Aug 1984

August 1984 Price Rs 6. PaW s t-> ) »H>*<** :r f F »1 I- Readers' vievys are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers' Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. appreciated you depute some Parsi compliance from the other Editors to staff member to jot down notes for your Dasturji ’s request. journal . ” (dastur dr) kaikhusroo m jamaspasa When we arrived at the meeting you and Dr JamaspAsa and Dr Kotwal I have my reasons to presume that the were under the impression that the steps you have taken are in the right meeting was only to exchange ideas and perspective. There is nothing wrong in not for publication purposes. We the attitude you have adopted, explained our point of view and made R n rustomji no commitment as to whether we would carry material or not. The Press Surat Punchayct In Parsiana (March 1984) there appears a report of a press conference convened by the Trustees of the Parsi Punchayet, Bombay, on February 24, 1984 in which is stated: “A press representative enquired why the Bombay Parsi Pun­ chayet was spending funds in Gujarat when the main anjumans there were well-endowed and had to catef to the needs of a diminishing community. Surat, for example, is said to have the When we arrived at the meeting you was invited in its official capacity and it is obligatory for us to therefore report 3n the proceedings. However, as there ippeared to have been some nisunderstanding and because of the ligh regard we have for the High Priests, we did not take verbatim notes. ^^Iso when we published the item we ;ategorized it as an editorial viewpoint and did not make any direct or specific quotes from any individual High Priest. If there is any factual error in the edito- . - , „ rial, you are most welcome to point it highest per capita income. out to US and we would print the correc ­ tion. Subsequent to our meeting, Mr Rus ­ tomji met me on several occasions and asked when the article was going to appear. As to the policies of the other newspapers, I am not in a position to . . _ . - . state why they did not report on the ase,^ appeals ^were^^mserted^^n meeting. I trust this clarifies our posi- ” ” " * Dr Aspi F Golwalla, chairman of the Parsi Punchayet, ^pmbay, has given a reply to this reihark; however, we would like to add a few words. It’s h fal­ lacy to believe that the Bombay Parsi Punchayet is using its own funds for the benefit of Gujarat villagers. To be pre- fl . Parsi Papers to liberally aid the improvement of the lot of the poor of Gujarat, especially those living in vil- I have a copy of your letter of August 16 lages. Funds were collected both in addressed to my colleague , Dasturji Dr Surat as well as in Bombay . Naturally, Mirza, in reply to his letter of August 10 a greater number of donors being Bom- and also the xerox of Mr Rustomji ’s bayites, they sent their amounts to the ¦ _ ____ Parsi Punchayet, Bombay. So the If I recollect well, when Dasturji amount collected was for Gujarat Par- I 'Afr ? Alienation of the priesthood I have read your Editorial Viewpoint letter to you. ‘The Alienation of the Priesthood, ’ If I ---- , ------ ---------- (Parsiana May 1984) in which you have Mirza made it clear that the discussions sis, especially villages,^d both the carried a report of the informal meeting of the meeting would not be made pub- Punchayets, in close collaboration with of the Parsi Press and the High Priests lie, no one from among the Editors pre- one another, are usmglhis amount tor held at the K R Cama Oriental Institute sent explained their ‘point of view . ’ In the betterment of those for whom it was library in January last. fact, I came to know about Mr Rus- especially collected. It was decided upon and agreed by all tomji ’s letter only from your present It Is an incorrect notion that the Surat present that the discussions will not be letter to Dasturji Mirza; no one Parsi Punchayet has vast funds to meet oublished or made public. informed us about it at the meeting the demands of its various institutions. I am therefore surprised that you, itself so that the position could have The Surat Punchay^ has shouldered unlike the other Editors, have not been clarified and there would have tremendous responsibihties and it finds complied with the undertaking given by been no place for any misunderstand- it very difficult to make two ends meet all present including yourself. I must ing. Even Mr Rustomji ’s letter is in the present extraordinary times , sev- also point out that some of the ambiguous: in para 3 he states ‘High era! of its institutions work m heavy Fiivsio ... hcB’--“fe*—d tc rr.cct deficits and in several cases the to discuss amongst overselves as to what amounts of the deficits are also increas- Through these institutions, the Surat Parsi Punchayet caters to the needs of It was decided upon and agreed by all tomji ’s letter only from your present ¦" ¦ " .......... ; no one informed us about it at the meeting all present including yourself. I must ing. Even Mr Rustomji ’s letter is statements made by you are incorrect. (DASTUR DR) H K MIRZA Priests ... who have agreed to meet are the true teachings ’ and in the last in^ para asks you ‘to jot down notes for I am therefore not happy with your the entire Parsi community. 'The doors Editor ’s reply: As I recall the situation, Mr your journal. ’ Rustomji wrote to us in January about I ----------------- —rrj -. / „ , . „ the meeting noting “It will be explanation; especially in the light of of the Surat Parsi Orphanage for Parsi ‘V is i 3 Parsiana August 19841 7 ’Ms ^™r^r S&li ’^t. i C>rphana^,.N^man Home and Infrr- Bwh slifr price will mary, are opeafcn'Parris from any part than 6(>7fl percent of the nrittng^fioe in of the country . t Iiil:licpast, weri>merimesfe|tthatin major part of tl^e ftinife that are I^afamrimla. We haye admired l»r the absence w pci vein ui «ic luuug pi we m ner bVw the last six yCsfrs ‘ SlS ilMifoWS that area, yet they will generate the erf foe Ladies Commitfoe of the rarukh major part of tfie fimife that are Dharamshala. We have admired l»r jr *____ _____ X * the last six y^bs a» i possible to admit students from other ^'1 for P^i boys and girls. Now we have subsidize 64 affluent Parsi families? If it r separate institutions with Gujarati and was the only way to generate funds for Englirii mediums, Mid as such, it has fiirther housing, there can be no objec- I . _ _ .. medium of instruction. Besides, we are k; I 6 tion. Let us, however, look up an alterna ­ tive: The BPP cm sell this smafl plot of villous traces towards their expenses land on Gibbs Road at the market become feasiUe to admit students from outside our state having English as the 'J' jiving irionetaiy aid to students from of hi^er education, some of them pri^. The financial gains to the BPP receiving instructions in foreign univer- frewi exceed the profits f^m the proposed housing project Frmn lite above it will be clear to without undergoing the work involved your reisers and the community that in such a project. The purchaser/builder the Surat Parsi Punchayet is not can pay more for the land, as he will be affluent but badly needs monetary able to sell foe flats at market price, and asristjmce of the ccunmunity as well as its Public Trusts. The community may receivii^ instructionsjin foreign univer- . sides, y can pay more for the land, as he will be .x« ¦< 'Ip ’ »' '' '¦* will not have to subsidize the affluent. TTie land can be easily separated please take into consideration the fact from Khareghat Colony , as even now it thatthrou^ its various institutions the is proposed that the entrance will be J Swat Patri P^mchayet caters to the from Gibbs Road. A cown^ can be ; ijwsds of the entire community in sev- pro-ridcd in foe sale transaction, -—— —— -~ k eral directions and it becomes the duty whereby the purchaser cannot build Noble:‘patiently hearing cony>leunts above a specified height so as to pre ­ clude any possibility of the proposed complaints of old people, the sympathy .—1__ 1— .1— -1-1-1_____ shown to them and the dedication with The moneys from the sale of foe plot whidi she has helped solve their prob- , of land can be safely used by the BPP lems. for construction of flats or acquiring Bombay, for the benefit of the com ­ munity. without payment of income- tax. On the other hand, there is a very Gibbs Road plan real fear that the construction and sale aifojufferings. . - of flats under the Gibbs Road Scheme ¦f' Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustees, the may be regarded as a business activity, to. the people who really need P^- Task Force appointed by the BPP and mcome-taxTnfoe handaof^the ’trastees, ----- . most experts are agreed on one point, ^jjgjeby leaving precious little for the downtrodden. She is noble not only in Would it therefore, not be advisable F that throu^ its various institutions the nrods of the entire community in sev- of the community to assist air organiza ­ tion which Works for its benefit and bet ­ terment. 'We me thankful to those who building overlooking the dokhmas . hei^d us in the past and shall feel more thankful for the continuance of their support. MANECK GHEYARA ofoet arcas of land, say , in Ncw Office ctf the Surat Peni Charity Funds, aad Prop^®®- 1 i I : shown to them and the dedication with Her patient hearing and soothing words have acted as a balm to the frayed nerves, of the homeless who come to her for shelter, and others who seek help in reducing their hardships She is a trustee who has reache^out I Committee for Electoral Rights, the profits whereof would be liable to chayet help. She has seen to it that jus- rr.--t- T7_-—u,. ..u_ T>T»Ti—I . . . . . . ; ficc Is douc to foc»-weak and the most experts are agreed On one point, < that the Gibbs Roadproject IS essential benefit of the community. name but m thought and deed. to and will provide the bulk of the Would it therefore, not be advisable have worked together as mem- finarice for the housing plan of the BPP tbe BPP at least invrtes quotations for of one family and it is with heavy to build 1000 flats for Parsis. the sale of the plot of land in question, hearts that we bid au reyoif to foe' This near unanimity makes me hesit- bptnrp ftmbarkmp upon the Gibbs one who has worked the hardest and " best among all of US; As the Chinese proverb goes, “It is better to light a candle thah to curse the ; dfeirkness. ” Dr Noble has lifted sev-j efal candles, thus dispelling darkness . hundreds of underprivileged - the sale of the plot of land in question , before embarking upon foe Gibbs ant to question the validity of the basic Road project , which may leave little for k assumptions underlying thescheme. Its ^jje needy after the affluent 64 have very importance to foe housing needs of been subsidized? the community, however, makes it imperative that all facets of the scheme be examined . The scheme provides for about 64 flats to be built on a plot ofland in the We would like to record our deep Khareghat Colony abutting on Gibbs appfeciWoh of foe work done by Dr Road. These flats will be sold to foe (Ms) Nelie Rustomji Noble during het affluent sections of the community at a 10 years as a trustee of the Bombay f-' £ 5 Parstana August 1984 EPBHARUCHA IIfS Noble 111 deeds for families of our community. ' ' , COOMI s khambata ZENOBIA Z ADAJANIA DAISY h MEHTA Members, the Ladies GoiniMttee,- The Panikh Dhafamshala a ^4^3 h,s' 'V ^-5’- jSSi 4 I R. I r'.' 1?' X /I . s. ; H Si I Webdme to our fold A&ow me to say that the flap over . - , , v Peterson ’s navioie, reflected tithe smd decides what? Among the Jews the community again m these columns, only serves to rob Zarathushtra of his status of a world-teacher and prophet. . . - . A«yr>rding to the prophet, the best we Paras have not a leg to stand on m gift one could make to another was of preveming our r*--’'’— * diurch whether he was an Aryan or a world embrace his religion and he has version as violence ^perpetrated on made it incumbent upon us and our ’ priests to seek to proselytize. Let not our American Zoroastrian brothers be dkturbed by the newcomer - to our f(dd, so long as he is respectable people like Billy Graham who are out (hily d^e their duty. , ^y oi^'txibe bK:rea^ . 11^ ^30^ cnildrcn of Parsi fatliers caa he taken into the faith? If uot, who Today the greatest , crisw^^ >Sag ©ur “ ¦ 7 is its dwhidnii^ numbers which, if not tackled in time in an hon ­ est, practical and scientific manner, ________ _______ community and with it the religion of children from being our prophet Zarathushtra from the face There are two remedies for this situa ­ tion. The material remedy is to solve our housing problem. To quote Dastur - -- .. So many young it is subtle blackmail or brainwashing Or couples do not get married because physical force. In the West the Parsis they have no houses. And no mdr- have to face the evangelical zeal of riage means no children. Then l^- t cause of the same problem there are to proselytize. No doubt some Parsis late marriages, and late mmriageS pre- are 1 / " ................ - . . . converting others. C/invomilAn ac vinUncP sis Uved in an ivory tower and hardly Minochehr-Homji again: “I see the VOnVOTSMin as VKMcnvc explain the message of signs wrhten on the wall— that is the As a Zoroastrian these questions often Zarathushtra to the outside world? dwindling number of priests in the com- come to mind: Is there factual evidence Today an average^citizen of ffie world munity... Because of the econOmw that the modem Parsi Zoroastrian L _ community has a 100 percent descent Mohanmied but not of Zarathushtra. from die original band of Persians that / "2 i—-v. landed in India? Can it be definitely beliefs and rituals divide and that it is said that there were no mixed mar- I riages between them and the Hindus of God ’ Gujarat? What was the actual propor- tion of males to females in the original child born of a Jewish mother is regarded as a Jew. . . If the pro-conversion lobby is right, may lead to the disappearance oi our telig jon . Everybody was welcome in his converted to Islam or Christianity , the of this earth. I—_______________4 two most militant religions in regard to Tmanian* Jtwas his wish that the whole conversion. I personally consider con- another individual. It dpes not matter if Minochehr-Homji: physical force. In the West die Parsis («i >« enou^. liie officiating priests have CHily d^e their duty. DARAJDCAMA trying to retaliate by thinking of elude a sure segment of birth.” Tbe _2.—. spiritual remedy is to improve the con- But how is it that all this time the Par- ditions of our priests . To quote Dastur tried to explain the message of signs written on the wall has heard of Buddha, Jesus Christ and condition of priests, few want to get into it. I believe that even u jhaduwalla As a community we must realize that earns more. 2 -1..............................' ¦ ‘i No priests naeans no Parsis. What better to foster “direct experience of will all our religious dogmas, nay even or “God-awareness ” in every all our money and power be worth if no individual. dr keki r sidhwa Parsis remain to make use of them? Therefore let the Bombay Parsi PtHi- ” T I” DRKEKIRSIDHWA Essoe.UK MAZDA—with the British accent on leasing E i 6 Rsrsiana August 1984 Over a decade of experience in the first year itself ! Mazda’s own professional expertise coupled with over 13 years df experience of British Equipment - (Leasing) Limited, UK, gives Mazda a definite advants^e over all other leasing companies in India today. W mazpauasigGnMiTEP IN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION WITH BWTlSHKWMENTiLEASING)LlMiTH).(UK) Registered Otfiefe; 317 Maker Chambers 221 Nariman Point, Bombay 400 021. , Tfel: 243855 Tetex< 011^05 Crams: M^OALEA - b> t r S' I r ! f tr I* A' T'J. i w accoimtants ajpp^||t9d by di^ybsodation. Audit^a'hi^b^ W01 1 ' « Wl!r- “ '' M chayet ptb«^ it^tf to see that evey aswiafl^p^nfisdical aid, food, 6lc>t|ring a^imtante aj^pdl||ted by Parsi family has at the earliest a decent and necessary services, in an atteb|^ to J^’^fesodation. Auditor ‘s riep((^ M^l home to live in. Also, the social and rehabilitate the victims and their be posted to those who donate hi excess economic conditions of our priestsfamilies. ofRslOOayear;andtootherdonorson should be improved without delay. The managing committee of this request. d a homavazir organization is headed by Ervard Ontario.Canada DR MINOCHER K CONTRACTOR . . Surat The managing cdmmittee of this request. organization is headed by Ervard Ratanshaw C Panthaky as chairman. The other members include Keki A list. Homavazir, founder president, Adi F Doctor, president, Eruchshaw C Das- I ws thrilled to see that the book Law Memorial trust appeal The Behdin Homa Behdin Jamshed tur as joint honorary treasurer with and Tax-for the Layman by and Ardeshir B Homavazir Memorial Ervad Panthaky , and Coomi C Dastur tomji and Khorshed Javeri is presently Welfare Association of Bombay has and Keki V Dehnugara as secretaries No 1 on the best-seller list oflntema- been formed to assist self-help, and to The office of the Association will tional Book House, ultimately restore self-respect among ultimately be located at a place most the needy Parsi ^roastrians who live convenient to the managing committee in dire poverty today because of members; the interim address is 690 Dr Ashoi, despite the StarS unemployment and the high cost of liv- Dinshaw Master Road, Mancheiji ing. Joshi Parsi Colony, Dadar, Bombay We are passing through a very unftirtu- The Association has the following 400 014. Your cheques may be for- nate periodinourlives.Asa.ccuMatm- aims in mind : To promote child and warded directly to the Association and ity, we are degenerating, decreasing. DINY AR DARUVALLA >^’1 1,-f ' * < ri aims in mind : To promote child and warded directly to the Association ana uy , wc aic wgciiciaiuig, uvu.taaing, family weifare, make available medical you may write to them if you .wish to dissecting. Yes, dissecting in many facilities; to grant financial aid to the render honorary services. North ways, on different paths, all becauseef ngedy; to provide assistance to the Americans may send their ch^ues to the weakening Jupiter and a, strong physically handicapped of the com- Dara Homavazir at 203 Willowdale phase of Mars. ... physically handicapped of the com- ___ ___ munity, the aged and widows as well as Avenue, Willowdale, Ontario M2N help educate oilmans; and to render 4Z1, Canada, aid to vicriins of calamities- natural of “ othapwi^ Be that as it may , we have to mend __ ______ our Way on the path of righteousness or Ttere win be an annual audit of the * ypNomA i p aga f«»a< r in the form of financial accounts of the Associationby a firm of , J Match your AMBITION to a CAREER To do SO WB offer you : • Diploma Course in Business Management (Orat/^stai) • Banking: C.A.I.I.B> Course (Postal & Oral) e Commerce : G.C.D. (^rse • Executive Secretarial Course • Private Secretarial Cour^ * Telephone Operating e Tpl^hone Operating^cum Receptionist TechnUmBS • S^rthand & TypewrMng e Punch Opemting a Telex Operating Enquire at : v f Sir J. J. Coiiege of Commerce 14» Nanabhoy Lane> Hutatma Chcwk, BOMBAY 400 ODtael : 25118S 5' 1 Parsiana August 1984 if- •'4 ¦"J* t* ' 'X* J 5- % J• ; •"C '->^44 K» ir’X^ te^ S&^ -f I Si Personalities i 5.. , h- il w-5 .* i-’i .h National art gallery Bombay ’s %r Cowasji Jehangir Pidriic Hall that has hosted everything from ,,' die World ^roastrian Congress to sari y, sales is now to be ccmverted into a f j Y National Gallery of Modem Arti Sir Cowasji Jehangir who isrepwted t to dswe consented to the ^ai^e in the . use of the Hall was among the, djg- 1| nitaries present at a ceremony to mark *9 Built by the Government in 19^, flie I '-.U'/ frnmdation-stone for Sir Cowasji Tah^n- B ^4'' j^Pubhc Hall was laid on April 5,19ft' ¦ ?.¦IW IjOfClvSvdfinhATn fllA fllAn /^ni/ja«nzM» I I- :gjrPublic Hall was laid on April 5, ISftI LcH'dSydei^am, the then Governor of Bombay, thereafter, the Hall was b«ng manag^ according to the wishes ' 11\ 4 sors^^tes the fvess release. Reta^i^ ’ 1 ,^Bb .ofBir Cowasji Jehangir and his succes- sors^^tes the fvess release. Retainiag ite orignial name, the Hall will now be Bat^ but also Other baugs id the a Many of these domestics had, in remove the _ _____ *»tn. given out their tenements on exposed the residerMs 'to dS Irimfe - C <<' > Ai^- L% , S Rsrs»ns Aj0a$t 1S84 t~ 'i-s; » In addition to maintainflagM^ri^ practice as aconsiAant [ Mahalmmuvala^; i hcmocary j^tic __ „ p jQmierat Hp;^gL>oei. bay Hospital c^ the Boa^^ hMci^ palENTHosphal... He is also honorary pri h» smgeryimd heeadoT d f lig^M^dSe'TNI^ a&o hoMte the jpestof c surgeoW:*^ BvD :< ' J! ... * ngi Service (IAS) and was first collector of Dang District where he did memorable work. Later he held various offices and brought credit to whatsoever job he was assigned. The success of the Asian Games testified to his administrative abilities, where, behind the scenes, he was responsible for all the splendid arrangements which earned him a well- I deserved Bharat Bhushan. When he appointed Lt Governor of Goa, many who knew him, felt this assign ­ ment was too small for a man of such calibre. “ The Satarawalas hail from the hills of Mahabaleshwar. Keti ’s brother Lt General Jehangir Satarawala, who retired from the Indian Army, was a highly decorated soldier with an MBE, J MC and with quite a few Mentions in 1 Contractor: renowned puppeteer (left) " Satarawala: outstanding record Tribute to Keti K T Satarawala who took over as the new governor of the troubled state of Punjab on July 3, 1984 has a distin- A Parsi first Noted puppeteer and teacher Ms Meher Rustom Contractor is the first lady to receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for puppetry from the guished service record. Captain Burjor Government of India. For the awards Dalal, a colleague of Satarawala, ceremony. Contractor and the Dar- recalls his impressions of the man in a pana group staged a colour shadow letter to the Bombay-based newspaper play on Rustom and Sohrab. ........................ Actively associated with the puppet theatre in India and abroad. Contrac ­ tor has represented India in various international puppet festivals and has The Daily, July 6,1984. | “What little I know of him having come into personal contact during my army days in the Second World War, I can say he is no sycophant of the High Dispatches and many other decora- performed all over Europe, USA and Command. Keti, as he was popularly tions during his career with the Indian Japan with the Darpana Puppet known in the army, was an officer in the Army. Both the brothers, brought up Group. She has also conducted lecture- - ¦ - .................... . -w. . demonstrations and seminars in diffe ­ rent parts of the world, states the press release. Her involvement in the field of pup­ petry for more than three decades has won Contractor international recogni ­ tion. Presently, she is the president of Union Internationale de la Marion- nette. In 1972, UNIMA awarded her a bronze medal in recognition of her efforts in propagating puppetry in manding the Corps once remarked, anniversary on May 3. The gallery has India. ‘ Keti can do the work of four staff come a long way since 1886, when the When teaching at the International officers at a time. ’ He well deserved present owner Kali Pundole ’s grand­ Puppet Institute in France in 1982, she ¦ - - • - - • . was twice invited to teach in the USA at the universities of Wisconsin and Michigan. As head of the puppet sec ­ tion of the Darpana Academy of Per- very well-read and well-informed, he workshop for making pictureframes forming Arts at Ahmedabad since ................... - - ¦ - - — 1964, she has trained many students who have won scholarships to study abroad. Among her students is the noted puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee. Frontier Force Rifles when we were in in the fine environments of Pratapgarh the same 44th Indian Armoured Divi- Fort facing Mahabaleshwar, imbibed sion, first stationed at Secunderabad from their childhood the qualities of and then at Ranchi in 1943-44. Sub- valour, great patriotism and leader- sequently, when we moved into Burma ship. during the 1945 campaign, I ran into Let us all wish K T Satarawala suc- him again when Major K T Satarawala cess as the new Governor of Punjab.” was a principal staff officer in one of the Corps HO of the 14th Army. Major Pyndolc’s anniversary Satarawala was such an outstanding •' officer that the British General com- Pundole Art Gallery celebrated its 21st during the 1945 campaign, I ran into such tributes, for whenever we few father, Dadabhai Rustomji Pundole, friends called on him at his HO, we began by selling clocks and timepieces. found him at his desk working late in the evening. Soft-spoken, unassuming, its inception on May 3, 1963, when a The gallery, as it is known today, had was one great character who based his took birth on the premises. The paint­ life on purity and integrity. ings displayed at that time were merely ‘'After the war when he ’got his release meant to go along with the frames. A from the Indian Army, he was soon major problem was finding suitable pic- absorbed in the Indian Administrative tures to be framed, and Pundole solved - J li -¦ •1 •t 3 9 Parsiana August T984 i IJS? *’* r'ij- r>; S;‘i s the problem by getting artists to do water colours for the purpose. In a small room above the main gal­ lery is an exquisite collection of art work in wood, metal and bronze which nnn _a. any art lover would envy. The art shop "" quarterly report was established three years ago, and Of the st ~ ' profits from it maintain the gallery. Kali Pundole has had no formal train­ ing in art, and building up the collection has been a labour of love . He has spent .. <*..« unv u v u v« many days travelling to distant parts of Quarterly Review for the country in search of artifacts which make up the collection. In the p; he has learnt through trial and and he does not grudge the cost. Pundole ’s ambition is to bring the the trustees country ’s rich works of art to as many name. Indians^as possible. To ensure this, he minimum. This is undoubtedly not a commercially wise decision. A few ____ _____ years ago a part of the gallery caved in. Doongerwadi of whSi "lol Pundole did not have the r , ' repairs, and had to approach a bank' t...i.„uii. .. He could not offer a security for the of deaths 68 loan. The bank officials laughed, he ’ ’ recalls, at what they felt was a ridicul­ ous way to run what they saw as a com- ........ v.<.uM«vmai nureau issi.eo laa raercial venture. Yet the gallery ’s repu- forms during the first quarter brina’M tation helped him get the money. «- - - “ quaner onnging Ironically , the low prices at which he sells the artifacts serves < _ J_____ _ to ihany buyers, who begin to suspect the genuineness of the article. The response from foreigners has, how- lery s reputation for driving a fair bar- gain has travelled far. Pundole spoke of an American who approached him recently, after reading about the gal­ lery in an antiques magazine in the US. Pundole runs the gallery with the help of his son, his sister and two hel ­ pers. To mark the occasion, the gallery localta/ ’Ttotal of 370 eS wTre Amdo/r.. ’«fuhouro^ve. fPhom. /fumyurlftmyt V,nuufihf.-urtheCeuttv. ffhom. presented an exhibition of water col ­ ours by J Swaminathan. Reprinted from Indian Express, May 5,1984. received from 36 countries. A panel o five members, which includei renowned architects from Japan, USy> and India, judged the entries. Bom in Poona in 1947, Iran graduated from the Poona College ~ i s ¦S January and March, four were atten ­ ded by all seven trustees, < _ ^stees and one by five, notes the BPP ---¦ the months of January, February and March 1984 process, edited by R K Anklesaria and D F in town and country planning at the Poona University Col- 1 * <=>-----------* '-'iiivviaii.y voi- th? HSp Engineering. Having considera- ble work experience in Iran, Canada and India, Irani has presently settled in —oo, vuficu oy n h Anxiesana and n F doctorate research on Crtor, Bbarucha. Unlike in other association ftr/rSon renorts rpnnrt ___ 5 reports, the report does not mention present and absent, by u* • ---- *«w xlic luidi nuiiiDer oi J mix the meetings minimum This IC iinz-1rMiKi-Az4]«T .^^4. ___ New sight The total number of items on the With the < ¦ - - - o £ 1 o • Punchayet, Marezban P Vimadlal meeting. 21-year-old blind youth, has scFuf „ ‘Commodity Centre ’ at Khareghat Col ­ ony. The Centre was opened on May 17, before a gathering that included R C a social worker who had complete the for- support of the Bombay Parsi , a up a There were 303 deaths recorded at - - ------- ^v,l were bet ­ money for ween the age group of 71 to 80, states Ihe^report. The second highest number year group and the third highest, 65 was helped ' vnnadlal between 61 and 70 years. -¦ The Matrimonial Bureau issued 144 *----- —X..16 iiiv nisi quarier onnging ' the total number of forms issued to 299. 111 need of Care A total of 149 persons had registered as a deterrent with the Bureau till March, the " says. malities necessary for opening the stall. With his faculties diminishing with age report Jehangir Khot, 71, is in need of care,** observes Pradeep Vijaykar in a report in The Evening News of March 6. Khot had a memorable career in the 1930^ and ’40s. Working for the Bom- trian family” —", Successive victories Mention at the Shinkenchiku ReL^den- ever, been more encouraging. The gal- honourable mention’ m’s entry entitled bay Baroda and Central India Railw^ IStOCratic Zoroas- he led them _ ;____ • . “Times ” notes the report. As a member of the Parsi team in the Ouadrangulars (community matches), Khot had the Architect Homi Irani’____ ________ “A house for an aristocratic Zoroas- Yezd, Iran) won him an Honourable shield Conipetition in Japan? “A dwelling with historicism and and governors-general. His fine perfor ­ mance earned Tiim the sobriquet of 10 Parsiana August 1984 « ic ( ‘Chota Amar Singh’ from Lord Wil- lingdon, says the report. In 1943, in the national champion ­ ships against Baroda, Khot was the first person to take a hat trick when he claimed the wickets of Vivek Hazare, C S Nayudu and M S Indulkar. Khot also won the “Times ” Shield ‘A’ Divi­ sion bowling prize thrice and the bat­ ting prize twice, reports Pradeep. He also points out that as a motorman of the Western Railway, it was Khot who averted an accident at Charni Road when, in 1966, a BEST bus rammed into the railings and onto the railway tracks. Needy retired ^ricketers merit the concern of the cricket public, observes Pradeep, more than retired Test Cric­ keters, for in their playing days they gave to the game more than they ever got out of it. Depressed dolphins A touching scene took place recently at the “sea pool ” of the US Club located at the tip of Colaba in the Defence area. To those who know this delightful spot, rocks ring the pool, making it fairly safe and free from strong cur­ rents. The other day at low tide, with the water receding and the rocks com ­ ing up, the Nari Rustomji family, who frequent the place regularly, noticed two dolphins trapped in the shallow waters. Their desperate efforts to go beyond the rocks to the deeper waters were proving futile and they were only succeeding in cutting themselves on the rocks. While mama Avi Rustomji kept watch, daughters Shahnaz and Rashne called some caddies from the nearby golf course and together they suc ­ ceeded in creating a makeshift dam. This had the effect of raising the water level and thereby allowing the dolphins to slip over the rocks to safety. There is obviously something strange and moving about the empathy that dolphins and humans seem to have with one another. Unfortunately, with Bombay ’s coastal water so heavily pol ­ luted nowadays, dolphins rarely ven ­ ture close. Hiro and Margaret Shroff, who for years have been sailing across to Mandwa regularly on week-ends, recall seeing dolphins' frolicking hap­ pily around their yacht. But such experiences, they say sadly, are becom ­ ing increasingly rare. Reprinted from Indian Express, July 9, 1984. 11 Parsiana August 1984 Supplied & Erected By ;- ZAINA ELECTRIC & MECHANIC WORKS Prospect Chambers Annexe, 2nd floor D N Road Bombay 400 001 CON CORD 6LGVATOR HEIGHT OF EFFICIENCY Latest and the most rigid Technology of the World, Micro Processor Control Panel Lifts, Single Speed, Two Speed, Collective, Duplex, Simplex, Electronic Auto Doors, Feather touch Elegant looking self luminated Button Panels with Arrows in L.E.D. & position Indicator in digital. Specialist in Modernization. Tel: 25 18 30 Gram: Nirupama .4?;T J s r' ‘L 1 ‘f I I I t I s . 3 \ ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD Zoroastrian defined Prof Simmons takes a personal poseful activity, in the face of tremen- interest in preserving the old books in dous handicap.” the possession of the ZAC and is known The constitution and byelaws of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario defines for his work in the field of Zoroastrian I** other Chicago news : a Zoroastrian as “a person who is a fol- studies. Some of his projects include Rohinton Rivetna has been re-elected lower of the religion as propounded by computer-aided searches for Zoroas- president of ZAC for 1984-86. The the prophet Zoroaster and who has trian publications and a permanent other office-bearers are: Kayomarsh been initiated into the Zoroastrian exhibit on Zoroastrianism at the Smith- Mehta, vice-president; Bomi Damke- faith.” sonian Institute, notes the newsletter. vala, secretary; Rumi Jamsetjee, trea- The definition will assist the Associa- surer; Ms Dinoo Rivetna, assistant se ­ tion to better deal with the issue of C^OUgFCSS pOStpOIlcd cretary; and Minoo Press, assistant tre- ~ ’ Z_____ „,_i asurer. Committee chairpersons are: Congress scheduled to be held in Sep- Neriosang Karanjia, religious; Bahram tember this year has been postponed to Shahzadi, education ; Ms Roshan Patel , 1987 in view of the Zoroastrian Con- program; Ms Dinoo Rivetna, children; gress held in London in June this year Hoshi Mehta, youth development; Kei- and the fourth World Zoroastrian Con- khosrow Mobed, membership; Aspy gress scheduled for January 1985 in Daboo, library; Dilshad Antia, festival exhibit on Zoroastrianism at the Smith­ sonian Institute, notes the newsletter. acceptance/non-acceptance in North The fifth North American Zoroastrian America. ¦« Toronto mobeds’ conference With one of the objectives being stan ­ dardization of the navjote and funeral Bombay, notes the ZAC newsletter planning; and Rohinton Rivetna, build­ ceremonies, a mobeds ’ conference was held in Toronto in November last year states the Zoroastrian Association of expected inauguration of the Zoroas- Chicago (ZAC) newsletter received in August. “As far as the navjote cere ­ mony is concerned, people should be and the possibility of hosting a North encouraged to have the ceremony in the American Zoroastrian Congress on Havan Geh, ’’ states the newsletter. “As that occasion. far as possible nahan should be per ­ formed at the place of the navjote and Gandhi Award for Chicago pomegranate be substituted when The Zoroastrian Association to confirm that the child knows Kem- the “Gandhi Community Award” received in August. Another reason ing improvement. Dr Kersey Antia, cited for postponing the Congress is the ZAC’S headpriest and Yezdi Engineer, in-charge of photography and artwork are also on the Board. “Membership on the ZAC Board may be viewed as an opportunity to serve the Zoroastrian cause, ” noted the earlier annual general meeting notice of the ZAC. “The Board is not a prestigi- _ OUS advisory body but rather a ‘working pomegranate be substituted when The Zoroastrian Association of body ’ of committed individuals, who nirang is not available. The mobed has Chicago is one of the nine recipients of pledge to work together in a spirit of r .... „ .. — ‘cooperation NOT competition. ’Each na-mazda, Ahura Mazda Khodai and offered annually by the India Tribune Board member will serve as chairman Jas Me Avanghe Mazda. “Among the notable decisions taken with regard to the funeral ceremony were: a) cremation was recommended newsletter of June 1984. as a method of disposing off a corpse ‘ ¦ and the ashes be strewn in a flower bed; speaks for the hundred Zoroastrian b) It was recommended to train a few families scattered over the Mid-West, ” male members of the community (non- according to the India Tribune which dasturs) to perform the sachkar; c) continues, “It has built a memorable _________ whenever only one mobed is available community center, vibrant with pur- cultivate literary and elocutionary pow- for the geh sarna, any behdin Zoroas- ers. .. promote the interest of the com- trian can join the mobed to make a Rivetna: carrying ideas through to fruition munity.... and spread goodwill and pair; d) all the ceremonies could be per- «•'. friendliness all around.... ” will cele- formed for a deceased who has donated brate its platinum jubilee in 1985. a part or whole of the body for medical Aside from a series of functions to purposes. ” mark the event, the YMZA intends to enrol more new members in the 75th jubilee year, notes Godrej D Sidhwa, joint honorary general secretary. The Association ’s 48th annual report for the years ’78 to ’83 shows the membership in ’82-’83 to be 87. “We regret the delay in presenting this report ” notes the report of the Association. “During these seven years your Association has been as active as ever. We have not only organized con ­ ferences, wctrkshops, lectures, compet- trian Association of California (Los Angeles) Darbe Mehr in April 1985, to individuals and associations for their of a committee with members from the services to the Indian community, notes general membership and will contri- the Zoroastrian Association of Chicago bute not just ideas, but carry them - 172 through to fruition. ” ^Karachi YMZA’ platinum The Y oung Men ’s Zoroastrian Associa ­ tion, Karachi, founded in 1910 to “dif­ fuse ethical and religious knowledge... “The ZAC is a tiny association and join the mobed to make a Rivetna: carrying ideas through to fruition Information for the interested Bibliographies of books and papers pertaining to Zoroastrianism were pre ­ sented to the Zoroastrian Association of Chicago by Professor H Michael Simmons, director of the Centre of Zoroastrian Research, Bloomington, Indiana, states the ZAC newsletter received in August. ¦ 12 Parsiana August 1984 V^oae^heartedly partidips^^ iti< ,, , , . , , . in:jail cop^unal and national func- , tions. ” Over 50 lectures, 18 competitions, , and birth and death centenaries of national and community leaders as well as founder members of the Association were held. The report'does not appear to list all the present Office-bearers. Their presi- . dent is Dinshaw B Avari, noted hotelier; Faredun Dadachanji is vice* president; ahd; Godrej Sidhwa and Pesi M Magbl are joint honorary general secretaries. “We have always been a progressive and forward-lool^g community. Our Zoroastrian faith* teaches us to be active, energetic and optimistic. Let us J do everything in bur power to review and resurrect the YMZA^’ notes the annual report. Zubin’s musical elbow One of the occupational hazards of being a music conductor appears to be chronic inflammation of the rhuscles 7 attached to the elbow, as Zubin Mehta chronic inflammation of the muscles ; attached to the elbow, as Zubin Mehta discovered when he had to undergo surgery for epicondylitis oif his right elbow. A report in India Abroad cited in the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario newsletter June notes, “Mehta's right asm has been immobilized and he wifl not be able to return to the podium for the most challenging programmes J I>lanrtcd for this coming season... ” I’he report quotes Zubin Mehta as saying, “But every crisis.has its brighter • j' ¦¦’ ¦ tr-" r •'¦' '•¦"¦“¦'I ’ 7*1 w;. 1 -. wt 7: / «!¦ ’-It With Best Compliments from Sepulthre Brothers (India) Limited ' % * bidentors, Marketeers and Channelisers of Technology. '¦¦fl I? f * 'A: 4 ; ' ’-5® «. St 'J * ‘4^ Taj Bunding, 210 Dr D M Md. Post BbxNo 754, Brnnbay 400 001. Phones 2^871 251872 261873 side and this oijd allows for several con ­ ductors to make their debuts with our , great orchestra (New York Philhar­ monic) the beginning of, a new and perhaps auspicious professional ; friendship. ” Mehta is the recipient of the Rose “ Award for 1984, awarded to individuals “who have enriched our lives through their . talents and. humanitarianism ” notes thfe report. Zarthosthno. The following item appeared in the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario news ­ letter Of May 1984. “Funny; .I. . •. Funny?! 1 The following has come to us from a member , Percy Surti; ‘There was a news article in India which said that Zoroasttians are getting wes- ternizcd, and forgetting their ribh henT.' tage. The article said that in Toronto, Parsis recently celebrated Zarthosth no ‘Disco. ’” v p ? p i. t 7 ¦. I I* I auspicious *5^ Gram: Beleast Tel^; SBD.IN BY 3143 Offices al^ dt: \ ir''- t Calcutta Madras New Delhi & Bangalore % 4 * ^rTSsWlS ?> .: s ISa II ¦ii-.iiib: 13 /’ars/ansAugu^r 7984 'K Plil ¦^^2I ’41 - iT?'-'*’**' '? -g' - S' *- c ' .'Tt f BPP elechiral rfefrtns by March 15,1985 4 'k.- *» >? * . '« Electoral reforms,.taped prayers. Congress plans amongst items announced at the BPP press conference. Refoamsin the el^oral scheme are to Arnavaz S Mama % 4-^ [ before March 15, 1985. Announcing Golwalla, due to charges^of irruption this at a press conference attended by leveUed against the Bombay Ntaapa^ all w s Wk Is w M T I WBiiS'' I rl f 4 fl SW ;nts butu^ fS ir ria& Congress, noted that'] very large attendance ” —a oea . abroad, 70 being from Iran. , The Congress, (to be held between January 10-13 in Bombay) will be inau­ gurated by the President or- Prime ' ^nister of India as per the Federa ­ tion ’s recommendation. But Guzdef said that the “inauguration was not yet decided because it was premature , Referring to Zoroastrians settled abroad as “small rootless communi ­ ties, Kanga said, it is “very essential that we in Bombay develop a kind of 5 - system s^ people come back here to - -mc»t.” Hpmooted the idea that Bom- the hometown for a great ^'^bsequently last Congress had created discord ¦ settled elsewhere, it should be develop- wassuDDortedinhi«f««»Mi*»«,f«j^/' ’ *“ ? o«v«.iuiz,cu laic or rs ou ed as a continuous contact point, for Maneck Hodiwalla includes the /furh ;prayerSi. Slaroafe which the “most appropriate vehid^ Nyashss, the Lll^uld be the World Congress. ” He also cern against the etc. (Subsequent to the wid that such an occasion would give cency that prevatl^d i?i975^vS ’he "‘^"^^tenCe, it w^^ed t|taf the Pa^achancetoseehowthinkingand was Sd . behaviour change under the pressures Students rommitM,; ”S th second batch wiH be available , of a different environment. SS hid Xn Ld" taM _ __________ _________________Which had given toans and grante^ >^ T^^^ three volume graded course, WISHING ALL OUR PARSI CLIENTS A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS f^W VEAR •3^..^ 1^ »2 »v fW 1 A * W" • '5*5 SS'- 4- : . M- ’ r, 4 F . %» ¦W, I ,S” ‘ t if 1 SW ..... sr, Guzder U,provide * foreign ... ....... . . ,,,.„ ...... , ,.-.^ _._, a communi^^bfsed reciprocal arrange- young Parsi students who go therelor higher education. This, felt Guzder, would help to rein in the cost of ^the youngsters ’ higher education overseas. B, Saro^ very large attendance ” a p^rft ' 2000 with about 200 delegatlT^ Je occasi^^^B«».wKn toreij J „ ^P®^’ M>«y re likely to delegates, especia^ from the US, ’ \z- u I I < communi^.-btBsed reciprocal arranee- boardirig^^d Iddging^of gndngfe about the Coi^ss because the young Parsi students who on th?rA®f«r iane^ '1^ 99 Payment of Rs 83 lakhs from the Jyoti Studio property sale is still to be received. ,, -— against theatinosphereof compla- occasion^yould give cency that prevailed f "''"5 was elected. Referring to the Foreign which had given loans and grant^ to 48 Minoo D. Katpitia, General Manager . « \., - ; ------------------------------ Tile Pktsure is tM Yotnv .. uunu ’ TelLSTl- ??! Crafts: *Cuna(itti*MrX^Bi9ii^ hdto. APM-SNS^I 16 Parsiana August 1984 7 Btmt^ikdclhig be^ weort. K onfy 7 kihmetres fmm the interttationei tepmt .^^etiier you we between planes, just overnight bi fun-filkd bolidag, hcae tt ALL Ieid ovi for gou * * rooms with ^ped mtalc A aw^m^ pool with poiw^ srixk sertAx i Z ~ ^^oMnei^ and Chnese ¦it Heal^ 0d^eautg Ptirioue^grber awp ** ^nferene&Congenaoft •- ? ? iianquei/Garden Patties sen^ vpto]j^jterapns ANDABO^^AIL, the magntflceiit Bombay Sunaet in all Its panen’amlc ^lendour I, we \ 1! ?t I I v Zoroastrianism, authored by Ervad R R Motafram and published by the trus ­ tees at a total cost of Rs 49,230, as notes the press release, is being sold at a sub ­ sidized rate of Rs 30. The press release of February, 84 had stated the cost to be “Rs 28,000 approximately. ” Both, the publication as well as the tape recording, constitute implementa ­ tion of a report on religious uplift made to the trustees by Vimadalal. Surplus funds were utilized for the purpose with the permission of the court, notes the BPP press release. Visit India with LALAS KASHMIR including a visit to Agra, Delhi, Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg & Sonmarg. Dep : 13 Sep; 9,21 Oct 84 Cost : Rs 2195/- (2nd class) SOUTH INDIA Mobeds Income subsidies to mobeds, medical relief, and a recurring bank deposit scheme are some of the proposed high­ lights of the mobed amelioration plans being proposed by Vimadalal. Mobeds have been classified into three categories and pay scales recom ­ mended accordingly: Yozdathregar mobeds who can perform higher litur­ gical rituals (Rs 6()0 to Rs 1,250 plus Rs 5(X)), mobeds with academic qualifica ­ tions in Avesta Pahlavi (Rs 600 to Rs 1,250 plus Rs 300) and regular mobeds (Rs 600 to Rs 1,250). All categories would be provided medical relief and education for their children, plus Rs 5,000 on the occasion of each child’s marriage. Rs 150 per month in a recurring bank deposit for 20 years is expected to provide some retirement benefit. A mobed fund would make payment to those priests who fell below these income levels. But how one was to gauge the mobed ’s earning in order to decide the amount of subsidy has still to be determined. Housing Because of the FSI irregularities whereby some commercial builders were reported to have illegally altered figures on land assessment papers and, with the connivance of municipal authorities, added several unau­ thorized floors to their buildings, the municipality has tightened procedures. “Occupancy certificates are being with­ held generally even though the build­ ings are ready for occupation, ” noted Golwalla. Among these is transit accommodation in Dadar, he noted. Kanga stressed the urgency of com ­ missioning work at the M and P plots of Godrej Baug adjacent to Doonger- wadi. This is part of the land purchased by our ancestors to provide a buffer 19 Parsiana August 1984 including a visit to Madras, Mahabalipuram, Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, Trivandrum, Kanyakumari, Periyar Game Sanctuary, and Kodaikanal Dep : 18 Oct '84 Cost : Rs 2285/- (2nd class) NEPAL including a visit to Patna and Kathmandu BOM-PATNA-BOM by Rail {2nd class) PATNA-KTM-PATNA by AIR Dep : 20 Oct '84 Cost ; Rs 2375/- (2nd class) DARJEELING including a visit to Calcutta Dep : 21 Oct '84 Cost ; Rs 1875/- (2nd class) NEPAL-DARJEELING including a visit to Kathmandu, Patna & Calcutta BOM-CCU & PAT-BOM by RAIL (2nd class) CCU-IXB & KTM-PAT by AIR Dep : 19 Oct '84 Cost : Rs 3925/- (2nd class) SIMLA MANALI including a visit to Kulu, Chandigarh & Bhakra Nangal. Dep : 17 Oct '84 Cost : Rs 2240/- (2nd class) NAINITAL including a visit to Delhi & Bhimtal Dep : 24 Oct '84 - Cost : Rs 1475/- (2nd class) RAJASTHAN including a visit to Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur & Mount Abu Dep : 18 Dec '84 Cost : Rs 1450/- (2nd class) GOA including a visit to Panaji, Margaon, Marmagoa, Calangute, Old Goa etc. Dept : 20 8i 26 Dec '84 Cost : Rs 625/- (Upper Deck by Ship) H. K. LALA & CO. Bansilal Villa, Sobhani Road, Between Cuffe Parade & Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, Bombay 400 005. Grams : EDTOURS, Bombay. Tel: 211925-215094-214744 i: I rI I 1 . zone around the Doon^erwadi. Kanga be built under the current p.lan which BPP’s one year old matrimonial bureau said that this land is not only vast and includes construction at Contractor is making slow but steady progress, vacant, but is the only open land in the Baug, Dadar Parsi Colony, Khareghat However, the meetings — social area and hence under constant danger Colony, Bharucha and Panfhaki Baugs, gatherings held every three or four of encroachment from the enormous and Pirojsha Godrej Baug, only a third months — were considered too adjoining slum. of the waiting list of 3,000 applicants infrequent and Jam-e-Jamshed Editor At Panthaki Baug, Andheri, an will get some kind of accommodation, Adi Marzban volunteered to draw up a encroaching Sikh family was said to be noted Kanga. Golwalla acknowledged scheme to assist the marriage bureau terrorizing the neighbourhood, said that the BPP is on the lookout for other achieve its objectives. Guzder . The court has been petitioned . trusts who might have land. Some lands Kanga suggested that community prop- have been encroached upon, said Kusti weavers erties should be developed in such a Kanga. The Zoroastrian Radih Society At the Jehangir Rural Girls ’ Home in is spending Rs 3,000 per month on se- Golvad, young girls from rural areas curity alone. As the BPP has agreed to are being taught to weave kustis so that take over the management, the area is it becomes a side income while aug- likely to come under our control, noted menting the short supply of kustis, Kanga. Some trusts do not have man- noted Anklesaria. Six girls there have agerial skill. The builders can entice the been insured for a period of five to nine trustees to sell as happened at the years by a benevolent donor, notes the Thuthi Agiary. There is beautiful land BPP press release. The sum insured adjacent to and extending beyond the which varies between Rs 5,000 and Tower of Silence in Thana, but, as Gol- 10,000 will help the girls settle in life, walla generalized, “No trustee wants to with the donor paying the premiums for give up his right.” a period of five years. The August press conference was the Repairs recent times to see all the seven The BPP chief executive Russi Ankie- trustees present (Golwalla, Guzder, saria explained that the Punchayet Hesai, Hodiwalla, Vimadalal, Kanga and Ranina). The Press was also well represented, with The Bombay Samachar, Jam-e-Jamshed, - The Zoroastrian, The Parsi Voice and Par­ siana attending, vacant, but is the only open land in the Baug, Dadar Parsi Colony, Khareghat However, the meetings The August press conferenee was the first in recent tinnes to see all the seven trustees present. way that “substantial chunks of vacant land are not open for encroachment. ” Explaining the financial implications of the M and P plots, Golwalla noted that the money for the development bears 100 percent of the cost of external will be spent entirely by the BPP. “The ’ ' Gibbs Road scheme is not going to finance the entire project:Shapoorji ____::______________ _ of two buildings and another lady has ^bere is no sinking fund in the Wadia agreed to donate Rs 25 lakhs for one baugs and hence although all the building; Rs 15 lakhs have been prom- repairs at Nowroze Baug were exter- ised by Russi Mehta . ” the BPP bore only 50 percent of the While Pali Poncha who represented cost. Kanga announced that the BPP The Zoroastrian stressed the need for decided to seek exemption from the the Punchayet to obtain a commence- municipal repairs cess under the court ’s ment certificate for the project to fore- ruling that^ exempts landlords who stall encroachment, Ranina noted “Everything hinges on Gibbs Road. Without those profits we cannot go ahead with the development of the M Jyoti Studio and P plots. ” The Charity Commissioner ’s approval Kanga noted “We ’re going to use the for the sale of the Jyoti Studio property Gibbs Road plot to yield resources one to real estate developer N L Mehta for way or another. ” But he acknowledged Rs 90 lakhs, which had been antici- the legal problem that the BPP cannot pated shortly at the time of the Feb- enter into business. Desai also alluded ruary press conference is still pending, to legal problems that have to be solved In February it had been mentioned that to avoid taxation. a major portion of the money — Rs 83 Municipal approval of the plans for lakhs — was expected “within the next 16 mobed staff quarters at Doonger- three or four months. ” Seven lakhshad wadi, which according to the February been deposited earlier, but no money press release had been expected by has since been received and Guzder March 31 is, according to the current again referred to a delay “of a few press release, “expected shortly. ” The days. ” estimated cost which was stated at 16 lakh rupees according to the February Marriage bureau press release is now shown as 21 lakhs. With one marriage solemnized in May Despite a maximum of 1,000 flats to and two more due next November, the The BPP chief executive Russi Ankle- repairs and 50 percent of internal repairs. Minor repairs have to be undertaken by tenants at their own Pallonji will contribute towards the cost However, as Golwalla indicated, carry out their own repairs from the repair fund tax. 21 Parsiana August 1984 I I with Jam-e-Jamshed, MARCO POLO, the renowned traveller of antiquity, did not use a Travel Agent. Yet, to the delight and wonder of posterity, we know he managed excellently well. But, TODA Y S THAYELLEK cannot hope to emulate Marco Polo. He needs professional advice and above all, good planning. And, that's where we at A T S come into the picture. WE PLAN AND ARRANGE HAPPY HOLIDA YS ASIATIC TRAVEL SERVICE The House of Travels 12. MURZ8AN ROAD. FORT. BOMBAY.400 001. Tel : 288151 Cabla : AIRASIA Telex : AIRA IN 011.31 $1 1/10 CONNAUGHT CIRCUS. NEW OELHJ-110001. Tel: 343146 • 343459 • 343489 • 343S49 Ceble: AIRASIA Telex : 031 : 3568 APM.ATS-1980 tI RELIGION Some Surtis sore over shifting Goti Adaran fire moved to permit repairs Sarosh Sana hastily installed in a room in the temple specially erected for the purpose. Dastur Dr Hormazdyar Kayoji Mirza, one of the two high priests of Udvada and an eminent religious scho ­ lar, explained that there are three grades of sacred fires, the Atash Bahram, the Atash Adaran and the later did the priests realize why they Atash Dadgah, in that order of promi- A section of the Parsi community in Surat has been inflamed by what it feels had been summoned . nence . has been an act of reprehensible pro- Most of the priests, according to Whereas the first two kinds sup- fanity committed in April by the ruling Besania, did not even have the time for posedly involve more ceremony for Surat Parsi Punchayet. nahn, absolutely obligatory for an As a consequence, the punchayet assignment of such consequence. The secretary was fltportedly assaulted hot coals were hastily gathered into a twice on April 26, once in his office and once out on the street. Trouble started when the punchayet quietly through the streets, announced its proposal to temporarily shift the holy fire from the Goti Adaran instructed the priests to curtail the to the 161-year-old Modi Atash Bah- ~ ram. Believed to be constructed in the latter 18th century, the Goti Adaran episode, said Besania. The censer was was in need of urgent repairs and hence the necessity to shift the fire. The repairs, expected to last about a year, would have necessitated bringing in non - Parsi masons. However, many conditions need to be fulfilled before the fire can be moved. According to a local religious scholar and former teacher Rusi Besania, about 175 Parsi requisitionists from Surat and outside appealed to the trustees not to transfer the fire to the Modi Atash Bahram, which is a consi ­ derable distance away. The group suggested, instead, that a make-shift structure be built on the grounds of the adaran to shelter the fire. They pointed out that shifting the fire would immediately desecrate it since it would have to be moved over streets which had sewage flowing below them. In addition, artificial (electric) street-lighting and the route through a red-light area would tarnish it, they felt. Bapuji Lakdawala, a manager in a local bank, stated that the trustees were rather taken aback by the popular opposition. To preclude an out-right confrontation, they went from house to house at midnight disturbing Parsi priests at night and asking them to pre ­ pare for a funeral service, said Farokh Turel, one of the rebel priests. Only Most of the priests, according to their instalment, and more learned and advanced priests to tend them, the Atash Dadgah can be tended even by a behdin. Wrong handling of the first two may bring them irrevocably to the level of the third. The requisitionists At the Modi fire-temple, the trustees charge the trustees of being guilty of such an act. Former Surat Parsi Punchayet sec ­ retary Ratan Marshall stressed, how ­ ever, that the transfer was executed properly, adding that protests against such issues as moving the fire over underground sev^age religious principles too far. Besania, Lakdawala and a few o'thers whom this reporter met, criticized the Punchayet for being the only Parsi Pun­ chayet not holding periodic elections. In response. Dr Marshall remarked, “the present council has been acquit­ ting itself remarkably well. ” Reprinted from Indian Express, May 7, 1984. censer, which was duly shrouded, and the nocturnal procession hastened prayer ceremony since Turel was rais ­ ing a row in protest against the entire Protests against such issues as nnoving the fire over underground sewage was carrying religious principles too far. *’ jP»*--------- I fp. was carrying '1 Bana s report elicited the following’ two letters amongst others which were ¦ The Modi Atash Bahram where the Goti Adaranfire presently rests. (Photo courtesy: Indian Express) rtf' M Trcw/-! 23 Parsiana August 1984 ¦ “di 1\ 9 Jiri t «ll _±1 IT li jprinted in the Indian Express of May 25 and June 18. 1 he report states that the trustees of the Parsi Punchayet, Surat, have removed the holy fire from the Goti fire temple to the Shenshahi Atash Bah­ ram. This is not true. The Gotifire tem ­ ple is managed by trustees who have no connection with the trustees of the Parsi Punchayet, Surat. Likewise, the trustees of the Shenshahi fire-temple are a separate body, though there are some common trustees. It IS also not rrue rnai me secretary or the Parsi Punchayet was assaulted on' April 26 last. Neither the secretary nor any other persoqjhas been assaulted. Suffice it to say that this very holy fire has been removed in the past and housed in the Shenshahi fire temple on at least three to four occasions. MANECKGHEYARA President, Surat Parsi Punchayet On behalf of the trustees of the Ada- ran,I would like to clarify the miscon ­ ceptions created in the minds of the community. As far back as March 1981, the trus ­ tees resolved to get the Adaran pre ­ mises renovated and repaired. Appeals were issued and a good sum has been collected so far, amounting to nearly Rs 2.5 lakhs. After mature consideration it was decided to shift the sacred fire to the Sheth D N Modi Atash Bahram Saheb. In the past also and since 1922 the sac ­ red fire had been shifted to the Atash Bahram Saheb thrice. Had the fire been kept at the Goti Adaran itself in a temporary structure, there was every possibility of it being desecrated during the repair work. I had discussed the matter of shifting the fire with various learned persons and no one opposed the idea. The opposition appears to have been engineered and only a handful of per ­ sons appear to be involved. The holy fire has been shifted in accordance with past traditions and all “tarikats ” and rituals have been observed. It is wrong to state that “an act of reprehensible profanity ” has been committed. All rituals have been observed and none was curtailed as alleged. The rumour that the trustees intend to sell or lease or otherwise dispose of the Goti Adaran properties is entirely false and baseless. D AVAR KAVASJIT MODI President, Goti Adaran Trust 25 Parsiana August 1984 With The Compliments of P.S. Kuka Chairman : Goodwill Theatres Pvt. Ltd. Owners : Novelty Cinema Theatre Magnificent Luxuriously air-conditioned with 70 M.M. Projection & Stereophonic Sound equipment. Cine Properties & Finance Pvt. Ltd. Owners : ""Dreamland" Renovated & fully air-conditioned with stereophonic sound —special amenities for the cine public. 11*= r ! pi Vintage cars: the Parsi connection From Manek's Mercedes to Russa's Rolls Parsis have been connoisseurs of cars. AliRiyabally I take ^eat delight in things that belong to yesteryear. Throwing my memory when it was made), back, I often think of the days when some of us interested in what are now termed rightly or wrongly, as vintage cars, hung the Mazda: neat, small and impeccable who had it imported from London f around motor car showrooms and imagined we owned those expensive toys. And even today when I pass one of those dignified as the British who ruled the Mehta a Buick for a little more, or beautiful things on the road, I try hard to imagine how it must have glistened when it was new. Like looking at an old face in highways of America, or the little Fiat, I , ‘ ‘ * the mirror —mine, may be yours —and for the tricky hills of Italy. And, so this Cadillacs! A fabulous amount in ai trying to recall what it must have looked like when it was young, when life was still an experience to be lived, when time lamps, its bulbous wings, its chrome hadn’t written its rude name all over it. f ' ‘ __ . ___"__ ; ___ _______ ____ ____ _ ____ Cars made in the ’20s and ’30s have a demonstration. It was born at the height Parade, by the sea, as it was then. It sW^ special attraction for me. Like Manek of Nazi Germany ’s power when they also there looking so lively and reckless, i Petit ’s 540K Mercedes, a 1935 cabriolet had their super cars, Horsch and male and vigorous, and I stood there wi he had bought from Dadajee Dhackjee Maybach. But they stood in the same my mouth hanging open like an offerto on Sandhurst Bridge. The K in the relation to the 540K, as the Daimler or bag in a rich man’s church. Then dov marque stood for Kompressor, the the Sunbeam stood to the Rolls. Good, the steps came Adi, raised the bonnet ar supercharger in this throaty, thirsty but not quite equal. you saw a massive engine, lurking the model. A beautifully made precision .................................. ________________________—-________ e thing, solidly built. You bang on the another that had a succession of classic And when the tinkering was over, tl bonnet and the bonnet went on ringing < — _ long after you took your hand away, but Perin ’s egg-shaped yellow Baby Austin, cylinder engine, tyres spinhing on loo; Maka thought it was a bit too heavy and f ¦¦ • it had its vices (Like its country of origin, But the best taste was displayed by Adi. twin-ignition Bugatti, custom-mad Cars of each country seem to bear their body designed by himself and D R I nation ’s characteristics. The Honda and Wadia of Auto Cars of (peen ’s Roa like the Japanese who built them; the Adi. In 1935 Khursedji Limji would si Rolls and the Daimler: majestic and you a Chrysler for Rs 5,OCX) and Rus world we knew. At the other end of the Cadillac for under 10 thousand. T1 scale, the brash Impala for the fast Bugatti had set Adi back 18,000 of tl _ . , best, very nearly the price of tv 540K, this magnificent monster with its currency, enormous bonnet, its gigantic head- I first saw this mechanical monume to individuality and craftsmanship, in tl flashes, looked as impressive as a Nazi compound of their bungalow on Cuf The Bhiwandiwalla family was yet like a monster sleeping in its metal cag cars: from Sir Dosabhoy ’s Rolls, to growl of an exhaust, the beat of an eigh that collected a crowd wherever it went, gravel and he was gone, leaving behir ‘j r^! Ad J As a sales gimmick, Dady Wadia used to tell everybody that only distilled water was recommended for the Cord's radiator. ?€ I >4. »• * f ! ¦ b L*d 26 Parsiana August 1984 :t.... -> tt. ?<« Hi 1 J M ’MHC • I sti i? ’’-t I the^ir, mixed wit# the rich oily perfume then, wouldn ’t you expect it from a low- " ~ ~ slung car capable of 105 mph? Faly Petit, the baronet to be,iiad some in advance of its time and the changes it enviable cars. But full marks to him for made in the accepted tastes in auto size of a ship ’s engine! So big that you didn ’t have to take your dog out for a walk. You just walked around the car nurtured by their dedicated owners. So twice and that was it! It was a gigantic, widespread was its fame, that its dies sold ' him only the smell of exhaust hanging in Poona in a shade under IV2 hours. But beauty, it has been repeatedly praised the air, mixed wit# the rich oily perfume then, wouldn ’t you expect it from a low- since its production was stopped in 1937. of Castrol R. slung car capable of 105 mph? The Cord never really died. It was truly This epitome of expensive motoring ------ was a three-tone sports job. A pearl- white aluminium body, over-painted at least one of them. The rare, rear-engine designing, have never been forgotten. Of across the bonnet and part of the front Tatra, a giant of a car with a motor the the 3000 odd Cords manufactured during doors in electric blue, a silver streak of size of a ship ’s engine! So big that you its two-year production span, almost all, lightning, separating the two colours, didn ’t have to take your dog out for a survive in private or public collections, Four doors with a tiny footstep under each door, two spare wheels on the sloping back, bulbous wings over big mechanical extravaganza. And to think to Japan as scrap, were carefully hidden I in Tokyo during y/orld War II and to communist regime, not entirely of its own this day remain reverently crated in the volition. warehouse of Nissan Company. One day In days of yore, a car came along and they will have the good sense to bring it wired-wheels. And inside, steering-wheel the country of its origin now has a and gear-lever knob made of ivory, dashboard inlaid with mother-of-pearl, upholstery from pig-skin, soft as a baby’s bottom. This speedster with a fast pick- for long thereafter, it affected the course out of the moth balls and again conquer up, was a tourer as were most of other cars. Sometimes what happened .the motoring world. No wonder this long Continental cars of the day, so you could drink to the full, the exhilaration of the wind, carousing with you as you speed up, say to Poona, as it was then known, on a 810. A breakthrough in design, bold and 1 late Sunday morning with your girl manly, with aircraft type controls on the were only a handful of Cords in the was an engineering breakthrough, remembered, much missed barouche is sometimes it was the design that tickled even today referred to as the Indestructi- the world ’s fancy. Like the 1935 Cord ble Cord. L . 1 For some inexplicable reason there friend by your side. First stop, Mura- dashboard and retractable headlamps country. The one I remember best tore ’s in l^st Street. A pasta lunch, a adopted from the landing lights of the belonged to D R D'Wadia, who along carafe or two of Chianti and you ’re back aeroplanes of those early days of flying, with brother ARD owned Auto Cars in time for Jhe Dansant at the Taj. Over For sheer taste, for its aesthetic,. Ltd. They were agents for Austins and for and over again it had done the jaunt to functional correctness, for its lasting a while also had the Cord agency. Theit 1 J ^.*<.^ A QWeXMVM j'**! I o Fall Mehta’s Chrysler Airflow (far left): judged a commercial failure because of its ugliness. Adi Bhiwandiwalla's Bugatti (above): speedster with a fast pick-up was capable of 105 mph. Vauxhall 30/98 (left): ‘a heady reputation ’ for being a fast tour­ ing car. •.^^*, ' :___J important than the air the customers. They wouldn ’t take to this misconceived modernity inspite of the manufacturers billing it the world ’s most After four years of production this pseudo-aerodynamic car design ,wis kind to it. It had failed majestically. It did not fail because of its novelty or too ¦¦ la departure from the conven ­ tional norm. It was a distinct break from the previous car design which was more box ­ like. The Cord 810, which came a year later was equally bold in design yet to this strong following. But the Airflow became an object of ridicule and failed purely and simply because of its But there were some in Bombay who show room was on Queen ’s Road, one of met the stiffest resisuncc from a quilrter < /• - - a — «>* Tn*sn 5111 — ~ I I ICT those with potted palms and funny more i looking nickel ashtrays on long stalks. They also sold little gadgets like St Christopher plaques, chromium vases with plastic flowers, fancy radiator advajiced^motor car. mascots, little dogs that nod their heads on the back shelf of the car. One would have thought these silly 1 were a product of the present day but they ’ve actually been around ever since cars were built. Apparently they appeal radical to a wide public. Dady Wadia's - Cord was a shining black beauty (remember Henry Ford ’s jibe that a customer may have any colour he wants as long as it’s black?) and as a sales gimmick, he used to tell everybody day retains *-7;;:-• "J" ex-RAF flyer “Baba” Gazdar, man that only distilled water was r^com- simDlv because of its many parts and at one time or the othf mended for its radiator. He wouldnT let failed pure y P y owner of a great number of enviable car any of his friends drive the car but often singular ugliness. ^yj^uU us for long spins .0 Khandala or .T"maetoe often and eventually began 1 Poona. The Cord was a lovely job in all didn t think so. One was nuoo Mistry respects and 1 would have loved to have ardent driver who owned an M G *tji °'^Bm it’s not always that a car produced best woman driver of those days. (Is there far in advance of its time, drives away any one better today I wonder.) She used with the cake. Here ’s one that didn ’t, to collect a crowd around her new When in 1934 an eight>*** ——-------------------- In 1934 Khursedji Limji ’s Bon^ Cycle and Motor Agencies, who W( agents for Chryslers among other mak proudly displayed an Imperial Eij Airflow in their showroom on Sandhu some ugly things and people I know, it was also interesting. Their idea of course was to design a car that took advantage to be razed to the ground when Sir up. Now the Tope ’s gone, the bungalow is - “O more and the high-rise ‘Vaibhav ’ chromium waterfall, was the result. A stands m then’PM- certain Bridge The advertisement said it v very soundly built beast, very well Another one I remember w»tha cerU g car in the wor thought out on the drawing-board, it still amount of nostalgic affection, belonged th ^^fireactions even wl standing in the show-window; peo either admired it, or ridiculed it. Amt those with the former reaction was Thakore Saheb of Rajkot, a young n who coultLhave been a replica o Pickwickian cherub.His choice cost I Rs 5000, a high price for those d (Around the corner on Hughes Roac R Pratts, forerunner of today ’s M< Motors would have sold you a Bi Straight-Eight for a shade less or a Salle for a shade more). This rnade 1 the very first Airflow owner in In Having maintained it with re disregard of cost for nearly 45 year was still in rnint-condition when he so in 1978. soundly built beast, very well -------------- . . the drawing-board, it still amount of nostalgic affection, belonged 3( 28 Parsiana August 19S4 ¦MX 431 91 » ! I Boman Dubash’s Mercedes: ‘a bit to heavy,’ built during the height of Na: Germany’s power. artCti- ;. ..r This time it changed hands for a he read of the tremendous surge of power song —a mere 2000 rupees. The astute the 30/98 packed, he had to try it out buyer was Pali Mehta, the society dental himself. This he did on the straight and surgeon and although this ardent long Great North Road one morning collector of classic cars drives around but when he had touched 91 mph his today in a comparatively new Mercedes shrieking passengers made him lose his 280 (having recently parted with his old, nerve and he took his foot off the green and black Rover), he regards the accelerator. So that was that. Airflow as an antique curiosity and is With Compliments of JEENA But take it from me, the 30/98 was a beauty —an affair of the heart. One look at it and you ’d want to drive it. Gliding down the road, it was fully capable of drawing audible ‘oohs ’ and ‘aahs ’ even from the most staid gathering. No satisfactory explanation has been provided for calling it 30/98. The only ; who matter, is that the first number represents the increased horsepower and the second its maximum intended horsepower. At any rate, a classic is after all never to be defined...merely to be cherished. Daddy Mazda, the Calcutta play­ boy —in no way connected with the * : same name —was a rather adventurous young man with a taste for the good, the fast In 1935 Khursedji Limji would sell you a Chrysler for Rs 5,000 explanation guessed by people and Russa Mehta a Buick for a little more. perceptive enough to appreciate the Japanese extravaganza of the milestones of automotive history it represents. There was yet another car in the early things of life and the wherewithal to 30s in Bombay that often brings back indulge in them. Soon after World War wonderful memories. It was a gem, a II, he had a low chasis, long-nosed, eight- snappy, sporting type British job, much cylinder pre-war Jensen roadster in thought of in those days. This was BRG. (To the uninitiated, the letters Vauxhall 30/98 that Faly Petit brought stand for British Racing Green.) It’s a back with him from Blighty, the only one safe bet that any green open sports car of its kind in the country. But the baronet whether it is emerald, pea-green or near- to be had to take second place,for Manek black is diligently described as BRG. Powvala stole his thunder when he returned from Cambridge with a horn, huge Marchal lights with amber Vauxhall 30/98 too. lenses and a cut-out loud enough to Picture a slim lowsided, elegant sports awaken the dead (this includes the job with a bonnet-strap, handsome flared Calcutta policeman on point duty). A car wings and rakish lines. A fast touring car with a fast pick-up, touching 70 on the but a car less for the track and mote for short Red Road or 10 miles more on the the road. To my mind, the kind 6f a car long stretch of the Strand, was easy. But that went with suede shoes, cavalry-twill when you were in the bucket-seat next to trousers, split-back jacket, silk hand- him, you rode in silence for it ’s difficult to kerchief peeping out of the breast-pocket, talk, and harder to hear, when you ’ve got A four-seater with three doors, the space the wind rushing past you, the bellow of J for the driver ’s door being^ken up by a two, three-inch exhausts only a foot or long hand-brake bristling like a sabre, two away froth your ears and 125 angry There was no howl, no shriek, no wail, horses fighting mad to go places. This just power with decorum. A tranquilliz- was the kind of a car that must have once ing rumble of the exhaust and this belonged to someone who was probably marvellous little car was off. It had*come to India with a heady reputation. In a trial run it had lapped defending an Empire due within years to Brooklands at a 107 miles an hour, the disintegrate and be given away, first British stock-job to do so, a feat that had made the Bentley owners sit up and take note. Yet if you were to compare it to a Bentley it would come up a very poor as a veteran/vintage job? second. I remember Mack telling me that when TRe Jensen had a three-toned Stentor dead, lost in the Battle of Britain, or sunk ‘ on some forgotten Atlantic convoy j Where is this splendid beast today? In some junkyard somewhere? Or has some smart Alec taken it across and flogged it Reprinted from Sunday Mid-day, August 7, 1983 and March 18, 1984. 31 Parsiana August 1984 COMPANY IATA Approved Air Cargo, Clearing, Forwarding & Warehousing Agents 10, Veer Nariman Road, Fort, Bombay 400 023. Cable: ‘MUSTITIA” Telex: 2313 Phone: 312032 BRANCHES: E. Merc House, 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani, (Formerly Theatre Road) Calcutta 700 071. Phone: 444711 “Jeena House”, 50, Hanuman Road, Connaught Circus, New Delhi 110 001. Phone: 310821 Devtha Plaza, C. 14, Residency Road, Bangalore 560 025. Phone: 26215 No. 26, 26, 24, 2nd floor. Harbour Approach Road, Vishakapatnam 530 001. Phone: 65942 205, Gera Chambers, Off Boat Club Road Pune 411 001. Phone: 65942 iil ! i i'f “I’m not interested in controversies” Soc/ef/magazine interviews Dastur Minochehr-Homji. Prochi BiMl^ah asaaasaaas^^ a visiting teacher of religion in my school. And every Monday (or j'” ¦'="a'y"Hiniysi;nooi.«na every Monday (or then, when we lost our empiie to the? us for an hour on the various Arabs and the Zoroastrians were mas ­ sacred, we came to India, The number started dwindling from lakhs to thousands. For the last so many years , we used to say that we were one lakh my one thousand.*^ Now we are ninety > thousand. And the majority of the Para "I - 65,000) is in i to religions of the country. If only I had yawned less and listened , '’’OU ydwneo less ana listened more been as ignorant about my religion as I am today .... Minochehr-Homji talked as well then as he does now With his rnagnetic voice and perfect diction. I still wonder how my and Immaf ' could doze off to sleep during his talks. I blame age reace conference in Mount Abu. early this year, this Parsi Hiqh K something happens Priest, presiding over the spiritual business of a vanishing commu- .... narrated a shloka in faultless Sanskrit to , . . . . --------------------------------- .J severe. In his late fifties or early sixties. Minochehr-Homji sat erect on a lair in his <5tijriv-riim-HrQVA/ir»n rr^z*^***.^ __ ____ a. • ___ diction. I still wonder how „_/-j -i. ------'¦uirvo. I Miai I ic aye zxiiu lucmai ano immaturity more than Dasturji's script for our boredom. At a population (about 60 ?? impression. He spoke authoritatively the audience's utter amazement. He's scholarly and t B chair in his study-cum-drawing room. B troversies, " he told me at the start, K _ embarrassing questions." "I I'm not interested in con- so please avoid asking me any on What is being done to stop this danger- ' OUS trend? Statistics say that for every 1,100 Parsi deaths in a year, there are* 300 births? There are two sides to this problem. One, so many Parsi-Zoroastrians have ¦« I V from one country go to another, it is to be considered as a relative disapjyar- ----- --- wwiiijMo, as you say if is W l,W0 deaths and 300 births, then it is > something to be apprehensive about. * There is definitely some truth about S this dwindling number even if IB wouldn ’t use the word disappearing.# some sociological factors be hind it. 1# would say it is because marrite,'meim ™I - ' - ¦ ¦ . go, somedung ,o do with us “S ~ *1 • ----- ’ Hages, Hud late marriages preclude a P^ulation was in lakhs, sure segment of birth. For^there are For, the Iranian Empire extended from certain ages when a lady is considered ir T J- ~ ------West to fertile, but when she marries after that' Kanoj m India in the East. And from • ’ m-mes aner«iai« Christianity and Islam which the teachings of This has of the golden light, of purity and ^te^t^tedasouewhois-ami^^^ period, there are less chil&en. 32 Parsiana August 1984”5 i * F I h I ¦ in The Bombay .Samachar, that the I don ’t know. Now we enter into poli- Chicago Anjuman Association, had tics and that is something I don ’t fancy, taken an opinion poll of the community But to my knowledge, we are out and and had opted for taking not only the out Indians. We have never asked for a Parsi father and non-Parsi mother ’s separate franchise or a separate electo- children but even the Parsi mother and rate or anything of that kind. We have non-Parsi father ’s children into the community. very amicably adopted this as our own land. We call India our motherland. If this question was asked after thirteen years of settlement, it would have been understandable but after thirteen cen ­ turies Minochehr-Homji: ‘families should mind their own prayers. ’ Isn’t this a problem that every commu­ nityfaces? Well yes, but it hits us the most, because we are so few . Who changes this law, the Parsi Pun­ chayet? No. The whole community. But it’s no use discussing all this. For as long as there is light in the discussion, it’s good. Do you agree that Parsis were the But as soon as there is heat in the dis- biggest cronies of the British? cussion, I cease to discuss it. It may be that because of our English education, We did well and prospered But what happens if a Parsi lady who is with the British. But we were also in the married to a non-Parsi, somehow gets forefront of the freedom movement. I the navjote ceremony performed on her would say that Dadabhoy Naoroji child? showed the way. We are and always This is not in my jurisdiction. How can have been Indians first. Parsis next. a navjote be performed ‘somehow. ’ It is to be performed in a particular manner. I do not know how this can happen or why it should happen. 9 n }j ii f Isn’t the fact that more and more Parsis What are your personal views on con- are marrying outside the community, version? the main reason for our dwindling I do not discuss my personal views in number? True. Especially ^hen the lady marries outside the community, it is a loss. interviews. It is only after comparative study, that you can find out the excellence of your religion. Is conversion forbidden in the scrip- because her children are not taken into tures? the community. By custom and tradition it is not We have the Priest class Athornan and favoured. the non-priest class Behdins or those Why this discrimination? who cannot become priests. Isn’t it Maybe because it is a man-made law. How could Zarathushtra be against ridiculous to follow this kind of a class When a man is married to a lady of conversion, when he himself converted system in such a small community like another faith, then his children can be people to his faith? ours where even the priests are dwind- Zoroastrians, though the community That is the stock argument. Every Ung? doesn ’t look upon them with much prophet converts. This is a debatable This also is a tradition. Nothing of the favour. point. But another argument that fol- kind is written in our scriptures. lows is, that it is the quality and not the Nowhere does it say that a particular person cannot become a priest. It’s like this: what is a profession today, be- Why aren’t non-Parsis allowed into the comes a vocation. So vocation is more ¦ important than the profession. I see philosophy of the more important role When the Arabs conquered Iran, they the signs written on the wall, that is of the mother in a child’s life, but it is ' ' ’ ' " .................. the law that ultimately works. But isn’t the mother supposed to be quantity that matters. closer to the child and therefore has more influence on him than the father? Maybe there is some truth “in this fire-temples? desecrated our bodies and our places of the dwindling number of priests in the worship. It was out of this fear and the community, and it may start the system need for self-preservation that we of lay priests {behdin mobeds). It may closed the , doors of our fire-temples first be started by the behdins who when we came to India. Our custom of recife the prayers very well (i.e. those Can’t the law be changed? That’s none of my lookout. But as it stands now, if a Parsi lady marries a the last so m£my years has now crystal- who have good intonation and good non-Parsi, then she and her children lized into a law, at least that’s my expla- pronunciation) and who have a are not considered as Zoroastrians. nation. minimal understanding of the text.Tf this is achieved, then to my knowledge, Do you think Parsis still consider them- he is a priest and can perform all the selves as foreigners? religious ceremonies, barring only two which can be performed only by the ordained priests, that is those who have undergone the naavar and martab cere- nation. Is this law practised only in India ? I don ’t know what the state of affairs is in Iran and I wouldn ’t like to comment Even the idea is rebellious. on it either. But in the States and in Canada it is different. Recently, I read Aren’t we treated as foreigners? 33 Pars/^'a August 1984 ¦(¦life?**- -i1: I '-¦'S’ Burjor Framji ' & Co. ’I Licsnssd PluniiMn Sanitary & Drainage Contractors J f i «t , MARINE MANSION 1ST MARINE STRST BOMBAY ND OB. THBWME: 313207 34 Parsiana August 1984 monies. But the way things are going, • individual families should mind their own prayers, because the priests are few and the pressure of work is a lot. Besides, because of the economic con ­ ditions of priests, very few want to get into it. I believe even a jhadoowala today earns more How many high priests are there in India? Previously we were fourteen. In Bom ­ bay today, we are four - Dasturji Mirza, Dastuiji JamaspAsa, Dasturji Kotwal and-myself. In Poona there is one, one in Navsari and two in Surat. What are the functions of a High Priest? I would say it is studying the religion and diffusing knowledge. Both in the schools and among the adults. And.to answer the inquiries about the religion from people who come to us. We even write in the papers. I have my Friday classes, here, for the last twenty-seven years. Previously I. had similar classes in Secunderabad where I was the High Priest from 1950-57. What kind of a training does a Parsi boy have to go through before he becomes a priest? Fortunately, I was trained in a very good school, the Cama Athornan Madressa in Andheri. We were given secular education plus religious educa ­ tion plus the comparative study of reli ­ gions. We had Avesta, Pahlavi, Persian and Sanskrit as compulsory languages. And it is only after comparative study, that you can find out the excellence of your religion. And by knowing Sanskrit which is a sister language of Avesta, one can study the Vedas. And by that we are in a position to know the similarities of the two systems of reli- ^on and philosophy. There are a lot of similarities between Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. However, we have two madressas in Bombay, in Andheri and Dadar, where boys are sent for training. But there are many priests who do not belong to a madressa, but are tutored by their fathers and uncles who are also priests or by a priest in an agiary. WZiaf is the exact signiScance of the sip­ ping of Nirang (cow’s urine) during the various ceremonies? Nirang means mantras that we recite from the Avesta. But later, mantras that were recited over a particular thing came to be known as nirang. There is LEACH & WEBO Diycleaners Dyers & Carpet Cleaners *(>-««»agents erf nature wBl ^spoSe it MCOTt to the I I I ...................... .... these tev todi- ~e:oSTn:e “'r:Sp- S>s ShS itto he-a very sensible ajd sdendfie tnres. This practice has come after the tor certain purposes as charity. " I believe there are crores and crores of Isn’t this also associated with a Parsi s in? unused funds lying with the Parsi Pan- last deed of chanty? . We chayat. What is being done about That is also true. But it is incidental. them? . ... I am not in a position to talk about this Why does the co^mun^ quietly because I haven ’t studied it. An accept the fun that Hindi 6Ims contmu- This was in BC times. Socrates knew i * have no references in other scrip- mode of disposal, provided scrupulous cleanliness is maintained all around. . ... « unused funds lying with the Parsi Pan- last deed of chanty '.................... influence of some other community on us. Do Parsis believe in life after death? Yes. But not in reincarnation. believe in future life and that the soul is immortal. Do you think that the Parsis are an exceptionally gifted people? They are not the gifted, but one of the gifted communities. Because we are small in number, those who are gifted are marked out. Same is the case with those who have done something wrong. Why is honesty considered synony­ mous with Parsis? It is our tradition. It is said that Iranian education consisted of three things - (1) horse riding (2) archery (3) speak- ing the truth. They embodied three enlightened member of the newly aspects of education. Horse riding was Fipptnral physical education, archery was intel- Rights) may enlighten you. lectual concentration and speaking the truth was moral education. Same is the case with charity which is the towerof silence and froinj^ch tbe^ It is in the doctrine that says, ‘he who you will agree must be quite soraia.... ously make about Parsis? Because we take it sportingly, it goes on. No one will try it to this extent with any other conununity. We are tolerant because the Hindus have taught us tolerance. I agree that at times it cros ­ ses limits but then, to complain? Isn ’t that childish? Where does the term bawaji that is used for Parsis originate? It was a term of endearment in the beginning. Bawa means father and ---- „-------- bawaji means grandfather. In the vil- created CER (Committee for Electoral when Parsis served the local people, this was the term of respect used for them. Of course now the term What do you have to say about these longer of endearment. It has tall buildings which have come assumed another meaning. Were you in any way connected with the Sim, ‘The Quest for Zarathushtra’ -------------- r- -- ------------ , „ that Zubin Mehta is working in? finds happiness for himself. ’ I call it know, because I haven t studied it. lo scripting was already done, -------------- - this .s the but I along with some others were invited to Washington as members of the script committee. The script was defective in the sense it carried certain fundamental fallacies where religion was concerned and we pointed it out. I don ’t know if it was corrected later. Is it true that when you were the palace guest of the Shah of Iran during the celebrations in memory of Cyrus the Great, the Shah himself had asked you to convey a message from him to all Parsis in India inviting them back to The dwindling number of priests may start the system of lay priests. longer of endearment. It has pursued more vigorously by the Parsis ? well of the dead can be seen ? The sight It is in the doctrine that says, ‘he who you will agree must be quite sordid.... eives happiness to another person. Whether this is a fact or not I do not tinas nappinesb tui uuuavix. x fvuvw, ------ , also the religion of altruism - another me, amongst other systems, this is the man first and myself afterwards. I am system which ^11 go on unthou any told that we are .003 percent in the special encumbrance on the funds ot world census. Even then to make a the community. Fuel is costly, so bum- mark in the history of the country, mg with fuel could be a means there are certain sterling qua- Where the crematorium is youngsters. We do not live on past failure? If we keep aside feelmgs and ’ _ ___ .1.:__ foVo JntA acrriiint nniv glories. How come, in spite of these various charitable institutions, we still have posal. It is only when sentiments are Parsi beegars? What are the rich Parsi brought in that controversies start. One _ ww, .. - J __ 11-- J___ .U fr* KaIiP.VP. mark in the history of the country lities which have been kept up by our what happens sentiments and take into account only one thing and that is the disposal of the _____ ________ body, this is the best manner of dis- ciaritaWe institutions, we still have posal. It is only when sentiments families like the Tatas, Wadias, God- really doesn ’t know rejs, etc., doing for the community? ' • . - - To put the surplus of what you earn into the good of the community and the beliefs. country is part of religion. The God- . . rejs , Tatas , Wadias , etc ., are not only How did this system onginate. putting in their money for the good of It is there in the scriptures. jeaamg Zuoroasmauo wuw now the community, but also for the good of there is a very relevant story about Soc- that time. He had said that the the country. Especially the Tatas. It is a rates. When Socrates was condemned cosmopolitan concern. Their scholar- to death, some of his Mowers asked ships are all on merit given to all him how his body sho^d^be disposed Indians. Ours was once a r without beggars. Now because — ------ . urbanization there may be some, but if “On yonder hill, according to^thc certain measures are taken and looking t—--------------- -------------z . X rarsis in muia because people do not bnng out actual Seeing the present condition in data, but that which supports their own t'.. . the country. Especially the Tatas. It is a community off. And pointing to the hill from the of small window of his prison cell, he said 35 Parsiana August 198rt Iran aren ’t you g/ad that not many accepted the Shah's invitation? The Shah had conveyed this message not just to mebut to all the plane full of leading Zoroastrians who had gone to Parsis should come back to Iran and once again prosper there. A few did go, but not many. Unfortunately, we never knew that ten years later the tables would be turned! tom of the ancient Persians, dispose my Rspnnted with permissioa from Society, May 1984. «« I iiin inar. t' r I wealth, :¦ 1 JS. w •=-5' <1 Abf I4ovelist Malgohfear writes of his longLfriendship with the late Sir Dinshaw Petit. Manohar Malgonkar 1 He was, by almost any definition. The i Man Who Has Everything : a com- 1 manding height and bold good looks, I enormous wealth, a Cambridge | degree,a brilliant intellect,a hereditary j knighthood, a raging beauty for a wife . 1 ^His house omsBombay ’s seashore j may or may not have been bfeger than j the palaces of the Nizam or fhe Gaek- wad up on Malabar Hill, but it was far more tastefully fuffiiished and its sur- roundings —flower beds and laWns and j sha. ‘ r Streets in Bombay were named after his fathei as well as his grandfather, and marble effigies of both still stand in seedy gardes which have been Chop- i ped up into oddly shaped bits for wide- 1 ning the roads. j His family’s charities ran schools in | Bombay and Poona as in Karachi and J Tehran , to say nothing of hospitals, for ] humans and for animals, libraries, and i orphanages. One af his brothers-ip-law was the creator; of Pakistan, M A. Jinnah, and another was — is — India’s g^reaiest Sir wMi Ftetd i^i'^sM S^ Maneks^^ industrialist, J R D Tata. But neither could dwarf his stature, and indeed I hau up, «v ---------------- —— --------- have a feeling that it was they who must , age to hunt them for food or sport . Why Officer of the Cantonment Service mid have felf a little uneasy in his company i ' . " / —.a.- because he had a somewhat puckish sional hunting guide —like one of fonm^nt office at Poona under a M^ot sense of humour which often took the ” , tt o form of making the high and mighty look a little ludicrous. But none of this was known to me when, on a bright winter ’s morning in 1937, I received a telegram from --------- -----o r--- ---------r , Tbos Cook (now Thomas Cook) in Bom- rate of Rs 2,000 for ten days, pliis Rs to take a couple of weeks ’i^e m the-^^^ bay, informing me thht I was to meet a 200 for each additional day. Each extra middle of my training, wh^ did Petit turned out to be Sir Dimdiaw Petit, third Baronet, and his friend was? had been brmight up at a fairly early pursue it), for I had been Sielected as an not, I asked myself , become a profes- was actually under trainir® in the ciW; ^11 '''^ I Cave. But it is not easy for someone wha ’ had camped under cabwfo ignore " ' ¦ ¦ " ¦ “ m the'.J Hemmingway ’s White Hunters ? ii >?«s Hunting ... .... I had dashed off a letter to Thos liurt^’s horh, partict^a!gi^.^dtca Cook saying that I would be prepared vmiture might just brin^ hio^, eaodgfr ' to take hunting parties of two at the money to buy his firstem. Iti^all^ had rate of Rs 2,000 for ten days, plds Rs to take a couple of weeks ’ t^e m the &3!‘ onal d^. Each extra nnaaie oi my training, woM certain train whichTetit and a friend peison would be charg^ Rs 100 per pl^se Major Cave atall. weremTiving “foraten-dayshoot. ” . Tifetelegram^n res^nse. passed my BA and was hunting for a job.'My family village(pear which I still my proposal and Cook ’s , live) was surround^ by heavy jungle d^nt,lhadgota job,some nd|^ day. The telegram was Cook ’s belated fcui, uulu oaiviid, am* lua uivtjiu wxb».,.^ Belated because, between ptaking an American, Tom Taylor, llie ishPbt- ¦ * ‘ " " jue a went off well. Taylor got aiineleQppBd^;;?| ______ ______ ___ __J -.— -J J_______________________________c--_,--,_______ ^Jeven and I was able to buy a second-lwd''| which abdunded inwild animals, and! call it a career (even though I did not Mortis Eight, a little maroon beatPy . ? 1 31 Parsiana August 1984 ¦< ¦ "I F tsn\ it \ • '¦ <- S'"-, ¦ff t>86L isnBnv eueisjed gE i !» I i? Z ’if X< ,- <*= t-f i® i.^od uo pgnuitu^ ^33!jjo ibabu puB XuiJB JO qnj aq »sn asnoq aqj ‘Bipuj ui jjonjs sba^ pqA^jBMaqjjosjBaXaqjqSnojqrifB ., _________________ f asnoq jiaqj jb aA^S siijaj aqj jsqj ps^Bg lo ‘BjuaadB MBq-MBq^ papajjB [.OfOd aqj SBM uosBas s.XBquiog jo {Biaos uiBUi aqj ‘jbm aqj ajojag . MBqsuiQ JIS pa{{Ba siq-jBqM SBM /{Bj,'qaui ub jjBq :3uouib os|b sbm oqM uBuisjoas . ‘ .J ^auioaaq psq { ‘sjBaX aqj jaAQ pjiq - — - . - . . B aui papuBq UBuiqajBM jqSiu ft* ’ T ----------- ‘spu^PJ W3§ c UIO4J 9ui qsinSupsip oj ‘obj^ (¦ r aq ‘jjods jojs{buiiub 3ui{{ij{ ‘Suijunn -{Biaads asnoq b sbm ‘ajunoABj iBfnap 'djSBj pooS a{q -jBd Xui sb paziuSoaaj'auioaaq ‘sjbpX -Boaaduii puB juiBJjsaj {>ub aasjS qjiM aqj joao *pBq jBqj qsip aqj jng *jnoqB qj{BaM siq ajoM ajj *saqau Jiaqj ureajp suboq aqj sb qans saiuna boq Daransii jo 'siuaaan mshi-mrii nai'^ajii; ‘aqeui oj Moq MOuq sisjbj jQdo Sb qpqs ‘ssassod JOO pip Xaqj a3pa(MOuq oj sS3a ‘sqooa pajji3 Xq papoawKJ/saqi^ papuajajd oqM ajdoad ijBaq jou jqnoa UBadomg jo isjbj ‘tB{q8n|«q 'jqiOMa^ -----------------r- ------------------------______— UI jajjaq ou sbm ajaqj qaiqM UBip ‘ppcq ¦JQAOOPJBU IPH l?»3d SBM jBa OJ pajUBM 1 J«i|yii UI >|OOq 9UJBS 0U1 pull sq PinoM am ioiaas JOU pinoa sq ssojun >|aeqj3ded e peoj jeAou puB s)|ooq poijos Buiipueq jnoqe Asjoiuij sbm ©h Li i //* iy*i» I i 3- J pJiq ^oqs j.uop 3Bi\ Sig,, :piBS qaiqM I B aiu papuBq UBuiqajBM jqSiu ‘japjniu uo juaq ‘Suiujoui jxau ;dn jo3 I ‘JSAaMoq ‘uaqyy^ 'juatp TOq jsjg Xui aSqqo oj uoiSBaao pj asoj XiinjUBiu jnq ‘sfBuiiuB 3uiiii}{ ^ai3 pBq ooj I ‘paaaddBq ji sy i 'Suiujoui XiSAa UMBp jb dn uiiq OJ pasn qaiqM pj^ jaAaj-uiBjq b aq ssausnoduiod sbm jj -MoqXuB uiiq |5 oj'aui paqsB aq ‘ saajj pjo (njaaBjS oj paj{iM-uiip aijjq b pauuaas aABq jsniu iq punoduioa jsba b pBq qaiqM hbh ‘ I PIO sq) «! ‘33UO 'Suiujoui aqj jaadsns j 'uiaqj oj pui^ XpAijisod ___ moq {{BUIS aqj {{ij paq ui SuqjBaj jo aq ‘s{ooj ajBJa{oj X{uo jou pfnoM an i{ B pBq puB ‘ jadaa{s pBq b sbm ajj OJ juBM noX jBqa waiy / uo uoijsanb jsjg siq ‘paAUJB I uaq^ )QO aq OJ pauaddBq aq ji ‘sauiijaioes -{aM B JO ajns aq puB aaijou jnotp^M ui dojp uajjo p{noM j Xequiog ui aq f 5^/ OJ psusddeq i JOAsusqM uiiq q^iM Xe^ oj 3UI joj Xieuioisno auiBoaq jt ^Bqj 4eIS - MajS diqspuaijj jno sjBaX aqj la^ Xui jo omj jo ^aaM b puads oj panj^, , -uoa lips I jnq ‘ paddojs sjooqs aqj aaq^ II^H ip^d JC jsanS srq sbm j sjdoi^ aqj jajjB puB ajojaq sXap Maj b , ¦93u®-’doipaAHaq ‘jaquiajdas<|^nai^Z«^ uauiOMpi7BuauiMO{{aj8iqjo jsoui jBqj qajBjq uiojj :Bipu] ui ujnofos e J iuunp jooqs b uo oS oj pajitBM A^®qsuiQ jjs uaqM jsnf aABa{ (BnuuB Xui J oAo, to asnBaaq dn ji aAB? an XjBssaaau nuam aqj up pajn8g sXbmib ^ooqs ajom omj ajaM ajaqj quun i fejo a{qBUoiqsBj ^uBaaq uop I!‘aaiw qj{M paAUjB j g Xumbjjb^ pjog pjo 8up{oo{-Xsdp s.aA^)*S(^ ; ^uoaaji{-p{iMajojaq3uqd«aAB8 -{nuijotr ‘ou — lUBpStunmuaqaiqa :Xji oj jxao jq8u qjBd oj ireSaq j qw^ L . * • 'Suiujoui /Gsas UMcp )B dn uiiq *s{BuiiuB joj aAO{ SuipunoqB SBM aiqBUoiqsBj aureaaq uoij ji ‘aaijou qjjM paAUjB j jj Xsmbjjb^ s r^' /(if ’ -s i * If; I .’/S A"te ' ( 1fe S I T-?* From R-’ ¦ ,«^i. ' -a The Petits 'revolutionized Bombay and converted it into an Eastern Manchester'. fitable commodity. Manekji earned ^uch ^Dirom & Co,^ George R^ie i T»_ KEv* • 3W- Maneckji earned Rs 100 a month as a managing cherk but was allowed to trade F-S." on his own account. ./short, he was styled by the French “le Petit ”, and hence the surname “Petit ” __ -o~—j __ ''j- of the family. Though Nusserwanji of growth increased manifold by the was responsible for bringing his family entry of Manekji ’s two sons, Dinshaw to Bombay, he could not make a for- (1823-1901) and Nusserwanji (1827- R ^e-whatever he had was lost dur- 1891), into the firm. Both the sons tog an ttUfo^unate trade deal in Cal- inherited their father ’s business acu- cutta. He died in 1819 at the age of men and were keen businessmen. S50, leaving behind him the younger of They received the same initial training has two sons, Manekji Petit. j ’ - - Manekji (1803-1859) was more for- them posts as clerks in the same trad- .. .. .. ... . . .. English, and after doing a stint as J..,.--.. -----------_______________________________________________________________________________ r him to see the Arabian ports, he the father and two sohs joined in a ''«i p^fcvt w ?i s R 1*^ hi S^'Ba hl tunate thmi his father. He knew ing firm where he had formerly ’ ’ ' ’ „ " t as ' - - - - _________ dubash like his. father, which enaUed e?q)erience and proven themselves, firm. Uke other European firms in jee Sons & Co. This was a Brokerage export-import firm trading in any pro* seyi^tal important European ageikxes their bredu^a 1 ' ¦ . . . ?5 40 Parsiana August 198- A’^ W’5;^ ^Kn^rive boom ic: ied^. Indeed, Dinshaw repu- out Mme of his friends. Whether it in , ufactures to compete in foreign mar- €very respect with English man- lil Indeed, Dinshaw repu- foresight to products must at least be « other reasons, uxoK.xuxva iv vumpcic m lorei gn mar Though conservative in outlook. Petit he was an employer with “heart and Mills , and the Victona Mills, while feehngs. “ f Nusserwanji mahaged the Oriental L Mills. The end of the partnership was a watersherfin the Petit saga. For Din- : dtaw and his three sons, it marked the point of accelerated industrial growth, xcumuvs Diiishaw duly received the accolade of children jgg^ of the pioneersi of the movement 4? For Nusserwanji, circumstances were less pleasing. The Oriental Mills ' at Tardeo worked profitably for many | years with a subsidiary factory at Col- aba. But in an age where large families were the norm, he had two * only. Jamshed and Avabai. ; as a poet and writer but none as a I watershed in the Petit saga. For Din- I diaw and his three sons, it marked the point of accelerated industrial growth. t c ”-----—Kzx ^.uMMxvii wuiy, jaiiisnca ana AVJ r tk industry and ‘‘one Jamshed showed marked-promise 1 h- of the movement poet and writer but none as a 1 which has revolutionized Bombay and businessman. Avabai married her first ' f^!®’J®^** *"f° ®ti East^^ Asevunu son or sir Pinshaw) who now began to manage V - converted it into an Eastern Manches- fdhr fc gj'WW p 'JI 1. ^->.1 2S^sm, Framjee (second son of Sir his father-in-law ’s business as well as his own ever-expanding ventures. The death in 1888 of Jamshed (32) child- 1— •• • ' _ - _ paid less and less attention to business r - I *;*' pressing factoiy at Jalna, several ing and bleaching units) and took existing coijcems such as the Emperpl' Bomanji ’s- death In 1915 heralded; 1-«r. 1^4!* XT •• •----------' . i ''*“*'* wyvciiis SUVO as n less, left Nusserwanji inconsolable. He Edward Spg & Mfe Co nnirl l4>cc anH loco i____•_____ .t.®* . - disintegration of the family Inter- ? chantable institutions he had set v- —’ *nrer Framjee died in 1895 and Dinshaw charitable institutions he had set up. nal family bickerings meant neglect •J in the pioneer undeftakings. Sfr D ¦ .. , Petit (second) and J B Petit P^hhgen ’Ont of dl Petit opposing views on the British questit^^ enterpnses was now ^rontrolled by and Gandhi’s non co-operation move- ' Bomanji (third son of Sir D M Petit), ment. J B Petit was far too radical foi - - 1901. in the pioneer undeftakings; Sir D r Bomanji admmistered with vigour. A ing had already perceived the new aeencv. B C Petit Sonc rr. _ I h is..; r Le/ir.- Nusserwanji Manekji I Petit inherited his father’s B business acumen. Right: J N Petit Institute which houses the famous H Petit Library which Tfi/as & established by his parents in I memory of Jamshedji Nus- & serwanji Petit (above) who |- showed marked promise as a e poet but died young. Top: Avabai Petit, Nusser- I wanji’s daughter ttfter whom E is named the Avabai Petit p Girls’ School. ijomanji ^inira son ot Sir D M Petit), ment. J B Petit was far too radical ftji It was a colossal inheritance which the conservative Parsis. The new agency, B C Petit Sons & Co., when the OrientalMiUshad was formed which promoted several in 1903 to Sir Adamji PeerbhoV uhd^Z^ new concerns (including a ginning and pressure from irate sharehi^dets mismanagement. 1933 saw fiifejiquicfe^ tion of the Manockji Petit By the late 192O’s the control of other mills was in the hands of thu^^ Wadias. Sir D M Petit (2i>d).in^este^' ^ his energy in becoming one bay’s largest property J B Petit, interested himself in banking by establishing the Financing Co., the Petit Banit Petit Industrial Banking Co, Lfd. In words which referred tjo Manockjee Mill but which ¦ well apply to all the Petit wMture® one disheartened Parsi wrote : ilhese mills whidi revolutionised the industrial si >i^ Bombay and brougfat and livelihood to numbers, and other communities went liquidation in 1933. Soon a^ machinery was sold as sefiiqi bon building was razed to tbe T%aiS vanished fixim city one g;reatest Industrie cmicerns, of the Parsi community. MS . •«««¦= 99 ** Zd ’¦i 41 Parsfflna Au^usf 1984 'A .J9f'r- L 1- r ¦ L t- K'- t s 1 } r L i- ^^0*»^ add he had an ag^ia London -something like £250, _ . ------- Whoever boy^ bd^ ior him in a ticular book, or even felt that it might London had to buy a new suitcase to help one ofhis pet projeotssuch as wild- send them in. The storeroom at Petit 'that there were seldom less than dozen people for meals. gunnery schwl life preservation, he bought a large Hall must be stacked to the roof with ks?nmmlnL^nt number of copies of it, just to give away these once-used suitcases. The books, ® most of them also once-read, were sent J at nnT I remember once, going With him to as gifts to the Petit Library in Bombay. famous private zoo run by one He not only read voraciously but D^s, or Lmdenbaim, or Simmons, of England^ most paradoxical charac- possessed a phenomenal ih^oiy. « gobbling pate s^t^ic^s ^nsp trian- ters, gambling-club owner turned ani- How often, late at night after the others ' gular samosas byjhe handful just like mal-lover; John Aspinawl, (and who had retired to bed, have we not Mt Sld^ thev *?L5**® ® Savaric, or in the freez- r^konvSh -^Ertok^° I^ “^’"®" A ingly airconditioned room of Petit Hall, J‘®’-a^ ?q“eezed the life out a glass of brandy in my hand, listening imve^ifjCzi ’7 1 K ‘.4 I f^oullte keeper in a sheer burst of to him holding forth about what a affection). ganunaraywas/orwhatateseriS^ij 'J*?**^ A read books and At tea in his house, Aspinawl was capable of doing, or what were the relaxed and put on weight. In his showed us a book he had written about chanc^ of ‘Wed- The Best of Friends, mother heavenly body and bei^ pul^ ro^. I remember openmg the doorof After we had returned to Sir Dinshaw ’s verized eP house in London (it was just off Ber- He never attended an office even ’1 I tjelieve, the^ had been held up by the door, *'•---- -•«< -- « , . . . o ’ ’ He had books stacked in neat ___ on one edge of his bed, and ther^ were more booB piled all arcM^ on sheh'ns “ As if'>*PPcncd, Macmillan was just rarely, making a telepK mB. ' "Sen brmging out one of my own books. But he did not need to work; he had sa^ book in hardcover. so I went and saw my editor, and got Sir the uncanny ability of making his IS meant buymg books by the Dmshaw his copies and saved him money grow without so much as leavings*-^ X v J « ... **w a XTldll IllUbt Uc SUICKcU lO 1116 TOOt Wltfl hs number of copies of it, just to give away these once-used suitcases. The books, there were marathon bridge sessions, Dodds, or Lindenbaum, or Simmons, byjhe handful just like mal-lover, John Aspinawl,'Tand'wh^^ ... ...w ..aawaaav world, they happened to be names to was their h . don ’t sleep peacefully unless they are totally relaxed. Reprinted from Sunday Mid-Day, June 3. 1984. When there was a famine in which you can see the traffic as it passes Maharashtra, he gave Jakhs for. digging over the new bridge on Napean Sea wells, and more lakhs for the floods in ~ “ Poona. The marble staircase from Old Petit Hall famine p llWkJ Ik V’llViV'U III O Olgllvlllg vll. dll of US, our mam preoccupation. Centre for Performing Arts, and the ambulance speeding over a hump in the money, or Grecian pillars that give the large din- road. The two events bracket two would. If he could bring himself to part ing room at the Taj its Edwardian ele- lifetimes, and they made at least one of with something which he had acquired -------'------ ’------ - because he genuinely wanted to possess it. He collected jade for more than 50 years; he understood it and spoke of his with the proviso that they would have major pieces as though they had a life of to maintain it as it was. their own. But what he took a quite school- boyish delight iif was the bargains he had managed to find, such as an album of Indian prints which he bought at a Sotheby auction for ten pounds, for instance. It had 50 pictures and each was valued at more than a hundred England and, as usual, I was looking pounds. Or again an illuminated ’ ' ................... Shahnama he picked up in Bombay for under Rs 5,000. It was worth that many pounds. I dedicated my first-ever hook to be disappointment, his comment published in England to him, and it became customary for me , as I began to travel to Europe and America fairly here. ” During this talk, I happened to men ­ tion to him that I had recently lost my house. Once he offered the Old Petit sleeps besides me as I write this and I Sensibly enough, they declined — who could have kept up his family house as he himself had kept it? And where it stood, are now half-a-dozen developers' dreams: Malabar Apart­ ments. In the summer of 1983,1 had to go to forward to my holiday in Savaric on the return trip. And when I found that Sir Dinshaw himself was staying in Bom ­ bay at that time, and I expressed my t was: “But why do you have to go to France to stay with me? You come and stay frequently, to spend a couple of weeks , at Savaric, his fabulous estate midway up the hillside towering above the sea dog. A few days after I had gone, he between Monte Carlo and Nice. ” ' ‘ Cuddled among immaculately bar- I " ' . - - vHla guarded by eight dogs, its garden other dogs^ ’that he had also collected. ........................... So he told his daughter, Dina, “Ask Big Mac if he will take Buster. ” r discovered that he had a dog which was proving troublesome in that he often bered spruce trees, a pink and white got ’into fights with the half a dozen and its orange and fig trees tended lov ­ ingly by a gentle old gardener, it was kept as spic and span as a ship of the Royal Navy bui with unmistakably Unwell French overtones by a lady of extraor- C “ __________ ______ dinary charm and elegance. Genevieve drive to get him used to me, and that Oger. Its kitchen was in charge of a second- generation cook, Assunta, who in addi­ tion to her own specialities such as a really inspired Quiche Lorraine, could also produce the exact Petit Hall ver ­ sion of murugdani. Always, always, there was both white and red wine, selected by Mme Oger, even though the host himself rarely drank anything the first time I had no appetite for it. The next afternoon, I went to Petit Hall to pick up Buster. I found that Sir Dinshaw had gone ipto a coma, and the ambulance was waiting in the porch to take him to the Petit Hospital. They On September 20, I took Buster for a night I stayed to dinner. He was talk­ ing to us and cracking jokes and enjoy ­ ing himself hugely when suddenly he felt unwell. He asked me to help him to go to his bed, and I remember trying to hold up his frail body in its long, long walk to the room next door. Soon we sat down to dinner — without our host. Chicken murugdani was served. For except water, or while in India, coconut water. Munificence He was a great giver-away, of money as well as ofthings, but since he had a very put him on a stretcher and slid the strong aversion to advertising his stretcher into the ambulance and shut munificence, it was only what he the door. As the ambulance drove away,! and Dina ran up the stairs and stood on a spot on the balcony from donated to causes while he was away from India that came to public notice. 45 Parsiana August 1984 APPOINTED VALUERS OF JEWELLERY TO THE GOVERNMENTOF INDIA GAZDAR PVT. LTD. Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay. Tel: 202 3666 Telegrams: “MANUSCRIPT” c a A-, t i 3 'in 1 •«•^^•1 Prior to the accident: (from left) Rumi, Vispi, Khorshed and Ratoo. iiB 3^ - ¦It ‘V ¦¦ SS'' ' •atf'-'k'-' ’ - '.•n •*! 9 .‘t fc' 5* £*: '¦‘i *• > *-/' 7^: 3 - * 7^ - -• <¦ ''V s' & H J I f-} Boys will be boys. Vispi and Ratan were full of mischief, high-spirited and bursting with energy. Ratan was a bit jealous of his elder brother and Khorshed accepts the responsibility for this. “Vispi was my first-born child and first-borns are so dear to their mothers. When Vispi was a year old and I was expecting Ratan, I had hugged Vispi and made a promise: I would always love Vispi and never neglect him no matter how many children God would give me. 1 think Ratoo sensed this, though I tried my best to maintain the same attitude towards both children. The boys were sent to the best ot schools, starting out with ‘Christchurch ’ in Byculla. They hated studies. Vispi would even go as far as developing a kind of ‘examination fever ’ every time the finals drew near. Once he contacted small-pox, another time typhoid, once it was chicken-pox, then even rheumatic fever... and all this only pn the eve of or during every exam. Both boys had a good IQ (Vispi: 140, Ratan: 100) but eventually they grew disgusted and disappointed with theiP poor academic performance ahd dropped out of school without completing their SSC. They tried to explain their feelings to their unhappy father: “Daddy, let us do something our hearts are in.” Automobiles were in their blOod. Even _ _______ ______________ before he ’d celebrated his twelfth with the birth of a strapping, bouncing birthday, Vispi had built mechano After the death of loved ones The Bhavnagris 'communicate' with their dead sons. Ingrid Albuquerque on August 9 1950, when Khorshed went into labour, it ended up But, This is the story about Khorshed and Rumi Bhavnagri, an elderly Parsi couple, gentle as most elderly Parsis are, wim mv i/nv*. u. „ --------- c --------------- kind and simple. They live in Rustom male child. The parents, grandparents, models of ^ships, tanks^ trucjcs, Baug, one of the Wadia Trust Colonies, i_____ in Bombay ’s Byculla, a modest two- called Vispi (after King Vistaspa in bedroom apartment, reasonably well- Persian history), off, at least not wanting in anything, upper middle-class. God had been kind to them, for the first three-quarters of their life at least, daughter (“It would have made Khorshed was the only daughter born late in her parents ’ lives and so she was pampered and given all her heart ’s ------------------ ------------- ------- . desires which included Rumi who had disappointment in the warmth and stage, he managed to coax his lather mtc been a relative of Khorshed ’s best friend. < They were married in 1949, when The second boy was relatives were all delighted. The boy was aeroplanes and engines which till today adorn the showcase in his parents ’house, Ratan too wm totally geared towards Six months later, when she conceived automobile engineering and ever yet again, the parents ’ joy knew no managed to get himself a driver ’s licence bounds, khorshed longed to have a before his eighteenth birthday. The family owned a Fiat, bought 2 -__ _ __ , __ ____ on® every two or three years. Ratar December 13 1951, another son was born was always fiddling with engines, his everything complete ”), but when, on DcUClllUCl IJ i^Ul, anwmvi -------- -----------j- --------------------a to the Bhavnagris, Khorshed forgot her father ’s car and those of others. At one buying him a share in a garage near theii — ' • ’ i called Ratan house. Within a few years, the othei Khorshed was 23, and Rumi was chief (affectionately known as Ratoo). partners had gone off to Dubai an< cashier in Polson ’s. Khorshed would have liked another Ratan owned the garage wholly. Children were born to them almost at child, she was sure it would be a Vispi meanwhile, got engaged once. When Khorshed became pregnant daughter. But Rumi was firm: “It is married, went to Canada, returned, wen immediately after her marriage, better to have two children and bring to Teheran, returned, and eventual!: everybody was certain it would be a girl them up well than to have more than we settled down to helping Ratan with th because all the first-borns in the clan had can afford and make our lives into a business side of the garage. Things begai been girls burden. ” to look rosy indeed. ecstacy of childbirth and motherhood. Khorshed would have liked another RaUn owned the garage wholly, child, she was sure it would be a It is 46 Parsiana August 1984I '<¦ * {f 7 The boys were interested in aU aspects ..... ___ 1_______ ; ____ motoring, especially rally driving, who has never been very close to neighbours, because the once very sober Fiat, mostly driven by a very sober silver- haired Rumi Bhavnagri, was suddenly _ _________ ___ sporting flashing stripes and rally kissed meTl could noTunderstand what numbers. The two brothers started participating in several rallies. They had their own garage now to soup up their cars. Initially their father Rumi was not too keen about his sons ’ passion, in fact, the first time they asked to join WIAA’s ‘chotta London-Sydney Open Rally’ in 1969, the father said no (“Because they were too yoimg, Ratoo was only eighteen ”), but they pestered him until he gave in. Among the 140 cars that participated, Vispi and Ratan were among the first 20 cars to complete the race. Destiny stepped in as it usually does when life becomes too orderly, too comfortable, too smooth-sailing. In 1980, Vispi and Ratan were to enter a cross country rally to be run over a course of 1632 miles. They were most ,, ___ __ ___ _ _ ivrunrv ..vai. ininuiv umc « viasir miau excited about it. The neighbours could carefully. They said, ‘Don ’t wait for us happened on the Pune-Bombay road the machines late into the night. Peace in the Parsi colony was no doubt disturbed, but nobody minded. The boys were well- liked and popular, and after all, it was an important rally. On February 21, a night before the big neighbour the car out for a trial spin, from Bombay legal application. 1 toTd them to drive t engine which they had just overhauled worried. Daddy, in any case we ^n’t^go and inserted. over 30 (mph) since we have just over- wivm The day is etched firmly in Khorshed ’s hauled the engine. We will be alright.” In boys ’ mother. “We stay on the second floor. Ratoo, K to all the hugged me tight, said goodbye and went began to worry and grumble. At 8.30 the door-bell . rang; one of the mechanics from Ratan’s garage came to say that Morning came and there was no sign of Vispi and Ratan. By 8, Khorshed out. He hardly went down a few steps, then he came running back to the door, to me. Again he hugged me tight and there had been a call at the garage stating that there had been an accident somewhere near Khopoli and Vispi and had happened, he said goodbye again. _______ _____ He went down one floor, then once more Ratan were in hospital. There were no he came running to me and held me tight ntore details or explanations, just this and hugged me. By then Vispi too came baffling message. Rumi rounded up a few friends and sped towards Khopoli. “We reached the accident site. The car was smashed into a tree, but there was nobody else there. There was a hospital just two minutes away from there, we rushed to that hospital. There I was told that the three other persons in the car — the mechanics and the friend, had all escaped with minor injuries and scratches. But both my sons had been killed instantly, on the spot. ” The father paused s^dly', then continued: “I asked the mechanics how it had happened, but nobody could tell me. They said, ‘ We were asleep one minute, the next minute there was a crash! ’ It had The mechanics and the friend, had all escaped with minor injuries and scratches. But both my sons had been killed instantly. 1 to wish me got^lbye. I told them to drive hear them tuning their car and revving Mama, we will go till Khopoli and return, or we might stay there overnight I was returning from the solicitors. Our - • was t,- --o ------ - __ _ event, Vispi and Ratan decided to take Ratoo and so we had gone to file in the near Panvel. ” One of the neighbours identified the and come tomorrow morning. ’” boys ’ bodies. Rumi filled in the Just as they were stepping into their applications for the death certificates and car, they met their father. Rumi recalls: completed all the legal formalities. “I “1 2_.- could not understand what was was giving over his house to happening. Everything was so unreal. I was fortunate to have my friends and neighbours with me, they helped in i VV 1* X __ J JI ** * * ** *** TTIHI lilV'j kiiv^ ilVllJvU til o Khopoli, to warm up and expand the carefully and Ratoo said, ‘Why are you everything, so we could leave the hospi- engme which they had iust overhauled worried n«Hdv in soon. ” He went home to Rustom Baug, to break the news to his wife, the i! the car with Ratan and Vispi were three but Ratoo said, ‘No, we want to set out (Khushroo Mirza), a Muslim mechanic who is now in Heart break takes its own tear- drenched course. Rumi climbed slowly ... . z,--------- --------------- and painfully up the two floors to his bite on the way. who is now in Dubai (Ismail house (Khorshed remembers, “I heard We ’ll have biryani at Taloja. ’ I went to Mohammed), and a friend. All five drove him coming and I kept asking from the see them off and then, something very out of Rustom Baug in happy spirits not top, ‘Why have you taken so long; where strange happened: knowing what awaited them. are Vispi and Ratoo? Why can’t you K¦;; move faster? ’ ”) Rumi reached finally, and H ¦ spite of the affection of caring friends and neighbours, Rumi and Khorshed began to acknowledge the bitter reality O that they were alone in the world. K’ Beyond the funeral and the four-day long rites and rituals at the Tower of Silence at Kemp ’s Corner, and after the S • series of condolence visits had ended, there was nothing left. night. “I told them to have dinner and go, others; A Parsi mechanic from Kurla and painfully up the two floors to his J see them off and then, something very I aS M Parsiana August 1984 z V, »** » J,.. The prayer table used for ‘communica­ tion. ' (Photos: Mukesh P Shah)I 1 They were a broken couple. Too old to start all over again, even if they had wanted to. They had nothing to live for. “We thought of death ourselves, about how nice it would be if we too could die andjoinoursonswherevertheywere.lt ___ __ ___ ________ ___ was so difficult for us, we could not bear funeral (to be precise). That was the day regularly contact him through It. We prayed to God to at least make us , ¦¦ • • __ ¦ ___ • _ mad so that we would then be free from darkest despair and a neighbour from our senses. ¦ ----- Khorshed adds, “I had been very religious. Now, for the first time 1 began to doubt whether there was a God. If there was a God then why should He do this terrible thing to me, snatch my sons away when I have never harmed a hair that she had received a message from on anybody ’s head? I was ready to give two boys who ’d had an accident. She up God, religion and life. ” could not say anything else. She did not Hope inevitably takes it birth amidst know who they were or their address; just that the boys were restless and wanted to reach out to their parents. She [ was turning into a strong belief, which made them carry on .. finally bringing them to the present stage. To explain the present stage, we have lady, around fifty years or so. She told to go back to their dreariest days of mourning —on the 28th day after the the telephone. She asked them to come over to her house where they went Rumi explained: “She was an elderly us that a brother she was very close to, h?id died earlier and she used to ____ ^-1 seances when the elderly couple was in the organized by a very powerful medium, a Ms Kapadia on Napean Sea Road. ” Ms Umrigar said; “I was in communication with my brother and our communication was suddenly disturbed. There was a cry from these two young boys. They would say 1^; I the E-block, fourth floor, brought them the first message. Ms Dastoor, the neighbour, was unable to say much: “I had gone to a concert in town, and over there in the interval, another Parsi lady mentioned nothing except, ‘We are two brothers. We died in an accident. Mom and Dad are shattered in their sorrow. You must tell them not to break down. We are in . - ------- , the spirit world, we are happy where we the deepest despair. just that the boys were restless and are; we are looking after them, they At some stage Rumi and Khorshed, wanted to reach out to their parents. She must not worry. ’ Before I could ask or one of them, must have felt the mentioned it during the play and I was anything else, they had gone off the uncontrollable urge to meet their sons surprised by the coincidence. I took her plane and I was in communication with again, experienced the non-suppressable telephone number. ” my brother again.” desperation to contact them, know Devastated, Khorshed and Rumi Ms Umrigar could tell them no more, where they are, a growing belief that out dialled the number. The lady they spoke she could not even assure them that the in the great beyond there was life after to was a Ms Umrigar in the Dadar Parsi spirits who had spoken to her were death. It must be that hope, slowly Colony. She refused to say anything on Vispi ’s and Ratan’s. Khorshed and on anybody ’s head? I was ready to give Devastated, Khorshed and Rumi dialled the number. The lady they spoke to was a Ms Umrigar in the Dadar Parsi 1 i. With Best Compliments from ALAN & DECOR Decorators of repute Buildings, flats, bunglows, offices etc. Office: —83, A.B. LBM Compound, Opp. Air Conditioned Market, Tardeo Road, Bombay —400 034. Tel.No. Resi : 366052 Office : 379536 ¦ 48 Parsiana August 1984With' Compliments From H.M MEHTA &CO Cotton Merchants 51 Parsidna August 1984 Rumi begged for her advice, but there was nothing she could tell them. Reunion between sons and parents took place at a seance held on March 22, (exactly one month after the sons had died) at Ms Kapadia's residence on Napean Sea Road. Khorshed explained: “It was a group seance. All of us who wanted to communicate with departed souls sat in a circle. Ms Kapadia, the medium, was in I ''We thought of death ourselves, about how nice it would be if we too could die and join our sons wherever they were." the centre (they did not know her, nor she them). After intense concentration and meditation, she had established com ­ munication with the spirit realm, and then she moved from one group member to the other, assisting them to communciate with their dead loved ones. ” When she came near the Bhavnagris, they were frightened, doubtful and partly skeptical in spite of their earnest hope. Then, the first words uttered by the medium were: “Hello Mummy, fatso. ” Khorshed was almost struck dumb. That was what Vispi always called her. The sons spoke on, through their mediator: “Mom and Dad, this is Vispi and Ratoo. Yes, we died and reached the spirit world at once, within minutes of our death. It is God ’s will and God knows what is best for each one of us. God is good. You must not cry for us or miss us; we are so much happier here. We can see you all the time, we are looking after you. But we cannot communicate with you until you are completely relaxed and happy. You will have to develop the powers of concentration. ” Khorshed continued to be nonplussed, but Rumi recovered sufficiently and through the mediator, asked his sons: “Vispi, Ratoo, you were such good drivers. You promised me you would not cross 30 (mph), then how did this accident take place? What happened?' The sons said they could not explain. White Cloud Filter Pads Private Limited 4^2, Gultekdi Road, Poona - 411 037 Pioneer Makers of Quality Fil­ ter Pads untouched by hand and manufactured for the first time in the country on an imported completely automa ­ tic Pad Forming Line. A complete range of Filter Media from coarse through medium to sterilising grades made available; equivalent or even superior .to, the finest imported quality. 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Life for the Bhavnagris today —years after their sems died —is no longer filled with hopelessness and despair. For, they no longer feel they have lost their sons; in fact, “we communicate with them every single day.” After the initial seance at Ma Kapadia’s, they went to another...and another...until, over the months, they developed powers of complete concen ­ tration and relaxation, which made it easier for their sons to reach out to them and vice-versa. Khorshed has gone one step further, she has developed the power of ‘automatic writing, ’ In the ‘automatic writing ’ process, you hold the pen lightly and limply on to a book, you concentrate intensely, and gradually the pen starts moving, slowly and tediously and unevenly over die page ...this goes on for some time, until, communication is established and the spirit uses your hand and script to speak to you. You ask questions aloud as you would to someone sitting right before you, and the answers come written on the book. Khorshed says: “It is a kind of telepathy. It took me more than four months to be able to do it. For four months the pen used to just move over the book in scratches or circles and no sense would come out of it. Then slowly, words started forming, then sentences and today the pen moves automatically. ” And this is how they communicate with their sons and their sons with them. When they are in doubt, trouble or facing illness, or every evening when they find the loneliness unbearable, they sit on the little prayer table in their bedroom (on which there are images of their Gods and photographs of their sons and other departed family members, and one eternal flame diyaa)^ concentrate and pray a while, then Khorshed puts the pen to a thick exercise book that is always there (and dozens of books have been filled so far), and the communication with their sons begins. BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a PabUc Sdiool by the Department ct Ed^idion for Indian Merit Scholars. Exed- lent Climate — AlMmmd EdaadioB : Cliante 52 Parsiana August 1984 1 3 1 1 1 All Acatenic Sabjecte —Tech ­ nical Sabjecte: Workshop. Tech ­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance. Carpentry a Farm­ ing. Training in Sdf-Gorenuaatt through Elected Boys ’ OflSce I J bearers. Bamce —Physical Train- ing — Daily Aamnbiy wiOi Coagregatfamal Prayen — Week ­ ly intensive Zoroastrian — Geeta- Koran classes — Excelimt Modem Kkchca and Dfathif Room facilities — Airy Donal- tories. Moderate Fees. Freeships and Concessions to Deserving Students. •5 I 4 Apply to — THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building, 324 Dr. D. N. Road, Bombay 400 001. J *5I 1 The sons have, in detail, described the spirit world, and expressed all kinds of spirit philosophy. On April 17, 1981, Vispi wrote through his mother ’s hand: “We are all humans. You are on the earth plane and we are on the spirit plane. But there is a vast difference between us. You cannot know all truths, and we know most of the truths. You cannot know the extent of good and bad in your fellowmen; we know exactly how go^ or bad each person on earth is. You cannot read each other ’s minds,, we can. You cannot see us or hear us, we can see you, hear you and even know exactly your mind and thoughts so we can judge you better than you q^n judge yourself. We have wider vision. ” On the 21st of the same month, he wrote: “There are seven planes or realms in the spirit world. The first plane is lowest and darkest, it is nearest to the I earth. It is a most horrible place. Bare rocks with crawling creatures like human souls with disfigured bodies and horrible minds full of bad feelings. They never see even a tiny spark of light at any time. ” And so on, until he reached the seventh plane: “You earth people will never even imagine how beautiful the seventh plane is. It is beyond any powers of description, beyond imagination. Souls on this realm have light, perfect, young looking bodies which are as light as clouds. They live with utmost harmony and love. The descriptions do not always deni only' with the supernatural. Once when Khorshed developed kidney trouble, was on the verge of dehydration, Rumi coaxed her to call out to Vispi. It took some time for Vispi to come because her hand was weak, she could not even hold the pen. After some hours however, the pen began to move, slowly, surely, with increasing vigour. Ratan and Vispi came to their parents to tell them: “Do not worry. You are very sick, but do not call the doctor, do not think of admitting yourself into hospital. You will be vSry ill i The next afternoon I was conside- In most of the ‘communication ’ IS IT TRUE? Chancef took me, eight years ago, to them I would return the next day for stay for a few months next door to the their decision. Bhavnagris. I was waiting for the occupation rights of an apartment I’d rably surprised to find them awaiting purchased and since I required to Jive me warmly. They had communicated somewhere until then this kind old with their sons the evening before, and Parsi couple in Rustom Bang, who I was shown the book in which the were my friends, accommodated me. boys had written: “She has not come At that time, I did not meet to harm you, she has not come with Khorshed or Rumi. They were away any bad motive. You must co ­ on a one-year stint with their son Vispi operate with her. And she will be able in Teheran. But I was acquainted with to take the truth about the spirit world Ratan. He used to allow me to use to the people on earth. And wc are their telephone to make or receive there to help her with the article. You calls. He would open the door for me, can send for us at any time, but then leave me to make my calls and see remember, complete concentration, myself out. We worked on the story for three And once, maybe I’d got down to hours, and then I asked if I could making too many calls, he came out of ‘speak ’ to the sons*. We went to the the bath in a brief bath-robe and got prayer table, meditated for a long the start of his life to see me still there, time, and eventually the pen And I don't know who was more Khorshed held began to move, embarrassed, he or I. But we laughed it off; I went to my new house soon books I had seen that afternoon, it had after that, and Ratan and the incident always been Vispi who would address were soon forgotten. the message to his parents. This time. Then, in 1980, I heard about the it was Ratan who came on the ‘line. ’ accident and said ‘What a pity’ and He said he remembered me quite well: ‘How tragic’ with the rest of Bombay. “You used to be so fat then, you have When I Went to meet Khorshed and lost weight now. ’’ And then (that’s Rumi recently, for our first meeting when I broke into a cold sweat) he ever, it had been merely to ask them to referred to the bath-robe incident. I share with readers the method of how asked questions, all kinds of to survive the death of loved ones. I questions, about the accident, my had known nothing about their article, the spirit world, and pat the strange communication s. answers came on the book. It was a When I mentioned the word six-paged conversation. ‘article ’, they gasped, “You want to The 1 asked whether they had come print something! No, please leave us across my brothers and sister who had alone. Earth people cannot under- died a few years ago. They said no, but stand these mysteries. For them it is all that if I could give them the names, the humbug. We are not interested in dates of their deaths and return the becoming part of any controversy, next day, I could speak to my people Excuse us, but the answer is no. ” Like myself. a conscientious journalist, I requested them to at least think about it and told too chicken to go back since. The 1 asked whether they had come I gave the details, but I have been for seven days, but on the seventh day that) a most miraculous manner. that.” you will recover completely. The The Bhavnagris do not force their The mother argued: “And you, why Almighty has promised us this. ” And beliefs or convictions on any other did you go? Had you completed your that is how it happened. Without a person. They are content to go through tasks bn earth? ” doctor, without medication Khorshed the day in the usual routine manner, and ~ rose from her bed on the seventh day. Rumi was facing problems regarding evening. Once, in . anguish, Khorshed we were going to become slaves to some the occupation-rights of his house. He cried aloud to her sons: “Why can’t we very evil force. God loved us and wanted did not know what to do, who to turn to. come and join you in your world, why to spare us that pain and so we are here His sons told him not to worry, he should can’t you ask the Almighty to take us with him. just leave himself in their hands and they too? ” Could this be what the mystery of would guide him to the correct channel. The sons replied: '‘Your time is not death is all about? They did, and the problem was yet over. You have to complete vour t . j . i. ¦ . j .i. . i_ I 11 J • VW vviuyivvv jKzw* Text ana photographs reprinted with permission from surmounted m (even the lawyers called it tasks on earth, you cannot join us before sawy, July 1984. The Bhavnagris do not force their The sons said: “There was a terrible life then communicate with their sons every awaiting us on earth if we had continued. The sons replied: '‘Your time is not death is all about? . - Text and photographs reprinted with permission from i s- F •f I w I' f' I iif i I 53 Parsiana August 1984 L.4 I’i 1 ¦# i St \ I" i'l I ‘The lone strong voice’ Celebrity magazine writes on the noted crusader and journalist, A D Gorwala. Shalan Savur '"'"'fcoWrrto/ie&.Aenunkertepote petulanUy ¦'it^mL™for girls ? waS pen the Indian aib-cononenl has ever in short story tlction style or sometmer Ik ‘ .“.S'™- ¦ ™n< produced. 9ver the course of half a cen- in the form of a olav rathpr thnn in the, u pants. She sits back on her tury, he has written columns for the straight dry essav form In doinv tm surveys him with pride. BiX; cSSnS “ .ei,s ‘^im’':.So^Z^nrZlXm^^^^ A Brave Man Grows Up blinking toes. His searing home truths wrong points of view fromwMcha writ€7can that she has reduced were spiked by cLtio^ pu^lLhe^^^^ <^onsidered as a Pnces. Bm I now have to pay: Rs 1.40 chanter. A major writer combTne"s these ^8° ^^ed to cost Rs 1.25, Rs 1.45 for left open to him. Gor- three—storyteller, teacher enchan- which a few weeks - ----- artadhts own ^klyapdy nomad ter-bat it b the ^nclLmer h, «1 to cost Rs 1.30,Rs 3.00 a dozen £r n?h ^^’^Sency, while predominates and makes him a maior bananas, the fruit of the poor, which a (fearnn^ Goenka) chose writer." If Nabokov's words can be used “^ed to cost Rs 2.50. to be as a yardstick to measure a writer's ‘‘ would seem clear Ms Gandh pnnted. When pnntirig presses were greatness, Gorwala is a major writer. If ^as not reduced prices. That this is so is J cyclostyled his magazine, he hasn't received the recognition he clear also from the fact that her govern- ^y I"- deserves, it is due to his own preference ^e^t has had to give in the last year typed out^^^sav^nd^ZT!^tT'In keeping a low profile, and an impotent more than one increase of dearness variotes subscribers UntSth M ^Ta media which couldn't digest his fearless allowance to government servants arrived wheS^^he ‘^ked on ^cause of increases in the cost of living caUv ordered him tn P^Ses was too heavy for their emp- mdex, and has according to today ’s G^1STs\ ^pay-the-price-to-get-your- Papers, another increase under con- uver tne years, Gorwala s has been newsprint' policy. templation. ------- ¦ _________ _____________ To say what she does then Ms Gandhi must be very ignorant or very careless of straight, dry essay form. In doing Gorwala narrates the truth almost supreme fairy tale. Celebrity (maga^ne, January 1984) A Rrovn „ tt —lutes one of the greatest writers of our "^ave Man GrOWS Up so, as a time. Vladimir Nabokov, master of To Recapitulate* literature, once said, *^There are three points of view from which a writer can be considered: he may be considered as a storyteller, as a teacher, and as an en- of bread which some months chanter. A major writer combines these 1.25-, Rs 1.45 for a three—storyteller, teacher, enchan- which a few weeks ago us- fer—but it is the enchanter in him that predominates and makes him a major writer. ” If Nabokov's words can be used os a yardstick to measure a writ&r's I : •-if he hasn't received the recognition he also from the fact that her govern- deserves, it is due to his own preference in keeping a low profile, and an impotent media which couldn't digest his fearless allowance to government pen. The weight of his words inked on their pages was too heavy for their emp­ ty, shallow 'pay-the-price-to-get-your- newsprint ’ policy. ty, shallow *pay-the-price-to-get-your- nnJlnt, tTtmhX^TshJL not. BuV in where the icv wind? ? Ji T whiteness surrounding him, as speaking for effect, she lie ^vaXlv‘"^“81; he breaks off the fruit and crams it into. ly... ' " nte SX’d • whirnpering sound his mouth. The child is A.stad r.nrwoio Peocle of Ind,a diffinnit oc n u. like gored animals. Down below, the or ­ chards sunned themselves in the wat­ ery, weak sunlight which filtered onto the earth like a fading screen. The trees hung heavy with fruit, filling the atmos ­ phere with an ambrosial fragrance h-iJ k stiU^^ss IS broken by halppy through his soft curls childish laughter echoing in the cold, uri- 1^„ moving air. The child is being lifted high Transvaal who in. the air by the orderly so that his plump little palms can reach out and g_ ‘' mulberries. The orderly urges him His wet nurse —Daulat, an' 'lra4i break it.) His button-like nose, still to lady, is trying to make him wear his 54 Parsiana Auyust 1934 speaking for effect, she lies stupendous- his mouth. The child is Astad Gorwala. People of India, difficult as it may be (“It’s my very first memory. ”) to accept it, remember that your Prime Later, his lips stained purple with Minister is an inordinate liar. In your mulberry juice, he is propped up on the °wn interest, take nothing she says at its orderly ’s shoulders and carried into the ^^^ce value. From Philip drunk* his iko- high-roofed cottage for his mid-day Plc appealed to Philip spber. From mother passes her hand Indira lying, who can you, less for- , 1 n. wolfs down tunate, appeal to? Why, only to lying Ws food. “You must have been a Boer of Indira. she says with a fond smile, as he holds --- J-----’ y 4 A Boer —because I was always hungry!”) His wet nurse —Dfmiat an Irani behaviour. Unlike many others whose pulpit has only become pulp fiction. got killed in the war,” ? An extract from Opinion, January 12, 1982. grasp the out his plate for a second helping. (“A - him on "— ' - Todo, baba, todo!" (Break it, baba. A.D. Gorwala has lived that rare life where his ideals have matched his.7 7 ¦ - '" ^w* of milkmen walked in with their buf­ faloes and flung litres of milk on the floor! Gorwala ’s writing career began explo ­ sively. In his first article, he criticized Mahatma Gandhi’s speech which ad­ vocated the decontrol of foodgrains. It was like criticizing God himself! Ex­ claims Gorwala, “Ooh, what a reaction that received! But Mahatma Gandhi was under the influence of Birla. In fact, political corruption started right there from the old Congress. They took money from the industrialists... ” and set the trend. Later, came a spate of articles in The Times of India under the pseudonym of ‘Vivek. ’ The column pointed out the weaknesses of the government. Until, one day, when Dalmia’s (the publisher) secretary met Nehru while travelling in the same plane together, and introduced himself. Expec ­ ting a cordial how-do-you-do reply, the secretary was taken aback when Nehru turned on him. “How can you carry such articles about me? ” blazed the Prime Minister. The shaken secretary immediately relayed the message to Dalmia. The next day, Frank Moraes, editor, had a short slip on his table: Stop Vivek ’s column. When Moraes took over the editorship of Indian Express, he requested Gorwala to continue writing for him. And flowed an honest pen once again, until he wrote an angry tirade against President Eisenhower. This time, Nehru is suppos ­ ed to have rung up Goenka. The Gorwala ’^ has formed the hard core of public life. When the breeze blows in a American embassy was furious. The 1*’----- ;¦* " ------ ------------ ------------------ ¦ - - . - - conversation he had had with a Mend who is an industrialist: Friend : I m giving you advertisements ding to him, is when a mother steals to for Opinion not because I like your save her starving child, face, but because you are a friend ! ADG : (laughs) Thank you ! ________________________________ .. ........... . Friend : But if you write against Ms war, he set up a rationing system for sup- C___ '______ L.J 1. 1,.'____ ____ Gandhi in three full pages and put my ply of foodgrains and sugar to the sibility for his writings. He agreed. His advertisement on the fourth page... .............. ADG:Hmmmm ? Friend : It won ’t do. ADG .Why? Friend : How will I get more licences sugar in your tea? ” “Yes. ” “Don ’t take other papers, but all I received were re- for further expansion of my activities ? it anymore. ” Feeling the burden himself, jection slips! ” ADG . Then don t expand ! he started having black, sugarless tea, In a country of chaos, Gorwala is the Gorwala s outlook on life is sunpie, and continues to do so even today. He sprinter trying to overthrow colossal not simplistic. An important difference laughs in recollection. “Everybody got obstacles. At the end of the obstacle race we often tend to confuse. If to achieve the same amount —whether it was Birla is the reader who more often than not has your ambition, you have to go back on or a sweeper. ” When he procured milk given up after trying to scale the high your principles, then forget the ambi- powder (“it was for pregnant women ”) wall of apathy. Gorwala ’s words pierce tion. “A government, ” he says, “sets an there were loud protests from the the wall and unite him to the reader example. If Ms Gandhi were honest, milkmen. The secretariat in Bombay forever. In this case, the obstacle was the then there definitely would be honesty in witnessed a strange sight. A procession publishers ’ boycott of his writing. The B^M ¦ >.1^' 'J#*®; BBI %• , '5*^ B j 'tf 4 Gorwala: always willing to take the consequences (Photo courtesy Celebrity magazine). his conduct. He laughs as he recounts a certain direction, the grass below sways delicately constructed Indo-American in the same direction. ” The only time, relationship was in jeopardy. Oijce one could overlook dishonesty, accor- again, the column was axed. The Bombay Chronicle was next on the list, but they were wary of taking on As Supply Commissioner to the the man with the angry pen. Yet, the col- Govemment of Bombay, soon after the umn promised enormous readership. _ , . ¦ Gorwala was asked to take sole respon- public. “We could manage only six column carried the, blah: “The views of ounces of sugar per person. ” Milk was a the author are not that of the paper... ’’A scarcity. When the people protested, few months later, the Chronicle closed Gorwala asked them, “Do you take down. “I wrote under different names to fo^f^^rther expansion of my activities ? it anymore. ” Feeling the burden himself, *> ' ¦ ¦ started having black, sugarless tea, and continues to do so even today. He sprinter trying to overthrow colossal 55 Parsiana August 1984 ' ! ¦ A’i J • 1 ¦only alternative was to start his own into Opinion." magazine. Opinion’s was a painless bir- '____ _________ ~ th, with its initial expenditure of Rs 4,000 ly, in June 1975, an*entire country was wouldn ’t be any waste paper at the end Twenty-five years passed by. Sudden- of the operation. Throughout, Mr Gor- ,______ , , > wala was fearless. He said, ‘What can per year. Sometimes the revenue coming brought to its knees. Emergency had they do to me? They may stop my pen- in from advertisements covered basic been declared. Every printing press was sion or throw me out of my house, or costs. Says Jehangir Patel editor of hounded by the government. Censors put me in jail.’He was one person will- Signature and Parsiana, “It was a ruled the printed page. Not at Opinion, ing to speak out —always willing to take one-man crusade. It wasn ’t his intention Recounts Jehangir, “We ’d get stencils the consequences. That’s always been his to make it a profitable set-up. He cut and take it to the cyclostyling greatest strength. He really is a fearless sacrificed a lot of things to put his money machine. We had to be careful that there person. ’’ When the government closed Opinion under MISA, Gorwala typed out his let ­ ters and posted them from different post offices so that even if the mail was stop ­ ped at one place, the other post offices would continue to deliver the missives. It’s almost prophetic. It is as though Gorwala had dways known that honesty has its own enemies. In his fairy tale, ‘The Queen of Beauty, ’ the queen tells the Assistant Collector (Gorwala had been an Assistant Collector in the ’20s), “You are honest, too honest. You will not go ‘political ’ with anyone. You will suffer much in this life. ’’ He has not received any direct dire threats for his outspokenness. But he was paid a visit by a lady political scien ­ tist some years ago. Sitting at the same round table in his kitchen as we did, she told him, “Mr Gorwala, why don ’t yon go and settle abroad? Say in London or the US A...You will be better off materially, there is a lot of culture there... ’’. Not taking her seriously, Gorwala said “But I don ’t know anyone there. ’’ “That can be arranged, ’’ she replied quietly. “I can see to it that you will not lack for anything.’’ A little later she casually mentioned that she had gone to the same school as the Prime Minister. They talked of sundry things. She asked him, “Aren ’t you scared of being attack­ ed by your enemies? ’’ She pointed to his wide open, large windows which ran all round his house. “No, ’’ he said. “But if God wills... ” Gorwala ’s outlook comes out in his queen story where “On the way back to camp, the Assistant Collec ­ tor reflected on how easy it was to ap­ pear to act bravely when of Death one had no fear, and since for each man the hour of death is fixed, how foolish it was to fear Death. When it had to come, it would come, and if it had not to come it would not, wherefore it should not be a factor in human decision at all.” When the political scientist had gone, Gorwala put the entire episode out of his mind. A week later, she was back. “Have you thought over what I spoke to you about? ” He was puzzled. “About what?” “Settling abroad. ” Without a • "From free men they have been turned into serfs. What was theirs as of right, they must now plaaifor as a special favour. They must listen to long disquisitions by the despot and her myrmidons on how their present servitude is better than the freedom they eryoyed in the past, on how the change has wrought much good, on how perverse it is to want to be free when you are being offerd a golden cage for your residence in future. ” (THE PUBLIC VOICE’: 6 July. 1976) '4 Gorwalian Quotes During the Emergency Gorwala ’s M\jptings show an almost your kneeling in adoration be on the savage, satiri^ intensity. No one has necks of your fellow citizens, why so allowed his pen to speak so freely. No be it. ’’ one has had the guts to put himself on (a on the syojphant! in the year the line the way Gorwala has. Even and next *: u Apni, 1976) the Emergency couldn ’t stop the man who does not fear even death. • ‘7 can always talk learnedly of decentralization, competition among State units, etc. when I feel it’s need­ ed, or even If I don’t. It will always go down well at meetings of top person­ nel in the business I own, arid give my captive press and other media something meaty to report. Ha, ha, the poor devils, must throw them a morsel now and again! They can’t re­ main as hungry as hell-hounds all the time. (Gorwala expresses a dictator ’s thoughts in his article • "For true lovers of the COUntty Ond OPPRESSED BANKER’: 30 ffggdom, the present is a tragic time, and the future likely to be even • "Your speeches of late have a note more saddening. In such periods it is almost of hysteria. That is likely to important to realize that the seat of prove much more of a danger to the freedom in man is the mind. ’’ nation and yourselves than the whole (‘letter from a.d. oorwala’: i3 July, 1976) 9 "What an unfortunate woman! Surely, the most unfortunate of human beings! And it is true, too, for what greater misfortune can befall any creature than to be responsible, knowingly and willingly, for the destruction of the liberties of all her fellow citizens?’’ (‘LETTER FROM DELHI’; 20 December 1976) One of his most poignant lines is in his article ‘THIS YEAR AND NEXT’ of 13 April, 1976: crowd you have locked up...Nothing is so disgusting as the present mishmash, in which the most undemocratic measures are taken in the name of protecting democracy, in which all life is lived in an obscure half-light. ** (THE GREATER THE POWER, THE MORE DANGEROUS THE ABUSE’: 6 January, 197Q • "Living by law? The truly powerful make their will the law, so that what they want to do they lawfully do. The will of the powerful is the right; there is no other, however much the weak may pretend otherwise." Looking into the mind of the Prime Minister in NOT HEEDED (27 January 1976) "Opinion’s sixteenth, and saddest, year comes to an end with this issue. Why saddest? Because it opened in a country of free people and closes in a • "Continue then to glorify and country of timorous, acquiescing magnify her on bended knees, and If semi-slaves. ’’ 57 Parsiana August 1984 j i i- )rr f A Clash of Opinions or indirectly controlled by government, how is a businessman to function? And when it is an unwritten —and sometimes The Editor replies: In a controlled economy such as .ours, how can one gauge the TTie letters which closed down the magazine reputation of business? When every essential product, service Sir: As a close observer of the Indian scene for nearly 40 years and commodity required to start and run a business is directly and the servant of the Indian people for nearly 60, 1 would ask men and women of goodwill devoted to the public in­ terest to consider whether: (a) Mr G D Birla’s example and written —policy to manipulate business to fill political parties ’ influence had no connections with the deservedly low reputa- and individuals ’ coffers, can we expect business to refuse tion of Indian business today; (b) Mr G D Birla’s example compliance? and influence had no connection with the deservedly low reputation of India’s political and governmental behaviour at telephones, the government determines who gets what, when the present time. and at what price. And government does not decide these Yours faithfully, issues on merit alone. The businessman who refuses to adapt A D GORWALA From cooking gas cylinders to bank loans, from cement to 1 is to the realities of the situation would soon be out of business. In such environs how does one define business ethics? Can one sit in judgement on business in terms other than finan­ cial? On a global scale what is considered ethical in one coun ­ ter would be looked upon as an unfair practice in another country. So finally the reputation of Indian businessmen will be determined not by their methods alone but their pro ­ fitability, market value, assets and revenue. * * * Both are men of honesty and integrity. Yet they didn’t see eye to eye. Said Gorwala: “There were some basic differences in philosophy... ” According to Jehangir: ‘'Opinion belongs to Mr Gorwda. If he wants to close it, one must respect his deci ­ sion and judgement... ” When they finally parted in September 1983, they parted as good friends. ¦r! J I ¦ ' {.OOW --''co'.""'' a ,v 1 4' A «*** - " .... ....................—------------- ------------------------- “ word, he took her arm and they walked subscription register to whom he mailed face can give him a yogic look. But in- towards his windows. The tall pine trees his copies regularly. ” stead of a calm there is still the gleam of swayed gently in the breeze. The heat of the sun warmed their faces. Pointing to the glistening pine needles, he told her, _ . . “In England or America, will I be able to ter —showed up their differences in on to his ideologies: “Evil is continuous- see the sun shining on those trees? ” She thinking. The idealistic versus the prac- ly on the attack. We ’ve got to fight it.” never returned again. tical. (See box). And ‘Opinion ’ closed He quotes Mother Teresa ’s words when down. Gorwala has never been an ivory In September ’83, there was clash of youthful fire. Of spirit undampened by opinions. Two letters each written by years and time. “Maybe I’m not so both editors —the former and the lat- angry anymore, ” he says. Yet, he holds Slowly, his eyesight began to fail him. down. she won the Nobel Prize and was asked. The hands which had once held a pen so Gorwala has never been an ivory “Now don ’t you feel you are suc- firmly now trembled uncontrollably. Ar- tower writer. Never the self-styled cessful? ” She replied: “God sent us on thritis took its toll on the once erect prisoner who shuts himself in that im- earth not to be successful, but faithful.” frame. Suddenly, the world would go penetrable fortress and throws away the but they always come back. “Some ­ times, ” he says, “I sit on the verandah frame. Suddenly, the world would go penetrable fortress and throws away the The pigeons ’ ‘gnu gnu’ carries into the black and he ’d fall down. It was clear key, and in doing so, throws away the room. He often tries to drive them off, that if Opinion had to go on, he ’d have key to civilization and humanity, to love, to find a worthy successor. His thoughts life, literature, observation, passion, fell on Jehangir Patel whom he had first emotion... Gorwala, true writer that he and close my eyes, and I turn within, met at the Leslie Sawhney seminar for is, has always flowed against the tide of Sometimes I’m aware of everything hap- democracy at Coonoor, and who had time even if it has threatened to turn into pening around me. Sometimes I’m not. been such a pillar of strength during the a tidal wave and engulf the shore of But I’ve had a good life, a good time. ” Emergency. In December ’82, he remg life...A long time ago, Gorwala locked And we leave behind an old staunch him up, and said, “Can you come away his ambitions and threw away that stalwart with his thoughts of the past, over? ” When Jehangir reached his place, key, and in the process, threw off the present and future. The house is quiet he told him, “I can’t manage any more, mantle of hope of seeing his name carved with memories. We leave him behind Can you take over? ” After deep forever in the marbled busts of history, and close his front door firmly. And in thought, Jehangir said, “Yes. ” Recalls and forever threw off mediocrity. doing so, we shut out of the house that Jehangir, “Such-is his devotion, that he Today, he lives alone in Ws huge fiend of cynicism from the outside hadn’t even got down to billing for rooms lined with grey shelves. He ’s bent world, which tries to tell us that high advertisements which had appeared in almost double and never steps out of the ideals and noble principle are fine, but ’81-82.1 saw cheques lying uncashed. He house. Yet, his personality is still over- had stopped sending reminders to powering. The shock of white hair which subscribers. He had 6(XX) people on the bristles like a lion ’s mane all around his pine trees. in today ’s ‘practical’ world, well... Outside, die sun is still shining on the 58 Parsiana August 1984I < ¦j 1 J Duchess, my dear The story of a handicapped youth and his teacher. Firdaus Kanga never to know about that sadness, lest quickly probably stemmed from her ow® childhood. Bom into a conserva- The^next evening, as I was carried five Parsi family, she was a shy and into Moti ’s living-room for my first les- sickly child who often had to stay away son I was surprised to see her on the from school. Her father, a lawyer with a tmek sheTad dedded that simx I And Moti loved to teach. As a child, she couldn ’t sit on a chair, she wouldn ’t would gather the family servants letters of the alphabet and watched from the epira. Not beautiful young men, and in college, where she - • • • sho™Su^? middle^^ed exclaimed with such horror and pain on apart from others her age . » 1 r__ _________ «««««<>«*oRiA ic with children W3S bom. Later Moti rtudied law. But, ill Bursting with excitement, I rang the bell. When the old servant opened the yo^begin to pity yoursem door, I wheeled myself into the large living-room, waving my new diploma in “M^^^ore'^T^^^oSLirSmi flow surrounded by blocks and pic- large^^brary, became me rose her face shining and then the tures. She had decided that since I And Moti loved to teach. As a child, she two of us were locked in an embrace, couldn ’t sit on a chair, she wouldn ’t would gather the famly secants kughing and crying. I suppose we made either. For the next hour I hunted for around her ^d regale t^m ijnth tdes amOTtunusu^air.I-20yearsoldand letters of the alphabet and watched from the I^im epira. Not beautiful because of a r^e and incurable bone Moti make nursery rhymes come aUve she was diffident about mixmg wii^ disease iust 122 centimetres tall and with her expressive recitation of them, young men, and in college, where she confined to a wheelchair. And hugging “Humpty Dumpty had‘ a^eat fall,’’_she me — a ! . , woman — my beloved teacher Moti Dalal. It was a sweet moment for both of us. ------------ ------ , . For years Moti Dalal had taught me that involved in the escapades of Marys just because I had a stunted body 1 didn’t have to have a stunted life. And now I had taken on the world — and highentertrnnment. won! My thoughts went back tolhe day we had first met nearly 16 years earlier. I was four then, a victim since birth of osteogenesis imperfecta, which had made my bones so brittle that they frac­ tured on the slightest impact. I could not walk, and the dangers of a friendly push or a slap on the back ensured that I could never go to school. But my parents, keen that I learn something - even if I never used my knowledge - took me to Moti Dalal, a young woman who gave private lessons; I sat on my mother ’s lap_as she chat­ ted with Moti Dalal. Surprising, I felt perfectly at ease. Normally I hated meeting people. They stared at me, their pity or embarrassment only too | evident. Miss Dalal, on the other hand, regarded me as a subject of no special interest. ‘ so her face that I-veteran of innumerable is how her rapport with children was agonizing tumbles — felt a pang of iden- bom. Later Moti rtudied law. But, as ill tification. After that I was totally health prevented her from pursuing a iiiTv.,vu ... ...~ ________ career as a lawyer, she started a kinder- lamb and a host of other characters. For garten and also began tutoring children me, school turned out to be a source of who found schoolwork difficult. ’ As we progressed beyond the three R’s, I got the full benefit of Moti ’s Moti ’s ability to win me over so When others did not feel sorry for me, I did not feel sorry for myself. 4^ I ***2f**^ f J -ii •-d! ¦<> Teaching Gifts “Please come to my house tomorrow at five, ” was all she said to me. Years later she told me what she ’d really felt. “You were so tiny and dependent, ” she said, “so timid and docile that I felt a stab of sadness. But I decided that you were 61. Parsiana August 1984 ¥ •‘teaching gifts. One morning she read she replied heatedly. “He spoilt the me Guy de Maupassant ’s short story roast last night. If he thought I’d swal- about a woman who borrows a diamond low it meekly, he was mistaken, I rose necklace from a rich friend to wear at a and dismissed the table. dance. Unfortunately she loses it and, too ashamed to admit the truth, goes High Standards deeply into debt to buy a new necklace That the “table ” had consisted of - of exactly the same design. Then, to pay apart from the overdone roast - just off the money, she ’s forced to drudge Moti and an aunt, did not matter to my for years, only to discover at the end teacher. “Oh, you ’re much too aristo- that the necklace she ’d lost had been a cratic to be just plain Miss Dalal,” I said, fake. “From now on. I’m going to call you Duchess de Lal.” Moti looked at me Lucid ExplanatkMis sharply, and then dissolved in laughter As Moti finished the story, I heard her “I’d love that,” she said. Ever since, she voice tremble and saw that her eyes has been “Duchess ” to were full of te^. I said nothing, but I I ?vu«,u umi uci dumua- was shaken. Ifa story could make Moti tion for the aristocracy was really an cry, then literature had to be more than expression of her passion for excel- mere entertainment. I realized that lit- lence. She had high standards and erature is bom out of life , that in a sense demanded the same from others. It was it is more real than reality because it quite normal for her to help pupils pre ­ expresses the truth about feelings and pare for exams for up to six hours a day, relationships. And with a child’s sense instead of the one for which she was of drama, I decided that I wanted to be paid - and never dream of asking for a wnter some day. extra money. Indeed, it never failed to. At her best teaching hterature and amaze her that many people actually history, Moti was no expert on science, worked less than they were supposed But she never let that confound her. Once, when I was baffled by the mys- Moti ’s anglicized ways, however, teries of electromagnetism, I asked her never blinded her to the grandeur of for help. She read my physics textbook India. “Don ’t you know how advanced and confessed that she couldn ’t under- our ancient civilization was? ” she once stand it either. “But don ’t worry, I shall asked me. “You ’ll be the richer if your find a way,” she said and proceeded to talk to some better-informed friends — and to buy a couple of simple books on the subject. To this day I remember the lucid explanation she finally gave me. “After lessons, your teacher is your friend, ” said Moti in her usual firm manner, and so she was. She would tell me her family secrets “in strict confi ­ dence. ” And her relatives and friends were an exciting crew - celebrated lawyers and lunatics, society matrons and gamblers. But none of her stories was told in a gossipy fashion. Moti always had a point to make about intellectual legacy comes from more human nature: of someone ’s nobility, of someone ’s folly. That’s how I learnt ,...................... ...... to analyze my own and other people ’s of Indian philosophy, that the highest feelings. For my part, I could tell Moti virtue is the ability to take joy or sor- about my problems, however small, without ever being afraid of adult disap ­ proval. Like many Parsis, Moti was wester- _________ ............. ..v.. .v, interested in the about consequences, ” she told me. This many of the manners of the English 99 me. Even then 1 sensed that her admira- Get Good Value For Your Money VISIT O to. Railway Refreshment Room She taught me that having a stunted body did not mean I had to have a stunted life. That was the beginning. than one source. ” Moti also believed, in line with much virtue is the ability to take joy or sor ­ row, pain or pleasure as they come, without guilt or regret. “Do what you think is ri^t, Firdaus, and it will be the easiest thing in the world not to care British J’oyal family, she d adopted was the best lesson I ever received from upper class. One morning, I arrived to find her looking annoyed. “What’s the matter? ” I asked. “That cook of mine. 99 her. Once, as she was reading to me, I had a severe bout of coughing. “It hurts, ” I whimpered, waiting for the onrush of 63 Parsiana August 1984 (Railway Hotel) Chami Road Junction O 1-^ Permit Room Beer Parlour DAILY VIDEO FILM i1 i. ¦A: Wd Seen cmnes and pain goes,” and resumed l^^^ls^tl^c^^n . r^^ng. For a moment I was filled with to get a schot^^ingT^ rolled into piie, though ^e Fora mmhent I was filled with to get a school^^rtHg^l^ij^t two hours a d^ki do|l, imd a gather callousness. But, aslca^ <»rtificate,h«i I never attended classes fee of only Rs *80 a month as financial < down, I also made an important disco- and; only went mere to exams, j for me, I did not feel sorry -for myself, r ¦ ............... pathetic smiles, the tut-tuts of regret or p . ... .. .... .. .. . . , . world thinks it should judge the handi­ capped. Instead there were optimism, confidence, and laughter. At home, my mother had the same sensible attitude. This gave me what I value most today - the feeling that 1 am completely nor ­ mal. This self iiB|ge i most of the time t totally forget that I arncWm-ent. But Moti was not severe and, as I got which were an ordeal for me. “My '1ikAAA>««. T 1* .1. .... X...__ ./.t?____ ;«• < '« « ...'..l. _¦ what, a tender heart she had. There takette test ” were tiefes^ .particularly in my teens, when because of frequent fractures, I __ ____ ____ ___ ____ ........................................................ .... would be bedridden for weeks. During morning she came to my house, placed the long-drawn out misery evcrvoae, home as often as she could to teach and Wes^g ’an^ Be^;;;;'^; b’e?? rc;;V hSTa^: eyeiy|hHig. You will do well. ” I felt a smiiA «» cmiu U..,^ incentive. It’s a tribute to her sicills and dedication that I remained tc^^ranked throughout my school days.^ Today, four years after winning the journalism prize, I am pursuing my writing career with some success. I rio longer go to Moti for lessons, bat she visits me frequently . Recently we had a x ‘ ,j long argument - my newly found scepH- asm and rationalistic philosophy con- [ cal beliefe . Of course , I made no dgnt in .? her convictions, but when I left she was smiling. “You put up a good show. I’m ’, proud of you, ” she said. _ I could not reply. My heart Was tiiO to know her better, I began to realize mind’s a blank,” I told Moti “I can’t full. If there was any reason, for ---------- body to feel proud ofme, it w^beca^ “We ’ll ^op now, ” she said .gently, of her. She, more than anyd^;^^yhl^' Go home and don ’t worry. ” hlext made sure that my life'did ncMLbeccMne very: that wh^ odiers did not feel sorry , FromMi^Iwasneveftbgetthesym- | COUld OOt Walk y»aiii ^»ry w« w»' *>*•» ¦ \ZA A V< A KJ# ¦ B ¦ the lowe^ of standards by which the 300 th© danQerS Of 3 friendly push or a slap on the back ensured that I could tendinga^nsther gentler ,.semi-mysti- .never go to school. . 0"»i''t' ------------------------------ -—; — is so stroi^ «i “We ’ll ^op now, ” she said,gently. A >kt« • >1 X< aJ 1 J " o ---------- «¦»< IZAMV'W** ; *•**' «*A«*TTai K/uv .WVl^WWl such pencMs, Moh would come to my her hand on my head in the traditional had feared it would be when I was boffi^ nAvm A ' ZAVVAv* ' n«T «] A A J I; t . '.• . < « « • . . . .^ _ - . 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Credit Bank Ltd., (Est^hdi^1927) tR, Momiman Ciric^, Pert, Bombay. <.____________TPI. No. 2999^ 66 Parsiana August 1984I '"' i I i k-- *¦ f 'fy"? if ¦•A <¦ '^K ’ ’" y ' '' ¦ I r -‘I Death af a stuntman The memory of Pervez's death still stalks the Irani family. ( ‘V. xiz- s k / J % * 1.x. '^' >¦ ^••4 , I . -X.; Sixty-five-year-old Keikhushroo Irani is the father of Dharmendra's stuntman, who died Whilst executing a rather difficult and dangerous shot from a helicopter for the film Saazish. The shocking death of his favourite son, Parvez, changed the old man’s life completely. Stardust took up the case and tried to re-open the closed file of the stuntman called Parvez Irani. The producers of Saazish were rather abrupt when questioned about the\dead stuntman. We have paid the family whatever we had to and no we don ’t have his address, ” they stated rather defensively, and banged the telephone down. The BBHHHBw ___ Stuntman Association, though they disaster. While his brothers feel as though Ke»k)»Hs/»r- J __i* J _ 1» _ -1' t' . . »ir ..r . a 1 . . ’ ^’ ' ' ' ‘ a chair ahd enthusiastically unfolded his advertisement in a white navakhnifo iFalia IxbaIx KUa a_ j _____ i i « . « -. adi that he had modelled for. He sat down on modelled for the ‘Vicks > /¦ > • ! i Inhaler ’" dead son ’s file. "J _____ _____ Dharmendra? ” he asked. There were no Dharmendra in DU Ka Heetvi*'iftia&:i0 i.----------- ------------- ----------------- _ : •. .. . ..~- .. . .. . .lA. ----- . .,,x,.-, He was quiet for a while. Hfe vouHanL- Doesn ’t he look like and how he looked exactly tears, no cracking voice, no emotional difficult to believe it wa.sn1t /IwiAlair I4a Ximo xrAvwr Ua .^.aa _m_ZaX r_ a __.1. - TVfk .T'. -4^ every houwhold was busy reading the display. He was very cool, calm and He was quiet for a while. HiS yr events in tones mixed with fear and collected, breaking into a smile at times, daughter in-law (Kp!ikhtishr *i»iri*f suspense, ^ere was a-disturbing calm in *-- ; - :__ ..1___i / . „„ the Irani hott^hold The old man was exactly his brother died on the sets of met Parvez before, broke' the sleeping and his son and daughter-^in-Law Stuizish in 1974, the father showed a when she said that she cried had just finished their morning cup of chad-like affection for the star as he she saw a Dharam film. “I'Va Aenpl ' Dharam and Heffia. “He really adored he is around here, all the time, them, ” he exolained in Guiarati. 1^’11 iust walk in thrmurh the/faXr _ . _ „ __________________________ While his son spoke quietly about how sons), who claimed never to have secnor , keeping and his son and daughter4n-law ’ *'? “ • - - - ¦ - - tea. Itwas only when they spoke, that one realized what a n»jor calamity they had passed throu^, and how everything else them,' (riots included) seemed trivial in comparison. ¦ , shooting with Dharmendra, he used to say that he was respnnsihlgfay Surprisingly, t^famUy was not at all i ’ ' ' ; L __ ________ ~ '.'..'...o ‘ ~ astmiiis^d to know why Stiffdust v/as them daring the day... Parvez aKvays ;law^s apparition,- . contacting them about an accident that ivomised me, ‘Bs^, 111 take you to ' According-te a occurred 10 years ago. Maybe that was? EMiarraendta ’s house one day.’ * T'—-- because the wound still hasn ’t healed and Without waiting for questions, none of them have been able to forgetthe Keikhushroo continued to tklk about his 10 y»rs, is ’ narrated how fond his Parvez was of much about him,” she cried, “(hat'j; ~ —J TT-- _____ll_. - _1 l./_ ¦•.. . _ 11 11 a he explained in Gujarati. M’ll just walk in through the “Everytime he came home after a looked accusingly at Ke ikhns hro^aj^ij shooting with Dharmendra, he used to say ‘ relate in detail what happened be^een family living with her dead fe^her-ih- / them Anrina thiP /iav PinzeB aUuai.c . Iaii>4 anruini-lAA ' Wkhottt waiting for c^estions Xi S7 Parsiana August 1984 . f looked accusingly at KeikhuBhib^as i say that he was responsible li^ logic behind Keikhnsfitd^^/pptf.* / z ^ptance of his son ’s dawlfa n^X^r' Mter' very aittirte. ‘^he grirf*® too -, ’ ' ' J?" - J ¦' .»slL 41 j w X\* i >4S f ‘ lf ‘ I Hj I- i much for him to so to- accept the reality and continues to li^^' ‘3 »)r4 ¦ f '. . 'f ?¦ the past, because it suits him, ”'416, revealed how the old man still kept a picture of Parvez (wearing the same shirt that he wore when he died), in his wallet. He also explained how the old man’seyes -lit up only when talking about his stuntman son and how nothing else in the world interested him. However, the only time he accepts the fact that his. son is no more and that too briefly, is when he sees a Dharmendra film. That’s when the event of his son ’s death reels back to him. J... Funnily enough, Keikhushroo himself ‘ has never iMt the star who was indirectly responsible lor his son ’s d^th. In fjret; neither Dharam nor the producers; attended Parvez ’s funeral or condoled with the family, and even when one Of his brothers went to meet Dharam on the setsj -to ask him for some assistance, the , stair first insisted that the father come to see him. Later however, he vwote Out a ^heque of five thousand rupees for the J ¦ \ < , .'!'*w'4"c ui live inuusanu rupees tor the family, thereby closing the episode of his fe*,,, stuntman, Parvez Irani. phtftvgraphs reprinted with permission from • r Stardvest Wanton is good For sandalwood With Complimeats fyom EMPIRE ESTATE .1 I "n .1 IS I J HMd Office "STS Grant Road Bombay 400 007 and Branches Tel. 3714S4 Building 41/42 Marine Uoes l^mbay 400020 ¦a'tr r Is Oudlitr aanddiwood ; ^ lAgsditwtties, gum benzoin tLotan) and other . torfitmes ! ' f ¦} '1 iR 14- Lm‘ 'fe' [S v: 1 s AM V4 Aik *w SIJk -^1 < »J f V- ,- -’’i v>» -s •* « •.r’ F '• =; »¦ s« y 4 , H* ' }> , I’ X’ •e *5 68 Paraana 4ugwst 1984 . ’'Wt 'it' ” ¦': -rl 13 l'l^¦4il>l o i|i i ifefii'' iw irr"' >' -u t'. f\• r. 1 hs ¦C'. ¦: ;iMi HiiinMIlMIIV ?? ‘Mody Studio” process lost one camera when his friend suddenly took a dive). Since Jiis father ’s death in 1962, Ratan Mody has run the studio single- handed. Business today certainly war­ rants no assistants for there are few who disturb the calm of this little room. Its once scenic painted backdrop is now Rush hour traffic struggles noisily on having served his mother her lunch and uniformly brown and its old wooden the street below his studio and horns in the night after having his dinner. cameras are beautiful strong survivors honk impatiently as lorries stall with I’ ‘ ............. ..... “ _______ _____ __ _____________ their consignments of milk for Parsi Mody has lovingly preserved the past that flood the studio with light, date visit with photographer Ratan Mody. Sooni Taraporevala in the night after having his dinner. Here, in this dimly-lit room, Ratan of a not so distant past. Even the bulbs Dairy Farm. On the first floor, if you under the dust of ages. His prized pos- back to 1934 when they were bought in were to ever look up from your car win- session, besides his old cameras, is an bulk by Ratan Mody ’s father, dow at that innocuous-looking sign that < ' ' ....................................................... says ‘Mody Studio, ’lies the second-old- written the history of Indian photo- session, besides his old cameras, is an bulk by old Kodak diary in which his father has Although his father is a tangible pre- sence in the studio, Ratan Mody has added to it his own concerns. The The camera in the photograph once books on the shelves under the large est living studio ip Bombay. Climb the graphy as told to him by Elban Cohen, stairs and leave the street behind you as ... you walk into Ratan Mody's time belonged to Cohen whom Ratan Mody map of Iran encompass a variety of machine. credits with having first introduced the interests from the A-Z Book Of Uni­ Mody, 66 years old and single, photographic process to Indians, versal Knowledge to H G Wells ’ Out­ grew up amidst developers and, stop baths, fixers and formulas, in the envi ­ ronment of his father ’s photo studio, begun in 1901. Ratan, the only one in his family to be enamoured of a photo forgotten by all, missed by none — When business is slow, as it usually graphic existence, apprenticed with his except one, for Ratan Mody still is, Ratan Mody picks up a chair by his father and learnt the ropes, sometimes ' ' ' - •• painfully, for his father was a stickler for perfection and could tweak ears till they hummed. Much ofwhat Ratan Mody learnt has tiful and the photographic field open looked after him and assured his survi- Cohen, a good-hearted German Jew, line Of History, The First Principles Of was taken advantage of by the same Theosophy, an Avestan Dictionary, people he had once taught. He almost Shakespearean volumes and Madame died an ignominious death, a pauper, Blavatsky ’s The Secret Doctrine. forgotten by all, missed by none — remembers him. In fact, Mody has full-size camera and sits down to read made it his life ’s mission to resurrect as the portraits of fiis mother, Sai Baba Cohen to his rightful place in history. and Zarathushtra watch over'him In the old days when work was plen- benignly. Perhaps it is they who have become irrelevant in the world of and challenging, Ratan Mody did well val.Ileavethissolitarymaninhisclut- today. Qualitatively, when we are satis ­ fied with so much less, who cares about 27 different formulas for developers? The full-size camera which occupies the central part of the tiny room and which once took portraits of Gandhi and Nehru, today takes passport pictures. And in the cupboard, which sits hud­ dled in a corner, lie two Japanese ^5 mm SLR's because you can't be a photographer in today ’s world without them. Much of Ratan Mody's business for himself. One of the first to take tered abode, hoping that the world of aerial pictures of Bombay, he did this today will not destroy this portrait of with a 21-rupee camera leaning out of the past. an obliging friend s glider (and in the Reprinted with permission from imprint March4984. i H I i ¦ i 'i -s •1 I 1” The full-size camera which once took portraits of Gandhi and Nehru, today takes passport pictures. Qi J i t lies outside the studio now — photo- _ graphing functions, weddings and nav- I jotes. The studio has become a haven to I which he comes every morning after I 69 Parsiana August 1984 MV'V oer age Of three, returned triumphantly one, for one so young. But not unex- Karnataka, k Championship pected, as Shihan Vispy Kapadia, the Selected in the'Indian squad for the •12 ’¦ecently chief instructor and director of the mar- World Cycling Championships in Ene- with two firrts.T^e eighth standard Stu- tial arts school, put it when describing land in early 1983, Kursheed donned during his 10 years of Neville ’s sincere and dedicated training the national colours. “It was an experi- dedicated training had considerable during the past 10 years. ence and will be ever fresh in my me- mternational experience, snuffed out However, the fourth degree black mory ” says Kursheed. Over 30 coun- ormid^le challengers from China, belt who has also been imparting train- triesparticipatedinthismeetandKur- Japan, Korea, Europe and America to • •• . _ emerge as a junior world champion. Nariman: ‘snuffed out formidable challengers’ 5 f 71. Parsiana August 1984 '-jjH 7^ f J** L-S the kobudo or weapon fighting in the Sakarepatna to Chikamagalur thrice . I 7._____ Indeed a great feat, as well as a rare the race pass through the hilly roads of Selected in the^ndian squad for the ----------------- 5 mar- World Cycling Championships in Eng- tial arts school, put it when describing land in early 1983, Kursheed donned an experi- However, the fourth degree black mory ” says Kursheed. Over 30 coun ­ belt who has also been imparting train- tries participated in this meet and Kur- ing to the police force , quickly chipped sheed feels that she has learnt from the US, Russian and German cyclists. “It was a tussle between amateurs and pro ­ fessionals leading to a marked differ ­ ence in lead and style, ” says Kufsheed. Speaking about the veldrome, Kur­ sheed went on to explain that unlike the cement surface used on tracks in India, it was wood which resulted in speed. Chosen twice before for the Asian cycling championships, Kursheed was unable to make the trip for personal reasons. According to Kursheed, cyclists belt who has also been imparting train- i“ - "' - ..... in with: “We wear our belts around our waists and not our heads. I hope it doesn ’t go to their heads. Neville was part of the two-member Indian squad that made the trip to Zurich. TTie other participant was Sen ­ sei Gita Raj, a second dan black belt. Both Neville and Sensei Gita Raj were __ _____ ___ felicitated at the Bombay Gymkhana smoothness and low friction, (by the Gojukai Karate-Do Training School). Reprinted from Free Press Journal June 16,1984. Cycling to success Kursheed Irani clinched jop honours in 5, from Bombay, Punjab and Delhi have . X ------------- ------------ - India could the women s section at the recently definitely achieve something at the concluded XXXIX Senior National Asian level ” said Kursheed. “Kar- Championship at Patiala recently. nataka has a lot of talented youngsters It all happened on that day in 1976 who should be nurtured in the right after Kursheed Irani won her maiden .... cycling race. Having told her mother that her school had arranged for a pic­ nic she packed her lunch and sped off on her bicycle. Little did her mother realize that she was taken for a ride. Next morning ’s papers astonished Ms Irani to find her daughter being tremendous potential Asian level ” said Kursheed. nataka has a lot of talented youngsters „ t way. There should be a greater number of cycling championships at the state and national level . ” Her dedication to this sport can be seen through her practice sessions con ­ sisting of five hours a day. This track and road specialist of the state cycles over 91 kms during her coaching ses- 6C i !i 213^ Is EK It inind Jij^ih^ men — this too, when " to montiis pre«^. • I was intri .... ____ 1—-4 - _____ o __________ — __ - -Z --r__>' anol--- . ............................ . * 'mmtCaroiers, is atptesei|t doing her instructor. And then at 19, I had my kg. Today, four years l^ef, I wd^ 4^ ’ ------------ ¦ ___ -1 kg. This I achieved through sheer will ____________ t vez is an internationally acclaimed power, an.enforced diet and'rigorois 5 Bharat Nutyam dancer and musi- karate instructor running several oxercise, ” she says offering an incen- karate dojaa sdl over the city. tive to new mothers. gutci wt luc iMutuus His wife Mebrod,,^ducts her own Having resigned from Hoechst Phar- tiie late Rustom aerobic classes. Having hitched onto maceuticals last year after 16 years of • the fitness bandwagon several years ago service with the Company, Mehroo U gcactoate fimn Kawmd of j£^>an. iMb^Cmsid*s,|8atj»ese4tdmBgher instructor. And then at 19, I had my %-iniEElecttonies at the BMSCI, is also first taste of karate. ” T^ay at 40, Per- ^a'keen^ c^tural enthusiast anti is an »rive Bharat Natvam dancer and musi- I asm playing the veena and piano. i^e monfiis pregn«at. - my se(X)nd (^h^^wejyi^ed '. ? She is the daughter ctf the Jamous .jk horse trainer, U„ '— ---------- Khodayar whose one amtntion was to _ • - ^ ‘ cycle on a world tour. And now young (undoubtedly under the influence of found herself with time on her hands. ' ? Kurdieed Iraia has fulfilled this wish her husband), Mehroo hio Itais tmder- And at 37, she decided to launch.twrt 6*1 / tyrfingaway tnyicf^. gone training in the martial arts. In her own and started aerobicch^^ata •W f 5= A^Waiieif^9mrl11eC^TAjp,Xpi< 2994i - Family fitness J^riUiMatimr The “no pain — IK> gain” syndrome has thrown tt^ay’s generation into a frenzy of activity. Jogging, exercising, work- judo she holds a Brown Belt and a gold time when the aerobic boom in India medd^ thfe ^»rt from having been was just coming of age. • nation^ twiee. She is also a -—'---------¦*“ *---------- " Ofds, aerobics, weight^training, At , dawn or at dusk, track suits flash by with calculate regularity as men and women geherdisly endowed wfth more than aft^r share of “body ” sweat it out. Initially, of course, the pleasure of being physically fit was the sole pre- rogative of tlw male. Today, not only are women as involved in the physical fitness fad, but t^ fever seems to have filtered down to children too. The Mistry family sets a healthy exmnple in family fitness. Pervez J try himself, needs no introduction^ A reminder, perhapSrHe is tmepreadent (technical) of)|ie^:l^ia Karate Fed- eration, a 4Ch "degree Black Belt in karate. How (fid he get involved in the fitnes fad? His story, of course, goes back several years. “In school 1 found I was better at j|||||H sports than at stu patients. ” Both Pervez and Mehroo stress -i" >- 1 ' ¦• u» 1 K4 >>*• 73 Rsrs/sna August ;',H V ? i workouts: Pervez and tfi^i^ioo I wUt dau^tters Kanud (left) end t^su. '¦ I ftilow: Pervez and Mehroo working pvt . ,aseriesof exercises for body wtdMiade tfvte. ’^^3 r>: '*^5 ;;£‘ tt r > 1 S' W-T t i^s-' ¦M •“.Si? .{: o > *s V-M 9' 'iri' s * ‘-4< ri?*'"’‘(?r z 1 i »¦* need for warm-up exercises before tile star! of apy routine. The warm-up ® includes stretching, and exercises for figure-conscious than ever before ,” she ^*1 iZOQ feels a growing £1 brood. “GHris today, are more in her works. ” Here, trf course, one uses the wold “diet ” not in the semie of starva- fion; the secret lies in eating the correct food. “And India,” tulds Pervez, “has a strength and conditioning —from head maintains. The latest concept in physi- to toe. “In any sport or exercise, a < " warm-up is essential to avoid muscle , . . cramp,” says Mehroo. “It gets the Mehroo, “that girls do not develop adrenalin moving and warms up the muscles through weight training. It entire body. ” improves muscle tone, that is all. It is Yoga plays a pivotal role in both, not the same as weight lifting. Besides, Pervez ’s karate and Mehroo ’s aerobic I take girls for weight training only after thin, the only way to put on weight is to classes. they have reached a certain level in eat. And exercise makes you eat. So Mehroo ’s aerobic course is of three free-hand exercises. ” too, does weight training. ” months duration. “It takes a month to “Women don ’t develop muscles, ” In the Mistry household, fitness is a 93 cal fitness for women is weight training, wealth of natural foods: yoghurt gives “I must clarify at the very start, ” says you B-complex, fruit gives you vitamin C. And as you grow older you need not more than one meal of the ‘correct* food a day.” The adage, ‘'You are what you eat, ” is as true as ever. “If you ’re they have reached a certain level in eat. And exercise makes you eat. So “Women don ’t develop muscles, explains Pervez, “as men do, for they family word. Their two children, Kiku lack the hormone, cetrocisine, 'that (5Vi) and Kamal (4Vi) jcun their men have and this prevents their bodies parents during family workouts. To die ¦’ kids, the session spells pure fun. MiBlurod dispels the argument most “Mehroo and I have worked out litdp frequently used by the average house- routines for them, “ says Pervez, “with wife or working woman: after a hard music and all!” day’s work why do I need to exercise? Repnated6om MM-Day, March 13, tsu. Says Mehroo: “Sure a day’s work at home or at an office gives one enough ]^|strv UlisSCd exercise. But is it the right kind of exer- dse? An aerobic workout brings about Hosey Mistry, well-known sports jottr- a different kind of exhaustion nalist and photographer and a populu figure on the country ’s {Haying fielda, died in Bombay on Juiie 23,1984. lie was 56. Mistry had been associated with lingdonClubr away excess flab. One does not mean Sportsweek since its iiM^timi and was “Several 4Joys used to complain of here that aerobics is only for fat {jeople. its regular athletics and sunmoung oot- backaches, ” says Pervez “and that is “ True, it fights flab,” says Mehroo, respondent. He had worked ndtili Free what first gave me the idea of introdu- “but mainly it firms the muscles — Press hxid Irt^tian Express, 'itdxm cing yogic exercises in my workout which even a slim person could well do becoming a freelance j>h^O;jowntffiSt. routine. ” Everything revolves around with.” He was a qualified coach inn^kSfics ¦ ¦ J Returning to the concept of losing andswimmingfromtheNatkmdlmni- “Yogic breathing exercises help asthma weight, Mehroo explains: “One must tute of Sports and for some timedw patients and also help in post-natal realize at the very beginning that no PRO of the Institute at Patiala. His care, ” adds Mehroo. amount of exercise will help one reduce absence will be felt at all sports meets Mehroo and Pervez are both prime without the inclusion of a diet. It is the for a long time to come. examples of the fact that age is irrelev- combination of exercise Md diet that Reprinudfrom Mid-Day, Jane 23,1984. ant in exercise. In fact, contrary to popular belief, the older you grow, the . greater is your need to exercise in order to maintain muscle tone. Pervez ’s karate Students range in age from “seven to seventy ” and Mehroo ’s aerobic classes see ladies upto 60 years of age. A The different parts of the body, too, start aging at oifferent times. eyes for example, ’’ says Pervez, “start ageing at seven years. Ears grow until one is sixty. As you grow older you do need to continue exercising, though your intake of food and your quota of sleep should be reduced. The recom ­ mended quota of sleep is . essential, however, as sleep gets rid of the body ’s poisons and recharges the body ’s sys­ tems. ” A daywork at home or at an office , gives one enough exercise. But is it the right kind of exercise?" n 99 .5‘i f " , Xi be able to just do the eJterdscs, ’’ she altt^her. It’s refreshing exhaustion. ‘ explains . She is currently holding clas- It leaves ybu fretii, not tired . ” j ses at her Colaba residence, at the Mehroo ’s aerobics lay much stress on [ Bombay Gymkhana and the Wil- muscle tone. This in turn serves to work lingdon Clubr away excess flab. One does not mean I “Several Ijoys used to complain of here that aerobics is only for fat people. correct breathing — the yogic way» “but mainly it firms the muscles — “The ( Gifts&i 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 I' 75 Parsiana August 1984 yi' r‘- i- 4 , ¦ 1 :: w - -J t ; "i i -^1 - J '^'3 '1, . '''¦'J J •i 4i ¦jaiiii 11 jji 'i 1- 1 I' j .w ( t? i S’" ft ! W""' 1 kS *' O'- I 1 S" S' ' t' jb-'- MX>KS -¦ G 5 11 . <'.STfl ’>S^ 'f ¦¦¦¦¦ ¦•I V »ii4^wW) ia ‘The pioneering factor of Education, Mysore S^tate. Meherbai J _ was talented, beautiful and shared Dorab ’s altruistic and philanthropic sentiments. Lady Tata passed away, at the age of 51, from leukaemia. Soon afler his wife died, Sir Dorabput ^his - - -------- -—---- ------4 trust for use “without any distinction of Rusi J Daruwala Tbe Heartbeat of a Trust: Fifty Years of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust by R M Lala. Published by Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company Ltd, New Delhi, M>. 187, Rs 45.00. To many a senior citizen of this minor ­ ity community could the phrase “Parsi thy name is charity” be applied, but few such philanthropists utilized their wealth wtfti the insight and vision of Sir Dorabji Tata. No Indian or foreign charitable trust can boast of such varied Bombay he was sent tO a private tutor During his Ufetime Sir Dorab had m Kent and then to Cambridge. He donated! 25,000(approx Rs 3,84,000) obtained his BA on his return in 1882 to the University of Cambridge for the from St Xavier ’s College. Me did some equipment of a laboratory in tlw School b^ve helped train two generations of wealthy estimated at Rs 1 crore, into a social scientists, cancer specialists and 1 *___ ,,L____ distinguished ^ientists. As Lala points place, nationality or creed, ” for the out, “discoveries, investigations, publi- advancement of learning and research, cations, research papers are just a frac- the relief of distress and other charita- tibn of the fall-out of the Trust. What ble purposes. This was the beginning of has flowed from this foundation is new the Sir Dorab Tata Trust. As amemo- 1^ for India’s millions and an eXten- rial to his wife, h? a]^ endowed the „ Lady Tata Memorial Trust with a .5?’’®!’on August 27, pus Of Rs 25 lakhs fO’- research into sion of the frontiers of her knowledge . 1859. After his initial education in ieukaemia. cor- the Dorab Tata Trust in the course of 50 years -- India’s first institute of social sciences, India’s first cancer hos ­ pital, India’s first institute of funda­ mental research in mathematics and ‘ physics which became the cradle of India's atomic <-----\ national centre for the performing arts. The institutions set up by this Trust obtained his BA on his return iii 1882 Duri^. his lifetime Sir Dorab had to the University of Cambridge for the ..... ' '¦ ' ¦ J years as a journalist on the Bombay of Engineering. He also gave to the Gazette and went on to promote a new ¦ ¦' mill hfe father was planning to open in At 38, he married Meherbai, daugh­ ter of H J Bhabha, Inspector-General Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, his collection of paintings. Statuary and other art objects, now on display as the Sir Dorab Tata collection. The aims of the Trust were : institu ­ tion, thaintehsmce and support of schools^ educational iiistitutions, hcw- pitals; relief of distress caused by the elements of nature suqh as faminey pes^ i tifenpe y fire , tempest, flood, earth-^' ’ quake q^aiiy other calamity; advaiM«- ment/of learning in all its branc^s, sspeciailly/researdi work in connection with medical and industrial problems; flnancially aiding the Institute of Sci­ ence, Bangalore in instituting profes ­ sorships or lectureships or giving scholarships; awarding fellowships in any branch of .science or assisting stu- Sir Dorab with wife Meherbai. Background: TtUoT^erhorial HbspUal energy pro^am, a Pondicherry. t6 Parsiana August 1984Bhabha and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Photos: Sir Dorabji Tata Trust) Following his love consciousness of life and I want as much of it as I can get. But the span of ¦ ! one ’s life is limited. What comes after death no one knows. Nor do I care. Since, therefore, I cannot increase the content of life by increasing its dura­ tion, I will increase it by increasing its intensity. Art, music, poetry and every- thing else that I do have this one pur­ pose - increasing the intensity of my consciousness and life. ” Lala explains some of the other excellent projects nurtured to full growth by the Dorab Tata Trust such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Tata Theatre adjoining it and many others. Lala marshals his moun ­ tain of facts well and conveys them to the reader in an eminently readable prose style. The book is not just a tes ­ timony to an institution, dr to a com ­ munity, but to the Spirit of Man all over dents to study aoroad either by pay- Following his own study and the world, ment of lump sums or by payment of research, Bhabha realized that funda- periodical sums; and giving aid to any mental research in physics and other charitable institutions or objects mathematics, including nuclear physics endowed by the settlor in his lifetime or and cosmic rays was too big a subject to by the grandfather , father or brother of be dealt with in a small department of a the settlor . university or in a general purpose From its inception, the Trust was for- research institute. He visualized a .... ™ uy .vck. tunate m having very capable and time... “when nuclear energy has been the series “New Poetry in India ” published by Saklatvala, Sir Sorab Saklatvala, Dr tion, in say a couple of decades from Death is an easy rider in Daruwalla now, India will not have to go abroad country, and the poet-policeman stalks for its experts but will find them ready with the cool determination of a _ J.” sheriff in one of those old cowboy On December 19, 1945 when the movies, notepaper and pad at his hip ~ ' I Institute of Fundamental always ready to gun his targets down Research was installed in its first home with a quick draw. To those readers Easy rider’ Geeta Doctor The Keeper of the Dead by Keki N Daruwalla in enlightened chairmen like Sir Nowroji successfully applied for power produc- Oxford University Press. Price Rs 20, Pp 64. John Mathai, Sir Homi Mody etc. One of the guiding lights of the Trusts and its philosophy (even today) has been Dr at hand. Rustum D Choksi. This can be under- O ~ stood from the following extract from a Tata Institute of Fundamental always ready to gun his targets down note by Professor Choksi on the prop- T osal that led to the setting up of the at a bungalow on Peddar Road, Sir who are familiar with his work, Tata Institute of Fundamental Re- John Colville, Governor of Bombay, Daruwalla country is the harsh weath- search: “What distinguishes a Trust is said, “We are embarking on an enter- ered terrain of Uttar Pradesh, a fron- not its ability to give or the extent or prise of importance to the country ’s tierland of seared images hovering be. range of its giving but the character of development, in which great wealth, ween the living and the dead, where its giving. It is important for a Trust to wisely husbanded and applied, indi- historyno less than the sun*- Jias maintain its ‘pioneering ’ character and vidual initiative and government sup- reduced the landscape to ridges of this can only be done adequately where port are all blended. I do not think white bone and meaning to a dry rattle from time to time a Trust initiates and there could be a better combination for of memory. Nobody wins, nobody fosters new institutions and new types progress. ” Much has been written loses, but the sheriff rides on, picking at of service to society. For a great Trust about Homi Bhabha and it all reads like a skull here, tracking a trail in the the large project, carefully designed some great hymn of praise to a superior desert, knowing apparently that the and executed, must always be a major being - an engineer par excellence, a only meaning that there is going to be objective. Even in the routine giving of scientist, an intellectual of rare calibre, for him is in the search and not in the grants and donations the Trust must constantly bear in mind the ‘pioneer- artist, an inspiring leader and an Daruwalla’s poems are poems of ing’ factor . ” architect of modem India and above all attrition that speak of dry thoughts in a Lala describes the founding and a visionary who tried to and did bring dry land. The very words with their cor- growth to international stature of the his visions into reality. But the greatest rosive- acrid touch seem to parch the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the insight into his nature has been pro- mouth and yet for all that, in celebrat- Tata Memorial Centre, the Tata Insti- vided by himself. At the age of 24 he ing the all-too-short sharp moment of tute of Fundamental Research and the wrote a trusted friend, Ms Jessie death he celebrates life. This is perhaps Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. The Mavor, “I know quite clearly what I the recurring fascination of his work. In chapter on Dr Homi Bhabha makes for want out of life. Life and my emotions spite of the grim ugliness of death and fascinating reading. are the only things I am conscious of. I decay with which he confronts us, what scientist, an intellectual of rare calibre, a savant of art and culture, a sensitive finding of a reason for it. artist, an inspiring leader and an P architect of modem India and above all attrition that spealc of dry thoughts in a a ’ ¦ ¦ ' • • ¦ . ~. 77 Parsiana August 1984? I is moving, is the beauty of life, that is ing the kanjars! burnt him, guts and he has dedicated to his daughter with animated in the birght pinpoints of his all;” the lovely invocation at the end which poetic imagery. Where other poets I ____ have most often surrendered to a from which this collection of poems asnow, with the tang/of mint and clove muddy wallowing of their personal gets its title, and in the section entitled and cinnamon ” he begins with the emotion, Daruwalla looks about him - - — - - - - . .. . . with a clear dry eye and though he notes everything down with a precision poet, part seer, part dramatist spe- people will not follow him through the cializing in the.dramatic monologue, murky reasoning of the poem entitled compressing history, sketching in the The Parsi Hell either, which ends with geography and re-creating the drama in the lines “Throughout life a man carries short brilliant phrases that are strung his death/ even as a woman carries her together like hot coals. Mehar Ali is child./A Parsi carries his hell. ” So, one described as “a face like a patch of fis- feels like asking him, what’s new? Isn ’t sured bark/and eyes: pools dulled with that a luxury that other religions, Chris a film Of moss.... ” with a voice that tianity for instance, offer just as well? “creaks on/ like a cartwheel going over In MeharAli, the Keeper of the Dead reads, “and may your breath be spiked/ In the Shadow of the Imambara'f/e8te dreary lines, “Three years and then Daruwalla at his best, part narrative again/the uterus flowered. ” Most 'Throughout life a man carries his death even as a woman carries her child a ' “creaks on/ like a cartwheel going over There is now also a tendency to keep Parsi carries his hell.' gravel. ” In the poem Aag-Matam he using images that tear and sear, and describes the ritual of fire walking, claw and plunder with a sort of voluptu- “The fire-bed is fanned with a reed- ous violence that finally tires. In Aag- mat/and sparks fly as if the wind had Matam a flashing idea is described as “a scattered/a concourse of glow-worms. ” thought blisters along the arid skull ” Or at another place describing the land- while writing in the persona of the scape he notes that seems to preclude passion, the sharpness of the observation provides its own momentum. In the first poem entitled Hawk for instance, one finds .iv-ivo, i.^vvii wwuuiucu him using an almost identical image drongoes/failed to bring colour to this from Gerald Manley Hopkins ’ well- known poem which begins with the lyri- ____ _______________________ _ cally passionate outburst, “I saw this talking about scorpions he says, morning, morning ’s minion ” and so • • ¦ - ¦ • forth, which in Daruwalla becomes “I saw the wild hawk-king this morning ’ and one immediately feels a sense of irritation fop being deprived of the wild burst of Manley passion. Yet Daru­ walla goes on calmly, never losing sight of his target and eventually succeeds in making the poem his own “Hawking is turned to a ritual, the, predator ’s pas ­ sion honed to an art,” he writes. This could well be a description for the poet ’s own approach to his craft. The Keeper of the Dead is memora ­ ble for other reasons as well. It reveals Daruwalla in a relaxed mood able to let his ‘voice ’ try out a variety of ideas. There is no more the juvenile desire to stand on a soapbox or a platform label ­ led ‘Poetry ’ and deliver a message, “no high flown-language. I am not here to T N Shanbhag for Strand Book Stall, Bombay, niy table. Most of this book is a compi- appease the gods ” he writes. This Pnce Rs 80, Pp368. lation of convocation addresses and allows him to range casually through My quest for memorable quotes by an memorial lectures delivered by him the centuries as in the poem entitled Indian has been fruitful. They are not with a few published articles thrown in. The King Speaks to the Scribe (Third from the pens of authors like Nirad All these are prefaced by a personal century BC); or the delightfully witty Chaudhary and Naipaul, nor from the note which I found very moving and yet sharp-edged poem Pestilence in speeches of politicians, but from a would like to share with you. Nineteenth-Century Calcutta where the lawyer, Nani Palkhivala. Palkhivala is very despondent about British Sahib is presented with the bill for his recently cremated Sikh servant with the line, “Five rupees for roasted Sardar.” Earlier Daruwalla had noted during the emergency against the immediate future seems to belong to with an irony that is typical of his laid back style, “In dysentery/a gut feeling ceases to be/premonitory. That even- r” Even bluebottled comet Kohoutek he writes “I flash like 5 a mad thought across the skull of the heart-grey landscape. The cold after- sky. I smoulder like a homicidal noon was hammered out of zinc.” Or resolve. ” , At his best, however, the full range “Whisked out of a matchbox one slid and splendour of Daruwalla country is across my palm/ with a spider ’s exhilarating. Just as in Mehar Ali, the lichened touch,/ like an acrobat walk- Keeper of the Dead the sky-woman that ing on his hands. ”. he describes; “her hair flaming red,/as In his pesonal poems however there she alights upon the shroud-grey skin/ an embarrassing triteness in that keeps him whole... ”brings him back to life, Daruwalla’s words whip and flay is an embarrassing triteness in Daruwalla’s choice of words. The sheriff can only be at home when he is the reader into an ability to feel with hfe out on the range; in bed his verse reads like snippets out of True Confes­ sions. Even in the touching poem that experienced. own passion, that brings with it a gift of life. For this alone the volume must be ‘Degeneration of conscience’ Khushwant Singh We, the people by Nani Palkhivala. Published by by him till his We The People landed On T N Shanbhag for Strand Book Stall, Bombay. Price Rs 80, Pp 368. Indian has been fruitful. They are not with a few published articles thrown in. All these are prefaced by a personal I had often heard him speak: he is a the way India is- disintegrating: “The most persuasive and compelling orator, picture that emerges is that of a great I had published many articles by him country, in a state of moral decay. The emergency; he had a vast repertoire of the doom-sayers rather than to the very apt quotations for every occasion. But I had not read anything written cheer-mongers. ‘We suffer from a fatty degeneration. U' a ¦ -4 -^4 ¦1 j 1 * 79 Parsiana August 19841 t Palkhivtda: spiritual recession we became a republic, we forgot that freedom is like alcohol — it must be ^ken in moderation. Why don ’t our leaders wake up arid see the perils that confront our nation? And if they are drugged by their own rhetoric, why don ’t we, the common ¦people of this country, shake them by the shoulders — or better, kick them in the pants? Palkhivala puts this sentiment in his usual gentle way; he would rather remind them that refusal to see the danger ahead can spell disaster: “The :peacock must not be replaced as the national bird by the ostrich. ” • Palkhivala is a deeply religious man. Not in the conventional sense of being a devout Parsi — as a matter of fact he is a bhakta of Satya Sai Baba — but one engaged in the pursuit of the sense of beauty and the thirst for truth. He ascribes this passion to his parents from whom he learnt “that all the loveliness of the world can be reduced to its first syllable. Palkhivala is acknowledged as one of the ablest la^^ers that India has pro ­ duced. It is hard to believe that as a child he had a dreadful stammer and admits that he had “as much chance of becoming an advocate or a public speaker as a victim of multiple sclerosis 5 has of becoming an Olympic athlete . ” He not only overcame the impedi ­ ment in his speech but is today the most The general air of permissiveness, sought-after speaker in the country. _________________ However, their moral standards from their rulers: erty, the proclivity for bandhs and Indians. when they have basked in the glow of nation we have not been able to draw the Lakshmanrekha between freedom »» * of conscience and the malady seems to be not only persistent but prone to ' aggravation. The life-style of too many politicians and businessmen bears eloquent testimony to the truth of the dictum that single-minded pursuit of money impoverishes the mind, shrivels the imagination and desiccates the heart. The tricolor fluttering all over the country is black, red and scarlet — black money, red tape and scarlet cor ­ ruption. ” His analysis of why things have gone wrong is as original as it is perceptive: “Our besetting sin is secular fundamen ­ talism. Fundamentalism is the triumph of the letter ?ver the spirit. It spurns the lesson taught two. thousand years ago I that the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life. “In our unwitting addiction to fun­ damentalism we are fully supported by two defects in our national character — . . . . ... lack of a sense of fairness, and lack of a adversity sense of moderation. ” He ascribes our national decline to two causes: scant concern for public good as well as moral and spiritual recession. “The moral standards of our politicians, policemen and criminals are indistinguishable from one another. India today is a living example of the fact that cynicism corrupts and absolute cynicism corrupts absolutely. ” He puts the blame for this squarely on the leaders: “There are two basic les ­ sons of Indian history. “First, our people have always taken the wanton destruction of public prop- However, unlike most successful their moral standards from their rulers: erty, the proclivity for bandhs and Indians, Palkhivala remains the people have risen to great heights strikes clearly demonstrates that as a extremely shy and modest man. noble kings or leaders. the Lakshmanrekha between freedom ,h ; w.i. ?¦ Secondly, regimes and kingdoms and licence. Palkhivala writes: When all, Sunday Mid-Day, February 19,1984. but by abasement. Corruption is the greatest solvent of public institutions; poverty poses a far smaller threat. ''The peacock must not be replaced as the national bird by the ostrich." 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