Apr 1987

ApriH987 Volumes No 10 Rs 3 Tithal sale stalled Charity Commissioner yet to give sanction Arnavaz S. Mama The proposed lease to a Jain trust of each on one acre of land, to house the the 13-acre Tithal Sanatorium land in Sanatorium. The cost of these blocks, Gujarat which caused an uproar in the stated as Rs 7,75,000, was to be de- communityj is still awaiting the per- <’ ' ‘ :_______ mission of the Charity Commissioner installments. The deal was subject to May 21, 1987. of Maharashtra. Before the Charity the Charity Commissioner ’s sanction Sion, he has agreed to heaT Ms*Benaf- December 10, 1985. sanatorium at Tithal in 1906-07. “in shay Merwan Irani and others repre- The Sanatorium ’s trustees,who in- 1911 a declaration of trust was made, seating the community who contend elude ophthalmologist Dr Rustom providing that the land and buildings that the lease was detrimental to the Patel, Jehangir Bamji and Ms Shirin were to be used as a convalescent community for whose benefit the Narielwala (former Bombay Parsi home for the Parsi poor and middle Sanatorium was created. - Of the Sanatorium ’s original 15 Behram who had dominated the ______ . vmpvrwvivu acres of land, two acres were acquired board, died in January 1986), applied to permit any Parsi or Parsis to build by the Gujarat Government about two to the Charity Commissioner for per- additional blocks on the premises. It years ago. The trustees had entered mission to proceed with the deal in was also provided that if a sanatorium into an agreement with Vipin Shah, a September 1986, notes Dastoor. 1 ¦ I When Ms Irani applied to the Char- used for relief of the poor^and sick of assoo^abon of persons ” on or about ity Commissioner for permission to in- • - • ? \ r ""^"1 - ¦ tervene in the proceedings in March opponents to intervene and make their submissions on their paying Rs 250 each as costs to the trustees and Mr ducted from the annual lease rent in Shah. The case has been adjourned to . . . . . .. -----------------J ------------------------------------------ Prominent Parsis obtained dona- Commissioiler decides to give permis- being obtained within six months from tions for the purpose of establishing a Sion, he hnc aoreeH tn Me in moc ____ _______ shay Mercian Irani and others repre- The Sanatorium ’s trustees,who in- that the lease was detrimental to the Patel, Jehangir Bamji and Ms Shirin Sanatorium was created. Punchayet chairman, B.K.Boman- class sick who were practising Zoroas- trians. The trustees were empowered by the Gujarat Government about two to the Charity Commissioner for per- additional blocks on the premises. It years ago. The trustees had entered mission to proceed with the deal in was also provided that if a sanatorium into an agreement with Vipin Shah, a September 1986, notes Dastoor. became unfeasible the property be ^ Jand developer representing “a Jain When Ms Irani applied to the Char- used for relief of the poor and sick of association of persons ” on or about ity Commissioner for permission to in- the Parsi community. December 10, 1985, says Irani ’s advo- tervene in the proceedings in March In 1983, the property consisted of 15 . cate^Kaikhushroo Dastoor. According 1987, contending that the proposed acres of land with four buildings and to the terms of agreement, as spelt out lease was ir_- ic'.itiz-cf the " ........................... by Dastoor, the Sanatorium ’s 13 acres the trust and the rights of the benefi- * i;37, of Und wefe to be leased for 99 years claries, the trustees and Shah raised a ings on the land. A large amount of to the_ Jam association on an annual preliminary point that she had no locus immovables including furniture, uten- ” , rent of Rs 1,51,111. (The market price standi and could not be heard at such a of land in the area was said to be about late stage, eight lakh rupees per acre in early build eight blocks of 450 square feet his order of April 21, has allowed the of ^barren land. . . --------------------- o __ .J a m violation of the objects of few wells, all in dilapidated condition. , 1987, there are no build- an annual preliminary point that she had no locus immovables including furniture , . sils, electrical fittings, garden tools and motor pumps, originally provided in V _ , r ' . / After hearing the advocates of the the buildings, and the wells, have dis- 1986.) Ihe Jam association agreed to parties the Charity Commissioner, by appeared. The property now consists rMlllxT Atevnf A CM i <* « * * . , says Dastoor.I The beginning of the end Miloofer J. Madon A dokhma lying vacant, acres and at present, ” notes Marker adding, of around 15 people and in Yadgir, , ® . J . • r .«•___ _______xl _____ __________4.^ nM/x+Uzi,- MQnrkv vnllorrA AVICfC Q acres of adjacent land unclaimed, un ­ kempt and encroached upon, a hand- ------------- ful of elderly Parsis living alone, and an aramgah, a dadgah and a house be- this very scene repeated over and over longing to the anjuman did exist once, again throughout the length and ” ’ where the Parsis have gone,leaving be- already in possession of trespassers hind them this quiet decay. Census figures show that in 1971 the population of Parsis in India was 91,266 which dropped to 71,630 in 1981 - a loss of 20,000 in 10 years. Par­ siana asked 13 representatives of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anju- mans of India at New Delhi in Decem ­ ber, what they felt about this decline, and in view of these diminishing num ­ bers what the priorities of the com ­ munity should be and in particular for their anjuman itself. What situation would their anjuman be in, in the next 25 years? As if to point out the enormity of the problem of declining population, Erach Gai, representing Ahmednagar, noted: “In six months we had five deaths and in two years we had one birth. The last birth before that was five years back. ” Ahmednagar has a Parsi population of about 70 people, approximately 40 percent of whom are “Correct information on the assets is another nearby village, there exists a not available with us but we know that solitary 26-year-old Parsi boy, informs Zubin Irani of Wadi who was repre- __ ____________ senting the Shahabad Parsi Anjuman Value 'of the assets could be around (Shahabad, Wadi and Yadgir) in place breadth of India, makes one wonder five lakh rupees...The aramgah is of his aunt Ms Daulat Irani. Every- 3 one is self-sufficient and there are no since long. ” poor Parsis, ” notes Irani adding that In Lucknow, according to Boman Wadi ’s industry consists of stone mines Khodaiji, there has been a decline of which the Iranis own and a factory of The population of Parsis in India has dropped by 20,000 from 1971 to 1981 X' 82 Parsis in the last 25 years and there the Associated Cement Companies exists a sizable elderly population. where most persons are employed. “In Andhra Pradesh, Zoroastrians The local priest too is employed there, resided only in the old Nizam ’s domin ­ ions because the Nizam favored Par ­ sis, ” noted Bejon Dittia, representing where most persons are employed. The rest of the people are agricultur ­ ists. i.vivv, V... .-r ...... .......o I® Wadi, informs Irani, Mehernosh Hyderabad and Secunderabad . Today ” Kheshvala (who had accompanied him - ' ¦------ 1 to the Federation meet in Delhi) and wherein part of the aramgah has been himself are the only two youngsters • • _ 2 ___2 f;: around, and apart from his mother In Hyderabad and who is 57, the rest are above 60 years - • ¦ of age. In Shahabad there is only one ¦ ..............> no Most aVe elderly, some are affluent, and the population which was 1,200, worthwhile educational facilities and majority are middle-class and a few has further declined. for navjotes, weddings and death cere- need help, ” says Group Captain In the small village of Wadi, a four- monies the Parsis have perforce to Dhunjishaw Marker of Mhow. hour drive from Secunderabad, there make the four-hour trip to Secunder- Situated 118 kilometers from Mhow are only six Parsi families totalling a is Khandwa, an already defunct anju- maximum of 20 persons. In neighbor- man where “not a single Parsi is living ing Shahabad there are three families population. Nizamabad is a defunct anjuman above 60 years of age. encroached upon and used for cultiva- “The Parsi population in Mhow has tion purposes. I , decreased from around 800 heads, 20 Secunderabad, informs Dittia,^ there to 25 years ago, to 125 heads now. i are three agiaries and two dokhmas 22-year-old youth. Wadi offers abad. Converse to this generally declining Captain Allahabad ’s 2 Parsiana April 1987Representatives of small anjumans talk about the declining population iti their areas informs Meherjirana, (BPP) some defaulters were helped Above (from left) Gai, Ichhaporia, Mehta and Meherjirana Left column: Katpitia, Nowsherwanji, Dittia and Marker. Right column: Khodaiji, Dandiwalla, Clubwala and Minoo Irani . Facing page: defunct dokhma in Gujarat. Homi Dandiwalla had “good news ” to creasingly popular residential city for offer. “Last year from 45 (persons) we many Parsis who are migrating there in have jumped to 47 with the birth of large numbers, says Poona ’s Minoo one boy and one girl. ” Interestingly, Irani, who puts the Poona Parsi the ratio of men to women in Allaha- population figure at around 3,500 and bad is almost equal — there are 23 fast increasing. women and 24 men - but over 25 per ­ cent of the population is over 50 and Why the decline? there is one lady resident who is 93 The reason for the declining Parsi years old. population in the villages of Gujarat Similarly, in Navsari, with the con- boils down to “a continuous drought struction of the residential colony situation there, ” notes Sohrab Kat- Avan Bang by Hong Kong philan- pitia, chief executive of the Surat Parsi thropist Shapoorji Jokhi, according to Punchayet (SPP).. Agriculture being Dastur Meherji Meherjirana, Navsar- the main occupation, Parsi farmers i’s Parsi population must have in- tried “their level best to apply to all creased by 1,000 bringing the total charitable trusts and many raised loans number to about 2,500 persons. In from cooperative banks (which they) fact, according to the Dastur, this could not repay in time. A couple of spurt has created problems of unem- years back, with the cooperation of the ployment. SPP and the Bombay Parsi Punchayet However, ’ - - - there are two textile mills in Navsari and their land freed from mortgage... ” and the Tata Strip Mills for iron manu- Because of these deteriorating agri- facture; there is a Parsi-owned drug cultural conditions people migrated to store and of course the famous Navsari nearby cities where they were able to Kolah icecream and pickle shop which find employment, while some others completed 100 years in 1986. The tried to dispose of their agricultural rest of the Parsis are into the transport holdings in haste, making it impossible business owning tempos, trucks or for them to fetch even reasonable autorickshaws. prices for their land, informs Katpitia. Poona too is becoming an in- Increasing insecurity in the villages - since the Parsis became an extreme minority there - and “pohtical con ­ sciousness of tribals (working for Parsi landlords) who are now aware of gov ­ ernment legislation regarding the ‘right of land to the tiller, ’” are also according to Katpitia, causes to which the declining village population of Par ­ sis may be attributed. Also, agricultural holdings which are equally divided amongst the chil ­ dren, tend to break up such land, mak ­ ing it unfeasible to rely on agriculture as a main source of income - commer ­ cial farming is reduced to subsistence farming, notes Katpitia, and is no lon ­ ger economically viable. “We are just there because we have to be there, ” noted Irani of Wadi ex ­ plaining that various businesses keep people in the village, even though 3 ParsiSna April 1987Apart from the usual reasons like taking seriously. Our Parsi boys are ; ___ 2_____ 2 ¦ not earning that much (so as) to have rying outsicFe the community, Khodaiji flats of their own and they don ’t have ~ the capacity to pay lump sum. ” Dandi- walla was all for rental accommoda ­ tion. children. He also gave importance to involv- Marker included family planning — ing the youth in anjuman affairs so “Parsis are more conscious of it than that “later on, when there is no one to _ _______________ “ ’ ¦ look after the properties, they can fects caused by inbreeding (or mar- handle matters. ” At present Allaha- after its agiary and Dandiwalla was additional causes for the one of the first anjuman representa ­ tives. to agree to train as a paramobed. Ahmednagar is another anjuman priest and according to Mehta, “the first priority is that we Parsi girls, being more educated than the boys, have greater aspirations without a and thus marry outside the commun- Mehta, “ —- ---- , . ity, according to Dittia who puts the should have more priests. ” Noting thai , 1____________ I___________“tko foifk ic tbArp hilt aiiiHanre iK'not there is nothing else that attracts them to it. Educational facilities and basic late marriages and Parsi women mar- entertainment being unavailable, the i youngsters prefer to make their homes pointed out that Parsis have an artifi- elsewhere preferably in the nearby daily high standard of living which dis- twin cities of Hyderabad and Secun- courages couples from having more derabad, or Bombay, notes Irani. According to Gai of Ahmednagar, there are"more girls in the community than boys...There is no motivation to any other community ” -- genetic de ­ get married at all, ” he notes and then, ------------- ~j -------------- a X J , , pointing to the other two young rying within the family) and the toll bad does not have a mobed to look Ahmednagar trustees Mehernosh that breast cancer takes on Parsi walla was Mehta and Nozar Ichhaporia, he adds, women, as “We are all bachelors, not having declining population, issue...ultimately leading to decline of community. ” According to Dandiwalla, and cor ­ roborated by Meherjirana, motivation to get married is lacking because of the blame squarely on the shoulders of pa- lack of housing facilities, while Ms rents who “don ’t discourage this be- Mani Clubwala, coopted member cause they themselves don ’t have a from the South Zone disagreed: strong cultural root. ” “Everyone says (the reason for the de ­ cline in population) is the lack of hous- Setting priorities ing facilities, but basically I feel it is a Echcing th: --------- . personal choice - whether people want Navsari representatives, Dandiwalla and the pnest himself is like a pnsoner children or not...People are going to noted: “The most important priority is who has merely to perform the boi the western world for better opportu- ~— o- - — - - unit' ui.- l nitv I think they are doing very well and girls a place to live in and produce a paltry income. Ekhlu bni renvanu there. ” children which I think the BPP is not in a —« -'’*y "the faith is there but guidance is' not there, ” Gai suggests that there should be “someone guiding you - like a mis ­ sionary type of priest - in micro ­ interiors, ” and gives the example of ............................ his own anjuman where, within the Echoing the feelings of the Poona and week, only 10 people visit the agiary - ............................... • ’ —- ___ __________ _____ ____ J who has merely to perform the boi housing, so that we can givc%ur boys ceremony five times^a day in return for in a small city tau time pass bhi nai thai children which I think the BPP is not With Best Compliments from: MAZDA ESTATES FIMAMCE PRIVATE LIMITED For Land, Residential Flats, Shops Commercial Premises, Estate Advisory Services Regd. Office: 2, Qirdhar Mivas, 15/17, Shahid Bhagatsingh Road, Colaba, Bombay-400 005 Tel: 234948/235269 Branch Office: Sir J .J. Shopping Centre, Ranch Hatdi, Mavsari 396445 Tel: 3249 4 Parsiana April 1987ing defunct. Wadi, Irani is positive, sources. ” will have no Parsi population 25 years In Wadi, “There is no (anjuman) hence or even sooner! As for Allaha- office, no agiary, no burial place, no bad, notes Dandiwalla, re- remain there all his life. (living alone in a small city leads to flats from within our anjuman boredom). ” Noting that “education is the best ... legacy we can give our children, ” office, no agiary, no burial place, no bad, notes Dandiwalla, “Two lakh Clubwala is of the opinion that nothing, ” notes Irani, whose 92-year- anjuman funds have been well in ­ youngsters should be more involved in old grandfather has built his own bu- vested and where finance is concerned business while Khodaiji is unhappy rial ground. “We don ’t get together as we ’will not go down. But money is not that the Parsi youth don ’t take advan- an anjuman. ” At present there is no everything; there must be some tage of the many benefits of scho- activity because no one is interested, active members in the anjuman. ” larships and loans offered to them by Says Irani, with the passing away of Dandiwalla cautions, “If we don ’t act the Uttar Pradesh minorities commis- the older residents of Wadi, there will fast enough, the government may ac- sion and talks of initiating more aware- be no more Parsis there, with the land quire the (community) land and at the ness campaigns. most probably being sold off by the speed the Federation is working today Dittia mooted more youth get- relatives. He himself does not wish to we will lose the property. ” togethers to increase the rate of mar- remain there all his life. Marker noted that if the Pithampur riage, and Marker talked of greater in- scheme goes through and if housing dustrialization in the mofussil areas to In twenty-five years and employment is provided in the facilitate population growth there and Confident that their anjuman ’s assets Mhow area, the next 25 years “will prevent urban migration. He noted: will rise in the next 25 years, the and should ” show an increase in the “One of the biggest industrial com- Ahmednagar representatives however Parsi population. Though “we have plexes in Asia and one that is going to feel equally sure that its population been complacent for long, ” Marker is be the future Detroit of India is com- will decline. Conversely, Navsari and pleased to see that “we are now get- ing up at Pithampur at a distance of 10 Poona, facing a sharp increase in num- ting more and more aware of the kilometers from Mhow. It would be bers, are confident of flourishing 25 dangerous trend (of declining popula- worthwhile for our sethias (business- years hence but have to work fast on tion) and that in itself is a good sign, men) to think of setting up Indus- providing residential accommodation This awareness should be made to in ­ tries of our own in this area to help and jobs for the migrants. Zal Now- filtrate in each and every Parsi home employment of our youth. Adjacent to sherwanji of Delhi too was confident through the various media at our dis- tinue to attract Parsis from all over In- be convinced that our religion and dia, and that it need never fear becom- community must survive. ” Mhow, there is ample scope to build that, being the capital, Delhi will con- posal. Let every Parsi, young and old, (housing) colonies for the community. We are also thinking of building some Steamship agents — master stevedores dubashes — lighterage contractors Darabshaw B.Cursetjee's Sons (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd. Telex: 5824 DBCB IN Darabshaw House, Ballard Road, Bombay - 400 038. Grams: 'DEADWEIGHT' Phone: 260021 (4 Lines) (Dock Office: 262230) Also associates at Calcutta, Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Mangalore, Bhavnagar, Bedi-port, Navlakhi, Veraval, Porbunder & Kandla. Also sole Government Landing contractors at Jamnagar, (Bedi) Bhavnagar. 7 Parsrana April 1987? Katrak’s crusade Arnavaz S. Mama The Sethna Agiary Hall at the corner and had been raising points for a num- munity Development Institute (ZCDI) of Tardeo Road and Forjett Street was ber of years; but the “queries and who has criticized the BPP in the Jam- the venue of an unusual meeting on appeals fall on deaf ears. ” e-Jamshed', and had placed locks on March 31,1987. For the first time in its Katrak prefaced the reading of the flats immediately after the death of a 77-year life span the Anjuman Com- resolution by recalling the 305-year tenant. Golwalla had refuted the mittee which elects trustees had been history of BPP and the moral stature allegations in print on March 29, 1987 summoned by four individual mem- of past trustees, adding, “The whole and Golwalla ’s co-trustees published a bers for the express purpose of censor- thing has changed in the past 20 unanimous statement affirming “full ing the chairman of the Bombay Parsi years. ” Attributing the actions of pre- confidence in the chairman ” in Jam-e- Punchayet ’s (BPP) board of trustees, sent day trustees to arrogance of pow- Jamshed on March 27. Dr Aspi Golwalla. A draft resolution, er, Katrak noted, “something unusual accusing Golwalla of “misuse and mis- should be done...which can only be rak told the assembled audience. Not management of the funds and prop- accomplished by members of the all of the approximately 150 persons erties of the trusts ” and seeking his re- Anjuman Committee...If E and F reg- present were Anjuman Committee moval from the board of trustees, had ister members want such a corrupt per- members though 122 of them had been circulated to the Anjuman Com- son to continue, it is not only the mis- signed the attendance muster. “What I mittee ’s more than 1,000 members, fortune of the E and F registers but of say today will be produced in court, ” signed by Ardeshir Katrak, Dinshaw the community. ” he added and challenged the trustees ’ Merchant, Dinyar Panthaki and Rus- — - - tom Bharucha. other things, that Golwalla had not de- that it bore no date and two of the The ’community grapevine had been nied an allegation of accepting two trustees were out of station, humming with the prospect of such a lakh rupees for tenancy transfer at meeting since November ’86 but a suit- Ness Bang; had illegally transferred a noted, “Golwalla has not vindicated able venue was proving difficult to dispensary in Jer Baug; had tried to his honor by filing a defence suit or find. Complimenting the trustees of silence Noshir Dadrawalla, a former stay order against this meeting. The the Sethna Agiary as “men who honor employee of the Zoroastrian Com- charges are unchallenged and there- their word, ” octogenarian advocate Katrak noted that an unspoken threat of last minute cancellation of arrange ­ ments had deterred him from holding the meeting at other places. Indeed, until March 19 when a friend informed him that the advertisement had appeared in The Daily, Katrak was not certain that his notice, cosigned by Merchant, Panthaki and Bharucha, calling for the meeting on March 31, would appear in time. The Bombay Samachar and Jam-e-Jamshed had de ­ clined to publish the notice. “We don ’t understand why BPP trustees prefer to work in a vacuum. Why do they leave it to the community to learn through grapevines and gos- sip? ” questioned Merchant while in- I troducing Katrak at the meeting. De- I scribing him as the “undoubted leader " of the Small Causes Court, who enjoys ,' the respect of the bar and the judges, ” Merchant noted that Katrak had no f desire for trusteeship of the Punchayet (From left) Panthaki, Merchant, Katrak and Bharucha: “something unusual should be done” 'We have to resolve legally, ” Kat- 1 i i in?” 9 Parsiana April 1987 The resolution alleged, amongst unanimous resolution on the ground other things, that Golwalla had not de- Seconding the resolution, Panthaki Four members of the Anjuman Committee seek to impeach the chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet M Hjl 4: I •r«< f ( J I I IE fore accepted...This is not a personal Katrak alleged that co-trustees were pandemonium increased. Firoze vendetta but an example to all men informed four months after the trans- Amroliwalla got up in his seat, chal- what a trustee should not be. ” fer had been effected. He also charged lenging Katrak to prove that Golwalla Katrak was unhappy at what seemed Golwalla with suppressing a letter had accepted two lakhs under the to be only lukewarm support from the addressed to him by the Jer Baug table. “You will not have people com-., Committee for Economic Revival Association, requesting that the dis- ing forward to become trustees if you (CER) during his nearly three-year pensary be transferred to resident Dr blame them at the drop of a hat. ” It battle to expose “corrupt practices, ” Pervez Iranpur who is known to aid was Amroliwalla ’s contention that the but welcomed the resolution from its the residents during emergencies, trustees were collectively responsible managing committee published on especially at night. and the chairman deserved respect for March 29. The CER appeal, signed by To substantiate his charge that the his service to the community until Dadi Engineer, Fall Poncha, Kersi BPP harasses the heirs of deceased proved to be malafide. ___________ ______________________ tenants, Katrak claimed that he had taken Golwalla to the High Court in a “When Golwalla bucks up^/he courage case of appropriating a tenement by to sue me for libel. I’ll get the details force and the court ’s verdict had gone from his own mouth. ” against Golwalla. Dara Marfatia suggested that a When the motion was put to the judge of the High Court be requested house, Anjuman Committee member to go into the question and Peshotan Peshotan Daver enquired about the Daver noted, “When a man like (for- financial liability of supporting the re- mer BPP trustee and noted industrial ­ solution. Answered Katrak, “If I suf- ist) Naoroji Godrej leaves the Pun- fer, I suffer alone. Just remain honest chayet, you must come to some con- in your endeavor to get the Punchayet elusion. It is very unfair to ask Katrak house in order. ” The meeting which had been quite WhydoBPP trustees leave the community to learn through grapevines and gossip? / / 9 9 ; t- Tongue in cheek Katrak replied, Guzder, Ms Mani Dalal, Ms Silloo Kavarana, Berjis Desai, Edul Bhar- house in order. ” to play all his cards here. ” ucha, Dinshaw Mehta, Homi Kanga, The meeting which had been quite The demand to allow F.K. Daver to Nariman Mehta, Ms Arni Sethna and orderly hitherto became noisy when conclude his statement was taken up Zal Contractor noted, “such a meeting ...............................................---------- of the Anjuman Committee for recall of an elected trustee is being done for sought to defend Golwalla. Stating the first time in the history of the BPP...While the CER does not wish to go, at this stage, into the veracity or otherwise of the aforesaid charges, the vate) locks (on Punchayet flats) are various episodes certainly questions being broken? It happened also at the the quality of our leadership. ” The time of former BPP chairpersons Lady CER requested Golwalla “in his own interest and that of the community, to clarify the entire position. ” Launching a blistering attack on continued, “Any responsible person Golwalla ’s rejoinder to the allegation will be called corrupt. ” of having accepted a two lakh rupee bribe for a transfer of tenancy at Ness Bang, Katrak noted that if premises ten to truth ancT not be frightened, are used for immoral purposes - Gol- “We expected some people to come walla alleged that a nurses ’ bureau was with the intention of breaking the a front - the tenant can be evicted meeting. ” under the Rent Act. “Reading be ­ tween the lines, one flat was taken by the gentleman had been planted, the When the uproar that this comment (the BPP) and one flat retained by the meeting would have been disturbed produced died down, Katrak noted, woman, ” alleged Katrak. “Where is earlier. It ’s only fair that the resolution “This man has spoken of oral accusa- the reply to the accusation of taking be discussed. ” tions. Has he cited a single instance of two lakhs? ” The uproar continued and Mer- an accusation in writing? (Katrak The Jer Baug dispensary, according chant, leaning over from the podium paused for Daver ’s response, but there to Katrak, was transferred to Dr from behind Katrak, requested Daver was none) I have put down in writing. ” Bhonsale, son of an ex-chief minister to return to his seat. Daver thanked Dadrawalla who had entered the of Maharashtra, by Golwalla and in- the chair and returned to his seat, his hall mid-way through the meeting, dustrialist Nusli Wadia - the only two message obviously incomplete, but then took the mike to attest that ZCDI people present at the meeting of the Katrak, who was unaware of Mer- director Dr Mody had informed him of Committee of Management. Though chant ’s request to Daver, believed that Golwalla ’s ire at the criticism con- there is a provision for the Punchayet ’s the latter had had his say, and despite tained in his report of the BPP’s board of trustees to endorse the deci- repeated requests would not allow September press conference published sion before the transfer is effected, Daver to take the floor again. The in the Jam-e-Jamshed. According to F.K.Daver, who introduced himself as by Jal Vakil of the Rahnumae Maz- an ex-BPP employee of 11 years, dayasnan Sabha, and Katrak relented. Back at the mike, Daver referred to that in every organization there are himself as an impartial person and bound to be differences, Daver asked, noted that stories about trustees were “Is it only in Golwalla ’s time that (pri- often libelous and mischievous and Hirabai Jehangir, Eruch Nadirshaw and B.K. Boman-Behram. ” Though interrupted by howls of protest, Daver Katrak intervened at the commotion in the hall, urging the audience to lis- If I suffer, I suffer alone. Just remain honest in your endeavor to gdt the Punchayet house in order / 9 9 9 said that “the BPP puts locks to safe- Someone from the rear shouted, “If guard the contents of flats. ” When the uproar that this comment 11 Parsiana Aprill 987 Jthe release of one flat which was allot- • had harassed the heirs of tenants liv- ted in the normal course to one Mr Dadrawalla, Golwalla had told Mody, Katrak in Jam-e-Jamshed and The suffers humiliating defeats; ” “It appears that the ZCDI is biting the Bombay Samachar in May 1984; • was seeking to liquidate the property hand that feeds it. ” Dadrawalla noted • had illegally transferred the tenancy of the Parsi Lying-in Hospital; that after the interview he received a of the Jer Bang dispensary to the son • had besmirched the fair name of the letter from Mody instructing him to of an ex chief minister of Maharashtra, Punchayet in various other cases. stop writing for the Press, and to stop ignoring the claims of a Parsi doctor; attending BPP and Federation meet- • had threatened to stop BPP grants to alleged that under the guise of a ings. the value of Rs 62,000 to the ZCDI if nurses ’ bureau, two flats at Ness Baug Dadrawalla, who after leaving the its directors failed to stop Noshir Dad- were being used for immoral purposes. ZCDI has joined the B.D. Petit Parsee rawalla, a ZCDI employee, from criti- The tenant had bequeathed them to a General Hospital, noted that he had cizing the actions of BPP trustees in woman and instead of costly litigation, been instructed by his new employers the Jam-e-Jamshed; the Wadia Committee of Management that same afternoon not to attend Kat- • was guilty of nepotism in the allot- had negotiated the matter and siecured rak ’s meeting, but he came, he said, to ment of flats in different colonies; . “uphold the truth at whatever cost. ” When Dadrawalla finished, Katrak ing alone, replacing their locks with Amroliwalla. “No sum or donation for asked pointedly, “Mr Daver, do you Punchayet padlocks as soon as the de- this purpose has been received from want to say anything? ” Daver had no- ceased tenant had been removed to Amroliwalla, ” noted the rejoinder, thing to add. The resolution was put to the Doongerwadi; The allotment of the Jer Baug dis- a hand vote. Those against,registered • was seeking exemption of trust prop- pensary to a non-Parsi when a Parsi only two: Daver and a friend. erties from the purview of certain pro- doctor Pervez Iranpur was denied, A triumphant Katrak, who is ere- visions of the Rent Act which would had been repeatedly contested by Kat- dited with having legally ejected the deprive the tenants of their right to rak and the CER in the Parsi Press chairman of the Bombay Zoroastrian redress, if wronged; since early 1986. In defence Golwalla Mutual Death Benefit Fund [later con- • was guilty of not transferring the noted that Iranpur, an anesthetist and verted to a cooperative life-insurance tenancies of Punchayet flats to heirs or not a physician, sought residential society which, in time, merged with family members of the deceased unless accommodation in a letter addressed the Life Insurance Corporation of In- they signed a ‘slave bond, ’ and paying to Nusli Wadia. The request for trans- dia (LIC)] for graft in 1947, planned to for defensive legal action from Pun- fer of the dispensary came from Dr institute legal proceedings against Gol- chayet funds even though “practically Zunwerkar, its incumbent of 32 years, walla if the latter, as he expected, in all such litigations the Punchayet and Dr Bhonsale and the transfer was failed to honor the resolution. piw—. Replying point by point, Golwalla , Charges and counter charges Imputing “illegal, corrupt and abso ­ lutely unjustifiable actions ” to Golwal ­ la, the draft resolution charged that Golwalla • had not denied the allegation of accepting two lakh rupees for a trans ­ fer of tenancy at Ness Baug made by Above (from left) Amroliwalla, F.K. Daver, Dadrawalla: discussing the resolution. Alongside: "The chairman deserves , respect until proved malafide” (Photos: Homy ar Mistry) T •• 23 r*” ¦ 1 !! ¦ I I ¦Il ill J IE! “ duly endorsed by the Wadia Commit- tee of Management, Golwalla noted. m Iranpur ’s letter to Wadia was pub- H lished alongside as also an earlier let- H ter addressed to The Bombay ¦ Samachar by the secretary of the ¦ Wadia Trust explaining that there was H “no vacancy whatsoever in respect of FF the premises in question...(whereby) J the committee could be fsee to allot K the premises to any person of its W choice. ” fj 13 ParsianaAprill987» i J ¦1 1 I to liquidate the S,"*e dortor' noted, “I ant not the TO clear hintsett of dre aceusadon of »n^. » &“™Xd Morof ZCD. h«d of tta P-- ^^Th^rejon^^ flatrin accoXnce with the merit rat- > > cinnQ nn maiOf trustees their scheme for develt^n ing scheme, Golwalla stated that “the charges that allotment is made m con ­ travention of the rules and regulations is irregular and untrue. The charge of nepotism is therefore fnvolous. The rejoinder noted that unautho rised persons had to be prevented from breaking open and ttespas sing on trust properties. ----- leased an <— atening, on break open tees, both civil and cnmmal. I ne ruiivliayvt’o apps2- . status quo is mainiaincu. Maharashtra government S the^Rent qSion of a slave bond but mles^and from Dr to i twisting by Golwalla^ 1 „ ¦ ¦ all seven letter although they elsewhere, thereby was greater. of solicitor has 1---- mend to ofSe'property. For this, a subcommit ­ tee has been appointed. I am not even "’ with the full knowledge, consent and approval of all or iorVvvuKyi..g a part of the ground floor of the Hospiial.for change of user of the said premises given to them tor uipax trus- transfer of rent receipts to legal hehs n^orise^ and ’fllegal adopt all proceedings^ »It is on^ ^he ^^^^^pants in the said premises. ’’ _-ta, v>we*> --------- , surviving heirs become diffi Tn substantiate his charge, Golwalla The Punchayet ’s appeal to the i, jnaintained. “There is no Maharashtra government to exemp f slave bond but rules and ^h 27,1987 in which it from certain provisions of Je^dations which are adopted tom ^^^S’^^Round the side of the Act, signed by seven B P t , followed as advised y approached through an any lha. wklit®».5?fard is located the office that relatives that allotment is made in c The rejoinder cited 37 cases Decisions on major policies are taken / / had to be prevented ___ 3, Golwalla re- old better from Katrak thre- behalf of his client, to _____ the Punchayet ’s lock and majority of the trustees " 11 for for occupying of the said premises given part of the ground 1 to them for ; Centre and nursery, and a adopted from press the trustees ’ contention and even strangers Rebutting Katrak ’s contention that With Best Compliments From Mazda Foods & Drinks Private Limited Makers of “FAVORA Flavouring Essences, 99 , Food Colours, Fruit Crushes, Syrup etc. A Venture of Mazda Estates 15/17 & Finance Pvt Ltd., Regd. Office; 2, Girdhar Nivas, 7, Shahid Bhagatsingh Road, Colaba, Bombay-400 005 Shahid Bhagatsingh Road, A4 Parsiana April 1987of the Parsi Punchayet, 1 sasaMK “ssl .... K...... of besmirching the fair name of the the K.IN._______________ the cousin had desired a flat at Cusrow Punchayet, Golwalla challenged Kat ­ rak to cite a specific instance. It was Golwalla ’s contention that Katrak was pursuing a personal vendetta against him. The resolution of the board ot i I I j .1 i cousin had filed a criminal case against 1 in the Metropolitan | Court. Golwalla said that j Baug for which Katrak and^notherjo- more occasions. But the flat was allo ­ cated by the trustees to someone else and Katrak ’s actions therefore stem- __ _____ ’ dafworker had phoned him on one or more occasions. But the flat was allo ­ cated by the trustees to someone else and Katrak ’s actions therefore stem ­ med from personal pique. Golwalla You will not have people coming forward to become trustees if you blame alleged^ that Dinshaw Merchant j of a /1 trustees had noted, “The boa^ of trustees of the Parsi Punchayet Bom- ------------------ bay, unanimously notes with regret the . . gf g purported move on the part of four 106111 dL U members of the erstwhile E and F reg- uSt isters of the Anjuman Committee, purporting to call a meeting of all the members enrolled on the said ers - while E and F registers of^the Anju ­ man Committee on March 31, 1987 at the Sethna Agiary Hall, Tardeo, Bom- trustees of the Parsi Punchayet Bom- had attempted “to get inducted unau- thorisedly and to take possession ot a large flat of about 1,750 square feet at — Khareghat Colony in 1978/79.” (Merchant had stated in the meet- T have seven flats in Bombay - members of the erstwhile E and F reg ­ isters of the Anjuman Committee, purporting to call a meeting of all the members enrolled on the said ers - while E and F registers of^the Anju ­ man Committee on March 31, 1987 at the Sethna Agiary Hall, Tardeo, Bom ­ bay, for the alleged purpose of passing a resolution against Dr A.F. Golwalla, chairman of the board of trustees. “The ¦ dence in the chairman and wisnes lo any of the letters puDiisncu vv clarify that “dTnsequently, of .he prestigious stantiate his claims, bore a date. are also taken by all or majority of the are aihu - ine “I have seven tlats m oomuay - members of the managmg committ e g’ children for myself and two for of the said Wadia Trusts on wh J Ti tried\o occupy your three of the senior trustees of th would try to throw me out, Punchayet are members^ deorecate -rhe. to me. ” Merchant challenged “The Trustees strongly deprecaje this move c .......- r- „ members of the said erstwhile E and F Merchant challenged produce a single line in Neither Golwalla ’s rejoinder nor of the letters published to sub- write to me. ->u.ionagains.D. A,F. Go,walla, p?ovX llK' •T.-,ir-b:a;ra=s7.s-2ui.nfi- -• in the chairman and wishes to tegtstere tn tarn g major policies and the like are taken With the Best Compliments of It* INGERSOLL-RAND [INDIA] LIMITED Air & Gas Compressors Manufacturers of * Rock Drill Equipment * Vacuum Pumps 16 Parsiana April 1987¦ READERS’ FORUM I I Zoroastrianism. Consequently BPZA Homji took the steps he took. One I passed a resolution in August 1986 should admire and encourage couples I which specifically lays down the rule like the Mistrys who are genuinely in- I that outside priests should be invited terested in bringing up their children I by the local panthaky for performing as true Zoroastrians. And as was right- I navjote and wedding ceremonies. ly said in the concluding line of the I Sharukh Mistry and his non- article - what impression would the I Zoroastrian wife Renu approached young ones have, who are about to en- Unvalla to invite Minochehr-Homji to ter the Zoroastrian religion, when perform the navjote of their two chil- some of our priests act so? dren in December 1986. Since the tehmasp h. parekh BPZA resolution was not meant for such juddin navjotes, there was abso ­ lutely no point in seeking his permis- navjote ’’ {Parsiana, February ’87). It sion. Yet Minochehr-Homji made a runs parallel to Peterson ’s navjote per- false show of observing the rivaj as is formed by Ervad Kersey Antia in evident from the fact that he brought America. along with him the nirang, etc to Bang- Dasturji Minochehr-Homji knows alore as requested by Renu Mistry and Zoroastrianism and understands his performed juddin navjotes for the duty as a Zoroastrian priest. Zoroaster second time in six months within the has not preached casteism, groupism jurisdiction of the BPZA, contrary to or sectism and, according to him, the the long-standing traditions observed best gift we can give to another is reli- at that place. Instead of justifying his gion. By Gatha 46.12 and his testa ­ actions on religious grounds, he took ment, he exhorts us to convert and re- refuge under a legal opinion. ceive into our fold all competent peo- If some of the keepers of our faith pie of alien faiths, even Turanians. It try to undermine the very foundations of the lofty ideal for which our fore ­ fathers planned migration to this coun ­ try, then it is the duty of all those who cherish these values, irrespective of of Zoroastrianism, chapter 35), and their status, to fight for upholding the Zoroaster himself converted the tenets and long-standing -traditions of Greek savant Tianur and the Indian our religion. The Mistrys must thank savant Sankaracharya to Zoroas- themselves for facing obstacles to the zzrx, , , , . . ,, navjote since they insisted on getting Obstacles to a navjote the navjotes performed within the Our forefathers planned migration to jurisdiction of BPZA - with due know- the west coast of India for the purpose ledge of Panthaky Unvalla - though t » l»* it It*»MI u 1... Mitiitiir •it ( tWM •• ’ > »»?*» non- **** k .J*::::! 5'^ 9 Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Read­ ers' Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O.Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to t editing for reasons of space and clarity. I have read the report “Obstacles to a Dasturji Minochehr-Homji knows may here be said that many Zoroas ­ trian rulers had taken alien brides from many different faiths and coun ­ tries (see Dastur M.N Dhalla ’s History savant Sankaracharya to trianism. The Gathas do not prescribe any ceremony such as the navjote, and the Zoroastrian religion of ‘be good ’ is meant for the whole of humanity. A of maintaining the independent identi- knowing fully well that he was always Parsi child is made to wear a sudreh to ty of the Zoroastrian religion and the against such navjotes. remind him to walk on the right path race. The all-round prosperity enjoyed sohrab navalshawpatwa (sad-rah) of humata, hukhata, huv- by the Parsis till recently is due to strict rashta. Why hold it back from others? adherence to this lofty ideal. The article “Obstacles to a navjote ’’ If everybody wore it, this world would The Bangalore Parsi Zoroastrian {Parsiana, February 1987) saddened be a heaven to live in. Anjuman (BPZA) has all along re- me and was a reminder of this flair we Kudos to Dasturji Minochehr- fused to perform navjotes of children Zoroastrians have in engaging in bitter Homji, Ervad Antia and the Mistrys. ' - '¦ ’ ................. Let the initiated Mistry children live and grow outside of priestly prejudice in love of God and His revealed reli ­ gion. If right is not right, then alone may we seek to blame the dasturs who per ­ form the navjotes of children of alien faiths. When your mind is trained to and his Christian wife. Unvalla strong- ing any assistance to Dastur Navrooz live righteously, you need to wear no ly objected to any outsider acting Minochehr-Homji. sudreh-kusti. All virtuous men are against the tenets and traditions of I am glad that Dastur Minochehr- Zoroastrians. dara j. cama SOHRAB NAVALSHAW PATWA The article “Obstacles to a navjote ” Kudos to Dasturji Minochehr- i! born of a Zoroastrian father and non- and avoidable controversies. Zoroastrian mother. Bangalore Panth- One respects the “time-tested aky Nadirshah Unvalla therefore rivaj." Ervad Nadirshah Unvalla can rightly refused to supply nirang etc re- very well stand by his own convictions quired by (Dastur Navrooz) Mi- regarding the desirability or undesira- nochehr-Homji on May 18, 1986 for b'ility of performing navjotes of chil- One respects the the nahan of two daughters of a dren of mixed parentage; but I see no ‘ Zoroastrian father, Shenoy Soonavala excuse for Ervad Unvalla not render ­ I am glad that Dastur Minochehr- 17 Parsiana April 1987 I; I I J(all things) from you Ahura Mazda. ” Ms Gool K. S. Shavaksha has writ- I 99 guage. ” Mr Noshir H. Vajifdar in his book Not fire worshippers” things) from you Ahura Mazda. ” term atash really means a form of vib- Ms Gool K. S. Shavaksha has writ- rational energy. It does not mean fire. Being a behdin I do not claim to be ten a beautiful book in English and in which is what it has been usually mis- very knowledgeable in affairs pertain- her description of Atash Nyaish, she translated as, in the English lan- ing to our Zoroastrian religion and I writes, “Oh God! through Thy fire, -------” was therefore hoping that some of our symbol of purity, cleanse my mind and revered dasturs would give their opin- soul by giving me truth, asha and faith. Let us pray writes; “Fire is the visible ion on this “controversial ” subject aramaiti. She goes on to write, “This sign of Thee that art invisible, the when the American Press labelled us dedication (at the) start (of) all the five flaming form of Thee that art formless, as ‘fire worshippers ’ {Parsiana, Febru- nyaishes is often mistaken by non- It is the physical manifestation of Thy ary '87) This would have carried more Zoroastrians as worship of the sun, spirituality, the emblem that clothes weight than the opinions of laymen. moon, rays and fire not realizing that Thy divinity, the finest representation In the absence of any comments in these are just symbols for Zoroas- of Thy supreme purity and the most the Press from any of the revered das- trians, just as the cross is a symbol for perfect symbol of Thy light and pow- turs I looked up some of the religious Christians. Zoroastrians light the fire, er... ” He continues, “Let me, dear books available with me. All other religions light a candle or oil Ahura Mazda, similarly raise an altar In the Khordeh Avesta, transliter- light. To all, it is a dedication, a sacri- unto Thy divine fire burning in my ated and translated into Gujarati by fice or a thank you. ” heart and make it Thy sanctuary. My Ervad Kavasji Edulji Kanga, the ' ' " translation of Atash Nyaish begins Asian Conference in New Delhi in the holy fire within me, O Ahura Maz- with “Kshnaothra Ahureh Mazdao 1946, said all religions enjoin the da, with my own goodness and my love (May there be rejoicing through God, worship of one God who is all perva- for Thee. ” jalj.ollia : Ahura Mazda). ” sive. It is slanderous to call the Parsis . . In the Gujarati translation of Atash ‘fire worshippers ’ or ‘sun worshippers. ’ ZiOroastriail laithiuls Nyaish running into about 14 pages, I The Parsi hymns correspond to the Navjote ceremonies are a mere farce, did not find any indication that we are Gayatri Mantra of the Hindus. It is no- Before initiation and performance of fire worshippers. Ervad Kanga ’s trans- thing but the pure, unalloyed worship navjote ceremomes, children are hard- lation of “Tav atash puthra Ahureh of God Himself. ly given any knowledge about the .Mazdao” interprets the Avesta word Ms Meher Master-Moos in her book sanctity of our religion, and the mode puthra as purifier and therefore the What my mother taught me has a diffe- and method of a navjote ceremony. In translation is: “The fire that purifies rent version of atash. She writes, “The continued on page 31 Mahatma Gandhi, addressing the own athravan will I be and I will tend I I [ I ¦ > f Mcmyoid toBtiKnMttln Indio dM)*NK!iatlw Mmorta Mm vMoo. Uke mo orodou* l«)M>oy CooMI ........................ $oetiriiynNM(;llto*leloly«ldtloMHvo J mony mofo-«B tartt by itiqwetp I UCo/erttwIoiteOyoan IO*. J------»* -----h> MI^9QOQI rMwOni* SIcMsiC tfM MoUk S aevdtlwIcMhs^ PoBonfiaCo.M.l DaRtoK IMki* with ofiMj M leshKeentintri 8ear Each block is a self “Contained unit eligible for the first prize (a silver tro- . phy) and the second prize (a bronze elation for the Blind (NAB), Ms dining^ room, plaque). Acclamation awards of Rs " 1,001 and commendation awards of Rs 501 will be presented to those persons responsible for achieving the best re ­ sults in energy conservation, notes the release. Ms D.B. Baldawala, director of IBPL, will be chairperson of the inde ­ pendent panel of judges drawn from various national organizations. These awards, concludes the release, will be presented in New Delhi in November/ December 1987. Zonta Woman of the Year Acting president of the National Asso- and consists of a verandah, bedroom, __ _ ..............._ , kitchen, bath and Shehera F. Nanavati, was awarded the English-style toilet with a flushing sys- Woman of the Year trophy by the tern, notes the Trust ’s general in ­ Zonta Club of Bombay III at their formation sheet. Recently renovated, tions at the Oberoi Towers on March and two ceiling fans. In addition to five 14, notes the Club ’s press release. eighth charter anniversary celebra- each block now has a hot-water geyser tions at the Oberoi Towers on March and two ceiling fans. In addition to five 14, notes the Club ’s press release. beds, mattresses and pillows, the Nanavati won this award, which was Sanatorium will provide kitchen equipment and crockery free of charge. Occupants will, however, have to arr - * ange for their own linen and cutlery. The Trust ’s rules and regulations stipulate that a maximum of five peo ­ ple - including children - can stay in the block, overnight occupancy being restricted to Parsis-. The non-refundable hire charges and a refundable deposit against dam ­ ages must be paid in advance. The rates are Rs 750 per month (April, May, June), Rs 600 per month (off ­ season) and Rs 30 per day for a mini ­ on February 28, 1987 in Bhu- '**’*...... ° mum of five days (off-season only). 1_ 1- -- ’ '*¦ - Meals will be supplied by the Sanator- tated by the music department of the dication to the welfare of the blind, ium manager and billed separately. Bombay University on March 22, notes the release. Serving the NAB in 1987, states The Times of India report various capacities, Nanavati has-been of March 24. with the organization since its incep- The 67-year-old exponent of the tion in 1956. Her involvement in social Kirana gharana has, says Mohan Nad- work dates back to the 1930s when, as karni in the write-up, been associated a young girl during the Freedom with the University ’s music depart- Movement, she would visit jailed Con- ment since its inception in 1969. The gress volunteers and teach the illiter- The Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Tro- “Musical to the core” Firoz Dastur, noted vocalist, was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award- 1986 for his contribution to classical Hindustani music. Dastur, who received his award from the Vice- President of India R. Venkataraman (Left) Dastur: attracting 'musical audiences (Right Nanavati: serving the blind baneshwar was subsequently felici- instituted in 1984, for her lifelong de- function, which was held in the Inter- ate among them, national Students ’ Hall at the Uni- Other extras will include charges for water, electricity and cleaning, and for a gas cylinder and stove if desired. The blocks will be allotted from Bombay. Parsi individuals and families interested in hiring the blocks may apply to: J.C.Mody, Managing Trus ­ tee, Bai Bhicaijee Jehangir Mody Par ­ si Sanatorium Trust, Hampton Court, N. Parekh Marg, Bombay 400005. 22 Parsiana April 1987ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD Chicago promotes priests To promote the interests and welfare down in Chicago and serve the of Zoroastrian priests in the Metropo- i__ ’ litan Chicago area, ” a charter for a As Mobed Fund has been drawn up and Chicago priests, Ervad Sarosh Karan- approved by both the priests as well as the board of the Zoroastrian Associa- tion of Metropolitan Chicago (ZAC), munity which is growing not only in notes the March issue of the ZAC number but in religious activities ” newsletter. . . The Fund will be used to defray ex ­ penses incurred in training a priest _____ ____ _ ____ _ willing to serve the Chicago area, to- 5,228)to the Dadar Athornan Madres- wards expenses incurred in higher i 2________ ________ _ laivu. iviaxui asm ru n priestly training of Chicago priests and currently studying forhisVA or MAln Hlwthornr^S ‘'90251 "^USA^" any other relevant purpose deemed fit comparative religion. The scholar is to the majority of the Chicago priests, be further coached by Dastur Navrooz Unacceptable StatUS 1 irect doMtions to the Fund itself can Minochehr-Homji in Avestan scrip- “Last year when my son Rich exoress- j Zoroastrian religion “so ed an interest in attending our^av- * ® prepare him as an enlightened roze dinner, I found to my surprise will not be used for the Mobed Fund priest, ” notes the report. The ultimate that my first reaction was to discour- H needed for the ZAC goal is to sponsor such a student for age him from attending ” Ms Dina G budding maintenance, notes the report migration to the USA provided the McIntyre, who, along^ with her hu^- . carried out by the ZAC board in con ­ sonance with the Chicago priests themselves. K assador to the US is Jamshed Marker. NA)7was ”expla?nin^^^ ; Marker and his wife, were u„- she had decided not to renew her seminary was prepared by past presi- ; a special board meeting on February dent of ’ the 'Pakistan Federation In addition to providing living quar ­ ters for the athravans-in-training, the facility is to include several class ­ rooms, storage areas, children ’s rooms etc. Planned in three phases, American yOUth COngreSS phase one “would be aimed at provid ­ ing for a second generation of Zoroas- by establishing, amongst develop understanding, ” the First trian community...All my life I have other things a Religion Perpetuation North American Zoroastrian Youth tried to teach my children that it is Fund (already launched); phase two Congress is scheduled for September 5 would include putting forward the ~ proposal to the Zoroastrians of Chica ­ go to determine what the community wants, backed by contributions to sup ­ port and maintain the facilities they ____________ _____________ want, and phase three would include Zoroastrian Center, suggestions have implementing the wishes of the com- I__ ___mwoivu niuvn muc anu munity, once adequate funds have objective topics for discussion, so that ZAPA, in the hope that it woufd be*a oe^ collected. Congress can be held “in an ex- group through which my kids would congenial manner...We sin- someday get to know their mother ’s i,yo,U3U)^ZAC has already launched a ----- —x. . Religion Perpetuation Fund to encour ­ age the children of ZAC priests to be- ; come navars and offer all possible assistance-to any other navar, above the age of 18, to migrate and settle 3 com- ________________________^vugivM munity there for at least three years, comprises Meher Dadabhoy Amalsad to come with family and friends to this “fun-filled weekend. ” The executive board of the Congress per reci^mmendation of the chairperson, Saghar Javanshk, secrS- .. 12---- L-^, jia has been sponsored for migration Mazdiyasni, to the United States “to serve the corn- ary, Farhad Arjani, treasurer, Parviz , correspondence and printing, Cyrus Italia, travelling and transportation, Feridoon Goshtasbi, cultural and social activities and Rat- newsletter. tan Appoo, reception and accom- The ZAC board has also approved modation. Any youth wishing to participate in the Congress discussions, may contact ........................................PO Box 52, an annual contribution of $400 (Rs sa for sponsoring a Madressa scholar , Parviz Mazdiyasni, comparative religion. The scholar is to tures and the Zoroastrian religion “so ed an interest in attending our Nav ­ as to prepare him as an enlightened roze dinner, I found, to my surprise time priest with a decent remunera- McIntyre and McIntyre and who had also helped draft the constitution of the Federation of Zoroastrian Asso- Ihe recently appointed Pakistan amb- ciations of North America fFEZA- - - she had decided not to renew het- able to attend the ZAC’s Jamshedi membership with the Zoroastrian --------- in a letter dated February 28, 1987, addressed to ZAPA members. The letter continued, “I realized that I was afraid some comment might ------- J. mem ­ ber which would bring home to him (Rich) the fact that, as a person with a „ non-Zoroastrian father, he would nev- With a “wish to bring together all er be accepted as a full and equal parti- Zoroastrian youth, to share ideas and cipant by all members of the Zoroas- jminary was prepared by past presi- Navroze function on March 28, all Association of Pennsylvania fZAPAl dent Rohmton ^vetna and discussed Zoroastrians were invited by the presi- — - ' I 21, notes the newsletter? " Hameedullah KhanTTo the^Vakistan Day celebrations on March 20, to en ­ able them to meet with the ambassa- be made by an orthodox ZAPA dor, who was the day ’s guest of honor. > wrong to discriminate on the basis of to 7, 1987. race, color, creed or sex. I was Sponsored by the Zoroastrian Asso- ashamed to have my son find out that ciation of California and organized by his own mother ’s people - the good the youth committees of the Associa- guys - also discriminate on the basis of tion as well as that of the California race... . — “Over the past several years, I have been invited for constructive and invested much time and energy in cerely hope that this Congress will be a people, and learn about, and be proud stepping stone for making new friends of, the Zoroastrian side of their herit- and cementing old friendships, ” notes age. I realize now that this is a vain the invitation, urging all Zoroastrians hope. ” ¦j 25 Parsiana April 1987 L IMcIntyre however, does not wish Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Dastoor ’s text book on computer to stay in the ZAPA and fight for what Brunswick, in the March issue of analysis for universities should be pub- she thinks is nght: “I will not become a negative, divisive force in the com ­ munity. .. Nor can I continue with the organization and i second-class status for me or my hus ­ band and children. The only non ­ destructive, and honorable option that I have left is to withdraw from it... ------ ---------- “I realize that to many of you this Association, the community is bound Gavashni. issue is merely a controversial irritant, by a strong love for card playing, notes To me, the pain is very real. You prob- Bagli,adding, “These card playing ses- Born with ably won ’t feel its reality until five, 10 or 15 years from now, when your own —------ -------- , , ,, - x xu children feel about themselves and Jagosh is the resident chef and Roda and skull surgery to their families the way I feel about my- < self and mine. Perhaps we will find the c „ ' u- courage to come to grips with it before varied culinary skills. The thirst for children will be able to enrich their jokes is so great that the Davers (Noz- need to stay withYa^d in Torrato for lives by continuing to be part of the one by one, tuning out and dropping cton (New Brunswick) to join the pitality they will need money for J ° rr o ________J___ _ iz, ” mp.HJral PYnpnsp.s and incidentals. Provincial Zoroastrians “Zoroastrians can be found in all cor ­ ners of North America, from Alaska in . the west to Nova Scotia in the east, Zoroastrian politician, Dastoor is ac- from the high Arctic in the north (sea- tive on the local political scene, as ako 654, Stabo^Tour de la Bourse, Mon- sonal workers) to Florida m the south. i------ --------- — No place is too cold or too warm f- this hardy and hard-working group of Provincial and then to the the Maritime Provinces of Canada - computer uiuiiowivix, xxi the March issue of analysis for universities should be pub- Gavashni,' the newsletter of the lished by 1988, informs Bagli. Zdroastrian Association of Quebec. There are about a dozen Zoroas- will, ______________ __________- __________ I’’ recognition of his services to the meekly accept trian families residing in the Maritime Canadian community, Zarir Mehta, Provinces. Most of them are in Nova business manager of the world famous Scotia, whose first settlers were Ms Montreal Symphony Qrchestra has Jaloo Jagosh and the late Adi Jagosh. been awarded the Member of the Though there is no formal Zoroastrian Qrder of Canada, notes the March by a strong love for card playing, notes - , Tl ______ ¦ Born with a cranial deformity sions ’take place at least once a month, (Crouzon ’s disease), three-year-old hosted by different families. Jimmy Yazad Mobedji will need heart, brain Godrei is the resident gourmet cook sing deformity. Surgery had been delighting the community with their slated for March end at the Toronto 11 Tcx.wv ......____11-1- " ¦ a Sick Children ’s Hospital, notes an chUdre'n and their Zoroastrian get-together to exchange appeal in er and KaSimira) battle the arduous four months and, though the Zoroas- three and a half hour drive from Man- trians of Toronto will provide the hos- crazy card party sessions in Haiitax. medical expenses and incidentals. Born in Johannesburg, South Afri- Yazad ’s father is a mobed in the ca, and educated in London, England, Dadyseth Agiary in Bombay, earning Fi VFirineiz) Dastoor has been living in Rs 1,100 a month. Donations may be crazy card party sessions in Halifax. ca and educated in London, England, Dadyseth Agiary in Bombay, earning Nova Scotia for 14 years. A budcSng sent to Kersi Bhedwar, C/o Zoroas- trian Association of Quebec, PO Box Gifts& The Friend^ Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive gifts, reli^ous artefacts, executive desk in the Halifax Women ’s Network but treal, PQ, H4Z 1J9. 111”"!"!Hong Kong Directory politick positfon and work to better The 22-page Directoiy of Hong Kong “ S . ,, A rr_______xj..-____ rino'7 O0\ Uoc nA ontrifxcj consultant by profession, and according to Hong Kong-based Jimmy Master, “the total number of Parsis in Hong Kong has remained more or less the same. ’’ The new trustees of the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hong Kong, Canton and Macau, as listed in the Directory, are: Jal Soli Shroff, president, Erach Mancherji Mehta, secretary, and trus ­ tees Keki Fakirji Jokhi, Viraf Keki Parekh and Homi Kaikhushroo Italia. The Directory also carries a calendar of events for the year 1987-88 wherein 18 religious meets and social gather ­ ings have been listed. Research award Ms Zaver Murzban Bhujwala has re ­ cently been awarded “The Young In ­ vestigators ” award of £500 by the Uni ­ versity of London. She had completed her MSc with a first class in radiation biology and is presently working for her PhD thesis, notes the February ’87 issue of The Zoroastrian, the newslet ­ ter of the Committee for Economic Revival (CER). sets* exclusive sheU items, des^er jewelry & specializing in wooa & copper-enamel ^fts. BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. (Mezzanine Floor) Sir P.M. Road, Bombay-400 001 26 Parsiana April 1987 STUDIO AKAR 6T/2660IN MEMORIAM Death of a debimker Arnavaz S. Mama the institutions that have served us so well? Are we going to do anything to save that great paper? Due to cir- The twinkling eye was hooded; the COITHTlUnitV Hfe-StVlOS familiar nasal drawl silenced forever. ' were an unending - . r -J xL cumstances that community papers source ot comedy tor must face, it needs support. We have playwright and Jam-e-Jams hed Editor Adi Marzban It is said that no biography of a living being is ever complete, for death with ­ holds the finishing touch. Adi Marz ­ ban - Editor of Jam-e-Jamshed and en ­ tertainer par excellence - lost his 10- month-long silent battle with lung can ­ cer on February 26, 1987. Pain had blanched the swarthy, beaming face, shrunk the familiar rotund figure and crowned the master of burlesque with * the dignity of tragic heroism. On be ­ coming aware of cancer ’s inroads, 71- year-old Marzban had chosen to bear the suffering with stoic calm, refusing “treatment ” that might prolong life at the cost of human dignity. Tributes poured in from the many di ­ rections in which his multifaceted per ­ sonality had evolved, specifically jour ­ nalism and drama - stage, radio and TV presentations. “In his death we have lost a veteran journalist and a re ­ nowned playwright, ” said Maharash- ; tra chief minister S. B. Chavan. “The city of Bombay has lost a great son. He lived a purposeful life and served worthy causes to the end of his days. His services will be remembered by this metropolis in general and the jour- ticular, which have lost a founding personality Sabira~Merchant referred resolution adopted by the citizens of and The Bombay Samachar Editor Bombay at a public meeting convened Jehan Daruwalla, < / 7 - by Sadruddin Daya, the sheriff of Adi ’s profound knowledge, which, Bombay, on March 27. The Gujarati “like a pocket watch, only came out resolution of the Samast Anjuman when required, ” noted, “Though per- meeting, summoned by the trustees of sonally progressive, Adi saw to it that i the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) community institutions were pre- under the chairmanship of Dr Aspi served. ” Daruwalla recalled how The Golwalla on April 7, recalled how Samachar was established by Marz- favorably Marzban ’s public activities ban ’s forefather Fardoonji in 1822 to had reflected on the community and serve five communities and the Jam-e- this nation enumerated his many private interests Jamshed in 1832 to serve the Parsi added. ............. ' ’ ¦ ¦ I Bombay Pradesh Congress Commit- “great historical gift. Without the tee (I) president Murli Deora sug- Jam-e-Jamshed, the community would gested that Mangalore Street, where the Jam-e-Jamshed is located, be re ­ named after Adi Marzban. to see that great institutions do not pass away. ” Addressing himself to the vice-chancellor of Bombay University Dr (Ms) Mehroo Bengalee who shared the podium with him, Daruwalla sug ­ gested a chair in drama be instituted at Bombay University to commemorate Adi Marzban. Referring to the deceased as a con ­ temporary and a college friend. Blitz founder Editor Russy Karanjia noted, ___ “The giant is gone, but memories re-' main - sweet, fragrant, evergreen...of the odd-looking figure, a subject of caricature, who rode a three-wheeler, laughing at himself and the world, but with compassion, humanity. ” Recall ­ ing “the magnificent series on flying saucers ” that Adi contributed to the Blitz’ early issues, Karanjia spoke of Marzban ’s encyclopaedic mind and de ­ scribed him as a renaissance character, wanting to do many things, wishing to be everywhere and suggested; “Adi Marzban deserves a theater to him ­ self. ’ ’ Bombay has no theater for ballet nalist and theater community in par- heart, ” noted Daya. Actress and TV which requires a live orchestra. Build • - • ‘------ I g real theater, a memorial worthy of father, friend and leader, ” noted the to Adi ’s mastery of the sense of timing his genius. ” . . , . - — - • - ____ ¦ EJILj “A creative artist in the broad, complimenting liberal sense...all knowledge was his ¦ ¦ , province...His elephantine memory combined with an amazing degree of modesty and humanity, ” noted well- known jurist Nani Palkhivala. “The capacity to see yourself as others see you, was among Marzban ’s character ­ istics... He was totally unconscious of the amount of his contribution to keep this nation amused, ” Palkhivala M f ¦ I I'*'-. .A, 1 F s \ the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) community institutions were pre- under the chairmanship of Dr Aspi served. ” Daruwalla recalled how The Golwalla on April 7, recalled how Samachar was established by Marz- favorably Marzban ’s public activities ban ’s forefather Fardoonji in 1822 to had reflected on the community and serve five communities and the Jam-e- including photography, astrology, community, referring to the latter as a I magic, music and painting, in each of ' ¦ ¦ • - which he was considerably adept. Marzban ’s “very name brings a have lost the guidance of so many smile to one ’s face and joy to the years... Do we not owe some duty to “great historical gift. 27 Parsiana April 1987Lawyer, playwright and comedian Marzban scholars in drama and the ban was Mr Theater. That is why they Homi Tavadia credited Marzban with publication of a commemorative all came to his funeral to honor him, ” “revolutionizing the trend of Gujarati volume so that posterity may remem- wrote The Afternoon. drama in India. ” The many sets were her a man called Adi. Born on April 17, 1914 Ardeshir reduced to one, the songs cut out, per- ~ formance time curtailed to two or tor of 50 years by respecting his desire Bharda New High School and gradu- three hours; the prompters who held that “the show must go on ” - fore- ated in literature from Bombay Uni ­ prominence before were deleted and going the traditional day ’s closure in versity in 1933. Editor of the Jam-e- the natural language introduced in memory of the dead. All India Radio Jamshed since 1936, Marzban received place of the old bombastic style. Tava- paid its tribute on the night Adi died; the UNESCO scholarship grant in dia nostalgically recalled his own asso- Doordarshan on the evening of the 1953 which enabled him to take an in- ciation with the departed playwright to funeral. Referring to the Doordarshan tensive course in production and direc- whom he was “maaro haramkhor bhai tribute. The Afternoon Despatch and tion for the stage, radio, cinema and (my lazy brother) Homi ” in the Bud- Courier of March 2 commented, “No television at the Pasadena Playhouse, dhi Dhansak Mandal - the family farce playwright could have asked for a bet- a world famous college of theater arts that continued on All India Radio for ter epilogue to his life. ” Well-known in the United States. He was awarded decades. Tavadia also recalled how media personality Ms Dolly Thakore the Padma Shri by the Government of Adi always acknowledged special love gave a brief introduction and then fol- India in 1964 in recognition of his ser- and allegiance for two people - his lowed the who ’s who of Bombay thea- vices to stage and radio, the citation wife Silla and the late Pesi Khandala- ter - Keith Stevenson, Burjor Patel, referring to him as “A prolific writer walla, a friend and co-producer. Another old associate, Burjor Patel, The Statesman's Bombay representa ­ tive and co-producer of the popular, Gujarati actors associated with Adi ’s journalism, broadcasting, cinema and long-playing revue Bottoms Up, sug- plays, the Indian National Theatre ’s the stage, ” The Sangeet Natak gested that the scripts of Marzban ’s “ “ ‘ “ ........................ ........................ radio plays - he was a master of the them talked about how they always genre - be collected and published so ¦ that future generations may learn what they cast a play while “Marzban (from which in due course bloomed a radio script is. Patel also suggested looked for new talent that he could de- the Padamsees ’ Theatre Group) Marz- the institution of a fund to finance Adi velop and train. That is why Adi Marz- ban has 60 Gujarati and 50 English commemorative f 1 The Jam-e-Jamshed honored its Edi- Pherozesha Marzban schooled at the Alyque Padamsee, Hosi Vasunia, of plays in Gujarati and English, he Bomsi Nicholson, Ms Dolly Dotiwalla, has remarkable mastery over almost Ronnie Screwvalla, Dinshaw Daji, all the media of mass communication - Damn Jhaveri and others. One of Akademi Award followed in 1970. Credited with the founding of the St looked for established actors when Xavier ’s College Dramatics Society DINERS require LADY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY A committed professional with good steno/typing speed, well conversant with Management Secretarial Practices, must be excellent in written and spoken English with a pleasing personality and good public relations ability. An intelligent young lady with 2/3 years secretarial experience in a reputed company will meet our requirements. i) f- li I i r 29 Parsiana April 1987 k Please apply with complete bio-data to the General Manager (Staff Admin) Diners Club India Pvt Ltd Raheja Chambers 213, Nariman Point Bombay 400021 MB ¦MHI India’s first Lok Ayukta full-length productions to his credit. Notes The Times of India in its Cur ­ rent Topics of February 28, “If the French farce took root here and blos ­ somed to such an extent that we forgot its alien origin and came to accept it as the original Parsi theater, the credit goes to you, ‘apro Adi. ’ And the same can be said of your discerning eye which, in one of your frequent mo ­ ments of inspiration, saw the likeness between the ‘revue ’ so firmly estab ­ lished and popular on the western stage, with ‘Bhavai, ’ one of the Gu ­ jarati folk arts. You made the amalga ­ mate so appetising that other language theaters freely and unashamedly bor ­ rowed it. “But it was not always merely fun and frolic. For your apparent frivolity had a strong undercurrent of social re ­ form. You are on record as having said that you were the greatest debunker of the Parsi community. Yet your people loved you because of your compassion for your fellow being. Your theater had universal appeal for it was not oblivious to tradition even while judi ­ ciously adapting modern trends. ” - ------ ------------------------------- o ---------- . . In its obituary on February 27, The of Bombay who also served as acting Ayukta in the country. On that occa- Times described Marzban as a man who disliked being idle. As a young man on a motorbike (which was later replaced by a modest car) Adi sped bay ’s Parsee General Hospital follow- A full court reference (in the pre ­ referred to Kotval as the “father of Maha-Gujarat. ” Never one to be weighed down by precedent, “Justice Kotval could cling to an unpopular opinion with tenacity ...because he believed that what was right must be done, ” wrote one of his colleagues. He has also been described as “a model' of sober correctness. ” As head of the Bombay judiciary from 1966 to 1972, Kotval was made the acting Governor of Maharashtra | for four months until a new nominee ; was found to fill the vacancy created by the sudden demise of Dr P. V. Che- rian. Being the first Parsi Chief Justice in India, the Bombay Parsi Punchayet wished to gratulate Kotval but he turned down the invitation saying it would not be right to accept communal felicitations, reminisces his wife Rati. A month after his retirement as Chief ______ _ _ ____ , Justice, Kotval was appointed the Lok former Chief Justice of the High Court Ayukta of Maharashtra ^the first Lok Governor of Maharashtra and was the sion, Vivian Bose, retired judge of the — ’ •’ -> International Commission of Jurists had written to Kotval, “I am delighted that concrete steps have at last been _____ ________ __ taken in the appointment of an sence of all the sitting judges) was ombudsman (a government official who - - ~__________________ J reported complaints against" public officials) and that they pipe ” Incidentally, the last time Par- Kania, president of the Bombay Bar have appointed a man ukc you - just rr ... <’. - ..... .. e the sort of man that IS required tor that sweatered,* Tiling Editor could only sentatives of the Incorporated Law office, speak with difficulty, being easily out Society, the Western India Advocates ’ .Ay"'"* of breath. But the words were full of Association, and the Governnwnt cases against several ministers, two of concern: same smoke. Wrote sports commentator A.F.S. Talyarkhan, Adi ’s compeer cousin, in The Column (Sunday Mid- Marzban, every time he gazed at his vered by Kotval was in 1958 when he birthmark of a smile on his face and sion of inquiry into the causes of the especially mining companies, and in .................................. constitutional law after Independence, notes his bio data. He was also a lec ­ turer at the University College of Law, Nagpur, his alma mater, and an ex ­ aminer for LLB and LLM papers and who can do this in the complex on his findings, the State of Bombay for the Hyderabad Civil Service Ex- was split into Maharashtra and Gu- aminations. He began his career in the jarat, notes a press release, and the judiciary as permanent judge of the - - ................ I Madhya Pradesh High Court in 1955 Died: Sohrab Peshotan Kotval, 76, first Lok Ayukta appointed in the Supreme Court and chairman of the country, on March 6, 1987 at Bom- through Bombay from one rehearsal ing cardiac arrest, to another. “Mr Marzban ’s stature was immense. But he was never conscious t ----- , of it, preferring to be soft-spoken and made at the Bombay High Court on investigates hiding behind puffs of smoke from his March 10 when Chief Justice M. H. <— pipe. ” Incidentally, the last time Par- Kania, president of the Bombay Bar have appointed a man like you just siana met Adi in his Jame office, the Association K.S.Cooper, and repre- the sort of man that is required for that swftatftrftd. ailing Editor could onlv sentatives of the Incorporated Law office. During his tenure as Lok Ayukta for five years, Kotval tried cases i _ whom reportedly had to resign on the submission of his report. Kotval entered the legal domain as speak with difficulty, being easily out Society, the Western India Advocates ¦ ; Pleader paid tributes to Kotval. De- Don ’t scribing Kotval as “a man of total in ­ tegrity, a man of conscience, ” Cooper said, “He took his office very seriously an advocate in the Nagpur High Court, and in the Federal Court until it was demolished. He then became a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India, enjoying an extensive prac ­ tice in commercial and company law. Remember, don ’t make the mistake we made. 1 Day, March 1,1987),“It is certain,. Adi and but he never took himself seriously. He had a delightful sense of humor... ” One of the leading judgments deli- own image, must have noticed the was appointed the one-man commis- the roguish glint in his eye which led police firing in Ahmedabad. The proc- him to believe all reflection shall por- ’ ’ ¦" *¦' ’ " tray some joy. He brought joyful en ­ tertainment to hundreds of thousands siderable help to persons appointed to of all communities and creeds and any- such cominissions later . Basec£ largely that is Indian society can never be for- was split into Maharashtra and Gu- gotten. ” I Marzban is survived by his wife Silla. then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru edure evolved by him for this commis ­ sion is believed to have been of con- 30 Parsiana April 1987 Land on the reorganization of states, tion of the Nagpur University (his who worked under him, he prevailed was appointed judge of the Bombay father being one of the founders of this upon the Government to establish for High Court. institution), Kotval was elected as judicial employees a housing colony in Born m Nagpur, Kotvhl ’s early vice-chancellor in 1961. He was on the Nagpur, named after him in 1983 as education was at St Joseph ’s Convent, Nagpur after which he went to Billi- ______________ ____ __________ __ v««iv moria High School, Panchgani from Girls ’ High School. He served as a qualified judlciaf officer? to "succeed where he matriculated. Before joining ' . - Law College, he was at the Morris College (now Nagpur Mahavidy- > alava). Excelline in elocution and de- tion of the Nagpur University (his who worked under him, he prevailed I alaya). Excelling in elocution and de ­ bate, Kotval was also good in tennis and cricket. Involving himself in the administra- institution), Kotval was elected __________ vice-chancellor in 1961, He was on the Nagpur, named after him Tn 1983' as governing body of Nagpur ’s only ‘Nyayamurti Kotvalnagar. ’ Keeping in women ’s college and a trustee of Tata mind the need for a future cadre of member of the Parsi Anjuman Com- his generation, he convinced the Gov- mittee in Nagpur for several years and ernment of the need for a Judicial was later elected president. He was Officers ’ Training Institute which was also president of the Vidharbha bran- established in Nagpur. ches of the Bharat Sevak Samaj and the Indian Cancer Society. Looking into the welfare of those and Mehroo. He is survived by his wife Rati, son Peshotan and daughters Jeroo, Silloo READERS FORUM... continued from page 19 many cases, parents are hardly in the — • 2___________ _ _____ __ x cxo* ±iit uwk know of religious sanctities and they trian at'the Miami airport who invited has been compiled alphabeticallv^or have hardly any interest in giving the r*'* '• •“ 2 • . . . . - . right type of religious education to troduced me to his American wife. His their children. With the object of hav- surname was Barday (Birdi) and he ing a gathering of relatives and friends, j ' _ ________________ ______________________________„ x I money is wasted on a large scale only the morning as well as at night and my Bhavan, 223-B, We? MarVedpaUv ( to collect as much cash and presents as American wife is also taking interest in .SeennHerahnH tn I they can and the entire tamasha stands offering V wnll* T xxV.21 *4.1 ______________ ated into the Zoroastrian faith have • scant respect for the sanctity of our re- learned and respectable high priests^ Thirty years ago, I met a Zoroas- on traditional Parsi dishes. The book me for a drink in a restaurant and in- quick and easy selection and refer- x__ J J • •- — ence. . , , The cost of the book is Rs 50 and is assured me: “I offer prayers both in available from Ms M.F. Italia, Anand to collect as much cash and presents as American wife is also taking interest in Secunderabad 500026 In Bombay ?he th. attending Avesta book is available from Ms G K closed. Quite naturally, children initi- prayers. ” Karanjia, Adenwalla Baug, Tardeo We have around seven highly Road, Tardeo, Bombay 400007. . * ¦'-------------- ---------------------yiivaiS, Dr RASHIDA M. PATELL ligion. Many youngsters today have some hereditary and others selected President, zoroastrian stree Mandai discarded their sudrehs and kustis. on merit. When they are installed as Secunderabad In order to bring an awakening high priests, members and well- amongst the present day Parsis, there wishers adorn them with a large num- are a lot of printed books and maga- 1 - ¦ - - zines, and many well-meaning dasturs cares for their welfare. One senior talk in Marathi- and Zoroastrians give sensible lectures high priest told me that in the present When two Madrasis meet, they talk in ’ at gatherings. But few community inflationary period, his sons were Tamil i members are interested. looking after the family expenses. A • _ The number of Parsis practising special fund for the sustenance of Punjabis use Punjabi and Bengalis ¦ J , , J . ------------ ’ Bengali; Parsis do not reach a sensible decision, ated. •• ° Yet, there are hundreds of well-to- discarded their sudrehs and kustis. and attending “Hats off to Parsis” ber of shawls but thereafter no one When two Maharashtrians meet, they r ! f Zoroastrianism is falling heavily. If these learned dasturs should be looking after the family expenses. A r R I. Keralites, Malayalam and Andhraites, Telugu. I have reason to believe that during the next quarter of a century, there do Parsi families who are keen to sup- shall hardly be 10,000 Zoroastrians port needy and deserving Zoroas- Children all use their mother ’s preaching and practising the Zoroas- trians. Those who are getting monthly language trian faith. ------- -- • ..................... ® When Dr Kersey Antia performed trusts refuse to work, and yet complain the navjote ceremony of a ’ ... American named Joseph Peterson Chicago, there was an unnecessary / hue and cry amongst the orthodox should be discouraged. Zoroastrians. Religion is not an article which can be seen. It is merely an arti- Cook book Then came Parsis who became real tie of faith. Dr Kersey Antia deserves The Zoroastrian Stree Mandai (ZSM), children j ample praise for his bold step. We Secunderabad-Hyderabad, has- pub- of Gujarat, and loved her and cared “ should adopt some system by which we lished the fourth edition of the ZSM for her. :an increase the number of Zoroas- " ’ “ - I rian faithfuls. Non-Zoroastrians de- I ring to marry Zoroastrians should be the public. I icouraged to join our fold provided e non-Zoroastrian spouse is sincere, s studied Zoroastrianism and gets >/her navjote ceremony performed. I 1 stipends from well-to-do Parsi charity Except Gujaratis who talk in English! 4......^4.^___ £______4.—________ J . . .J 1 • " young about their monetary difficulties*. To Disowned by own children, Gujarati ""T in extend monetary help without receiv- like an orphan, ing service is a crime and such practice found herself neglected, dishonored, „ '. R.N. RusTOMJi disliked! tie of faith. Dr Kersey Antia deserves The Zoroastrian Stree Mandai (ZSM) f ihould adopt some system by which we lished the fourth edition of the ZSM Cook Book owing to its immense popularity and insistent demand from Now when two Parsis meet, they talk ~ • in Gujarati. This is a recipe book containing 374 ----- gustatory delights, selected with great care from the best Indian and western cuisines. There is also a special section ifats off to Parsis, ” say I, a Gujarati! C.S. Gharekhan Dwarka f Parsiana April 1987 .1.1^