May 1988

MAY 1988 Rs 7J May 1988 Volume 10 Number 11 i 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 Daruwalla Rohinton Daroga OFFICE Rajendra Nayak, Khurshid Panthaky, Patricia Lewis Rajalakshmi Iyer, Bakhtavar Batliwalla 3 Readers' Forum 9 Events and Personalities 17 Zoroastrians Abroad 18 The Federation and the farmers by Parinaz Toddywalla 30 Vachaghandhy Agiary: trustees vs panthaky by Arnavaz Mama 38 "Distinguished men of science" by Joy Fernandes 42 Orthodox comment on shifting of fires by Adi Doctor 48 Milestones 48 In Memoriam Cover: Illustration by Mickey Patel Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications IM 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 bpnk 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. I ) ¦ ii' In Memoriam Mr Fali Meherji Variava Director BLAZE ADVERTISING PVT LTD AND ASSOCIATE COMPANIES [ ¦¦« READERS’FORUM iai! he not know that having a family and cause I was hospitalized,and that was sharing some of the good things of life on February 23, 19.86. is the primary need of humanity? Does 'HKKiKtuM'Tb ........... '•ttittt J I J V J-.-’ "USX’'-' is the primary need of humanity? Does It is well known to everybody in he not know that children are the fu- London, and should be well known to ture of any community? Is this the your readers as well, that the situation answer of (I presume) a rational and was knowingly created by the Sethna responsible Zoroastrian? brothers a little over a year after the Adil Master on the same topic: passing away of our revered Dasturji “Why don ’t Parsi couples have extra Sohrabji Kutar with the full know- children and give them for adoption? ” ledge that it will split the community. H Can babies be produced, bought, sold. Your article quotes a passage from g exchanged, gifted, leased, transfer- the ZTFE report for the year April ¦ red? Are our children property? Is he 1986 to March 1987. The ZTFE com- ¦ going to pioneer a “World Zoroastrian mittee members who have written the I Babies Market? ” report are themselves guilty of a I “Educationist ” Meher Nanavatty on “deeply wounding dissension ” as it g countering the declining birth rate: was created by their own actions. Finally, Mr Zal Sethna has exposed the weakness of his case in the inter- lir* o “Why can ’t we allow selective admis- There is no point in their opining now! sion into the community for children ................. ..... of Parsi women and non-Parsi fathers? ” Selective admission? Who will select? On view by his statement that “The ZTFE what basis? Color, caste, knowledge of managing committee can only poll its the religion, parents ’ interview, child ’s members... ” The fact is that the committee members are scared stiff of taking a referendum of the community on this so-called religious issue, for tion of our youth, I can already see the fear of finding themselves in a minor ­ fire flicker. Ms rashna zaiwalla ity. Darius and Zal Sethna were bold ,, enough to divide the community by “The bitterness lingers their bigotry. Let them now be bold According to the article “The bitter- enough to unite the community ness lingers ” {Parsiana, January through a referendum. s.f. captain 1988), it was reported that “(Shahpur) London Captain stalled the issue (requesting non-Zoroastrians to refrain from . - ,, attending the muktad and Farvardian “Meeting of minds” ; 7 “ Some statements in the article “Meet- alleged, until Shahrokh Shahrokh, Parsiana, January 1988) in regard to ing of minds ” {Parsiana, January then ZTFE (Zoroastrian Trust Funds discrimination against Parsi women by 1988) shocked me enough to jolt me of Europe) vice-president, took the Parsis, is understandable. We must out of my passivity and to write to you. chair on October 13, 1985 when Cap- realize we still live in an age of male I am an avid reader of Parsiana. It tain had been surgically operated domination. Until and unless the keeps me abreast of things happening upon. ” Mr Shahrokh did not chair the dominated fight for justice, any type of in our community and it amuses me to meeting of October 13,1985.1 chaired domination will continue. This is hu- • - • * ----- — man nature. The religion of Zarathushtra does not forbid Conversion as per state ­ ments of our great scholars - Darab Das- tur Peshotanji Sanjana, Jeevanji Jam- some very thoughtless statements bers were well aware of the fact that if shedji Modi, Ervad Sheriarji Dadabhoy made with regard to the Adoption Bill the Sethna brothers pursued their aim, Bharucha, K.R. Cama, Ervad Tehmuras at the First All India Zoroastrian with the assistance of some of the com- D. Anklesaria and Ervad Nawshervanji Youth Seminar at Delhi: mittee members, the community will Burjorji Desai - whose opinions were ex- Keki Gandhi ’s reply to why adopted be torn asunder. Secondly, I chaired a children could not be Zoroastrians was meeting thereafter but the Sethna ‘‘Adopt a non-Parsi child and migrate brothers did not have the courage to I______ ¦ ¦ / ............. _ ’ ’¦¦¦¦¦ this a solution to the problem? Does chair and did so behind my back be- 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. interview, guarantee of future adher- Zoroastrian Ayatollahs and the ZTFE ence, capitation fees, 30 coins of silver, first come first serve? If this is the opinion of even a frac- Ms RASHNA ZAIWALLA ,, (Parsiana, January through a referendum. “Need of the hour” Dina Mehta ’s concern and anguish in jashan) for some months, (Zal) Sethna “Need of the hour ” (Readers ’ Forum, {Parsiana, January then ZTFE (Zoroastrian Trust Funds discrimination against Parsi women by chair on October 13, 1985 when Cap- realize we still live in an age of male read about our learned elders fighting that meeting when this question was and slinging mud at each other. I read raised by Mr Darius Sethna and was it, laugh it off and forget about it. (" ....................J it, laugh it off and forget about it. discussed for well nigh seven hours, at ’ But it pained me greatly to read the end of which the committee mem- made with regard to the Adoption Bill the Sethna brothers pursued their aim. preyed in 1903. Some have gone to the extent of _ ___ ________ ____ __ saying that if a worthy person, dedi- to a society where it is accepted. ” Is raise this issue again when I was in the cated to our religion, requests to be —______ ____________________________ ’ ’ . admitted into it, it is a maha gunah 3 Parsiana May 1988 11 II r i t dokhma is derived from the Avestan root daz, “to burn. ” Ervad M.F. Kan- ga ’s dictionary calls dokhma “the burn- <<'1’1. r r • J.* ing place, ” and the great scholar K.R. The Inner Lilght... Cama affirms that the original meaning The learned writer, Dr P.D. Sunavalla, and method of disposal of the dead was states in his letter (“The Inner Light...” cremation. At different times, other Parsiana, February 1988), “The holy fire methods were followed, but the same should be treated with veneration. ” Yes, the atar (fire in the temple) may (great sin) to refuse or hinder him. J.J. (great sin) to refuse or hinder him. J.J. will uphold the constitution. This in ­ Modi, though not in favor, personally, justice to Parsi women will then stop, of conversion on account of socioeco- Ms homai bode nomic implications, has written with i ” sparkling honesty that the Zoroastrian religion does not object to conversion. Such are the scholars we respect, love and honor. They put aside their per- , , sonal feelings rather than degrade our should be treated with veneration. ” word, dokhma, was used, great religion. Yes, the atar (fire in the temple) may To Parsis nowadays, dokhma means The legal opinion, as per Justice burn, enthroned and crowned and the open tower where the corpse is con- Davar, is very clear: any one in the venerated, in shrines that none but a sumed by vultures. Believing in the world can be a Zoroastrian but not a born Parsi can enter (though that is not ritual as chasni (charity), they cite their Parsi, the Parsis being a race. Navjote the case in Iran); but where it should reverence for fire as their reason ceremonies of many children of Parsi kindle - in man ’s heart - it flickers and against cremation. They do not see that women married to non-Parsi men have burns low . I firmly believe , that by fol- fire is so victoriously pure that it will not been performed openly in five star lowing the outdated tradition, cere- admit pollution, but destroy it. hotels in Bombay. Not long ago, one monies and customs in the present nuc- The very word fire is derived from such navjote was performed in New lear age, the community is digging its the Avestan and Sanskrit rootpu, “to Delhi where our late Prime Minister ’ ’ ' .. j r-. was present. No paper wrote against it “dharam(religion) in danger, ’’perhaps Towers of Silence (dokhmenashini sys- rifice. Zarathushtra said, “Fire purifies ____ ; ~ i kindle - in man ’s heart - it flickers and against cremation. They do not see that women married to non-Parsi men have burns low. I firmly believe, that by fol- ¦¦ ¦ , cere ­ monies and customs in the present nuc- own grave. Indeed, it is a great tragedy, purify. ” Fire was never considered by ___ ____ __ ____ _______ According to his wisdom, “Our the Indo-Iranian seers to be the physic- nor ^did anyone raise the slogan, method of disposal of the dead at the al fire or the fire of the ceremonial sac- “dharam(religion) in danger, ’’perhaps Towers of Silence (dokhmenashini sys- rifice. Zarathushtra said, “Fire purifies because the children ’s maternal grand- tern) involves exposition and sacrifice everything it touches but itself remains mother is a member of parliament. to the birds of prey. Burial involving pure. Civilization began with the dis- Our constitution says, there shall be coffining and sacrifice to earthly covery of fire. ¦ Let us maintain and brighten it by signment of the body to flames, are all joining Asho Zarathushtra in a medita- matters of tradition. ” tive prayer: We have been told that the word Lord Omniscient, to the birds of prey. Burial involving pure. ” Civilization began with the dis- no discrimination on grounds of sex. If worms, or cremation involving con- a Parsi woman, affected by this situa ­ tion, challenges the discrimination in court, I am sure our honorable courts For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324. GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY 400007, TELEPHONE: 3714B3 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 4 Parsiana May 1988Rise within me, Grant me courage through serenity, Good gifts of prayers Through the most progressive mentality. Full vigor through righteousness And felicity through good. (Courtesy: The Zoroastrian, October- November, 1987) RUSI B. PASTAKIA Ahmedabad mobeds is in training since over a year, sheer necessity since they do not find It is understood that Ervad Aspan- other avenues open to them. Even dyar Dadachanji has been imparting then, they do not strive to be full ­ training in recitation of prayers and in fledged athravans and prefer to per- performance of rituals, and Dastur Dr form afringan, farokshi and stum cere- Firoze Kotwal is teaching the role and monies, which could be performed by nature of Zoroastrian rituals, Zoroas- behdins as well. They then cornplain of trian theology, etc. inadequate incoihe. Today it is almost If the practising mobeds under train- impossible to get the vendidad cere- ing are required to practise recitation mony with Kshnooman of Sraosh per- of prayers and performance of rituals, formed on the third night after death Kookadaru and the AET Jt means that either they had not learnt for which the laity is willing to pay When the memory of Dasturji Kooka- them properly before being ordained handsome remuneration. daru is being revived in a big way, 87 as mobeds or that they are out of prac- Unless and until^ a mobed is well ­ years after his death.by establishing an tise to perform ceremonies of the versed in performing ceremonies of adarian in his name, it would be higher liturgical order. the higher liturgical order, he is not an worthwhile to examine the training Also, when the fundamental train- athravan in the true sense. The prac- program of the Athravan Educational ing imparted by the AET is not much tice of religion is of importance Trust (AET) which aims at turning out .................................... - - <¦ mobeds well-versed in various aspects of our religion, especially as Mr Homi Ranina is the driving fojipe behind needed religious fervor for performing both activities. -------' ' ........... ¦ u u According to para six of Pargard 18 This is probably proposed to be achieved life led by Dasturji Kookadaru should nf the Vendidad. Ahura Mazda tells with the assurance of better remunera- serve as a model and source of inspira ­ tion for any meaningful training prog ­ ram for mobeds. The AET has failed to identify the true reasons for non- as mobeds or that they are out of prac ­ tise to perform ceremonies of the versed in performing ceremonies of Also, when the fundamental train- different from that which exists at the - contrary to the AET’s concept of madressas, how does the AET expect building up faith on the basis of know- to inculcate in the trainees the much ledge of the religion. _ _____ ___ ;___ ;_____ r 3 expects any training prog- their duties ’as full-fledged athravans? ram to produce a Kookadaru, but the of the Vendidad, Ahura Mazda tells with the assurance of better remunera- Zarathushtra to call such a one an athravan, who enquires after holy wis ­ dom in order to relieve distress, give —-----------------------------. r u . joy help people to attain asha, and the market place at a price, but has to availability of the right type of mobeds guide the soul over Chinvat Bridge. be imbibed bit by bit from childhood as it has not fully appreciated the qual- Dasturji Kookadaru, after under- in a suitable domestic environment, ifications of an athravan as stipulated going navar and maratab ceremonies, Iwwctw, .....................- —r ------- -------- used to undertake the bareshnum the madressas are reluctant to lead the program envisaged by them will not ceremony from time to time as re- J quired. He staunchly observed the athravan despite attractive benefits prescribed rituals, chanted prayers and security. The majority of those regularly, performed the ijashne cere- who enter this profession do so out of Edited by AmavazS. Mama mony at least once in three days, per ­ formed the vendidad ceremony as and when required, guided the laity on re ­ ligious matters, contributed his might in teaching and spreading the know ­ ledge of the religion and, above all, led a very simple life. Leaving aside claims and counterclaims regarding miracles and other activities associated with his name, there do not seem to be two opinions about the fact that he was a holy man who attained that status by living like an athravan in the true spirit of the Vendidad. The training program of the AET as stated in the brochure issued at the in- ’ augural function consists of three to five years of training,covering subjects like Zoroastrian theology, the role and nature of Zoroastrian rituals, world re ­ ligions, Iranian history, social psychol ­ ogy, philosophy, plus short courses in public speaking, communications, En ­ glish language, assertiveness training, interpersonal skills, etc. The first batch of some 10 selected practising tion, other benefits, security, etc. It is, however, not appreciated that faith is not a commodity available in be imbibed bit by bit from childhood as it has not fully appreciated the qual- in a suitable domestic environment, ifications of an athravan as stipulated However, the students coming from in the scriptures.- Hence the training ¦ ..... ....J arduous and regimented life of an produce the desired results. SOHRAB NAVALSHAW PATWA Gifts& i 7 Parsiana May 1988 The Friend^ Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive gifts, reli^ous artefacts, executive desk sets, exclusive shell items, des^er jewehy & specializing in wooa & copper-enamel gifts. BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. (Mezzanine Floor) Sir P.M. Road, Bombay-400 001 STUDIO AKAR 6T/2660Divorce made easy Events and Personalities ceived on March 26, 1988, carries the when some athornans started tinkering final chapter in the anti-AET cam- with our age-old rituals and cere- The President of India, R. Venkatara- paign. Zoroastrian Studies ’ Khojeste monies...It is difficult to apportion man, has given his assent to the Parsi Mistree had come in for a lot of flak blame to anyone at this stage of history Marriage and Divorce (Amendment) for propagating the theory that Ahura for this very unfortunate happening. Act, 1988, which incorporates cruelty, Mazda is not all-powerful. Nor was the But it certainly marked the beginning mutual consent and unsoundness of late Dastur Navrooz Minochehr- of the decline of the Parsi Zoroastrians mind, after contracting marriage, as Homji spared for performing the nav- in all walks of life! ” added grounds for divorce. This Act jotes of children of Parsi fathers and which was brought into effect from April 15, according to The Daily of the same date, permits men to claim ali ­ mony and litigation costs from their the alleged deterioration of the com- under the new liberal pressure - speci- spouses; provides for the divorce pro- munity because of its ignorance and/or fically, the BPP’s return to the Federa- ceedings to be conducted in privacy disregard for the ancient ritualistic tion. (In 1978 Boman-Behram had re- and reduces the number of Parsi dele- ways: “Dear Zoroastrian buste-kustians, taliated against strident criticism of the gates to the matrimonial court. do not expect anything good or benefi- BPP’s voting system by arch-critic The minimum age at marriage will cial from the Parsi Punchayet and its Shiavax Nargolwala of Delhi by press ­ now be 21 years for males and 18 years present or future incumbents. No uring the BPP’s board of trustees to for females as per the new legislation. All the progressive alterations to the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of congresses will solve or even mitigate 1936, submitted by the community, to your problems. For they only touch the 1986, the financial burden of The bring it on par with the provisions of periphery of the canker that is eating at Voice had been shouldered by Ms Per- the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and the the vitals of the community... viz Dotivala. But Boman-Behram ’s Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, were approved in toto. The silenced Voice Depleting Parsi readership - the bane of such community publications as the Jam-e-Jantshed and Parsiana - has been fatal for The Parsee Voice. Established in 1983 by former Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman B.K. Boman-Behram with Avesta scholar Adi Doctor as Editor-publisher, The Voice embodied the orthodox viewpoint on community issues. The Voice functioned as the Federa ­ tion of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India ’s and the Punchayet ’s biggest cri- • tic. Which is not to say that other issues were bypassed. The establish ­ ment of the Athravan Educational Trust (AET) and the making and viewing of Cyrus Bharucha ’s film. On Wings of Fire, were two other occa ­ sions when The Voice registered strong dissent. Indeed, the farewell issue - Volume IV, numbers 23 and 24 (September 16- October 15, 1987) re ­ Boman-Behram had retired from non-Parsi mothers. the Punchayet by the time he founded Apart from potshots at individuals. The Parsee Voice. He watched with the burden of The Voice's, message is distaste the reversion of his policies amount of youth conferences or semi- vote in favor of a BPP pullout from the nars or Federation meetings or world all-India body.) Since Boman-Behram ’s demise in “The beginning of the spiritual position as the focus of orthodox opin ­ downfall of the community began ion seems to have found no single suc ­ cessor yet. “At the time of its inception, your Editor had never thought that The Parsee Voice would last for four long years...God willing, we may present ourselves in a different format some day. Till then, to all those who gave us bouquets and brickbats, and to those whom we presented these in turn, Khuda hafiz, (May God be with you) and no ill feelings, ” notes the Editor in farewell. Frontal of The Parsee Voice; severe critic THE PARSEE VOICE V«l. IV No. 17 » IB IB ¦* BO June » 1 - IB Mv 1BB7 BPP AND THE A. E. T. (3) K. ¦. BMTOOR'S NOT! TO TNI BPP TRUSTEES ( Centinuad Prom Lent Nauo ) It la antowalv rlaky and onarovi to two eekalaily tanda tn a lagal documant h wM bring hi anparM nba am aaaw a^-'^ aaMaaWa b Ma btopraiatba. Nby katp wa •b« ptailaltoB to Bahato w "da* **4 ayw ¦ artoawnMT Nny bm aMgbtway awlim da ntbad w dboM haaaRtbry. nNbaai wany. bg abaa 9. MB T HibabwNMtlaaa Ww *• daaam. aeaa»t that ¦ Na daatrt. Ma Bawnaaaal Ibawat T Wa ¦M Nw No M Bmnm. mn&o. m *Br oWmB Ito tooNWiriM «N tto I aw known ta to a law abiding community. (Empliaaia B. V.) And wba aw '"dia paraena angagad or bnglmd ha dta Raida anviaagad kt" tto truat daad i Whtoh aw ttow ''flaMa't Thav aw nowliaw daHnad In dta Twat Oaad. la it dta bnandoo dial a mobad la cowawd by iMa oagtaaalon 7 That again la hnaginary : and in any aaw It N not thaw paraona angagad In aueb "RaWa**. who aw ito bonaticiariw wtdar Oauw 4 awoph Io ooiilBto (EmphaaN r. V.) And dta radrad JadBaa* apWaw aw al nt Na baadh al tto Itaat N wida aaaato * aar aaMitoto aad awa wn^awaawaaa. ¦Sato* Tbal toaSl w'wai aai aay jrtaNta - ---------- Dental commission Noted orthodontist Dr Keki Mistry was unanimously elected chairman of the standing commission on dental education, constituted by the Asian Pacific Dental Federation, states the Mid-Day of February 28, 1988. The Federation, which includes countries like India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea and Pakistan, is affili ­ ated to the International Dental Fed­ eration. 9 Parsiana May 198831 f:. W, The commission, under Mistry, is reportedly engaged in restructuring the undergraduate and graduate de- |9 ntal curricula so that they can better H equip students to meet the dental health requirements of their region. ¦ Orthodontic consultant to the Indi- I an Armed Forces Medical Services, ¦ Mistry is “very active is promoting the I concept of oral health in developing 9 countries, ’’ reads the Jam-e-Jamshed of March 6, 1988. Recipient of the Dr B.C. Roy National Award and a gold medal for his work in the field of prim ­ ary oral health care. Mistry is also an active .member of the Maharashtra State Government ’s oral health and -ItU cancer control programs, adds the forms The at his recent one man shows in New De- Ihi and Madras “were received with Sabavala with his recent painting enthusiastic appreciation, ’’ notes the Bird Forms-1. Sunday Mid-Day of March 27, 1988, 'fascinated by flight” announcing his exhibition in Bombay from April 6 to 13, 1988. The theme of his paintings was land ­ scapes, “that are as ordered as his per- January 31, 1988. “His landscapes are Proceeding to Paris, he attended the Krishna "is depicted as a mischievous ’ animated by predatory birds in flight Academic Julian, the Academic child who doesn ’t yet know of his di- Having received his first training in is described as Vir ’s most interesting art at the J.J. School of Arts, Bombay, work where “compassion and comedy .he later went to study at the Heath- have been woven into a simple adven- sonality, ” notes The Times of India of erley School of Fine Arts, London, ture story for kids. ”In this production, January 31, 1988. “His landscapes are Proceeding to Paris, he attended the Krishna is depicted as a mischievous animated by predatory birds in flight Academic Julian, the Academic child who doesn ’t yet know of his di- or wraith-like figures which heighten Andre Lhote and the Academic de la vine powers. the impact of mystery. He is fascinated Grande Chaumiere, notes The Indian Born to a Parsi mother and a Sikh by the span of flight that a bird sym- Post of April 2, 1988. father. Param Vir came from a home bolizes, ” notes The Times of India art Described by the media as reclusive, which was “full of tabalchis (tabla critic. publicity-shy, small in build,Sabavala players) and ustads (maestros). ’’ His According to Sabavala, painting is a says of himself, “Mist, rain, shafts of mother, Khursheed, was an Indian visual thing which must stir interest sunlight, these attract me more than classical vocalist. Vir hit the piano and commune with the viewer. thunder and lightning. By tempera- keys at nine, and at 14, he knew he The Sunday Mid-Day of April 10, ment I keep away from the extremes wanted to become a music composer, 1988 says, “In a desert of eccentricity, of black and white. Only greys interest writes Bhargava. Jehangir Sabavala is like an oasis of me. My paintings leave much to the After completing his masters in phi- sanity. Discipline, subtlety, style, imagination. You find a veil all over losophy, Vir opted for a career in serenity, a touch of class seem to be my canvases. You have to peep photography. Some years later, he the colors of his life canvas, stretching through it to know what they are all joined his school, St Xavier ’s .as a across 65 years, 40 years of painting, about...I prefer shade to sunlight, sha- music teacher where he experimented 25 major one man showings all over dow to substance...Having completed with music theater and started a glee the globe. (a painting), I need a long rest to club. Vir started composing music in Sabavala reportedly takes five to six recharge my batteries. ’’ the ’70s for Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy and other operas in Delhi. His Krishna — a musical first production. Kidstuff, was fol- “When he touches the piano. Param lowed by other musicals, each dealing Vir turns into a man possessed. No- with issues that concerned young lives. ’ _ ’ ’ notes Vir ’s works have been performed in Simran Bhargava in India Today Geneva and Boston. the impact of mystery. He is fascinated Grande Chaumiere, notes The Indian bolizes, ’’ notes The Times of India art ! [ weeks to complete a canvas, working • eight hours a day, seven days a week. He draws around 10 sketches for each painting before transposing it in char ­ coal on canvas which serves as the thing but the music matters, skeletal frame for the painting to fol- f - „__ low. Preparing around 40 colors with (January 31, 1988). Availing of an Inlaks grant in 1984 tonal variations, he applies paint gent- Vir ’s latest work is a children ’s to study music composition in the ly in meticulously graded tones which musical, Krishna, which was staged re- U.K., Vir, 35, has bagged some of the give the composition its flesh and cently in Delhi and will be produced as most prestigious international music a full-scale opera in the U.K. Krishna awards like the Tippett,the Benjamin 11 Parsiana May 1988Britten and the Kucyna International, century who lies entombed in Shiraz: ScOUtS Celebrate 60 Back in India, Vir started a Music “The visit of Dr Dehkordy became a Theatre Workshop where a group of matter of special significance to me, a Theatre Workshop where a group of matter of special significance to me, a Homavazir ’s Eleventh Central Bom- children would sit together every Sun- Zoroastrian, whose ancestors 1,300 bay Bharat Scout Group of the Man- day and pool in their ideas about years ago had left Iran to settle down cherji Joshi Colony, Dadar, held the politicians, schools, parents, films, etc. They would talk in rhythm, tapping on a drum. “Several brilliant - and origin- ' al - musicals emerged from these ses ­ sions, ” adds Bhargava. Sprinting at 82 At the seventh World Veterans ’ Athletics at Melbourne, genial 82- ment aid, Gimi noted, “Our Society ’s in India, for he had brought with him, last function in its diamond jubilee his government ’s message of goodwill year on January 10,1988, at the Jehan- and good wishes for the Parsis of In- gir Memorial Hall of the J.B. Vachha dia. ” and Cawasji Jehangir Girls ’ Schools, Gimi also suggested that further re- notes a press release by group scribe search be encouraged on the Zoroas- ~ trian religion and history. Bahadur Palkhiwalla. Assistant state commissioner (scouts) Minoo Dama- Making a concerted plea for govern- nia, presiding over the function, gave ¦ ¦ ~ . ,, fpj- tjjg existence of the year-old Jehanbux Kapadia finished voice reaches the universities of Ger- group for the last 60 years to the fourth in the 100 meter and the 200 many and Great Britain, America and founder, the late Ardeshir Byramji meter races, notes Kersi Meher-Homji Australia, but not the chancelleries of Homavazir and the young leaders who in Manashni, the newsletter of the Au- Delhi or Calcutta. For how long will come forward from time to time to stralian Zoroastrian Association of this great and glorious. Society be dep- train the cubs and scouts, ” notes the New South Wales. rived of substantial state patronage. Sponsored by the Zoroastrians of which is needed and richly deserved? ” Calcutta, Kapadia bettered his own In ­ dian national record by 0.6 seconds in the 200 meter even though the com ­ petition was intense. Participating in the games were 4,820 athletes from 52 children won her the I.B.H. Gold ciation of their valuable services ren ­ dered to the group. Ms Roshan Billi- moria, Ms Frenny Daruwala and Ms Mithoo Jesia were similarly honored in write-up. Special awards were presented to _ . group leader Rusi Mothwalla, Ms Creative campaign Behros Desai, Cyrus Dalal, Marzban Twenty-one-year-old Gulshan Dordi ’s Giara, Hormuz Dastur, Hormuz En- campaign for I.C.S. computers for gineer and Daraius Zaiwalla in appre- countries between the ages of 35 and Medal for the best advertising cam- 97 years. Hockey, tennis and cricket were games at which Kapadia had excelled in his younger days. For the next Polytechnic, Dordi has also won the and guidance. World Veterans ’ Athletics scheduled Trikaya Advertising Trophy for the The program included a violin solo paign of the year, notes a press re ­ lease. A final year student of the Sophia recognition of their continuous help t World Veterans ’ Athletics scheduled Trikaya Advertising Trophy for the to be held in the USA in 1990, Kapa- most promising student of the year, -by Cub Jehangir Adrianwalla, a Gu- dia “wants to add hurdles to his 100 Shashi ’s Advertising Trophy for the jarati comedy, Pavitra Perin, a torch meter and 200 meter races. He will most creative student of the year and drill and a pageant. Saga of Scouting, then be only 85 and running faster the Lalita Frye Memorial Cash Award written and directed by Jesia, states than most of us, I bet! ” writes Meher- «from Ulka Advertising. The prizes the release. Homji who attributes Kapadia ’s pro- were given away by the State Revenue y efoinnfi wess to his Complan in milk diet and Minister, Shrikanth Jichkar, at a prize On SiampS an active mind. Cementing Indo-Iran ties “Few peoples have been more closely related in origin and throughout his ­ tory than the people of India and the the release, people of Iran, ” Rusi Gimi, president of the Iran Society and former sheriff Dordi and her award winning of Calcutta, quoted from Jawaharlal campaign Nehru ’s Discovery of India in his pres ­ idential address at the annual general meeting of the Iran Society. Established 44 years ago, the Iran Society aims to promote the study of the Persian language, literature and philosophy, as well as the creation of a cultural bridge between India and Iran. Gimi referred to the presence of Dr Ibrahim Behnam Dehkordy, ambassa ­ dor of the Islamic republic of Iran, who was the chief guest at a celebra ­ tion to commemorate Hafiz, the great Persian lyric poet of the fourteenth were given away by the State Revenue to his Complan in milk diet and Minister, Shrikanth Jichkar, at a prize distribution ceremony held on Febru- As part of the golden jubilee celebra- ary 25, 1988 at the Sophia Bhabha tion of the India’s Stamp Journal, an Hall. exhibition “Zoo on Stamps ” was held For the future, Dordi would like to at the Bombay Natural History Society specialize in computer graphics, adds Hall on February 19, 1988, notes a press release sent by Vispi Dastur, honorary secretary of the Empire of India Philatelic Society (EIPS). The exhibition was inaugurated by Post 12 Parsiana May 1988\ Master General, Maharashtra, C.P. Thomas. The stamps on display were from the collection of Darabshaw Mis ­ try, president of the EIPS, further adds the release. The EIPS’s Jal Cooper Award was presented to Phiroze Medhora “in appreciation of the meritorious ser ­ vices rendered by him as Editor of the Journal.” Another exhibition, “Wild Life on Above (from left) Stamps ” was inaugurated at the Cama Cooper: directress at Dunne’s Hall on the same day by the acting Pastakia: recognised referee Governor of Maharashtra Chittatosh (Right) Lakdawala: keep fit package Mookerjee. Dunne’s in new hands Alleged swindling Dunne ’s Institute, one of the well- “For allegedly duping (thousands of) known ICSE schools in south Bom- investors off seven and a half crores of bay, is now being managed by the rupees, ” two of the four directors of Behramgore Anklesaria Educational Auditya Finance and Investment Trust. The public trust was formed in Company, Ms Gul Soli Moos (40) and December 1987 after the death of the Sanjay Kumar Jaggi (27), were school ’s principal Ms Mah Sohrab arrested at Bombay ’s Santa Cruz air- Cooper, who, for over three decades, with the assistance of her two late sis ­ ters Dhun Engineer and Pearl Vevaina, was at the helm of the Institute. Cooper was a music teacher at the Gamadia School for 12 years before port while boarding a Delhi bound flight, notes The Times of India of students in the afternoon and working January 19, 1988. One of the directors women in the evening. Homi Patrawala - is said to have absconded. The seniormost director, Shravan to her aerobics instructions. Their Lakdawala finds Parsi women “more outgoing and more attentive ” she accepted, in 1956, the responsibil- Kumar Jaggi, was arrested at a hotel in problem is generally heavier hips and ity of principal and directress at Dun- the capital city and was brought to thighs, she says. ne ’s which has since been functioning Bombay on January 19, notes The Eschewing steaming of the face as a family concern. Afternoon Despatch and Courier of the which is the usual practice for facials in “At present the Institute is looked same day. Bombay, Lakdawala says her half- after by advocates Ms Armaity En- Deputy director in the anti- hour technique includes the use of five gineer and Bejonji Engineer along corruption bureau, T. Singarvel, products including a face pack. The re- with Pervez Bulsara, a director of “spotted Moos at the airport ’s depar- sponse of Parsi women seems to be, Ogilvy Benson and Mather, ” notes ture lounge making a beeline for a “We’ve been using soap and water all Cooper ’s brother Khudy Anklesaria. ~ Judo referee’s license “The only person in the country (In- her offloaded from the aircraft, ” adds have a better skin! ” Non-Parsis,on the dia) to now possess an international the report. Sanjay Jaggi was also other hand, have other expectations: referee ’s license, ” was the distinction offloaded from the same aircraft. “They think, if they take a facial, earned by Khurshed Noshir Pastakia, ‘ ~ on passing the Asian Judo Union ’s (B- Post of January 22, Moos was running / License) examination, notes a press a dance school prior to joining the Jag- aged three years and one year, Lakda- release from the Judo Federation of gis in floating the company. wala had worked for a fashion jewelry India. _ „ . . company for almost one and a half The examination was held in De- l>eauty 01 acrODlCS years, prior to qualifying as a beauti- cember 1987 at Fukuoka, Japan, dur- Energetic Ms Farida Lakdawala from cian. ing the Fukuoka International Los Angeles, in Bombay for a three- Women ’s Championships where he month vacation, has not permitted her was a referee. skills to idle. A trained beautician with Ex vice-president of an advertising and Holder of a third Dan black belt Mary Kay Cosmetics, USA, Lakdawa- marketing agency, Mudra Communica- from Kodokan, Japan, and a fourth la advertised her aerobics classes and tions, Sam Balsara has joined Madison Danfromthe Judo Federation of India facials in Mid-Day and though her Advertising as managing partner. Bal- and the International Judo Federa- Oomer Park residence can accommo- sara will share the responsibilities with tion, Pastakia has been “guiding the date only four participants at a time, the erstwhile proprietor of the 20-year- sport technically since 1976 as secret- Lakdawala has about 14 young women old agency, Firoze Elavia. ary of the Federation ’s technical coun- of all communities coming in batches - cil, ” states the release. housewives in the morning, college Compiled by Roxana h. Kaka Deputy director in the Delhi-bound flight. He immediately these years. Why should we go in for a alerted the Santacruz police who re- facial? ” says Lakdawala. “Parsis feel, quested the airline authorities to have just because they have a fair skin, they According to a report in The Indian they ’ll get a fair skin like the Parsis. ” A vibrant mother of two little boys SPOTLIGHT 15 Parsiana May 1988ZORQASTRIANS ABROAD Manchester Zoroastrians A new Zoroastrian association based in Manchester, England, has been in ­ troduced to Parsiana by Professor John Kinnells of Manchester Universi ­ ty. With Ms Tara Zomomody as chair ­ person and Burjor Avari as secretary, the 60-member North West Zoroas ­ trian Community (NWZC), as the association is named, has been func ­ tioning since the summer of 1987. The members have come from Bombay, East Africa and Iran, with a good proportion of young Zoroastrians being UK born. “The spirit of goodwill and harmony is evident, ” writes Kinnells. “Some in ­ dividuals have met co-religionists and attended a jashan for the first time for two or more decades. For some chil ­ dren it is their first encounter with a Zoroastrian outside their own family. The social meetings, parties and talks have provided not just happiness and pleasure but also a spur to preserve the Zoroastrian heritage. ” On February 21 the Community met to felicitate Nicola Katrak who retires this year as prima ballerina of the Sad ­ lers Wells Royal Ballet. Nicola, whose father is a Karachi-born Zoroastrian, was on her last dance tour to north west England and took time off to talk The Department of Comparative Reli- to the community, inspiring everyone, gion. University of Manchester, is now and especially the young, notes Kin- offering a postgraduate diploma in nells. After her final tour abroad to Zoroastrian Religious Studies “set up liams at the Department of Compara- Thailand, Korea, China and Japan, with the needs of Zoroastrians them- Nicola is expected to teach children, a selves in mind, ” writes Kinnells who, post specially created for her by the together with Dr Alan Williams will be Chester 13 9PL, England. Sadlers Wells. instructing the students through lec- yjjg federal board Rohinton Rivetna of Chicago is the Ballerina Katrak as Lise in La Fille Mai Gardee (Photo: Leslie E, Spatt) New diploma in religion Persian, Near Eastern Archaeology, etc. The obligatory courses include the methods of the study of religion which introduces the student to the problems of dealing with textual material as well as helps him to interpret the tangible, visible evidence of religious art and archaeology; Zoroastrian history and theology from imperial times to the ninth century AD; the history of the Zoroastrian community since the Isla ­ mization of Iran to the present day; a dissertation on an approved topic. The cost of the course is £ 1,730 for British residents and £ 3,950 for over ­ seas students which does not include subsistence costs. “It is hoped that wealthy Zoroastrians will endow a scholarship to enable people from the old country to take part, ” writes Kin ­ nells. The Department has received one endowment in memory of the late Dastur Sohrab Kutar, the first high priest of the Zoroastrians in the U.K. The prize, which provides substantial assistance towards an air ticket to study Zoroastrianism in India, Iran, Pakistan or a Zoroastrian community in North America, is meant for the best student in Zoroastrian Studies in Manchester who is committed to pur ­ suing the subject further, writes Kin ­ nells. Offers and enquiries may be addres ­ sed to Professor Kinnells or Dr Wil- instructing the students through lec ­ tures, seminars and essay-related tuto- tive Religion, The Victoria University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Man- Celebrating Navroze on March 19, the NWZC honored its secretary Bur- rials. The Department offers a well- jof Avari who was “decorated perso- equipped library which, apart from re- first president of the Federation of nally by the Queen at Buckingham ligious texts in Avesta and Pahlavi, Zoroastrian Associations of North Palace with the MBE (Member of the and scholarly books on ancient and America (FEZANA), announces the British Empire) for his work in multi- medieval periods, is stocked with Zoroastrian Society of Ontario ’s cultural education, ” informs Kinnells, nineteenth and twentieth century Indi- (ZSO) April newsletter. The other ! . Principal lecturer in multicultural educa- an newspapers, publications, micro- elected office bearers are vice- president Komi Komji from Toronto, ence of the Zoroastrians in the modern treasurer Freddy Patel from New York, secretary Ms Dolly Dastoor The diploma involves four compul- from Montreal and assistant secretary sory courses plus one optional course ------ - — from among a choice which includes '1 an newspapers, publications, micro- tion at the Manchester Polytechnic, films and videos “charting the experi- Avari was bom in India, brought up in - - - Mombasa, graduated from Manchester world, ” as notes their press release. University and taught in Kenya for four — - - years before returning to Manchester to do his Masters. Avari ’s achievements are “matched by the warmth of his personal- one of the Zoroastrian scriptural Ian- The newly elected executive board of ity and the enthusiasm of his deep com- guages (Avesta or Pahlavi), sociology the Zoroastrian Cricket Club (ZCC) - mitment to his Zoroastrian heritage, ” of religion, anthropology of religion, a president Jamshed Kira, vice ­ writes Kinnells. Middle Eastern study like Modem continued on page 36. Ms Sabar Balsara from Toronto. Hira, ( 1 17 Parsiana May 1988 'JM' I. ? POLITICS AND POLICY The Federation and the farmers The Federation meeting in Ukai focussed on the rural Parsis I Parinaz Toddywalla The first certified paramobed, Rus- and learn from Parsi youths of other anjumans. To continue with the dedication of Dastur Navrooz Minochehr-Homji, “the pillar of strength of the para ­ mobed project ” and “a treasure of re ­ With the venue of the executive coun ­ cil and annual general meeting of the tom Madon, trained under the gui- Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anju- -* mans of India being in the rural heart- . land of south Gujarat, it was only natural bilities at the Daremaher at Allahabad that the apex body focussed on the plight and has started perfoming the per ­ forests to provide firewood for fire ­ temples throughout India. A proposal was put forward to form opposition, the Federation intends to a committee headed by Surat Parsi push ahead with its paj-anwbed^pro- Punchayet (SPP) president Dr Sam ject Bhacca and Dara Deboo of Navsari to ras, look into the needs of the Parsi tillers. 1------- The benefit of consultancy of two re- mobed. A suggestion has also been put gish. tired forest officers Firoj Panthaky and forward by some priests that they be Homi Chothia has generated two permitted to tend the fire on a part ­ schemes: to buy 250 acres of land, a y*'"* tenth of which will be cultivated for a Christian priest officiating in kathi (firewood); and to utilize pun- < . dance of the late Dastur Navrooz Minochehr-Homji, assumed responsi- the need missible religious ceremonies for the ng““L“hip. J tes and books brought out by the secu ­ lar high priest. There were also recom ­ mendations to institute a chair in com- rhe'* anjurnans ’of Mhow, Mad- parative religious studies aj the to pay a pension to his widow, Ner- Since Dr Aspi Golwalla ’s term as ____ __________________ chairman of the BPP and ex officio time basis, somewhat along the lines of chairman of the 'Federation draws to --- - an end in October 1988, the Federa- church who performs ceremonies and tion recorded its appreciation by prop ­ osing to make him a permanent mem- ing to Federation joint honorary secretary Keki Gandhi, it was during x.-r Golwalla's chairmanship that the Fed- The proposed amendments to the eration was able to implement many of ¦ ~ projects, that the BPP (which had walked out of the Federation in a huff 10 years ago) was brought back to the Federation fold, and that cordiality had been restored due to his patient and tactful conduct of Federation pro- In addition to the Gujarat, Karnata- ceedings, giving everyone an oppor- ka and West Bengal chief ministers. Allahabad Anjuman which was unable promoting the sale of religmu^casset- to find a regular priest. Despite some ... . •- - u,, as lllV Mlljuiuuua vx* J----------------- Rajkot, Delhi, Agra and Vyara bay University and to establish a tund have indicated their need for a para- 1 . , a chavet agiary and trust lands to grow other religious duties at fixed hours on osing to make him a permanent mem- bS and Sr trees. certain days. This would permit the her of the execut,ve conned.^Accord- the delegates were also informed that ary instead of being confined to its pre- In keeping with the environment, priest to leave the premises of the agi- the delegates were also informed that ary instead of being confined to its pre- the Fed Newsletter's Gujarati transla- cincts for 24 hours, tion, which had ceased publication, . has been revived under the editorship Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act have of Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) been made into a law thus sanctioning chief executive Rustom Anklesaria. divorce by mutual consent, alimony to The Ahmedabad Parsi Punchayet has husbands, increasing the age at jnar- Federation, thanks to the efforts of several other change^. Homi Taleyarkhan, member of the Minorities Commission. _ . Aside from a shortage of mobeds, commitments for reservation ot seats there is also a dearth of nassessalars in for Parsi students in medical and en- Gujarat. When the BPP assured a gineering colleges have also been minimum salary of Rs 1 ,()(X) to the nas- forthcoming from the chief ministers sessalars, Surat delegates feared this of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh might entice pallbearers from Gujarat (MP) Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Andhra - • - • Pradesh (AP). But “students are not to be found," it was lamented. A youth festival in Calcutta from indicated its willingness to rejoin the riage and streamlining the jury, among for Parsi students in medical and en- to go to Bombay, thus further aggra ­ vating their problems. The Surat trus ­ tees observed that in preparation of a . possible emergency situation they had November 5 to 9, 1988, promising a ¦4 themselves stitched the pallbear- mix of sports and discussions on corn ­ er's uniform and advised trustees of munity affairs, will give the maximum opportunity to youngsters to socialize got er*s other anjumans to do likewise. tunity to express their views. The Federation body unanimously resolved to re-appoint its office bear ­ ers; Gandhi and BPP trustee Eruch Desai as joint honorary secretaries; BPP trustee Jamshed Guzder and Peshotan Nargolwala as joint honor ­ ary treasurers; and Ms Gool Tata as executive secretary. The plight of the Zoroastrians in Iran was conveyed by invitee Mehra- ban Kushesh (see “The view inilran, ” Parsiana. April 1988). Kushesh re ­ lated the hardships faced by the com- 18 Parsiana May 1988if I munity in the war-torn country and percent to wipe off the debts of the (grave poverty). It is a difficult dilem- how he and other fellow Zoroastrians Parsi farmers, we were told, ‘Either ma faced by the trustees to judge lived in constant fear of bombing and pay the full amount or nothing, ’” whether haramkhori ne uttejan maUch missile attacks by Iraq. Kushesh, who Bhacca tried to provide an insight into ke garib manas ne gair insaaf thaaich estimated that there were roughly the attitude of some indolent agricul- (laziness is being encouraged or injus- 60,000 Zoroastrians in Iran, offered to turists. He subsequently clarified, tice done to the poor). ” host the Fifth World Zoroastrian Con- “They have now sunk in greater debt “If a Kohli can make a lucrative earning gress in Tehran. The chief minister of Andhra ------------------ Pradesh N.T. Rama Rao has assured for a small amount of Rs 5,000 but lenges, we cannot take away the chai- the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of with interest, the principal may have Secunderabad and (PZASH) that the Government will renew the lease for the land where now stands the Zoroastrian Club. The much delayed selection of Fed- loans, doles, alternate modes of em- I eration awardees for outstanding per- ployment, irrigation facilities or know- I formance in chosen fields was sought how? This problem was deliberated I to be overcome by the formation of a upon for a considerable length of time I five-member committee which could at the Federation meeting realizing I scrutinize the nominations. It was that members of such mofussil anju- I proposed that Golwalla, BPP trustee mans could ill-afford to send repre- Jamsheed Kanga, Anklesaria, Taleyar- sentatives or convey their views and khan and Gandhi serve on this panel. problems. In Bulsar district, 80 per- The Vyara-Songadh Anjuman cent are believed to be living below the which hosted the Federation meeting poverty line and 90 percent of the Par- was praised lavishly by chairman Gol- walla who had expected to be accommodated in rustic locales, very unlike Hotel Kell ’s - the venue of the meet. Golwalla, on a humorous note, stated that some delegate at the last meeting in Jamshedpur had urged him to attend the proceedings in Vyara - if not as chairman, at least as a medical practitioner, to look after the health requirements of outstation delegates! Dr Bahadur Jokhi, the president of the Anjuman, Rusi Parabia, the owner of Kell ’s, who offered free boarding, and others on the organizing commit ­ tee who had arranged for the trip to the Vyara Agiary, and the brooch and bag souvenirs were thanked by Gan ­ dhi. He acknowledged that the Fed­ eration had been made “paawan si farmers own between two to five Above (from left): Taleyarkhan, (pure) ” by Vyara ’s membership for, acres of land, stated Deboo. A farm- Golwalla and Dastur Meherji despite being a small anjuman it had hand there reportedly earns more Meherjirana taken the initiative in hosting a Fed- than a landowner. Top: Bhacca (left) and Jokhi eration meeting at a time when the lar- Even though free educational facili- purine naee- Federation meeting in progress pay the full amount or nothing, Bhacca tried to provide an insight into ke garib manas ne gair insaaf thaaich turists. He subsequently clarified, tice done to the poor)." “They have now sunk in greater debt so that they can ’t even afford to pay 25 on the same sized land why can ’t a Parsi? percent of the total. Their debt may be We are there to help them meet the chai- Hyderabad multiplied to 25,000.” When the farmers are on subsist ­ ence farming and barely able to eke out a living, should they be offered k I ? * i 1 .* Ws i .1 I MB s»- ¦ ¦ Even though free educational facili- ger anjumans were refusing to commit ties are offered to children as boarders themselves. (This was in response to at orphanages, some families cannot Jokhi ’s statement on the first evening even afford the commuting charges to Alongside (from left): that the “Vyara dharti (land) had been the school or the bare minimum Gandhi and Kongo made paawan by the presence of the clothes. Deboo indicated the plight of Federation delegates. ”) f . . ” ” . . The next meeting of the Federation was then prompted to quote an inci- Federation delegates. ”) the poverty-stricken Parsis. Bhacca lenges. Use successful farmers to guide The next meeting of the Federation was then prompted to quote an inci- and motivate the unsuccessful farmers, will be held on September 3 and 4, dent of a poor farmer who sought a urged Kanga. - ¦¦ •• ____ ' *’ ''—t The ancestral Parsi calling being hospital when informed that his medic- agriculture from whence they pros- al and hospitalization bills had totalled pere^ and diversified, the general Food for farmers Rs 41, an expenditure beyond his opinion favored discouraging the far- “When we offered to contribute 75 reach. “There is bhayankar garibi mers from selling off their land. They 1988 in Bombay to be followed by one premature discharge from the Surat in Calcutta on December 10 and 11. 20 Parsiana May 1988J Kathi culture dry farming, dairying, poultry breed ­ ing en masse to Bombay and making land at a site crhpme to erow kathi at a cost of Rs 58 • . — —------ . oVitc TntP^nHinp to buv 250 acrcs of alternative to bay al, is believed to be lakhs. Intending to buy 250 acres near I-------------- 25 acres for kathi cultivation, accord- b^al trees grown thereon would yield time was _ .1* __ _ I.. ...... A « T 1 the two varieties examined at an agiary tag to Deboo s logistics, the 32,500 in Bombay indicated that the burning baval trees grown tfcreon would yield time was the same for both baval and annually 8,12,500 kgs of kathi as each su-baval, btatha^the attending pn^__^ Unde^he teXsWrof Bhacca and matur'ity period o"f right to 10 yearn. was displeased with the unpleasant odor of the su-baval. Its fire-retention yields 25 kgs of kathi after a ,, ... u.-o former divisional forest officer of the should be taught, advised Anklesana, Kathi culture Gujarat Government, announced De- that even if “three crops cannot be The daily kath.necessary finance, they cultivated in a year, at least two can, bahrains and ag estimate hope, will be forthcoming from com- and the income supplemented by start- approximate 2,800 g a j„unity activists in the next two years, ing an ancillary business like forestry, of Dar of Rs 58 The su-baval variety, considered an d4 farming, dairying, poultry breed- ^heme to grow kath, 3< a cost of Rs 58 ^believed to be U. and softer. The properties of “their lives miserable, ” asserted Ank ­ lesaria. “Whose? ” querried Gandhi in jest, “the BPP trustees ’ or the far ­ mers ’?” “The farmers ’,” replied Ank ­ lesaria to dispel all doubts. Under the leadership of Bhacca ano mammy penuu - "pacity, as also release of toxic gas pr:^e\Srherp ”o' ’:he"'?a™e “ the fire-teJ^ples ’ kathi requirements and smoke will be reassessed so that Their most urgent requirements will will be met under the new scheme, ----------- --------------------------------------- be assessed after a meeting with the assured^ Deboo^^ ' YOU Cafl Stall a rnen on the field. To convince farmers that tax ex­ empted farming can be made into a irp?Suctfv^^Sdw7iggested that budding of a dharamshala, sanatorium, j ntO11©CtU31 capital formation of value to the local farmer. ? !} I would be utilized, if funds are gener ­ ated, for the cultivation of su-baval (which has a five-year maturity period), business with zero as a five-year mammy pcnou;, __ oc \/ni I , sandalwood, teak, and the C9pit91 SO lOnQ 3S yOU 9 9 The entire kathi scheme will be per ­ sonally supervised by Firoj Panthaky, ¦H even if su-baval cannot be utilized in atash bahrams and adarians, it can be H used in dadgahs. The price of kathi has reportedly A escalated from Rs 30 per ton in 1943 to HH Rs 850 in 1984 and Rs 1,250 in 1988. Fearing an embargo on interstate transport of forest produce, member ¦ of the Baroda delegation, Homi Chothia, a retired forest officer, had a “permanent solution ’ for supplying baval kathi: Grow baval trees on the land available with the punchayets and members of the community. Four hun ­ dred trees of baval, casuarina and eucalyptus have been planted at the Udwada Doongerwadi under the gui­ dance of Chothia who has also offered his free consultancy to other anju- mans. Fed Newsletter in a second language The Gujarati-speaking member anju- mans of the Federation will once again be given an opportunity to read of de­ velopments on the Federation front. The revived Gujarati version of the Fed Newsletter, to be edited by Ankle ­ saria, was distributed to the delegates present. Sponsorships for 13 issues have already been promised at the rate of Rs 600 per issue, and hereafter it will be a regular publication, assured Anklesaria. When Gandhi solicited sponsorship for the English edition, after the first ! 21 Parsiana May 1988assurance from Mazda Leasing manag ­ ing director Homi Mehtaj who prom ­ ised to finance two issues, the rest came in the form of a trickle (with Baroda anjuman offering to sponsor one, and Secunderabad saying they would try) until “the BPP came to the i rescue once again ” in Gandhi ’s words, I offering payment for two. Gandhi also a noted with regret the absence of Jam- I shed Guzder who, with his promised > donations, is usually the first to set the | ball rolling for most of the Federation projects. The Saronda anjuman, too, was in ­ vited to sponsor one issue at a cost of Rs 2,500 but Nariman Balsara was blunt. ''Hame English vanchta nathi, manta nathi (We neither read English nor believe in it). ” I ' '"l Sr” RsS 4^ '¦‘J '’’ii Kr'**? 7?i i;: ¦ j' kS''HHiN«IO!s!li'i1;a!affi From left: Kushesh, Chothia and 2,000 to priests but are our high priests j Dosabhai Oliaji earning that much? (One of the Bom- j Potential priests priests is reportedly paid a ? “We are not here to sabotage the reli- golwala drew an analogy between a monthly salary of around Rs 200.) ’ gion or the fire-temples, ” clarified degree holder and a diploma holder in Gandhi, referring to the achievement < _ of the paramobeds subcommittee like a diploma holder, would serve as a under the chairmanship of Guzder supplementary force. Gandhi offered, which successfully trained the first pa- “If Ervad Rooyinton Peer is willing to ramobed and posted him at the Alla- I— . habad fire-temple. Managing without mobeds when anjumans are in need, jarat to send nassessalars to Bombay, a priest for the last several months, the the Federation will abandon the pro- Marshall felt that Bombay was entic- Allahabad Anjuman and the Ghandhi ject. ” It was reiterated that the para- ing the Gujarat populace with higher s Daremaher trustees are reportedly mobeds were trained so that there does salaries of over a thousand rupees very satisfied with the services of para- not arise the need of closing down even a when shortage was experienced in Gu- mobed Rustom Madon. As conveyed single agiary in India. Certified para- jarat itself. Maneck Gheyara, founder ¦ • 2' ’ ’¦ ? ¦ member of the Federation, and Bhac- mans where regular priests cannot be ca (as SPP trustees) had also got them- fi)und. Kanga suggested that the training selves stitched nassessalar uniforms so sessions of paramobeds be recorded on engineering,stating that a paramobed. In need of nassessalars Scarcity is experienced not only in the supply of mobeds but in the availabil- _______ ity of nassessalars too. When Ankle ­ take up the responsibility of providing saria appealed to the anjumans of Gu- mobeds when anjumans are in need, ’ ' ” ' the Federation will abandon the pro- by the Anjuman president Capt Homi mobeds will be expected to serve anju- Dandiwalla, they will “not dispense with ’ ’ ’ ‘ " his services despite any opposition. ” This statement served to reassure the Federation which had come under the video to facilitate Zoroastrian associa- criticism by orthodox Zoroastrian tions abroad, scholar Ervad Dr Rooyinton Peer who felt that the use of the term “para ­ mobed ” was i adversely affect the sanctity of the agi- nan family ’s sacred duty to train the ary. He was also not in favor of a para- t -------- “S"’ mobed wearing a priest-like jaamaa do full-time mobedi, Gandhi put forth sponsfbility of the fire. He opined that ing for a mandate by which they wouW a paramobed ’s duty should be res- ' tricted to the supervision and mainte ­ nance of the agiary property. Federa ­ tion treasurer Peshotan Nargolwala, free to supplement their income. The who is most involved in this project, ...... ....... ......----------- — ----------------------------------- . suggested the use of the terms “din- be finding a problem of priest shortage should reciprocate by contributing a yaar (friend of the religion) or I--------- -------- . , . , , . < • j “mobed-yaar (friend of the mobed) ” if observed are more stringent. in the two regions) towards the stipend the term “paramobed ” is offensive. The Seeing the preoccupation with im- of a nassessalar retained by the SPP. Gujarati synonym of the second alterna ­ tive would be “mobed-mitra ” i" ?*“ view of Dr Ratan Marshall of Surat, an authority on the Gujarati language. Lest any priest feel threatened, Nar- Many practising priests reportedly say, “I am not a fool to make my son a illegal and would mobed. ” While stressing on the athor- - - - • • • ’ I son as a navar even if he is not going to ary. He was also not in favor of a para- < (robe),and being entrusted with the re- the view of some priests who are press- not be tied down to an agiary for 24 hours, but engaged for fixed hours so that in the remaining time they are Udwada Iranshah is also believed to 22 Parsiana May 1988 that they could officiate as pallbearers 9 in case of an emergency, reported Bhacca. But it was pointed out that BPP trustees could not be expected to act as pallbearers because while Surat may have about five deaths in a month, Bombay may have about five a day. “It is in the overall interests of the community, ” opined Gandhi, “that BPP trustees utilize their time and energies in serving the cause of the liv ­ ing rather than in carrying dead bodies to the dokhma. ” He then suggested an alternative: If Gujarat is able to spare one nassessalar for Bombay, the BPP because there the tariqats (discipline) sum (equal to the difference of salaries Seeing the preoccupation with im ­ proving the lot of the priests, Firoj This would ensure a parity of pay in the Panthaky of Navsari questioned, “Has scales in Bombay and Surat. More anyone ever bothered to think what is grandiose suggestions included mecha- the monthly draw of our high priests? nizing the whole procedure by using Anjumans offer to pay a salary of Rs trailers and conveyer belts. 1once the examination season was over, rents. “Where will you find a parent In AP, chief n^ster N.T, Rama Rao who will say ‘I have saved Rs 3,00,000 promised from his quota in medical and and am giving you Rs 50,000 to start a engineering colleges, one seat to Parsis venture. Never mind if you lose. ’” If when presiding over the Jamshedi Nav- parents can ’t afford, the government J roze function of PZASH which was also institutions and banks will help out I graced by legal luminary Nani Palkhivala. with the seed capital and margin I But, questioned Bezun Dittia, president money, Taleyarkhan informed. Kanga I of PZASH, “Will youths be available? ” was of the view, “You can start with ] “You can ’t expect that you make an zero capital so long as you have the I announcement today and you will get ap- intellectual capital. ” I plications tomorrow, ” replied Kan ga r - o j --— ¦— I “You have got to create an infrastructure, tied abroad should be brought back to I create social support so that the youngster India by forming a body to look into I is made to feel that he is representing the their problems and needs, it was sug- I gested. “I believe in souls, not I Left:Panthaky bodies, ” joked Gandhi, stressing that 1 Below: Deboo (left) and Dittia an inquiry be conducted as to what re ­ muneration, facilities and privileges they will demand as a precondition for returning to India. I I B 9 was of the view, “You can start with zero capital so long as you have the Enterprising youths who have set- I i IT'S Husbands and houses ¦I Lack of housing and inadequate fi- nance were the reasons cited by re- spondents who opted for a small fami- jp ly or late marriage norm, in a survey conducted by Prof Homai Billimoria at w the behest of the Federation. The ex- pectation of the female respondents ? from their marriage partners indicated that the majority wanted their spouses IB* 'Anjumans offer to pay a salary of Rs 2,000 to priests but are our high priests I earning that much? 9 9 way to discussions, subject suggestions tive edge. The Secunderabad Anjuman against 44 percent of the married participating youths will be expected numbers: “With 50 percent of the seats way of a marriage nor did living with 'Let ’s not link availability of flats 1 reservation, we never shall. It ’s only a re- birth rates, ” submitted Nargolwala quest for seats from the personal quota of who then went on to clarify, “The Youth-ful plans commumty. ” At the Secunderabad fun- to be postgraduates and earning over A mix of sports and discussions will be ction, Palkhivala. had reportedly con- Rs 3,000. Fifty-eight percent admitted offered at the Youth Festival to be yeyed his misgivings on the reservation that they had not found the husband of hosted by the Calcutta Anjuman from issue, saying that it is affluence which is their choice; 66 percent of the unmar- November 5-9, 1988. Talks will give making the community lose its competi- ried respondents were working as way to discussions, subject suggestions tive edge. The Secunderabad Anjuman against 44 percent of the married sam- for which can be sent to Calcutta. The explained to him that it was a question of pie. Holding a job did not come in the participating youths will be expected numbers: “With 50 percent of the seats way of a marriage nor did living with to come prepared to deliberate on blocked, you can ’t expect 1,200 to com- in-laws, going by the response. . topics, informed Gandhi on behalf of pete against 70 million. ” Declared “Let ’s not link availability of flats the Calcutta anjuman which was not Taleyarkhan, “We have never asked for for young couples with an increase in represented at the meeting. reservation, we never shall. It ’s only a re- birth rates, ” submitted Nargolwala Youths from Delhi, Thana and quest for seats from the personal quota of who then went on to clarify, “The Hyderabad reported on their progress chief ministers for highly ranked students highest birth rate in Bombay is on the towards forming local youth bodies who cannot get admission on their own footpaths of Crawford Market. ” and organizing activities — in the form merit. Young couples should be provided of blood donation drives, trekking, The complaint that Parsis were housing in the interest of “famil y w^l- cleaning agiary campaigns, fund rais- seeking jobs in low-risk service sectors fare and happiness, ” reiterated Nar- ing programs and vocational guidance rather than in business made Gandhi golwala and Taleyarkhan,and not as an talks-promising to have more programs attribute the responsibility to the pa- incentive to procreate. Insisted 23 Parsiana May 1988I f Taleyarkhan, “Being the (past) hous- T’ ing minister I know the problem well, aramgah in Daund (in Maharashtra) With the increase in prices and their was brought to the Federation ’s atten- fragile incomes, tlw young cannot be tion by Kersasp Irani, left entirely to their own resources. ” To get the maximum returns from Anklesaria clarified that as per the the land donated by the Jalnawala BPP’s housing policy, 30 percent of family for community use in Nanded is allotment is reserved for engaged and the intention of the aging trustee Kee- newly wed couples. “It may be in- ty Mewawalla. To sell the assets of the creased to 50 percent ” seeing that Anjuman where now stand 24 shops, nearly 700 of a total of 3,000 on the would mean the Anjuman getting BPP’s waiting list for housing are en- richer by Rs 31 lakhs. The shopkeep- gaged couples. ers, she said,have offered to buy over “Stop giving the community false their premises on the proviso that she hope, ” advised Gandhi. “Close the donate seven and a half lakh rupees waiting list. Stop construction activity, towards the maintenance of three de- Encourage cooperative housing partments - eye, blood and pathology schemes and utilize the funds instead — in the proposed hospital complex in for loan facilities to finance about 50 the same compound, plus two lakhs percent of the housing costs. Is there for the outlay of the hospital. While ____ any other community in India which some of the delegates were trying to Polly Chenoy (left) and Maneck waits for its charity trusts to provide convince her to utilize the community Gheyara housing? Marriage is a psychological funds for community charities, her and physical need. Other communities rationale was that rather than be ac- law, changing environment social de- live m the type of accommodation they cused of ^aisa khai gayee (has velopment, biographies, growth of in ­ can afford. Why can ’t we? ” usurped the money), ” she would dustries, and religion, authors have yet like to donate in the name of the Anju- to be appointed. Land interest and impasse man. ''Baar anna kaum ne male ne “Originality (of text) is not essential, ” Acres of land owned by the Iranian chaar anna biji kaum ne male tema opined Kanga. Students who are re- Zoroastnan Anjuman (IZA) in Pal- khotu su che (What is wrong if the searching Parsi subjects could also be ghar will he fallow until the court de- <------“ '__ ’ cides in favor of either the government benefits and ” shares the last or the IZA. “Let us make a repre- with non-Parsis)? ” mentation to the government, through ™ oumv mbinucia ui me rcuciauun ponani, empnasizeo Kanga tor a the Minorities Commission, that until who are acquainted with Nanded comprehensive and authentic manual the court delivers its judgment, we be wished to verify the information given Taleyarkhan assured him that all con- permitted to plant kathi trees on that by Mewawalla, it was suggested that tributions are subject to the editorial land, suggested Kanga. she meet with Katpitia, Anklesaria, board ’s approval, although further de- trusts are re- Deboo and Gandhi. (However, tails on the composition of the board portedly disposing of community prop- attempts to speak to her at the Kell ’s and the criteria for selection/rejection erty, reported Kersasp Irani, president Hotel or even at the Surat railway sta- of articles were not outlined of the Poona Parsi Panchayat (PPP), tion at the time of departure. Since the Poona Panchayat ’s constitu- portedly met with no success.) tion does not permit the trustees ’ in ­ terference in the working of private Documenting Parsis News of an unused and unheard of •1 Hi'' cooperative community gets three-fourths of the encouraged to assist in the compila- u„ _i .v- quarter tion of the manual, suggested Kanga. “Be­ sides the contents, even the style is im- As some members of the Federation portant, ” emphasized Kanga, for a Je^ meet with Katpitia, Anklesaria, board ’s approval, although further de- -------and Gandhi. (However, tails on the composition of the board re- Succession stymied In the interest of expediting the X X T . ut-T-j*- —°------- amendments to the Indian Succession trasts, Irani sought the Federation s An encyclopaedia on the Zoroastrian Act as applicable to Parsis Gandhi help. When It was suggested that community, one in a series featuring who has been consistently pressing for Poona members, in their individual different religious communities in In- treating the discriminated son-in-law capacity, could seek a stay order or dia, is expected to be printed by Au- approach the Minorities Commission, ___ Irani challenged, “I know the avenues, lished by the Minorities CommlsSon, I want you to show me whether the contributions - on the role of Parsis, Federation is effective. their problems and solutions for their Since the Federation recognizes the betterment, their contribution to autonomy of member punchayets, sports, food, government and politics, Gandhi voiced the Federation ’s inabil- i ' ity to intervene until the PPP for- '_____ ,___ _ _ _________ x iv.naic as auuwcu lo a mai warded to the Federation a copy of its of Parsis, and the Federation - will be to legalize deathbed bequeltTto^char^ ing the Federation ’s assistance ________ ________ statement confirming that it has no asked to prepare a summary of their arrive at a decision the objection to the Federation looking article before working ........................... into the matter. - • on par with the favored daughter-in- was willing to make some sacrifices: “If Eruch ’s inhibitions are only on the son-in-law issue, then let ’s forget the son-in-law and get the Bill through. ” . The main thrust of the amendments armed services, religious customs, is to grant the same equal rights to a women, antiquity and heritage, advent Parsi female as allowed to a male, and gust, hoped Taleyarkhan. To be pub- law (a move not acceptable to Desai) a request- suomitteo in the next two months by ity even if certain formalities are not __„...J or a experts in these fields. Authors will be complied with. Once the BPP trustees -! consensus or _ on a detailed majority opinion of the other Federa- wiite-up. But in such fields as personal tion members will be ascertained be- submitted in the next two months by ity even if certain formalities 21 Parsiana May 1988t his statement that there was a greater J tnar- which is not even in favor of granting riages, which the youngster insisted equal rights to women, leave alone was not the case in '"dakshin (south) r "If a Kohli can make a lucrative earning on the same sized land, why can‘ta Parsi?" fore the next Federation meeting in finding one wife where is the likeli- Gandhi, Homi Taleyarkhan, Nergish September so that Taleyarkhan can hood of finding two)? ” But Gandhi Nargolwala, Farokh Rustomji and Rusi pursue the matter with the govern- thought that this argument supported Engineer from Delhi; Aspi Irani and Fer ­ ment. his statement that there was a greater vez Irani from Iranian Zoroastrian Anju- With the exception of the IZA possibility of intercommunity mar- man; Eruch Surti from Jamshedpur; which is not even in favor of granting riages, v^ich the youngster insisted Mani Clubwala, from Madras; Keki equal rights to women, leave alone was not the case in "‘dakshin (south) Amalsadiwala from Mandvi; Gp Capt sons-in-Iaw, as notified by IZA vice- Gujarat. ” Dhunjishaw Marker from Mhow; Keety president Aspi Irani, all the other _________________________________ Mewawalla from Nanded; Dastur anjumans seem to support the amend- " If o Knhii Meherji Meherjirana, Dara Deboo, ments. The IZA does not have lady '* piroj Panthaky, Aspi Mullan, Jimmy members, confessed Irani vyhich could g lUCratiVG 69mi 0(3 00 Jo^hi and Noshir Sabawalla from Nav- account for their “biased view. ” o' I ol ^^rshasp Irani and Pervez Avari Bardoli anjuman ’s reservation is TOG SdmG SIZGCj 190(3, fromPoona;DaliIlaviaandSapalTam- that if the rights of the women are rec- whv OAO't A Rajkot; Homi Palsetia and ognized, it would lead to a fragmenta- vviiy<^a lai aioi. Nariman Balsara from Saronda; Bezun tion of land holdings, which as Gandhi ' Dittia, Gool Chenoy, Polly Chenoy and explained was the outcome even under Those attending the meeting were Jehangir Bisney from Secunderabad; Dr the existing legislation, and altering Hosang Debar a from Agra; Capt Homi Sam Bhacca, Davar Kavasji Modi, Sorab the ratio between the males and the Dandiwalla from Allahabad; Hoshang Katpitia, Dr Minocher Contractor, Man ­ females would not change the situa- Baldawala, Edulji Dumasia and Erach eck Gheyara and Dr Ratan Marshall tion. If land is bequeathed to the Baldawala from Bardoli; Shavak Patel, from Surat; Mehraban Kushesh from sons or the eldest son, it does not fol- Kersy Kavina and Homi Chothia from Tehran; Hoshang Chargemen and Per ­ low that they will cultivate it them- Baroda; Dara Mahudawala and Erach vez Dordi from Thana; Dr Bahadur selves and not sell it to non- Kapadia from Bharuch; Minochaher Jokhi, Rusi Parabia, Persi Buhariwalla, 2Loroastrians. The land may even be Bharucha from Bhavnagar; Piroz Dandi- JalKasad,F.M. Jokhi and Parvez Duma- lost in case of a second marriage to a wala and Dorab Tata from Bilimora; Dr sia from Vyara-Songadh; Peshotan Nar- non-Zoroastrian, he emphasized. One Aspi Golwalla, Jamsheed Kanga, Rus- golwala, co-opted from west zone A; and of the local youngsters clarified, '*Ek tom Anklesaria, Gool Tata and Ramiyar Homi Mehta and Hoshedar Mehta from bahu^ nathi multi tau be bahu kya thi Karanjia from Bombay; Dosabhai Oliaji Zai Bordi. The Press was represented by lavye (When there is a difficulty in from Daman; Zal Nowsherwanji, Keki Rusi Besania from Surat, and Parsiana. ? I I * . as a professor of geology at a Jammu college. From there, he worked his way through several posts which pro ­ vided more opportunity for field work. He became an assistant superinten ­ dent with the Geological Survey of In- ______; _____ ¦ especially that of soil, on plants. It was plex problems of Himalayan geology, he who emphasized the role of trace 1975 to 1978 he held the post of Pro ­ fessor Emeritus at the Gujarat Uni- ¦ I Ahmedabad where he I (1904-1981) helped to establish a strong school of worked in the field of plant sociology, plant physiology. Another plant physiologist who won the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Memorial Prize from the ICAR, in 1973, is Dr the year 1945-1946. His efforts had also included the eco-physiology of Like Chinoy, he too earned his docto- rocks, coastal sands, islets and waste- the division of plant physiology at the versity of Syria and the University of Scientist of the ICAR. Some signifi- Baghdad, Bharucha was a guest lectur- cant findings from Asana ’s early re- erat the University of Poona between searches were that plane-polarized 1961 and 1969. He was awarded the light (light consisting of vibrations in diploma and gold medal of the Brazi- one plane only) did not influence lean Academy of Sciences and Huma- photosynthesis, and that the sugarcane nities. yield in north Bihar depended on nit- 39 Parsiana May 1988 I I I I ! I1 I I rogen uptake and rainfall. In the field of atomic physics and atomic energy there are two Parsi Fel ­ lows of the Academy. Atomic physi ­ cist Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha (1909- 1966) was, notes the compendium, “the brain behind the growth of the atomic energy establishments in In ­ dia. ” A brilliant scientist, he earned his doctorate from Cambridge in 1935, and became famous for his work in theoretical high energy physics. He was appointed professor of physics at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, director of the Tata Insti ­ tute of Fundamental Research, chair ­ man of the Atomic Energy Commis ­ sion ’s Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet, and secretary to the government of India ’s Department of Atomic Energy. In addition to honor ­ ary doctoral degrees in science from various universities, both in India and abroad, Bhabha was awarded the Pad ­ ma Bhushan in 1954. A permanent memorial to him stands at Trombay, Bombay - the Bhabha Atomic Re­ search Centre, which was named after him. Dr Homi Nusserwanji Sethna (born 1923) was former principal secretary of | the Department of Atomic Energy, and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of the government of In ­ dia. A Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, and a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of En ­ gineering Sciences, he is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. It was Sethna who was responsible for the design, construction and commis ­ sioning of several national projects j like the rare earths plant at Alwaye which marked the beginning of the ex­ ploitation of nuclear material in India, I the thorium and plutonium plants at Trombay, and the uranium mill at ’ Jaduguda, Bihar. INSA Fellows from the medical sci- ’ ences are cardiologist Dr Rustom Jal s Vakil, oncologist Dr Darab Jehangir Z Jussawalla, and neuropathologist Dr Darab Kersasp Dastur. Dr Rustom Jal Vakil (1911-1974) is often called the father of Indian cardiology. He was the first to carry out large scale statis- Clockwise from top left: Wadia, KjAntia, D. Antia, Sukheswala, D.Dastur, Jussawalla, Vakil, Sethna, Bhabha, Asana, Chinoy, J. Dastur, Bharucha, and R. Dastur (Photos: Golden Jubilee Compendium on Fellows Of The Indian National Science Academy) ! tical studies on the incidence of va ­ rious types of heart disease, and the first to use the term ‘preinfarction syn ­ drome. ’ He also suggested several new classifications of abnormal heart rhythms, anterior thoracic pain and 111 J LlIlllJ, UIllVlIWl IIIVZIUV.!*. congenital heart disease, besides intro- ducing some entirely new clinical titles in medical science. Vakil won the Award of the Lasker Foundation for focussing the attention of western medical researchers on rauwolfia ser ­ pentina, a drug that has been used in ancient Ayurvedic medicine in India for hundreds of years. An assistant honorary physician at several hospitals and medical colleges in Bombay, he was also the author of several books. Dr Darab Jehangir Jussawalla (born 1915) is a senior surgeon and professor of oncology (the study of tumors), and chairman. Planning and Development, at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Bom ­ bay. He has, notes the book, made outstanding contributions in the di­ agnosis and treatment of a variety of cancers. He developed a modified technique of radical hysterectomy, established the value of cytology (that part of biology that deals with cells) in the early diagnosis of a variety of can ­ cers - which led to the setting up of the first cancer cytology laboratory in In ­ dia in 1953 - and was responsible for proving the value of cancer detection in high risk groups. Jussawalla ’s establishment of the need for, and value of, rehabilitation of cancer patients resulted in the founding, in Bombay, of Asia ’s largest cancer rehabilitation center. A reci ­ pient of the Padma Bhushan in 1978, Jussawalla also sited “inversion of can ­ cer incidence in the Parsi community in comparison with the rest of the population of Bombay. ” Neuropathologist Dr Darab Kersasp Dastur (born 1924) has been, at diffe ­ rent times, a Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation, a visiting scientist of the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, a research officer of the neuropathology unit at the Tata Memorial Hospital, a professor of neuropathology, and the director of the Neuropathology and Applied Biol ­ ogy Department at the Bombay Hos ­ pital. Dastur has researched the pathology and functioning of the ner ­ vous system in human aging, different types and stages of leprosy, tuberculo ­ sis, meningitis, muscle disorders, and nutritional disorders of the nervous ¦ i j i j 5 40 Parsiana May 1988system. Among the honors he has re- businessmen to introduce fast launches tant, Antia carried out original re ­ ceived are the K.T. Dholania Prize to bring mackerel and sardines from search work on solid state transforma- Lectureship from the Indian Ortho- the north Canara coast to the markets tion in high carbon and nickel carbon paedic Society, the Graeme Robertson of Bombay. It was also Setna, a PhD steels, leading to new concepts in heat Memorial Lectureship of the Austra- from Cambridge, who established the treatment. Some of the awards he has lian Association of Neurologists, Bris- Taraporevala Aquarium and Marine received are the Henry Marion Howe bane, and the K.S.K. Vaidya Memo- Biological Research Station in Bom- Medal from the American Society for rial Prize Lectureship of the Bombay bay. Metals, and the Platinum Medal from Medical Council. Geologist Dr Ratan Nadirshaw the Indian Institute of Metals. From the field of agriculture and Sukheswala (born 1910), formerly pro- And finally, from the field of civil dairying came Dr Zal R. Kothavala fessor and head of the geology depart- engineering came Khurshed F. Antia (born 1896-date of death unknown), ment at St Xavier ’s College, Bombay, (1904-1968). After obtaining his MSc Winner of the International Dairy worked on the Deccan Trap rocks of (Engg) degree from London, Antia Federation of the World ’s silver medal India, and was the first to discover car- became deputy chief engineer and and the Bombay University ’s gold bonatite alkaline rocks in India. A Fel- principal bridge engineer at the Khar- Moose Medal, Kothavala was one of low of the Geological Society of India, agpur Workshop; director of the Re- the first Indians to specialize in the sci- the Indian Society of Earth Sciences, search. Designs and Standards Orga- ence of dairying, genetics and cattle vice-president of the Mining and nisation, Ministry of Railways; tech ­ nutrition. A member of the Indian Allurgical Society of India, and presi- nical controller of the Cement Market- . Dairy Association, he made outstand- dent of the Earth Science Society of ing Company Limited, Bombay; and ing contributions to the science and India and of the Maharashtra chief engineer and consultant with practice of dairying in tropical coun- Academy of Sciences (1978), he was M.N. Dastur and Company Pvt Ltd. tries, reports the book. awarded the Pramatha Nath Bose The winner of the Railway Board First Dr Sam Bomansha Setna (1895- Memorial Medal by the Asiatic Socie- Prize (1943-1944) and the Gold Medal 1969) was Fisheries Officer and Direc- ty of Calcutta in 1978. (1946-1947), Antia was responsible for tor of Fisheries, Bombay, and “one of The only Parsi Fellow from the field the construction of major railway the stalwarts in fisheries development of metallurgy is Dr Dara Pirojshaw bridges and military depots, and their in India. ” It was he who established Antia (born 1914). President of the In- reconstruction without diversions of and nurtured the Fisheries Depart- dian Copper Information Centre, and traffic. He was also the author of two ment and persuaded fishermen and an industrial and management consul- books on railway engineering. The only Parsi Fellow from the field the construction of major railway 41 Parsiana May 7988r COMMENT o than, say, 10 Parsi families resided. The result was an over-abundance of adarians in places like Bombay and in certain towns of Gujarat, where, to- dustries, textile mills or prefabricated day, because of the depletion of the houses. But certainly not for a conse ­ crated atash adarian! When, therefore, trustees of Parsi number of devotees. Add to that, un- punchayets or of fire-temples glibly seemly, avoidable battles royal among talk of “relocating ” atash padshahs, the trustees of many adarians, and you they do not realize the repercussions have a dismal state of affairs, where and consequences of such an act. Parsis talk glibly of shifting fire- The latest talk is that of shifting the temples and selling away the buildings Doongaji adarian in Bharuch to God- and the lands on which they stand! rej 'Baug in Bombay. The Baug, we .1— L .1------ 21—12 f late, a fashionable word ban- died about in the Parsi Press is “relocation. ” One can under ­ stand its usage in case of small-scale in- Parsi population, some of the adarians are not frequented by a reasonable ¦i ( I' rej Baug in Bombay. The Baug, we What then is the solution? Should are told, will be housing about 480 atash padshahs be shifted or not? If Parsi families, hence the need for an adarian there. In a case made out for “relocating ” which lodged the fire from Null fire-temples in the Jam-e-Jamshed of Bazar January 3, 1988, Bombay Parsi Pun- Below: Procession accompanying chayet (BPP) trustee Homi Ranina the Surat Goti Adarian fire when it gives the example of Cusrow Baug ’s Karani Agiary ’s adarian shifted in j 1935 from Null Bazar because of the . “occasional outbursts of riots. ” He thereby implies that precedents have j been set in the recent past of shifting adarians from one place to another. While the ostensible purpose of pro ­ viding the community spiritual solace and sustenance is understandable, the I real materialistic motives behind the j move, as shown in Ranina ’s above- mentioned letter, are not. He writes: “In fact, the shifting of agiaries fulfils two objectives: A new dar-e-meher is constructed out of the funds obtained from the sale of the land on which the old dar-e-meher stands, such sale pro ­ ceeds being adequate not only to cover the cost of constructing the new dar-e- meher but also adding to the corpus of I the original trust for future repairs and maintenance of the new dar-e-meher. (Besides), the holy fire (is brought) to a place where there are several hun ­ dred Parsi families, thereby providing a house of worship to Zoroastrian resi ­ dents. ” (Ranina had written the above letter in the context of his proposal to set up an adarian in Sanjan, under the auspices of the Mazda Adarian Trust.) Let us concede right at the outset that our enthusiastic forefathers took the advice in the Persian Revayats (directions sought and received from the Zoroastrian mobeds of Iran) liter ­ ally, and built adarians where more Right: Karani Agiary in Bombay re-housed in its original abode in 1985 4X- I 42 Parsiana May 1988 Li- 4 ¦> ¦d d *5 Atash adarians not for shifting Adi F. Doctor If the consecrated fire, housed in its abode, is disturbed, it will evoke evil forcesnot, why not? The answers lie in the consideration of the following points: Significance Why do Zoroastrians have conse ­ crated fire altars? Every atom or parti ­ cle in nature is made up of the four basic elements - earth, water, air and fire. These elements, and particularly the element of fire, are afflicted by the grossness of the material world. The fire energy latent in every atom bears the weight of this grossness. Of the 16 fire energies existing in the universe, a tiny representative of one of them is trapped inside, say, a log of wood, in the physical world, which could be put to a myriad uses. This trapped latent fire energy is to be freed of its mater ­ ialistic load. Zoroastrians are therefore enjoined to remove the dross from the fires used directly or indirectly in different pro ­ fessions and vocations, and release the '¦•Xi ft I I g 3*i *r? h latent fire energy therein. The three Avestic terms given for such dross or pollution are, akhti (pollution created by mankind, like human excreta, spit, etc), aahiti (putridity of humans, who come into contact with the object in which the fire energy is trapped) and paviti (any natural pollution afflicting the object). In consecrating an atash bahram, fires used in 15 professions are puri ­ fied; in the case of an adarian, fires of four professions are used. There are six stages in the creation of an atash adarian: The selection of four kinds of fires; purification of these fires; con ­ secration of these fires separately; con ­ secration of the fires mixed together; consecration of the gumbaj or dome and the sanctum sanctorum; and en ­ thronement of the adarian. Fire from Aden en route to Lonavla in 1976 •; 1 ¦'ih ¦ - Composition Once the adarian is enthroned, the six magnetic circuits (karsh) are estab ­ lished round the censer containing the fire as well as inside the urvisgaah (place where higher liturgical cere ­ monies are performed) and around the walls of the building housing the atash padshah. The atash padshah is now automatically bestowed by nature with dahyupati - sovereignty. He wields hu- khshathra or righteous power and au ­ thority. So, he also becomes a rathaeshtar - spiritual warrior, ceaselessly fighting evil forces around him. Moreover, he becomes the earth ­ ly embodiment of some of the fire energies of nature, a spiritual battery perpetually receiving the divine bles ­ sings and benevolent currents and transmitting them to all living beings within a certain radius. The atash ada ­ rian thus is a functionary agent attun ­ ing with the fire energies operating in space. He is a living, pulsating entity whose head is the visible fire we see on the censer, whose conscience {daend) is the atash dadgah in the urvisgaah, whose limbs are the six magnetic cir ­ cuits and whose khoreh or halo is the radiating glow emanating from the atmosphere surrounding the padshah. The entire building of the adarian becomes a consecrated talismanic for ­ tress wherein the deified fire is en ­ throned. Now the afflicted fires taken from the four professions (athornan - priest class, rathaeshtar - warrior class, vastriosh - farmer or agriculturist and hutokhsh - the serving class) are free of all pollution and putridity and the latent fire energies therein are in direct contact with their counterparts in the universe. t ,i j it 'O 1 \ r I i Consecration The hallowed ground on which the fire-temple stands is important. In chapter 3, paragraph 1 of the Vendi- dad, the suprerpe importance of the ground on which a fire-temple or a dokhma stands is graphically brought out. In answer to a question by Zarathushtra, as to which lands are joyous, the omnipotent Lord replies that there are five such grounds, one of which is that where consecration takes place. Where there are atash padshahs, there ’s a constant rendez-T rian was saved from disposal is the Removal of an atash padshah tanta- mounts to a breach of trust in nature and a hurdle in the progress of the de- doubt “that no adarian anywhere need very rare instances should an adarian be removed and relocated if the trus- tified ground is displeased and a vio- lent disorder in nature is created, the Langrana Agiary in Bombay. t ¦j H t vous oiyazatic and other divine forces. What happens when an adarian is --------------- . . u u ? u removed and the consecrated building adverse reaction of .yhich has_ to be housing it is disposed of? In no cir- 1 cumstances ^should the six karsh or munity. magnetic circuits, which operate inside the agiary and interact with one another, be disturbed. The short ­ circuiting of even one of these karsh — one of the ways being the dethroning of the padshah by lifting or shifting him - has a chain reaction: all the other circuits snap or are disrupted. The padshah is then deprived of his spir ­ itual power and authority; he then does not have the strength required of a rathaeshtar, he is subjected to the in ­ cessant attacks of gana min - the evil force operating in nature - and finds it impossible to act as a receiving and transmitting center vis-a-vis the spiritual world. In short, instead of the hu- tees < . - , . . khshathra (benevolent power) prevail- duties of preserving and mmntaming ing there, the dMzJt/is/iflt/ira or wicked the padshahs adequately. That the ^^out the author: Adi Doctor is one of the rule of Ahriman is virtually clamped Parsi population in different places has main spokespersons for the orthodoxy. Editor thpreon ’ been reduced, or that very few rituals op/jc nowde/wzirtThe Parsee Voice, Doctor, • • • ¦' J ¦ --------- a former publicity officer in a bank, is an Avesta-Pahlavi scholar and a frequent lectur­ er on Kshnumist themes. borne by the entire ZLoroastrian com- In this writer ’s mind, there is no parted souls of their founders! In veiy be moved to a new location. The re ­ medy will be worse than the disease if, as the BPP trustees want to do, and as Ranina suggests, adarians are located in Parsi bangs, with the kind of living — so distant from the Zoroastrian tenets and canons - that is found in an average Parsi home. The Karani Agi­ ary inside the Cusrow Bang is a classic instance! Let the trustees of all ada ­ rians remember that if the atash ada ­ rians are well taken care of, if the trus-- tees stop mammon-worshipping and prevent internecine squabbles, the take care of themselves! If the building and land on which the padshah stood is disposed of the sanctified ground is displeased and the priests perform their padshahs can Above all if the building and land are performed in some agiaries, is no on which the padshah stood is dis ­ posed of, it is obvious that the sanc- been reduced, or that very few rituals of the now defect The Parsee Voice, Doctor, reason for the shifting of the adarian. The latest case in point where the ada- i I i'l I ( Scholarship for Dentistry Applications are invited from deserving of Dental Surgery. .... Zoroastrian students who have passed / the Std XII Examination - H.S.C. or age, sex, nationality and religion, equivalent — with minimum The scholarship is towards securing 3, Warden Court, Applications giving details of name, n.o.v.. V.1 dgC, sex, nationality and religion, I 75 percent attempts, parents ’ occupation and in ­ marks in physics, chemistry, biology. -- ’ " ’ "" ” The scholarship is towards securing 3, Warden Court, A. Kranti Marg, admission to a recognized Dental College Bombay 400036 not later than June 20, in South India for the degree of Bachelor 1988. come should reach Dr Ratan H. Doctor, ! 1 i ! BPP scholarships high second waiting for their results. Gift/loan scho- are subject fo the Reserve Bank of In- Application forms are available from Mr A.D. Sarkari, Secretary, Higher Education Committee, C/o Parsi Pun ­ chayet Office, 209 D.N. Road, Fort, Attention of first class , or high second waiting tor tneir resuiis. uuuiuai. class Parsi graduates is invited to the gift larships for postgraduate studies abroad nt in- Bombay Pars ’r'punchayet for the' year dia ’s Foreign Exchange Regulations^ and loan scholarships offered by the 1988 for postgraduate studies abroad as well as in India, preferably in engineer ­ ing, technical, scientific, industrial, com ­ Applicants must, as a rule, be less than Bombay 400001. The last date for submit- 28 years of age at the time of applying, ting the application forms duly * 1 • 1 1_ *11* 4- * T 1 1 DQQ A.L*. jARnAM Final year degree students, with brilliant is June 10, 1988. academic records, may also apply without Secretary, Higher Education Committee Bombay Parsi Punchayet 44 Parsiana May 19881 MILESTONES s f The data on births, marriages Married and deaths has been compiled Kashmira Framroze Billimoria from information provided by and Viraf Adi Patva; March 14 various anjumans in India and Bapsy Framroze abroad, courts and hospitals. " ’ The news provided differs from I Darukhanawala and Faroukh Dhunjishaw Dastur; March 19 place to place, depending on the Persis Hoshang source. ' If readers have any informa ­ tion they would like published, some proof to ensure the verac ­ ity of the report would be re ­ quired. We are sure our readers will appreciate this requirement Darius Jehangir Khambata; and cooperate with us. Out of the 85 Parsis who died in Bombay, 31 succumbed to heart disease. Ailments of the lung claimed 24 lives. The next most important killers were old age (nine), brain disease (five) Benaifer Hoshang Bhoot and and blood disease (four). Di- Daraius Maneck Bharucha; abetes and kidney failure each April 19 claimed three victims, while Benaifer Kersy Driver and accidents and cancer each Rustom Shapoor Kharegat; claimed two. There were also April 21 isolated cases of gastroenteritis Shahnaz Rustom Irani and and shock. Two infants were lost to the community. f ti f i I f,"’ if • I BOMBAY Born A boy to Aban and Zareer Karbhari on March 3, 1988 A boy to Yasmine and Mancher Palkhiwala; April 10 A girl to Navaz and Eric Dastur; April 13 A. girl to Dhun and Yezdi Master; April 13 A boy to Fizzat and Nadirshah Barbhaiwala; April 14 A girl to Zarin and Kobad Mevawalla; April 16 A girl to Rajkumari and Firdosh Bhiwandiwala; April 17 A girl to Dolly and Dhun Boatwalla; April 20 A boy to Arnavaz and Kaiyoz Mirza; April 23 A boy to Sunu and Homi Aibara; April 24 A boy to Simin and Meherza Shokrekhuda; April 27 A boy to Rati and Pranab Dana; April 28 A boy to Jeroo and Prakash Ramkrishna; April 29 Chhapkhanawala and ACern Soli Daruwalw, April 2 Rashna Dadi Mandiwalla of Navsari and Zubin Keki Bharucha; April 5 Kerman Khushro Wadia and April 10 Pervin Pesi Baliwala and Keiky Minoo Press; April 10 Vira Minoo Khasusa and Pervesh Hoshang Mody ; April 15 Farsheed Faredoon Irani; April 24 Diana Kersasp Shroff and Zubin Dinshah Mehta; April 24 Bachoo Firoze Khansaheb of Bangalore and Mehernosh Nariman Kapadia; April 26 Died Ardeshir Bomanshaw Balsara residing at 21 Transval Ter, Grant Rd, 400007; March 31 Jamshedji Rustomji Contractor {19), 106 Mansarovar, Mt Plesant Rd, 400006; April 1 Najoo Ratan Doctor (64), G-1, Captain Clny, Tardeo, 4()(X)34; April 1 Rupina Sorabji Nicholson {12),20\.l2<d2 Atmaj,94/C, Cutnballa Hill, 400036; April 1 Bacha Jamshed Bachana (63), Affl Anand Sagar, Sector 17, Vashi, 400703; April 2 Jalamai Jalbhoy Bamboat (80), Divecha Bldg, Malcolm Bang, Jogeshwari, 400102; April 2 Jal Nusserwanji Bharucha (82),Gool Villa, 802 B, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Dadar, 400014; April 2 Rustam Behram Kaovasa (76), C-2 Mangal Prabhat, 5th Rd, Vile Parle, 400049; April 2 Shirin Kharshed Pavri (78), Swastic Court, 132, M. Karve Rd, 400020; April 2 Pallon Dinshawji Doctor (57), 4/16, A.H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400033; April 3 Navajbai Jehangirji Jilia (99), J.D. Alves Premises, 60-B/21- 22, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; April 3 Najamai Savakshaw Shroff (93), B-204 Ketayun Mans, Vile Parle (E), 400057; April 3 Dorabji Burjorji BamanBehram (88), 6 Wadia Block, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; April 4 Silloo Godrej Joshi (63),40/A, Ridge Rd, Malabar Hill, 4(XM)06; April 4 Gaimai Navroji Vandriwala (85), Abbas Bldg, 148, Falkland Rd, 400008; April 4 Piroja Faramroze Irani (65), Zaveri Bldg, Grant Rd, 400007; April 5 Sheran Dhanjishaw Kasad (78), C/12 Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; April 5 B/o Yutaz Zubin Mandviwala (1 day), 5/33 A.H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400033; April 5 Goolbanoo Minocher Mehta (78), Old Petit Mans, 85, Sleater Rd, 400007; April 5 Piroja Hormusji Mehta (87), Baimai Bldg, Jerbai Wadia Rd, Parel, 400012; April 5 Rusi Minocher Patel (53), Goolrukh, 83 Worli Seaface, 400025; April 5 Shermai Bamanshaw Pardiwalla (75), 5 Devidas Mans, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; April 6 Phiroz Edulji Wadia (70), 101 Mazagaon Apts, Narial Wadi, 400010; April 6 Fardoon Mervan Irani (60), Hill Ruff, St Andrews Rd, Bandra, 400050; April 7 Amy Minoo Panthaky (82), 101-B Atlas Apts, J. Mehta Rd, 400006; April 7 Dhanjishaw Cawasji Billimoria (74), B, Shapur Baug, V.P. Rd, 400004;April 9 Dorab Khurshedji Kapadia (69), 4/4 Tata Hsg Soc, Parel, 400012; April 9 Mithibai Dadabhoy Mistry (89), 83/A Jal Darshan, Napean Sea Rd, 400036; April 9 Savakshaw Dossabhai Readymoney (77), 190 Harun Bldg, Princess St, 400002; April 9 Bapai Dorabji Cooper (55), Piroja Mans, Sir Ratan Tata Rd, Tardeo, 400034; April 10 • Dorabji Dinshawji Birdy (96), 8, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; April 11 Sorab Sheavakshaw Contractor (89), 12 Sonarica, 33-A, Pedder Rd, 400026; April 11 Navroji Nariman Dadabhoy (84), Maskati Court, M. Karve Rd, 400020; April 11 Manek M.L. Maneksha (87), Sunshine, 156, M. Karve Rd, 400020; April 11 Jehanbaksh Hormasjee Vijifdar (83), V-7, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, 400008; April 11 Perin Rustom Contractor (78), J-11, Cusrow Baug, Colaba, 400039; April 12 SheramaiJ. Mansukh (60), Shukhia Bldg, Cawasji Patel St, Fort, 400001; April 12 Phiroze Jamshedji Mistry (85), F.S. Parukh Dharamshalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; April 12 Goolbai Kawasji Sethna (74), Adenwalla Bldg, 626, Parsi Clny., Dadar, 400014; April 12 Minoo Sorabji Bharucha (62), 17 Bandstand Apts, Bandra, 400050; April 13 Eruchshaw Dhanjishaw Billimoria (65), E-15, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; April 13 Tehmina Ratanji Chhoy (89), 10/8 Rustom Baug, Byculla, 400027; April 13 Bhikhaji C. Karwa (84), B/53, Maghdoot, Koldongari, Andheri (E), 400069; April 14 Nergish Behram Vakharia (70), G-1, Shapur Baug, V.P. Rd, 400004; April 14 Noshirwan Cawasji I 46 Parsiana May 1988I Lakdawalla (82), 347-C United Chmbs, Grant Rd, 400007; April 16 Manijeh Dinshaw Gandevia (75), Ness Baug, Annex 3, Nana Chowk, 400007; April 17 Dhunmai Pestonji Shah (98), 70,Trinity St, Dhobi Talao, 400002; April 17 Maneckbai Hormuzdiar Bhavnagri (82), 12 Jer Mans, Off Turner Rd, Bandra, 400050; April 18 Jamshed Byramji Jijibhoy (85), Rubans Apts, L. Jagmohandas Rd, 400036; April 18 Firoz Pestonji Sudry (50), Karmakar Hse, 112/1, Tilak Nagar, Goregaon (W), 400062; April 18 Manchershaw Manekshaw Bharucha (85), Tara Mans, Khetwadi Main Rd, 400004; April 19 Dolly Phirozshaw Driver (70), Katy Burjor Mehta (81), Engineer Bldg, 11, Sleater Rd, Bharucha Bldg, Khetwadi 400007; April 20 Sorab Dadabhoy Parekh (80), Zoroastrian Bldg, Golanji Hill, Parel Tank Rd, 400012; April 20 Meher Manekjee Tarachand (90), 5, Firuz-ara, Churchgate, (86), Gandhi Mans, 16,Wadia Reel, 400021; April 20 ‘ ~ Mehran Dhanjishaw Gazdar (61), 16/2, Rustom Baug, Byculla, 400027; April 21 Dolly Behram Irani (58), Soonawalla Bldg, Proctor St, Grant Rd, 400007; April 21 Dorab Jehangir Mehta (84), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; April 21 B/o Alice Hoshang Vazifdar (4 Rd, Mahim 400016; April 28 days), X-106/11, Godrej Staff " ' ' .................. * Qrs, Vikhroli (E), 400079; April 21 Shiavax Munchershaw Wadia (S3), Cover Mans, 91 Mint Rd, Fort, 400001; April 21 Tehmina Faredun Antia (82), Madhav Bhuvan, Queens Rd, 400004; April 22 Jal Framroze Muncherjee (11), 400007; April 28 C-2 Fariyas, 143,Cumballa Hill, 400026; April 22 Keki Darabsha Vesuna (60), L, Dalal Est, Bombay Central, Nargis Ardeshir Avari (77), 400008; April 22 Najamai Sorabji Masalawalla (78), C/o Ms Chadan R. Patel, 704 Cumballa Crest, Pedder Rd, 400026; April 23 Motibai Edulji Patel (92), M.I.G. Clny, 551 Bandra, 400051; April 23 Rustom Jamsedjee (84), 286- A, S. Gandhi Marg, 400002; April 24 Jerbai Rustomji Panthaki (81), B/39-105, Yogi Sant Co-op Hsg Soc, Borivli (W), 400092; April 24 Tehemton P. Pithavala (59), 53, Rewa Apts, B. Desai Rd, 400026; April 24 Mehera Faredoon Pavri (82), 401, Vacha-Gandhy Bldg, Gamdevi, 400007; April 25 Phiroze Sheriarji Daruvalla (78), Satya Bhama Nivas, Kasinath Rd, Tardeo, 400034; April 26 Pesi Hormasji Dubash (75), 137, Old Modi St, Jesia Bldg, Fort, 400001; April 26 Dara Syavax Havewala (49), New Petit Mans, Nana Chowk, 400007; April 26 Dinbai Nariman Maloo (84), Sethna Bldg, Golanji Hill, Parel, 400012; April 26 12th Lane, 400004; April 26 Alamai (Perin) Manekji Nagporwalla (JI), A/3 Subodh Guru Soc, Santacruz (W), 400054; April 26 Alamai Dhunjishaw Shrojf I St, Tardeo Rd, 400034; April 26 Mehra Rustum Lakdawala (70), G-1 Cuffe Castle, Cuffe Parade, 400005; April 27 Coomi Kersasp Wadia (58), 10, Zaveri Bldg, Opp Albless Baug, 400004; April 27 Coomi Darabshah Antia (65), F-8, N. Contractor Baug, Mori Mani Cursetji Mehta (92); January 16,1988 Dhunjishaw Cawasji Mavalwala (83), husband of Najamai; January 26 Amy Dhunjibhoy Engineer (72); April 10 Pesi Jamshedji Aspar (61), 3/ 20, Himanshu Co-op Hsg Soc, Vile Parle (W), 400056; April 28 Framroze Byramji Cooper (71), 39,Sonapur St, Chira Bazar, 400002; April 28 Jal Nadirsha Pardiwalla (75), Saidunisa Bldg, Sleater Rd, MADRAS Died Arnawaz Vasudev (42), wife of Pirojshah Burjorji Engineer Vasudev and mother of Rustomji Jamshedji Pardiwalla Barani; February 24 (71), Roshni, Pali Hill, Bandra, 400050; April 28 23S Cawasji Hormusji St, Dhobi Talao, 400002; April 29 Perin Phiroze Mahwa (63), 12, Wadia Bldg, Malcolm Bang, Jogeshwari, 400102; April 29 Minoo Adershir Ghadiali (79), Jamshed Byramjee; B-1, Shapurji Bharucha Baug, “ S.V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; April 30 CALCUTTA Born A girl, Farah, to Navaz and Sarosh Gherda; March 11 Died Adi Dorabji Jilla, husband of Alla and father of Katy Soli Sabawalla; March 22 DELHI Died Nevaz Desai, wife of Jamshed, mother of Freyan, Nitash and Rustom; .April 17 KARACHI Died Bomi Pirojsha Khambata (68), husband of Kaity and father of Unwalla (82); January 27 Homi; November 8,1987 RatamaiJalejar Nalookedar Banubai Rustomji Degamwala (84); January 28 (69); March 19,1988 Meherwanji Mancherji Umrigar (83); March 27 Behman Rustomji Feniwala (86); March 28 LUCKNOW Married Daizy Patel of Bulsar and Shapur Minoo Homavazir, November 3,1987 Zarin Daady Manekshaw of Delhi and Mehernosh Jahangirji Poonawala', November 23 Died Mani Minoo Sooi (76); December 8 (cremated) Minoo J. Irani, husband of Silloo, father of Rukshana Adil Mehta, Tenaz Navzer Langrana and Ketayoun Manmohan Sahani; April 22 ONTARIO Died February 28 SURAT Died Nadarshah Behramshah Sethna (83); December 10, 1987 Pervin Parvez Daruwalla (39); December 13 Sorabji Dinshahji Kapadia (85); December 18 Khorshed Jalejar Kelawalla (60); December 23 Dinbai Jamshedji Patel (82); December 27 Goolbai Nasserwanji Pehelwan(J4,);iaa\i8Ty 4, 1988 Pilamai P. Gandhi (72); January 5 Rattdnbai Dadabhai Doomasia (78); January 20 Maneckshah Mancherji Freny Burjorji Wadia (63), February 1 Meherbai Manchershah Sherdiwalla (82); February 2 Roshanbanoo Sorabji Kapadia (80); February 8 Naval Faramroze Ambapardiwalla (39); February 19 Manijeh Bomanshaw Khodaiji (75); February 24 Bejonji Burjorji Wadia (IS); February 24 Pestonji Gustadji Vesuna (IS); March 3 Minochehr Maneckji Ichhaporia (82); March 5 Nerges Faramroze Jogi (61); March 8 Perinbanoo Eruchshaw Sengafee (82); March 9 Zarin Ratanshah Battiwalla (33); March 16 Jamshedji Sohrabji Kasad (83); March 19 Homi Dorabji Nalawalla(15); March 22 Sheriarji Ruttonjee Bhagwagar (80); March 26 (80); April 5 Savakshah Bomanshah Parekh (75); April 11 Kaikhushroo Faramji Dookandar (13); Apn\ 12 Banoomai Adarji Mistry (83); April 21 Maneckbai Eruchshah Turel (81); April 28 Mehramai Gustadji Vesuna (65); April 29 Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka 47 Parsiana May 1988I t IN MEMORIAM /¦ Advisor on family planning V 1 •I' and Gynaecology at Singapore, En- tribution to the Gymkhana, serving on gineer was also invited to participate in its managing committee for over a de­ workshops conducted by the World cade and later officiating as president Health Organization on the subject of for three years since 1985, including social obstetrics, notes a press release the centenary year of the 6,000-strong sent by Boman Khodaiji of Lucknow, body, the cricket pavilion will be A graduate in medicine and surgery named after him. “This memorial is from Bombay ’s Grant Medical Col- the first of its kind in the history of the lege, she subsequently passed her MD Gymkhana, ” noted a write-up in the (doctor of medicine), MRCOG (Mem- Parsi Sansar an^ Lok Sevak of March ber of the Royal College of Gynaeco- 12, 1988. Playing cricket since his col- logists) and FRCS (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons) examina ­ tions. She was also elected Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London. Considered an “exceptionally in ­ telligent and experienced professor, ” Engineer had started her career as reader in obstetrics and gynaecology at the K.G. Medical College in Luck ­ now. For 23 years she worked as pro ­ fessor and head of the department. She also served as professor and head of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at the S.N. Medical Col ­ lege in Agra for a period of three years. The Medical Council of India had selected her to officiate as inspec ­ tor at the undergraduate and post ­ graduate examinations throughout In- Died: Dr Amy Dhunjibhoy Engineer, dia, states the write-up. After her re- lege days, Khambata ’s other passion 72, former president of the Federation tirement, the unmarried professor was bridge. In this card game, he had of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies emeritus was preoccupied with represented Pakistan in the gold cup of India who had often served as expert teaching and conducting research in tournament, notes a family source, advisor to the Union Public Service Com- Lucknow. mission in New Delhi, on April 10, 1988 • • • in Lucknow. Engineer was appointed on several Karachi Gymkhana’s national advisory committees to look into the technical and scientific aspects of India ’s family planning program,and A pl 1 Khambata had served as district treasurer of Lions international and was also a member of the Karachi Par ­ si Institute and the Karachi Club. After completing his schooling from Boys ’ Town, Nasik, Khambata pro ­ ceeded to Pune for further education sporting president maternal and child health schemes. Died: Bomi Pirojsha Khambata, 68, at the Wadia College. He went to notes her bio data. president of the prestigious Karachi Karachi to study civil engineering but Her commitment to the family wel- Gymkhana and former senior vice- due to circumstances in the family had fare program won her the Government president of the Habib Bank, on to reportedly sacrifice his education of India ’s Padma Shri award and she November 8, 1987 in Bombay, follow- and take up employment. was conferred the Dr B.C. Roy Award ing cancer. His qualities of “straightforward- for her outstanding contribution to The first Parsi president in the 100- ness, honesty and helpfulness ” helped medical science and research, recalled year history of the Karachi Gymkha- him rise in his banking career which a condolence resolution passed by the na, Khambata was considered the spanned 43 years. Beginning with the Lucknow Parsi Anjuman on April 15. “man behind the real Gymkhana im- Central Bank of India in 1941, Kham- The resolution in Gujarati also com- age, ” wrote one admirer in the condo- bata retired as vice-president of the mends her expert medical advice lence register. A non-controversial fi- Habib Bank in Karachi, says Dr Ratan which was sought by several indi- gure, Khambata will be remembered Marshall in an article in the Parsi San- viduals when there was an illness in the for being “a gentleman with very mild sar of December 12. family. manners, most appropriate for the Khambata is survived by his wife Deputed by the Ministry of Health president of h prestigious club, ” wrote Kaity and son Homi. and Family Planning to attend the another friend. -------------------------------------------- ----- Fourth Asian Congress of Obstetrics In recognition of Khambata ’s con- Complied by Parinaz Toddywalla 3 ! i •1 4*8 Parsiana May 1988