Apr 1988

*5 1 •• I ®Si p I Xhe-;.<-i Zwoasttiaiis toi Britain BRITISH PASSPHRl I'NITID KINODUM OF GREAT BMTAIN ANU NOBTHEKN IRELANDApril 1988 Volume 10 Number 10 ? EDITOR Jehangir Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz Toddywalla DESIGN CONSULTANT Mini Boatwala DESIGN ASSISTANTS Kranti Shilotri, Varghese Fernandez, Deborah Fernandes, Pauline Ferreira MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Cheryl D'Penha CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala FINANCE B.L Arora CIRCULATION Behram Umrigar MANAGEMENT Minoo Patel, Jasmine Driver, Khurshid Daruwaila Rohinton Daroga OFFICE Rajendra Nayak, Khurshid Panthaky, Patricia Lewis Rajalakshmi Iyer, Bakhtavar Batliwalla 3 Readers' Forum 8 Events and Personalities 14 Zoroastrians in the U.K. by John Hinnells 22 Zoroastrians Abroad: The view in Iran 30 A Punchayet that communicates by Parinaz Toddywalla 33 The Duke's story by Vipul Dalal 36 Shroff's new wine coolers by Jeroo Irani 40 Milestones 42 in Memoriam Cover: Illustration by Mickey Patel Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd at C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001 and printed by him at Parsiana Publications, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Phototypesetting, Ace; color processing. Comart Lithographers; and black and white processing, Shilpart. All rights reserved. Phone;2048730 Annual inland subscription: Rs 50 for one year (12 issues); Rs 90 for two years (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs 100 for one year, Rs 180 for two years; Air mail Rs 210 for one year, Rs 400 for two years. For US cheques add $5 to cover bank charges. For Indian upcountry cheques.add Rs 4 for bank charges. Cheques and drafts to be drawn in favor of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 or C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort Bombay 400001.READERS' FORUM names of the nine priests (not nine Ms Susie Sorabji and Ms Cornelia persons whose ‘navjotes ’ were per- Sorabji, all my children were well edu- formed) comprising five dasturs (one cated by me and grew up to stand on of whom was Kookadaru) and four their own feet and be very close to mobeds are given on page 58. each other. This was because I got a It appears that, in the article, the good basic sound education and this is number of priests is confused with the all thafiks and thanks only to the number of persons whose ‘navjotes ’ Sorabji sisters who have done much were performed, and the title of the not only for me but for thousands of Gujarati publication for the ‘Maza- girls and boys who passed through gaon navjotes. ’ “The first lady bachelor It was most enlightening to read about “The first lady bachelor ” {Parsiana, November 1987). our dear Ms Cornelia Dina Mehta in “Need of the hour ” Sorabji,and it will not be amiss to also (Parsiana, January 1988) states, write about our dear principal Ms Susie Sorabji who started the co ­ educational St Helena School at Zoroastrians but a Parsi girl ’s children Poona. (from a non-Parsi father) are shun- Coming from a Kutchi Memon fami- ned.. .Is this fair? ” ly which observed strict purdah, my grandmother refused me permission to that a Parsi (I would use the word go to an English school and that too Zoroastrian) girl ’s children from not where boys studied. But Ms Susie only a non-Parsi but a Parsi father too Sorabji tackled my grandmother in are shunned because the Parsi (man such a wonderful way! She convinced from Pars), for various reasons, has her that she would get God’s blessings not had his navjote ceremony and is if she allowed me, and my younger sis- not considered a Zoroastrian. Even ter Mariam to come to school along though he is married to a Parsi with our brother Essa. She assured my woman, who has had her navjote per ­ grandmother that we will be safe and formed and is a Zoroastrian, his child will be able to do something with our future. Our grandmother relented and sent dren of Parsi fathers married to us to school. Those were happy days ,, and by the end of 1926 when I finished Kookadaru (left) who had performed “Kookadaru: the man...” my schooling at the age of 17, I was juddin navjotes in 1882. Cornelia In “Kookadaru: the man and the married. Because of my training from Sorabji (right): sound education myth ” (Parsiana, December 1987) it is reported that I informed Ms Toddy- walla that “Kookadaru was among the priests who performed the nine vansda navjotes...in Mazagaon in 1882.” This is likely to create misunderstanding, as the ''vansda navjotes ’ were performed • about six decades after the ‘Mazagaon navjotes. ’ Allow me to put the record straight by mentioning that the word used by me in the above context was juddin (not vansda). However, while giving the reference, I had mentioned Vansa- da Navjoto (a Gujarati booklet pub ­ lished by the Rahnumae Mazdayasnan Sabha in Bombay in 1940) in which ? ( «,»»S >» H • irtjoiiii., < • 11J1,.,,, »»»>•»»(IJfl ’’I’ylH fl i •KU lift • l»»K FARiBOURZ NARIMAN their institution. J i AMINA RAHIMTOOLA (nee BA YA ESSA) Poona a Need of the hour »> “when a Parsi boy ’s children (from a non-Parsi mother) are accepted as She would be interested to know Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Read­ ers' Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O.Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. is shunned! So, who should get priority? Chil- 3 Parsiana April 1988 >> 1 ¦ 4 ( ! 1I PERCY & KAIZAD ROADLINES PVT LTD Transport Contractors & Fleet Owners Contractors To Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Pvt Ltd Goodyear India Limited U.P. Asbestos Limited Eastern Ceramic Limited Daily & Direct Service To Maharashtra, MP UP, Rajasthan Haryana & Delhi Chandigarh & Punjab Zoroastrian ladies, children of Zoroas- trian fathers married to non-Parsi ladies, children of Zoroastrian ladies married to non-Parsis or children of two Parsis who are not Zoroastrians? No doubt the community could dis ­ cuss this to death. Let’s hope it won ’t be to the death and eventual eclipse of the community. In any case one won ­ ders if such conversions would make a substantial difference to the growth of the community whose needs lie more in the area of housing, early marriage, etc. Ms S.N. NANPORIA “The 11 days’ controversy I read with sorrow and anguish in “The 11 days ’ controversy ” (Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, December 1987) that a mobed in London had called a learned, devout and revered high priest like the late Dr Maneckji Dhal- la, and also Dastur Framroze Bode, “criminals, ’’ and later tried to modify his arrogance by claiming that what he said was that the reforms advocated by these learned men were “criminally detrimental ” to our community. I would like to answer this self ­ appointed protector of our faith in Dr Dhalla ’s own words. I quote verbatim from a prayer in his book Homage Unto Ahura Mazda: “In our exaggerated notion of our religious piety. 99 BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 1 Regd Office 111, Trapinex House 1st Floor Sholapur Street Bombay 400009 Residence 215674, 212885 Office 860913, 867531 8727831, 8518679 we have learnt to attach impurity to any intercourse with non-Zoroastrians while we pray or perform ceremonies. The proximity of men and women of alien faiths, we brand impure. The merest touch of theirs is defiling and the veriest of their shadow spells pollution to all our holy things. Unknowingly have we come to know and speak and write of all non- Zoroastrians as ‘darvands. ’ “Darvand, in its original Avestan form dregvant means wicked. It is an ethical appellation of unrighteous per ­ sons. Angra Mainyu, the evil spirit, is dregvant or darvand or wicked, as Spenta Mainyu, the good spirit, is ashavan or righteous. “Thou Ahura Mazda, dost recog ­ nize only two classes among mankind, the ashavan or righteous and the dreg­ vant, darvand or wicked, to whichever religion they belong. Those alone among Zoroastrians, who think good thoughts, speak good words and do good deeds are ashavan or righteous in Thy sight. Those who don sudreh and kusti, the sacred shirt and girdle, and call themselves the Mazda worship ­ ping Zoroastrians yet think evil Recognised as a Public School by the Department of Education for Indian Merit Scholars. Excel­ lent Climate — AU-round Education: All Academic Subjects—Tech­ nical Subjects: 'Workshop. Tech­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance. Carpentry & Fann ­ ing. Training in Self-Government through Elected Boys ’ OflRcc bearers. Gnaies —Physical Train ­ ing — Daily Assembly wWi Congregational Prayers Week­ ly intensive Zoroastrian — Geeta- Koran classes — Excellent Modem Kitchen and Dining Room facilities — Airy Dormi­ tories. Moderate Fees. Freeships an d Concessions to Deserving Students. Apply to — THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building. 324 Dr. D. N. Road, Bombay 400 001. 4 ParsianaApril!988F •H thoughts and speak evil words and do was absolutely the topmost rung, evil deeds, are darvands or wicked. * «.-.! — -«» --^*1- Those that profess to be good Maz- dayasnians, but whose conduct gives the lie to their profession, are them ­ selves ‘darvands, ’ wicked indeed.” To which category can we assign this new Zoroastrian messiah in London? NOSHIR H. VAJIFDAR Ootacamund __ 1 2— -- ___ -__ „ must ourselves believe in what we As young “rationalists ” of the scien- preach. First, we must ourselves feel tific age, we pooh-poohed the weird proud of being Parsis: we must feel su- lUlV agv, wc rvwsAw ------------------- ----------------- - ----------- - concept as ancient, pompous and perior, we must act superior and, with | utterly ridiculous even as we are prone <’ • -- - x u- . to lightly dismiss many of our time- We must be to our children living ex- ’ tested traditions whose dimensions we amples of what Parsis are. are unskilled to fully appreciate. With this, our future generations It was only recently when I chanced will get the correct starting point to to visit Japan that my eyes were shoot ahead. They will aim their goals opened to the very close parallel be- higher than we could, work hard, A cohesive calendar tween our ancient belief and what ev- overcome the suffocating competition This year, March 21 is the first day ery Japanese honestly believes in, (Hormazd) for the Faslis and the last * ’ ’ ’ - --- -- day (Aneran) for the majority - the Shehenshahis and the Kadmis. From 1992 to 1996 the first day of race is superior to every other, both the calendars will coincide. For T— . - j i the Shehenshahis and the Kadmis, it self-pride: they are so proud of every- Israelites, the Koreans^ one common denominator of believing in their own superiority. So had we, before we lost it. It is time we claimed it back with a vengeance and never mind if lesser mortals call it antisocial, irrational or anything else...it has been, and must remain, our tradition. KHURSHED PASTAKIA Gateway of India vu. V.., .. I find that many of my friends have Spirit of superiority race, we Parsi parents must, infuse in missed viewing the earlier episodes of In the days of my grandparents it was our children Parsipanu - the spirit of the serial Gateway of India, recently widely believed that Parsis belonged to Parsi superiority. telecast by Doordarshan on Sundays at a superior category of God’s creations This cannot be done because, before 9 p.m. With a total of 13 episodes, this and that, if one were to believe in the we can convincingly overcome our documentary focusses on the history of ladder of rebirth, being born a Parsi children ’s expected scepticism, we the Iranian plateau, depicting Iran as a bridge between the Indian subconti ­ nent and the Mediterranean world and emphasizing its age-old friendship with India. It would be premature to pass judgement on the serial until it has run its full course. In any case, a lover of the ancient history of Iran would be interested to view it with a discerning eye. (After having reviewed the Achemenids and the Parthians), the serial is expected to focus upon the Sassanian empire whose religion was Zoroastrianism; the surviving Zoroas ­ trian community in Iran; the spread of Islam; the all-embracing Islamic code; Genghis Khan ’s and Timur ’s devasta ­ tion of Asia; the history of some of the world ’s most exquisite artistic and architectural creations; the life of the Persian Shah Abbas; the disintegra ­ tion of Persia; and Persia ’s experi ­ ments with democracy. SHAPUR K. VAJIFDAR ___ ;* ________ 1 . j determination, we must be superior. | to lightly dismiss many of our lime- We must be to our children living ex­ tested traditions whose dimensions we amples of what Parsis are. are unskilled to fully appreciate. With this, our future generations It was only recently when I chanced will get the correct starting-point U ..................-r "— —J .1--- opened to the very close parallel be- higher than we could, work hard, _____ 1 , that will become even more suffocat- even today. Japan ’s mighty advance in ing then, and achieve the excellence science notwithstanding, I found eveiy required to become truly superior — if Japanese deeply convinced that his only to live up to an expectation... __;____'___________ 1______ Every society that has reached the This gives the Japanese tremendous top - the Germans, the Japanese, the both the calendars will coincide. For would be the most appropriate time to thing Japanese that they will even go home, the Marwaris - have had this switch over to the Fasli calendar. to a personal loss to save this image If the high priests and the pun- before others, even if they are not Looking back, it is this same self ­ chayets could be induced to think ab- directly concerned. out the idea, we have four years to Looking back, it is this sanie self ­ consider it and four more years to im- pride which made Parsis the pioneers plement it. in many areas of excellence before we The Fasli calendar is linked to the became, what one eminent Parsi cal- solar (Gregorian) calendar and is the led, “a generation of bank clerks. ” most accurate. Dr (Ms) s.s. sopariwala If we are to regain a dominant posi ­ tion in Indian society, and also if we are to retain our individuality as a race, we Parsi parents must, infuse in Dr (Ms) S.S. SOPARIWALA Surat Gifts& The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive reli^ous artefat^ executive desk ‘ ' ler sets, exdusive shell ite^ des^< jeweby & spedalidiig in wooa & copper-enamel gifts. BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. (Mezzanine Floor) Sir P.M. Road, Bombay-400 001 STUDIO AKAR 6T/266O Edited by Arnavaz S. Mama 6 Parsiana April 19881^’ Events and 1 s ) i Personalities First oaramobed students would get re- the election of the present govem- " servation in the state ’s medical and en- ment. He said that some respect was The Allahabad Parsi Zoroastrian gineering colleges. infused into politics with the emerg- Anjuman (APZA) members are “very Unveiling the foundation stone for a ence of Rama Rao when the nation much satisfied with the prayers of Rus- residential colony for poor Parsis on was drifting aimlessly in an unhealthy tom Jal Madon, the first paramobed, ’’ the occasion of Jamshedi Navroze, he direction. He reassured the Parsis that notes president of the Anjuman, Capt said the government would maintain they, as ininorities, need not feel en- Homi Dandiwalla, in a letter to Par- the identity of the community by re- dangered in the state. siana. Madon was trained “under the newing the license to the Zoroastrian Earlier, B.F. Dittia, president of the leadership of the late Dastur Navrooz Club leased by the government. Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secun- Minochehr-Homji. ” Donning a traditional Parsi cap, he derabad and Hyderabad, welcomed Madon reached Allahabad on said that the history of Parsis in India the gathering. P.E. Bapooji, president March 6, 1988 and performed the first was a noble and inspiring one. He ex- of the Zoroastrian Club, proposed a I pressed happiness over the commun- vote of thanks. I ity’s loyalty and allegiance to the Reprinted from'Nev/stime, March 22, I988 national objectives, ideals and aspira- i tions. Every sector of the national life I and achievement was enriched by their memorable contribution, whether it be rhythm and when the music gets going, science, art, literature or the saga of learning becomes easier, ” notes an in- the freedom struggle. It was an inst- troduction on the inlay of the audio- j ance of a complete identification of a cassette on religious songs in English race with the country of its adoption, which was launched by Zoroastrian he said. Studies (ZS), Bombay, at a function Earlier, Nani Palkhivala, eminent organized at the Cricket Club of India jurist, mockingly said that at a time on March 26, 1988. when everybody took orders from De- Entitled I am proud to be a Zoroas- Ihi, Andhra Pradesh was the only state trian, the cassette has 26 songs sung by [ .. ... . . , ------ jashan and machi the following day — Meher ray, Meher mah. His next jashan was on the occasion of the Ghandhi Daremaher ’s anniversary after which the APZA held two jashans,on March 10 and 11, 1988 at the Aramgah and Daremaher respectively, which were also per ­ formed by Madon. In keeping with the resolution adopted at a general body meeting held on June 27,1987, the APZA paid a sum of Rs 7,200 towards the cost of training Madon who was recom ­ mended by the paramobed committee constituted by the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India. Minister among Parsis The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N.T. Rama Rao said on March 21, Unveiling the foundation stone for a the occasion of Jamshedi Navroze, he direction. He reassured the Parsis that ni. on ¦ HP' ¦jM' 4. I w-.- V I Ghandhi 8 Parsiana April T 988 pp iSfis when everybody took orders from De- Children’s cassette “Most children have an innate love for which had asserted its self-respect with the 16-strong ZS Children ’s Choir con- .4s! -^*5 tKM 7 >ioUD TO BE A Z^BOASTfUAN 'iSS^S o o i V r* .sift Facing page: At CER ghambar (from left) Mistry, Tukina, Eruch Desai, Mirza, Engineer, Udwadia, Limathwalla and Nicholson (Above left) Madon: prayers for Allahabad Above: Children enacting religious songs of cassette (left) (Photo: Rohilnton Bamboat).Dalal- cial mention must be made of the en- for Economic Revival (CER),” ducted by Ms Freny Dalal- cial mention must be made ot the en- tor Economic Revival (CER),” re- Paghdiwalla. The songs, kept short thusiasm and verve with which the marked BPP trustee Jamsheed Kanga, and simple, -tell of the life of children sang and enacted their parts founder member of the CER, to the Zarathushtra and expound his and of the cleverly adapted costumes, gathering assembled at Albless Bang on teachings on side A of the cassette. Not surprisingly, therefore, there were March 20, 1988. The release of the > while side B deals with the prayers, frequent and enthusiastic bursts of ap- second edition of the directory by emi- festivals and on how to live yourlife plause from the audience, some of nent physician Dr Farokh Udwadia was the Zoroastrian way. It ends with the whom had to stand at the back and scheduled to coincide with the annual all-time favorite, Chaiye ..........................----- — Zarathoshti, both vocal as well as in­ strumental. The cassette is accompa ­ nied by a small convenient booklet which Ms Siloo Commissariat, princip- laborious effort spearheaded by CER containing the lyrics. al of the Panday School, presented committee members Silloo Kavarana, “The idea of making a cassette for mementoes to all the ZS personnel. A Kersi Limathwalla and Kersi Gazdar. children, in order to teach them about 29-minute film on Zoroastrians, “Blood transfusions are usually required Zoroastrianism, emerged from the Happiness Unto Others, was screened in times of desperate emergency. Rather basic Zoroastrian Studies ’ belief that a after the snacks. than accept it from professional donors simple though effective way of com- munication is through music, ” states lows close on the heels of the chil- the write-up. ZS stalwart Ms Shehnaz dren ’s book The Story of our Religion tions from community volunteers, re- Munshi wrote the lyrics and adapted - Zoroastrianism by Ms Ava Mehta commended Udwadia. The high cost of them to popular English melodies and which was launched in January this printing restricting the reach and utility of the directory, Udwadia urged the congregation to donate towards its costs. By the time Udwadia had finished his address as the chief guest highlighting therein the monotheistic and practical emphasis of the “grand old religion - Zoroastrianism, and agitating about the future of the community, lest we be ­ come a tribe, ” the Albless Bang cour ­ tyard had filled out with Parsis of all age- groups. Urging the young Parsis to get married and procreate at an early age, Udwadia assured, “The good lord will look after all. ” The tributes to the sim ­ ple dictums of the Zoroastrian faith were followed by Udwadia ’s promise unto himself “to study the Avestan lan ­ guage when he has a little more time.” On behalf of the community, CER nursery rhymes, while the music was year. The book has subsequently been president Dadi Engineer offered felicita- arranged and produced by Zubin Bala- reviewed by the world service of the tions to Udwadia who had been confer- poria, part of the popular Bombay- British Broadcasting Corporation on red the Government of India ’s Padma based rock group. The Rock Machine, its book review program on March 9, Bhushan award. Congratulations were The recording was done by Kaizad 1988, noted Khojeste Mistree, founder also showered on Bombay sheriff Jehan- Bhabha at the studio of Sarosh trustee of ZS, in his welcome address, gir Nicholson and blood donors Nari- Bhabha and Associates. Sponsored by He also cited the letter of appreciation man Mistry and Dinyar Tukina who had Khodadad and Aban Irani of Wibs for the book received from Prime spared their blood 108 and 102 times re ­ bread, the cassette has been marketed Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Both the spectively. and distributed by CBS (India). book, priced at Rs 150 and the cassette Engineer, a leading solicitor, jocularly Releasing the cassette, Bombay priced at Rs 50 are available at the ZS drew a parallel between the legal and ' sheriff Jehangir Nicholson, praised the office, K.R. Cama Oriental Institute the medical professions by stating, “A activities of Zoroastrian Studies and Building, 136 Bombay Samachar lawyer ’s mistake hangs seven feet above noted that the basic tenets of all reli- Marg, Bombay 400023. the ground while a doctor ’s mistake is gions were the same: “All religions are Niloofer j. Madon buried seven feet beneath the ground. ” good and they are a pathway to God.” 1^1 . V f gathering, numbering over a The main attraction of the evening GiLK S DlOOQ QOnorS list thousand and including 175 priests, was however was the live singing of all the If you are the person who requires treated to an entertainment program songs on the cassette by the choir blood, “you will realize how valuable is comprising short skits by Nozar Buchia accompanied by their visual repre- the blood donors ’directory brought out and his group, religious songs by stu- sentation in the form of a tableau. Spe- by the Youth Wing of the Committee dents of the Dadar Athoman Madressa, ame along the sides of the hall. The tableau CER ghambar on Navroze eve. was followed by a floral tribute to all the helpers and contributors after ly Usted under different blood groups, a Almost 1,700 donors are alphabetical- This first music cassette by ZS fol- whose blood may not be very healthy, ” it would be advisable to avail of dona- o k 1 B I jL- n Niloofer J. Madon CER’s blood donors list 9 Parsiana April 198880 • 'I a Laurel and Hardy film, and a hearty out issues, individuals, causes, the Shukla, advocate Farrokh Mehta, soli- dinner wherein 600 less affluent mem- poor and the vulnerable. (This) would citor and partner of Little and Com­ bers of the community were treated to a ¦ make him perfect for the role of a cru- pany Farokh Sidhwa, businessman free meal. There was not however a re- sading editor, provided one were sure Kersi Deboo and non-resident Indi- spectable attendance at ifie evening’s that that was what he wanted. ” ans Vinubhai Patel and Sur6ndra jashan performed by nearly 125 priests and the hambandagi led by Dastur Hor- can visualize that the magazine (priced mazdyar Mirza. L ' ParinazToddywaiia Jagruti Kendra, a social service orga- Merwanji’s Voice Newspapers described him as a new sading editor, provided one were sure that that was what he wanted. ” The report goes on to note, “One Patel. 1 Operating one of the rhost modern at Re 1) being brought out for the Lok texturising and twisting plants at ¦ Pipodra village near Surat, the com- nization based in Andheri, working pany has set up another plant for the particularly for women and the home ­ less, is going to make things pretty un­ crusader. Jehangir Merwanji, said to comfortable for the authorities. ” ¦ ¦ As the first issue stated. The Voice Man-made Fibre Industry, the de- ated Cement Companies and the will “stand in the court of the peo- weaving of partially oriented yarn at the same place, states the write-up. “According to the Association of be a former employee of the Associ ­ ated Cement Companies and the will “stand in the court of the peo- mand for partially oriented yarn will House of Tatas, launched a new pie...searching for a direction that will be 4,50,000 tonnes by 1990-91. As monthly publication this January cal- lead the country out of the abyss and against this the present texturising led The Voice of People Awakening, darkness... ” capacity is only around 65,000 tonnes. Its inaugural issue demanded that the „ In another decade the domestic cloth government publish the Lentin com- WaylUl llCSia consumption will register a growth mission report which investigated the Organized as a fund raising activity, from the present 8,500 million meters deaths of 14 people who were adminis- the Zoroastrian Youth Association to 20,500 million meters, ” notes the t, J, " - - Hospital in Bombay two years ago. a Crowd on the evening of February 6, paign proved to be successful when af- Jijina, president of the ZYA. Working ising units considerably. “The corn ­ ier filing a writ petition in the Bombay under the direction of ex-ZYA vice- pany is therefore sure of declaring 18 High Court, Justice S.C. Pratap president Yezdi Talati, the group cal- percent dividend to the shareholders ” directed the Maharashtra Government led themselves The Thespians. in its first year of business, further to specify a date by which it would ... place the report before the State souvenir published on the occasion) Mazda Properties, another company Assembly and make copies available will be used for the betterment of the promoted by Mazda Estates and Fi- to the public. community, ” noted the press release, nance Pvt Ltd. has entered the capital Described by The Indian Post daily Having installed new sanitary fittings market on April 21. It is confident of as a grey-eyed, pale gold skinned, at the J J Agiary, the group plans to declaring a dividend of 20 percent on balding, curly-pated individual who develop the place further. the public issue of six lakh shares of Rs “could easily be mistaken for a phir- At the Jamshedi Navroze function 10 each, notes the Business Express of ang (foreigner), ” Merwanji refuses to organized by the youths. Minorities April 18, 1988. give personal interviews, notes a re- Commission member Homi Taleyar- Developing a housing complex at port in The Afternoon Despatch and khan was the chief guest. The jashan Badlapur near Bombay and a complex Courier. “No one,” he says, “is in- in the evening was followed by games, of bungalows/row houses at Bardi, in terested in whether he is fair or dark, entertainment and, finally, a dinner. Dahanu district, the estimated cost of tall or short, ” notes The Afternoon At such functions “we ensure that our the project is Rs 12.5 millions, adds writer Carol Andrade. “It was the less fortunate Zoroastrian brethren the Express report. magazine that was important, and af- share in the celebrations, ” notes the w wifh ter that, the Lok Jagruti Kendra which souvenir. league WllU muruerers. was working for the people. Any other in fhP markPt municipal details were superfluous for, the maga- Wiazoa in me nidrKCi corporator was murdered as he phut­ zine said more about the group than Having entered the capital market on phutted on his motorbike down the any interview could. About the only April 4, 1988, Mazda Textile Indus- lanes of his constituency at Kamathi- thing that one could gather is that he is tries, promoted jointly by Mazda pura, the red-light district of Bombay, a geologist by training, worked abroad Estates and Finance Private Limited In environs where stabbings are not for many years, but where another along with non-resident Indians, is uncommon, the murder sent shock man might be content to collect a offering 10,80,000 equity shares of Rs waves down the alleys. For, the de­ green card and come down to India on 10 each for cash at par, notes a press ceased, Rusi Mehta, was an all- an occasional flying visit, Merwanji release from the company. popular figure, a politician with scru- chose to return to the country and T* - ¦ • • throw himself into working for causes. Group of Companies, Dara Deboo, individuals and issues as completely as who has “several profitable ventures VU Vtl V* • Z &. lilVIlW u - --------------------------------------- 7 -------- - ----------- he could remember, Merwanji has includes managing director Yezdi ushered in 1988, the police swooped ‘Playful’ fiesta mission report which investigated the Organized as a fund raising activity. tered adulterated glycerol at the J.J. (ZYA) of Poona staged a play Three’s release which anticipates that the re ­ Hospital in Bombay two years ago. a Crowd on the evening of February 6, cently announced excise reliefs will ... improve the profitability of textur- Editor and publisher Merwanji ’s cam- 1988, notes a press release from Percy ter filing a writ petition in the Bombay under the direction of ex-ZYA vice- ¦ ¦ 1 “The proceeds of the play (and the adds the write-up. place the report before the State souvenir published on the occasion) community, ” noted the press release. in the evening was followed by games, entertainment and, finally, a dinner. share in the celebrations, ” notes the souvenir. Mazda in the market 10 each for cash at par, notes a press ceased, Rusi Mehta, was an all- . popular figure, a politician with scru- Headed by chairman of the Mazda pies, loved and admired by his electo- ¦ ~ ~ rate. Hui.iuuu,. ....___ ___ _______ ______ , Who then could have murdered he could. A friend says that ^er since to his credit, ” the board of directors Mehta? As the first crack of dawn **._ ... ..a t Mr 1* l.-.-J *_ 1 A been the same-concerned, caring, ab- Master, chartered accountant Pradeep down on a g^ang, reportedly involved 3- I 10 Parsiana April 1988r - three generations of them, as Porus ’ elder sister has recently become a grandmother - dwell undisturbed by the event. Even the neighbors show no signs of sympathy; only mild ripples of revulsion. None of the residents Par­ siana spoke to exhibited any reaction but indifference, and a recalcitrance to speak. Most of them say they ^ere never friendly or socially involved with either the Patels or the Bharuchas even though many of them have stayed in the same block for over three de­ cades. in numerous cases of larceny, a major theft at a local cooperative bank, and the murder of the Congress-J elected corporator, Mehta. Two of the doors the police knocked on were at Now- roze Baug, the Parsi-tenanted resi ­ dences at Lalbaug, which house in its 18 blocks middle and lower-middle- class Parsi households. “We first came to know about the arrests, ” say the re ­ sidents, “when our doodhwallas (milk ­ men) in hushed but excited voices told us about it; else, we may not have been aware. ” The city ’s leading mor- ninger. The Tinies of India, flashed the Hanging around the huge Baug news on its front page. Couched be ­ tween the text enumerating the crimes, were the names of the two Par ­ si accused - Jal Rustomji Patel and Porus Sohrab Bharucha - who. The Tinies stated, were assisting the core group. Life at Nowroze Baug, however, continues to flow past undisturbed. Patel ’s wife with her small son stays aloof from her neighbors as before, deriving company and solace from her married sister and nephew who stay just a floor above. And the Bharuchas gates, Patel ’s eveteasing reportedly caused him to be expelled from the so ­ cial group formed by the Bang resi ­ dents. Despite the warnings, he con ­ tinued to haunt the gates, and indulge in what is, unfortunately, the popular and peculiar trait of many Parsi boys staying in bangs. “Bharucha had no friend in the col ­ ony,” says a neighbor, “save Jal Patel, because he always considered himself as someone different from the rest of us. ” The two reportedly became like blood brothers. Residents claim that both had been petty thieves ever since they could re ­ member. “Aatlu motu kari nakh- she...tevi asha nahin hati (We didn’t, however, expect them to get involved . in such a big way, though). ” Recently, when some major con ­ struction repairs were being under ­ taken on buildings at the Bang, Bhar ­ ucha reportedly cried off from paying his share, while Patel, it is believed, raved and ranted against the trustees, and swore at those who agreed to pay, alleging they were rich. Yet, neither of the two boys have unleashed a goonda raj (gangsterism) in the Baug. They have always moved about in shorts and without a sudreh, baring their hirsute chests and legs as they paraded down the building ’s cor ­ ridors. But short of cussing and this masculine exhibition, Patel and Bhar ­ ucha have kept to themselves. “Let them remain where they are. Why bother to write about them? ” say the residents, displaying not an iota of sympathy. I Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka MATCH YOUR AMBITION TO A CAREER To do so we offer you: L ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Diploma Course in Business Management (Postal) (IMC) Banking: C.A.I.LB. Course (Postal) Executive Secretarial Course Private Secretarial Course ? Steno Secretarial Course Personal Assistants’ Programme (for working stenographers) Telex Operating Telephone Operating-cum-Receptionist Techniques Shorthand and Typewriting Punch Operating and Data Entry ¦ T elephone Operating ? PLUS Electronic Typewriting and Word Processing Enquire at: Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk Bombay 400 023 Tel. 2871185 13 Parsiana April 19888 ynPriASTRIANS ABROAD ------ 1 he first Zoroastrian, Parsi or In- I dian known to have visited Bri- | _ tain was Naoroji Rustomji in 1 1723. He came to complain to the J T directors of the East India Company about the injustice that his family had suffered from the Company in jndia^ j His appeal appears to 1 first of many bers of the famous shipbuilding family .1 their visits to Britain. The of their visit was to study Brit- UllCVlWia .....------------ , . r about the injustice that his family had was successful, and he | have returned to India a j happier man. In 1832 we hear of the ___ J Parsis to come to Britain for education. In 1840 and 1841 mem­ bers of the famous shipbuilding family , of Bombay, the Wadias, published two books on their visits to Britain. The purpose of their visit was to study Brit ­ ish dockyards and engineering. What impressed them about Britain was the bustle, t— — speed of travel. The Wadias were least in some ways, of many who came later; they came to study in order to develop their own business and then returned to India. Almost all the Parsi leaders of the late nineteenth century came to Britain to study, usually law, j though others came to study medicine, as well as U and Indian Britain was Liverpool in Parsis to come to Britain VK4 VA*W*** -- ------------- , the technology, the ease ano forerunners, at i- v ¦-si*: SMP ! ’ I h ^,..1 business and then India. Almost all the Parsi Britain to study, usually law, for business. The first Parsi firm to be established in founded in London and ¦ 1 1855 by Dadabhoy Naoroji and members of the Cama family. The numbers visiting Britain (it would not yet be appropriate to use the term ‘settling ’) were sue** ? 1861 the ] J Zoroastrians of Europe was Its main task was tot*'"' ground. The journey took too long for the corpse home „ The Society obtained burial rights at Brookwood cemetery in 1863. It is not necessary to give details here of the Society ’s history. There are just a few mileposts in the story which be highlighted. The first Parsi and ~ . ____ - X___ 'Ct-ifilonrl - in "1886. In 1892 perhaps the Zoroastrian in London, elected as , - ' such that in ReligFous Society of the 2 --¦-'s founded. obtain a funeral back to India -7 to be sent ;2 and Christian burial grounds were not an option for Brookwood cemetery in 1863. It is not I can Indian cricket team came in — most famous Dadabhoy Naoroji, was K n to tour England Liberal M.P. for Central Finsbury. He was followed in Parliament by Man- rheriee Bhownaggree( 1895-1905) and Shapurji Saklatvalla (1922-23, 1924-29). The Association was formally in­ corporated in 1— followed in parliament by Man- 1909 with substantial 14 Parsiana April 1988 legal help from Bhownaggree.Inl921at ® 5. __ r\n rp»nf In on rent. In own acquired its first premises 1925 the Society purchased its premises, 11 Russell Road Kensing ­ ton. There are no records of the num­ ber of Zoroastrians, that I can find, . until the Second World War. A rea ­ sonable guess is probably about loU. records of the num- Migrations , Since the Second World War there have been four main waves of^ro^- trian migration to C..----- came in — the Second World War there :j Britain. The first in the mid 1940s. It consisted Left: Hinnells , Below The late Dastur Sohrab Kutar (wearing shawl) performing the initiation ceremony. The two priests on the left are Darius and Zal Setnna [ ||B '** ¦¦ i 1 { - y?, /J « ellllsHfi ¦ Zoroastnans in the O.K. John R. Hinnells A survey of the Zoroastrians In Britain focusses on how they ha*® . adapted themselves and their religionPakistan, their fears fanned by the after the fall of the Shah. Most Irani to the ruling power wherever they - • ....... * • f have had to accept and work with One of the issues which interests me established political authority where ­ ver they have settled - being Indians in individual ’s perception of his or her Bombay; Pakistanis in Karachi; Ira- new home if he feels forced to move nians in Tehran and British in London. nians in Tehran and British in London. Now, what happens to a religion which has become interwoven with a These four waves highlight a central particular race or national grouping mainly of individuals leaving India and fourth wave of migration, was in 1979, traditionally emphasized their loyalty communal violence. There were also a Zoroastrians settled in the American haye been. As a tiny minority they number of doctors who were attracted continent but some settled in Britain. here by the New National Health Ser ­ vice. The second wave was in the 1960s is, what difference does it make to an with the change in the British immigra ­ tion laws. Here, as before, most peo­ ple came from the Indian subconti- rather than choose to migrate of his nent. Again, the motivation was large- own free will? ly education and career enhancement. — - „ It was, in other words, migration by issue - that the small community en- when those nationals meet during choice. compasses diverse groups, 'groups migrations, in small communities, in In the late 1960s and early 1970s which have come at different periods, another country? There is, also, a Asians felt more or less compelled to for different reasons and from diffe- further important and growing section leave a number of East African coun- rent cultural backgrounds. Sometimes of Zoroastrian society, namely those tries - Zanzibar, Kenya, Tanzania, these differences are presented in born in the West. Aden and Uganda. Some Parsis went stark terms as conflicts between The last 40 years have in some ways to India, some to the American conti- ‘orthodox ’ and reformist. ’ That is too been among the most tumultuous in nent but most settled in Britain. The simple a division. Zoroastrians have the history of Zoroastrianism. In addi ­ tion to the international migrations jl already referred to, there have been * others within India and Iran. Since 1947 there has been a steady move of Parsis from Gujarat to Bombay and in Iran in the 1960s there was a similar move from the desert cities of Yazd and Kerman to the metropolis of Tehran. Zoroastrianism has, there- -.-.giesw*; Left: Setayesh-gah at the Zoroastrian House t Far left: A family posing outside the I Zoroastrian House for traditional I picture prior to the navjote ceremony I Below left: Kutar ties the kusti for the navjoti Below: After-death prayers outside Brookwood Cemetery chapelI’ S' i— Parsi merchants of England in the 1860s (from left): Rustomjee Umrigar, Dadabhoy Cama, unidentified, Framjee Mowdawalla', Sorabjee Captain and Mancherjee Cama (Photo; Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil} fore, become an increasingly urban phenomenon. For centuries Zoroastrianism had been restricted, essentially, to two cul ­ tures. Now it is found in more coun ­ tries around the world than ever be ­ fore. What impact does this interna ­ tional dispersion have on the religion? The perceived center of authority is also shifting. Originally the focus of re ­ ligious authority was Iran. Within the last 200 years the Indian community has become more the locus of power. But numbers have dropped dramati ­ cally in India; by 20 percent in the last 10 years down to 71,630 according to the 1981 census. “-------- 1--: ?' ' - ly to continue declining at the same dramatic rate because, as a recent sur ­ vey has shown, approximately 20 per- t i’t!'? >»* .1 -f W' .15 UK ¦JS 15 f. 'i V' future date I hope to carry out a simi- < 1 I b » < ? - ^*1^7 '*r' > i '** . •' -JI .liKSSK s;;dy «asu„<,er.3Re„ i„M.^a h lar, though necessarily larger, study in the high response rate achieved there. Bombay. I had 1466 respondents inter- The Zoroastnan population is nationally to the questionnaire. This heavily concentrated ,n London and aeed 65 and over. With numbers de- represents approximately a 30 percent the Home Counties - with almost half the addresses in this area. Such a con- . • I be significant for the practice of the religion. The sample is mainly from In­ dia and Pakistan. Some 78 percent of creasing similarly in Pakistan, the cen ­ ters of Zoroastrianism in the western vey, is - world are likely to play an increasingly had 463 responses, 346 of these came important role in the future of the reli ­ gion. Outside the Indian subcontinent and Iran, the biggest center, in numer- ical terms, is Britain, specifically Lon- response rate which, for a postal sur- - ----- is considered high. In Britain I centration in one region will be seen to through Zoroastrian House; 67 came from what might be termed the ‘East ------------- African Parsi network. ’ A further 50 the respondents have settled in Britain were from Zoroastrians not on the in the last 25 years, but that leaves a a-jgcr.ra-. a-r.isassSiS s:'Sxg :“ JE~ figures is that the response rate was 1 „ Characteristics good and approximately '2^i ^rcent of off ftomjhose m My survey questionnaire conducted in them came from outside the Associa r 1985 was carried out in Hong Kong, tion, hence yielding quite a broad sam- i communitv in Britain, America, Canada anS a pilo, pie. If rh^e b ^ny bras, r^numen^ aoX ta r rym.. i,„ 'I J 1 I-I . H I-I i longevity of the community marks it .1____ 1 America and Cana ­ da, a fact which, we shall see, has its religious consequences. In general comparison with the American com ­ munity - though it is ihore mobile than that in Bombay. As far as the age range is. concerned, it has a wider spread of ages than the groups in America, which is generally a younger population. But with 61 percent under the age of 50 it is a younger community than those in Bombay or Karachi. There is a difference with regard to families between those living in or near London and those living in the rest of the U.K. (For the sake of brev- I ity these two groups will hereafter be I alluded to simply as ‘ the center and I ‘the periphery. ’)Because of the student j First Parsi cricket team to England in I 1886 (Photo: India's Hambledon Men] ¦ 16 Parsiana April 1988Sil II ¦ n * k X *1 lip I Above (from left): Dadabhai Naoroji, Bi I ¦ fcil I; ' iO iBlli v! I ¦ Ij J : 4 1 kusti. I suspect that contact with fellow Zoroastrians works to stimulate prac ­ tice. But what is very striking is the contrast with the children. Whether it is the practice of wearing the religious emblems or whether it is the parental actions and resolve with regard to teaching the prayers, quite consistent ­ ly the more peripheral groups have a far lower rate of affirming the tradi ­ tion. The clear implication is that the religion is not being handed down so determinedly where parents live away' from a Zoroastrian center. population there is a higher percen- Above (from left): tAOP of sinde people among London Mancherjee Bhownaggree and than elsewhere. Typical- Shapurji Saklatvala, the three Parsi members of the British House of Commons (Photo: Parsi Lustre on Indian Soin ____ Right: Zerbanoo Gifford, Harrow’s families have only Asian councillor more tage of single people among Zoroastrians tl ------L ' ‘ ly, however, Zoroastrians live in fami ­ ly groups in Britain, with 75 percent being part of an extended family. As in Bombay, however, family sizes are small. Although most f---- children, only 13 percent have ------ than two whereas 40 percent have less percent do so m Texas and an average han two of '7b percent throughout America do. Overall, the community is highly The difference is presumably due to educated. If the figures for those who the fact that the American communi- have a first degree are conflated with ties are rr.crc c.tti^mpnt. those who took a higher degree, then the migration to; Amenca^is a 68 nercent of respondents have been <—‘ to university. Obviously this is a far are closer. That may seem^an obvious higher proportion than in the general remark but it is Bntish population and much higher the homeland weaken with time, what than tha?in Bombay. Here lies a prob- does that suggest for ’the ' lem for the Zoroastrian communities, of the religion, in the long term, in In Asia it i§ often the young and the overseas communities, educated who have migrated, thereby Obviously, a small community like depleting the parent community of the Zoroastrians cannot keep sepa potential leaders. It also, of course, from the majority host society. It leads to an unusual social mix in the therefore somewhat surprising that new community. The problem is not as only two-thirds o t e respon en era*tion These°figures look extremely srea. as in New York where 91 percen. .hey come m.o regular con.ac. wi.h era ion inese gure j' S ,tiidied at universi.v. non-Zoroaslrians. W.lh.n lhe family. of 70 percent throughout America do. have a first degree are conflated with ties are 68 percent of respondents have been to I ¦ more recent ‘settlements. ’ As ¦ I more re ­ cent affair, the links to the homeland IS important. If links with Obviously, a small community like of the Zoroastrians cannot keep separate only two-thirds of the respondents say new community. The problem is not as of respondents studied at university. Here a problem emerges which will it seems, a recur: to what extent can Zoroastrian ­ ism (or any religion) be the same in, sav, rural Gujarat, in Bombay, in Lon- don and in New York? Because the read^ h, environment is different and the prac ­ titioners are different, must the reli ­ gion also be different if it is to be readership, meaningful to its followers? That is a L _ ___ 3, a proportion keep close con ­ tact mainly to fellow Zoroastrians. For an educated community it is remark- If one compares what parents report they did with the children who have grown up, with what is said parents now do, and with what the respon ­ dents envisage doing with future chil ­ dren, then there is a marked decline in London and elsewhere in the resolve > to pass the religion on to the next gen- serious for the future of the religion in this country. Marriage outside the community happens more often in the smaller often in the smaller an educated communiiy n ib icmain. * kk t -u ,,,, i^ nprrpnt of able .ha. rela.ively few (15 percen.) scatteredI group^ at what literature is read, clearly Par- siana has the widest i---------------- Looking respondents from the center have mar- uvaii, ¦ tied out of the community compared international with 26 percent from the periphery in the U.K. A similar pattern emerges elsewhere: 13 percent of New York re ­ spondents have married out of the ! community compared with 23 percent in the scattered American groups; your community does have to answer, religion.' me gJ^aimdjv^iiny ui percent in Toronto compared y Although most British Zoroastrians Zoroastrians affirm that^X17 percent in the rest of Canada, correspond with co-religionists over- certainly British population The difference can also be seen in seas - certainly more than they do with religious beliefs. Regarding prayers ISSy’S:?—.be™absolu.elyesse„.ialwbe.easo„ly religious question which an outsider Attitudes like myself cannot answer - but which How do these religion? The great majority of British in Zoroastrians affirm that they pray - certainly more than I suspect a survey 18 Parsiana April 198832 percent of respondents from the only 13 percent of the general sample- ern country as their homeland. Natur- scattered groups do. and evinced all the abovementioned ally there is also a link between what The theme which is emerging is the social and religious behavior. As far as one conceives the mother country to extent to which an individual ’s person- the perpetuation of the religion is con- be and the place of education. al circumstances affect his or her reli- cerned, they do not teach their chil- gion. If a person has had his or her dren the prayers so often and fre- education in the West, does it affect quently assert they will not be doing so country- and his religious* adherence, the individual ’s Zoroastrian heritage? in the future; nor are they so commit- People who assert links with Asia dis- The answer seems to be unequivocally ted to having their children ’s navjote play the characteristics associated with ‘yes. ’ Those educated in western performed. More commonly, they do ‘the center ’while the westerners corres- schools do not keep in as close touch not advise their children to wear the pond with those at ‘the periphery. ’ The with fellow Zoroastrians as the rest sudreh-kusti and, consequently, their latter accept that in the West they have either by letters to co-religionists over- children wear it less frequently than do changed their religious beliefs. seas or with those in this country. Nor the children of the global sample. 3 There is a similar correspondence be- v tween an individual ’s concept of mother ) * I I p ? ¦ "f ** Ku 5** * .f' * The youth Comparing the figures relating to the youngest generation studied in the sur ­ vey (those aged 16-25), with the oldest (those over 65), the younger genera ­ tion speak more English and less Gu­ jarati; they keep in touch with fellow T?: *8' n 1 ¦ J-i* r -i:i w i Above: Bailey Irani, president of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe Above (right): Shahpur Captain, secretary of the World Zoroastrian Organisation Right: Thrity Shroff, chairperson of the Harrow Zoroastrian Council , - Zoroastrians overseas and at home , less; they read less religious literature; • -! pray less; wear the sudreh-kusti less ¦ 1 regularly; they attend Zoroastrian cen- i : y ters less regularly both for religious and community matters. In terms of jj^'; belief, a consistently smaller propor- |||h tion believe in the various forms of after- BB life and are less ready to see India as the center of rehgious authority. In assessing these figures it would be possible to exaggerate their signifi ­ cance. Whichever community one stu ­ died, not least in western society, one may well find that the younger genera ­ tion is less (overtly) religious. Whether those individuals will display the same characteristics when they themselves are aged over 65 may be another ques ­ tion. More than half the younger respon ­ dents, however, say they pray daily and wear the sudreh-kusti regularly - in some ways a high proportion. The statistic - a higher proportion of the younger generation would refuse jud- dins access to the prayer room in their community center than would the old ­ er generation - is striking. One simply A people ’s concept of what is their cannot equate being young with being do they read as much Zoroastrian literature. The implication is that their education distances them from their religious roots. Consequently, the western educated pray less often; the prayers they offer are less traditional and they do not wear the sudreh-kusti as regularly. They are more open to intermarriage and less inclined to be- . . lieve in any aspect of the afterlife - mother country has its impact on their less traditional. In personal conversa^ . either the immortality of the soul, religious adherence. The East African tion, one young Parsi commented to reincarnation, heaven and hell or Parsis and the Persian speaking Ira- me that every day of the week she prayers for the dead. nian Zoroastrians display their own lived in a multi-cultural environment The place where people had their specific characteristics and further at.school; she wanted one place, she primary education is clearly linked establish the point that the personal said, where she could go and be her- with what they consider to be their circumstances of individuals signifi- self. mother tongue. Thus 71 percent of cantly affect their religion. Gujarati The figures for the younger genera ­ those who had their primary education speakers identify the Indian continent tion show rather different trends from in the West considered English to be as their homeland but among English one region to another. For example, their mother tongue (briefly referred speakers there is more of a tendency whereas 65 percent of younger to as English speakers) compared with (even if still a minority) to see a west- Zoroastrians from ‘the center ’ keep in 19 Parsiana April 19887 contact with other Zoroastrians, only enormous difficulties. same. The crucial question with religion 42 percent of those from ‘the The overseas communities in Amer- is, what constitutes the substance and periphery ’do so. Similarly 59 percent ica, Australia, Canada and Britain are what is simply the coloring? What to of younger London Zoroastrians pray - for better or for worse, and however change and what not to change? daily in contrast with only 47 percent the traditional centers may view this - Determining that issue is a religious , of the young U.K. Zoroastrians. It likely to play a vital role in the future or spiritual question which the com- seems that when different factors com- of the religion. The danger is that the munity has to face. I honestly believe bine, such as being young and living in dispersion will result in the dilution of that Zoroastrianism is under greater a scattered group, the religion is most the religion. It would, in my opinion, threat now, than at any other time in at risk. be a mistake to present this simolv in its history. Persecutions have rarely re- The overseas communities in Amer- a scattered group, the religion is most the religion. It would, in my opinion, at risk. be a mistake to present this simply in terms of orthodoxy versus reform. The moved such a high proportion of your Survival issues are far more complex and in- total population as dispersion and the It seems that those who have children elude such questions as: the difficulty dramatic decline in the birth rate are are i practice the religion compared with Asian religion in a non-Asian setting; those who have no children. Those the difficulties of practising the tradi- with children appear to pray more often and in a more traditional way. They wear the sudreh-kusti more reg ­ ularly; attend Zoroastrian centers for various activities more often. They also wear the traditional dress and eat Asian food more regularly. Evidently, having children reinforces the will to preserve traditional identity. A similar pattern is observable among those who have family members in this country - aunts, cousins and brothers. In gener- Zoroastrians - be that in northern Bri- your community when your own youth al, it seems to be the single person who tian or in the various parts of the see less cause for optimism than their is most vulnerable to non-Zoroastrian American continent. How, in particu- elders do. Whether the perceived dan- influences. lar, does a person living alone, sepa- ger was declining numbers, the youth The ladies of the community are rated from his or her family, keep alive not following the religion, conversion most active in the preservation of the the community ’s traditions? How is out of the community or some other tradition. I could detect no significant the reality of the religion translated danger, in each case a higher propor- differences in male/female patterns of not only into western languages but tion of the youth saw dangers than did belief, but when one considers the fi- also into the different thought patterns the older people. Turning to the per- gures for the practice of the religion it of those educated here? This last prob- ceived sources of hope - be it a savior, seems to be the women who tend to lem is especially acute for young peo- the youth, a global movement, the evi- keep greater contact with fellow Zoroas- pie brought up to imbibe values and dence of the religion ’s past record of trians either abroad or at home; they pray assumptions about the nature of reli- survival, the strength of traditional more regularly, teach the children to pray gious truth and attitudes to religious values or any other reason - the youn- and attend Zoroastrian House more - at practice which are different from those ger generation consistently saw less least in London. of the older generation. reason for hope. In the last 40 years the community It is noticeable that a higher propor- has on the one hand undergone a Changing perceptions tion of the youth themselves consider dramatic decline in numbers and on There is a strong feeling among many th^re is danger they will not follow the the other spread around the world into of the youth in ‘the West ’ that co- religion and fewer of them consider more countries than ever before. The religionists in India simply do not they are a source of hope for the fu- human resources have never been understand their difficulties or their ture. What is also sad is that it was the stretched so thinly. There have also situation and that they seek to impose younger generation which was least been periods of severe trauma - for rules and principles which are entirely positive about internal community re- the communities in East Africa and for inappropriate in a different culture. In lations. Their assessment of relations , those in Iran in 1979. Some people contrast some people in Bombay feel between Parsis and Iranis, among Par ­ fear there are similar dangers ahead, that those who have migrated to adv- sis, between new and old settlers, was with the hand-over of Hong Kong in ance their own personal future should that things were not as good as the old- 1997; with the increasing Islamization not then seek to change the religion to er generation consider them to be. The in Pakistan, for example. Even in the suit their convenience. There are two danger of alienating the young from apparently secure base of India, the sides to almost any question. Perhaps your community through quarrels declining numbers and the agonies of the greatest danger is that either side seems very real indeed. ej^eme and public dissension together will fail to listen to the other. The obvious problem, however, for with the recent loss of many young and P "J ' "L '___ ’___ . . educated people through out-migration, changes its coloring according to its en- means the ^roastrianism there faces vironment but the substance remains the more concerned to preserve or of practising what has hitherto been an doing. Oppression has rarely resulted in such a high percentage forsaking their traditions as acculturation and the seductions of western materialism are now causing. It is an insidious dan ­ ger you now face - but it is no less real for that. One particularly sad part of the sur- vey is the contrast between the figures for the attitudes of the different gen­ erations to the future of the commun ­ ity and its religion. Since we often speak of the idealism and optimism of For an educated community it is remarkable that relatively few read Zoroastrian literature tions in areas remote from a center of youth, it is surely extremely serious for Zoroastrians - be that in northern Bri- i ‘ tian or in the various parts of the see less cause for optimism than their Religion is like a chameleon - it the community is that when your num­ bers are dwindling at such a dramatic continued on page 29 21 Parsiana April 1988 j'*1 ,11 i i ! !+ if;r. i ! J ¦i. , era it had not been of land where it is awaiting permission | the ' minorities and to construct the biggest atash bahram 1 tne minoin Kushesh. Some part of | F their churches the Zoroastrians the properiy was nationalized^ in^ | ipndpd to be lackadaisical, recounted flush of revolution but, by and large, - tended to be lacKaaaisicab ic Mndims respect waqf properties | are made to learn Avestan « fterefore uiioii, we ;.a.e imately 15 buildings of two or three t many religious storeys, 40 shops and five schools Kushesh. The under its administration. Although the during the Shah ’s era, it enforced upon —— _ ______________ while the Christians had b^en taught in ing committee of their churches. The view in Iran More than 1,400 Zoroastrians turned out to elect a managing -------- " ; 21 members and seven reserve mem­ bers of the Anjupian Zartoshtian Tehran last February, informed com ­ mittee member Mehraban Kushesh. The community also elected Rustom tory^ Zarapush, Faramand Yazdi and Jam- * shid Khosravani as auditors- supervisors of the Anjuman s affairs. The managing committee will now elect its office bearers. While the pres ­ ident, vice-president and treasurer will hold office on an honorary basis, the attendance is executive secretary is a professional appointment, Kushesh added. This was the first election, under a mandatory new constitution, since the revolution in Iran. The last presid^t ____ '•-3 1 „ Dinyar Farin, appointed in the time of bearers continued without election for lO XU ycaia. iw'nviw. V.— ------ -- ------- pensation, three terms of three years for engineering “ . . , . _______ 11 Jnrii. hnwp.ve.r. mucnt Zartoshtian as ¦ I in Iran, says Zoroastrians the property w^ Kushesh. Now Zoroastrian and the scriptures as - . “Since the revolution, we have printed 10 times as i books as before, ” says course is set and the coaching is con- children Shia Muslinfis respect waqf properties chanty, Kushesh imateiy 15 buildings of two or three salary of teachers and principals is paid ¦i Sd by'the\njuman through the by the m^ai^ t^ J attendance is compulsory. The Anju- the repair bill last year amounted to 25 j LTlTthe nSon piers and cor- lakh rials (approximately five lakh man sets the question papers and cor- ----- , -uocii rects the answer b.mks Thyesults are "'Though "toy ° ‘are “0^diowed to ter^'the vast Hestonj. Maraei ynu,. p...____ leave the country after the age of 14, merchant and phdanthroptst fto heartsurgeouDr am nm dl^tod^ .toy « The Tehran Anjuman also adminis- the vast Pestonji Marker (Indian ’a _ _ president of the Iranian Zoroastrian of the Anjuman was heart swgeoni^ IS'^mdi^^'^ne'^tiS imo"^ Anjuman in Bombay) property in | Dinyar Farin, appointed m the time of ® , almost 95 percent of Yazd, now in the center of the city, the Shah. Under that system office lege^is . d in the says Kushesh. “We cannot dispose ot : vidual in office, says Kushesh. The community has lost nine boys in the war with Iraq - one c_ , engineers and three soldiers — and 20 'Znmastrian buildings have collapsed rents must get a under the onslaught of missiles so far, card countersigned by three members notes Kushesh.^ Nonetheless, the of the Anjuman. Although miltary ser- SSo ”rians in Tehran and vice is others in the rest of the country are actually goes to the front The boys are treated well and the Anjuman contri- organized in batches and a lottery sys- buted300 million rials to the war fund tern exempts the lucky batch from ac- (approximately 60 million rupees). tive service. or the police and though it is rational ­ ized that the Muslims do not wish to allow non-Muslims into positions c* authority, Kushesh does not believe there is ’ senior^- Zoroastrians and also one of its senior managers, he says.' “Considering our population, Zoroastrians are tops as doctors and engineers. The Ayatollah sa^Kushesh. was operated upon by a Zoroastrian ----- doctor. Older Zoroastrian employees Tehran hold high positions in government. ” The Khomeini regime has streng- SS,“sSe2 SSSSHSs StmStesv PmfXTXto: :h^^and tocause it’s trust property. J :— --------- however, much tougher to manage. test. Professional education and medicine is, JWWVl, lllk**^** -- ---------- All Iranians are required to haye an are no funds. ” The ¦¦¦AU Itanians are riquired to have an Anjuman is identitv card without which no rations , the government or the banks, ottering laemity taro wiui —,partner a 50 percent share m the a medical clinic in Yazd,built by Sir Ratan Tata,which has been closed due to shortage of funds. It is an old type of structure on a sub ­ stantial plot of land which is looked after by the Tehran Anjuman, where the only option seems to be to demol ­ ish and reconstruct. The Hospital Bah- man in Yazd, founded by the Jahanian doctor, five passport or hospital registration IS Zoroastrian identity the of the Anjuman. Although miltary ser- Tehran and vice is compulsory, not everyone actually goes to the front. The boys are tive service. The Anjuman is required to main- (approximately 60 million rupees).^ CoUrrciiuy wiv %/vx*****»—---------- - , a Zoroastrian graveyard. Maneckji of Hataria, the Indian scholar whose rep- 1S.USI1CS11 uvvo i-c resentation to the ruling Shah of Iran re is real discrimination. Three had resulted in the scrapping of the lior jumbo captains of Iran Air are jezia tax long enforced on Zoroas- - • • *'•--------— trians in Iran, was the last person to be interred in the dokhma. The graveyard in Tehran is maintained “like a park, ” ^ere are two fire-temples in xviiidsA, one —J — J other 80 years old. Close to the Anju ­ man office is t— ------ ----- where there is no fire but where de­ There are two types of Zoroastrians in Iran, says Kushesh - the very ortho ­ dox and the liberal. There is a new Zoroastrian Association in Abadan and Khorramshahr whose members are not of original Zoroastrian stock and bear Muslim names. More than 300 such have scattered in Italy, Ger ­ many and England, informs Kushesh. By and large Zoroastrians do nol approximately *25, the marry outside the community, says jiu. j -¦ Kushesh, placing the annual statistic al the Shah Bahramizad one or two cases. A mobed registers the marriage and where the boys hav< . ¦ --“I munity, the mobed interrogates then 22 Parsiana Aprin 988r I Zoroastrian faith and registered his cent of the 59 Zoroastrians in New teered to recite such prayers while 10 Zoroastrian. “Why South Wales, Australia, who re- others refused to do so. Kolsawalla emphasized that the re- - * i are “a reflection of community said they would not accept (though attitudes and are not binding on any- ‘ J £ _j ..V - -y 22—J one, nor is the board of-directors of of Parsi fathers), while 1.75 percent the AZA bound by any of its find- said it was none of the community ’s ings... “I believe that the attitudes reflect The attitudinal survey was con- the true desires of the members who ducted by the Australian Zoroastrian wish to maintain their Zoroastrian shouldn ’t we accept those who are su- sponded to a questionnaire on the sub- K. perior and really interested in Zoroas- ject. Of the remaining, 17.54 percent suits trianism? ” questions Kushesh. i ’ '* ___ The war has escalated the cost of two respondents favored the children living in Iran and Tehran is experienc ­ ing housing problems familiar to Bom- bayites, observes Kushesh. “With high business, rents and low income, people hesitate ~ to marry or have children. ” _________________ __________ ____ _ Parsis in Bombay and the Bombay Association (AZA) of New South identity for themselve7*and"hopefuny ‘ Parsi Punchayet (BPP) in particular Wales ’ president Purviz Kolsawalla for their children, while realizing that seem to be unconcerned about the fate last September at the request of the the conditions prevailing in Australia of their correligionists in Iran, feels AZA’s adult discussion group. The are markedly different from those in Kushesh. “They know that Iran is a questionnaire, circulated through the the countries of their birth. ” war zone but do not even bother to ask Association ’s newsletter Manashni, The survey had begun on a con- how the community is faring. We con- was intended “to determine the com- troversial note because Kolsawalla had tacted the Iranian Zoroastrian Anju- munity’s attitude towards several reli- added a disclaimer to the question on man in Bombay for funds for medicine gious and social issues affecting the acceptance, stating “I, as an indi- and bandages but the general com- Zoroastrian community in Australia, ” vidual, am against any form of conver- munity s response is lukewarm, he notes'Kolsawalla in a preamble to the sion into our community. ” Accused of says. When P.erviz Maleckpour, results, analysed and tabulated with causing serious damage to the impar- Zoroastrian member of the Iranian the aid of computer graphics. The re- tiality attached to the questionnaire, Majlis (parliament) arrived in Bombay sponse rate varied from question to Kolsawalla had defended his action on in 1985 to attend the Fourth World question, and at the maximum clocked the grounds of responsibility to his Zoroastrian Congress (FWZC), “the 20 percent of the Association ’s 1987 family in India. Iranian consul general sent his car to total membership of 297 adults. In the preface to the results, Kolsa- receive him, but no one from the Pun- Of the 55 who indicated their prefer- walla states, “Such discussions, con- chayet bothered...There were 165 Ira- red method of disposal of dead bodies, ducted in an orderly and dispassionate nian delegates to the Congress. We re- 42 opted for cremation, six for burial, way, are bound to help the community quested Mr (Jamshed) Guzder (chair- one for burial at sea and six for dokh- to chart its future destiny. ” man of FWZC) to try to arrange re- --------' ' ‘ • sidential accommodation in a sanator ­ ium. Armenians or Christians would purchase burial plots for its members “To enable all Zoroastrians to com- have emptied the YMCAs to or create a rose garden at its premises municate and locate each other easi- accommodate their people. We wrote for disposal of ashes after cremation, ly, ” the Zoroastrian Youth Committee and asked for (an estimate of) the ex- 36 opted for a rose garden while 12 of Southern California planned to pub- penses but they never replied...! write voted for burial plots. Twelve persons lish, by April 1988, a three-section 10 letters to the BPP, they reply with felt that the AZA should “do no- telephone directory listing the num- one. We have already advertised for thing. ” bers of all Zoroastrians in North the 1989 Congress. We did not know that it has been postponed to 1990.” At the election of the Zoroastrian mittee for the conduct of the funeral from chairperson Parviz Mazdiyasni, representative to the Iranian parlia- and obsequial prayers for the first four which has been reproduced by the ment which had been scheduled for days, found favor with 48 (89 percent) Zoroastrian Association of Greater April 8^ 1988 Maleckpour faced com- while six vetoed the idea. An equal New York (ZAGNY) in its February petition from Aflatoon Zeryafal and number (48) volunteered to partici- newsletter. A yellow pages section will Faramand Yazdi. People feel Maleck- pate in saying prayers for the five muk- acquaint the community of the busi- pour hasn ’t done enough work, says tad days (as against five who said they ness and professional activities of U.S. Kushesh, although he is personally in- would not), but only 21 agreed to clear and Canadian Zarathushtis. dined to give Maleckpour the benefit the hall, set flowers, etc on a roster “In the long run this will result in of the doubt. Maleckpour ’s popularity basis (24 declined to volunteer). more in Kerman is high, says Kushesh, but / then, “Yazd and Kerman have been tudes before setting any guideline free from bombardment. ” Australian attitudes A child whose any one parent is a Zoroastrian and whose navjote has women reciting prayers (with the ex- budget for the project would be pro- been performed, would be welcomed ception of the geh sarna) before a dead vided through advertisements in the into the community fold by 80.7 per- body (one against); 10 behdins volun- yellow pages plus donations. sponded to a questionnaire on the sub- J ? » k' f L i. t ¦ questionnaire, circulated through the the countries of their birth. ” The survey had begun on Such discussions, con- -r________________ ' 42 opted for cremation, six for burial, way, are bound to help the community -- ----- . I . . menashini in India or Pakistan. Asked whether the AZA should Bilingual directory A suggestion, that voluntary guide- America in English and in Farsi. The lines be set by the management com- information is contained in a letter understanding, sharing, and An effort to evoke community atti- eventually, unity among Zoroas- ; re- trians, ” writes Mazdiyasni. Urging suited in 13 respondents voting against community participation across the the use of sagdid (viewing of dead continent by providing the necessary body by a dog); nine voted against the information and booking advertising use of nirang; 16 were in favor of space, Mazdiyasni notes that the been performed, would be welcomed ception of the geh sarna) before a dead vided through advertisements in the 25 Parsiana April 1988 iH r k Mt ; j ¦ ! i ’¦ t 1 H Hi jr f' secretary and treasurer and as presi- surface. A hilly region on the eastern dent of the medical association in edge of the Caucasian range, jutting 2 into the Caspian, the Apsheron penin- PraisingWania ’s efforts spread over sula is now recognized as one of the 4'1 I ! Ophthalmologist honored Eminent Pakistani ophthalmologist Dr Sind. Jamshed Wania has been awarded the F-------„ . _ . prestigious Ramzan Ali Syed Gold 30 years — he has more than a dozen USSR s major oil reserves. The area is Medal instituted by the President of publications to his credit - the award known for its natural gas wells, miner- ’*¦ Pakistan General Mohammad Zia-ul- reads, ‘T ”, , ’ ' " Haq, notes the Parsi Sansar ane Lok striven to bring Pakistan ophthalmolo- Sevak of March 5, 1988. The citation, presented by the selection committee under the chairmanship of Prof Mahmud Ali Shah, lauds Wania ’s uni- Two ancient fire-temples have been temples and in the houses of ordinary que operational technique presented recently discovered in Russia accord- people ” who sought protection, happi- at Kyoto, Japan in 1978 “(which) has ing to newspaper reports and Soviet ness and welfare. Thus Azerbaijan ac- earned a place as ‘Wania ’s operation ’ information. Situated in the Azerbai- quired its name as the “land of fires. ” in a book. Recent advances in the jan and Uzbekistan Soviet Republics “Azerbaijan was a developed feudal surgery of lacrimal apparatus, pub- which lie to the west and east of the state and this aspect of its history was lished in 1979.” Caspian Sea respectively, the fire- reflected in the Ateshgyah, ” informs Honorary ophthalmic surgeon at temples are said to have been exca- the release. An important commercial Karachi ’s Parsi General and Masoo- vated and restored by Soviet and cultural link in the caravan trade^ meen Hospitals since 1960, Wania is a archaeologists. The Caspian Sea is the route, merchants contributed to the trustee of the Layton Rahmatulla Be- natural boundary between Iran and construction of the temple and behind nevolent Trust dedicated to the provi- the USSR and the two republics once its walls, a hostelry comprising re- sion of quality eye-care to the poorest formed part of the Persian Empire. sidential cells, stables and guest room of the poor, notes the citation. Wania The unique ‘Ateshgyah, ’ a gas- where they could live and worship, is also credited with continuous active fuelled ‘temple of fire, ’ is located adds the write-up. service with the Pakistan Medical almost in the center of the Apsheron The nineteenth century lust for oil Association, serving as its honorary peninsula where oil gas comes to the almost destroyed the temple, records Internationally you have al springs and mud volcanoes. Acknowledging that the major reli ­ gious belief in ancient Azerbaijan was Zoroastrianism, the release states, “The sacred fire burnt at the altars of gy on the world map. ” Fire-temples in Russia 'if 1; ¦i $ ¦w 1 i 1 ' -.1 k t I' & For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324. GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY 400007. TELEPHONED: 3714B3 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ¦¦'-J' 'I- ,i .{ 27 Parsiana April 19885 the release: “The sacred fires were put lished with turquoise and mother-of- off. For several decades the temple pearl, a stone frog, coins, terracotta stood dead, waiting for its time to statuettes, ceramics and feminine come... 'carefully preserved, its fires burn lived there long before Alexander the dropping, you cannot afford to lose, again. ” The Uzbekistan temple lies in the fourth century B.C. marked the end of small town of Karshi, the archaeolo- the Achaemenid Empire. gical site of ancient Yerkurgan, a ma ­ jor economic and cultural center of ZOROASTRIANS IN THE U.K. continued from page'21 .Now thoroughly restored and accessories which indicate that people rate, mainly because the birth rate is Great whose military campaigns in the the young people you have. Yours is the world ’s oldest prophetic religion, one which my colleagues and _ . _ _ - I find worthy of enormous respect. But Cniei UotbUSter I.fear that here in Britain, as in other Sogdiana, notes a report in the Free The alleged leader of the racist Amer- countries, it faces extinction if your Press Bulletin of February 17, 1988 .ican gang, known as Dotbusters, generation - if you - do not do some- forwarded to Parsiana by Dhun James Kerwin, was arrested along with thing to keep it alive. Few communi- Mehta. Sogdiana, according to The accomplice Peter Jester, notes a Un- ties can have so much to offer in terms Columbia Encyclopedia was a part of ited News of India (UNI) report from of past record, noble achievements the ancient Persian Empire, corres- Jersey City datelined March 20 and and personal ability. I can only hope ponding to the later emirate of published in The Daily the next day. Bukhara and the region of Samar- — - kand. While experts have dated the against Indians in New Jersey, includ- its own unique impact both in Britain ancient town ’s walls at fifth century ing the fatal mugging of Nowroze and throughout the world. A.C. the ruins of the Zoroastrian tern- Mody. Though the two men were pie is estimated to be 29 centuries old, “charged with aggravated assault and Edited and abridged from a paper on “Zoroastrian ¦ notes the Bulletin, attributing the in- possession of weapons and burglary, ” formation to a press release of the they were freed on bail the same day, USSR Information Centre, Bombay. Among the artefacts discovered at the site are a golden hedgehog embel- that you may harness these in the The Dotbusters are said to be re- necessary spirit of harmony to ensure sponsible for a spate of racial incidents that Zoroastrianism continues to make adds the report. Compiled by Arnavaz S. Mama migration Io Britain: its history and impact’ by Prof John Hinnells of Manchester University pre­ sented at a seminar on “Zoroastrian Religion, Cul­ ture and History" on July 20, 1986 in London under the auspices of the World Zoroastrian Orga­ nisation and the World Zarathushtrian Trust Fund. I 29 Parsiana April 1988 * ¦'< o - a SERSON Electrolytic Capacitors For All Electronic Applications From 12 VDC To 350 VDC Manufacturtrs: Serson Indaistries Pvt. Ltd. Pimpri P.F.P.O., Pooiia>18. Cable: Etcbfoil Poona-18. Phone: 82379 1 'i ’i H"1 POLITICS AND POLICY A Punchayet that a* J communicates 'i Parinaz Toddywalla 1 ) I I N'r (pH sip “The general feeling prevailing in the highlighted in the BPP newsletter is community is that the trustees don’t the danger of accidents facing young know what to do with the funds at the Parsis. A decade ’s statistics collected disposal of the Bombay Parsi Pun- by him indicate that deaths due to acci- ? chayet, ” states Rustom Anklesaria, dents are increasing in the community, chief executive of the BPP. To counter His other suggestions for incorpora- the mistaken notion that the BPP has tion in the newsletter include: the assets worth “crores and crores of escalating cost of sandalwood and the rupees ” and realizing that the trustees experiments with bawal kathi in a fire- were not able to project “the good temple in Bombay. Golwalla also activities that they were initiating and hopes that leading community figures the limitations under which they were will contribute short articles to the functioning, ” the board of trustees of newsletter but Anklesaria was not sure the BPP will, beginning April, publish whether such a column would mater- a community newsletter with a print ialize as earlier requests for contribu- order of around 18,000 copies. tions never generated any interest. Titled Bombay Parsi Punchayet What he would like to solicit, howev- Newsletter, the bimonthly, to be edited by er, are readers ’ views for improvement Anklesaria, will focus on the problems of the publication and presentation of facing the community and the various certain news items by way of stark facts, services, programs and plans offered “Our purpose is to inform the com- fl ;U1 sii'jiiLiii Anklesaria: efforts to improve administration 1 “Our purpose is to inform the com- by the BPP from improving the child ’s munity, without any desire to create academic performance, broadening controversy. It may result in con- the horizons of a student who is on troversy, but the idea is to avoid con- vacation after appearing for his school frontation in our own sweet gentle leaving examinations, financing higher way, ” says Anklesaria who perceives education from the loans available, to his role as an architect “building curing a drug addict and bettering the bridges between the trustees and the relationship of a disillusioned couple. “Apart from late marriages and lack of housing, ” what BPP chairman Dr ter will replace the over 20-page BPP Aspi Golwalla would also like to see Quarterly Review which featured only community. ” The six-to-eight page BPP Newslet- I I ; / I 4 e; -r Every other month, i8,000 copies of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet Newsletter will inform the community about the developments, plans and services offered by the Parsi Punchayet and also focus on the problems facing Parsis 30 Parsiana April 1988routine matters concerning the Pun- the Hobson ’s choice before the trustees: dabad, the “chief, ” as he is fondly de- chayet like Doongerwadi news, doles Formerly, on the question of allotment signated by the BPP staff, had brought handed out by the Punchayet,. number of housing^ “the trustees were charged with him a wide vista of experience. His association with the Indian Admi­ nistrative Service necessitated variegated of inmates at the different institutions with nepotism and corruption. Now, af- run by the BPP and the progress of the ter the merit rating scheme has been in- , housing schemes. “It was a mere state- troduced, the trustees are blamed of expertise in different fields. Starting as an ment of facts, ” acknowledged Ankle- heartlessness and callousness. ” income-tax officer, some of his other de- saria. The feedback from several quar ­ ters indicated that the Quarterly Review the Press is now more open, “more was considered “dull, ” admitted Golwal ­ la who then cited two reasons - readabil ­ ity and economy - which favored a . earlier. Hardly seven days back, Gol- change of format. Elaborating on the cost effective ­ ness, Anklesaria explained, “While formerly the BPP used to spend Rs 36 tion was true. Appreciating the news- iy or unknowingly which could affect the to 40 thousand a year on three issues, each with a print order of approx ­ imately 1,500, now the cost works out walla recalled how he got an oppor- community numbers, another cause of to Rs 80 thousand a year for six issues tunity to depict the true picture. worry, according to Anklesaria, is the in- and a circulation of 18,000 each. All the 20,000 or so registered voters on the BPP’s electoral rolls will receive a free copy of the newsletter but, to avoid duplication, only one copy will be sent per family. To save on postage, the residents of the various Punchayet- _ administered bangs and colonies will get their copies hand delivered. Industrialists like Dhunjisha Neter- wala and BPP trustees Jamshed Guz- der and Homi Ranina have willingly offered to sponsor one issue each at a cost of Rs 7,500. Thus if three more three separate meetings for the leading is then difficult to trace. Receiving sponsors can be found in the first year, Parsi publications. At the end of it, several such complaints, the BPP is the BPP will not have to incur any Anklesaria is not happy with the out- keen to nab the miscreants but is dis- additional expenditure despite its mes- come or the interest generated. What appointed with the lack of cooperation sage reaching out to so many more he finds particularly irritating is the from the public which is only in­ thousands. The Fed Newsletter, pub- Press ’unwholesome interest in “want- terested in recovering its lost money lished by the Federation of Parsi ing to know which trustee attended and not punishing the wrong-doer. Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, which which meeting. A trustee ’s perform “It is such items which would be has a circulation of around 5,000, is ance cannot be evaluated only by his published in our Newsletter so that it also financed in the same manner. Interaction between the BPP and signations included inspector general of prisons, sales tax commissioner, director cordial, ” the way Golwalla perceives of traffic, area development commission- the situation, comparing it to a decade er. Declining to make any personal observations on controversial issues con- walla had received a phone call from a fronting the community, Anklesaria member of the Press who wanted to advised, “When a person is in a seat of ascertain whether a piece of informa- power, one must not say things knowing- paper ’s stand in seeking a clarification well-being of the community. ” In addi- from him before going into print, Gol- tion to the known problems of dwindling During the course of the last five creasing incidence of migration which years, the BPP has reportedly con- could be avoided if unrecognized talents are rechannelized. The housing shortage faced by com ­ munity members in Bombay, and the repercussions felt by the Punchayet which manages several Parsi housing colonies and bangs, was referred to by Anklesaria. The latest racket is that supposed realestate agents, claiming to have access to the BPP, are swind ­ ling innocent Parsis. Assuring a flat on vened seven press conferences and a payment of an advance fee, the cheat ‘‘Ourpurpose is to inform the community without any desire to create controversy’’ attendance at board meetings. You can be of some service to the commun- have to judge him from his general ity,” emphasizes Anklesaria. Articles Tool for the trustees contribution to the community: his of interest to the common man, writ- The columns of the Parsi Press are ideas, concepts, policies, decision- ten in a brief and pointedly informa- often utilized for accusing the BPP making ability, positive attitude, abil- tive style will be the characteristic of management of striking wrong deals at ity to transform difficulties into prog- the bimonthly. In the collection-of the wrong time with the wrong people, rams. We are not here to promote data, Anklesaria will be assisted by whether it be for auction of lands or competition among the trustees nor to BPP staff member Dara Bharucha appointment of contractors. But expose their shortcomings. ” who will work as associate editor. But irrespective of whether the Press is dis- the selection and writing work will jcharging its duty in the interest of the The chiePs challenge all be undertaken by the Editor. “ ¦ ¦ ¦ “There will be neither glorification nor criticism of the Punchayet, ” rein- community or out of prejudice. Ankle- His own role in the Punchayet, Ankle ­ saria maintains, “I have always be- saria views as that of “a silent worker ” lieved ‘don’t cut them out,’ but rather who is committed to making “sincere forces Anklesaria. What they wish to try and remove doubts, remove mis- efforts to improve the administration convey to the community is that the understandings. The newsletter is, af- and to learn from failures and short- BPP administration, too, functions ter all, an instrument in the hands of comings. ” Anklesaria ’s seven-year with its constraints of finance and the trustees. ” contract with the Punchayet ended last manpower. “And when we are able to Not disputing “the fourth estate ’s year but was renewed for a fresh term show results despite working under right to write with understanding or mis- of five years. Former administrator limitations and pressures, that is understanding, ” Anklesaria pointed to and municipal commissioner of Ahme- achievement, ” believes Anklesaria. f 31 Parsiana Aprin 988 '1 t! Ji I 1= if] Hl '”'1 5 1] I'j'l i-d il 1 .ff { 3 i'iJ -•‘I ¦Jiiii BUSINESS r The story Vipul Dalal J r\s Duke and Sons approach their centenary, the Pandole family owned and managed soft drinks company intends to market its products nationally r (¦ Amidst the competitive and rapidly friends, he joined the family business dole to manufacture and market soft growing soft drinks industry in India, way back in 1934 even before complet- drinks under the brand name Duke ’s , one company which appears sedately ing his graduation as he preferred soon after his return to India. confident while remaining alive to the “hands-on experience to academic Duke and Sons commenced as a changing scenario is the Bombay- knowledge. ’’ Pandole, who was a partnership business of Dinshaw Pan ­ based Duke and Sons Pvt Ltd, manu- young 21 in 1934, has since successful- dole and one Mr Panthaky in 1889. facturer of the well-known Duke ’s ly guided the company ’s destiny for a The beginning was appropriately hum ­ brand of soda and lemonade and a major part of the last half century, ble with the manufacturing unit lo- popular range of soft drinks such as Now in the twilight of his career. Pan- cated in a room on the ground floor of Mangola and Tango. A household dole is confident that his two sons Din- a two-storeyed residential building in name in western India - especially in shaw (48) and Naval (42) and grand- Bombay ’s Grant Road. The rtianufac- Bombay - Duke and Sons (promoted son Darius (21) will continue the turing unit was wholly manually oper- almost a century ago in 1889) is not a Duke ’s tradition of success based on ated. All the bottles were cleaned by typical rags-to-riches story. It is a the popularity of its products with con- hand, the filling of the ‘marble stop- closely-held company which has con- sumers. pered bottles ’ was done on a hand- centrated its attention on the western Even if Duke and Sons ’ cash regis- operated filling machine and even the India market and is quite content to ters are not as busy as those of soft distribution of the soft drinks was res ­ have acquired the reputation of being drink market leaders such as Parle Be- tricted to nearby localities, with the the manufacturer of qualitative - verages. Pure Drinks and others, the bottles being transported by bullock rather than quantitative - fruit-based company is rich in history. In the carts. But such humble beginnings not- drinks. But, though often confronted 1880s, the late Dinshaw Pandole - withstanding, business flourished and with heavyweight challengers, Duke Pheroze Pandole ’s grandfather - was a the Duke ’s brand of soda and other and Sons has adapted to changed cir- school teacher who enjoyed the then aerated drinks became increasingly cumstances and has not only survived gentleman ’s game of cricket avidly popular with the citizens of Bombay . but prospered. when he was not dreaming of striking where the mercury can rise to 40°C in out as an entrepreneur in the soft summer. Success tradition drinks manufacturing business. Din­ in particular, for Pheroze Pandole shaw toured England as a member of Exclusive property (74), chairman and managing director the second Zoroastrian cricket team Sometime in the early 1890s, Panthaky of the 99-year-old company, the busi- and achieved a good measure of sue- and Dinshaw came to a parting of ways ness of satisfying thirsty palates has cess as a slow bowler.The brand name and under the terms of the settlement, been a “particularly enjoyable and of the ball which aided the school the brand name Duke ’s became the ex­ cherished experience. ” Better known teacher ’s cricketing exploits was elusive property of Dinshaw Pandole, as ‘Papa ’ Pandole to family and Duke ’s. This inspired Dinshaw Pan- Says Pheroze Pandole: “The parting }, 33 Parsiana April 1988I 'Mi Trucks replace bullock cart transport I (Far right) Switch to automated filling I technology I marks a milestone in the successful his- I tory of Duke ’s. Displaying commend- I able foresight, my grandfather agreed I to each and every condition of Mr I Panthaky and asked only for the I Duke ’s brand name as his part of the I bargain. Duke ’s was already a familiar | name by then and, as the future course I of events reveal, retaining the Duke ’s I brand name ensured the growth of this I business. ” I Soon after the break in the part- | nership, Dinshaw Pandole ’s two sons, I Pestonji and Eruchshaw, joined the j business on a full-time basis. Pestonji | looked after sales and general adminis- j tration while Eruchshaw, who had 1 earned a local reputation as a mecha ­ nical genius, supervised the produc- I tion and machinery maintenance func- Minimum damage tions. , With both the sons devoting all their the crisis with minimum possible dam ­ attention and energy to it, business age 1----------------------- prospered at a steady rate and new fla- c l vors were continually added to expand aireauy me majui pivuuvi o *-------- the market reach of Duke ’s. Yet, and with the production of other soft lookout for new growth opportunities while an entire range of aerated waters < „ - . , . and soft drinks was manufactured and company diverted its production facih- sold under the Duke ’s brandname, Dinshaw and his sons < emphasis on establishing the Duke ’s soda as the leader in its category. I inuiuiiuiii UU...U expanding city and nearby towns and However, Duke ’s managed to weather mofussil areas. And once again, after _ ;____ ___ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ the wartime crisis, Duke and Sons ; because of the soda manufacturing bounced back into profitability, orientation of the company. Soda was continually added to expand already the major product of Duke ’s Not satisfied with resting on his laurels, Pandole was always on the drinks being forcibly curtailed, the and avenues. This restlessness even- __________ tually resulted in the launch of the first uioiiuiiauiv 11V.O _ ______________________o.................. fruit-based drink in India in 1954. always "^laid even4ar*ger scale. The stress on soda Mangola, the mango-based soft drihk ties towards manufacturing soda on an has continued since then and this fizzy was Pheroze Pandole s brainchild and soua as me icauci m na vauvgwij. additive currently contributes approx- frorn day one. In the eariy “Duke ’s soda orientation was evident imately 60 percent of Duke and Sons fifties, I perceived the lack of a he y as early as when I joined the business annual sales turnover. ----------- ;------- . ,, in 1934,” recalls Pheroze Pandole. “By then, Duke ’s was already a ma ­ ture, 45-year-old company, and though concentrating on soda, had de- -------- ------- ----,---------------- — , . „ veloped successful in-house marketing was at the helm and eager to mod- competitive edge m the marketplace, strategies for a wide range of popular ernize the company ’s operations. In says Pandole. soft drinks. Moreover, a new unit had 1949, Duke and Sons was incorporated Mangola has never looked back already been opened at Byculla to as a private limited company and since and despite spatejjf^other satisfy the growing demand for Duke ’s products. ” The company ’s operations were, however, severely disrupted by the the much Second World War. “In fact, Duke ’s faced the worst ever crisis in its 99-year history during the war, ” says Pandole. -------------- - -- , , . , “All the basic requirements - bottles, and distribution of the Duke ’s brand all Duke s brands, is an emphasis on sugar, essences, flavors, chemicals, of soft drinks. quality and consumer orientation, says -- - ¦ ¦ “The soft drinks market in India was Dinshaw Pandole, Pandoles eldest becoming highly competitive and all son. A commerce graduate of Bombay these changes were initiated by us in University, Dinshaw joined the busi- Pandole. With the advent of modern tive director in charge of marketing. “I transportation think one of the explanations for Man- methodsr Duke ’s soft drinks started gola ’s success is that we have never becoming available all over the rapidly compromised on quality. Even now. a success from day one. “In the early _ _______ and wholesome fruit-based soft drink The immediate post-war era marked in the domestic market. Mangola was another milestone in the history of launched to fill this gap in the soft Duke and Sons. By the end of the drinks market. It was in tune with the Second World War, Pheroze Pandole Duke ’s strategy to retain its hard-won 1949, Duke and Sons was incorporated 3S 3 -------£----- J < switched over to automatic high speed mango-based soft drinks entering the filling technology which replaced the market in the recent past, the sales obsolete marble stoppered bottles with volume of Mangola has, shown a con- more hygienic cork seal and tinuous - even if modest - growth, and crown bottles. Bullock cart transport Mangola lovers continue to swear by was also phased out and modern the drink. The reason behind the con- trucks took over the job of transport tinned success of Mangola, as indeed ..... ........................ ' ¦ - -1 quality and consumer orientation, says ------ --------- flavors, chemicals, of soft drinks, machinery and fuel - which were being imported, became scarce as they were diverted for the war effort. Despite a ------ ----- growing demand for Duke ’s products, Duke ’s to remain competitive, ” says ness in 1962,and is currently the execu- the company could not manufacture 1--------- soft drinks in adequate quantities as technology raw materials were simply not avail ­ able, ” recalls Pandole. and 34 Parsiana April 1988In 1968, Pheroze Pandole ’s younger Bombay. According to Naval Pandole, the volufnes of soft water and our first By the time Naval settled down, it priority was to be located at a place Mangola is the only drink which has and canteen all over the city, ” claims sprawling two and a quarter acre site the genuine Ratnagiri Alphonso man- Dinshaw Pandole. at Chembur, a suburb north-east of goes as its base. No other mango- ’ ~ ~ based drink can boast of such a .high son Naval joined Duke ’s as a trained quality and exquisite-tasting mango as food technologist and is currently ex- choice of Chembur was dictated by its base, ” says Dinshaw. ecutive director in charge of technical several factors: a regular supply of wa- operations and production. A science ter, sufficient power to run the com- At every retail outlet graduate of Bombay University, Naval pany ’s high speed machines and close “In the soft drinks market, meticulous Pandole trained and worked as a food proximity to the consumer. “The care must be taken to ensure that pro- technologist in several West German firm ’s factory consumes enormous ducts are available at every retail out- firms prior to joining the family firm. let in adequate quantities. But while our distribution network is not exten- was obvious to Pandole and his sons where an adequate supply of soft wa- sive, it is intensive. Thus every day that the 4,000 square meter premises ter is assured. Bombay ’s water is from 6 a.m. until midnight, 365 days of at Grant Road were woefully inadequ- perhaps the softest in the country. Be- the year, the company ’s fleet of 70 ate to serve the company ’s growing op- sides, our major market is in Bombay trucks and an additionally hired 15 erations. A hunt for new premises be- and hence we decided to stay put in trucks in the peak summer season, gan in right earnest and after toying the city rather than shift to the uncer- weave their way in and out of Bom- with the idea of shifting to an MIDC tainties of any MIDC estate, ” recalls bay ’s streets and lanes, distributing the , (Maharashtra Industrial Development Naval. entire range of Duke ’s products. The Corporation) estate in a backward re- Despite their unwillingness to stray fleet distributes soft drinks to every gion of Maharashtra, the Pandoles de- far from their base in Bombay, the possible restaurant, club, hotel, bar cided to move their factory to a Pandoles had to open a canning unit I entire range of Duke ’s products. The Corporation) estate in a backward re- J I 1 ¦t *• L$r I 'f r’ .sfr. ¦¦¦ .ir' t.- hl 11 > ' ^3 1 t?' iflS (Left) Duke’s factory at Chembur (Inset) Dinshaw Pandole: founder of Duke’s (Above from left) Directors Pheroze, Dinshawand Naval Pandole: eager to modernize Photos: Homyar Mistry, Homz Prints for Alphonso mangoes in an MIDC estate near Pune. “Since the Ratnagiri Alphonso mango is available for only three months in a year and the mango pulp is required round the year for the manufacture of Mangola, a canning unit was essential. However, despite repeated requests, the state govern ­ ment did not grant us permission to open the unit at our Chembur premis ­ es, ” says Naval. The canning unit in Pune has been in operation since 1976. Almost all activity, however, is cen ­ tered at the Chembur factory, which is popularly known as the “Duke ’s soda factory ” to the residents of Chembur. continued on page 38 '.1 •i i 1 1 35 ParsianaAphlT988 II I ! Kf E i. 1 1 THE COOL TASTE OF WiNE Soli Shroff of Graphal recently introduced two brands of wine coolers in the Indian market Jeroo Irani Wine and women, it is said, need to be ers are fun drinks...light and bubbly, ” which calls for an easygoing quaff: lavished with patient and infinite care; says Shroff. Like sparkling wines they “They are basically appetizers or ‘any flower into vintage beauties or noble festive occasions. “Ours are light, medical man. Anyone above 21 can wines. have no synthetic aromas or flavors drink them safely. ” While it is a moot point that women added to them. The fruit is merely fer- While one cannot envisage having need to be looked after, wines and mented and carbonated. ” these coolers with veal chops or their new offshoots, wine coolers, cer- Marketed in pint-sized skittle- medallions of venison, “Few people tainly need careful nurturing. Defined shaped bottles,Blue Buck is clean, tart, today follow these conventions of hav- as a cross between a fruit juice, soft i drink and- an alcoholic beverage, wine Lady Amour which is a medium sweet red wine with red meat, ” says Shroff, coolers were launched in the US as re- wine cooler. Both, however, are com- However, wine coolers are best had cently as the early 1980s. “Wine cool- i ers have become very popular since late, the promise held out by their fine fridge three hours prior to serving) and ' ' ' should be finished in a single sitting. The genial, bearded vintner, who ers are fun drinks...light and bubbly, ” which calls for an easygoing quaff: only with constant attention do they have become associated with joyful, time’drinks. Nutritious too... ask any flower into vintage beauties or noble festive occasions. “Ours are light, medical man. Anyone above 21 can wines. 1 ’ While it is a moot point that women added to them. The fruit is merely fer- 3 I i j I medium dry and is moving faster than ing white wine with white meat and j ( wine cooler. Both, however, are com- However, wine coolers are best had ing in for praise and fulfil, on the pa- chilled (they should be kept in the j then in the US, Europe, Africa and champagne color. the Far East, ” says Soli Shroff, manag- “ ing director of Graphal Wineries and (selling for Rs 20 and Rs 22), the last seems to get as much of a high talking Distilleries Pvt Ltd who is trying to sip leaves the palate with a refreshing about wine as drinking it, is the third seduce the Indian palate with his own sting rather than a fiery taste or a han- generation in the family liquor busi- wine coolers - Blue Buck and Lady gover. “The wine coolers should ness (the parent company P.C. Shroff " ... ... . ’ and Sons dates back to 1867) which an informal lunch includes a beer bar, permit room and retail outlets. He is not a stranger to Eminently drinkable and affordable I 1 i Amour Blue Buck was placed on the accompany a bowl of pasta or a pizza, ” Indian market in September 1987 says Shroff, or starting with Nagpur, Sholapur, KQhlapur, Poona, Nasik and Bombay, Shroff: dreams of making “champagne” wine and its mysteries and is finding and the second offering. Lady Amour |;j 2BS sweet satisfaction in the earthy plea- was released early this year. sure of making wine. Made from apples from Himachal His entry into wine making was Pradesh and raisins, what these wine serendipitous rather than calculated, coolers offer to many wine lovers, “It was first an adventure and a hob- even the considerably sophisticated nw |by, ” he says. As the depth of involve- ones, is the delight of discovering ment and commitment to developing a something new. “The taste has to be ¦¦'¦j quality product deepened, so did his cultivated for any new product, ” says K' investment in laboratory equipment Shroff as he points to a colorful array ft Jg . j KwM 1 research and development. “We of imported wine coolers behind him, did a survey which revealed that India leading brands like Barties and does not have much of a market for Jaymes, California Cooler, Sun Coun- • • wine. Everyone was making hard li- try and White Mountain. “Wine cool- BWBBBBBiiMHLifrLiiMB quor and I wanted to be different; to 'i 36 Parsiana April 1988 4- Jt ‘r, VI' give our people something that they his winery in ........ ¦ ¦ but modern. With an installed capacity of 3,000 cases per month (one case Dahanu which is small ment,” he explains. Buoyed by the growing popularity of his wine coolers. Shroff is ex­ perimenting with developing a rose which is in between a red and white wine. “As people get more sophisti- had not enjoyed before, ” he says with boyish enthusiasm. The company was christened Graphal (‘gra ’ for grapes contains 24 bottles), “On an average, and ‘phal ’ from the Hindi word, phal, we are operating on 70 percent of our meaning fruit). installed capacity. We have started on . . _ ? Shroff did not enter into any foreign a small scale but can expand 10 to 20 cated, they will perhaps accept the J collaboration agreement but read ultimate sparkling wine-champa^e - 1 voluminously on wine making which --------—more readily. As you know, cham- | became for him something of an obses ­ sion and an intellectual challenge. He visited wineries abroad to try and tap the accumulated wisdom of genera ­ tions of wine growers. “I had many wine tasting sessions and first came up with a darker colored wine. ” The feed­ back from various quarters including the food and beverage departments of five star hotels suggested that a lighter colored wine cooler might be more acceptable, he says. Shroff decided not to use Indian grapes as a base due to their nona ­ vailability at certain times of the year. The cost of refrigeration would have been high and Indian grapes are more of a table fruit, he explains. “The re ­ covery of juice is only 40 percent. With Indian grapes retailing at Rs 10 to Rs ---------- - —........ —- - - . . 12 a kilogram, it would have proved an myself, ” he says. The coolers are still is the most extravagant of wines expensive proposition, ” says Shroff, available in places as far away as and the most fascinating. We have “To keep the drink at a competitive Mpohalnva and Clna and Shroff had. at the technique to manufacture it — the rate, I decided to use the best fruit available - high quality apples which are in abundance. ” Available capital dictated the size of is not registering new labels at the mo- quires pagne is named after the region where 1 it is made, ” says Shroff. “It is the only | sparkling wine in the world permitted I to carry the name, ” though there are I wines made in a similar way in x)ther a countries as well. Take the case of the 1 California Champagne which uses the 1 special Chardonnay grapes one of | the great white grape varieties of I France with 80 to 85 percent recovery of juice, says Shroff. After all, grape j or grape varieties used in the making | of a wine is the key element in its even- ] fold. Equipped with an automated tual character just as the parents are j « «aa • Z** • . .1 • * 11 . - - ¦ - ~ A J of the child. “Indian farmers are now experimenting with growing better Everyone was making hard liquor. I wanted to be different; to give our people something that they had not enjoyed before / / 11 bottling line and sophisticated filters the principal element in the. formation for filtering the wine, the winery ern- of the child. “Indian farmers are now ploys 18 to 20 people. “This summer < . „ ' _ _ ’ will be our period of observation and grapes and one could avail of this fruit later. ” Champagne has always been and we will decide whether to step up pro ­ duction. I don’t want to overextend IllJOVll, liv lliV VVVJVIU -------------------------------- --------------- available in places as far away as and the most fascinating. “We have Meghalaya and Goa and Shroff had, at the technique to manufacture it - the the time of the interview, obtained the classical, second fermentation-in-the- permit to sell his liquor in Pondicherry bottle methode champenoise - which is and is expecting permits for Chandi- used to make other sparkling wines as garh, Faridabad and Haryana. “Delhi well. But this method is costly and re- • • • ¦ ¦¦’¦¦¦', considerable amount of time and manpower. ” Shroff monitoring the working of fermentation vats (left) and •finishing line (below) From the time of harvesting the grapes to its metamorphosis into wine, it would take three years and the bot- 38 Parsiana April 1988tie would retail at Rs 300. Finally, the THE DUKE’S STORY continued from page 35 “champagne ” would have to measure - --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- up, financially, to the extraordinary The factory is equipped with four high acquired a reputation for working and capital it would take to produce. While speed automatic bottle washing and fill- playing hard and was a keen squash Shroff is still haunted by his dream of ing units, two imported and two indige- player for several years. In fact, until making the ultimate “champagne, ” he nous, each capable of filling 100,000- he attained the age of 70, Paridole reg ­ feels that the outlay that it would de- 125,000 bottles per shift of eight hours, ularly played a rigorous game of ’• mand may prove to be a folie de gran- E The plant consumes 175,000 litres of wa- squash, and has instilled a passion for dear” ter on an average every day and, after the game in his children as well - both Such grandiose schemes may also fully treating the water by chlorination. Naval and Dinshaw played the game, take a toll on his family life and his dechlorination and filtering to make it While the former still does, the latter health; for Shroff admits that at one germ-free, has a production capacity of has opted in favor of a less strenuous time he was a workaholic, working 350,000 bottles valued at approximately and more profitable hobby - horse steadily from six in the morning to five lakhs of rupees per day. nine at night, shuttling constantly be ­ tween Bombay and Dahanu. He now Duke and Sons ’ Chembur factory is keeps rational working hours and is over five million cases of 24 bottles day ’s work, preferring to Spend the assisted in his business by his wife each or 120 million bottles per year - rest of his time in the comfort of his Roshni. “One can ’t afford to neglect statistics which place it in the big residence at Malabar Hill. Although growing children, ” he says, referring league of India ’s soft drink manufac- his sons live separately with their fami- to his two daughters Shezine and Ana- turers despite the company being lies, the Pandoles are a closely-knit hita and son Kaizad. essentially a regional marketer. Soda family and all business decisions are Not a religious man in the strict is the main product with Lemonade taken jointly. This harmony - both sense of the term. Shroff points to his and Mangola accounting for a large within and without the home - has heart and says, “The temple is here. I portion of the balance. Other brands contributed not a little to the enduring like visiting the fire-temple in Dahanu manufactured by the Chembur plant surcess that is Duke and Sons. - it is so quiet and not crowded. I am a are Tango, Duke ’s Pineapple, Orange, ~ Currently, the annual production of breeding and racing. Now in the autumn of his life, the 74-year-old Pandole still puts in half a " , But the winds of change and the God-fearing person but I don’t make a Raspberry, Icecream Soda, Tonic compulsions of commerce are begin- show of it. If our religion is based on Rose and King Cola. The plant - with ning to be belatedly experienced in the concept of good words, good 500 employees on its rolls of which 15 this 99-year-old firm. Increasingly thoughts and good deeds, I can hon- are executives - enjoys an enviable re- aware of the fact that Duke and Sons is estly say that I have abided by its ____________ _________ ___________ categorized as a small-time regional tenets. ” K/lonrinla tho mannn- company, the younger Pandoles are Tracing the Parsi community ’s link IVlaliyuia, Llio lliaiiyu working towards going national. Since with wine. Shroff narrates the story of hACiPcI QClft Hfink \A/A^ onset of the eighties, several new how wine evolved, occasionally refer- F) Jj '| , brands have been added to the Duke ’s ring to an intimidating tome on the his- Hheroze Handole s range, even as the geographical reach tory of wine. The Persian King Dsem- HrainnhilH anri a sit was so fond of the grapes of his Ulall Id HILI CJI ILI a country that he had them stored in SUCCOSS frOm daV OOG stone jars in cellars so that they could be enjoyed out of season, relates Shroff. Left in this way, the grapes fer- tions. “We are proud of our industrial pipeline. mented and the people thought that relations record. We have not lost a Today the septuagenarian Pheroze they had become poisonous. A re- single day ’s production because of Pandole looks back on more than 50 jected favorite of the king tried to put labor trouble in the 99-year history of years at the helm of Duke and Sons an end to her unhappiness by drinking Duke and Sons, ” says Naval Pandole and in the indigenous soft drinks in- the “poisonous ” liquid. She did so but with justifiable pride. dustry with considerable pride- and returned to the court flushed and hap- satisfaction. A fifth generation of Pan- py; so much so that she caught the eye Cautious extension doles is all set to take over the reins of of the king 'and was restored to his With an estimated annual turnover ex- the company. Darius Pandole is sche- affections. It is the first known exam- ceeding Rs 15 crores (the actual figures duled to join the family business after . ' ¦ ¦ acquiring a bachelor ’s degree in eco ­ nomics from Harvard University. And Mangola, the mango- Pheroze Pandole's brainchild and a of the firm is being cautiously ex­ tended. Tango, a mango and orange ­ based drink, was launched in 1984 and, according to the Pandoles, is doing very well in the market. A num­ cord of harmonious industrial rela- ber of other brands are also in the of the king 'and was restored to his With an estimated annual turnover ex- • pie of the power of wine to bring are a closely held secret) and the ever happiness. growing popularity of its brands de­ Shroff is confident that his wine spite intense competition, there is little in 1989, when Duke and Sons Pvt Ltd coolers will bring happiness too, being doubt that Duke and Sons is an atypic- celebrates its centenary, “the new gen- “bottled sunshine ” as Dante described al firm which has grown slowly and eration will commit itself anew to the them. “Other big companies plan to steadily, and has built up a good repu- enter the market, but since I have the tation in the process. Nor are the lead, I am confident more and more socially well-adjusted Pandoles con- people will enjoy guzzling our wine sumed with burning ambition. coolers. ” P Duke ’s tradition of adding fizz to an ordinary citizen ’s life, ” he says. Ex­ cept, it will do so on a national scale. Abridged and edited with permission from During his younger days. Pandole Businessworld (October 12-25,1987) 39 Parsiana April 1988 !MILESTONES L ; '• i i i;' The data on births, marriages Bustani-, March 28 and deaths has been compiled A boy to Parizad and Gev from information provided by Dalal; March 30 various anjumans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. The news provided differs from place to place, depending A girl to Bernadette and on the source Of the 94 Parsis who died in Bombay, 34 succumbed to heart disease. The next most important killers were pneumo­ nia and lung disease (11), can- February 15 cer and old age (eight and seven respectively), kidney fai ­ lure (six), diabetes ahd acci ­ dents (five each). Asthma and Armaity Dinshaw Irani and brain disease each claimed Adil Rusi Anklesaria-, March 6 three victims. There were iso ­ lated cases of malaria and tuberculosis and one alleged Binaif er Jamshed Bhagwadia suicide. The age of the de- and Kersey Nadirshaw ceased ranged between 29 and Bhesania-, March 7 100 years. One body was ere- Pilloo Cursetjee Jamsetjee and mated and one Parsi Christian Burjor Sorabji Cooper-, was buried. March 7 If readers have any infdrma- Armaity Savak Sarbhanwalla tion they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers will appreciate this re- Rashna Temurasp Majoo and quirement and cooperate with us. ALLAHABAD Died Jaiji Jamshed Mehta (79) on January 17,1988 Najamai Sorabji Sukhia (96), January 19 BOMBAY Born A boy, Hanoze, to Arnavaz and Hoshang Malesra ; January 6 A girl to Avi and Nowshir Bilimoria -, March 1 A girl to Rati and Farhad Forbes-, March 4 A girl to Zenobia and Adil Navder-, March 12 A boy to Indirani and Cyrus Gandhi-, March 13 A boy to Gulshan and Homi Gae-, March 14 A boy to Khorshed and Bomi Doctor, March 20 A girl to Dinaz and Percy Medhora -, March 20 A girl to Roxana and Miki Buhariwala-, March 22 A boy to Khorshid and Porus Buhariwala-, March 25 A girl to Nazbanu and Farokh A girl to Sanober and Dhanjisha Medhorw, March 31 Rostam Parvaresh; March 31 Married Rita Phiroze Lala and Rumi Noshirwan Andhyarujina', Shernaz Kaikobad Dastur and Dinyar Savaksha Turel, March 1 Sanobar Keki Mory and Adil Dali Bharucha ; March 1 and Neville Firoze Arjani; March 8 Havovi Rustom Bhomisha and Farokh Roomi Pateb, March 8 Firoze HomiWadia', March 8 Roshan Sohrab Pavri and Behram Rustem Colah ', March 11 Rashna Burjor Guard and Dicky Eruch Contractor-, March 11 Navaz Rusi Sethna and Jehangir Russa Ginwalla-, March 11 Ashish Phiroze Chinoy and Keki Minoo Dubash -, March 12 Goolu Minoo Bharucha and Arrnin Dossabhoy Kalyaniwalla-, March 12 Pervin Noshir Mirza and Keki Khurshed Surtv, March 13 Farnaz Kaikhushroo J ehan and Daneshmand Ardeshir Fallah of Iran; March 18 Goolrukh Jemi Contractor and Khurshed Pheroze Daruwalla-, March 19 Roshan Jehangirji Akolawala and Kerman Hoshang Katrak’ , March 19 Jasmine Beji Billimoria and Jehangir Hirji Jehangir-, March 21 Laila Minoo Batlivala and Rohinton Sam Sethna -, March 21 Maki Edul Punegar and Percy Thrity Rustomji Guard (59), Tehmi Ter, 805, Parsi Colony, Dadar, 400014; March 4 Merwan Kekobad Zandbaf (60),7,R.C. SethnaBldg, ParelTank Rd, 400012; March 4 Dinbai Ardeshir Karma (88), Cama Bldg, Kasinath St, Tardeo, 400034; March 5 Dhunjisha Bhikhaji Rana (94), Dr Dossibai & J.R.D. Charity Home, Byculla, 400027; March 5 Jehangir Irach Taraporewala (68), Anchorage, 7, Vatcha Gandhi Rd, 400()07; March 5 Faramroze Lakadia -, March 22 Daulet Merwanji Todiwalla and Bahadur Sorabji Kerawalla-, March 24 Niloofer Minoo Sanjana and Rumi Tehmurasp Pateb, March 24 Daisy Nadir Sodawaterwala and Nozer Soli Sabavala-, March 24 Meherangiz Perviz Contractor of Ahmedabad and Percyous Farokh Kasad; March 27 Keky Pesi Damania and Hosang Kekhushroo Marfatia-, March 27 Anaheet Godrej Patel and Adil Dhunjishaw Framroze Feroze Nariman -, March 27 Kamal Kersi Darasha and Hosang Khushro Pavri-, March 27 Firoozeh Phiroze Kharas and Youhann Sam Dadabhoy -, March 31 f j j Bharucha (84), 158, Modi St, Fort, 400001; March 6 Minoo Burjor Billimoria (29), Fakri Bldg, Shankar Seth Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; March 6 Burjor Behramji Jamaspjina (93), ‘O, ’ Dalal Est, Bombay Central, 400008; March 7 Burjor Behramji Kerawala (65), M/12 Nowroze Bang, Lalbaug, 400012; March 7 Nargiz Rustamji Madon (68), 44/C Batliwala Villa, Sleater Rd, 400007; March 8 Bahadurji Jehangirji Master (84), C-11 Shapur Bang, V.P. Rd, 400004; March 8 Darabshaw Jamshedji Vaghaiwala (75), Nanabhoy Chmbs, Gunbow Lane, Fort, 400001; March 8 Minocher Dinshawji Bhesania (65), H-13, Shapurji Bharucha Bang, Andheri, 400058; March 9 Pirojbai Ardeshir Dalal (85), Todiwalla Bldg, Lower Parel, 400013; March 9 MinuJal Desai (45), G-3, Shapurji Bharucha Baug, Andheri, 400058; March 9 Dadabhoy J. Dumasia (76), 15 Girja Sadan, Khetwadi, 7th Lane, 400004; March 9 Motamai Dosabhai Guard Died Katie Jimmy Vasaigara (35), residing at B/503 Rizvi Nagar, 1 Santacruz (W), 400054; February 25, 1988 Dhun Rustom Masani (85), 10 Podar Hse, Marine Drive, 400020; February 29 Ardeshir Phirozeshah Patel (66), Pandey Hse, 94B Cumballa Hill, 400036; February 29 Piroza Wadia (85), 22 Wadia Bldg, Marzban Clny, 400011; February 29 Goolbai Shiavax Damanwalla (82), Dhan Mhl, Garden Rd, Colaba, 400039; March 1 Bhicaji Kekobad Kathawala (68), 1/384 Bhaya St, Nanpura, Surat; March 1 Meheramai Savaksha Shaw (73), 194Talaty Bldg, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; March 1 Sanum Soli Colombowala (46), 11, Stardust, Off Carter 1 Rd, Bandra, 400050 ; March 2 (88), 8/15 Sir Ratan Tata Clny, Morvand Behram Irani (52), 3 Kashinath Bldg, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; March 2 Dina Bejan Khambatta (84), 809 Cumballa Crest, Peddar Rd, 400026; March 3 BurjorjiJivanji Patel (66), Benkuvar Mans, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; March 3 Phiroze Jehangirji Bhagalia (78), Alpaiwala Bldg, Station Rd, Mahim, 400016; March 4 (62), 20 Guru Gangeshwar Tardeo, 400034; March 10 Bhikhaji RatanjiJijina (69), S- 10, Cusrow Bang, Colaba, 400039; March 10 Dhun Nariman Canteenwalla (39), March 11 (cremated) Ardeshir Navroji Mistry (15), Dadachanji Bldg, Marazban Clny, Dr Nair Rd, 400011; March 11 Pasotan Dinshaw Mowdawalla 40 Parsiana April 1988 i'* 1 Sadan, 14 A Rd, Khar, 400052; March 11 Koovershaw Burjorji Bulsara (80), Old Master Bldg, 275C Zoroastrian Clny, Tafdeo, 400007; March 12 Khorshea Hormazdyar Coyajee (80); March 12 (interred) Aloo Boman Talati (80), 20, Khodabux Bldg, Mazagaon, 400010; March 12 Jerbai Rustomji Wadia (100), 19 Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd. 400007; March 13 Rustom Phirojshaw Bilpodiwala (56), Dolat Manzil, 607 A, Dadar, 400014; March 14 Homi Ardeshir Makujina (63), Hirjibhoy Sethna Bldg, 275 A Chikalwadi, Tardeo, 400007; March 14 Burjor Curshedji Daruvala (87), B/204 Yusuf Mans, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; March 15 Nadirshaw Burjorji Mistry (92), Jassawala Sanatorium, Juhu, Santacruz (W), 400049; March 15 Darius Shapurji Balsara (65), Sea-View Ter, 17th Rd, Khar, 400052; March 16 Cooverbai Pestonji Cama (94), Sarvai Hoshang Pithawala Sea-Foam, 2, Windy Hall Lane, Colaba, 400005; March 16 Dolly Phiroze Katrak (57), 8 Dr Daji Bldg, Chhotani Rd, Mahim, 400016; March 16 Amy Soli Poonjiaji (58), Master Chmbs, Cinema Rd, 400020; March 16 Katy Framroj Amra (69), 4, Nana Bldg, Gilder Lane, Tardeo, 400008; March 17 Behram Sohrabshaw Daruwala (74), Baliwala Bldg, 764C, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; March 17 Shera Minocher Daruwalla (83), 1/10 Navjivan Soc, Lamington Rd, 400008; March 17 Manekshaw Bapuji Mistry (83), 22 Purshotam Bldg, 232, Grant Rd, 400007; March 17 Sorabji Jehangirji Patel (73), Radha Niwas, Gautam Rd, Malad, 400064; March 17 Nariman Adarji Vesuna (71), New Cama Bldg, 275 Tardeo Rd, 400007; March 17 Meherbai Jahangir Bamboat (93), F.S. Parukh Dharamshalla, 34 Hughes Rd, 400007; March 18 Nergish Navroji Bhumgara (82), 696, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; March 18 Jaloo Eruch Kapadia (52), 8 Dinshaw Bldg, Dhanbai Wadi, Vile Parle, 400056; March 18 Nergish Dosabhoy Nalladaru (74),87 Ghoga St, Fort, 400001; March 18 Perinbanoo Dossabhai Naterwalla (75), R-9 Dalal Est, Opp Bombay Central, 400008; March 18 Hiraji Khodabax Wadia (64), Patel Charity Bldg, Forjett St, 400036; March 18 Dolly Nariman Bhoot (53), 104-B Ashiana, Glaxo Co-op Hsg Soc, Bandra, 400050; March 19 Freni Rustom Joshi (79), Khandala Cottage, Khandala (Dist Pune); March 19 Pirojshaw Jamshedji Mahudawala (80), 20-A-1 Takshila, Off Mahakali Caves, Andheri (E), 400093; March 19 Seheriaji Ejiarji Sidhwa (83), Meherbai Wadia Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 4(X)034; March 19 Erachsha Jamshedji A vasia (70), Swadeshi Mills Ors, Sion, 400022; March 20 Hormusz Mans, Opp Bhatia Hosp, Tardeo, 400007; March 22 Sorab Faramroze Pajell (57), 23, Colaba Court, Colaba Causeway, 400(X)5; March 22 Homai Rattanshaw Fitter (67), 13/37, Nowroze Bang, Lalbaug, 400012; March 23 Tehemton Jehangir (68), C-11, Cusrow Baug, Colaba, 400039; March 23 Coomi Phiroze Gimi (78), 8/2 Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; March 24 Roda Kersi Panthaki (40), 6, Banaji Bldg, Delile Rd, 400013; March 24 Nariman B. Rudina (67), Talukdar Bldg, Marazban Clny, Dr Nair Rd, 400011; March 24 Pirojesha (Pillo) Savaksha Sanga (65), C/o A. Damania, 643, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; March 24 Nader Jamshedji Vesuna (57), 780 Karani Mans, Jam-e- Jamshed Rd, Dadar, 400014; March 24 Navaz Jehanbux Dastur (81), 31 St Paul's Rd, Bandra, 400050; March 25 Jehanbux Cawasji Hansotia (78), Gemfrina, 630 Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; March 25 Shehara Manekshaw Mistry (93), 102-A Montana, 4, Lokhandwalla Comp, Andheri , 400058; March 26 Naja Manek Bamji (75), A/4 New Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; March 27 Mehramai Cawasji Daruwalla (87), C, Bhatia Co-op Hsg Soc, Princess St, 400002; March 27 Salamut Noshirwanji Irani (71), 17/D, 39 Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, 400027; March 27 Nariman Dinshaji Katrak (67), January 26 Vatcha Hse, Gunpowder Rd, Mazagaon, 400010; March 28 Jehangir Hormusji PestonJamasp (90), B-51, Meherzin, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; March 28 Themuras Nasarwanji Dubash (61), Umbergaon Bldg, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parel, 400012; March 29 Behram Edulji Elavia (78), Uranwalla Mans, Parel, 400012; March 29 Kaikhushroo Dinshaw (71), 39 Piroja Mans, Tardeo, 400034; March 20 Phiroze Hormasji Ranina (78), Commonwealth, 181 Backbay Reclamation, 40(X)20; March 20 Nariman Hormusji Siganporia (84), 10/19 Tata Clny, Tardeo Rd, 400034; March 20 Nargesh Nasserwanji Taraporewalla (83), Ajai Niwas, 443 Jagnath Shanker Sheth Rd, 400002; March 20 Savakshaw Manekshaw Amroliwala (83), C/o B.P. Bharucha, 725 Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; March 21 Goolbai Nasarwanji Bam (83), l-B-32 Tata Mills Co-Op Hsg Soc, Parel, 400012; March 21 Najoo Kavas Patel (63), Javalkar Mans, 280/A Sopari Baug Rd, Parel, 400012; March 21 Jamshed F. Rana (80), Dilkush, 758, Parsi Clny, Dadar 400014; March 21 Themina D. Farasman (87), Ketty Ter, 7, Sleater Rd, 400007; March 22 Meherji Edulji Lelinwalla (87), F.S. Parukh Dharamshalla, 34 Hughes Rd, 400007; March 22 Panthky (83), 2/A Tata Hsg Behram K. Mehromjee (58), Soc, Parel, 400012; March 29 41 Parsiana April 1988 Mani Kaikhushroo Gandhi (75), Meherabad, Azad Rd, Juhu, 400049; March 30 Shirin Pestonji Nariman (78), E-27, Jer Baug, Byculla, 400027; March 30 Piroja Navroji Pavri (86), Tehmi Ter, 805, Khodadad Circle, Dadar, 400014; March 30 Khorshed Khurshed Punthaki (43), A/2 Ness Baug, Nana Chowk, 4(XXX)7; March 31 CALCUTTA Died Pestonji Chowna; February 13 CALIFORNIA Born A girl, Diana, to Arnaz and Jehangir Bharucha; November 13, 1987 KARACHI Died G us tad Pirosha Mody (78); February 3 Dosamai Burjorji Gandhi (90); February 4 BanubaiJal Pohwala (58); February 10 MHOW Born A girl, Niloufer, to Arshish and Nauzer Nakra; March 10 Died Ardeshir Edulji Malesara (85); December 6,1987 Goolbanoo Dhunjishaw Bharucha (68); January 10,1988 Putlamai Erachshaw Powvalla (75); February 18 Dhunjishaw Ardeshir B/zflruc/ia (78); March 13 PENNSYLVANIA Born A boy, Matthew-]ehangir, to Becky and Rohinton Morris; Died Dolat Dorabshah Pavri (17), daughter of Ranibai and Behramji Patel, mother of Hoshan, Dinyar, Ketayun, Coomi and Roshan; February 8 VALSAD Married Kamal Contractor and Rustom Rustomjee of Calcutta: February 28 Compiled by Roxana H. KakaIN MEMORIAM The. compassionate priest The essence of Zoroastrianism, according to Dastur Navrooz Minochehr-HomjUay in its practice i >ilr -• nsA ** Arnavaz S. Mama f, t A heedless cyclist defying traffic laws Anjumans of India, at its meeting in sick...He never had a harsh word. One near the Overseas Communications Ukai on April 2,1988. The Federation could rely on him to project the ration- Service, Bombay, became the harbin- itself is setting up a fund which would al approach. ” ~ ’ / Claiming the “singular honor of “Dasturji Minochehr-Homji was a being his teacher ” at the teachers ’ t At the condolence meeting sum- ger of tragedy: Dastur Navrooz generate the income for her upkeep. Minochehr-Homji, high priest of the ‘ j .......................... Seth Nuserwanjee M. Petit Fasli Atash religious scholar of Zoroastrianism training college where Minochehr- Kadeh, was knocked down and sus- and other religions. He could quote as Homji acquired his BEd degree in tained a fractured thigh, was operated fluently from Sanskrit as from Persian, 1962, BPP trustee and Bombay Uni- upon but lost the fight to a blood clot English and Gujarati, ” noted the con- versity vice-chancellor Mehroo Ben- (a frequent result of a broken bone) dolence resolution adopted by the galee reminisced how Reverend Solog- that lodged in the lung. trustees of the Bombay Parsi Pun- ran, a Jesuit priest who was then prin- The end came at 12.30 a.m. on chayet. A condolence meeting cospon- cipal of the institution, put Minochehr- February 25 - too late for any news- sored by the K.R. Cama Oriental In- Homji, “on a pedestal,'even among paper announcement. Yet, mourners stitute, the Rahnumae Mazdayasnan Catholic priests...(He) was looked of all ages and walks of life gathered at Sabha and the India Iran Cultural upon as a true guru by all his class- Doongerwadi to bid adieu to the Society recalled his association of over mates. ” youthful 75-year-old whose boundless 24 years with the institutions whose empathy had touched them mentally, objective he had “greatly helped in moned by the trustees of the Fasli emotionally or spiritually. promoting. ” The resolution adopted Atash Kadeh - Sir Jamsetjee Je- A spate of condolence meetings at the meeting referred to his “moti- jeebhoy, Sorab Morris and Rusi were held all over the world - three of vating the youth of the community by Sethna - Jejeebhoy noted how the them in Bombay. Suggestions to com- scholarly discourses...By his passing Dastur had “devoted his entire life to memorate the priest ’s memory in- away, the Parsi community has lost a preaching and teaching, ” saluted “this eluded the founding of a hall and the sincere and able religious leader. ” humane person who was as great at institution of a chair in comparative re- Speaker after speaker referred to heart as he was a priest, ” and recalled ligions at Bombay University. The Minochehr-Homji ’s simplicity, dedica- Minochehr-Homji ’s “unfailing cour- Zoroastrian Association of Metropoli- tion, sincerity and dishke for con- tesy, graciousness and simplicity. ” tan Chicago (ZAC) initiated the Das- troversy. BPP trustee Eruch Desai Emphasizing Minochehr-Homji ’s tur Navrooz Minochehr-Homji En- admitted, “We are styled as akabars, dowment Fund dedicated to tlie en- but there was one elder to whom we richment of Zoroastrian heritage worl- always turned for advice...a towering foremost nuclear scientist, Homi dwide. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet personality whether alone or in society. ” Bhabha,had died in an air crash and an (BPP) has decided to ensure a monthly BPP trustee Jamsheed Kanga recal- uthamna had been scheduled at the stipend to his widow as also a flat as led his student days at Boys ’ Town, Tata Institute of Fundamental Re- and when she is required to vacate her Nasik where Minochehr-Homji was search (TIFR) in Colaba. Minochehr- present home at the Fasli Atash Kadeh then employed: “My first day (at the Homji had to make the necessary as BPP chief executive Rustom Ankle- school) I spent in his house. I used to arrangements as the Bhabha family saria reported to the executive council go to him for navar prayers and could prayers were conducted at the Fasli of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian cry on his shoulder when I was home- Atash Kadeh. He was appalled by cer- ! Emphasizing concern for the brotherhood of man, Sethna spoke of the time when India ’s 42 Parsiana April 1988 .. . .J» His gentle voice, benign words, the of the Soonavala and Mistry children i I used to go to him for navar prayers and could cry on his shoulder when I was homesick” 11 tain orthodox people who insisted that ing was scientific, his discussions were pathi ratnu uthamnu (pre-dawn prayers non-Parsis couldn ’t be allowed to wit- rational, his answers straightforward on the fourth day). Then the dasmu ness the uthamna ceremony and in his and to the point. If he did not know, (tenth day), masiso (first month), distress sought the legal help of Nus- he said so without hesitation. He was chhamsi (sixth month), varsi (first serwanji Sethna (Rusi ’s father) who an easy houseguest... Punctuality was year) and the first year muktads. ” was a trustee of the Agiary. The argu- his password. ” Such views, though sincerely held ment was that non-Parsis are not The Bombay Samachar, in its edito- and courageously expressed, had led allowed into the bungli at Doongerwa- rial tribute on February 28 noted, to much criticism from those who con- di and hence should not be allowed at “Along with Dastur Faramroze Bode, sider rituals the most important aspect the TIFR either. But the Dastur he was the standard bearer of the re- of the religion. Another source of argued that the Doongerwadi rule was formist movement, but he believed in brickbats was his performance of the an administrative decision of the BPP discipline and when the 14 high priests navjote ceremony of children of Parsi and had no religious significance. In a passed their resolution (that the nav- fathers and non-Parsi mothers bom in timely compromise, the many non- jote of a child of a Parsi mother and a lawful wedlock - the only contempor- Parsis who came to pay respect to non-Parsi father could not be per- ary high priest to do so. Two recent Bhabha were made to sit in an area formed), he carried it out in letter and episodes occurred in Bangalore in late outside the hall whence they could spirit. ” 1986 when he performed the navjotes view the proceedings through a glass His gentle voice, benign words, the of the Soonavala and Mistry children door. Said Sethna, “Minochehr-Homji light in his face, etched an indelible whose mothers are non-Parsis. On was not a bigot and not a reformist. He imprint. “We are microscopic but not both occasions the panthaky at Banga- was orthodox - the word which derives myopic. Therefore we are holding our lore had opposed Minochehr-Homji from the Greek root, orthos, meaning head erect, ” Minochehr-Homji had and though the ceremonies were com- the right thing." stated at the First All-India Youth pleted, Minochehr-Homji “suffered a “Follow the precepts of Minochehr- Seminar at Delhi in October 1987, re- lot when everyone was rude and insult- Homji, ” urged member of the Minor- ___________ _____________________ ing. Life was not easy at all, ” said his ities Commission Homi Taleyarkhan: . u; daughter Dinaz Damania who resides “The selflessness that he preached and I US 60 TO QO TO II I iTl in Bangalore. “Yet his advice to me practiced as the motto of our religion -Pr^r na\/or r^ra\/orQ ?^nrl always was, ‘You be nice, even if .. the simple creed of being kind TOf HaVaf Q Pay GTS dflU someone else is hurtful. ’” ...which (he) was constantly repeat- could cry on his Minochehr-Homji started his career ing.” According to Taleyarkhan, I \azqc diploma in comparative religion Minochehr-Homji had begun work on SilOUICier W noil I W d o and languages at the Cama Athornan the religious aspects of an encyclo- homeSICk** Institute, Andheri, in 1935 for which paedia on the Parsis for the Minorities he studied 16 subjects including Sans- Commission. krit, Hindi, German and French, re ­ in a letter, Dastur Kaikhusroo ferring to the Zoroastrian community, called his widow Nergish. Revering his JamaspAsa, high priest of the Anju- The description fitted himself specifi- “two gurus ” Sorab Balsara and Irach man Atash Bahram who had con- cally. Again and again he advised the Taraporewalla to the end of his life for ducted the uthamna prayers for youth to live the life of good thought, the intellectual foundation he acquired Minochehr-Homji but was away in word and deed. “Religion is morality under their guidance, Minochehr- North America at the time of the con- in principle; morality is religion in Homji proceeded to educate himself dolence meetings, referred to his practice, ” he repeated. In the intro- and got through the SSC at the second the which he termed “mathakutics” (a pun in anglicized Gujarati referring to the subject as a headache) laughed his daughters who fondly recall doing their own “homework with papa ’at the agiary - everything, that is, except mathematics! ” ) “When we married he was only SSC 85, described the Dastur ’s dedication: he quotes the Muslim mystic J. Rumi, and earning Rs 90 teaching at the J.B. vered 40 lectures of almost two hours rugs and beads than are saved by Nergish. A lecture that he delivered at tures. To each of his lectures he de- joiye ke {is this ceremony required)? ’ ided over by P.M. Mehta, founder of voted a preparation time of close to 10 he would question, 'For the living or Boys ’ Town, Nasik, who offered an hours. He never excused himself at the dead? ”’ recalled one admirer. “He assignment there and Navrooz and JamaspAsa, high priest of the Anju- The description fitted himself specifi- ducted the uthamna prayers for youth to live the life of good thought, the intellectual foundation he acquired Minochehr-Homji but was away in word and deed. “Religion is morality under their guidance, Minochehr- North America at the time of the con- in principle; morality is religion in Homji proceeded to educate himself dolence meetings, referred to his practice, ” he repeated. In the intro- and got through the SSC at the second “happy privilege to be associated with duction to My Prayer Guide (number attempt . His bugbear was mathematics him for the last 30 years. Dastur three) Minochehr-Homji quotes Minochehr-Homji instilled in his words of J.G. Whittier, pupils not only the precepts of Zoroas- “We live by Faith, but Faith is not trianism but the milk of human kind- the slave of text and legend; ness. ” Reason ’s voice and God’s, At the ZAC condolence meeting on Nature ’s and duty’s, February 28, Dr Mehroo Patel, never are at odds. ” Minochehr-Homji ’s hostess in 1984- I " L_,__________________, . _ . • “During his 70-day stay here he deli- “Far more people are lost to prayer Vachha School in Dadar, ” remembers vered 40 lectures of almost two hours rugs and beads than are saved by Nergish. A lecture that he delivered at each on A vesta and Zoroastrian scrip- them! ” “If asked, 'Aay bhanavanu the Anjuman Atash Bahram was pres- tures. To each of his lectures he de- joiye ke {is this ceremony required)? ’ ided over by P.M. Mehta, founder of voted a preparation time of close to 10 he would question, 'For the living or Boys ’ Town, Nasik, who offered an hours. He never excused himself at the dead? ”’ recalled one admirer. “He assignment there and Navrooz and being unprepared for his lecture for was very clear in his mind that there is Nergish, with their 10-month-old lack of time. This he considered insult- no need for ceremonies except the daughter Yasmin, went to Nasik ing to his audience. He was up at 4 bare minimum. The essentials accord- where they spent the next 15 years of a.m. (and) put in two hours of study ing to Minochehr-Homji were the geh their lives. One condition that before we got downstairs...His reason- sarna, the evening saroshes and the Minochehr-Homji had negotiated with In My Prayer Guide (number two) 43 Parsiana April 1988 IEi' I' j; 'i ! i I i I 1 Mehta was permission to attend col- administration. Every morning he not exist. Then one day, Nergish says lege and in 1948 Minochehr-Homji would sit there advising people who she received “a phone call saying graduated from Bombay University sought him out, and never considered ‘Your daughter is very ill and bleeding with English and Gujarati. Invited to it below his digriity to walk into the like a tap. I asked Navrooz, What Secunderabad as high priest, sanctum sanctorum to present sukhad shall I do?’ ‘Go to her, ’ he said. ” The Minochehr-Homji spent seven years offerings to the sacred fire when the impasse was overcome, though the there before returning to Bombay as mobeds were busy with other cere- memory is still painful. high priest of the Fasli Atash Kadeh in monies - a chore dasturs do not gener- They spoke about his inner peace, 1957 - the main interest being the pro ­ ximity to the libraries, says the family. A research thesis on the sociological . . _ aspects of ancient Iran as viewed from called how he ’d come to help. His ear- the yai'/zf literature won him the Mas- ' ' ter of Arts degree from Bombay Uni­ versity in 1960 and two years later he graduated as Bachelor of Education along with his eldest daughter who was taken aback to discover her father sit ­ ting in the same class! A prolific lecturer in Zoroastrianism and comparative religions, Minochehr- Homji travelled frequently. Indeed, he was preparing to leave for Oxford, Eng­ land to attend the global forum of spir ­ itual and parliamentarian leaders on hu ­ man survival which was scheduled to meet between April 11 and 15 - an invita- -tion he received through philosopher- always someone he knew to whom he politician Karan Singh with whom he wanted to pay his last respects, his Editor-proprietor Russy Karanjia ’s had shared the platform at the Delhi family observed. “He reached out to seventy-fifth birthday celebrations. Youth Seminar. people in trouble and they didn’t found the old priest prostrate on the ; A triumph that lay particularly close forget. ” road and whizzed him off to hospital in to Minochehr-Homji ’s heart was the “I don’t think we had a conventional his own car, narrated Nergish. At the “ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ K.R. Cama meeting Zarin said she had referred to the dictionary - as her mobeds were busy with other cere ­ monies - a chore dasturs do not gener- , . ally undertake, as notes an agiary trus- strength and self-confidence despite tee. the pecuniary restrictions and the By letter and in person, people re- brickbats which were his lot. “Papa _ _______J ¦ • ”¦ - never feared death, ” said Dinaz. ly morning visits to the Doongerwadi “Senility was one thing he dreaded, said Zariri, and the family was grateful to God that “he went the way he wanted - with all his faculties intact. ” The day of the illfated accident, Minochehr-Homji had told his wife, who was recuperating from an abdo ­ minal operation at the B.D. Petit Parsee General Hospital, he would be late because he hoped to see the first two episodes of the Doordarshan se ­ rial on ancient Iran, Gateway of India, on video. He never got to see them. Karl Mehta, on his way to the Minochehr-Homji residence to deliver an invitation to his father-in-law Blitz "Life was not easy at all. Yet his advice to me always was, 'You be nice, even if someone else is hurtful / / / were routine (it was easier to get into a BEST bus at that hour), for there was people in trouble and they didn’t to Minochehr-Homji ’s heart was the “I don’t think we had a conventional training of the first paramobed, Rus- household, ” says Zarin who lectures in tom Madon, who met the Dastur in English at the Elphinstone College, hospital before proceeding to Allaha- “There were restrictions in the sense father always did — for a definition of bad to take up his appointment. The of comings and goings, though he nev- ‘ ' ’’ ’ paramobed scheme had been discus- er restricted us in terms of studies, sed ad infinitum by the executive However, when I wanted to stay on in council of the Federation until the U.S. to do my PhD, he said ‘no- Minochehr-Homji, who sat in as observer at the Delhi meet in Decem ­ ber 1986, volunteered his service along nics, no family outings. ‘embolism ’ (pulmonary embolism was the immediate cause of his death) and was surprised to discover that, apart from its medical meaning, embolism also meant inscribing a period of time or interpolation as in a leap year - the _____ ____________________ ___ day of rectification: an appropriate de- with Dastur Meherji Meherjirana of daughter Nahida Mehta yet the family finition for one who was “a reformist Navsari. Federation joint honorary was a cohesive group and the girls in many senses of the word, ” as noted treasurer Peshotan Nargolwala, who were nostalgic about the last Xmas his daughter. had mooted the scheme, noted that when for the first time their father “He made Zoroastrianism a religion though Minochehr-Homji had sug- joined them in Goa for a memorable to reckon with on the international should be paid, had personally given Dasturji ni chaar dikri che. Kawn pun- they ’ve heard papa, ” said Dinaz. Dur- honorary, selfless service. se (Thb poor priest has four daughters, ing the trauma of Indira Gandhi ’s Unless otherwise engaged. Who will marry them)? ”’they remem- assassination, the Doordarshan au- Minochehr-Homji held free religious bered with a laugh, but three of them thorities had sought him out to repre- thing doing!’” There were “no restaurants, no pic- says his Navsari. Federation joint honorary was a cohesive group and the girls had mooted the scheme, noted that when for the first time their father 1, i > V.^ « X » AOAVW** — ——— J--------- -- --- gested to the community that teachers vacation. “People used to say, ""Garib platform. A lot of non-Parsis say se (Thb poor priest has four daughters, ing the trauma of Indira Gandhi ’s Unless otherwise engaged. Who will marry them)? ”’they remem- L , ' 7. classeV at the J.B. Petit and Bengalee got married in '’one year - though sent the community and provided Schools which were announced in the Zarin ’s marriage outside the commun- transport for his convenience. “A very Jam-e-Jamshed. Ironically, the Jame ity was a jolt from which the family sweet Muslim man from Hyderabad Schools which were announced in the Zarin ’s marriage outside the commun- of February 26 carried a notice of his took some time to recover. '"Beechara had asked, ‘Are all your priests like lecture the next day as well as the toopai gayela (The poor man had been him? Then there ’ll be many more announcement of his demise. mercilessly criticized), ” commisser- Zoroastrians! ”’ reininisced Nahida. At the Fasli Atash Kadeh, ated one admirer. Questioned about it Minochehr-Homji is survived by his Minochehr-Homji was a beloved sta- ----------- - b- tus symbol for the institution. He was Homji had refused comment. For a Khambatta, Zarin Pinto, not required to tackle any part of its while it seemed as though Zarin did Damania and Nahida Mehta. Kadeh, toopai gayela (The poor man had been him? Then there ’ll be many mercilessly criticized), ” commisser- -> ated one admirer. Questioned about it by a journalist in 1984, Minochehr- wife Nergish and daughters Yasmin Homji had refused comment. For a Khambatta, Zarin Pinto, Dinaz 1 44 Pars/ana Apr)) isas« scooter so you should have seen her face when I drove up and picked her at the bus stand, ” he recalls laughing at the memory. With the leftover from that sale and with the help of a few judicious loans, both of them built their house-cum- studio. It is now crammed with memories. There are terracotta and stone heads that they gathered on their travels together or which were left by their artist friends like the brown mud bull at the entrance, the incised brass The first time I met Arnawaz she was way into the fierce competitiveness of and copper bowls that both of them like a coral tree in bloom. Glowing, the artists ’ world? Or was Arnawaz worked upon, a ceramic glazed flower with bright black eyes, a thick plait of Driver a born rebel? The answer poss- ‘ ~ ¦ hair down her back, a bold vermilion ibly lies in the fact that she was a Parsi. disc in the middle of the smooth white Her parents gave her the strong roots, papier-mache puppet that she had brow and the curving smile of a tigress the self assurance and the fierce sense worked on only last year. Everything at rest. In a few weeks she would give of independence that characterizes the has a casual air of having just found a birth to her only son, Barani. I had Parsi, particularly the Parsi woman, gone to talk to Vasudev, her husband, and that set her free to choose her own about his work, but within a few mi- way. nutes of being there at their house by the sea, the conversation had swung humor. One of the stories that was a Looking back at the early work of over the founding of Cholamandal, the favorite with her son was “The night Arnawaz, one is immediately struck by artists ’ village (in Madras), the the snake came into the house. ” “In her zest for Hindu mythology, special ­ pioneering days under Paniker and the those days, ” she begins with the born ly the dramatic segments of the meaning of art - not just the stuff you storyteller ’s gleam in her eyes, “I was Ramayana, and by her almost instinc- put on walls or display on shelves in the only girl around so the artists all tive response to the symbolic forms museums, but the art of life. “Cholamandal may have Paniker ’s baby, but we were all equals the house, and I felt something move here when we started the artists ’ vil- near the fridge so all the boys came in lage. If I didn’t like something I could their lungis and started poking around go up to him and say, ‘Tennfl saar ’”and and they said that there was nothing * here Arnawaz breaks into the fluent and I should go back to sleep. But I Tamil which gave her conversation its had seen this shadow so I took the earthy quality. “What sir, what do you stick and suddenly this snake came out think you’re doing now? And if I had a and I was standing there shouting with point he would laugh and agree at the stick and all the boys had jumped once. That was the sort of relationship up on the bench and were shouting at g we had. There was complete trust, me to do something because only I had Complete freedom. He kept an open the stick in my hand! ” house. ” Looking back to those days. This spirit of generosity blew Vasudev is amazed even now at her 1 through the doors and quaint windows calm acceptance of his offer to share of the house that Arnawaz and his life. “In those days I was living in a Vasudev built at Cholamandal. It cottage that had been bequeathed to attracted friends, sheltered strangers, me by Viswanathan who had accepted and nurtured a fellowship amongst an offer to go to Paris. It was just a dancers, writers, musicians, photo- mud hut. She was prepared to come graphers, artists, that was as explosive and live with me in a mud hut! We had • as it was interesting. Presiding at the no vessels for cooking, so the first center, Arnawaz was the uncrowned thing we did was to go and buy some queen and the keeper of Paniker ’s pots and pans. That was how we dream of founding a place where the started, ” he reminisces. From the first arts would form a dynamic rela- major work that he sold, for ten tionship with the traditional crafts. Was it Paniker who discovered the at that time), he remembers how he I spark in her and gave her the artistic went and bought a scooter. “Arnawaz I fire to revolt against her comfortable was standing at a bus stop at Adyar. I middle-class background and burn her She didn’t know that I had bought the t Arnawaz: REBEL WITH A SMILE Geeta Doctor that Arnawaz made when a Dutch couple visited Cholamandal and a place, yet each piece has a story to tell. A lot of them are a testimony to Arna- waz ’s innate sense of style that was There was also the strong sense of both sophisticated and elemental. humor. One of the stories that was a felt very protective. So one evening I that were used to depict the subtler been was all alone by myself, like Sita, in aspects of its philosophy. ’ Yet, there was practically no artistic encourage ­ ment in her background. She came thousand rupees (that was a huge sum 45 Parsiana April 1988 ¦ i mH W- 1^. ¦ ri}:, ¦I I .7-S'. Ji ¦'I. '¦. ' -i* I. , a into the field with both her artistic and my bowls and hold it in their hands line in her approach and most people mental vision completely uncluttered and look at it, turn it around and study will remember the table that she ham- so that there is an almost childlike glee and spontaneity in her response. She used to say that it was not so much the craft. If only we could respond to our great charm and elegance. Few may know that, by the time she started to work on the murals, she had already been attacked by the cancer that would eventually take her life. It and look at it, turn it around and study will remember the table that she ham- it in silence for so long that you could mered out for Grindlays, in the shape feel the respect that they had for the of a half-open lotus flower, which had 11 actual myths that inspired her but the craftsmen in the same way. It gave me forms and spatial relations by which traditional artists conveyed their ideas. She had also discovered that her strength lay in fine pen and ink draw ­ ings that she brought to life by creating wet patches that would flare into fine networks of color. The lotus, symbol of the flowering of consciousness at the root of the personality, began to dominate some of her work. From this, her drawings became more styl ­ ized and also more decorative as her fancy led her into playing with symbols such a feeling of pride and satisfaction or others of the truth. After the first purely for her own satisfaction. to see my work being handled in such a round when she had lost some of the “I found much happiness in your way. ” muscles of her arm during the course work, ” a Japanese photographer It seems fitting that two of her most of a mastectomy, she joked about how wrote to her after a visit to Japan in striking commissions, the large copper she had cursed the nurse (in choice the seventies, and that is perhaps the and beaten metal murals done for the Tamil) who had crudely come to her best way to describe this phase of her Grindlays Bank and the Standard the next morning and asked her to get artistic development which was be- Chartered Bank, should reflect both up and brush her teeth. The horrors of coming more craft-oriented. Arnawaz her delicate line drawing studies of the the ordeal included being in the same described the intense concentration earlier period and the strong confident room with another woman who was that her bowls evoked during her trip craft element in her work. As Vasudev dying, and a person who had been to Japan. “They would pick up one of points out, there was a strong design abandoned by her husband. But the "They would pick up ........... ............. ........ my bowls and study is customary and perhaps kinder to It for so long that you pass over the painful aspects of a per ­ son ’s life in just a few lines. In the case could feel the made. The manner in which she fought respect they had for the disease is a saga of triumph in itself tho oro-ft" which might serve to inspire others. LI lU Ul a I L She met the disease head on with her usual candor, neither sparing herself Old Crockery Cutlery & Glassware wanted For a liberal point of view subscribe to KAlSEREHIirD Single pieces or sets plates, bowls, jugs, vases, bottles, glasses, etc Please reply to GPO Box No 402 Bombay 400001 46 Parsiana April 1988 Fill out the application form and mail along with your payment to Kaiser-E-Hind, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Fort, Bombay-400001. Annual Subscription Rs.15. Cheques to be made in favour of Kaiser-E-Hind. Add Rs.4 for outstation cheques. ? 1 year subscription for Rs. 15 ? Money order sent Send me NAME ADDRESS CITY Kaiser-E-Hind. Add Rs.4 for outstation cheques. ? 2 year subscription for Rs.25 ? Cheque enclosed (sub -t- Rs.4) STATE AND COUNTRY PIN CODE1 ii li 1 I 1 J, response of Arnawaz was to rally the chemotherapy that left her weak and Express finally prompted the author- others around so that they could take nauseated. After a few sessions the collective action against the nursing dreaded after-effects of the treatment staff who were callous through their took place. Her beautiful hair came tion tables? ” she asked during the last indifference. For the doctors who Out almost in one sweep. Arnawaz phase. When a visitor brought some looked after her during the first round rose to the occasion and tied a bright roses she murmured even as she was of her illness, she had only the printed scarf around her head like a drifting through a drugged sleep, highest praise. Russian peasant and soon enough bor- “What beautiful roses! Can you see This was followed by a long period rowed a fashionably smart short haired the color and the form of the petals? ” of remission when she began to enjoy wig. To combat the nausea she invited When finally she realized that there watching her son grow up and when friends for all-night sessions that was no going back for her, there was she could share the triumphs of her would have left most people limp. For anger and rage at the unfairness of it husband who was invited to participate Arnawaz, a conversation was a chai- all, but no self-pity. Soon, even that in exhibitions abroad and also as a lenge. It was always an argument, a last flicker of life spent itself and there m^nber of a cultural delegation to clash of wills in which she took sides was only a slow descent into silence. China. As Vasudev mentioned later until the air would be sparkling with Arnawaz died on February 24, 1988 on, she did not even tell people who animosity, that would just as quickly at the age of 42. She was cremated came to interview him that she was an be dispelled with a smile. When she within view of her house facing the sea artist also. She was proud to see the could not walk, she played games with at Cholamandal. A large gathering of recognition and fame that he was able her son from a wheelchair; but most of friends and close relatives was there as to get. It was at this time that she re- the time she managed to forget that the words from the sacred texts in ceived the Grindlays assignment,^^||^.|ite was ill. Every day that she lived Sanskrit and the A vesta were chanted, was in many ways an exacting chai- was one more day in which to share Not a tear was shed because her son lenge because she had to work around the richness of the world around her Barani, as though forewarned by her, a huge central figure of a carved with her son until the time came when wooden Garuda (eagle) that had been she could leave him on his own. purchased earlier. She got round the problem by throwing an arch around mind remained active with plans for been placed on the body, the figure that served to frame the the future. A particularly sore point Garuda and also suggest the entrance was the state of the road going to and learnt my 12 times tables today in to a sanctum. The arch itself was from Cholamandal. She was deter- school, ” he said. In a few moments the adapted to display the curving forms mined that some action should be wind blowing in from the sea fanned and designs that are a vivid embodi ­ ment of her personal style. When the disease struck again, this go and lie down in the middle of the death itself. She was truly free, time at a spot near the hip joint, she road and stop the traffic, ” she told ...... -------------------------------- had to go through repeated doses of Harry Miller whose piece in the Indian Egress, March 19,19^. ities to take some notice. “Has Barani learnt his multiplica ­ rose to the occasion like a warrior. He stepped forward on his own and Even as her condition worsened her steadily lit the sandalwood that had “I forgot to tell my mother that I taken to see that it was repaired, the flames towards the orange of the “Please tell the authorities that we will setting sun. Arnawaz had laughed at keprinted with the author's permission from Indian Humane to the bone I . 48 Parsiana April 1988 ¦¦¦ ;:-1 1.' Died: Bejonji Burjorji Wadia, 78, for- him as their “godfather. ” He would mer trustee of the Surat Parsi Pun- also pay regular visits to the nearby chayet and the Gopipura Parsi Jarth- towns of Bardoli, Bilimora, Kosamba, osti Anjuman, and noted bone-setter etc so that those with dislocated bones of south Gujarat, on February 24, and tom ligaments could avail of his 1988. As a mark of respect to Wadia who was “known for his social service, a practice in 1941, for 10 years Wadia number of educational institutions run was coached in “the art of healing ” by by the (Surat) Punchayet remained his brother-in-law Darabsha Navroji closed ” for a day, read a news item in Hadvaid and in turn passed on the , the Free Press Journal of February 26. training to his son Diniyar. Wadia had His association with the Surat Pun- studied at the I.P. Mission Boys ’ High chayet spanned almost 10 years, and School in Surat. ' with the Gopipur Punchayet, more J “ . * services in their hometowns. Before starting his independent with the Gopipur Punchayet, more Though confined to the bed, Wadia, than 20 years, during which time he who had a religious bent of mind, per- was known for his “bold and frank ” formed his kusti and u——- opinion. formed his kusti and chanty “Khshnaothra Ahurahe Mazdao” just be- He never used to charge Parsi pa- fore breathing his last, it was reported. He is survived by his wife Piroja, issued by the Surat Parsi Punchayet, son Diniyar and daughters Villoo, and' is known to have gone out of his Dhun and Jolly. way to give monetary help to the needy and the suffering who viewed tients (any fee),” notes a press release Compiled by Parinaz Toddywalla.