Jun 1984

?¦ June 1984, Volume 6 No 12, Rs 2. >• 1 The Federation’s Fifty Arnavaz S Mama A round of applause greeted the enrol- committees still to be decided. In the modified to enable the Federation to ment of Nargol as the 50th anjuman to , join the Federation of Parsi Zoroast- we red Golwalla to invite the President, meantime, however, the council empo- join. ________________________________ , Thepreparationofanall-Indiadirec- rian Anjumans of India. The all-India Vice-President or Prime Minister to tory of dharamsalas is under considera­ tion especially with the objective of encouraging Zoroastrians to venture forth from the major cities. Though talk of a directory has been discussed off and on during the years, the realiza­ tion that community property needs to be documented may finally result in the directory being published. To tackle the problem of defunct anjumans’ assets, the most crucial source of funds for the community, a sub-committee has been formed con­ sisting of Maneck Gheyara, vice-presi- body now covers 90 percent of the com- inaugurate the gathering, munity in the country. “I’m glad Nargol is the 50th, ” said a beaming Shiavax Nargolwala, vice- president of the Federation and presi­ dent of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman at the Federation ’s executive council meeting at the Khareghat Hall, Bombay on May 19 and 20. Encouraged by the Federation ’s growing strength. Federation and Bombay Parsi Punchayet(BPP) chair­ man Dr Aspi Golwalla recommended the body enlarge its activities to include - --------------------------------- --------------- dent of the Federation and president of the role of peacemaker. He cited the ™ - . _ . __ ____ _ _________ example of Ahmedabad where, due to joining the World Zoroastrian Organi- trustees Jamshed Guzder, Jamsheed the “infighting ” amongst the members zation received a setback when BPP Kanga and Eruch Desai, Bejan Dittia, of the anjuman, Ahmedabad went trustee Jamshed Guzder informed the co-opted member of the south zone, unrepresented on the Federation. “We Council that the WZO had not pro- Boman Cama, trustee of the Parsi Pun- should send one or two members to go vided the particulars on membership chayet of Baroda and BPP chief execu- and make peace,” said Golwalla. and related matters to the Federation tive Russi Anklesaria. Preparations for the Fourth World as promised. BPP trustee and Federa- Congress to be held in Bombay from tion joint secretary Eruch Desai was 'Invite the high priests to Federation meetings so that they'd know we're not die-hard reformists.' The sensitive issue of the Federation the Surat Parsi Punchayet (SPP) BPP the “infighting ” amongst the members zation received . ------------------------ Welcoming the delegates, Golwalla Congress to be held in Bombay from tion joint secretary Eruch Desai was noted “Social and economic progress of January 10 to 13 appeared to be pro- entrusted with the task of studying the the community we must try to achieve ceeding slowly with the list of speakers, WZO rules and byelaws to offer sug- rather quickly; the longer it takes, the subjects and formation of the main gestions on how they could be suitably greater the frustrationHe apnlngiT«»ri 7^for the change in date and venue of the current executive council meeting which was supposed to have met in Golvad on May 12 and 13 but had to be re-scheduled because of water shortage there. Golwalla was of the opinion that three executive council meets a year should suffice and that one of them should be in Bombay. Before beginning the normal work of the Federation, Shiavax Nargolwala paid tribute to the late Nadirshaw Mulla, the founder president of the Federation: “Mulla was the perfect example of a true Zoroastrian, always willing to do his utmost... without his forethought and wisdom the Federa­ tion would haye taken many more years (to evolve). ” Another Federation ? stalwart missed by associates, was Eruch Tarapore, secretary of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secundera­ bad and Hyderabad who, said Nargol­ wala, “at every meeting of the Federa­ tion had made sound and useful con­ tributions. ” The gathering observed a minute ’s silence in their memory. The normal endorsement of the forthcoming, minutes of the Calcutta meeting took a ~ halting start with Federation secretary Keki Gandhi noting that not a single anjuman had sent him the notes they had volunteered at Calcutta to send regarding the incentives offered to entrepreneurs by the various state gov­ ernments. He still awaited the note on agricultural prospects volunteered by Nariman Balsara of Saronda and the recruitment pamphlets to the defense services promised by Jal Postwala of Vishakhapatnam. Information regard­ ing the assets and properties of defunct anjumans, expected to be sent in by surviving neighbours, had not been three or four miles apart in Gujarat, forthcoming. Only a few anjumans had noted Gheyara. Much of this property on one side. Can the Federation responded even in the matter of could be salvaged by the Federation arrange to put up a dharamsala for the nominating a focal member (a rep- but Gheyara cautioned, “It is easy to community in Srinsigar asked Guzder. resentative from each anjuman with talk, but the formalities are confusing whom the Federation secretariat could and complicated. ” He cited the exam- liaise) he said. Mi S' <1 Side and top view of the unused dokhma at Bombay's Walkeshwar. tion that they look after the place and look after the graves... How many such anjumans are there? We have set up the the property is worth crores of rupees, machinery, but the information is not Gheyara said that Bulsar, a neighbour- There is an agiary or a dokhma every The decrepit sanatorium in Tithal was another case in point. Noting that j I ! i I i ! J I 'How many defunct anjumans are there? We have set up the machinery but the information is not forthcoming.' ing anjuman, had wanted to take it up, but was refused. He requested Gol­ walla and his colleagues to come to Bul­ sar and see the Tithal sanatorium. S Nargolwala spoke of the Simla cemetery which the Delhi anjuman has taken over. There is a project to plant trees and renovate the bungli there he said. Gheyara .-.“There are so many aram- gahs in India. There is no point in spending on land which is not of use to Parsis.” Guzder noted that Behram Pestonji of Srinagar had informed him regard­ ing a large, well-located plot on canton ­ ment territory in Srinagar with graves 4 Kanga suggested that it be offered to a company to build a holiday home for pie of Khambhat in Gujarat where the its staff and partly for the community Bombay and Surat Punchayets looked but Guzder felt the trusts should contri- after the anjuman's assets after the bute and create funds for the building of a dharamsala. “A company organi- “It is not possible for Aspi Golwalla zation will monopolize it, ” he said. or me or our trustees to go and stay _ - - - there to do that work,” said Gheyara, Anjuman has the proviso for takeover 1 n 1 Defunct Aitjumans Gandhi lamented the slow progress the former trustees had died. Federation appeared to be making on the assets of defunct anjumans. He noted that at the last two executive committee meetings it had been *W’e must have a fully paid, responsible of other anjumans’ properties but that decided “that the Federation should person to do this work. The Junagadh Pestonji had told him ‘You in Delhi get hold of such property and try to sell aramgah is defunct...even the Anjuman are very progressive. I will it and hold the money; or examine any tombstones are missing. There is no not give it to you.’ possibility for alternate use; or if alter- one to use the Sumari dokhma. It is Lt Col T A Divecha (retd), the last nate use was not- possible (in the case of a cemetery), such cemetery should be given to another community on condi- Nargolwala noted that the Delhi defunct... even tombstones are missing. There is no one to use the Sumari dokhma. It is prime land...Noone bothers, but when Parsi from Diu, spoke of the atash we try to do anything, everyone will adaran and two dokhmas there. The pounce on us,” he said. area of the dokhma, twice the size of 2 Parsiana June 1984 c 3 I " aI i Khareghat Colony, is now encroached very low charge or none at all. ter regarding the status of the delibera- and the agiary building became first a Kanga : “The learned high priests are tions. “We have requested Desai to nunnery and then an old peoples’ staying away. They feel neglected. We study the byelaws, rules and regula- home,hesaid. should make-it a special point to invite tions of the WZO and modify them on Anklesaria noted, “Money is the (them) as distinguished guests. ” lines we have indicated, to enable us to biggest constraint to our programs...if Among the western scholars to be join... There must be weightage for disposal of some of these properties is invited, Mary Boyce, John Hinnells, bodies. How are we going to influence ensured, it would be the most impor- Cyrus Pangborn and James Boyd were implementation of particular decisions tant source of funds.” ““ “Make a test case of Khambhat ” of subjects or speakers was finalized. the names suggested. However, no list in different countries? There can be no \ _ .............. question of executive decisions by indi- suggested Kanga, adding a proviso, viduals,” he said. that “Part amount should be retained WZO Desai: “Just as we had our differences for the use of the local people (in case Negotiations for the Federation ’s regarding the Federation and we were there is Parsi revival in the area). The membership in the World Zoroastrian able to have one united Federation formula can be worked out. ” Organization, were again bogged down again...we must see that anjumans as Guzder charged that the WZO have a higher status. ” “don’t reply to our questions regarding membership and send extraneous let- Iranis in India Shiavax Nargolwala proposed that the The WZO’s membership clauses Federation take up the case of Zoroas- Classifying the Iranians in three The plight of the refugees is the Fourth World Zoroastrian Congress As chairman of tke sub-committee for ters. ” the Fourth World Zoroastrian Con­ gress to be held in Bombay, Guzder give the same voting right to an anju- trians residing in India but holding Ira- noted that he had issued 77 invitations man as to an individual. The mode of nian passports. to anjumans in India and 22 to anju- selection and the working of the man­ mans and associations abroad. Either aging committee of the WZO have categories, businesspeople, students the President, the Vice-President or been other sources of contention. All and refugees, Nargolwala noted each the Prime Minister is to be invited to these points had been discussed by the had different requirements as regards inaugurate the Congress on January 10, Federation members and the WZO obtaining visas to reside in India. 1985. The venue of the four-day meet is delegation led by Shahpur Captain at . _ most likely to be the central lawn of the last executive council meeting in worst. “They land up in Delhi, having Cusrow Baug which can accommodate Calcutta, on February 11 and 12. The smuggled thems^ves overland and approximately 3,500 people with cater- Federation had demanded particulars subsist from hand to mouth until the ing facilities at the pavilion and toilets of WZO membership - individuals and UN Refugee Organization finds'them to be constructed under a mandap. Fees for the various categories of mem­ bers are stBl to be decided. Shiavax Nargolwala suggested two new classes noted that his subcommittee had gation to meet the joint secretary in of members - priest members and Stu- authorized Gandhi to give detailed Delhi,” advised Nargolwala. dent members - to be incorporated at a information in the Federation newslet- anjumans - which Captain had agreed another country in which to settle, to send. Their problem is really difficult and the In light of this stalemate Guzder Iranian Association should send a dele- Kanga suggested that the community organize itself “so that all anjumans have a way of looking after the people who fall at their door, especially in Poona, Hyderabad and Bangalore (where Iranis are mainly settled). ” 3 Parsiana June 1984 A Quest for Zarathushtra That night the visiting delegates viewed a short trailer of the controversial film, A Quest for Zarathushtra, which has been mainly shot in Bombay and Nav- sari with renowned conductor Zubin Mehta in the starring role. Produced by Cyrus Bharucha and Meherji Madan, the film has had a history of financial difficulties and was then said to have reached the editing and dubbing stage. Noting that the film will be shown three to four times on TV in the US alone - not counting cinemas etc - Bharucha said that the cost of making it in America would have been nearly Cusrow Baug’s central lawn: proposed site for the fourth World Zoroastrian Congress.* t four million dollars. Bharucha made a film to sell. It will not make millions. ” pitch for eight lakh rupees which he said he urgently needed by mid-June to emphasis, thousands of years ago, on researching the subject of Zoroastrian make a “rough cut of the film. ” preserving the purity of the elements to priests for her Masters in Social Work, Shiavax Nargolwala countered that have considerable impact on conserva- spoke of the abject conditions under he had received a phone call from Madan asking for Rs 25 lakhs to dub and edit the film. “Sell the franchise in America and Germany,” advised Nar- goiwala. But Bharucha explained that Americans were not willing to buy until they had seen a rough cut of the film. “What we need overall is Rs 35 lakhs. What I need from India is eight lakhs,” he said. Kanga suggested Bharucha appro­ ach individual Parsis for donation of Rs 100 or Rs 1,000 against shares in the film. Nargolwala : “I’m depressed. This is demand for equality of the sexes also explained, “These mobeds feel socially not a film that ’ll make world history. ” find an echo in the film as the religion of secure here. They will not move to the Bharucha : “I’ll never be able to please Zarathushtra treats both sexes as mofussil because of their insufficient everyone.” equal, said Bharucha. The cameos of education. ” Though he expects tremendous non- Parsi achievement, which form a part — - financial “spinoffs” from the film, of the film, endorse the Protestant the priests is based on the problem of Bharucha said, “I’m working for an work ethic of America he added, average cinema-going audience. I’m Moreover, said Bharucha, “We’ll selling the film as a piece of entertain ­ ment and knowledge. It ’s not ah easy Zubin Mehta for the next 50 years.” The Priests Bharucha expects Zarathushtra ’s Ms Huzan Kharas, who has been Can the Federation arrange to put up a dharamsala for the community in Srinagar? which they live and work, outlining their physical, psychological and social handicaps. She noted that “80 percent have fallen into a financial rut; neither the BPP nor the trusts reach out to them. ’’ Kharas’ conclusions were, however, challenged by the Federation ’s’honor­ ary treasurer Peshotan Nargolwala: “I have eight vacancies in the mofussil with a salary of Rs 1,000 plus perks but the mobeds don’t want to go.” Khojeste Mistree, scholar and tion-conscious western audiences. The feminist movement in America and the originator of Zoroastrian Studies (ZS), The Federation ’s preoccupation with providing mobeds to agiaries and anju- mans outside Bombay. Jal Vimadalal, never have a superstar of the quality of a trustee of the BPP, is said to be work­ ing on a scheme for the amelioration of Conference, Wedding or Party — Leave it in West End's experienced hands. i Your Favourite! ‘The Gourmet' Restaurant/Coffee Shop offers EXECUTIVE BUFFET LUNCH e 16 delicious courses. e Froth 12.30 p m. to 3 p.m. every day. IndutSng Sundays. Restaurant open from 8 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. ANAVJOTE,ALAGAN, A SILVER OR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, A FIRST-BIRTHDAY FARTY- OR ANY SUCH HI6HUGHTS OFYOURUFE celebrate it at West End Hotel, in beautiful selling of its Terrace Garden. Choose the day and leave all the other problems to us. AT THE WEST END HOTEL Hold a RECEPTION at our newly renovated and decorated Banquet Room OR in the splendour of our starlit Terrace Garden West End’s i Conference Plan rs.6O/' d- 15% Sales Tax per head Inclusive of: Room Rent, Buffet Lunch.l Morning and Evening Tea. * Ask for special concession offer I for larger conferences. J * ¦ i 5 Parsiana June T984 I *1 I priests which is reportedly confined to reactivated and given a specific task; be expedited in the interest of the Fed- Bombay and has bypassed the issue of but if the legzd panel is allowed to take eration. creating a cadre of para-mobeds - on subjects autonomously, it would be behdins as also athornans not practis- " ' “ ing mobedi, who are trained to perform ceremonies (e.g. stum, faroksi, geh subjects referred to it by the executive Gandhi on having compiled “single- sarna, etc) which do not specifically require a priest. Said Shiavax Nargol­ wala, “The scheme is like a football between the BPP and the Federation. This scheme started in the Federation as an all-India scheme. The burning problem is to provide mobeds outside Bombay. If the scheme makes condi­ tions in Bombay so favourable that mobeds have even less reason for leav­ ing Bombay, it ’s counter-productive. ’’ Gandhi noted-Bofnbey J- LET’S 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 for putting up the imposing Muscat Palace complex of His Majesty the Sultan of Oberol-SMratoo Hotel — BomOey ft MS R *4 f 11; 4? Miil '¦ft i 1 i BBS SK* . w> ' 4 ft L L 'ftft ’’¦ft' X tx x > . '^'ft w w w w t.- ft W ftx ft's'*’!? *z * A ¦’ it > SHAPOORJI PALLOIMJI & CO. (PVT.) LTD. F 8 Parsiana June 1984>! * tion ’s newsletter does not reach the dhi enumerated that of Gujarat ’s 42 Accordingly the council hastened to members of the anjuman. Gandhi anjumans, 17 are members while of wind up and Shiavax Nargolwala was offered to effect directmailings to indi- Maharashtra ’s 24 anjumans, 11 are invited to sum up the deliberations viduals if the respective anjumans members. Referring to the anjumans of because he “enjoyed” doing it. Nargol- would furnish lists of names. Nargol- Bangalore, Udwada and Navsari who wala gleefully admitted, “In a sense I wala recommended that the council are not members of the Federation, do, because it ’s the only occasion when sanction all expenses of the Federation Nariman Balsara of the Saronda Parsi I have the last word and can make some newsletter. Zarthosti Anjuman said, “If we attend mildly satirical comments on the pro- Gheyara, referring to the “great one of their anjuman meetings we ceedings with morbid pleasure... responsibilities and great troubles ” of might be able to convince them to The next Federation meeting will be responsibilities and great troubles ” of might be able to convince them to The next Federation meeting will be punchayet trustees was the lone dis- join.” But Kanga negated the idea: “I held in Secunderabad on September 8 senter. “We don’t want more publicity don’t think we should go after them, and 9,1984. and trouble for ourselves,” he said. Let our work speak for itself. ” Gol- Those attending the meeting: Ms Gandhi explained that the newsletter walla concurred, detailing the futility of Dolat Debara of Agra, Merwan B was meant to give information regard- I’ .................................... ‘ --- ... . _ _ Let our work speak for itself. ” Gol- his and Guzder’s mission of pursuasion Mehta of Ahmednagar, Boman R to Bangalore. Anklesaria: “We should see what per­ centage of the Parsi population has joined. Why give small anjumans with microscopic membership undue impor­ tance? ” r , I, , Dr Minocher Contractor of Surat tootball between the suggested that the Federation send its D D D + k newsletter to the recalcitrant anjumans Drr ano me and invite them to its meetings as Fprlprntinn ' observers. I CUcI a LIUII. Nargolwala: “Write special letters regarding the World Congress. ” Golwalla referred to the infighting in Cama and Shavak F Patel of Baroda, 'The scheme for amelioration of priests is like a ¦*1 have eight vacan­ cies in the mofussil with a salary of Rs 1,000 plus perks but the mobeds don't want to go.' if ing the community, not necessarily of the punchayet. “The whole idea of Ahmedabad and noted that “an impor- Dr R R Mahuvawalla and M B newsletters is that the world Zoroas- tant function of the Federation was to Bharucha of Bhavnagar, Rustom Bil- trian community should be aware of the see how such infighting or lack of co- podiwala of Bhopal, Dr Aspi F Gol- happenings in Surat, ” he said. But operation can be minimized and walla. Jamshed Guzder, Eruch B Gheyara remained adamant. “To pass suggested that the Federation should Desai, Jamsheed G Kanga, Russi K information in the hands of irresponsi- “send one or two people as ambas- Anklesaria and Gool Tata of Bombay, ble persons is to do nothing but invite sadors of peace.” However, no deci- Shiavax D Nargolwala, Nergish S Nar- trouble, ” he declared. “The ayahs of sion was taken as to who should be sent golwala, Keki J Gandhi and Rustom E Nariman Home (an old peoples’ home to Ahmedabad. Daroga of Delhi, Dhunjishaw M Neter- in Surat) have filed a suit against us walla of Devlali, Lt Col T A Divecha demanding several lakhs of rupees. Individual Ai^jumans fromDiu,PhirozeBGandeviaofGan- Our money figures have been put in the Ms Soonu Vesuna of the Vesu Zoroas- devi, Nariman D Elavia of Indore, labour court. ” trian Anjuman, who has been working Ronnie J Dick and Zerin R Dick of Desai noted placatingly, “Let us with the government ’s rural develop- Jhansi, Aban J Satarawala and Dara S leave it to the anjumans to decide what ment schemes, questioned, “Have we Master of Jodhpur, Bejoo R Jilla and is good for them. ” done anything to restore the rural Kersy N Mehta of Nanded, Tehmi K On the matter of publicity it was home?” Having “no opportunities for Grant and Dinshaw S Anklesaria of noted that the Parsi Press — The Bom- education, no health schemes, no nutri- Poona, Nariman P Bajsara of Saronda, bay Samachar and the Jam-e-Jamshed- tion, ” these families have come to the Noshir F Nagarwala and Bejan F Dittia were conspicuously absent. Represen- city but “they are helpless even in Bom- of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, tatives of the newspapers however bay, living in zoppadpattis. Can the Zarin S Amaria of Sholapur, Maneck J were reported to have stated they did BPP help me find how many Parsis R Gheyara, Sam S Bhacca, Davar not receive formal invitations. Anklesaria stressed .it was important 10 years?” she asked. for the Federation to have the support of the Press. have come from rural areas in the last Kavasji T Modi and Minocher K Con­ tractor of Surat, Ms Soonu J Vesuna of Vesuna was however cut off as some Vesu, Dr Bahadur P Jokhi of Vyara, BPP trustees wanted to leave for the HomiD Mehta of Zai Bordi and Pesho- Eedawalla Agiary to survey the social tan D Nargolwala, honorary treasurer Membership work being done by Ms Veera Mehta of the Federation. Prof Noshirwan F Of a total of 105 anjumans in India, 50 and some youth of Mistree ’s Zoroas- Kaikobad, Dr Perin H Cabinetmaker are now members of-the Federation. The new members are'Broach, Billim- ora,Belgaum,Gandevi,Devlali,Kher- the place. Kanga suggested that Ves- MJApte,MsHuzanKharas,MsVeera gam, Vesu and Nargol. una file a report for the next executive Mehta and Ms Nivedita Mehta. Ute On the question of enrolment, Gan- council meeting to consider. Press was represented by Parsiana. trian Studies. The youngsters planned and Ms Dhun S Dastoor attended as to use their vacation to scrub and clean invitees. The guest speakers were Prof 9 Parsiana June 1984 I *I FEDERATION TALKS Parinaz Toddywalla Counselling service Entrepreneurship within the com- has been formed to organize activities munity could be encouraged with the with national objectives thus providing has been formed to organize activities ... vocational guidance bureaus “a common platform for adults and school-going children, parents and Kaikobad. The community will have to Counselling Service Scheme Commit- cadres in several areas. “Community the Federation with funding from the grass roots level have the potential for policy of reserving one seat in the Anju- D 1 * T> r J , ..... .............................. man for a youth trustee, usually a wo­ man under 35, had proved successful. Two counsellors who will work with and school counselling centres, noted youth to get together, ” mentioned Dr school-going children, parents and Kaikobad. The community will have to Minocher K Contractor, trustee, Surat teachers have been appointed by the think of building their own professional Parsi Punchayet. in Bombay at the initiative of centres and other organizations at the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. Prof Noshir developing effective individuals, ” said Kaikobad. Referring to an oft-repeated state ­ ment that what the community needed was a counselling service that produced “more and more Nani Palkhivalas, Kaikobad retorted, “What is wrong with producing more and more Noshir Counselling services are provided by Kaikobads.... so long as they are well- the Bombay courts for members of adjusted, socially-contributing indi- other communities seeking a divorce viduals.” Everyone did not have to be but not for Parsis, said Prof M J Apte, brilliant or outstanding. head of the department of family wel- So far as developing the potential of fare at the Tata Institute of Social Sci- talented children was concerned, ences. This anomaly is because Bom- Kaikobad mentioned, “Exploration bay Parsis are the only community to and experimentation is needed to fill have their divorce cases heard in the the gap — someone who can help the High Court while all the other divorce child come to terms with reality. ” ’ ... — — — Russi Anklesaria, chief executive of the BPP, pointed out that the counsel- lors attached to the City Qvil Court ling program focuses on social counsel- had covered 400 cases in five years, of scholastic excellence . To ensure that She mentioned that though inirially the retains i"" ' • ........................... Anklesaria estimated that not more (6* >9 Shiavax Nargolwala, president of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman, stated that their Discussing divorce cases are heard in the City Ciyil Court. Apte said that the marriage counsel- „ .. , , ... , . ling program focuses on social counsel- L. nvt ycms, Katkobad: develop effective individuals" ling which is different from attainment claiming a success rate of 21 percent. Kaikobad, former professor of social the scheme work at the Tata Institute of Social Sci­ ences who has also served as the United than 100 students would be covered in a Nations consultant on social welfare stated that the counselling scheme would work in six directions: counsel­ ling children in the six to 13 age group; adolescents in the 14 to 18 age group; group therapy sessions; general gui- in which the members of the commun- “Attempts at reconciliation should dance and awareness ----'— '' ... parents and teachers; family education could provide ample scope for imple- Apte said. She felt that prior to starting through symposia, seminars and case menting the policy of voluntary with a matrimoniaTcase, the counsel- narration, and raising financial and bureaus, and by planning workshops, lor’s advice should be sought where -------------- - community centres could be utilized as such facilities are available as in Bom- its viability, judges feared interference, they are now convinced that a “useful service” is being rendered. A team of social work- ers pay home visits, hold discussions Ms Dolat Debara from Agra was in with the couple and the in-laws and try favour oforganizing service clubs along and secure better accommodation for the lines of the Lions Club. She felt that the family where lack of housing is the each bang should have a welfare league factor responsible for the break-up. in which the members of the commun- “Attempts at reconciliation should sessions for ity could participate. College hostels be made before granting divorce,” menting the policy of voluntary with a matrimoniat case, the counseL ¦ „ . c -------- r-. lor’s advice should be sought where human resources. community centres could be utilized as such facilities are available as in Bom- The Scheme’s Committee of Direc- agencies of social change, added bay, Pune, Malegaon and Surat. She tion comprising of seven professionals Kaikobad. explained that when lawyers “poeti- felt that children who under-achieve do " -----' -¦ .. .... so not because they lack motivation but because of other psychological factors. ___ _____ “The biggest social change begins organize youth camps every summer, counsellors try and reach an amicable —I separation, and help the women seek- and thus counselling should not be Hyderabad explained that they had ing divorce with legal assistance in their restricted to a schpol-going child, but introduced a scheme whereby prizes right to alimony and economic inder via the child should reach his family. To were distributed to those attending pendence. assist the professional counsellors, religious discourses. “The focus is on Kaikobad. < '• • ¦ • Ms Tehmi Grant, president of the cally describe the grounds of cruelty, ” Poona Parsi Punchayet, narrated the reaching a compromise becomes dif- experiences of the youths in Poona who ficult. Where divorce is inevitable, the __ „ ‘ . 7 summer. with individuals, ” stressed Kaikobad Bejan Dittia of Secunderabad and f restricted to a schpol-going child, but introduced a scheme whereby prizes right to alimony and economic inder were distributed to those attending pendence. Kaikobad recommended utilizing lay social service and not games,” he or “para professional voluntary work- stated. A...^ 99 ers. Due to exigencies of space, speeches made by Ms Veera Mehta, Ms Nivedita Mehta and Ms In Surat, a Parsi Progressive Group Huzan Kharas will he carried in the next issue. 10 Parsiana June 1984 It1 BUCKMI WDIF ’T' DEPEnoRBiE nnme for lUGAR PRODUCTIOn "'•4 !»« We help to produce sugar with 130 years of experience to our credit in designing, manufacturing and supplying complete sugar plants. ! B \ LWJ INDIA BUCKAU WOLF NEW INDIA ENGINEERING WORKS LIMITED PIMPRLPUNE-4n 018 MAHARASHTRA STATE. INDIA. BRANCHES ; BOMBAY-CA ECUTIA^DELHI-MADRAS ROURKELA IPARSI CUISINE Off the Counter Deepa Arora 'iS' <1 •» says Freny proudly. Starting small and unambitiously, she and her husband began their foray into the food business by running a canteen t for the residents of the Parsi housing I colony of Cusrow Baug, Colaba, in the I early 60’s. After a few years of serving I delectable titbits to a discerning Parsi I clientele, they moved on, first to sen- I ding tiffin boxes at home to those who " couldn’t or didn’t want to cook, and then to the more lucrative business of I catering for weddings. I “Cooking comes naturally to me. P I’ve never attended any cooking classes I or bought any cookery books, ’ ’ says the I Left I Freny Godiwala (left) and daughter, I Roxanne (second from right) supervizing I sales service at one of their counters. Till recently, the only way an aspiring why we decided to retail our speciali- gourmet could sample authentic and ' “ traditional Parsi cuisine was by getting invited to a wedding or a thread ceremony (navjote). The Godiwalas plan to change all that aged inTandy, eSlT^rrTed contfinen by retailing Parsi wedding specialities at a few select outlets in Bombay. Patra ni machhi (fish steamed in banana leaves) Chicken farcha (fried chicken), Bheja ____ _ na cutlets, (brain cutlets). Lagan noo possible Teftoverrthe custard (baked custard), are some of the items now being sold off the counter in Bombay. ties, ’’ says a smiling rotund Godiwala. On a given day, a choice of atleast five to six different items is available at any of the outlets. The food which is pack­ gives the customers the alternative of eating it at the store or carrying it home. •“We deliver the food by tempo around noon to all our outlets and pick up any 7 ’ ------ '-2 same evening’’ says Roxanne, Freny Godiwala’s daughter who is currently in charge of this part of the operation. “This way we What makes the Godiwala enterprise ensure the quality and freshness of the noteworthy IS the impeccable reputation food we sell.’’ Md credentials that they bring to it, for in the last few years Freny Godiwala has come to be informally known as the ^ueCT’ of Parsi caterers. The Prime ---------------- --------------------- ------- Mlnister her family have tasted orders before hand. A sign of their sue- Godiwala s fare on more than one occa­ sion. “We want people of other commu­ nities to come to like Parsi food, that ’s Plans are also afoot to fix a weekly menu so that the customers know in ad­ vance what specialities will be available on a given day and can even place party . ^^ Godiwala: “Gpoking comes fMiki^y...." <2 Parsiana June 1984 cess is that they have already begun catering for dinner engagements and ‘kitty ’ parties hosted by non-Parsis. “They find our food a real speciality ’’ (Photos : Homyar J Mistry) Jady who has probably thousands of wedding dinners. But the effort and the credit, she insists, is not just her own but her husband’s too! “While people generally think that be- *I ing & woman, I must be in charge of the 30000000000000000000CMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOC cooking, in reality it is my husband who supervises the cooks, iheasures the masala, tastes the food before it is serv­ ed and even experiments with new dishes. I look after the people.” It is therefore not unusual to find Freny Godiwala walking between the dinner tables at a Parsi wedding, scru­ tinising carefully the shiny banana leaves on which the guests are served their meals—in an attempt to find out if there is anyone who is not doing justice to his food. ‘‘I wouldn’t like any guest to go hungry. So if I see someone who is not eating a particular dish because he finds it too spicy or is allergic to it, I see that he is immediately served something else to his taste. So also if a guest is just recovering from an illness like jaundice or colitis and finds the wedding food too rich and heavy, I see that something more suitable is provided,” says Godiwala. The traditional Parsi menu consists of five courses. Fish, chicken, meat, followed by a spicy rice and dal and then finally custard —all of which are cooked in large open tapelis (containers) over firewood, using only the purest of ingre­ dients. None of the time-saving techni ­ ques or modern gadgets for this chef who firmly believes that it is her adherence to age-old recipes that makes her food delicious. Catering for an average of atleast three to four func­ tions every day during the peak months of November, December and January, the Godiwalas and their retinue of about 100 staff members put up five course meals for around 1200 people every day. “The inactivity of the mon­ soon season when the number of en­ gagements trickle down to nil is what most caterers dread, but the retail business will help us weather it now’ ’ she says honestly. Another unique service provided by the Godiwalas is a home-delivery service of lunches and dinners to those close relations and friends of the hosts who are unable to attend the celebratory din­ ner. They also home-deliver meals for other customers and party orders at a nominal charge for the distance travell ­ ed by the carrier. The choice of Rems is dependent on the menu that is being prepared in bulk for the evening. Could future plans for the Godiwalas include establishing a speciality res­ taurant to cater to the gargantuan ap­ petites of the city ... ? Godiwala refuses to commit herself, only saying mys- lai Sc The Behramji Nowrosji Camadia Technical institute Offer Job Oriented Practical and Theoretical Training for Zoroastrian Students Courses Conducted: 1. Mechanical: Chipping, filing, fitting, turning-practice and Trade theory. Elementary machine drawing and Engineering calculations. 2. Electrical: Theory and Practice in Electrical Wiring Course. Deservlng Students may be admitted at concessional fees. contact: The Secretary, The Behramji Nowrosji camadia Technical institute 8, Gamadla Colony, Tardeo, Bombay - 4(X) 007 Telephone : 395362 & 379345 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOfiOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQQOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOV 13 Parsiana June 1984 j *i ( » If' * I \ < I > teriously “If the Tatas could do it, so 2 full nutmegs can the Godiwalas!” 10 gm red chilies We carry below recipes specially given Make a paste of all the ingredients, by Ms Freny Godiwala. LAGAN NOO CUSTARD 3 litres milk 6 eggs 200 gm sugar 2 nutmegs 200 gm charoli 1 tsp Vanilla essence Boil milk and concentrate to make l'/2 litres. Add sugar and boil for 10 minutes more. Cool the milk. Add 3 bundles coriander beaten eggs, nutmeg powder, vanilla 50 gm chilies Vi bundle mint 1 tsp jeera */2 cup vinegar or juice of 2 lemons 1 small garlic Make eight pieces of the two broilers, salt, and apply ground ginger for 10 Salt and sugar to taste minutes, then marinate the above paste Grind all the ingredients together, making deep knife cuts to the chicken. 2 fresh pomfrets chopped and salted. Set aside for three to four hours. Before Apply the ground chutney to six pieces deep frying the chicken, apply a little of salted fish made from two fresh pom- curd into the cuts. Fry till cooked and frets. Wrap the fish with chutney on crisp and serve hot. both sides in banana leaves. Place it in a broad vessel on a bed of banana leaf stems. Pour a little water and vinegar and a few sprigs of curry patta under­ neath the stems; enough to steam the fish. Serve hot with the leaves. PATRANIMACHHI 1 coconut essence and stir thoroughly. Pour in a biking tray and sprinkle charoli on it. Bake in a moderate oven for about 20 to 30 ipinutes till the top is brown in colour. Serve at room tem ­ perature. MARINATED CHICKEN 2 broilers (8 pieces) 10 gm cinnamon 10 gm cardamom 10 gm cloves 100 gm dry coriander 50 gm sounf 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 * Gifts&i Phone: 456489, 454362 Gram: ROSFER 22 years of service to the Nation for Industrial Ventilation, Evaporative Cooling, Dust Control, Pneumatic Conveying —Fans of all types including Flue Gas Units (750 °C) INDUSTRIAL VENTILATION COMPANY 24B, Diamond Harbour Road, Block 'C' New Alipore,Calcutta 700 068 Partners: B P Ferozshah., Amy H Billimoria (Mrs) 15 Parsiana June 1984 I ?