May 1985

i r ; f I- > I 1 ¦it < \ w » » ¦» -f > ’ •- • L » '• ‘‘‘ («. ifc 4 Yi t MAY 1985 PRICE Rs6 A '¦ J 1 ? Jjc* <*¦ <.. -W - w”* #4 A**' •V \ bJL.'» Kf 1 ' a >r. r ' I gkJ r>- A r r * ? 0 --* ' Jamsheed JKan^a Bombay's Municipal Coiwnissionar 1May 1985 Volume 7 Number 11 1 EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz Toddywalla DESIGN CONSULTANT Mini Boatwala DESIGN ASSISTANTS Kranti Shilotri, Varghese W. Fernandez MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Billimoria ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Cheryl D'Penha CHIEF EXECUTIVE R.P. Thanavala FINANCE B.L. Arora CIRCULATION B.P. Umrigar MANAGEMENT Minoo Patel, Jasmine Driver, Khurshid Daruwalla and Rohinton Mistry. 3 Readers' Forum 8 Events and Personalities 17 Zoroastrians Abroad 22 "A wonderful opportunity. . by Arnavaz S. Mama 28 The Parsi Priesthood in India II by Arnavaz Chubb 32 BPP electoral reform hearing.. . by Arnavaz S. Mama 38 Business *¦ 1 43 In Memoriam Cover: Transparency of Jamsheed Kongo by Homyar Mistry ? Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications at C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400 001, and printed by him at Kaiser-E-Hind, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400 001 and phototypeset at TRIAGE, Bombay 400 005. All rights reserved. Address all editorial and business correspondence to Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Phone: 268730. Annual inland subscription: Rs 40 for one year (12 issues); Rs 75 for two years (24 issues); Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs 80 for one year, Rs 150 for two years; Airmail Rs 160 for one year, Rs 290 for two years. For U.S. personal cheques add $4 to cover bank charges. For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 3 for bank charges. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favour of Parsiana and posted to G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Iit READERS' FORUM use rather than allow it for private business. J.J. JUSSAWAl I A t » ? ? li I WF ¦m year later in February 1935 participat ­ ed in bringing the holy fire from the Sodawaterwalla Agiary to its present ‘ site. In your article “A ‘milestone ’ round jehangir f. shroff our necks ” {Parsiana, March 1985) * * * you have stated the exact developments With the appointment of learned Er- that took place. The offer to expand vad Nadirshaw Aibara, there has been , the agiary was at a preliminary stage a larger flow of devotees to the Karani gt and plans and blueprint of the new Agiary in Cusrow Baug all through the structure were prepared to show that year and more during the muktad holi- M the original structure would not be dis- days. B turbed and the impressive front would m be maintained as is. ¦ The adjoining ground was cleared of munity and healing the sick and infirm I dried shrubs and plants, because of the by dispensation of nirang. Some of the ¦ golden jubilee function of the building, women who seem to be ardent admi- ¦ How could any alteration, addition or rers of Ervad Aibara have personally I further construction ever take place told me in no uncertain terms that with ¦ without the sanction of the trustees of the precise chanting of nirang, many of ¦ the N.M. Wadia Trust who have leased their worries are over. To brand Ervad ¦ this plot to the trustees of the Karani Aibara with the use of filthy language I Agiary? How could the present Guzder is to do great injustice to such a holy ¦ Hall be extended without the permis- person. I sion of the original Guzder family or ¦ their heirs? How could expansion take place without a No Objection Certifi ­ cate (N.O.C.) from the Bombay Muni ­ cipal Corporation and competent au- A first day cover and stamp has been published {Parsiana January 1985, You have beautifully described with Events and Personalities column) with excellent pictures in your article “The a note “Moos ’ 101 birth anniversary holy fire has brought prosperity. .. ” stamp and first day cover. ” This is not our Dar-e-Meher ’s golden jubilee event. I was the first tenant to enter Cusrow Baug on March 21, 1934 and a ¦ Ervad Aibara has been rendering yeoman service lecturing to the com- R.N. RUSTOMJI 'Stamp of approvaP Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community thorities? 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. SO. The first day cover and stamp are of Dr D.N. Wadia, issued by the post and A 'milestone’... ,, I refer to the controversy regarding ex ­ tension of the Karani Agiary at Cusrow Baug {Parsiana, March 1985). The argument is about extra space required for muktad, uthamha ceremo ­ nies and public lectures. The ruvanni bungli, provided by the trustees of the baug for religious ceremonies, could provide all the additional space requir ­ ed by the management of the agiary. Presently, the bungli is used as a provi- ’ sion store, but there is no reason why it should not be claimed back as a bungli for the purpose — and other allied pur ­ poses — for which it was intended. The protagonists should jointly take up the matter with the trustees of the baug and get back the bungli for public J j. I II 1 /¦ The Karani Agiary at Cusrow Baug. 3 Parsiana May 19^r- - ’¦ •-.is. f telegraph department on October 23, Evading issues? 1984. To my knowledge, no stamp and first-day cover, commemorating Dr 1 rents. Can one not see the reaction of an adopted child if he or she is denied the entrance to an agiary or an atash bahram while his parents can go to them? Does our religion teach us to be so cruel? •Lastly and most important of all — to try and make our youth realize the im­ portance of our religion, its rites and customs. What shook me out of my apathy was when Zoroastrian scholar John Hinnells came to Delhi and said that he wanted to do research on the Parsis before it was too late and they died out! When will we ever learn? BHICOO J. MANEKSHAW New Delhi Why are our so called “elders ” wasting precious time in having conferences with nothing really important being discussed? Why are we avoiding the urgent issues that are confronting the community? 1 honestly feel that for the sake of the future, our orthodox and reformist groups should get together in the true spirit of Ham-Band Paivaste and come Nanabhoy Ardeshir Moos ’ services to to some understanding, science and education has ever been issued by the post and telegraph depart- with a clear and open mind: ment, which is very unfortunate. ‘The acceptance of children of a non ­ Being a philatelist myself, 1 desire Parsi father into the religion with the that this error be corrected in the near consent of both the parents, especially future. the father. •Voluntary conversion of a man or a woman who has married a Parsi and wishes to join our religion or if there is a person who has studied our religion __ and wishes to be converted. We should karda, afrin,etc. He has now learnt Gu- jarati and Devanagri scripts and reads the Khordeh A vesta in these scripts. He has made such a deep study of the Zoroastrian religion without encour ­ agement or guidance from any one; it is a revelation or natural guidance. NOSHIR HORMAZDIYAR New York. U.S.A. c i I strongly feel that we must discuss -S ••J '4 J.B. MUSA Member, Poona Philatelic Association Second tenii The only honourable course for any have a panel consisting of learned Parsi trustee who covets a second term is to men and women who may decide whe- leave braggadocio alone and face the ther we can accept these persons or electorate in an open election and take not. chances instead of cashing in on the •Adoption: bearing in mind that for a goodwill of a colleague and reserving a child to feel completely in tune with its safe berth through a pocket borough, adopted parents he or she should fol- DiNSHAw MERCHANT low the Same religion as his or her pa- Peterson’s ‘deep study’ Joseph Peterson has put on computer, in English-Avesta, afargan, kshnums, ¦ Binaca Toothbrush. Its safe 'rounded bristle tips'do not tear the gums. 1 1 4 Ordinary X bristle ti|M that tear ths gums The Binaca family of toothbrushes - there's one for everyone. BiMca Junior BinacaBeDV BinoM Standard J Sinaea AduN Deluxe J I Binaca Angular Deluxe '4 J I j 1 J Binaca C'lt3A-CjEJGY -I 5 Parsiana May 1986 India's largest selling toothbrush.a.-. s i', t' Bhikha Behram Kuvo scenically situated near the river, was and putrefying. No acid or any sol- donated to the Mazdayasnie Monaste- vent is used. ” How harrowing the in- The Parsi well, more commonly refer- rie by a philanthropic old gentleman, side conditions of the dokhmas are red to as the Bhikha Behram no Kuvo Part of the land is now being cultivated could be judged from what the Pun- is being totally misused. I have per- under the auspices of the All India chayet further writes, “It is not advis- sonally witnessed lepers drawing water Shah Behram Bang Society for scienti- able for behdins to enter the Bombay from the well with filthy buckets. fic and educational research as an dokhmas wherein on an average three Much as the nuisance around the Agricultural Research Centre. dead bodies are consigned daily. ” well is annoying to the sight, the Here is a farm with a difference, cul- According to the late Dasturji Dabu, hazards of infection, pollution and tivated according to the ancient Zoro- only after the astodan of a dokhma is disease cannot altogether be ruled out. astrian agricultural method contained filled up to the brim with the remains The Municipal Corporation of Bom- in the Vendidad and other ancient of the dead, the muck is brought out bay has requested the trustees to barri- books of the Zoroastrian religion as and is buried outside in the open cade the area for the purpose of keep- well as the biodynamic method of agri- ground. Dasturji Dabu further writes ing undesirable elements at bay. In a culture. According to the ancient reli- {Jam-e-Jamshed, July 17, 1967), “The letter dated January 10,1984 addressed gious method, the land was purified, emitting aura from our dokhmas is to the trustees, the Corporation had This is the first experiment of its kind ‘gandu, palid and rimoni ’ from which written: “The Municipal Corporation in India. The president of the society, we are required to keep a distance of at is taking steps to beautify the area of Ms Meher Master-Moos, is putting in- least 30 paces and for this reason dokh- South Bombay. As part of the program to practice the biodynamic method of mas are built on the outskirts of the the entire width of the footpath bet- agriculture, which was introduced by town far away from our agiaries. ” ween the Parsi well and the Churchgate Dr Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian mystic- S.R. Vakil, ex-trustee of the Parsi subway is proposed to be paved with philosopher and scientist (1861-1925). Punchayet who inspected the inside chequered tiles... As you are aware, Steiner ’s biodynamic method does conditions of our Bombay dokhmas the Parsi well is being misused by un- away with artificial components and and later gave a harrowing account of authorized hawkers and vagrants in the the soil is cultivated by purely organic it in Parsiana said, “I am afraid that locality. They bathe, wash and cook in means, thereby revitalizing and regene- from within our dokhmas an epidemic the vicinity. .. We would therefore re- rating it. Biodynamic agriculture gives may spread in the growing vicinity quest you to barricade the well with or- one an understanding of the nature of around. ” namental grills. ” the soil, of the magnetic field and the The facility and arrangement to pre- effects of the various planets and star ­ vent further misuse of the well, has constellations, been offered to the trustees on a silver Master-Moos combines the ancient platter. It is indeed unfortunate they occult knowledge as shown by the late The one and only Parsi Zarathosti (for reasons best known to them) do Ustad Saheb Behramshah Nowroji staying at Chalisgaon in Jalgaon Dis ­ not wish to avail of it. Shroff (1858-1927) contained in Zara- trict, is 72-year old “Mahapurush ” The trust has several eminent ladies thushtrian Il-me-Kshnoom with the Maharishi Keki M. Moos, who for the and gentlemen on its board, some of methods of Steiner which has success- past 35 years or more has not stepped them include: Beion Engineer, Ms M. fully yielded rich and regular harvest, out of his bungalow. A lifelong devo- J. Taraporewala, C.H. Bhabha, R.J. I had the opportunity to visit the tee of art living in his “self imposed Taraporewala and Ms S.T. Tarapore- Agricultural Research Centre at one of hermitage ” he has produced master- wala. It is hoped these people will work its tree planting ceremonies. Before the pieces of painting and photography, in the best interest of the city ’s en- sapling was planted into the soil the He has not given or sold any piece of vironment and the pedestrians in parti- Sarosh Baj was recited, then a nirang art. cular. and then the Doa Tandarosti for bles- In the quiet hall inside hang life- DARA J.D. CAMA ‘Devotee of art’ and then the Doa Tandarosti for bles ­ sings, in order that the young trees sized oil paintings done by Moos and would give health-giving fruits. the best and the greatest artists of the Farm with a difference aban bana past and the present. Moos who was born on October 2, There was a time not too long ago Dokhmenashiui unhygienic 1912 in Bombay, was introduced to the when members of the community had renowned photographer Jehangir N. farms in Gujarat and were involved in Our dokhmas are nassakhanas (gar- Unwala, who helped in guiding him agriculture. With the passage of time bage-bins) and it is true that we keep and training him for his career in art. however, many of these farmers felt no social contacts with the poor nas- He has contributed lively articles on the urge to move to the concrete sky- sesalars (khandias who enter the dokh- photographic art. Uptil now he has scraper jungle of Bombay. Today mas). The mobeds discreetly do not bagged innumerable gold and silver many of these farms are no more, and enter the dokhmas. medals, brass plaques and countless farming has few Parsi practitioners. The Parsi Punchayet vide their letter certificates of merit and membership There are a few stray cases of the No. R 925 dated October 25, 1967 de- from many photographic associations reverse taking place, of Parsis buying scribe dokhmenashini thus: “After the in India and abroad and many cash pri- land outside Bombay and cultivating it birds have eaten the soft matter, the re- zes. anew in the tradition of their fore- maining is removed into the central pits fathers. Near Sanjan, a piece of land, (astodans) wherein it lies, decomposing NOSHIR HOMl DADRAWALA too long ago Dokhmenashiiii unhygienic vmmiinitv nan The Parsi Punchayet vide their letter certificates of merit and membership ADI PATEL Poona 1 6 Parsiana May 1985—besides soaps, toiletries, chemicals and animal feeds. The Godrej industrial garden township at Vikhroli-Piroj- shanagar, is a superb exam­ ple of self-reliance and pro­ gress. For their workers Godrej have provided—in a unique environment—many social benefits : extensive housing schemes, schools and adult education, recrea­ tion, medical and family planning benefits. Self-reliance is means and an end. For Godrej it is the essence of independence. Freedom was won long be- Sdf-I fore 1947. By people who .. < could think for themselves tne^ and shed the shackles of of AIV machine tools and forklift dependence; by men of fore- _ _ trucks to steel furniture, si^t and determination, like ¦ndependence typewriters and refrigerators Ardeshir and Pirojsha ' ------- Godrej, who had confidence in the country’s capabilities and shared the same ideals with Tilak, Tagore, Gandhi, Nehru. In Godrej, self-reliance has been considered indispensa­ ble to progress, the aim be­ ing not just self-sufficiency for the organisation but for the whole country. Progress can only be achieved in a milieu of progress. Based on our country’s needs, and exploiting the country’s own resources, Godrej have diversified. gni^» Made to international stan * dards, their products range note from security equipment. both a 6B, 52M (R) AV- 1 ¦7 P Events and Personalities k cha, chairman of CER’s managing committee, noted with a smile. A religious program comprising of a humbandagi led by Dastur 1 f ! r ft ?r of ex-BPP trustee Jamshed Guzder and Kanga informed the gathering that representatives of the Maharashtra government agencies were expected to At the end of the list of CER’s sche ­ duled speakers Poncha invited Khoj- este Mistree, founder of Zoroastrian Studies, to speak about the Athravan Educational Trust which has been^ set Firoze Kotwal, high priest of the Z>.wed.nese.. &SSwsS:?;Ho«“— 'F?ro “kot™rSauikon«he^gn^ participate . sis get into medical college each year. The (B.D. Petit) Parsee General Hospi ­ tal can be converted into a college. Jamsheed Kanga, founder^ and ex- Revivi (CER) was speaking at the nity^ CER’s third jashan and gahambar ori April 20, 1985 where he was f..--- ------ - on becoming Bombay ’s first Parsi Municipal Administrator. “Jamsheed is a man of rare breed. In honouring him the CER honours it- splf ” noted Homi Sethna, ex-chair- ------- — ,, iz man of the Atomic Energy Commis- great visionary forefathers, Kanga Sion of India who was the chief guest implored the community to create en- on the occasion. “The community was trepreneurship among young Pars s. SiS« ............... so n "d" dnd '^It Empldymedl on join hdddd,; Md;r« Kang a, who had been joint secretary in the department of atomic energy for 15 years, was handsome in his acknow ­ ledgements: “Getting a manpatra from him (Sethna) is like getting a good con- fidential report. .. Dastur Minochehr- Homji used to teach me the navar pra- ’' > yers. I’ve always looked to him for guidance and he has never failed me ... ¦ ? Fall Poncha, Dadi Engineer, Minoo Shroff, Silloo Kavarana, whatever has been achieved by the CER has been due to your efforts. I’m getting some of the credit under false pretenses. ..’’ Kanga was presented with the man­ patra and a silver salver. Nor did the organizers forget “long-suffering Fi- roza who has to share her husband with the CER, the Parsi Punchayet and now the city of Bombay ’’ as Fall Pon- of the gahambar by Dastur tation. Kanga claimed the “proud privilege to work with so many dedicated men and women in -------------- . - Referring to the commu- in the task of helping the np by BPP trustee Homi Ranina Das- jmiOiiVVM lMUae«») ---------- ---- , n ’tv ” Referring to the commu- tur Firoze Kotwal, high priest oi me president of the Council for Economic community ^^fe g Bahram and Mistree to Do.riaroi rcFR'i was sDcakiug at the nity s growing awareness g ____ young boys to be full-time mobeds capable of community leader ­ ship. Mistree said the trust will be offi ­ cially launched on Behram roj (May 11, 1985) at 5.15 p.m. at Cusrow Bang with a jashan ceremony and a gaham ­ bar to follow. Mistree noted he was “specially happy to announce this offi ­ cially at the CER function to honour Kanga ’’ which filled him with a “vi- -1 it now had a “responsible and respon- felicitated sive leadership. Men of eminence were hankering to become trustees. Now people were expecting trustees to come forward and serve the community ...’’ Noting that our “fame and glory were due to the efforts and foresight of our great visionary forefathers, ’’ . 1 __ _____] xl___ trepreneurship among young Parsis. nar on ------------- . June 2. 1985 under the chairmanship sion of Zoroastrianism being spear- Rich, poor, radical, orthodox, let us An audiovisual on the navjote was SlOn Ul Z-UI uttauiaiiioiii w***© headed into the twenty-first century. | CER’s jashan: spearheading Zoroastrianism 8 Parsiana May 1985 ? ..... .b iSS IB , . IK* few M; i ¦i I IT f 7 ¦I ¦I II a ¦ i¦ 1 I viewed by a large audience that had gathered for the gahambar priced at Rs 30 per head where each ticket sold en ­ abled one underprivileged Parsi to be fed free. The Godiwallas, along with Rogers cold drinks and Friendly Ice ­ cream deserve special mention for the fare they served to nearly 1000 diners. •h . b ' ¦ rs .' h i' I > te Vizag hall I Dedicated to the Parsis of Vizag, the I Bai Jerbai Hall, donated by Sohrab I Kapadia, president of the Vizag Zoro ­ astrian Association (VZA), was for- K mally consecrated on February 17, 1985, notes the March 1985 newsletter of VZA. Ervad Bomanshaw Antia and his son, Kerfegar Antia performed the jashan ceremony. At the post-lunch session, it was sug ­ gested. that a directory of Parsi dha- ramshalas in India be compiled and distributed to the various anjumans, so that middle-class Parsis could plan a budgeted vacation. A recommendation that the VZA . should acquire land for residential ac ­ commodation for Parsis in Vizag was also made. Regarding the hosting of a council meeting of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, the VZA unanimously agreed that 15 dele ­ gates could be accommodated and ar ­ rangements made for their food and transportation. The discussion was followed by a • < _ ______ . | discourse, on the birth of Zarathushtra Members of the Vizag Anjuman at the inauguration of the Bai Jerbai Memotriial Hall. and his religious preachings by Sohrab Kapadia. I III ' ¦*>' -i .1 ( i__; ¦ i| i«i***'' ii BAt JERBAt MEMORIAL karigar, salary commensurate with the Gai and treasurer MS Mani R. Dama- present day cost of living to enable nia, reports the anjuman ’s newsletter, them to live in dignity and grace. Con- New Horizon of November 1984. The tributions for the agiary may be election was held on October 13. The other successful candidates are Jamshedpur Agiary 25 Catering to the needs of about 650 Par- addressed to the Chairman, C.M. sis residing in Jamshedpur, the Curset- Shroff Agiary, Jamshedpur, Silver Ms Viloo S. Irani, Ms Nargis N. Hathi- jee Manockjee Shroff Agiary complet- Jubilee Account. ” daru, Behram S. Nagarwala, Farrokh ed its silver jubilee on March 3, 1985, notes H.P. Bodhanwalla, chairman of tions the Jamshedpur Parsi Associa- the report adds, the agiary in a letter. tion wishes to host a council meeting of Listed among the assets of the Jam- the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian shedpur Parsi Association which has a Anjumans of India in October this .membership of 243, the agiary is year. The association also plans to ar- The Council of Vigilant Parsis (CO VP) managed by seven trustees — five ap- range lectures, films and video screen- has joined battle with Zoroastrian Stu- pointed by the association and two by ings on Zoroastrian themes and to put dies (ZS) on the issue of the omnipot- the C.M. Shroff family. There are two up a Gujarati play. ence of Ahura Mazda and the source of living quarters for the mobeds and one evil. ZS — under the tutelage of Kho- ______ _ Ahmednagar office-bearers jeste Mistree and like-minded scholars “We seek the support of philanthro- uiiive-oearers Russell and Allen Williams who pic Parsis in augmenting our resources The new office-bearers of the Ahmed- view Zoroastrianism as a dualistic to maintain the agiary and its garden in nagar Parsi Anjuman are: {:M:?5ident religion — believes and preaches that a befitting manner and also to make Godrej R. Kermani, vice-president Ahura Mazda is all-knowing an d all ­ provisions for paying the (mobed) and Merwan B. Mehta, secretary Eruch K. gopd but not all-powerful <— hence the As part of the silver jubilee celebra- R. Master and Pvlehernosh B. Mehta, Is God all-powerful? Ahmednaear office-bearers Mistree and like-mindcd schotos lomAC Dliccoll onH AllAn \XZi11«anrtr> nrnn t r '-¦ e: n :s J.. ¦ •re o ;r 5 r d e e I .' e 14 9 Parsiana May 1365Prayers on cassette In his opening address, Nariman Balsara has prepared another cas- ditions, cannot possibly marry out of youngsters do not have the preference Every cassette accompanied by a ments regarding certain burning issues, For further details write to Vishtasp aver that we must be ready to convert (From I to r): IVadia, Ranina, Nariman, Vakil and Fali Master at Aibless Baug. is the separation of the spiritual eler (near Hind Cinema), Calcutta-7(X) 012. Zoroastrians to know the beauty of Enterprises, on February 17, 1985, at their Avestan prayers..., ” music di­ existence of the negative forces of evil under the domain of Ahriman. To counter this train of thought, the CO VP and its spokesmen Adi Doctor and B.K. Mistry addressed the commu ­ nity on the subject, “Omnipotence of Ahura Mazda and the concept of evil in the Zoroastrian religion ” on March 29 at the K.R. Cama Institute ’s Jivanji Mody Hall. Mistry, in his introductory address, noting that “faith is being eroded by scholarship, ” described the two types of scholars of Zoroastrianism: “The self-taught scholar (who is) limited to the K.R. Cama library (and who is) us ­ ually harmless ” and the second, who has had “the good fortune of being educated in a foreign country. (He is) the kind of commodity Parsis love — imported, foreign — therefore (he) must be vital, must be believed. ” Noting that western scholars “can- ments from the human body. ” not accept the esoteric side of religion C' " because it is against the grain of life as A vesta to support his line of thinking, cultivated in the west, ” Mistry cited as Doctor concluded, “Applying logic to Boys ’ Town Public School, Nashik. The original prayer in Avesta recited place, the release adds. The function chaired by Zoroastrian followed by a Gujarati translation scholar Fariburz Nariman, was preced- from Kavi Phiroz Batliwalla ’s Sarod- ed by a jashan led by Dastur Dr Firoze E-Avesta, sung by Dhannavaz Indore- Kotwal, when principals, teachers and Quoting freely from the^ QrthodOX lecture series / ¦ • " \ , ¦ J _ ) “It is high time we realized that we are an example of superficial translation Ahura Mazda is like measuring nature the repositories of our ancient faith Ha 44, para 18 of the Gathas where with a six inch ruler! ” and that every mixed marriage is one Zarathushtra asks Ahura Mazda, step forward towards the road to ex- “When will they be deserving of the Pravers on cassette tinction, ” said BPP trustee Honu reward of one camel and 10 pregnant Ranina, at the inaugural session of the mares? ” “The philologist will speak of “To inspire, attract and help young lecture series organized by R.D.R. pastoral times when camels and mares . . ” were precious, ” noted Mistry and ask- their Avestan prayers..., ” music di- Aibless Baug, notes a press release, ed, “But why did Zarathushtra ask for rector Vishtasp Balsara of Calcutta has Ranina said that one out of every five only one camel? Why not a pair? ... prepared an audio cassette on the marriages is a mixed marriage, and Why not five pairs of horses? Zoroastrian daily prayers, notes a let- when the existence of our religion is en- “If Ahura Mazda is not powerful, ter by Bejon Desai, principal of the dangered, any talk about love and our religion is not powerful; then our Boys ’ Town Public School, Nashik. broad-mindedness is entirely out of manthras and our ceremonies are not powerful. . .(thus) Parsis go to other by Ervad Bapuji Desai of Calcutta, is religions where their gods are consider ­ ed all-powerful. .. It will mislead, mis ­ guide our children, ” warned Mistry. Doctor noted at the outset, “Were walla. English translations of the same 300 students of various schools and this discussion confined to workshops with lyrics composed by Bejon Desai colleges attended, adds the release, and academia, it wouldn ’t matter. But and music composed by Vishtasp Bal- they (ZS) carry it into preaching the sara are then sung by Ms Roshan Guz- pointed out that those who have love community. .. In the whole history of dar, adds the letter. for Zarathushtra and Zoroastrian tra- Parsis in India, no one has ever preach ­ ed that Ahura Mazda had this one sette deleting the Gujarati songs “in the community. States the press shortcoming until Mistree, Russell and case some ultra-modern Zoroastrian release: Williams... youngsters do not have the preference “Nariman observed that a small “When you question the omnipot- for, or the knowledge of Gujarati, ” group of five or seven millionaires ence of Ahura Mazda, you question his states the letter. often come out with baseless state ­ omniscience too. .. Can Ahura Mazda not allow evil to continue until such leaflet containing either Gujarati or thereby confusing the latter or adding time as it suits him? ” Referring to the English translations of the prayers, to the number of our problems. One or frequent references to death as an evil “will be sold at cost price to cover the two such persons maintain that we are in the lectmes sponsored by ZS, Doc- cost of the blank cartridge only, ” the very narrow-minded because we are tor noted, “Death has never been letter adds. against intermarriages. Some of them taken as destruction but as transforma ­ tion. Yasna 55.2 says the death of man A. Balsara, 16, Akrur Dutta Lane, people belonging to other faiths into 11 Parsiana May 1966 ............... . ¦uiiaiiSii.¦»\ I u -HI"* •?« 2 *# h. ‘J The anjuman runs many projects, our own, otherwise we would be re- The largest number of deaths, 88, were garded as narrow-minded. Again there in the age group 71 to 80 years with the chief among them being the Mengusi are those who cannot understand or ac- second largest number, 73, being in the Parsi Dharamshala which provides a cept the importance our community 81 to 90 year bracket. , high standard of service to Parsi visi- gives to rites and rituals. Behind all A letter of congratulations was given tors to Delhi. Rs 89,514 were collected such outbursts there is simply a ques- to Ms Veera Mehta on her prestigious as service charges. However, excess of ' tion of personal likes or dislikes — appointment as secretary general of the expenditure over income during the such an attitude constitutes a grave International Association of Schools year has increased from Rs 9,604.17 to danger for the community. of Social Work in. Vienna, Austria. Rs 20,624.11, adds the report. “Among Parsis living abroad, parti- “Your services in the field of social • '^''S “Among Parsis living abroad, parti- “Your services in the field of social For the past 29 years, the anjuntan* cularly in the U.S.A., every third mar- work and your special interest in the has been running a social centre, which riage is an intermarriage and whenever education of children are well-known organizes functions on auspicious days such marriages take place, some people and it is indeed your devoted and val- like Jamshedi Navroze, Adar roy ga- try to enlighten us about ‘love! ’. Ex- uable services to these fields which has hambar, the agiary anniversary, Pateti pressing his inability to understand this brought this coveted honour to you, ’’ and Divali. AnnuM sports, film shows, ‘love ’ and ‘lovers ’ abroad, Nariman states the letter. picnics, puppet shows, cooking de ­ emphasized that the question of ‘love Ms Mehta who is active in commu- monstrations, kirtans and lectures are marriage ’ with alien spouses cannot nity organizations like the CER and also organized. All these major func- arise for those who have love for Zara- Zoroastrian Studies will reside in Vien- tions are held in the Bhiwandiwala thushtra and Zoroastrian tradition, ’’ na. Hall, also run by the anjuman, the stated the release. Former magistrate report adds. The hall houses a one-cup- Jal Vakil proposed a vote of thanks. Delhi UOdate library, started in 1983, which The purpose of the lecture series ac- has 200 books on the Zoroastrian reli- cording to Russi Wadia, proprietor of “The multifarious activities of the gion and culture, both in English and R.D.R. Enterprises is “to acquaint the Delhi Parsi Anjuman have been well- Gujarati, notes the report. members of our community with the sustained, and the year 1983-84 has The anjuman also prints and sells views of orthodox dasturs, scholars been one of progress in social, religious books on Zoroastrianism. The single and knowledgeable laymen on impor- and other activities. The financial posi- largest order received was from the tant issues connected with our religion tion of the anjuman continues to show World Zoroastrian Organization, Lon- and community. ’’ progress and is very satisfactory, ’’ don, for 200 sets of illustrated books notes the 1983-84 annual report of the for children, notes the report. Prayers Delhi Parsi Anjuman, in Dipanjali, its for Parsi children, a booklet by Noshir half-yearly journal. Vajifdar, Zoroastrian Catechism by The anjuman, which has a total Ms P.N. Jungalwalla, and an illustrat- na. Delhi update Ranina’s views in Review k lengthy article attacking inter-com- — ------- , munity marriages by Bombay Parsi membership of 385, of which 31 are ed book on Prayers to our dead oy Punchayet trustee Homi P. Ranina non-Par si spouses, nets a subscription Ms Mehroo Wadia are the forthcoming features in the BPP Quarterly Review of Rs 6,910, the report states. publications, adds the report. of July-August-September 1984. Titled the ‘Need for Encouraging the Bombay Parsi Punchayet Matrimonial Bureau, ’ the six-page article has about three paragraphs on the bureau while the rest is on Ranina ’s theories on the danger of mixed marriages and the threat they pose to the future of the community. Ranina in conclusion urges the com ­ munity to support the Matrimonial Bu­ reau so that Parsis marry within the fold. In other news, of the 10 Bombay Parsi Punchayet board of trustees meetings between July and September 1984, five were attended by ^1 seven trustees, four by six trustees and one by four, notes the BPP Quarterly Review, edited by R.K. Anklesaria and D.F. Bharucha, without mentioning the names of the trustees present or absent. There were 188 items on the agenda, an average of 19 items per meeting. Two hundred and sixty-five deaths were recorded at the Doongerwadi bet ­ ween July 1, 1984 and September 1984. * J & ?? yzParsienQ May 1965 ^lnw. a lijinA'A i ¦'Liifeaittjj*. /J z. * Ji? ^•’83 y.<•< /' .T - S* - *4 >1 >' r 1* To encourage literary contributions, getting additional land. .. Please give Award fOF institute monetary incentives were announced, me fuller details and I would like to t * due to which Dipanjali, the half-yearly know your requirements etc. I will then The Society for the Care, Treatment journal of the anjuman has increased try to do something about this, in both quality and quantity, notes the report. The anjuman ’s other projects Pestonji captains Godavail include giving scholarships to deserv ­ ing students under the Ervad Darius Described as “one of the most unique Bagli Scholarship Scheme and running and sophisticated ships ofJier class. .. the Kaikhushru Pallonji Katrak Dar-e- 1—.l--„ j j t:. u ? iqo« Meher, which completed 22 years on counter-measures equipment (which) The Daily dated February 3, 1985. December 26, 1983. According to the report, there were seven burials in the aramgah during the year 1983-84. S ¦¦ ' and Training of Children in Need of Special Care, founded by Ms Jai l4. Vakeel, was awarded the Indian Mer ­ chants ’ Chamber, Platinum Jubilee Endowment Trust Award of 1984, at the hands of the Chief Justice of India, having*^ radar, sonju- and electronic Y.V. Chandrachud, notes a write-up in can match the latest amongst other The award, a plaque and one lakh navies, ” INS Godavari, commanded rupees, was received on behalf of the by Captain Keki Pestonji, visited Vizag society by Ms Tehmi Shroff, general for a week in February 1985, notes the secretary and administrator of the March 1985 newsletter of the Vizag society, which has about 500 persons Zoroastrian Association. on its roll. The society was selected Pestonji, who was previously a naval from among a total of 83 nominations attache in Bonn, West Germany, said received, informed the chairman of the that INS Godavari was in Vizag “to trust, Pravinkumar Gandhi, as quoted participate in the amphibious exercises conducted in the Bay of Bengal. ” On r " j Delhi Navroze celebrations “You are a progressive, forward look ­ ing community, quite capable of look- — ing after yourself and (getting) the bet participate in the amphibious exercises in the write-up. ter of all problems, ” said K.M. Wali, conducted in the Bay of Bengal. ” On In his speech. Justice Chandrachud Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, presid- March 3, 1985 the ship participated in said, “The birth of a child with a men- ing over the Delhi Parsi Anjuman, the exercises in the presence of the tai handicap can cast a cloud over the Navroze day celebrations on March 21, Raksha Mantri and the Chief of the happiness of the entire family, and it is 1935 Naval Staff, which was later televised .. .commendable that so many organi- Welcoming the chief guest and his on Doordarshan. zations are involved in tending to per- wife, the president of the Delhi Parsi The ship is the first of a series of sons who are denied the pleasures of Anj um^n , S.D. Nargolwala briefed the frigqtes designed by the Indian Navy life, ” adds the report. governor on the achievements and pro- and constructed by Mazagaon Dock surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to- — air missiles and anti-aircraft high speed Edited by noted columnist Behram guns and torpedoes, the ship can ope- (Busybee) Contractor, Bombay ’s - .......................... " • -------- - —Yfjg Afternoon Despatch and Courier, hit i': i( J !' L 1 iS* /! , , Naval Staff, which was later televised _ ___________ — denied the pleasures of Ahjuman, S.D. Nargolwala briefed the frigqtes designed by the Indian Navy life, ” adds the report. blems of the anjuman. He said, “But Ltd, Bombay^ Besides an arsenal of QontrSCtor’S ADC one problem in which I will require " ’** your help is our aramgah (on Prithvi- ---------- _ raj Road) which is now 60 years old; guns and torpedoes, the ship can ope- (Busybee) Contractor, there the land is getting used up... I rate with a pair of Seaking helicopters fourth aftwnoon newspaper, appeal to you. . .for a quick decision in for anti-submarine operations. this matter. ” Nargolwala then described another problem faced by the conunuhity say ­ ing, “Because of reservations for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, etc. our own people are not getting proper admissions for higher education, parti ­ cularly for medical and technical stu ­ dies. ” Replying to the welcome address, and the problems outlined by Nargol ­ wala, Wali explained, “Some of the problems you have mentioned, like that of reservation, are beyond my competence; it needs to be forwarded to the national leaders, and I cannot visualize the results. .. There are cer ­ tain other problems which I can consi ­ der as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. As for the question of (the) cemetery ... this is a field where I can help in ¦*'^ -3 :«¦ I 1 »u -T I a ¦\5‘. ra ¦Ml Ul' i- L. f Chief Justice Chandrachud presenting the IMC A ward to Tehmi Shroff. Pranlal Bhogilal (centre) president of the IMCJooks on. (Photo: The Daily) ¦ ¦L; .|Re* fc*. ’¦4^ !O [turi 14 Parsiana May 1985; •4'^. I * ¦ Rana (left) presenting a photograph of his painting *Love and Hate’ to Sr Cabrini, Superior of Asha Dhan. r’ from Kurasa (present-day Khurasan) in the Persian Gulf with the intention of Starting a business and settling in In ­ dia. Kaikhushro and Avabai had five sons and one daughter. They started a business in the name of Cursetjee Nus- serwanjee and Sons (the British called him Cursetjee instead of Kaikhushro), a firm which still exists today, conclu ­ des the report. I e| I ’I Promising cricketer For those moaning the lack of star cric ­ keters in the community, Khushroo Vasania offers hope. The youth who represented India against Australia in the stands on March 25, 1985. Limited, Rana, born in 1942, is a gra- the four-day under 19 cricket test. According to a report in The Daily duate in Applied Arts from the J. J. In- helped draw the Madras match by scor- of March 21, 1985, The ADC plans., stitute of Art, notes his bio-data. For ing 50 runs without losing his wicket, “to retain the'seriousness of the morn- almost seven years after graduation, ing papers without their stodginess and Rana was a free-lancer, specializing in India, March 22, 1985, “India, in their improve on the personalized writ- window displays and print jobs, states second venture, fared badly, sliding ing and spontaneity of the evening the press release. His clients included frpm 50 for one at lunch to 89 for papers. ” Tata Services Ltd, Tata Consultancy seven. At this stage they had only a Contractor, who recently wed Far- Services, Max Factor and Garden Silk. 130-run lead with 94 minutes of batting zana Khan, an advertising colleague at He also visualized several full page and 20 mandatory overs left. Mid-Day is said to have received fi- foreign newspaper advertisements for nance for the paper from Bakul Patel, the Tatas, notes his bio-data, first wife of the late Congress (I) mem ­ ber Rajni Patel and Kamal Morarka stints at two advertising agencies one trouble. ” Well-known writers who will be con- of which was Inter Publicity run by tributing are Arun Shourie, bom Nergish Wadia. Moraes, Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Fer ­ reira, Khushwant Singh, A.F.S. Tal- yarkhan, Devyani Chaubal and others. “And the sev of this bhel puri will, of The first Parsi to settle in Ahmed- well as a useful marketing tool, course, be Busybee with his ‘Round nagar, Kaikhushro Nusserwanjee, was The Amul milk advertisement by and About, ’” adds The Daily. an enterprising young man, notes the daCunha Associates in the form of a March 1985 issue of New Horizon, the cartoon, reads “Amul milk in ‘Apru Rana’s visual contrasts newsletter of the Ahmednagar Parsi Amul Milk ’” and has Ruby and Bur- Anjuman. Residing in Surat, Kaikhu- jor Patel (as caricatures) enacting the “Can you imagine this world without shro invested in a soda-water machine, following scene. The lady seems to be contrasts? ” asks Behram R. Rana in which he carried around on a mule, ac- desperately trying to wake up her hus- an invitation to his second one-man companying the British Army on their band, **Arre oothni, the milkwalla will show of paintings at the Taj Art Gal- campaigns, supplying them aerated come soon. ” But husband, seemingly lery, Bombay, from April 9 to 15, water. On one such campaign he came prepared for this daily disturbance, is 1985. Of the 15 paintings on display at to Ahmednagar and decided to settle ready and has already bought Amul the gallery, the centrepiece is a tribute there. He married Avabai Mody of milk the previous night. “But apri to Mother Teresa, titled “Love and Surat, whose family had earlier helped Roshan is coming with her dikras," Hate. ” The proceeds of this verticle his mother, Khorshed, sell a bag of says the wife. “So I’ll buy-more Amul painting are earmarked to Asha Dhan, pearls for a good price when she be- milk from pella baniya shop, varuV’ Mother Teresa ’s home for the old and came a widow soon after reaching replies husband tiredly. Wife is shock- the sick at Byculla, Bombay, notes the Bombay. ed, “You ’ve become ghello or what? press release. Khorshed, her husband, Nusserwan- What milk do baniyaskeep? ” And so A senior visualizer in the advertising jee, and Kaikhushro, who was then we finally embark on Amul milk — department of Larsen and Toubro five years old, had come to Bombay “so fresh, creamy and majenuV' As stated in a report in The Times of “Australia went all out pressurizing India but Vasania thwarted all their Rana ’s past experiences involve attempts and pulled India out of Ahmednagar’s pioneer Apru Amul Parsi.Gujarati is a source of constant amusement to other communities as /' 5^' ?# V .* 15 Parsiana May 19851 ift 4 s, A, w f I ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD V'- ii«i^n. ‘f^ i "jy rx North American ¦ Congress — V I The aim of the Fifth North American ; Zoroastrian Congress to be held from August 30 to September 2, 1985, is “to have a consensus towards solidarity, survival, improvement and progress ” states an invitation to the congress by Ms Dhunmai P. Dalal, chairperson, ad-hoc committee. Fifth North Ameri ­ can Zoroastrian Congress. The Con ­ gress, to be hosted by the Zoroastrian Center of California, is to be held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, Los Angeles. The guidelines for the agenda are: •to consider the progress of the recom ­ mendations made at the Fourth North American Congress. •to form a socio-religious planning committee to coordinate all common activities of North American organiza ­ tions. •to improve communications with Zoroastrians living all over the world. •to hold a youth forum so as to under ­ stand their views on the future of Zoro- Qnggt deficit thushtra) in its present form, ” notes a astrians in North America. campaign letter circulated by the •to promote research and scholarship The long awaited film A Quest for Council of Vigilant Parsis (COVP). in religion and its propagation and Zarathushtra is still facing a deficit of Addressed to Bikram Singh, chair- consider the setting up of a research around $500,(XX), reports the Decern- man. Central Board of Film Censor's center in North America to coordinate ber 1984-January 1985 newsletter of the letter states, “If this film is allowed all scholarly works. the Zoroastrian Society of British Col- to be exhibited, it will be a deliberate A letter by Dalal states, .certain umbia. and malicious outrage on the Parsi items which have already been discus- With post-production editing still Zoroastrian community whose reli- sed in the previous congresses ... (if pending, the Persepolis Production gious feelings are sought to be violently brought up again) may not yield the Inc., who have developed and produc- hurt by insulting. . .its religion and/or desired results... The committee has ed the film, have appealed to all the its religious beliefs. ” thought it practical to have special ses- Zoroastrian anjumans to donate to- Notes the letter, “We are not oppos- sions...of officially delegated repre- wards the cost of completion of the ed to the idea of a film as a medium of sentatives of various Zoroastrian orga- film, notes the report. education. However, if a film has to be nizations in North America ... who are With its principal photography being made, it must adhere: strictly to our an- familiar with the various topics ” to re- completed, production costs of the cient scriptures, and must not. . .hurt view, discuss and resolve issues, how ­ ever controversial. mately $440,(XX) (including approxi- The objections to the film listed in The accent this time is on youth par- mately $110,000 of accrued and unpaid the letter are: ticipation. States the invitation, “To salaries) adds the report. •Zarathushtra has been projected as encourage the attendance of our youth, we have chosen the school and college Zubin Mehta, makes his acting debut compared to the scriptures which de- • vacations ... and we will attempt to as a man in search of his roots, is scribe him as a divine being. house bonafide students not travelling directed by Cyrus Bharucha, producer •The film presents the dogma of free- with their families, free or at very and director of 30 shows for the Public dom of choice when Zarathushtra nominal cost. ” Broadcasting Service in the USA, the clearly preached discarding of evil and Persons interested in attending the report adds. In the meanwhile. .. reverting to good. congress may contact: Dhunmai P. Dalal, chairperson, ad-hoc committee. Fifth North American Congress, 1814 road ... express our strong disapproval religion say He is. Bayless Street, Anaheim, California of, and lodge a vehement protest •Death is shown as an evil which is 92802, against the film (A Quest For Zara- against Zoroastrian teachings. fi I o ¦ ‘ij A ]7 Parsiana Mav 1985 L .f ^5 A’ - V* X* J , ‘ 1 7" '»| “-J '¦¦"41 I d ,-sl ¦3| '/J J p Bharucha (extreme left) directing Zubin.Mehta (centre) and Nari Avari (right) on the sets of Quest. Quest deficit film, shot in India, totalled approxi- the religious feelings. ” mately $440,000 (including approxi- This film in which music maestro being subject to all human frailties “We the undersigned, Parsi/Irani Zo- •Ahura Mazda is depicted as not being roastrians residing in India and ab- omnipotent when the tenets of the idk ^102^ -1 4* 1 "X '^'1 ^'1'. '^’3* ’’ A' J r' ‘’aE . jWWv* t y t J *¦ j ' ¦i^ I I 1 0F KOCfG The Rustam Guiv Trust made an ini ­ tial payment of 5260,000 with which the land was purchased, adds the report. The complex which will occupy 7000 sq. ,feet of a total site area of 47,000 sq. feet will have a prayer room, a hall for 400 people, a library, an office, three classrooms that can be converted into an extension for the hail or into a din ­ ing hall, a kitchen, a one-bedroom apartment for scholar guests, and 71 parking spaces, notes the newsletter. The construction committee for the Darbe Mehr includes Dr Ardeshir Anoushiravani, Dr Sohrab Sassani, Iraj Mavandadi, the architect, and Keki Amaria who prepared the blue ­ print for the facade, states the report. A r 'MS .'S Cooper conducts “We Zoroastrians should encourage Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hong this young man in his endeavours by flocking to his performances in large numbers, ’’ notes the April newsletter of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago, referring to •It is a breach of trust to shoot an en ­ tire scene in Bombay ’s Tower of Sil- Kong, Canton and Macau, ha^over 65 ence and break a sacred tradition. Mombasa anjuman “We have an Aramgah, residential flats for the community, and a guest house for any (person) wishing to uti ­ lize the facilities of the same. It is fully equipped and has all modern ameni- -.......—" Mpdicnl rpoalia ahrnad ties, ’’ states a Mombasa Parsi Anju- . , . MCOICai regalia aoroau man press release dated April 8, 1985 valiiOrnia S ncW COmpiCX Parsi Medical Amateurs, a Bom- from Homi J. Bajina, chairman of the of total of $336,611 collected, bay-based dramatic association led by anjuman. $226,(XX) have been spent on the con- Homi Tavadia and Dr Jimmy N. Sidh- The anjuman has 70 members in- struction of the new Rustam Guiv wa are planning to regale Zoroastrians eluding a dastur who performs reli- Darbe Mehr complex in Westminister in the U.S.A, and Canada with a Parsi- gious ceremonies, adds the release, city, California, notes The Zoroas- Gujarati natak popular in Bombay, . ..„j during the Pateti season, notes the started in October 1984 with donations ZAC newsletter received on January 2, from Ms Morvarid Guiv and other phi- entries plus a section titled ‘Overseas Relatives and Friends ’ listing presum ­ ably one time Hong Kong residents. The office-bearers of the Fund are Farobag Cooper, conductor of the president Noshir Pheroz Pavri, and ’------------ secretary Erach Mancherji Mehta. The Chicago. Presently he is conductor of other trustees are Keki Fakirji Jokhi, Chicago Philharmonia. Viraf Keki Parekh and Jal Soli Shroff. Wind Ensemble of the University of .'^ i California’s new complex Jashans are held on all Zoroastrian fes- trian of California. Construction was tivals, the release concludes. The office-bearers of the Mombasa ..................... Parsi Anjuman for 1985-86 are: Baji- lanthropists. na, Aspi Konkrawalla, vice-chairman, Cawas Dotiwalla. secretary, Bahadur Engineer, treasurer. The committee members are Eruch Avari, Dara Patel. Rusi Saher, Ms Jerbanoo Deboo and Ms Najoo Avari. The elections were held on March 23, 1985, adds the release. A sketch o f the Rustam Guiv Darbe Mehr. 1985. The proceeds of this natak, after * Hong Kong directory “Some young computer buffs in the community have put this information | together and we hope to update it fre- 4 quently, ” says Jimmy Master of Hong i Kong in a letter dated March 20, 1985, | while referring to the attractive Direc- | tory of Hong Kong Zoroastrians. The directory, published by the ® f 19 Parsiana May 19^ f 3 **'1 The Parsi Priesthood in India: from a Arnavaz Chubb The athornan has lost his exalted Without being unduly pessimistic, the status in Zoroastrian society. But the situation of the Parsi priesthood today plight of the Parsi priests today is not is grim. Figures speak for themselves, a recent development. The graph About 35 years ago, there were 16 Das- began its descent more than 100 turs in India. Today there are only years ago, and much has been writ- eight. Judging from present trends, the ten and said about it since then. At- possibility of a Dastur of the stature of tempts have been made to identify old emerging from the priestly com- the causes and solutions have been munity seems remote. Once upon a offered, but the problem persists. time, priests were prime ministers, the The early history of the Parsis in In- formulators of public.opinion, the lea- dia presents a vague and unclear pic- ders of the community. Today, they ture. The only sources of information have been pushed into the background, for this early period are manuscript their advice rarely sought, even from colophons (inscriptions at the end of a those competent to give it. book or manuscript usually with facts relative to its production). Manu- cient Iran, priests formed the first of scripts were mainly copied by priests, the four classes of society (Yasna and stray notes and references to, 19.17). The priest was called Athravan events and people have been pre- and his function was tending the sacred served in them. The Qisso-i Sanjan, fire. The high estimation in which he the poetical record of the arrival of was held is evident from the fact that the Parsis in India, was composed Athravan is one of the titles of Ahura about 650 years after their landing. Mazda himself. At the birth of Zara- But, even after making allowances thushtra, nature rejoices and hails him for the long passage of time which as An. Athravan (Yasht 13.94). elapsed and a certain amount of poe- tic licence, the basic sequence of the priests were honoured and respect^ narrative seems factual. The subse- for their learning and wisdom and they quent history of the Parsi communi- achieved high offices in the royal ties in India can be traced through government —-the High Priest ranking numerous Scattered references in tne only next to the king in the empire, narratives of European travellers and They were regarded as the leaders of S.D. Bharucha, J.D. Nadirshah, K. the Gujarati literature of the Parsis the community and some priests like Kateli, K.E. Kanga and E.K. Antia. during the last few centuries. Aturpat Mahraspand have become le- The sudden spurt of religious gendary as champions of the .faith, awareness amongst the Zoroastrian Several erudite works on secular and old priest who approached the local laity in recent years has once again religious subjects have been attributed king Jadi Rana (Yadav Rana) of San- led to the spotlight being focused on to Zoroastrian priests of Sasanian Iran jan for asylum and later also asked for the condition of the priesthood. and their guidance in religious and se- a plot of land on which to enthrone the This is the second in a series of cular matters was sought by king and holy fire called Iranshah, the most three articles attempting to recon- commoner alike. revered in India today. struct briefly from these sources the It is reasonable to suppose that in the The history of the Parsi priests im- history and nature of Parsi priests flight of the Zoroastrians to India mediately after their arrival in India is from their heyday down to the pre- which commenced in the wake of the lost in the mists of the past. We cannot sent. The first installment dealt with Arab conquest of Iran in the seventh say with certainty which mobeds (pri- | the three categories of Zoroastrian century, priests must have accompa- ests) were instrumental in explaining priests, the high social and spiritual nied the valiant band of pilgrims in the religion to King Jadi Rana through codes of conduct to which they were their perilous journey across the seas, the 16 Sanskrit shlokas (verses) and in required to adhere and the eminence The Qissa-i Sanjan, the story of the ar- enthroning the sacred fire at Sanjan. It they commanded in the social and po- rival of the first Zoroastrian pilgrims is a popular Parsi belief that it was litical life of the community. to India, records that it was a venerable Neryosangh Dhavai, the famous Parsi time, priests were prime ministers, the But, this was not always so. In an- In the heyday of Zoroastrian Iran, commoner alike. It is reasonable to suppose that in the g 26 Parsiana May 1986 1 I 4( Hkv ' ¦* •5, 4J 1 K.R. Cama (seated in centre) with his students (from left) T.D. Anklesaria, 1•' f . A I.,...___ ' -I \ .rr,. Jf> ‘¦f^3 [* ihravan to bringers of andham 'IJ if r 6 £/ •« J 1 •6' ii J a C Bi I n fb I ¦ w B ¦j^W ’¦ four priests recur: they are Shahr yar; Shapur, Ramyar and Hormazdjw. Most Parsi priests in India today trace ¦.V their lineage, rightly or wrongly, from Shapur Shahryar. Shapur had two so^ — Ramyar and Dhaval, the latte* •^7 being the father of Neryosangh. Ram- yar ’s son was Hormazdyar and Hor- mazdyar ’s son was Mobed. Mobed had ’•****» two sons —Zartuxsht and Bahr am ; Zartuxsht moved to Navsari and Bah ­ ram to Broach. Thus came to be formed in time, the (, A five mam panthtdcs (dioceses) or groups of priests who later fixed the territorial boundaries for their ec- a||B clesiastical jurisdiction. The five pah- thaks are: the Sanjana priests of San- Jan (now of Udwada), the Bhaga^ flf- »! 'V ij rl r>'®^ Through the centuries, religious studies had remained the preserve of the Parsi priests. ilfl i SSSi teXa wh^Mk "““"“."Wfhf'"'he need of a fan- prieas of Navsari, the Godavrapriests f telaiSiSj; ?f me totXsh »" »f S'”’'. U” Bharueha prieste of 1 ®"* “h ^1?“,“" “ xrxSsX'^ SX"”" ““ to N'"'’’?'® become its fust After about 100 years of peaceful ea- ' -Bliaval who transcribed sotn^ 'of*th. kT***' Since the arriv^ of ZarttuBht in istence in Sanjan, the kingdom was in- : Avestan and Pahlavi texts into Pazand ™<*ed by the Muslims and the Zoroas- • they adnunistered to the needs of the ii, Zoroastrian laity settled in the vicinity. But with the spreading of the Parsis to ^nearby townrmid villages on the west pcoast of India, it hecame difficult for |,die Sanjanas to* tend to the religious I heeds of the Zoroastrian population [hutside Sanjan. Navsari was among the first such set- La> Parsiana May 1965 ed arriv^ in Navsari to become its first priest. Since the arrival of Zartuxsht in >« r. J 7^ H to the present day, are mentioned. As the Parsi population of Navsari • J ¦ T wCtAijCaia CUaVa i II, mcreasda, another pnest, Hom Bah- to the mountain of Bahrot nearby manyar, tmd his^^n Fredun came from where it was kept for 12 years There^ Sanjanto Navsari. Profits from the . after it was taken to Bansda where it ceremoiUK perfcamed by these priests remained for 14 years. Through the were dmded by them and shared good offices of Changa Asa Skbehdin among themselves. Thus, the Navsari of Navsari and a iftflding member of Bhag^, the community, the fire was t^ed lo? or nort^n^^ meaning shatfe, from Bansda to Navsari by the Sanjana n r.P 1, u priests. As a weU-knbwn and Before Zartuxsht, the names of only tial man, Changa Asa was also instru- priests came to be cabled Bha^ylas, /a 4 I J j * '*'*¦1 1 J 'y - I •?? /‘J 1 I assaisk 7 *) '-I J H^^^^*>** ' <^A <- ¦i'V ¦ ¦ ft i ii' iC This arrangement continued for some time, until conflicts arose bet ­ ween the Sanjanas and Bhagarias. There were constant Hghts and a riot took place in 1686 in which a few priests and behdins were killed. The matter was dragged to court and the judgement was given in favour of the 1^1 I. il str ¦J -r,^ J 2 jS V s Generally neglected, they were ridiculed by the laity and they < came to be known as 'bringers of darkness (andharu).' pF .fi- Pf H' al ¦' li J ,3 li ii !w fK 1 ¦« hi Bhagarias. The Sanjanas, disillusioned IB and dissatisfied with the outcome, |B finally decided that the fire be removed Bl to Bulsar in 1740, and from thence in 1742 to Udwada. Since then, the fire y has remained enthroned at Udwada, I served exclusively by the Sanjanas. I Undoubtedly, nurturing their faith in an alien environment must have proved a considerable task for both 1 I priests and laymen in those uncertain i g times. Despite the trials and tribula ­ tions the Zoroastrian pilgrims in India < 1 had to face in settling down to daily life 1 i| in a new homeland, men of distinction I I and repute arose from among the mi- J nuscule community. Since they had L fled Iran in order to preserve their K ' faith, naturally the custodians of that faith, the priests, played a vital role in both secular and religious aspects of society. In the nineteenth century, with in- ¦H creasing urban migration, western edu- cated Parsis were confronted with the !¦ problem of. having to justify their time honoured traditions to foreigners and to reconcile them to Christian theo ­ logy. Missionaries like Dr John Wil ­ son were battering away at the tenets of Zoroastrianism and it was at this time that the Zoroastrians discovered the in- India to their counterparts in Iran, in companied by the Sanjana pnests. adequacy of their knowledge of nrHAF <^iar ify ma ttcK pertaining to When.it was finally decided to enthrone Zoroastriamsm. The orthodox Parsi religion, rituals, scriptures, traditions the fire at Navsari, which came under voice was heard m support of their •______________________________________ onia franitintic nut 9 tfiW Hi inC and manners v, —-------------------- in what are called the Revayats. The fire remained in Navsari for 320 ed to tend it. Consequently, it was ar- years, except for three years between ranged betwwn the Sanjana and Bha- 1733 and 1736, when it was removed to gidi priest: ::: N^v“r: thet the - • j .u Surat on account of harassment by the from all ceremonies performed went to studies had remained the Preserve Pindhar is, & warlike tribe. During its the Bhagaria priests. the Parsi pnests. Priests of dedicated i The Vadi Dar-e Mihr at Navsari used for higher iiturgical ceremonies, and for ordainment of navars and maratabs. (nto^o:Mmiin tMt>a) mental in sending Parsi priests from travels, the sacred fire was always ac- When it was finally decided to enthrone Zoroastrianism. The orthodox^ Parsi wlUch have been recorded the jurisdiction of the Bhagaria priests, religion and traditions, but a few of the the Sanjana priests were still authoriz- younger generation were swayed by the fervour and zeal of the missionaries lauevu ~ _______ and converted to Christianity. ga ria prie.sts in Navsari that the income Through the centuries, religious the Parsi priests. Priests of dedicated 30 Parsiana May 19652^ as*. \ scholarship have translated the various of whom perhaps the odd candidate scriptures into vernacular languages will take up the profession in which he from the manuscripts in the possession has been trained. But, with the feeble of their families for generations. The encouragement that scholar-priests are preservation of the manuscripts that doled out, it is hardly surprising that are available to us today is entirely due Parsi intelligence and energies are to the care that each priestly family channelled elsewhere. took to copy the manuscript and jea- With Compliments of I- The virtual halving in the number of Dasturs in India is a testimony to the fact that fewer priests are worthy of that high office. The eight present Dasturs of India are spread over Ud- wada, Navsari, Bombay, Surat and Pune. Udwada, the home of the Iran- shah, has two Dasturs, Dastur Dr The virtual halving in the number of Dasturs in India is a testimony to the fact Hormazdyar Dastur Kayoji Mirza and x . Dastur Kaikobad Dastur Feroz Dastur . mat tewer priests are Navsari has Dastur Meherjirana Das ­ tur Kaikobad Meherjirana, a scion of the ancient Meherjirana family. Bom ­ bay has the maximum number of Das- lously hand it down from father to son. turs —three: Dastur Dr Kaikhusroo The status of the Zoroastrian priests Dastur Minocher JamaspAsa, of the was already deteriorating during the Anjuman Atash Bahram, Dastur Dr latter half of the nineteenth century. Firoze Meherji Kotwal of the Wadia Generally neglected, they were ridicul- Atash Bahram and Dastur Nowrooz ed by the laity and they came to be Dinshah Minochehr-Homji of the Petit known as ‘bringers of darkness (an- Fasli Atash Kadeh. Surat and Pune dharu)’ from the word andhiaru mean ­ ing a Zoroastrian teacher-priest. Khurshedji Rustomji Gama, a lay- Surat and Dastur Hormazdyar Dastur man educate in the west in the philo- Noshirwan JamaspAsa of Pune, logical methods of studying the scrip- The Wadia Atash Bahram and the worthy of that office. each have one Dastur, Dastur Noshir- wan Dastur Munchershah Dastur of logical methods of studying the scrip ­ tural languages realized that the only Petit Fasli Atash Kadeh in Bombay, cure for this malaise was educating the are managed by private family trusts, priestly class. He took it upon himself and their Dasturs are appointed by the to educate the priests in these modern trustees. The Anjuman Atash Bahram methods of scholarship and on return- was built from public subscriptions ing home to India, painstakingly pro- and its Dastur appointed by the in ­ duced a band of devoted and highly juman (conununity) and the elected educated priests who once again com- managing committee of the Atash Bah- manded the respect and admiration of ram. In Navsari and Udwada, Dasturs all Zoroastrians and scholars. are appointed from among the Meher- Amongst Gama ’s first priestly pupils jirana and the Mirza and Dasturclans. were Ervad Tehmurasp D. Anklesaria, Ervad Sheriarji D. Bharucha, Ervad K. higher liturgical ceremonies, the spiri- Kateli, Ervad Kawasji E. Kanga, Ervad tual core of the Zoroastrian religion E. K. Antia, and J.D. Nadirshah. All will perish and the decline of the of these students lived up to the high Zoroastrians spiritually, mora ll y ^nd standards of scholarship set by their as a community will be accelerated, teacher and have left an enormous The picture as it stands today does not body of scholarly literature of in- seem to offer much hope, but then, the estimable value. Zoroastrians have managed to ignite a • Sadly, today extremely few priests spark and fan it ablaze in more trying good work initiated by Gama has not The ever-burning fires of Zoroastri- been kept up by successive generations anism have survived Alexander and the of priests. In the last three decades, Arabs, but let us hope that the Zoro- very few full-fledged priests (yoz- astrians overcome their growing igno- I dathregats) have emerged to serve the rance, indifference and apathy, which f community and tend the sacred fires, will otherwise, very soon, douse that I The Bombay Madressas (priestly semi- ancient and glorious flame naries) turn out only a few candidates. The third article wHI be carried in August If there are no priests to perform the f ¦ JEENA COMPANY IATA Approved Air Cargo, Clearing, Forwarding & Warehousing Agents 10, Veer Nariman Road, Fort, Bombay 400 023. Cable: “JUSTITIA Telex: 2313 Phone: 312032 BRANCHES: E. Merc House, 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani, 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 1 '‘S i; if (‘f :4 -'1 »» No. 26, 26, 24, 2nd floor, ' Harbour Approach Road, Vishakapatnam 530 001. Phone: 65942 ’i J '¦•Sj • * ' J if Zoroastrians have managed to ignite a _ come forward to be educated and the circumstances. good work initiated by Gama has not The ever-burning fires of Zoroastri- 31 Parsiana May 1985 205, Gera Chambers, Off Boat Club Road, Pune 411 001. Phone: 65942 No. 6, Jaffar Syrang Street, Madras 600 001. Phone: 26215 ¦J i 41 }- S! r? I¦ 4; Arnavaz S. Mama V- BPP electoral reform hearing scheduled for July 15 Press conference updates community on state of various BPP projects. ifc- 'V i; k k. change in the scheme for the election of Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustees is ----------- scheduled for July 15, 1985. in the lims are left untouched stated Fall Pon- court of Ms Justice Sujata Manohar of cha, chairman of the CER^s ^anagmg the Bombay High Court. This was stat ­ ed at a BPP press conference held in the trustees ’ 1-------------- 1985, after a lapse of eight months. The elite Gibbs Road ' property, where 63 ownership flats for affluent Parsis were to generate funds for the BPP’s housing scheme for lower and gj gg plaCncd St middle income groups, has registered a , .|| - decline in demand. “Many of the 106 QippS Road Will yiClCl applicants dropped out when we in ­ creased the rates, ’’ noted BPP chair ­ man Dr Aspi Golwalla. The original price of Rs 800 per square foot now stands revised, and ranges from Rs 1,100 per square foot on the ground floor to Rs 1,300 on the sixth. So far only 26 applicants have deposited Rs 5,000 earnest money as against the 63 ------- . flats envisaged in the scheme, Golwalla nity ’s properties be left out of the pur- noted. While it appears that there are view of requisition, noted Poncha. T e sufficient funds to proceed with plans Minorities Commission had ma e a at Gibbs Road, the anticipated surplus sympathetic^acknowledgen^^^^ for construction weaker groups after a time lag, thus registering a change of emphasis. With the threat of government ac ­ quisition hanging over the dilapidated Patel Sanatorium at Tithal in Gujarat, Golwalla is : with the Chief Minister of Gujarat to discuss the issue. The sanatorium ’s dilapidated condition has been the sub ­ ject of controversy in the community. A protest has been lodged with the Minorities Commission by the Council ------------ for Economic Revival (CER) chmpng rat gov^ment toje^urejr«h water to that the government generally acquires i------------- communities like the Hindus and Mus- The first hearing of the petition for and/or requisitions the properties of salty, resulting in intestinal damage to in the scheme for the election of Parsis while the properties of larger the^residents. ameliora- tion fund as proposed by trustee Jal Vimadalal is still in the process of dis ­ cussion and stymied for lack of funds,a sub-committee has been formed with representatives from five independent Zoroastrian trusts and the BPP. Another fund, unconnected to the BPP, for the amelioration of the Each ownership flat priesthood has been formed by Ranina, Dastur Firoze Kotwal, high priest of the Wadia Atash Bahram, and Khojeste Mistree, founder of Zoroas ­ trian Studies (Z S ) among others. Cal ­ led the Athravan Trust Fund, Ranina said that its aim is to educate young committee who represented The Zoro- ivao _____________ — astrian at the press conference. While boMd mom on'^April" 13. the Parsis had asked for no special pri ­ vileges in return for all that the com- sufficient surplus to rrp^tp pinht flats for boys to be future priests and inculcate creaie eiy 111, l id I UI leadership qualities. The Ath- the poor. ravan Trust, Ranina noted, had al ­ ready received the 80G certificate income tax on the amount donated. The 16 mobed quarters proposed at Doongerwadi will now be incorporated into Godrej Baug noted BPP trustee Naoroji Godrej. This shifting of the site across the boundary wall has been made in the interests of a more whole- ; living environment for the acouisition / requisition of community mobeds families. acquisuiun /1vq property front, small positive ' SwS^hlT Tls^ written to the changes could be noted: a separate ar- s,-—.= B-SSvS; i*f Minister of Guiarat to to accommodate longer trains as there aiieg y was recently a case of a lady sustaining Baug land seems reaay lo nego a fracture while detraining. BPP trus- tiate; the court has been moved to tee Homi Ranina suggested Golwalla allow the Wadia trusts to receive dona- and BPP chief executive Russi /mkle. lions; the BPP to ; M c mges for munity had done for the country, it which exempts ,»,«>« would be in order that the commu- view of requisition, noted Poncha. The for the economically asked for specific details. Poncha now will materialize only requested the BPP (and the Federa- tion) to supply further case histones of mme properties in the country. saria use their influence with the Guja- Udwada as the wells there are turning 32 Parsiana Mav i966 I tiate; the court has been moved to trespass against those who have illegal ­ ly occupied Punchayet flats; indeed the trustees desired the Press to publish the AF L names of the trespassers in the hope that social ostracism may curtail this il ­ legal practice. An announcement made in passing by Ranina, that Naoroji Godrej had placed the Godrej Company ’s compu ­ ters at the disposal of the Punchayet, may yet herald a momentous change in BPP functioning. Anklesaria and BPP trustee Eruch Desai voiced concern at the maligning of trustees by the Press. Golwalla re ­ quested the Press to phone him the mo ­ ment any informant came with allega ­ tions against trustees. He promised to come immediately to face any charges that may be made. THE B.N. GAMADIA TECHNICAL INSTITUTE Electoral reforms Two trustees have submitted separate notes of dissent to the BPP electoral reform scheme placed before Ms Jus ­ tice Sujata Manohar on March 13. The petition will come up for hearing on July 15, notes the BPP press release. The reforms suggested by the BPP in ­ clude constituency-wise voting, parity between the elected voters and the donors before a trustee election, a seven-year term for trustees instead of the present 10. It has been petitioned that the A, C, D, E and F registers be scrapped and replaced by a General Register and a Donors ’ Register. Ten ? percent of the seats from the general register will be reserved for graduates. For new entrants to the Donors ’ Regis ­ ter, the amount to be donated has been raised from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,500. L The Anjuman Committee elections ( will be held every seven years as at pre ­ sent, but the last date for registration of voters prior to the election has been advanced from December 31 to No- vember 30. One hundred and twenty days before any election of a trustee, the General Register and the. Donors ’ Register will be brought on par with each other. This will be done by including in the Anjuman Committee “those persons who stood next in the number of votes I ^received), to the last candidate declar- i ed elected at the immediately preceding ¦ general election. ’’ The deposit for a person contesting as a trustee has been set at Rs 500 and if the candidate gets less than 50 votes, the deposit would be forfeited. Trustee Jal Vimadalal questions the workability of the constituency-wise t representation to the Anjuman Com ­ mittee. Trustee Jamsheed Kanga feels 33 Parsiana May 1986 i ANNOUNCES Certificate Course Recognised by the Board of Technicd Education Government of Maharashtra in Radio, Audio and Television Servicing The Institute has a Qualified staff with a well- equipped Radio & Audio Servicing Laboratory and Lecture Rooms, in addition to which there are Electrical and Mechanical Workshops. The Medium of Instruction is English and the eligibility qualification for admission is S.S.C. with English, Elementary Mathematics and General Science subjects. Candidates who have appeared in S.S.C. Examination may also apply provisionally. For Admission please contact: Secretary The B.N. Gamadia Technical Institute 8, Gamadia Colony, Tardeo, Bombay: 400 007. Tel: 379345 & 395362¥ that only those who have donated Rs tion to move to Gibbs Road. The that he had met J.R. Patwardhan, 25,000 and more as against Rs 7,500 snag lies in that unless a new flat is director of the Municipality ’s engineer- suggested in the draft scheme, should bought .within one year of the sale of ing services, in this regard. The A, B, C be enrolled on the Donors ’ Register. the old, the capital gains tax is payable, and D blocks at Godrej Baug are now Secondly, the donor representation While Poncha berated the trustees for complete with the majority of the flats on the Anjuman Committee, according having delayed construction for over a to Kanga, should be limited to 20 per- year while costs rose, and Desai spoke cent. Nor is. Kanga in agreement with of “slips between the cup and the lip Saturday and personally supervizes the the mode of bringing the two registers ...(and) if wishes were horses... ” into parity before each trusteeship elec- Godrej noted, “We are now asking a allotted as per the press release. “Godrej visits Godrej Bang every construction and sees that it ’s on sche ­ dule ” informed Golwalla, who praised tion. The suggested scheme envisages lower quotation (from the builder) for “the beauty and utility of the construc- the induction of the next highest vote construction, so it ’s not likely to make tion as well as the garden Godrej has gatherers in the preceding Anjuman much difference. ” Committee election — a method of making present losers into future win ­ ners. In the meanwhile 22 flats in Contrac- if'! n Housing Each ownership flat of the 63 planned at Gibbs Road will yield sufficient sur ­ plus to create eight flats for the poor, noted Ranina who along with Vimada- lal recently finalized the terms of agree ­ ment. Affluent Parsis will be able to make this possible by merely shifting from their present flat to the Gibbs Road property (adjacent to Khareghat Colony and opposite the Doongerwadi grounds), he added, with “no dona ­ tion, no liability. ” laid out. ” Jehan Daruwalla of The Bombay Samachar asked, “In view of the urgency of the matter can we expedite it? ” Desai replied that the extra means that are available to the private sector cannot be utilized by a charity trust and was fearful that any publicity might prove detrimental. It was stated that the four lakh 60 thousand rupee wall which has been sanctioned by the BPP to be built around Panthaky Bang is still awaiting The Press must realize that the trustees' names are rightly or wrongly maligned. If that impression Is cleared miniTparcieamn^^^ it would make a difference. / / y p -¦J S' ¦t .'4 ' -^4 with P.D. Jilla, who is alleged to have sold off a part of the Panthaky Bang land to a builder, can only be settled with municipal assistance. Golwalla While Golwalla noted that only 26 noted, “The government officer gave flats have been booked and seven lakhs tor Bang, Mahim, have been occupied an appointment for 10.30 a.m. and of rupees have been advanced to the while another 32 are ready foroccupa- came at 1.30 p.m.” But as Poncha builder, Anklesaria announced, “We tion according to the press release, noted, “The disputed property with shall have enough to complete the pro- Twelve flats at Dadar Parsi Colony are Jilla lies on only one side. What is to ject. It ’s the surplus for constructing also ready for use as transit accommo- prevent a wall on the undisputed area other flats for middle and low income dation. The plans for the 16 staff quar- where there is tremendous trespass? ” groups that is likely to come later. ” ters for mobeds have been approved by The estimated time of construction is the Municipality while 274 flats at Pan- established itself in Panthaky Bang and 27 months according to the BPP press thaky Bang, 160 ownership plus 16 ren- was alleged to have terrorized the release, which notes that construction tai flats at Bharucha Baug await the neighbourhood “wants a meeting with work began on March 15, 1985. I.O.D. (Intimation of Disapproval the trustees, ” reported BPP assistant The trustees believe that many more which enumerates a few minor points secretary Hormusji Kapadia. Ranina Parsis will be forthcoming as construe- for clariUcation by the architect. The added that he had met the Sardar “two tion proceeds, especially those who ex- I.O.D. is shortly followed by the com- Sundays ago... he wants proportio- pect to sell their present accommoda- mencement certificate.) Godrej noted nate accommodation (elsewhere) and is t t k Sikh family that .has illegally ''it Jif#. -'S •{ ‘I • Old Wrist Watches Wanted Advertiser wishes to buy OLD wnst watches of Pre-1950 period of well- known makes such as Rolex, Patek-Philippe, Cartier etc. Please send detailed list with expected prices to The Advertiser, (OLD) C/o Parsiana, H.L. Rochat & Co., Navsari Chambers, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400 001. Gifts& tt 35 Parsisna May 1965 The Frieiidly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive gifts and Zoroastrian artefacts Bombay Swadeshi Stores Ltd Sir P.M. Road, Bombay 400 001 Tel: 253443 & 252730 I i' '•'ii ic ¦'-^1» Wit i.4 Is ''X4 prepared to shift. . .also the Gujarati Charities, the Iranian Zoroastrian An- to speak. Our young people have no ­ family in the heart of Panthaky juman, the Zoroastrian Association, body to go to. Bang. ” the C.M. Banaji Charity Trust — had “Seventy percent of mobeds are over Poncha noted that “the need of the met to discuss and provide financial 45 years old. In the last five years only hour was for transit camps so that Par- assistance to the BPP’s mobed amelio- seven boys became fulltime mobeds ” si tenants even of non-BPP property ration scheme but “had not come with noted Ranina and added, “We are re- could move for renovation/reconstruc- a mandate as to how much each trust questing 100 rich Parsis to contribute tion of their buildings. ” To which would contribute. It was decided to Rs 10,000 each. I have picked out 500 Ranina added/ ‘With the monsoon ap- form a subcommittee with one repre- (prospective donors) out of which 1(X) proaching, keep some accommodation sentative from each trust. In the first should respond. ” for house collapses. ” Golwalla noted week of May we hope they ’ll come with Go/w/Zu.' “Wish you good luck! ” “We are trying to keep the ground a mandate of what they ’ll spare. Also “I have myself donated Rs 21,000. floors of all new buildings for transit suggestions of alterations to the Already there are one and a half lakhs camps, ” in addition to 13 such flats in scheme. I have confined myself to full- in the kitty, ” responded Ranina who is Mahim and 12 in Dadar. time ordinary (not yozdathregar) aiming at a seed capital of Rs 10 lakhs On the question of the illegal occu- mobeds of the grade Rs 625-1250... ” before appealing to the community at pation of Punchayet flats where the trustees are constrained by recourse to formation of the Athravan Trust — an each month. a slow legal process, a Press represen- organization independent of the BPP: tative suggested the BPP legalize such “We want young boys to take to the about a week earlier there was such a illegal"tenancies in exchange for a sub- priesthood. . .offer them at least Rs shortage of mobeds at Doongerwadi stantial donation to augment its scant 2,000 per month ... (make) provision that one pair of mobeds after per form ­ repair funds. But the trustees were for better educated mobeds (who can ing two geh sarnas at the upper bung- chary of any such arrangement. provide) guidance to the laity. After a lis, came to the lower bungli at 5.15 boy graduates from the madressa give p.m. and concluded the funeral cere- Mobeds him requisite training in Indian and mony within 40 to 45 minutes. Could Vimadalal reported that representati- Iranian history. In ancient times priests nothing be done, he questioned the ves of five trusts — the M.F. Cama were leaders. Today ’s mobeds do not Punchayet representatives. This led to Athornan Institute, the N.M. Wadia have respect because they are not able a discussion on the agency system that Ranina interposed to announce the large to donate small but regular sums A Press representative noted that With the Best Compliments of INGERSOLL-RAND [INDIA] LIMITED Manufacturers of Air & Gas Compressors Rock Drill Equipment * Vacuum Pumps * X 36 Parsiana May 1985I The Punchayet ’s housing scheme for it would make a difference. ’’ Poncha mobeds at Doongerwadi (now transfer- noted that no letter of thanks signed by red to Godrej Baug) has also made the trustees goes out to the donors. •* J “This personal touch is needed, ” he ____________________________ ___ observed. is currently functioning at Doonger- wadi. The system has sprung up in res ­ ponse to the behdins ’ habit of assign- scant progress, the Punchayet having ing all the ceremonial organization, required at the Doongerwadi, to their panthaky. The panthaky, for lack of time, assigns all Doongerwadi work to a mobed (‘agent ’) of nis choice who thus specializes in the four-day cere ­ monies there. Although there are sup ­ posedly several such ‘agents ’ at Doon ­ gerwadi, Anklesaria noted that “80 percent of the business is with one agent; The agency system has develop ­ ed by itself. The panthaky has develop ­ ed the system of agent because he has no time. The BPP has no priest of its own. If the client has a panthaky, then the work is transferred to the agent most acceptable to that panthaky. The gGHefal pOPU19110H . trustees had a meeting with Jehangir ----------------------------------------------- Shroff, Nadar Turel, Peshotan Peer — office-bearers of the Athornan Mandal rupees against a targeted 21 lakhs, ral population, and the Jashan Committee which claim “Something is lacking somewhere ’’ to represent the mobeds. The pantha- noted Anklesaria. Desai was more ex- Advisory projects kies said they were satisfied with the plicit: “The Press must realize that the The school coim^elling project, imple- agent, noted Golwalla, adding “no doubt he is very efficient. ’’ 14 percent of nnen and 15 percent of women remain unmarried; childlessness and foetal waste is higher among Parsis as compared to the Population study A. special census of Parsis in Greater Bombay commissioned by the BPP at a cost of Rs 45,000 and prepared by Dr Malini Karkal of the International In ­ stitute of Population Studies has been completed. Rs 19,000 have now been sanctioned towards the cost of printing 500 copies of the report, notes the press release. Among the pertinent data re ­ vealed: The age group 20-54 consists of 47 percent of the population, 36 per ­ cent of the population being aged 55 and over; 14 percent of men and 15 percent of women remain unmarried; childlessness and foetal waste is higher collected a mere one lakh 69 thousand among Parsis as compared to the gene- trustees ’ name is rightly or wrongly mented by the BPP at the behest of the maligned. If that impression is cleared continued on page 44 Steamship agents — master stevedores dubashes — lighterage contractors Darabshaw B.Cursetjee's Sons (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd. Darabshaw House, Ballard Road, Bombay - 400 038. Grams: 'DEADWEIGHT' Phone: 260021 (4 Lines) (Dock Office: 262230) Telex: 5824 DBCB IN Also associates at Cokutta, Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Mangalore, Bhavnagar, Bedi-port, Navlakhi, Veraval, Porbunder & Kandla. Also sole Government Landing contractors at Jarrnagar, (Bedi) Bhavnagar. Parsiana May 1985 ‘31 J ? 1: *11 * 11, ¦'1 I ¦H *• s i 'r- '.rt' 1.¦V S’’-' )¦" -¦ ^*'5 r BUSINESS The Gold Seal of quality Ravishankar Sujir Started in a 300 sq ft area at Bombay's Nana Chowk, Gold Seal today controls 85 to 90 percent of the auto headings and window channels replacement market. Gold Seal is one of the oldest compa- An international first plies, 10 percent for exports, and the nies to have started manufacturing Thus started Gold Seal, the first com- remainder for the replacement market, auto ancillaries in India. When it was pany in the world to give a brand name Gold Seal supplies original equip- set up, door headings and window to auto headings and channels. Using ment to all auto manufacturers, and channels were being imported by car tactics and manufacturing norms gain- holds 85 to 90 percent of the replace ­ manufacturers and the replacement ed from experience as a sales professio- ment market. In 1961, when Hindustan trade. While neither Premier Automo- nal, Aga was a success within four Motors and Premier Automobiles Li- biles Limited nor Hindustan Motors years. Perhaps people thought it was mited were casting about for a reliable had at that time started the Indianiza- tion of their cars, Gold Seal was al ­ ready one step ahead. Humbly enough. Gold Seal started paid great attention to packaging. We Ford Simpson, and Maruti Udyog all in 1958 in a small 300 sq ft area in were careful with the market, too — we use Gold Seal parts. In today ’s fast Bombay ’s Nana Chowk, close to kept in close touch with dealers, and developing auto market, the first parts Opera House, the city ’s main market delivered promptly. ’’ ' of vehicles to be Indianized have so far for automobile products. From seven manual workers and an investment of the help of local engineers. This, he Rs 5,000, it now has a workforce of says, has been company policy — to be multicrore, 150 in Bombay alone, and an annual as fully indigenous as possible. At that with growth at an average of 25 percent turnover of Rs 3.2 crores in the Bom ­ bay factory; the total group turnover is Rs 5 crores. pany in the world to give a brand name another foreign product, says Aga: “It supplier, Gold Seal was ready and was well organized, with emphasis on waiting. Today Standard Motors, quality right from the start, and we TELCO, M&M, Sipani Automobiles, Aga built his own machinery, with been made by them. In 25 years. Gold Seal has become a multiproduct company to export channels and trimmings of types of sealing rubber profiles, cold different specifications and dimen- rolled aluminium extrusions, engine sions. ’’ Because of its rapidly acquired and gear box mountings and special Seal products. The company moved its activities to larger premises but by 1963 in India of self-gripping long-lasting these too proved insufficient, and Gold PVC door seals. Door handles, bonnet Seal shifted again to still bigger premi- rubbers, glazing rubbers, quality ses in the Bombay suburbs and by its sponge rubber profiles, stainless steel time foreign machines were one-size tai- per annum. Door headings and chan- lor-made for each car fitting, but Aga nels are still the predominant products, built a variable-width machine suiting but new items are continuously being all cars; importing machines would, in developed for the replacement market. Early moves fact, have proved costlier. Today he and today the Gold Seal name appears Born 1910,Hoshang Aga had a working proudly states, “we are the only people on over 100 products — including all life, mostly in sales, behind him when he opened a petrol pump in 1952. Within a year, though it was not on a prominent location, he had built the reputation, dealers and mechanics flocked channels for better sealing of business up and even expanded to a turned from foreign goods to Gold doors and windows. garage. 1-ooking for further expansion, Seal products. The company moved its Gold Seal is the only manufacturer he considered in turn cheese, hosiery, castor exports and, since he was al ­ ready in contact with dealers and in the trade himself, auto parts. He settled on door headings and window channels silver jubilee in 1983 had 30,000 sq ft in trimmings, glass frames, suspension because he had contacts with dealers. Bombay alone. bushings and multipurpose lamps are Existing indigenous manufacturers were almost non-existent and limited to produced each day, on three lines; the the replacement trade, and their qua- figure for headings is 45,000 feet per Unique range lity was uneven, with no well-known day. Of the total production, 25 to 30 1963 saw the first of Gold Seal ’s inno ­ brand names. percent is for original equipment sup- vatory achievements in India — the in- Bombay alone. Thirty thousand feet of channels are also manufactured. 38 Parsiana May 198b't rw - - •fj tJ-J ¦« ‘I* 5? I !? i-’ •• •» 'I I’ h’ •MM k f t 1 I troduction of flexible channels with boration with Scheisser of Interplastic. Aga being presented moquette. Exports started in 1971, and The design is Scheisser ’s but the machi- » memento at tne silver jubilee function up to the present the company is the nery was built in India. Trial produc- Daulat locks on only Indian exporter of door headings uon nas already begun. 'The plant was Gold Leaf and Good Luck are a few. and glass run window channels to the to commence production in January Gold Seal has even conducted raids on UK, US and many countries world- 1985, and is expected to touch 80 per- some duplicators traffiking in their wide. Its product range covers any cent of capacity by December 1985. It brandname — but imitation is the sin- vehicle, and is not offered by a single will be producing mainly windscreen cerest compliment in trade! manufacturer anywhere in the world. It and wiper-blade rubbers. Another in- was Aga ’s son Cyrus who concentrated novation for Gold Seal, it will be the Direct contacts first upon exports, and they are now growing (last year 20 lakhs). Exports in 1973-74 were 3.6 lakhs, climbing to 15.5 lakhs in 1979-80 and 19.8 lakhs in 1981-82; and from April to November of this year, the figure was 14 lakhs. This year ’s total exports are expected to touch 24 lakhs, while with a unit in Baroda due to commence production shortly, Aga seems confi ­ dent that exports will touch Rs 50 lakhs by 1986. From 1972 onwards Gold Seal estab ­ lished a number of companies under ; .......... Gold Seal can produce, the group ’s corporate banner, as part I Fl trad©! “We also keep on thinking of time of an expansion plan. A changeover ——-------------------------—------- ----- and labour-saving devices, ” Aga,says, from Gold Seal Product Company to first time in India that windscreen rub- “As far as the mechanics ’ preference Gold Seal Engineering Products Pvt ber joined at four corners as one piece for us goes, I can offer one typical ex ­ Ltd was followed by the incorporation will be manufactured. The group is ample where our products are suitable of Lotus Auto Parts Industries, Ahura also diversifying into engine parts like for easy fitment. Formerly the mecha- Auto Readings Pvt Ltd and Mazda gear box mountings, and is exploring nic had to go to a shop and buy the • Auto Channels Pvt Ltd in Gujarat, gaskets and backings for carburetors, loose channels, clips and rivets sepa- Adhic Auto Ancillaries Pvt Ltd and Aga dismisses his competitors as pin- rately, whereas today he buys a set Auto Channels Pvt Ltd in Madras, arid pricks, perhaps natural, given his which is complete. This saves time, and Holdfast Rubber Industries Pvt Ltd in stranglehold on the m^ket. Competi- today time is money. Also, our latest Calcutta. A modern rubber factory in tors produce in small quantities, essen- self-gripping door headings have twice a backward area near Baroda, Gujarat tially settling small bulk orders for the the life of ordinary ones. These can be is now being set up. It will be the first replacement trade; Usha Pvt Ltd and removed and refitted any number of company in India to set up a coldfeed KEL, both based in Calcutta, are the times without distortions. Once you extruder with a continuous vulcanizing largest ones. Some competitors have wash and clean them, they are as good tried to cash in by using brand names as new. In a poor country like India The Baroda unit was set up in coIla- similar to Gold Seal — Gold Mohur, where raw materials are scarce, a way Gold Seal does not have wholesale or marketing organizations. “We have, ” says Aga, “no belief in agencies. ” They supply directly to the dealers, with whom Gold Seal salesmen are in close contact. The company has a net ­ work of over 1,700 dealers, which may well be the largest direct dealership of any automobile ancillary unit in India. Companies approach Gold Seal direct ­ ly to ask whether it can supply new products, and dealers constantly sug- Gold Seal has even conducted raids on sonne duplicators traffiking in their brand nanne — but imitation is the sincerest compliment S®* modifications and new items that in trade! 39 Parsiana May 1985 I Mm if UM sn ¦ i'S’ 1 ^S; «• st iS’ fj, J F J' /It .1-<fe - « e of conserving them is to make the raw f material last longer — one more reason to produce the best quality product which has the longest life. ” [' / ¦¦ ¦j - Ei'y » i B' S J t i J 11 n- • - ¦? Mi ¦. * is 4 "J s<r Evolving technology In the past, there were some com ­ plaints of the color of the channel fur fading. A breakthrough has been achi ­ eved here, too. Gold Seal manufactu ­ res new fur with fast colours, and again the technology is Indian. “We have our own weaving unit, ” says Aga. “Currently, in our factory, we are try ­ ing out experiments on two new machi ­ nes we have built, and within one or two years we will have different machi ­ nes. We are constantly experimenting by adopting the latest technology with a stress on quality finished products. ” Raw materials, in-process materials Cyrus Aga (left) and wife Pilloo:‘concentrating on exports. ’ and finished products are tested for their tensile strengths, compression ratios, flexing and elongation proper- ------,------------------ . - - - - ties An in-house laboratory tests the Materials for export and home con- only) to Gold Seal. Handicapped per ­ rubber and PVC materials, though sumption go through the same quality sons are also helped this way. The steel is at the moment tested by an out- controls. Japanese idea of home packaging, for side laboratory; a shadowgraph ma- Says Aga, “There can ’t be a more workers and their families keen to earn chine indicates faults in rubber profi- eloquent testimonial for Gold Seal pro- some extra money, has also been lol- side laboratory; a shadowgraph ma ­ 4‘-': ft I F M •.I’ 12 I:*-; * Ws * 5 ¦ making of major raw materials used by units supplying items like clips, rubbers them; backward integration, says Aga. and punched products directly (and ¦t les. An aging oven helps in predicting ducts than that they stand up to the lowed. long-term reactions of the products natural test conditions of the Indian and random samples of finished pro- environment — climatic extremes. Anticipating expansion ducts are routinely checked. severe and various hazards of monsoon Gold Seal are gearing themselves for The entry of new cars into the Indian and heat, and of course, abjectly poor the coming expansion in all the auto ­ market meant immediate offers to sup- road conditions. ” mobile fields, and have for the first ply them with original equipment. Aga claims excellent industrial rela- time negotiated with foreign manufac- With the expected fantastic growth of tions; 40 percent of his staff has been turers for technical collaboration, in the two-wheeler industry. Gold Seal is there from the first few years of the order to reduce development time, also manufacturing original equipment company. Premises have been shifted These negotiations are almost finaliz- for them. Lohia Machines, Kinetic, four to five times, but the workers have ed. Vespa, Bajaj are clients. “Most of remained loyal. One labour problem lnSeptemberl983,inthesilverjubi- thesecompanies, ’’says Aga, “havebeen was that a few workers left the com- lee year of the company, Aga was pre- with us from their beginning — some pany and set themselves up as competi- sented the federation of small indus- of them for 20 years. ” tors; of these, only two of any conseq- tries of India ’s A.R. Bhat Entrepre- It is only recently that Gold Seal has uence survived. Aga claims there is no neurship Award for long and outstand- had to resort to importing some specia- discrimination in his company, as the ing service and contribution to the auto lized raw material like EPDM, a type women workers, who comprise the ma- industry. of synthetic rubber. Every new mate- jority of his workforce, have always rial that comes into the factory passes been paid the same wage as the men. through a rigid quality control system. Gold Seal also has direct interest in the and technological help to set up small models coming onto the scene, and we have started equipping ourselves to meet these challenges. With nearly a million cars on the road, with the gov ­ ernment no longer seeing cars as luxury items, and with the boom in the two wheeler trade, we are confident the future is bright for us. We are 25 years young, and hope for a big future, espe ­ cially as —” states Aga disarmingly — “we have the Gold Seal of quality! ” We are, says Aga, “a forward-look ­ ing company. The future holds both Workers are also offered financial opportunity and challenge, with new Auto headings and channels:'suitable for easy fitment’ 41 Parsiana May 1985 Text and photographs reprinted with permission from Business India, December 17-30, 1984. ¦d .'i' ‘4' . 4 . ,5 »= a1 "I introduce high protein fruits, and vege- 1 - I i f L L- ¦ ’ tj i 1: i J I i, Tata’s new fields tables. Additionally, Tatas have plans to en ­ large their activities in housing. The group company, namely, Tata Hous ­ ing Development Corporation, has Al ­ ready undertaken property develop ­ ment work at Parel, Bandra and other places in Bombay. Tata feels that considering the gov ­ ernment ’s liberal and pragmatic ap ­ proach, it should be possible to start half a dozen new projects in new high technology areas in the next couple of somewhat restricted in the past decade years. or so possibly because of the increased Excerpted from The Economic Times, February II. restrictions imposed by the govern ­ ment. But it now appears that the government approach has dramatically changed for the better and equal op- “In all economies of the world it has portunities would be provided to all en- been found that people, especially exe- trepreneurs. “In view of this, it ap- cutives, die of disorders created by pears that the era of stagnation for the group is now over, ” Tata said. In the field of telecommunications, which has been recently opened to the Dinyar Pestonjee, professor of organi- private sector, Tata said, the group has zational behavior at the Indian Insti- tufe of Management (IIM-A), which Tata Industries has made an applica- has been conducting regular programs tion for setting up an electronic PABX Ratan Naval Tata told The Economic Times February 11, 1985 that the group has decided that Tata Industries should be the vanguard to spearhead Tatas into the new technology fields of the future. The high technology direc ­ tion plan undertaken by the Tata In ­ dustries has identified business objec ­ tives and defined new business areas which Tatas should enter, as well as ex ­ isting fields which Tatas may consider leaving. Ratan Tata, who succeeded J.R.D. Tata as chairman of Tata Industries in already made considerable progress. 1981, said that the promoters ’ contri- “ bution to new ventures would be from the group ’s companies, including Tata project in technical collaboration with Sons. a Canadian company. The project will Ratan Tata has also been appointed be located in Gujarat. deputy chairman of the Tata Iron and Steel Co Ltd and is slated to eventual ­ ly become the head of the Tata group, ture of large super computers with the Tata said that he was not averse to latest technology in the field. Tatas are ___ takeover of companies. “1 think we already participating in a computer level of stress to do a good job. But if . ------- . .. . . activation level goes beyond a cer ­ tain threshold, it will lead to a lowering of performance. Therefore it is neces ­ sary to know how much stress is pro ­ ductive and how much becomes count- ter-productive, ” Pestonjee says. To minimize stress, Pestonjee advi ­ ses personal counselling, creative solu ­ tions to problems and the practice of yoga and meditation. But he cautions, “Excessive practice of these techniques can be counter-productive. ” While choosing techniques to deal with stress, the availability of resources and time 1985. Stress management stress. Stress is therefore considered a major killer, and losing people due to ill-health is a costly proposition, ” said } & I i for stress management since 1980, in an interview with Business World, December 3 to 16, 1984. Though orga ­ nizations do look after the physical Tata Industries has also proposed to health of an executive they generally set up a new project for the manufac- overlook the mental health compo ­ nent, he added. “People should experience some i must also include acquisitions as part manufacturing unit in Singapore, ope- of the plan of our growth. We should rated by Tata Elxsi. be looking at acquisitions whenever they fit into our plans and whenever it make investments in ‘artificial intellig- is advantageous, ” he said. ence, a new field providing software The new government of Rajiv Gan- application for computers. The group would develop linkages with some uni ­ versities or institutions abroad which are involved in ‘artificial intelligence. ’ “Our intention is to build up the pro- Tata disclosed that he would like to dhi is expected to initiate a more prag ­ matic and liberal industrial policy. Several new areas like telecommunica ­ tions and contract oil drilling have been recently thrown open to the pri- ject with the small nucleus already vate sector. .. . _ “The ideologies, which plagued us for so long, are being given up and the whole industrial environment has been improved to take the country into a new era. The present government is placing a huge responsibility on the pri ­ vate sector to enable the country to stand on its own. The house of Tatas has recognized this and is gearing itself proving plantation yields and introduc- . . . ---------------- ing new crops. With proper biochemis- created by the Tata Consultancy Servi ­ ces at Pune, ” Tata said. “Our intention is that we should be pioneers in those areas tor which the should be consider,ed. Pestonjee arg ­ ues, “Organizations cannot have an ef ­ fective mix of multi method strategy unless programs are of a sufficiently market does not yet exist, but which may develop to a substantial degree in the future. ” Tatas are also planning to enter the long duration. ” field of biochemistry with a view to im- Commenting on the effectiveness of ; - ~. --------------------- stress management programs, Peston- to play an important role in the indus- ing new crops. With proper biochemis- jee asserted, “The fact that companies trial development of the country, ” try applications, it is possible to raise have implemented these programs indi- Tata said. substantially the yields of traditional cates that they are of considerable The growth of the Tata house was crops like tea, coffee and cocoa, and use. ” 42 Parsiana May i995If" r;- V' .4 ¦ [ IN MEMORIAM * Self-taught scholar* Died: Tehmurasp Rustomji Sethna, Avestan scholar and author of several books on Zoroastrianism, on February 2, 1985 in Karachi. “Tehmurasp was a self-taught scho ­ lar of our religion, an author and a tru ­ ly devoted Zoroastrian. The (World Zoroastrian Organization) committee will miss his sound judgment and wise counsel, ” noted a resolution passed by the committee of the WZO on Feb ­ ruary 10, 1985. Sympathetic to the cause of the bay region of the Theosophical Order of Service, a social service activity of blind. Toddy walla learnt braille herself the Theosophical Society. and transcribed many books in braille, “Toddywalla was an ardent Theoso- including one on Zoroastrianism. Ever phist, prominent social worker, a com- willing to promote the cause of vegeta- mitted philanthropist and a true guide rianism, as secretary of the Humane and pillar of strength for hundreds of Education Committee she delivered many lectures in educational institu ­ tions of Bombay. When Surat and Broach were affected by floods, she personally visited the Parsi families in these areas, distributing clothes and foodgrains. In recognition of his services to the Past Master of co-free- eommunity, the Karachi Zoroastrians |||^^^H|||||4 ” masonic lodges of Bombay; co-free- held a meeting in his memory on masonry being the equivalent of free- March 4, and on March 26 his portrait masonry, where males and females are was unveiled at the Karachi Anjuman ’s admitted to the ceremonial movement Bhedwar Library, notes Jamshed Kat- based on “brotherly love, relief and rak in the Parsi Prakash column of The truth. ” Bombay Samachar of March 13, 1985. Born and educated in Karachi, Tod- To bring the Avesta within the reach • JF dywalla served as secretary to the of the modern, English-knowing Zoro- t ’ *¦ Karachi branch of the British Overseas astrian population, Sethna felt the L' , ,, Airways Corporation for 13 years prior need to have a standardized translation a. i i^en servic immersing herself in social welfare in clear and simple English, along the people who worked with her, ” said Dr activities. lines of the Christian scriptures, said Rajendra Vyas, the Asian Director of Katrak. At personal cost and labour, the Royal Commonwealth Society for and daughter, Parinaz. Sethna translated the entire Avesta in the Blind while presiding over the English and printed the prayers with meeting, notes a report in The After- Cfj.pp MandaPs founder their translations in Roman script, the noon Despatch and Courier of April 9, write-up notes.. His five books were 1985. Those who paid tributes to Tod- Died: Jerbanoo Nadirsha Chenoy, distributed to Avesta scholars and in ­ stitutions all over the world. k Toddywalla: 'diligent service’ She is survived by her husband, Rusi dywalla included Dastur N. Mino- founder member of the Zoroastrian chehr-Homji, Ms Soonu Godrej, Stree Mandal of Secunderabad and Babulal Todi, Dasrathbhai Thakkar Hyderabad and an active social worker and representatives of other organiza- on March 11, 1985 in Secunderabad. tions, stated the above report. Messa- ‘A helping hand’ . ® tions, stated the above report. Messa- “A woman of charm, culture and Died: Homai Rusi Toddywalla, 61, ges from eminent personalities of India compassion, Jerbanoo was loved and prominent social worker and one of the including the then Governor of Maha- respected not only by her wide circle of leaders of the Theosophical Society in rashtra I.H. Latif were read on the oc- friends and relatives but also by her India on March 18, 1985 in Bombay casion. associates on the various committees following cancer. “All of us in the overseas and spon- and advisory boards of which she was “Toddywalla had genuine love for sorship departments of S.C.F. who a member, and in the numerous offices the poor and the needy and always were privileged to know and work with she held in government and non-gov- gave a helping hand. . .most willingly, Ms Toddywalla and to have her friend- ernment institutions in her capacity as cheerfully and humbly ” read the reso- ship will miss her greatly, as will all the social worker, ” read the resolution lution passed at a commemoration poor children and families for whom passed at the annual general meeting of meeting held at Bombay ’s Blavatsky she worKed so dedicatedly, but her high the Zoroastrian Stree Mandal on April Lodge on April 8, 1985, under the joint ideals which she served so selflessly will 6, 1985. As former president and vice-presi- Service, Bombay Theosophical Federa- tion, ” reminisced Ms Antonia Derry, dent of the Mandal, Chenoy “gave her tion, Blavatsky Lodge, International sponsorship controller of S.C.F., Lon- valuable time and rendered unstinting Order of the Round Table, India, don while summing up Toddywalla ’s service, and took a keen interest in Blind Men ’s Association and Bombay commitment to the poor and needy. Humanitarian League. Toddywalla was a sponsorship administrator of the der of Service in Bombay in 1968, she Save the Children Fund (S.C.F.), Lon- “made it one of the strongest sections don, president of Blavatsky Lodge, the of the Society in the world, after 17 premier lodge of the Theosophical So ­ ciety in India and secretary of the Bom- Daily of March 19,1985. * auspices of the Theosophical Order of remain a constant source of inspira- (the) working ” of the Mandal, noted After reviving the Theosophical Or- the resolution. Billimoria’s enterprise years oi diligent service, ” noted The Died: Ardeshir H. Billimoria, 94, for ­ mer chairman of Calcutta ’s Great Eas- 43 Parsiana May 19S}5^' dian Administrative Service after Inde- a facelift, make it a Parsi Rome. . .pre- 5\< I t Seventy percent of mnhprlQ nro n\/or ZLR Parsis. Desai noted it wasn ’t a very I I lUUUUb dl tJ UVUI H-U practical suggestion: “At first they us- yggpS old. In the lest ed to go for 25 to 50 thousand rupees. ' Mrxt *in\/ W/h/arA t«zz\ii1z4 fkiA DDD tern Hotel on November 17, 1984. “He donated generously to various pendence) officers in earlier times, serve and beautify it ... (but) the whole charities, helping every deserving cau- Godrej noted, “In those days it was a community must get together (to achi- se, ” noted the Calcutta Gavashni of paying proposition. Now it isn ’t. In eve this), ” he said. October-December 1984. Described as those days they were like kings. ” The matter arose for discussion in an “orthodox Zoroastrian, ” he was a But Anklesaria, a former IAS offi- . the context of a suggestion from social trustee of the B.D. Mehta Atash Ada- _ cer, looking at the problem from the activist Ms Aban Bana who had pro ­ ran for 15 years. __ posed to the BPP to buy off Parsi Prior to becoming director and ''Co\/on+\/ nornont nf homes in Udwada from those who are chairman of Calcutta ’s Great Eastern OUVUilLy pCrGtyilL UT anxious to sell and rent them out to Hotel, Billimoria had a wine and auc ­ tioneering business with his brothers in Kharagpur, states the write-up. On re ­ tirement, Billimoria began another \ '' •• • Not any more. ” Where would the BPP auctioneers ’ firm, handling goods of fjvQ yeSrS Only SGVen obtain the funds, he asked. It was al- well-known companies, like the Tatas. ' leged that some of these properties had A condolence meeting was convened DOyS USCQITie tUlltim© been acquired by smugglers who ope- at the Agiary hall in memory of Billi- mnknrio " ^od are willing to pay moria “whose generosity touched al- iTIODeCIS. well. most every Parsi institution in Cal ­ cutta. ” BPP ELECTORAL REFORMS continued from page J 7 corhihunity angle and somewhat idea- The Punchayet was represented at the listically, noted, “It is the position, the Press conference by Golwalla, Desai, placement which counts. Money is not Vimadalal, Maneckji Hodiwala, Ran- everything for everybody. . .pick up ina and Godrej, chief executive R.K. youngsters. . .somebody who is emo- Anklesaria, joint secretary Ms Gool tionally involved. ” Anklesaria has Tata and assistant secretary Hormusji been advocating that the community Kapadia. The Press was represented by Federation, has been extended by assist young Parsis who go into govern- The Bombay Samachar, Jam-e-Jam- another two years noted Golwalla. The ment service by providing low-cost shed. The Zoroastrian and Parsiana. scheme provides free psychiatric help dharamshala accommodation, etc. Ad- to Parsi school children whose social ded Ranina dryly: “I hope one day we traumas interfere with academic ac- don ’t have to set up a civil service complishment. By way of explanation amelioration fund. ” Golwalla read out excerpts from a let ­ ter from the principal of the Bai A.F. Matrimonial bureau Petit School which rj,oted: “Our resi- There have been six marriages resulting dential girls have greatly benefited. We from the bureau ’s functioning over the would like to continue next year, past 15 months. While Desai ribbed . . .Non-Parsi parents have appealed Golwalla as “the matchmaker, ” Ank- for it to be extended to (their wards). ” lesaria asked for Adi Marzban ’s contri- A project officer has since been ap- bution. At an earlier press conference pointed under the Zoroastrian Com- Marzban had undertaken to work out a munity Development Institute to im- scheme to bring young Parsi boys and plement the BPP’s Trust Advisory girls into regular social contact. Now Scheme, notes the press release. Ankle- he reported a lack of community en- ¦ saria noted that they were considering thusiasm. Ranina suggested the Parsi how they “should jointly extend the Gymkhana be induced to hold monthly activities of the trusts or wind up those meets for young people. Marzban said: which are almost defunct. ” “My services as litterateur are at your command; but who organizes it? ... A certain amount of follow-up "is neces ­ sary to see if (the matchmaking) is suc- Government service Lamenting that “the cream of our youth — 20 to 25 each year — go away cessful or backfiring. ” abroad and are more or less lost, ” Gol ­ walla noted there are “only two IAS computers at our disposal. Computer- (Indian Administrative Service) offi- ize the (personal individual) data. It cers in India today. ” Ranina concur ­ red, “Even if (the youth) stay in India, they take to the professions ” and not Udwada government service. Referring to the Noting that the saving of buildings and large number of Parsi ICS (Indian properties in Udwada was only a part Civil Service, as it was known in British of the ‘Save Udwada ’ scheme, Ankle ­ times. The name was changed to In- saria said “The idea is to give Udwada Ranina noted: “Godrej has set his will ensure greater secrecy. ” 44 Parsiana May 1935