Mar 1983

I • t * ¦1 i' 3* 'j? •T?- ,.*« «<•. < .X.S* a*' Ji <3 .sC6*®^ »i^ X''” -,^x* fe* WS^ \ z ,.w»« *c ’cA •*b. \ \.^ J*** X ¦Jf^ X, 4"' .0’ fcr- XV’ ’-IVi'.? t4«* " * ;< X 1^ V »SS^V<' w > I . i , •s’ .*y* u* y* 4“ 0* ^'> AMarab 1983 Votume 6 Number 9 ¦5i \ ¦ f. 4*^ / ^15 EDITOR JatMingirfi.Pi^ L ASSOCIATE EDITOR Abraham Mathai r ASSISTANT EDiTORSIfototehiD. Doctor, I Gouri Wagadarlkar T l^vpinta and Parsonaiitiea DESIGN eOfffiULTANT Mini RoStwaia ? Punchayet rejoins Federation 17 The Nayjote of Joseph Pierson DESIGN ASSISTANTS Krand Shitotri. Yasmin Irani ' MARKETING DIRECTOR Veers Patel F ADVERTISING Zarin BiHimoriA Hanita Irani and Mehsr Parakh. I CHIEF EXECUTIVE R.P. Thanavala I CIRCULATION D.B. Chifwy, i Yezdi Gandevia MANAGEMENT Cheryl D’Penha, >- Minoo Patel and JasmiffS'Wriifor >7*^ ... 20roastria ns Abroad ¦ A 3 34 Bharucha's Quest for Zarathustra 43 Humbly, in Zarathustra's footsteps by Hutokshi D. Doctor 49 An Inquest on the'Quest' 53 Handarz Literature by Arnawi Patel ‘^:- a t- if' ; 61 The Vigilantes by Hutokshi D. Doctor 64 Farewell to fire f^hting by Carol D'Souza 69 OpluTO boom from Bombay by M.D David 74 Double Woven by Hutokshi D. Doctor r 7d Tha PaiHii Punchayot Case - XVII 84 In Memoriam Cover: Pahlavi calligraphy Parsiana is published by JShangir R Pafol at c/o !15^'LS?^5Si '‘~ ground floor, 39 A.K. Nayak M wg, Fort. Bombay 400 001, fxlnt^ Industrie, 324 A to Z Industrial Estate, G. Kadam Marg, Bombay phototypeset at Decora Printers, Bombay 400 009. AH rl^tsrewnr^^Add^as^ editorial and business corresptmdence to Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Phone: 268730; Annual Inland subscription: Rs 30for oneyMtJIZ issuer )' Foreign subscription rates: Seamait Rs 60 for one ySar. Rs 110 for two years: Airmail Rs 120 for one year. Rs 215 for two years. For US. personal cheques addS2 to cover bank charges. For Indian upoount ^heym add Rs 3 for bank chafges. Cheques and tfcafts are to be drawn in favour of Parsiana. Single copy price Rs 5 and Re 1. AH rates subject to change in postal rates. Airmail Rs 120 for phe year. Rs 215 for two years. ^4 f i R '^vV t k *' i’ y» 1.^ >«( . - ’.5'“ ‘i.: w I’ In Memoriam Mr. Fall Meherji Variava, biractor BLAZE ADVERTISING PVT. LTD. AND ASSCXJIATE CO»O»ANIES.p .5 -’1 »^)i^'|li»I...Hi A’-’^ si' [- I; r i L S -V r??? ^>‘ ,.'r'- ¦iX', S, ¦F* '''’Ate-' pfo^erhy.^assi^j^^ f-'" ' -.jm an envirois^ji^ culture and lOe-Of ;L tiofft in thek ^wn faUh'a'^.^rimge th^ Js •T whelmed 1"^ S arficfe **0:^ j^atest^ the easily lose, their moorings? as'lich issues eoncewj;- L no two opfnioris/on the ds a's they are \Vntry<;^ reflected by their Anjumans. menstrual period has beep a, strict reli- ,? Bombay Pafsl Pun». gious observance amongst the Parsis. * I "chayevwiff .continue to enjoy a domi- fn the Vendidad Chapter XVj, it is - I nant position'.. sBid, “The observaiwe,.fltf.^cluSioH7dur- ' I .K “Threat to Religion ” bogey has ing menres in a separate p^e has been I rai^d^ten enough m the past to in vogue from time imrnemorial (the . - I''' thirart all change, a^ should be treated or prehUtj»r£^t>ge}. Such - I with the contempt it deserves. ' a 'pl^e shddld be an unfrequented part And, nnally, doesn ’t mere name- "of the house. ” calling, coupled with a refusal to even sit The Arabs of old observed a similar , together and debate the difficult issues custom. Their wome n ,;d wing menses facing the community, reflect a paucity have to stay in a «e^ate hut or tent of truth? . v , ¦¦•¦¦'-;. ;f * E. p. BHARucHA Mohammeduns have been observing **« Jr "'5 f Kan^r; J «- "¦ Readers' views are Welcome on any subject 0 interest to the community and should be ^nt to the Editor, Box 892. Bombay 400001. Letters are . ......... - -.J and clarity. ;v Readers' Forurn, Farsiana. .Q.P.O. Box 892. Bombay 400001. Letters are Subject tb ecttdny'^^H' teasons of space Ewn at present certain classes . of ' . . _. ................. ,____ J ¦ ¦¦ Ba<«ia1 Uoa-olzUS this custom in one form or another. - .z^****\^“5^***^’^ The menstrual discharge invites bac- Ihe number of young Parsis both boys teriUl invasion of the body, as well as Head fnr An&fraUa outside the com- susceptibihty to the mischievous influ- Whii<=> I K/irwit »tia« .4 a .1 muutty is dlarmingty-latgc. Taking a ei^ofevil spirits ajid magicians leading xoun. of several re«Bt tor- lb l«s of self-et^lSSted ? 1^07 /4 thm-perhaps '50 percent menul or psych?^aX KuruXaimmS&aStl t”"*? married outside . h.is- such unclean stares of the body ans ’ J?® community. The trend is siimfof for i^t tbe ZoroastrUtt and pther grea^ ans to. Austfalia (Readers Parsis residing ip. JBombi^'or other relijaoig® warn its foHowerii i ' Forum, Fursiiimn, Jawhkr|^,.W3) towns'm. India or ahri^? - th. 1?®? ?W;««y country At this rate we arc surely heading-fpr; in the world which, ts not infested with what one Cstn call 'racial one or the other srigma of vices. t' * '“¦ . *- .^i;=S*SS?S£S sphere. The Indian gpvcrnp^nt.^^^ WhCh our forefathers left their homes mental, physical or ‘.p taxatiottand o|her benefits and in Iran they sacrificed all they possessed ' Thefirst scientifre aimroach towards S: SiS -S’.xHbetoS"X«.s ^to avoid by- At this mtfr we arc tX • i , '. "'¦ T’^'—dt l&ss effl^btive'J^^d..eyil- p‘^ wal RpMtively haSlen.;^<^tintffidh (o^ldw Spirifs of the tfea^f - w *]» inp them dpa to the economic decline of the' expfamed that she h^ always observed 3 Parsi^na March 1983 " "' ........ ; 1^;} '¦ I ¦tiI fi JEENA & COMPANY ESTD. 1900 IATA 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 that flowers handled by her during her menses withered very soon. This led him to investigate this influence of the men ­ strual state, and he found some sort of toxin in the red blood cells of the maid, but not in the plasma. He asked her to wear gloves and touch the flowers, and it was found that the gloves had protected the flowers from her menstrual influ ­ ence, which consequently maintained their freshness. He thus came to ’the con ­ clusion that some toxin is normally excreted by the skin duripg the menses by the sweat or sebaceous glands which has a toxic influence on living things when touched. This led to a more critical investiga ­ tion at the John Hopkin ’s University Laboratory by Messrs. Macht and Lobin (the latter a well-known woman investigator), who in order to avoid the criticism levelled against Schick for in­ vestigating the effect of a menstruating woman on cut flowers i.e., dying or dead tissue, investigated it on living, intact seedlings and plants. They found a toxin in the various body fluids of a men ­ struating woman which they named ‘menotoxin. ’ They came to the following conclusion — (i) Menotoxin occurs in large quantities premenstrually or just before and during the first few days of menstruation, (ii) Its presence is shown by its inhibitory effect on the growth of roots and stems of living seedlings and yeast; by its blighting effect on cut flow ­ ers; by its distorting effect on the geo ­ tropic (direction of growth) properties of the seedlings. “The results were so constant that the authors could, without much difficulty, diagnose or differentiate between men ­ strual and normal saliva or any other body fluid when unknown specimens were submitted to them. ” N.H. DADRAWAl.A APPOINTED VALUERS OF JEWELLERY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA GAZDAR PVT. LTD. Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay. f ' I '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 VIZ AG AP ATN AM -35 Phone : 62018 Rashid.D. Bamanbefaram Professioiial Photographer for Photos of Weddings, Navjotes and Birthday parties. Contact: Flat No. 3, First Floor, No. 6, Wadia Block, Khareghat Colony, 30A Hughes Road, Bombay 400007. Phone: 8226074 Tel: 243666 Telegrams: “MANUSCRIPT” ? 5 Parsiana March 1983Events and I I’ Personalities ' -si ¦¦ ¦ 'i''' • 1 ^4 & Borivli A giary Plan As the Parsi population of Bombay shifts from the congested, expensive core of the city to the relative calm of the suburbs, they feel the need for religious ing... 1 would request you to. pose-e„ on tne one ndnn jinH oAliAnc nf ziAnz\c>i4-f< i>r. nn_ ___ « _, , • ness ol the nature of interior designing. . - - ? Billimoria “may well be termed as one the Building Sinking Fund to provide of the pioneer Interior Designers in uv- r . T “. 7--------- *V renovation or rebuilding Bombay, having started his practice in donate lakhs of rupees in chanties every of the Adaran building, if necessary, at a 1941, when not many professionals even year but the charity buildings of Mai- later date. - ly pioicssionaiseven colm Bang (which consists of 20 build ­ ings and 65 bungalows) remain in disrepair. Some of the roads have been ident, are buildings which remain without any secretary, N.S. kotval? honorary treas- been constructed. Large portions of the F. Ii^ni, B.J. Fatakia, B.J. Kalyanwa^ ment committee proposes to build up ¦ 1 I Billimoria “may well be termed as rerio^ation or rebuilding Bombay, having started his practice in _____ 1 knew what Interior Designing was, ” states an LI.I.D. write-up. “He has on an The managing committee of the Asso- ____ __ _ ____ _____ _ ®harucha, pres- designed numerous apartments, offices A tc B.D. Thanawalla, honorary and banks, ” and “for many years he resurfaced after over 15 years but there secretary, M.D. Siodia, joint honorary " ’ " p ...Ixl A . -w V MV... approach road years after they have urer, H.E. Biiiimon'a,"¥.M “‘'Gotii their^headqulrterT. ” boundary walls continue to be broken down and trespass continues the west and south-west open plots of January 14. In the foreground land are used as a public toilet by the Memorial Trust Fund, the trespassers. Several large open plots of land serve mainly as refuse bins instead of providing much needed land in the I service of the community. I “Cultural programmes organised by I the Association during the year, were I limited to celebration of the Salgreh of I the Adaran. Over the years, the Associa- I tion held many cultural programmes in | Malcolm Hall owned by N.M. Wadia Charities. The Hall was made available to us on payment of their regular rent. Of late however, the use of the Hall has been denied to the Association. The of the Hall was first denied for gramme of ‘Dumb Charades ’. Next sought to organise a ‘Quiz Contest ’. I Some correspondence followed in I which various queries like the nature of I the programme, age groups ot the S members of our Library, were raised by " the Charities and answered by us. We ¦ were orally told that we could use the I Hall only a coupld of days before the | scheduled date. Rather reluctantly, we S had to cancel the programme as it was I 8 Parsiana March 1983 was a Design Consultant of Air-India and the Union Bank and designed many of A student of the London School of renowned Hollywood personality Persis Khambatta inaugurated . „ _____ 1 is Mithoo Jesia of the Mancherji Edaiji Joshi organisers of the fair. (Photograph courtesy The Daily.) i use a pro- we ’ hl r I V I -'x Ml r*' st iy L » • I 4 I. K I I .t r ( Interior Decoration, Billimoria was a . member of the.Design and Industries Association of London for several years, notes the report and is a founder ­ member of the institute and one of its earliest presidents. Mody established his firm, Mody and Colgan, in 1953, along "with his wife Vina Colgan, also an architect, accord ­ ing to the report. He obtained his Mas ­ ter ’s degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, and, according to his bio-data, was a former vice-president of the Indian Institute of Architects and a former member of the Board of Governors, School of Plan ­ ning and Architecture, Delhi. “He (was) a Member of Parliament, author of several books, journalist and Boman-Behram: Pointing out problems president of several organisations social as well as educational, ” notes the problems faced by, the Parsi commu- the Act, but concerned about its write-up which adds, “His architectural nity. administration which caused considera- projects and interior works are too numerous to relate. ” Ghadiali: “Good running and hard work 99 ¦ft] Boman-Behram informed the Com- ble difficulties. The second problem was mission chairman that the Parsi that there was constant interference in community was not only a minority, but the affairs of schools run by the ISdinOritV Panel amicroscopiccommunitywithapopula- community. tion,of less than 92,000 in India and The delegation also pleaded for total A delegation comprising B.K. Boman- 1,15,000 in the whole world. The exemption to be granted to the com- Behram, Ms Perviz F. Dotivala, Adi problem common to all was housing, munity from the Adoption of Children ~ ~ Bill which is pending, or else Pointing out the obstacles in the amendment to clause 14 of the Bill as The delegation also pleaded for total Mulla and Adi Chinoy recently met Boman-Behram said. Gopal Singh, chairman of the high- powered panel of the Minority Urban Land Ceiling Act, he clarified proposed by the Parsi Panchayat. _ J . , It was also pointed out that the Parsi Law of Intestate Succession, which discriminated between a son and a daughter, required to be reframed. Singh has assured them that he would look into all their grievances. Courtesy Ttie Daily, January 6, 1983. Commission and apprised him of the ii,at the community was not opposed to Noted Gujarati theatre personalities Ruby and Burjor Patel and other members of the popular theatrical trouipe Burjor Patel Productions will reportedly perfcntn in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. Among the plays they will perform are old favourites — Gher Ghugro Ghotalo, Oogi Dahapanni Daadh and JaltU Kar Koi Joi Jashe The team includes ’'ig- ‘J s 3 . Daisy Irani, Dadi Sarkari, ' Mukesh, Raval, Bomi, * and Dolly Dotiwala and Cyrus Dastur with Sam Kerawala as the technical man. r Mukesh, Raval, Bomi, •• 9 Parsiana March 1983 I: M j &# J Fj,-- r n' 1 I Outstanding Jaycee I The first-ever lady to win the Outstand- I ing Jaycee of India award is Ms Gool I Ghadiali, immediate past-president of I the Mahalaxmi Jaycees, the first lady I chapter of the Indian Jaycees, according ¦ to a press report. i The Mahalaxmi Jaycees is “a I dynamic organisation of young women...from all walks of life, ” who believe in the importance of active and responsible citizenship, notes a souvenir rdeased in March 1982. Convinced that “ladies chapters work at par, in fact better than our regular male chapters, ” Ms Ghadiali, according to the club ’s bulletin, “filed for this award instead of the usual habit of ladies filing for the Outstanding Lady Jaycee Award. ” It ’s been good running and hard work ” says Ms Ghadiali, a qualified teacher and practising landscape gar- ftt' 'i t.I dener referring to her eventful 3-year membership of this international organ ­ isation, in the course of which she has won several Jaycee awards for public speaking and participation. Dental A ward Dr. Keki M. Mistry, a well-known Bombay orthodontist was awarded a certificate of merit and a scroll by the Sri Lanka Dental Association at their 50th anniversary meeting held in Decem ­ ber last year, notes a report in the Jam- e-Jamshed daily newspaper. Mistry addressed the meet on the sub ­ ject of ‘Dental health services in deve ­ loping countries ’. Soonawalla: Maths shield She was also presented a Silver Salver - by the Delhi Parsee Anjuman. Select Cadet Arnaaz Behram Dumasia, a final year student of the Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi, was awarded the Prime Minister ’s Silver Baton as the best National Cadet Corp (N.C.C.) cadet in India recently, notes a report in the Jam-e-Jamshed newspaper. “The high- Scoring Success The conception held by many that Par ­ sis are weak in mathematics is proved wrong by Zahir Fardoon Soonawalla, who won the first prize and was adjudged the best student in mathemat ­ ics in Bombay at an inter-school mathe ­ matics quiz organised by the Nehru Centre, Nehru Planetarium in December 1982. • Zahir, a student of the Cathedral and John Connon School, whose father is the noted Bombay surgeon Dr Fardoon P. Soonawalla, also won the “presti ­ gious Shrinivasa Ramanujan Memorial light ofthis function was an invitation to Shield, ” notes a press release. “This is breakfast at the Prime Minister ’s resi- the first time that this newly instituted dence and a tea reception hosted by the shield has been awarded and henceforth President, ” notes the report. it will continue as an annually rotating Ms Dumasia is also reported to have trophy. ” won the Gold Medal from Delhi State as ~ the best Senior Wing Girl Cadet and Best (all-round) Student award by the “was the first recipient of (the) Silver Rotary Club of Bombay in February cup from the N.C.C. Director General. ” this year. Planetarium In addition, Zahir was awarded the e ? - If you love good food you'll find it at •The Gourmet ’ Restaurant ALA CARTE delicacies lovingly prepared by skilled Chef de Cuisine Hiron Gomes, who has catered to international celebrities. Open from 8 a m. to 11 p.m. ANAVJOTE.ALAGAN, ASILVER OR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, A FIRST-BIRTHDAY RARTY- OR ANY SUCH HIGHUGHTS OFYOURUFE celebrate it at West End Hotel. in beautiful setting of its Terrace Garden. Choose the day and leave alt the other problems to us. AT THE WEST END HOTEL Holds RECEPTION at pur newly renovated and decorated Banquet Room OR in the splendour of our starlit Terrace Garden West End’s Conference Plan Rs. 55/ ¦+• 15% Sales Tax per head Inclusive of: Room Rent, Buffet Lunch,l Morning and Evening Tea. % Ask for special concession offer for larger conferences. J * 11 Parsiana March 1983 «**, arr - -J* ife p S’; I Tithal Sanatorium: A Wasted Asset <9 , r 'i. ? 1. Is b PS ** ,1 J-' - 1^019 t'. 1 ¦W M - ^rj .. 'ZI 12 Parsiana March 1983 ‘i: present state of affairs. Community members have urged the trustees The Tithef ^hbtorlum in the Bulsar district of Gujarat whose real estate value is estimated to either maintain the by some at around Rs.40 sanatorium or permit Zoroastrians to develop the property either for housing or farming. Photographs by noted photographer Ashvin Mehta. *‘s lakhs stands in ruins. The four one-storeyed structures built by Seth Dhanjibhai Hirjibhai Patel and his wife reflect the E ¥ ¦ft. * * .r It *’ * 5? i fes 'rf- 37 i. .V,..^c < w ¦""TLft^At^ ¦ - ¦ V Aitr ' -1. r &» 1'“ t .4? f Yr'-'^ ' ‘- -5' V^-a t ¦ -S'Ssl Er*' I r* '* ,, , . . V ' a : abAi^^^BtUF to thtW margin, th«/< ¦“ 4j, ' • ox- ¦*k. >J> 2 <-ily: a:tet*<>^ thrte margin, thp/ trusteCsOfithe Bohibay Parsi Puncteyei '-to^tesficdteat ttetFederfodu'W^aot^ ~ note of jd^tae L v^;tb rej^n ttedFbderationrj^tarai? fna^ters Or it woufid^ k' Wate dr < ’tea'll-cCH^iiBH)^,,--w*^ w-^wwww « “Amceting waSbddwithrepreschta- ^ ttet ;dte Federation wiH have no sud^Mtwe..; dt^i^ tives,ofsditecdthettei® ’"Anjumansin' ftutbority to int^ere in the internal expressed on tte subje^ but ttet ift ’ r the month of fW2 and their a^irs pf the Pupchayet/ Anjuman itself should rtot picvent the Federatite^-^ ij \/.viewsbbiamed," noteddtejMCi^t^eaw. ,, from dealteg with d, / <.- ¦ ' -««TKr:r.j. ., ’’^ ' tlfe “We |ust.«^^;^l^i^1h^w^ The ih0^«mt<>vs^ »M as Uiat A tV .t'\ *>r* ^•'Ip^l^fF'etfeia^te5(b fto .SS.S?i’- from dealing wiiftIt, „ , ... ^________ ~ r / . AniuoMW»^iS*^^itelf ie in consultation the Delhi Farsi Anjumin Present, Tipst could he,^iowed to fe^ace aft J [: with some peopte who htitter in our ShiavtfxP.Nargolwala, ‘lta8commutrt-: the fWeratioa qf I Community, the Trustees of the Bom- cated his concurrence to the abovecon- Ahjumans is a body consisting of An^-^ ..j ' - •• ............ “ mafisfromW^^^inlndm^^^^ In pui^it^. dlP^; vtew'o^ these^ *i Z’y tey Paim T^hayfet i£^.by a prepond- ditions, * ( ' erant majority, that itiain4he interest of Tbpse BPP members who vqtcd in o the Parsi Community of libfia as, a favour of rejoining are: Chairman Dr F- 1' ¦ “\ ................................................ /“' J, Federadontl^ woo^bestroag,tepre- De^i and Jams heed Kahga. The three work." ,. „ L The trustees, hbwevpr/nbtt^ o^ipe^") and Jal Vimadalal i lowJig”pS’’!^*d^^*^S5 ^"^S^'Mfcd^’otftan^eofdis^iU in Fedemtiou^.ptbwdea4tey h»Wt t tedcratioh. < Ute pr^^s^^rene^^wHfefc^ necessary amendm^^ ’inthefrMte^' erant majority, thW ittain^te interest of Thpse BPP members who vqtcd in only in the ca« orDel|^;yt>dMPt^^sn^< the Parsi 'C^momty of liakfia as a favour of rejoining are: Chairman Dr (wil!) be asked lo go out and (the)Trust ' /; A , whole that a Federatioft Should exist, a AspiPtHwatta, Jamsted Guzder, Erach te aBow0^^th co^ in plaee of (the> , Federationthat wouldbestrong,pepre- Demi and Jamsheed Kanga. The three •' sentative andiabie to dd< consttucfive opposing members are: Dr Nelie K^le, that represents . ManecX Hodiwalla (both “condition- that particulaMertHory - '•^^i s ¦ed*. ’). Anlttman. After all it i^ the 'Atyuman that re^re^ts the ^ews of Pata^ ’;|B(r;^^ therefore.^ that the Anjuman should be aUow^.to remtUn '-¦V 1 u .*^>^. 'ibi ^3 .. a weibber te^.|h)»ti thaw Ttusi^ ’^'t^ «ia». ties si will be a. nrq jU- .kfca* '^j^IbcMMari^ ? ties-1 **- ft ,v 1^: j^4j^|>be«w>hoM|n to sotttedf^ trus- ¦’^1 i ¦F* ‘'' 4 * H*" ‘'^ ,/ » 11^^ / J v« W pretent- When Kanga asked for a s^rds. Af^^ote. i^bJe replied she had The fo^^bte^ TShiph u«etB s~' tion in tetras of the above stated i^r aa^^mter AM "^lr"».*, *'V A -* X -1.^^ I ' *4 * , ' ‘ W. . - . ^^SHAbad tes^^'' from ta 1SS8 tHHeTjtlteo __ _ ^ aueecssful hostings^t^^ Zofoastrian , B ¦ ¦“S^ 1 ^^^ilKrA-,-. of^ x, •; 1., *“ * ‘ ^1 -5^ ‘¦^ *p t5 •* .-St * j4=> ' *“ ^k? >r' A- ’e .> ’ •i , . -^1 n 'A.“ * fv--. The Navjote of Joseph Peterson ropolitan Chicago in reply stated: “Your letter with the accompanying write-ups was put before the ZAC Board at our last Board Meeting on October 17,1982. After a lot of discussion on this matter, we arrived at the following stand: (a) The number... of a dying race should not be the only criterion upon which the ony... No objections were made in the issue of Conversion should be decided. ¦ . (b) Our efforts should be directed According to reports, Frvad Noshir- towards quality rather than quantity for wan Hormazdiyar is to perform Peter- there is no point in having additional son ’s navjote which reportedly has the so-called paper Zoroastrians when the ¦* “As you may or may not be aware... Mr. Joseph Peterson of Minnesota has meeting ’.”, requested to be initiated in the Zoroas ­ trian fold, ” announced a Special News Bulletin of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York signed by ZAGNY backing of many of the ^oroastrians educational inputs of the religion are so President Faroke G. Gandhi. “Joseph is an exceptional individual and has acquired a great deal of Zo ­ roastrian knowledge and is following when Dr (Ervad)Jehan Bagli, Editor of indicate that an expansion programme the precepts of Zoroastrianism since Gavashni, the quarterly publication of should only be undertaken if one ’s over the Iasi ten years, including wearing the Zoroastrian Association of Quebec house is in order. ” the Sudreh and Kusti which he himself (ZAQ), wrote about him in the Sep- The Chicago association also asked prepared. ” With Peterson ’s navjote tentatively Parsiana December 1981£‘Zoroastrian- scheduled for March this year, the issue of conversion has come to the fore in the New World as noted the ZAGNY new- North American Zoroastrian Congress sletter. “The Navjote ceremony would be a precedent setting event and has pro ­ duced great doubts and agony in certain cepts — Do they have a place? ’ Adi parts of the community. It has sparked Davar, president of the Zoroastrian the related crisis situation on the unans ­ wered question of acceptance/non- acceptance to Zoroastrianism which has been a delicate and very pressing issue in the Greater New York Zoroastrian com ­ munity. ” As regards using the Arbab Rustom ____ Guiv Darbe Mehr in New Rochelle, ism. I passed a copy of the/tve ’jZa in a Ms Dastoor replied that ZAQ was “in New York for the navjote ceremony. Dr library one day. 1 was half way out the the process of compiling comments and Shari J. Merabi, chairman of the board of trustees of the Darbe Mehr noted: “The position of the Board of Trustees... has now become very ckar as recorded again. 1 found it to be a difficult text, scholars contacted, stated Dastoor, in the minutes of airecent joint meeting giving a somewhat unclbar picture of an were Dasturs Kaikhus roo JamaspAsa, of the (Darbe Mehr trustees and the ZAGNY Board of Directors) dated from Iran recently settled in North weak and often unavailable to those America. who are born in the faith. Peterson first came into the public eye (c) Prudent business practice would (ZAQ), wrote about him in the Sep ­ tember 1981 issue of the journal (see for views representing both traditional ism: The Lost Vision ’). The subject of conversion again arose at the Fourth held in Montreal,Quebec on 10 and 11 ^’'April last year in the session titled, ‘ Non-rZoroastrians in Zoroastrian Pre- "Any desirous individual who knows the basic principles of the Zoroastrian religion is welcome to have any Zoroastrian ceremony... In the Darbe Mehr." Association of Metropolitan Washing ­ ton read a paper on the subject which was followed by a lengthy discussion. Peterson also addressed the Congress (see attached piece ‘Peterson ’s Perspec- and liberal points of view as they felt tive ’) and noted, “It was over ten years only the liberal viewpoint was being ago that 1 learned about Zoroastrian- presen^d. ism. 1 passed a copy of the Avesta in a T' . door before 1 realized that the title was criticisms received from various individ ­ stuck in my mind- Out of curiosity 1 uals and Associations which would later went back and searched until 1 found it be presented as a report. ” Among the again. 1 found it to be a difficult text ancient and unique faith. The more 1 . studied, the more I became impressed Hormazdiyar: Setting a precedent with the inspired teachings of Zara- thushtra. They seemed to answer my- most difficult questions about life in a perfectly sound and almost startling ¦. fashion. I soon began to think of myself J as essentially Zoroastrian. ” . The Congress “charged (ZAQ) with the responsibility of doing the spade ­ work into the question of ‘Acceptance ’ "Joseph is an exceptional individual and has acquired a great deal of Zoroastrian knowledge." » ¦'..... ......................!------------------ ----------- .------------- i October 1981 which reads, ‘In the opin- into the social fabric of the religion, the j i who knows the-basic principles of the 'Zoroastrian religion-is -¦ •J ¦-. >¦ *^¦1 * * 5 > i .Ja ,^,¦5 '-j ¦'5F f Firoze Kotwal, Meheiji Rana, Hor- mazdyar Mirza and Navruz D. Minochehr-Homji, Dr Pesho'tan Pire, Ervad R.N. Panthaky, Ms Shirin Kutai , Farrokh Bamji, Dr Ali Jaffrey, Prof Kaikhosrov Irani and Khojeste Mistree. Dastoor mentioned that the question pertained “essentially to acceptance of children where only one parent is a Zoroastrian and not to conversion ‘en masse ’.’* Bagli, in a paper entitled ‘Zoroastrian Challenge: A Position Clarified, ’ pub ­ lished in the August issue, of Gavashni noted," although a religion per se is not a monopoly of any group of human beings, the right to preserve a religion is fully within the bounds of any commu ­ nal group to exercise. Prof. Kaikhosrov D. Irani, chairman of the Philosophy Department at the City University of New York in a paper w s • Al '4* Witii Compliments From "Our efforts should be directed towards quality rather than quantity." EMPIRE } Zoroastrians and the Zoroastrian Com­ munity in North America (reproduced in this issue of Parsiana) stated, “there is... no rule in theology which prevents a Navjote being performed by Zoroas ­ trian clergy or laity of anyone who wishes it and manifests the competence to undergo the same... “What then is the issue the commun- ‘ ity faces? It is this: given a person with ? Zoroastrian beliefs and performing Zoroastrian ritual practice,-but of non- Zoroastrian parents, may this person be admitted to membership in Zoroastrian religious associations in North Amer ­ ica?... This being a social (not a reli ­ gious) question, must be given a social answer. I do not propose one, for after all it must reflect the thoughtful and bal anced judgement ol the comniunity. ’' While the North American Zoroastri ­ ans will have to decide the issue of accepting or rejecting Peterson, in . India, where Peterson would be barred from enjoying any of the privileges spec ­ ified for Parsi Zoroastrians including worshipping in an agiary, his navjote is bound to raise the same issue. But while it is unlikely he will find much support in the Parsi bastion of Bombay and in parts of Gujarat, there will be many who will view his navjote as the first step towards a Zoroastrian renaissance. ESTATE 4 Liberty Building 41/42 Marine Lines Bombay 400020 * *. */* 19 Parsiana March 1983•« s\ 7" r: Peterson’s Perspective The following is a text of an address “It was over ten years ago that I presented by Mr. Joseph H. Peterson-a learned about Zoroastrianism. I passed The following is a text of an address practicing Zoroastrian - to the acopyoftheAve^minalibraryoiwday. realized that the title was stuck in my mind. Out of curiosity I went back and searched until 1 found it again. I found it to be a difficult text, giving a somewhat unclear picture of an ancient and unique my interest in this subject has faith. The more 1 studied the more I approached obsession. The only conclu- became impressed with the inspired sions I can offer are the ways in which teachings of Zarathushtra. They seemed my life has been affected. 1 am very to answer my most difficult questions honored to have been invited here and 1 about life in a perfectly sound and hope my perspective is of some interest almost startling fashion. I soon began to to you. think of myself as essentially Zoroas- “My approach to Zoroastrianism has trian. been different from most others. No- “One of the first things I learned is the body told me about it. I had to go to great debt, largely unacknowledged, great lengths to learn what I could. This that Christianity and many other reli - is somewhat sad, since I have found it to gions owe to Zoroastrianism. Indeed it be a noble and beautiful religion. 1 have seems that a large part of the supposedly had no exposure at all to the community divine revelations of their prophets until very recently. 1 therefore have little came from the teachings of Zarathush- background on which to judge its cultu- tra. The most obvious examples to me ral problems. I have always viewed were the concepts of good and evil, the Zoroastrianism as a personal religious renovation of the universe, the future experience. My knowledge of it admit- saviour and the resurrection of the tedly comes from books, mostly written body. by non-Zoroastrians. 1 therefore lack „ the strong sense of tradition and identity tion by religious scholars of these influ- that the Zoroastrian community shares. “I’d like to start by giving some back- North American Zoroastrian Congress 1 was half way out the door before I held in Montreal, April 10 and 11,1982. “I’d like to talk today about Zoroastri ­ anism from a view outside the commun ­ ity. Although I am not a Parsi or Irani, 1-^ ________ approached obsession. The only conclu- became impressed with the inspired “One of the first things I learned is the There is a wide and growing recogni- ences. More and more mention is being made in literature about the importance ground on myself. lam a'middle-class of studying both the history and the American. Perhaps the only thing theology of the Zoroastrians. It is very remotely unique about my upbringing is _ the fact that my mother was Catholic , and my father Protestant. Although they were both Christian they were quite different philosophically . They even had two versions of the Bible. They never openly discussed their differences. I’m sure they each were convinced their ver ­ sion represented the truth. I heard con ­ flicting versions of the so-called truth' from each confidentially, and was there- _ fore forced to question both. While 1 was questioning, I found I couldn ’t unfortunate therefore that there is so accept some basic Christian doctrines, little in print on this subject, and much For instance 1 couldn ’t accept that all of what is, is a rehashing of already pagans were denied salvation, especially obsolete material. Of my one hundred if they had never had the opportunity to ^nd some odd books on Zoroastrian- judge Christianity. I concluded that a ism, only about one fourth are in print, person ’s salvation must depend primar- Most of these are from one publisher, ily upon his acts of goodness, and not on AMS Press, and are very expensive, the religion in which he is brought up. I Unfortunately almost all of it is by non ­ began to study the details of the major Zoroastrian scholars. The rest of my religions in trying to answer these ques- books 1 have photocopied from some- tions. what rare originals. The most important 21 Parsiana Mardi 1983 'Zarathustra's teachings seemed to answer my most difficult questions about life in a perfectly sound and almost startling fashion." little in print on this subject, and much . ¦ 4' AMS Press, and are very expensive. ."s LALAS SUMMER VACATION PROGRAMME KASHMIR Delhi, Agra, Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg 14 April, 3, 14 & 22 May 1983 Cost: Rs.2,095/- (2nd class) SIMLA - MANALI Kulu, Chandigarh, Bhakra Nangal 6 May 1983 Cost: Rs.2,125/- (2nd class) DARJEELING Calcutta 8 May 1983 Cost: Rs. 1,750/- (2nd class) NAINITAL Delhi, Bhimtal 2 May 1983 Cost: Rs. 1,345/- (2nd class) MLJSSOURIE Delhi, Dehradun 10 May 1983 Cost: Rs. 1,155/- (2nd class) NEPAL Patna, Kathmandu 12 May 1983 Cost: Rs.2,175/- (2nd class) SOUTH INDIA Madras, Mahabalipuram, Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, Cochin, Trivandrum, Kanyakumari, Pondicherry, Periyar Game Sanctuary and Kodaikanal 7 May 1983 Cost: Rs.2,100/- (2nd class) H.K.LALA&CO. Bansilal Villa, Sobhani Road, Colaba, Bombay 400 005. Tel: 211925, 215094 Gram: EDTOURS, Bombay Office Hours Mon-Fri: 10 a.m. to 5.30. p.m. Sat: 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. i “I v; A-5 * "Of my one hundred and some odd books on Zoroastrianism, only about one-fourth are in print." “My style of Zoroastrianism has con- references had to be taken out of storage I feel obliged to mention. There is a sunrise, and before and after sunset. I for me. One example is a copy of fairly wide recognition of the impor- try to observe each Nyaish every week Geldner ’s Avesta ini Avestan letters. It tance of the teachings of Zoroaster and each Yasht at least once a year, seems to me to be critically important to within the -mystical community. This Besides self discipline these observances make more of this material accessible. I includes Theosophy, Hazdazan and have taught me a deep respect for the . Szekely ’s group. Although their doc- natural elements and the Cosmic influ- ’ trines are not always consistent with ences which govern these. To fill the Zoroastrianism in my opinion, they need fora prayer book, I have handwrit- have recognized and tried to associate ten a small manuscript with parallel themselves with the immensely strong English and Avestan prayers. I found it religious tradition of these teachings, too difficult to use Geldner ’s text, as it My own impression however is that they continually abbreviated passages, have mainly adopted Zoroastrian terms necessitating constant paging back and rather than doctrine. I tfiight add that forth. Besides, I think it ’s useful to have while 1 don ’t subscribe to any of these the English version side by side. I know am particularly excited therefore that groups, I have nothing against them. J.J. Modi ’s great work TTie Religious “My style of Zoroastrianism has con- Ceremonies and Customs of the Par- stantly changed and grown. I originally sees, is back in print. read the prayers in English. 1 still believe “The general public has veiy little it ’s important to know the meaning of knowledge of Zoroastrian teachings. If the praj^rs. 1 eventually found a cord they have heard of Zarathushtra at all it suitable for a kusti which I renewed with is only the name via Richard Strauss, or short impromptu prayers. I learned the maybe they have read Nietzche. It Avestan versions of the Ahuna Vairyo, therefore seems important to me that Ashem t'ohu, Yenghe hatam and Aie more effort be made to inform people in ryema Ishyo. These 1 have since recited of no printed version to satisfy this need, the interest of intercultural understand- many times daily as a source of inspira- but I feel that it would be very valuable, ing. Most people would benefit from tion. 1 later adopted the English version I have tried to pattern my pronouncia- , • exposure to these teachings, for they of the Kusti prayers. It was a few years tion after Jackson ’s Avesta Grammar. I inspire goodness, industriousness, self later that I learned the Pazend and find this a very difficult text however, discipline and cooperation. Avestan version. I now try to renew it not knowing any Sanskrit, and would “There is one other community which four times each day: Before and after like to find an easier text as well as a "I made my first Sudra around eight years ago. I wore it day and night and it quickly fell apart." -» Match your AMBITION to a CAREER •< To do so we offer you : • Diploma Course in Business Management (Oral/Postal) (IMC) • Banking: C.A.I.I.B. Course (Postal) • G.C.D. Course • Executive Secretarial Course • Private Secretarial Course Steno Secretarial Course • Telephone Operating • Personal Assistants' Programme (working stenographers) • Telephone Operating-cum-Receptionist Techniques • Shorthand & Typewriting • Punch Operating • Telex Operating A 1 Enquire at : Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk, BOMBAY 400 001. Tel: 251185 23 Parsiana March 1983r good dictionary. The only dictionary 1 have found is very bulky and long out of . print. - “1 made my first Sudra around eight years ago. 1 wore it day and night and it quickly fell apart. The second one lasted much longer because I started taking it off while 1 sleep. 1 now have my fourth Sudra and my third Kusti. I have tried as best I could to consecrate them by recit ­ ing the appropriate prayers mentioned in Modi ’s book. “Although 1 am hardly qualified, 1 would like to mention my feelings on some other issues. I view many of the important issues confronting the com ­ munity as cultural rather than religious. Distinguishing between these two com- "Perhaps the only thing rernotely unique about my upbringing is the fact that my mother was Catholic and my father Protestant." JTow offers A Grand Buffet Lunch on every Sunday at the Swimming Pool for Rs. 40/-only with a free swim, sun-bathing 8* music. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fariyas Hotels Private Ltd. 25 Off Arthur Buiwler Road, Colaba, Bombay 400 005 For Tabla Reservations, Contact: Hospitality Desk, Tel. 215911 *•? ponents is important in order to permit natural cultural change, while preserving the purity of the prophet ’s vision. I stress the word ‘natural ’ because 1 think that forced change often ends up being more destructive than constructive. This is one reason why 1 strongly oppose mis- sionary activities. People resist change partly because of the need for identity and stability and fpissionary activities often destroy both religious and cultural needs. On the other hand 1 don ’t under ­ stand any objection to performing > ceremonies for people Who honestly seek them of their own volition. “The question of doctrinal unity has never bothered me. 1 don ’t think that any ancient religion can honestly claim [ doctrinal unity, lhe various texts 1 involved were produced at different times to suit different situations. Some t of the issues that are discussed in the . ancient texts have little application to ! * the modern world. Thus they need to be examined in the context in which they were written. “Because 1 am not a member of the community, 1 have had to make do with improvised and very imperfect obser ­ vances. 1 have tried as best as 1 could to be faithful to the teachings of Zara ­ thushtra in spite of the difficulties, and 1 welcome this opportunity to learn from you. ” 25 Parsiana March 1983 •e w ^1 C6.B82.151 - Gifts& [Wittflig The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive gifts and Zoroastrian artefacts B&mbay Swadeshi Stores Ltd Sir P.M. Roaxi , Bombay 400 001 Tel: 253443 & 2527304 ’^'5 f Zoroastrianisiii andthe Zoro^trian Community of N orth America f Professor Kaikhosrov D. Irani f "There is no rule in theology which prevents a Navjote being performed by Zoroastrian clergy or laity of anyone who wishes it.” 1 'J -( ?' The general question on which much it by marriage to become a member of tain view of the world and a related way ' discussion has taken place and on which the faith, the rest are excluded, because of life. The Zoroastrian view of the 1 have been asked to comment is the god exercises protective power only world is the following: Ahura-Mazda whether and under what conditionsper- on his tribe. envisaged an ideal creation according to sons born of non-Zoroastrian parents The Gathas of Zarathushtra and the a principle of perfection, Asha. Within may become Zoroastrians and be Bundahishn (the theology of creation creation there arose two Spirits, one members of the Zoroastrian Associa- and the final restoration) indicate that good, Spenta-mainyu the other bad, . tions of North America. Zoroastrianism is a universal religion. Angra-mainyu.In physical creation,the Before examining the Zoroastrian We know from historical evidence that ideals of each type of creation are position let us consider the possible reli- it is non-proselytizing; we also know represented by the six Amesha-Spenta, giousattitudes>ofa religion toward those that many persons of non-Zoroastrian but creation itself is contaminated by who are non-members. A religion may parentage in ancient and medieval Iran the evil spirit. The good-mind, Vohu- be universal, i.e. the vision it offers is accepted the faith and were accepted mana, an essential element of creation, us to discern the ideal from the contaminated reality. We, human beings, are divinely created but do suffer religion may be proselytizing or not. If it Zoroastrianism viewed as the religion of evil contamination. Upon death our is, the members of the faith or the clergy a tribe from which others were excluded ................ seek converts; usually by persuasion, but until the practice of the Parsis in the last sometimes by force. If it is not proselyt- few centuries-in Indta; " izing, it does not seek converts, but it cannot refuse to accept a believer who 30, known as the Gatha of Choice, Zara- wishes to enter of his own accord, for thushtra calls upon us to hear him, to thatwouldcontradictitsuniversality.lt look upon the alternatives in life with a good-mind to realize Asha, the ideal would be like saying: this is the truth but clear mind and asks each one to choose truth. Hence to practice good thoughts, we will not let you believe it. for himself. Each one of us is inalienably good words and good deeds, thus work- There are religions, however, which are endowed with the privilege of choice, as ing to bring the world to perfection, is not universal, they are tribal or sectar- each one of us bears the responsibility the moral imperative. ian. Such a religion is the belief oT a for that fateful choice. Freedom ofcho- -- - - ~ i f t I 1 true everywhere and for all time. The into the community of the faithful, divinity is proclaimed to be universal Almost the whole of Iran was Zoroas- and the message addressed to all. Such a. trian in Sassanian times. At no time was In verses 2^nd 3 o#4he Gatha, Yasna immortal souls will be judged in terms of the goodness of our lives. In the final end all creation will be purged of evil and perfection established. Related to this view is a way of life which calls upon each of us through the -S t "A universal religion cannot refuse to accept a i believer who wishes [ to enter of his own accord.'' If we look at the Gathas (i.e., the mes- ice bein^ a fundamental element of sage of Zarathushtra) this is what con- Zoroastrian theology, it renders prose- stitutes being a Zoroastrian. Now if lytizing, as distinct from preaching, there is a person who accepts this view of unacceptable. Equally, on the other the world and is committed to this way hand, it cannot permit exclusion of of life, is he or is he not a Zoroastrian? someone from accepting the faith, for that would violate his freedom to choose. The issue we are considering is a com ­ pound of two distinctly separate ones. And if he is not born of Zoroastrian parents, is he less good, noble and worthy of salvation than another whose i " pound ot two distinctly separate ones, parents are Zoroastrians? In a very sig- ' group or tribe. The god is the god of that One is theological: What is it to be a nificant sense such a person is a Zoroas- trlbe and not of another. It admits that Zoroastrian ? The other is social or com- trian, and religiously he is neither more other people have other gods; this is why munal: Who may become a member of or less so depending on other Zoroastri- it is not universal. In such religions one the Zoroastrian community ? ans accepting or rejecting him from their must be bom into the tribe or come into A Zoroastrian is committed to a ccr- community. This is because Zoroastri- ( the Zoroastrian community ? A Zoroastrian is committed to a ccr- t 21 Parsiana March 1983 I-r. 7^ •ijr SI ad* Sv, Ifnism is p^dominarttly ar* etftieal reli ­ gion. But is there not a ritualistic aspect to being a Zoroastrian, over and above the betief aspect we ju^ saw ? The answer is that there is a traditional ntuai, the ;, icusti prayer, in whichthe affirmation the faith is Fecited in addition to approp ­ riate moral'injunctions. Frequently itas the faith is Fecited in addition to af>prop- '«*fe With Gomplimwts held that for a person toa Zorot^-* trian, the Nayjote ceremony, which ini­ tiates one into this ritual, must have been perfOrrned. This is clearly an accept^ traditional rule. There is, how- ei^r, no rulean theology which prevents a ?rS - sX -"‘I -•^4about associations of Zoroastriahs, a, nbn-Zoroastrtans?; siflp&c ^m «f there r r f I I !r ¦ purely religimtsi^' Resignation, tVhere husbands nor their chtlRrencouM enter the association and the faith. Under these ebnditions the community will being a Parsi has neither religious nor Thus 5ve have this option with respect dwi ndle and ultimately di sappea r. legal significance. to the social practice of out religious Second, it is quite possible that some organizations: Shall wd accept as associations or communities will accept members those who by conviction and Zoroastrians of nOn-Zproastrian paren- practice are Zoroastrians, but whose par ­ entage is not ? This being a social (not a associations or communities will accept tage while others wiH noL We shall then encounter the tragic prospect of a small practice are Zoroastriahs, but whose par- < J ' Z , . . ..... religious) question, miust be given a religious community dedicated to the social answer, i do not propose'one, for same ethical teaching but divided on after all it must reflect the thou^tful matters of ethnic and racial import and balanced judgment of the comniuh- irrelevant to the teachings of the ity. ^7 - There is however one area where the response ought to be in the affirmative, r _____ ' , .... .. ,.. . should, if they so wish and if ttey have reason of family connedtion or other- the conviction, be made full-fledged wise wish to become members of members of the Zoroastrihh association - Zoroastrian associations. Let the choice regardless of parentage. The high regard be made in accordance with the admoni- Prophet,^ Third, we adopt a policy of acceptance into the assdeiations those whose convictions and practices have Members of the families ofZoroastrians made them Zoroastrians and who by for the integrity and even sanctity of the tion of the Prophet: with our hearts family in the Zoroastrian tradition filled with the spirit of benevolence makes this conclusion perfectly plausi- {Spenta-Armaiti} with our thinking ble as well as morally imperative. illumined by the good mind (PoAm- As we look into the future three possi- mana)9iXxA our visions fixed upon truth bilities seem to face us. First, we con- and righteousness (Aj/io). tinue to apply the rules of the Parsi Zoroastrians of India, in which case the young women of the community will leave the community upon marrying Reprinted from the December 1982 issue of Cavaxhni About the author: K.D. Irani is a professor of pbilosphy and chairman of the department of philosophy. City Uni­ versity of New York. Up on Adil Govadia, the World, ’ (Parsiana, ) it was inadvertently Govadia is planning a a motorcycle. The tour Laleigh lO-gear bicycle. .¦ ‘ V. ¦ t Best Compliments From The White Cloud Paper Mills 412, Gultekdi Road Poona — 41 r 037 Pioneer ManufaetuTers of Quality Filter Papers, Filter Pads and Filter Pulp in India Imitated by many - Equalled by none .’rt 1 fi' B, JarhsbiBtijt Jivanji Estdi 1901 Qoldarnith & Manu^turing Appointed Valuers of Jewellery to the GoverfthieM of India T- ' Opp. Mumbadevi, Zaveri Bazar, Bombay 400 002. Telephone: 327464 Between 11a W. and 7 p.m. StMement oF'OwnersMp uid other fMrticulars about Paraiaihi. Form IV (Rule 8) Place of Pidrlication: Bofnbay PcriodtcRy of Publicatton; Monthly Printer, Publisher, Editor and Proprietor: Jehiingir’R. Patel Nationality: Indian Address: 28S J. Dadaji Marg. Bombay 400 007 1, Jehangir R. Patel, hereby deciare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Sd. (Jehangir R. Patel) I March 1983, Phone: 441078 Gram: Whitecloud 31 Parsiana March 1983 . -•i'- i-¦A’ ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD 1 Zoroastrian Traditions A day-long conference on the ‘Aspects belief. ” of Zoroastrian Tradition ’ in which the theological, ethical and historical view reviewing the ‘Zoroastrian tradition in trian tradition and viewed them in the your next visit to India you may want to context of historical and contemporary visit Atashbehrams. Take your children along. Such experiences will last them a Ervad Noshirwan Hormazdiyar, lifetime. ” “ ¦ I The ZANC office bearers for 1982- of the message of Zarathushtra was dis- the contemporary world, ’surveyed the 1984 are: Dhun Engineer, president, cussed, was held by the Zoroastrian “priestly tradition through the centuries Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) on October 23 last year. In the first half, Charles Evans, Professor of Philosophy at the City Col- , lege of New .York probing into the ‘Influence of the Zoroastrian tradition on Western ideas, ’discussed the “theologj- Among the latest Zoroastrian Associa- cal ideas such as the conflict between tions abroad to publish a directory of its good and evil, the final judgement, life members is the Zarthoshti Anjuman of after death, and the Zoroastrian influen- Northern California. ces on the Judeo-Christian tradition “For quite some time there has been from the time of Cyrus entering Babylon constant demand from the Zoroastrian to the late Sassanian period, ” writes public that we should have a directory of Kaikhosrov D. Irani, who was a speaker all Zoroastrians in (the) San Francisco as well. Bay area, ” writes ZANC secretary Irani, also a professor of philosophy Jimmy A. Makujina in the directory ’s at the City College, speaking of the preface. ‘Comparative perspective on the in Iran and India and traced the present attitudes to historical incidents in the life of the community. ” California Listing on the Judeo-Christian tradition Darius Captain, vice-president, Rusi ."1 A’ : The attractively produced 44-page Zoroastrian ethical tradition ’ concen- directory with over 20 pages of adver ­ trated on the ethical message of Zara- tisements, lists the approximately 170 thushtra. He contrasted it with other families residing in Northern California, philosophic views in the history of The directory listing starts with the Vasania, treasurer, Shtzad Contractor, human thought. names, qualifications, address and jt. treasurer, Jimmy Makujina, secre- In the second half. Dr FarhangMehr, phone numbers of 11 physicians in the tary, Sarosh Patel, jt. secretary, Jeroo a former vice-chancellor of Pahlavi Uni- area. The largest entry under one name Captain, Kobad Jamshed, Arvi Kasad, versity in Iran, discussing ‘Zoroastrian- is Patel (&)followed by Engineer (7) and Jijibhoy Patel, Ronny Sadri, Vera ism: new approach to an old wisdom ’ Irani (6). Shroff and Rohinton Surty. examined the “message of Zarathushtra A list of the eight Atashbehrams in The office is located at 406 Blue Ridge and several later elements in the Zoroas- India is also given with a note —“During Drive Martinez, California 94553. A list of the eight Atashbehrams in Evans: Theological viewpoint Irani: Comparing philosophies Mehr: Historical perspective 33 Parsiana March 1983 •is J *3 'v* ¦J¦ft ¦* » When Cyrus Bharucha first talked Conductor Zubin Mehta. Still strug- Service series 'Crisis to Crisis con- about making a film on Zarathustra gling to raise money, enmeshed in sisting of ten major documentary costing around Rs 40 lakhs, many several controversies about the script films on America. He was until were skeptical of his succeeding. But and the. portrayal of Zarathustra in recently impressario/producer for by January 25 when Parsiana inter- the movie, Bharucha appeared deter- Francis Ford Coppola s company, viewed him attheTata head-quarters mined and confident he would sue- Zoetrope. of Bombay House, the 40-year-old ceed. A winner of several awards, Bha- New York based director and pro- EducatedatKentCollegeinCan- rucha has spent the last 19 ye^s in ducer, had for his 90-minute docu- terbury, England and at the Polytech- television. From 1972 to 1976 he drama 'A Quest for Zarathustra' nic in London, where he received his was a producer at the British Broad- filmed scenes in Navsari, Panchgani B.Sc. in Photography, the Bombay casting Corporation, where he had and Bombay with the internationally born Bharucha is currently the pro- over a hundred credits to his renowned New York Philharmonic ducer for the Public Broadcasting name. iNcvv luiix uaocu r--' EducatedatKentCollegein Can- ducer, had for his 90-minute docu- terbury, England and at the Polytech- television. From 1972 to 1976 he ’ . ¦ • '.II.*— ___ _ _ _ D l>* «%/*l _ J i Bharucha’s Quest for Zarathustra s •f B W i S‘ ¦ ¦ ! ]* * fe /¦& So the decision was purely mine. It is a huge risk; 1 mean the chances were it could be a total fiasco having two inexperienced actors playing these very key roles. And 1 thought well, for better -1 J' Parsiana: How far have you come in the movie upto now? Bharucha: Well, so far we have got to the point where we filmed the sequence with Zubin Mehta and the person whois , _ playing the priest, which is Khojeste or worse that ’s my job as a director,^to have done it. The other thing was that 1 found that if there were any points when things had to be checked out and elabo ­ rated someone like Khojeste who is a very fine scholar would have them at his finger tips. It is better doing that than having to carry an advisor on the film all try and pull it off and 1 hope to God 1 ft' k* i Mistree. We decided to take Khojeste on because ‘A’ 1 thought we could get a good performance out of him and ‘B’ because Zubin had this idea that we should have a Parsi playing the priest, because from time to time we wanted to lapse into Gujarati and improvise, which is what we did. And I would say we stuck 95 percent to the script and the time. But I guess what finally con- there was probably five percent of vinced me was the audition with him — improvisation which kind of adds he came through on the audition, authenticity to the whole situation. r • I was going to bring in an actor and Parsiana: Khojeste ’s points of view to interestingly enough the recommenda- " ‘ tions for Khojeste came to me from a variety of sources including some trus- tecs C* •a.-w ____-__ Zubin himself. 1 wasn ’t pressurised by give his own points of view at all. The anyone, that 1 want to make very clear and certainly the Parsi Punchayet had not given us a penny at that moment. 34 Parsiana March 1983 authenticity to the whole situation. r a I tf some extent are controversial ? Bharucha: Khojeste was made to stick __ _______ _______ very firmly to the script. He was not of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and allowed to divert from it, not allowed to script was cheeked out not only by a committee in America, but I cross ­ checked and made changes in the script wwlSfjsa ¦& 41 'I & r1.1 ? * 1 - a -y with the help of people like Prof. Wil- long meeting with Dasturji Rana and ity and 1 guess 1 get hurt when some lard Oxtoby from Toronto. 1 checked Dasturji Kotwal and we went through people start to accuse me of not being the script very thoroughly with Dastur very, very intricate religious points. The Dr Firoze Kotwal, Dasturji Meherji whole.aspect of God being perfect and Rana and several others. I had the Parsi what does it mean when you say God is Punchayet have their scholars look at not all-powerful. It ’s a very complex anyone in the world today who has the script and Dr Aspi Golwalla (chair- answer. In the end yes, he is powerful, man of the BPP) who only saw the but let me.put it this way —it is beauti- second draft, said to (co-producer) fully put actually by I think Dasturji Meherji Madon, the script is perfect. honest. You show me anyone in the world today who can spend five lakh rupees on research alone; show me worked as closely with scholars as I have done; show me anyone in the world today who has even attempted a film on Zoroastrians the way we attempted it. 1 brought (script-writer) Bill Humble done is created a perfect blueprint for What upsets me a great deal is when 1 over with the express purpose of again the world. And we are in the process of hear people claiming that 1 haven ’t done checking thingsand here as well he had a making the perfect world. There are at the moment a lot of forces coming into the world which are evil, but eventually God will win out and God wall-perfect Qu6St...’ iS 3 Symbolic and in the end, through man, he will make this world perfect. In the beginning when we discussed this and when we put in lines like — God is not all-powerful, well, everyone jumped up in the air and got very upset .about it. Well, people haven ’t read the ' script. We cannot in every single inter ­ view start telling people that this is page 17 on the script, Zarathustra says this and the courtier says this. You know you have to trust us a bit and what 1 get offended and hurt about is when certain people write to the press and certain reporters, I find, take three words down out of my 30 words and then decide what the whole thing is all about. At the Kotwal or someone, that what God has my home-work on this. Meherji and I i 'r, ¦ « i k < i ", t '¦ f Left-Bharucha: “A once-fn-a-lifetime situation ” Above-From left: BPP trustee Erach Desai, Golwalla, Bharucha and Mehta press conference here with Zubin we at Punchayet Office Below-Directing Mistree (left) and Mehta (right) i 1^' 35 Parsiana March 1983 title in the sense that it deals with our whole culture, our history, our people." have knocked ourselves out on this. We brought Bill Humble in, one of the best screen writers in Britain today. It is cost ­ ing a lot of money and 1 brought Regi ­ nald Pope as the cameraman. Reg has worked with John Huston on ‘Moby Dick. ’ 1 mean he has done some of the biggest shows that BBC has produced. I am going to go after some of the best actors. I don ’t know who right now, but we have approached a few actors. Zubin himself is going to approach some of his said that we have this question and answer situation between Zubin and the priest. But that is a very, very simplified friends and hopefully they will even way of talking about the drama. One person at the press conference said: Oh, 1 think it is a very old fashioned way of making a film. How boring it is just to have a question-answer session. It is quite dramatic. Some of the scenes between Zubin and this priest are very powerful. The film is a Quest for Zarathustra, (but) it doesn ’t mean that Zubin Mehta and Zarathustra can shake hands. But it does mean that it ’s a symbolic title in the sense that it deals with our whole cul ­ ture, our history, our people, who we are, where we came from and so forth. Zarathustra is projected as a prophet; he mH is projected as a philosopher — and there is absolutely nothing 1 see wrong in that. We say it in the script , (Zara- thustra is) the world ’s first prophet and SUSSSM thinker — the world ’s first rational man. ' pl Ji’s a tremendous compliment to anyone. The man (lived) around the *«**»«*Sg Bronze Age and for him to come out . v-a with what he did was quite extraordinary. J 1 am so proud to be a Parsi that 1 ' would do nothing to harm our commun- come in and do it for an extremely nomi ­ nal fee or for a holiday in India for a couple of weeks or something like that. But we are in the process of getting the very best kind of picture and 1 think the budget is going to go up. My own feeling is that the community, and specially 1 hope the richer people in the commun ­ ity, will realize this is a once in a lifetime situation. Itll probably never happen again and we might as well make the best film we can. The Muslims were ready to pay close to five million dollars for a film on Mohammed and 1 am struggling with a film and I haven ’t even got the 500,000 dollars I need. People think that the Oriental Heritage Trust is under some sort of guidance of the House of Tatasand the House of Godrej and we have all the money. We haven ’t got even half of it, quite honestly right now, and we need an awful lot of money. Parsiana: How much have you raised so far? Bharucha: I honestly don ’t know, but it is over 10 lakhs.S- i-' 1 Parsiana: How much more have you Parsiana: How much money would you everyone... it has to be very open in it ’s got to raise? want to raise in North America? point of view. This is why when I had Bharucha: Well, in the budget originally Bharucha: Ideally two hundred thou- Khojeste agree to do the film, the first I was hoping to raise round about 25 sand dollars in North America, just to agreement was that he could not put his lakhs but I have to discuss this matter do the post production. views into the film. with (noted jurist) Nani Palkhivala who There have been people who hive is my chairman and then tell him how Parsiana: How much have you raised approached me' with money, to say if much I need. But all I can say at this from that amount? you make the film our way, you can have stage is, it could be a lot more because ----- the prices I was given when 1 first made my budget were prices that people told me in terms of what documentaries want to raise in North America ? Bharucha: Ideally two hundred thou ­ sand dollars in North America, just to agreement was that he could not put his tv J R J 1- J I i - v L r* from that amount? Bharucha: Well, we raised almost forty this money, and I’ve turned them down thousand, which we ’ve spent now on research, so all that ’s gone. And we need to buy film stock; film stock alone costs gone away and just done a film, and I 1,200 rupees a roll. We need 90 rolls right now. flat. And believe me, it would have been very easy to have taken that money and said no, this is my film, this is the film Meheiji Madon and I have worked on, very hard, it ’s a film Zubin is committed Parsiana: Are the Zoroastrian Associa- to. If you want me to do a film, hire me tions abroad contributing ? as a director, you know, pay me my pro- Bharucha: Z AGN Y (Zoroastrian Asso- per fee, and Ill do the film for you. I’m a ciation of Greater New York) in New professional. 111 do that but this is my York is the collecting agency, and they film, and I’ll do it my way. are trying to help us a little bit. But it ’s a would cost or if you like, the kind of very nominal amount that we ’ve got films Indian Films Division makes, and from them so far. The Quebec Associa- the salary structure there 1 understand is T very low; and unfortunately, having no Quebec) gave us three thousand dollars, experience of ever working in India, 1 Now I understand Tahamtan Aresh ’s took these people at their word; which association in California raised some wasn ’t that they were lying; it was just -that they didn't give me what the best cost. And I found that trying to work with people of that kind of experience — money, and they are the largest organi- Ion Mistry (of Shapoorji Pallonji) sent it ’s not their fault, theyjust are not expe- sation in North America, ‘and they claim us cheques, Mr (Jehangir) Vajifdar the builder, and 1 think there are going to be a lot more people who should help. And "I am so proud to be a Parsi that i would do nothing to harm the community." Parsiana: How do you think you would raise the remaining money abroad then, tion (Zoroastrian Association of if the associations are not forthcoming? Bharucha: Well I think we are going to have to try and convince these associa ­ tions that this thing has taken off. But money one afternoon that 1 was there, we have this phenomenal backing in But I’m afraid Chicago hasn ’t sent us Bombay now; of the Punchayet, of the any money. Toronto hasn ’t sent us any House of Tatas, Godrej. People like Pal- rienced enough — and what we wind up they ’ve had a lot of their own expenses having is too many headaches. And if to deal with and it ’s hard for them to ask we ’re going to do this film right, I think people for money, but I hope now, once they should really send their cheques to Nani Palkhivala, c/o the Oriental Herit ­ age Trust, Bombay House, Homi There are some (and I don ’t say all) Mody Street, Bombay. the community and everyone else has to they ’ve seen that we ’ve really got the ball realise that we ’re going to make a really rolli^ that we will get some money, terrific film. And I would just like to have some more money from them; and factions who haven ’t even read the they have to try and be helpful and give script, who are already persecuting this Parsiana: What has Zubin ’s contribu- me some. whole film. This film is being made for tion to the movie been ? Bharucha: Financially there ’s no contri ­ bution from Zubin, but then he hasn ’t asked to be paid either. We ’ve obviously had to pick up some of his expenses. When he made his first trip to India in December, he paid all his own expenses. ¦ On the second trip we are paying his expenses. whole film. This film is being made for On location with Mehta (extreme left'k and Mistree t - 36 Parsiana March 1983 I "What God has done is created a perfect blueprint for the world. And we are in the process of F” making the perfect world." t ; Parsiana: How do you find working I ' with him? I : Bharucha: Oh, he was fantastic. 1 thought, he is such a big name, and he had sort of said to me before he arrived "aIk J that you know, I would Fike to have for some reason; and by dienj guess the mentary shooting todo. And then I have some rest and some time off, and I’ve got emotions were still within hirn, but the ’’“V? people to see, and quite honestly I told fact is that he could repeat his perfor- pie, of the^ Sasanian dynasty - Photo- Wm*^that Zubin, really- the schedule ’s - ---------- -- "f thmes. all those have very tight. Plus he made a calculation on <------ - . ............ thou^t that 22nd was Friday, but 22nd the film that read blandly, and the same was Saturday, so we then found our- goes with Khojeste. They both came selves a day late, a day short on the through, and Zubin came through as an shooting, and I must say, he was pheno- actor just superbly. I mean from day one menal. He was up at five-thirty in the he was terribly natural. Khojeste, natu- moming with everyone, he was never rally, never having been in front of a Ute, he worked one day from six o ’clock in the morning to almost two o ’clock at night, all through the day, with a very short break for lunch and dinner. I 4 M- graphs, all kinds of things, all those have IS he' uimic a mis- I was very concerned that he should to be photographed. And then, well one of the dates... he punch a lot of emotion into the lines in finally, probably around June-Jug, - • " •'*- ------ • start sitting down and editing the iilm, and hopefully by then well have quite a bit of money. ParsUna: You couldn ’t get permission to shoot in Iran, is that correct ? Bharucha: At the moment, no, but we ’re going to try again. We can get stock footage of Persepolis, but I’d love to see it anyway. I’d just love to go and film it the way we want to film the thing. Parsiami: When do you expect to com ­ plete the movie ? Bharucha: If I get all the funds by the end of this year, maybe next Jamshedi Navroz well have the premiere. Parsiana: How would you go about dis ­ tributing the movie ? Bharucha: Well, well have to find a dis ­ tributor in America, for worldwide dis- ParsUna: What is left to shoot ? tribution on television. We have already 2____ I been approached by a major American dis- which will be done tributor who saw some of the ‘rushes ’ Bombay studio. And then in New York. In India, I want to show ¦••••'¦ ’ - it in the cinema theatres, so hopefully (nance over and over again. I was very concerned that he should "The great massage of Zarathustra was, man must first begin to think for himself, before he can believe." Parsiana: Whose idea was it to rope Zubin into the movie ? Bharueha: Mine- Completely. I’ve always said if ever I make a film on Zoroastrianism, it will be with Zubin Mehta. He ’s our one big international star. And what was terrific was not only camera before took a httle while, but is he a good conductor, he ’s a superb Zubin you know, does so much televi- actor. He really is. I mean he had to do a sion that the camera being there doesn ’t scene on the steps of the agiary, and it bother him at all. was an absolutely emotional, natural scene. But for whatever reason it was, it didn ’t work, I can ’t give you the reasons Bharucha: A lot really^., a big drama now, I just can ’t remember them, so I snoot comes up v. —.......... -- ------ made him do it again, and he was spot at a P *•“" on again. I made him do it a third time weVe still got a little bit of some docu- sion that the camera being there doesn ’t JOB-ORIENTED COURSES FOR YOU AT F' v / DAVAR’S COLLEGE '•* i' • < i- i < i- certificate courses Special Ladies Course Home Management Government Commercial Diploma (G.C.D.) Personal Taxation Telephone Operating Cum Receptionist Income Tax and Sales Tax Computer Programming Office Administration Personal Assistant Personal Secretary Travel Transportation & Tourism Conversational Arabic (with script) CAIIB (Bank Officers) DIPLOMA COURSES Business Management Commerce (Indian Merchants’ Chamber) f’ Successful Investors’ Course Personality Development C.A. Entrance Business Accounts Business Correspondence Shorthand/Typewriting Rapid Reading & Memory Development English Conversational En^ish Arabic Typing Also Arabic & French Translation Inquire at: DAVAR’S COLLEGEfOver so Yeats’ Experience ^ 51, M. Gandhi Roa^<^ct Bombay —400 023. Phone: 251634 _ ¦ ; ' , .... ——— 1 3^ -w— -^ 38 1983i • ¦Sv’'*- 4-’- V>, •‘4"-^’' T’ k I ! we ’ll try to gel the Eros, or Regal streets...not only Parsi's, theris are poor or something like that. people out in the streets and those peo ­ ple should be helped by us. I think (this Parsiana: Do you thitik you will recover simple message of the film) will come the money from the distribution? Bharucha: Yes, I think so. across. We are going to show how Zara ­ thustra ’s thinking came about, and the arguments that Zarathustra had about Parsiana: And do you have to repay the good and evil. See, that ’s what never people who have given the money? existed before, the clear moral choice Bharucha: No. The money that the that man had to make. What Prof. Oriental Heritage Trust raised will go Kaikhosrov D. Irani (chairman of the department of philosophy. City Univer- sity of New York) has said so often, is that our religion is a religion of ethics, and we are taught to live our lives com ­ pletely by this religion, and through that we will improve the world. And I hope that comes through... it is the good thoughts, good words, good deeds and we donY emphasize it enough in any form of life. But we do try and bring it out in the film as much as possible. We had to touch upon the conversion W “People have approached me with money, to say if you make the film our way, you can have this money.” SELVEL back into the Oriental Heritage Trust as a revolving fund, with the idea of doing question which we have, or will do... but other films, not just on Parsis... the next we certainlv don ’t come to any conclusion one could be on Buddhism or something about it. What well do is just present like that. The trust was founded by Nani two points of view, and that ’s it. But Palkhivala, with the idea of making there is so much information in the film ' films about oriental culture and Indian as it is about Zarathustra, and about the culture in particular I guess, and things basic parts of our religion that really we that have links with India, and to make don ’t have time to get into all these con- films on a larger, highly researched troversial issues. That ’s a whole other level, to make really substantial pieces of work. film, 1 think that has to be made and should be made at some stage. Parsiana: What is your feeling about the Zoroastrians in North America? What Bharucha: Honestly, it ’s a hard question for me to answer because I donY know. I FOR EFFECTIVE OUTDOOR ADVERTISING THROUGHOUT INDIA With Best Complimentsfrom: getting the very best kind of picture and I think the budget is going to go up.” u. Parsiana: What do you think is the main message that you want to get across in the movie? One particular thing you is the future for them ? want to highlight. Bharucha: Well, I think if there is one single message, itis that man is responsi- think, if they can keep the fires of the ble for himself in the end. The great religion burning and not let them dilute message of Zarathustra was, 1 think I’ll use the line from his Gatha. .. Man must ~ ~ first begin to think for himself, before he "VV© ar© in th© prOG©SS of can believe. That was what Zarathustra said. And if 1 can capsulize it, that ’s what it ’s all about; if people in the world today, which includes us, our genera ­ tions to come and everyone else, can believe and really are convinced that what they are doing in life is the right thing and not harming other people, but * at the same time leading a good and away, and really try and educate their comfortable life, we will all benefit from kids... Without sounding pompous, 1 it. Zoroastrianism doesnY condemn hope this film will help (do that). It ’s not wealth. It does condemn excessive going to revolutionize anything in the wealth. It condemns excessive drinking, world, but if it does help people to make or anything in excess, but the Zoroas- their kids and their ownselves more con- trian philosophy is that if we can live scious of what they ’re doing, and what well and make umpteen lakhs of rupees, our religion is all about, maybe then we Shouldn ’t just hoard it away some- we ’ll just keep the flame burning a bit where. There are poor Parsis out in the more. SELVEL PUBLICITY & CONSULTANTS PVT. LTD. Ravindra Mansion Annexe, 194, Dinshaw Vatcha Road, 4th Floor, Bombay-400 020. Tel Nos: 240512, 240560 41 Parsiana March 1983 -..'kA''.; 1j: . r.f I •» J ^^4, I ¦t j: <1 Humbly, in Zarathustra’s footsteps : Si "It is a quest not only for Zarathustra but rather for Zoroastrianism; not only for a Parsi audience but also for the Western world." - ^2 film, to legend and tradition. “We ’re not time for undermining the existing reli- _;; 1 • • ¦ ” gion, is shown praying over Vishtasp ’s, The image'of Zarathustra as pro- paralysed horse as well as administering William Humble ’s ‘Quest for Zarathus- 1 _ I tra ’ started last year when director actually saying — this is true. ” I Cyrus Bharucha approached him to T— . write the script for the 90-minute docu- jected in Humble ’s script is that of a medicine to it. His success in curing the drama on Zarathustra and his reli- rational thinker rather than a mystic, horse, thereby converting Vishtasp to gion. “He is a human being, a mortal man. his religion is ascribed both to the power He ’s a wise man, a rational thinker. He ’s of his prayers as well as his experience in ; tending his father ’s cattle, according to Humble. a Christ- Zarathustra ’s main teachings as they come across in the film, according to Humble, include the “particularly inter ­ esting idea (of) involvement in this world rather than denial. This world is to be enjoyed and not a form of penance. ” In short, “This is it. ” So also Humble finds the Zoroastrian concept of good and evil interesting. “God isn't at the moment all-powerful. Man ’s job is to help Him conquer evil which came separately into the world...Evil is not there to test man. ” “Zoroastrianism is monotheistic with a dualistic element, ” he comments. “If we deny there ’s any dualism in it, we take away some of the most fascinating things. Referring time and again to those R The tall and bespectacled English- man, winner of the American television Emmy award for the best T.V. play of y the year for his 90-minute film entitled ‘On Giant ’s Shoulders ’ remarked, “Writing about a religion. I’d never done that before, ” Humble was in Bombay this January to put the finishing touches to his script for ‘The Quest for Zarathustra ’ starring the noted New York Philharmonic con ­ ductor Zubin Mehta. Mehta plays himself, a man in search of his religious and cultural roots who moves from scepticism and ignorance through a confrontation between the L traditional and modern viewpoints, to i; understanding and eventually, respect. I “1 had the idea of starting in the pres- , I ent and going back to the Gathas and J I then to Zarathustra — unravelling the I drama, ” says Humble. “The script starts f J k r- -^4>^ li r ’•J w H with Zubin Mehta along with a priest » character. ” Mehta, among other things. r ’ • • u i u- W speaks of his navjote, of learning words not the son of God. He ’s a thinking man aspects of the religion that struck him J the meanings of which he has never in the bronze age. A startling thing. ” most. Humble said, “Rituals seem understood. “The priest as a guide and The Gathas depict him as sometimes des- rather irrelevant to contemporary life, instructor takes him through history pairing, sometimes depressed — “You but I was able to realize that they have ; from the time of Zarathustra, but also have a human being there ” rather than significance. ” In the Zoroastrian J talks about the ideas, the religion inter- an immortal character removed from method of disposal of the dead, for exa- woven with history. ” man, recounts Humble. His characteri- mple, there is “a very effective logic ’’ in ; The historical part of the film has zation of Zarathustra is intended to that this method prevents the pollution ; been represented in dramatic sequences, come across strong. of the elements. Death is the temporary And these dramatic sequences have been In keeping with this image of Zara- triumph of evil... (but) in the end Ahura j included in the film to “help clarify the thustra, some of the dramatic sequences Mazda will triumph and disease and ideas of the religion, ” according to as represented in the script have been death will be overcome,* and all men Humble. The technique adopted in writ- modified from the original. For exam- resurrected, he said. ing the script for these sequences is to pie, in the scenes at King Vishtasp ’s Referring to Zoroastrian rituals he attribute the events as they occur in the court, Zarathustra, imprisoned at the said, “Not enough (Parsis) know what 43 Parsiana March 1983 ‘*•1 ft - il And these dramatic sequences have been ideas'*'of the religion, ” according to as represented in the script have been death will be overcome, ’* and all men ing the script for these sequences is to pie, in the scenes at King Vishtasp ’s :3n¦K 91 ? »• It they're doing... 1 explain about the religion. ” In fact, the idea for the film, according to Bharucha and Mehta, stemmed from their ignor ­ ance of the religion apart from the basic tenet of ‘Good thoughts. Good words. Good deeds ’, and from their belief that the message of the prophet must be / revived and made known to a general audience, at the same time hoping that u. '-Z .t- - *‘Zi^*t* ¦¦' "A- BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a PabHc Sirhool by the Department of Education for Indian Merit Scholars. Excel­ lent Education : "(Zarathustra) is a wise man, a rational thinker. He's not the son of god. He's a thinking man in the bronze age." With Best Compliments From: Climate ~ All<*roimd All Academic Subjects —^Tech­ nical Subjects: Workshop. Tech ­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance, Carpentry & Farm ­ ing. Training in Sdf-Govemmeot through Elected Boys ’ Office bearers. Games —^Physical Train ­ ing ‘— Daily Assembly with Congregational Praym — Week ­ ly intensive Zoroastrian — Geeta- Koran classes — Excellent Modem Kitchen and Dinfan^ Room facilities —’ Airy Dormi- tmies. Moderate Fees. Freeships and Concessions to Deserving Students. Apply to — THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building, 324 Dr. D. N. Road, Bombay 400 001. the film would breathe life and aware ­ ness into a largely apathetic community. Besides the rationalism of Zoroastri ­ anism, H umble says he finds the concept of God as a friendly God appealing. “It could fascinate people, ” he says. Equally appealing is the idea of “enjoy ­ ing the physical world in moderation. ” ‘The Quest for Zarathustra ’ as a title. Humble feels is somewhat misleading in as much as “It is a quest not only for Zarathustra but rather for Zoroastrian ­ ism; not only for a Parsi audience but also for the Western world...The ideas will strike home not only to the Parsis but are relevant to a lot of other people as well. ” In catering to this diverse audience. Humble says, “We ’re trying to juggle the thing — a lot of the details that might interest Parsis might not interest the Western audience. This is one of the problems. ” Humble also commented that in writing the script he has used a “heightened language ” because “writing about a character (Zarathustra) who lived that long ago, you can ’t write in a casual way. ” Not being especially knowledgeable on the subject of Zoroastrianism when first commissioned (by director Cyrus Bharucha) to write the script, he spent four “mind blowing ” days being briefed on the religion by a committee compris ­ ing scholars of Zoroastrianism in Washington. This was only the begin ­ ning of months spent researching Per ­ sian history, Zoroastrianism and comparative religions which involved, he says, “Maximum work ina very short time. ” Now however, he says with a lau^, “The danger of this project is I could spend the rest of my life Writing different projects for different reli gions ” All India Theatres Syndicate Private Limited Regal Talkies Ahmedabad New Super Talkies Surat Reuben House, 357/59, V. P. Road Bombay 400 004. ?4 Parsiana March 1983W . ' s I a"* z ¦ H-fe- &¦¦¦ ) S*"' ’\ I' A I;'-' MZifh compliments of LORD’S CENTRAL HOTEL MATHERAN 410102. 46 Parsiana March 1983 Humble started writing in his teens, publishing his first literary work at 18. His film ‘On Giant ’s Shoulders ’tells the moving story of an emotionally crippled couple who adopt a physically crippled child and how “they all make something of each other ’s lives. ” A script writer mainly for television. Humble is also the author of a commercial play ‘Fly Away Home ’ which is about “people growing up or failing to grow up — trying to achieve some sort of maturity in their lives. ” A student of drama and the thea ­ tre arts from Birmingham University, Humble lives in London with his wife Sue and two young children. Slightly taken aback when asked whether he would, given a chance, con ­ vert to Zoroastrianism, the London ­ based author countered with his easy smile, “I’ve never been an active member of any religion. ” Adjusting to the Parsi way of life would be difficult for a per ­ son like himself. Nevertheless, he says, “1 find it very hard to swallow that your religion which is dying out, won ’t accept converts. ” Humble also found it surprising that the Parsis can say, “We ’re dying out ” with ­ out sounding unduly concerned. “It seems very difficult to say a thing like . that, ” he says. Having been so involved with the reli ­ gion, Humble said, “It ’s very frustrating that I can ’t go to a fire temple or a Tower of Silence. ” He points out that people keep asking, if the film is a big success and people want to convert, what will you do? People keep asking, if the film is a big success and people want to convert, what will you do? Though the film does not deal at length with the history of the Parsis in India or their current problems, only touching upon these, the conversion issue has been dealt with briefly in the film, according to Humble. At one point Mehta asks the priest, “Has this religion got a death wish ?” and the priest replies that this question can only be consi ­ dered when we have educated both our priests and ourselves. “We talk about the Parsis in India, about their great achievements, ” says Humble, but there is a question mark over the future, and whether anything can be done about it. Photo courtesy Sooni Taraporevala Burjor Framji & Co. Licensed Plumbers Sanitary & Drainage Contractors MARINE MANSION 1ST MARINE STREET BOMBAY 400 002. TELEPHONE 313207‘‘I . ' j?? '’01 An Inquest on the ‘Quest 'll *1 Hormazdyar K. Mirza Kaikhusroo M. JamaspAsa Firoze M. Kotwal not found in the extant Avesta and Pah- ; zoroas — is ,he worlds oldes, ,avi literalure. Then why has i. been ¦,! . ¦ • !--» __9 I« I nn ivit h t r! IS StOTV. 1 witch-doctor ’, and another, as ‘a politi ­ cian! ’ Both these scholars were ably and revealed religion and at no time in its selected? In connection with this story, Mr. Bharucha states in his interview; “This miracle is supposed to have con ­ long history has it ever been considered in his book depicted Zarathushtra as a SiSss" ..... k™ ........z™.......-. duce into the film the idea of conversion. Leaving aside such stories of miracles, acknowledged as a prophet with sprititual knowledge, as it is evident from the Further, it is universally acknowledged that the Gathas are the compositions of the prophet himself, and that they con ­ tain spiritual wisdom. But all this is not acceptable to the producers and the director of the film. The question of conversion is subtly ‘moral choices. ’ This is a gross misinter- or even imagined to be a mere philo- turies, the ancient Iranians through Divine Wisdom gave Iran the huge amount to depict Zarathushtra as great Zarathushtrian and Mazdayas- a horse-doctor ! nian faith interview with the Indian - . Therefore, as practitioners of the E-rpres,i (January 9. 1983). Mr. Cyrus Zaiath^JbSiS good Zoroastrian religion steeped in the Bharucha states. . ;^L?d^s^dylXseaX^e man. ’^iS^r^t^n ^legei^s Gathas 'a.d othe^ ancient are shocked into disbelief on reading is somewhat different from the tradi- Vr press reports, that a film called ‘A Quest tional. ” . ’ - - • . ¦ • ----- 1-----1 With what knowledge and with what authority does Mr. Bharucha make this years of devoted study and research, we are s r' t i"' t “I definitely do not a mira- for Zarathushtra ’ was being produced which will portray Zarathushtra, not as . a prophet, but as ‘the world ’s first great sweeping statement? In the same inter- thinking man. The first great philo- view, Mr. Bharucha goes on to give a sopher! ’ Thus, a mischievous attempt is scene from the film —their own interpre- The question ot conversion is suotiy is beine tation of the story of the miraculous introduced also under the guise ot madTro^reiesate 'zarathushtra to the cure of King Vishtasp ’s horse. To quote ‘moral choices. ’ This is a gross misinter- Of his own words: “As we were researching pretation of the course, every prophet in mankind ’s his ­ tory has through his Divine Wisdom, propounded a philosophy of life, involv ­ ing 1 level of ordinary philosophers. ‘i ¦d JI 4^ '1 J lit dance of the public. The Gathic stanza Yasna 30.2 is often quoted to show that Zarathushtra grants freedom of ‘moral choices, ’ in other words, enjoins conver ­ sion. To say the least, this is not correct. The said stanza, Yasna 30.2, may be material for the film, we found that there is a form of horse paralysis that ..................... responds positively to herbal remedies, ing the morals and ethics of human So we ’ve shown Zarathushtra as rub ­ behaviour. But that does not make any bing the horse ’s body with a herbal mix- nronhet a mere philosopher or a mere ic,. i—j-- -------- ,---- i , j r thinking man. TcIsay that of Zaralhush- dear-that a prophet is a man o special tra is a blasphemy, a travesty of the knowledge, tn this case veterinary Do you hear by ears with best mind, Zoroastrian religion and a cruel joke on knowledge, not a spiritual being.^ the Zoroastrian community in India and ‘ abroad. We wish to make it amply clear that what we state above is based on press reports of various interviews given by Mr. Cyrus Bharucha, whose ‘brain- Mr. Zubin Mehta, the renowned music conductor, who is going to play an important role in the film. In as much as we would like to disbelieve such press reports, in tions or L £“^e'"As “uckX ‘hav: cTton^f deeding ih; pVo'phe ’t oT his good and the result of bad will bad state categorically that the film, if pro- supernatural status and showing him as .1 ___J_____ ___1 1 l5^ days of the who at that time catpc from the higher Zoroastrian works after the downfall of strata ofsociety. They are adiisedlo get Zoroastrian Iran appears to have been , ”...... — wine and up btforesunriseandgoassoonaspos- begun under Aturfarnbag Farroxzat, \ ajake merry; oft fflfe day of Vo'human, sible to school, not to offend parents, to the high priest of Iran during the reign ye should put on new clothes; on the __________ _ ___________ \ ‘ of aTMarnttn (813-33 A.C.f and eom. on the dav of OhrmArd by Atu^t-i Emet, who assuhii^ vn jne uay ot unrmazu the position of high priest of Pars ?dter one shdu Id drink wine a nd,;At«rfambag*s son. The benkart is tfe j mekp mArrV- on th«a most important as well as the most tox^ts name has been attached to a HiaKe merry, On the extensive work m Middle-Persian. apd fwndarz tCKt called the Pandnamak-i Vohuman, 006 the seven extant volumes (the first twd? Chttak handarzd shdUldout dn hfiWClothec and the beginning of the third /jyi-ortM/wn. containing the maxims onoUiapuiOO neW ClOmeS. book have been lost) are a treasure of the primeval It deals with ethi- house dfinformation from older sources cal, social and religious matters that cultivate cleanliness and politeness. and that are now lost to us. every Zoroastrian should know on to be dutiful and obedient. Another text While most of the other honddrz cbm- reaching the age of 15. It has in fact been for children is the Xveshkarih-i retakan, positions are primarily addressed to a referred to as the Zoroastrian eate- ‘Theduties of Pa^s, ’ which is attributed lay audience, the sixth book of the chism,.^ all religions seek to establish to some forgotten school-teacher, for we kart is eYidently addressed to an man ’s relationship to this world and the read; this knowledge was given by the audience with a higher intellectual . - ------------- - cajpacity. Much of its contentsare based questions that need answeringart^ ‘Who Perlraps the largest surviving single on oral traditions from the Sasanian am I, aid to whom do I belong, from collection of gnomic sayings and the ful- period, while some portions of it are where did 1 come and where shall 1 lest exposition of the ethical wisdom of distinctly more ancient; and indeed, cer- return? ’ In reply to these questions, the, Zoroastrian Iran in late Sasanian timeSi tain portions of it seem to have bem author of the Ch/mA; categorically is the sixth book of the ‘The formulated in the cryptic Middie- 5- declares that man was created in the Act ofReligion. ’TbeDcnArar/is itself an Persian style typical of translations spiritual W^rld, "belongs to God and encyclopaedic work, originally in nine from the Avesta. One may therefore p^* shall retdrb to Rim. books, on the ^igioii, philosoplQ^ and sume that the Avesta also contained The Handarz-i kotakan is a collection history of the Zoroastrians. The gargan- handarz sayings that are now only aVail- -, Ohrms?^ '< the day of strata of society. They are adidsedto get Zoroastrian Iran appears to have been d®y-of Vo'human, sible to school, not to offend parents. ®C &¦ »-V »r - ’ 5 fe f'V ’ •• On the day of Ohrmazd 'y- V* sasb** WI.4WOL V»* B one should drink wine and Aturfwnbag*s son. The Den^tor/ is tfe ihake merry; on the day of Vohumahr ooe shduldputdn hewclothes. and be^nning of the thM every Zproastrian should know on to be dutiful and obedient. Another text next, to God and to the devil, the first school-teacher. sume that the Avesta also contained - XE The Zoroastrian CxO-operative Credit Bank Limited Zoroastrian Association Building, 16^ Horniman Circle>- A Grtidays « I I-w 1 1^ 2 THE VIGILANTES Hutokshi D.Doctor « & '"I ¦ S'.'' t After the last Bombay Parsi Punchayet Some of the Council ’s members have ¦ Anjuman Committee elections, the studied Zoroastrianism and Nariman ' orthodox camp fell in disarray. The has read papers on Zoroastrianism at share certain ideas in common decided • • * *¦ it ’s no use trying to counter these attacks individually but rather to pool our efforts collectively. We do not necessar ­ ily want to expand membership unless we find someone who is genuinely orthodox. “We are not intending to fight elec ­ tions but if a reformist trustee is put up Jam-e-Jamshed but to a limited extent because of the limited space. We who Committee of United Zoroastrians, an several international conferences, electoral alliance of several factions ' claiming to represent the orthodox group was point of view, was dissolved. chayet ’s decision to reconsider member- sBut filling the void after a lull of ship of the beleaguered Federation of h around two years is a new orthodox Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, i group calling themselves The Council of Many of the orthodox view the Federa- Vigilant Parsis. The announcement of tion as a reformist body and therefore a ' the new Council was made in the threat to the religious customs and tra- November 16, Cyclostyled Letter No.2I ditions. published by Russi D. Wadia, a market- 1 ing research consultant. According to the newsletter, the nine-member group aims at “maintaining and preserving the ideals, principles, doctrines and tradi- The impetus for the newly formed the Bombay Parsi Pun- 1 ii !)C ’ ' • -H “1 was informed by two trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet that the BPP was to rejoin the Federation, ”said B.K. Mistry relating the genesis of the Coun ­ cil. “I told Adi Doctor about it. We tions of the Pristine Zoroastrian Reli- called a meeting. At the first meeting we gion. ” “The operative word is vigilant. ” ' notes council member Adi Doctor, a publicity officer in a bank. “The Parsis r are ignorant of and indifferent to their religious, social and cultural heritage... 'At the first meeting we were nine people, an auspicious number in our community.” A were nine people, an auspicious number in our community. We submitted a memorandum to the Punchayet. The response was very good and the Pun ­ chayet called us. The Trustees listened to us patiently. They could not give any '' the average Parsi is so involved in.the reason lor leaving the Federation and daily rat-race ” that he has little time for religious and spiritual matters. The other members of the group include Kaikhushroo N. Dastoor. gen- < Ki^: as a candidate — we will oppose him. He may be efficient but he is not fit for this office. ” “We have to stop non-orthodox per ­ sons from taking steps detrimental to the community, ” noted Dastoor. “The spiritual and mystical aspects of the reli ­ gion have to be preserved, ”as well as the religious institutions, he said. “The Zoroastrian religion says that each individual born into his own reli ­ gion has inherent genetic differences... The religious, spiritual and psychic fac ­ tors stem then from religion. This is the reason why mixed marriages are not permitted. ” noted Dastoor. “The Delhi Parsi Anjuman believes in accepting ” children of both Parsi men many issues, ” in the religious, social and and women married to non-Parsis, said economic fields. Dastoor. This is one of the main reasons ........... The Council is opposed to the com- why the Council is opposed to the Feder- chief vigilance officer of the Bank of munity being included in the Adoption ation. “No matter what you wish to do _ _ __ . __ • w-~> ¦ • 1' « ¦ r* *11 1 1 t* _ ' n _ .. I T m 1. . iLaM/ximU nil lor of the Ilm-Kshnoom bi-monthly is against intercommunity marriages. "We do not necessarily want to expand membership unless we find someone who is genuinely orthodox.” eral manager, chief legal adviser and ?' •-^J - ¦•¦¦¦ i ¦¦¦¦¦ • ¦ —1| PRESTOSICN PRtSTOGRflPH j n Old post cards etc./wanted Advertiser wishes to buy OLD picture postcards, photographs, cigarettes, ’ cards, playing cards, posters, prints, illustrated books, albums and other related material. Willing to pay top prices for single items or entire collections. Please send detailed list with expected prices to: The Advertiser, (OLD) C/o. Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. ¦ 63 Parsiana March 1983 ' 'jf • ‘ productivity. Use Prestosign/ Prestograph for sales projections, inventory control, budgetary allocations, production planning, PERT/CPM and other complex applications as well as for simpler uses like displaying information and events, exchange rates, airline schedules, etc. 1 I 1 'K ® PRESTOSIGN PRESTOGRAPH The 3-D Interchangeable Display and Charting System. Provides the know-now tor competent administration. Manufactured by: C.J. IndustriSS, Bombay 400005. Sole Marketi ng Concessionaires: •=M mnws MARKirwe , Hampton Court, N. Parekh Marg, Nr. CoIabeTp O Bombay-400 005. Phone: 213103/212752 Grams: PRESTOSIGN Branch: Continental Plaza. 2nd Floor, 705 Anna Salai (Mount Road), Madras 600 006 Phone; 83832 Grams: LETRO in^A. TPa^'* ^^.¦ "t^ 'it. '»< I. ¦ I' l=T Farewell to fire fighting ?: Carol D’Souza <» h k F V. F' t w j8 Mehervanjee: "I'm a fireman first and last, the chief only in-between." Bombay is going to miss Mr. L.S.D. Mehervanjee, the chief fire officer of the city ’s fire brigade who retired on Janu ­ ary 31,1983, after a little over 40 years in service. Not that the man who has taken ov^ from him, Mr. V. B. Nikam, is not effi ­ cient, it is just that we have all got so used to seeing LSD’s trim form, immac ­ ulately uniformed, at the site of major fires and house collapses, that it is going to be strange not to see him. It is one of the first things that impress itself on the memory. In the midst of sweating firemen heaving huge coils of hosepipe around, he would be a calm, cool, very collected figure with his helmet firmly on his head and scarcely a hair out of place, directing operations with vigour and energy. Periodically, he has been receiving medals and awards, including an “honour the brave ’’ award (from the Jaycees), a President ’s police medal, and the President ’s medal for distinguished services.Periodically too, details of his life have appeared in the newspapers, of how he joined the auxiliary fire services at the age of 17, how he was born in New Chawang, Manchuria, in the northern part of China in 1925, how he was only 19 years old when the “Fort Stikine ” blew up in the docks and he took active part in the fire-fighting operations that followed, when 66 men and officers of the fire brigade lost their lives and Bom ­ bay was practically devastated. On Monday, the very last day of his life-long career with the Bombay Fire Brigade, LSD (his initials are unforget ­ table) looked a bit lonely (as any man must look when retirement stares him in the face at a time when he feels most useful). Sitting in his rather plush office in the headquarters of the fire brigade at Sankley Street, he confessed to feeling “very touched, 1 am most sentimental. ’’ And anyway, he said, what ,can you expect from a man for whom the fire brigade has been his whole life ! It gave me an opportunity to ask him what those unforgettable initials stood for and he told me —Lovejoy Sisil Dadi no less ! And his father used to be known as “Chinwalla ” because of the China connection. He remembers much of his early days in China, where he was educated. He remembers the Sino-Japanese war and the bombardment of Shanghai with the carnage that followed. It was his grand ­ father ’s idea to have LSD become a Chi­ nese scholar but friends prevailed upon him to let the boy learn English as well. 64 Parsiana M arch 1983‘ 5 »¦' * s J’ e r. E X'" w '' rO r V ’\ > -lysr L*** 4 W;- .ri»4?W? "'V-.. w s ,4-- ' ¦i IE: Which was just as well becau^ when “Chinwalla ” came to India from China on a year ’s vacation, the move became permanent since the Second World War broke out. , It was the war that enabled LSD to join the auxiliary fire service at 17. “Actually, I was attracted to the pay, Rs. 70 per month in those days was hardly to be sniffed at. And 1 used to watch the men parading from Byculla bridge. 1 was most impressed. ” And so the youthful Mehervanjee landed in uniform, enjoying himself t ho ­ roughly. Thoughts of China receded as he threw himself into his new existence. In just two years he was to face the biggest test of what would become his career. He became a section leader and was given independent charge of a large fire station in the docks area. At that time, with the war effort in full swing, ships used to draw in with dangerous cargo. The protection offered by fire-fighting services was of the utmost necessity. And then on April 14, when “Stikine ” W blew, it was a nightmare. Remember he was just 19 years old when a fire was followed by two massive explosions within half an hour of each * other. It was carnage all around in the Victoria Docks, people lay lifeless or desperately injured, the heat was sear ­ ing. No one could have blamed him for . running away, but Mehervanjee stood his ground. He survived, though badly injured. And, perhaps, the seed for his permanent career was sown at that time. When the auxiliary service was dis ­ banded, Mehervanjee was at a loose end. He worked as a fire instructor at the He has been on the scene of every major fire, house collapse, or other emergency home guards for some time, but finally duty, ready to lend a helping hand, seldom ruffled. in 1950, he was with the Bombay Fire Brigade as a station officer. In a way, LSD had come home. In the years since, he has been on the scene of every major fire, house collapse his office, flanked by the flags of the are brave, daring, courageous and full of or other emergency duty, ready to lend a country and the red and blue of the bri- initiative. And they are completely helping hand, seldom ruffled except gade. The formal flag is gorgeous, the dependable. ” when public enthusiasm came in the way emblem resplendent in “jari ” folded Apparently, the men feel the same of the fireman doing his duty. Then he away in a cloth cover and kept with the way about him for as I sat in his office, could be as cutting as the rest. He is lucky in the sense that he has _ _ watched the brigade grow to its present with housewifely pride tinged with a bit landed him as he sat, presented him with proportions, watched as its Indianisa- of anxiety. “I have looked after it for a bouquet and made speeches. And he tion was completed, its jurisdiction extended to the suburbs, the VHF radio-telephone link system commissi ­ oned, control room reorganised (it is to been like, he shrugs and says: Retirement will take a bit of getting be completely computerised shortly, “Remember 1 am a fireman first and used to, specially for a man who is used making it one of the first in Asia), the last, the chief only in-between. This is a to being on the parade ground at 6.30 creation of five sub-divisions. And the wonderful brigade. Perhaps, we cannot a.m. and continuing at the job till well proudest momentof all, he was chief fire compete with western countries in terms past dusk. This is excluding the fact that 9i W- i 65 Parsiana March 1983 ?S- < 1 ¦•ai - -I ¦ 1 5 -¦ 1 .-o-.S .''t* ilS^W • J ¦d '¦1 ' ] uv 4- ¦ J officer when the Brigade received its of equipment, but we are rapidly moder ­ own emblem and colours in 1979. nising the brigade. And our men are It stands behind thedeskofthechiefin second to none other in the world. They greatest care in the chiefs inner office, one of the two Union representatives Mehervanjee showed it to me almost came in, flanked by office-bearers, gar- three years. Now, Mr. Nikam must take accepted it all as a fireman, even putting over. ” on the navy blue cap insfead of his And when you ask him what it has peaked officer ’s hat. been like, he shrugs and says: ¦J -R .i , f dff ’’T?, J ¦’>T being in the fire brigade is a 24-hour job- with no real let-up. “We have to stay in the vicinity of our particular areas while on duty so that we can hear the bell. And in half a minute we respond to calls, though actually we are supposed- to in ten seconds !” That, I suppose, would be too much to expect, particularly in view of the record of Bombay Telephones which (most private citizens will aver) hardly give the police and fire brigade special treatment where numbers are con ­ cerned. Still, 30 seconds is not at all bad considering the exigencies under which the brigade must labour. For four years he has headed a band of 800 men, living close enough to them to feel the whole organisation is one big family. Now it is over, because, as Mehervanjee himself puts it: “There is time for change, someone else must take over. ” What he will not forget, however, is his association with the country ’s pre ­ mier fire-fighting force and his stint as its head. ~ Courtesy MID-DA K February 4, 1983. '^9 :5 awithpif cleaning 1923*1983 SIXTY YEARS OF CLEAN SERVICE r ’ ST Continued from page 15. body of the D.P.A., further angered the BPP who then tried to get the other Anjumans in the Federation to oust Delhi from the body. But at the crucial meeting Nargol- wala ensured there were enough repre ­ sentatives from anjumans sympathetic to Delhi to defeat any ouster vote. In order to break the deadlock, Nar- golwala had suggested the Delhi Parsi Trust replace the Ahjuman as there were no non-Parsi Zoroastrians in the Trust This formula was unacceptable to a majority of the BPP trustees. It was only with the C.E.R. victory in the Anjuman Committee elections in 1981 and the expiry of BPP Chairman B.K. Boman-Behram ’s term a few months later, that the balance shifted in favour of rejoining. No doubt Golwalla was aware there would be opposition from the more orthodox section to the BP’P rejoining . the Federation. But as he has demon ­ strated Itime and again in the last few months, he is not hesitant to take deci ­ sions in the best i^iterests of the com ­ munity no matter hpw painful they be. And doing so he and his colleagueshave once again displayed the qualities of great leadership, Other announcements made at the press conference will be published in the April issue of Parsia/Ki. DIANA-ECLIPSE For all your carpat and upholstery cleaning. o HoHand House, Colaba Causeway, Bombay Tel: 230619 O ’‘Parag ” 27. Redder Road. DHARMA PRAKASH RADIANT LIGHT OF RELIGION A Religious Digest For Happy Living. We desire to vigorously spread Religious Awareness. Please support the endeavor. ASK FOR “FREE GIFT” Copy Now. Edited and Published by Mr. P.A. SIGANPORIA Gowind Bhovan.Bazon Baug, Nagpur - 440004. « c 4> " £ -"n 11 '3 'Js ¦« VJ Parsiana March 1983/ isf *r ' ^’S'*-"’ 'X I ?i' ' . ?• .'A* / -«’l '•¦ y -.^ ,?=J - J f> “ * r LacqaHM-edtray Showing foreign hKtontes I* Canton <<825) 't'- ’" ¦ ' ¦' ' '1 ' , A- V ' -H OpiHin 5 wOm from Bombay ^m©i6bay into a prosperQj^ri^ thriving „ ¦ -^aM ’ fnerj^jMs>^f.,-"' • 'a Gigim’sa and Bombay, wi^I hab a mohbpoiy over „ < ' tHe'toda tor over aix decades, rtlto a^ ^^ffoent community^ ; r ^1 ¦^* *z ’ k ’Ki “"?4F.*'5'-F^’ r ’ i. ••«i ^'p. - v^ ¦“•>'¦................ ¦*’¦ ... k China fey Arab merc^oTs aS a d/t^ introduced into China by the Cask Ind^ ' o^ni trade be;^n to pass fbf'gastric diwrder«, a painiciHeranda Company, The deadly poppy was etslti- Bombay ywld>ng a revenue of 200.000 J vated in India and transported by sea to pounds m one year aloud; . T^ hhmt of opium smoitfqg afi^J C^ina. . -^¦' ? P . ,. . « r ,u ' M w the uaethipal optUm tra^ with ;frw Java, one of the o^ Wen^tSkW6 tniM<^, W: .Oina pridr to now gav? way to - smoking countries. By^^ >de«tufyandtha'nhWfe^iekratonopoii^^Ap^^ traders, bdth iCaropean ahd ^ wdj^nce in opium fewfc^ the trade for wer._^&mdK,|^bay\ (n^wa; as/tts monopoly XMW^ irwas turticd into k ’^ving afe^j^jj^r ‘7 trade W ended by the Charter- Act of hold in • A - ‘oua poir; U»o Pg^ inta.,,^f833; licences to becauw An afntt^t comi^ii^., '' ;>«tisb Par^ l^TSpis Jop^^hip- - Most of the popB^r brands, rnalva- pipfr-Oi^^a^h^^wf^fek rettttWV^- ppfum*an»9ngt|iebftxusedtafe^jt^0id€d: .'ab^M-W^ from E^matibi^ IS31 wheh;feiM?i^^ “ '‘U)iop.^« ^rtnernmertt,i^y^|-l»^^yeft, it hygratiRdgi^s^fOf ' direct finite to of duty,oTBS ’?f7$fow^^^^^'W'eigfe^' ae. Wti ' ^j^«' xj- &¦' '#a t >rq^ /- transit 69 Parsiarta Mtirctf ¦‘*^^ S' Old ifls^ for free jrfehsirfey i: Wdf?^ ,, r-. - > . >5 •i** 4 ’^'3# 9^ > * A ‘‘^per ^n 1^ fop* (T th j; the feiaitffJ t ofih? Asidp^iipn^, chi^ yT -->f oj ^1 1 ,P"-Sl JS: r.vf 5 id a Ml S&, ¦^3;-,!S:i^ *<’ •¦**^V’ * PudbRjee a Q>.X1 E h ¦ Aa IKUIc^. when opium eonstituted as Wack, granj^.eontmning m^^e» or Into heavily armed rigs Or much as 42 pertent of dottoii export? nareotica.^<^mie, Hert^alsoisan . schoc^ Which then oae^ tlm^ from the »R€rn!^ was a hereditary But when the Chinese government month and exported 9,500 chests to occupation and is so even now. How- deeded to put an end to this uwdiical dfne Matheson A jCo., of Hongkong. ever, toeby,. . po opium is used or trade^fhelBntish in India, sensing a loss They also shipped 8,2^ chests on van- ' exported ete^fi^mndicinalpn^pt^s. -of tte huge income decided to invade ious steamers, keeping another 2 J 000 The addicts irt'thc early niw^eCnth China in 1840, leading to tte famous chests ready in the warehouses in Bom* c«turyco.iaprisedmostlyyoungttena//y newspaper. Reprinted with the«i«terK^.^ permission. , • X 5'^ 'Aa ««^6> r r «.*> 71 P»sian» -ST Cen^fUHients from »-y < 5 5’ (Bipbi <\ * ^s,"^ (Phoife 253324) , /?• * ¦¦¦ - ’z? f' * ?>( ‘ >7^1 P 0 J ;? I •*»«»*I0*** ?rr^St€- A "1.^ ~4 *^ir-^.* f I I I' - I I I £ I I 1 * ^4 I •4 Ik- ART 4 While Nelly Sethna, seated at her loom, visualizes and executes her versatile works of art, her husband Homi, with his flowing white beard and khadi kurtas, has spent a life-time recording Indian art on film. Each complements the other ’s work, advising, criticising and actively participating in it. Surrounded kurtas, has spent a life-time recording Indian art on film. Each complements the other ’s work, advising, criticising and actively participating in it. Surrounded by their cherished artifacts in their spacious Bombay apartment, Nelly and Homi see beauty and art in the smallest and seemingly most insignificant articles. Double Woven Hutokshi D. Doctor > M ' s® * i i IB is 51 Weaving wonders A piece of brown paper folded twice, with the words “nelly h sethna designer+ weaver ” in raised print constituted the hanging with invitation to her exhibition of hand- woven and handcrafted rugs, wall ­ hangings, torans and screens at the Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay, in December 1982. The innovative invita ­ tion held promise of a rare experience, and Nelly ’s materials, designs and tech ­ niques are certainly unique and uncon ­ ventional. They are also bold and , striking. ths.* for mistakes and mess panel or wrapped strip' perfectly alisnVd thousands of punched leather^ bits method and patterns, says Nelly. “1 march in neat order down a fringed m"S Teels°~" equally matched and XT II • I lOliUU ¦ " - - ----- i." any f .............. or technique. Her myriad new designs but, confined to “She Ls a contemporary artist who takes from nature a nd old motifs, ” says Homi. One striking example is a wall- _ „ 1 maroon arrowheads on a black background pointing east and west on either side of an orange panel, with orange tassles hanging below. The leather wall-hangings are partic ­ ularly eye-catching. “One leather hang ­ ing includes punched leather strips, panels in a combination as striking as it isunlikely, ”writesan art critic. “Each piece is meticulously finished, each thousands of punched leather bits , --------- >«'*^*.B*wa oni|^o, seashells, wooden beads and fringed a V Fl ¦3 1 Nelly does not confine herself to any particular material < ' components are as varied as rope, woof, leather, jute, seeds, beads and even sea ­ shells. These are sometime.s convention ­ ally woven, double woven, hand-knot ­ ted, braided, tufted < ’, L.J. designs are simple, uncluttered, and often derived from traditional motifs. The colour combinations are novel, ( sometimes startling but never clashing. ' 74 Parsiana March 1983 Nelly s vibrant mind conceives of a , ------------.J a wheelchair, she now leaves their execu ­ tion to her four associates, ‘mochi ’ Bhanu, domestic help Chandrabhaga, file odd-jobs man Mansingh, and has worked with Nelly for over 13 years. She lists their names in her invitation, describing them as “people who are influenced, involved and have evolved. or latticed. Her Roshan Mulla, her chief assistant, who J 1 1 t F i.” ¦« A ?u*^ 75 Parsiana March 1.983 at Bombay Dyeing Nelly got a scholar- i* ship to the Cranbrook Academy of Art L in Michigan, one of America ’s select I academies. “She left, went to America I and did weaving for the first time, ” said a I Homi. On her retprn in 1960 she worked I with Bombay Dyeing for eight years. A I National Diploma in Design holder I from the U.K., Nelly has held several I exhibitions of her work. I In 1972 she was awarded the Homi I Bhabha fellowship to work on Kalam- j karis, an old South Indian art utilizing vegetable dyes which she wanted to revive. Subsequently she held five exhi ­ bitions of Kalamkari all over India. From these traditional motifs she would design contemporary lay-outs. Now, however, Nelly works independently but depends on Homi ’s help in organisa- [ people of talent who go unnoticed and tion and public relations. unseen, when the creative germ lies quiet and forgotten within. ” She describes ’Happiness Unto Others ’ Homi as “the real force behind this Since his first film on the hygienic main- show. ” Homi ’s lighting and artifacts tenance of drains, Homi Sethna has from their personal collection including worked on a variety of films, he says, terracotta figures, bronze diyas, baske- including films on the construction of try and ancient pots provided the back- dams, the development of fish, village drop for Nelly ’s work at the gallery. These hangings and screens are now processing of cotton. Recently he com displayed at their home, and sitting pleted a film on the Parsis entitled amidst her creations and her treasures Happiness Unto Others for Films Div- Nelly reflected upon her youthful days ision, which, according to him, repres ­ in the countryside of a Bombay suburb, ents the “historical backdrop of the She commented that she had learnt Parsis. ” The 20-minute film for public more from nature and life than from her screening, shows “who the Parsis are, formal education. Her work is con- what they have done and achieved in stantly on her mind, she said, and she most walks of life, ” said Homi. needs no other relaxation. The title. Happiness Unto Others is i When she was already chief designer taken from a hymn from one of the five < A black and white double weave rug Left: One of Nelly ’s hand-crafted room dividers punchayets, rural development and the jl I I n Homi: “Versatile jogger ” r ‘i“As a designer and artist she sees described by Homi as “the best Bombay work together. She ’s my artistic advi ­ sor for ail art and craft things. ” Homi has made some films on Nelly ’s building is to be demolished. Homi has With a degree in arts and law from carpet, Nelly ’s wall-hangings arc promi- Gathas, the entire quotation being film, Vishvakarma the Great, on the khadi vest, carrying two freshly replen- “Happiness unto him who brings happi- wood carvings of India was written by ished bottles of milk and the morning ness unto others. ” Briefly outlining the Nelly, he says. “She conceived the art newspaper. Till recently Homi would be history of the Parsis since their advent to and craft shots for the film. ” accompanied by their dog Nicholas, India, the film, accompanied by a first person commentary depicts traditional things in a different light, ”says Homi. “Nelly breed ” who decided to adopt Nelly and Parsi village life, the man in the fields, is a part of all this. She has the eye for the Homi five years ago. Nicholas however, the women at the village well, the setting of a typical Parsi home and we died recently. beaded torans on the doorways, the por- work together. She ’s my artistic advi- It is a pity too that the Sethnas ’large traits of the forefathers above. sor for ail art and craft things. ” apartment on the second floor of an old Outlining the basic tenets of the reli ­ gion. 'Good thoughts, good words, work; one of these, entitled IVeaves is lived here for fifty years, and their living good deeds, ’ the significance of the fire, still being distributed in America even room is crowded with their cherished showing the navjote ceremony and a pri- after 18 years, he Said. artifacts. A charkha lies on a worn est in an agiary, the film is a comprehen ­ sive introduction to the Parsis and their Bombay University, Homi first joined nently displayed, there are even a pair of religion. From there the film proceeds to his father ’s firm of solicitors and then shoes from Saurashtra, displayed back the contribution of the Parsis in various, the army films centre as an apprentice and front, which Nelly says are more fields, from their contribution to the and later a lieutenant, he says. In 1946 beautiful thain a modern painting. An freedom struggle, to the arts, from he went abroad, working in the film oldswingissuspendedfromchainsori- industry to medicine. studios of England, Denmark and ginally from Gujarat, each chain com- “But 1 am now concentrating on art Germany before returning to India prising the figures of peacocks, women and craft films, ” says Homi. His film and continuing his career as a film and elephants linked together. Creations in Meta! on Indian metal- maker. Nelly and Homi even treasure a tube ware, won the President ’s Award for the The Times of India recently carried a of tooth-paste pressed into the shape of best promotional film, he says, while report on Homi Sethna, the “versatile a woman, the figure of Christ on a The Himalayan Tapestry, directed by jogger ” who can be seen jogging along wooden cross, created from a twisted him. won the President ’s gold medal for most mornings at Bombay ’s Breach rag. and the twigs which represent a man the best documentary. The script of his Candy in blue khadi shorts and a white and a woman walking together. i i i 1 I 00 § FRIENDV^ PRE PACKED CUPS FOR f i n Parsiana March 1983 FRIENDLY ICECREAM Rs 2-50 (small) & Rs 3-50 (Big). Try our delicious Kulfi Pista, Kesar, & Malai k toe our I l^ot --snxouw® occassioj^ SALES DEPOT 9 C, READY MONEY BLDG,, SANKLI STREET, BYCULLA. BOMBAY 400 008. TeL 898634 FACTORY : DEONAR VILLAGE HOAD,OPP, METAL- BOX CO. DEONAR, BOMBAY-400 078 Tel : 52941 4-523054 ay 7^ Petit vs Jeejeebhoy XVI Triumph of Caste THE JUDGEMENT SO FAR When, 150 years ago, leading members society, its attitude towards Dubras, its In 1903 R.D. Tata married according to of the Indian Zoroastrians talked about attitude towards the surrounding infe- Par si rites, a French lady, after . .. having her navjote performed. Tata claimed his wife “had become a Parsi professing the Zoroastrian faith and consequently she was entitled to participate in all the charitable and religious Funds and Institutions of the Community in India had meant one Parsis including the right to enter fire thing —and one thing only to them — temple.'i and have her body consigned to their own select people. And the Holy the Towers of Silence. Mazdiasni faith, as far as they knew. Thus the scene was set for the historic was professed by that select body and by probably impossible for any English court case of Petit vs Jeejeebhoy, also them alone. The religion —originally the Churchman who has not been in years in known as “The Parsi Punchayet Case. ” principal, if not the only social and tri- ’close intimate contact with Orientals of The question before the two judges of bal bond —had long since been con- the Bombay High Court, Justice Frank C.O. Beaman and Justice Dinshaw Dhanjibhoy Daver, was whether a person horn in another faith but converted to Zoroastrianism was entitled to the benefits of certain community trusts. The Plaintiffs (Sir Dinshaw Maneckji recurrently in the air, but was growing Petit; Tata and others) contended Zoroastrianism enjoins and practises conversion and that converts are entitled to all the benefits provided. The likely that had these Founders of the defendants (Sir Jamsetji Jeejeehhoy and others) while admitting that Zoroastrianism permits conversion state that “ever since their fParsis) advent into India (they) have not admitted a Juddin (person belonging to mind was a regular Convocation of another religion) into their fold. They admit, however, that children born oj a Zoroastrian father by an alien ble and desirable, much as members are regarded as a contamination. No Eng- admitted into an exclusive club. Had lish Christian would think of regarding they been further told that this would be a place of worship desecrated, because a impossible, that they must choose genuine believer happened to have come between accepting any Convert or one —that accepting any meant accept- deny to such a one rites of Christian ing all Converts indiscriminately; and burial in a Christian cemetery. 1 But in the Zoroastrian Community, that the probabilities were immensely in the conditions are widely different. dedicating Temples and Towers to the rior Hindu castes, 1 cannot doubt for a Zoroastrian Community, or for the moment that they would have unhesitat- benefit of all the Holy Mazdiasni faith, ingly said that, whatever might be the we must reflect how those ideas pres- abstract religious dogma, they meant ented themselves to the speakers. For their benefactions for their own people, many hundreds of years the Zoroastrian the members of the Indian Zoroastrian Community, that is to say, those who, as in the case of every other close caste, were born into it. It is difficult for any Englishman verted also into a distincti\e caste badge. Being a member of the good religion, it was doubtless at that time synonymous with being a member of what we may now, 1 think, fairly call the Parsi caste. The subject of conversion was unquestionably, as a theoretical dogma. constantly to be more and more impera ­ tively conditioned by purely caste con ­ siderations. As 1 have said, 1 think it all religions and castes —to put himself into the place of men situated as the Founders of these Trusts were situated. We must find it hard to realize or even laintly appreciate the sense of repulsion which orthodox Zoroastrians would feel at the bare idea of their places of communal worship, much worse their sacred Towers of Silence, being invaded by persons whose very proximity in the streets, or on the thresholds of private Being a member of the good religion was Trusts been asked whether they were pre ­ pared to accept Converts, they would have replied that they would not object . . to duly-accredited, and approved Con- SynonymOUS With being a verts. And what they would have had in member of the Parsi CaStO. Elders on each case as it arose, to decide whether the person proposed was eligi- dwellings, had for generations been , mother have been admitted into their fold by the performance of the Navjote ceremony. Dover, in his part of the judgement discredited the evidence, past and present, of conversion in India. In the last issue, Beaman came to the had it been further pointed out to them conclusion that faced with the 1' possibilitv ofpermitting all or no converts, favour of hundreds of the most undesir- There, while the religion and its ritual the founders of the Trusts would undoubtedly able people, for every single desirable purity are still the mainspring of the com- have denied conversion on any terms. This is the last instalment of the case. from a base trade; still less would he person, offering themselves for conver- munal life, they are so intimately bound sion; looking to the constitution of the up with the exclusiveness and the purity /’a 70 Parsf'ana March 1983-tl C0^' 5 become' ’stoically tdeiilidal; and reli^ou^ worsMp, “ ro ZoR^istriantsm. But if they do, I is only this dtfifereS^e, that ,u nK^erh - Now, ff we were to hold upon the they mustproyideseparate Temples and K nrrthndoit un'A jnfi- ift^ef^h-of Scattered phrascs, itres'pcc- Towers for their use. These are our Tern-- F nftely greater loatliiMiand horror from tive of lhe Conditions of the Commun- pies and our Towers. Never sintie their .• .V" . « 'WiW r * - S''*. ' __ ._. ---------41 ZXM' A'V TA 1^ *.:v#r»vBw *• ^'*^?*’**oi ........... , — I person whos^ presenceiwas^a socialron- them that fhe original Zoroastrian reli- by the admission, to our knowledge, ot a f lamination, thaiff be woi^d from aid.mit- gion enjoii^d the making of Converts, 7—— F ting him to his table ami die freedom of and therefore since these endowments that is, of our caste, born into it, and I his family cimle. No mspectable Parsi were d^icated to the use of all of the brought up iait. AmJ it grown to would dream of esatmg with, say, a ; is only this thatmodern Towers for their use. These are' our Tem-- adbi*-Temples a»d Towfers a Uy, leading members of which used foundation have they been o^crat^ single person who was not one of us — - temination,,thiff be Wot4d ftojnadntit-- enjoiMd the making of Converts, I No Engffsh Christian would. thinK of regarding a munity. There might be a c ' s ' > *. . • ctr^owk /\T fViA JrswAcf art/l TlTACf zi I place of worship I desecrated, because a I ge.nui ne beiidver fe happened to have come I from a base trade. pure add good faith, therefore they were an integral part of our religious and social open to ail Converts indiscriminatdy, . we should undoubtedly profoundly shock' the sentiments of the Whole com- cOnstant stream of the lowest and most despised persons pouring into it, and in the esti- mation of all good Zdroastrians poHut- A modern orthodox Parsi would shrink with loathing and horror from admitting to hisTerpples and Towers a person whose presence was a ' , social contamination. ing the 'fempies and Towers. We should be inviting the immediate disruption of the whole, ecclesiastical establishment. . Genuine Zoroastrians would feel that the venerated seats of their ancient refi- gibh were desecrated past redemption Bhungi It would seem to him utterly and no longer fit to be used by those of organization that these Temples and • * ¦ " ¦ — -¦ - . . - Towers shaU for ever remain conse*- ____ _________ ________ I crated exclusively to the religious and .iiiTvi^uiu v.». finite simple, and, in view of the ritual uses of such persons, and such irreparable and considerations I have been discussing, persons only. Destroy that belief, and , - • - • •- • 1 -T-v -------- .... j_ you sever all the bonds of our caste cohesion: we must cease to be what we ' SV* B impossible to do so; it would.defile him the old faith, in what is really an esst^ial caste semi- ment But that defilement would he infi ­ ll nitely ’ worse —more i jfe far-reaching-^if it touched the sacred quite intelligible. They say, we do not B sources of the whole communal and object to proselytizing fanatics —if there Their position irt this matter seems to me ( of the whosJe communal and object to proselytizing fanatics —if there I J A Veiy hanw Jainglie^ to oiir i^rsi Patrons 7. AFRICAN safari 13T)AYS Mata, Mt, M; Lodge, Tree, Samburu Game . National Park,Tsavo WesLTaite Mills. 1.U.S.A. ISOAYS New York, Niawa Falls, Los Angles, San Francisco, _ Yesomite National Zurich, Innsbruck, Park, Las Vegas, Salzburg, Vienna, Miami, Orlando, Venice,f«^, Wadungton, Chicago. ' RotOTce, Rsa, J ¦fe r 1. «5. X For Details Please Contact The House of Travel 4U.S.A. 5. FAR EAST 6 FAR EAST/ GRAND HORIZONS JAPAN CARIBBEAN 14 DAYS 16 DAYS CRUISE BaigiK*, Hongkong. Honc^tong, Tokyo, NairoN, Masai ... .. . 22IMYS Kamakura, Hakone, Forest, Ltfeem^ ’. . San Frahci^, - Piirit, JfetSla, AtamLKy^o, -......• -....... *".......... - - • ¦ l aji Sinaeodte. Incluctng Nara, Os^a, Si^osa Island. &n^ok, Singepore. Reserve, Amb^h Canyon, b&uiH, StThomas .Nassau, Out IslaiKl. 2.EUROPE/UjC 3.EUROre/ —' U.K./U.S.A. 30 DAYS Londoni Amster^vn, Frankfurt, Sack Zurich, Paris,tiw Los Arra^.LaS YriWi WS^Bgttm, Vegas, &and Orlando, Mbtni, " Los Angles, San FranfciiBtxj, Las Vegas , C34cagri. 22i>AYS Ijonddn, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Black Forest, LuG^e/_ ^zbiirg, Vienna, AtoiceiiKone, Nice, Lyon, Paris. 5.FAREAST HORIZONS 14 DAYS Ban^ok, Hongkong. kkkK^O) Ocran 1^’ Saitosa Island. MTT.Hin?rrAY n la ASIATIC 7a»/aSBMX 7 12, Mureb»n*flosd. B<»nMMv 400()01 Tel.: 288151 (B Liimi - Telex: 011*3151 AIRA 81 Parsiana March 1983 3^ 4- ¦ ¦b H'rCSII.¥EiiT5 5" if Pick Any One toSSSffiSSw ’ it W»« Be A Glorious Experience SuHectlaRar Approval ........... . " '¦ — APM-ATS^13 4 ¦ V 41. > I a' ’eho,^' ’a"^' ’±‘teS^r" '*** 7 '’7““’ “ "''¦‘‘y > ’“PPl™™- '» Ms. « That is what^ have been ^2*' PfeiMliiffs end by repeating it. In the constant, M —---- -------------• should, under the Circumstances of the often long and arduous, discussions we of one or have held orally and in writing oven more of the Trust Funds. points upon which, we do ’^ted whether I cannot close without expressing my we agreed.my brother Daver has shown deep sense of gratitude and obligation to the most consistent and conspicuous ----- --------------- ¦ I —------------- - courtesy, patience, and open- It was not the intention of And it is a source of the the Founders of these Trusts to t hrow them open indiscriminately to any one and every Convert. ment as merely a supplement to his, I ¦ a chosen and ptxuKar .piBiople. , told over and overag^n in the progress of this case; and it does, I believe, fairly represent what the Founders of these benefactions really felt, and would have unqualifiedly expressed, had they been called upon categorically to do so. They did not guard against the present peril, because it never occurred to them.This, tne POUnOfirs nt aii i hoi r .t 7 shortly,isthegrounduponw»ichlhave ^unoerS m tnese all I have found myself able to agree come to the conclusion that, while the ' ^UStS tO t hroW them open him on every mam point. Nd one Zoroastrian religion certainly didorigi- indisCriminatelV tO anv associated with him can nally recommend maijihg Converts, it - was not the intention of the Founders of and Overy Convert. and serenity, sustained throughout these Trusts to throw open indiscrimi- "" '' .. ——i------ nately to any one and every Convert, my brother Daver fdr the ‘J’°”him —himself a leadihgihember of Andfor,hep„rpo«se Sk/Kfet- Mukeijee lamented, “Life will go on, from there. W Ptrsiana Mardi 1383^ , 1