Dec 1987

I i I i'- • t; I M X KookacJaru Dar-e-Meher Model •X •¦ ® i EDITOR Jehangir Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz Toddywalla ASSOCIATE EDITOR Niloofer Madon DESIGN CONSULTANT Mini Boatwala DESIGN ASSISTANTS Kranti Shilotri. Varghese Fernandez, Deborah Fernandes MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Cheryl D'Penha CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala FINANCE B.L Arora CIRCULATION Behram Umrigar MANAGEMENT Minoo Patel, Jasmine Driver, Khurshid Daruwalla, Rohinton Daroga OFFICE Rajendra Nayak, Khurshid Panthaki, Patricia Lewis, Rajalakshmi Iyer, Bakhtavar Batliwalla December 1987 Volume 10 Number 6 3 Readers' Forum 11 Events and Personalities 19 The senseless killing of Navroze Mody by Porus Cooper 22 Zoroastrians Abroad 25 Funding dental education 28 The Sanjan Odyssey by Arnavaz Mama 32 Kookadaru: the man and the myth by Parinaz Toddywalla 38 The widows at the Petit Chawl by Homi Rogers 43 Books 46 Milestones Cover: Model of Dasturji Kookadaru Saheb Memorial Dar-e-Meher Transparency: Rohinton Irani Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd at C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001 and printed by him at Parsiana Publications, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001 and phototypeset at Ace, Bombay 400001. All rights reserved. Phone: 2048730 Annual inland subscription: Rs 50 for one year (12 issues); Rs 90fortwo years (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates; Seamail Rs 100 for one year, Rs 180 for two years; Air mail Rs 250 for one year, Rs 475 for two years. For US cheques add $ 5 to cover bank charges. For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 4 for bank charges. Cheques and drafts to be drawn in favor of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 or C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort Bombay 400001.In Memoriam Mr Fall Meheiji Variava Director BLAZE ADVERTISING PVT LTD AND ASSOCIATE COMPANIES 1 II READERS’ FORUM ¦ M»A.WinF R8;;uu:;>M (jK:!n -I 41^' '«** * > History will reveal that the reason for 1987 annual general meeting of the disharmony and war is the misuse of World Zoroastrian Organisation, he religion for selfish motives. endeavored to have the meeting de- If Messrs Darius and Zal Sethna de- dared invalid and the assembled com- sire our association to continue and mittee members collectively branded ! our future generation to remain un- “un-Zoroastrian! ” My protest at this ited, both of them should refrain using attack was countered by a priestly religion for their selfish motives. To “shut up ” for which I subsequently re- Mr Darius ’ comment in “The 11 days ’ ceived and accepted his apology. g controversy, ” (Parsiana, January Minutes later, during a vote- I 1987), “The entire Commonwealth counting interval, he again rounded on I gave their life and blood to be free me saying that despite what anyone I from this very freedom-loving country may have to say regarding intermar- I (UK)” I might add that not one Com- riages and conversions, he, Darius, I monwealth country used religion to se- was determined to hold the commun- I cure its independence from the United ity together; furthermore, that our re- I Kingdom. vered and learned Parsi scholar-priests I Mr Darius has also quoted various - specifically, the late Dr Maneckji I instances of “time honored religious Dhalla and Dr Framroze Bode were I practices ” of Muslims, Jews and Hin- “criminals ” responsible for the break- I dus. All these time honored religious up of the community. This was a hor- I practices were established from the rendous attack against noble-souled I very inception and the clock was not Parsis whose only “crime ” was to en- I put back. lighten us with their profound scho- I larship and their actions in accord with I Ervad Darius Nariman Sethna called the precepts of Zarathushtra. I the late Shams-ul-Ulema Dasturji Dr This utterly unwarranted remark Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla, High has caused great consternation and re ­ Priest of the Parsis of Pakistan (1875- vulsion amongst many Parsis and Ira- 1956) “a criminal ” in the presence of nis here. Many Pakistan Parsis in the !»>” I*** I**' liii Minutes later, during Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community , u xz ... and should be sent to the Editor, Read- Farrokh Vajifdar and a most re- UK have personally known, loved and ers' Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O.Box 892, spected Zoroastrian witness at our revered Dr Maneckji Dhalla. Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to Zoroastrian House, London, on Octo- Similarly, Dr Framroze Bode is editing for reasons of space and clarity, ber 25, 1987. much respected for his great learning ' ____ This remark was made when Mr Va- and spiritual understanding of our jifdar asked (Ervad) Darius if he had faith despite the orthodox lobby vilify- " ing him as some disunifying force. We have here a priest who many a . , - - ------------ --------- time has declared that what was good last Israp (Parsiana, August 1987). The latter, too, was labelled a “crimin- for his forefathers should be good articles to constantly remind them of London, UK , • — j the steadily declining population and I seem to have caught the tail end of others too had forefathers to make them shed their unrealistic be- “The 11 days ’ controversy ” in Par- -" ‘lief that ^“God looks after the Israps siana. It appears to be a matter of dis- k (Parsis). ” ms khorshed Irani gruntled parties jockeying for political eminence, and a deliberately en ­ gineered, disrupted state of religious affairs here. Just as the Indian sub-continent has community remain in peace from his orthodox attitudes, farrokh vajifdar London, UK I wish to put the record straight by in ­ 1 spected Zoroastrian witness at our revered Dr Maneckji Dhalla. Zoroastrian House, London, on Octo ­ ber 25, 1987. This remark was made when Mr Va- and spiritual understanding of our Th** lacf Isran ” learned opinions of our Parsi > lie idSl i^rap scholars like the late Dasturji Dr Dhal- I was very touched by the article “The la and Dasturji Dr Framroze Bode. I - ‘ ‘ ----- ; - / __________ The Parsis all over the world need such al ” by Sethna. noshirwan f. cowasjee enough for our community. It may come as a surprise to Mr Sethna that > - fore ­ fathers who, by all accounts were well- acquainted with our religion and tradi ­ tions - who were progressive, open- minded, and above all, tolerant. I respectfully suggest that Mr Sethna let an outward-thinking, progressive 66 The 11 days ’ controversy ” In “The 11 days ’ controversy ” (Par- siana, November 1986) Mr Darius its self-styled orthodox and liberals, so Sethna asks, “If the decay is not stop- do we. ped, what will happen to our children Among the self-proclaimed guar- x,,vv.iu cuaigiii uy i„- and our children s children? ”. May I dians of the faith is Mr Darius Sethna. forming you, of what took place at the : annual general meeting of the World Sethna asks, “If the decay is not stop- do we. .. 1 Among the self-proclaimed guar ­ ask who created this decay and why? As recently as October 25, during the I 3 Parsiana December 1987 1Exhibition Cum Sale Indulge yourself in luxury with one of a kind creations of Hand Painted Sequined Embroidered Sarees designed by Mrs Perin Screwvala the designer with experience and flair Zoroastrian Organisation. During a personal conversation with Mr Far ­ rokh Vajifdar, 1 was informed by this great self-appointed scholar that the two noble dasturs, the late Dasturji Maneckji Dhalla and Dastur Framroze Bode favored intermarriages and nav- jotes of children of mixed marriages. According to Mr Vajifdar, these das ­ turs had the right (approach) towards progress and reform. It is only natural that Mr Vajifdar supports these views as he himself is married to a non- Zoroastrian. I told Mr Vajifdar that “I was opposed to these views, and in my con ­ sidered opinion, these so-called re ­ forms and progress were criminally de ­ trimental to the Zoroastrian commun ­ ity. ” In no way does the above com ­ ment indicate that I called the late Dasturji Dhalla and Dasturji Bode “criminals. ” darius n. sethna Middlesex. UK 1 COMPANY Air Cargo, Clearing, Forwarding, Sea-Air Service, Warehousing Agents. 10, Veer Nariman Road, Fort, Bombay-400 023. Cable: “JUSTITIA” Telex: 2313 Phone:2042032 f I' i ; li Remember you don't have to spend a million to look a million at Cymroza Art Gallery 72 (Warden) Bhulabhai Desai Road near American Consulate Breach Candy Bombay 400026 on 11 and 12 Febniaiy 1988 From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. A waste of newsletters It is saddening to learn that Parsiana has been running at a loss for the last few years and has now reached a point which will perhaps put the publication out of print. Parsiana is the only authentic Parsi publication that has truly served the community, run by qualified journal ­ ists with a paid office staff. Despite mounting costs of paper, ink, printing and postage, it is indeed surprising to find a variety of four to eight-page newsletters, having sprung up in Bombay and coming to us abroad. The news items, it appears, are usually copied from some other source or local or overseas newslet ­ ters. They do not have any subscrip ­ tion fees, possibly have volunteer labor, and the only substantial advan ­ tage derived from these publications goes to the post office. Many community members over ­ seas, and possibly even in India, have no idea of the court cases of the Parsi Punchayet of Bombay, do not under ­ stand the Bombay Parsi Punchayet election scheme, who the trustees are and what CER (Committee for Elec ­ toral Rights now renamed Committee for Economic Revival), CUZ (Com ­ mittee of United Zoroastrians) stand for. There are a number of Irani Zarthostis getting these newsletters who cannot even read English, let alone know much about Bombay affairs. i 1 i 'i ) I 5 Parsiana December 1987 BRANCHES: E.Merc House, 19/B, Shakespeare Sarani, Calcutta-700 071. Phone:444711 “Jeena House”, 50, Hanuman Road, Connaught Circus, New Delhi-1 10 001. Phone:310821 Devtha Plaza, C. 14, Residency Road, Bangalore-560 025. Phone:562724 3 ADVERTS No.2, Lavelle Road, Bangalore-560 001. 205, Gera Chambers, Off Boat Club Road, Pune-41 1 001. Phone:63894 No.6, Jaffar Syrang Street, Madras-600 001. Phone:511215iV- I If ''1 t PERCY & KAIZAD ROADLINES PVT LTD Transport Contractors & Fleet Owners Contractors To Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Pvt Ltd Goodyear India Limited U.P. Asbestos Limited Eastern Ceramic Limited Daily & Direct Service To Maharashtra, MP UP, Rajasthan Haryana & Delhi Chandigarh & Punjab Many of Parsiana's financial prob ­ lems could be solved if these newslet ­ ters; which seek sponsors for their publications and convey a similar mes ­ sage to an indifferent readership, , would forgo inexperienced efforts and help support Parsiana with the monies saved. Every anjuman/association in India and abroad, which sends copies of its newsletters to Parsiana and uses Parsiana as a conduit for their own purpose, should make financial com ­ mitments to Parsiana instead of seek ­ ing free of charge publicity. Parsiana would then not only remain afloat but also serve the community better. JAMSHED K. PAVRI Vancouver. Canada Regd Office m.Trapinex House 1st Floor Sholapur Street Bombay 400009 Residence 215674, 212885 Office 860913, 867531 8727831, 8518679 H Editor’s reply Over the course of the years, Parsiana has encouraged anjumans and associa ­ tions to publish newsletters. The reason for this being that as the com ­ munity ’s population keeps declining there will not be a large enough sub ­ scription and advertising base to sup ­ port a professionally run publication. The advantage of newsletters is that they are published at a fraction of the cost of a professional journal. If newsletters were to cease publica ­ tion, local reader participation would be weakened. And if Parsiana were to try and cover local news of the various anjumans, we would require to add several more pages to the magazine. And the cost of a page in Parsiana would probably equal or exceed the budget of an entire small newsletter. However, Mr Parvi ’s letter does sug ­ gest that newsletters could be more selective in their material to avoid du ­ plication where possible. The newslet ­ ters from North America and the Fed Newsletter are good examples of what such publications can be. We thank Mr Pavri, a long time sup ­ porter of Parsiana, for the concern he has expressed for our magazine. Help madressas The M.F. Cama Athornan Institute at Andheri is the cradle for creating a cadre of Parsi priests who in .future would tend our holy fires. When this palatial Institute had only a couple of students, a few concerned Parsis made an attempt to revamp the Institution < mainly by persuading Ervad Nadirsha Aibara to act as joint principal in the hope that his name would attract new students. BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 1 Recognised as a Public School by the Department of Education for Indian Merit Scholars. Excd- lent Climate — AU-round Education : All Academic Subjects —Tedi- nical Subjects: Workshop. Tech­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance, Carpentry & Farm ­ ing. Training in Self-Govemmeot through Elected Boys ’ Office bearers. Gurnee —Physical Train ­ ing — Daily Assembly with Congregational Prayers — Week­ ly intensive Zoroastrian -^Geeta- Koran classes — Excellent Modem Kitchen and Dining Room facilities — Airy Dormi ­ tories. Moderate Fees. Freeships and Concessions to Deserving Students. '¦i I a J ¦1 Apply to —' THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building. 324 Dr. D. N. Road, Bombay 400 001. h : l’ 6 Parsiana December 1987 J' r A '2! u. r trusts, societies and social action ¦ groups , and widely disseminate this in ­ formation for the purpose of creating awareness. • Widen the circle of philanthropy, and assist and encourage donors to identify Corporate philanthropy and select donees in the field of their In October 1985 at a workshop on choice. ¦ ¦ ¦ • Provide professional advice and help to public trusts, societies, and Philanthropic Zarthostis re- Initially it was decided to induce pa- Philanthropic Zarthostis are rents to enroll their children by prom- quested to help the two madressas. ising them an immediate payment of The Andheri Madressa needs more Rs 5,000. But subsequently it was de- students and the Dadar Madressa, cided to issue Indira Vikas Patras of more funds. fali s. master the same denomination in favor of ev ­ ery new entrant who would be handed over the same, the day he was — -------- ,, - . ordained a full-fledged priest. Thus in “Corporate Philanthropy held in five to six years the parents were assured a gift of Rs 10,000 irrespective „ of whether the boy wished to pursue the business and corporate cornmun- further studies at the madressa or not. This scheme has already been intro ­ duced on a three-year trial basis for a view to may be continued if more boys take Advancement of Philanthropy (CAP). Rs 5,000. But subsequently it was de- New Delhi, a need was felt to stren- INCW Lycilll, a iivvu ----- f- -- r , ehten the philanthropic activities of service-oriented groups in the areas ot ® _ ____________ J -Pir*oi-»fQVCitinn lflW_ ity. A group of industrialists, donors etc. .. „ and social activists came together with < rt ¦5, management, finance, taxation, law, t 1 avuvicio ________ ______ ____ • Serve as a clearing house of informa- iranslate this idealnto reality tion on donor and donee organiza- entrants of the Institute and and .‘Encourage and undertake research Incorporated on Novembe^ i 1986, and critical appraisal of public policies CAP has been registered as a trust cor- affecting philanthropy. uiauuu I------___ • Present and advocate the cause of the utilized entirely for philanthropic work philanthropic community before the media. To fulfill some of these objectives. advantage of it. When the strength of the students at the Cama Institute, .. - ------------o ----------- , equals that of the Athornan Boarding poration whose income and profits are • Madressa, Dadar^this scheme may also be extended to the Dadar Madressa. The 14 students at the Cama Insti ­ tute are sent to the government recog ­ nized and approved Seth Madhavdas Amersey High School for academic along the following lines, studies up to SSC (Secondary School < and enjoys tax exemption under Sec- government, public bodies and the tion 80-G of the Income Tax Act, ^^To beein with CAP desires to work seminars at Bombay and Ahmedabad . ® . .. . _ .1 „ troininti ramn at Denial! 31UU1V3 u iv- __ ___ J _________ • Build a comprehensive base of in- Certificatel Thev are also given free formation on the flow of philanthropic — ----------- . _ Certificate), iney a g funds, on donor organizations, public H.T. Parekh, an active philanthropist and a two-day training camp at Deolaii were held. The chairman of the Centre is Mr 7. boarding, lodging, clothes, books, etc. Tata Housing. Building magnificent new ideas in IB\ housing comfort. In keeping with their spirit of innovt^on. Toto Housing has designed a wholly different concept in living — a concep! that represents comfort at its apartments, splendid views, peaceful surroundings and if- r "A //<; "o St- r> 9 Parsiana December 1987 V (tJpiws-Jiiis wiiiiuii < luxurious, spacious .i peaceful surroundings and excellent amenities. Beautifying and enhancing the quality of living — the guiding philosophy of Tata Housing. Tata Housing Development Co. Ltd. D-20. Dhanroi Mahal 2nd Floor Ch. Shivoji Marg ’ Apollo Bunder Bombov rlOO 039 ? Tel ¦ 2026607 2026427 2026556 II xj 011-3234 IAIN IN 8 3^ a i *5lit ir ei-.'. ij •• '4 «* t L i i ! 'i' i-a; r; 4^- !-X>' ' .-i ;i .1 . 1 'ft and chairman of Housing Develop- Friends of Moral Re-Armament (India), disposal.-We also cannot afford to pay ment Finance Corporation (HDFC). f " The founder directors of CAP are Mr Centre for Advancement of Philan- the Agiary. We request you to contri- R.R. Chari, recently retired Commis- thropy, C/o J.N. Marshall Pvt Ltd, bute your mite towards the funds and sioner of Income Tax (Trust Circle) Mistry Mansion, fourth floor, 10.7 maintenance of this Agiary. Cheques. ¦ Bombay; Mr Darius Forbes, indus- M.G. Road, Bombay 400023. in the name of the “Amroli Parsee " trialist and chairman of J.N. Marshall noshir h. dadrawala Zarthoshti Anjuman ” may be sent to Foundation; Mr Ramu Pandit, secret ­ ary general, Indian Merchant ’s Cham- . , ber; Mr R.M. Lala, author, journalist Auiroll Agiary appeal and director of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust; The agiary at Amroli village near and Mr Arvind Deshpande, director, Surat, established by the late Mr Hor- Trusteeship Foundation and honorary masji Bomanji Wadia, is well over 184 secretary of Leslie Sawhney Program- years old. me of Training for Democracy. In the early years, there being a siz- our functions at the Jeejeebhoy We request you to enroll your able Parsi population in Amroli, the Dadabhoy Agiary at Colaba antf they company/trust/organization or your need for an agiary was felt. Our fore- just can ’t find the place. A prominent own self as a member of CAP. To date fathers were carpenters working in a signboard should direct the way. HDFC, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Mar- factory in the vicinity. With the pas- Furthermore, the Agiary is on such a shall Charitable Foundation and Sir sing of time, people migrated to places dark road that it is difficult to find the Ratan Tata Trust are our patron mem- like Bombay, Valsad, Surat and place. bers while Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Bhusaval and the Parsi population in Bhogilal Leherchand Foundation and Amroli declined. There are, however, at the corner of the lane leading to the The Sardar Dastur Schools ’ Trust are still some poor Parsi families in Amroli Agiary, which has been removed. Per- our institutional members. Our long who travel to Surat daily for their sons in charge of the Agiary should list of associate members includes The work. look into the matter and have an illu- National Association for the Blind, Society for the Rehabilitation for Crip- cope with the ever increasing costs of original site, pled Children, Anjuman-I-Islam, repairs and maintenance of the Agiary Y.W.C.A., Saurashtra Trust, and from the meager funds available at our ...... . - .. - « For further information Write to the the salary to the priest looking after NOSHiRH. DADRAWALA Zarthoshti Anjuman ” may be sent to Executive Secretary. CAP g g Amrolia, 568 Pushpavati Build ­ ing, fourth floor, Chira Bazar, Bom ­ bay 400002. S B. AMROLIA Which way Colaba Agiary? These days many non-Parsis attend our functions at Formerly, there used to be a board, In these critical times, we cannot minated signboard reinstated at the Ms K. MEHTA Edited by Niloofer J. Madon MATCH YOUR AMBITION TO A CAREER To do so we offer you: ? Diploma Course in Business Management (Postal) (IMC) ? Banking: C.A.I.I.B. Course (Postal) ? Executive Secretarial Course ? Private Secretarial Course ? Steno Secretarial Course ? Personal Assistants ’ Programme (for working stenographers) 2 _ *3 * Telephone Operating ? Telex Operating ? Telephone Operating-cum-Receptionist Techniques ? Shorthand and Typewriting Punch Operating and Data Entry ? PLUS Electronic Typewriting and Word Processing Enquire at: Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk Bombay 400 023 Tel. 2871185 10 Parsiana December 1987 ¦ Sr- # Events and Personalities -' ii? \ . f ” Roads renamed ing of Mangalore Street, Mereweather khana grounds. “On some days we Road, behind the Taj Mahal Hotel, actually had to close the gates for short To honor the late Adi Marzban, for- was renamed B.K. Boman-Behram intervals of time, ” notes the commit- mer Editor of Jam-e-Jamshed, the Marg to commemorate the former tee chairperson Ms Homai Modi with Bombay Municipal ” - - - (BMC) renamed Mangalore Street where stands the Jam-e-Jamshed Courier of November 30, 1987. press, to Adi Marzban Path. At a func ­ tion held on December 4, president of man-Behram ’s name on November 28, over 60 stalls for sale and display of Bombay Regional Congress (I) Com- 1987, Murli Deora said, “(He) always merchandise. mittee Murli Deora unveiled the sign- fought for the secular and cosmopolitan post, as reported in the Jame the next character of Bombay, ” notes the Sun- were a runaway hit. Said Modi, “We day. On the occasion, corporator day Mid-day of November 29, 1987. Marazban Patrawala referred to Adi Marzban ’s contribution to the field of man of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, other sections included shopping theater. “His plays were a great rage Boman-Behram served several terms arcade, games section, amusement • among the Parsi as well as the Gujarati as municipal corporator. “He fought park equipped with giant wheel, community, ” he noted. for the underdog, handling many cases merry-go-round, chairoplane, rope- Municipal corporator Kanti Dhulla free of cost. And his patronage of way and mini train, and a 600-seater said, “Adi saheb was a great source of night schools for children who were auditorium, with a daily change prog ­ inspiration to me. When I started my forced to work for a living during the ram, which filled to capacity each career at the Jame press and was on day is well-known, ” notes the report, evening. “Many stood in the aisles, ” probation for four months, he said that rp. pi f r* * I informed Modi. he would just give me pocket money. r latinum varilivai There were nearly 200 entries for But he paid me Rs 400. I was most The hard work of the B.D. Petit the fancy dress competition which was surprised. He has contributed a great Parsee General Hospital ’s fund raising in three sections - the under nines, the deal to my success. ” committee paid off with nearly 70,000 under 16s, and open, says Modi who is “Adi Marzban has become immor- Bombayites visiting its Platinum Car- happy with the response from schools. tai in the Parsi as well as the Gujarati nival spanning the third week of The music competition featuring in ­ community, ” Rustom Tirandaz representing the Wadala and Dadar constituencies. Parsee General Hospital’s fete: “Whenever a road or town has been attracting Bombayites renamed after somebody, people usually tend to forget it. But this is a living example that people will associ ­ ate this road not only with a short Jam- e-Jamshed Editor, but a true soul that lived amongst us, ” he continued. Another gesture in memory of the late actor-director, is the organization ’ of an English play-writing competi ­ tion, notes the Jam-e-Jamshed of October 17, 1987. The “original star team ” of the legen ­ dary Ah Norman, Hosi Vasunia and Bomsie Nicholson, have dedicated their latest play. Lend me a Tenor, to the memory of Marzban. A part of the pro ­ ceeds of this new play wdll be used to ­ wards the competition, adds the report. Almost a week prior to the renam- Corporation mayor of Bombay who resided there, evident satisfaction. , notes The Afternoon Despatch and Inaugurated by Member of Parlia ­ ment and film personality Sunil Dutt, Garlanding the signboard bearing Bo- the fete was designed to accommodate notes r/ie Afternoon Despatch and Some sections like the food stalls had catered to non-Parsis also and the A lawyer by profession and chair- response was big enough. ” The fete ’s The Platinum Carnival declared corporator November, 1987 on the Parsee Gym- strumental and vocal categories in In ­ dian and western classical music had around 40 entries. The carnival king, carnival queen and Florence Nighting ­ ale contests lured about 15 contestants each while more than 50 infants less than two years old lined up for, the healthy baby competition. Apart from donations from indi ­ viduals and corporations, the Taj Group of Hotels, Britannia Industries, Mafatlal Fabrics, Gazdar Jewellers, Grand Bazar, Lakm6, Aristocrat and Cadbury ’s figured among those pro ­ viding gifts and prizes. All stalls had been rented out “on a lump sum basis. The profit or loss was their concern, ” notes Modi. An important feature was the diabe ­ tic and hypertension detection camp sponsored by the Lions and Lioness I Club of Byculla. Doctors Ms Piloo I Sahiyar, Ms Ami Buhariwalla, Minoo Vi-.J >I-' ’fiV f 1 I ^¦1 Wadia, Noshir Hardvaid and Tehem- ¦¦|| ton Bhathena were among those who gave freely of their time to test the visi- tors. Of the over 423 cases they tested by November 21, over 100 were diabe- tic and an equal number suffered from hypertension, informed Sahiyar. The H||H camp had been cosponsored by Hoechst Pharmaceuticals and Bohringer-Knoll. Kharas resigns from AET The beleaguered Athravan Education ­ al Trust (AET) received yet another setback when its young managing trus ­ tee Ms Huzan Kharas resigned on .. • r- j -.i. November 5, 1987 quoting “personal Bahram. The other trustees remain (Left) Kharas: dissatisfied with AEl ’ w , . or 1 . • TT i c/iMuj/zr/f M rr fha nrfv reasons for her decision. r According to various sources, Khar- Asphandiar Dadachanji, Burjor Bhar- as was increasingly dissatisfied with ucha, Khojeste Mistree, Jamshed Pan- the working of the Trust and had twice dey, Shehnaz Munshi, ShCrnaz Panth- asked to see the account books. But aky and Limji Nanabhoy. when meetings were arranged for her to scruilllixc UIC BWUUUIS, ixuoim ulu - . - no inQ-T not attend. An AET trustee who This year ’s Bombay Arts Festival, from November 16 to 22, 1987. 7 - •’*T j; s t. Naoroji Godrej, Homi Ranina, Pochkhanawala: stimulating the arts ringbone textures. “I wanted to be in ­ dividual, so I sought a different texture for my paintings, ” says Ms Kashmira Kerman Elavia who exhibited 30 oil paintings at the Chetana Art Gallery _____________ __ _______J________ Since brushes “don ’t give a nice fin- sculptures by fresh young talent and an ish ” with the Apcolite tin enamels she _ __________ ____________ -1 uses, Elavia controls her colors by dedicated to the late sculptress Pilloo more unorthodox means. “I pour the ¦ enamel paints onto the canvas, roll it. Tribute to a sculptress to scrutinize the accounts, Khar as did livrv uvvWAAva* a. -• —- ------ - - « •! • •• wished to remain anonymous noted, which included “a 16-day exhibition of “A lot of common friends tried to t make her see reason and talk it out eight-day multidisciplinary arts festival across the table, but it seemed to fall t on deaf ears. ” After several attempts Pochkhanawala, was inaugurated at _ ... . . « T J I lk T _ 'L T on UCdl cars. zvilCl JCVViai anvinpio X ---------- --- * .JI when Pflr5iflnfl finally contacted Khar- the Nehru Centre on November 15,' use my fingers, a serrated knife a as she refused to be interviewed. notes The Times of India of November comb, the back of a paintbrush...For When the AET was formed on May 19,1987. this one, she indicates a flower study, 11 loss nart nf the criticism was Pochkhanawala had organized the “I laid a sheet of glass on the painting. 11 1985 part of the criticism was Pochkhanawala had organized the “I laid a sheet of glass on the painting, aimed at the wide powers given to the first Bombay Arts Festival in 1966 with lifted it off, and then ran a wall paint Enamels being more fluid than tube paints, one can get various effects by mixing paints in different ways. One managing trustee. The criticism was all the vision of arranging “interdisciplin- roller over it. the more strident on account of her ary dialogues to stimulate the arts, youth and inexperience. Kharas ’ in- ’ . - - ..... volvement with the priesthood stem ­ med from a thesis she undertook on social work. The thesis itself became a of November^ 16, 1987. bone of contention as the methods em- ployed and the statistics gathered were p.-jo - ----------------------------- , —- o questioned. Two of the trustees, Homi Behram, an English play written by to striking effect m one pamtmg of a R ' d Khojeste Mistree further __ _ j u,, u;.. ./..ir-ann Aninttnn where flashes of sui- alienated the Trust from the commun ­ ity by publicly attacking High Priests , . . t Hormazdyar Mirza and Kaikhusroo films from the Film and Television In- JamaspAsa after the priests had writ- —- ten an article critical of the AET. Several meetings were held amongst community activists including the trus ­ tees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet to try and arrive at an understanding on the AET, and though nothing concrete ....... . -------------- -------------- - seemed to materialize, the AET con- make h^r happy. ” brings out her religious feelings on Textured pulntlu,. £ S.S on who the Trust selects as its next A river surged into turbulence through m. . . . u i .4 managing trustee. The acting manag- wrinkles and ripples, volcanoes ac- The inspiration for her landscapes ing trustee is Dastur Dr Firoze Kot- quired a three-dimensional air, and comes from scenes she has viewed wal trustee of the AET and High bright backgrounds were thrown into while travelling, explains Elavia. Priest of the H.B. Wadia Atash prominence by sharply defined her- “They are not exactly as they are m because she felt “all creativity is one. It has the same source within us, ... ----------- ---- meu null, a uuuv,,vv. though it finds different channels of such effect is ‘cracking, ’ where the ap- the subject for her master ’s degree in expression, ” notes the Indian Express plication of pressure causes the upper- — ................... 16, 1937. most layer of paint to form a delicate, The 1987 Festival featured Marathi net-like pattern which reveals the col- plays directed by Atul Pethe, Mister ors beneath. Elavia uses this technique Gieve Patel and^ directed by his wife volcano eruption where flashes of sul- Tony, poetry recitals by young poets phurous yellows and reds, in the roll- presented by Nissim Ezekiel, short ing grey cloud.of smoke and ash, hint ¦ — at the intensity of heat within. . stitute of India, and a classical music “I’m a nature lover, ” says the 28- recital by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. year-old artist, discussing the theme. According to the Express report, Ms nature, of this, her first exhibition. A Khorshed Gandhy, the driving force human being is bound up in so many behind the show, said “Pilloo always ways, but nature is absolutely free. ” longed for interaction between the Her Zoroastrian faith, she says, is arts. I am sure this Festival would closely linked to her paintings, and she make h^r happy. ” Textured paintings What happens now will depend largely managing trustee. The acting manag- wrinkles and ripples, volcanoes ac- • - j ina tnistee is Dastur Dr Firoze Kot- ouired a three-dimensional air, and comes from scenes she has viewed 13 Parsiana December 1987 < ¦S.?' I off to her uncle ’s place for some time ¦ i and is now back with her parents. No 1.1 explanation has been forthcoming as ? 'I to what transpired during her 10-day |L absence. I Ghazal queen ’s latest I Having 14 albums to her credit, ghazal I singer Penaaz Masani has released her I latest two-cassette set, entitled Dil ke I Qareeb, notes The Afternoon Despatch I and Courier of October 30, 1987. I ¦ Barely in her mid-20s, Masani is “the first female solo singer in the non ­ film repertoire ” to get gold discs in In ­ dia for her records Nasha and Dhad- kan, adds the write-up. Masani has given innumerable live and televised performances all over the country and across the world. She also holds the distinction of perform ­ ing for the former President of India, Giani Zail Singh, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. “Inspired by her father Doli Masa- quired about her whereabouts from ni, himself a disciple of Ustad Faiiyaz her tutor. Upon being told that Nilufer Khansaheb of the Agra Gharana, had not attended the tuition that even- Penaaz began her musical training J ing, a community search was orga- under the tutelage of Ustad Aman nized under the guidance of Dadar so- Hussein Khan and (was groomed by) cial worker Ms Mithoo Jesia, for the the late music director, Jaidev... She slim, black-haired schoolgirl. Nilufer still continues her training under her < had fared poorly in a Hindi language guru Madhurani, a renowned artiste. I examination and, fearing retribution, Madhurani has piolded Penaaz ’s I had reportedly fled. The Colony voice, specially her repertoire of ghaz- I search which involved many residents als, both traditional and modern, but ' I combing the streets and bylanes on each in a style uniquely different, ” ” foot, in cars and on two-wheelers with notes the report. had done her BA, a diploma course in a microphone, calling out to the mis ­ journalism, and MA, Elavia started sing girl, proved futile and was Called SPOTLIGHT her training with artist Abid Surti. off at around 2 a.m. ~ [ “I started all the way from drawing A police complaint was filed and in Bengalee Girls ’ High School repre- straight lines, expanding on the lines, the next few days reports appeared in sentative Farzeen Mistry set a new re- a quick sketch to show the kind of ex- people who had any information on School and Junior Colley Aquatic sketches...Then I went on to water ga Police Station or the Criminal In ­ colors, colored inks and oil paintings. After three years of training and Branch. She was described as “wear ­ working with Surti, Elavia launched ing a red dress with white sleeves when out on her own. Now, she would like she left the house. She is four-and-a- 35.9 seconds. Mistry broke the earlier to be commissioned to paint canvases, half feet tall, has a fair complexion record of 36.3 seconds, set by Monaz or calendars and cards for companies, with short hair, and a fresh wound on Mistry in 1984, notes the report. “Whatever I am asked to do, I would her right ankle. ” bring out the best in my way - or in whichever way I am asked to do it, ” she says confidently. Missing girl found When 13-year-old Nilufer Adil Daru- wala did not return to her residence at the Mancherji Joshi Parsi Colony, Dadar, from her private tuition on real life, ” she points out. “They are the way I perceived them. I would de ­ scribe my paintings as a very free way of bringing out nature on canvas - but, at the same time, it is not abstract art. ” However, in order to allow others to interpret them free of preconceived notions, Elavia gives her paintings - priced from Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000 - numbers rather than names. A freelance journalist, Elavia started painting seriously only recent ­ ly. “I’ve always loved painting, ” she says. “As a child I used to paint, but only on small-sized canvas boards. My dad said, ‘Finish your academic train- , ing first. ’” So, five years ago, after she L** ^7 I S'& u% »: ’’j sHI "M •1 ¦is ¦ * <«> » »» * «¦ s» ' ' * » • « • f “I started all the way from drawing Minoo Masani handing over cassette set Dil Ke Qareeb to Penaaz Masani (Left) Elavia with her painting of volcanoes November 17, 1987, her parents in- . exploiting the lines... ” - she scribbles nearly all the Bombay papers, asking cord at the Eleventh Annual Inter L -J______________________________________________________ - r - r - ercises she had to do - “cubism, line her whereabouts to contact the Matun- Championships held at the YMCA swimming pool on November 10, notes r/ie Indian Post of November 12, 1987. Covering 50 meters by backstroke in vestigation Department, Crime Joy Fernandes After 10 days, on November 27, the Executive director of New India Daruwalas received a call saying that Assurance Freddy K. Daruwalla has their daughter had been found in the been nominated as a member on the Maharashtra town of Pandharpur, board of Philips India. He represents around 311 kms from Bombay. Her the financial institutions, notes The grateful parents inserted an advertise- Afternoon Despatch and Courier of ment in the Jam-e-Jamshed of Decern- October 17, 1987. ber 6 to “thank everyone who helped ------------------------------------- ------------ us in this effort. ” Nilufer was whisked Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka 16, Parsiana December 1987 I-;ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD The senseless killing of Navroze Mody Porus Cooper The group of teenagers who allegedly killed Mody were permitted pre-trial release to attend school! New Jersey - It was a senseless killing, left their Jersey City home. When they of his parents, who was full of good the kind that gives life in urban Amer- returned that evening, Navroze was humor, spoke well of his friends and ica its patina of fear. not home. Hours later came a phone colleagues, enjoyed his work as a man- The victim and his assailants did not call telling them he was in a hospital, ager in the credit-card department at know each other. Evidently, the victim Navroze, his father learned, had New York ’s giant Citicorp, and was gave no provocation, definitely no- been picked up by a business friend, highly regarded there. The company thing that justified the fatal beating he The two had dirven to the Gold Coast had selected him to receive one of its received. He was walking down a Cafe in nearby Hoboken to have din- awards for outstanding employees. He street with a friend, not too late in the ner and celebrate Navroze ’s recent did not live to find out. evening, minding his business, when promotion at work. When they Two years ago, Citicorp had re- he was accosted, taunted, mercilessly emerged, they were accosted by about cruited him right out of the highly re ­ assaulted and left to die. a dozen young toughs, including some spected University of Chicago, where Yet, were it not for the context in girls. The group first badgered and he received an MBA (master of busi- ness administration) degree. He had At least one of the received an undergraduate degree ¦ from another top educational institu- “Everything was done so fast, a mi- tion, the University of California at 30-year-old Navroze Mody in nute or two, ” Diane Mody said from Berkeley. Hoboken, New Jersey (NJ), would her home in West Orange, NJ. When “We depended on him, ” said Jam- have barely made it off the police blot- it ended, Navroze lay unconscious on shid Mody, who meant that in the ters. For perfectly innocent people are the sidewalk. His friend, a white emotional, not financial, sense. The victimized in American cities about as American, apparently was unscathed older Mody has retired from the real often as railway commuters slip to but dazed. estate business and once ran a res ­ their deaths in Bombay. Rarely does Jamshid Mody said doctors told him taurant in London, whence he and his the trauma reach beyond the victim ’s the attack had left his son with a frac- family emigrated to the United States, family and friends. tured skull, severed spinal cord, sepa- But the Mody ’s grief would have re- Jamshid Mody, 73, says his son had rated eyes, and severely damaged mained private had not the killing cap- • not an enemy in the world. He and the ears. “No human being could do ped a series of attacks, verbal and rest of the family - Navroze ’s mother that, ” he said. physical, on the growing Indian com- Khorshed, 70; his sisters Diane and Repeatedly, he and his daughter Di- munity in Jersey City and next-door Perviz, and others - are shattered and ane remarked upon the ferocity of the Hoboken across the Hudson River bewildered, especially by the savagery assault. They have found it impossible from New York. of the killing. to understand how such brutality could Whether or not Navroze Mody was The older Mody said, he, his wife be visited upon a “gentle and loving ” singled out because he was of Indian and visiting relatives had left for an ex- person who reportedly told his attack- origin is a matter of contention The cursion to Atlantic City that Septem- ers he had no desire to fight. police report does not mention such a ber morning. He recalled that Navroze The picture drawn by Jamshid Mody motive, according to Hudson County was reading a newspaper when they is of a young man who took good care assistant prosecutor John Molinari. X VI) WVXV 11 4IWV XV/X mV XXX --- ---------- ---------------- which the crime took place - the fact then attacked Navroze, a slender five- that the attack was the brutal exclama- foot-nine. tion point after a series of outrages assailants used a brick, against Indians - news of the death of 30-year-old Navroze Mody in Hoboken, New Jersey (NJ), would her home in West Orange, NJ. When the sidewalk. His friend, a white emotional, not financial, sense. The Jamshid Mody said doctors told him taurant in London, whence he and his tured skull, severed spinal cord, sepa- Repeatedly, he and his daughter Di- munity in Jersey City and next-door person who reportedly told his attack- origin is a matter of contention The 1 The picture drawn by Jamshid Mody motive, according to Hudson County 19 Parsiana December 1987*3 t'i a n t fl ( « I J; Apparently, too, the assailants with the police, an assertion contested the demeanor of one of the suspects I taunted their bald victim with cries of by Indians who said their complaints during a court hearing dismayed Jam- | “baldy, baldy ” and “Kojak, Kojak, ” wefe routinely ignored. shid Mody. Masson said the commit- | (a reference to the TV detective play- Then, on Sunday . September 27, tee would help the Modys take legal i ed by bald actor Telly Savalas) as well Mody was attacked. He died four days action against the suspects under the as “Hindu, Hindu. ” Mody had total later - and four days before what civil rights statutes if the youths re ­ alopecia. would have been his thirty-first birth- ceived lenient treatment in their cn- For the Indian community, howev- day. minal trial. er, the killing was racially motivated “You need a tragedy to arouse peo- In a demonstration of their new re- and it was the last straw. About 1,000 pie, unfortunately, ” said Masson, who solve, she reported, a group of Indians showed up at a protest rally in Jersey had played a prominent role in orga- had successfully demanded the release City although the October day was un- nizing the Indian community anti de- of two young men who were detained usually cold and blustery, said Ms fiantly wore a sari to the October pro- by Jersey City police after they armed Lalitha Masson, one of the organizers, test. If there was fear among the com- themselves with sticks following an For two years, according to Masson, munity, the death of Mody seems to attack on their car. The police who is a medical practitioner and long- have turned it to anger. “Initially we arrested the victims, ” Masson said, time resident of Jersey City, insults were very disturbed and felt unsafe, ” For the long terrn, the activists aje had been hurled at Indians, women in saris had been harassed, Indian chil ­ dren had been taunted in schools, anti ­ Indian graffiti had been found on walls reportedly of Hispanic origin - have and inside elevators, and Indian- I ' ' ' owned property had been vandalized, degree murder, and Jamshid Mody is ting money from the government to set And there were beatings. not the only one anxious to see the up businesses. No, all of the Patels Days before the attack on Mody, guilty punished. who fill the area phone book are not the local Jersey Journal newspaper published an article containing ex ­ tracts from an anonymous anti-Indian letter from someone claiming to repre ­ sent a hate group called “Dotbusters. ” The name played on the title of a popular escapist movie called Ghost­ busters. The ‘dot ’ in question was the youth of the suspects. bindi (ornamental mark on the fore- I---- , head) worn by many Indian women, cularly embittered by the pre-trial re- Among the Indians ’ sympathizers Whether such a group actually exists lease of the four into “house arrest. are the better educated among their and picks its targets is anybody ’s A Hudson County judge ordered the American neighbors and enlightened guess. But Dotbusters - like Paki- teenagers out of a youth detention local politicians who acknowledge that : • ’ ' ’ . . .. J --1—1 g significant amount of the economic , revitalization of the area is the result told Parsiana that he had recom- of the industry and thrift of its Indian mended against the release. He also newcomers. J _ . ¦ What has also heartened Jamshid j pCcts tried as adults, making them li- Mody, Lalitha Masson and other ; able to a stiffer sentence if convicted, Jersey City Indians are the calls and the “You need a tragedy to arouse peo- test. If there was fear among the com ­ munity, the death of Mody seems to were very disturbed and felt unsafe, ” For the long term, the activists are Masson said. “After the rally we made planning to organize seminars and it clear that we won ’t stand by.” other events, especially in local Four youths - all aged 15 to 17, all schools, to try to remove misconcep- ¦ ¦ ¦ ’ ; tions about Indians in the largely blue- been arrested and chargecT with first collar towns: No, Indians are not get- other events, especially I not the only one anxious to see the Masson said an ad hoc committee, one huge family, formed by five local Indian organiza- local politicians and law enforcement has been severly beaten in Jersey City. were no arrests as of late November - are not known. Kausal has emerged from a coma, but is in a confused state Mody and other Indians were parti- of mind, Masson said. cularly embittered by the pre-trial re- ’ ’ ’ lease of the four into “house arrest. ” : : : - Meanwhile, yet another Indian, a tions, had met frequently, petitioned young doctor named Saran Kausal, officers for justice and prepared The motives of his attackers - there strategies for a trial whose outcome is uncertain especially because of the teenagers out of a youth detention local politicians who acknowledge that bashing some years ago in London and center so they could attend school. Canada - quickly became the anti ­ Indian battle cry of young, street ­ corner toughs in the mainly working ­ class white and Hispanic area. Many of said he was pressing to have the sus- them were interviewed on local televi- j sion. According to Jersey City author- than if they were tried as juveniles, ities, few Indians lodged complaints . Molinari, who is prosecuting the case. Jersey City Indians are the calls and letters of support from fellow-Indians The judge ’s apparent leniency and from around the United States. 20 Parsiana December 1987 VIDEO SHOOTING The First Parsee Outstanding Lady Armaity R. Bamanbehram Free colourful scroll titles with beautiful effects. Latest equipment and many other facilities. Guarantees Video Shooting with professional touch. Audio-dubbing music of your choice. Demonstration tape at home service to judge our professional quality and superior work. No sub contracting. Colour photography at reasonable rates. Transferring of super 8 mm movies is also done. For Wedding, Navjote, Parties and other functions. Res : 822 6074 No. 6, Khareghat Colony, Hughes Road, Bombay 400007,Jto •*.'5;/. N-' ¦I*’ •ir / ** if y? t /’J J SV" " rH * I • q >1. : ZQRQASTRIANS ABROAD h 'I J H ‘ CnnoTPcs hplH by March 1, 1988 will De upaatea ar ton. The theme of the confereftce, 1 ouin IIVIU congress. organized by the Houston Association A proclamation by the Mayor of Los Furthermore, North American and its Youth Group, is “How can we Angeles, Tom Bradley, declared Associations have been requested to bring about a Zoroastrian Renaissance September 5 to 7 1987 as “Zoroas- nominate representatives for a project in North America? ” It aims at de- trian Youth Congress Days in the city called Helping Hands Network among veloping leadership from amongst the of Los Angeles, ’’in honor of the First Zoroastrians. The Network will act as youth of the community, to give the North American Zoroastrian Youth the point of contact between persons young an. opportunity to exchange Congress held there. 1 . “The purpose of this Congress was to give it. The Network project, to bring together the youth to share undertaken by Rattan Appoo of Cali- and discuss ideas and solutions to to- fornia, should be active by February 1, Moreover, the First North Amer ­ ican Zoroastrian Youth Leadership by March 1, 1988 will be updated at of Los Angeles, ” in honor of the First Zoroastrians. The Network will act as in need of help and associations willing ideas, and to develop a white paper to ¦ be read at the Sixth North American j Zoroastrian Congress to be held in Toronto next year. Each association has been requested to send two repre ­ sentatives for the Conference. The Youth Congress itself was very > comprehensive. Registration was fol- , I- ; gress chairperson Meher Amalsad af- . 4 'J' k- •' i 1 4 W' T’ V M i'l 1 {< M' I ‘t’ 11 I day ’s problems along with motivating 1988. the youth in steering the future of the Moreover, the First North Amer- Zoroastrian community, ” noted Shir- ican - -------------- ------- oy Ranji outlining the three days of Conference was slated t^o be^^hcl^(£at the Congress in a report attached to II—T-.:-: the September/October newsletter of weekend, notes Kaemerz Dotiwala, , u *1, the Zoroastrian Association of Grea- member of the executive committee of tej which Jhe proclamation by^ the ter New York (ZAGNY). “The result the Zoroastrian Association of Hous- was a Congress which was very stimu ­ lating, highly productive and a great success. ” Sponsored by the Zoroastrian Asso ­ ciation of California (ZAC) and orga ­ nized by the youth committees of the Association as well as that of the Cali ­ fornia Zoroastrian Center, the Con ­ gress was attended by about 450 peo ­ ple, who came from various parts of North America, India, Iran, Pakistan and Singapore, as noted the ZAC newsletter The Zoroastrian (August and September, 1987). The executive board of the Congress comprised Meher Amalsad, chairper ­ son, Ms Roshan Motivala, program chairperson, Saghar Javanshir, secret ­ ary, Farhad Arjani, treasurer, Perviz Mazdiyasni, correspondence and printing, Minoo Katrack, travelling and transportation, Feridoon Goshtas ­ bi, cultural and social activities and Rattan Appoo, reception and accom ­ modation. Three months after the Congress, follow-up action has already begun. In a letter to the executive committees of different Zoroastrian associations in North America, Farshid Sohrabi and Sarosh Motivala, both of California, wish to undertake the publishing of a pen-friendship directory as also another directory listing all the Zoroastrian youth in North America in an attempt to develop “an effective communication channel among the Zoroastrian youth in North America. ” The directories, expected to be ready Houston, Texas over the Christmas lowed by a welcome address by Con- Left column: Amalsad, Arjani, Katrack and Appoo Right column: Javanshir, Mazdiyusni and Goshtasbi Mayor of Los Angeles was read. A ‘ hambandagi led by seven local priests followed. Nine sessions spread over j the two days of the Congress were ; chaired by Cyrus Irani, Dr Mehrdad 1 Zomorrodi, Daraius Captain and Ms Artemis Javanshir. ; The papers presented at the sessions were: “Good and evil; Great thoughts and mine ” by Aadil Palkhivala, “The gift of Vohu-Mano'" by Dariush 4 Keyani, “High hopes for our next gen- = eration ” by Dr Mehran Sepehri, “Our , greatest challenge - the preservation of our ancient religion ” by Bozorg- mehr Sohrabi, “The mandate for , world-wide unity and peace ” by Ms Paridokht Kayani, “Fresh-o-Karati - the mandate for a bright future ” by ; Erach Maneksa Singpurwala, “The blessing of Zoroastrian unity ” by Sarosh Motivala, “Unity among j Zoroastrians through daena” by ; Farhad Sidhwa, and “Z.oroastrian 4 prosperity through unity ” by Ms Shara Godiwalla. The workshops on both the days dis ­ cussed “How to adapt to the trends of the western society and still maintain I one ’s Zoroastrian identity ” and “Zoroastrians are considered as fire worshippers! ” Moreover, at a special meeting of the association delegates, suggestions | to improve future congresses, and the problems faced by the youth associa ­ tions were discussed. A cultural show on the evening of the first day of the Congress comprised a p\ay - The Divine Principles of j* * " >•» * (,''*< Celebrating a centenary ¦ *4 ¦ 1 A ‘Sy J^K by Dr Ali Jafarey - based on the notes Irani. Meher-Homji, in turn, Gathas — followed' by a folk dance by credits her with, "What your new edi- Iranians and a garba by the Parsis. The tor lacks in age, she makes up (for) in Chicago Shuffle put up by the dele- enthusiasm, determination and ta- gates from Chicago, was followed by a lent. ” light drama depicting the travails of an orthodox Parsi family on arriving at the Los Angeles airport “complete To celebrate Ardeshir Dhunjibhoy ’s with mathu-banu (white head-scraf), hundredth roj birthday (according to tapelas (copper vessels) and copra (de- the Parsi calendar) on November 4 this ssicated coconut) powder mistaken for year, a grand dinner was organized by cocaine by the customs officials, ” notes Ranji in the ZAGNY report. Subsequent evenings included a disco chairman and trustee of the Anjuman. dance and a barbeque picnic. “It is a credit to this grand old man The Second North American that even at this age he stays alone in Zoroastrain Youth Congress has been scheduled in September 1988 over the labor day weekend at Chicago. For more information write to Ms Dinsoo D. Rivetna, C/o ZAC, 8615 Meadow ­ brook Drive, Hinsdale, Illinois 60521. Excellence awards At the Sixth North American Zoroas ­ trian Congress to be held in Toronto, Canada, from April 1 to 3, 1988, the ' Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO) has decided to initiate three North American Zoroastrian Awards of Ex­ cellence, notes the November issue of the newsletter of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitian Chicago, The awards are divided into three categories - student, scholar and life cooking and has kept fit, ” notes Ba- assistants assigned to these classes with excellence - and all Zoroastrians resid- jina. a total student enrollment of 1,200. ing in North America are eligible. “The rules governing nominations and the nomination forms have been made available to all Zoroastrian asso ­ ciations of North America, or these School Certificate examination. He may be obtained directly by writing to the ZSO, 3590 Bayview Avenue, Wil ­ lowdale, Canada M2M - 3S6,” adds met and married Aimai. Later he re- Institute of Technology-(IIT), Kanpur the write-up. turned to Mombasa where he joined in 1979. When at IIT, Langdana was „ _ , . . the army at the age of 54 until the end fhe general secretary of the Society of Saiety down under of World War II. During this period he Civil Engineers and was also editor of An electronic burglar alarm, hooked lost his wife and one of his two sons, their magazine. He has participated in, via a telephone to the nearest police The other is currently living in the UK, written and directed his own English station has been installed at tha AZA adds the release. plays at the Institute, and was IIT’s House of the Australian Zoroastrian p „ . . hockey goalkeeper. Association of New South Wales, fol- “dpcr lOr economists school, Langdana was awarded •lowing an unsuccessful attempt to Dr Farrokh Keki Langdana was sche- the Cathedral School Principal ’s Merit • break into the premises, notes presi- duled to present a paper at the Amer- Scholarship for four years and the dent Purviz Kolsawalla in the October ican Economic Conference in Novem- School Honour ’s prize twice. In sports Manashni. ber 1987, at Washington DC, notes a he represented his house in hockey, press release. A professor at the Rut- swimming and cricket, was seeded Manashni, the AZA newsletter, now gers University, New Jersey, Lang- third in squash, and was an Air Wing has a new 17-year-old editor, Qiana dana teaches macroeconomic theory cadet at the National Cadet Corps for Irani. She replaces the prolific Kersi and international trade to MBA and two years. Meher-Homji, who “has single hand- PhD students and publishes articles in edly written, published and distributed leading economic journals. --------------------------------------------------- Manashni for the last few years, ” as ~ the Mombasa Parsi Anjuman, notes a press release sent by Homi Bajina, s a J »(Sa ; - 1.’ If ' ‘ •tt^ North ¦ (kt Langdana: scholarly achievement (Left) Dhunjibhoy: a creditable 100 years Langdana has only recently completed his PhD in economics from the Virgi ­ nia Polytechnic Institute and State University in May 1987. He joined the Virginia Institute to earn an MBA degree in finance. While at the Institute he was chief teaching assistant to Professor Allan Mandel - Stamm in the department of econo ­ mics from 1983 to 1986. His responsi ­ bilities involved the administration of seven undergraduate classes in econo ­ mics which required the supervision the community flat, does his own and coordination of seven graduate jina. Born on November 28, Dhunjibhoy After his MBA, he trained at the lost his parents at an early age and was Mutual of Omaha at Roanke, Virginia brought up at the Bombay Orphanage for a year after which he enrolled for from where he passed his Higher the doctoral program. A student of Cathedral and John came to Mombasa as a shorthand typ- Connon School in Bombay, Langdana ist in 1917 and on a trip to Zanzibar had earlier graduated from the Indian Paper for economists Twenty-nine-year-old Bombay-born compiled by NUoofer J. Madon 23 Parsiana December 1987 3 1 'i: pl c. • r ;iI i ' ..S'-', «• i i '¦ r MEDICINE ? 1' '11 Funding dental education The new Zoroastrian Dental Organisation Charitable Trust will contribute Rs 50,000 to admit one Parsi student into a dental college every year Arnavaz S. Mama At least one Parsi student scoring ovei^ added. “A student with 88 percent Federation president and Bombay Parsi 60 percent marks in the Higher Secon- marks just scrapes in. In our days we Punchayet chairman. Dr Aspi Golwalla dary Certificate examination will be couldn ’t dream of 80 percent! ” Sur- informed the gathering, it had not opted able to go into dentistry in June 1988, veyor exclaimed. to take similar action because it had thanks to the initiative of the Zoroas- The ZDO Charitable Trust, which is been informed that the government in- trian Dentists Organisation (ZDO) in the process of being registered, will tendedtoabolishthesystemofcapita- which has booked a seat in the Manip- : ’ . " al College of Dentistry at a capitation Doctor said. Criteria by which to pick veyor exclaimed. The ZDO Charitable Trust, which is been informed that the government in- also apply for income tax exemption, tion fees. . , . ‘ Part of the funds would be used to of Rs 50,000. The Organisation is hop- the “lucky student ” are yet to be de- finance an Aided Dental Centre to ing to convert it into a regular arrange- ,••• • - • ment by building up a corpus of at der the full cost or involve the parents cost to those children and senior least seven lakh rupees whose annual to some measure in the financing, will citizens amongst the community who income would pay for the seat. The be decided later also. Doctor added. cannot afford the fees of private den- 90-member ZDO has itself generated The buying of one seat in dentistry for tists, notes a printed appeal cosigned one lakh rupees before turning to the Parsi students marks the first concrete by such well-known dentists as Fall wider community for donations. step taken by a section of the commun- Mehta, Cyrus Daruwalla, Porus Tur- The announcement was made by Dr ity in the perplexing problem of acquir- ner, Dinshaw Sorabjee, Keki Mehta, Ratan Doctor, chairman of the First ing seats in professional colleges. The Sam Sahukar, Sorab Javeri, F.e’ World Zoroastrian Dental Congress FSderation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anju- Antia and Doctor. scheduled to be held in Bombay, mans of India has been debating the The First World Zoroastrian Dental February 5 to 7, 1988. A select gather- problem since the past two years; but, as Congress, to be held at the Taj Mahal ing had been invited by the ZDO to a pre-Congress fellowship meet and din- Mistry (speaking), Sahukar, Doctor, Mehta, Daruwalaand Turner ner at the Oberoi ’s Regal Room on November 28, 1987. Doctor noted with gratitude that the Manipal Col ­ lege, a private but government recog ­ nized institution, had reduced their normal capitation fees by half on the representation of the ZDO. He re ­ quested the audience to suggest ways to raise the money. The dentists are worried about the dismal fall in the number of Parsi stu ­ dents going into the dental profession. There are just about 25 open seats in dentistry in the Bombay University area and competition is intense, in ­ formed Dr Aspi Surveyor, professor of oral diagnoses and radiology who is in charge of new admissions to the Gov ­ ernment Dental College. The rest are reserved under a variety of heads, he 25 Parsiana December 1987 "¦'X X V’. ”1' u n 4 4. A* cided; whether the ZDO should shoul- provide dental treatment at nominal C • m a 1 a < 4-L xa _ x x1_ _ . . 1 *1 I 1 • V to some measure in the financing, will citizens amongst the community who be decided later also. Doctor added. < .................. * ‘ The buying of one seat in dentistry for tists, notes a printed appeal cosigned ing seats in professional colleges. The Sam Sahukar, Sorab Javeri, F.E. mans of India has been debating the 1 fi h h ii I I? -^11 n !• I I I [!¦ ' t ’ 3 3 1t& E (' k i ' t E r t 6 ; r ’’ x* ¦ ¦' Z'U' r’’ Hotel, Bombay, will be open to all den ­ tists, Parsi and non-Parsi. Quite a few with very good reputation round the world will participate in the delib^a- tions, noted Dr Pali Mehta, president of the Congress. Papers from all over the world have already begun to come in and Mehta anticipated a “happy and lasting fellowship ’’ blossoming from the Congress. The ZDO organizes a “number of scientific sessions every year in the form of continuing education prog ­ rams, open not only to the dental fraternity but to the medical as well, ’’ notes Dr Sam Sahukar, honorary orga ­ nizing secretary of the Congress. Hence the first session on Pebruary 5 . ¦ , ~ will comprise two technical courses of tnG dental profession two-and-a-half hours each followed by -------------------------- -------------------__ a cocktail party, adds Turner, who along with Dr Sarosh Master is in 250 per head for the spouse and chil- charge of the scientific programs. On dren. Non-Zoroastrian dentists would Congress will be for- need to pay Rs 600 while those only in- z.oroastrian- the late D Udwadia rt^ “X„e„. ’'phyJiciS''al;S a1^kl^'"M' ’rf" 7*'“ “•““‘I’ored abroad who registered brfore'tXivcm^ a booklet. Medical emergencies in den- ’ “ tai practice. That night the dentists will look forward to a banquet. The next day is earmarked for open discus ­ sions to elicit the views of the partici- ascertain volunteered to hold a special show of whether they d like another such con- ' .................. gress in the future, ” said Turner. Registration charges for Zoroastrian dentists are pegged at Rs 400 with Rs The dentists are worried about the dismal fall in the number of Parsi students going into dren. Non-Zoroastrian dentists would need to pay Rs 600 while those only in- I jects, the ZDO will be publishing a souvenir for the Congress. Golwalla . _______ the Parsi Medical Amateurs ’ presenta^ tion Asia Fasia and Pali Poncha, chair ­ man of the Committee for Economic Revival ’s (CER) managing committee suggested that suppliers (of dental re ­ quisites) be urged to contribute by w.ay of donations, agencies or sponsorship. ZDO president Dr Cyrus Daruwala presented a memento to Dr Keki Mis ­ try, PRO for the Congress and the day ’s master of ceremonies, for his achievements in dentistry. Mistry, den ­ tal consultant to the President of In ­ dia and the armed forces, who has au ­ thored three books on dentistry, as noted Daruwala, had received the national Dr B.C. Roy Award for his work in the field of medical relief and welfare in India. This was the second time the award was bestowed upon a Zoroastrian; the late Dr Rustom ------1 specialist, Parsi recipient. Thanking the fraternity. Mistry noted modestly, “I’ve just been lucky...I ’ve just been there and things have come pro- my way... ’’ so at Rs 125 per head. Delegates from had been the first ber 30 paid US $ 60 per person. There ­ after, the rate is US $ 100. To generate funds for its twin 1 For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324. GRXNT road. BOMBAY 400007. TELEPHONE: 371403 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ,. il Parsiana December 1987 ¦f/ j ¦r“Vi w li iHi /'I'# id ti i] ¦Elli f' Hi H-i J'- i.’ Ip H ^3iK "r I T'-i 1 '( ht - II dii. V* ' ¦-Mi"H^4 RELIGION \ ’¦w '’y ’If^jiJ?^ The Sanjan Odyssey A large Zoroastrian audience witnessed the founding of a new dar-e-meher Arnavaz S. Mama. f laying ceremony Which followed. In dedicated agiary goer, Ranina noted question, heard and the time capsule - a consecrated cop- that there was no intention of consec- K V¦ question, nearo and the time capsule - a consecrated cop- that there was no intention of consec- B\ day as per jar - were placed a copper sheet on rating an adarian in view of the many November 22 drew closer, revealed which were inscribed several nirangs "that languished uncared for. The ori- the community s preoccupation with (incantations) ' . ................................. the idea of establishing a new dar-e- usual items plj ¦ meher in Sanjan where currently no - kharak (ha ) in Avesta and all the ginal intention had been to shift to it usual items placed in a ses (silver tray) one of the older fires from the smaller (betel nuts), flowers, sakar (large crys- tion had dwindled to insignificance. At tals of sugar), rice, etc plus the day ’s an interview with Parsiana in October, uewspapers. The jar was covered and Ranina had .explained however that Ranee from Surat made special stops the Yatha ahu vairyo with bricks cere- ciaries was quite uncertain and that at Sanjari station that morning. monially cemented all round it by the some people believed that a conse- - surprise that about assembled dignitaries. crated fire moved over river of stream t The two rituals completed, the focus loses some of its power and lapses to a .u- J . ..... ...... ! it was ? V- r .¦" ... -------------- —“——¦.***..** iiuoi decided to install a dadgah fire t°g®ther^'^ith Dastur Kaikobad, BPP “which, as Kaikobad says, ‘raises itself 4. Memorial Dar-e-Meher heiiHr trustee Eruch Desai and president of to the status of an adarian if prayers ¦ and rituals are maintained continuous- ton Davierwalla were assembled. ly for 12 years, ”’ Ranina noted during Welcoming the gathering in Gujara- the Sanjan speech. *>< UrUlIJUil WilViV VUllClIliy agiary exists. In keeping with the i im- kharak (hard-dried dates), sopari agiaries of Gujarat where the popula- mifc\ 'plz>\izofc> ___1___ J J • ia a. • • • <«. portance of the occasion, the organiz- ers had ensured that the Gujar^ Ex- ..v„aj,upv4o. xnv jm waa vuvcicu anu Kanina naa explained However that ; press from Bombay and the Flying placed in the earth to the chanting of the cooperation of trustees and benefi- KAtlAA tr/MTl Kiiraf rrtorlA PMAmnl xU I 3,000 Parsis disgorged at Sanjan that *£ij . Kiv xvrvxxo luavs auliiv VI llo puwCl dUU IdpS< Sunday morning to witness the jashan of attention shifted to the dais where dadgah (household) fire. Hence And tmindatmn ctrkn^ loirinrr ___ ik <________ 1_ a _i • »-»-« . .. -L S; and foundation stone laying ceremony the directors of Mazda Adarian Trust Memorial Dar-e-Meher being estab- which, as Kmkobad says, ‘raises itself t 1*^ lished by the Mazda Adarian Trust, the Sanjan Stambh Committee Rohin- k ThlcTrilct ic Q nrnnonv 4.^-« rx___i_____ ___________ . « i « and rituals are maintained continuous ­ ly for 12 years I This Trust is a progeny of the directors ' com- ____________ _______ __ ____ panics which has two factories located ti, Davierwafla sought Ahura Mazda^s housing colonies, a blessing on the work that had been soraoji Kookadaru Memorii school, a polyclinic and a hospital in undertaken, praying for the commun- Trust (DJSKMAT) “started I the offing, and now an agiary. Bombay ity ’s prosperity, before aarlandine the eioht vpars aon and «,k;,-i. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - M l * of the Mazdalease Group of com- I ) f p in lu • 7"'’----- x”^**** .jwugi.i x-xiiuia iviaziua s Referring to the Dasturji Jamshedji V ‘" Sanjan, several housing colonies, a blessing on the work that had been Sorabji Kookadaru Memorial Agiaiy a'-, school, a Dolvclinic and a hncmtal in lind/arfob-An T* a ZT-^ . - O y . ---------- >Xy oxuxxvJ seven or agiary. Bombay ity s prosperity, before garlanding the eight years ago and which has col- lected four and a half to five , lakh 1 rupees, ” with the intention of building a hall in memory of the reverend Das ­ tur, Ranifia declared that two attempts X . J . . -inBandra and at Cusrow Baug - had been non- Ihe trustees (of the DJSKMAT) decided to give (Mazda aje there a confluence of Parsis where Adarian Trust) money - three and a half lakh rupees - to consecrate a hall at the Sanjan Dar-e-Meher. ” Almost as if on cue, Ervad Nadirsha Aibara, panthaky of the Karani Agi­ ary of Cusrow Baug and trustee of the - - DJSKMAT and the Mazda Adarian tuary in his kingdom, and noted that Trust, reached the podium at that pre- the English medium school being set cise juncture and Ms Homai Mehta, up by Mazda would be known as the principal of the J.J. College of Com- Jadav Rana School. merce and secretary of the Mazda Though an orthodox stalwart and Adarian Trust, who compered the I Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Homi dignitaries on the dais. -- * — ¦ - _£ a.1. H* t • Referring to Sanjan as “the land , of gratitude to the place...today totally been consecrated, ” ere circumstances R^ina, who is chairman of the Group fL . WHO IS cnairman oi tne Oroup, Rcicmug lu oanjan as "tne lano I seeks ‘to repay (the community ’s) debt where the pak (holy) Iranshah had nt aratitiid^ tn tko i_____ . . r u- 1. L z*j . ¦’ —''** viv viivuiiioiaiiucs lur, is.amna aeciareo mat tw n, ’,7 impelled the holy fire into years of to consolidate the project - mannfol international wandering before its final enthrone- and at Cusrow Baug - had ' Th? -1 ,4 ,. Udvada, Ranina spoke of the starters. Hence, “the truste fcandai “F sukhod, plans of the Mazda companies to ere- DJSKMAT) decided to eh , ^(sandalwood) ^ferings for the jashan ate there a confluence of Parsis where Adarian Trusts mnnpv - th conducted by Dastur Kaikobad Das- they “can stay in much better sur- tur, high priest of Udvada, and his roundings ” and yet remain in close ;j on schedule at 9.30 a.m., evok- proximity to metropolitan Bombay. Ranina ’s comment, “The amount He referred to the debt of gratitude to ‘i-f f l I J • ¦ ' ’ --------------- vvz kji giaiiluuc lu Of 5mA:W is a testimony to your faith Jadav Rana, the local king who is said in the Zoroastrian religion. ” Much of to have given the Parsi refugees t It could not be used and was despatch- tuary in his kingdom, and notet ed to Udvada to be offered to the Iran- l' ” shah by Dastur Kaikobad. afv The audience was much more cu- Krious about the foundation stone 28 Parsiana December T 987 a nfUfHiiiri — sanc- { 1 Ir '3 H ( I morning ’s function, noted, ‘“Dasturji ’ Aibara arrived late after spending pression that the project would be ex- Aibara will now personally hand over nearly six hours in contract buses, ecuted under the banner of the the cheque. ’’ reaching the site at 11 a.m. instead of DJSKMAT and had to await Ranina ’s Aibara who, since a couple of de- the promised 9 a.m. return from a trip abroad to learn the cades, is said to be helping the com- Recalling the genesis of the actual setup. “Because we had com- ' munity with healing manthras (short DJSKMAT, Aibara narrated how mitted ourselves, Fm giving the prom ­ prayers), draws his inspiration from people leave behind money in grati- ised money, ” Aibara noted in Gujara- the venerated Dastur. Thus he is the tude for their troubles being alleviated ti. “Aay anjumanna paisa che (this is man directly responsible for the cur- which he had been loath to accept the anjuman ’s money), ” he reiterated, rent awareness and faith in Dastur f'Lokpaisa muki jaay che ... men svi- adding that the word ‘anjuman ’should Kookadaru ’s benign powers. It was karyu bi nahi hatu"), creating a prob- have been incorporated in the name of surprising therefore that Aibara was lem for him. A trust was therefore set the Dar-e-Meher. “Hm anjuman taraf not on the site earlier to take part in up with the intention of using the thi cheque n^ mari taraf thi shaWl the jashan and foundation stone laying money. “Agiary baadhvano tau Homi Ranina ne arpan karu chhoo (I ceremonies. But, like hundreds of veechar utoj nahi (there was originally am presenting the cheque on behalf of others, including Parsiana reporters, no intention of setting up an agiary), ” the anjuman and a shawl to Homi the initial desire being to create a hall Ranina), ” concluded Aibara draping where people seeking the manthras the shawl on Ranina ’s shoulders, could congregate and where navjotes Ranina garlanded Aibara in return, and weddings could be held. It was cal ­ led the DJSKMAT in order to benefit lected an additional four lakh rupees, from income tax exemptions on reli- noted Ranina, who estimated that the gious considerations. When all adarian, designed free of cost by attempts to find a place in Bombay architect Porus Master, will cost 20 to proved futile, “na chhutke Sanjan ma 25 lakh rupees to construct and build a kabul karyu (had no option but to corpus for its maintenance. There is accept the Sanjan proposal), ” Aibara “no sacrifice large enough to com- noted. He spoke of how he was shock- memorate our landing in Sanjan and ed to see newspaper advertisements in of Dastur Kookadaru, ” he added. “The model agiary for the whole of India ” will have a prayer hall termed Hall of Faith and a stone afarganyu as seen in the famous sketch of Shah Lorasp (the saintly king shown walk ­ ing on-air) and “will succeed with your blessings, ” Ranina told the assembled Zoroastrians. The Mazda Adarian Trust had col- i i .1’ Sraff- -i. •j ! ’ i 3 I' Hl k' IJ Hi I r the name of the Mazda Adarian Trust because he had been under the im- Left: Aibara presenting shawl and donation to Ranina Below: At the foundation stone laying 4 sit€ {Photo: Gopal Shetty) .h'' 1 . f ¦ r*. -s. F’’ ) IF- i ih ii I, g i-' its a ’ p r I 1 i A’ “A - ‘is 1 f . ¦ ! i < I -4 i? i-;? < ’) t- -ais scheme for row houses named Mazda Bahrot as Mount Bahrot would dominate the view from the homes. H Controversy I As with all community schemes, some I* aspects of the project have raised questions. Part of the confusion has been generated by the existence of two trusts - the older DJSKMAT and the new Mazda Adarian Trust - with the common objective of commemorating the late Dastur Kookadaru. That three trustees - Jehangir Shroff, Ervad Nadirsha Aibara and Homi Ranina - w are common to both, further con- founded the issue. Some people, like businessman and philanthropist Dinshaw Merchant, thought the DJSKMAT had been re ­ named the Mazda Adarian Trust. Others worried about the donation from one trust to the other - whether it was legally valid or morally justified, “Even 300 years ago when Parsis be- there are 101 advisors to solve 100 prob- as did Ms Shirin Cooper in a letter to come prosperous in new regions, they lems, Antia admonished and urged the The Bombay Samachar alleging irre- established agiaries. Homi Ranina and gathering, “Let us take an oath that we gularities. Again and again arose the ¦ " ¦ ... - - question whether a new adarian was marriage or any other reason. ” justified when old ones were lan- “We are overwhelmed by your presence guishing for want of funds and mobeds here, ” Homai Mehta concluded the formal to maintain them. The estimated cost At the Dar-e-Meher function in Sanjan(from left): Kaikobad, Ranina, Desai, Mehta, Antia, Kersi Limathwalla and Davierwalla established agiaries. Homi Ranina and gathering, “Let us take an oath that we Homi Mehta (chairman and managing shall never deny our faith for wealth or director of Mazda Leasing respective ­ ly) are in the same category, ” profes ­ sed noted solicitor Eruch Desai. By the time well-known solicitor vote of thanks, assuring the crowd, “We of 20 to 25 lakh rupees for a structure Burjor Antia rose to deliver the have made adequate arrangements (but) which was expected to house only a ¦ ....... dadgah fire,also led to comment. trol a crowd of 3,000.” The Bombay Samachar questioned Throughout the morning there had the pertinence of commemorating keynote address, “Dasturji Neryosang our 100 volunteers will not be able to oon- Dhaval and the relevance of his pre ­ cepts today, ” it was almost noon. In- sufficient sitting space in the shamiana been repeated requests from Mehta Dastur Kookadaru when other older and the scorching sun outside had cur- < ................. . ...... . .. .. la ­ dled audience attention. Responding bhaneli com (our educated commun- to the mood, Antia highlighted only a i^j , . few paragraphs from his printed majority was ready to jockey for first looked askance at the spectacle of address (which was on sale for a ' ' ........... ’ " ’ —- - - j nominal fee); “We are a house di ­ vided... we have no leader...The com ­ munity needs to relearn Dhaval ’s prin- and Dastur Kaikobad to^'aaprisikheli and greater dasturs like Dastur Arda ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ' ¦ Viraf and Dastur Azar Kai van had not ity) ” to please keep seated. Now the been so honored. The Samachar also place at the food stalls while others felt 3,000 Parsis feasting in a drought free to inspect the foundation site at affected area. close quarters, genuflect before a pic- _ Though angry at the allegation of ture of Kookadaru and add their con- “siphoning off ” funds made against dples. ” Denigrating the current “fashion tribution to the trust funds - “the bank Homi Mehta and himself, Ranina re ­ termed the collection box, assuring the for, as the Editor of The Bombay devotees “interest in terms of tandur- Samachar noted, “Social work can be- asti (good health) for you and your gin only if mental cobwebs of all kinds are removed. ” By December 6, the Mazda Adarian to deride our rituals, ” Antia referred to of Dadar Hormuzd ” as Kaikobad had sponded witl^ detailed explanations; the “cancer ” of mixed marriages and ex ­ tolled what he termed Dhaval ’s “prom ­ ises ” to Jadhav Rana - no mixed mar ­ riages and no conversions - which was loved ones. ” “hitherto an unwritten law. ” “Which way should we move? ” Antia rhetorically asked the fidgety advertised chicken farchas (fried rupees plus an additional Rs 25,847 in audience. “The way of Dhaval or the chicken) and biryani (whi'ch had appal- the kathi fund, as noted their adver- ’ tisement in the Jam-e-Jamshed. Inter- daru: the man and the myth ”page 35) preting the receipts as clear commun- were all consumed! At the Fun-n-Food ity support, the advertisement prom- Fair were games stalls, fruits, coconut ised, “Very soon, at the site, you will But those who dallied too long found to their consternation that the Trust had collected over nine lakh way other groups which left Iran to go led Parsi vegetarians - see “Kooka- to China and the Punjab were assimi ­ lated? Then will the community en ­ dure for (another) 50 years? ” “Bhala man thi khari vastu jovane water, cold drinks, Chinese cuisine hear the gentle drone of machines and budli (instead of viewing each problem and details of Mazda ’s building plans - see the construction work beginning to in the correct, balanced persoective), ” Mazdarise Apartments and the take shape. ” Apartments and I i 30 Parsiana December 198732 Decemc>&r 1907 I *« Kookadaru: the man and the myth 'l Parinaz Toddywalla r ¦ On Behram roj, thousands light oil Atash Rahram questions, “Show me one fact which can be explained in the i lamps and perform the baj in his mem- the contemporaneous publications of words of Kaikhushroo Dastoor, an f ory. His name is appended to the those days where such reports were advocate who professes the Ilm-e- prayer Marhum no kardo which lists published. If it is authentic data, why Kshnoom philosophy: “Dasturji the community ’s illustrious forebears, has it only come to light in the last 30 Kookadaru was one of the last, or His photograph finds a place in the to 40 years? ” Believing that it is “not perhaps the last, of the priests to have homes of most Zoroastrians and even good to comment on a dead man after cultivated his (latent) mystical powers ! in the vestment pockets of the more his chahrum (fourth day prayers) ” with the strength of his prayers - man- devout. Kotwal did not elaborate further, thravani.” Dastoor, who formerly / Why has Dastur Jamshed Sohrab Varied accounts of a single anecdote taught physics, says, “Miracles are not Kookadaru become such a legend in seem to indicate to Kotwal that “one impossible. It is because of these mira- the community? A panthaky at Bom- sort of dishonesty is spreading in |he cles that our prayers and religious in- > bay s Kappawalla Agiary for nearly 42 community. ” stitutions have inspired faith. ” years, Kookadaru who died in 1900 is Observing a decline in the religious “One of the holy priests of Zoroas- i said to have perfomed several mira- fervor within the community, Minoo trianism ”is how Dastur Dr Hormaz- j cles during his lifetime. Burjoji Desai, former Editor of The dyar Mirza describes Kookadaru. Among the well-known stories Bombay Samachar, writes in his book- Clarifying that not all priests could be t associated with his name relates to his let in Gujarati on Kookadaru that regarded as holy, Mirza adds, “Holy is ‘ gift of Rs 10,000 towards the construe- miracles may not make sense to a he who practices the Zoroastrian ption of a hall at the Anjuman Atash materialistic mind. He further states tenets of good thoughts, words and f Bahram. His promised donation came that out of humility saints do not publi- deeds; is honest in his private and pub- ^iin the form of a gold brick whose ori- cize their own deeds but concentrate lie dealings; is devoted to God and the gin is unknown but found in the very on the welfare of humanity. prophet Zarathushtra; and lives his life place as directed by Kookadaru, and "" " ’ when sold, fetched Rs 10,000. Other miracles attributed to him, quoted Ervad Dr Peshotan Peer to philosophy: Religion may go beyond reason, in the service of the community and ’ the religion. ” He explains miracles as -----, --------- - ------------ .— “events which are in accordance with a range from the plausible to the inex- support his stand that by circulating law which we don ’t understand, ” but r nllPoklA Tn O uillofTP -------------------------------- ^^4.^ J 4.^1--_ like ------ ~ ’ '1 > ' -* . • .r. . jor theft had taken place, he was able straightening his cap after the sachkar. but it never should contradict reason, ” S plicable. In a village where some ma- fabricated tales like Kookadaru then advises caution so that fraud may r jor theft had taken place, he was able straightening his cap after the sachkar, not be perpetrated in the name of p to reveal the location of the stolen instead of him being recognized for his miracles. , NotwillingtocommentonKooka- p able to raise and lower the level of wa- come the object of ridicule. According daru ’s ability to perform miracles, f ter in a well, re-positioning his cap on to Peer, when a saint performs a mira- Dastur Dr Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa of his head after his sachkar (after-death cle it does not take the shape of invit- ’ ' - - - p goods. He is also credited with being saintly qualities, Kookadaru will be- ter in a well, re-positioning his cap on r ----------- • the Anjuman Atash Bahram was more punfactory bath) ceremony when it ing people to the marketplace to wit- convinced about Kookadaru ’s “art of - - .. --------------- ’ najumi (astrology). This art is perhaps ; in^from the dokhma. as would appear from the story of the lost to us now, ” admits JamasoAsa. As mentioned in Desai ’s book, Kookadaru is supposed to have accur- Eighty-seven years after his death, Dastur Jamshed Kookadaru still has a hold on many Zoroastrians t was displaced, and his body disappear- ness the show- “6/eA:Ao mera tamasha” as would appear from the story of the lost to us now, ” admits JamaspAsa. Discounting such anecdote^, Dastur fluctuating level of water in the well. ‘ _ ----- -- -- -- '.7™J But even the cynics are agreed on Dr Firoze Kotwal of the H.B. Wadia i Parsiana December 1987i L V, V i if- ing inheritance rights to women. __ As stated by Faribourz Nariman, a darii accompanying advertisements of scholar, Kookadaru was among the the Mazda Adarian Trust (which has priests who performed the nine vansdif undertaken to build the Dar-e-Meher) navjotes (of chUdren born of Zoroas- No one knows trian fathers and non-Zoroastrian ately predicted the deaths of Dastur Parsis, he suggested. He was particu- Peshotan Sanjana, Queen Victoria of larly against photographs of Kooka- England, Sir Dinshaw Petit and even his own. His ability to foretell events and give advice was well-reputed. It is believed that once when a wedding in the Parsi Press, procession was due to commence from where these papers will lie at the end ^mothers) in Mazagaon in 1882. He Chira Bazar in Bombay, he recom- and who may trample on them. ” 'died on October 4, 1900 (Behram roj, mended delay until a particular hour His “This is advice was not heeded and the bridegroom died in an accident. Many would approach him with per- -- ------ _ . ... sonal problems and solicit his guidance only after Zoroastrians migrated to saintly life inspired respect among on even simple matters like What should I name my child? ” or “What should I pray under some particular circumstances? ” The hallmark of his life was simplic ­ ity, notes Desai in his book. Not material-minded, Kookadaru would eat simple vegetarian meals, wash his own clothes and concentrate on his . . . - . . prayers. Usually be would have only inSpireCl laitU ‘^e efficacy of nirangs (incantations) one meal a day, lunch, comprising _________ ___________________ _ best suited to them. khichri (a preparation of rice and dal) , what point Parsis have started with ghee. With the recitation of his “lok nu bhalu thai (it is in the com- becoming prayers he is supposed to have been munity ’s interest) ” and it is not a Kookadaru, a term used by Bahadur able to cook a bowl of rice under the money-earning venture, Kookadaru ’s Kookadaru, is difficult to say. But the rays of the sun. Referring to his sim- great grandson Ervad Bahadur mass scale devotion to Kookadaru is plicity. Peer continues to agitate that Kookadaru had no objections. While evident from the multitudes who * - « 1* .1 ______•______ 9 _____Morlifokio Aihorq and who may trample on them. “This is a publicity show, ” Farvardin mah). Kaikhushroo Dastoor was emphatic, qualifying that plans for constructing a Dar-e-Meher should have materialized high priest of any atash bahram, his r Sanjan in large numbers. So long as members of the community who , _____________ _____________ _ voluntarily bestowed on him the dis ­ tinction of ‘Dastur ’ Kookadaru. His faith in his prayers and in Dastur Azar Kaivan (the Zoroastrian mystic priest of the seventeenth century who came from Persia and settled in Patna), aroused conviction in his associates too, many of whom were advised on a Though technically Kookadaru can ­ not be called a dastur as he was not a khichri (a preparation of rice and dal). It is because of miracles that our prayers and religious institutions have inspired faith (( fidaa ” (enamored) of prayers he is supposed to have been munity ’s interest) ” and it is not L.l __ - - • • • . rays of the sun. Referring to his sim- great grandson Eryad at the foundation stone laying cere- lauding the organizers ’ intentions of approach Ervad Nadirsha Aibara, mony of the Dasturji Kookadaru setting up a Dar-e-Meher in Kooka- panthaky of the Karani Agiary at Cus- Saheb Memorial Dar-e-Meher in San- darn ’s name, he was chary of the pro- row Bang, who claims to being able to jan on November 22 last, advertise- ject subsequently languishing for help others with the inspiration he re- ments inviting participation from the reasons like “mobed nathi, kathi nathi ceives from Kookadaru. community made announcements of (no mobeds and kathi). ” On an average, 30 to 40 people daily chicken farchas, etc on such a pious P occasion. Peer felt that Kookadaru ’s j --------------------------------- — , . „ . soul must have been displeased by “all will be done ’ - and acts of glorification problem narrated to him, he advises this fun and food. ” Parsis being fond would never have interested him. the recitation of a particular nirang, to of picnics, JamaspAsa was not sur- This “Zarthosti yogi ” was born in be repeated according to a particular prised that there was a such a large the Bhagaria tola (group) of Surat on format. The prayer is offered from the turnout at Sanjan. But Kotwal saw no- May 26, 1831 {roj Jamyad, mah Ava). relevant scriptures of the religion pro ­ thing wrong in combining prayers The lineage as traced by Kotwal indi- fessed by that party. Aibara says that “with moj-maja (gaiety). ‘To worship cates the family name to be Madon. he is not well-versed in these different in sadness is to drive away the di- He had undergone his navar ceremony scriptures, but the inspiration from vine, ”’ he quoted. at Navsari and later served as a panth- Kookadaru enables him to cite page< Doubting the advisability of setting aky at the Kappawalla Agiary, then lo- verse and line. He also remembers up a new Dar-e-Meher under the pre- cated at Baharkote (on the outskirts of hearing a voice since the age of seven sent “dissatisfactory condition and the present Fort area). He was the with the refrain consisting of just two quality of the priestly class, ” Mirza did principal teacher at the Jejeebhoy words - ya ahu. not support the view that the status of Dadabhoy Zend Avesta Madressa at According to Aibara, it is only since the dadgah installed there would be Fort, notes a write-up on Kookadaru 1972 that he has taken up this work m elevated to that of an adarian if regular in Meherwanji K. Beheram-Kamdin the name of Kookadaru. He was then boi was performed for 12 years. Dasturna ’s book Athornan Nama in the panthaky of the Sodawatei^alla The cost of the project is exorbitant Gujarati. He was also a leading niem- - . . - - „ . according to JamaspAsa. Instead of ber of the Committee for Promotion of Aat he^aw the apparition ^of Itooka- expending “Rs 25 lakhs on another Zoroastrianism and contributed arti- white elephant, ” five lakhs could have cles to Yazda Parasth and Hakham- been spent on the Dar-e-Meher and Yazd-Yasnan. In 1862 when the gov- the balance 20 lakhs contributed to- ernment appointed a Parsi Law Com- wards the housing needs of Bombay mission, Kookadaru spoke against giv- of the Dasturji kookadaru setting up a Dar-e-Meher in Kooka ­ daru ’s name, he was chary of the pro ­ reasons like “mobed nathi, kathi nathi ceives from Kookadaru. _ _ __2___ 2 On an average, 30 to 40 people daily Peer pointed out, “Advanced souls approach Aibara for personal solace, just believe in surrender to God — ‘Thy Depending on the Case history and the the recitation of a particular nirang, to be repeated according to a particular Agiary, and whilst praying he believes daru. He was subsequently able to correlate the voice which had been guiding him all these years when Kookadaru spoke to him requesting him to give pravers to the needy, and 35 Parsiana December 1987 .ili--¦'¦'I •; ! * I ,* ¦y a ¦^^mand to stop his “t/Aozig (farce). ” posedly a ready reference book on | That Kookadaru as a Zoroastrian nirangs by Phiroze S. Masani. Believes 1 has commanded a following from fel- I’ ' ,15 low members of the community and and frames in cd even sister communities is considered 1 a matter of pride. That Zoroastrians asking hundreds of others to do the ----- -------- ------- - same thing then it is not legitimate. ” awaited him from their own faith rather than opting “E_ ... ___ _ ___„ _____ _____ I j3people sought for other saints and babas is a matter Kotwal eamestiy asks. “Do we want to Jm mm. He was not sure of consolation. But there is one seg- forget Zaratiiushtra? Should we follow the ^le response would be but was ment of the community which has ex- fire of our own religion or believe in divas -’^PPy they came back with good pressed its reservation on Aibara and sukhad (sandalwood) in Ko okadam ’s news. Problems of marital dishar- acting as the intermediary. name? On his death anniversary mony, ailments as serious as cancer, th:: _ ' tension, business failure have all been fathomable to a layperson unless there brought to him and many insisted that he accept payment for the help re ­ ceived. To date he estimates that he __ ________ ____ _ ___ has handed out 40,000 photographs of worlds which could easily impersonate to those seeking his guidance. The Aibara for better physical an*d emo ­ pocket-sized card memento bearing tional returns despite his telling them Kookadaru ’s picture also features that he can ’t interfere in anyone ’s des ­ photographs of five others: Zarathush- tiny, evokes a philosophical statement tra, Shah Lorasp, Shah Jamshid, Shah from Mirza: “In this life there is good Kaikhushroo and Shah Faredoon. ..Z. __r —r-- —**L gw Though earlier he used to personally their due in this life because in this write out the prayers, he subsequently worldly life there is justice and injus- started cyclostyling them and thereaf- tice. Life is a mystery ” ter printing them in a booklet. When people started feeling insulted at his refusal to accept payment, he started between you and Ahura Mazda. Pray Kookadaru. “The days of local trains the Dasturji Jamshedji Sorabji Kooka- ----- ‘ ™ . daru Memorial Agiary Trust in 1979, he informs. Aibara also relates experi ­ ences of some people who returned his photographs and prayer book with a posedly a ready reference book on »/ S' r t ! «¦ Steamship a< dubasb Nariman, “If you have divas (lamps) I Li a corner of your own home it is not wrong. But if you are I oara can still have chosen to believe in someone ^idt awaited him from their own faith rather than opting ETm. He was not sure of consolation. But there is one seg- —j ment of the community which has ex- __ _ _______ _______ ‘Do we want to set up a new cult? ” ? acting as the intermediary. name? _ ____ _______ Explaining this phenomenon as “not people throng to perform the baj, but how many do it on Zarthost no diso (Zarathushtra ’s death ahniversary)? Prayers in the name of Kookadaru may do good to two people but what ... J. . •v'' r .---------:------------------------ -— about the eight people who are not be- Kookadaru wmch are distributed free for saints. ” Since people approach nefitted and who will not advertise? Good things happen to me too, but I attribute it to Ahura Mazda. If there is one frame of Kookadaru in an agiary it is okay, but why should there be so many? If we exceed the limits of mod- and evil. Deserving people don ’t get eration, then instead of benefit it would be a hindrance to religion. ” “It is a kind of ashta (faith), plains Ervad Faredoon Madon, panth- is an expansion of consciousness, ” Dastoor states, “there are several spir ­ its and existences in the unknown QX- Gifts& tice. Life is a mystery ” JamaspAsa makes a simple state ­ ment: There shouldn ’t be any agent clientele who light divas in the name of -• ---. - — - —•’J u w* IWWMl m your own simple manner. Thank are being replaced by express trains. God for what he gives you one day and Today everyone wants quick returns wait for the next day... Even I give and the easiest way out. ” Advises nirangs, but I do it in my own name 1' ' not someone else ’s. ” There is sup- liefs), remember Kookadaru, but when help is received, say it is from God. Kookadaru himself is important because of Zarathushtra. But his im ­ pact is greater because he was the last of the truly holy men in our commun ­ ity. Invoke the fire, don ’t bargain, and whatever-is destined will happen. ” Instead of seeking a way out of suf ­ fering, Peer feels that it should be en ­ dured. “The purpose of life is evolu ­ tion and progress and until man is able to overcome his shortcomings stoical ­ ly, he will need to keep taking re ­ births... The more advanced souls, out of a sense of duty, guide those on the lower rungs. ” But Peer is saddened that people who seek help, appeal not for the evolution of their souls but for personal pleasures. “Reward will only follow work and effort, ” asserts Kotwal. “We need to light lamps not in the daylight but in the darkness. We need to light a flame of honesty and purity within our inner selves...only then can we make our own lives a-glow. ” aky of the Aslaji Agiary, seeing the Madon, “Keep your manyata (be- The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive ^fts, reli^ous artefacts, executive desk %ts, exclusive shell items, des^er jewelry & specializing in wood & oqtper-enamel ^fts. BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. (Mezzanine Floor) Sir P.M. Road, Bombay *400 001 STUDIO AKAR 6T/2660 36 Parsiana December 1987I i ;r ;!¦' J Ia'" s<- .J 1 INSTITUTIONS 3. 1 J» 5- S’ ¦i 55? The widows wake The residents of the Petit Widows ’ Chawl strive to make their lives more comfortable Homi J. Rogers • J » '3 J A thin white curtain flutters gently in use, keep her frugal company, the breeze. Parting it, Banoo Bilimor- Widowed within a few years of mar ­ ia, who has just returned from a gham- riage, Bachamai came here with an in- bar (mass dining festival), looks down fant son as it is reportedly said that she at the road below - the arterial Mody could not afford to pay rent at her Street in downtown Bombay, lying four-room Balaram Street residence, cocooned between an inextricable Many other women have sought this maze of small streets and alley ways, refuge due to their limited financial re- Banoo is familiar with its sights and sources, in many an unfortunate case, sounds. The stench from the bylanes, brought upon them by their own fami- and the two children from the neigh- ly members. Mithamai Buhariwalla boring building to whom she gives tui- came here from a village near Vyara, tions, share a place in her solitary life, where she stayed in a bungalow with as do the 36 other women - united by seven rooms, when, after her hus- the common pall of widowhood - with band ’s death, her relatives allegedly whom she dwells in this vidhva ashram deprived her of most of her posses- founded a little under 100 years ago by sions and abode. Banoo Bilimoria was Bai Dinbai Jeejebhoy, widow of Seth reportedly left holding equally meager Nusserwanjee Maneckjee Petit. amounts, when death snatched away Reconstructed in 1931, the Petit her husband, leaving her totally at the Widows ’Chawl, managed by the N.M. mercies of her in-laws, and later of Petit Charity Fund, is today a squat charity in the form of a rent-free room three-storeyed edifice whose entrance at the Chawl. lies flanked between a gutted res ­ taurant, and a shortly-to-be-opened ¦ ¦ s ¦ I .¦¦ »¦ •«I *. • •'i ' •'' dr"- ifc’ - 1 -- f “I did not like the thought of staying in a widows ’ chawl, ’’ mentions Homai haircutting salon. Within its bleak Pastakia, 57, who has been here for walls beat hearts which nurture < memories of a happy past, and hopes Jehangir (then chairperson of the for a woman with male progeny. By of a better future. For some, however, Bombay Parsi Punchayet) insisted that the rules of the Ghawl, a girl can con- j i . there is no tomorrow; each dark night if I were to seek accommodation tinue to live here with her mother till flows into another dark day, as life through the trusts, I should agree to marriage, but a boy beyond 18 years of continues to pass them by. stay in a building meant for women age has to leave the premises after One such widow is Bachamai Amro- who have lost their husbands. ” Dhan- dusk. Dhanmai Wadia has to see her lia, 85, who lives in a room bereft of mai Wadia, who stayed with her hus- son off every evening to sleep at a trappings. Numbed by the death of her band and three children in idyllic Igat- friend ’s house, though, as even her only son, Amrolia, the oldest resident puri, was similarly offered a Hobson ’s neighbors feel, a helping male hand on here having spent over 40 years in the choice, when she requested accom- the precincts could be an asset in mo- Chawl, sits with a vacant J0bk on a modation in Bombay, where she ments of need, and even give them black bed, looking at her black chest works at the Ratan Tata Industrial courage and security. of drawers-cum-cupboard. Her few (RTI) Institute. Yet, there is foresight in the tenet pots and pans, darkened with age and 1 !h 1 E 38 Parsiana December 1987 J 'S I s over 20 years. “But (the late) Lady Chawl here is particularly defeating t choice, when she requested accom ­ modation in Bombay, where she ments of need, and even give them An accommodation in the Widows ’ laid down by the trustees. A few years 4< ¦J A, 1 ’ ¦ i f / '4 i ,e i’. i= ^^-. I ’*4 visit the Chawl. ing takes approximately a month, and -i Similarly, another man, Naozar if a room is available, the allotment is Mukadam, stays in the room allotted made soon thereafter, Wadia informs, to his mother all through the day, and _ _____________ claims he has a job at a social club at ly happened here, an over-zealous night, which keeps his stay within the tenant gives the trustees no chance to purview of the rules. However, we make the allotment. Ketayun Davar, a learnjhat the room has been “leased ” well built lady, resembling Iranian merchant to be used as a godown, while his mother lies in hospital re ­ covering from a bad accident. Burjor- ________ _______ chmeher Wadia, the secretary for the Ms Gilder, and stayed on in the room past 32 years of the N.M. Petit Charity after Gilder's death - even allegedly Funds which administers the Chawl, breaking the lock placed by the trus- ...u .. the room. Davar, who for a time, reportedly masqueraded as an agent of the Central Bureau of Inves ­ tigation (CBI), constitutes her own one-woman army fighting against the widows as well as the trustees and their ¦mil secretary who, she alleges, are making money from leasing shops on the pre- mises. Wadia is at pains to point out that the shops are part of the trust deed, and have been provided to enable the trust to meet the expenses of keeping the widows here free of rental charges. The seven shops in the building today m fetch a paltry revenue of Rs 500 per month. The occupancy is fixed, and though a barber ’s salon is being set up where earlier there was a laundry, Wadia states that, contrary to Davar's contention, the owner is the same and m there has been no change of lease. H Similarly, the Janata Refreshment House, which was gutted in a fire in June this year, is now, being converted into a cold drink house in answer to Wadia's strong plea, so as not to en ­ danger the building or its residients Ion- again. Sometimes, however, as has recent- '' ¦ . make the allotment. Ketayun Davar, a out by him to a neighboring paper stock (or is she Islamic, query the 1 X . . widows, who are awakened early ev ­ ery morning by her radio blaring Mos ­ lem songs/qawalis) came in to nurse a past 32 years of the N.M. Petit Charity after Gilder's death - even allegedly when confronted with this piece of in- Facingpage and below: Tenants in their sparse 200 square feet rooms Alongside: Deriving solace from prayer 1 \ d ¦« ago, informs Dr Mehernosh Sidhwa, who has a dispensary in the neighbor- ger so, as he had already moved in the Fortunately, the fire did no damage ing Maneckji Street Agiary Lane, pa- matter, and had the room cleared out. to the building itself, or to any of its tients from the Chawl had confided in The widows' comment: “Afwo, jutho tenants. Dinbai Dadina, plagued by . him of their fright as a homicide sus- (liar)! ” illnesses which have severely limited pect (for allegedly throwing a chasni- There is, however, little that Wadia her mobility, was brought down on her wala down the well of Pirojbai Vatcha can do. By deed, a room once allotted chair from her room on the third floor Agiary) resided on the premises with cannot be taken back by the trustees, by firemen “just as the wooden steps his aged mother. Even today, the till the allottee dies. The allotment is started to heat. ” Other ladies were ex ­ women are not free from the shadow thus vigilant. Applications are routed peditiously escorted down - some chi- of this young man who, since his ac- through the Liaison Committee, valrously lifted - most, blissfully una- quittal by the courts has been fre- whose secretary, Banoo Roowala, ware of the reason for this flurry of quenting the Chawl, hoping to get contacts social workers, and examines activity. Four hours later, by 8 p.m. some odd jobs from the women, and the bonafides of the applicant before life was back to normal in the Chawl, pick up small gifts from donors who recommending allotment. This screen- as women and their bais (local help) formation stated that this was no ger so, as he had already moved in the matter, and had the room cleared out. 39 Parsiana December 1987 •1 y '’’•v 'fl * 1 1 a ’* T ' r. «j . 15 1 ''« 4; 1* ?' I t, I m even though it means paying that little fl extra every month towards electricity ¦ bills. ¦ Yet, bld or new, the tenants live fl with sparse possessions. In the case of,^ fl most of these women ’s tenements, a even small 200 square feet rooms seem quite spacious, as the furnishings are W limited to an old four-poster bed, wed- J ding chairs (a memory of happier fl days), and a giant teak-wood cup ­ fl board. Gas has to be paid for extra, m and so the humble primus substitutes the gas stove as a simple cauliflower Br dinner simmers on with a refreshing whiff. And the wheat and grains -^d the inevitable Parsi dais - lie storefd in wobbled tins and bottles of different ‘ sizes and shapes, along with a few ear ­ thenware vessels and, occasionally, a non-stick pot or pan, donated by some well-wishers. 1 “It is these kinds of gifts (cooking ...women sitting on the stairs, vacantly utensils) that we like to receive, ” con- jostled one ajiother to fill water, which coming a widow. “It was just so sad from 8.30 p.m. onwards. gazing into space... ” The other Petit fides Banoo Bilimoria, an ex-teacher : _____ Chawl at Thakurdwar has its ceilings at the Wadia "Vatcha Girls ’ School, change. Spearheaded by caving down, and though Wadia, who Bilimoria had had the temerity to tell is the secretary for both the Petit Ms Hilla Nagarwala, a social worker 7 ....................................... t who distributes anaj (grains) at the Thakurdwar is so dismal, Khorshedba- Chawl every Navroze (March) and noo Bhoot, who has been able to Pateti (August), that women sell for effect a transfer of room here over a money her gifts to the kanyas (grocers) half ago, nods in total who, as Nagarwala discovered, would agreement to the poor conditions exploit and buy the grain at half its comes to the Chawl for only two hours This nocturnal scenario, however, may soon Banoo Bharucha, a dumpy middle- aged lady whose widowhood forced Chawls, denies that the situation at her to turn away, practically over- night, from her luxurious three-room living, the Chawl tenants have under ­ taken a project to instal a tank and year and a pump, so that the taps in the moris < . (bath enclosures) of all rooms get wa- there. So do Gulbanoo Rairai and value. Since then, Nagarwala has ter. The widows have themselves con- Dhanmai Mavalvala, two widows who tributed Rs 200 each for the project, have agreed to share a room here, and though the total job well exceeds rather than stay on at Thakurdwar. their contribution, “the collection “We are undertaking repairs at Tha- from within ourselves has aroused kurdwar, ” says Wadia, looking up with the gutted shop alongside greater sympathy and empathy from his typewriter, after extricating a amongst donors who would like to key, “but our funds are severely li- help a cause where the beneficiaries, despite their poor condition, are help ­ ing themselves, ” states Bharucha. The exercise, despite her immense person- Top: Family visits provide a welcome change for the tenants The entrance to the Widows’ Chawl mited. ” “Even out here, ” he continues, “there is a paucity of funds, but we __ manage on a very modest invest- w al contribution in collecting donations ment. ” The expenditure, including re- g in cash and kind from individuals and pairs, reportedly approximates Rs fl institutions, has won Bharucha, a su- 17,000 a year, of which over Rs 3,000 fl pervisor at the Northcote Nursing are paid every year as municipal taxes fl Home, some detractors in the Chawl. alone. Then, as Wadia informs, “we B But then, as Mehramai Wallace, one draw from other Petit Trusts to settle H • of the older residents, having come the electricity bills, as widows here ar^ fl here in 1964, chuckles, “A woman ’s not charged for light, and pay only for fl intellect can be held in her mathabanu fans and other accessories. ” fl (white muslin head scarf). ” The ‘accessories ’ have grown down fl Despite the water problem, the the years from night lamps and fans to H Chawl is one of the better maintained televisions. Tehmina Panthaky, who M and preserved widows ’ chawls. “I has been here for the past five years, fl could not sleep for three nights, ” says reportedly due to incompatibility with H Bharucha, “after I visited the Godiva- her daughter-in-law, has in her room a i la Chawl at Mazagaon, ” where she television set, gifted to her by a son in was offered accommodation on be- Tehran , which she avidly watches - 41 Parsiana December 1987 r ' J! ih iji 1^' I. 42 Parsiana December 1987 SERSON Electrolytic Capacitors For All Electronic Applications From 12 VDC To 350 VDC Maniilacturen: Serson Industries Pvt. Ltd. Pimpri P.F.P.O^ Poona-lS. Cable: Etcbfoil Poona-18. Phone: 82379 1 ¦3 jJ I BOOKS f A Parsi-monious account Leaning neither towards orthodoxy nor reform. Dr Homazdyar Mirza presents a factual account of Parsi history Homi J. Rogers . rent times, and how he conquered them. This is the angle missing in Mir- za ’s work. The “outline ” approach continues in Mirza ’s narration of the history of Parsis in India - a mere 24 pages of history, and another 20 pages of their activities in the secular sciences. What does one make of “Rustam Maneck Seth (1635-1721) visited the court of Emperor Aurangzeb (1660)”? Who is Rustam Maneck, and what was the purpose of his visit? As students of Parsi history would know, it was Rus ­ tam Maneck ’s intervention with Au ­ rangzeb that procured for the East In ­ dia Company permission and a plot of land at Surat to build a factory, at a 0/ Parsi Hls.rrry b, Hormazdyar Daa.u, and Kayanian dynasties, the legenda^ TriuTEndishS' ’ Rusum mT Kayoji Mirza. Published by the author at 4 period of Parsi history, the historical hostile to Enghshmen Kustam M Babulnath Road, Bombay 400007, second edi- spanning over 1,200 years IS eck, after whom a locality in burat is lion, 1987; Pp 516 + xxvii. Price Rs 150. dealt with in 108 pages: a rather unba- ya named (Rustampura), also suc- . r.:...... .K. Poeeie ie ^rced mopottio? ft any serious his- eessfnnyhad .he Jazta.ax (eap..aoon fraught with difficulty, which been written. Till date, we do not lived. The early history of Iran, includ- sodes of paladins like Rustom and Natnqh.Of course,it is an lanced proportion for any serious his ­ torical work. What accentuates the tax on weakness is that the tegend is not worked upon as a story ¦ . . . .------- 1.^ in writing about kings with large pas ­ sages quoted from Warner s k,. —.. pleasure to be able to read Warner s To write a history of the Parsis is fraught with difficulty, which is, _ MTS da".e,' ”we' ’ So X'^pSn Ta XW-TcSe "yel ma'te^o mentioro/' know the period when our prophet fast-paced - but a fragmented exercise lived. The early history of Iran, includ ­ ing the most famous ‘historical ’ epi- Sohrab, and kings like Faridun and Kay Kaus, lie shrouded in the realm of myth, with only Firdousi ’s Shah Namah passages to rely on. The historical period tw, which starts ’ * ’S • jj --'j -^3 1 non-Muslims), imposed upon the Parsis, removed. Mirza ’s outline facts, and can thus be of minimal in- , terest to the lay reader, and of passing ___J Shah interest to one who ’ is already well unmitigated versed with Parsi history. --- • What is however, most creditable in __ -J Outlines is that he takes no The sides, nor does he at any stage make rendition of the epic, but 64 pages of Mirza s passages dilutes the “outline. ’ The sides, n_- ' that lie uiMui.va. H— selection of passages too, leaves much statements or quote sources th_^ which starts from the Achaemenian to be desired - they are not the best kings (Cyrus the Great, Darius and literary pieces, nor do they necessarily XeLsX is a story based mainly on carry the narrative forward Mirza Greek Purees - the Persian tradition of does not provide character studies of maintaining history being oral, and the the legendary Persian km^or heroe^s, few written works reportedly being des ­ troyed by Alexander. Yet, fusing fable and fact, culling from numerous rare L-- ‘— tucked away in libraries unknown to and published an outline of Parsi his- past, a tory. It may seem paradoxical, but the 1 main shortcoming of Mirza ’s com- za:^evotes oniy :Dariu< would make his book a reference work mendable effort is that though the to Cyru^>the^G^eat s rule, a^d for either the orthodox or the refor- . tome is of over 500 pages, it suffers Suez Cana , § elation ori mist. The fall of the Sassanians was from being too sketchy a work. Poss- does no s ^ho 2 500 nshpred by intrigue, deception and lus t,^ ibly, this could be due to the fact that learning^that it was a J^o 2 5W ushered by m g P -||| ^rVnTSTh^SplTT. we'tf ‘•instigate/ and fcdg-lliM phy, religion, rites, art and culture - too 1 " " dilutes the “outline. nor does he capture the spirit of the myths. lu lavi, ^^**...6 Probably, a historian ’s is a dry books that lie approach; but, if history should incul ­ cate pride in one ’s heritage, and niake J____ a scholar must take pains to out ­ line the high spots for the reader. Mir- devotes only six pages in the book _ < x-i 9 _ __ 1__ most Parsis, Dastur Mirza has written one joyously aware of one s glorious /• Tx • Of miicf taVp T^jiins to out* History should be a narrative that focusses on the challenges man had to face at different times and how he conquered them * za =de ,ege„S,geograp£y,«- ,^<5 ::„i' ported by .heir ™o.,^ was traction and foreign fS HSyed Pmza na ­ no value ¦ ~ - 4 rrates the fact had to face at diffe- judgment. . _ _______ devotes 68 should be a narrative that focusses^on the history of the Pishdadian the challenges man l.~, ------------- Further, while Mirza pages to 1 , 43 Pars/ana December 7987 .‘ 4 -.'MXtM*.'• ,y. ¦ •• ¦ Achaemenian, i? i t I 'V fl 1 li $• ¦1} bibliography. At its considerably steep Act,- it also provides broad guidelines price of Rs 150, the book may not be for trusts in other states of India where purchased by just about anyone in- different Trust acts may be applicable, corresponding terested in Parsi history. But Outlines a 1 f Trust-worthy information To that extent, Mirza is the true historian, as celebrated by Miguel de Cervantes: “precise, . truthful, and scriptions, statues, coins, seals, paint- trators and beneficiaries. A layman, quite unprejudiced, swerved from the path of truth by neither interest nor fear, hatred nor affection... ” Yet, the gardening. Mirza ’s inclusion of the apply irrespective of the value of prop- ecclesiast in him determines the line he ‘ ‘ toes in presenting history. For exam ­ ple, it is well-known that the Sassanian empire fell not only because of the in ­ trigues of the court, but also because Zoroastrianism, which was then raised preface, has an ambitious layout: “a to the rank of state religion, was total ­ ly in the hands of its priests, who wielded unlimited power and prestige. Mirza avoids mentioning this fact, and rather workmanlike. For the The book makes for easy reading Similarly, when trying to place the casual student, the facts are either too and the index enables reference to spe- date of Zoroaster, he resorts to quot- little or too many; for the scholar too, cific points. While it basically quotes ing texts to favor the traditionally held Outlines would not be a Bible, but a and refers to the Bombay Public Trust period of around 6,000 B.C., as against 1,700 to 1,000 B.C. which, on the basis of migrationary patterns, study of names, archaeological evidence, and similarity definitely would make in vocabulary and syntax of the Vedas and Gathas, makes more sense. But, by far the greatest drawback in Mirza ’s work is that the second edition is not an updated version of the first, which appeared 13 years ago. It seems that for the learned author time has stood still for the last decade though, as anyone following Parsi matters would know, much “history ” has been made - and the same deserves to be written about, for purposes of docu ­ mentation if not discussion or dissen ­ sion. There is a chapter on estimates of Parsi population in India and other countries, but in the absence of up ­ dated figures, the book seems out ­ dated, and a revised edition, a bit pur ­ poseless. Falling population, an in ­ creasing gerontocracy, migrationary trends, all reflect the changing history of the community, and need to be pro ­ jected in a work of this nature. A few chapters, however, stand out, Dadrawala. Published by the Zoroastrian Com- and more than make up for the lacuna * ' " d u„.. in chapters where there is ample other published material for the interested Though we are often critical, and reader. Of particular mention here is rightly so, about the working of Parsi have indicated the incorporation of the Mirza ’s dissertation on Parsis in Iran trusts, it is little known that the Parsis new Centre for Advancement of Phi- after the Arab conquest - a 40-page < chapter that takes a look down time, of trust work! For example, we were guidance and information to both 1 trusts and beneficiaries. are non- Apart from misprints that could the community remaining in religious in nature. It is again to the have been avoided, the information Ik^ter brings to light a host credit of the community that the first provided in the book should prove handbook of its kind on all aspects of very useful and assist the layman to trust operations should come from the pen of a Zoroastrian. As the preface of the book states. facets of Median, Achaemenian, there is a preponderance of laymen in ­ Parthian and Sassanian art - the in- volved in trusts - as trustees, adminis- ings and drawings, stucco decorations moreover, is bewildered by the and even landscape architecture and plethora of rules and regulations which cultural aspects - prevalent both in erty, whether movable or immovable. Iran and India - is heartily com- With the erosion of the value of money mended. over the years, what may have been a Outlines of Parsi History, as decent amount for a specified welfare Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa writes in the activity, say five or six decades ago, would be a pittance and an embarrass- bulky volume that would deter a ment to offer as welfare in this day and casual student. ” It is not the bulk that age. What is the responsibility of such would deter, but the style. It is heavy, a trust management? and rather workmanlike. For the I 1 Trustees occasionally find themselves | good in a predicament when requests are “skeleton ” in the cupboard of any se- made for a purpose that may not be rious reader. clearly defined by the settlor. In a rapid- i ly changing world, trust deeds drafted decades ago may need dynamic inter ­ pretation to comply with the changing needs of society. Trustees may there ­ fore, according to the author, interpret the objects by visualizing the intent rather than the letter, to suit the needs of a changed environment. It may have been more appropriate to title the book as Information ‘for’ ' Trusts, instead of ‘on’ Trusts, since there is neither a listing nor descrip ­ tion of any trust. Collecting contributions to keep a trust active and helping it to develop and widen its beneficial services to society are important activities. Busi ­ ness enterprises and philanthropists are major contributors to trusts and the benefits available to business Handbook of Information on Trusts by Noshir houses for SUCh contributions need tO be clarified so that they could be en ­ couraged to donate funds for the socie ­ ty ’s benefit. It would have also been useful to Noshir Dadrawala offers a useful guide in the management of trust property Darius Forbes munity Development Institute, Bombay, 1987. Pp 197. Price Rs 25. trusts, it is little known that the Parsis are the most advanced in some aspects lanthropy, a centre which provides right from the ninth to the twentieth the first to computerize information on iifcfetury. of the history and demog- 500 Parsi trusts which are non- 1 1 1 dazing interest is l^nt Iranian art. Bted to the many understand the rules, regulations and obligations governing trustees and be ­ neficiaries. of^im Mirza's sta||| Over 40 pages 44 Parsiana December I"-'-a 1 I I' p ¦- MILESTONES The data on births, marriages I’ and deaths has been compiled the 82 Parsis who died in Bom- from information provided by bay in the month of Novem- various anjumans in India and ber. The next most important abroad, courts and hospitals, killers were old age and debil- The list of Parsi marriages was ity (claiming 10), hypertension made available to us by the (six), blood disease (five) and Bombay High Court. The list cancer (five). Brain damage, of inter-community marriages pneumonia, head injuries, and will be made available to us diabetes claimed isolated vic- from the Registrar of Mar- tims. An eight-hour-old baby, a three-year-old, an 18-year- old and a 30-year-old were also lost to the community. This breakdown of the pie, the list of Bombay deaths causes of death is limited to pertains overwhelmingly to Bombay as Parsiana has re- those who were consigned to the dokhmas, and there too, subject from other anjumans. Hoshang Shavaksha though the addresses were In order to ensure the au- Billimoria; October 30 known, the names of the fami- thenticity of the data, Parsiana Maharukh Dara Sidhwa and ly members were not. From only accepts information for Cyrus Keki Kotwal; other anjumans we have publication if it is received October 30 gathered names of family from an members but no addresses. The information largely per ­ tains to the preceding month, yet in case of outstation anju- mated, Parsiana mans we have incorporated appreciate if the family news of happenings which may be considered dated. Marriages of intercommun ­ ity couples as well as children born of such unions are listed. The data is being presented veracity of the report would be ’ '' are sure our readers will appreciate this re ­ quirement and cooperate with us. riages only in January, cour ­ tesy Ms Silloo Kavarana. The information gathered is not always uniform. For exam- Heart disease claimed 32 of Percy Fredun Arsiwala; ......................... October 15 Jaloo Naoroji Captain and Zubin Dara Dhondy; October 25 Tehmina Tehmurasp Engineer and Hormazd Savak Irani; October 26 Hira Hoshang Doongaji and Aspi Behram Bhesania; October 27 Zinobia Phiroze Dalal of Broach and Hpmi Adi Karanjia; October 27 Taina Phiroze Motiwalla and Themtan Dorab Pavri; October 29 ceived no information on the Benaifer Dali Daruwalla and subject from other anjumans. In order to ensure the au ­ thenticity of the data, Parsiana November 9 Homa Shapur Irani and Darayus Rustom Engineer; November 9 Khorshed Rusi Ghasvala and Kali Kaikobad Lichmore; November 9 Aban Parwez Khambatta and Farookh Minoo Nanavaty ; November 9 Farida Behram Movdawalla and Behram Naval Mullan; November 10 Homai Darabshaw Jijina and Khurshed Noshir Shroff; November 10 Ruksana Cawas Dangore and Frahad Rustom Patel; November 12 Dinaz Ardeshir Kapadia and Minoo Fredoon Tody walla; November 12 Lily Homi Patel and Neville Jehangir Chaina; November 14 Firuza Jehangir Mody and Neville Fall Bhathena of Surat; November 15 Niloufer Syrus Wadia and Yezad Jimmy Daruvalla; November 15 Pervin Jehanbux Mistry and Homy ar Keki Katgara; November 15 Farida Phiroz Patel and Percy Polly Parekh; November 15 Yasmin Minocher Dumasia and Mehernosh Jamshedji Udwadia; November 15 Goolshan Jehanbax Anklesaria and Jamshed Maneckshaw Pardiwalla; November 16 Kamal Shaivax Sethna and Kersasp Nariman Daruwala; November 17 Nina Sam Choksy and Kersi Cawsi Daruwalla; November 17 Kathleen Rusi Bengali and Homi Minoo Chothia; November 19 Aban Kaikhshru Pardiwala andJinoo Khodadad Dupetawala; November 19 Zenobia Bapu Mithaiwala and Yazdi Phiroze Marolia; .j ii I 1 have publication if it is received anjuman, renowned Niloofer Shahrukh Contractor and Maneck Hoshang Daruwala; October 31 Arnavaz Pirozshaw Gotla and Sorab Burjorji Malegamwala; October 31 bers could approach us direct- Nilaofer Dinshaw Shroff and . -L r Jamshed Behram Meher-Homji; November 1 Shenaz Behram Cooper and Rohinton Darabshaw Parakh; November 1 Shiraz Shavakshaw Gotla and Cyrus Minocher Kotwal; November 3 AnahitaJal Dolasa and Dara Kersi Sherdiwala; November 5 Rakhshandeh Jimmy Contractor and Rumy Minoo Tarapore; November 5 Kashmira Soli Sukheswalla and Darayus Manek Panthaki; November 6 Mona Baman Limzerwala and Tehmurasp Behram Sakloth; November 6 Kermin Homi Jijina of Vadodra and Dinyar Framroze Balaporia ; November 8 Shenaz Rohinton Bulsara of Calcutta and Percy Kersi Kapadia; November 8 Aban Savak Poacha and Kersi Jehangir Marolia; November 8 November 19 Havovi Homi Karkaria and Darius Naval Mistry; November 8 Rashna Nariman Mody and Naozer Bejon Baldawala; Parsi institution, court or gov ­ ernment authority. When a deceased is cre ­ mated, Parsiana would mem- ly with the information. If readers have any informa ­ tion they would like published, some proof to ensure the city-wise, the events being required. We listed in the city where they occurred, in chronological and alphabetical order. BOMBAY Born A girl to Kashmira and Sarosh Bala on November 1,1987 A boy to Zarina and Framorze Mehta; November 2 A girl to Manwaz and Zahir Contractor; November 4 ¦ A girl to Farida and Sam Patel; Maharookh Shavak November 4 Kalyaniwala of Deolali and A boy, Bayhaan, to Shemaz and Adil Rohinton Irani of Farad Lakdawala; November 7 A boy to Roshni and Eruch Tata; November 8 A girl to Nilufer and Ardeshir Patel; November 12 A boy to Bakhtavar and Firoze Ilavia; November 16 A girl to Havovy and Kasru Readymbney ; November 16 A boy to Toronez and Adil Hartaria; November 19 A girl to Maharukh and Kerman Khambatta; November 21 A girl to Shahnaz and Hormuzd Irani; November 22 Married Golvad; August 9 Hira Kaiki Alpaiwalla and Toos Noshir Daruvala-, October 1 Lily Rusi Siganporia and Darayus Bhikhaji Mistry ; October 9 Gool Jalejer Dah and Dinshaw Pirojshaw Wadia., October 11 Pervin Noshir Khambata and 46 Parsiana December 1987 Binaif er Dhunjishaw Contractor and Yazdi Phiroz Chichgar; November 20 Bakhtawar Rezashah Tarapore and Khojestar Namdar ! ¦r, J'* -» Khoramshahi ofDeolali; November 20 Anahita Jal Unwalla and Yazdi Hosi Desai', November 21 JeneiferJal Billimoria and Bomi Ratanji Munshi', November 21 Farida Sorabji Wadia and Rustom Sohrab Farzadi; November 22 Kashmira Homi Taraporewalla and Garshasp Ajlatoon Irani', November 22 Khurshid Homi Sahiar and Noshir Phiroze Katrak', November 22 Pervin Homi Madan and Kairus Shavak Dadachanji', November 23 Ferzin Naval Damania and Mehernosh Erach Colsawala; November 24 Perviz Faramroz Darbary and Pervez Darabsha Daboo; November 24 Aban Behram Daruvala and Jamshed Eruch Bapasola', November 26 Maharukh Kaikhushru ' Colabawalla and Gushtasp Behramji Forbes', November 26 Rukhshana Pali Mistry and Reshad Bomi Chesson; November 27 Behroze Minoo Vakharia and Zarir Jamshed Dadina; November 28 BakhtawarJalejar Davierwala and Zubin Bahadur Daruwala', November 28 Maharukh Burjor Patel and Tehmasp Minoo Asidwala-, November 29 Meher Dinshaw Hamawalla and Pheroze Adi Dhanbhoora-, November 29 Firozi Khushru Dinshaw and Percy Adi Doctor; November 29 Khushnuma Rohinton Sethna and Darayas Hoshang Kavina\ November 30 Died Tehmi Gustasp Antia (16), residing at M-16 Cusrow Bg, S.B. Singh Rd, 400039; on October 31 Meherbai Ratanshaw Bucha (84), Readymoney Bldg No 2, Tata Rd, Tardeo, 400034; October 31 Goola Framroze Dah (72), 696/A Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; October 31 ' Ratanbai Burjorji Bharucha (^2), 46 Bapai Mans, Dr N.M. Shah Marg, Chira Bazar, 400002; November 1 Jal Naval Madon (54), 1 Contractor Chawl, Sussex Rd, Byculla, 400027; November 1 Roda Shavaksha Patel (92), C/o J.N. Driver, 7 Phalguni, Sarojini Rd, Santacruz, 400054; November 1 Firoze Aderji Irani (55), Dhanu Rd, Dist Thana, 401602; November 2 Nerges Dinshawji Hilloo (J2), 2-AJ5 Tata Blocks, Sir Ratan Tata Rd, Tardeo, 400034; November 4 Baimai Merwanji Patel (96), 614 Bhiwandiwalla Bldg, Dhobi Talao, 400002; November 4 Dr Framroze Jehangir Billimoria (29), Silverton, 102 Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; November 5 * Naju Hotni Mody (JI), Vaibhav, Barkatali Darga Marg, Wadala (E), 400037; November 5 Coomi (Villoo) Jehangir Toddywal'a (86), Umbergaon Bldg, Parel, 400012; November 5 Ratan Minocher Coyajee (66), 265 Engineer Bldg, Princess St, 400002; November 6 Minoo Jehangir Palkhiwalla (84), 219 Amroliawalla Hse, Lower Parel, 400013; November 6 Mani Maneck Patel (40), 75 Shreeji Hse, Mint Rd, Fort, 400001; November 6 Banoobai Dadiba Jafrabadwalla (J2), F.S. Parukh Dharamshalla, 34 Hughes Rd, 400007; November 7 Rusi Hormusji Naigamwalla (64), 3S1 Mota Mans, Grant Rd, 400007; November 7 Pirojsha Pestonji Panthaki (73), 599 Kooka Bldg, J.S. Seth Rd, 400002; November 7 Minoo Kaikhushru Patell (J9), New Bhiwandi Hse, Gowalia ¦ INDIA’S FIRST PELLETRON PLANT The "Pelletron" —India's first disr^ed particle accelerator- enclosed in a steel tank, 24 metres long, 6 metres in c^ineter arxl weighing 120 tonnes WHI be hous^ in a specially constructed building in the lata Institute of Fundamental Research complex. The total Civfl Engineering work Iras heen entrusted to Shapoorji PaHonji & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd., —pioneers in the construction industry —and we are proud to be associated with this "historic event" for the country. In 1964 at the inauguration of the massive project, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Rese^h, the late Dr. Homi Bhatiha one oif the world's leading nuclear physicists said ; “A building of this complexity and quality is due to the combined efforts of many people..../ must, however, mention particularly the principal contractors, Messrs. Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Pvt. Ltd., who have done a magnificent job" Now when this new sophisticated research facility is being commissioned for the first time in India, Shapocaji Pallonji & Co. Pvt. Ltd., have once again been selected! 'Ch, the late Dr. Homi Bhabha ! world's leading nuclear ** u ‘i* V • • r ¦ SHAPOORJI RALLONJ fr CO. (PVT.) IHl Engineers S Construction Contractors New India Centre, 17 Coopai«geBoad, So(nbay-40Q 039 India. Telex: 01V3124; Tel.: 2026614,202Q22S,2020762 E J i I I r*^ J . ill Parsiana December 1987 , .I i i if ! ! 1i I :¦ Tank Rd, 400036; November 7 15-A Sangam Bldg, Pedder Bapuji Jamshedji, Bhandari (89), Gandhi Mans, Wadia St, Tardeo Rd, 400034: November 8 Bomi Pirojsha Khambata (69), C-5 Ben Nevis, Warden Rd, 4O0O26; November 8 Kaikhushru Ardeshir Mehta (69), 580Tehmi Mhl, Jame- Jamshed Rd, Matunga, 400019; November 8 Banoo Rustomji Rustomfram (75), F-11 Cusrow Bg, Colaba, 400039; November 8 Dinshaw Dorabji Cooper (58), Ness Bg, B Block, Nana Chowk, 400007; November 9 Darabshaw Dinshaji Jhaveri (86), V-2 Dalal Est, Bombay Central, 400008; November 10 Jerbanu Faramroj Shanga (85), Saidunisa Hse, Sleater Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; November 10 Rustomji Maneckji Antia (80), Master Bldg, Zoroastrian Comp, Chikalwadi, 400007; November 11 Nargish Jal Dastur (72), 20/225 Thakurdwar, Petit Widows ’ Chawl; 400004; November 11 Dina Sorab Kalyan (65), 3 Lady Ratan Tata Bldg, Bandra, 400050; November 11 Purvez Jehangir Bhivandiwala (84), Gemfrina, 630 Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 12 Khodaram Hormuzd Palina (75), G-22 Sakarwadi, Mazgaon, 400010; November 12 Darabshaw Dosabhai Vesuna (70), 5 Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; November 12 Nergish Framroze Choksy (60), United Chambers A Block, Grant Rd, 400007; November 13 Nargis Minocher Dhalla (86), C/o Ms M.J. Garda, 7 Royal Ter. 58 Wodehouse Rd, Colaba 4(K)005; November 13 Dina Jal Dubash (65), A/5 Shapoorji Bharucha Bg, V.P. Rd, 400058; November 13 Khorshed Pirojshah Bhathena (69), Sheridan Hse, August Kranti Marg, 400036; November 14 Serene Dinyar Contractor (IS). 761 Najumai Mans, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 14 Darabshaw Curshedji Langrana (89), D-10 Jer Bg, Victoria Garden Rd, Byculla, 400027; November 14 Feroz Motabhoy Vakil (45), Rd, 400026; November 14 Rusi Manchersha Bhabha (69), 721-A, Choksy Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 15 Tehmina Burjorji Jithra (69), 1 M.N. Banaji Bldg, Forjett St. Gowalia Tank, 400026; November 15 Goola Hormasji Subedar (84), West View, Ice Factory Lane, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; November 15 Jehangir Jeevanji Khambatta (84), 1/3 Daruwalla Bldg, Tata Blocks, Bandra, 400050; November 16 Cooverbai Nusserwanji Engineer (86); 299 Florenica, Off Turner Rd, Bandra, 400050; November 17 Mehroo Dinshaw Hathiram (63), 201 Shanti Kunj, 87 Naigaum Cross Rd, Dadar; 400014; November 17 Male child (eight hrs) of Rani and Percy Kerawalla, F/31 Contractor Bg, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; November 17 Khoshed Keki Sidhwa (75), 21 Soona Mhl, 143 Marine Drive, 400020; November 17 Namdar Peshotal Kotval (68), Park View, Little Gibbs Rd, 400006; November 18 Minoo Rustomji Antia (46), Chhatriwala Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; November 19 Gool Darab Broacha (93), 4/3 Rustom Bg, Byculla, 400027; November 19 Dolly Freddy Buhariwalla (53), S-4 Cusrow Bg, Colaba, 400039; November 19 Hormasji Sorabji Mistry (85), 2-B/18 Tata Mills Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; November 19 Rati Framroze Mistry (78), Casa Caroliha, Agiary Rd, Mahim, 400016; November 19 Mehbai Meherwanji Aibara (90), 618 Jemi Lodge, Parsi Clny, Dadar-, 400014; November 20 Murad Rasheed Ardeshir (three). Cola Chambers, 117 Wodehouse Rd, 400005; November 21 Tehmina Nadir Cooper (90), Queens Court, 136 M. Karve Rd, 400020; November 21 Jer Nariman Green (83), Karai Est , 248 JavjiDadajiRd, Tardeo, 400007; November 21 Kumi Dadi Havewalla (72), A/21 Jer Bg, Byculla, 400027; November 21 Homi Pirojsha Kavrana (70), 10 Banaji Bldg, Forjett St, 400036; November 21 Burjorji Dinshawji Siganporia (82), E-26 Cusrow Bg, Colaba, 400039; November 21 Hosang Rustomji Merchant (58), 103-C Mistry Ngr, Vasai (W); November 22 Dhunmai Jamshedji Shroff (95), Lady Navajbai Tata Bldg, S.V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; November 22 Khorshed Ratanjee Umrigar (98), 790 Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 22 Aspand Zand Yadgar (87), Patel Pada, Dhanu Rd, Dist Thane (W. Rly); November 22 Khorshed Jehangir Battiwalla (87), Ness Bg Annexe II, Nana Chowk, 400007; November 23 Nargis Jal Irani (73), 71 Colabawalla Hse, Lower Colaba, 400005; November 23 Shera Sheriar Panthaki (82), Gariwalla Hse, Gilder St, Lamington Rd, 400008; November 24 Ratan Ardeshir Kasad (62), 12/10 Lentin Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; November 25 Goolcher Rustomji Dastoor (87), Patel ’s Bungalow, 187 Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; November 26 Sharokh Polad Irani (Tafti) (41), 170/A Maharukh Mans, Alibhai Premji Marg, 400007; November 26 Gool Adi Bode (49), 9/10 Rustom Bg, Byculla, 400027; November 27 Keki Khurshedji Lavangia (75), Old Khareghat Clny, 26 Hughes Rd, 400007; November 27 Khorshed J. Mistry (67), 98/2 Maryland, T.P.S. 3, 16th Rd, Bandra, 400050; November 27 July 16 Jahangirji Rustomji Roowalla (82), Gamadia Fire Temple, Cawasji Patel St, 400001; November 27 Najamai F. Kolah (75), B-1 Petit Chawl, Petit St, Grant Rd , 400007; November 28 Sooni Manek Sethna (96), ' D’Cunha Hse, Clarke Rd, 400011; November 28 Shirin Rusy Engineer (78), Karanjia Bldg, Grant Rd, 400007; November 29 Rohinton Dali Framna (30), 384/A Kapadia Mans, Grant Rd, 400007; November 29 Rustom Pestonji Khodaiji (83), 304 Mehta Court, 13 Gilder Lane, 400008; November 29 Eruch Ardeshir Lashkari (74), Rusi Mehta Bldg, Dinbai Petit St, Grant Rd, 400007; November 29 Bahadur Jalejar Pastakia (62), 20-A Gopal Mans, Turner Rd, Bandra, 400050; November 29 Alamai Bomanshaw Cooper (91), 583/4 Bhiwandiwalla Bldg, Chira Bazar, 400002; November 30 si I i CALCUTTA Married Shenaz Buis ar a, daughter of Dolly and Rohinton Bulsara and Percy Kapadia; November 8 Zarene Madan, daughter of Nurges and Nusvan and Sarosh Gazder, son of Roshan and Pesi , November 22 Died Jehangir Jamshedji Patel (80), husband of Gool, father of Zareen, Shireen Bilimoria and Rumi; November 24 CHICAGO Bom A girl, Diana, to Arnaz and Jehangir Bharucha; November 13 SECUNDERABAD Born A boy, Homiyar, to Mr and Afs Jimmy A. Hormusjee-, September 18 Married Khurshid Minoo Savai and •Tehmton Hormazd Unwalla', June 5 Died Eryad Kaikhusroo Sidhwa-, Ardeshir D. Medhora (66),of Nizamabad; July 29 Muneezah Kaoosji (70); August 14 Jamshed N. Italia (72); August 18 Keki P. Homavazir (60); September 1 Rustom HirjiBhoy Soonawalla (72); September 30 Homai Keki Bengali (72); October 27 Jerbanoo Manekshaw Daruwalla (74); October 30 Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka 48 Parsiana December 1987 I 'I I