Jul 1986

i July 1986 Volume 9 No 1 Rs 3 Landslide win for GER candidate, Minoo Shroff trounces opposition in BPP trusteeship elections. ParinazToddywalla ! With social worker and politician, E a •• t w*»r**»**y J —- — ’ ’ »-P**^|.PVZX VWi o v/x 1VXC13UV1” deciding not to file her Moos. The two women candidates en- Daruwalla, supporters of Master- the BPP. However, an abiding love for - nonaination a few da^s prior to the gaged ’ tomy pXTnleXr'ShM me m candidacy registration deadline, man- another with Master-Moos ’ supporters do my (teacher ’s training dinlnmn agement considtant and Committee claiming that Wadia “is not even an courses) S necess'S tw^ she was “running a of study in St S^r’^ CoLZ^^^^ date^noo Shroffs election appeared kindergarten school in her residential additional two years at St Margaret ’s a certamty. And when at the last mo- premises at Khareghat Colony, with- Teacher ’s SrnTcollea^’’ S opposition lady candidates out the permission of the BPP.” In went on to further note^that while decided to contest the Bombay Pars! contrast, the circular hailed Master- Moos’ supporters did not consider “a Punchayet (BPP) trusteeship seat to Moos for holding an MA degree from school m^ftress good enough to he be vacated by businessman Maneck Oxford University, securing a PhD elected T truste! of tS RPP’^th Hodiwala, Shroff was further assured an d being a Barrister-at-Law “The Uririch t u u C 213^vS^ landslide lead of need of the community is for an edu- Thatcher,^an^lx schooHeacher as tS opposition orthodox cated, competent and qualified ladv to Prime ivrin.ct«r r»_:_____re­ . opposition orthodox cated, competent and qualified lady to Prime Minister Zd that canihdates, educationist Shirin Wadia become a trustee and not just any lady ana the faX Ouee7of H desires lo become a t'mstee/ ’sai^ S , as no sunrise. the women. Master Moos’ supporters The attack on Shroff not or^r “I” wadia ’s supporters, sonal as ™ch as tha? he wasTc^R most of the managing namely, former BPP trustee Dr Nelie candidate and"that-rh, rpn a,5f.u xgrvai u u,c managing namely, lormer BPP trustee Dr Ne e candidate and that “the CFP Cfn ^ttee members did not feel it Noble and Ms Jer Bardi, an active Sm nX haX fteir own CER •'¦e member of the Rayomand Committee based trostees ™a1 noted Ja7 I bufiding which houses the offices of Wadfa retnrted “t hax,sx 0 building which house's the offices of the BPP. When ^o cats fight, the monkey scholarship for standing first in eats the cake, ” noted a circular issued class. Had I by Ms Katy Mehta, Ms Perin Jasawa- la, Ms Doly Munshi and Ms Frame Wadia retorted “I have not only While Jamsheid''Kanga''k the *oX butj was ^awarded a CER candidate on the BPP board of czv rro,-, trustees, both Eruch Desai and Jam- so wished, I could have shed Guzder received electoral sup- 1 J . i vvruiu iiavc ducu vjuzucr receivea electoral sun- accumulated the stnng of degrees that port from the CER, during their elec- is deemed so necessary for a trustee of tions. “The suggestion...that the CERI t is trying to gain control of the BPP is not only odious but is an unhealthy gimmick on tlie part of an aspiring candidate, ” noted Rusi Mehta, mun- cipal corporator and CER supporter. Six days prior to the election, seven members of the community published a letter in The Bombay Samachar sup­ porting Shroff. “Mr Shroff has made a mark in the business world because of his managerial and financial acumen. He is a man of character, integrity and known for his independent thinking. The community is indeed fortunate that he has offered to make his talents and vast experience available, ” noted jurist Nani Palkhirala, banker Maneck Goiporia, surgeon Fardoon Soonawal- la, lawyer Jehangoo Gagarat, indus ­ trialist Jamshed Setna and social work ­ er Ms Dinbai Dubash and travel agent Ms Nergish Dalal. Ms Chibber came in for attack from several quarters for not announcing her candidature and deciding not to stand at the last minute. As a col­ umnist in the Jam-e-Jamshed of June 25 noted, “Aloo Chibber could not make up her mind. She was going to stand, she was not going to stand, she was going to stand... If the ladies of the community cannot make up their mind, they dSre not likely to be of much use as trustees. ” I (Top 1^) Shroff: hailing supporters e^ter die results. (Top right) Wadia: second in race, (Above) Police bandobast on election day. (Left) Master-Moos assisting her father. Election day acting as president of the elections.) “On the day of the elections (July 5) Approximately 30 supporters patiently the CER was already well sprawled hung around until the declaration of out on the right side of the J. J.School ’s the results at 6.50 pm,to greet Shroff front portico, an hour prior to the 11, with garlands and bouquets. Out of a o’clock schedule for commencement total of 561 votes cast. Shroff topped of voting. T^e key workers of the CER with 348, followed by Wadia who got were camping there for the day, with 135 and Master-Moos with 74. Four lunch and tea all planned out, whilst votes were declared invalid. The total they dutifully ticked each new arrival making their acquaintances with the number of eligible voters was 985. on the scene whom they considered a voters, and the comm unity stalwarts The election was a ^tback for the I '*-¦ 1 f 1 I on the scene whom they considered a voters, and the community stalwarts prospective Shroff voter. The left half socializing with each other, depending orthodox groups who had intended to of the portico was shared by the two on their loyalties. contest the election on the basis of the ladies ’ supporters. Among Wadia ’s For the convenience of the voters, Punchayet requiring a woman trustee, supporters were Hilla Nagarwala who BPP had taken special exemption from on the present all-male board? This ’ had proposed Wadia ’s name as BPP the RTO to permit parking of vehicles opportunity lost, the orthodox groups trustee, the Bardi couple, and the on D. Naoroji Road on election day. will now have to wait till after the Medora couple (from Rustom Bang) Though there was not much action on Anjuman Committee elections in 1988 who gave her moral support for the the scene, it was the police bandobast to once again field a candidate, unless greater part of the day. Master-Moos ’ which kept the suspense moving. of course, a trustee resigns prior to the supporters included her aged parents. In a way Master-Moos was the first expiry of his term. In the mean time , who patiently sat through the mom- to publicly greet Shroff, present!^ the legaf proceecfings for refor ming the - ing ’s events and her secretary, who him with a sweatmeat box wrapped in BPP’s archaic electoral scheme is still held reins for Master-Moos in the Pars! Dairy Farm paper at 5 pm, prior pending before the Bombay High afternoon while the latter was praying to the counting of votes. (As at the Court. If reforms are introduced prior at a fire-temple. On the center of the time of the last elections, the scru- to the 1988 Anjuman Commit tal elec- court were the day ’s deities - Shroff, tiheers for the day were Jehangir Bam- tions, this may be the last election held Wadia and Master-Moos who were ji and Silloo Kavarana, with Pea Jagus under the existing scheme. of the portico was shared by the two on their loyalties. t 1 * i 3 Parsiana July 1986 br CINEMA ‘Wings’ on The orthodox groups' appeal to prevent the screening of On Wings of Fire was twice rejected by the Bombay High Court. Arnavaz S. Mama Despite the orthodox fringe ’s cease- Up to 4 pm on June 20 - with barely Despite the orthodox fringe ’s cease- noted, it is entirely incompre- two hours to go to the scheduled pre- less campaign against the movie (origi- hensible that while the taking of a sing- miere of On Wings of Fire-it was not nally titled A Quest for Zarathushtra) le photograph is prohibited at certain whether the program would go in the Press and in letters to the Cen- Doongerwadi, by your own rules and through. 'The Council of Vigilant Par- tral Board of Film Censors, Wings re- by tradition, the shooting of the whole sis president Behram R. Mistry, ceived a certificate for public screening scene in a film to be exhibited interna- Bombay University professor Rita as an educational film. But not before tionally, is allowed. This amounts to Doctor and Sorab Patwa had peti- Parsee Voice’s Editor Adi Doctor was clear breach of trust and we would like tioned the Bombay High Court de- invited to a second screening of the to know the justification for such a manding a stay order against the pub- film in deference to the community ’s flagrant breach. ” The memorandum he screening of the film until certain wishes. Also invited was Ms Roshan suggested that the trustees “write to scenes were censored. Kalapesi, a Bombay theater personal- the Central Board of Film Censors and Orthodox Parsis in Bombay had ity and costume designer. record your vehement objection to the waged sporadic wars with director Doctor, with all his suspicions con- scene, ” failing which the memoran- Cyrus Bharucha during the four years firmed, convinced the Athornan Man- dum promise^ legal steps, holding the of the film ’s production. The cause of dal and the Jashan Committee - two Punchayet responsible for costs and the acrimony was the script,based on orthodox Bombay groups - of his consequences. Bharucha ’s avowed concept of objections to the movie. Several hun- In a letter to the Minorities Com- Zarathushtra as the first human philo- dred people answered the Mandal ’s mission, Dinshaw (Adenwala) sopher? Orthodoxy, viewing Zara ' _ ” _ _ ~ thushtra as a divine being, pro- June 9, 1986 and signed a memoran- tenets of the Zoroastrian religion, (the C tested this alleged devaluation. Other dum to the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gan- film) departs from the true principles focal points of theological sepses, dhi appealing to him to censor the and historical background of the according to them, were the mock offending film. A telegram and a letter religion... the film is not an authentic funeral ceremony filmed at the Albless were accordingly despatched to Gan- version of what the Zoroastrian reli- Bungli of the Doongerwadi, “the dhi. gion is and what it preaches. ” poisonous philological dogma of ‘free- A memorandum jointly submitted When the case came up for hearing dom of choice, ’’’...the new fangled to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) on June 19, legal luminary and com- heresy that Lord Ahura Mazda is not by Jehangir Shroff, president of the munity doyen Nani Palkhivala, who is yet omnipotent...and as a corollary, Athornan Mandal and Cawasji Din- chairman of the Oriental heritage the concept of death as the triumph of shaw (Adenwala), president of the Trust which has partly financed the evil (The Parsee Voice, March 1984). Jashan Committee, in early June, movie, personally handled Wings’ de ­ fense in the Bombay High Court. Jus­ tice Pendse, rejected the petition on grounds of freedom of speech and also that the BPP, a conservative commun ­ ity body, had been party to the making of the film after seeing the script; that the Film Censor Board had granted the certificate after taking all factors into consideration and also that it was “necessary to bear in mind that the film had got good (Press) reviews ” Undeterred, Mistry immediately contested Pendse ’s judgment in the appeal court of Justices Khetri and Shah. The following afternoon the judges agreed to hear the case, setting the date for June 25 and agreed with continued on page 17 Doctor, with all his suspicions con- concept of objections to the movie. Several hun- Dinshaw call for a meeting at Albless Bang on charged, “Far from explaining the ‘ • ¦ - .................................u the dhi. A memorandum jointly submitted At the premiere: (from left) Bharucha, Palkhivala and Mithoo Coorlawala, chairperson, premiere committee 7 • 5 T .v» I® sg r lipj. tfei I*,!READERS’ FORUM not blame the producer for it: skimpy quarter century of inertia, the true budget led to skinny actors. Class and Parsi is once again raising his head dignity was provided to the whole with pride and his new-found interest show by Zubin Mehta himself , but as a conductor he looks a bit over stuffed. All aspects of our religion were shown; even the funeral. I pity the per ­ son who had to act the dead man. The general public gets to know who a Par- ignorant parents. Without si is: in short, a person who has the parental support, religious rejuvena ­ right to be gobbled up by the vultures, tion cannot be achieved because pa- and be proud of it. Even Zubin Mehta rents preside over the critical forma ­ mentions that it is his burning desire to end up in the Towers. But has anyone every wondered what are the feelings with the objective of propagating of viiltures who have to survive on a Zoroastrianism are doing good work, continuous boring diet of diabetic Par- And yet they often find themselves sis? I believe the ornithologist Dr embroiled in petty politics and eon- Salim Ali can throw light on the sub­ ject. One salient point was not portrayed . TTie point which also puts us apart as .minds of their advocates. Besides, Parsis is our famous, unique social in- these organization|^^ have not yet been stitution — The Parsi wedding, I mean able to make a mass impact. They specifically the way we eat, the way we operate in pockets and need to spread attack our chicken fare has, and patra out. Moreover, a growing number of fish, and it is immediately recorded on Parsi families have moved to the furth- video by the host as proof that you er suburbs, adding the tortures of com- have eaten well. That would have real- muting to an otherwise busy routine, ly given a complete picture of the Par- Despite their keenness for religious sis. Before the final fade out we are in religion is but a consequence of his overall stimulation. A child can hardly hope to learn the meaning and substance of Zoroas ­ trianism from his equally, if not more, active five years of a child ’s life. Organizations which have emerged troversies between schools of ‘ortho ­ doxy ’ and schools of ‘reform ’—terms whose meanings are as confused as the Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, sis. study they really have little time to Readers* Forum. Parsiana. G.P.O. Before the final fade out we are spare for it. Zoroastrianism needs to Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Letters are shown the perplexed face of Zubin be brought to their doorstep. subject to editing for reasons of space Mehta with furrowed eyebrows. It Ways therefore need to be found to: and clarity. seems he went back from Navsari • Motivate parents to either educate t subject to editing for reasons of space Mehta with furrowed eyebrows. It seems he went back from Navsari ———— . H more confused than when he came themselves in religious study or, at . from the States. On Wings of Fire ah said and done, we all came out At last saw the much talked about On of the theater feeling proud to be born Wings of Fire. It was a momentous Parsi. occasion for us. All were decked out in z.m. zend their finest and all behaved surprising- least, actively encourage their school and college going children to become interested; • Create preachers either from among the existing priests or from non-priests --------------------------------------- ------- p ... who may be given proper professional ly well. I believe the rains dampened Lean! from missionaries training in preaching. No one should the fervor of those who wanted to pro- It is generally acclaimed that of late a expect anyone to display missionary test. new religious awareness has dawned zeal without giving him an attractive Zoroaster was portrayed by a Jew among Parsis. Perhaps it is a wave pay packet in return; (perhaps Nancy Mehta ’s relative) and which has caught the community nap- • Find the money required for all this, the portrayal was insipid. Zoroaster ping. Parents, priests and community This could well be provided out of the was a strong powerful man who had to organizations could not have been funds available with the Parsi Pun ­ cross mountains to preach the truth of more ill-equipped to face this chai- chayet, anjumans, charitable trusts , and donors - especially out of trust Today ’s Parsi youth, faced with funds earmarked for education; Ahura Mazda, and here we see on the lenge thrown up by the youth, screen a skinny looking Zoroaster. . . Also Alexander looked like a weak tremendous competition in every field, • Bring religion to the doorstep in the spoilt brat instead of the athlete he sadly inherits a legacy of lethargy from Parsi bangs and colonies as well as in was. You have to see Prithviraj Kapoor as Alexander in Sorab Mody ’s Sikander to realize how Alexander odds in the spirit of enterprise That his should have been portrayed. One can ­ “the generation of bank clerks. ” But suburban pockets with the help of sub- he is ready and prepared to fight the urban Zoroastrian associations like the > ones in Bandra, Andheri and Borivli. ancestors were known for. After a Modern methods need to be adopted 7 Parsiana July 19861 correspondence other communities^. Now they realize for this purpose and we can take the Zoroastrianism to their children and said and observed by some that the example of other religious missions have their navjote performed. Zoroas- girls carry the kusti in their pockets that are doing a wonderful job of sell- trian ladies married to non Parsis say and tie it in the agiar^. Bravo to our ing their respective religions to the lai- that they did not find suitable Parsi Parsi men. Almost all Parsi men wear ty. For example, the Chinmayananda boys in our noble charitable Parsi com- the sudreh-kusti and there is no mod- Mission or the Bible Society run very munity so they found husbands from ification in their sudrehs. cheap, graded correspondence other communities,. Now they realize We must look after our girls who courses; the Interriational Society for what a blunder and mistake they have have married out of our fold. Love Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) made. What religion are they to give them so that if they are rejected by sells low-priced, good quality audio their children now? Do they really their spouses they can come back to cassettes and books at street corners; want their children ’s navjote to be per- their parents and not put and end to discourses are held in open-air formed? Is it because the boys’ family their lives. But to take their children maidans on the Geeta and R a may ana members neither care nor want the into our religion would be a mistake, by various organizations; the Rajneesh children of Parsi daughters-in-law in Is there not one priest in the commun- Ashram propagates its through vi^eo cassettes. This needs leadership - a group of blindly to non Parsi boys? Why bring experienced men and women dedi ­ cated to the task of catching our youth munity and make them suffer? on the crest of this wave of religious . renaissance that has been rolling in- sacred navjote ceremony on a durvand eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, shore. Will such leaders step forth child? A child is called durvand not Their ideas about the Zoroastrian reli ­ please? KHURSHED PASTAKIA message their own religion? Did they not think ity who would raise his voice and end of all this before they gave themselves this matter once and for all? T.R. Bhathena writes {Parsiana, the innocent children into our com- February 1986) that we are about to enter the twenty-first century. But our Why should our priests perform the grandfathers had also entered the through prejudice but because any gion remained firm, child born of a mixed marriage is cal- led a durvand child. How many of our Parsi girls put on though our girls may go out and marry __ . SHIREEN MERER Secunderabad The religion never dies. It will pros­ per even in the twenty-first century ‘ ‘Depriving ladies” Many Zoroastrian ladies married to the sudreh-kusti? Even though they non Zoroastrian boys, non Parsis would like to impart may wear a sudreh with straps, it is 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 Calcutta, Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Mangalore, Bhavnagar, Bedi-port, Navlakhi, Veraval, Porbunder & Kandla. Also sole Government Landing contractors at Jamnagar, (Bedi) Bhavnagar. 8 Parsiana July 19864 li Events and Personalities 1 f 1 I An urgent appeal may be sent to Ms Meher H. Jal C/o i _ 7 .___ Ms Silloo Aderbad, 13/1 Rustom and commanded.the frigate/A^5 Benva “As my condition is getting critical and Baug, Victoria Road, Byculla, Bom- " ----- ----- there are chances of getting paralyzed bay 400027. if foreign treatmSht is denied ” for her serious spinal problem, 25-year-old Ms Govemor Ghandhi Meher Jal has appealed for donations The to pay for her medical and airfare ex ­ penses. __________ _ ______ Having complained of an initial notes The Daily of April 6, 1986. College at New Delhi. As cairtaii?,* he backache during her pregnancy, Jal With the unique distinction of hav- commanded the 14th Frigate Sqad ’ron was^^ven pain relievers as no X-rays ing commanded both the Eastern and during the 1965 conflict with Pakistan, then allowed to deliver a normal baby Ghandhi has also been the Chief of commander of the cruiserMyjorX boy on May 3,1985, notes orthopaedic Personnel at the naval headquarters, for whose operation he was awarded surgeon Dr Parvez Hakim, outlining Once an Indian Naval Advisor in the the Vir Chakra, nptes the write-up. -—_ —J.. x-Kiiiguuiii, Ghandhi was delivery however, showed a collapsed awarded the Param Vishist Seva Med- Dastur for Hafnia-87 Philatelist Vispi S. Dastur has been vice in the Indian Navy. appointed commissioner for India Ghandhi joined the Navy in 1941, when the country participates at Hafnia-87, the second international stamp exhibition to be held at Copenhagen, Denmark, from October 16 to 25, 1987, notes a press release. To mark the centenary of the oldest Danish stamp club, Kjobenhavns Phi ­ latelist Klub (The Copenhagen Phi- (Left) Jal: critical condition (Below) Dastur (right) accompanying Colonel Bhavani Singh, ex Maharaja of Jaipur, at the Impex, 86, Jtdpur. saw active service during World War II from 1960 to 1962, when the ship took active part in the liberation of Goa. A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Un- new govemor of Himachal ited States Naval War College at New Pradesh is retired vice-admiral Rus- Port (Rhode Island), Ghandhi also tom Khushro Shapoorjee Ghandhi graduated from the National Defence With the unique distinction of hav- commanded the 14th Frigate Sqadron could be taken at that tim^ She was Western Fleets of the Indian Navy, During the hostilities Yn 1971, h^ was then allowed to deliver a normal baby Ghandhi has also been the Chief of commander of the cruiserMyjore, boy on May 3,1985, notes orthopaedic Personnel at the naval headquarters, for whose operation he was awarded Jal ’s case history. An X-ray taken after United Kingdom • ¦ « «« « - - - vertebra and three months later when al for his long and distinguished ser- Dr Hakim operated, he found an aneurysmaPbone cyst. (Aneurysmal is a permanent abnormal blood-filled dilation of a blood vessel resulting from disease of the vessel wall.) However, “since the site was quite in ­ accessible and due to excessive bleeding...further surgery was discon ­ tinued, ” notes Dr Hakim in the case history. Radiation therapy was then tried aF the Tata Memorial Hospital but in March 1986, the pain started again. A CAT scan was done and Dr Chaubal advised special-surgery for stabilizing Jal ’s spine, and embolization of the tumor with total excision of the verteb ­ ra. “This sort of surgery is not being done in India, and it is recommended that she should be allowed to go abroad, ” notes neurosurgeon Dr Ga- jendra Sinh. Further consultation with Dr Suresh Vengsarkar, an orthopaedic surgeon, produced the sa:me recom ­ mendations. Advised to proceed to the Sloane Kettering Memorial Hospital, Jal 1 notes, “As it is nbt possible for the k family to finance my stay abroad for hospitalization plus air fares, I shall be Bl ¦ grateful for your help. Contributions Bl I St 11 Parsiana July 1986 ¦i ' T1 r M I 1latelic Club), the exhibition has been Home Guards in 1963, Devlahwalla — - -22*-'’ “•} sector officer with the rank of platoon commander in the Later, as honorary secretary of the Home Guards Rifle Club, Devlaliwal- J organized under the patronage of was posted as Queen Margrethe II. “The exhibition will comprise about same year, notes his bio data. 4,000 display frames with a total of 64,000 plates in the competitive class. ------- These collections, with a total value of la introduced air-rifle training m va- five thousand million kroner (approx- rious zones all over Greater Bombay, imately Rs 7,700 million) will come for women Home Guards and the chil- from 65 countries, ” notes a pamphlet dren of Home Guards, adds the write- issued on the occasion. up. “The arrangement will be the big- '----- , _ ,, gest hobby arrangement so far in the energy and enthusiasm of young ^u- history of Denmark - and one of the dents for the benefit of society, De- biggest in the world. Postage stamps being one of the largest hobbies in De- ----- --------- nmark there II no doubt that it will be Madhusudan S. Kasbekar, introduced something of an Kobenhavn, ” adds the write-up. Hafnia is the Latin i the L (Copenhagen). Moreover, “it is short, it can be pronounced in almost any language, and it has been used before Guard, Devlahwalla attended various m connection with an important inter ­ national philatelic arrangement, notes an article titled “Why Hafnia? ” “ first bulletin of the exhibition. o—-; ------- Dastur, who is the jointeditor of In- Annwersa^y of Independence Medal, dia’s Stamp Journal, has been for a - number of years, a member of the Government of India ’s Advisory Committee in the Ministry of Communications, New Delhi, notes his bio data. The first Indian to win The Roake International Trophy (UK) for origin ­ al research in philately, Dastur has au ­ thored two publications'. A.n Introduc- pitalization and tion to India Used Abroad and India scheme for the Zoroastrian cominun- Used Abroad, adds the bio.data. ity of Calcutta. Conceived as a golden A chartered accountant by profes- jubilee proj^;(w^lch J “*®2”ted^^- sion for the past 20 years, Dastur is a mttTote:: er/year in ,he form of rations me«- He is trustee of the Sir J.L Memorial for such a scheme, ” because the last cines, tuition fee»T extra nounshmen^ Fund manacing trustee of the Soona- census of the community shows that etc. The organization also owns a Sa SaTIn™ president of the out of a total population of 1,220,377 three-storey building where needy Association for the Death Ceremonies persons (approximately 31 pereenO pres?XS “ ’ With the object of utilizing “the vlaliwalla, under the then Comman ­ dant General of Home Guards, the Home Guards movement in va ­ rious colleges of Bombay in 1984. He -- —- [la lb viiti uuxi.v -------- ----------—- Danish capital, Kobenhavn Guards Student s Wing, State or ', Maharashtra. During his 20 years as a Home duties including those , that resulted from the Indo-Pakistan wars. He was the awarded the Paschim Star, the San ­ gram Medal and the Twenty-fifth notes the bio data. Professionally, Devlaliwalla is direc- Philatelic tor and proprietor of Freezon, a sales service and repair businessidealing in refrigeration and air-conditioning. Stree Mandal’s golden The Calcutta Zoroastrian Stree Man ­ dal wishes to start a contributory hos- in occasion name for is now Commanding Officer, Home m W’ Devlaliwalla: channelizing energies of the young musical programs, all of which culmin- ..................____ ated in the 50 Golden Years, a stage ­ medical welfare show depicting the Mandal ’s history and activities, adds the release. Extending a helping hand to needy lu vvi ________ Zoroastrians in and around Calcutta, AprTlS^and March* 1986), the Mandal, which has 400 members, - - -- helps 12 to 15 Zoroastrian families ev- tween , the Mandal ’s president Ms Bachoo Pa- rakh notes, “f Association for the Death Ceremonies persons f . of the Parsis, notes the bio data. are in the age-group of 61 and above. Home guards medal pus of three lakhs of which one h — Commander Minoo Fardoonji Devla- has been collected by way of donations liwalla of the Maharashtra Home Guards, received the President ’s Home Guards and Civil Defence Med- sought to Governor of Maharashtra, Shanker noUs Parakh. Dayal Sharma at twenty-sixth anniversary parade on May 1, 1986 at Bombay, notes a press Having joined the Maharashtra competitions. The scheme requires a minimal cor- „ pnprav cpccinn of three lakhs of which one lakh Heading energy scssioii Xri’^TthT'jubUee^cele^^^ adds partment of Chemical Engineering, the release. The balance amount is i------- ----- „ , Professor P.D. Sunavala of the De-, ±iiv -j Indian Institute of Technology (HT), be collected from indi- Bombay, was invited to chair one of Home Guards and civil ueiencc^vxeu- rai ng drives, the three sessions on Biomass Energy ai for meritonmis service from Jhe viduals ttusK raising , international Congress on Re- The year long Uicuiuv.o,.., - -------- with a jashan at the Calcutta Agiary nd, Spam Jrom Maj 18 to 23, 1986, and included treasure hunts, debates, quiz programs, dinner dances, cooking demonstrations zrA Maharashtra ’s celebrations started newable Energy Sources held at Mad- notes a press release. A professor at the IIT since 1958, and Sunavala has published over 100 pap- 12 Parsiana July 1986Above: Vakeel Alongside (from left): Bill Walden, chief executive, DHL International, Cyrus Guzder, Suresh Checker, and Errol Gates, regional manager, DHL International Below (from left): Sunavala, Italia and Bodhanwalla SPOTLIGHT ¦I, ¦ 1 Italia was the ladies singles cham- on May 13. Wadia and eminent social --------- ------ - ---------- » stitute of Energy, London, and was Medical College Tournament. Hold- received the award, were the first nominated as a member of the edito- ing a masters degree in ophthalmolo- women to be so honored. rial board of the Journal of Scientific gy, she is currently working with the and Industrial Research, New Delhi Civil Hospital of Surat as an assistant NavalB. Vakeel, managementconsul- for a period of three years cominenc- professor in ophthalmology, states the tant and social worker, has been T .. , , write-up. elected president of the Citizens Orga- Bodhanwalla, who has been repre- nised for Public Service (COPS) and senting Gujarat at the all-India Civil chairman. Complaints Panel, Consum- Services Tournament for the past five er Guidance Society of India, Hyderr years, has also represented the South abad. p DHL International, the worldwide courier network, presented its Golden Flyer Award to C^rus Guzder, manag ­ ing director of Airfreight Pvt Ltd and Suresh Checker, manager-India, Air­ freight DHL who received the award on behalf of their Company which generated the best revenue and pro­ ductivity based on sound budget plan ­ ers in British and Indian technical chayat Board, Surat. The other mem- ning. The plaque was presented at the journals, and has filed over four patent bers of the team were Ms Farida recently concluded Annual South East applications, notes his bio data. Bodhanwalla and Ms Rita Shivdasani. Asia/South Pacific Regional Confer- A graduate of the Bombay and Be- Defeating Karnataka and Tamil ence in Australia. naras Hindu Universities, Sunavala Nadu in the quarter and semi finals re ­ obtained his doctorate in fuel technol- spdctively by a score of 3-0 against For her work in the field of family bgy and chemical engineering from the both, the Gujarat team however lost planning. Dr Avabai Wadia received University of Sheffield, UK. A fellow to Madhya Pradesh in the finals, adds the 1986 Citizen.of Bombay Award in- of the Institute of Energy, London, the release. stituted by the Rotary Club of Bombay Sunavala is the honorary overseas Edi- Italia was the ladies singles cham- on May 13. Wadia and eminent social tor for India for the Journal of the In- pion in 1984-85 at the all-India Inter worker Leela S. Moolgaokar, who also stitute of Energy, London, and was Medical College Tournament. Hold- received the award, were the first nominated as a member of the edito- ing a masters degree in ophthalmolo- women to be so honored. rial board of the Journal of Scientific gy, she is currently working with the and Industrial Research, New Delhi Civil Hospital of Surat as an assistant Naval B. Vakeel, management consul- f---------- ------------------------------------- . .... . ing January, 1986, adds the bio data. TT runners-up At the twentieth all-India Civil Ser ­ vices Table Tennis Tournament 1985- 86, at Bhopal, the three-member Gujarat University in the years 1974 runners-up team from Gujarat, cap- and 1975. At present she is working Kirtankar Parvez Katrak is slated for a tamed by Dr (Ms) Thrity Italia, was with the South Gujarat Research Divi- tour of Russia in July. For the last six decorated with a silver medal by the sion in soil mechanics, notes the press years Katrak has entertained the Gujarat State Government at Gandhi- release. needy and aged with free concerts at nagar, notes a press release dated Shivdasani is connected with the the Parukh Dharamshalla, Cheshire February 11, 1986,sent by Ratan Mar- Surat District Sports Office, adds Home, Nagpada Dharamshala, Asha shall, special officer of the Parsi Pan- Marshall in the release. Daan, etc. 13 Parsiana July 1986r i H I BUSINESS A ‘Noble’ driofc advantages of buffalo milk sans its tilleries (ABD), makers of London drawbacks. ” The 200-milliliter tetra- Pilsner and London Diet, is the Lon- “Noble Soya House Limited, is the packed soya milk (as with Frooti, the don Stout, notes a press release dated "One can define Stout as a strong shelf life of six months. dark beer brewed with roasted malt or The processing plant, located in the barley ... a full bodied, malty beer, as i first public limited company quoted on mango drink) is expected to be priced April 1, 1986. the stock exchange that we, Godrej as between Rs 2 and Rs 2.50 and has a non r a group, would be associated with, ” .. ............... Noble Soya, and director, Godrej industrial area of the Madhya Pradesh compared to Pilsner and London Soaps^and Godrej and Boyce in an in- Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam (In- Diet, ” noted D. Murugesan, chief ex- terview in the investment journal dore) Ltd at Mandideep, a centrally ecutive of ABD, at the lauching of the ble^ Soya ’s public issue of 26,40,000 from Bhopal, is expected to begin on April 1,1986. Partners of ABD, Ms equity shares of Rs 10 each was over- ’ ’ ' *»-» t ______j subscribed. Dr A.S. Aiyar, the main promoter, last quarter of ’86. The plant is ex- is a leading food technologist of inter- pected to reach full capacity produc- national repute with extensive re- tion in 1988 with 20 million liters of combines the bitterness of the hop search and development experience in soya milk and 2000 tonnes of solid with full malted flavor and sweetness the sphere of food and nutrition; the soya foods per annum according to an to give a typical balance,not observed chief executive is Shyam Pherwani. article in Business World of March 31- in other types of ales — Pilsner or La- Noble Soya has the financial backing April 13, 1986; its turnover at that ger. Stout ’s nourishing value prompts of the Godrej and Bhiwandiwalla (of stage may reach Rs 25 crores per doctors to recommend a pint to expec- Great Eastern Shipping) groups, each annum, as per the Capital Market tant mothers and convalescent pa- holding 24 percent of the equity and write-up. tients, notes the press release, having two representatives on the Akin to the^amous Guinness Stout board of directors. Nadir B. Godrej, The London StOUt of UK, a favorite Irish mix, black vel- Kanaiyalal Maneklal Sheth, Ghan- The latest addition to the beers bottled vet, combines stout and champagne in shyam S. Sheth, Anand Gopal Mahin- by the Associated Breweries and Dis- equal proportion; as a shandy, stout dra, M^nsingh L. Bhakta, Pheroze Jamshed Tarapore, Dr Anantharaman S. Aiyar, Anup V. Mehta, Vasant R. Dalal and Dr Dinanath V. Rege are the other members of Noble Soya’s directorial board. The Company has signed a col­ laboration agreement with Kibun Co Ltd, Japan — “world leaders in the soya milk industry ” — to provide tech ­ nical and process knowhow for a period of five years for the manufac ­ ture of non-beany flavor soya milk and other soya milk beverages. To be marketed as a beverage which will cater to various tastes and needs, as notes Godrej in the Capital Market interview, “One could have it in place of a cola or a lemonade, or like a juice; we may even have a chocolate flavored soya drink. ” Referring to soya milk as a “unique selling • proposition, ” Godrej says, “You can tailor the protein content of soya milk as per your requirement. ” In milk, the protein content is fixed and cannot be altered Moreover the fat content in cow or buffalo milk leads to cholesterol formation in the body. Be ­ sides, there are many who cannot digest the lactose in milk. Soya milk, according to Godrej, has “all the ¦ notes Ardeshir B. Godrej, chairman. Soaps,and Godrej and Boyce in an in- Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam (In- Diet, ” noted^D. Muiugesan, chief ex- Capital Market, of April 18,1986. No- notified backward area about 25 kms beer at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay commercial production of soya milk Zenia Lawyer, Ms Mehroo Irani and and an assortment of soya foods in the Ms Bakhtawar Chenoy were also pre ­ sent on the occasion. Stout is a full-flavored ale which '8 Alongside: At the launching of Stout (from left) Murugesan, Lawyer, Irani and Chenoy Facing page: Vitta Mazda’s chairman, Dara Deboo (left) and managing director, Yezdi Master .4 'X-’ 's ¦ S ^9 ... . LrK ‘.Vf- ¦ ' *¦ "" '¦'’J__ ’if" ?-f«s5g ¦ 14 Parsiana July 1986 ¦ ¦ . •' I i I ¦may be mixed in equal proportion with father and son team of Pheroze and was converted into a public limited lemonade, limca or soda, notes Dinshaw Pundole, chairing the board company on March 6, 1986. They en- Murugesan. ( - - - - - - Housed in a modern hygienic plant, Ghose, informs The Daily article. ABD has excellent testing and quality , control procedures to ensure the pro- Vitta S expansion plans i of directors of Salstar is S^lil Chandra tered the share market,offering a pub­ lic issue of 4,50,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each at a premium of Rs 2 per share, and 45,000 secured non ­ ducts ’ international quality, notes the Apart from equipment leasing as its convertible debentures of Rs 100 each press release, to which Murugesan main activity, Vitta Mazda Limited, is at 15 percent interest,notes a brochure adds, “Our London Stout does pack a all set for its ambitious expansion rele^ed by the Company, punch and would recommend all of plans. The Company, which started ~ the increasing demand for their soft South Gujarat, ” notes a press release, drinks like Mangola, Tango, Lemo- Entering the capital market on June “ * -. 1 “The Company ’s products are distri- you to go slow when you start tasting operation in February this year and buted all over India ... Some of the it... ” which had within a short span of three semiconductor devices and equipment months declared an interim dividend have been exported to Europe and the Duke’s make a deal of 20 percent, “is actively considering USSR and have been technically To enable Duke and Sons to cater to a prestigious warehousing project in accepted ... (The Company ’s pro- the increasing demand for their soft South Gujarat, ” notes a press release, ducts) find use in various fields such as drinks like Mangola, Tango, Lemo- Entering the capital market on June defence, railways, power plants, tele- nade and Soda, Duke ’s have entered 3, 1986 with a public issue of Rs 180 communications, transport ... To keep into a franchise agreement with Salstar lakhs, the Company has also taken up up with the pace and image of the Foods and Beverages, Bombay. The the management of a leasing company Company and to be ready to satisfy the latter will manufacture, market and in Gujarat and is negotiating similar customers ’ demands, the Company is distribute Duke ’s “established brands arrangements with three more orga- entering new lines and updating its of beverages, ” in Maharashtra, though nizations, notes the release. present technology, ” mentions the not Bombay and its neighboring areas, _ . ~ notes a report in The Daily of June 14, Cell which renders lease couselling services in Bombay and in other in ­ Having opened a Lease Counselling brochure. When the Company was formed in 1986. services in Bombay and in other in- 1969, it was a closely held company Under the agreement, Salstar will dustrial and commercial cities and cen- with 34 percent foreign equity held by receive technical knowhow and formu- ters in India, the Company plans to its collaborators,international Recti- lae from Duke ’s, and the bottled pro- inaugurate branch offices in Ahmeda- fier Corporation, USA. Presently on ducts will continue to maintain the bad and Baroda to tap huge business the board of directors are chairman quality associated with the Duke ’s potential in the fast growing, economic Eric Lidow and vice-chairman Robert Mueller, representing International Rectifier for USA and UK respective ­ ly. Managing director Jal Ruttonsha “is supported by a team of qualified technical, personnel and professional managers with considerable experi ­ ence in the field of production, marketing, finance, personnel and administration, ” notes the brochure. The team includes medical practition ­ er Dr Ruzbeh Mehta, consulting en ­ gineer J.S. Engineer, chartered accountant Sorab Davar, engineer D. B. Patell and ^solicitor M.S. Bodhanwalla. i The Company also plans to diversify !• name. “The cost of the project to development of Gujarat, notes the manufacture 4,800 crates of 24 bottles release. Correction each per day works out to Rs 179.25 The Company also plans to diversify lakhs which is being financed by the into the export oriented leather busi- In The Tarnished Titan (Parsiana, promoters ’contribution of Rs 60 lakhs ness with the assistance of government May 1986) it was erroneously stated and a public issue of Rs 90 lakhs, in- recognized leather industry experts that B.K. Boman-Behram succeeded eluding NRI (Non Resident Indian) in- and is slated to undertake property in- Lady Hirabai Cowasjee Jehangir as vestment of Rs 36 lakhs, ” states The vestment and development as also va- president of the Bombay Parsi Pun- Daily write-up. rious investment activities in shares, chayet while actually he took over Salstar has acquired 50 acres of land securities and stocks, adds the write- from Eruch A. Nadirshah in 1977. at Mulshi Taluka in Poona District and up. Further in the same article mention the project is nearing completion. The _ , was made of a Colonel Muncherji Company is also considering schemes RuttOIlSna gOCS publlC Khareghat. The name should have to effectively utilize process waste wa- Ruttonsha-International Rectifier Ltd, read Colonel Rustom Khareghat. ter. manufacturers of power semiconduc- ~ While Duke ’s is headed by the tors ^nd power electronic equipment, The errors are regretted. 16 Parsiana July 1986 t ... I 1I i ! continued from page 4 his nerves, it did provide unexpected shelter in Gujarat under the hospitable the defense that the premiere sche- publicity for Wings - and ensured large Jadav Rana, creates settlements in va- duled that evening go through as plan- audiences. rious parts of India and abroad, and in ned. . due course produces the Tatas, the COVP supporters spoke of staging a A review Godrejs and, of course, Dadi Bhlsara, demonstration at the premiere at “I have come back to find out if it the millionaire perfumer from Singa- Sterling theater at 6 pm. Nature (Zoroastrianism) has any relevance to pore. however laid a wet blanket on CO VP’s my life today, ” says maestro Zubin “Z---- L. -—1-1----1—— l.l.l.— TTie docu-drama unfolds by way of ~ ¦ ¦ I The search for his roots leads Mehta plans - no demonstrators ventured at Mehta in an early scene in the movie, to Navsari, the family ’s hometown and the Sterling that squally evening, On Wings of Fire. Vignettes of also, in the process, helps him to meet rendering the extra-large security turn- Zoroastrian ideas and practices seem three of the community ’s seven high out redundant, though Parsiana wit- to chase through his mind as he con- priests in India today who thus enjoy nessed a couple of Athornan Mandal ducts Richard Strauss ’ famous piece bit roles in the film. stars meekly walking into the theater. Thus Spake Zarathustra. In trying to encapsulate 3,500 years ticket in hand! The docu-drama directed by Cyrus of history and simultaneously explain With the Time and Talents ’ pen- Bharucha and coproduced by him with and justify the doctrine and practices chant for organication, the premiere Meherji Madan is a retelling of famil- of Zoroastrianism - all in the space of netted approximately rupees three iar Zoroastrian lore in an effort to 100 minutes - producer-director Cyrus lakhs for the Oriental Heritage Trust view the precepts and practices of the Bharucha set himself an impossible, which is the beneficiary of any profit religion from the twentieth century nay hopeless,task. His modest budget the film makes in India. perspective of a westernized Zoroas- effectively prevented him from depict- Before the appeal court on June 25, trian - personified in Zubin Mehta, ing the climactic scenes in true drama ­ advocate Tehmtan Andhyarujina professionally brilliant but ignorant of tic splendor; the long dialectic stretch- almost annihilated the petitioning the spiritual values of the religion of es needed thespians of Gielgud ’s or advocate B. Suresh ’s (interestingly the his birth. Burton ’s caliber to sustain them, traditionalists ’ viewpoint was not TTie docu-drama unfolds by way of In the process, directional flaws espoused by a Zoroastrian advocate or Mehta ’s questions and the answers he abound. For example, the court of solicitor) long discourse by noting that receives from a scholar priest (played King Vistasp seemed more like a vil- Zarathushtra ’s cardinal tenet is one of by Khojeste Mistree). The seeker- lage punchayet; tlife pillars of Persepo- “total tolerance and adaptability. It ’s a mentor dialogue is interspersed with lis - “the greatest palace ever built ” - pity that the three petitioners do not dramatic visualization of scenes from igniting at the touch of a single torch, exhibit his views. ” In defense of the Zarathushtra ’s life, followed by com- seemed too obviously crafted of card ­ funeral scehe Andhyarujina produced mentary and picturization of the great board; Cyrus the Great addressing the Sir Jivanji Modi ’s The Customs and Achamenians, Cyrus and Darius, the liberated Jews - an epoch-making Practices of the Parsis, a 1915 publica- destruction of the Persian empire after event that has been reverently en ­ tion detailing the funeral rites and the third Peloponnesian war with the shrined in the Bible’s Old Testament - noted that Wings had only pictorial- Macedonian hordes destroying Perse- proved visually and emotionally tame, ized the knowledge that was available polls at the command of a drunken One also expected better employment to any non-Parsi who sought it. Alexander. The narrative winds its of musical themes to augment the sub- The judges rejected the orthodox way through the barbarism of the ject on view - indeed, would not a appeal, though no written judgment Parthians, the overbearing dogmatism musician of Mehta ’s caliber, the focal was offered. While the CO VP’s filli- of the Sassanians which eventually point around which everything re- bustering tactics considerably ate into falls prey to the equally rabid Islamism volves, automatically translate emo- Bharucha ’s time in India and frayed of the Arabs. The community seeks tion and knowledge in terms of the art he knows best? . .. — ¦ On Wings of Fire might prove more effective on TV where the film ’s small canvas size may be viewed to advan ­ tage. Indeed, IV is Bharucha ’s metier where he is said to have carved a niche - with the BBC in the UK and inde ­ pendently in the United States. The staccato nature of the narrative,high ­ lighting events from 1,500 BC to date, might also be more acceptable in the context of television than of the mo ­ tion picture where continuity, visual splendor and emotional impact have become essential ingredients. The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive gifts and Zoroastrian artefacts Bombay S\\^adeshi Stores Ltd Sir P.M. Road, Bombay 400 001 Tel: 253443 & 252730 ^Gifts&l I Parsiana's interview with Cyrus Bhar- ucha, director of On Wings of Fire, will be carried in our August ‘86 issue. 17 Parsiana July T 986 11 J DANCE I 1 T The epic as ballet Dancer Khurshid Irani presents a Bharat Natyam dance ballet depicting ep sodes from the Shah Namah. Niloofer J. Madon j I The lights dim and, as if on cue, the to discuss ”, certain aspects of the bal- than, she decided that Manthra Spenta cacophony of adult voices and the pat- let. “I would not take a single decision was the best bet. The ballet begins with the victorious cacophony of adult voices and the pat- let. “I would not take a single decision tering of small feet subsides into without asking him every little thing, ” _ hushed expeatation. And overhead re- notes Irani Who believes that whilst dance of the evil King Zohak who has volving globe bathes the audience in doing anything related to the religion captured the crown of Iran under the light and darkness. Cymbals clash and is essential to take the advice of influence of Iblis, the force of evil. the strong soothing voice of Ervad Dr scholar priests. 2Lohak later has a nightmare in which Peshotan Peer, reciting a prayer in he sees a warrior attack him with the Persian, floats into the darkness. Maa- cow-head mace, who then binds his thra Spenta, the dance ballet in Bharat hands and drags him to mount Dama- Natyam has begun. vand. As it happens, this warrior turns A presentation of the Khurshid out to be Faridun who later succeeds Nritya Kala Mandir, whose directress in killing Zohak and becomes King of Ms Khurshid Irani is an exponent of Iran. Bharat Natyam, the ballet consists of Thousands ^-of years elapse until seven scenes encompassing certain episodes from the Shah Namah, the Persian epic by Firdausi Toosi. A synopsis of the ballet describes it as projecting “the eternal struggle of good over evil and Zarathushtra ’s message that when man walks on the path of asha or purity, with devotion and meditation, he realizes the man- Irani: need for a different theme Difficulties arose in the realm of music and costume, and Irani had to of Zarathushtra — King Aspandyar ! Zarathushtra ts born during the reign of King Goshtasp of the' Kyanian Dynasty, at a time when the world was steeped in superstition, black magic and sorcery. The scene depicts - Zarathushtra ’s meditations on mount 'V' UshiDarena, where he oncounters the forces of go^ and evil, and how he finally overcomes evil and realizes the “iiltimate reality — Ahura Mazda. ” The sixth scene depicts the followers thra spenta or spiritual knowledge and finally attains frashogard or enlighten ­ ment. ” _ The ide? of performing scenes from adapt both to suit the nature of the who spreads the teachings of Zoroas- the Shah Namah in Bharat Natyam, dance. Giving an example, Irani noted trianism throughout his country and came to Irani when the Iranian that because ""Ughare page bhanai nai King Arjasp of Turan who threatens to Zoroastrian Association (IZA) invited (you can ’t pray with bare feet) ” and destroy all who believe in this new reli- her to perform at their Navroze you can ’t dance in shoes, they com- gion. Finally Aspandyar decides to celebrations in March 1981. Tired of promised by painting black stripes on destroy his opponent for which he must reach Arjasp ’s impregnable cas ­ tle, Rooyin-Dez, after overcoming the Haptkhan or the seven obstacles in his path. The climax comes in the last religion?. .. If the Ramayana and the Muslim friends. Recalling her initial scene where Aspandyar overcomes why not the Shah Namah T she noted woefully, “At that time we ending in his victory dance, asked, adding, “I have always wanted didn ’t know ke etla problems those Irani feels that Parsis are too “wes- to do different-themes, not limit (the (that there would be so many prob- ternized. They have a block where In ­ dance) to the same stereotype ” sub- lems). ” dian dancing is concerned ” and adds jects from Hindu, mythology. Outlining her reasons for reviving with much irritation, “if it is Russian Then, taking certain episodes from the ballet once again, Irani noted that ballet they won ’t mind! ” And so to draw a Zoroastrian audience towards this art form and to acquaint them with Zoroastrian culture, Irani restaged this the usual depiction of scenes from the feet of every dancer to look like Hindu mythology, Irani thought it was shoes. Moreover, heads had to be co­ time something new was brought in. vered for the sake of authenticity, and “Why not do something on our own so Irani had to borrow caps from her Mahabharata can be shown via dance, enthusiasm at this new project, Irani them and succeeds in killing Arjasp, __ 1 S ¦ *’ ¦ she noted woefully, “At that time we asked, adding, “I have always wanted didn ’t know ke etla problems those the Persian epic, Irani consulted Peer, she wanted to give her students a who advised her on every little detail chance to perform before an audience, of translation, verse, costumes, music, which is the only way to gain confi- etc. “Peshotan Peer was very kind. He dence. With most of her students at ballet (originally presented in 1981) would sit with me till late in the night the Dadar Parsi Colony being Zoroas- with a hope that sponsors would come 18 Parsiana July 19861 it 4 f Scenes from the ballet: Irani as Zart^atshtra (left) and as evU Zohak L (b^w) with her students. Other Parsi by lemming Russian ballet and piano, she said that the change was brought about by her. father Byram Irani who one day, unex ­ pectedly, brought the dilruba into the house and arranged for his children to learn Indian music and dance. Currently very much into her now seven-year-old research for her PhD in Fine Arts (dance), which is based on * the study of Hindu mythological beings in relation to dance, and the comparison of postures and move ­ ments in dance and sculpture as de- i picted in Sanskrit texts, Irani notes that after she submits it for evaluation she would ideally like to present her forth and invite her to present it again Ambitious where dance is con- and again for their associations. “You cemed, Irani explains that her “life ­ need funds and a lot of encouragement time project ” is the one she calls Jour- for this, ” she adds with a smile. ttey to Shiva, solo traditional dan ce Explaining the ballet ’s lack of con- item depicting the different stages of tinuity in its presentation, Irani noted, gu individual ’s spirit ua l evolution, en- “The epic is so vast. .. there are long ding in nirvana. unusual aspect of gaps between episodes. Moreover, I this ballet is that ft win have lyrics in couldn ’t depict everything in terms of ’ English, “not a translation ” she'adds dance. Some couplets in the Shah quickly, but lyrics especially made for Namah can only be described in prose the dtmce as also the music which is or poetry. A ballet on the life of composed by the renowned conductor Zarathushtra would have been too Vijay Raghav Rao, which she believes long and the confrontation between is a first “in the history of dance and Rustam and Sohrab is too common. ” music in the world. ” Continuity had therefore to be sacri- Describing her religious outlook as ficed in the face of these limitations. universal, Irani notes, “I love all reli- No matter, the mainly Parsi audi- |^ns. I do Buddhist a»ditation and in ence seemed to enjoy the show. An school won a prize for scriptures... but elderly couple who had made the trip 1 won ’t give up my religion or sacrifice the auditorium all the way from it ” for any other. Dadar, caUed it “unusual ” and for Irani ’s famUy helps her with her most, seeing a familiar aspect of their dance career. Ini tiall y her mother history enacted on stage through Tehenuna Irani and now her brother dance was an experience in itself. The sian by Peer, lending it that extra bit of Sorab, managing director of SBI Im- enthusiasm of the audience over- atmosphere. presario (an organization “bom to flowed and burst into spontaneous ap- However, what the ballet could shoulder the challeng in g task of dis- plause, when a surprisingly familiar, if have avoided was a clutter of dancers covering, cultivating and chann e lizing short, Zarathushtra came onto the on stage at a single time, and maybe fresh talent in the field of perfor ming stage for the first time. concentrate on a single episode from arts ”), his wife Meher angiz and her Scenes which deserve special men- the Shah Namah, thus maintaining sister Dr Jai Dehnugara, are variously tion were those which depicted the vic- continuity and story line. involved in stage management and tory dance of Zohak, performed by At an interview with Irani at her re- costume design. Irani herself. The abhinaya (facial ex- sidence at Nagpada, on May 17,1986, Irani strongly believes that dance is pressions) of that particular part was one could see the reasons and needs not just for entertainment but for a well done. The choreography of for newly created themes. Dressed in a spiritual purpose. As she notes, “For Zarathushtra ’s encounters with good light purple checked dress with a gol- us, dance is a form of worship, a sadh- and evil — twin sisters simultaneously den belt, and matching purple neck- na (spiritual discipline) for our spir- performing the dual parts — was well lace and earings, Irani talked exten- itual evolution... where every move ­ thought out. The most appealing part sively of her career as dancer, teacher ment is a form of meditation and evmy of the ballet was the background re- and researcher of Bharat Natyam. bhav (emotion) has the base of metta citations fi-om the S/w/i Afflwfl/i in Per- Noting that she too started off like any (spiritual love). ” re IS I & F 19 Parsiana July 1986 fi 1: "ST I \