Dec 1983

December 1983, Price Rs. 5 I I .«»-5 ¦!—B i n--- > II ¦! ¦¦tMII W'"'% * i . i' » - -‘V . * iVv :>»¦ "I- hU ’ bi yi?; , i ‘ I • ',^ • ( I Jrtj «ni ¦!R* 't. i i 'I ! I Vk -A n' T*' .:, . 1 ‘L A I ¦i- ' -December 1983 Volume 6 Number 6 EDITOR Jehangir R Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz Mama 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 B.P.Umrigar MANAGEMENT MinOo Patel, Jasmine Driver and Dinaz Felfeli 3 Readers' Forum 10 Events and Personalities 15 Zoroastrians Abroad 20 Business 24 The H.B. Wadia Atas Bahram by Firoze M. Kotwal and James W. Boyd 33 Didn't Zoroaster Convert? by H.P. Ranina 34 Sabavala: Portrait of an artist by Behram Contractor 36 French Honour for Cams by Abhinav 39 The Enduring Charm of Yasmin Daji by Vinati Tikku Cover: The H.B. Wadia Atas Bahram photo by Homyar J. Mistry r i Parsiana is published by Jehangir R Patel for Parsiana Publications at C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001, printed by him at Kaiser-E-Hind, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400 001 and phototypeset at Multi Media Aids, Bombay 400 051. All rights reserved. Address ail editorial and business correspondence to Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Phone: 268730. Annual inland subscription: Rs 40 for one year (12 issues); Rs 75 for two years (24 issues); Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs 80 for one year, Rs 150 for two years; Airmail Rs 160 for one year, Rs 290 for two years. For U.S. personal cheques add $ 4 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 and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400 001.r f READERS’ FORUM »»».»- »f»> • < ? M » ‘ ‘ »*•»»-• M M ’ » oMirj »»»>»<»»»»?¦' )«*»**<>>•<> H »• * > * ' K »* ‘ * .mJ •« »»»•, F*** »t»l ‘M •) V** liJt* ' .I’***’’ >(•»**»»* fiii 1 J “i “The Managing Committee of the M.F. whatsoever and is not entitled to any i Cama Athornan Institute and the M.M. right or privilege a Parsi or Zoroastrian . Cama Education Fund strongly con- is entitled to in the matter of religion, . denrns the alleged ‘Navjote’ and the community or society. alleged ‘Conversion’ to the Zoroastrian • J Religion of one misguided Christian of diar by purporting to perform the alleged *^**';1 America, Joseph Peterson, purported to Navjote against all the Zoroastrian *' have been performed and effected by Dr tenets, doctrines, traditions, beliefs ^d J I **' Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers’ Forum. Parsiana. G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 4Q0 001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. Peterson The “flap” over the navjote of Joseph Peterson has provided occasion for a burst of literary activity which North American Zoroastrians have been distributing to their various associations’ members. Personally, I am pleased to note the emergence of some vigorous support for the idea that the North American Zoroastrians have the right to let their own experience, rather than the Parsis’ experience in India, be a major factor in their decision making. It is a sign of maturity to show such in­ dependence in examining the corpus of the scriptures and the relevance or ir­ relevance, for themselves, of the varying traditions which emerged as responses to earlier historical exigencies. CYRUS R.PANGBORN New Jersey, USA 3 Pars/ana December td83 ' 1 “Dr Kersey Antia and Ervad Hormuz- Reli^on of one misguided Christian of diar by purporting to perform the alleged Kersey Antia and Ervad Noshir C. Hor- rites have forfeited their right to officiate muzdiar, who, this meeting notes with as priests or perform any religious great dismay, were at one time the ceremony anywhere and the Committee students of our Athornan Institute. requests all the Athornans of India to “The Committee reiterates the follow- pass a resolution boycotting them as ing truths, doctrines, rites, traditions mobeds or priests.” and tenets in which the Parsis of India have implicit faith and belief and which the Parsis have been following since cen­ turies and have, therefore, the constitu­ tional guarantee under the Constitution of India. “The alleged ‘Navjote’ of any person yg more so to our religion, in who is not born of both Parsi parents pjg brought to the surface many crucial problems facing us which have been simmering for quite some time. The storm created in India over his navjote is more of a storm in a tea-cup, for we are the minutest of communities in this greatly populous land, and are an JAMSETJEE JEJEEBHOY President The M. F. Cama Athornan Institute and The M. M. Cama Education Fund Peterson has rendered a great service to can never be performed and such a person can never be converted to Zoroastrian Religion and in particular such person cannot be given the Nirangdin—Consecrated Bull’s Urine, which is the most vital and essential part of the Navjote dangered species,” with every chance of Ceremony. becoming extinct, like some rare animal, “That the above Truth does not arise within a century or so. out of any disrespect for other reli- Wg have been unable to check the en- out of any disrespect for other reli­ gions or the persons born in other steady decline in our numbers and are Religions but is based upon another ni4 r IIX ment of this charitable fund, for the the lead. Wherever I have gone I have prescribed, in chapters three, five, six good of our community at large. come across many ostas i.e. of the and seven of the Vendidad the system of dokhmenashini is openly decried as be­ ing unhygienic as also burial (tombs) be- I !' t k =? “ All cheques and drafts must be in athornan family. Those who have sett- favour of the Late Khan Bahadur Edulji led in North America, Australia, S. Chenai Trust, marked ‘A/c. Payee England and Europe have revived past ing undesirable as it occupies usable only’and sent to Ms Roshan M. Patel, Trustee-Secretary, ‘Dhun Villa’, 64, Sar­ dar Patel Road, Secunderabad-500003. They will be gratefully acknowledged substantially in but one year. Besides, the mankind meant for burning away rub- and a receipt sent. associations and societies of the West bish for his hygiene, for cooking his food could collect funds for the benefit of for his health and to turn industrial athomans without much difficulty. wheels for his prosperity, for which fire is to be revered, not worshipped, it is the best media. It may be said that there is no mention of physical fire anywhere in the Gathas or any bar placed on use of fire. glory and almost ^1 are prosperous. If agficultural land. Between the two, since each one decided to donate $ 50 up- fire according to the Avesta is the wards, the athornan fund could rise benevolent agent of God in the service of Ms ROSHAN M PATEL Hyderubad—Secunderabad JAL F DASTUR Bumaby, B.C., Canada Revere, not worship Mobed Nibhav Fund Since years the community has been talk ­ ing of the dwindling number of athor- nans. At times not even a single mobed is Though in our religious books no par- available for a specific ceremony. More- ticular way for the disposal of the dead is over, the overwhelming majority of those practising mobedi are of the older generation—there are very few young­ sters among them. Why do the sons of athornans discard their parents’ profession? Because they can anticipate no rest throughout their working lives; nor is there any fixed in­ come. Only a few get to meet their needs. Some are completely demoralized to find their children half fed and under- educated as compared to others. Why don’t the sons of mobeds them­ selves work concretely to uphold and enhance the cause? The West must take DARA CAMA 9 Parsiana December 1963 *1 Sardar Dastur Hoshang Boys ’ High School, Poona —1. A residential English Medium Minority School of repute, requires a duly qualified & experienced Principal from June 1984. Salary as per experience plus admissible allowances. Housing accommodation may be provided, if required. Application with recent photograph, certificate & testimonials be sent to — President. Board of Management Sardar Dastur Schools 3, Moledina Road PUNE-411 001 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 ^£93 ,A, T Enquire at: Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk, BOMBAY 400 001. Tel : 251185 X’ *n5 A 4'S ..5 if J I. i A® % 4 Events and Personalities 1 still mint tea, the London vative clubs of the London Establish- Tea is Punch” and “New Statesman and Na- ¦ The Ripon Centenary Membership of the Willingdon and the tion” have only recently been taken off Bombay Gym may be more sought after, the subscription list. And membership is but neither has the exclusiveness of the esteemed by its age, rather than its Ripon Club, which celebrates its youth. centenary in January. The club itself r^embles the conser- When it was established in 1884, to , become its member one had to be a Par­ si, male, of certain distinction and Bri­ tain returned. For the first few years, non-Parsis were not allowed in the club even as guests (a member finally went to court to get an order to entertain Mr Bennett of Bennett Coleman and Co. to lunch at the club). For the first 50 years, wives of members were only allowed on Sundays, between certain hours. Even today, women are not allowed in the billiards rooms in the afternoons. Over the years, the club has not changed much. The menu is still very British, kabab is “kabob ” and mutton is lamb. Some of the crockery and most of the silver still bears Lord Ripon’s family crest. The staff includes a head butler, assistant butlers, pantryman, com­ missariat, besides the billiards marker, of course. The day’s papers and a ment: Deep sofas, large sideboards, ’ heavy black furniture, oils of illustrious members on the walls. The membership once included Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, Sir Jameshetjee Tata, Sir Dinshaw Petit, Sir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney, Sir Homi Mody, all knights and baronets. The best and i the most distinguished representatives of the community are still its members. I For many years, the club’s clocks I showed Bombay time, which is 45 A minutes behind Indian Standard Time. I A general body meeting had to be sum- I moned to resolve to change the clock. I But though the clock may be changed, I time has not changed much. Members I still sit at a long centre table for leisurely 3 lunches, then relax in a row of easy­ chairs, probably the largest collection of easy-chairs anywhere in the world. The Ripon Club is a part of Bombay’s history. On January 28, it will complete a hundred years. And who better to have as the chief guest than the club’s most respected member, Nani Palkhivala. Reprinted from Mid-Day December 12. 1983 ¦ Photographs by Ayesha Soni I 5? i' I • ¦: -c’ t ' k 10 Parsiana December 1983 Yazdegardi calendar i Leisurely lunch and easychairs 111 ! I S’’ Ir r of insects and other organisms for pro­ ductive work, the processing of cellulose wastes into meat via micro-organisms and Doctorate awarded “What we need is not only continuing education programmes for our graduates manufacture of pharmaceuticals but a completely new approach towards from previously unknown or under­ primary, secondary and college educa- utilized plant life.’’ tion,’’ said Dr Dara Pirojshaw Antia one of India’s leading metallurgists while jn |he Maruti delivering the convocation address at the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu When Goodyear announced its University, Varanasi on November 18, 1983. Antia was awarded the Degree of Doc­ tor of Science, Honoris Causa, by the university on the occasion “in recogni­ tion of his eminent-position and at­ tainments’’, according to P. Sundaram, general manager (administration) of the Indian Institute of Metals of which Antia is an honorary member. Technology of the university, while tractive vehicular entrant was a brand The dean, faculty of Engineering and ; se­ cond Women’s Car Rally in Delhi recently, 36 women immediately queued up for forms. The route lay through Delhi, across the Jaipur desert and back to the capital, a daunting prospect for any but the most adventure-loving types, across sandy tracks and the national highways made dangerous by maniacal truck drivers. The women were cheered lustily as they started out. But easily the most at- awarding the degree to Antia said about new Maruti —one of the very first to him, “his unfailing and inspiring in- ’ terest, characterized always by ex- . emplary meticulousness to attain high Mr Krishnamurthy. It was being driven standards of performance, has always by Ms Dhun Darius Bagli and navigated been a unique and constant factor in the by the indomitable Meher Heroyce Moos steady and rapid growth of this profes- of Air-India, formerly of Bombay, now of Delhi. With just 24 hours of handling the leave the assembly plant at Gurgaon under special loan from the chairman. sional body to the status of an interna­ tionally recognized institution.” . An alumnus of the university, Antia sleek sophisticated little vehicle, Ms Bagli has long been involved with the govern- was ready to try her skill on the roads, ment’s policy planning and industrial She sped along at 120 km. per hour, eyed development programmes. As secretary by many admirers. of the Metals Development Panel of the It was Meher, the lady who has been Department of Planning of the Govern- practically everywhere, including the ¦ South Pole, who told of the other par­ ticipants, many of them who had had ¦ ¦ . Like the _ ________ ___ _ foreigner on whose car a camel leaped, dependent India. He was also chairman shattering the windscreen and denting of the Metals Development Council for the roof badly. It had been hit by a truck many years and was largely responsible coming from the opposite direction and for helping to found the Indian Institute ' ' •— ¦- of Metals. Antia told the graduating students: “We have not only to start training in had crossed the finishing line, science early in life but allow children opportunities to see how science and winners and this was not really the aim. technology work. Electronics and com- But at least a poipt was proved—that it puters should be introduced to them could be driven on rugged country roads ment of India and Director of Metals in 1946, he was responsible for the transi­ tion of the metallurgical industries from hair-raising experiencs. the war time to peace time economy of in- i chose to take out its fear and terror in this way. Luckily, the driver was unhurt, and undaunted, she continued till she The Maruti did not figure among the . right from school and every high school with speed and skill, giving the lie to fhe and college graduate must be able to pro­ gramme and work with computers. “India must consider (scientific and technological discoveries) in their long range agricultural planning and must search for ways to combine the bul- Economist JuSSawalla lockcart with the computer. The emergence of advanced bio-technologies . _ holds great promise for transforming passed over in the Industrial Revolution rural societies. Such technologies include over 100 years ago, they are today deter- everything from ocean farming to the use mined not to be passive spectators of the misconception that it "has been built for city roads alone. Reprinted from Mid-Day December 5, 1983. “While developing countries were 11 Parsiana December 1983 ! JEENA & COMPANY ESTD. 1900 lA TA AIR CARGO Clearing, Forwarding Warehousing and Insurance Agents 10, Veer Nariman Road Fort, Bombay- 1. Cable : 'JUSTITIA' Telex ; 2313 Phone : 312032 BRANCHES: E. Merc House 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani (Formerly Theatre Road) CALCUTTA-16. Phone : 444711 'Jeena House' 50, Hanuman Road Connaught Circus NEW DELHI Phone : 310821 C.14, Devtha Plaza, 1st floor Residency Road Bangalore-25 Phone : 564474 No. 26-26-24, 2nd floor VIZAGAPATNAM-35 Phone : 62018 ¦f * J tjSf !R h the fair of George to take credit for coining ¦ 1 0 H Is a information explosion and communication revolution, i and research associate with the East- West Communication Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii, while addressing a seminar on “The Future of the Inforrna- tion Economy in by the Asian i---- Research Center. „ Developing countries are even willing to incur large investment expenditures to leap frog technology as witnessed by the investments in satellites planned for Col- —- ' yhis, therefore, can- white-clotheu ti ombia and Mexico, stated Jussawalla. ^X ^hUSSbik^ ding feast, so “Clearly, the developing world is con- not oe j — scious of the social benefits accruing from new telecommunications tech­ nology,” she said. . Jussawalla has studied ways of irn- ------------- - - ¦ said Dr the word as well as organising the first communicauuii yi y v uonrih Meheroo Jussawalla, a noted economist ^jandh . . The first pugrees were as large as the men of that age; it took 10 yards to make one. The pugree worn by Sir Jamshetjee Jeejeebhoy is still preserved in a glass case at the Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary at Colaba. In the days when they used to serve scotch at Parsi dinners, the making of the first pugree was a momentous occa- This can be verified from the short history of Mill Mazdoor Sabha, Born- bay, published in the year 1972 wherein le huture oi me imunna- reference has been made to this in Singapore” organized bay bandh.” 1 happened robe _ ..... Mass Conununication tedmg or^n^rs o^ m M d ^^dding dinner and a bottle of organized &le Se in the year wine were sent to dte p„g«e-naker on 1950. George Fernandes was not having the marriage day. the prominent position in the trade union "T’’ j'*"' front at that time, which he is perhaps scotch and wine __ « a .« . a.* V « rM 1 TA I n I Il organized the textile strike in the year the prominent position in the trade union bandh.” 4 4 J M a •'j ?! I-- a i ' ¦ I 'i I'' ¦ ei' »»r >5 5k Those days are no more. Just as __J. L 3 disappeared from the white-clothed tables laden with the wed- » did the art of pugree- making die out. A Parsi industrialist is ready to otter KISAN TULPULE 10,000 to any of his brethren willing to learn the trade. But his offer will in all probability-not be taken up as the last of the pugree-makers has already made his last pugree. It is sad when a part of us withers away. Reprinted from TTie Daily November 7, 1983. President, Mill Mazdoor Sabha Bombay proving communication developments in molzor the third world in financial terms. “The The last pugree-maker tores has great policy relevance, specially in developing countries, she said. Ac­ cording to her, in many of these coun­ tries between 30 and 40 percent of the gross national product (GNP) is derived from the information sector. submitted by Delhi-based journalist Taj economics of communication infrastruc- Nariman Pugreewala passed away, a part of Parsi culture and tradi­ tion died with him. For Nariman was the last of the pwgree-makers, the shining, shellecked, proud headgear which Parsi for blind COUplC Jehangir Darvish Irani, an employee of away, a part of Parsi culture and tradi­ tion died with him. For Nariman was the last of the pi/gree-makers, the shining, males don on their wedding day adding inches to their stature. At one time there were as many as 52 From a report Rawat. Dadfs dubious distinction The following is a letter reprinted from The Sunday Observer, Bombay, of October 30, 1983. This has reference to the interview with George Fernandes (Oct. 9). l am writing this to correct some statements made by him which are contrary to the facts. Fernandes stated that the word “Bom­ bay bandh” had been coined by him in 1958 This statement is not correct. The word had been first coined by a Parsi gentleman, Dadi Gowadia, who was vic­ timized by a textile miU (Bombay Dyeing eroup) for participating in a strike in led the 63 days' old textile workers stnke -“X^eSt^ie in 1950. -- ‘’-- Mill Mazdoor Sabha, Bombay, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, and all its at filiates as well as the then Socialist Party organized a general one day strike in support of the general strike of textile workers. In one of the meetings ot the workers held in support of the strike on 31-8-1950, Dadi Gowadia, on the spur of the moment. Mill Mazdoor Sabha, Bombay, Hind well as the then Socialist Party organized a general one day strike in support of the general strike of textile workers. In one the Tata Mill for 18 years, was living in penury due to the industrial unrest in the city mills. So, with the help of Rustom Tirandas (municipal corporator) and ex­ Mayor Dr P.S. Pai he was sanctioned a licence to erect a stall at Breach Candy on July 1, 1983. . Suresh Rajda, President of the Lions Club of Central Bombay, donated a pro­ vision stall costing Rs 5,000. Pai, who was instrumental in securing this facility for Irani, inaugurated the stall. Reprinted from the Daily. July 2, 1983, from a write-up by Rashid D. Bainaiibehiani. The late Nariman Pugreewalla at his demanding craft pugreewallas in business, when it was fashionable to order at least three .... • ' - between Rs 10 and Rs 20. Slowly, dress modes began to change and the ethnic dugla and fenta-pugree gave way to the more modern and characterless trousers and shirts. _ Nariman, before he retired, offered to teach any youth the trade, but it was a sign of the times that no one was willing to toil for two years perfecting the art for that was what it was. Fashioned out of cardboard and cloth, Aden walla the smallest, followed by Desai and Punegar, all varying in height. isi' if -i 11 w bandh on August Fashioned out of car^<^rO^<^, 31. Thus the word was first used for the tht pugree was ma u,’, one day strike on 31-8-1950 and not 1958 as claimed by George Fernandes. It is not 31. Thus the word was bbk claimed by George Fernandes. It is not tRecord-breaking Wins Persis Madan of Maharashtra won six gold medals at the National Aquatic Championships held at Trivandruni in October. The events included the 100 meters backstroke, the 100 meters freestyle, the 200 meters individual medley and the 100 meters women’s breaststroke in which Persis set a new record of 1:21,9 seconds, breaking last year’s record of 1:23.4 seconds set by Geetha Anand, Long distance swimmer Anita Sood, Madan’s teammate, scored a magnifi­ cent win in the 800 meters freestyle for women, clipping 3.4 seconds from her own record of 9:58.0 seconds set last year. Madan and Sood, together with Kavita Sood, Anita’s sister, and Sonal Nanavati also broke the 4 x 100 meters freestyle relay record. They improved their oWn previous timing by 00.6 seconds, clocking 4:25.6 seconds, say press reports. important tournaments in its golden jubilee year of 1982-83. Tarapore has "also served as Senior Cricket Commentator on the panel of All India Radio, Bangalore. For a year he was the chief cricket coach of the NIS at Patiala headquarters and also assisted national coach Hemu Adhikari train Kapil Diev, Ravi Shastri, Maninder Singh, Shivlal Yadav, Gursharan Singh, Pranab Roy and L. Shivramkrishnan amongst others, notes the write-up. Tarapore began his career in November 1959 when he attended a three-week camp for prospective coaches at Brabourne Stadium Bombay, under the guidance of his ‘guru’ Prince Duleep- sinji. After a brief stint .at Jaipur he was assigned to Karnataka where he has been * * IM throughput his career. Gandevia: ‘a tinv painful pinch’ “Although Tarapore is superannuated from the National Institute of Sports...it the Zend Avesta classes for Parsis and a is very gratifying to note that (his) ser- committee member for the Sir J.J. vices are now utilized by the Karnataka Funds. State Cricket Association... This is proof . in itself of (his) ability to coach Indian condolence meeting during which, tlwy cricketers ”, states the letter by Bamji. >-<' o M « -)'• o 8 M The trustees of the anjuman held a passed a resolution appreciating his service. At a condolence meeting held on November 4, the Gandevi Community Died: Cawasji Edulji Gandevia, trustee pajj respect to Gandevia at a meeting Cricket coach retires Noted cricket coach Keki Tarapore, who fVf astcr Sahcb has trained the country’s top -test cricketers such as Prasanna, Chan- . . - ------- , „ , „ drashekhar, Vishwanath, Brijesh P^el, Gandevi Anjuman Emergency p^^ded over by noted Bombay Small Syed Kirmani, Roger Bmny and Raghuram Bhatt during his tenure with the Karnataka State Cricket Association retired from the Central Government’s Netaji Subhas National Institute of , Sports on October 31, 1983 at the age of 60, states a write-up by Furrokh S. Bamji of Bangalore. During Tarapore’s tenure with Kar­ nataka, the team won the National Ranji Trophy .Championship thrice and four Tarapore: trained test cricketers Fund, an advisor to the anjuipan at Causes Court lawyer Ardeshir Katrak, t notes the Jame. i 4 s >v M- 5». I 13 Parsiana December 1963 Gandevi in the Valsad district of Gujarat on October 24, 1983-, at the age of 93. Popularly lenown as “Master Saheb,” ¦ GantteVia started off as a student at the ¦ Sir Cawasji Jehangir Readymoney High School and became a teacher of English at the Gandevi Middle ’School. “Stu­ dents still remember his teaching as well as "his favorite form of punishment—a tiny, painful pinch,” writes his son. Faredun. According to a report in the Jam-e- Jamshed Gujarati daily, of which Gandevia was a correspondent, he was a trustee of the Gandevi Anjuman Emer­ gency Fund and ex-manager of the I “Bazam’’ fund. In 1934 he went to I Bombay to collect funds on the occasion I of the agihry centenary and he played a I dedicated role in the construction of a I new building for the Chinoy agiary. Gandevia was active in social work covering all communities in Gandevi notes Dr Ratan Marshall of Surat in a write-up in the Jame. He was connected with the Gandevi Co-operative Bank and the Gandevi library. He was largely responsible for the for­ mation and working of the Cowasji Dhanjibhai Gazdar Reading Room and « Library. In addition, he was a trustee of The Government vs Jeejeebhoy The long-pending dispute between the Government and Byramjee Jeejee­ bhoy, C.S.I., regarding a large piece of land at Goregaon has just been decided by a court of law. The property in question consists of upwards of 700 acres, and the Government not only claimed possession of the land, but sought to recover money which it had brought in since 1865, the date of an award by one qT their settlement of­ ficers. The defendant alleged that the property formed part of a grant of land made to his predecessor in 1847, and the court has confirmed Jeejeebhoy’s claim, ordering the Government to pay the costs of the suit, which must be rather heavy. The amount of money in­ volved in the suit was Rs. 2,16,000. From The Times of India, November 3, 1883. 4 .il^ •- fc- I I L, E Zoroastrians Abroad In other news, WZO is considering Zoroastrian Association of Greater New hosting a conference in London follow- York at an Open Forum on September ing a suggestion from Prof Kaikhosrov 18, 1983. Irani of New York. Irani suggested. North London S Banner Irani of New York. Irani suggested. The guidelines differ from the The gold banner of the North London “The Conference should be held in the Religious Advisory Committee’s recom- Zoroastrian Association wastunfurle^ at 3rd week of June when the schools close; mendations published in the September 1983 issue of Parsiana (“Criteria for con- two to three days, incorporating social version”) in that the candidates do not ___________ gatherings; one session should be on have to state why they are forsaking their The Journal submitted to Parsiana by Zoroastrian philosophy, religious rites, present religion and no time is required Cyrus Mehta of Essex.________________ beliefs etc. (with) no more than three between the candidates announcing their Depicting the “all-embracing Farohar, speakers; another session should be on wish to convert and the actual navjote , - the soul’s pilot which guides us through history, heritage and culture and a third ceremony. Also a clause urging that “nd life beyond life,” as the president of the session on Zoroastrians in present times; priest violate tlw reGSfhmendations” was association, Faridoon Madon, explain- speakers should be authorities on the droppe^^,^ '^ ed, the flag was unfurled by chief guest Zoroastrian religion. Avesta scholars Councillor Iris Woodger, the Mayor of from the western world should be Haringey. “A self-help voluntary community minutes; chartered^igSsts^ould be ar­ group, NOLZA aims to promote and ad­ vance the education of Zoroastrians in North London,” according to th^ report, “and since their formal lai Zoroastrian Association w^unfurled. at 3rd week of June when the schools close; a function in L ondon on September 4 to the length of the conference should be celebrate the Parsi New Year and the bir­ thday of Zarathustra notes a report in In a. letter Dr Shari Merabi, chairman of the board of trustees of the New York vited; the speeches should noLexCe^ 30 Arbab Rustam Guiv Darbe Mehr Zoroastrian Temple attacked some of ranged from Canada and India, and the the recommendations: “Apparently Pressfromlndia should be invited.” Joint honorary secretary, WZO S. Shahrokh, read a letter received from in which a Navjote Committee will be May i982 they have organized events Prince Emir Movawiah Yazidi from formed by ZAGNY. The candidate for > acceptance to the Zoroastrian faith has WZO to spread the word of the existence first to satisfy a dastoor about his desire of Zoroastrians and get recognition from and his knowledge of the Zoroastrian the United Nations. The Committee felt fundamentals and then has to go that thorough research should be con- through some tests by the Navjote Com- ducted about the Kurds and evidence ob- - - • — tained that would substantiate the con­ tents of the book To Us Spoke Zara­ thustra and also the authenticity of the claim that there are 3,000,000 Zoroas- „ trians in Kurdistan. The matter was left geable that ourselves. My own personal pending till the visit of Prince Movawiah to London.” WZO vice-president S.F. Captain in­ formed the Committee that “Rs 100,0(X) was offered by a well-wisher as donation through WZO for a building project in Poona provided the following conditions Afm ZAGNY is endorsing the guideline set forth by its Religious Advisory Council, 1 ¦^"5 a I ',3 A j S i I Si 'll s & ”-4 '*1 gi J and taken part in conferences with other Cairo “wherein an appeal was made to groups in a bid to widen their horizons.” German Association To help Zoroastrians in West Germany “get together... and co-operate in social and religious affairs,” an association has been formed notes Mehraban Kushesh, one of the group’s three temporary com­ mittee members. The other members are Jamshid Zar- thoshti, and Esfandiar Moobed. Having published the news in the Zoroastrian magasSne Hukhte in Tehran, Iran, Kushesh invites all Zoroastrians in West Germany to send in their full address to P.O.B. 7922, 4000 Dusseldorf, West _ _ Germany, and thus help the progress ^gj-e fulfilled: that Poona Parsi Pan- chayat became a member of WZO; that the Trustees of Poona Parsi Panchayat trustees months prior to the Peterson in- individually became members of WZO; cident which stated “Any individual who that they should enroll about 800 knows the basic principles of the Zoroastrians as members of WZO. “The (Poona) trustee, Anklesaria, had The World Zoroastrian Organization mentioned to Captain that it would re- (WZO) has stated that Joseph Peterson, quire a General Meeting to settle this that he/she can find a dastoor for per- the US engineer who converted to matter. formance of that kind of ceremony . Zoroastrianism would not be accepted as a member of the world body should he wished to help Zoroastrians, there apply. should be no conditions. Captain wrote According to the minutes of the WZO back to say that if the conditions were Committee meeting held on August 14 in not met, the money would not be forth- London, the Committee also stated that coming.” Dr Kersey Antia, one of the priests who performed Peterson’s navjote, acted “in ___ _____ _______ ___ his personal capacity” and that the WZO country.” “had no prior intimation of Dr Antia’s The final guidelines for acceptance/non- The final guidelines, intention and did not back him in the acceptance into Zoroastrianism have been MEMORANDUM ON act.” drawn up and accepted by the Definition of A Zoroastrian As Ap- and advancement of (their) aims and objectives.” World Zoroastrian Organization Minutes 15 Parsiana December 1983 mittee to prove his qualifications. The details of the test were not announced in the Open Forum. Somebody in the au­ dience predicted that we are going to generate Zoroastrians more knowled- prediction is that no non-Zoroastrian born individual will ever pass the tests of the Navjote Committee and we, the pre­ sent privileged born Zoroastrians, do not have anything to worry about competi­ tion!!” Merabi preferred the resolution passed in a joint meeting of the New York Darbe Mehr and the ZAGNY boards of Zoroastrian Religion is welcome to have any Zoroastrian ceremony which that in­ dividual desires in Darbe Mehr, provided “However, the reply was that if WZO which he/she desires.” Dr Rostam Sarfeh,. trustee of the Rustam Guiv Trust of California in a let­ ter to be read at the Open Forum said the RAC recommendations “sounds a copy of the regulations of (the) Immigration Office, who try to make it difficult Final acceptance guidelines for the new immigrants to enter the 1 ¦‘fl 9. 1 j %’2,' I J 111 i “I I fl il ‘‘d j 'ffe* R V plicable To The Qualification For ZAGNY Board was mandated to collect right to reject the request until such time Membership, Section 1.02 Under Article and distribute position paper and com- when the candidate is ready to meet the 1, of The Byelaws of the Zoroastrian ments on this issue. Religious Advisory requirements. Association of Greater New York ‘ Committee was further assigned a task of developing a detail guideline by fall- Based Upon the Recommendation In of 1983. d (;uiE>EttNES‘ for assisting the per- The Report of The Religious Advisory The report of the Religious Advisory forming priest and to provide in- Committee of ZAGNY, With Sug- Committee was presented for discussion gested Modifications By ZAGNY at the second open forum of the Associa- Board And Confirmed By Consensus tion in September, 1983. At that time the 1 In B (2), B(3) and B(4) of “Who Can of Opinion at the Open Forum on Board submitted the policy recommen- Become A Zoroastrian by Navjote’’ September 18, 1983. — . - r u forum for its expression of agreement or formed with the agreement ot both the otherwise. This would be of guidance to parents, the child, or the spouse, as the ZAGNY and would also be communi- case may be. dations emerging from the report to the above, N^ote ceremony should be per- J ACCEPTANCE7N0Sf-ACCEPTANCE INTO ZOROASTRIANISM --- ------------------ ------------- This memorandum deals with the criteria cated to UZANA, as well as to all the 2 Navjote should be performed by an or- under which one is confirmed a Zoroastrian Associations of North dained priest. Zoroastrian by Navjote. Navjotes have America; as the expression of ZAGNY’s 3 No mass Navjote should be performed been traditionally performed for children view on this matter. The consensus was by any priest. A priest may perform only of Zoroastrian parentage. The com- for accepting the following recommen- one person’s Navjote at a time. munity has encountered the question of dations: 4 The Priest must be convinced that the whether a Navjote can validly be per- person is genuinely interested and not in­ formed of one of Non-Zoroastrian parentage? In other words ZuiUC13I.1 laiiiom pviiiiii .v 1-------------------- —¦¦ ----I------------------ . - ' • • ? t one of Non-Zoroastrian parentage into Navjote ceremony and/or the offspring jote, the performing priest ana canaiaaie from the Navjote Committee set up for that pdrpose. 6 Upprt the performance of the Navjote, satisfying the above criteria, the can­ didate will be eligible to become a A WHO IS ZOROASTRIAN? flueRCCd by any non-religious or political paf^ntager in umci wvius, does Any person who has been confirmed into motives. Zoroastrianism permit the acceptance of the religion by the performance of the 5 Prior to the performance of the Nav- the religious community? It is important of any person who is Zoroastrian by must receive approval by a majority vote to note that we use the term “Accep- Navjote, as long as the offspring has not tance” rather than the term “Conver- adopted another religion, sion,’’ as the latter term ambiguously in­ cludes both acceptance as well as pro- b who can become a zoroastrian selytization. To proselytize, is to seek by navjote? members of other faith or no faith to 1 Children of parents who are both member of ZAGNY. However, the can­ join one’s own by persuasion or force. Zoroastrians. didate must be made aware that He/She This Association makes no such attempt. 2 Children of one Zoroastrian may not be accepted as a Zoroastrian by The present issue is concerned solely with parent—either male or female. other Association or community. _ _________ _ . • Zoroastrians. This Association makes no such attempt. 2 Children of one Zoroastrian the policy of the Association towards 3 Children legally adopted by a one who chooses on his or her own to Zoroastrian. 1____ follow the religion of Zarathushtra, and 4 Spouse of a Zoroastrian, who being direct or expresses a desire to join the Association, well-versed in the Zoroastrian tradition, upon any priest by the Boad of ZAGNY The question we are concerned with is wishes to be accepted into the jq perform or not perform Navjote or who is eligible to have his or her Navjote Zoroastrian faith. any religious ceremony of any performed and thereby be accepted as a 5 Persons of non-Zoroastrian parentage. Zoroastrian or non-Zoroastrian. one who chooses on his or her own to Zoroastrian. well-versed in the Zoroastrian tradition, wishes to be accepted into the Note:No pressure or influence either indirect be brought to bear 11M.1.1VU, «..w _____ _ ______ 5 Persons of non-Zoroastrian parentage, member of the Zoroastrian Association (Criteria for these listed in paragraph C) of Greater New York? To clarify and present relevant material for discussion the Board in January 1983, appointed a Religious Ad- who expresses intention of BECOM- guidelines as defined above, visory Committee including laymen and iNG A zoroastrian priests and also the past Presidents of 1 He/she must be capable of reciting the of one of the past Presidents, Mr. Erach significance of the sarne. its present members from the member- and willing to espouse the basic concepts ship of the committee to leave the com­ mittee independent of its influence. A preliminary discussion on this mat­ ter took place at an open forum meeting of the General Body in February, 1983. At this open forum the Religious Ad­ visory Committee presented an initial ceremonies, report on this issue. Following the -1 It - . . discussions on the Religious Advisory priest to.ensure that the above criteria are Committee’s preliminary report the f_'.2"--' . i J E NAVJOTE COMMITTEE: c CRITERIA TO BE FULFILLED BY A PER- The Navjote Committee will be formed SON OF NON-ZOROASTRIAN PARENTAGE by the Board of ZAGNY and.will adhere J visory Committee including laymen and iNG A zoroastrian Association under the Chairmanship ‘kustf prayers and give account of and Munshi. The "Board explicitly excluded 2 The candidate should be able to state of the Zoroastrian view of the world and ?^e person^must be familiar with the started in Quebec notes the newsletter of religious practices and customs of the the Zoroastrian Association of Metro- Zoroastrian tradition such as jashan, politan Chicago. Its objectives are. navjote, wedding and the funeral 1. To encourage through financial incen- the ordainment of navars and the 4 It will be the duty of the officiating development of modem aids necessary vvz —__ 1________ 7 -___ J for their preparation. This incentive will fulfilled. If not, the priest will have the be given in perpetuity in the memory of Perpetuating Zoroastrianism in North America To pay iH^te to the memory of a fine i young Mobed, the late Ervad Parvez Kotwal, a Memorial Fund has been r 16/’afs/ana December 1983T'’ , .V'p^ I Ervad Parvez Kotwal. local commuity is required to also pull to 2. To encourage the study of either do its own. general or specific aspects of Zoroastrian theology through original research in couraging not only to all those who sup­ conjunction with an internationally ported the building fund but also to reputed institution of learning. This many others who have felt that a scholarship will be open to both Zoroas- Zoroastrian Center is imperative if the trians and non-Zoroastrians and will be Zoroastrian culture is to flourish in offered in the name of a Zoroastrian in- Australia.” dividual who in the opinion of the trus­ tees has contributed significantly to the three applications to the State Govem- socio-religious development of the ment, notes Minoo Batliwalla in the Zoroastrian community in North newsletter. An application to the Sports . America. and Recreation Department for a grant 3. To encourage young Zoroastrian men for a building has not materialized as the and women who have exhibited aca- Department would now consider grants demic excellence through a reimbursable to those who would build immediately loan to pursue higher studies. Academic under the Government’s Unemployment excellence to be evaluated in conjunction Relief Scheme. with a means (need) test. This loan also will be given in the name of a Zoroas- and a large block of land are still' trian individual who in the opinion of the undecided but, Batliwalla informs, from trustees has contributed significantly to discussions with the Lands Board Office, the socio-religious development of the “the more information the Zoroastrians Zoroastrian community in North give in support of their application, America. especially an assurance of available Ervad Kotwal wa.s a dedicated Zoroas- funds, the better chance they stand in trian with great potential—a keen out- further allocations of land in the coming doorsman and a great lover of nature. He was a devout Boy Scout, a member “This piece of news is indeed en- In 1981/82 AZANSW had made Two separate applications for a small years.” of the school band and was selected most Neuroticism valuable player of the year in his school house league. He was a promising student of cinematography and TV communica­ tions. In 1980 he undertook a trip to In­ dia and successfully completed all parative study of the dominance, ambi­ requirements for navar and was ordain- tion, neuroticism and social desirabili- ed. During the past three summers, he ty of Sydney’s Parsis made by Pro- worked on a ship ferrying winter sup­ plies to Canada’s northern settlements. It was during one of these trips that he was tragically killed at Resolute Bay, on Sydney Style Parsis in Sydney are less neurotic than the Parsis in Bombay, reveals a com- fessor John Ray, notes the May 1983 issue of Manashni, the newsletter of the Australian Zoroastrian Association of New South Wales. “There is pro­ August 31, 1982, at the tender age of 20 bably a lot less to worry about in Sydney,” notes the report. Ray, whose findings were to be notes the ZAMC newsletter. The patrons of this fund are: Dr Jehan Bagli, Ms Dolly Dastoor, Nozer Kotwal, published in the Journal of Social Dr Farang Mehr, Jamshed Pavri and Psychology, is quoted as saying, “1 Mehraban Zartoshty. gave the same set of questions to all Sydney Parsis (as Bombay Parsis) by way of a mailed out questionnaire. Those who did not reply after a month got a second questionnaire as a Towards Australia ’s Zoroastrian Centre “It appears that an amount has been reminder. I thus ended up with 72 com- allocated for Australia in the Rustam pleted questionnaires. I give the results Guiv Trust,” states the February issue of below together with results from a ran- Manashni, the newsletter of the dom sample of the Sydney population Australian Zoroastrian Association of generally. New South Wales. “Dr Sarfeh, chair­ man of the Rustam Guiv Trust, men­ tions that there are possible New York tax problems but they would endeavour also clearly less likely to lie about to find ways around them at the ap- - — propriate time.” However, in accor­ dance with Rustam Guiv’s principles, the “So we see that Parsis are about the same on dominance as the Aussies, but are more ambitious. Australians are themselves. The most important com­ parison is neuroticism. Sydney Parsis are a lot less anxious than Bombay Par- 17 Pcirsiana December IS^ ii 1 «• BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a Public School by the Department of Education for Indian Merit Scholars. Excd- lent Climate — All-round Education : AU Acad«nic Subjects —^Tech ­ nical Subjects: Workshop. Tech­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance, Carpentry & Farm­ ing. Training in Sdf-Govemincnt through Elected Boys’ Office bearers. Games —'Physical Train­ ing — Daily Assembly with Congregational Prayers — Week ­ ly intensive Zoroastrian—Geeta- Koran classes — Excellent Modem Kitchm and Dining Room facilities — Airy Dormi- tmries. 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.C I J?-' r I F s. - a sis.” A similar study done in Bombay need some volunteers who can step in if parts: the Gathic texts and the younger resulted in the following'findings. Peshotan is unavailable. Avestan texts followed by discourses on “The idea is to draw up a roster of Prayers and ceremonies. Bombay Parsis All Bom ay men who would like to say the prayers ,, riffnrd* PIqvino 35 10 (4 33) and/or during the funeral. If ZcrbanOO GlllOrCl. Play g 6.86 (3.55) Dominance 54.77 (5.88) Ambition Neuroticism Social desirability 19.38 (2.88) 33.96 (5.65) 7.21 (2.98) Sydney Parsis Dominance 55.34 (8.25) Ambition Neuroticism Social desirability 18.27 (4.07) 34.63 (5.38) 5.84 (3.60) 1' ¦f I. h Peshotan is unavailable. “The idea is to draw up a roster of men who would like to say the prayers . before and/or during the funeral. If Peshotan is unavailable the grieved tami- the huud ly can ring one of the volunteers who will then recite the prayers. This is voluntary. As soon as we have a few names, they will be published along with their tele­ phone numbers in Manashni so that members can make a note in case ot an unfortunate event. Peshotan Katrak will then brief us on which prayers are to be recited. This service is only for Zoroas­ trians who die in Sydney.” “The first Asian woman (in the British Parliament) will be a Zoroastrian,” con­ fidently smiles Zerbanoo Gifford, cur­ rently Harrow’s only Asian councilloi', who sits on Lord Avebury’s Community Relations Panel, the Police Committee, the Liberal Women’s Committee etc. “After all there have been three Indians in there before.—all Parsis,” she says, and she lets it be known that her greatest asset is “being a woman and Zoroastrian.” _____________________________________ During her TV appearance in her cam­ tv, was celebrated on July 31 when paign during the last general election Fereshteh Arghavani and Ara Anushira- (which she contested as the Liberal-SDP vani recited the opening prayers and Alliance candidate for Hertsmere), Zer- Armita Sassani spoke in short on the banoo related the sugar and milk legend significance of immortality, the last stage of the Parsi landing in India. “You must y ..iv.vcc- of human perfection in Zoroastrian enrich the community you join while suffers this religion, notes The Zoroastrian, the maintaining your (religio-cultural) com- ' mitment and strength,” says Zerbanoo, ________ using a concept followed by the Parsis in Earlier, beautifully calligraphed and India for 1,4(X) years—which resulted in designed certificates were given to each 18.32 (3.06) All Sydney 54.88 (8.75) 31.44 (5.83) 6.63 (3.57) 16.01 (4.47) Funeral Prayers “Death in the family is something no one Celebrating Amordadegan woufd like to talk about. The pathos, Amordadegan, the festival of immortali- suffering and sorrow we face is great,” writes Shirley Mahableshwarwalla in Manashni (July, 1983), the newsletter of the Australian. Zoroastrian Association of New South Wales (AZANSW). “Our community in Sydney is increas­ ing. Currently if one of us s----- .— tragedy in Sydney, our total reliance is on Peshotan Katrak if we want prayers to be recited. Peshotan has done the selfless, noble service with total sincerity for years at a lot of personal inconve­ nience, and I am sure he will continue to _ do so for many years to come. But what classes which began in October 1983 happens if Peshotan is sick or away? We c„. ----------------------- newsletter of the Zoroastrian Center, California. moo a 13 percent swing in Liberal favour in a of the 12 students who graduated from predominantly white constituency. the lower religious classes. The higher ------------------------ '""3 i cover the entire texts of the Avesta in two little consequence. What mattered is that a That she lost the seat to the then Tory party chairman Cecil Parkinson was ot SERSON Electrolytic Capacitors For All Electronic Applications From 12 VDC To 350 VDC Manufacturers: Serson Industries Pvt. Ltd. Pfinpri P.F.P.O., Poona-18. Cable : Etchloil Poona-18. Phone : W1319 f. f /¦f.' , -'‘-ACS T 5 MT 'X nisg ^^•*’^^aflfl| she persisted ‘‘under a constant barrage of threats against her life and those of her children,” as noted New Life in its June 24 issue. While Zerbanoo was Srshesays^X^XSlS^^n completely . Husband Richard Gifford is a solicitor^ ner. She says your genes ^d khandaan smashed to pieces. There was so much specializing in international law who is hr™ important... The way you’re muddle. Immigration took so long to immersed in his work of helping im- b ? g^t,?P ™ajes a difference. It s check my British passport. Officials just migrants contest uniust laws Sons ancl’things^Ld norb^ oted fo?Tr ’ Mark-Mazda (8) and Alexander* Justice ana things and not be paid for it. such a rumpus when m England an im- tdiz'i hav/> or.r.^ ---------- Zerbanoo, eldest daughter of Kitty and Bailey Irani, president of the WZO, _____ oviiwio imv fondly recalls the grit and determination lowered standard^ iiKludi^**^i.- brochure of the company. “We would be in a position to provide equipment like engineering goods of Indian origin to customers in Britain. We Once, when reputed travel agent Nan^ luc liisiiiuiiauit, uuuvu ____ would also get introductions to Euro- ” ' ' Homi P. Ranina announced that pean and US suppliers from the British A Hi c If J '¦ jjt> Mazda Leasing: a viable alternative With the remark “leasing has now ---------------------------- - - , . .v?. -xj become fashionable,” noted tax consul- would also get introductions to Euro- Katgara was asked why he had resisted tant Homi P. Ranina announced that pean and US suppliers from the British switching from travel business to other Mazda Leasing Limited will be offering firm. This export of Indian equipment industries with higher shares to the public in February 1984. would mean additional revenue for the For the fun of it. This characterizes The first Indian leasing company to go company and also serve a social purpose the agent s view towards is wot as e into collaboration with a British leasing by bringing foreign exchange^ into^the pioneering career in company, Mazda Leasing Limited is be­ ing promoted by a group of well quali­ fied professionals. They are: Ranina Taj Intercontinental, (chairman), advocate of the Supreme Court, noted tax consultant and colum­ nist; managing director Homi D. Mehta, ----- , , former senior executive of the Central tions and impose a number of restnc- Bank of India; and directors Burjor H. Antia, partner of the noted law firm Mulla and Mulla Craigie Blunt and Caroe and director of several companies, of Mazda Estate and Finance Pvt. Ltd., agriculturists and others are looking for Yezdi J. Master and Kersi J. investment opportunities. The directors Limathwalla, both chartered accoun- are aware of this because some of them tants, Balkrishan M. Shukla, a banker are involved with Mazda Estate & and Sharu S. Rangnekar, former manag- Finance Company (P) Ltd. which deals ing director of Searle India Ltd. and in real estate business in Bombay and noted management consultant and Gujarat, author. Mazda has secured a technical and business collaboration with British Equipment (Leasing) Limited, establish­ ed in UK in 1971. The British company will provide professional advice/infor- mation on lease accountancy, manage­ ment systems and marketing, notes a country,” said Ranina at the November tra£e. 25 press conference held at Bombay’s “Leasing offers a viable alternative to financial borrowings from banks and in­ stitutions which have stringent regula- The travel agency business in India is only about four decades old and in its short history, one family of travel agents stands out—the Katgara brothers. Their parent company Jeena & Company, was founded as-early as 1900, though its in- tions on the borrowers,” he stated. itial role was that of shipping and According to him the company hoped freight agency^ to get most of the funds generated by the ' .. u-j caroeanuuireciorui scvciitivviiipa...va, public issue from the rural areas of Dara K. Deboo, advocate and chairman Maharashtra and^ Gujarat,^ whye investment opportunities. The directors are aware are in real estate business in Bombay and however, it had started handling some of the incoming tourists arriving by ship. It was in the late 40s that Nari J. Katgara took charge of Jeena on the death of his father. Soon after, his brother Adi join­ ed him and the two made an excellent team to start a trail in travel promotion, which is the envy of many professionals, even today. Nari J. Katgara, (57), was the first In­ dian travel agent to attend the annual convention of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) in 1949. It was Antia Rangnekar Shukla Ranina Mehta Limath walla ii 20 Parsiana Decern bet 1983 In view of the tremendous prospects for leasing (“there is enough business for another 100 companies”) and the tax --------- . shelter offered by the high rates of here that he realised the potential of depreciation allowance, the return on im vestment would be substantial (“10 to 15 percent”) from the very first year, stated Ranina. Dehoo Master tourism and its relevance to the develop­ ing Indian economy. He came back brimming with ideas, and in 1951, set up with the help of other colleagues, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). He also became its first presi­ dent. On the 25th anniversary of TAAI in 1975, Nari was honoured by the Association with the Agasthya Award for his outstanding services to the Indian travel industry. Similarly, Adi J. Katgara, who joined a couple of years later, started taking keen interest in the development and promotion of tourist business. Both brothers involved themselves actively in international and national travel organizations and with the help of others, founded the Skal Club of India in Bombay, and Nari became its president for two years. Having realised the potential of tourism and the need for joint mar­ keting, the Katgara brothers were in- ’ strumental in setting up the Travel Cor- I poration of India Private Limited I (TCI)—a consortium of four major In-e f r Adi and Nari Katgara: several firsts. (Photos by Ayesha Soni.) dian travel agents, to provide services to provide modest accommodation at liquor sales to carve tor themselves incoming tourists. TCI came into being places of tourist interest and has since substantial slices of the country’s beer J in 1961 with the merger of all the incom- f ing business of the four companies, in- t eluding Jeena which the Katgaras head­ ed. The new company was, a great suc- cess. As a result of this cooperative ef­ fort, TCI is now one of the largest travel youth tours, mountaineering, wildlife. Distilleries. In just eight years, this single outfits in Asia, with 27 offices in India monuments, shopping, gems and jewel- brewery has taken on the industry’s and seven in foreign countries. Their US lery, yoga, Buddhist and maharaja tours heavyweights and successfully captured branch is a full service travel agency and On another hand, they pioneered incen- approximately 50 percent of the prize 5 not merely a tourism promotion liaison tive tour marketing which has since Bombay market with its three beers, office. The company employs 800 people developed into an exciting attraction that London Pilsner, London Diet and alt over the world and in 1982-83, its tur- h nover was Rs 32 crores and foreign ex- been extended to sea resorts and other markets. areas. This scenario was rudely altered by the Again, it was TCI which introduced inauguration in 1975 of a brewery at special interest tours as early as 1964. Thane near Bombay, by a partnership Among the special interest tours were firm, the Associated Breweries and India offers. However, shopping, London Premium, and is well entrench- forwarding and freight has been the ed in the Western region. Beginning with original business of Jeena and it still con- a turnover, of approximately Rs 60 lakhs stitutes their major occupation and the in their first year of operation. change earnings amounted to some eight crore rupees. The Katgaras have several firsts to company is one of the largest in the Associated Breweries notched a turnover their credit. TCI has not been just a freight and cargo business. Here again, of just under Rs 13 crores for the year travel agency but a marketing organiza­ tion, developing new products and float­ ing new ideas. For instance, they were and the Air Cargo Club (ACC). Nari the first to introduce the idea of All India Katgara was the president of the ACA Tours by coaches; the concept was not an economic success, not because of any lack of effort on the part of TCI, but primarily caused by inter-state restric­ tions on movement of coaches, a pro­ blem that still exists. TCI was responsible for opening the Andaman and Laksha ­ dweep Islands, and even set up the first London Pilsncr ’s . tourist resort hotel in Port Blair. They pioneered the concept of cruising the In­ dian Ocean around the Indian coast and to neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives. TCI also helped heavyweights with countrywide opera- India of which he is the Grand Master, pioneer Ladakh as a new destination for tions, notably the late Vital Mallya’s In 1964 Irani was offered a brewery tourists. Recently, they have announced a sub­ sidiary company—TCI Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd. The company has a dozen hotels under its ownership or under management. The concept was started to the Katgaras have assisted in the forma- ended September 1983, and now has an tion of the Air Cargo Association (ACA) eye on the overseas market. Primer of sorts “I’m first and foremost a construction man,” says the company’s founder Noshir Irani who owns and controls most of the Bakhtawar Construction Company, a Bombay based partnership construction firm that, in turn, controls Associated Breweries. Irani divides his h artv eiipppss between construction activities in neaay succe S Bombay and Bangalore, Associated The brewery industry in India has long Breweries, horseracing and the Freema- been the preserve of a handful of sons District Grand Lodge of Western for two years. Another company that the two have established is called Katgara Brothers, to promote Indian export. Reprinted and abridged from Destination India, October ’83. tions, notably the late Vital Mallya’s United Breweries group and the Mohan licence by a freedom fighter, strangely Meakins and Shaw Wallace groups. All enough over a glass of whisky. He took these groups operate distilleries in addi- up the offer and set up a brewery in Goa tion to their breweries and have effec- in 1968 with an installed capacity of lively combined the marketing of beer 20,000 hectolitre (HL) of beer. The ven- with the financial clout earned from hard ture was beset with problems of all kinds 21 Parsiana December 1983 s f I: s IS I? -‘J} 1 if3r -i'" and served as a lesson of sorts for the fledgling brewery firm. Irani discovered that it would take a capacity of at least 50,000 HL to produce beer profitably. Inefficient labour and the brewery’s distance from Bombay (400 miles) added to its high operating costs and the plant was unceremoniously shut down in ruefully, “We lost Rs the experience gained from’”the'* Goa episode, Irani set up the Thane brewery on February 8, 1975, with an installed capacity of 50,000 HL and further expansion. With an- i _ ___ building and a bottling plant imported from Germany at a cost of Rs 2.4 crores. Associated Breweries was all set to in­ filtrate the Bombay market with its first beer,, London Pilsner. By this time Irani s daughter Zeenia Lawyer, who is now the marketing partner, joined the business. Says she of the initial campaign The market was difficult to penetrate. Shaw Wallace’s Skol Breweries had launched their brand, Hayward Lager, a fledgling brewery firm. Irani discovered that it would take a capacity of at least 50,000 HL to produce beer profitably. Inefficient labour and the brewery’s distance from Bombay (400 miles) added .’ , . t imceremoniously shut down in _ ------- - . v.x,.unj, VVCHJSl K.S 32 lakhs on that venture. ” Armed with th/3 __ ;____ 1 _ L •’A 5^ rAssociated Br^eries; growth profile IT^s in Ks.lror^ 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1977 78 provision for Ceylon Breweries, D. impressive Rs 45 lakh from Germany at a cosFof Rs 2.4 crorejJ Associated Breweries was all set to in­ filtrate the Bombay market with its first beer,, London Pilsner. By this time Irani s daughter Zeenia Lawyer, who is now the marketing partner, joined the business. Says she of the initial campaign The market was difficult to penetrate. Shaw Wallace’s Skol Breweries had launched their brand, Hayward Lager, a year ahead of us and other brands such as C ' ¦ " • popular.” The first two I ¦ • the price ot London Pilsner in a bid to outsell their rivals and, as a result, incur­ red substantial losses. In terms of the all ^portant factor, taste. Associated Breweries found it a hard task to get London Pilsner accepted by Bombay drinkers —they found it a trifie heavy. In addition, the ban on liquor advertising * made it difficult to reach the consumer via the media. m- already quite ...J years proved tough going indeed. The firm dropped the price ot London Pilsner in a bid to outsell their rivals and, as a result, incur- r'-’ - ¦ ¦ ¦ - important factor, r • London Pilsner accepted by Bombay taste, Associated Turning point The year 1977 proved to be the turning point in the company’s fortunes. Irani Irani and Lawyer: backing a winning beer. 22 Parsiana December 1983 decided to seek the services of a profes- rional and invited the master brewer of 7.’ Murugesan, to Irani%imself visit the brewery as a consultant. At tracted by the challenge of rejuvenating the firm, Murugesan resigned his job and joined Associated Breweries as chief ex­ ecutive in December 1978. A profes­ sional brewmaster who trained in the UK and also with Carlsburg (Denmark) and Heineken (Rotterdam), Murugesan brought to his new job the skills honed in iiiii t • . 4 t J '¦ I /• that, in terms of taste, could find a uni- the market: — -.....—¦ suggested that prevailing beers vvere too heavy and based on this suggestion and a fair amount of market research, Murugesan developed the lighter tasting beer that London Pilsner is today. The next task was to improve the firm’s labour relations with its 340 emp­ loyees (including 140 at the brewery). High quality standards and strict monitoring are essential for the delicate brewery process and employee motiva­ tion had to be boosted to achieve this. The firm seems to have employed one of Ouchi’s Theory Z parallels and set about creating the»feeling of belonging.” This was achieved through the use of open dialogue and frequent visits by senior management to the brewery, accom­ panied by informal conversations with the workers. One of the brewery’s assets is its relatively low employee strength. In terms of turnover, the per capita output of the firm is approximately Rs 3.8 lakhs. The firm has made a conscious ef­ fort to prune deadwood and Murugesan himself believes that “it is the effort that counts and not the number of people.” Young professionals were taken on in areas ranging from brewing to marketing and salaries of the workers v"'"' — gressively raised. The firm fo'rrned r ' ¦ Lawyer, her husband Sohrab (who relmively low employee strength. approximately Rs 3.8 fort to prune deadwood and Murugesan himself believes that “it is the effort that counts and not the number of people.” were pro­ marketing team consisting of Zeenia Lawyer, her husband Sohrab (who runs his own business, but finds time to lend a hand), Murugesan, the marketing manager and occasionally, when policv IC T—__ * - commission scheme His first task was to develop the taste a basic salary of the beer. This called for some mcrement scheme to reward tise and involved two stagTs X’ '-^o are vir.ii. t. Murugesan calls the art and science of Zee'm~a LaT^er* “ThZm brewing. The first part, the art consists stiT k tn wa.s and of tasting the beer and finding what is dealers’minds.” lacking or whai is objectionable in the 'h' beer. The second part, the science, con­ sists of rectifying the defects in the beer. It was felt that the brewery needed a beer fit* I the 17 years he spent with Ceylon Breweries. “I was familiar with all aspects of a brewery, from brewing to marketing, having dealt with all these areas in my previous job,” says Murugesan. His first task ¦ ¦ - I was familiar with all xzMu uuL iiiius ume to lend a hand), Murugesan, the marketing manager arid occasionally, when policy IS to be decided, Irani himself. The firm has no commission scheme or Its salesmen and uses a basic salary ^esmen, who^e vital to its order, pr(> ' '¦ systems. Says motion and feedback more difficult by the advertising ban) was developed by frequent visits to dealers. The firm improved its cash flow by charging distributors an advance less I,7.? r ¦vS.A* S' { Pe^Mthe beer is Comfortable niche I sold at Rs 106 per dozen). They also at- f tempted to reach the consumer with at- ! tractive poster displays at outlets. J Lawyer indirectly promoted the beer through the sponsorship of various ac­ tivities such as cross-country races, shows at Bombay’s swank discotheque,’ Studio 29, and visits to the brewery such “)3r S' raXL' ;Xfrand h r 1980, aided also by the rdaxatonS?pJS^ hibition policies to parts of the W«Srn ““ region, and increases in prices and pro­ duction, the firm recorded a turnover of i on a single product, London Pilsn^ remains the firm’s biggest seller) and felt , It was time to introduce a new product, j Lawyer suggested that the firm pro­ figure conscious urbanites. In spite of in- I cess taxes and help it to move further towards professionalization, but it will also mean a growth in size and a subse- says quent devolution of control. The infor­ mal relationships and quick action__ benefits that accrue from the firm’s pre­ sent small size—will become increasingly /4i Pflz-bul*- • Cl J Howwer, these are problem.s of the future. For the present, the firm is busy- ’*^^1 export consignment. It ’ ¦¦ J over I5,(X)0 bot- “r*^ as draught beer is ‘Maharaja’ to California USA^This^Ta Rs6cror«. Bythcn.the ’fimwaTrd'ying Uft D‘rXhTbJS‘‘i.''“„‘' con- on fl cinalp nrrv-l.,z>y I __ n.-i _____ z.® ^idUglU oeer IS - ........ The product, London Diet, was launch­ ed in December 1981, just three months after it was initially proposed, and, says Mumgesan, “We sold two months’ pro- ------------------ -----------------------------------------^AW“ duct line, Associated Breweries also in- I ‘-------------------_------------- _____ _ Premium, and a pint size version of Lon- draught beer in ty bottles cost between Rs 1.15 to 1.50 will shortly be sending P^T bottle)’ but these need big outlets ties of beer duction in a week. ” To balance its pro- 2!SiSd ‘ »'«-wni t ..J difficult to maintain. under the brand not pasteurised and has < . -—is now supplied to Sun hotels such as the Taj Intercontinental the and the Oberoi Towers, in addition to some other large outlets. duce a low calorie die? beer ‘aimed’af Breweries is now comfor- a™= ;;“E “¦ “£ .s« — S"..";.-; ?."s »s;i-s ffln? proved to be an ms- what doe.s the future hold for iP Growth ¦ t success. With the assistance of an has its own problems, and being a part advertising agency, Chaitra, the firm nership firm; taxes : ’ toounted a campaign that laid the stress chunks of the llrm’s profits? Irani plan. baSitogT^to^r' » tn nrw^n Q nlont rv^iu: :r v _ _ ... ® »’iinivi. a shorter shelf trial order but even if American ' sumers dislike the beer, it will not ruffle —e company unduly as it manages to sell most of its peak capacity production of 62,5(X) HL per annum. Irani, the construction man who made it in beer, himself remains optimistic about the future and points to a slogan 1 J J ' 4 4 4 P- advertising agency, Chaitra, the firm ! p- ' ¦ on body weight by enumerating the benefits of a low calorie intake on human figures, particularly around the waist. it in beer, himself remains optimistic about the future and points to a slogan on his wall that reads, “I’m always polite ..... I me, they have a right to their stupid opinions.” . , ----- •)—* 111 C4IV WO but to people who disagree with ¦ to >^1.^ J _ , - ------- are eating away la^L 'of p“Xs""' ” ’ q; nmfifc _____ k . . . ' ‘ ’ succeeded in Tal-InMiconiInmtel HoM * Bombay 3 J b.. >43 to Open a plant in Delhi if he can obtain a licence or buy a plant there and says that by next year the firm may go public. This may save the firm from paying ex- LETS BUILD 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 experience —to handle any turn-key construction project anywhere in the world. Over the last 100 years we have not only pioneered the construction industry in our country but spread our wings to Muscat and the Middle East—where against competition from the best construction companies, we won the contract SUNIL GOP ALAN feprinted from Business India, October ^November 6. 1983. Photographs courtesy Business “? ?®® Business India, India. 3l Li a* [ li wa^>.-wOM. for putting up the imposing Muscat Palace complex of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman—and completed it in time. The multiplicity of projects carried out by us over several decades has resulted in the building up of expertise in numerous aspects of the construction industry. We proudly offer this expertise for any construction project and proposals for joint ventures would be welcome. < EkW 3«< i cSS& -irXg w SHAPOORJI PALLONJI & CO. (PVT.) LTD. B?; I Parsiana December 1983 't Obtrst.SiMraion HoM — Bombay k L Ao>*j5.x.;. irinq & t Jia Cent) Bomhav 400 039 India L ¦ t'-uctiofi Corit F 'F1^. I The Story of the H. B. Wadia Atas Bahram 5 Firoze M. Kotwal and James W. Boyd k' it'*' k- M- The article, originally titled “The 151st Anniversary Celebration of the H.B. Wadia Atas Bahram, ” is reprinted with permission from the Journal of the K.R. Cama Oriental Institute (No 50), Bombay 1983, with diacritical marks omitted. The 150th year is referred to as the 151st, the day of installation of the Atas Padsha being reverentially considered the first anniversary. u Kr' I ft/ ?! Ft* Among the eight Atas Bahrams in India today, one of the oldest and most presti­ gious is the Hormasji Bahmanji Wadia Atas Bahram of Bombay. On October 11, 1980 (roz Srosh, mah Ardibehesht, A.Y. 1350) the 151st anniversary of the installation of the sacred fire was celebrated. This article contains a brief account of the history of the Wadia Atas Bahram, followed by a description of the ceremonial events that highlighted this important anniversary celebration. I. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WADIA ATAS BAHRAM F I Ritual handshake: Dastur Kotwal and Ervad Antia 1805 (roz Bahram, mah Ardibehesht, A.Y. 1175) the ceremony for the installa­ tion of an Adaran fire was conducted by five pairs of priests (mobeds) from Nav­ sari. Dastur Edalji Darabji Sanjana was the priest in charge of all ceremonial observances. Today, in the outer hall surrounding the sanctuary (gumbad) of the Adaran an inscription in marble commemorates the event. The temple building Over a quarter of a century later, more On February 17, J8O3 a disastrous fire than one-tenth (1,074) of all the Parsis in the Bombay area lived in the Girgaon area. Sheth H. B. Wadia, who had pass­ ed away in 1826, left instructions in his will to found an Atas Bahram. His se- 7— -----------------------; — cond wife, Mithibai, and^ his sons manj^were relocated^ in the Dhobitalao Bahmanji, Rustamji, and Ardeshir Hor- ' masji Wadia, therefore established an broke out in the Fort area of Bombay. Three-fourths of the bazaar and about a thousand houses were destroyed. Hun­ dreds of people perished. The Parsis who had lost their homes had to move, and Formation of the sacred fire The procedures for the formation of the sacred fire had been set in motion more than a year before the completion date (1830) of the building. The text of a letter from Calcutta to B.H. Wadia has been preserved which states the origins of the fire caused by lightning—one of the 116 types of fires required in the formation of an Atas Bahram. The letter, trans­ lated from Gujarati, reads as follows: To Sheth Wadiaji Bahmanji Hormas­ ji of the Port of Bombay. The undersigned extend to you their salutations and blessings from the Port of Calcutta. You sent mobed Jamshedji Edalji Vajifdar (for the fire). The fire was brought by the Par­ si Sohrabji Rustamji Mistri from the garden of Sheth Rustamji Kavasji Banaji, where lightning fell on a Tad tree (Gujarati term for a species of palm). It was brought to the house of a Parsi, Meherwanji Limji, on the 15th of June, 1828 A.C. The fire was kept in a fire vase placed in the kit ­ chen where formerly the fire of the late Navroji Sohrabji was kept. The same mobed, Jamshedji Edalji, tend­ ed the fire five times a day and that fire is sent herewith on the 21st of October, 1829, corresponding to the day 20, month one, 1199 A.Y. At the time when a Parsi, Sohrabji Mistri, brought the fire a Parsi named Jivo * and a Parsi named Jamshedji ) Behramji were present. These two Parsis were interrogated about the fire, and both said that the fire sent to you is the same fire and they witness- ’ ed to that. I J i I k I- I I; and Girgaon area of the city. Because masji Wadia, therefore established an they were in need of a place of worship Atas Bahram in the same Chandan Wadi in the vicinity where they lived, Hormasji area where the Adaran had been esta- Bahmanji Wadia built a temple for an blished 25 years earlier. In 1830 the Adaran (second grade) fire in the Charni building of the Hormasji Bahmanji Wadi area (now called Chandan Wadi). The temple was built in honour of his deceased father, Bahmanji Wadia, the land, with an additional 469 1/9 square son of the famous shipbuilder who con- yards around it. The previous and now structed the first dry dock in India (Bom- adjoining building housing the Adaran bay) in 1750 A.C. On November 26, 24 Parsiana December 1983 Wadia Atas Bahram was completed. It was located on 4,493 4/9 square yards of was also enlarged. We the undersigned: Rustamji Kavasji Dorabji Behramji Ratanji Behramji Bisni Meherwanji Limji Jamshedji Behramji Palanji Dorabji Meherji Navroji Motabhai' * Preparations for the enthronement of the sacred fire Preparations for the enthronement of the Atas Bahram involved the whole Zoroastrian community of India On October 2, 1830 (No Ruz, A.Y. 1200), the Wadia brothers sent invitations to all Parsi Anjomans in India and requested the leading Zoroastrians of those com­ munities to attend the ceremonies of in­ stallation. Six weeks before the consecra­ tion of the sacred fire, public notice was also given to the Parsi community in the daily Gujarati paper Mumbai Samachar (October 4, 1830). After invoking the creator Ohrmazd it stated; With the blessed guidance of the true prophet of the Mazdayasnian Reli­ gion, a joyous and righteous deed has been accomplished for which we a., all very grateful. Bahmanji, Rustamji, and Ardeshir Wadiaji request the presence of the entire Zoroastrian community—dasturs, mobeds and behdins—oi all cities, ports and villages of Bombay, Surat, Navsari, Broach, Baroda, Khambhat, Kheda’ Udepur (Udvada), Daman, Nargol, Tarapore, Kalyan, Diu, Thana, r The H.B. IVadiu Atas Bahram entrance (photo by Homyar J. r> E t com- in- consecra- : was villages of Bombay, Surat, Navsari, Broach, Baroda, Khambhat, Kheda’ , Godavri, Gandevi, Billimora, Bulsar, ,,.rmS4«SSSSW®l»S5^r I 25 Parsiana December 1983 Poona, and the residents on the bank of the river Gor and Jalna, etc. We re- attend^Sv. u..v ixnig uurasnum. me pardon would then be 7™?, ¦ "“'y “P'Plete- Though there was some on Zoroastrian religion would bestow position Io this mow, the board even upon all people of the good religion tually agreed Ihiil ihe oeeasioii’of the in S “bv a^te^nd^nr “"'"-Tation slallation of Ihe Wadiii Atas Bahram was day. By attending at this auspicious a suitable time for an act of comnassion time may you acquire the merit of tompassion, both the worlds by bowing before the glorious face of Shri Atas Bahram Saheb. Because the consecration of an Atas Ardibehesht, A.Y. 1200k On this d^v ‘s the creation of a new living hundreds of Parsis visited the Atas being, a unique spiritual-material reality which possesses the radiant glory (xar- rah) of the Lord of Wisdom Himself, preparations for his enthronement also involved an act ol clemency worthy of a are royal coronation. In commemoration of the enthronement ol the victorious king of fires (aduran padixsay perozgar), trustees of the Bombay Parsi Panchaya ’t declared that Parsis who had been ostracized from the i wrongdoing were to be pardoned. .................... ... trustees of the Parsi Panchayat, recom­ mended to the board among other things that those guilty of wrongdoing should Mistry) pay a fine, possibly to a gahambar fund, and undergo a purification ceremony of 4U 4. xu rj-* » --- ------K«« *• *''««-«VFii vcn;iiiunv ' u barasnum. The pardon would then complete. Though there v ?„¦: re­ position to this movx;, the board stallation of the Wadia Ata.s Bahram a suitable time for an act of compassion. Enthronement The installation celebration was held on November 17, 1830 {roz Srosh, mah Bahram. According to the editor of the Mumbai Samachar there were not less than 1,000 in attendance. Dasturs and priests were given shawls and special garments according to their station, and a large banquet was held. The Bombay Courier (November 20, 1830) described the hall of the fire temple as “regally or­ namented with chandeliers, (and) mir­ rors.. . ’ ’ and the gumbad area where the ------------ 1 was described as tS*»sai=H= sWi5?p!sy;:iKKs; 01 the value of upwards of 40,000 rupees, in which the holv fire (was) placed.” The total community tor fire was enthroned silver vase expenses of the day ij Ic I fci I' 'i ’A f- r •I If H )/ -r; ' I'-' • . .V., « « 4«f.jau-,»> jc ceeded his"father as dastur (1898-1931). of Dastur Rustomji, the family succes- tide), was installed on May 1, 1977. held the dasturship from 1931-1938. F' f *--11 The plan of the H. B. Wadia Atas Bahram Key to the plan on facing page. r K AN 1 0 T 1 r 27 26 CZ.HO 25 24 2) Parsiana December 1983 H ¦3. 4 Pl • >* I + (RO*,'.. I; .»• (4 AN Sll'CMl' ii4«; I 38 ? t 36 rr- ^7 1 35 ? rr* [ 23 22 20 18 ;r w iMiiinm v 3, 32 33 i 30 f 29 ijlllliii ~'i2 3.^.E Ar>h'-<*N cN 34 -¦ « '.s. I) J* % J’ e -.1 >1 a L 16 15 1 9 7 I ' r-t LU I 6 7 i 8 r 5" 1C 1 r : 7 J. f ”S’ ''r> ¦i 5 * 1 4 3 * * ;¦' __ ____ Dasturs JamaspAas. Mirza and Kolwal participating in the dedication along with other dasturs and ervads. ¦ -?r'l I - -I': ¦t'.rs ! 1'^ 'T^ Keeonsecration of the .sanctuary Beginning on October 2, 1980 (roz Day- pa-Adar, mah Ardibehesht) in the empty gumbad of the Atas Bahram (diagram no. 8), one yasna ceremony was per­ formed daily for three successive days in honour of Srosh yazad, the spiritualpro- lector ol the material world. During the (made khushk} and placed separately on second night (Adar) the Vendidad the lloor of the giimbad. ceremony was also performed. For each of these ceremonies, the stone table on which the fire normally stands (the atas xan) served as the ritual table. Another ______ ___ _______ table was brought in to serve as the place (atas xan). Two silver coins and some lor the ot 1 iciating priest to sit (the silver leaves which had been purified zodgah) while conducting the rituals. So that the priests could keep their ritual power (moti xub) intact throughout the four days of consecrating ceremonies, they performed regular baj placed on it was then made pure (paw) rneals during each day. On the tourili followed in the boy ceremony, thereby diiy (Khorshed) one yasna service was ritually guaranteeing the spiritual dedicated to the creator Ohrmazd. This (menog) presence of the fire. The large, Yasna of Dadar (Creator) Ohrmazd was deep lid (sarposh) was then placed on top celebrated within the ritual precinct of the fire vase and filled with san- (pawi) of the Urwisgah (diagram no. 15) dalwood dust and chips. The throne of I- ¦¦---- ' ¦ • - • ¦ the day ot reinstallation. awaited the sacred fire to be brought in . Prior to this time a sliver crown (taj) royal procession that night. had been hung by means of an iron chain and pulley from the center of the dome Re-enthronement (taxt-nishini) above the .sanctuary. A pure gold At midnight (ushahin gah) oi October 5, ' garland, weighing 327 grams, was also f— ' ' hung on the interior marble wall of the devout Zoroastrians, including trustees I. t With the utterance of the Ahuna Vairya prayer, the priests in charge of maintaining the fire (boywaras) carefully transferred the fire vase to the stone table thoughts, good words, good deeds) portion of the embers of the Atas Bahram was lifted with a ladle and transferred to the smaller fire vase. A canopy, perforated and shaped like crown, was placed over the fire. The sacred fife was then carried to his own sanctuary by two boywaras in full ceremonial attire, i.e., each wore a long a a ¦if were then placed underneath the fire vase. These served as auspicious gifts of­ fered at the feet of the victorious king of chori) and tires. The stone table with the fire vase •i • : white organdy robe (jame), a sash (pic- 1 a mouth-veil (padan). Enclosures (pawis), temporarily made , V,- ,, IK-” E 1- • ---- r---y,—, with gravel, defined the route taken. (dion) ceremonies bdore they look their by washing it with water in the manner Complete darkness surrounded the pro- day (Khorshed) one yasna service was ritually guaranteeing the spiritual cession so that no light but that of the ra­ diant Atas Bahram was visible. Priests, around and behind the fire, carried weapons such as swords, daggers and a mace, signifying the fact that they were . ¦ ----------------- servitors of the royal Atas and dedicated to free the sanctuary tor preparations for the Atas Bahram, now fully consecrated, to his victorious protection. These weapons were later hung on the wall of the sanctuary. A stately procession of lay dignitaries followed the priests. Upon entry into his own gumbad, the - . , Atas Bahram was tranferred to his 1980 (roz K'horsTied) a large gathering of throne, the large fire vase (afringanyu). . The dry sandalwood dust and chips in priests and boywaras led by Dastur Kot- the deep concave lid (sarposh) kindled wal, celebrated the re-enthronement quickly. With the fire safely ceremony. The first two boywaras enthroned, the first boy ceremony transferred the Atas Bahram, still conducted in honour of the fire. garland, weighing 327 grams, was also -¦! - » ? •« i!5 ji ringing of the bell nine times. However this has not been the practice throughout the history of the Wadia Atas Bahram observances. The first high priest, Dastur Edalji Sanjana, had initiated the practice of striking the bell three times in the boy ceremony, basing his action on references in the Pahlavi book Wizirkard i Denig. This text is now understood by most scholars to be of questionable authenticity. In 1938 Dastur Kaikhushru Mahiyar Kutar, the first priest to follow the long succession of Sanjana dasturs had vyanted to establish the authoritative boywaras in unison: “(We do this) with practice of nine bells, but the boywaras the religious authority of the creator were not willing due to a prevailing Ohrmazd, according to the dictates of superstition that whoever should strike the Bountiful Immortals (Amesha Spen- years, it is not proper to switch over to tention fVohu Manah), the moon (Mah), the orderly ancient usage without first earth (Gosh) and joy (Ram), and finally . reciting the formula of dasturi, Srosh, the vice-regent of Ahura Mazda thereby taking permission of Ahura on this earth. Mazda, Amahra-spands, holy Srosh,' Zarathushtra Spitaman, Adarbad The jashan of thanksgiving Mahraspand, and in conclusion, his successor, the present dastur, before embarking on an important religious gifts of great historical and personal act of merit. I direct that the ancient value to the Wadia family were presented usage may be established after reciting to the Atas Bahram and a jashan for the the formula of dasturi. The Pazand dasturi was said by all On the occasion of the 151st anniversary of the installation of the sacred fire, rare !. f' whole community was celebrated. Among the rare gifts was an inscribed silver ruler given by Soli K. Modi, ex­ ecutor of the estate of the late Navroji Rustamji Wadia, bearing the date 1754 and the inscription: “Presented by the the fourth bell would immediately suffer tas), holy Srosh, Zarathushtra Spitaman, United East India Company to Lowjee a twisted arm. Another rumour was that if the bell were struck nine times rather than the “customary three,” one of the trustees would die. Dastur Kotwal, the present dastur, knowing this history, once again brought to the attention of the boywaras the fact the the traditional number nine was the correct liturgical observance in the boy ceremony honouring a sacred fire. Con- IF /’ • assistant priest (raspi). sequently, on the occasion of this first IrjiEt 200 priests took part in the boy ceremony for the re-enthroned Atas jashan, as well as eight out of the 10 Bahram in his new bed of ash, the senior | Jt 1 dasturs in India, including Vada Dastur boywara Ervad Faramroze M. Antia * w ¦¦ >< Meherjirana from Navsari, Dastur Hor- asked permission of Dastur Kotwal, in Dastur Kotwal with three of the trustees: mazdyar Mirza of Udvada, Dasturs Kai- front of all assembled and on behalf of Hormasji R. Wadia, Sir Jametjee Jejeebhoy khusroo Jamaspasa, Faramroze Bode all boywaras, to strike the bell nine and Hormasji B Wadia (managing trustee) and Nawruz Minocher-Homji ol Bom- times. Dastur Kotwal responded in the bay, and Dasturs Tahmurasp Hozdar affirmative, with the following explana- Adarbad Mahraspandan, and according and Hormazdyar Jamaspasa ol Poona, tion: ta the dastur of the age, Dastur Firoze Following the liturgical service, Dastur When all boywaras are of one accord M. Kotwal.” Thus permission of the Kotwal delivered a short speech praising as to the proper performance of the divine powers and organizers of the the founder of the fire temple, Hormasji Bahmanji Wadia, and offered a short sermon on the religious significance of the Atas Bahram. This significance is traditionally expressed in that great litany to fire, the Atas Niyayes, which The jashan on October 6, 1980 (roz was recited by all the priests assembled I I I 11 Bomanjee, their Master Shipbuilder at Bombay, as a Memorial for his Long and Faithful Services.” The jashan itself commenced at 10:00 a.m. (hawan gah) of the morning of October 11, 1980 (roz Srosh, mah Ardibehesht, A.Y. 1350). It was also performed in the central hall by Dastur Kotwal with the senior 'boywara Ervad Faramroze M. Antia acting as i Dastur Kotwal with three of the trustees: and Hormasji B Wadia (managing trustee) to the proper performance of the divine powers and organizers of the holy boy ceremony—in this case, religion was taken, together with the striking the bell nine times as is the name of the present dastur. All was sue-, uniform practice in our whole priestly cessfully accomplished, and the ancient class—I have no objection to it. The tradition of the boy ceremony for the re­ figure nine has considerable signi- enthroned Atas Bahram reaffirmed, ficance in Zoroastrian ritual. For ex­ ample, the darun (sacred bread) is Mah) was the culmination of the shifting for the jashan of this 151st anniversary marked with nine cuts with the words and re-enthronement ceremonies. This humata, hukhta, hvarshta (3 times 3) jashan held in the central hall of the fire on the same model as the striking of temple, was dedicated first and foremost the bell nine times with the words to the creator Ahura Mazda. Also dushmata, duzukhta and duzvarshta honored were Ardibehesht (Best Right- (3 strokes with each of the 3 words), eousness), the Bountiful Immortal in Also the navgireh (the nine-knotted charge of fire and through whose spirit stick used by the priests while ad- the elaborate purifying process of ministering the barasnum) is tied with establishing a sacred fire is accomplish- the kusti (sacred belt) with nine knots, ed; Spandarmad (Bountiful Devotion), and the suraxdar taste (a saucer pierc- the mother earth who gives asylum to the ed by holes used as a sieve for filtering abode of fires; the yazad Mah, the haoma juice) has nine holes in the spiritual presence in charge of the day on middle. Since the practice of striking which this jashan took place; the the bell three times has been in vogue spiritual co-workers (hamkars) of the in our Atas Bahreun for the past 150 day, in this instance the yazads Good In­ celebration. A portion of this great litany | to fire translates as follows: J Arise for me, O Ahura! Take strength through devotion, O Holiest Spirit, | Mazda! (Take) power through the good offering, strong might through righteousness, plenitude through good intention. For (my) help, O far- seeing one, show me the incom­ parable things which (are) yours —those of the kingdom, O Ahura, which are the reward of good inten­ tion. O Bounteous Armaiti (Devo­ tion), instruct our consciences (daena) through Righteousness fa5a/...(AN.l-3) (Y.33.12-14). 1 I 1 30 Parsiana December i9S3' ¦ .r ¦ ¦••• • . •<; :¦' - \ ., . '7 ¦.: ?.!C ¦p'. r COMMENT Didn ’t Zarathustra Convert? Some of the intellectuals of our com­ munity have raised this question time and again and they have tried to justify conversion on the grounds that Zarathustra himself did so. Therefore, it is 'argued that it Homi P, Ranina 'i to toe “irreligious,” about freedom of choice and for this to the evil doers, to the wicked ’ and others who knew i__ „„„ who had led a lite of hatred, violence and vice. To such people, Zarathustra ad- sorcerers purpose, draws inspiration from the no religion and Gathas. Throughout the fabric of the jjjg concept of freedom of choice has been used in the context of the path choice between good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice. It would be irrational to apply the con­ cept of freedom of choice to matters over which no human being has any control, religion and family of birth, the^'time death, etc. It is absurd for choice in these matters. To renounce the religion of one’s birth is an act of defiance against the ----------1 amounts to abrogation of His will. It has to be understood that carrv on this nr-i -f to dressed himself and advocated the i a........ af J? of righteousness and purity of thoughts, community words and deeds. He was the first pro­ phet to reveal unto his people the divine laws of God. Thus, Zarathustra’s role that of a teacher, r philosopher who taught the people of his fi ______ _____ ____ enlightened them on the manner oTiiving which would be in conformity with such laws. In fact, the word ‘Zarathustra’ ....... , means ‘man of divine light,’ and our will of God and prophet was rightly described as such. In short, Zarathustra enlightened his people, he played the role which a teacher plays toward.s his pupils, nai.._.^, to educate them and enlighten them. When a student learns at the feet of a our duty to do so since our is dwindling. This raised a very fundamental issue and, therefore, it is necessary to con- It would be irrational to apply the concept of freedom of choice to matters over which no human being has any control. ' was primarily which are, the time and place of birth’ ¦»rAQ/'»ri«r nnJ 4.K. ___ •;.?__ • _ _ . ’ ‘O -V ‘ha. he has freedom Jf £ , namely, To renounce the religion of Sider whether Zarathustra did convert toem and enlighten them. one's birth is an art nf his followers. The word ‘convert’ has y**? u'todent learns at the feet of a . YP® ® ^Ct Of been defined by the Random House educated and enlightened; uetiance against the will of Dictionary to mean -to change from '' God, one religion to another’. Mazdayasni worship was practised « by the kings, aristocrats and a few I before Zarathustra. However, the ma- £ norance and indulged in sorcerv wk- uirrerent from I chcraft and idol worship; they dW not /'ght-thinking person ’ belong to and did „S follow a™y rnXome“a" 7m religion. aria become a Zarathustrian. J Zarathustra’s first task was to refine “““,%-n“-ed by.^ephHosoSyo7 reUgion‘o?his f lhe Galhas, Zarathustra exhorted his or Aristot'17orSo''and is f "'''/‘’h'r'*”’ "'bole issue of conversion or people to lead a path of righteousness, to s^Lh nhUoJnnt voluntary acceptance of faith is seen and choose between right and wrong, good P^^^^ophy while adhering to the comprehended in a totally different and evil, and he advised his followefs to birth. Con- reach God by putting into practice his "'’¦‘^•evant when viewed i teachings of good thoughts, good words Perspective. convert J ; • ¦ I I I I spiritually advanced souls who lived r before Zarathustra. However, the ir.a .cxaruiess nr rnp I > b4o„g.,. But'tSf it would be absurd to say that he is con­ verted. The universality of Zarathustra’s philosophy is unquestionable. His teachings could be, and should be, followed by every human being’ regardles^ of the religion to which he is quite different from All philosophies r _ :___ ; could be practised by anybody. A person conversion involves, first, the renuncia­ tion of one’s religion of birth ajid secondly, the embracing of another religion. In other words, renunciation of the religion of birth and embracing another religion are two side.s of the same coin. The question which needs to be asked . - ------ 1 person is "Is It right for a person to renounce the are universal and by an objective and impartial anVDOdv rv’rcnn J* _ __ perspective. I and good deeds. In several stanzas of the Gathas, The Freedom of choice pro-conversion lobby glibly talks Abridged and edited I’rom i,;. Ranina entitled ‘Some Thoughts on Conversion ’ Ranina ; leading tax consultants. i.s an article by Honii a noted lawyer and one of India’s t 33 / trshif tn December 1983 •4 1 5 ’ ¦ ' 1 '.I'k't* r^ M' ART !1? fc'-- I ¦J- 1'1, 1"" S', t. S' 11, - F ;; 7 £¦ V fe fe- i*' r i shut-out outsiders.”^ atout Delhi, the press is very ^ert to and within two days of the lie wvcxxS white churidar and kurta), comfortable, informal. small room, daylight pouring studio is very f up against the walls, ready to be taken to the gallery, well-used brushes lined on coupirof*high stools, an artist and his tools of trade. ___ “¦“" «=== ’= of Bombay, the pressive hand^ occwion^ly burs mg weuXed-up to painters and paintings, to a cultured Parsi Gujarati. . Yes, 1 am well ciuea up ip u...,, » “last-minute prepara- you can t pull wool oyer cy_____ Sabavala: Portrait of an artist Behram Contractor he wears What about Delhi? “One thing I must say i functional, neat and tidy hibitions the gallery, well-used brushes lined on 1—-- - the table, palettes in a drawer, an easel, a pai^rs later. In any case, how many Bombay papers have art critics and regular reviews. I am afraid Bombay does not have a structured approach.” However, as far as the Bombay public i Jehangir L---------- aristocrat and an artist, probably because he is both. He belongs to the old Parsi aristocracy cf 2— ': . baronets and knights, and he is ^^8 the three or — rpmitfition extends beyond the Jehsngir tions always design my own catalogues, it is exciting.’ The exhibition was on from Novem­ ber 15 to 21. Then it was going to Calcut- you can’ tor me exiiiuiu , j about the public makes up its own tak2a'bout'four years to prepare for an art ^^ne in Bombay is alive exhibition (a dozen canvases or so, no always design my is concerned, the more) and he sells his works almost over- was on from Novem- other aspects have not kept pace. Just night (touch wood). The ^1 Then it was going to Calcut- think, after all these years, there are only once-in-four-years Sabavala exhibdion is to G^alle^ of Victor two galleries, Chemould and Pundde. an event in Bombay’s high society and "Passage The others, Aakar and all Aose are just art world. is h.n To India”! “I have been wanting to hiring rooms; they don t p The event was on November 15 when Ind ). x- the city is full show, they don’t have press connections, Jehangir Sabavala’s latest exhibition show jny worit m Sev donT send out inviutions. _And opened at the Jehangir Art Gallery. Sabavala likes people visiting his ex- a&X"op" ‘no“usM5 "S; '^e^T Mind you, the ,r 15 canvas^ The lunch-hour Bengalis are a httle chauvimst, tend to Shirin and Jehangir Sabavala: ’the public makes up its own mind’ catalogues,- in India the artist November *15 when To India”). ‘ ¦; <__________ opened at the Jehangir Art Gallery. Sabavala likes people visiting his ex­ hibition, seeing his canvases...he has - ___ Ann spent four years he wants i buyers for 15 canvases; - -------- crowds, housewives, professionals, students from Elphinstone, people who drop into Samovar for a beer, those who have followed Sabavala’s works over the years and newcomers. It is his contact with the world, the rest of the four yeaj’s he is a bit of a recluse, painting from 10 to 6 or till daylight lasts, quiet evenings with friends, gentle talk. . .. He does not give interviews ordinarily, only when an exhibition is in the offing. Earlier at one of these quiet evenings with friends, he told me: “There is no point in being written about just for the sake of being written about. I must have something to offer the public, an exhibi­ tion. Now that 1 have an exhibition com­ ing, it is all right.” The following morning 1 went to ms house for the interview, Meher Apart­ ments, on top of the Altamount Hill, the bay of Bombay spread out below, blue sea and blue sky in 35 different hues, like a Sabavala painting. It is a nice house, aristocratic and ar­ tistic. Sabavala in faded jeans (evenings. ;r 1? wiicii IV /. * ----- - , exhibition show my work in Calcutta, the city is of intellectuals, painters, writers. We (Bombay artists) show a lot in Delhi, not in Calcutta. Thep Victor, the last time he was here, said he would like to have my as far as the public is concerned, the other aspects have not kept pace. Just think, after all these years, there are ordy The others, Aakar and all those, we just show, they don’t have press connections, they don’t send out invitations. And there is just one public gallery in Bom­ bay, actually in the whole country, the Jehangir Art Gallery. Seven days is all it can give to an artist. 1 do not wish to speak about myself, but consider; I have artist. I do not wish to crowds, housewives, professionals, students from Elphinstone, people who drop into Samovar for a beer, those who point in being written about just for the Smethinrto offer the public, an exhibi- 34 Pgrsiana December 1983 Photo by Ayesha SoniI- il k t m hands, the same seriousness of roach. To him i _ ui ^on, spirit, inteUecT*amd'’tJib2qu^‘ One may not succeed, but the r"' has to be Aere. Without that a man is not the quantity of —j to be con- v y Uiv C colour increases. The eye has attempt stantly stimulated.” continue to be the ‘ started. a good painter, he may be a clever artict a ? ¦ continue tc ____ good technidaii. Without this it is not a nra^a'f^h'’i'i‘T?'''*! started, pointing, it is a picture, Z I sh^h • V' B"™- draw o Kno u„4. ----------- .^1 . hay, then in London and Paris: brushes *r’’wt'ir A “"seed oil and turpentine’ A I have great admiration for the artists ¦»m’vre! “Z i“‘ ’»»“• onySS draw a line between the two. A pic...,L £ j a part of a decoration on your wall. A I painting should command the I vice versa; when you enter a ; wwm, yuu should forget the room and talk of the ''‘'^9^1 , ^Khed on a stool, like a Rodin thiS. J (Photo courtesy Mid-Day.) f worked on my paintings for four T-- SSSKS:"*' ““ Sabavala admits that he is a slow per painting, the gestation has to take place. I do not flog my paintings, from one exhibition to another. Not that I -I «! f I i-' P ?^ts I have great admiration for the artists : pebbles.^enaViVi tremendous technical in- ' zv c ----- J g® -------- . or France to study the new techniques.” But there is a subtle change in the latest show and Sabavala is aware of this. He explained: “I have been concen- ‘ refining the land­ scape, It IS my landscape, intensely per­ sonal, the people and figures in these motorcar in­ go . . ’ -xsi-xu.... MAAV* LCUIV Wl UIC weakn^s of the mat k tadtatSta STteUsT FtM”"* t 7“ the painting.” France to stndv Wio buys paintings for their rooms'? There are genuine, respectable buyers. Jehangir Nicholson is a buyer and a u**v- He does not visit many art exhibitions also and this is not a display of pride. He 'One may not succeed, but the attempt has to be there. Without that man is not a painter, he may be a clever artist, a good technician.' a general publicity. When I am working, I He explairS to dm infjjj you waving expressive thrM^'’thTsS‘S.'l^ut?S '“S'- °f 8^“' an ordinary ^ketch-booL a oencil reversed fnh I ’ r Pencil this.’’ Which s tnie. rhn m i _______ sketch. Then I begin groping at it. If ids a himan figure, should it be alone r- ' a number of sket- crystallises. Once i Wes .0 explain i. io me patientlV: -In i^o iX' ^17 ®f Pbes before the idea e t . . . vwpauic ui. Giawuig. iviy j] o him, being an artist is a lonely pro- bright colours I fession, hard and introspective. I men- ’ lion Husain. “Yes there are flam- wyant artists, but their flamboyant. They will ?hoes, grow a beard; I can’t see myself So that, I couldn’t bear it.” True. There is i._„..„„ ibout him. He could have been Dr fussawalla, the same sensitive surgeon’s True. There is 'j If p- ‘ -I’ 41 ¦ -.TS .4,? 4 ’ft men- Which is true, the figures stand out, the landscape has withdrawn in the a certain soft silver grey mist, the land^ scape, the people looming behind it. The WOTld i« seen by Jehangir Sabavala. is Nissim Ezekiel, S.V “3 r, . —¦'—matter and the walla. And to the drawing. My instinct j- -- - ¦ - mntpft enft ' ’¦""g®’ th^ Fast fo7/ muted, soft colours, but . IS e? p quality is still the same^ scape, the people looming behind it. The world as seen by Jehangir Sabavala. ,the^est, I leave it to the critics: p,, .. ------ ’ -. .. Vasudev, Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni, Adil Jussa- ; people for whom years. He is looking for- ' ?* work also is 'Hie effort remove their ours. “ hot towards Jehangir Sabavala has been painting sry subtle rance thAco u-f tt^ . , V “ng s=m“of S;X“‘5^'?ha'^J S pSpraTsK^J; TTte effort is to make i. evocative inSl •*“ of the uxtnre of the SS*^he^Thimself?4^^^^^ J’ ‘1. II ‘Ll -H ''V 4 i r, . paiiiuug, uuw micK Or thin nothing flamboyant should be. Mysterious skies I ’ *»llrl hnvA konn r»_ .• u l--ovujrvo, which IS what I h^ve been doing for years, are done in very thin colours, but Dr judging for themselves. This is his au­ dience. As he says himself: “Fifteen pic­ tures require only 15 buyers. But there the colours ___ ______ _ , landscapes, are thousands of viewers.^” tj I 15 Parsiana December 1983 Reprinted from Sunday Mid-Day, November 6. 1983. E,\J; ^{W> K ij f y n I N 11 I >)3 II < ?] I JI f,’ d'V DANCE French Honour for Cama as his recital was scheduled at Sorbonne '• University. This is his third visit to Noted Bharata Natyam dancer Rohinton promote classical Indian arts. France but the first time that he is taking Cama became the first Indian artiste to Those connected with Alliance Fran- a team of musicians with him. Thanks to be invited to open the prestigious La caise Bombay will remember her self- the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Rochelle festival of music and dance in effacing and dedicated attitude to Relations) which granted him three France in November this year. whatever work she undertook. She br- During his three-week stay, Cama will ings to her present occupation the same perform at the renowned Sorbonne fervour and has succeeded in projecting University in Paris and in the French Indian dancers and musicians in Europe. towns of Grenoble and Tours. He will It is sheer hard work which has ultimate- also conduct a workshop-cum-lecture ly helped her gain a lot of respect from demonstration at Lyons. Parsiana reproduces an Cama from The Economic Times (Octo­ ber 23) by Abhinav titled “Bharata Bharata Natyam exponent, he was busy Natyam at Sorbonne” which tells of finalizing the itinerary of his forthcom- Cama’s tour. ing tour of France. He was quite excited Shirin Isal (nee Baria) has been active for the last several years in Paris trying to Those connected with Alliance Fran- caise Bombay will remember her self­ article on the organizers, festival directors and artistes. When I met Rohinton Gama, the Cama: 'superb lines and flawless footwork’ 36 Parsiana December 1983 passages, he was at last able to confirm his bookings to Shirin who in turn con­ firmed his appearances in the festivals. Earlier Shirin had managed to present him with taped music and Rohinton had created a very favourable impression. But the festival directors were keen to have a live orchestra to present him. The ICCR agreed to give him partial aid and others, like Air India, also helped him. He is looking forward to “win the French over.” In a field which is the sole preserve of women, a male dancer has very little chance of “making it” and Rohinton, in spite of his talents, found “the going quite tough.” Earlier he had to appear with Protimci Bedi, Swapna Sundari, Asha Coorlawala, Chitra Visweswaran and others who were fortunate enough to have their own live orchestra. And among them, a male dancer with taped music had succeeded in arousing suffi­ cient interest to receive repeated invita­ tions. His persistence paid off and finally he is able to go off on his own, in his own right as a solo male dancer. I saw some of the reviews from his earlier tours and found that he was hail­ ed as a sensational discovery. For after Ram Gopal and in recent times Kamadev, no other male Bharata Natyam exponent has drawn attention in knowledgeable circles. Rohinton, with his excellent training under Vyjayan- thimala and later on under Tanjore Kit- tappa, was .earning good notices in Bom­ bay from diehard critics and sponsors. But a few shows here and there were not enough. Shirin, sensing the impact Rohinton had made in his earlier tours in * Paris,left no stone unturned and worked J hard to project him in Europe. I Now he is all set to conquer Paris. He J is scheduled to appear through Mandapa I run by Milena Salvini, another dedicated 1 dance lover, who has in the past pre- ] sented the prestigious company and stars of Kerala Kala Mandalam and Purulia Chhau at the Sorbonne University Auditorium and later on, at the Maison de la Culture de la Rochelle in south France, at Tours, Lyons and Grenoble. continued on page 404 1^ F Mil ?y>^ =^^^7^7 Meeting somebody who has been out because even before I can open mv nf fl-ia HmolinUi _ I________ She opens the conversation herself. “O.K. so which part of my insipid life are you interested in?” she asks. But I’jn interested in the basics. Why in- . — - ¦ —J —— ....... to turn needn t have worried about not down the modelling and film offers that came her way? In the sixties, beau­ ty contests were not the slapdash, dime-a-dozen ladies club affairs they are now. In fact, in 1966 when Yasmin Daji-was crowned Miss India, beauty queens were well down a oneway street to fame and fortune. Persis Khambatta and Zeenat Aman were both Miss In­ dia before they became anything else. And even today, the logical thing for a Swaroop Sampat or a Shashikala . . . Sheshadri to do is to try and gain an recognising her. She is still the fragile entree to films. But not Yasmin Daii konTtf »» zxf +U/1 J_______ «. , .. . - . . •* * —------— con* the same—down to the disobediently tract with Lakme, said a polite ‘no overlapping front teeth and the charm- thank you’ to the film producers and ing one-dimpled smile. Her hair, which went back to Delhi to resume her inter- used to be long in the old days is now rupted career as a medical student. It worn short, in a casual feathery style, was unusual to say the least, and in- , ------------------- 1 triguing for the many admirers of that staring at the magazine cover and wan- delicately-honed face. She was always an outsider, she ex- of the limelight for sixteen, long years mouth to make room for my foot she may be an exciting journalistic adven- - _ ture but it is certainly not the most pleasant social exercise. There is first of all the question of recognising the person concerned. Yasmin Daji, Miss India 1966, was a slender beauty whom I remembered enshrined on an early says, “I am Yasmin’s Sister, she’s com­ ing in a short while.” ............ . ,,, When Yasmin appears I realise I sipid? Why did she choose i II Femina covtr in the days when I hadn’t You remember the pale pink saree I wore? I borrowed it actually, and wore it during the day while we went out shopping." even learnt to read properly. From Miss India 1966 to Ms Nanavati 1983 would surely have changed her. There - was no saying she hadn’t turned into a frumpy housewife during this intrigu­ ing absence from centre-stage. Besides, what did I have to go by—the dimly remembered vision of a fragile girl in a pale pink saree whom I desperately wanted to look like when I grew up: beautv of the Femina day^ very'mS Shrd5d\hrstTpulated"modeiiihg I sit there waiting for God-Knows- ?»—'------ -- -«-• . • - - - ® whom. To add to the confusion she has sisters. There’s sister Dilroza whose Juhu flat is the venue of the meeting and with whom I’ve had the most __________ ______ _ amazing exchange. She opens the door but apart from that IrouldTave been to me, thinking I’m Yasmin! There’s also the beauteous Zarine who walks in a while later. I must have ‘hello Yasmin’ written all over my face her. ting to grow up to be like her. In my ut- ter delight, I even forget to compliment plains, cushTon7o heTself' ¦¦¦¦ • She is sprawled comfortably on a floor ml ! f t 11 ? i mi- The Enduring Charm of Yasmin Daji Vinati Tikku ¦ "I j J A * V 0 1 'I ! •' - I ¦ ' f J ¦ ¦ I ¦ I, ¦ t • ¦ B 8 ft I?' s 1 i;• :^-.- -3^^ I mattress in a casual trouser outfit and remember. No, there were no G.K ___ ________________ " names of the campaigns — Khatau, questions and no talent contest, thank Lure, Goldspot. absolutely at ease. It is not the practis- --------- ed ease of a person who is used to deal- God. Not as far as I can remember. At present she is involved with the ing with the press, but the more natural I’m sure I’d have remembered where USA based Bombay Broadcasting ease of someone who has little to gain I’d goofed!” She has a nice, lively Corporation’s weekly television show-f' by saying anything even remotely im- sense of humour, that makes sisters' ‘Cinema. Cinema’ which gives ex­ pressive or spectacular. But such is the Dilroza and Zarine shuffle uncomfor- patriate Indians a feel of home with a irony of journalism — good people tably, wondering whether Yasmin theme-based collection of Hindi film often make very bad copy. She was shouldn’t be taking the interview more songs and an occasional interview with born in Kanpur, “a hot, dusty U.P. seriously. a film star visiting the States. She’s town which I love... naturally,” where But that, as far as I can gather, is not already interviewed Sanjeev Kumar, her father worked in a cotton mill. The Yasmin’s style; She is self-admittedly, Sharmila Tagore and Parveen Babi, all young Dajis — there were five of them “non-serious about everything in- of whom she found very eloquent. — had a pleasant if unremarkable eluding my career.” She never practis- childhood. Hindi films, she remembers gj as a doctor except for a brief stint as were a great treat and Dilip Kumar was a research assistant in a hospital prefer- details of which she hopes to finalise a hot favourite. “I used to be absolute- ring to play suburban housewife and during this trip to Bombay. She con- ly in love with him.” Later she joined mother to sons Raji (12) and Sameer fides that she’s looking forward to the Lady Hardinge Medical College in (g) instead. “More fun, less work ” she meeting the grand old man Raj Kapoor Delhi where she presumably worked offers by way of a breezy explanation, and talks excitedly about the advance her way through Gray’s Anatomy and At Acton, 25 miles west of Boston, planning that goes into making each other medical textbooks until the day where she spent the last 13 years, she programme a success. Of how they she startled the girls in the hostel occasionally breaks the monotony of keep a tab on Bombay filmland gossip common-room by walking in with a domesticity with a modelling stint, through telex and telephone... she is trolley loaded with gifts. She had just She’s done some live shows for bouti- clearly enjoying her present role. As been declared the most beautiful < ... • ’ ' ’ woman in India! “I was terrible looking in those days having lunch at restaurants, and even, — thick eyebrows and all,” she laughs. “My mother had a habit of filling in God. Not as far as I can remember. J »***^ -w^ • . - ------- —------- ------------- < pressive or spectacular. But such is the Dilroza and Zarine shuffle uncomfor- shouldn’t be taking the interview more But that, as far as I can gather, is not already interviewed Sanjeev Kumar, Plus, she’s full of plans for a special two hour show on the Kapoor clan, the ques, luncheon fashion shows during she has everything else! which outfits are displayed to people “horrible, boring, industrial shows, where I have to point to machinery. dotted lines and it was she who applied It’s difficult for an Indian to break into and sent my picture. I was absolutely the modelling world in the States” she casual about it. Ah, you remember the explains. “Most clients still want the pale pink saree I wore? How amazing! I borrowed it actually, and wore it dur­ ing the day while we went out shopp­ ing. 1 had planned, to wear another saree for the contest in the evening but good fUn and sometimes good money, somehow or the other, maybe it was because I didn’t have a matching blouse or something...! don’t remember...! ended up at the contest in this awful nylon day-saree. The contest was fairly simple. We just had to walk effort and some helpful prodding on down the aisle, as far as I can her sisters’part that she remembers the typical mid-western girl with blonde hair and blue eyes to sell their pro­ ducts.” She has no regrets though; as a part-time occupation, modelling is In Boston, sometimes, upward of $ 100 per hour for a photography session. While holidaying in India she did an occasional spot of modelling sometimes but it is with a great deal of 4 1 ) i sGiftsA 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 Reprinted with permission from Celebrity, March 1983. Photograph dourtesy Celebrity. continued from page 36 Rohinton Cama belongs to the Parsi community. When he was barely 11 years old, Vyjayanthimala took him under her wing and trained him thoroughly in PandanaUur style. The long arduous journey to fame is the result of the hard work he has put in for more than 12 years. There were times when he was worried, as were his parents. A Parsi boy wanting to dance Bharata Natyam and without any back ­ ing in the competitive field of female dancers was unheard of. But he was determined and never gave up. He is cur­ rently conducting classes under his own institution Shishya at the Somani School and is struggling to survive. He has danc­ ed at important centers in Jndia and, though he has received favourable reviews, he has not yet ‘hit the big time’. He feels confident that now is the time to stick on and he will succeed. Rohinton has the making of a first class dancer as his training has been thorough. He has by now got enough ex­ posure and performs with great con­ fidence. He has a fine stage presence and good grasp of the technique. He is young and, like other dancers of his age group he has to master the art abhinaya. His , foot-work is flawless and lines superb. j The architectonic beauty of the Pan- danallur school has found in him a wor­ thy exponent. J 1 J 40 Parsiana December 1983