Jul 1987

II I o o \ 5 't • •'Ji k’ -jKi' 1 K/. pdce ( i‘ T ' jW 7^^ *rn*’ •it” » B ........... . .... I. >«>>««<«, ¦»! ¦RM Kt* KtV.! miUHM iituE iiiiP » >> for the chairman Dr Aspi Golwalla distributed them . to various centers and therefore, without much ado, I where the tickets were being sold (re- humbly suggest that there should be fer Keki Tarapore ’s letter “Good seats no witch-hunting of any individual. In- reserved for... ” Parsiana, June 1987). stead of dragging these sordid happen- He kept only the Rs 30 and Rs 15 ings to a court, washing our dirty ones. As there were not many seats in (Parsi) linen in public and making this category (the seating capacity of ourselves a laughing stock in the eyes the auditorium being very limited), of all other communities, it would be there was not much difference be- advisable to have some sort of an tween the good seats and the bad arbitration by a highly respected Parsi seats. legal luminary, preferably a retired However, the secretary-cum- Parsi judge, with a view to bring this treasurer would have preferred the unfortunate episode to a conclusion complainant to come directly to him acceptable to both sides. with his complaint instead of writing to In the interests of the Parsi com- Parsiana. He would have straightaway munity, such matters should not be clarified the matter to the satisfaction allowed to die a natural death or even of the complainant and thus avoided allowed to simmer, as otherwise unnecessary correspondence regarding rumors and gossip will continue and a trivial matter. damage not only the credibility of both antagonists but that of the community. It was Mr Rustom Bisney who first JAL J. OLLiA approached our treasurer - Ms F.D. Cardmaster - in April 1986 with a ‘sound proposal ’ as he put it, of staging However, \ ^‘Making crucial decisions A. write-up under the heading “Mak- two Gujarati plays in Hyderabad, by ing crucial decisions ” (Parsiana, the well-known Yazdi Karanjia Group March 1987) needs one minor clar- of Surat under the joint auspices of the ¦ ..... " ification. One of the paragraphs refers Zoroastrian Stree Mandal and himself Readers' views are welcome on any to a resolution passed by the Austra- (see Rustom Bisney ’s letter, Parsiana, subject of interest to the community lian Zoroastrian Association June 1987). On the Mandal agreeing and should be sent to the Editor, Read- (AZA)“...the property based at 196 to do so, there was an informal meet- ( ~ ____ _ 7__________ 17 __ 1 Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to money used to purchase another more ¦ suitable property for similar use. —----- —----------------------------- —— It might make readers wonder that about the plays, viz that Mr Bisney we are thinking of selling this proper- would be in charge of making part of , ,, d ” ty. Nothing could be further from our thfe travelling arrangements (ex Surat ivatraK S CrUSaUC thoughts as we love this property. The and back), boarding, lodging, local The ball-by-ball description of the first resolution quoted is just a safeguard so transport, sightseeing, etc, for the ever, crucial meeting at the Sethna that in case we want to sell it in the troupe; and the Mandal would take Agiary Hall on March 31, 1987 called distant future, approval of 75 percent full responsibility for the enaction of by vigilant Parsis like Ardeshir Kat- of AZA’s financial members would the plays i.e. enquiries and arrange- rak, Dinshaw Merchant and others, be necessary. A simple majority of 51 ments regarding props, furniture, has been vividly portrayed by Arnavaz percent just won ’t do. stage and set-up, printing and sale of Mama in “Katrak ’s crusade ” (Par- kersi meher -homji tickets at different centers. siana, April ’87). New South Wales, Australia ^j. gjsjjgy ajgQ wanted a 50 percent Never before in the history of the share in the profit. But later we Bombay Parsi Punchayet has any trus- Good SCatS reserved I OF... pointed out to him that as the Man ­ tee, and that too the chairman of the The higher denomination tickets (Rs dal ’s work in this joint venture would board of trustees, come so very close 100 and Rs 50) for the two Gujarati involve a lot of time, effort and hard to being “impeached ” by some spi- plays enacted by the Surat troupe were work, there should be a proportionate rited defenders of our Parsipanu , as available for sale with the secretary- share of profit for it. Mr Bisney agreed was once strongly prevailing in our cum-treasurer of the Hyderabad Parsi to a higher percentage of profit for the community, and as such was so highly fire-temple for two weeks, but as no Mandal, namely 60 percent, and the respected by other communities. buyer came forward, he returned them rest for himself. Thus this joint ven- Much has already been said in the to the committee members of the ture was undertaken in full collabora- Press, mostly against and somewhat Zoroastrian Stree Mandal (ZSM) who tion with Mr Bisney as can be vouched Association June 1987). On the Mandal agreeing ers' Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O.Box 892, Annangrove Road...be sold and the ing of Mr Bisney with some of our Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to money used to purchase another more committee members oh May 2, 1986, editing for reasons o space an canty, suitable nronertv for similar use. ” at which some points were discussed (( 3 Parsiana July 1987 KERSI MEHER-HOMJI New South Wales, Australia Good seats reserved for... I ' ! ?¦ ¦ ' ,11 other Parsi Zoroastrian charitable i I ! t r by the inclusion of his name on the other Parsi Zoroastrian charitable A few days later when he sent an tickets and later by the acceptance of organization here, which could have unpleasant letter to me and to all the' his 40 percent share of the profit after helped him out. Thus the offering of committee members, we decided to the settlement of all accounts. As regards the brochure, it has been mutual! the practice of the Mandal for the past 27 years to bring out brochures in con ­ nection with any fund raising activity of the Mandal and it was done in this case also with a clear indication to Mr Bisney that as our committee would exclusively manage the brochure, he would have no share at all in its pro ­ fits. Thus the question of Mr Bisney helped us out with transport for the osal of jointly staging the Gujarati plays offering or permitting us to keep the ' ' - - ¦ ....... ~ brochure money does not arise at all! As for my not thanking Mr Bisney in charge of transport, expressed his in- my speech during the interval on the ability to do so at the last minute, second day i.e. March 23, 1987, I cer ­ tainly did not consider it proper to do so, as the ZSM and Mr Bisney were joint partriers, collaborators and be ­ neficiaries in the undertaking. In his letter dated May 22, 1986 to our treasurer, he stated, “We should cooperate and work together for our mutual benefit and in all matters there will be joint responsibility. ” If the ZSM had not agreed to put up the shows jointly with him, there was no thanks if any, should have been take no cognizance of this petty matter in order to avoid any controversy. The lady in question whom I thank- which would have, no doubt, created ed in my speech - Ms Perin B. Dittia - more unpleasantness in the future in a who is not on our committee - alone small community like ours. made a stupendous effort to procure about Rs 40,000 worth of advertise- like to enlighten your readers with the ments for the brochure, because of fact that Mr Bisqey did not have the which we went beyond the target we courtesy to approach the president of had set, and the gentleman, who the ZSM (myself) first, with his prop- Before I close this episode, I would artistes,, was an outsider and he volun- by the Yazdi Karanjia Group, teered because Mr Bisney, who was in Dr (Ms) RASHIDA M. PATELL President, Zoroastrian Stree Mandal, Secunderabad “Not fire worshippers After the second day ’s show was over, some committee members and I In response to “Not fire worshippers ” went on the stage to garland the {Parsiana, February 1987) I have the actors. Mr and Ms Bisney were also following clarification to offer: there and he, I regret to say, uttered ~ ~ some remarks about us in an unbe ­ coming language (which I do not wish to complain about an account on our to reproduce) in the presence of some religious practice which had appeared principal members of the troupe, for in Florida Times Union. I had re- not thanking him in my speech, quested him to forward a xerox copy However, we chose to ignore his ill- of the write-up to enable me to send humor out of a sense of dignity. my response on the subject. As of to- Last November, Dr K. Havaresf from Jacksonville, Florida, called me Steamship agents — master stevedores dubashes — lighterage contractors Darabshaw B.Cursetjee's Sons (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd. Darabshaw House, Ballard Road, Bombay - 400 038. Grams: 'DEADWEIGHT' Phone: 260021 (4 Lines) (Dock Office: 262230) Telex: 5824 D.BCB IN Also associates at Calcutta, Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Mangalore, Bhovnagar, Bedi-port, Navlakhi, Veraval, Porbunder & Kandla. Also sole Government Landing contractors at Jamnagar, (Bedi) Bhavnagar. 5 Parsiana July 1987! ) '1 day (April 24), I have no. received k. his asser.ion SZ.Tn. ”'’ After a couple of weeks, a repre- worshippers ^nd Encyc- The more books and materials I sentative from the Associated Press read on our religion written by western called me on the phone to have my d November, I met scholars, the more I am getting con- personal opinion. My first sentence p^nina and Homi Mehta of vinced that some of them wind up was to the effect that in no sense and Hom* Ramna ^^ey believe in, irrespec- manner could we Zoroastrians be con- ^Lw their attention to tive of the truth. They are always look- sidered fire worshippers. We consider ner "nd^rew ^hejr^attenUoji Therefore, it would fire as the most sacred element in the the , newsoaoer. My be in the best interests of all Zoroas- entire creation of Almighty Ahura was that since Bom- trians if a scholarly explanation is made Mazda. Fire is symbolic from the spir- fecommen central available in a booklet form on such itual point of view and not as an object bay entire community let a critical issue. At least The Maz- of worship. Ours is the irs tlk^^^^^ deyasnie Connection ” publication u monotheistic religion. We believe that “ rfX ,wo encyc- making every " ¦ - - —- tion corrected in their luiure euiuoiB. Last week, a family friend told us dicv L. of the sermons on Easter, children, she heard a priest saying over the radio that some research work indicated that ______ ___ r-- worshippers and his reply was the En- thrAssocfated Press cyclopedia Britannica and Encyc- Towards end November, I met ------- and Homi Mehta of vinced that some Mazda Industries and Leasing at a din- to the effect that in no sense and Homi Ranina could we Zoroastrians be con- 1 and Encyc- 1 i as was 1----------- - - recommendation was that since Bom- ’ entire community, let a is effort in this direction and I congratulate them for their noble efforts to educate the young as well as the adult. It is a must-to-read for all BRACK D. MUNSHI New York, USA As the conversation continued from fire worshipping to cross and statue worshipping, I stressed that the pre- the performance of all our religious Se mTown'^amny^ keepjn Si kmp To^Sy S trians as “fire worshippers. ” And at no ments^ And th R radio^sta- of Shah Namah, who explains in one time during the course of my conversa- it. She did not sneaker I of his couplets that Parsis were not fire tion, did I ever say that I would not tion KShosrov Xlippers, they only worshipped mind if called a fire worshipper. I cer- discussed d with distressing God through the medium of fire. tainly would detest it if told so. Swami Vivekanand has defended ly, I asked him what was the source of wui5nipp“*5, *¦ «^**¦*'«**’-— — * i_ A • sence of fire is very essential during that in one oTcrucifiction was started Every now and then swmeb^ _ gets up discussed it with Professor Kaikhosrov Irani and, though it is very distressing to hear such callous remarks, there is ¥r INMA’S nitST PELLETRON PLANT The "Pelletron" —India's first charged particle accelerator — enclosed in a steel tank, 24 metres long, 6 metres in diameter and wei^ii^ 120 tonnes will be hous^ in a specially constructed building in the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research complex. The total Civil Engineering work has been entrusted to Shapoorji Pallonji & 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 projerai, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Reseatth, the late Dr. Homi Bhabha one or the world ’s leading nuclear physicists said : "A building of this complexity and quality is due to the combined efforts of many people.... I 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, Shapooqi Pallonji & Co. Pvt. Ltd., have once again been selected! 6 Parsiana July T 987 5P SHAPOORJI PALIONJ & CO. (PVT.) ITO. Engineers & Construction Contractors New India Centre, 17 Cooperage Boad, fiombay-400 039 India. Telex: 011 -2124; Tel.: 2026614, 2020228,20207B2I i 1 r I idol worship saying that only the “real- whatever cost and to whatever degree Petit SchOOl’s 100 ized soul ” can relate to the abstract possible. form of God - all others require some I feel that the chapter on this issue The J.N. Petit Parsi Orphanage and symbol through which to worship must now close, and should be noted Technical High School at Poona will God. as a i ’ ,......................... , Somebody had asked our revered Zoroastrian community in the U.K. Dastur Khurshed Dabu to relate his darius sethna spiritual experiences in life. He re- u plied that,to him, the light symbolized the purest form of God. The Bible says, “Let there be light and there was light. ” So truth and light are embodi ­ ments of God. sad episode in the history of the be celebrating its centenary in Septem- _ • • ----- ber 1988. All the ex-students who wish to par ­ ticipate in the celebrations are re- „ u I quested to get in touch with the Trus- bponSOr a book N.M. Petit Charity Fund, UCO I am working on a handy booklet on Bank Building, fourth floor. Dr Zoroastrianism, a small volume of ab- Dadabhai Naoroji Road, Fort, Bom- B.D.WADIA RUSTAM K. DOCTOR SOT Willing tO pay a subsidy or KS 3 ,UUU. secretary, N.M. Petit Chanty Fund Controversies not good »rX“<>n“^S^ ‘re^ Directory lists trees I hope future issues of Parsiana will, ligion. The life of Zoroaster, The cult The Dadar Parsi, Colony,, which^was issue i.e. with the very minimum space texts, Zoroastrian birth rites, Zoroas- Edulji Joshi is aptly ,called^a garden _____________ Beyond Zoroastrian ing trees and the singing birds like death. Parsis and their sects. The Parsi koel, magpie, robin, bulbul and gol ­ den oriole. In the directory of the Dadar Parsi Colony (pages 29 to 33), you will find a out 60 pages, for which I need a spon- bay 400001. sor willing to pay a subsidy of Rs 5,000. The booklet includes chapters on In ­ troduction to religion, Zoroastrian re- increasingly, be like the latest March of fire, Sudreh-kusti, Zoroastrian founded by the late Seth^Mancherji given tb our usual controversies which trian marriages, Zoroastrian religious colony because of the beautiful flower- cannot be good for the young and par ­ ticularly for those who live abroad! Articles by non-Parsis, who have calendar. Festival days of the Parsis, studied our religion and our commun- i j . .-, ity, would be particularly welcome, to their fold? also, excerpts from books written on /--r------ -------------------- our religion and community during the free and could utilize the back cover list was prepared by the Scouts of last century and the early part of this page for an advertisement. A copy of Homavazir ’s Eleventh Central Bom- century for which no copyright is in- the manuscript will be given on sped- bay Bharat Scout Group, four years fic request only, and collected the back, under my guidance. Probably, same day. this is the only directory of its kind to Those interested may contact me at contain a list of trees of a residential 424, Anand, Khar Danda Road, Bom- locality. g palkhiwalla Group Scribe Homavazir's XI Central Bombay Bharat Scout Group century for which no copyright is in ­ volved. K.T.SATARAWALA Mexico ceremonies, and Why do the Parsis not admit aliens A sponsor will be given 200 booklets list of trees with their locations. The “The 11 days’ controversy It is very degrading to find that bay 400052. Telephone 545251. Shahpur Captain has declared the re- dara e. driver cords of the minutes of the managing committee which he himself chaired and signed as “untrue ” (Parsiana, January 1987)- These records are entirely at the dis ­ posal of all members of the associa- tion (The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of ¦¦¦¦ Gifts& Europe), and with special permission, you may be granted access to the same for the purpose of study or verification of the facts. However, “truth ” lies in the results of the last annual general meeting when Mr S.F. Captain contested as member of the managing committee, but failed miserably in the election. Subsequently Mr S.F.Captain stood . for the election of the trustees. Once again, Mr Captain failed miserably and was not elected. The above results clearly prove that Mr S.F. Captain had lost the confi ­ dence of the Zoroastrian anjuman of the U.K. Further, it undoubtedly indi ­ cates the community ’s ardent desire to preserve and to protect the time- honored customs, traditions, and tenets of their faith and religion, at ' —IWttgiSi The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive reli^ous artefacts, executive desk sets, exclusive shell items, designer jewelry & specializing in wood & copper-enamel ^fts. BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. (Mezzanine Floor) Sir P.M. Road, Bombay-400 001 STUDIO AKAR 6T/2660 J 9 Parsiana July 1987i »>* » ¦ , ‘i .3 1 1 i I 'S. Review dokhmenashini ¦¦ The Quarterly Review (April-June ’86), a publication of the Bombay Par- si Punchayet, informs us that a sum of Rs 2,78,895 has been expended on the Doongerwadi, while the number of Parsis who were consigned to the BH dokhmas during this same quarter was 263. From this we may estimate that the surface overheads incurred by the Parsi Punchayet only on the mainte- E nance and operation of the Doonger- wadi premises exceeds Rs 1,000 per dead body consigned. This does not in ­ clude the expenses incurred by the re ­ latives of the dead for use of the bungli and on the kriya-kam (ceremonies) imposed upon us by the priests which h?’* ’ «n * ¦I J*. vi.4» ft •. I. S Left: Dokhma surrounded by prime land Below: Pundole Fire-temple at Udwada I posed upon us by our commercial cler- I gy- I Religion requires change and prog- I ress as much as any other walk of life. I ’ feel it is high time that we reviewed , our religion in the light of modernity, and effected such desirable reforms as I are entirely necessary, if our once- I great community is to live and prosper t and not decline and disappear, all in a the name of religion. Ms R.B. SETHNA Designing temple forms The Christians have a characteristic design for their church towers, the Muslims have domes for the mosques, and gurudwaras have a cluster of domes; none of these have a cupola on top. We Zoroastrians should also have a characteristic design for our fire ­ temples, which would make them stand out as Zoroastrian places of worship. The Pundole Fire-temple in Udwada has made an effort in this direction. I suggest any new fire-temple com ­ ing up in the New World in future should have a design like that of the top of the old Taj Mahal Hotel. There d must have been some religious emo ­ tions involved to inspire Mr Tata to I select this design. I Comparing the two magnificent edi- I fices - the old and new Taj Mahal ] Hotel - always fascinates me. As dusk I gathers, the dome of the old Taj stands I out in silhouette, with lights emitted '’7*^ from within, making the cupola glow, resembles very strikingly the afar- ¦ ganya we Zoroastrians use in the even- I ings to spread the perfume of sandal ­ wood and loban (incense) in our homes. To be exact, it resembles the of afarganya with its hood on, as the amount to anything between three and five thousand rupees. Leaving aside the entirely gruesome and macabre aspect of the system of dokhmenashini (as described by the Parsi Punchayet itself in its letter dated October 25, 1967, reference number false ho[>e of succoring the dead. 925), these alarming figures make it The fundamental principle evident that dokhmenashini is de- 2Soroastrianism, as basic to all great re- sparks fly out from within the opening finitely far too expensive a system of ligions, is to help man ’s progress in the hood. z.m. zend disposal when compared to either bu- {ravan-bokhtgi} in life here and now. rial or cremation. If, therefore, the trustees of our Let us also take into account the agiaries and our Parsi Punchayet were value of the Doongerwadi lands,which to allow all but half a dozen of these today is about 200 crore rupees. This agiaries to be utilized in the welfare of vast amount is kept permanently our living community, as also the anchored in the service of the dead wealth from the Doongerwadi premis- alone. Also, we have 45 agiaries in es, then our community would no lon- Bombay, the approximate value of ger be impoverished and destitute as it their premises being about 100 crore is today. The present sorry plight of rupees, whose sole purpose is to burn Parsis is in large part due to the un- away Parsi wealth unceasingly in the necessary and irreligious obsequies im- ?'P' r- ¦£jj Si J**' in the hood. Clarification Photographs of the nassessalars which accompanied the article “Keepers of the dead ” {Parsiana, June 1987) were courtesy Sooni Taraporevala. Credits were mistakenly given to Imprint. The error is regretted. 10 Parsiana July 1987«-¦* ¦:t > 4?^ V ”¦ Events and Personalities Election scheme update An application for review of the Bom- redirected to Justice Suresh. Karanjia, who had been collecting bay High Court order of March 6,1987 . . , , .. , funds for the centenary celebration which established the amended Agiary by the railroad over the past 18 months, says he gros- scheme for the election of trustees of The little Igatpuri Agiary was all sed about one lakh rupees, some of it the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) spruced up to celebrate its centenary from the Parsis of Dubai, Kuwait and will be heard by Justice Suresh on July on May 26, 1987. The four trustees of Hong Kong. Builder Aspi Irani, vice- 31. The review is sought by four mem- the Igatpuri Zarthosty Anjuman - president of the Iranian Zoroastrian bers of the F (donor) Register on the Gayo Kharadi, Jal Patel, Rusi Daru- Anjuman, has been helping the Agiary ground that the donors were not in ­ formed of an impending change in their voting status. The applicants contend that their Jamshed and arranged for transport, individuals over a period of time, “vested right ” to directly elect trustees Nearly 150 Parsis, largely from Bom- has been whittled down to an indirect bay, attended a jashan by five mobeds tiling of the dadgah was undertaken by right. Hitherto, all those donating Rs including Ervad Rustomji Panthaki, Dhun Patel of Nasik; Dinyar Madan of 5,000 and more could elect trustees of principal of the Athornan Boarding Dadar arranges for his truck to bring the Punchayet. Under the new scheme Madressa at Dadar, and partook of the the kathi from Bombay free of charge only 100 donors will elect trustees, lunch in the Agiary compound, hosted every year; Boman Irani, who got a First among these will be the donors of by Hutoxi and Jimmy Irani, owners of good job in the personnel department Rs 50,000 and more. The rest will the Irani stall at Igatpuri, notes the re- of the Indian Railways only after help ­ comprise the elected representatives sident panthaky Ervad Tehemton ing Karanjia ’s father to clean the of the old donors of Rs 5,000 and fu- Karanjia. dokhma several years ago, returns ture donors of Rs 7,500. A 2,200-foot-high hill station whose annually to renew his act of faith, na- Although the BPP, the petitioners life centers round the railway, Igat- rrates the priest, who sought an amendment to the ori- puri once boasted a large Parsi settle- ginal scheme, had twice advertised ment with nearly 300 students studying dharamshala, whence one can view the their revised draft in two Gujarati in the adjoining school, a 150-year-old monsoon clouds rolling in, needs funds dailies - The Bombay Samachar and dokhma and regular ghambars, says for repairs. Though the dokhma is the Jam-e-Jamshed - the changes, as Karanjia. sound, its surrounding walls are not, they finally emerged, were quite dis- ~ tinct from the drafts. The “radical and Agiary building were the rejects from urgently, far-reaching alterations ” had been the supplies meant for the construction suggested by Justice Suresh, in an oral of the Deolali railway station, informs of land behind the Agiary, an L- order on February 6 and the BPP Karanjia. Nanabhoy Messman, a high shaped building is in the process of lawyers codified his suggestions into a railway official of the day, had construction and many of the flats scheme which was formally accepted arranged for the Anjuman to buy off have been booked by Parsis - so also on March 6. The applicants note that the material cheaply. This enabled vacant plots in the vicinity. According - - - - .to Karanjia, the current count of five changes until they were published as tioning on behalf of the Anjuman, to families has already been augmented part of a letter to the Editor of The construct the Agiary together with the to 10 and there is every hope that more Bombay Samachar on March 22, 1987. adjoining mobed quarters and a school Parsis will retire to this peaceful little The “notice of motion, ” as the ap- from Rs 10,000 donated by Sir Din- plication is called, first came up in the shaw Petit together with the Anjuman ’s court of Justice Sam Variava and thereafter in the court of Justice (Ms) Sujata Manohar.Both judge^however building was converted into a dhafam- Lashkari scored the fifth highest marks considered the matter outside their shala in around 1950, says Karanjia, in the Bombay division merit list in purview and suggested that it be refer- when the exodus of Parsis made it no red to the Chief Justice, whence it was longer viable to run a school. redirected to Justice Suresh. Agiary by the railroad walla and Phiroz Echaporia - had ex- with plenty of materials for the re ­ tended an invitation to the community pairs. Fans, wash basins, septic tanks by way of a notice in the Jam-e- and toilets have all been donated by Other help is forthcoming too: the Much still remains to be done. The The wooden beams of the still-solid and the prayer hall needs mending the community was unaware of the Mancherji Dadabhoy Bhavnagri, func- 13 Parsiana July 1987 4; 5>r, & But Karanjia is optiniistic. On^ plot "I haven of bird calls and train whistles. HSC toppers memorates their deed. The school Science student Yezdezard Zerxes own funds. A marble plaque com- •la-S' ' 4. z? ¦’"J*' this year ’s Higher Secondary Certifi- and Obstetrics (DGO), held by the He was also known for winning prizes cate (HSC) examination of the Mahar- College of Physicians and Surgeons, in rifle shooting. this year ’s Higher Secondary Certifi- and Obstetrics (DGO), held by the ashtra State Board, according to an In- Bombay, in April 1987, Dr Nozer VCFSIIS ClcrSV dian Express report of June 13. Lash- Sheriar was awarded the Purandhare kari with 92 83 percent shared his Gold Medal, notes a report in the Jaw- “The leaders of the community when rank with four other students, also e-Jamshed of June 14,’87. it landed here,- were priests...but to- from the science stream. Two lakh Passing his MBBS (Bachelor of day, even in agiary and atash bahram sixty-nine thousand students had Medicine, Bachelor of Smgery) de ­ appeared for this examination in March this year, notes a newspaper re ­ port. A student of Ruparel College, Lash- kari was expected to fare well, said his mother Ms Banoo Lashkari, and he was selected for the College ’s special coaching classes which have helped put so many of their top students onto the merit list in the past years. With a continuous record of “out ­ standing ” performance, Lashkari pas ­ sed his ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) examination from St Mary ’s School in 1985, added The Bombay Samachar of June 21. He passed the Indian Institute of Technol ­ ogy (IIT) entrance test, F ” twenty-fifth in the Western Region for standing first in the subject of mid- Above: at Dharmik Yatrajashan (from and eighty-ninth in the all-India rank- wifery and gynecology. He has also re- left) Master, Shroff, Dastur, - ing, and will now study computer sci- ceived various prizes such as the K.M. Modi, Aibara and Merchant ence at the IIT, Powai, said Ms Lash ­ kari. Ranked fifth in the arts stream of the also writes scientific papers which are 1987 HSC examination is Ms Sarvar published in medical journals. At present he is the senior registrar kari, with 92.83 percent, shared his Gold Medal, notes a report in the Jaw- rank with four other students, also e-Jamshed of June_l4/87. from the science stream. Two lakh sixty-nine trusts and mobed amelioration trusts , there are no mobeds, ” noted well- known lawyer Ervad Nadir Modi. A gree examination from the G.S.Medic ­ al College in 1984, Sheriar had then y standing received the Purandhare Scholarship Above (left): Sheriar wifery and gynecology. He has also re ­ ceived various prizes such as the K.M. Masina prize, L.M. Shah Conference Medical Women in India prize. He shedji Modi - the respected Bombay Parsi Punchayet secretary and fabled author of innumerable treatises on Zoroastrianism and the Parsis earlier in the midwifery and gynecology sec- this century - Nadir Modi was^the cum-dinner organized by Ervad Fall Master on behalf of the Dharmik Yat- ra^roup at Albless Bang on June 16,’87. Sharing the dais with Modi were sai, a sportsnian of yesteryear, was Jehangir Shroff, the president of the prize and the National Congress of grandson of the late Sir Jivanji Jam- tion at the Nowrosji Wadia Maternity guest speaker at the^ Hospital, notes the report. Umpire of the Year Seventy-thrce-year-old Ardeshir De ­ presented the Umpire of the Year Athornan Mandal and the day ’s chair ­ award by the Association of Cricket man, Dastur Kekobad Dastur, high Umpires, notes a write-up in The priest of Udvada, Ervad Nadirsha Times of India of June 29, 1987. Aibara, panthaky of the Karani Agi- Above (left) Lashkari and Desai has umpired 3,300 official ary at Cusrow Baug and joint principal (right) Kothavala matches of the Bombay Cricket Asso- of the M.F. Cama AthornanTvIadres- Firdaus Kothavala from the Nowrosji ciation. Of these, 60 were first class sa, Dinshaw Merchant, businessman Wadia College at Poona, notes a press matches. He was close to “test status ” and community benefactor. Fall Mas- release. when age went against him, notes the ter,secrctary of the Athornan Mandal, Kothavala who, with 80.17 percent, report. He had also refereed soccer and Homi Turel of the Iran League, stood first in her college, had passed and hockey matches, and swimming Shroff, who contended that it was the her ICSE examination from St Mary ’s arid water polo tournaments. He was duty of the behdins to mitigate the School Poona. A “good swimmer first nominated as umpire in 1942 by troubles of the athravans, recalled that ’ ’ - - • " Sir Jivanji Modi had spoken on the subject of mobed amelioration at the inauguration of the Athornan Mandal in 1915. Building upon Zoroastrian scholar - “No mobed, no Parsi ” - Nadir award by the Association of Cricket man, Dastur Kekobad Dastur, high Aibara, panthaky of the Karani Agi- stood first in her college, had passed and hockey matches, and swimming School, Poona. A “good swimmer first nominated as umpire in 1942 by troubles of the athravans, recalled that (who) has won many prizes, ’’ she is the Bombay Port Trust, also fond of dramatics, debating and / , reading, and is a student of Japanese athlete, Desai was also a good swim- and French, adds the release. mer. In the l940s, at Golwala ’s Victor- . , „ ia Swimming Baths, he swam the Obstetrical excellence j For standing first at the jpost-graduate while holding an iron ball weighing 50 ago A physical culturist as well as an Diploma examination in Gynecology pounds in the other, adds the write-up. mer. In the 1940s, at Golwala ’s Victor- lenetii"of the pool with one hand, Richard Frye's remark made 25 years continued on page 24 14 Parsiana July 1987- ¦ ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD cussion on the Chicago seminary pro- conferred honorary membership, ject (a proposal to build a facility ad- Riyetna is the first member of the local joining the Chicago Darbe Mehr to community who has been thus hon- New PZO Dar-e Mehr A Northern California Dar-e Mehr will soon be established by the Persian provide residential accommodation to ored 7------ " ¦— magnificent site at Crothers Road in children ’s rooms and other amepities), San Jose, ” notes a press release dated t___ 1___ 1___ ; _____ _ ___ May 1 issued by the PZO board of rituals and ceremonies, and consolida- directors. The property was purchased with a donation from the late Rustam and Morvarid Guiv. _____ ______ ___________ Planning to “designate and remodel Chicago; the dates and other details an area for a sacred fire and an adja- are .................................... cent prayer room ” which can announced later, accommodate 48 persons, in the ex ­ isting building, the directors have in ­ vited the submission of designs for this reconstruction work. The final judge been awarded ject (a proposal to build a facility ad- Riyetna is the first member of the local Zoroastrians Organization (PZO) on a the athravans-in-training, classrooms, The presentation took place at the ZAC’s Jamshedi Navroze function on continuation of efforts to standardize March 28,1987. In his tribute to Rivet- na, ZA(^ president Kayomarsh Mehta said, “Rohinton ’s contribution and in- Guiv Darbe Mehr in the past 20 years, his sacrifice and his ""y " ’ -’-—.Is personal effort in building (the ZAC yet to be finalized and will be Darbe Mehr) is unparalleled and shall remain etched in the walls of this building. ” tion of the 1983 Conference minutes. ___________ „„„ The Conference will be held at the valuable services to our community for James Mobed, a senior mechanical en ­ gineering student at Northwestern, has . _ ________ _J a r. of the plans submitted will be Hooman by the Government of Great Britain, Setoodehkhoo, a young man who is according to the ZAC May newsletter ’ working for his doctorate in construe- .. ............................... tion management at Stanford. “We chose him as arbiter because all com ­ mittee work has deadlocked until now, ” notes the news bulletin. Once the reconstruction work has been completed, the county will be able to inspect the premises and okay the work. This will then enable the PZO to “buy proper insurance for the temple and the community center mv oon ui ...because companies sell ‘church ’ in- Olive and Jehangir Mobed, adds the Fund raising banquet surance only to temples or churches newsletter. To generate funds for the B.D Petit which the county approves as public Parsee General Hospital in Bombay, A patent application award has been the Zarthoshti Anjuman of Northern given to Meherji Billimoria, manager California (ZANC) planned a “charity of process engineering for “a new pro- banquet for fellow-Zoroastrians, cess of constructing a refrigerator friends and business associates, ” accord ­ cabinet which eliminates the front styr- ing to a letter from Dr (Ms) Homai ofoam seal (and) reduces the heat Kasad in ZANC’s May ’87 newsletter. reported the ZAC May ’ • • ¦ - newsletter. This method, which results in im- “Almost all the members of (our) Marshal Scholarship community are well settled in their vocations, ” but since “one never knows what the future holds in store, ” The scholarship will support him for the ZAC has started an employment two years as he works towards a gradu- bureau, according to their newsletter, ate degree at a university in Great Bri- Those looking for employment or a . change of jobs, and those members Mobed is one of the 30 students who could help someone get a job are nation-wide who have received the requested to contact the ZAC secret ­ award. Interested in engineering for ary, Aspy F. Daboo at 8615 Meadow ­ outer space, he plans to earn his mas- brook Drive, Hinsdale, Illinois 60521. ter ’s degree in aeronautical engineer- “Confidentiality is assured, ” adds the ing at the Imperial College of the Uni- newsletter. versity of London. James is the son of „ . . . “Confidentiality is assured, ” adds the ¦¦ newsletter. places. ” It will also fulfil the Guivs ’ wish for one more religious sanctuary in their name, adds the bulletin. Part of the existing building will be remodelled to serve as a community center and the directors, hoping that “helpful persons will come together to leakage, form committees and volunteer for specific tasks, ” suggest the formation ___ ______ , .................................. of a garden club, a religious society (to proved refrigerator operating efficien- oversee religious events), an interior decoration club and a food club. Dasturs’ Conference ¦ The second North American Dasturs ’ Conference will be hosted by the ZAC (Zoroastrian Association of Metropo- of his outstanding and meritorious ser- sion fee was $ 25 per head. The venue itan Chicago) board which agreed to vices to the Zoroastrian community of was to be decided depending on the do so at the request of Ervad Kobad Chicago, ” Rohinton Minocher Rivet- response from the ZANC members Zaroha, president of the Zoroastrian na, ex-president of ZAC, has been adds Kasad. Since Arvi Kasad ’s catering looa chairman made the Association ’s honorary was to be at cost price, the organizers of the 1983 North American Dasturs ’------ *— .• . • Conference, notes the ZAC newsletter received by Parsiana on June 8, 1987. On the proposed agenda are a dis- (Zoroastrian Association of Metropo- — ' - ----- - ¦—>v« “Apart from this clause, and other 75,000 extra for a wire fencing. The quote the Trust Deed of July 10, 1911 clauses giving positive permission, it is trustees proposed to recompense Shah which specifies, “If at any time herein- most important to note that on careful with six percent interest until the loan after the said Trust premises shall, for reading of the whole document there is was repaid at the rate of 50 percent of any reason, cease to be availed of and no clause directly or indirectly pro- the annual lease. Paragraph eight of used as such Sanatorium, the same hibiting the trustees from alienating the application notes, “It was further shall hereafter be applied to such pur- the property or granting it on lease. ” added that out of the constructed pre- poses for the relief of the poor and Among the documents on which the ‘ if -I 17 Parsiana July 19875- S'S S'S . b’. I’ f" !r ’v* trustees rely is a valuation report by The objectors argue that in the ap- be advised. ” Referring to the trustees ’ Arun Banker and Associates, a firm of plication to the Charity Commissioner own depiction of “barren land, ” Das- architects, consulting engineers and ¦ • • - - - valuers of Surat and Bombay, which certifies the property to be worth Rs 16,29,679. According to the applica ­ tion, the report is dated March 9, 1985. Another is the balance sheet and income and expenditure accounts of fers to about seven acres of land. The r " ’ ' remaining land appears to have been that the community showed no interest The objectors argue that in the ap- be advised. ” Referring to the trustees ’ the trustees have referred to an Instru- toor presented the Charity Commis- ment of Trust dated July 10, 1911 sioner with a photo feature in Parsiana^ whereas in the two agreements with April 1983 and in contrast, photo- pl__ _ 1 . -n . »• •«. 1 -_____ be dated March 4, 1923. “The Instru ­ ment of Trust dated July 10, 1911 re ­ fc ’ .1*^ * Shah the relevant Trust Deed is said to graphs taken in February/March 1987 ...... ' “to show that the buildings which ex ­ isted in 1983 are no more in 1987.” Refuting the trustees ’ contention the Tithal Sanatorium for the year en- i ‘ 1__________ ding December 31, 1974 bearing the added to^he Trust by different donors in the Trust property, the opponents ’ registration number CG 246 (Surat). •.. .. • •• . • ¦ - ----- In their affidavit filed with the ap ­ plication, the trustees speak of “com ­ pelling necessity ” to grant (the Sana ­ torium) on lease: “By granting the determine the kind of charity — a the Bulsar Parsi Anjuman Trust Funds lease the Trust does not lose the prop- sanatorium or convalescent home and (BPATF) had all displayed concern, erty but protects it and preserves it for failing that, medical relief — and the and attached a copy of a letter dated all time to come...Nobody else has in ’ .................... ’ . - - fact come forth in spite of advertise ­ ments in two widely circulated news ­ papers like Indian Express and Loksat- ta in Gujarati...The material and de ­ bris also could not be preserved and percent of Trust property to a non- were stolen and the plots had become Parsi organization is in gross violation vacant and were and are under con ­ stant danger of being trespassed upon by squatters and trespassers making it well nigh impossible for the trustees to recover possession...It may be noted that Shri Vipin Shah came forward in 1985 and has helped the trustees to drive away several intruders. He has kept guards and watchmen by spend ­ ing money from his own pocket. It is due to his effort and monetary timely aid that the Trust property is pre ­ served. ” The opponents ’ brief begins by ob ­ jecting to “inconsistencies, discrepan ­ cies, irregularities, anomalies, misrep ­ resentations and concealments of facts in the application made by the trustees and the papers annexed thereto. ” They note that the accounting returns refer to Trust No CG 246 (Surat) while with the intention of carrying out the brief noted that the BPP, the Surat same charitable object for the benefit Parsi Punchayet (SPP), the Delhi Parsi of the Parsis. ” Anjuman, the Federation of Parsi Noting that the objects of the Trust Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, and determine the kind of charity sanatorium or convalescent home and (BPATF) had all displayed concern. a ‘A- class of beneficiaries — the poor and October 15, 1984 from Mulla and Mul- middle class of the Parsi community la, Craigie Blunt and Caroe — the professing the Zoroastrian faith — the trustees ’ solicitors — to Rusi Shroff, opponents submit that “the proposed managing trustee of the BPATF. The alienation by way of leasing away 93 letter noted, “Our clients intend to re ­ tire as trustees and appoint the trus ­ tees of the Bulsar Parsi Anjuman of the objects of the Trust and the in- Trust Funds as trustees of the Tithal Sanatorium...as soon as possible...In view of what is stated by you regarding the proposed acquisition, our clients feel that you should immediately take over our clients ’ Trust and meet all the problems, including the renovation of the building and opposing the acquisi ­ tion. We appreciate your generosity in agreeing to fight for our clients ’ Trust... ” A meeting was held in the BPP boardroom on December 14, 1984 presided over by BPP chairman Dr Aspi Golwalla where Narielwala, Patel and Bamji were present along with the BPP’s Rustom Anklesaria and Ms Gool Tata, the SPP’s Soli Kat- pitia, and Percy Kajanwalla, joint secretary of the BPATF. Kajanwalla, describing the meeting in a letter in the application for lease deals with tention of the donors and infringes the Gujarati dated January 12, 1985 PTR C 288 (Bombay); that the returns rights of the beneficiaries who are ex- addressed to Hormazdyar Dalal noted are 12 years old; that there is no men- clusively Parsis...The said objects can that he had come armed with current tion therein of the lands sought to be be altered only by an application of cy photographs and a description of the leased; that they refer to a bank ba- pres (a court order permitting funds lance of Rs 26,508 of which Rs 17,500 to be used for a similar objective) after were stated to be invested on June 15, following the procedures laid down in 1974 which is inconsistent with the Section 55 of the Bombay Public trustees ’ claim that “the Trust has no Trusts Act, and that too not for any money to fence the said plots and thus beneficiaries other than Parsis. ” save them from being encroached upon. ” The opponents therefore infer negligence and mismanagement for that the accounting returns “relate to stolen moveables and derelict proper- an entirely different Trust. ” Moreov- er, the newspaper advertisements to file before this Hon ’ble Authority quote the property as belonging to such applications under chapter VI of Trust No C 615. The proposed leasing away of 93 percent of Trust property to a non- Parsi organization is in gross violation of the objects of the Trust and the intention of the donors” 11 are ex- can state of the Sanatorium together with a detailed offer from Phirozesha Rus ­ tom Shroff, president and Rustom Phirozesha Shroff, managing trustee of the BPATF. The Bulsar secretary informed the Tithal trustees that of the Sanatorium ’s furniture . and fittings, mattresses and linen, nothing re ­ mained. Everything had been stolen ty, “the opponents reserve their right by the cartful. The very doors and win- ..................beams, tiles, metal angles, etc were stolen and openly resold or re- the Bombay Public Trust Act as may mained in police custody. Charging the trustees with gross 18 Parsiana July 1987 4is i ( ( t n c n d m gi 7'- ; th i iBjBi I ‘fl ,?-* 'Si ’J‘> ‘1* JyF’ = A. -¦^f ' . ' . *€’- iylM ’^1 X ii®- ¦/ • i 4] 4; OMg •J, • ¦A >Fi; i t-*‘ r ¦- ? I A liWWTffWItlit S ^1 i?!’ » u *-A 1 ’ If }: ¦ dSS.- t'**',.,**, «« r- wl 1 .1 - •1 ,1 •A-? -S Tithal Sanatorium photographs accompanying this article were taken by Ashvin Mehta in 1983 nSl Tithal trustees had no intention of en- —I Bulsar and were unanimously re ­ sell the land and buildings. ini KI (C( of opi noi kn( intt coa trus Tru corf host the class i 100' ¦ hand who ¦vj 7‘' their by cn to ev flats ( 23 Pars Kajanwalla notes that he had in ­ formed the Tithal trustees that it was two buildings, move to requisition Kajanwalla notes I trusting the Sanatorium I Anjuman ; I solved to .......- I Kajanwalla further notes that Katpitia I and Anklesaria had both tried to per^ I suade the Tithal trustees to change^ ¦ their mind, but failed. The letter adds, “It is our duty to I maintain the properties bequeathed to us by the donors. . .The Zoroastrians of i - Bulsar and the entire community ques ­ tion die decision to sell it. We have repeatedly drawn the attention of the Tithal trustees to the state of affairs the Sanatorium but they have chosen Despite the rebuff, the Bulsar Anju- the Tithai land from being acquired by the govern ­ ment. The opponents letters to t --------- ; proof of the community s- con ­ tinuous concern with the Sanatorium and charged that the Titha trustees “deliberately and calculatingly did not publish the advertisements m the Parsi continued on page J y us ’by the donors...The Zoroastrians of X’ tion the A* 1 decision to sell it. We have . <* iU to the state of affairs at M.OOOon sapHn8S.K>"= ’*“o°'^' ’^ '°Despite the rebuff, the Bulsar Anju- tathe well, and Rs “™-" would seek to save u — - ,iu,uou oil -------- Deionnn so that an income is assured^ , Rs 12,000 on a motor pump f-----; 20,000 on a tank and pipelines Apart from the capital outlay, the BPATF estimated a monthly outgoing of Rs 4,000. It urged the Tithal trus- sutei that if the tees to ntove the^^Charty^C —on- entrusted to their reappraise its old in ­ ventories. Kajanwalla ’s still possible to repair that there was a rr.— . the land; that it was imperative to sack watchman-ma/j (gardener) who hand in glove with the thieves the was The Bulsar Anjuman Sanatorium was c.. EOO’OOO on the fencing of the com- fetter notes that when pound, Rs 30,0W on the mam gate and relating the above to those r wall, Rs 3,00,000 to rfPai.\the?wo he tims j ^j^i^^unced that the buildings, Rs 50,000 on furnishings, Rs present. HlUlll --------- they proposed to spend Ks the fencing of the com- the main gate and ----- ir the two he IQ ParsianaJuly 1987 have attached three ipviiviiva **v*T’-’------- J J the Editor of Jam-e-Jamshed __________ nnn-I r [1 Trustees heed plea Arnavaz S. Mama An attempt by the Zoroastrian Building Trust Fund (ZBTF) to sell its three buildings plus unutilized FSI (floor space index) of 6,500 square feet at the Mancherji Joshi Dadar Parsi Colony was foiled by a neatly phrased letter co-signed by over 1,000 residents of the Colony. Responding to a notice of the ZBTF in the Jam-e-Jamshed of March 20, inviting offers for the above mentioned property, the petition dated April 14 addressed Sir Jamsetjee r »¦-: -T’ Ljo:.. li Hl li -I t Jejeebhoy, Jehangir Shroff, Cowasjee -|-|,^g ZOrOaStriafl BuildinQ TfUSt FUnd Dinshaw, Jamshed Aga, Dinyar Jamshedji, Rustom Kuka, Bur j or cancelled the proposed sale of three buildings Antia and Vispi Dastur as leaders of - ¦ — • ¦ the community and trustees of the ZBTF entrusted with “the onerous task of administering the trust. ” The objects of the trust are to erect ------ _ _ . _ buildings to accommodate poor and the poor and middle class of our Parsi Colony which were covenanted middle-class Parsi Zoroastrians at community and not to sell the existing for the community ’s use from being cheap and moderate rates, to open and buildings with such Parsi tenants to used or occupied by non-Parsis at maintain charitable schools and outsiders who would eventually exorbitant rates when the community dispensaries, and to provide and dishouse them. Thus to sell these is woefully short of housing for the ......... .... t to a lower and middle classes. The PCA, which owns 14 buildings and manages nine trust buildings in the Though there has been no letter in Colony, has been constructing - - - - " ¦ ¦ •. atop their buildings, respectively by the trustees in the Jam-e-Jamshed Twelve new flats are ready for ............. .... . • ' ' '------ nearly 87. The person most involved Economic with its construction activity is , The Nariman Khurshedji, son-in-law of the athletic Zoroastrian of April ’87, took the late Mancherji Joshi, founder of the after a plea by Dadar Parsi residents “The object of the trust is to buy they successfully moved the court in lands and erect buildings for housing 1980-81 to prevent properties in Dadar maintain a garden and recreation buildings would tantamount grounds. breach and flagrant violation of the The signatories to the petition objects of the trust. ” included Sohrab Morris and Nariman J Khurshedji, chairman and secretary reply from the ZBTF, a public notice tenements (construction)-treasurer i ,__ \ \ ’ of the Parsee Central Association Co- of April 18 cancelled the proposed occupation,J^ringing the total score to operative Housing Society Ltd (PCA), sale, noted solicitor B.S. Bhesania, well- ™ known lawyer Nadir internationally renowned coach Jal Pardivala, social worker and Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustees to Colony, trustee of the Mancherji Eduljee Joshi task for neither trying to stop the sale ' Trust Mithoo Jesia, and municipal ’ corporator Rustom Tirandaz, among a lawyer The Committee for Modi, Revival (CER) publication. r': /I B.. t i •J •J I ’j - J has atop /I - ll ¦ " ¦ ¦ ¦; Joshi, a clerk with the Municipality nor buying off the property in the of Bombay, had the foresight to secure _ _____ __________________ interests of the community. According from the trustees of the Bombay host of others. The petition noted that to the community grapevine, however. Improvement Trust (BIT), a 99-year the three buildings housed 18 middle- the PCA has made offers to the ZBTF lease for 101 plots exclusively for Parsi class Parsi families at rents below Rs to sell the property to them or to Zoroastrians. The BIT was insistent 100 who would be delivered “into the permit them to develop it under that the responsibility for the hands of unscrupulous businessmen mutually acceptable terms in the development of plots be given to a who would not hesitate to enhance interests of the community, but the registered body which would not their rents within the ambit of the law ZBTF has by curtailing their amenities and trying unresponsive, to evict them to profiteer from these flats on the ground of personal use. reportedly remained indulge in profiteering and would strictly adhere to a disciplined building Morris and co-signatories Modi and scheme. Joshi, ably assisted by Raton Jesia shot into community focus when Dubash, a structural engineer, and 23 Parsiana July 1987 (s/? g; r. «< 'C ¦* "«>Mr < V -^3 ¦* IK' P • Adi Vasaigara, helped the already EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES ... continued from page 14 well-established Zoroastrian Building Modi referred to the historical para- Kekobad suggested that the young .Snrifity (ZB.S) tn enter into a building llels of ancient Egypt and Assyria athravans preparing for their navar- agreement, setting out a scheme which whose civilizations caved in after the maratab ceremonies be spared the was accepted by the BIT in 1919. priests were annihilated. Since the burden of learning all 72 has of the The PCA, set up on May 20,1920 by second decade of the twentieth cen- ijashne by rote and instead be permit- Joshi and his friends, collaborated tury, western materialism has under- ted to pray the Vendidad, the Visper- with the ZBS and undertook the mined our ancient social and religious ad, etc from the book. In parting, responsibility for developing 101 plots foundations. “We got ahead because Kekobad advised the mobeds in the which now form the nucleus of the of our Parsipanu — honesty, sincerity, gathering, “Live such a life that you Dadar Parsi Colony with open spaces, hard work, which characterized the can always hold your head high. ” Mer- parks and gardens ensuring a healthy community - but in the process of chant reiterated the Athravan Educa- residential environment. The PCA advancing, Parsipanu was decried and tion Trust ’s salient flaws, viz that it now holds the restrictive user shed. In the old days,religious lectures was a cosmopolitan trust despite its covenants that each plot holder had were held in the homes of the sethias. name, etc, while Homi Turel re ­ signed, guaranteeing that only Parsi- Not so today. The community is now minded the audience that there were Zoroastrians will occupy the pre - too attached to fun and high living, still priests in the community whose mises. There are fashion shows after wed- social involvement was reminiscent of Khurshedji and Morris note that the dings and navjotes, hardly any reli- their ancient stature, and referred to PCA flats are allocated to gious discourses. ..” Ervad Aibara whose spiritual help was Zoroastrians on merit with overall emphasis in favor of those waiting to be married, those rendered homeless ail leadership is the amount it sacri- The Gujarati talkathon, leavened by by a house collapse or facing an fices for the people who are led. ” That English phrases and quotations, was who are living in transit camps or moving from one sanatorium to another. Morris further elucidates how that the new revised edition of Jivanji in the old Parsi buildings, in the Fort Modi ’s The religious customs and cere- and Khetwadi areas, families used to monies of the Parsis (first published in share a common bath and toilet. Many 1912 and reprinted in 1986) is nearly gious discourses... ” Quoting from John Donne, Modi sought by many Zoroastrians in their reminded the clergy, “The measure of hour of need. be married, those rendered homeless ail leadership is the amount it sacri- The Gujarati talkathon, leavened by by a house collapse or facing an fices for the people who are led. ” That English phrases and quotations, was eviction order from a court, or those community interest in Zoroastrianism preceded by a thanksgiving jashan de- is still very much alive and could be dicated to the late Adi Marzban, Edi- further nurtured is evinced by the fact tor of the Jam-e-Jamshed. A contribu ­ tory dinner followed where all athra- vans and, for the first time, their wives also, were the guests of the organizers. Parsi families have moved out of those sold out in less than a year. But if bit- SPOTLIGHT terness among mobeds persists, the and clergy will increase. Mercenary Rustom M. Cama was unanimously must be sternly admonished. Modi India, noted a report in The Daily of advised, even as he remarked that the June 28, ’87. Cama is also the current J ¦ J premises, selling off their residences to terness among mobeds persists, the * non-Parsis who have thereafter often differences between the community Director of The Bombay Samachar, harrassed the remaining Parsis who and clergy will increase. Mercenary Rustom M. Cama was unanimously continue to live with daily indignities attitudes on the part of the mobeds elected chairman of the Press Trust of because they cannot afford to buy new accommodation in the open market. The PCA views such cases with amounts the community offered in the president of the Indian and Eastern sympathy. It is, however, reluctant to _ provide accommodation to retired where matched its 10 percent tips on people whose children are grown up, restaurant bills. The community must Adi B. Rabadi has recently been and instead encourages them to go to be prepared to pay in accordance with appointed joint managing director of Navsari. the prevailing rates. M.N. Dastur and Company Pvt Ltd of Twelve to 15 years ago the PCA was able to provide 500 square feet accommodation at a cost of Rs 37,000. Today the amount runs into more than didad there is a reference to holy two lakh rupees, part of the money itinerant priests, said Modi. “We need Hindustan Lever ’s Keki B. Dadiseth also being used to strengthen the old the same arrangement again, ” he has been appointed vice-president, buildings, give them a facelift and added, noting, “The Vendidad says personnel, noted a report in the Indian . improve the water supply, says Morris, that the mobed who does not study his Express of June 3, 1987. Dadiseth Khurshedji says, the next tenements scriptures and spread the word should formerly held a senior position in will be coming up on plot number 638 be defrocked. ” To reestablish its mor- commercial management with opposite the Wadia Vachha School al leadership. Modi urged the clergy to Unilever PLC in London, added the where Joshi once lived. avoid controversy and the use of harsh report. The increasing business activity in language and bitterness. “Change is the far suburbs of Bombay has the law of life and adaptability is the Cartoonist Mickey Patel of Delhi is rendered Dadar more central than law of survival. The wise man remains Colaba or Warden Road. By the same between the two extremes of ortho- , virtue, it has become a community doxy and reformism. ” asset with appreciating value which needs to be guarded more zealously. boi at agiaries and atash bahrams no- Newspaper Society. . 1__ ____ \ I restaurant bills. The community must Adi B. Rabadi has recently been the prevailing rates. “The community will get the priests Calcutta, notes a press release. Rabadi it deserves and the priests will get the was earlier the finance director and community they deserve. ” In the Ven- secretary in the same company. 1 V i among the 10 cartoonists of India to feature at this year ’s annual Interna ­ tional Cartoon Festival to be held at Making a pragmatic plea on behalf Sierre in Switzerland, notes a report in of today ’s overloaded youth, Dastur the Indian Express of July 6,’87. 24 Parsiana July 1987 J"T BUSINESS a r 1 I magine selling off valuable institutes in India imparting such surance and banking companies, antiques to a jaripurana- knowledge or conducting courses in Being valuers they have also asses- walla (scrap dealer)- to a auctioneering, yet their considered sed their own Bennett Company ’s con- person who may not know opinions are given due weightage. As tribution to the world of auctioneer- their value and for an absurd price that government auctioneers and valuers, ing. “We can ’t compare ourselves to he offers! ” To the general public this they have rendered professional ser- Sotheby and Christie, ” Pesi Bhar- may be an acceptable mode of discard- vice to the Government of India, oacha admits, “but the prices we ing unwanted, space-consuming arti- ministry of defence. Government of obtain at our auctions here, you won ’t cles, but it is perceived as a tragedy by Maharashtra, court receiver and li- get anywhere else. ” With great plea- Ms Hilla Bharoacha, a partner in the quidator, official assignee, Bombay sure he recounted the incident when reputed auctioneering firm of Bennett Municipal Corporation, garrison en- photographs of some antiques were and Company which has been man- gineers,Collector of Bombay, and in- sent to Sotheby and Christie for valua- aged by her family for five genera ­ tions, and is celebrating its one hun ­ dred and fiftieth anniversary this year. When she hears of Parsis disposing of their family heirlooms, Bharoacha is at a loss for words, because, as her sister Ms Perviz Kapadia would ex ­ plain, “Not being the richest commun ­ ity in India any more, few Parsis would be able to purchase such trfeasures ” if sold at one of their auctions. Hilla ’s practical husband Col Pesi Bharoacha, the dynamic partner of Bennett, sup ­ plements, “They (the vendors) think they would be saving on the auc ­ tioneer ’s fees (Bennett charges 12V^ percent on the item ’s sale price as its commission), not realizing the thous ands they would be losing in the deal. ” “Ninety-nine percent of the vendors are always satisfied with the price obtained at our auctions, ” says Pesi ’s brother Dr Rusi Bharucha who out of sibling loyalty has been actively assist ­ ing in the running of the auction show. “We assume that our buyers are also happy. Only then would they keep coming to make our auctions thri ­ ve... An auction is a question of supply and demand. But most often it is a question of how many people want an object at the same time. If only one person is interested, then he would get it for a low price, if two are keen on the same object, there is competition, and if four are interested, the sky is the limit...An art item is worth what one is prepared to pay for it. ” If asked by a client to give a value estimate, any of the two brothers and sisters may do so. Their experience on the job has helped them to cultivate a discerning eye - to recognize genuine Dresden, Meissen, Satsumas, Lali- que, Imari, Cloisonne and their imita ­ tions. None of them have received any formal training because there are no knowledge or conducting courses in 26 Parsiana July 1987 Rl o X w FX'*^ kb • ¦ I IM > I Free rem to bidders Parinaz Toddywalla Throughout its 150 years of operation, Bennett and Company has recognized the right of the highest bidders at its auctions i¦A- t ¦if* Left: Auction being conducted by Bennett (¦ W: '4 1 0 *. •7iJ,; r ( 9' r w », - », V - .J I remote control mechanism,worth Rs Above: Pesi Bharoacha with wife Hilla 1,200, for Rs 6,600. If a seller were to Above (left): Visitors previewing the goods I ask, ‘What price will it fetch me? j^eft-Auction being conducted by Bennett I there is just no way an auctioneer Company. Rusi Bharucha at the mike J could predict. A seller, this year, with- drew his refrigerator from the auction assignments abroad, has for the last 10 after paying the 10 percent fees on his years been regularly helping out in the ’ reserve price of Rs 5,000 which he management of the company. But I thought was a reasonable demand but since her only daughter is a medical (I for which no buyers were forthcoming, practitioner and Hilla has no offspring. Soon after, at another auction at Ben- the future of Bennett Company is un- I nett, a refrigerator of the same brand certain. Basking in their reputation for 1 and the same model fetched Rs 10,000 honesty and integrity, their hundred Ig to everyone ’s astonishment. and fiftieth year anniversary wish is Bennett and Co has not always been only expressed in the hope “that some dealing with antiques and consumer day somebody will carry on this busi- goods. When founded in 1837 by an ness as honorably as it has been car- Englishman Mr Bennett and his Parsi ried on till now. ” friend Pestonji Sukhlaji, the business “Peopje have full confidence in us/ ’ "and jute bales, a job contracted from gers who don ’t^know us, ask us to bid business by his son Cawasji and soon attend the auction, knowing well that _ _______ 7 . we won ’t just hike the prices because nett, so the surname changed. Cawas- they have quoted a larger sum. Some f People have full confidence in us, ” mainly involved disposing of cotton reports Pesi Bharoacha. “Even stran- ' _ J ’ a-* - • u _ ______ rt£»rc Hnn’t Vnnw iic tn Bid 'I o o the British. Pestonji was helped in on their behalf if they are unable to § they came to be known as M/s Ben- m tion,by one of India ’s leading Parsi in- ji ’s son having predeceased him, the of the precious antiques passing dustrialists, and the value fetched at old man adopted his sister ’s son Framji through the portals of Bennett attract the Bennett auction was thrice the who managed the business single- the attention of avid collectors like expected sum. handedly for several years until his Maureen Wadia (wife of Nush Wadia Sometimes bidders get disillusioned son-in-law Behramji Sorabji joined of Bombay Dyeing) who ^^en leaves Bennett auction was thrice the Sometimes bidders get disillusioned sen;...--. ----- - - • u i, , when they come in the expectation of him. Behramji died three years prior behind a private bid with the auc- making a fair deal only to find that the t-. ------------------ excitement of bidding hikes the price (mother of Hilla and Perviz) carried of an object to exaggerated amounts. “I can ’t stop the bidding just because it would fetch some absurd price, ” Pesi a shoe cupboard which was worth when I saw my mother being cheated, around Rs 500, went for Rs 6,500, a ’ ' ’ piece of marble worth Rs 50, for Rs 5,000, and a toy Mercedes car with a to his father-in-law so his wife Avanbai tioneers._ 2 ~ ¦ ' 1 When the Britishers left India after on the business with two other part- Independence, many of them just de ­ fers. parted with a simple instruction for wuu.L. ivivu V. J...... Recalls Hilla, “I was made a partner Bennett Company: “Our possessions Bharoacha points out. In recent ’times, in 1953. I started taking an interest should be auctioned and the pro^eds ; _ ’__ credited to our bank account. ’ Even She did not care, but I did. ” Sister Per- today, when foreign nationals get a viz, also a partner, who until 1977 used transfer to some other country, they to accompany her husband on his navy request Bennett ,to conduct an auc- 27 Parsiana July 1987 H- Ji:' v; J i| O f ¦/'I 1 H :l €: i i"lr tion at their premises, and then take jewellery are on auction, a separate in- at Apollo Street are organized subject off for the week-end. While some fore- surance cover i igners are just happy to get away from the scene of hectic activity,quite a few, it seems, get so attached to their pos ­ sessions that to make the parting the years for the things they had taken set depending on the number of items, easier they make sure they are not pre- . — sent at the auction. Liquidating the assets of some prop ­ ertied person also requires the help of oacha provided the background, usually 20 to 30 percent higher than the auctioneers. The maharajas of “They had not collected dues worth the going rate. He gradually descends Baroda, Gwalior, Jaipur and Kashmir lakhs. After joining I made sure that the price rung, and as soon as he sees a had availed of the auctioneering ser- almost half the credits were recovered, semi-raised hand indicating assent to vices of Bennett and Company. Ex­ ecutors to the will of a deceased Parsi who may have desired that his proper ­ ty should be realized for some charit ­ able purpose, instruct Bennett to con ­ duct an auction. At such auctions, many Parsi idiosyncracies have sur ­ faced, recalls Rusi Bharucha. At the day before taking delivery of the item, sufficient variety to interest all age ­ time of inspection, they have found This system was introduced in 1962 by groups: fancy toys for the constantly cash kept hidden beneath the mattress Pesi who, after retiring from the bored child, hair curlers for the of a bed, or a gold handle discarded Army, was urged by his wife to take up fashion conscious teenager, executive along with castaway junk. On another the family ’s auctioneering business. chairs for the self-propelling entrep ­ reneur. surance cover may be negotiated, to their collecting a good number of “When Tjoined the firm, the business saleable items from different indi- was very down. We had lots of credi- viduals. The proceedings start at 9.30 tors who had not paid any money over in the morning and could last until sun- at the auctions. There were two part- usually in the vicinity of 500, which ners before me who had allowed the need to be cleared at an auction. The business to disintegrate, ” Pesi Bhar- crier opens the bid with a sum which is almost half the credits were recovered. The rest being time barred, they were the price cried out, the escalation be- written off. ” gins. Though the symbolic hammer is A down payment of 50 percent has absent from the scene of auction to- necessarily to be made by the buyer day, crying out of the same amount whose highest bid is accepted, and the thrice means that a good is spoken for. balance 50 percent together with the sales tax, if any, has to be paid the next would naturally differ, but there is The range of goods at each auction along with castaway junk. On another the family ’s auctioneering business. occasion when the coolies were unable In his thunderous voice Pesi sounds reneur, electrical and electronic to shift the position of a cupboard be- a warning, “If someone were to try gadgets to ease the workload for an ' ¦' cause of its weight, it was discovered and play the fraud we would threaten independent couple, a set of paper- that the chhupakhana (secret compart- them with police action. ” However he backs and molded luggage for those • ment of the cupboard) was loaded with would rather not go to the court to get planning to take off, sound systems silver plated ware, unknown to any judgment after seven long years but which could drown the disturbing family members. utilize instead the same time to build Except for an occasional “odd Par- up and expand the business which has si” who may try to throw dust in their really gripped him now. eyes , the rest of the Parsis as encoun- Organizing .an auction involves a teretj by the Bharoachas are “very fortnight ’s work by the partners and honest. ’’ Before selling their wares, t the Pafsis, as also the foreigners, would truthfully reveal if there was 80 years old, yet continue to assist. If it some damage, or repair undertaken, is to be conducted at the seller ’s resi- Accordingly, the auctioneers would dence, all the items have to be ex ­ report those and any other known visi- amined, listed, classified into groups ble defects at the time of cataloging and then the final catalog prepared in huge white machine I bought yester- the articles. In the cyclostyled inven- such a way that the auctioning of the day? ” When told to use it for storing tory are numbered and described the most expensive items is scheduled for foodstuffs and provisions, he said he i articles to be auctioned at each sale. j Reiterated in their General Conditions presence of the largest numbers. This of Sale is the rule that auctioneers catalog is then cyclostyled and sold at voluntarily, “with a view to safeguard Rs 2 to those who attend the preview [ the interest of the buyers, make every of the auction the day before. In India Organizing an auction involves a their 15-member staff, a couple of whom, like their former crier, are over noise, and even ear buds to clear the aftermath of pollution. There have been occasions, however, when their auctions have been restricted to just cars, or even Jersey bulls for which the Parsi Dairy Farm had no further use. A story goes that once, in the excite ­ ment of bidding, a gentleman became the owner of a refrigerator. The next day he came and enquired of Pesi Bharoacha, “What do I do with the the peak hours - around noon - in the had no use for it. Bharoacha ’s prompt ~ ’ advice was, “Cool yourself in it, then. ” On becoming the owner of new arti ­ cles, one never knows what may be in store. There was one bidder who was i effort to make known in their lists the there are no expensively designed fortunate enough to unexpectedly I visual defects, if any, observed at the catalogs nor is attendance restricted to find, in a pugree that he had bought at ' ’time of listing and positively disown invitees only as is the practice among one of the Bennett auctions, a couple any responsibility for any omission in leading auctioneers abroad. An adver- of gold guineas. “If the buyers find the matter...any such omission will not tisement released in the newspapers something missing they expect us to invalidate the sale of any articles. The would bring in a crowd of around rescind the sale, but when they get more than they have paid for, they would never think of returning it, ” f t sale takes place on the basis of the 2,000 for the preview which is sche- ! goods as they stand at the time of the duled for Saturdays, so that the auc- i auction and the principle of caveat tion can be conducted on a Sunday, Bennett Corhpany ’s general manager emptor (purchasers beware) will apply. ” in the presence of hundreds who hope Anthony Pinto pointed out. Accepting A comprehensive insurance scheme to utilize their weekly holiday in get- this attitude philosophically, Rusi covers all their items on sale. But ting more than their money ’s worth, when rare and expensive valuables like i Bharucha remarked, “This is known Auctions at the Bennett premises as the luck of the auctions. ” •J J I I I 29 Parsiana July 1987R I Her latest ad-venture Pheroza Bilimoria is the first woman to be elected president of the 33-vear-old Bombay Advertising Club Jeroo Irani She wears her 36 years and new posi- dia (ASCI) for example, which tion as p-"'-—’—* -T'v. A J . Club_, Bombay as lightly nous ~ largest professional body in Asia, The Service Activities Comndttee is a sub- auverusing is mextricablv wove of 'f he Advertising Club the pattern of everyday hfe “An ad an hiSS “iS! rary than in the grubby world of com ­ merce. On discovering that we were class ­ mates at St Xavier ’s College, Bombay, Bilimoria ’s slightly forbidding de- 1 ............ elected, ” she confides. “But I am sur- was set portant as the pricing of a product, its , ------ -¦ promotion and point of sale promotion, ” she feels. ------- -- vital role it plays, advertising is inextricably woven into man must understand the product, and president of The Advertising up as a result of a session in The distribution, dealer' shawl. Recently elected to* the as a diapha- Advertising Club when we talked ab- p_:„. . ; out ethics in advertising. The Public Because of the Having served the Club in various he must have the marketing objectives capacities such as joint honorary clear, ” she says, “For any copywriter secretary, chairperson, lunch and tea to ---- committee, chairperson, public rela- copy, he must be totally involved in finnc cinn qIcz-x oW1X«. ------- ---------------------- -- c5 J T -1 Ua.- the need, the vacant slot. We two children Rishad and Leila . He maintained a large lead busy schedule often drives her to make painful choices between the home and the office, and leaves little time for what she once enjoyed — painting. “I spend a lot of valuable time with my children to make up for the lost time. I do things with them that they enjoy — like I take my son to the squash courts or help him with his homework; I bring my daughter to the office so that she can see that it is not an awful place that takes mommy away from her. All this makes them feel cared for. ” Bilimoria feels that a working mother who has to travel a great deal dren. She tries to mitigate this by going on a three-week holiday with her It is not what ad men think they have put into an ad that counts,but what the consumer gets out of it over our competitors. Our circulation is double that of our nearest rival. ” --------- • • -v u'l In the Business India group which creates some insecurity in her .\ I Bldg, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), Freny Jal Shroff (SI), 400058; June 19 ' " Roshan Nariman Patel (63), Flat No 4, 629 Homavazir Rd, Parsi Colony, Dadar, 400014; June 19 Ardeshir Dossabhai Sukhia (92), 788 Parsi Colony, Dadar, 400014; June 20 Piroja Sukhia Sukhia (83), 14 C.PatelSt,Fort, 400001; June 20 Perin Framroze Elavia (88), Kashinath Bldg, Opp Jam-e- Jamshed Press, Fort, 400001; June 21 Behram Framji Engineer (80), 799 Minoo Mans, Jam-e-. Jamshed Rd, Parsi Colony, Dadar, 400014; June 22 Jamshed Jehangir Hakim (79), Jam-e-Jamshed Bldg, Parsi Colony, Dadar, 400014; June 22 Pirojbai Hormusji Madan (80), Narielwala Agiary, Naigam Cross Rd, Dadar, 400014; June 22 Bapaimai Hormusji Bogdaw ala (89), 191 Bazargate St, Fort, 400001; June 23 Bacha Framji Daruwala (90), Bharucha Bidg, Gilder Lane, Lamington Rd, 400008; June 23 Mani Ratansha Daruwala (70), 161 Golwalla Hse, Fort, 400001;June 23 Piroja Ardeshir Behejan (94), Behejan Hse, 83 Mint Rd, 400001;June 24 Najoo Shapoorji Dubash (83), Abbas Bldg, Jalbhoy St, 400004;June 24 Behli Firoze (68), Parakh Dharamshalla, 34 Hughes Rd, 400007;June 24 Khorshed Hormuzdiar Izadyar (76), Suleman Manzil, Dr Ambedkar Rd, 400014; June 24 Najamai Hormusji Nariman (94), 208 Waterfield Rd, Bandra, 400050;June 24 Bomansha Jamshedji Paghdiwalla (71), 2/B • Soonawala Bldg, Tardeo, 400007;June 24 Aspandiyar Ardeshir Rabadi (77), 2-B Bhatia Soc Bldg, Princess St, 400002; June 24 Sohrab PestonjiJassavala (64), 11 Lalkaka Hse, Parsi Colony, Dadar <>1400014; June 25 Ratanbai KhurshedjiJokhi (85), 1-A Tata Colony, Chembur, 400074; June 25 Hormusji Bldg, D.K'. Marg, Byculla, 400027; June 25 Nergis Nariman Warden (74), 43 Prabhat, Warden Rd, 400026; June 25 Faredoon Jamshedji Balsara (73), F-3 Cusrow Bang, Colaba 400039; June 26 Sheryar Hormuzd Irani (73), Chaman Chambers, Dhobitalao, 400020; June 27 Keki Rustomji (84), 660 Parsi Colony, Dadar, 400014; June 27 Sorabji Pallonji Italia (84), A- 28 Godrej Bang, Napean Sea Rd, 400036; June 28 Najamai Kaikhushroo Mistry (65), N-26 Navroze Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; June 28 Bahadur Ardeshir Lashkari (64), B-13 Mistry Bldg, Lalbaug, Pare!, 400012; June 29 Coomi Bomanshaw Madan (74), Pannalal Bldg, Perin Nariman St, ’ 400001; June 29 Freny Minochehr Nazir (IC), Nazir Hse, Cumballa Hill, 400036; June 29 Jerbanoo Behramsha Patel (90), B-603 Shalimar Apts, Cumballa Hill, 400036; June 30 father of Freny and Homi, son of Hormusji and Herabai Sethna; June 11 MADRAS Died Najamai Nariman Bam (95), mother of Pesi and Hoshahg; June 17 POONA Died Cyrus Nusli Icchaporia (3 months); June 2 Freny Mancherji Merchant (86); June 5 Dara Rustom Mulla (81) ; June 5 Bhicamai Dinshawji Coyaji (85); June 21 Pessy Merwan Irani (65); 31 Parsiana July 1987 June 23 J SECUNDERABAD Died Maneckshaw R. Baria (76); May 13 SYDNEY Born A boy to Firuza and Adil Sarkari-, March 27 Died Pilloo Dhanjishah Bilimoria wife of Dhanjishah, mother of Gulu, Jimmy and Vera Jessia, sister of Putli Tata, Perin Tata, Dina Langrana, Homai Dustoor, Feroze and the late Rustom, Shavax and Dhun Confectioner; June 12 OUTLINES OF PARSI HISTORY Second Edition By Dastur Dr H.K. Mirza Price Rs 150 + other charges 4, Babulnath Road, Bombay 4()()()()7 Phone 8228013 '-’1^ 7," ¦ J 1 -I • ? CALCUTTA Married Meher Keki Cooper and Ribhu Chatterjee', June 16 Died Moti Mittocher Dubash (92), daughter of late Pirojbai and Sorabjee Batlivala, daughter- in-law of late Jerbai and Framji Dubash, sister of Naju and Behram and the late Hirji, Behman and Hira; June 18 CHICAGO Born A boy, Eddi, to Jer and Fili Udvadia ; June 13 Married Shiraz Noshir Piroshaw and Spitaman Phiroze Tata (both of Jamshedpur); May 30 DELHI Died Alamai Patel, mother of Baimai and Daulat Patel and Katy Sethna; May 17 JAMSHEDPUR Died Ardeshir Hormusji Sethna (75), husband of Manek, THE PARSIANA BOOK OF IRANIAN NAMES The Iranian names of boys and girls along with their meanings which originally appeared in Pars/analhave now been reprinted in an attractive 24-page booklet. The book, which is priced at Rs 15 is available on sale at: • Kaiser-E-Hind, 300 Perin Nariman S.treet, Behind Reserve Bank of India, Fort, Bombay 400 001. • Faredoon and Burjor Sandalwood Shop, Princess Street. • Union Press, 13, Homji Street, Bombay 400 001. ":7l a; 4 J -J . y. J T 1 J 1 d 1 .1 ¦r*'J I ¦fe3 IN MEMORIAM i» PR. Guarding his ward Died: Rusi Manekshaw Mehta, 72, Ji scene. Some time back, Mehta found a man, who had been stabbed, lying in one of the Khetwadi lanes. When no bv him recalls his wife Dhun, because one else dared to intervene, Mehta as he would explain, the cost of one took him to the hospital and a life was dish could feed an entire family in his saved. These various anecdotes were ....... _ Even though his sons would insist Dr Ramesh that he shift his residence from Foras --------- „ Road to Warden Road (a posh locality reportedly wrote him anonymous let- him, Mehta was unperturbed. He ( XIA VZ^X**XV** —---------------- - should find him accessible at all hose tare marsu (death will come when it is destined). ” But when the family suasion and pressure. Dining in expen- ; _ ; considered a "khota k/iarflc/i (futile expenditure) ” •i . 1 i i ¦ * i I P- ¦ r' municipal corporator of Bombay for sive restaurants was nearly 20 years, victim of an assassin ’s trUnrnrh ffiitiie bullet, on the night of Jupe 12, 1987. “Mehta was of a social nature, and he was always helpful to the poor and the downtrodden. He cooperated Jollity, wholeheartedly in civic activities, ” re- ’’ called Bombay ’s mayor C. ---------- Prabhoo. Maharashtra Pradesh Con- --------- gress (I) Committee president Prabha of Bombay where his three sons Rau stated, 1------------ the city has lost a responsible and lov ­ ing corporator. ” eg S2SSE SSSSS SHSeSe of the Committee for Ecohomic Re ­ vival (CER) newsletter. The Zoroas­ trian. Mehta was “an extremely popu ­ lar man due to his efforts for the com ­ monest of people in his ward, ” wrote The Sunday Observer correspondent would also urge the tenants to protest in the issue of June 14. “He was fear- ' less...and spoke out against all forms of corruption, ” continued the write ­ up. As elected representative of muni ­ cipal ward number 23, which included within its ambit the city ’s prime red light area and other localities known for drug trafficking and bootlegging, Mehta was sympathetic to the prosti ­ tutes and sought reforms for them but would come down heavily on bootleg ­ gers and other underworld characters, confirmed several newspaper reports. While the BMC meetings would keep him occupied for the greater part of the day, Mehta would be busy at his Falkland Road office from 8 to 10 in the mornings and 7 to 10.30 in the evenings, attending to the “day-to-day woes of his ward members, ” informs his son Dinshaw. He had no time for entertainment and social get- togethers. Family functions he would attend only after a great deal of per- he would explain, the cost of one reported by his wife. Yet, Mehta was not concerned with protecting his own life. When his rivals ters early this year, threatening to kill siuc iviviiLc —u... _________ him, Mehta was unperturbed. He He was of the firm opinion that his would tell his relatives, Jarimarv(mu voters t _________ hours. As chairman of the works com- re- uivoiwviii X xw^*-v* ----------------------- J V J In the death of Mehta, side), Mehta would pay them no heed. inC lalKVOl Wlllillllft AXACXX^ax* vzx ------------j -j - x V 1 performance unrivalled by any of the up at 4 am in the mornings to check on rniincillors. notes the June issue the water situation in different build- r-~- * would find ft difficult ines. He used to heavily criticize the police constable would tma it aimcuii Housing Board ’s policy of reflooring to guard him all through the day since old buildings in cast stone \------ ---------- according to him was a poor substitute nately on .... for reinforced cement concrete, and he only for unavoidable . . . * ”2" against this, mentions Dinshaw. the police, “Instead of offering me Often,dt the risk of his own life, he protection, you should curb the activi- would enter a building which had ties of the gangsters. ” caught fire and rescue people within Mehta (right) being honored by until the firemen reported on the Sushilkumar Shinde (circa 1977) which he moved around on a scooter or alter- a bicycle, reserving the car According to Dinshaw, he would tell the police, “Instead of offering me 38 Parsiana July 1987' 'i I i i I i Reportedly, every night when re- education, he started his career as a turning home from office, his youngest bus conductor, thereafter worked as son Noshir would escort his father <on an usher, and later assisted in a flour his own vehicle. But on the fatal night mill before setting up his own indepen- and the family, after four gymnasiums in Bombay, and was keen that a hotel which he was constructing at Lonavla be utilized by the middle his scooter whilst returning class who could not afford expensive of June 12, Noshir ’s vehicle was out of dent business. He also owned some order, < months of no untoward incidents, was a little lax. Mehta was negotiating a turn on 1 from his Falkland Road office to his holidays, notes Dhun. Foras Road residence at around 10 pm when the assailants fired. An old, ail ­ ing family assistant who was riding pil- recent Bombay High Court hearing on lion rushed him to the Nair Hospital the amendments to the election where he was declared dead. A post- scheme, his point of view as an F mortem revealed three bullets in his (donor) Register member was repre- body. The following afternoon the sented. One of his most cherished body was taken to his residence, and dreams was to see the additional floor placed outside on a specially erected space index at the B.D. Petit Parsee Keenly interested in community affairs, Mehta made sure that at the podium at Rusi Mehta Compound, General Hospital utilized for the involved in the Bombay Parsi Pun ­ enabling the gathering of around 5,000 establishment of a Parsi medical col- chayet (BPP) trusteeship elections. In colleagues, friends and admirers to lege. His wife Dhun recalled that as April last, he had vehemently opposed pay their last respects. Later a proces- an animal lover who opened his doors the Bombay High Court ’s judgment sion, chanting a refrain of “Rusi to dll stray animals, Mehta would get up on the BPP electoral scheme which Mehta amar rahe (may he live eternal- early in the mornings, cook for the withdrew the direct voting rights of ly) ” accompanied the hearse on its animal and feed it himself, if she those who had donated Rs 5,000 and way to the Doongerwadi, amidst showed any resentment towards above to the BPP and its affiliated heavy security arrangements by the shouldering responsibility for yet charities, on the grounds that the police. Outside the Albless Bungli, the another pariah! “In all his actions he change would adversely affect the Born m a family of eight brothers and sisters, Bardy had schooled at ¦ "¦ - He is survived by his wife Dhun, Byramjee JeejeebhoyAfter a year at Tardeo, Grant Road and daughters Anahita and Parizad, and St Xavier ’s College, he successfully sons 1 " ¦ .... . .... • ' * first wife Silloo. -a face was once again uncovered for was guided by the principle that justice community ’s source of funds, public viewing, before the last rites should be done to the unfortunate, ” were performed. Several restaurants, noted a family member, shops and establishments in the Gir- gaum, " Lamington Road areas downed their shutters and observed a bandh (volun ­ tary closure) for a day, notes The Dai­ ly report of June 14. While the identity of the killers has not been revealed by the police and no witnesses are forthcoming, the city ’s several newspapers, which gave the grim' event prominent Coverage, cited various possible reasons for the mur ­ der : a tenancy feud in one of the er; Mehta ’s attempts to demolish un- former general manager (finance) and help a poor Parsi boy in his studies, authorized constructions; curbing the company secretary of Godrej and Keenly interested in cricket and activities of bootleggers, gamblers, Boyce, the largest private limited com- bridge, Bardy was the secretary of the and drug peddlars, which antagonized pany in the country, and an active Zoroastrian Cricket Club which in them; and a crusade against one of the community social worker, on June 2, those days used to operate from a tent locality ’s gangsters, Noorali Khoja. At 1987 in Malaysia following kidney fai- at the Azad Maidan. He then joined • a meeting convened by the Bombay lure. the Elphinstone Club and served as District South Central Congress Com- In his 56 years of service with God- trustee there. mittee on June 14, member of parlia- rej, which he joined as a junior An active member of Lodge Bea ­ ment Murli Deora is reported to have accountant • under Pirojsha Godrej, man, in 1985 he was presented with an said, “It has become impossible for the Bardy ’s interest in the welfare of his appreciation award for “40 years of elected representatives to discharge workers even extended to marital and meritorious masonic service. ” His pas ­ their duties. Rusi Mehta is one of the vocational counselling, remembers his sion for travelling never abated and he victims of such a sad situation. ” wife Jer. died in Malaysia while visiting his son. As a businessman, Mehta owned A trustee of the Pirojsha Godrej Bardy is survived by his wife Jer, flour mills and a foundry adjacent to Foundation and of the Kappawalla son Aspi and daughter Dhanoo Khus- his residence. After his elementary Agiary in Bombay, Bardy was actively raukhan. Dinshaw, Fili and Noshir by his completed his articles for the GDA (Government Diploma in Accountan ­ cy). Later he qualified as ACA (Associate member of Chartered Accountants) and ACSI (Associate member of Company Secretaries of In ­ dia). Many Parsi job seekers were re ­ cruited through his contacts. His wife recalls that when they were newly mar ­ ried and she, though a student, contri ­ buting to the family income, a nominal sum would be set aside each month to ? ? ? Courteous corporator buildings where Mehta was joint own- Died: Khurshed Jehangir Bardy, 81, wife Jer. A trustee of the Pirojsha Godrej ¦ 39 Par^ana July 1987F If,': k fe fr- r '4- K' 1 L- f P E t I £ 8: ¦ Welfare worker * - * 'f •* why he never sought reimbursement four days only as otherwise it resulted for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by in unduly taxing poor Zoroastrians him, he would say that the same who could not afford the elaborate Mahyar amount could be utilized instead in rites. He is also believed to have been very opposed to the idea of Parsis After serving the Iranian Anjuman being a closed community who empha- Died: Byramji Patel, helping a poor deserving family. 56, former Edi ­ tor of Parsiana for several years, Patel worked as sized their ethnic and religious identity and secretary - cum- mary, the Dr Dosibai and Jehangir treasurer of the Ruttonsha Dadabhoy Charity Trust in schooled first at Queen Mary and la- Iranian Zoroas- the Masina Hospital compound. ter matriculated from Master S.P. trian Anjuman, Patel had studied the Avesta Ian- Tutorial. Initially looking after the on May 6, 1987 guage and was the author of the En- family ’s ginning press business in Hub ­ following celeb- glish translation of Gathas - Songs that li, Patel later diversified into other ral hemorrhage at Masina Hospital in Zarathushtra sang, which was serial- business ventures like manufacturing Bombay. ized in Parsiana. As Editor of Par- radio transformers, and electrical ser- The Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman siana, a fledgling magazine which was vicing. After winding up the ginning which Patel served for eight years then owned by Dr Pestonji Warden, factory in 1965 Patel, who was never “appreciated the services rendered by Patel ’s duties ranged “from that of a materialistically inclined, was happy to him ” at its general committee meeting manager to a peon ” he would humor- devote his time to social and com - on June 11. He was instrumental in in- ously inform his family members. munity activities, notes a family troducing community activities like His study of the Gathas convinced source. elocution competitions for Irani boys, him, recalls Adale, that after-death Patel is survived by his wife Dogdo informs his son Adale, and if asked ceremonies should be restricted to and son Adale. one-time secretary-cum-treasurer of an infir- to keep off outsiders. Born in Bombay, Patel had His study gree candidate in mathematics and 6728) or Dinshaw Kanga (226-1355). philosophy. Cooper was appointed principal “The comhiunity ’s response to our roze function - over $ 500 (Rs 6380) - conductor of the University of Chica- appeal has been overwhelming, ” will be divided between the Parsee go ’s Wind Orchestra in 1981, and was writes Ms Putli Mirza in the ZSO June General Hospital and the Athornan named music director of the Chicago newsletter. “We have already reached Madre^a, adds the newsletter. Philharmonia in 1984, adds Epstein. Orchestrate at festival Mistry’s short stories Beginning his third season as music Tales from Firozsha Baag, a new col- director of the Chicago Philharmonia, Farobag Homi Cooper has been Mistry, has been described by The when their three-year-old son Yazad appointed artistic director of the Uni- Toronto Star'3 book reviewer Ken needed extensive surgery to arrest the versity of Chicago ’s PRISM Music Adachi as the “new jewel in Canada ’s progressing deformity caused by Festival, writes Mark Epstein in the literary crown, June issue of Gavashni, the newsletter newsletter of the Zoroastrian Society of the Zoroastrian Association of of Ontario (ZSO). Mistry ’s short stor- the Toronto Sick Children ’s Hospital, Quebec. The Chicago Philharmonia ies have been featured in many of is accompanied by his father Jehangir will become the resident professional Canada ’s literary journals and antho- - a mobed at the Dadysett Agiary in orchestra of the festival, and Cooper logics over the years, and he has won Bombay - and his mother Soona. “His “will assume the directorship of the the University of Toronto ’s fiction heart operation was a complete suc- Sinfonia Virtuosi, the University ’s prize. The book, which is published by cess and he recovered from'it in a most advanced orchestra, and serve as Penguin, is priced at $9.95 (approx- week ’s time, ” reports Mirza, music advisor for the chamber winds. ” imately Rs 95). “Through all the pain and discomfort. Born in 1957, Cooper emigrated his cheery smile greeted all who visited from Karachi in 1966. He has also As the Sixth North American Zoroas- him...Yazad will be undergoing a few “performed on the piano at Carnegie trian Congress to be held in Toronto in minor operations before the final ma- Recital Hall, an<i participated as a April 1988 will feature a display of jor skull and face surgery scheduled chorus member in pvCr 100 perform- photographs of previous congresses, for May 28.” ances at New York ’s Metropolitan the ZSO, in their June newsletter, has ~ . Opera House, ” notes Epstein. As a asked for such pictures to be sent for donations will help to pay for Yazad ’s scholarship student in violin at the viewing and selection. hospital stay and other medical ex ­ Manhattan School of Music, he con- They are, in particular, looking for penses, and their travel. The remnant ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD... continued from page 15 the half-way mark to our goal of $ 10,000 (Rs 95,300), and more dona ­ tions are still coming in. ” The ZSO"is among the associations lection of short stories by Rohinton the Mobedjis had appealed to for aid reports the June Crouzon ’s disease. Yazad, who is undergoing surgery at •S - < j imately Rs 95). time, The operations are free, but the Manhattan School of Music, he con ­ tinued his studies in piano, theory and photos taken at the First North Amer- “will be kept in trust for Yazad ’s re ­ conducting, at the Eastman School of ican Congress held at Toronto in 1968. turn to Toronto after three years for Music white simultaneously enrolled at Owners of such pictures are requested the completion' ‘of the entire surgical the University of Rochester as a de- to contact either Phiroz Dastoor (244- procedure, ” adds Mirza. 40 Parsiana July 1987