Oct 1983

if I • is •i'! (¦ '«V^ ;4 1 J* I” ¦ d X i« V I kV I r? k '¦^‘i •s> 'i- **, <» oj ? ’W** llr "‘ 4^ V kX’* t) .< .13^ » ^•*5' « « 1*-^ ? "i* M^. ^i- J I . I' XM<*JK3ifil It ir ¦Vi C“” I*’*'?.-'" .1 f^> -¦^i A Jb ** Wortch cofnedUm - is back I PW^..JI .................................. . ¦:¦¦:»> CHARLIE CHWtlN MODERM TIMES Written'produced’dfl-ected by CHARLIE CHAPLIN musk by CHARLIE CHAPLIN F*S>a ».4Ki<>A^ K*» i^antilrw-CriV in,, ’.r f ¦ October 1983 Volume 6 Number << EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Hutokshi D. Doctor EXECUTIVE EDITOR Gita Vasudevan DESIGN CONSULTANT Mini Boatwala DESIGN ASSISTANT Kranti Shilotri MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Billimoria ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Cheryl D'Penha CHIEF EXECUTIVE R.P. Thanavala FINANCE B.L. Arora CIRCULATION Yezdi Gandevia and B.P. Umrigar MANAGEMENT Minoo Patel, Jasmine Driver and Dinaz Felfeli 3 Readers' Forum 8 Events and Personalities 16 The Community Voice by Hutokshi D. Doctor 28 Fifty Glorious Years in Showbiz 33 Institutions under Zoroastrian Trusts by Hormazdyar S. Dalal 36 Business 39 The forms of Divinity by Hutokshi D. Doctor 42 Tribute to Talent by Ali Rajabally Cover: Poster of Chaplin's 'Modern Times' screened at Regal Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel at C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, grourk floor, 39 A,K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay, 400 001, printed by him at Kaiser-E-Hind, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400 001 and phototypeset at Decora Printers, Bombs^ 400 009 and Multi Media Aids, Bonvbay 400 051 All rights reserved. Address all editorial and business correspondence to Parsiana, G.P.O Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Phonet 268730 Annual inland subscription: Rs 30 for one year (12 issues); Rs 55 for two years (24 issues]^ Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs 60 for one year, Rs 110 for two years; Airmail FU 120 for one year, Rs 215 for two years. For U.S. personal cheques add $2 to cover bank charges. For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 3 for bank charges. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favour of Parsiana. Single copy price Rs 5 and Re 1. All rates subject to change in postal rates. ,¦« i READERS’ FORUM jihouH.hl fill iiOyrri fciunrhi’:*’ .'?T iSfl g$4 bl' nt* .'.4 W’ *s fife tradition. Let no man come between that proselytism. man and his God. It would not be out of place to quote Constraint on the Zoroastrian Mahatma Gandhi, “All religions are religion, perhaps necessary at one time at branches of the same mighty tree, but one place to preserve the religion has one must not change from one branch Readers' views are welcome on any phet or < subject of interest to the community religion such as Buddhism, Christiani- and should be sent to the Editor, Readers' Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. wilted under nature ’s spirit of the age. to another for the sake of expediency. Not a single legend or quotation from By doing so one cuts the very branch the preachings or interpretations of on which he sits. ” Zarathustra can be rationally construed to signify that no man can profess the Zoroastrian religion through the navjote Our memory is short to talk about ceremony, unless both his parents are disowning those priests for taking Peter- Zoroastrians. At best, it may be son into the Zoroastrian fold. established that in the Zoroastrian religion conversion is not specified. The Zoroastrian religion permits con- and under the leadership of Dasturji version. Membership of the community Framroze Bode so many navjotes were “is coming to be defined by commitment performed of the sons and daughters of and participation and not by inherited Parsi fathers and non-Parsi mothers. At identity. ” that moment the orthodoxy was at par A.E. TARAPORE and the fanatics babbled a lot but they did not think of excommunicating The acceptance of Zoroastrianism by Dasturji Bode. Even after that Dasturji King Vishtasp and others was not Bode performed marriages of Parsi boys meant to be a conversion or change of with alien girls. faith from one established religion to Why then the present hullabaloo another. It was simply the adoption of against Hormazdiyar and Antia? 1 am an organized system to their already aware Hormazdiyar who had a sound existing Mazda-worshipping belief, religious training at the Cama Athornan The fact remains that there was no pro- Institute, performed ceremonies prior to any form of established leaving for the USA and is now working in an American firm. The late Dr Irach Taraporewalla, in his book on the Gathas on page 56 said: N.H. DADRAWALA What happened in the past when the late Burjorji Bharucha took a bold stand ty or Islam before the advent of Zarathustra. Where then is the ques ­ tion of Zarathustra converting the peo- “The place of Zarathustra among the pie of the primitive faith to his own? As regards conversion in neighbour- merely to teach and uplift the Iranian ing countries like Turan and Sainina, it race so many thousands of years ago, becomes necessary to emphasize that but his was the message meant for all Iran and Turan implied only a distinc- humanity and for all ages. For Zara- tion in country and not of religion. The thustra was not merely the prophet of Conversion fact that all the holy ones of Iran, Iran, but he was the world teacher, and Turan, Sairima, Sainina and other his message is the eternal teaching of Conversion is to Parsis like a red rag to a places are remembered in the Fravar- truth, love and service. His message has bull. Zarathustra ’s preachings are din Yasht does not mean that those a very special value for humanity forgotten, rational thinking leaves them, who resided beyond Iran professed a today. ” and the Parsis rush to fight an enemy religion different from that prevailing that does not exist. in Iran. Thus the memory of the holy No religious person changes from one ones in the Fravardin Yasht simply depicts religion/atheism direct to another that Mazda-worship was not confined As we have no Parsi paper in the UK religion. There is always a pause; a blank to Iran alone but also neighbouring there is no means of knowing what our ’ „ • people think about any event or pro- One cannot help accepting that posal. I have my doubts as to whether . the majority even know about Peterson ’s need to be with God. Sometimes the The Daena Zarathustra is the law of navjote. search ends in the wonderful discovery the entire universe. The 21 Nasks covered of the Zoroastrian religion and the man all the laws of nature be it spiritual, professes the teachings of Zarathustra subtle or physical. But it is unfortunate of the Zoroastrian Association of and practises the tarikats, including the that this universal nature of Europe with the help of John Hinnells navjote, of the Zoroastrian religion and Zoroastrianism is misconstrued for and Open University. On the subject of 3 Parsiana October 1983 and then a lengthy time during which the and distant regions, man searches for a system of faith and r worship, a religion which can fulfil his Zoroastrianism is a universal religion. prophets is unique. He was born not FRAM F. MULLAN Udviida Some years ago I was instrumental in sending out a questionnaire to members ..3 f. * 1 -I J 1 J J 'I ¦?- i • .s 7^ <1 d ¦ 1y» conversion the following two questions the ‘Quest ” {Parsiana, March 1983), it cese. were asked: Do you agree with the con- would seem to me that if I were to pay The Tata Institute of Social Sciences version of non-Zoroastrians? a) Yes for seeing a movie, my choice would not at Chembur under the directorship of (47.8 percent) b) No (38.1 percent) c) favour a film producer known for his Don ’t know (10 percent). If ‘yes ’ please ecclesiastical merits nor one that pro- would seem to me that if I were to pay our mobeds and dasturs and ‘Quest ’ or no quest, this possibility I feel should be seriously explored if we mean our pri ­ ests to assume greater responsibility for ; _____ ¦ 1 We have great respect for our revered status (22.4 percent); b) Limited to mar- dasturs. They have preserved our scrip- Armaity Desai can, I am sure, formulate _ _ useful courses in sociology and com- indicate your views on which would be jects ancient scriptures. Conversely if I ¦ munity development for application to acceptable should conversion/converts were to seek spiritual salvation, 1 would ’ ' “ * ’ - be: a) Limited to marriage partners and not visit a movie director, children only and given full communal ’ riage partners and children only but tures and tended our holy fires over the social guidance in future. given separate communal status (1.5 ages. They should continue to do so. homi b. minocher homji percent); c) Open to all and given full Until their scholarship or training at the communal status (25.6 percent); d) Open athornan institutes and madressas apjn| Harakiri’ to all and given separate communal includes courses in sociology and com- status (1.5 percent) and e) Other munity development, they should not —please specify (2.2 percent). try to undertake the role of social gui- Ever since Zoroastrianism became dance and certainly not of movie direc- the state religion of Iran, in several of tors. our Nyaish prayers the following Generally, their application of scrip ­ Ontario, Canada The community, since the beginning of Parsi history has been a closed one, in ­ sulating itself from outside influences and isolating itself from other com- our Nyaish prayers the following Generally, their application of scrip- munities. This, at that time, was a passage appears: “May the knowledge, tural knowledge to social problems is good thing because primarily it ensured • ¦ that the religion which was brought from Persia would live on in its original state. However, the coming of the British admissibility or otherwise of conver ­ sion. One does not have to be a scholar of Avesta to know about ‘freedom of effected a change not only for the Parsi community, but for the rest of the communities and people of India, and spirit of Kemna Mazda and of Yasna the community by lowering its social 30.2 and 28.7 well enough, irrespective frontiers was able to participate in, and of the translator, to know that Zara- was indeed often the leader of the new- thustra enjoined the spreading of the ly formed conglomerate Indian society, faith. The Committee of 11 Ulemas — ---- 7 1 part of this century, conclusively pro- tivity, from sports and entrepreneur- nounced that Zoroastrianism does not at Eugene, Oregon. And these bodies prohibit proselytization but enjoins it. are not established by Parsis. Cyrus Bharucha is a very competent J J' . ‘.X extent and fame of the commandments not laudable or acceptable. Nor need of the excellent Mazdayasnan religion they use this platform to pronounce the be widespread in the world, over all its seven regions, so may it be. ’’ The com ­ munity has spent enough time and energy in debating the question. I have choice ’ and about ‘spreading of the faith my doubts if we will have 100 percent to the seven continents. ’ We know the unanimity on it. Those who care for the religion, its preservation and pro ­ pagation will go forward to do so. They do not need anyone ’s permission. „ . ... In France there is a society for faith. The Committee of 11 Ulemas There were Parsis and Parsi participa- Zoroastrian Studies (Societe d ’Etudes appointed by the Anjuman in the early tion in almost every field of social ac- Zoroastriennes). In America there is part of this century, conclusively pro- tivity, from sports and entrepreneur- The International Mazdayasnan Order nounced that Zoroastrianism does not ship to education and civil administra- ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . tion. Cyrus Bharucha is a very competent However, the Parsis in the post ­ film and TV producer. He, together with independence period, reverted to their Zubin Mehta, can raise the fame and original stand of splendid isolation. It repute of our prophet and religion inter- cannot be over emphasized that any ‘The Resurgence nationally, to heights never achieved by community retreating from the main- . , our dasturs. Those of us who did wish to stream of a society begins to look in on of the Federation ensure the authenticity of this produc- itself and assumes a ghetto mentality In Parsiana, July 1983, a reference has tion, ensured it at the Fourth North characterized by mental and moral been made to the Minorities Commis- American Zoroastrian Congress in stagnation. sion presided over by Justice Beg. The Montreal in April 1982 by appointing a It is therefore not surprising that reference should have been instead to committee to review the film script and when many of the younger generation the High Power Panel on Minorities nominated thereon some learned liberal emerge from the closed confines of ¦ — - - " " their community in pursuance of their Minochehr-Homji, Prof. K. Irani, Dr studies or careers, they are reluctant to __ , ' 7 _ \ ¦ • reassociate with a community which scriptures but also in their applicability professes such a strong ethnocentric at- to modern society. ___________________ titude to the detriment of social and in- To succeed, the film must have a uni- tellectual advancement. It ought to be CYRUS MEHTA Essex, UK presided over by Dr Gopal Singh,of scholars like Dastur Navruz D. which Ms Aloo Chibber is a member. I.................... The report of this panel was submitted Ali Jaffrey etc., learned not only in our to the government on June 14, 1983. The panel ’s findings and recommenda ­ tions relate to a wide range of subjects -------------, like education, employment, industry, versal appeal and interest. Then alone a matter of great concern to the com- finance, economic concessions, econo- can it ‘spread the message to the seven munity that Parsi boys and girls find so mic disparity and implementation continents. ’ It is not aimed to make much in common with the boys and machinery. Zoroastrians better Zoroastrians. That girls of other communities, yet cannot " ¦ " ' ¦ even generate a sense of affinity for can it ‘spread the message to the seven munity that Parsi boys and girls find so Pi Zoroastrians better Zoroastrians. That girls of other communities, yet cannot function I am sure Cyrus and Zubin are leaving to our revered dasturs. Let these their own community, two proceed unhindered on their ‘quest ’, T... ---- -- . SHIAVAX D. NARGOLWALA President, Delhi Parsi Anjuman .M „ vwup.uvvvu ui.i.H.uv.cuunu.v.. v,uv.,., The case of the dwindling Parsi Inquest on the Quest leaving the dasturs to look after our population and thus perhaps the Adverting to the article ‘An Inquest on atash-behrams and their respective dio- ultimate demise of Zoroastrianism is 4 Parsiana October 1983V- Dinshaw Bamji (not Mehta) and Sorabji Kolah who were personal chums problem is conversion and there is no from now may spread the good Maz- way out of it. dayasnian religion over all the zones that While this solution will create are seven. ” tremendous opposition and a reversal of many traditional customs, it must be a whole has the courage to change the pointed out that the prohibition of trend of things, the younger generation conversion is merely a social restraint will continue to migrate from the com- inflicted upon us when the Zoroas- munity, and the religion will continue ----- ------------------ - —’ its course towards extinction. AFRIED PATEL Kanpur Until such time as the community as an even more serious one. It would be a open to doubt) but inversely, fresh blood pity if the religion survived through cannot be anything but beneficial to a . thick and thin down the ages only to community beset by problems caused by also hailed from Navsari and left for die out because it had no followers to excessive inbreeding. It would seem apt Calcutta when the Bengal Nagpur propound it. The only solution to this to quote here Yasht 13.94: ‘‘Henceforth Railway had just started functioning. ’• They opened Europfe-shop in Dharam- tolla Street under the name of Dinshaw & Sorabji and held a number of agen ­ cies for wines, spirits and processed foods. Later on they took up catering contracts under the name of D. Sorabji & Co. for the East Bengal Railway as it was then known. D. Sorabji & Co. had a virtual monopoly and everything from crates of aerated waters to meat, fish, fruit and r’alniitfa PorcJc provisions used to be transported i arsi!» gj- freight. Until the outbreak of the The article ‘Calcutta Parsis: A rich last Great War, the tariff for a nine- heritage ’ by Gautam Ghose (Parsiana, course breakfast and lunch in refresh- 1 trians first came to India. At that time it allayed a local king ’s fears that the strangers who had come to his country were not missionaries intent on pro ­ pagating their faith, but refugees from their homeland who only desired to set ­ tle down and live in peace. Later of course, it was a useful excuse June 1983), so far as it concerns the ment rooms of almost all Indian railways for the Parsis themselves to preserve the Parsis of Calcutta, is interesting. But a ‘purity ’ of their race. At neither time few points deserve some correction. were the Parsis so pressed by problems as they are today and so could afford to population of Calcutta numbering about Bengal Railway provided them with cling to this tradition. 35,000 then,were from Navsari. The late about 15 free first-class passes and about Today however, the community must Ervad J.F. Madan also hailed from Nav- 1(X) third-class passes for the use of their cast aside such traditions and prejudices sari where he worked in his young days staff members. that it harbours and allow for conver- as a mobed with a remuneration of one All Parsi Zoroastrians were-entertain- sion. Certainly our race will not remain banana and one egg for performing the ed free of charge by most of the Parsi as ‘pure ’ as it was earlier (which itself is Afargan ceremony. caterers. In about the year 1912, when was Rs 2 and dinner Rs 2.50 and in restaurant cars —breakfast and lunch Rs Seventy-five percent of the Parsi 2.50 and Rs 3 for dinner. The East as a mobed with a remuneration of one Our Banquet Facilities Are Blanket Facilities If you love good food you'll find it at ‘The Gourmet’ Restaurant A LA 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. j ANAVJOTE,ALAGAN, ASILVER OR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, A FIRST-BIRTHDAY PARTY- OR ANY SUCH HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR LIFE celebrate it at West End Hotel, in beautiful setting of its Terrace Garden. Choose the day and leave all the other problems to us AT THE WEST END HOTEL Hold a RECEPTION at our newly renovated and decorated Banquet Room OR in the splendour of our starlit Terrace Garden West End’s Conference Plan I Rs. 60/' 4-15% Sales Tax per head Inclusive of: [Room Rent. Buffet Lunch,[ Morning and Evening Tea. * Ask.for special concession offer for larger conferences. J ¦oW * a 5 October 1983 .¦X 9 I Problem: There just aren ’t enough birds. Solution: While it might not be feasible the decoration and a special top-class Nariman K. Karanjia who in his youth to repatriate grown vultures, it should dinner with French dishes including Rus- was known by the nickname of not be impossible to breed them in cap- , sian caviar, French pate-de-fois-gras and roast duckling. When the honoured muscular, was only a matriculate. When guest called for the bill both partners Sir SorabjiPochkhanawala opened up a present politely informed Mehta that it branch of the Central Bank Of India at was the policy of the company to enter- 8, Clive Row, Calcutta, in about 1915, tain free all Parsi Zoroastrians. On his he appointed Karanjia as sub-accountant return to Bombay Sir Pherozeshah on a fabulous salary of Rs 250 plus 10 posted a cheque to the company. While percent as war allowance. He was well Sir Pherozeshah Mehta with Lady Mehta navjote of his last child when he was went on holiday to Darjeeling, the com- around 94 years old. pany made elaborate arrangements for Another luminary of Calcutta is I 1 i was known by the nickname of ‘Dhankhra ’. Karanjia, hefty and tivity on a‘farm ’. The Parsi Punchayet should finance and spearhead the ac ­ tivity and the job can be done even by a non-Parsi poultry farmer. The bred baby vultures should then be released in the dokhma. Problem: The buildings and traffic at Kemp ’s Corner scare the birds and they thanking him for the remittance, they known for his honest and scrupulous flyaway. politely replied that they could not dealings and retired as managing director " .................................... contravene a system and hence they sent 13 years ago. the cheque to a Parsi charity fund in '____ ___ __ ... ----- Calcutta. and Motabhoy Guzder having jute and the shortest distances and heights. All Parsi staff members then wore a cotton mills and presses, Merwanji Problem: On days when there are no long Parsi coat and a cap. After trying Nanabhoy Mehta of Navsari doing bodies, the birds have to go hungry, my luck at Rangoon where I worked large-scale business with China, Keki Fewer birds are, therefore, tempted to ¦ ~ ' remain. Solution: On such days, in a nearby location, the Doongerwadi staff should Solution: While the birds are being bred, their wings could be suitably clip- There were also rich Parsis —Edulji ped so that they cannot fly except over and Motabhoy Guzder having jute and my luck at Rangoon where I worked large-scale business with China, Keki hard from early morning till late night Lawyer and Rustomji Cawasji Mody, with no pay, I joined D. Sorabji & Co. as the uncle of Dr Minocher B. Mody. Jam- an assistant on a handsome remunera- shedji Saklat —who bought and sold tion of Rs 30 per month. In those days shares and stocks, had a shop of sports arrange to provide non-human meat to ¦ ¦ .............. '• ¦ ' - keep the birds fed. Problem: Skulls and bones do not disintegrate. Solution: Either of two methods could be followed: An electric, high voltage incinerator _ ____________ could be installed within the Doonger- Ghose has made no reference to two What are these Doongerwadi pictures? wadi premises and the skulls and other Parsi luminaries of Calcutta. The Rumour has it that some notorious in- bones, after a due lapse of time, con- late Seth Framji Boomlakhau who hailed dividuals, in the dead of one moonless signed thereto. The ashes could be from Navsari, and his intimate friend night, smuggled themselves into the in- periodically immersed in a nearby river Merwanji Bhot. Both were totally il- nermost precincts of Bombay ’s sacred with due ceremony, literate and worked as cooks and general Towers of Silence and, with camera " •* assistants at Parsi weddings earning Re 1 and flash, took some singularly horri- per day from early morning till late fying pictures. night. Both were wrestlers. . ... While exchanging topics one day, both scattered all over and, though it might dissolve. The acid/chemical could fell out, challenged each other, and ar- be difficult to hazard a guess, there periodically be drained out of the tank no questions were asked as to the identity goods in Chowringhee and was a per- or character of the applicants, they were sonal friend and advisor to Ervad Jam- all taken for granted as of sterling shedji F. Madan. character and conduct. Until the out ­ break of the last Great War, the Parsis held a virtual monopoly in catering on all the railways in India. R.N. RUSTOMJI The Doongerwadi Pictures 1 Or,the skulls and bones, after a due lapse of time, could be immersed in a tank full of concentrated acid or other night. Both were wrestlers. The photos showed parts of bodies appropriate chemicals and left there to While exchanging topics one day, both scattered all over and, though it might dissolve. The acid/chemical could fell out, challenged each other, and ar- be difficult to hazard a guess, there periodically be drained out of the tank ranged for a wrestling bout in Lunsikui should have been no less than three and given the same anti-pollution treat- Maidan, Navsari. The mutual condition bodies in all. From the pictures it was ment as is given to industrial effluents, was that the defeated shall instantly leave not possible to make out whether they Problem: The periphery of the wells re- Navsari and never return while the victor were in different stages of decay, main unclean. . was alive. but they certainly were in different Solution: An overhead mushroom tank Merwanji Bhot, who was familiarly stages of being devoured. There were should provide water storing facilities known as ‘Mahello Band ’ knocked no vultures in sight but then, in the and cleanliness should be maintained down Framji who, according to the middle of the night they ought to have by spraying the quagmire with jets of terms, left Navsari for Delhi on foot, been resting. Apart from this, there water. • from there to Allahabad and finally settl- was a‘mountain ’of skulls in the well, ed down in Calcutta as a cook with the Strangely, I do not recall seeing any Banaji family. Later on, starting his own other bones, only skulls! business of Europe-shop in Bentick I 4, Street and Chowringhee and also a cater- highly emancipated community such as the needs of the day, our traditions will ing business on the B.N.W. Railways. ours should not be able to solve the few live on to the end of time. Our faith in Framji remarried a young widow, Jer- problems that bedevil the running of our great religion will be strengthened, banoo, when the lady was 16 years and our dokhmas. and those who are tempted to stray iri- he aged 66 years and had about seven In an attempt to start the process of to other faiths or follow other tradi- children. After Merwanji Bhot died, 70 righting the wrong, I have given below tions will no longer find reason to do years later, Framji came to Navsari to some of these problems and their solu- so! pass his last days. Framji performed the tions as I can see them: ment as is given to industrial effluents. If scientific knowledge and common sense are put to use for making timely improvements on traditional systems in I asked myself why an educated order to make them more relevant to KHURSHED PASTAKIA 7 Parsiana October 1963 3 J 1 -.4 1 •4 -ji 1 I ’3 's I 1 4a ¦jjS -¦SS’" A ¦ 1- i.>*r -4 ' ’' -J 7 J Events and Personalities Zoroastrian Blood noted institution to finance the prin ­ ting of the directory they refused, stating the CER was a “political and former Bombay Parsi Punchayet Young blood, so to say, was credited body. ” “Is this (compiling a blood trustee Shiavax R. Vakil, urged the for compiling and printing a donors directory) the work of a community to start co-operative stores Zoroastrian Blood Donor Directory. political body? ” asked Kanga. An and kitchens in the various colonies ‘In a period of barely one year our anonymous donor finally bore the whereby a healthy diet at a nominal volunteers have been successful in cost. Kanga also lauded the wonderful cost could be provided. “Any good registering 1,034 names of prospective work being done by the Parsee General cause you try, will not fail,” he added. J With the rising cost of sandalwood and we are to have such an institution other wood. Vakil suggested agiaries and atash-behrams also form co ­ operatives for the supply of Kathi. Mody termed the directory “a great Sandalwood would be more difficult for a similar city-wide directory. In the keynote address noted lawyer blood donors from a cross-section of Hospital and commented “How lucky our community, ” wrote Kersi J. i ‘ Limathwalia, chairman of the Com- working for the community so stead- mittee for Electoral Rights Youth fastly for the last so many years. ” Wing. The sole and primary objective ** ’ .... of such a gesture being that no fellow achievement for a small community and costly to attain as it was being used in large quantities by the chemical industry. The function ended with a play Zoroastrian, young or old, rich or poor like ours ” and noted how “difficult it is may succumb... tor want of blood, to get donors today. ” “Special mention needs to be made of I ' . „ _ Kersi P. Gazdar who very ably co- movie star and former Sheriff of directed by noted theatre personality gags ' Invitee guest Sunil Dutt, noted ordinated the entire project with untir- Bombay, congratulated the community Dinyar Contractor and other ing efforts and Ms Zarine E. on the directory and voiced the need and skits. ” Pithawalla and Ms Meher K. Gazdar for their highly efficient job in group Right: Limathwalia, Petit, Sunil Dutt, Kanga, Vakil and Dr Mody at the classification and compiling the final CER function manuscript. ” I The directory was formally released I at a grand function at Patkar Hall on I October 13, before a large gathering, I by the noted physician Dr Minocher I Mody. Dinshaw Petit, chairman of the I B.D. Petit Parsee General Hospital I was presented the directory which he I received on behalf of the hospital. The I directory is to be given to several I hospitals in Bombay and the blood I would be available to members of all I communities, stated Dadi Engineer, a I founder member of the GER and one I of its stalwarts. He noted the Youth I Wing had already collected and i donated 200 bottles of blood to the Parsee General Hospital, the Nowros- jee Wadia Maternity Hospital and the Red Cross. CER president Jamsheed Kanga noted that when the CER approached a A 'f- A 8 Parsiana October 1983 H ( i0 I I I Guzder goes places Noted businessman and prominent travel chaeological Survey of India and Com- Plan personality Cyrus J. Guzder was ap- mittee for the Preservation of Indian pointed president of the Travel Agents Monuments, notes the report. He is on Association of India in September, notes the Bombay Municipal Corporation ’s a press release. committee for the preservation of “TAAI is the only recognized body of historic buildings and the Housing Ur- travel agents and tour operators in the ban Renewal and Ecology Board. “He Bangalore, country... (and) actively promotes and also assisted in the preparation of the safeguards the interests of the travel in- UNESCO report to the Government of dustry in general and of its members in particular, ” states the report. Soon after his appointment as presi- member of the Government of India ’s committee to strengthen the Ar- Bangalore Housing The Bangalore Parsee Zoroastrian An ­ juman is seeking funds for the construc ­ tion of one and two bedroom flats for Zoroastrians in the garden city of The present dharamshala building at Benson Cross Road will be demolished and a new complex constructed incor ­ porating a dharamshala on the ground ________ _ floor, ownership flats on the second and dent, Guzder led a delegation to the In- several reputed companies including third floors and flats on a rental basis for ” needy Parsi residents of Bangalore on the first floor, notes a press release. “The total cost of construction to the anjuman will be about Rs 40 lakhs of which about Rs 30 lakhs is likely to be raised through a ‘self-financing ’ scheme. The balance of Rs 10 lakhs will have to be raised by way of donations and interest-free loans from our well-wishers in the community, ” notes an appeal from the anjuman. “If a Parsi would donate a sum of Rs 5,000 and more, his name or the name of his nominee will be inscribed on a marble tablet to be fixed in the dharamshala. ” “Through our earlier letter we had in ­ dicated that the anjuman had prepared a scheme to build ownership apartments for resident and non-resident Zoroastrians only. It was then envisaged that the land on which the new building was to be constructed would be given on memorandum on the imposition of the Press, and the British Petroleum Indian long lease initially for 99 years. new visa procedures and withdrawal of Agencies Joint Enterprise. “Subsequently, the trustees have the 30-day landing permit facility for discussed this matter in great depth with foreign tourists visiting India. These rr» i /• n i numerous legal and taxation authorities restrictions act as a deterrent to the High Court jor Patel apart from interested purchasers and growth of tourism arid TAAI estimates have now decided that ^hcsc flats will be that “India is losing around 10 percent Noted Nagpur lawyer Hoshang Dinshaw sold outright on ownership basis with the of its tourism traffic ” and that “tourism Patel was appointed judge of the High land made free-hold. The advantages growth has been declining steeply ” with Court of Bombay in June. An expert in are: a) monthly lease rent will not be trends for the current year suggesting possible negative growth. Guzder, managing director of the travel agency ‘Indtravels ’ and chairman and managing director of the travel and cargo agency. Airfreight Pvt. Ltd., has Central Government ”, notes his bio been involved with the travel and data. He has “made his mark as a tourism industry for the last 15 years, notes the press release. He is a former president of the Air Cargo Agents large number of industrial organiza- Patel has been part-time lecturer with the community who either are unable to the Nagpur law college for several years, obtain suitable accommodation in India on the impact of tourism on the monuments of India. ” Guzder is on the board of directors of J dian prime minister which presented a Aviation Consultancy Services, Tata Guzder: Promoting tourism Patel: Legal expert ___________ ! It J 1 Ij -’I J 5 4 1 j i I i t j F (r ( id High Court for Patel apart from interested purchasers and ® have now decided that these flats will be Noted Nagpur lawyer Hoshang Dinshaw sold outright on ownership basis with the ¦ ¦ ' " ¦ ’ • ’---- X._., j.. —. ‘__ I are: a) monthly lease rent will not be labour and industrial law, constitutional payable; b) registration stamp fees are IctUUUl clllU lilUUol.1 icll law, VMitovivuvivriAai t-' » / o . r law and service matters, Patel (who join- likely to be very much less; and c)-invest- ed the bar in 1954) was also “associated ment would be more commercially viable with the Enquiry Commission of when the building is constructed on free^ Silewara Coal Mines constituted by the hold than on lease-hold land. The scheme, expected to be completed by December 1984, in order to com- ___ _____. memorate the diamond jubilee of the state government departments and a Bangalore Bai Dhanmai and Cawasji Dadabhai Dar-E-Meher, has been under ­ taken “mainly to help such members of counsel of various corporate bodies, Association of India and was selected the tions. Indian delegate member to the Air Transport Commission and Environ- „ ment Commission of the International He was president of the Labour Lawyers Bangalore due to restrictive monetary Chamber of Commerce at Paris. Bar Association and , a managing conditions or due to non-availability of committee member of the Nagpur accommodation in a crowded city, ” ac- and Kamptee, Parsi Zarthosti cording to the report, or those non ­ resident Parsis in India and abroad who “A member of various committees connected with civic affairs and the en- and Kamptee, vironment in India, ” Guzder is a Anjuman. Parsi 9 Pdrsiana October 1983 J ? 1 .'i -'¦s" '4. seek accommodation in Bangalore. Applications for the flats costing ap- i^’i'hs (750 sq. feet) Neelum Khurshed Kanga Memorial and 2.50 lakhs (1000 sq. feet) are invited Awards were presented to three blind from Parsi individuals and families with immediate effect, notes the report. One of the conditions laid down by the trustees is that ‘‘at all times the apart ­ ments will be occupied by Parsi At a function held on July 2, 1983, the ni a luiivliuil IICIU on July Z, ttlC I , „ - • birth anniversary of Ms Kanga. the w proxmately Rs 1.90 lakhs (750 sq. feet) Neelum Khurshed Kanga Mmorial Cc) women for their outstanding achieve ­ ments. The three recipients, according to press reports, were Ms Grade Shroff, a telephone operator at the Workshop for . . . ------ the Blind in Bombay who has trained Zoroastrians only. ” over 400 blind operators, Ms Kaushalya ‘‘Each application shall be accom- Balid, a teacher at the Happy Home panied by an earnest money deposit of School for the Blind, and Dr Usha accom- ! Rs 5,000 writes Behram Sidhwa, presi- Bhalerao, author, music teacher at the MP University and a doctor of I 1 I’ •W» ‘ Xa. t,. dent of the anjuman, and subsequent payments, to be made by bank draft on- sociology, ly, are to be made at specified stages in the construction. For further details including the plans of the flats, contact Seth Cawasji Nusserwanji Dinshaw, Adenwalla Building, 121, Meadows Street, Fort, Bombay 400 023 or The Bangalore Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman, Queen ’s Road, Bangalore 560 001. Memorial Awards ^hs vala, notes the press release. The Palkhi- worker devoted to the cause of the blind, which who died on January 19, 1983, the Na- a ’ ’ tional Association for the Blind (NAB) 35,000. ‘‘It is hoped to reach the target recently established ‘The Neelum Khur- of Rs 1.00.000 durina the vear. ” shed Kanga Memorial Fund ’ for ‘‘assis ­ ting blind women and giving them finan ..... ........................ cial assistance, scholarships and pro- Girls, Bombay, and ‘‘a successful sales moting their education, vocational train- executive in several esteemed concerns ing, employment, economic resettlement for 22 years, ” according to her bio-data, and total rehabilitation, ” notes a press Kanga, 66, ‘‘helped in raising substantial '¦^’e^se. funds for various activities for the blind aLivui^ vaic iciuciani to Shroff receiving award from NAB president Vijay Merchant. Inset: Neelum therapy on the grounds that it is expen- 15, The Kanga Fund will be administered ¦ ; by the NAB’s recently appointed Com ­ mittee for the Advancement of the Status New techniques in dentistry of Blind Women in India, notes the even before the National Association over 2,50,000 blind for the Blind came into existence. ” She was also concerned about com ­ munity affairs and ‘‘joined the Commit ­ tee for Electoral Rights and was elected as a (Bombay Parsi Punchayet) An- juman Committee member during the even before the National Association women in India, and twice that number of women who are visually impaired, ac ­ cording to NAB estimates, for whom, ‘‘very little has been done. ” The Kanga Fund was started with an initial donation of Rs 2,000 from noted last elections. ” lawyer Nani Palkhivala and Ms Palkhi- (Bombay Parsi Punchayet) An- . _ . HIV j.yt VJ.) 1 IK. i diKllI" Neelum Khurshed Kanga, a social valas donated a further sum of Rs 10 000 ¦—-I was augmented by ‘‘friends and admirers of Ms Kanga ” to a total of Rs of Rs 1,00,000 during the year. ” A student of the Girton High School and the Alexandra High School for executive in several esteemed concerns Kanga Bl • J I l.* ¦ j_! j Rooting out Decay Noted Bombay dentist Dinshaw F. Boga co-ordinated a course in root canal therapy, a treatment which holds the promise of preventing the extrac ­ tion of decayed teeth. Forty-four senior dental surgeons from differeni parts of India participated in the June meet to discuss this root canal therapy which is said to be in its infancy in the country. ‘‘Patients (are) reluctant to go for sive and time-consuming ” commented Boga. ‘‘A patient would have to go to the surgeon for three or four sittings. ” Boga believes that ‘‘any health-care system to be a success should have den ­ tal care as an integral part. ” He was in ­ strumental in starting the manufacture I of fluoride tablets in India. “The drinking water in Bombay being defi ­ cient in fluoride, children need to take (these) tablets, ” Boga is reported to have said at the meet. This reduces the incidence of dental decay in children by 40-80 percent. A graduate with honours from St Xaviers College, Bombay, Boga was awarded a fellowship of the Interna ­ tional College of Dentists, and the ' Royal Society of Health (London). He is also an elected member of the Pierre , Fauchard Academy (USA) and past ­ president of the Indian Dental I Association. •V 11 Parsiana October 1983* fires, house collapse incidents as also railway and aircraft accidents in and Grand old letter Warden is good For sandalwood Katrak in Command Behram F. Katrak, winner of the 1983 around Bombay. Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for meritorious service, has been pro ­ moted to the senior post of commandant of the Home Guards, Greater Bombay. A priceless, piece of memorabilia left In this position ’ Katrak heads a force of behind by the Grand Old Man of India, over 5,000 Home Guards whose task it is Dr Dadabhai Naoroji, is an II-page letter to act as auxiliary to the local police that was addressed to the voters of Cen- force and the fire and rescue services. ’ ~ The Home Guards also serve as a nucleus for the civil defence services in times of war, carry out social welfare projects as directed by the government writing, was an appeal to electors outlin- and come to the aid of citizens in any ing the reasons why he was the fittest type of calamity such as flood, fire or candidate to represent Central Finnsbury house collapse. A member of the Home Guards for 25 years Katrak has received several medals didates fighting ihe elections from that including the Paschim Star, the Sangram constituency. Later, four candidates Medal and the 25th Anniversary of In- were selected to fight the poll and Naoro- dependence Medal for his gallantry and ji was second in the order of preference, services. During the 1965 war, his bio ­ data states, “Katrak recruited and train ­ ed a lai^e number of Home Guards at an outdoor camp which was specially con ­ ducted in the jungle areas of Borivli. ” In the floods at Poona (1961) and Surat Indian-born candidate barnstormed (1959) Katrak was “instrumental in sav- through the countryside, delivered lec- ing much life and property. ” Born and educated in Bombay, Katrak joined the organization at the age Central Finnsbury. of 18,according to his bio-data, winning - the coveted trophy for the best all-round Salisbury, in his notorious Edinburgh cadet and the Commandant General ’s election speech, described Naoroji as ‘a Shield for standing first at a fire fighting black man ’. This derogatory appellation course during early training. Since then, aroused the ire of the English people and notes a report in The Times of India, “he constrained Queen Victoria to express has held important posts in the organiza- her profound grief, tion....In his capacity as officer com ­ manding he attended a large number of memorabilia were handed over by the Katrak: Guarding home former maharani of Kutch, Ms Rajendra Kunwarba, to the well-known city homoeopath. Dr S.R.Wadia, who had known the Naoroji family and had even seen the Grand Old Man when he was just six years old. Naoroji died at 92 in Bombay in 1917. He left behind three sons and five grand ­ daughters, none of whom survive to this day. The last grandson, Sarosh, an assis ­ tant commissioner of police in Kutch, died two years ago. Among the other items of memorabilia the ex-maharani gifted to Wadia was an ornately designed jari- and-velvet purse presented by the Kashi Sujan Samaj on his election as president of the Indian National Congress at the 22nd session held in Lahore in 1893. Another Naoroji heirloom is a thumb ­ nail sketch and portrait of the GOM written by Sorabjee Jiehangir, then 13 Parsiana October 19^ * V - tral Fimtsbury constituency from where he was elected the first Indian MP to the British Parliament in 1892. • The letter, penned in his own hand- in the British Parliament. The GOM was one of the 13 can- Naoroji claimed in his appeal that he had spent a long time in England and hence_was acquainted with its problems and those of the people of India. He went on to list his record of service. The tures and talks and met voters house-to- house. He was duly elected victor from The then British Prime Minister, Lord The letter and other items of the Head Office 378 Grant Road Bombay 400 007 arxl Branches Tel. 371464 Quality sandalwood Aggarbatties, gum benzoin (Loban) and other Perfumes J? I V t 9i Redder ,br (zleganc^ ¦'d. f. % J«».> ('fi t «»• here to take over China by brain- tion was made in rnemory of thedate J Oaekwar of Baroda, in the senes, washing the Chinese on management Bai Sh ’mbm _ a"d ^h Rustomj •Representative Men of India ’, in the coroner and presently ad- S S ‘J fl magistrate of Baroda in the service of the Gaekwar of Baroda j in the series, =“SSS ==35 — from different climes. 1 Wadia plans to present the purse and over some rare photographs to the Parsi ’ Museum at Khareghat Road, Gamdevi. He had earlier donated a portrait of the GOM to t..- .... ------ Institute. biography*of S?GOM, a man who he some good mischief and as a friend of has^ admired, Wadia once journeyed -mmcm-Manism and from his home in Colaba to Versoya,20 years i.^-, where Naoroji spent his leisure hours. No resident remembers the house and the spot where it stood. What remains is only a road leading from a L------ - .... the beach and named after Dadabhai buying Kirloskar engines. Naoroji. Reprinted from T/ie r/mes of India, June 6, 1983. of management in China. Then they in* troduce western capital. Then they get hold of Swaraj Paul in a Wd to h„„«„p.,h b, choic” ever Chinese industry. And oetore long David Rockfeller will be setting up his Beijing branch of City Bank with the State Bank of India following the KR Cama Oriental suit. I smell trouble for the Chinese. This Parkinson Rustomji pair is out for Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and a sworn enemy of capitalist enterprise^ I ago, to locate the holiday home must warn Beijing. There is nothing . • • • 1------ more deadly than an Indo-British in ­ tellectual venture and if Beijing will not ,v .VO......... look out in time, everybody in China bus-stop to will be wearing Nirmal textiles and I further understand that among other countries that have evinced in ­ terest in publishing the Parkinson ­ Rustomji books is Bulgaria. Look out i W !1 JH a i r F .^I'V ¦ *yi'; • H 'I 13l« if. M- b' a "‘dV, ’ SZv“BX'^re"Trndirnrw\o for the purchase of furniture for the ! bring you gifts through the hack door! dcp«,,,.e.H. not« ^he 3 • w if I 4’ ni'S Beware of Rustomji You never can know what my friend By M.V, Kamath, courtesy Mid-Day, May 27, 1983. M.K. Rustomji will be up to next. Ac ­ tually, 1 know. He has just signed a for HOSOltol package contract with Federal Publica- UOTUlUUn J U! n tions of Singapore for publishing nine of his books which he has jointly pro- L------- «««,«« duced with C. Northcote Parkin- the outdoor department of the Boman-- son —yes of Parkinson ’s law fame —in jee Dinshaw Petit Parsee General Cawasji Jehangir is synonymous ’ - _ --------- pital, a sum of three lakh rupees philanthropy, but few are aware icsc Uiaiia5v.x ’iv..u vJ was donated by the Bai Shinnbai and contribution to civic and welfare significant impact on the Seth Rustomji Paymaster Public one such contribution is the Charitable Trust, notes a report in the j which has been the venue for Jam-e-Jamshed newspaper. The dona- recitals, weddings and exhibi ­ tions for years. Organizers of sports events, too, availed of its commodious space and ®ost, if not all, of the inajor boxing competitions have been conducted there for 50 years and more. Small wonder the Maharashtra State Amateur Boxing Association which uses the premises to conduct annual Western India Championships pays regular tribute to Sir Cawasji ’s memory. In fact the boxing body ’s first act on entering the hall is to wash the bust of Sir C.J., which many may fail to notice while entering, and garland it in ap­ preciation of his generosity. The maintenance department of the C.J. Hall, however, seems to work just by the opposite logic. Courtesy The Times of India. June 20, 1983. M.K. Rustomji will be up to next. Ac- package contract with Federal Publica- of his books which he has joinUy pro ­ duced with C. ] son —yes, -------- Chinese and the Singapore publishers Hospital expect these management books to have a s _ People ’s Republic of China. I smell an Indo-British conspiracy outdoor department was laid by Ms Arnavaz Jehangir Adranvala, a trustee of the fund. For the improvement and extension of Dustins the bust .. ,1_____J________ z^f 4-Vta QAman. Gifts& The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive gifts and Zoroastrian artefacts Bombay Swadeshi Stores Ltd Sir P.M. Road, Bombay 400 001 Tel: 253443 & 252730 JkAi Id Parsiiana October 1983i? * c I '1 Honoured Homoeopath Bombay ’s well-known homoeopath, Dr Sarosh R. Wadia is the first Indian to. have been invited to the USA twice to deliver lectures at the National Centre for Homoeopathy, Millersville, note press reports. Wadia was recently elected Fellow of the British Homoeopathic Faculty, the second Indian to be so honoured “in appreciation of his long services in the national and international field of homoeopathy, ’’ according to a report. “An allopath by training but a homoeopath by choice, ’’ Wadia is, according to his bio-data, a lecturer in homoeopathy at several colleges in India and honorary consultant at four charitable homoeopathic dispensaries in Bombay. He was national vice- president of the International Homoeopathic Medical League at Geneva and is the past president of the Maharashtra Homoeopathic Board. Busybee's Fame The fame of our own. Busybee (also known as Behram Contractor) spreads far and wide. A recent edition of the London Guardian has a long article on India by Christopher Driver in which he writes: “My lunch companion that day had been Malabari ’s (sic) spiritual heir, Behram Contractor of Mid-Day. A grizzled, myopic Parsee with a throwaway, miss-nothing manner... Contractor does everything that an old fashioned city editor did in H.L.Men ­ cken ’s Baltimore. But he gets up early enough to write Busybee whose daily column gently manoeuvres his chosen target-^profiteer, policeman, bureau ­ crat —to the puncturing sting in the tail. As if this were not enough, he also performs weekly as the first and liveliest restaurant critic of the liveliest eating city in India. ’’ Courtesy The Sunday Observer July 7, 1983. Corrections and Clarifications In the article ‘The Resurgence of the Federation’ (Parsiana, July 1983), it was mentioned that “Nargolwala, with Jal Irani and two practising mobeds formed a working group to help the mobeds.” Peshotan Nargolwala informs us that the working group was formed by Zal Eranee, three practising mobeds, a lady solicitor, two social workers and himself. i. £3 '4- Matchmaker Matchmaker aba, Bombay, several marriages take place among the residents themselves, “but there is no such affinity between Colaba and Andheri. ’’ Once a certain number of persons have been registered. To stem the phenomenon of intercom- Do you have the facility of accommoda- the bureau proposes to send forms to munity marriages, the Bombay Parsi tion/house after marriage? What are the those who advertise in the matrimonial Punchayet has started, this September, a qualities that you would like to especially columns in the press as well. free matrimonial bureau programming look for in your partner (such as service. The bureau, said to be mooted beautiful, tolerant, co-operative, mixing, by BPP chairman Dr Aspi Golwalla, has quiet, etc) ’ and require details on counselling so that in the process of received an encouraging initial response, religious attitudes, likes and dislikes. according to R.K. Anklesaria, chief ex­ ecutive of the BPP. Twenty registration preferences stated by each individual, a Anklesaria observed that it was necessary to start a bureau for marriage % building new relationships the old do not According to the circumstances and suffer neglect. . I “The working of the marriage bureau forms out of the 90 forms despatched selection of prospective matches will be will be on a trial and error system... We have been returned within the first made, available candidates will be inter- should be able to document all our ex ­ month of starting the bureau. viewed and arrangements to introduce periences and take the help of family “We have sought the advice and help candidates will also be made, noted sociologists, ’’ said Dr Noshir Kaikobad. of various (professional and non- Anklesaria. Premises at Noble “It ’s an attempt —in a worthy direc ­ professional) kajwallas," commented Chambers, not far from the Punchayet ’s tion, ” said Anklesaria. “It may Golwalla. He referred especially to office at Dadabhai Naoroji Road have fail—it may succeed... There are . Zoroastrian boys settled abroad who been allotted to the marriage bureau, limitations to final matchmaking, but return to India looking for Parsi girls, and the Punchayet has sanctioned an in- even 12-20 successful cases a year will stay for three to four weeks, fail to find a itial sum of Rs 3,000. The bureau will be be worth it. ” “We don ’t want to suitable partner and return, eventually managed by Ms Sheroo Master of the achieve big results, ” Master added, marrying outside the community. “This BPP, Ms Gool J. Tata, joint secretary of “We want qualitative results. We want marriage bureau will try and help such the BPP, and Anklesaria. to make a happy match. ” individuals —the service is not confined Anklesaria proposes to widen the cir- The BPP offers “strict confidentiality to Bombay, ” he said. The brief but comprehensive forms in- changing information with other profes- prospective parties, ” notes a press corporate, in addition to physical and sional and non-professional matrimonial release. Interested persons may apply to financial characteristics, questions like agencies. He commented that in certain GPO Box No 1850, Bombay —400 001, ‘Do you insist on horoscope matching? large colonies like Cusrow Bang in Col- for registration forms. j '1 Anklesaria proposes to widen the cir ­ cle of contact by co-ordinating and ex- of the information received from the - i 15 Parsiana October 1963The Community Voice Hutokshi D.Poctor w> • f s, I T', P I. I I It!] ‘Chalo Delhi ’was the cheerful call that amelioration of priests was recom- on tackling the social, emotional and en- summoned members of the Federation mended for implementation from the vironmental problems of the youth, as of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of beginning of next year. Two resolu- well as their education and employment. India to the capital on October 8 and 9 tions were proposed on the Adoption A project for the counselling of school for the second executive council Bill by the Federation ’s honorary children, parents and teachers defined by meeting to be held since the reunion of secretaries, Erach Desai and Keki Professor Noshir F. Kaikobad, social the Federation. And it was perhaps the Gandhi. After a heated debate, the scientist and president of the largest gathering in the 12 years of the majority voted in favour of making a Maharashtra Council of Social Work, _ ‘i was unanimously approved. Dr Federation to the government on the Hoshang P. Mehta,a noted vocational guidance counsellor, elaborated on career guidance. Kaikobad also spoke on the value of community centres and Jehangir R. Patel, editor of Parsiana, talked on effective communication through newsletters, as aids to social development and communication within the community. * The Fourth World Zoroastrian Con ­ gress is to be held in Bombay in Fourth World Congress “I have always said that the greatest achievement of the Federation in all its existence was the holding of the Third World Zoroastrian Congress, Shiavax Nargolwala, and five years after RESOLUTIONS Main resolutions passed at the October executive council meeting of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian said 8*' I'’* -f Efideration ’s existence that arose to united representation , through the participate in the humbandagi that in ­ augurated the meeting, held in the bright and traditionally Indian sur ­ roundings of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman ’s Bhiwandiwalla Hall. “I’m happy to see that for the first time almost all the office bearers are present, ’’said Shiavax D, Nargolwala, vice-president of the Federation and ^^jtimans of India: president of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman and Trust, in his welcome speech. ___ _ _ Several representatives of the smaller December ’84 or January ’85. anjumans Of India attended the meet to relate the history and problems of their communities at this national forum. - “differences we will have but they will not disturb our solidarity, ” pro ­ mised Dr Aspi Golwalla, president of the Federation, before the proceedings began, and at the close of two days of “fruitful session ” he was able to re ­ affirm, “A community is as small in ...... .......... ... ..... .............. _ ____ stature as the things it fights about, possibility of the Federation join- BPP trustee jamshed Guzder was ap- The Federation is tall in stature j " ’ because of the atmosphere of cordiality in which the meeting was conducted. ” Several items on the agenda were put amelioration of priests was proposed the Federation with the sponsorship to vote immediately after discussion, in for implementation from the beginning of the Bombay Pars! Punchayet, subject an effort to ensure that decisions were of next year. to their approval. Should the BPP made and translated into action, so ? that the Federation ’s “one voice ” did school-children was recommended to suggested that a committee of the not lose its new-found strength. While - - . reports on the proposals of the last meeting in May were submitted, fresh resolutions were passed. Notable among these was the decision to host the Fourth World Zoroastrian Con- * The Samast Anjuman resolution on the Adoption Bill passed in Bombay in 1981, recommending an appeal to the government that a non-Parsi child adopted by a Parsi would be equated Third World Congress caused a with a natural born child .only for . revival, in _ the community, the purpose of succession and in- Zoroastrians world-wide will meet again heritance, was adopted by the Fe-. Bombay in December 84 or January deration. ’’85. A resolution to this effect was * A committee was formed to review unanimously passed at the meeting and j ing the World Zoroastrian Organiza- pointed chairman of the organizing com- tion based in London. mittee once again. It was proposed that A 10-point programme for the the congress be held under the auspices * A project for the counselling of disagree to the sponsorship, Nargolwala be started in Bombay and Pune with an Federation, representative of all the annual budget of Rs 48,600. Anjumans of India, be formed. “The Third World Congress was an --------------------------------- ¦ outstanding success but in retrospect it basis of the Samast Anjuman resolu- was partly responsible for breaking up tion of 1981, which recommended that the Federation, ” said Guzder and a non-Parsi child adopted by a. Parsi Golwalla expressed the hope that the would be equated with a natural born ’ Fourth Congress would not 'i- gress in Bombay in December ’84 or -S ii. TorHIO'KAZ ’O' ; i'' 2 5f January ’85. The possibility of recon- would be equated with a natural born ’ Fourth Congress would not cause a ciling' the objectives of the present child only for the purpose of succes- greater split in the community in the light World Zoroastrian Organization', bas- sion and inheritance. of the heat generated in North America ed in London, with the Federation ’s concept of a world body was con ­ sidered; a plan of action for the sion and inheritance. If the last meeting was predominantly by Peterson ’s navjote. “action oriented, ” this ope was in addi- . While the world congress was schedul- tion, future oriented, with art emphasis ed to be held* every three years, five years * -6 16 Parsiana October 1983 - • -J ¦Ihave already passed since the last con- itiative, the WZO had stepped into the Kanga. “Social welfare is not its job. gress. BPP trustee Jamsheed Kanga breach, but the WZO was once again There will be chaos if every organization stressed the need for “some periodicity criticized for accepting individual for the meeting instead of making it an membership; “Can you imagine in- ad hoc decision. A lot of things were dividuals becoming members of the WZO can remain a social and cultural discussed, ” he said, “but without a body UN?” ^ked Guzder. “It is totally in ­ to implement them, we might find congruous that a body like the BPP ourselves in the embarrassing situation which represents more than 50 percent of of passing the same resolutions we did the world population of Zoroastrians last time. ” Kanga therefore suggested the formation of a committee to review the projects which had been decided upon at the last congress and to discuss their implementation, “so that we have some achievements to show before the next congress. Let us talk by results. ” Nargolwala clarified that there were only two formal resolutions passed by the Third World Zoroastrian Congress in 1978. One was to hold the next world should have only one vote whereas 100 on this issue, a stand which Gandhi congress as soon as possible and the individual hiembers from Bombay itself laughingly remarked was quite un- other, the formation of a world body. Fifty percent of the students who go abroad do not return, and of these at least 30 percent marry outside the community. wanted to start a project for the amelioration of priests. ” The existing Parsi organization “but they cannot ' presume to speak on behalf of Zoroastrians all over the world, ” he said. Nargolwala, whose answer to whether the Federation should join the WZO was a decided ‘No ’ said, “I am quite con ­ vinced that the world body should be in India. But the Parsis of UK, USA and elsewhere will still have a strong voice in the running of this body. ” Recommen ­ ding a policy of ‘festina lente ’ or ‘hasten slowly ’, Nargolwala advised the Federa ­ tion against making any hasty decisions would command a total of 100 votes, ” characteristic of Nargolwala who usually noted Keki Gandhi in his report on the adopted the role of the chabuk (whip) To join or not to join possibility of the Federation joining the and not the lagam (reins). To this While recognizing that the world body as WZO. He submitted instead, that the Nargolwala shot back that a horse is best visualized at the last world congress did not correspond to the existing World levels —the main committee at the inter- Zoroastrian Organization with its head- • quarters in London, the Federation adopted a conciliatory attitude and dividuals may be enrolled as associate said, “The days have come when world formed a committee, headed by Jamshed Guzder, to determine the objectives of a world body, its organization, and the possibility of blending the objectives of mittees and regional work centres....but Dr Minocher K. Contractor of Surat the WZO and the world body as propos ­ ed by the Federation. Several delegates admitted that when the Federation had failed to take the in- At council meeting: (from left) P. Nargolwala, Guzder (speaking), Gheyara, S. Nargolwala, Golwalla, and Dittia world body be organized at three ridden by a judicious use of the whip, the reins and the stirrups. On the other hand, Mani Clubwalla of In- Madras, which recently joined the WZO, national level and sub-committees at the national and regional levels. members with involvement in regional Zoroastrians will be able to help work centres and some representation Zoroastrians in India and that is why we with voting rights on the national com- have given (the WZO) some support. ” 17 Parsiana October 1963 they will not be eligible to vote at the suggested that the Federation “put its general body meetings. ” hand out to the WZO,” while Homi P. “Let us first be clear as to what we Bodhanvala of Jamshedpur maintained want this world body to do, ” said that “someone has taken the lead — rightly or wrongly —please do not ignore the 40 percent of the population residing abroad —let us join hands, come together and find an acceptable solution for Zoroastrians all over India. ” “It is often said that if you don ’t want to decide anything form a committee, ” Gandhi remarked. Nevertheless, the committee formed on Saturday to con ­ sider the WZO issue met on Sunday morning and submitted its proposals at the last session. “We ’ll try and see to what extent we can blend together our objectives and (their) objectives, ” reported Guzder. “If we find it impossi ­ ble to blend, we ’ll draw up the pros and cons, have a dialogue and if some sort of consensus is arrived at we ’ll com ­ municate it to you at the next executive council meeting. ” Adoption raises a storm On Saturday Nargolwala had mentioned that in reply to a question about the Adoption Bill at the last session of Parliament, the government reported ZA.|i. that it had decided not to accept the that the Muslims have more votes. ’’ recommendations of the Minority Com ­ mission (that matters of religion and sensus on this problem at this conscience must be left to individual meeting...(before) it is too late to make Samast Anjuman resolution, which was adopted in Bombay. “Ever since the ad ­ vent of our Community in India we ’ve Desai felt ±at “we should have a con- enhancing the prestige of the Federation. | In an impassioned speech Desai appealed I for a unanimous vote in support of the I A J choice and not to dictation by others our representation to the government. ’’ belonging to the same community) with To resolve all confusion over the issue respect to the Muslims. Naval B. Vakeel the .Parsis should make a united appeal adopted a custom and tradition that we | of Hyderabad-Secunderabad com- to the government reaffirming the have not so far allowed conversion. And j mented, “That means the Muslims have Samast Anjuman ’s stand, proving to the more voice than the Parsis, ’’ and “doubting masses that we as a Federa- Nargolwala countered, “You can say tion can speak with one voice, ” and we have been able to achieve so much j because of this tradition, ’’ said Desai, a “I’m almost certain that the majority of 1 w 3 EDITORIAL VIEWPOINT: The Role of the Federation I' . I, 0'' FT » * . i 4. In the minds of many, the role of the and punchayets on their own took over round. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet | Federation in the community is un- assets of defunct or about to be de- made clear its intention to steamroll | clear. Some anjumans see it as a threat funct anjumans, motives would be the Bombay Samast^Anjuman resolu- | to their autonomy, an interfering and questioned. But if the sanction of the Fe- liberal body. Others view it as an deration were there and the anjuman organization that makes and imple- would be answerable to the Federation, ments policies. Some see it as a forum, a community think-tank. While others view it as an all-India body by a handful of anjumans,mainly Bom- juncture, the BPP chairman had to j which can make representation to the bay and Delhi. The other anjumans are almost physically snatch the mike away ‘ government. not vocal or do not get the opportunity from the Delhi Anjuman president, i As for all such institutions, it will to participate because of the loqua- What was going to happen? Would I take time for the role of the Federation ciousness of some of the above Delhi walk out of the Federation the to be clearly defined. But at present members. way Bombay did six years ago? No. one purpose is clear: the Federation is At this meeting, delegates were ask- The Delhi leader abstained from voting i the only meeting ground for the repre- ed to speak about their particular an- and the rest of the members voted the ] sentatives of various anjumans. The juman, but even here they were asked resolution through. Delhi did not cast a ' meetings provide an opportunity for to be brief. Unless the less vocal an- the exchange of ideas, of information, jumans are given a chance to parti- They also serve as an early warning cipate, the purpose of the Federation And Delhi accommodated. system if things are going wrong for will not be served. The give-and-take, the deft handling community members in any part of the country. At the October meeting, various an- Federation meeting. When one dele- jumans spoke of sizeable assets, mostly gate was questioned as to why his an- property, lying unattended. Land and juman was almost never represented Zoroastrian Congress. They looked for buildings worth crores of rupees are till that day, he said he and his other constructive things to do. They worked being lost to the community for two office bearers were too busy. And yet democratically, main reasons: the Parsi population has this delegate criticized the larger an- shifted from the concerned areas and jumans for not giving the smaller ones Federation members that all they are there is no one to look after the proper- a chance to speak. interested in is travelling at the expense ty, or because, as in the case of a Calcutta agiary situated in the heart of send delegates who may not be the the city whose real estate is valued at decision-makers of their respective through two rather gruelling days in two crores, the trustees are squabbling communities. Hence they are not con- Delhi ’s sweltering October heat, often and the anjuman is helpless because the fident of participating. Bombay and with the air coolers turned off. Several trust is a private one. Delhi always attend in full force with travelled by second class train to Delhi There is the case of the cemetery their top people and Bombay and Delhi while others paid for the trip out of grounds near Agra, of land in Kham- also do nearly all the work. professional expenses, tying up the Fe- bat in Gujarat, of the Tithal Sana- The October meeting saw the largest deration work with other business, torium near Valsad, of land adjoining gathering of anjumans for which the They gave up their weekend and they disused dokhmas being encroached energetic secretary of the Federation is did it because they were concerned upon. no doubt greatly responsible. The about their community. The monetary loss to the community meeting witnessed a maturing of the If communities get the institutions is phenomenal. And only a body like all-India body. When the delicate and they deserve, then both the communi- the Federation would have the clout controversial issue of adoption was ty and the Federation appear to be do- and standing to intervene. If anjumans raised, there was apprehension all ing well by each other. tion through and a BPP trustee stated i in no uncertain terms that if the resolu- j tion was not adopted, “it would be the i there would be a check. death knell of the Federation. ’’ The! The Federation is still monopolized debate proceeded, and at a critical 1 At this meeting, delegates were ask- The Delhi leader abstained from voting negative vote because the BPP wanted one voice on the issue of adoption. Unfortunately, many smaller an- of proceedings by the BPP chairman jumans do not regularly attend the and the Federation secretary kept pro ­ ceedings on an even keel. The delegates voted on hosting the Fourth World The criticism launched against the a chance to speak. Also, many of the other anjumans of their anjumans and wining and din ­ ing is totally unfounded. Delegates sat 18 Parsiana October 1983-t ?a J. =55 ' '1 our population in Bombay, Poona and status, Peshotan Nargolwala, member of the training of such paramobeds, ” notes Surat is one with the decision of the a working group to help mobeds, sub- Nargolwala ’s project report. Samast Anjuman. Think ’ of nearly mitted a lO-poini programme on which 80,(XX) Parsis in India who are united in there was unanimous consensus. Four of as the panthaki system exists, mobeds this approach. ” the recommendations were adopted as cannot be helped, (but)...you can ’t stop Keki Gandhi maintained that the declarations Of intent. They include: free the system, just as you can ’t stop the Federation should recommend to all medical aid for mobeds and their depen- dowry system. We have to find a solu- Parsi Anjumans and Parsi Zoroastrian dants, free education for children of tion to the mobed problem within these individuals in India that they adopt only mobeds upto the university level, an ad parameters. ” a Parsi child. “A non-Parsi child hoc grant of Rs 5,(XX) when a mobed adopted by a Parsi can receive the in- wishes to marry and settle down, and a heritance but not the priviledges of our 10 percent reservation in housing allot- religious institutions governed by our trust laws. ” As a second step he recom ­ mended that the Federation appeal for more time till they could approach the government with a united stand. “This is a more effective and united way, ” he said. While Surat, Poona and Madras en ­ dorsed Desai ’s resolution, tempers rose, and Desai threatened, “If we are not of one voice on this resolution, ladies and gentlemen, it might lead to the death knell of the Federation again. ” Looking out at the sudden thunderstorm that had Golwalla (left) with Hidayatullah and broken outside, a welcome relief from other guests the dry heat the city had earlier been sub ­ ject to, Nargolwala commented, “Even ment for practising mobeds. The Federa- Resurgence of the Federation ’, Parsiana, the gods are angry at the Adoption Bill.” tion proposed that they be implemented July 1983) brought in two donations While Nargolwala, Gandhi, Kanga from the beginning of next year. worth Rs 4,800 from Canada in support and Desai all rose to speak at once, Golwalla wrested the mike from “every mobed whose earnings are less Nargolwala ’s hands saying, “I’m sorry I have to use my priviledges as president... hoc grant of Rs 1,000 per year. The Adoption Bill has been publicized 70,0(X) out of a total of Rs l(X),000 ear- and I do not want to postpone this marked for this purpose should be pro ­ issue. ” After further argument on whose vided by the BPP. Another proposal was resolution should be put to vote first, a pension cum gratuity plan for mobeds, members voted first on Gandhi ’s and the provision of a monthly stipend problem here is that these amounts are resolution and then on Desai ’s, and for students of the Athornan Madressa, extended as loans while the Punchayet ’s Golwalla declared, “Mr Erach Desai ’s Dadar, who agree to take up full time efforts though modest, varying from Rs resolution is passed by a thumping mobedi. This stipend is already being 5,000 to 10,000, are free. A. B. Sarkari majority. ” given to seven students out of the 40 at of the BPP, further states that in the cur- Nargolwala abstained from voting on the madressa but as Peshotan rent academic year, the BPP gifted Rs Desai ’s resolution. “Whatever the ma- Nargolwala says, “Frankly we don ’t 2,55,000 to 50 students for higher studies jority, ” he said, “I will stand behind it. ” need money right now, we need the abroad, and loaned them Rs. 1,20,000. In his summing up that evening he said, boys. ” Besides, Rs 1,80,000, was given to 382 “The Parsi Punchayet felt that its The ‘paramobed ’ scheme which pro- Parsi students for college studies in credibility and that of the Federation was poses the training of behdins to perform India. The Pirojsha Godrej Trust Funds at stake. I agree that it is better to speak certain religious ceremonies, has the are very liberal in granting scholarships, with one voice though it be a falsetto, “approval of Dastur Firoze Kotwal, ” said Guzder, and Pesi Nargolwala said • than not to speak at all.” Nargolwala said. He felt that the services that the Iranian Zoroastrian Association Dr Russi D. Anklesaria of Calcutta of paramobeds could be used to solve gives one lakh a year for education, 60 asked a pertinent question: “If they (the mobed problems. Nagpur for example, percent of the.beneficiaries being Parsis, government) refuse once again, will that has one panthaki, one mobed who has the rest Iranis. be the final nail in the coffin? ” Desai resigned and another who is threatening Nargolwala commented on the impor- “There are many who say that as long A 1 “It should be the policy of the leading punchayets in a zone to support the smaller, less affluent units in the sur ­ rounding aretis, ’’ notes the report. “If we cover the needs of Bombay, we have met with the requirements of 2/3 of the Zoroastrian population of India —a uni ­ que achievement. ’’ To finance these schemes Nargolwala suggested that a higher price could be charged for the BPP’s housing scheme, and the profits given over to the pun ­ chayet for mobed welfare, among other things. “If you give up this opportunity, another will not come, ” he said. “Please nurse this golden goose. ” Nargolwala noted that the reportage on the efforts of the working group for mobeds to help Parsi priests, (‘The 'j ?i •( Ci 1 J i The report also recommends that of the cause. Commenting on the BPP’s efforts than Rs 800 per month will receive an ad towards education, Guzder, chairman of Rs the Higher Education Committee said that there are 11 associate trusts which offer scholarships to students. The R. D. Sethna Trust Fund for example, gives Rs 25 lakhs a year for education but the The ‘paramobed ’ scheme which pro- “approval of Dastur Firoze Kotwal, ’’ said Guzder, and Pesi Nargolwala said Nargolwala said. He felt that the services tl — -l._ Z—------------ ------- ‘------- 1— be the final nail in the coffin? ’’ Desai resigned and another who is threatening replied, “We are hoping against hope to resign. “So why not think in terms of tance of “contact between supply and that they will listen to the Parsis and ex- al elude them also. ’’ behdin who performs religious demand, ” and said that a booklet which ceremonies, excluding some like lagans provides statistics on the facilities and navjotes? ” he asked. “The Bombay available for students should be Amelioration of priests Parsi Punchayet should use its good of- distributed to all the anjumans. Besides, In order to improve the quality of service flees with the Cama Athornan Institute Gandhi in Delhi and A. B. Sarkari at the of our priests, as well as their social and Athornan Madressa of Dadar for Parsi Punchayet in Bombay could be the 19 Parsiana October 1983 T« V.S5 "t -i -1 •r'..y*^.d ¦’J '1 r'- ’ J 3 * i *¦! J, '1 /<) 1 si> / dustrialists, sponsored by A.R.Balsara, managing director of Balsara Hygiene Products. Ltd, manufacturers of ‘Promise ’ and ‘Ace ’ toothpastes, not one was a Parsi. Kanga felt that every anjuman should help two or three entrepreneurs to find a house in their city, sponsor them, and see that they are comfortable. The Bangalore Parsi Association is already helping newcomers with their schooling, employment problems etc. Every an ­ juman should appoint someone to find out the incentives offered by the govern- . . . . ment and communicate these to the Nergis Nargolwala garlands Federation. HidayatuUah jp, f^^t the Federation has recom- two points of reference for all students mended that each anjuman nominate who seek educational aid. one person who will communicate with The question of education abroad the Federation. There was also a pro ­ raised comments on the number of pbsal to set up a full-time secretariate so students who do not return to India after that Keki Gandhi, who shoulders every completing their studies. Fifty percent of last responsibility cheerfully, is not the the students who go abroad do not only one “left holding the baby. ’’ return, said Golwalla, and of these at Peshotan Nargolwala volunteered his least 30 percent marry outside the com- services to maintain liaison between munity. This September the BPP set up a Delhi and Bombay. Gandhi, who felt matrimonial bureau which will help that a secretariate was not yet necessary those young boys settled abroad who emphasized that the Federation is a come to India looking for suitable “thinking, planning, recommending brides, but have to return, eventually body. The implementation of the pro ­ marrying outside the community. jects must be done by the anjumans, ’’ in collaboration with the Federation. Decongest Bombay “Feedback (from anjumans) must come At the meeting in May it had been to us so that we can work effectively, ’’ decided to appoint a panel of Parsi in- Gandhi said, dustrialists and bankers who would offer assistance and data guidance to potential Parsi entrepreneurs, and though the panel has not yet been constituted, Golwalla promised that it would soon be. Kanga reported that several state govern ­ ments are giving new entrepreneurs in ­ centives to start industries in certain specified zones and that some spadework, should be done in order to find out more about this. This is an opportunity to decongest Bombay. “The Parsi Pun- Hidayatullah’s Address chayet with all its resources can put up On Saturday evening delegates and (only) 1200 flats —1200 miserable flats — members of Delhi ’s Parsi community and I have been trying to persuade Parsis assembled in Bhiwandiwalla Hall to that there is a civilized area outside Bom- listen to vice-president M. Hidayatullah • bay, ’’said Kanga exasperatedly, recoun- speak frankly on the problems of ting an incident about a young Parsi with minorities in India. “I don ’t know how a wife and young child who, for lack of the minorities are going to get into the accommodation, shifted from sana- mainstream of national life, ’’ he said, torium to sanatorium, sometimes sleep- “There is no solution except for a ing in their tempo. Kanga found him a generous treatment of the minorities. ’’ job but when he asked him to get a He felt that the reservations for schedul- transfer to a smaller place like Nagpur ed castes and tribes, though necessary, the wife reportedly asked, “Uncle, what may result in a situation where the only will happen to my son ’s education? ’’He available vacancies in education or also said tp^t of 100 respondents to a i- JEENA & COMPANY ESTD. 1900 IATA AIR CARGO Clearing, Forwarding Warehousing and Insurance Agents i-. ^8 J 1 S 1 1 1 1 "You should be more lenient with those who stray. A small community cannot afford to lose its adherence." v employment in the next few years, would scheme foi"" the^ development of in- be reserved for them. 21 Parsiana October 19B3 10, Veer Nariman Road Fort, Bombay-1. Cable : 'JUSTITIA' Telex : 2313 Phone : 312032 BRANCHES: E. Merc House 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani (Formerly Theatre Road) CALCUTTA-16. Phone : 444711 'Jeena House' 50, Hanuman Road Connaught Circus NEW DELHI Phone : 310821 -,H C.14, Devtha Plaza, 1st floor Residency Road Bangalore-25 Phone ; 564474 No. 26-26-24, 2nd floor VIZAGAPATNAM-35 Phone : 62018 s I I Isc-, z.**. > - t ¦___Those attending the meeting included; want of Hoshang Debara, Agra; Merwan Mehta, numbers. ’.’ In conclusion he remarked, Ahmednagar; Dr Ratan H. Sagar, “I am very glad you have formed these Allahabad; Barjor K. Cavina, i and this Federation because Ankleshwar; Minochehr B. Bharucha, that ’s the way to progress in this world. ’’ Bhavnagar; Dr A.F. Golwalla, J.N. Most of the delegates returned on Mon- Guzder, E.B. Desai, J.G. Kanga, Bom^ k' Barjor K. Cavina, > I Nargolwala in his introduction to the adherence...and it ’s a great shame if this vice-president requested “some words of community suffers for 1 advice, some guidance on -our pro- blems, ’’ and Hidayatullah ’s message, to the community was to “get going —have anjumans more hold on public affairs as the most f- ‘ advanced community in India, ’’to “give I--------— - —-„------------------ z-i-.c-r the lead to other communities and be the day morning, while some stayed on to bay; Dr R D. Anklesana, ^Icutta, Soli spearhead because you have the capabili ­ ty to rise to the occasion. ’’ Referring to —-----— several distinguished Parsis including Every anjuman should help Justice D. P. Madon, the first Parsi to be elevated to the bench of the Supreme Court of India since independence, who was present that evening, Hidayatullah said, “These are the symbols of progress the Parsis have supplied and continue to # supply. Unfortunately you get submerg ­ ed, yet you make your mark. ’’ Two years ago, when Hidayatullah in ­ augurated the tercentenary celebrations of the BPP, his advice to the community was —“Go forth and multiply, ’’ said Golwalla in his vote of thanks. This time the vice-president warned against an ex ­ cess of orthodoxy. “You must think whether you should not be more lenient , with those who stray. After all, a small community camiot afford to lose its Calcutta in February. H. Mubarakai, Firoze Dara Vakil, Dahanu; S.D. Nargolwala, Keki J. Gan ­ dhi, Ms F.S. Variava, Rustom E Daroga, Delhi; Naval B. Vakeel, B. two or three entrepreneurs Olttia, Hyderabad-Secunderabad; Dr to find a house in their city, sponsor them, and see that they are comfortable. Sohrab Kamdin, Jabalpur; Homi P. Bodhanvala, Jamshedpur; Ms Aban J. Satarawala, Jodhpur; M.K. Belgamvala, Ms Mani J. Clubwalla, Madras; Din ­ shaw F. Bapuna, Keki R. Bala, Nagpur; Bejoo R. Jilla, Nanded; Dinshaw S. Anklesaria, Poona; Ava Khullar, Satara; Minoo E. Pithavala, Zarin S. Amaria, join a tour of the city, with its lingering Solapur; Maneck Gheyara, Dr Sam S. air of history and old-world charm com- Bhacca, Dr Minocher K. Contractor, bined with smooth efficiency. And Surat; Shavak F. Patel, Cashmera M. perhaps the feeling of fraternity, of pur- Bharucha, Vadodara; and Peshotan pose, of a beginning well made, which Nargolwala, Dr Hoshang Mehta, Pro- were apparent at this meeting, will linger lessor N.F. Kaikobad and Jehangir R. until the Federation meets again in Patel were invited to speak. The press was represented by Parsiana. 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 It At ! K Enquire at; Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk, BOMBAY 400 001.Tel :251185 fe 23 Parsiana October 1983' A.-.™- , Counselling, communication and community centres '¦f A community centre must divide basic functions like the management of nurseries or creches among its mem ­ bers so that users of the service become co-producers of the service. But there is a need for a qualified community organizer, a multi-purpose worker who will mobilize his community and foster I communities. “Parsis have a tendency to construct a small circle around themselves, ” 1 “The tomorrow of the community with the BPP’s vocational guidance f on what we do today, ” said bureau for several years, said that ., ~ ---- .--------- - career ..... .>xvxxx.xxx-v mo VUHHHI ''J*ch is ‘ ‘guidance for the collaboration between Vocational guidance can be given at any stage, Mehta said, and guidance cording to Kaikobad. depends on what we do today, ” said bureau for several Professor Noshir F. Kaikobad, socio- counselling should also include logist and president of the Maha- „ rashtra Council of Social Work who life beyond?' presented his report on the counselling of school children. “The long-term ob- jective of the counselling service is to depends on the kind of development i remove social, psychological and — ................. en ­ the child has had. While development r . , physical, mental, emotional, ^®'^®lopment of the child and social and personal, vocational de- vironmental impediments in the way of to help him grow as an integrated per- velopment is the “development of the sonality, rpt . , J ‘ ¦'1 ---w»*^**v*A TTAVAA AV£,«.AW VW wvupauvil. The social and emotional problems During the stage of growth, the child t to give an average or below average until he ’^^JbeTthrsteKof est^iSi- , , ment, when he decides on his life ’s parents and teachers must be helped work. He grows in the job in the stage towards an understanding of the of maintenance, and then sets in the behavioural prqblems of children. Problematic children may be restless or delinquent, rebellious or withdrawn, and this could be due to several rea ­ sons. “Sometimes it ’s over-protection. , , ’ ------- - J W-UFW. T> w T» MAAV AAAVAVVAA J sornetimes it s rejection, sometimes it ’s and mental development notes the project report. individual with regard to occupation. ” . ti , . , * , . ~ wAAw VFA 5ivwui, me viiHU which cause potentially high achievers merely gropes in the “world of work ” 1 performance must be diagnosed, and ac- Gandhi, the honorary secretary of the Federation, suggested that cer ­ tain clubs which reserve membership for residents of their own colony should be thrown open for member ­ ship to the entire neighbouring com ­ munity. These centres can also be an effective means of bringing young peo ­ ple together and it was suggested that smaller anjumans organize dances, dra ­ matic societies etc. for the purpose. The role of newsletters in furthering contact, communication and participa ­ tion within the community goes largely .J 4^ 3 U • i % a I fl A stage of decline. “Vocational guidance ensures that this working development ____________________ runs smoothly and efficiently. We unrecognized in India said Jehangir want maturity in vocational develop- ................ - - . ment just as we want maturity in social . _ . . . „ - — -------- he em- inditference. Sometimes it s family phasized. z i break-down, when theirs is not a home. just a house, ” Kaikobad said. Professional social workers, specia- i Frotessional social workers, specia- their child. A parent must accept that lized in psychiatric social work will his child is a separate entity, with a group work, under the guidance of a undertake direct case work service and Patel, editor of Parsiana who spoke on ‘effective communication through newsletters and other media ’. Zoroas ­ trians who settled abroad however, established newsletters “before they tions...they telt a need to communicate with each other. ” 11. ........... ; separate genetic composition and life Parsiana was able to report Parents have an important role to _________ ________ _ I^ay in the vocational development of established agiaries and other institu- J 3 He remarked that on sent when circumstances, and that he is free to Zoroastrians abroad, becadse they choose his own career. But there should be a balance between freedom committee of direction. “A full-time choose his counsellor may be able to provide... ___________ ..,..^.x xxvv« services to about 30-40 children by a and discipline. Parents must talk in various newsletters but will we get a chance to be able to write to about the anjumans in India? ” With agination of case work and group their childr^, keeping in mind the fact changes IShntMogyri^^terrare ; work servK^. If we include parents and that the child lives in a changed en- within easy reach of individuals P teachers, who will have to be dealt with vironment, subject to many and varied that d“ have newsletter has a vital part of its tivities missing, and may be function- k “Considerth ”^^- lopment said that participation in com- cy^ They are deprivS"lf ^a^means^^f i . ' V • Consider this investment as munity life is important and if a com- publicizing their problems aoDealine I investment in the future generation and munity suffers from low or negative for funds or vements. “When people don ’t know. k. work service. If we include parents and that the child lives in a changed en- . , ,, , vironment, subject to many and varied t by the counsellor, the number of per- influences. i sons served will be 90 to 120 for each r .............. ( ------- *.*.—*-, >J|-^VAXV WAX VWAAI” [ counsellor, according to the report munity centres as aids to social deve- Kaikobad, who also spoke on com- a ac- fl f 48,600. then you will not try to equate the cost munity life is important and if a com- . ¦ — - * munity suffers from low or negative for funds or reporting their achie- participation, newly emerging needs re- vements. “When people don ’t know, main unrecognized or if recognized, they don ’t care. ” In reply to a question L was as to what an anjuman newsletter about, Patel said, “A community, the desire to do something anjuman. If it is a question of no news ,, ~ -- p-—ax* WMAM VAAMV VAAV a.n~ something about it. ” What is needed is juman is only looking after the trusts L_i socio- <.3 , , . r- „ i participation, newly emerging needs re ­ mand the benefits, he said. I-l-i- „ X The Federation suggested that the seldom met. Social development Bombay and Poona Parsi Punchayets defined as “u 0? te' ’p'Sect; nXtetto 'thl “er‘ W U couwTtto trian Congress be used for projects a happy balance betw^n s ____ sponsored by the Federation, like this economic development. Small social s one, while the corpus of the fund re- ‘ mains with the BPP. i; While Kaikobad dealt with emo- |tional and social guidance. Dr making people feel that they matter * Hoshang Mehta, who was associated that they are responsible. Parsiana October 1983 an- and funds. ” While Merwan Mehta from Ahmed- nagar made a commitment to publish a golwala stated that the Federation ’s bulletin should be revived and made in ­ to a “scholarly journal. ” issues should become crucial and rele ­ vant to every member. The community quarterly newsletter" Shfavax "*Nar" 45 ti 31 ??•r <¦ .tyr*’’ A Of Anjumans past and present which were well-financed...today are in a loss. ” Gheyara referred to the valuable assets in Gujarat which lie unused for .one reason or another. There is the case of one dokhma, situated in an in ­ dustrially developed region, which has not been used for years but cannot be sold because the last surviving trustee insists that his body be placed within very otten^ tunds . Agra ’s dharamshala the confines of this very dokhma. He “precarious posi- also blamed the priests for obstructing - - disharmony. Funds for education are sufficient in Surat and “no Parsi boy has to go without, ” but Billimora has a clause whereby only Parsi boys and not girls can receive aid. “Surat renders help to the entire community, even if they are not residents of Surat but they have to come to Surat, ” said Gheyara. Referring to the problem of defunct anjumans and unused land, Gheyara said “In Surat there are dokhmas in seems that the occupation of the dha- the north, south, east and west but on- ramshala has suffered as a result of the ly one is being used. ” There is also a daily tourist service from Delhi to decline in the attendance and useage of Agra. At Ankleshwar, where 154 Parsis Surat ’s 14 agiaries and two atash- reside, and at Jhansi, there is no mob- behrams. In Khambat, he said, there is ed. Ahmednagar, with 80 Parsis, has a an agiary makaan and a dokhma but Twenty-one representatives from dui mere are otner anjumans not so even the smallest Zoroastrian set- well off. Many anjumans are watching tiements like Satara, where there are the slow death of their institutions only two Parsi families, attended the either because of a migration of popula- meetmg, charting the history of their tion, or the unavailability of mobeds, anjumans and community institutions, khandiyas, in some cases vultures, and and pointing out their achievements - - . and problems. th^ thev “limited funds ” and it worthwhile projects and for creating that they had few problems. Delhi ’s disharninnv community numbering 15(X)-20(X) was described as “united, homogenous, with no squabbles and no recrimina ­ tions. ” Nargolwala president of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman and Trust re ­ ported that their dasturs were among the best paid, that their dharamshala was maintained as a “model dharam ­ shalaand that Delhi proposes to start a housing colony for which the in ­ itiative was taken not by the anjuman but by “outsiders. ” “Whenever peo ­ ple ask the trustees what they are do ­ ing, my reply is, ‘What are you doing ’” said Nargolwala. Calcutta, with about 500 Parsi families, has an abundance of com- Strep’ therefore “not in a position to “I want the Federation to pass a Phv League and a give good service. ” The Ahmednagar resolution to have the right to take over all Anjuman plans a housing complex defunct anjumans, ” said Gheyara, but help make Calcutta no satellite bask- near the dokhma and has reouested a lot of Iponl imnUratJnnc «,ni ho,,.. ing in the glories of the west ast. ” Like Poona, which now has the spoke at length on the will have to be made with the collection (8,(XX)), their biggest problem is hous- w ing. But the Calcutta Parsis have prevailing at the dokhma.'' already completed construction of a community hall at Chowringhee, which is to be extended to a commer ­ cial complex. Nagpur ’s agiary and dharamshala, ___ their representative said, “can com- dokhma. The representative of Vado- r " *....................... .. ¦ ___________ _ “not a single Zoroastrian (in Nagpur) biggest problems is the increasing in ­ is unemployed or below the poverty cidence of mixed marriages. hne. Naval Vakeel of the 'Parsi in Surat land is available in ample Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secun- measure said Maneck Gheyara, presi- dent of the Surat Parsi Punchayet but, th^iasm ani^pride of his 14()0-strong he lamented, “the punchayet encoun- Ti greatest difficulty in adminis ­ tration. ” Obstacles in administration are provided by way of the punchayet ’s constitution, government red-tapism the Asiad basketball team. Community themselves. “We spend half our'dajTin prayers during muktad have proved Surat looking after government popular in Hyderabad and have helped work, ” said Gheyara. “We have no representatives But there are other anjumans not well off. Many anjumans are watching only two Parsi families, attended the either because of a migration of popula- is reportedly in a n CO- ri 4 One dokhma, which has not been used for years, cannot be sold because the last surviving trustee insists that his body be placed within its confines. '4^ ¦¦ 4 » “I want the Federation to pass give good service. ” The Ahmednagar resolution to have the right to take - — •- — ---------------““o luijuiiiaiio, Saiu vjiicyaici, uul near the dokhma and has requested a lot of legal implications will have to help for its organization. be dealt with before the Federation help for its organization. be dealt with before the Federation The president of the Solapur Parsi assumes this priviledge. A beginning ‘ il “pathetic and unhygienic conditions of data, so as to ascertain the problems - ' In the and enable the Federation to take the absence of the khandiyas, she said that lead. The exhaustive questionnaires young Zoroastrian boys carry the bo- which have been sent to all the an- dies to the Tower of Silence. Non- jumans, and which are to be distri- Zoroastrians are allowed for the sezdo buted to all resident Zoroastrian m Solapu^^and even walk up to the families will help in recording data . . . ,, 7'*.- rwhich will pinpoint the community ’s pare with the best in the world, ” and dara (Baroda) said that one of their needs. 41 4? 3.j, I.!-- Naval Vakeel of the Parsi of Secun- £ . derabad and Hyderabad spoke with en- community. Their ladies have organiz ­ ed ‘Project self-help ’ for the employ ­ ment of needy Parsi women, while their youth have done well in the field ______ , of sport, having represented India in and the restrictions of the donors the Asiad basketball team. Community themselves. “We spend half our day in prayers dujmg muktad have proved Surat looking after government ‘ r —iZ----- - --------------- - ytwiK,” said Gheyara. “We have no solve the problem of the unavailability time for samaj work. ” Gheyara also of priests, he said. said regretfully, “All our institutions I I; Old post cards etc./wanted Advertiser wishes to buy OLD picture postcards, photographs, cigarette cards, playing cards, posters, prints, illustrated books, albums and other related material. Willing to pay top prices for single items or entire collections. Please send detailed list with expected prices to: The Advertiser, (OLD) C/o. Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. ¦¦ ’ •7 fl I 4 Parsiana October 1983 "3< I. r *; r I 5' »- k. ?i • ••••• f-; I !¦ s '¦4i, '^L u' i?! i' ¦ a r /'I ’’i :^?' B -'•1 rt; 1 J I For 50 glorious, history-laden years a cavalcade of some of the world ’s best classics in motion pictures and stage shows have gone to make the Regal Theatre in South Bombay a hallmark in the entertainment business. Occupying a prominent spot in Museum Square, the theatre stands majestically, flanked by the ornate old Council Hall on one side and the once u fashionable Majestic Hotel on the I other, its neon-lit marquee proclaiming I the running engagement. I Regal Theatre was opened with I elaborate fanfare and ceremony on I October 14, 1933 by the then Governor I of Bombay, Sir Frederick Sykes in the I presence of the city ’s elite, with the I screening of The Devil’s Brother starr- I ing the inimitable comedians Laurel I and Hardy. I The plot for the theatre was the old I Saluting Battery near the Gateway of I India. From here guns thundered I welcomes and farewells to royalty, I viceroys and governors in the past. Il I was acquired by Globe Theatres (Pvt) I Ltd in 1932; and a year later, I Bombay ’s first luxury theatre adorned I the place. I The building was designed by a I British architect, Charles F. Stevens, I Top: Framji jSidhwa, the founder of Regal 28 Parsiana October 1983 w J' ik•«= Czech Scharain- to the and names in equipped the pro- t t f interior decor «as Jsjgner, Prof Karl Schara. ^’’^.a^aoced cubist motive winch lent a of briSX ““f’ ^ditorium as „the lights came slowlv *ose d^fs it Western in the east Western Electric installed the sunerh ' Enie^nn the best the world of optics, jection room. f; and [ fI,., u- “®"‘^est or Gaaiigc Hues k The shimmer ¦ antf g^t^ette, a> iiit ‘ ¦ Iv hs portals smelling : *y ot Shalimar ’, was heady. It c leisurely era when relaxation was u ui ¦ ^"with^th"^* artificially laboured.' there were are the walls : green orange hues shaded ----- • of chif- as the ladies sweet- was a was truly ; innovations and rcr.c.v„ the first theatre to be ail the first to introduce first to have its S park, L It was ii ¦ I I renovations. It was — air-conditioned, neon signs and the own underground car- “ fifties that the Regal old-world r began to facade. Gone motifs gave '3 panelling favour Regal incor- and walls. '3hd the acoustical ' Cu ¦ acquire a new look but ¦ changing the old-world ^at)rescent illumiiS^ ’ f hon, and the ornate cubist m fPlMe to functionally simple ^h® 35mm format lost Mth film-makers abroad r the cinemascope eSp;;;-; 'J^ection equipment was modernized J . ,—paraphernalia was ’" the thunder of itereophonic sound and 70 mm CCtion. — was modernized paraphernalia was pro- were companies were allowe*d ^eat believers in the art «p oz^.,„.. ^ominent JWay advertisements Wh were artistic and ^appreciation from germore, space was hired out for ’ l^lay of products in the foyer of the Wire. ^icized ii iS^igant floats on trucks r on the screen drew murmurs the audience. 5^ent releases -- in a at the theatre were unique way. Ex- paraded the - to the '“”8 ^treets to attract audiences Wtre —i at ticket windows Kketing. ?lobe Theatre Ij^nirOcfoder 1983 Hoarding al Regal of The Adventures of Robin gqiaB The interior of Regal in 1933 4 ¦a Hood’ “¦1 ^3 and black- itself, has a’'j Today, the pioneers have left for fascinating background. In 1913, Bombay. Framji Sidhwa broke into the business as managing partner of the Royal their heavenly abode. But the pioneer- Cinema de Paris in Rangoon, when the ing spirit still continues in the younger bioscope had just made its app^rance. Sidhwa brothers Maneck and Dhunji, . Few however, believed at the time that joint managing directors of the com- it could present a serious challenge to pany operating in collaboration with die stage. Framji did however, foresee the illustrious son of Kooka, S.K. its emergence as a vital medium for Kooka, popularly known as Bobby, future entertainment, and decided to the man responsible for giving Air exploit its potential. India ’s Maharajah international With that end in view he teamed up recognition. Bobby is the company ’s with K.A. Kooka in 1915 to establish director in charge of publicity. the Globe Cinema Company in Rangoon and soon set up a chain of management of the Regal decided to theatres in principal Burmese cities. | Globe then extended its activities to \Annie. India in 1922, and by 1923 the com ­ pany was converted into Globe hibited at the Regal is long. Among them are such greats as Queen Christina, The Barretts of Wimpole pieces in film history, Cecil B. Street, David Copperfield, Les DeMille ’s The Ten Commandments Miserables, A Midsummer Night’s was a landmark in the history of the « To mark its golden jubilee, the I screen Columbia ’s delightful musical The list of outstanding films ex- The Hayakawa giiis dancing the *Awa Odori’, an old Japanese folk dance It is a matter of pride that the first cinemascope film The Robe, and the Todd-AO 70mm showpiece, Cleopatra were released in Bombay at the Regal. One of the most outstanding master- The shimmer of chiffon, taffeta and georgette, as the ladies traipsed into its Dream, Modem rimes. Monsieur Ver- theatre. DeMille incidentally, was a nrtrtalc cmoltinn cxAfoo+U/ doux. For Whom the Bells Toll, good friend of Framji Sidhwa, and pur Id lb bmeiiing sweeny OT Hamlet, Red Shoes, All the King’s sent him special greetings on the silver 'Shalimar', was heady. Theatres Ltd to set up or appropriate a over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kramer vs chain of cinema houses in the country, Kramer and Enter the Dragon. beginning with the opening of the . Globe in Calcutta. i ' In a relatively brief span of ten years gone out of fashion. Among the pro- since. Globe Theatres covered several minent ones were Mikado, Down principal cities of India: A Globe in Argentine Way, Three Coins in the Bangalore in 1927, the takeover of Fountain, Sound of Music, West Side Gaiety Theatre in 1928, renaming it Story, Porgy and Bess. Capitol, in Bombay, setting up of a Capitol, in Bombay, setting up of a James Bond fans must know that ex ­ New Globe in Rangoon the same year, cept for the first in the series. Dr No, followed by the Roxy in Madras in almost all the others were first released 1931 and finally the Regal in 1933 in at this theatre. An elaborate float used to advertise ‘Moon over Miami’ 30 Parsiana October 1983 doux. For Whom the Bells Toll, Hamlet, Red Shoes, All the King’s Men, Richard the Third, Psycho, The jubilee run of The Ten Command- Great Escape, The Bible, Anne of a ments, and also on the occasion of the Thousand Days, Airport, One Flew silver jubilee of the theatre in 1958. ; There have been several releases of first class Hindi films at the theatre, in- The Regal was the venue of a string eluding Pakeezah, Shatranj ke of musicals, which now seem to have Khilari and Insaaf ka Tarazu. The Attenborough classic on the Father of the Nation, Gandhi, was one of the rare English films which had a silver jubilee run at the theatre It was this film which encouraged the theatre to make legal history as well. Regal is also linked in the minds of old-timers, with some memorable stage shows. Among those who made their appearance on the stage were world- renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin, and weU-'.nown artists like Marian Andersc . Claudia Arias, Rudolf Serkin, Uday Shankar, Ravi Shankar and the Carr oil Wallace Follies of Tokyo. The Bombay Symphony Orchestra; conducted by Jules Craen and violinist Mehli Mehta, father of the world famous conductor Zubin Mehta, were frequent performers at the Regal. The spectacular magic shows of the late Prof P. C. Sorcar were also staged at the theatre. Profits were not the only motive of the Globe Theatre management. Customer service was of vital concern. But more important, it had a commit ­ ment to society and social welfare. ? Many were the worthy charitable I causes to which it readily responded, a | Ir 1 i' . i» > if-- I >*" y si r P rk‘ i ’ r . ¦¦ ( trait inherited from the founder, Fram- ji Sidhwa, who readily donated and lent his theatre without any charge. I Among the causes to which the theatre gave a big hand were the Quetta Earthquake Relief Fund, which netted the enormous sum , for those days, of Rs 60,000, a Nite with the Stars which netted Rs 75,000 for the Kashmir Relief Fund, a show spon ­ sored by the Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi which fetched Rs 2 lakhs for tuberculosis patients, and the Gandhi premiere which earned Rs 5 lakhs in aid of the National Association for the Blind. . Besides, there were innumerable charity premieres to help several social and religious organizations. For a number of years, the Regal was the venue of memorable events, in ­ cluding the annual presentation of the Filmfare Awards for exceptional per ­ formances in Motion Picture Arts and Science. In 1961, the late President Nasser of Egypt was at hand to give away the Filmfare Award, then called Clare awards after the well-known film F.f ¦» '/'A. Lf i1 i< critic Clare Mendonca. There were not a few famous political personalities who appeared on the Regal stage for various functions. The late Jawaharlal Nehru himself^ presided at the premiere of the film The Story of Kashmir. The late Presi ­ dent Rajendra Prasad, too, was among the distinguished visitors to the theatre. The Dalai Lama saw his first motion picture. Great Day in the Morning at the Regal. In the 1930s, Rabindranath Tagore appeared on the stage to recite some of his immortal poems. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, too, is among the dignitaries to visit the Regal. Many theatres have come up in Bombay in the years since, maybe big ­ ger, maybe more modern, but the J SJ Regal is linked in the minds of old-timers with memorable stage-shows... Regal, under the watchful management some of the outstanding masterpieces in film history...and a string of musicals. of the Sidhwa brothers, continues to maintain the service their forbears rendered to patrons, to ensure that the show goes on with the traditional Globe Theatre ’s eye for class in whatever is projected. Reprinted with permission from Blitz, October 15,1983. 5; •fl m M '^J For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 31 Parsiana October 1983 11 r P 324. GRANT ROAD. BOMBAY 400007. TELEPHONE: 371483 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 4-/if 1 c f-i- I i (¦ 1 Dharamshalas and Sanatoriums under Zoroastrian Trusts Hormazdyar S. Dalal Our forefathers had admirable structure in its place. The dharamshala Rajkot in Gujarat. A few years ago, foresight. They had vision. They had is expected to be a part of it. But the being his first visit, this writer had to earned wealth as fruit of their adven ­ turous spirit. And, they used it for the welfare of the community. They also had sympathy for mankind as a whole our philanthropic elders have provided and rushed help whenever and the community with dharamshalas and dharamshala or a warehouse? That is wherever calamities occured. But their sanatoriums. The most conspicuous the question that has been lingering catholicity did not deter them from example is the Parsee rest house at still, even after a lapse of about ten providing dharamshalas, sanatoriums New Delhi. Every Parsee Zoroastrian and convalescent homes for the young family cannot afford a five-star or even or the old and the sick of our community. In Bombay alone, there are three sanatoriums, Framji Dinsha Petit, Sorabji Byramji Bhabha and Merwanjee Framjee Panday. Unfortunately, these sanatoriums are not used today for tne specific purpose for which they were built. In the context of present day life, they have primarily become transit camps for Parsees without per ­ manent homes, and also for the victims of yearly house-collapse calamities. The young, the old and sick therefore, have to look elsewhere for rest and would have to pay in the Delhi rest shala serves innumerable visitors to recreation. house would be about Rs 50 per head, Iranshah. The Petit and the Bhabha sana- with other amenities and good food. So also the Ookerji Dharamshala at toriums are, by and large, well looked The place is located centrally in plea- Surat. But with better amenities and an after. They have beautiful surroun ­ dings, Not only that, the Bhabhas have is managed excellently, recently built another big sanatorium, adjacent to the old one —perhaps to reach the growing needs of the members of the community. But the story of the Pandey sana- the location is good, opposite a lake, torium is very distressing. The place and is a blessing for Parsee tourists manager. But it would further help the opposite the Colaba sea-face, is to say visiting Nagpur, especially business community if the manager had the the least, uninhabitable. It has been representatives from Maharashtra and power, in emergencies, to release the grossly neglected over the years, and Vidharbha. permanently reserved top-floor rooms. ’ lacks basic amenities. The registration work at present is held up because of check into the Parsee dharamshala, some reason. Madras. The picture that has stuck in In almost every part of the country the mind is similar to one that was read in a Charles Dickens novel. Was it a years. Rajkot is a centrally located city in Saurashtra, humming with business. It is very convenient for commercial representatives to cover the whole area. In almost every part of the The dharamshala there, is situated in country our philanthropic elders have provided the community with dharam­ shalas and sanatoriums. a three-star hotel in New Delhi, where the minimum rates per day are between Sadar. Though an old-fashioned struc ­ ture it has open surroundings. But it was very callously managed. Udvada, Navsari and Surat in Gujarat also have their quota of Par ­ see dharamshalas. But the one at Ud ­ vada, the Petit Dharamshala, requires to be renovated, ana the sooner the better. Ideally located near the station. Rs 300 and Rs 500 for a single bed on ­ ly. While the maximum that a person with very good amenities, the dharam- house would be about Rs 50 per head, with other amenities and good food. sant surroundings. At the same time it overdue new look, the dharamshala is bound to attract more Parsee pass- Nagpur is another place where the engers. The Surat Parsee Panchayet Parsee dharamshala is neat and clean can perhaps help in this direction, and, until a few years ago, well looked after. Not far from the Nagpur station. Bang. The place remains fully booked round the year and has an excellent Navsari is lucky to have the Jamshed (The honorary secretary of the number of the trust is C-14. And as per Nagpur Parsee Anjuman, Keki R. Bala the Directory of Public Trusts 1979 the has contested Dalal’s last remark and corpus of the trust is Rs 6.93 lakhs, noted that “the Parsee dharamshala is The annual income by way of interest not only well maintained but very well these institutions. Are they totally is Rs 3.03 lakhs. The trust also had a managed...under the supervision of a Parsee dharamshala at Charni Road, young and energetic manager Ms Though an old and not much cared for Nargis F. Karbhai —Editor) place, it did serve the community so Lack of funds? Arguments are forwarded that the pre ­ sent funds are not enough to maintain valid? The answer would be in the negative. What is needed is not funds, but the will to generate funds. Our _ , , _ community is very generous. For any far. Early this year it was pulled down amples two other places corrie to good cause, especially for the with a view to building a multi-storey mind —Madras in Tamil Nadu and maintenance of our institutions, funds But against these two random ex- 33 Parsiana October 1983 1 ¦3 4.M I 3 1 I «i ’.i 1 1 4 1 I ¦•i 3 -J *1 1 * I ja su h I 'S R '*¦- 1 1. J J F h" ts ]• f] ^C' il I j ?' (l) ¦» 4* <¦?} -4 § II could be generated: a) by an appeal to ly needs a change of climate and sur- the community and b) by imagination, zeal and feelings for an institution. With vision and a sincere approach dala, Matheran and Deolali, to men- funds could be had for the decent tion a few. All these are comparatively maintenance of these sanatoriums and healthier places and Parsee families, dharamshalas however old they might especially the middle class families, be. In a majority of cases basically very flock there every summer or winter, little or no effort is being made to in ­ vest the available funds property and Deolali. thereby to generate sufficient income from them. roundings: therefore, the existence of sanatoriums at Ur an, Dahanu, Khan- Take for instance, Deolali. It is an ideal place for recreation. Deolali ’s climate invites one all the year round. There are three sanatoriums. The most well-known is the Bahadurji Sana ­ torium with about 30 blocks, old A Study by Z.C.D.I. A careful study of Parsee trusts and properties by the Zoroastrian Com ­ munity Development Institute has and new. To quote the Directory of revealed that over the years these trusts Public Trusts 1979 again, the corpus of have not realized more than 5 percent the trust, against the registration number C-898, is Rs 5.83 lakhs. But the yearly income recorded, from in ­ vestments, is only Rs 1.16 lakhs. The sanatorium remains almost full, both during the summer and winter months. It can serve still better if the rules are less rigid and the approach to the clients more pleasant. The situation of the sanatorium is also ideal. Why then What is essential is the day-to-day care of the property. interest. True, in some cases the corpus itself is not very impressive, against the can it not be maintained well? The fur ­ value of the rupee today. Even then, niture is too old, the walls need white with an imaginative investment of the wash. The surroundings too require funds on hand, these institutions could constant attention. With little more be managed better. Not only that, they pains and sensitiveness to the noble, could even be developed properly with charitable approach of the late Dr an eye on the present market. They are Bahadurji, the sanatorium can surely very useful institutions. They have play a more constructive role, and been serving the community for the last generate a higher income. several decades, and could still serve it for another fifty years or more, if they Daruwalla and Cooper sanatoriums are preserved with genuine feeling. Against this, the two other Against this, sanatoriums in Deolali, the Daruwalla Maintenance and the Nusserwanji Jamshedji What is essential is the day-to-day care Cooper, are in declining stages. Their of the property. Once allowed to location could perhaps be responsible deteriorate, it is bound to go to pieces, for their present fate. The Bahadurji gradually. But, if looked after properly Sanatorium is on the main Deolali- with timely repairs, white wash etc., it Nasik Road, while these two are rather would tax the trust less, and would last in the ir terior, with less transport and long. Even some of the regular clients other facilities. Besides, their corpuses would be happy to donate sums for its appear to be very meagre. It is doubt ­ upkeep. Not only that, for satisfac- ful, but the Directory of Public Trusts tory service, they would be willing to 1979, shows the corpus of the pay reasonably higher charges. With Daruwalla sanatorium at Rs 2.5 thou- the rising prices of all commodities, the sand only, while the annual income daily rates for these places have to be shown is Rs 5.6 thousand. Could the upgraded to make them economically corpus be 2.5 lakhs? Whatever the case viable. may be, the income recorded is again too low. Should it be then interpreted Sanatoriums that the sanatorium is not in demand Unlike dharamshalas, sanatoriums despite the fact that the Bahadurji play a more specific role. They are Sanatorium has an excess clientele? The essentially lor heallli and recreation, hotels are costlier and the private guest Man does not live by bread alone; he houses have only a room or two to also needs rest now and then. His fami- spare. 34 Parsiana October 1963 BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a Public School by the Department of Education for Indian Merit Scholars. Excel­ lent Climate — All-round Education: All Academic Subjects—Tech­ nical Subjects: Workshop. Tech ­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance, Carpentry & Farm ­ ing. Training in Sdf-Govenuneot through Elected Boys ’ Office bearers. Gaines—^Physical Train ­ ing — Daily Assembly with Congregational Prayers — Week ­ ly intensive Zoroastrian — Geeta- Koran classes — Excellent Modem Kitchen and Dining Room facilities — Airy Dormi­ tories. Moderate Fees. Freeships and Concessions to Deserving Students. Apply to-— THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building. 324 Dr. D. N. Road, Bombay 400 001.1 3 The Netarwallas have only five about seven acres —six acres and thirty ­ rooms. There are therefore surplus four and a quarter gunthas to be ex ­ passengers. Apart from long term act. This is a very precious asset of the fice etc. visitors there are many more, mos- community having a unique situation. The load therefore, (rests with) a tly youngsters, who come to Deolali It is rather distressing that such a fine part-time, poorly paid accountant or , for a day or two. It is a happy- property has been allowed to de- clerk. The result thereby, is either go-lucky lot which looks for decent generate. Four of the six trustees of the litigation or continuous bickerings, food and a clean place to sleep. Why sanatorium are from Bombay, having then can the Daruwalla Sanatorium, or prominent status in our society. They A Surat Agiary for that matter the Cooper Sanatorium can collect rupees one lakh almost ef- not canvass for this excess influx? fortlessly. The question is why have The corpus of the Nusserwanji they been watching this decay so an agiary in Surat had about five ’ Jamshedji Cooper trust is Rs 33.8 passively? trustees. But for the last few years, on- thousand. The annual income is Rs 3.8 _ thousand. If the figures are correctly Valsad. They were appointed only two recorded with the Charity Commis- years ago, as per the managing sioner, Maharashtra, the return from trustee ’s letter of April 29, 1981. But they are still not sure whether their ,,' , ; 77 ; Z 7" names have been finally approved by With the rising prices of all the charity commissioner. They are commodities, the daily rates for these places have to be upgraded to make them economically viable. community having a unique situation. accounts, income tax, banks, liaison with the Charity Commissioner ’s of- The Institute has on its record a few cases of this nature. To quote only one. The remaining two trustees are from ly one of them has been in the picture. Only he is known to the mobeds and other staff of the agiary. They are not even aware of the existence of other trustees because they had left the ad ­ ministration completely in the hands of their colleague. They had signed che- thus ineffective. ques and documents only ‘in good Under such circumstances, the faith ’. Considerable damage has been valuable property of the trust is in done. Now, two of the trustees have danger of being lost to the community, been trying their best to find a solu- Sooner or later the land would attract tion, to repair it. (Since the publication of this article. the investment is definitely not enough to maintain the sanatorium primly. Nor can it run the sanatorium. But the of good and poor administration, income from the passengers can help What is required is a very healthy ap- prevent the decay. Vigorous advance publicity, fund raising activities, initiative and a con ­ structive approach can help prevent They are prospering. Their upkeep is these two Deolali sanatoriums from ex- good. Why is it then difficult for our tinction, Deolali needs them and so community to preserve our institu- does the community. tions. Sooner or later the land would attract the government ’s attention, or that of the squatters, and the community would Darabsha Mistry, managing trustee of be poorer by the loss. The examples given are not con ­ clusive. They are only a few instances the Said Pura Agiary, Surat, has writ ­ •f proach to these problems. In a place like Deolali, other com ­ munities also have their sanatoriums. What is needed is not funds, but the will to generate funds. ’s / ten to Dalal about his efforts to renovate the agiary completely and to augment the funds) i Tithal Sanatorium Not funds, administration Convalescent Homes Nearer Bombay, Tithal seashore is The answer lies elsewhere. Not funds. Finally, some observations on the con- beautiful for rest and recreation. A but weaker links in the administration valescent homes in Bombay. The sanatorium was built there in the first of a trust or trusts are principally Bandra Parsi Convalescent Home and decade of the present century. And it responsible for the present plight of Shirinbai Cama Convalescent Home was registered on November 10, these institutions. A study conducted, have served their purpose admirably in 1911. The trust is known as The Tithal Parsee Sanatorium. Its registration Development Institute, some time ago, number is C-288. The corpus of the has exposed some of the drawbacks, trust on page 549 of the Directory of Public Trusts Maharashtra 1979 is Rs 44.5 thousand, against which, the trusts. The remaining ones are silent weather-beaten. In the context of the • return shown is only Rs l,0(X). Again, a observers. case of very poor investment. The sanatorium today is in a dilapidated The work is mainly conducted by cir- condition and requires extensive culars and decisions taken by only one complex with independent wings for repairs costing about a lakh of rupees. It has not been in use for the last cheques are signed without queries, several years. It consists of three buildings, eight blocks. Each block is furnished and has two large rooms, a for monetary or other help, kitchen and a bathroom. The toilets outside the blocks have collapsed. The land covering the sanatorium is these institutions. A study conducted, again by the Zoroastrian Community the past. It is time now to think over their utility afresh. It is not suggested that such beneficial institutions should (a) Only one trustee out of four or be closed down; but certainly they five manages a trust or even a group of should not be allowed to become (b) Meetings of the trustees are rare. acute shortage of housing, these ex ­ quisite sites could be used for more practical purposes. A low cost housing trustee meet with total approval. Even the ‘homes ’ for the Parsees, would be in the larger interests of the community (c) Some trusts do not have either and more beneficial too. minute books or files of applications The future does not look very bright. A dynamic approach could (d) Several trusts cannot afford to alone save the Parsee Zoroastrian maintain even a skeleton staff for day- trusts and properties for future to-day administration, which involves generations. 35 Parsiana October 19^ i 3 j 7 j -i - .-aBUSINESS < r Godrej heads Extractors A designing man L S' fe-. Il- if r £ f- 1 fe i Leading industrialist Adi B. Godrej was elected president of the 423 member Solvent Extractors Association of India for the year 1983-84. The association established in the year Godrej: Successful industrialist 1963, “to foster the development of the solvent extraction industry in India, ” deals with the extraction of oil from oil-bearing material by a solvent process. According to the association ’s write ­ up, the “industry has achieved phenominal progress,...(and) in view of the scarcity of vegetable oils and the re ­ quirement of the extractions for cattle feed, ” is expected to progress from year to year. The industry also earns valuable foreign exchange from the ex ­ port of deoiled cakes and brans. In 1981-82, 33 crores worth of deoiled rice bran was exported, the major markets being Singapore, Holland, the UK, West Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, the USSR ajid the German Democratic Republic. Godrej is at present director of several organizations including Godrej Soaps Ltd, Godrej & Boyce Manufac ­ turing Co., Teesta Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Sikkim, and Vegoils Ltd. He is also president of the Central Organisa ­ tion for Oil Industry and Trade. Right: Conference room and office in­ terior designed by Rumy Shroff 36 Parsiana October 1983 en- design and he feels particularly , couraged that non-media businesses are beginning to become design oriented as well. “We have now reach ­ ed a stage when even the more low key, “Good design makes good economic traditional organizations such as banks sense for any business, since it steps up have begun to call on the services of work efficiency, creates a conducive professionals to plan their work en- work atmosphere and projects a vironments. ” favourable image to the public and If in most other professions the big ­ clients. Too often an image is thought gest challenge is in getting the first of in merely cosmetic terms: a trendy assignment, in interior decoration it is as in this profession you have to deal with other people ’s money and it takes time to generate trust. If in most other professions the big- new logotype for the firm ’s writing doubly difficult paper or a flashy new reception area. What professional designers aim at is the creation and projection of an image trust, ” warns Shroff. And he should which will reflect the true character of know because before bagging his first the organization by means of a com- and biggest assignment —designing prehensive design package, ” states Air-lndia ’s shopping complex in Rumy Shroff, 38, a well-known in- 1972—he had a hard time getting work terior designer and architect of and often had to be prepared to even Bombay, who specializes in designing forego his fees, recalls Shroff who got office interiors. into interior designing by sheer aeci- According to Shroff, media oriented dent due to the difficulties he en- businesses such as advertising agencies countered in establishing himself as an have long recognized the value of good architect in Bombay. ¦I 1 i Armed with a master ’s degree in ar- streamlined office equipment, chitecture from Michigan university in eluding computers, as it strikes streamlined office equipment,in- a designing. At the moment, there ’s a lot ,, 7 - - ------- - — " ...... - of work for interior designers and the US and three years experience with discordant note, ” he says. But even as qualified design assistants are hard to the well-known firm Skidmore Owings reputed and well established a designer come by. ” and Menu Architects in New York, as Shroff feels that the biggest impedi- Although the profession is still in its . the well-known firm Skidmore Owings reputed and well established a designer Shroff launched his firm, Talati, ______ Shrolt and Associates in 1971 in part- they know more than the designer, in- nership with a friend. Over the next terfere and make a mess of things. Shroff also feels the need for specialization within the profession and urges clients to evaluate the suitability of a particular designer for a quinquennium he steadily built up a reputation as an interior designer and in 1977 Rumy Shroff and Associates, Architects was incorporated. Today a _____ _____ long list of top business houses figure specific job as every job requTres a dif- . “A designer in his roster of clients and he has eight ferent kind of expertise. ‘‘Z. qualified young architects working who specializes in restaurants may not under him. be the best choice for a commercial of- Emphasizing the fact that good fice. One way of ensuring that the ap- design indicates that an organization propriate designs are submitted for ‘‘cares about the people who deal with each job would be to pay a minimum fee to several designers and invite them to submit designs. Some private sector as Shroff feels that the biggest impedi- _____ _____ _______ _ _ ______ _ ment is created by^clients who feel that infancy and groping for recognition, . .,1 .,1 1....... Shroff believes it is beginning to ac ­ quire a character. People are fast becoming aware of its utilitarian value and it is no longer considered a mere status symbol to consult a designer. “This profession is challenging, lucrative and fulfilling but to get to the top, there has to be a constant endeavour to improve oneself, ” he concludes. it and the people who work for it, ” Shroff feels that one of the most im­ portant things an interior designer can organizations are already following do is to create ‘‘good vibes, ” a this system, ” says Shroff. positive, friendly and comfortable en- Although by and large the designer ’s vironment. However, striking a note of fees are 15 percent of the gross cost of caution. Shroff says: “This demands a the job. Shroff points out that most thorough investigation into the way an clients don ’t know what services to ex ­ organization works; for design deals pect in return for those fees. “Design- with people rather than with the ap- ing isn ’t a matter of just delivering a plication of some mysterious set of bunch of drawings. Understanding the abstract principles. Good design is client ’s requirements is what is essen- thorough and comprehensive —there is tial. This ambiguity regarding what is ‘good vibes, ” this system, ” says Shroff. Although by and large the designer ’s Indra Gidwani Reprinted with permission from Business World, April 25-May 8, 1983. Baxter brings rain The possibility of creating artificial rain from dry ice to combat the recurring drought situation in the state of Maharashtra was discussed by Khushru Baxter, chief executive of the Bombay Carbon Dioxide Gas Corporation, at a meeting with Chief Minister Vasantrao „ . „ ____ Patil in June this year, note press no question of hiding the bad side or of required of him suits the designer as in reports. The company, “the only manufac ­ turer of dry ice in the country has pledg ­ ed to supply (dry ice) free of cost to assist the government in combating the dread ­ ful menace, ’ ’ notes a report in the Indian According to Shroff, most of the top Express. “Dry ice, prepared by the com- s pression of carbon dioxide into a solid _ . „ _______ - state, when sprayed on clouds forms design is that which is appropriate tor ed to deal with spaces, external as well droplets and quickens precipitation and the character of the client organization, as internal. “In fact, 70 percent of my ' What we are seeking to create is a work is interior designing. Ideally, an distinctive if modern style, it is impor- aspiring interior designer should have a tant to remember that modern degree in architecture and a post ­ materials —of which there is virtually a graduate qualification in interior limitless range —and up-to-date technology can be used to create the Baxter (left) explains the concept of widest possible range of environments tificial rain to Chief Minister Patil from the most modernistic to the most restrained and conservative. ” Shroff (who has designed, inter alia, the corporate offices of United Breweries and Reliance Textiles in Bombay and Bajaj Auto in Poona and has about 25 big jobs in hand at the moment) claims that his firm is trying to follow an international style and create an awareness of new design systems. According to him, there is no such thing as an ‘Indian office. ’ “I’m strongly against juxtaposing Indian handicrafts with sophisticated and ft '' creating a front office-back office most large offices there ’s a lot of situation. ” repetitive work for which fees should According to Shroff, many people be on a sliding scale and this should be are reluctant to approach interior pointed out by the designers, but in designers because they are afraid that most cases they don ’t point this out. ” they will be dictated to and that a style / ” — — . or fashion will be imposed upon them, interior designers are also architects ‘‘This is not the case at all as good and they are thriving as they are train- 1- ¦i 1 Zl Parsiana October 1983 ar- has been successfully administered abroad. ” Hitherto dry ice, one of the world ’s coldest and most versatile refrigerants has been used for freezing by ice-cream manufacturers, meat and food exporters, airlines, pharmaceuticat and engineering industries, notes a report. Baxter was also invited by a visiting American team to Madras to participate in efforts to produce artificial rain, and states that the team was extremely en ­ thusiastic about his ideas and has pro ­ mised its support and assistance. With a degree in marine engineering from Brunel University while simultaneously serving an engineering apprentice at Firestone, London, Baxter joined the then-new CEAT Tyres in Ita ­ ly, notes his bio-data, and was sent to India as chief engineer to set up a plant at Bhandup, Bombay. He was project manager of General Tyre in Tehran 1‘¦^\ as f 5i- ‘C* •I i before joining his brother-in-law Cyrus Engineer in the family business, the Bombay Carbon Dioxide Gas Corpora ­ tion, now the largest manufacturer of carbon dioxide in India, according to a report, with two new units for the manufacture of dry ice. I I '^¦ f r b 1* h 1 !~ i' pean passengers paid a nominal fee, ac ­ cording to Wagner, but Nowrojee allowed his own countrymen to ride the ferry free of charge. The fleet remains virtually unchang ­ ed since the turn of the century, and the strictly enforced dress code for first-class travellers, who were required to wear coats, ties and footwear, was not abandoned till the Japanese took over the ferry service during their occupation of Hong Kong during the Second World War. Nowrojee ’s ‘Star ’ ferry, a typicali ­ ty of Hong Kong since the 1870s, will ^ross the harbour to Kowloon, capacity, ” writes Wagner. Nowrojee continue, according to John Harris Dorabjee Nowrojee, an enterprising then launched his second ‘Star ’ and the company ’s public transport Indian immigrant, introduced the first included the term ‘Star ’ in the names manager. ‘‘A lot of people see the of a fleet of steamships, called the of all his four steamships, a practice ‘Star ’ ‘Star ’ Ferry. f ;___ _ Nowrojee, who worked his way up Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and also from a cook to the < prestigious Hong Kong hotel, original ­ ly bought a launch to ferry himself and his friends between Central and ended ferries, this traditional form of Hong Kong ’s' *Star^ Ferry Almost a century ago, when Hong Kong ’s residents sailed in sampans ‘ _ ----- ---------- • .T .vvn, vupoviij, nilltJ II agilCl . lizuviiujce CUil Dorabje^ Nowrojee, an enterprising then launched his second ‘Star ’ and the of a fleet of steamships, called the of all his four steamships, a practice - . ferries as one of the last that IS continued even today by the vestiges of Hong Kong, but they ’re IT Tz_ . .......................................................... , an integral, ongoing part of •t< M I’ fe.] ‘1 r ' p li? r PI. tJ * ** C411 iinvgiai, viigvillg pdl L Vi owner ot a Godown Company, who bought up the modern Hong Kong, ” he is reported to nave said. The ferry ‘‘retains thousands of . ------------------- ------regular riders who prefer the fresh air Kowloon, noted Diane Wagner in her transport faces competition from the during the six-minute ride, ” Wagner article ‘Hong Kong ’s ‘Star ’ Ferry Re- subway line which was built beneath writes, and one regular morning tains Colonial Past ’ in The Asian Wall the harbour in 1979. Fares have been traveller is reported to have said, ‘‘I Street Journal. ‘‘What began as an in- increased, and the annual crossharbour think going to work across water is a frequent service for friends became traffic has dropped. When Nowrojee romantic idea ” popular, and demand quickly outgrew owned the ferry, Chinese and Euro- watt s,ree, dipping sen. by zarir Cama, Hong Kong. Star ’ assets in 1898. Now a 10-vessel fleet of double- / With the Best Compliments of fit . 38 Parazara October 1983 INGERSOLL-RAND [INDIA] LIMITED Manufacturers of Air & Gas Compressors * Rock Drill Equipment Vacuum Pumps *•i* i&. J ART ¦i *« » 'e )¦ h» i*»- >!i The forms of Divinity Hutokshi D. Doctor * Top: ‘Mystery’ Left: ‘Watched’ With 16 canvases on the theme of divinity, exhibited under the title ‘Unspoken Words ’ at the Taj Art Gallery in Bombay this April, Behram Rana has made his debut into the world of art. “Rana undoubtedly succeeds in establishing a perfect balance between the colour he uses and theme he chooses, ’’ noted the art critic for the Financial Express. “His works make an instant impact on the spectator. The rich colour effect arrests the eyes and ”* the underlying spirituality captivates the heart. ” A visualizer at Larsen and Toubro, Rana has used conventional Indian symbols of divinity like the Om, the Shiva I ingum, the trishul and Ganesha • in all his paintings, to visually repre ­ sent his theme, that divinity in its myriad manifestations is an integral in the painting by a stalk of grain and this, he says, made him realize that part of life and creation. His painting the lingum. “You have to live with painting is recognized as decorative ‘Profile ’is dominated by a pile of blue ' boulders on the seashore which take the Om formation, with the sun rising over the horizon in the background. In explanation he says, believes in everything. ” ‘Mind your Mind, ’ an unusual com- amidst swirls of foliage. ‘This painting was very spontaneous, ” comments Rana. “I just sat down, starting with the Om and went on to the surrounding I designs and then to Ganesha. ” I In fact, most of the paintings have I developed over the last one year from I spontaneous sketches done with deft, I rough strokes in spare moments, and I pasted in a scrap-book. A few of these I original ideas were rejected, some I emerged as visualized, others as ’ com- I binations of different sketches. Since his theme is both serious and position in sombre greys, red and philosophical, the tall, bearded and black, represents the compartmentaliz- long-haired artist confesses that he has ed mind, partly occupied by strong often been told, “Bill, you ’ve got a forces like hunger and sex, symbolized very deep mind, you ’re a thinker; ” and adi -1 5^ I -•'-i J J 'I * A person who God sees God in these forces, control them, and also rather than meaningful. “But at the achieve spiritualism (symbolized by the gallery people complimented me for Om) in whatever capacity, ” says Rana, my subject, expression, treatment and In one of his untitled works, painted colour; the message was appreciated, ” in two shades of blue, the viewer finds he says. So that his message could be the symbol of Om and a tiny figure of fully understood by the viewer he com- Ganesha with uplifted trunk and posed a few lines of verse which ac- upraised hand, cleverly concealed companied eight of his 16 canvases. 39 Parsiana October 1983k r i- I when he puts all his But Rana, 41, lays claim to no mysticism. “If I go into philosophy I’ll lose the artistic touch, the shapes, col ­ ours and textures. Mine is a basic feel ­ ing rather than a philosophy. I could be completely wrong. ’’ The Financial Express's art critic suggested that Rana would go a long way philosophical thinking at the back of his mind, ceases to be over-burdened by metaphysical symbols (whose power of communication is limited) and achieves the visual freedom necessary to speak purely in terms of line, colon*- and texture. ’’ “Every work cannot be a master ­ piece, ’’ Rana quoted his father as say ­ ing when, as a boy, he would indulge in a temper tantrum when dissatisfied with his own work. With a desire to study art, he joined the J. J School of Art in Bombay but left after two years to work as an apprentice and later start a partnership with a friend. Eventually he set up his own small Rana Studio 41 ‘Mind your Mind’ where he designed advertisements for several important clients. But he was temperamental and his public relations weak, he says, and he could not keep his clients, and therefore decided to take the appointment of visualizer at a large advertising agency before moving to Larsen and Toubro in 1977. His work as a visualizer has improved his ' "Sense of design and better acquainted him with colour, enabling him to “carry a certain decorative sleekness into his work, a sleekness enhanced by his strong flat colours and a neat ap­ plication of paint, ’’ notes The Sunday Observer. However, he finds greater freedom as an artist, “you can do whatever you feel, there is more ; creative expression, ’’ and Behram Rana is already visualizing his second exhibition. 41 Parsiana October 1983 With Compliments From EMPIRE ESTATE Liberty Building 41/42 Marine Lines Bombay 400020J u 1 ( -I- I / ’ <1 u 1 l{ p" •it h” * < f * 4<*r Mehli Casinath: Tribute to Talent » . - Ml great number of them are children o this sign. Apro Zubin, as the Parsi would say, is one. Also Yehud Menuhin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms am Margot Fonteyn. Then on the other sidi of the fence, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Elk Fitzgerald, to name only a few. Th< zodiacal pull is too strong for them to ignore. Mehli Casinath learned to play the I violin on his own. There was no-one tc teach him. And when he reached the in ­ teresting stage, when going to a conser­ vatoire would change the course of his life, his dream had to remain unfulfill ­ ed. He was the only surviving son of his piother, and the hand that had once rocked his cradle, now rocked his world —she couldn ’t be parted from him, no matter how short the spell. So he remained self-taught, possibly the earliest Parsi who could have earned an international reputation, but was denied the opportunity. Having mastered the violin as much as one is allowed by fate, he went on to be just as proficient in playing other in ­ struments —piano, C-melody sax, cello. All Rajabally Casinath, the forgotten genius, was the first person to teach Mehli Mehta how to tuck the violin under his chin. western woririh^r fumballa Hill with his violin-case in his that \ past the old Kemp & Co. that comes to most people ’s mind down towards Nepean Sea Road he wou d natura iy be Zubin Mehta. He would turn into an topostag gatroti tSe would be followed by young Neville right, that leads to a palatfa? estate by Seh “ '"‘“tolioital air- the sea. This was Casinath Hall, the b;;;;n “ea^;;^o ‘n"e^t ‘:rT,n"Jia"n U vT ** would turn into an imposing gate on the ’’y Neville right, that leads to a palatial estate bv crash some years ago, and the much talented Hilla Khursedji, who met such ___ a tragic end in London only the other the fm’ person to teach Mehli Mehta talk ^he violin under his chS. mit 'The Casinath Hall Estate was a memories of Zubin s father Mehli storehouse of musical knowledge This Sy^toonv Or'cL^r ** I'T^ereyoung Casinath had ample op- vibes and also harmonium. This last he needed, for by this time he had also . -- ------- 1 ragas. Not remaining content, he now started giving lessons in all these in ­ struments, for his joy in playing them was SO complete that it coirid do nothing but inspire. As his fame as a music- Symphony Orchestra. ............ ' TOrtunities\o diX"to **• »«» far But there was another, older than all He was a Taurean having became his pupils. 1 know of these mentioned, a man oozing with in- May 21 iust six vears h r several parents who bemoan the fact born musical talent who was a violta the tot ’in uX and n.^ ** Casinath today. Virtuoso, who must not remain ignored cuse Taurus ^oeonle nf"^nn< h the same kind of any longer and to whom, late as it may musicallv inrlinpH^ ai musical grounding they had got from be, at least the Parsi community shS ^orn him in their adolescent years. not fail to pay their homage. almost to the extern of a music. He may not have acnieved interna- Turning the clock back to the early This is not iust an^'^Hstrn^no' i best whostiUremember rumour, for if you look at the hsT^f from ’ 4:®’^ high order Mehh Mehta, who in those days lived those who have emhran h ft I internationalists on nonroi.-o tnose who have embraced the world of who came to his doorstep left him music, you d be astonished to see that a speechless. The world onto Ciolta, d ™ Casinath, the forgotten genius, who was portunities to display his unusual talent. He was a Taurean, having been born born under this sun sign adores music, almost to the extent of a pro level. This IS not just an astrological thing. Acclaim of rumour, for if you look at the list of from on Gowalia Tank Road, trudging up 42 Parsiana October 1983 4^-V' t ing the years between the two World Wars, was dominated by four giants and between 1928 and the time World War 11 broke out, three of them had visited Bombay. Mischa Elman, tne Russian-American child prodigy, was the only one who didn ’t. Efrem Zimbalist, also a Russian- American came here in 1928 and Jan Kubelic, the equally great Czech maestro followed a year later. A few years went by and then came my favourite Jascha Heifitz, the other great Russian-American, who unlike many ''hild wonders had become a greater ar- ^***tiste in his mature years. Again, the crossroads of fate worked in Casinath ’s favour and he was given an opportunity to come closer to the greats, to entertain them privately in his home, and to be friendly with them. In the process, the tributes they bestowed on him and the testimonials they left behind, should be a source of pride to music lovers, at least within his own community. There must be many men who play several musical instruments, and a few, • like Casinath who play them exceeding ­ ly well. But this versatile man had other accomplishments to his credit. He not only ran a private school of music, but was also a composer of uncommon merit. He mainly concentrated on mar ­ ches, as John Philip Sousa did. And like Sousa, he dedicated them to famous people. To commemorate the visit of Ed ­ ward, Prince of Wales to Bombay in 1921, he composed a march and dedicated it to the Prince and as a Casinath with the Young Men’s Parsi Orchestra. Nariman Khursedji and Nani Palkhivala are in the front row (from left) I 43 Parsiana October 1983 Dhun and Mehli Casinath with their women’s orchestra gesture of respect, he called it Parsi Loyalty to Royalty, a title which would be wholly out of place today but it fitted the occasion. When Reza Shah I of Iran changed his name to Pahlevi, in an effort to re ­ found the Pahlevi dynasty, and held his coronation in 1926, Casinath dedicated a march to him and befitting the occa ­ sion, named it the Pahlevi March. I am told this marching song was often played on occasions by his son Reza Shah II before his regime was over ­ thrown by Khomeini. The famous Sanjan March which even today, more than half-a-century after it was composed, finds the Parsis in a daze of happy nostalgia every time it is played, is his brain-child. And so is the Zoroastrian March, as also the Zoroastrian National Anthem. (I am told Zubin Mehta ’s ‘A Quest for Zarathustra ’ is going to be an all-Parsi production, with everything about it as i near all-Parsi as possible. I wonder if he is aware that there was a Parsi musi ­ cian, as it happens his father ’s old tutor, who composed some worthwhile scores, that just might be suitable as background music for his epic film!) Today the world has lost its in- I .2 ’’J' "S I .4 h' Vi The Orchestra, in spotlessly white starched dugto ne patloon and kari makhmal ni Parsi topi, would play all the Parsi favourite numbers. .3 nocence. But the ’JOs and the ’40s were the days of calm when you could relax, be happy, put up your feet, have another Black Label and dream a while, for tomorrow was a mile away. That era has long since passed but memories of its excitement still remain. Those were the days when the Parsi lagan and navjote functions were something to look forward to. They were the big-spenders,the good-livers. The functions were usually held at Albless Bang, or sometimes at the less favourite Cama Bang. (Today ’s popular choice of Colaba ’s Jijibhoy Agiary was then unheard of, for some obscure reason.) It was not uncommon for the dinner menu (minoo, they pronounced it!) to have 10 sumptuous items on it, not counting mewa nu achar, chocolate mewa na packet and pan sopari. And of course, no function would be complete without liberal helpings of Scotch Whisky, French Brandy and Port. And there would be a band playing popular music. Normally it would be a band consisting of Goan musicians but this is where Mehli Casinath ’s expertise scored again. It was one more addition to the ¦T ;b' '.ie n '3' r it 5 IS )l € J ’"JS; --r *t’. $• -KW’dj^t, r IH 1} I long list of his services to his communi- fortunate Hilla Khursedji. Then there the King. And when due respect had ty- was the other young man, a budding been paid to the community, king and As early as 1930, 'he had formed a lawyer, who was later to become India ’s country, you would hear the sound of band of his own, a 14-piece orchestra leading leg^l luminary (the alliteration glasses clinking and the word Salamati exclusively made up of young Parsis j ----------•. .. .._ . complete with a male crooner. A band Palkhivala. There was yet another after all is as good, or as bad, as the youngster who also sat in the first row. music that comes out of it, and while Small and pale, memory names him ' 714___ ____ .. Much later, he As early as 1930, he had formed a lawyer, who was later to become India ’s is unavoidable!) His name was Nani being repeated over and over a^ain, " signing off the end of a perfectly happy day. . -------- J -----— ...... But this was not all. This amazing this band didn t send you flying to the Phiroze Dumri. Much later, he man had not forgotten the women of outskirts of the universe, it was surpris- graduated from violin to mouth-organ(!) his community. He and his wife Dhun ingly good; and what ’s more it was very and became perhaps the greatest mouth- later formed a Parsi women ’s orchestra _ . . . . which Ms Casinath conducted. As in marriage season, he was compelled to Larry Adler the American harmonica the case of the YMPO this was also a turn down contracts. genius who visited India in the late 14-piece orchestra and since Dhun The Casinath band went by the name '30s early 40s, dubbed him so, I am Casinath was adept at playing the man- of Young Men ’s Parsi Orchestra and told. was usually referred to by the initials TJie YMPO was a delight to watch. YMPO. It was more of a string band. They turned up in their uniform, which popular. So much so, that during the organ player this country has produced. 3 dolin, this too became a string outfit, but with the mandolin as the predomi- 1 nant instrument. This ladies ’ orchestra was spotlessly white starched duglo ne became immensely popular and gave a The YMPO was a delight to watch, is although they did have piano, __________ _________________....................... _ ............h-h-*'** “**- * clarinet/C-melody sax, bass and drums, patloon and kari makhmal ni Parsi number of concerts for local charities. ----------- -------- ,—J — ,— —J Mehli Casinath was a genial, happy, favourite numbers from Strauss Waltzes gregarious giant of a man, in more senses than one. He was over 6 feet tall and I don ’t believe he ever weighed less •1 ! j ( But there were as many as 10 violins, topi. And they would play all the Parsi that instrument being his forte. f The orchestra ’s leader and Casinath ’s and O Sole Mio to the Isle of Capri right hand man, Jal Ayem, one of his and Amapola. At the end of the even- ____________ „v.6..vw .v oldest friends, who had stuck with him ing, as they would strike up the than 250 lbs. He died in 1957 at the age through thick and thin, was one of the Zoroastrian National Anthem, one of of 63, and I am sure those who knew violinists. There were others like his own compositions, you could hear this kind, friendly man, will not accuse Nariman Khursedji, who in later years the sound of a thousand chairs scraping me of a lowly pun when I say that as a played with Mehli Mehta in the Bombay the ground, as the entire baug would get human being, he was a huge success. Symphony Orchestra. Some may on its feet, standing to attention. After remember him today as the distraught this, and only after, the world would father of the greatly talented but un- hear the familiar strains of God Save through thick and thin, was one of the Zoroastrian National Anthem, one of of 63, and I am sure those who knew - There were others like his own compositions, you could hear this kind, friendly man, will not accuse ! me of a lowly pun when I say that as a un- Reprinted with permission from the Sunday Mid-Day, July 3, 1983. Photographs courtesy Ali Rajabally. J i :.l i TapinwrcontlnmUI HotM xBomboy 1.,, SI ¦5 fS- 44 LET’S BUaO THEM TOGETHER! Whether it's a five-star hotel, a Sultan's Palace, a hospital, a chemical factory, a fertiliser plant or a housing project— we have the expertise and for putting up the imposing Muscat Palace complex of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman—and completed it in time. Obaiot-Shtraton HoW — Bembty L L k 5 .sv»«^ «sss «?«»!!^ a ¦BP n Q u X Ir ........... ^ -.3 if . ¥? s. ?5 SHAPOORJI PALLOIMJI & CO. (PVT.) LTD. L 44 Parsiana October 1983 w w ;x 'ff v. ’’J >4?’!' Ind ,) r