Oct 1982

October 1982 Price Rs.5 PaW 1’ f rr r ! i ! I EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel ASSOCIATE EDITOR Abraham Mathai ASSISTANT EDITORS Hutokshi D. Doctor, Gouri Wagadarikar DESIGN CONSULTANT Mini Boatwala DESIGN ASSISTANTS Kranti Shilotri, Yasmin Irani MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING Zarin Billimoria, Hanita Irani CHIEF EXECUTIVE R.P. Thanavala CIRCULATION D.B. Chinoy, Yezdi Gandevia MANAGEMENT Cheryl D'Penha, Minoo Patel and Jasmine Driver October 1982 Volume 5 Number 4 3 Readers' Forum 6 Events and Personalities 9 News from the Media 12 Business 15 Old Couple Murdered 18 Cotton comes to Bombay by Dr. M.D. David 19 The ecstasy of Khshnoom I 21 The Life of Dastur Ohalla - XXVIII 26 The Flame and the Ember by Russi M. Lala 29 The Parsi Punchayet Case - XIII 32 In Memoriam Cover. Nineteenth century etching of Parsi and Hindu cotton merchants I I ( Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel at c/o H.L. Rochat, Navsan Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400 001, printed by him at Jyoti Industries, 324 A to Z Industrial Estate, G. Kadam Marg, Bombay 400 013 and phototypeset at Decora Printers, Bombay 400 009. All rights reserved. Address all editorial and business correspondence to Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Phone: 268730. Annual inland subscription; Rs 30 for one year (12 issues); Rs 55 for two years (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. For U.S. personal cheques add $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 Parsiana. Single copy price Rs 5 and Re 1. All rates subject to change in postal rates. I1 READERS’ FORUM !¦€ '*•11 (iliUI *»>)•¦ isinii f >»* ^hih » > r • I s ................................... ............... i»*'- .}»?*•»•••..................I Hllliixtli 1 m*** i t ' (I I J s . . . is*. .*3 extracts thereby appear to be disjointed, wavelengths, their disturbance or their 1, however, base the following com- being embedded in genes does not ments purely on the extracts published, appear to have been supported by any of The initial portion of the statement the early Zoroastfian scriptural writ- ’1 showing the interwoven social and reli- ings; nor is the same supported by gious structure of the Parsi Zoroastrian experimental evidence or rational rea- community appears to be a true reflec- soning. The grafting of such an unsub- tion of the present conditions. I, how- stantiated wavelength theory to the ever,could not understand the scientifically established concept of conclusion that because of the said genes is not even fair argument, interwoven social and religious struc ­ ture “there cannot be a Parsi who is not wavelengths with ESP (extra-sensory a Zoroastrian and there cannot be a perception) is an argument open to Zoroastrian who is not a Parsi. ” The question. One has only to turn to the statement further stated that “the two learned articles in various science jour- are one ” on the authority of the Holy nals to realise that ESP itself is far from Scriptures, the tradition and the cus- being an established fact. toms. Referring to the comment on Dr. Whereas 1 can quite understand the Dhalla ’s statement to the effect that authority of tradition and custom which “Dinkart sanctions even the use of force in itself has a considerable force and for conversion of the aliens, ” I am sure which has also stood the test of time, it that Dr. Dhalla did not advocate the use would have been enlightening if quota- of force for conversion and it was merely tions from the early Zoroastrian scrip- a statement of a historical fact.lt is inter- tures were set out which provide that no esting that Professor Mary Boyce in her conversion is ordained or allowed or book Zoroastrians, Their Religious enjoined by the Zoroastrian religion. BeliefsandPraciices( which incidentally Similarly, it would have been helpful if carries the photograph of Dastoor Dr. clear scriptural evidence as referred to in Kotwal on its jacket) also refers to con- the statement from the Gathas support- version to Zoroastrianism at various ing the fact that the Zoroastrian religion periods of time. cannot preach conversion, was also set out. Such an important injunction understand what was meant by the would, 1 am sure, be most explicitly set statement that what Justice Daver has out. stated in Petit vs Jeejeebhoy was not I refer to a further statement that binding on the Parsi community. “When Ahura himself has ordained dif ­ ferent religions, each should follow the gave rise to the statement, 1 would sub ­ religion of his birth, any conversion mit that such an Adoption Bill merely from one to another is against the gives a right of succession to an adopted Divine Plan and therefore, a sin. ” A child in the event of the demise of his number of major religions of the world adoptive parents without making a will, like Christianity or Islam commenced The exclusion relating to the religious with the preachings of the respective rights as proposed by the Bombay Parsi Prophets and the revelation of the Punchayet would certainly meet all the divine truth to the Prophets. Each of these religions of necessity owe adherants to conversion, at some point community in India has obviously pros- of time, because before the births of pered by following a closed-door policy their respective, Prophets, there could against conversion and proselytisation. not possibly have been Christians or It has also earned for itself an enviable Mohammedans. In the light of such reputation for honesty, integrity and recorded history, the statement that any hard work. It is possibly also correct conversion from one to another is that an open-door policy advocating ' indiscriminate proselytisation and con ­ version may soon lead to extinction of Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers' Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. not Similarly, comparing the doctrine of I may admit that I was unable to Coming to the Adoption Bill, which High Priests of Adoption I read the extracts from the statement submitted by the respected High Priests to the Minority Commission, callingfor total exemption of Parsis from the pro ­ visions of the Adoption of Children Bill (Parsiana, June 1982). At the outset, I may state that I do not hold any brief for the reformists who advocate conversion or proselytisation into the Zoroastrian faith. I must, how ­ ever, admit to a growing feeling of dis ­ may as I read through the extracts published. A number of statements from the extracts, with the greatest of respect to against the Divine Plan and therefore, a the revered priests who submitted the sin, not only cannot stand, but would same, appear to be irrational and devoid possibly amount to an insult to other highly valued social and religious traits and customs of the Parsis. Any debate. The desire to preserve the “racial however, on this question should be gene ” runs close to the Nazi philosophy, based upon rationality and logic, with Further, the statements relating to the weight of tradition and custom of logic. It is possible, however, that the religions, close reasoning and logic which may have appeared in the original statement suffered in the course of editing and the PARSIANA: OCTOBER, 1982 arguments for preserving racial piurity. Finally, may I submit that the Parsi 3r f is, I f against conversion. The argument of the association, or compelling the child to Pure Parsis type mentioned in the statement submit have no religion at all. This to our We are all taught right from school days ted by the respected high priests is easily minds, is inconceivable, if adoption has that all religions come from the same refutable and is likely to have the oppo- to be meaningful. one supreme source and ultimately all . site effect of driving persons with an open mind on the subject into the ultra reformist camp. to be meaningful. We do not propose at present to enter religions teach the same thing. into the highly controversial subject of .All religions are true. Only that parti- whether a child born of non-Parsi par- cular types of religions are meant for ents can legally take to the practice and particular types of persons. According E.P. BHARUCHA faith of Zoroastrianism. Suffice it to say to your Karma a person is born in a that it is by no means clear that the law certain “Din ” and it is his most sacred on the subject is as claimed by the prop- duty to remain in and for the “Din ” (and onents of the amendment to the Bill. i Dissenting Opinion There can be no two opinions that the Parsi community, which has so far no law of adoption, requires such a law, so that children adopted by Parsis may have a proper legal status in the adopted family. The Adoption of Children Bill therefore must be welcomed by the com ­ munity as a necessary and beneficial measure. However, we cannot subscribe to the view that an adopted child, if born of “meaning ” given Vo the word “Boye- entitled to progress upwards by means non-Parsi parents or born of a non- walla ”—(ZCDl .Newsletter, Parsiana of powerful prayers, so you may enter Parsi mother, cannot and should not be June 1982) and much more so when the Zoroastrianism, allowed to follow the religious faith of same refers to a young, learned athor- the adopting Parsi parents. If adoption nan Ervad, Dr. Rooyinton Peshoton tution and electromagnetic field around of a child is to be meaningful, arid the Peer. you where Zoroastrian prayers can be child and the foster parents are to assim- Amongst our priestly class an “Atash- efficacious to you. A Muslim prayer is ilate in their hearth and home as if they behram Boyewalla ” is considered to be a par-excellence for a Muslim but futile lof were a natural family, we simply cannot full-fledged Navar-Maratab priest, con- a Hindu, because for his constitution conceive of an adopted child being for- versant with the mode and method of all and electromagnetic fields, only Hindu bidden to associate itself with the par- the higher religious ceremonies like ents ’ or rest of the family ’s religious Yazashna-vandidad, Nirangdin etc. beliefs and practises. It is to our minds inhuman and cruel to segregate the child in such an intimate part of the family ’s life, and to brand the child unworthy of the parents ’ religion precise a “daroonwala ” priest, or that of the other children of the fam ­ ily. This cardinal human factor seems to have been lost sight of by those who “Happy Birthday to You!” support an amendment along the lines — - suggested by the Parsi Panchayat. Some parties have voiced the need to help but give my ideas on the celebration safeguard the adopted child from being of birthdays of Parsis, specially child- great religions you are born in and learn legally compelled to subscribe to the beliefs of the foster parents. With respect,this is not the issue at all. A child, particularly of tender age, is hardly likely to consider ita compulsion doubt a happy sight. However, blowing OW pOSt CHTdS etc./wanted if he or she is to take to the foster par- off the candles is against the Zoroastrian ents ’ religion, any more than a natural tenet, so whv not let the candles keen Advertiser wishes to buy OLD • child will feel compelled if he or she takes to the religion of his or her par ­ ents. The real problem is of preventing an adopted child, intended to be brought ans- keep a lamp lighted on the table up in every respect as a natural child, where the cake is placed. Explain to the from having the religion of his or her children before singing “Happy Birth- foster father and mother and that of the day ” that Light is Life and it-brings luck rest of the family, and making the child according to our religion so we must not follow some other religion, with which he or she will most likely have little or no PARSIANA. OCTOBER, 1982 not turn a Juddin) as is the fashion of TEHMTAN R. ANDHYARUJINA today. As per your past Karma you have to further progress in this life. But by what means ? Well,you might need to progress by way pf‘Love thy neighbour ’, so you are born a Christian. Perhaps, you need further purification by fastings etc., so Boy ewalla Defined you enter Hinduism (as fasting is not for It was rather disappointing to read the Zoroastrians at all). Perhaps you are DARA R. ZAIWALLA Extracts from note of dissent submitted tothe Federation Adoption Committee. Peer. Amongst our priestly class an “Atash- J You are born with that genetic consti- hymn vibrations can be effective. So a Hindu prayer is very good for a Hindu. A Christian hymn is excellent for a Your “definition ” of‘Boyewalla ’ (a pri ­ est who feeds wood to the fire) lowers Christian but for anyother it is a waste of the high status of a Boyewalla to the time and energy. category of a Parsi cook or to be more Go around amidst our so-called Maz- diazni Zoroastrians and they will fast on Monday and Thursday and run from one Baba to one Devi, little knowing that it is a sheer waste of time and energy. What is not forthem —how can The above subject appeared in Parsiana it be efficacious? A camel eats cactus; (May 1982). Late though it is 1 cannot can a sheep eat it too? Awake friends, learn to have faith in any of the world ’s l.S. KUKA ren. True it is that we have adopted to preserve yourself in it—purely. customs either from the Hindus or from n.h. dadrawala the British after leaving Iran. A birthday cake with candles lighted on it is no off the candles is against the Zoroastrian tenet, so why not let the candles keep burning till they come to the end? The Jews do not blow off the candles from the cake till they extinguish themselves. Or better still, why can ’t we Zoroastri- blow it off. FRENY DALAL picture postcards, photographs, cigarette cards, playing cards, posters, prints. illustrated books, albums and other related material. Willing to pay top prices for single items or entire collections. Please send, detailed list with expected prices to The Advertiser. (OLD) CZo. Parsiana, GJ*.O. Box 882, Bombay 400001. 5Events an Personalities 5 Aerial Navigation • The formidable task of piloting the mammoth national airlines, Indian Air ­ lines. has been taken over by Rustam Poncha Billimoria, appointed part-time chairman of Indian Airlines in July 1982. Presently chairman of the Public Enterprises Selection Board, which recommends to the government all board level appointments for public sec­ tor enterprises, and chairman of several government boards and committees. sector enterprises, states his bio-data, ada in the last week of August, as part ot and was appointed chairman of the a six-week Committee for Electoral Steel Authority of India in 1976. Rights youth exchange programme, A fellow of the Institute of Personnel planned to help unite the fragmented Management, Great Britain, the Indian Zoroastrian community, according to a Institute of Personnel Management and report in the July-August issue of The other management associations, Billi ­ moria with several publications to his rr W;-: - ’’ ’ dB* * •awBF*' Zoroastrian. Selected youngsters, who were to credit, has presented papers on person- undergo an orientation course which nel management and labour policy at would enable them to discuss knowled- various international forums. geably the activities and developments in the community in India, were to stay with Zoroastrian families in major cities of the U.S.A, and Canada, the report adds. This initial visit is expected to be the forerunner of several joint projects in the future, and a reciprocal visit by Zoroastrians abroad to India. Ripon Redone J I -t- w I. k'. With two years to go before its cente ­ nary celebrations, the Ripon Club, situ ­ ated in the heart ofthe city’s commercial area at Mahatma Gandhi Road, has acquired a new look, been spruced up. re-painted, and re-upholstered, and its PPI trophies polished and displayed, x lUl Lti because the club is reportedly in a “very comfortable position monetarily. ” An appeal for funds to construct around The club ’s annual report and balance 20 flats at a cost of approxim.ately nine sheet for the year ending December lakh rupees has been issued by the Parsi 1980, describes the years since 1978 as Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad ¦'momentous ones in the club ’s history. ” and Hyderabad. With the accumulated pre-1978 losses having been wiped out. the club now boasts a positive balance of Rs. 38.288. philanthropic plus entrance fees of Rs. 22.500 which would mean a total balance of Rs. 60,788. Billimoria, 58, an expert in management and a record membership of 466. science, is also chairman and managing director of Billimoria Consultants, notes his bio-data. Starting at the age of 20 as a worker in the steel melting shop of Tata Iron & Steel Go. (TISCO). in 20 years Billimo ­ ria soared to the position of director of personnel in 1964. Specializing in coor ­ dination of personnel and production functions in British industry, he became the first Indian to be awarded the Nuf ­ field Fellowship at Birmingham Univer ­ sity in 1951. Billimoria with his background in personnel management later served as director of personnel in several public 6 Billimoria: Indian Airlines chief “The Anjuman will put in a sum of Rs one lakh from its own resources and a ................; lady has donated a princely sum of Rs 80,000. We now' appeal to all Trusts and Institutions and generous minded Zoroastrians to extend their helping hand in'this ven ­ ture. "The Anjuman would be prepared to name a block in memory of your dear one on Established by Sir Pherozeshah Mehta for the community, the club retains its old world charm, and in addi ­ tion to the e.xisting facilities made avail- one on receipt ot a donation ol able for a monthly subscription of Rs 40.000,” notes the appeal signed by Rs. 25, has recently applied for a beer the Anjuman ’s honorary secretary. E.J. and hard liquor license to run a full bar. Tarapore. The necessity to build is attributed to the “sky-rocketing ” rents in the twin cit­ ies which, coupled with a shortage of housing has affected “not only poor families but even the middle class, ” notes Tarapore. “We are prepared to accept any amount given as loan to be repaid by Youth Exchange Programme A group of young Zoroastrians left instalments in ten years, two years after Bombay for North America and Can- the receipt of the amount, ” states the PARSIANA OCTOBER, 1982< I i appeal. Cheques are to be made in the dom, Aga is also an Estate Duty and name of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman Wealth Tax Valuer on the panel of the of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, and Government of India, a member. Board sent to 125, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. 1 r Ajmer Committee The Shri Ajmer Jarthosti Anjuman, Ajmer, elected Nariman E. Mehta presi ­ dent of the Executive Committee of the Anjuman at a meeting held recently, notes a release from the Anjuman. Other office bearers elected are: Firoze N. Doctor, honorary secretary, Jal S. Bodhanwala, honorary treasurer; Ratan K. Tavadia, joint secretary and assistant treasurer; and Sorabji G. Sop- ariwala, Eric R. Gandevia and Ms Gul- nar N. Marfatia, members of the committee. The committee will serve the Anju- Secretary, man for three years from 1st August 1982, writes Doctor of Advisors for Sir J. j. .College of Archi ­ tecture, University of Bombay and the. president of the Parsee Engineers and Architects Union. Aga has served as president of the Indian Institute of Architects, the Insti ­ tute of Insurance Surveyors and Adjus ­ tors, the Institution of Surveyors, New Delhi and is a fellow of several profes ­ sional bodies both in India and abroad. Art Head For the tenth consecutive year, Homi N. Dallas, a noted Bombay chartered architect has been elected President of the Art Society of India, notes a report from the Society’s Joint Honorary f j Of Value The first President of the Indian Insti ­ tute of Architects, and a member of the General Council of the Lalit Kala Akademi at Delhi, Dallas is on the Board of Governors of the Delhi School of Planning and Architecture, notes the report. Major Chairman The professional designation of “senior certified valuer ” of immovable proper ­ ties has been awarded by the Interna ­ tional Institute of Valuers. Switzerland, to Jamshed Burjor Aga, of the well- known firm of architects. Shapoorjee N. Dr. Mehru M. Major of Nagpur was Chandabhoy and Co., notes a news- unanimously elected chairman of the paper report. Board of Studies in Other Foreign Lan- A chartered architect, valuer, sur- guages (German, French, Russian and veyor and fire loss assessor, Aga, 66. is a English) of the Nagpur University, notes fourth descendent of Shapoorjee N. a report in a local Nagpur newspaper Chandabhoy and a senior partner in the sent by P.A. Siganporia, Editor of firm, whose origins date back I 14 years Dharma Prakash, a Nagpur based pub ­ according to his bio-data. A registered lication. architect in India and the United King- Aga: Fourth descendent Sk * The Board which met on 3 July to elect Major, frames courses of subjects under its jurisdiction, prescribes books for studies, and rules and regulations for its conduct during the year, appoints examiners and takes all academic deci ­ sions regarding the policy of these courses. A post graduate in English from the U.K. where she was the recipient of the British Council Bursary in 1969-70, Major has Veen teaching English and Linguistics in the department of Lingu ­ istics, Foreign and Indian Languages at Nagpur University since 1970. She obtained her Ph.D. on the Comparative and Contrastive Study of the Phonetics and Phonology of Parsee-Gujarati and ** aiiu 1 iiviiuiugj^ ui 1 aiat.v“\jujai ail AlMb > . English, an interdisciplinary topic. PARSIX^ OCTOBER. 1982 JEENA & COMPANY ESTD. 1900 lA TA AIR CARGO Clearing, Forwarding Warehousing and Insurance Agents 10, Veer Nariman Road Fort, Bombay-1. Cable ; 'JUSTITIA' Telex: 2313 Phone : 312032 BRANCHES: E. Merc House 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani (Formerly Theatre Road) CALCUTTA-16. Phone : 444711 'Jeena House' 50, Hanuman Road Connaught Circus NEW DELHI Phone : 310821 C.14, Devtha Plaza, 1st floor Residency Road Bangalore-25 Phone : 564474 No. 26-26-24, 2nd floor VIZAGAPATNAM-35 Phone : 62018 1 1r"' NEWS FROM THE MEDIA India ’s Parsis Threatened by Their Success i- i Affluence Has Led to Growing Apathy and a Declining Birthrate By Tyler Marshall Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Philanthropy, once a Parsi hallmark, is also in decline. A survey last year of 700 Parsi trusts showed that many were '' defunct and that most of those still in existence earned only a meager three percent to four percent interest. Dwindling numbers and neglect have forced Parsi hospitalsand schools either to admit non-Parsis or to close down. Other institutions are also dying. For example, the traditional Parsi turban, the puggree, is rarely worn now. The last puggree maker died last year; a few years ago, he had offered to teach his art to a younger Parsi but there were no takers. “They all say they'd like to learn, but they never come." he said at the time. When Jehangir Patel, a Yale Univer ­ sity graduate, (took over) a Parsi com­ munity magazine nine years ago, he estimated that 3,000 copies would satisfy intial demand. He received 12 subscriptions. The magazine survives, subsidized by more commercial publishing ventures, and now has a circulation ofabout 2,000. Community neglect has also pene ­ trated the once-proud Parsi priestly families, whose sons for centuries have studied the teachings of the Parsi prophet Zoroaster (know n also as Zara ­ thustra) and other sacred texts, presided over community ceremonies and tended sacred temple fires. 1 odav, fewer than 100 Parsi priests are said to know the cornpkw rituals required to tend the temple fires. The The desire to retain high living stand ­ ards and ensure their children the benef ­ its of a better life has led directly to late marriage, low fertility and a declining number declines annually. When asked birthrate. In the last four decades, the Parsi population has diminished by an aver ­ age of one percent a year. In the last decade, deaths ha\e outnumbered births by nearly two to one and some social scientists predict that the com­ munity will virtually disappear within a BOMBAY, India- There are barely 90,000 of them, in a country of 700 mil ­ lion, yet India's Parsis have made their mark. These talented and agreeable people, birthrate. how many initiates had begun service who believe that fire is sacred, who fol- In the last four decades, the Parsi this year, a veteran priest replied by low a prophet born centuries before population has diminished by an aver- slowly moving his hand, forefinger Christ, have come to view success as age of one percent a year. In the last e.xtended. in a zero. their birthright. decade, deaths have outnumbered “Parents don't want their children In recent years, they have given India births by nearly two to one and some going into the priesthood, ” he said. “It's its greatest scientist (Homi Bhabha, social scientists predict that the com- hard work, low pav and no perks. Life's father of India's nuclear program), its munity will virtually disappear within a easier in a bank." most successful entrepreneurial family few' generations. Parsis take their name Irom a region (the Tatas) and one of its premier musi- The decline in numbers coincides with know n as Pars in that part of the Persian cians, Zubin Mehta, conductor.of the what some Parsis call a crisis of apathy Empire now called Iran. Although con- New York Philharmonic. about Parsi history and religion. sidered an ethnic group.They are also They have been so successful in busi- A survey in the mid-196()s found that custodians of Zoroastrianism, a religion . ness that, in a nation where povertv is less than one percent of the community that interprets life as a battle between commonplace, the word Parsi is syn ­ onymous with wealth. But India's Parsis, descendants ol _ people who came here more thtin 1,000 ‘(>ood Words, (ipod Deeds' years ago to flee religious persecution by Fears for Younger Generation “Good thoughts, good w inds, goml Muslims in Persia, have paid a high “Parsis fear that the younger generation deeds" thatiseverv Parsi'sfundamen- price for their material success. In fact, knows little about their religion and success may prove to be their undoing, cares less," w rote ,lohn Hinnels. a lec- for it has distracted the tiny community, eroded its values and threatened its very , e.xistence. The decline in numbers coincides with about Parsi history and religion. A survey in the mid-196()s found that less than one percent of the community prayed or read religious literature with good and evil and urges man to side w ith any frequency, tilthough nearly 75 per- the forces of good. cent regularly went to the movies. Fears for Younger Generation turer in comparatixe religion at Britain's Manchester Ihiixersity and a respected authority on the Parsis. PARSIANA: OCTOBER. 1982 tai tenet, l ire, as a symbol of ultimate light and truth, is present Zoroastrian ceremonv. Parsis are sometimes called “fire wor ­ shipers. ” and they object to it. 1 hey 9 at e\er\r •3^- f ’ revere fire, not worship it, they say, and they maintain that for them fire is a 1 doesn ’t mean we ’re dying out, ” said decline. Nearly half of the young people European universities on committee-of- elders scholarships do not come back, Golwalla said. .Of these, about 40 percent marry out- side the community and are lost forever, ” he said. But to many Parsis, these problems are minor compared to conversion an emotional issue that has deeply divided the community, for years. Although some small Parsi communi ­ ties outside Bombay have accepted such converts as equals, the conservative majority here has so far blocked moves that would permit them to enter the terri- ples and take part in important ceremo ­ nies. While there is little evidence to sug ­ gest any immediate community revitali ­ zation, some innovative Parsis are thinking about unusual solutions. Scientist Modi, for example, hopes to put the name of everyone in the Parsi community into a computer, conduct an attitudinal survey, then develop a pro ­ gram to reshape Parsi thinking to make large families and earlier marriage desir- UUvaii I iiivoii wv iw -- * . . . AsoiGolwalla, chairman of the Bombay sent abroad to study at American and llicy liiaiiitaiii ivi . .......................- — ” r •. r ij____ _______________ religious symbol, as the cross.is a symbol Parsi Punchayat, a committee of elders for Christians. that administers about $30 million in The Persians followed Zoroaster ’s community trust money for housing, teachings for nearly 1,000 years before educational, occupational and welfare Golwalla, like many other Parsis, blames the decline on Bombay ’s critical housing shortage, which he believes pre- that adiTiiriisters about $30 million in community trust money for housing. being swept aside by the advance of programs. Islam in the 7th century. The religious " persecution that came with Islam caused the Parsis to flee to India, where all but _ about 35,000 of them live today, mostly vents many couples from marrying early in and around Bombay. and having larger families. Golwalla says he knows ot three instances (involving) Parsi girls who abandoned their fiances after abnor ­ mally long waits for housing and then married outside the community. “Housing is problem No. 1,” he said. Although the committee of elders hopes to build 1.000-new apartments in Bombay over the next five years to ease the crush, government red tape and a lack of community cooperation have made progress painfully slow. It took two years for one proposal to get government permission. Another, involving the upward expansion of a Parsi community apartment complex in downtown Bombay, was abandoned after the residents refused to put up with able, the inconvenience. Elders also say that a “brain drain ” has accelerated the community ’s The names of streets, buildings and businesses reflect the community ’s influ ­ ence despite its small size. ‘Spirit of Immigrants ’ “We've had the spirit of immigrants ” said Jamshed A. Modi, an American- educated Parsi scientist. “Much like the Mayflower people, we tend to be hard ­ working and honest. The results show. But more than for their colorful herit ­ age and recent affluence. Parsis are known for their unusual death rites. In the belief that cremation pollutes fire and burial pollutes the earth. Parsis place their dead in what they call towers of silence, and vultures do the rest. Despite the community ’s growing problems, Parsi elders tend to minimize them. “Our numbers are declining, but that and having larger families. Courtesy l.os Angeles Tinies 19 August 1982 i SERSON Electrolytic Capacitors For All Electronic Applications From 12 VDC To 350 VDC 'J' Manufacturers: Serson Industries Pvt. Ltd* Pfanpri P.F.P.O., Poona-lS. Etchloil Povcll;made, ' Doctor J’s(l<>U«r f f «^>«I^ ise fssfemp^'^^M pfdtmse »-^ .Ju. ’u Ar» * - uuuAx^'W'^ fltw .. » It -4 ' F r r t 4ft r«‘" i 'Sf^aMppd iinHHt, sum bencQin > and other iPeffumos »; ’ "1 k f t ,3* J »-J- • r *1 j‘4£«'3 a *\ • ‘?*T A A J»5| IrV -J *'«.»> ‘ .Sfe '*10 2*^^ •X', ¦!‘ A’' t^' V : J:'-f Bombay 400020 ‘ Liberty Bi^dliig ||¦^||||ii»«fr¦¦^lll;l vi'Xit*'" V’ I'*’*'** Ml €ou|»^{ I >? Murdered L , ¦ ¦ ' .•. k. k- ' -^S The first-floor flat of the Engineer couple (marked by arrow) at Dhobi Talao. Alongside, the room in which the couple were found murdered. , Photographs by Mukesh PafpiwAi; imurtesy The Daily By A Staff RepOTter tered all over the room. Dina, the neigh- claimed the bodies from the police and BOMBAY, October 24. hours said,always wore a ring and foui the funeral rites were conducted. According to statements given by the the building they stayed in. It is being tered all over the room. Dina, the neigh- ¦»*^ 1*' "^4 I The Engineers were part-owners of neighbours —the building is mostly repaired by the bousing board for overa / ¦ . . T,_ .u..,. i.„ j ______ ,1_______u On the first floor,'nextto'the. Engineer ’ flat, there is an electrical goods sbop. A. domestic help, whose name was given as tiny light-bulb above its door luul beep,;.? as usual to fill water for removed by the killer/killers so as te An aged couple were found murdered in gold bangles which were missing, their room in a building at Dhobi Talao / early today. ' i- - -,= - . . _ The bodies of Bamanshah Jehangir occupied by Parsi families —they had year, though “very irregtUarly Engineer (79) and his wife Dina (69) seen the Engineers at 10.30 last night, were discovered at 6.30 a.m. The police This morning at about 6.30 when a suspect robbery,as the motive. < ’ Bam^|^^<4j^|rtSetM»^times Sitaram, went . .. . with a small, sfihi^-4bKriaft€^v; The ’ them, he found no, response to his plunge the first floor in darkness. Cai? police believe it coul4 have been h penv khoejcs. When the door was pushed had even been taken to fuse the , knife. Dina was gagged to death —her open, the bodies were discovered. lamp which used to cast some light in|o face was covtered with strips ofclothand The double-murder is believed to the room where the idoubte-ntdrdertOhk a piliOw^-case had been stuffed in her have been committed some time place. mouth. Her hands and legs had also between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Dina was This double-murder comes on the been tied up With cloth. known to open the door whenever heels of the brutal murder of a 13-yeae* Ihe bodies were found on separate anyone knocked, and was apparently old boy, Jaswant Singh,whose body four-poster beds in a room on the first taken completely by surprise as the was found near the l^hbourt on Eri- floor of Engineer building in Dadi Sun- killer or killers made their appearance, day. , took lane. The building has been under According to the police, the killings So far the police have picked up one repairs for over a year and the .couple ’s could have been done by two persons, suspect, a mason who-was working'in three-bedroom flat was in an utterly However, since the couple were so frail, the building. The police are looking for dilapidated condition. even one killer could have overpowered other suspects. While the other rooms were being them. There was no resistance offered Bamanshah, a diminutive man, once repaired, the couple were staying in one by either Bamanshah or Dina, a police worked as a municipal supervisor. He- .'; room opposite the staircase. Baman- official said, adding, “They were so retired 30 years ago,'the neighbours ) • shah was a cripple — his hands and legs weak, barely able to walk.. So how could said, and lived quietly. ..jiSwe paralysed: ¦ • ' they?” , The double-murder s^t a shock wave -i The motive behmd tfee doublet murder is believed- 1 7 wooden side-table had — -------- - — ..... r ------- ------ —— - „ . .5^, .the CoiQHc^ belongings were scat- hours sai^ Todi^j lhe shocked son D^Wfdla ih the -M, ............... IW A* ¦;^ "*3 'fn Tte coujfle haveson, MinOo, 3n through the Dhobi.T^b^ifti^AWiMS** ^ to be robbery. A arehitect string aftjuhu. He wdtrid visit erai residents ad been ransacked his parents now and then, the' neigh- mui^r =i »« 4 »¦<» ^*''41 % 'I: !ka^ murder. ' reports-Police exj^i^ io'ajrrest a"fcW - ' , other suspects asuwll. police ajtcs.t0K^ibeth Vijay Atha wale, Another in gory list MHlil mbM wm • As the city of Bombay v^'^ked by police riots in the third week of Af^Mst,. Buijis Narittian KhurshedjiC^J/aftdWs. B k wife Linda drove to a feioarf ’s place By ASteft Reporter r ““*----- —-7 '‘'7’:;^ 1!.. _ ________i_' Aged Parsi couples have been the public prosecutor obtained four death stranded there. torgefs of Criminals for many years now. sentences, a record, in a single case. Dar- It was around 9 p.m' when a StOhe The week-end murder of the Engineer r '------ ¦ « • - . — couple at Dhobi Talao is yet another in the gory list. One of such most sensational murders occurred a decade back, when Feroze Daruwalla was alleged to have killed an & 85-year-old retired managing clerk, two . other Parsis'and^'servant. The murders oc£»rtedat Dhobi Talao itself, not very, from the scene of the present ^murders. Dorabshaw Pestonji Sethna was killed along with the other three persons J by Feroze, who later stood for the Lok P? elections. Hmvever, he withdrew light. shedji is survived by his daughter Zarna , hisr nomination and was arrested and Courtesy/zi &, s,.. r,*^--t ,h.S S*£i f 1^- ‘'t - t* ft ”*- <-.r &*'' » P . L'**'" *»4 - 1;;^^ *St '**:a tfi X mm' y. ? ’^1 ¥ ’I’ a* T ** V d ¦.^ » : !- SST'Ji M’l . <•- • T* ;5C* :iJ? K" ¦x, '4 '! % The site of the Pioneer Cotton Factories in BbinlMty, lfe^0: The Bombay Spinning, The Oriental and The Maneckji Petit hlills. (Inset) TTaver. Cotton Comes to Bombay M D David Bombay has been the home of the the Bombay Hydraulic Press, a large Indian textile industry, the largest cotton cteaning enterprise, he conceived among the major industries in the coun- the idea of'a textile mill in I85f. He . try, employing more than a million began to correspond with Messrs. Platt workers. ', Brothers of Oldham. Britain, the mann- ' ' The Bowreah Cotton Mill dating facturers Of mill machinery. They read- back to the 19th century was the first jly agreed to appoint him their agent in tex,tile mill to be set up in India in 1818 Bombay and sent machinery and men to , 1 by a British firm on the west bank of the set up the first textile mill with 20,000 spindles at Tardeo. It went into prodpc^ river Hooghly near Calcutta. However, the foundations of the tion within two years of the floating of ' ¦ industry were truly laid in July 1854, when Cowasji pavar, a rich Parsi mer ­ chant of this metropolis floated the the neighbourhood, two years, later, Bombay Spinning and Weaving Co. with a capital of Rs.500,000. . Undaunted by the difficulties James London and another by Sheth*' involved in the import of mill machin ­ ery, technical knowhow and irianagerial skill, Cowasji went ahead with his idea Parsi, Maneckji Nusservanji Petit, flb- the Company. Encouraged by its sue- ,. cess he.installed the Throstle Mills, in In 18W B^ritish firm estiablishect the first ever cotton mill in India on the bank of the Hoogly in Calcutta However, it was Cowasji ?¦ Davar, a Parsi merchant, who of settihgupatextilemill. Hewasoneof ated the Oriental Spinning and Weaving ' set up the first indigenous .................. - * .. ? mill called the Bombay Spinning and Weaving Co. in 1854, with a capital of pnlr Rs. five J^lchs. Abbot the same time similar ventures, were launched — one at Broach by one \ Ranchbdlal Chotalal at Ahtnedabad. In Bombay itself another wealthy 1 I® .',jf the first Indians to showthe enterprise Co. in August 1854. The thirty thousand and foresight-that were responsible for' spindle mill with its imported machinery - launching India on the industrial path, went into production, four years after- Entering the family ^sihess _at the wards. 1 age of sixteen, Gowasji cooperated with The success of the Oriental M ills the British in establishing the Comiftet- prc$^ed the owners to convert it injo a cial Bank of Bombay aigf^Ite B^bay, joint Mock. aai^T ej^iand its > Strain Navigation ^tivitiejh^ ’i^^ano*her2®,^^.«-: , ? WhUe in the process of esiabfiahit|g 4^s 1,000 Ipotns. ,bf', * .^‘ -F PiMlstMtk 1 i fA 7 r * 4:^ Mcsjnr^'s^ls^ f as»;>«i>44ru*a E- Treasurers an^ Agents in J§60 led lo fhe F' development of the Agenev system in F themanagbnent of cotton raills in Bom- L'Kay^a^aOtice pts^tent even today. K ,, The Wt^Hy hegahto attract more of years of Zoroastrian I. . " r,,. ^2 I’ Petit, First Baronet, was the next to set L Up the Maneckji Petit ^Millsm 186d'with I 60,000 sgi^iw anff IW looms. F -i^;isnLpwn entreprerteu r in fe'-many i^mess firms was ejected chair- L man of the Mill Owners ’ Association r which he built, up between 1879 and L F Within a decade of the establishment J van^PlK^i andCo^^i^J^cr^f^^^ ^' development of the Agency system ,'bay^a^aOtice even today. ibhhno&m-followers are accused Bhavatchhedam^^^ic'^ woWd ^ny of claiming to posse^.Ote ^n, “^"e^who is imtv right knowledge of Ihe^S^^rielastrian incarnation , When Ustad Saheb Beh- ^!,^1^6-l^obo kol^ihatln ranishahji tot ¦ ' I word/i/J.tch^hnnom as a from which Manthra could be com- 1 exposition of the Manthra. building activity with great success. The textile industry became the hub of Bombay ’s industmal growth in subse- Mill Owners Association was found«.•** . - ijy- ¦ I___ cz'-’ - Sdheb-Delans of Demavand 'Kpff; RAKE BOOKS for Rare Aritique Engravings etc, etc, etc, cwtsult Jimmy OUia Bombay 36 Tek 350649 before 10 PABSIANA: OCTOaOk'W^' t-jgfe have 'neither the through the centuries, be lifted jusf ft ' J that the wayward Parsees wouW . inkling of the glory and splendouF-g The* only mistake that many 4 „ that Ilm-e-Ktahnoorh is .a^ school of thought or philosophy themselves, “Khshnoomists ”. This is not posed, and of the zuVvf/ or the inner Zoroastrian Religion. Hence ^yst> R ! . - , t fl...>m<.e>1,roc “If heKnr»mTllsts “. This is not expositionol the Aiflnrnra. i------------ Even today we have evidence to prove so. Ilm-e-Khshnoom *s th^ beat h what has been said above. The Sanskrit knowledge and wisdom which yf^/iiywodceremony IS not a result ol a t-------- - b-u mere translation of the Pazend ^s/wrwflfZ which, in turn, is the Zoroastrian ceremony, but is a Munthracompositioh pon itself. Any^, therefore, who created by the knowledge Of Stot cises or belittles Khshnoom, take onlyTwo wor« from It, - ------------ ___ The fji^us' “Avesta word, Nidiuh Prophet Zarthosht mtnsMl . . Snaithishem, is inorroally translated by philologsts as “esciteWing of wCitpotts, ’’. Bttt theSanskrit ^Naityo^ftghhnstKe the esoteric truths und secrets of Natu^i- Zoroastrian Religion'ihdd insult#^ ¦"’¦J,':, « ' C Courtesy £W«Mv - The centuries-old question of accept- a non-Zoroastrian mother, whether she be a mistress or united to a Zoroastrian registered. The reformist party is against this movement, so the orthodo.x section is depending upon the strength For Pure Diamonds It lem as the Parsi community. Nations believing in proselytizing either keep their doors wide open for all or submit ­ ting to changed times, conditions and • + The orthodox started a move to pass a law in the Legislative Assembly that all Navjotes should be registered in government offices. 3 circumstances, close their gates against all forever. Ours is the only community that has behaved in completely another lost our empire, we have had to lower the banner of conversion from the flag ­ staff. Yet. since 1,200 years we have con ­ tinued to accept children of mistresses of Zoroastrian men and, since a cen ­ tury, those of Zoroastrian fathers and non-Zoroastrian mothers united according to the Civil Marriage Act. To be continued mothers -T 0 J "I ¦: fl’ ¦ ^5 ¦Fi JEWELLERS 324. GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY 400007. TELEPHONE: 371483 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PARSIANA: OCTOBER, 19824 The Flame and the Ember 4.“ A silver drachma showing Ardeshir I, founder of the Sasanian empire (left) and (right) a fire altar on the reverse the author deserves empire was inextricably linked with the credit for his study and his contribution. . ........ . ................ . rit^ • *1 t ennobling and -------- , credit for his study and his contribution, faith that motivated its rulers and the In a book on the Parsis, Piloo Nana- ruled. Its spaciousness came from the vutty touches very briefly on these orig- faith of Zarathushtra, who, said Tagore, the first Prophet to emancipate faith of Zarathushtra, who, said Tagore, was “religion from the exclusive narrowness of the tribal God, the God of a chosen people, and offered it the Universal man ”. This is the prophet we have nar- I] J' ! J ) Pi ¦ ¦ i - 1- ¦ p. t 1 ¦? r 4 The vitality of the early Persian empire was , mail . - -------- inextricably linked Withthe rowed down with our exclusiveness today. The Prophet stands out as a historical personality who, in the words of Sir Percy Sykes, “must excite profound rev- of the Parsis, while Kulke in his erence when we bear in mind how deep was the darkness around him. ” And the lessons Zarathustra taught were of pure book is a morality, of the struggle between good Highlights of Parsi History by P.P. Balsara; Published by The Y.C.Z.A. Edueational and Charitable Fund; Price Rs 12 P.P. Balsara ’s book Highlights of Parsi History begins with a bang and ends with a whimper. The canvas opens with the grandeur of Cyrus and Darius, the decline of the Achaemenians, the rise of the Sassan- faith that motivated itS ians. Then comes the low-water mark under Khushru and again the sea-faring ventures of the sixth century, when Per ­ sian ships plied upto China. In his Dis- ins CkZ rvr J/ — • --------------------, J 1 • 1* length on this Persian venture than Bal- the origin of the Parsis and their reli- ^IWll - ---------------- 3 fc-------------- -- . modern masterpiece. Balsara dwells and evil, and through it all a positive and longer on the early years. joyful approach to life, so different from The vitality of the early Persian the negative approach that was Cylindrical seal of Darius the Great hunting (c 500 B.C.) rulers and the ruled. covery of India, Nehru dwells at greater masterpiece devotes hardly ten pages to sara does. On these Persian ships, wrote gion —although Kulke ’s Nehru, the Chinese pilgrims and tra- i vellers to India voyaged. 1 The first chapters of the book move with a march, enlivened by various quo ­ tations from authorities on Zoroastrian- ' ism and on Persian history. In fact, Balsara ’s foot-notes with quotations, and his tit-bits, are at least as interesting as the text in the early chapters. It is when the Parsis come to India that the pace visibly slackens and the narration becomes pedestrian. The author deals with the prosperity of Surat, the arrival of Parsis in Bombay, and gives brief life-sketches of leading Parsis. All this is done in a bitty manner. It would have been better if he had stuck to a few highlights in depth rather than try to cover history in a breezy manner. There is no attempt at a conclusion, nor a look at the future. The book ends tamely with the contribution of Khabardar to Gujarati literature. The first chapters of the book are 26 ll I s % 1 ¦ 5 ¦ 1 - a-; ‘; I ii- P. .'V Wt'ij"-' F * •i •( 'y - ' ' I PARSIANA: OCTOBER. 1982F demoralised by luxury and ease, their sword they wielded the pen and Arabian courts riddled with intrigues, their faith, once preached by some other religions to fol ­ low. . It is this generosity and joyfulness of once vibrant, smothered by rituals i the faith that perhaps launched Persian imposed by priests who worshipped the Emperors on feats of magnanimity or f---- justice that have been unparalleled in decline came, ancient or medieval history — like Cyrus returning the Jews to Jerusalem, their city, taking with them all the ves­ sels that their Babylonian conquerors had captured from them. Lesser known is the feat of Artaxerxes 11, who on learn- ing from his Jewish consort Esther Shapur. 1 defeating and capturing the about Premier Haman ’s plot to kill all Roman Emperor Valerian, and Shapur theJews, hanged Haman and saved the 11, the Great, and Khushru I (Noshir- wan the Blessed) who also carried on the war with Rome and obtained its tribute. Persian history seems to move in waves of grandeur and pettiness. And pettiness reached its depth when L. Khushru 11 marched on Jerusalem and carried away the relic of the Holy Cross, ITIOV© in WaV0S of gTHndeur which was reclaimed not long after by Emperor Heraclius. The constant wars with Rome and the lack of tolerance on the part of later Sassanian kings, the community survived and flourished, enervating power of rituals and basi- The saga of the Parsis lends itself to a cally, the lack of any inspiring purpose, great novel along the line of Exodus, but led to the.decline ofthe Sassanians. And the novelist is yet to portray the rom- a day came when the Arab invader, ance, the grandeur and the struggles of inflamed by a desert faith, rode with his the community. horses over the mountains and plains of It is a pity that books like BalsaraJ ’s do Iran. Resistance was feeble and Persia not find a commercial publisher to pro ­ fell. And with it fell the standing of a mote them. Even a greater pity that great faith that had sadly restricted itself Bombay, the capital city of the Parsis, - perhaps out of its liberality - to the does not have a single book-shop spe- boundaries of Iran and had not sought cializing in books on the community to extend its power elsewhere. and its faith. As Rome conquered Greece physi- There is a stirring among the young cally, but Greece conquered Rome cul- people and a hunger for greater knowl- expansionists planted their standard, which was not visible even 20 years ago. they were followed by Persian artists Are these the signs of new life “Mf so, can Jews. The Festival of Purim commemo- I Shapur II hunting lions, a scene from a bowl of the fourth centrury A.D. form rather than the spirit, and the medicine, scientific knowledge and even the grammer of the Arab language was influenced by Iranian traditions. One wishes that this early drama so well brought out by Balsara,' could be enlarged with due illustrations. Balsara is in possession of a host of interesting facts but he has packed them with telegraphic terseness perhaps depriving the Zoroastrian reader of the The flame which had become an < ember flared again with vigour under the Sassanians from 220 A.D. with i Emperor Ardeshar Babegan inflicting a severe defeat upon the Roman Emperor < . Alexander Severus. It was followed by pride which can stir his heart. He rightly notes that Zoroastrian fire ­ temples were established not only in India but in China and that the Zoroas ­ trians there appear to have been absorbed by the vast Chinese multitude In India alone, outside of Iran, has the Persian history seems to and pettiness. rating this deliverance has been cele ­ brated by the Jews for 23 centuries. Apart from the generosity of spirit, it —----------- ¦ . . - j u needed organisational power of a high turally, so also when the Muslim edge j)f the cornmumty and the taith, order to administer an empire from < ... , . j ...u —i. .......ui„on Egypt to the Indus, and it is Darius who t..,^ organised the taxes, the coinage, and the and administrators. Unable to wield the it be fanned, and how ? first postal service in the world to com­ municate with his Satraps. The Persians first demonstrated that it was possible to administer and govern on so vast a scale, and later the Romans benefitted from the organisational set-up of the Per ­ sians. The author also quotes from a work . on Persepolis to show that unlike the grandeur of the Pyramids or of the Babylonian Gardens, the Palace of Per ­ sepolis was the result of neither forced nor slave labour. He also touches on the fact that Ashoka ’s bell-shaped capital r with the four lions surmounted on it, the emblem of India, is of Persepolitan origin. The later Achaemeniah Kings were Gift shopping at its best at Gifts& the friendly Gift Shc^ at Bombay Swadeshi Stores Ltd. iHaaMHMJ Sir P.M. Road, Bombay400001. Tel: 253443/252730 ZOROASTRIAN ARTEFACTS & SILVER PENDANTS AVAILABLE PARSIANA: OCTOBER, 1982 27 1 -1 J ir , V ZT . 4. #' - -a orsi Petit vs Jeejeebhoy XIII i PMfhftuetj ;i THE JUDGEMENT SO FAR Tribal Mentality .¦ Before going on further, 1 may as welt proof, if any were needed, of how com- clear away some possible confusion, pletely the pure religious sentiment has When we were engaged upon the evi- In 1903 R. D. Tata married according to When we were engaged upon the evi- been subordinated to the caste or tribal Parsi rites, a French lady, after having dence offered to prove that Converts sentiment of the present day her navjote performed. Tata claimed his were frequently made, some discussion community. wife “had become a Parsi professing arose as to what constituted a Convert, Further than this, however, strenuous the Zoroastrian faith and consequently she was entitled to participate in all the charitable and religious Funds and Institutions of the Parsis ’including to my mind that too much attention was the right to enter fire temples and have her body consigned to the Towers of Silence. Thus the scene was set for the historic court case of Petit vs Jeejeebhoy. also known as “The Parsi Punchayet Case." . _ The question before the two judges of into distinctions between the making of him the strictest ordeals known to your the Bombay High Court. Justice ~ " ............................. " * Frank C. O. Bearrum and Justice Dinshaw Dhanjibhoy Daver. was whether a person born in another faith but converted to Zoroastrianism was entitled to the benefits of certain community trusts. The plaintiffs (Sir Dinshaw Maneckji reasonable, and it shuts the door on Conceding that a Convert Petit; Tata and others) conterukd >”’>«» ">!«'>? PHonirips o Zoroastrianism enjoins and practises conversion and that converts are entitled to all the benefits provided. The however, be conceded that, while eve- defendants (Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy and others) while admitting that Zoroastrianism permits conversion state that “ever since their (Parsis) advent into India (they) have not admitted a Juddin (Person belonging to another religion) into their qualifications, The most general of these not refrain fold. They admit, however, that children bom of a Zoroastrian father by an alien mother have been admitted into their fold By the performance of the Navjote ceremony. Daver in his part of the judgement discredited the evidence, past and of the were frequently made, some discussion community. arose as to what constituted a Convert, Further than this, however, strenuous or, in other words, whether any specific efforts were made at various stages of ceremonies were necessary. As the case the case to convince us, that no conver- went on, it became more and more clear sion could be a real effectual conversion, ¦ ¦ i unless the Convert went through certain being bestowed upon this point. When it ancient, ceremonial, and purificatory was first suggested, the Defendants at rites. Now, 1 do not propose to go into once uncompromisingly refused to go that question at all. We have here a very on with it. They told us, in the plainest simple issue. The Defendants say, let language, that their case was Converts your Convert be converted and admit- or no Converts. They did not care to gO ted in any way you please; impose upon this or that Convert. Conceding that a ritual; and we still say that he is not Convert was made in the most approved entitled to share in the benefits of our and perfect manner, they still denied Trusts. that he was entitled to the benefits of their funds. . For my part, I at once, and finally, what constitutes a valid, from the reli- accept that position. It is simple and what might have been long ertquiries into ancient ritual that appeaiifed to me likely to lead to nogood result. Itcannot,. *¦ That being the Defendants ’ position, it is superfluous to go into the question /) was made in the most approved and perfect manner, they still denied that he was entitled to the benefits of their funds. ryone admits that, theoretically, the Zoroastrian religion enjoins the making of Converts, the leading “expert ”for the Defendants, from the time of the Select Committee ’s report, have endeavoured very strenuously to introduce certain gious standpoint, conversion. But I can- - - - - , from making one has, strictly speaking, nothing to do observation. The extreme orthodox with this point, though it is apt to be party, who are most jealous of the prestige confused with it—I mean the condition and exclusiveness of their community, upon which all these religious leaders appear to think that were this a question insist, that such conversions should not for us to decide, we ought to lay it down do harm to the good religion. That is an that what is called the nine nights ’ opportunist gloss upon sound religious Burushnum ceremony is indispensable, doctrine which, 1 think, a sound And in adopting this line, 1 have not the Beaman in the last instalment spake Churchman would find it hard to defend slightest doubt they are honestly actu- of the community's tribal or caste senti ­ ment superceding the religious bond. present, of conversion in India. upon any but the plainest secular ated by zeal for their religion and the grounds of expediency. The fact that it desire to keep it as select and unpolluted has gained and held the pro'minence it as possible. ¦ has throughout this case, is a convincing PARSIANA OCTOBER. 1382 But, surely, they must see that they 29 J1 The pure religious sentiment has been subordinated to the caste or tribal sentiment ofthe present day community. are taking a mistaken course. If that i were an indispensable condition prece- Parsis, they were good men who had dent of conversion, the only practical helped the early settlers, and were there- result would be to throw the door open fore remembered in their prayers. Those help the Defendants greatly to be able to to the lowest, least refined, least desira- are quite possible explanations. But tak- say —as, indeed, they do say with ble class of Converts, while shutting ing the evidence about them as it stands, dogged insistance —that not only were no conversions ever made , but that the idea of making converts never occurred to any of the Indian Zoroastrian Com­ munity, and it is in answer to this that the evidence about Akbar is so impor ­ tant. For what do we find? Not only, as 1 have said, a widely-spread tradition, popular ballads extolling the achieve ­ ment as the crowning glory of the Bom­ bay Parsis, but Mr. Modi himself —the most bitter uncompromising opponent were Parsis; or that, if they were not carefully, the cardinal question: “What had the Founders in their minds when they created these Trusts? ” It would that in the face of all reputable persons I should have been inclined to say that it who, out of sincere conviction, desired did show that these Pandits became admission to the Holy Zoroastrian Zoroastrians. But the time is so remote faith. I find it difficult to believe that any that the point has little practical impor- cultured adult foreigner could bring tance. It may amuse the curious, it may himself to submit to this extremely pri - mitive ceremony of initiation,while cer ­ tainly no grown cultured woman, who wished to join the Zoroastrian faith, could conceivably be asked to do so. It is only people in the lowest stages of development who could be at all likely to consent to go through such an initia ­ tion, and those are precisely the kind of Converts zealous Zoroastrians do not wish to make. Everything, therefore, in the record which deals with degrees, if I may so style it, of conversion —every question and answer about what cerem ­ onies are necessary and what ceremo ­ nies are unnecessary —seem to,me now rooted and widely-spread tradition to be wholly irrelevant. I shall not say among the Parsis that some of the Nav- another word about them. sari priests went to Akbar ’s Court and 1 have now to make one or two converted him. Whether he really was remarks upon the documentary evi- converted or not has, of course, only a dence relating to conversions in the past, secondary and comparatively unimpor- ____________________ , We have three leading instances: (1) the tant bearing on the present case. But confronted with his own written and Pandits, (2) Akbar, and (3) the there is a good deal in this connection published opinions, I think he must have bitterly regretted that he ever set up to be a learned author. Not only in this instance, but in many others —right up to the time when the storm broke, Mr. Mody, with guileless indiscretion, went interest the scholar, but it does not, I think, tnrow much light on the question we have to answer. I find it difficult to believe that any cultured adult foreigner could bring himself conversion, the root and branch to submit to this extremely primitive ceremony of initiation. There seems to be a pretty deeply- representative of orthodoxy —even he writes an elaborate treatise, or, one might say, almost a book, to prove that the priests of Navsari are fairly entitled to the credit of having converted the Emperor Akbar. After making all possi­ ble allowances for priestly esprit de corpse and for the exuberances of learned authorship, I cannot help think ­ ing that this leaves Mr. Modi in a deli ­ cate position. When, from time to time, in the course of his cross-examination, he was Mazagon Converts. The first is, more or which does directly bear upon it and is less, mythical. I do not think I can go not unimportant. We have to bear in quite so far as my learned brother in mind that the Defendants ’ case is, that Jisposingof it. He attaches more weight conversions in India, since the Parsi than 1 am able to do to the learning and researches of Mr. Jivanji Modi. I can only say for myself that such additional have never tried to make any. And the researches as he made, while the case practice, enjoined by the Founder of our was in progress, served no other purpose religion, has fallen into total desuetude, agility and vehemence ! That is one of the many misfortunes of being a popular author. Of course, when Mr. Modi was writ ­ ing these books and expressions as a immigration, are altogether unknown. None, they say, have occurred We on committing himself to opinion after opinion, from all of which he had of a sudden to resile with almost startling than to convince me that his mind was That is one thing, and as a reply to it, the so obsessed by the cause he had at heart, that he was utterly incapable of reason ­ ing or even thinking correctly. Of course, it is possible, as my learned brother suggests, that these Pandits 30 fact that Akbar was converted, if he was, would be a telling reply. But we have to carry this line of opposition further, as I have already indicated, when we come recognized sacerdotal authority —these to consider, after preparing the way opinions —he allowed himself to be carr PARSIANA: OCTOBER. 1982r I There seems to be a pretty deeply-rooted and widely-spread tradition among the Parsis that of the Navsari priests went to Akbar ’s Court and converted him. some ¦ ried away by the impulse of the moment. Engrossed in the fascinating task of flat ­ tering the vanity of his co-religionists, he expends his learning and talents in a brochure proving that certain godly pri ­ ests of Navsari converted Akbar, or, at any rate, if they did not quite convert him, certainly no one else did, and they, at any rate, were entitled to all the glory and credit of the attempt. 1 will not say ’ that matter, whether they were capable, that Mr. JMody had not the honesty — because like many other worthy fanatics he is probably as honest as he is perverse on his particular hobby, but 1 will say that Mr. Modi had not the wit —to take the only possible course which could have extricated himself from the embar ­ rassing consequences of his too exuber ­ ant authorship with dignity and credit. Instead of telling the simple truth, that he had taken up these subjects without the least idea that they would ever have more than a scholarly and academic fectly familiar to the Parsi Community, interest, and committed himself to opin- ‘ ' ions which, when brought to the test of a shattering concrete case, he could no longer maintain, he made the most pitia ­ ble efforts to show that he was perfectly consistent with himself, and that his “Yes” of to-day was his “Nay ” of yester ­ day. 1 suppose few witnesses of equal eminence, character, and, 1 hope 1 may add, sincere honesty, have made a more deplorable exhibition of themsefves in the witness-box than Mr. Mody. But the point ofaii this is, not whether deny that convcFsions could Akbar was or was not converted a cen- , tury or two ago, but that right up to the OUght tO bc made, present time one of the leading scholars ——————i— and ecclesiastical lawyers of the Parsi 1 Community of Bombay, so far from table Convert, we find the leaders of the although revealed and accepted religion, had . t no member of the Bombay Parsi or Zoroas ­ trian Community could ever have dreamed of regarding it as a practical and living question. become extinct; and (2) that some, at least, of the religious leaders of the com­ munity regarded it favourably within a very short time of this controversy breaking out. The case of the Mazagon Converts is Parsis. Both questions and answers useful for the same purposes. It is, in my show, with unmistakeable clearness, opinion, quite immaterial to enquire that thequestionofmakingConverts, — whether they were converted, or, for both in the abstract, as a general ques ­ tion, and, more concretely, as to who were fit and proper to be made Converts These Kesponsa prudentum. I hese are answers sent by the heads of the Zoroas ­ trian Community in Persia, to questions put to them on points of religious dogma, ritual, and so forth by Bombay Parsis. that the question of making Converts, in the broad general sense, of becoming Converts. It may be that they were all and how they ought to be made —was illegitimate children of Parsi fathers, very much alive over the whole period to What is important and material is, that which we need confine our investiga- in their case, in quite recent times, two eminent Parsi Divines engaged in a heated controversy as to what ceremo ­ nies were, and what were not, essential to conversion. 1 his shows, again, with convincing clearness, that conversion- in the abstract at any rate, and a.s a theoretical religiou.s tenet tions. It is true that the Ravayats may not command much respect. That is not the point. The point is that questions were put by pious men about conver ­ sion, and answer.s were received from the head.s of the Official Hierarchy in Persia, which most certainly did not deny that conversions could or ought to be made. As to the qualifications, I am not now concerned with them. Nothing in what I may call the official or expert part of the case creates a very high opinion of the intelligence of the good, devout gentle ­ men who had to some extent the con- Answers were received from sciences of the Zoroastrian Community the heads of the official Hierarchy in Persia, which most certainly did not was per ­ not only in the remote past but in our own time. Scattered about the voluminous pap ­ ers which have been laid before us, there is plenty of evidence to support this view. In the case of one alleged disrepu- saying that such a conversion was con- Community objecting, not on the broad in their keeping. But it is undeniable that, rightly or wrongly, they, as well as the recipients of the Ravayats, were fully alive to the possibility of conversions; and, with certain reservations of a secu ­ lar rather than a religious kind, were quite ready to sanction and approve them. In the face of all this evidence, it is idle for the Defendants to contend to­ day that the idea of conversion, _ I an integral part of their 1 J o-'-------------------------------UIIU uvvvyivu IVIICIUH, 11 trary to the tenets -^r^for that matter, ground that no conversions could or fallen so completely into disuse, that self elaborately to appropriate the merit of, let us say, the attempt to convert Akbar to his own co-religionists. Two most important facts emerge: (1) that performed, the idea of converting aliens had not the practice of the community —set him- ought to be made, but on the much nar ­ rower ground that his conversion had not been notified to the Anjuman, or that the proper ceremonies had not been Again we have the Ravayats or To be continued RARSIANA: OCTOBER, 1982 31’¦> '^ii,' L"^^' ’^a ¦/^' I : V F IN MEMORIAM 1 The Last Post I Died: Kekhashru Dhunjisha Billimoria, 80, retired Inspector General of Police, Maharashtra, on 8 June, 1982, follow ­ ing a heart attack. Well remembered by the police force, Billimoria was given a ceremonial fun ­ eral at Bombay ’s Doongarwadi with a guard of honour, the firing of 42 shots and the bugle sounds of the last post, notes R.E. Mirza, a friend of the family. Billimoria. whose father retired as deputy superintendent of police, joined ¦ ''ab^.JS :' ?. ¦ -7 a ¦ of a heart attack, in Lucknow on Febru- ¦ ary 18, 1982. || Pardiwala had the distinction of hav ­ ing guided the destiny of the first of the series of India ’s Pressurised Heavy I water Reactor type nuclear power sta- I tions, notes the write-up by Dr. R.D. ¦ Asana, of Valsad, Pardiwala ’s home- ¦ town. He was the Chief Project Engi- I neer for the Rajasthan Atomic Power I Project as well. Pardiwala joined the Bhabha Atomic the police force in 1923. He became the Power Project at Trombay (Maharash- first Indian Assistant Inspector General tra) in 1960 and was sent to UK for of Police in 1945 and after Independ- training in nuclear power engineering, ence became the first Indian Deputy In 1964 he joined the Rajasthan Atomic Inspector General of Police, southern Power Project as an Electrical Superin ­ range, based at Belgaum, notes his bio- tendent and was promoted to the posi- data. He was called upon to head the tion of Chief Project Engineer in 1972. police action party to integrate Hyde- Pardiwala ’s involvement in RAPP rabad, under orders of Sardar Vallabhai encompassed construction, commis- Patel, and later as I.G.P. Rajasthan, was sioning and commercial operations, entrusted with the task of curbing notes the write-up. dacoits. Born oji 1st July 1925 at Ahmedabad, With a 6'^" well-built frame, Billimo- he studied in the Dastur Boys High ria became a familiar figure in Bombay School, Poona, and graduated in elec- as commissioner in 1955 and then as trical engineering from St. Xavier ’s Col- Inspector General of Police, Maharash- lege, Bombay, in 1945. After a five-year tra until his retirement in 1957, states course in engineering from the Univer- Mirza. He is survived by his wife Dhun, sity of London, he worked for Atul Pro- a son Russi, two daughters Frainy and ducts Ltd., Valsad (Gujarat) before Jeroo, grandchildren and great-grand- joining the Tata Hydro Electric Power children. Co. Besides his professional work, Pardi ­ wala was keenly interested in gardening, music and social welfare ofthe colonies Died: Tehmurasp Framroze Pardiwala, of the project, according to the write-up. 57, Project Director of the Narora Atomic Power Project in Uttar Pradesh, 32 Powerful Projects He is survived by his wife Homai and son Homi. BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a Public School by the Department of Education for Indian Merit Scholars, Excel­ lent Climate — All-round Education : Climate All Academic Subjects —Tech­ nical Subjects: Workshop Tech­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance, Carpentry & Farm ­ ing. Training in Self-Government through Elected Boys’ OflSce bearers. Games —^Physical Train ­ ing — Daily Assembly with Congregatimial Prayers — Week­ ly intensive Zoroastrian - Geeta- Koran classes — Excellent Modem Kitchen and Dining Room facilities — Airy Dormi­ tories. Moderate Fees, Freeships and Concessions to Deserving Students. 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