zealots. early 1920’s, the concern that provided u Anjuman meeting, printing materials to The Bombay Sam- the BPP, presided over by Dr Aspi Gol- achar and inadvertently launched Cama walla, paid Cama great tribute. For it into the newspaper-business. 11/Q C ? -MA A _ _____ ___ .4. t- _ Aside from attending to his own pap ­ ers, Cama was a founder member of the Indian Audit Bureau of Circulation, a ______... uuohku t member,- noled the Anjuman meeting K.sXr’sItetv'"*"’" influence he resolution; Imernadcnal "w i"dSn dele^donZ'thTco^^ hsher of TTie Dai/y and the B/irz Weekly, wealth Press Union J • I f, VVVIIIIVIUC J iti : unpopular causes which Earned Cama first Sir’DinsLw^etit^’Snm waJ^ introduced. With the with two the firm of early 192O’s, the concern that provided was the Samachar, mor'; than any other paper, that battled the BPP over the course of the years. “In his death, the Parsis have lost a leading community a International Press Union and leader of the latter having l>e»n printed for several and New Zealand years at Cama ’s press, said at the She- (atious display of weaM# or position, his strength derived from his inner convic- meeting in Canada tion and a belief in the righteousness of his cause. It was those qualities that made him and his paper, admired and rjfp. “i' r Throughout his life he supported maoe mm riff’s meeting, I can never forget that charitable causes. Only a few years prior respected. 1 ''4 r.s*’ ^'1 I' fi- * had not be«^ able t© visit BotiAay ' six years sincelhadkcturedtheretn - 19:^ on our return from America. Oft A th^ seventh year, by chance when 1- r was 61, I had to gp to Bombay to lec­ ture. Jehangir Hormusji Cama^ the. I enthusiastic administmtor of the Cama f Athornan Institute, on behalf of his ! organization, invited me to deliver a ser-;; ies of eight lectures and I accepted the - ! invitation; He had selected the topics • I the talks and had appointed chairmen^' i from the orthodox as well as the refor- I mist sectors. All these arrangements I willingly accepted. Besides these talks ! Aek Atmakatha Is the autobiography of the late Dr. ManeckNusser- delivered six additional lectures in wanji Phalla^ high priest of the Pakistan Parsis anda^holar of world Gujerati and English under the auspices The lectures were very well received by both factions of the community. ; Arising from that, all kinds of rumours, - were afloat. Some believed that niy - former infidelity had given way to reli- '-i gious wisdom! Others thought that 1 had at last abandoned the path of pride and had turned my steps to the path ­ way of truth. Still others said that I had w retrenched my footsteps from the refor* / mist camp and had returned to the orthodox way of thinking! Only once had there been a change of ¦ heart in the innermost recesses of my * being and that was during 1905-190$ A while I was studying in New York. Since that time 1 have not experienced any.A reverses. The change of opinion regard- .*-= the irtiellectual, spiritual and ing religious thought, prayer, cerera- A. financial condition of the priesthood. In' ony, conventions and customs that bad been effected as a result of my new edu­ cation, instead of diminishing, had been ' creating our dastoors and our mobeds,” strengthened and had become firmer .. emd of the Steps taken to create a more enlightened priesthood. A X''** Sc '' * i i < > .5? M f s ¦ I i /) f £' i W /J s.-' \'A J s sS 9 O' i. "i repute. This is the 25th edited and condeosed extract frOftt tbe book of other societies. 'DasturPft|ffii^.Whe Gool ___ Dastur Dhalla Memorial In|^0^4 .Mwachi. Saga of a Soul* -- an English translation by ^omji of the^4giinil4’ziM*^^^» published by the '4. 4-^ » I i*. - - - on 27 August ^7S, Dhalla moved I IF' f « r Bortfio a pefor JDastur family in Surat with his family to Karachi three years later. He was married to five-year-old Cooverbai vdtett. he ?wx eight years old. Afterfttilinghis matriculation, Dhatla sotdi^ Imnployment while educadr^ himself tn religious matters. With the assistance of the Karachi Parsis, Dhalla studied Iranian languages in Bombay and then proceeded to Coluntl^:ihsiyersity in New York, where he Wasysvfenkd a Ph.D. in 1908. where he On his reiurh io mi^-^ ’imas nominated head prust of Karachi in which capacity he tried to eritkatly evaluate old religitws beliefs and customs in the light of his broadened outlook. This approach caused him to clash wilbthe more orthodox section of the community and he became involved in several religious and social controversies^ But despite the opposition, Dhalla proceeded with his efforts to educate the community and resolve old conflicts. One of Dhalla’s prime concerns was the last four issues of Parsiana Dhalla spoke of “the accident of birth 'A’ Gool and |Kebrftiif Rustomji: English translators of Dhalla's autobiography. I i3s^ '5^ ¦*-C5 #5^^ i ’ jIe’^^ ¦^1 V i-SM ‘i "v with increasing and advanced study. But as an outcome of my long and close association with the controversies of the East and West regarding orthodoxy and * liberalism, the mode and manner of presenting those views witnessed a A major change. My critics wet« misled by this altered manner of presentation; ' In my youth I believed that I was a reformist, a disputer and a debater oS. ’- superstitious beliefs. "So, through speechess^Ujd Wrilings I entered into reli­ gious controversies with vigour,- The Zoroastrian religion enjoins upon man nof to be satisfied by beinggood himself' ’ ” make wicked neighbours good . . i^So. It is his duty to turnAKe footsteps a mistaken brother id thori^ path. -Therefore, at firstlh^teved in mat* ters relatirig tof^^bn, cercmonieS^, and ; pta^iqp of conveatfefi^ and / rwtns, should someone fail to behave ¦ . aeedrding to what seemed valid and cor*. , Br IT i=^-nt- ¦ doc- ZoroaaUil^ Conference ife , ^hose who do not view a neighbour's trines contrar5? t^j|^^, it wSs my duty had 0/12 of its chief members religion with tolerance in ordinary rfect to nje to Qpjm tl^to"^p^ny and in writing, residence^ It happened to times, when assailed by a lon®-standing, - by this sentimenu'df *1tali Chaudas ’ day. On entering incurable malady, without a moment's .,4^ •a I e times my^nnons and speeches ^^re the portals of our leading Jeformist hesitation willingly accept any genuine version. A drowning man clings ^o a . _ . , _ ~ ¦ .............. ,i ¦ ¦ tury we. sacrificed g^ts and hens on today, in the airy hope of being rid of auspicious and inauspicious occasions. their suffering go through life moaning .^my studies, linger in the breaking of eggs on such charms and magical sFrings of beads ' ............. , - ..,..„,ieelbrth to keep ‘difficult days ’as also on happy occa- and crosses of Hindus, Muslims and away from such digressions as far-as sions like Navjotes, weddings etc. My Christians. What can, we do but extend possible......................................................... wife only feeds us on eggs. She does not our sympathy and our prayers to those Superstition is bom of ignorance and felicitate even the in-laws with eggs, unfortunate beings weired down by a knowledge is its sole panacea. Enlight- Such minor and major superstitions fatal and unbearable disease, void of all enment eradicates superstitious notions prevail amongst tltt as hope and passing their days and nights and beliefs. In spite'Of lhis many men ^ftb^so-caOPd in sorrow and sUfferiUg? the most membersofourcommunity.FormerlyT--,.^ As time passedfl realized that argu- highly educated naifods are not able to waged a tirade against such things. Now mefits^ regarding religious beliefs, cere- hoodwink them as far as possible. whether prayers should be recited in the Adversity,'affliction, calamity and ancient sacred language or in modern. i tinged with criticism and curthess, irony friend, much to everyone's amusement, Z and derision. Replies and counter- , we found the eggs had been broken on replies had to be piinted and distributed every threshold. As late as the last ceri- straw. Some Zoroastrian invalids, even S frefe of charge in every home. TiuCsdio- i k larship "demands peace, of mind, auspicious and inauspicious occasions. t_________ ______ _____________ I Instead, I found that these disputes and The innocent symbols of those sacrifices and groaning, wearing amulets and . I despatches hamp^ g Therefore, 1 reseda prevail ^dj^t tlttia^fe^^^^up^jd, as hope and passing their days and nights ^o-oaJ^s4 WifMiiable in sorrow and sufferihg? t and ; ,.:_u... .. ........ _ ‘ rid themselves completely of supersti? 1 as^iMthem to human Virealcness and inonials ailid^^^^nvehtions, such as, t tion because of their own mental xr^e- hoodwink them as far as possible. ’ ' ' L i up. Superstitions bad days, i hoodwink them as far as possible. «^»4OTd and *"inauspicious disease harass njen and make them des- comprehensible tongues, whether ceremonies performed for the dead ? occasions are^ifiSd more in the less- perate and helpless. At such times even ceremonies performed for the dead 1 educated environment of the-East than the sane and sensible lose their mental reach them or not, whether or not the f in the West. Even today auspicious balance and the wise grow foolish. A events are not commenced on the Nfcw fetal malady befalls a beloved One and ; ‘difficult’ days. perate and helpless. At such times even recitation of the Patet —‘*the prayer of penance ”—by the living can curtail the ?• Moon Day or other such supposedly no remedy seems to have any effect. The sins of the deceased, whether the obstinate illness defies medical science Zoroastrian faith propounds re- At the inaugural sessions df the and subjugates it. incarnation or not, whether flesh-eating Witii the Best Compliments of 1 ¦4 ¦ ¦ .^1-1 jBbii. L >< AK. No. 26-26-2< 2nd floor VlZAGAPATNAM-35 Phono :62OT> •J * » A*5' sums that are set aside ai ghambar Those.who have acquired modern edu- on 1 uncis. L ¦ * ’ *’ . Gradually I came le the conclusion “^Sals^m^SueS&nsX c that If the community wastes wealtme middle of the last centurv. Dadabhai written pages of clarification. Life is j nose.who have acq uired modern edu- on matters relating to philosophy and to their disgust ceremonials. 4 informed him, r ,1- 1 i . 7 r -,—V' .,~1 Sviiiv «, ii,j ,juv3injiij «cic iddle of the last century. Dadabha* such that each demanded two or three Naoroji and other reformists had i /__ started a major campaign against the short and my personal study takes toll of use of ‘taro; ’ but upto date no one has several hours a day, hence 1 regretted I been able to abolish its use'in-ceremon- '' ials nor will anyone succeed in doing soi It seems that there is no latitude for ? ” , water for the pleasure of aristocrats, , * how can we blame various Anjumans V, for spending in good faith, to feed thou- (sands of poor and middle-class people? With such thoughts, I ceased my tirade against ghambar feasts. ___ ____ a am u For a learned Dastur to satisfy both launching an investigation into the replies the orthodox and the reformist party ' today is as difficult and as impossible as it is to remain a reformist of the Arya Samaj group and to gratify patrons of an extreme orthodox view-point; or, in politics, to remain a radical and please the conservatives. It does not appear though our community understand this. Neither does the orthodox realize it, nor do the reformists. Today W congregation of a reformist,JMs- tur comprises of a few refarmists and several conservatives. Besides, his co- < woijzi 1 I f zi • u u 1 1- ‘ r gious matters. But these days there of a performing priest-class that is 99% Xdaily life and is t^he backbone of ceremo- seems to be no limit to such topics. Very orthodox. These gentlemen consider^e ioften questions are asked about matters later Pahlavi and Pazend books and y Jaipur took along with him pure drink- that can easily be solved by applying a i, ing water, grain, palm-leaves to serve as bit of common sense. Not stOpDing at plot AC _____________ rro ^^’^‘^.for the King’s coronation, some lars answers are also invited from i xi- n the Patet — now such Navjotes are on the increase. In our community oi^ly once, and that • • ' workersarecompl«dy«h„S«'B„7h the increase. and wealthy ladies and gentlemen were considering the question. There was no dearth of finances. Seven lakhs were col- i .-•1 ¦’S lectual levels. This kind oHH-matched mist religious leader and a staunch and conservative associate priest-class can ­ not be found in any nation anywhere in the world. ’ J^OT yceas Thave been a reformist Dastur ofa nu^rity of orthodox Beh- dins and a united fold of orthodox Mobeds. With Ahura Mazda ’s blessinl^ and Zarathu^ra ’s guidance I have been drM^ the cbWt of my Dastur^ . always ”, Besiks this, the ^F^restuye l^ed t^hiH riEort oeriE^ partnership of an enlightened and refbr- HumatoibuSche ’ which forms p^rt -r . • od. Yet, due to mist religious leader and a staunr.h and the Confirmation of Faith and which Humatoibusche ’ which forms part of certain circumstances and considera' :< »V« _ _ a - i- is tions, the matter had to be deferred. A fiW shopping at its best at & <h(Un«)r1G»tSbqpa Bombay SwaOesM Stores Ltd. Sir P.M. Roadt BoinlMy 400 OOf. Td; 253443/252730 zcmOAsnaAN aktq'acis a mvrit WENP^iro AVAW ABia 1 ¦I 1 _ , ' • ¦ ¦—*** -***^ shq) through an environment of rigid 3 orthodoxy, a lai^rinth of rituals^ and -J a storm of strict conventionalism. Cau- tioi^ of times and circumstances, I cross hurdles and pass over tl» quicks with = wisdom and foresight along with.' my | heterogi^ws congregation. hurdles «nd pass over the quicks with heterogi^Htt congregation.