Aug 1988

J A •4- « J i: :.-'aV i,-k.<• August 1988 Volume 11 Number 2 EDITOR Jehangir Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz Toddywalla ASSISTANT EDITOR Roxana Kaka DESIGN 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 2 Editorial Viewpoint: The Israp Temples 5 Readers' Forum 21 Events and Personalities 31 No elections in sight by Arnavaz Mama 32 BPP labor: settlement likely 37 The burning need of fire-temples by Parinaz Toddywalla 42 Feeding the fires 47 Does Zoroastrianism teach reincarnation? 80 The rift at Masina Hospital by Homi Rogers 91 The state of Zoroastrian orthodoxy by Adi Doctor 103 Zoroastrian things to gift by Joy Fernandes 108 A question of good taste by Jeroo Irani 115 Surti's Shah Namah 119 Books 122 Milestones I f ’ 7*' S' Cover: Transparency by Homyar Mistry Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd at C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001 and printed by him at Parsiana Publications, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Phototypesetting, Ace; color processing. Comart Lithographers; and black and white processing, Shilpart. All rights reserved. Phone:2048730 Annual inland subscription: Rs 50 for one year (12 issues); Rs 90 for two years (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs 100 for one year, Rs 180 for two years; Air mail Rs 250 for one year, Rs 475 for two years. For US cheques add $5 to cover bank charges. For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 4 for bank charges. Cheques and drafts to be drawn in favor of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 or C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K. Nayak Marg, Fort Bombay 400001.3 i ¦I ¦ EDITORIAL VIEWPOINT THE ISRAP TEMPLES Rignahej Letap 11'll, • I »I !,***« kJ I in certain temples was considered to be more efficacious than in others and the Israps would flock to these temples gan to worship water in all its forms. For example, an orthodox Israp would Many Parsiana readers have noted to them as water worshippers but that similarities between the manners was incorrect. To the Israps, water was and riistoms of the now extinct a symbol of all that was clean and life- i Israo community and the fast giving. Water cleansed your body; it in large numbers. The Israps also be- dwindlina Parsi community. Hence gave life not only to humans and anim- gan to worship water m all its forms. SS;' mSb rS^uesTed farther ex- L but also let plants and crops grow frnm Tho leran niarv The ex- The rivers when dammed, provided never permit his corpse to be buned at SMwSI SfflXTiX Smridty and irrigation. W^ter was --He felt it would .mllute the waur wfth the decline of the Israp houses the lifeblood of the land and the Israps Once, when floods affected a certain of worship. The Israps placedI e. high held it^as the most appropriate symbol town, many ^raps went iJh-e to pray liqious ceVemonies required a bowl The water in the Israp temples had upon as a bounty of natur^ The Israps of water to be present. Their houses to go through several processes before also objected to ^ittmg S worshiD were built around an it could be considered sacred. First, was believed to be a form of water, elected pool with a fountain in the the water was collected from three While the saliva remained m the jjjig P oceans, two rivers, seven ponds and mouth it was in its natural state. But one swimming pool. It was then distil- when converted into spit, the sahva The decline of the Israps was perhaps led, prayed over, stirred but not was contaminated with germs. This JJisApparent in thfir hoEse of shaken, and finally after numerous impunfication of saliva was considered worship which they called seiraiga, a ceremonies, poured into the Israp samlegious. S derived S the ancient Isr ’ap temple pool. Daily, a priest watched The Israps ‘°was niS?e words ‘seir ’ or sea and ‘iga ’ or abode, over it zealously to ensure no impuri- their religion s symlwl was more It was customary for the fsraps to visit ties, foreign objects, insects, etc fell powerful than say the Parsis , because their places of worship on auspicious into the water. The priest would adjust water can put out a fire. Sl^ly^they tneir places O1 wuiMup VI h ___ .v. fiv/. a hecan to generally feel supenor to occasions, dressed in < central pool of water and watch for of the sun in the sky. any fluctuations in the fountains, or As time went by, the distinction be- anv unusual formation of ripples in the tween water as a — —-----— ¦ ixC 4. " i any unusual lormaiion pp the sanctity of the temple. II UiajViiJ TTWXW ’ WVU ______ 1___ 4. . effect and being heard by the Israps. They prayed to the water and — - ' ¦¦ the fountain as^ though the liquid had the Israp religious decline. As the The water in the Israp temples had upon as a bounty of nature. The Israps their house of shaken, and finally after numerous all their fee^ he height of ihe fountain five times a began to generally feel superior to ail men iiiiciy 5 ... --------barred the entry of non- Israps to their temple for fear they _ __ _______ __ may pollute the water or spit in it or, symbol* of God and by their very physical presence, affect It was this last custom that started They would bow and kneel before the day, in conjunction with the position fluctuations in the fountains, or pool, to see if their prayers were hav ­ ing any t"_ ’’ „ ' *-y iar ”wrih*^tiie'lwa^p'^^y'of'Hfe^refened iraps declined in numbers, .hey found I Parsiana August 1988I ! i i I I I I i ! 1 I it hard to get priests to tend the water and look after the seiraigas. Leave aside the priests, it was difficult to hire Israps even to keep the temples clean. Unlike the other communities where lay people would assist and participate in the upkeep of the temples, the lay I Israps and the priests were always wary of one another. In numerous seiraigas the priests and the lay trus ­ tees of the temple would be at logger ­ heads. The laity visited the temples only to pray and did not consider it their duty to assist in sweeping or dust ­ ing the premises. As a result, in most seiraigas a fine layer of dust covered the benches, walls and floors. Cob ­ webs could be discerned in the far cor ­ ners of the temples. Aside from the uncleanliness, the incessant quarrelling between the laity and the priests resulted in the neglect 'of the temple structures. Paint would peel off, plaster would fall and, during the monsoons, rainwater would seep into the temple. To the superstition- riddled Israps this was heresy. No < other water could exist or be present in seiraigas besides the holy water. When, for example, a suggestion was made for shifting a temple from a low- lying area prone to monsoon flooding to a more elevated, secure place, the The distinction between water as a symbol of God and God itself started to blur for many Israps orthodox Israps objected, saying that the water had found its resting place and should not be disturbed. Still wa ­ ters ran deep, they said (an old Israp saying). They feared that if sunlight fell on the water it would start to evaporate and if a non-Israp viewed the water so that his or her reflection appeared in the holy water, the water would be contaminated. As the Israp population shifted from certain localities and as the number of Israps declined, the seiraigas were left to fend for themselves. With hardly any worshippers visiting the temples and with the refusal to shift the holy waters, some of the temples were abandoned once the last priest retired or died. The water in such temples leaked out or was covered with moss. Urchins and passersby stole most of the doors and windows, and other pa ­ raphernalia that the trustees were un­ able to salvage. In certain other tem ­ ples, the disputes between the priests and the trustees reached such propor ­ tions that the trustees refused to pay the priest and the priest in return re ­ fused to vacate the temple premises. Soon thereafter, Israp worshippers foupd locks on the doors of these tem ­ ples during the daytime, something unheard of in the Israp community. The priest, forced to eke out a liveli ­ hood, would seek a job elsewhere. In the evening, on returning to the tem ­ ple, he would open the doors to permit worshippers to enter. After the priest and his family died or migrated, these temples lay vacant, like haunted houses; or squatters in­ vaded the temple premises and made them their homes. Only in the cases of a very few temples were the doors opened to all, non-Israp trustees in­ ducted and the sanctity of the water and surroundings preserved. But these temples were viewed with distaste by the orthodox Israps who never fre ­ quented them and instead prayed be ­ fore jugs of water at home. For them the religion had already died. They were now praying only for their own salvation. I 3 Parsiana August 1988? r READERS’ FORUM rm * »Wr»oi ! « >**•»? nt lit .. ..'*1 *¦>4 My father, Mr Saros N.Kothavala of there, the fire was shifted to Bansda. j 18, Kahun Road, Pune 411001, could de- The reason for this is not known, but it IE it*' o<; u*> finitely help you with particular^ of indi- cannot have been as serious as the shift vidual members of the Kothavala family from Sanjan to Bahrot and therefore, or even of the Lalkaka, Vakil, Kekobad according to Mr Doctor, the fire must or Camcatta families. For that matter, have been “deprived of his spiritual any Parsi family belonging to Ahmeda- power and authority. ” After some bad or living there until about 20 years years in Bansda, Iranshah was shifted ago, would be known to him. to Navsari. The reasons for this shift FiRDAUS KOTHAVALA are interesting. The Parsis of Navsari 1. J * ?> ~— used to go to Bansda to venerate the Atash aaarians... led by their dahewad Changa I am intrigued by Mr Adi Doctor ’s Asa. One year, after they returned I “Atash adarians : not for shifting ” from performing the Adar roz Adar j (Parsiana, May 1988). Mr Doctor says mah ceremony, Changa Asa called a that if the fire is removed from its ori- meeting of the Navsari Anjuman. I ginal location, “the padshah is then now quote in extenso from deprived of his spiritual power and au- R.B.Paymaster ’s transla^on of the thority... In short, instead of hukh- Kisseh-i Sanjan: shathra (benevolent power) prevailing “One day he called the entire anjuman there, the duzkhshathra or wicked rule and there he made a speech about the of Ahriman is virtually clamped there- fire-temple thus: on! ” Further on he says: “Removal of ‘I wish, O well-wishers! that we should an atash padshah tantamounts to a bring from there (i.e. Bansda) our breach of trust in nature and a hurdle king of kings to this place. in the progress of the departed souls of If we daily have sight of the king, their founders. ” Mr Doctor however much benefit will accrue from it. concedes, “in very very rare instances Secondly, every year we experience should an adarian be moved to a new much difficulty on the way on his , location. ” account. Let us consider the case of the Iran- Because in this month there is exces- I shah, now in Udwada, This fire was sive rain, our going there is inconve- Pune Readers’ views are weicoma on any sub|ect Ot Interest to the community and should be eent to the Editor, Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400 001. Letters are subiect to editing tor reasons ol space and installed in Sanjan towards the end of nient. clarity. Unsigned letters or those without a - complete address will not be published. the eighth century, soon after the Par- O my dear friends! What would be sis landed there. Seven hundred years better than this, that we should go later, when Sanjan fell to the Muslims, there with wise persons. • u J »» Iranshah was removed to the hills And bring the victorious fire, so that Distmguisheamen... of Bahrot. I presume Mr Doctor will In the article “Distinguished men of sci- allow this removal as one of his “very Atash Bahram in Udwada: venerated, ence ” (Parsiana, May 1988), the para- very rare instances. ” After some years though its fire was shifted seven times graph on Dr Zal R. Kothavala states “date of death unknown. ” I would like to add that there is a slight error in the year of his birth also. 2Lal Uncle, as we nieces and nephews knew him, was my father ’s sister ’s hus ­ band and also my father ’s first cousin, their fathers being brothers. Zal, the third son of Rustomji Ratanji Kothavala, was bom at Ahmedabad on June 13, 1895. After his retirement from the dairy service, he lived the rest of his life in Bangalore, which was his hometown, ex ­ piring there on June 16, 1980. His two I granddaughters (son ’s daughters) con- > | tinue to live on his estate: Rustam Baug, H.A.L. Road, Bangalore -17. I 5 Parsiana August 1988 % ¦v L' it/H ,1 ^11 I llPERCY & KAIZAD ROADLINES PVT LTD Transport Contractors & Fleet Owners Contractors To Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Pvt Ltd Goodyear India Limited U.P. Asbestos Limited Eastern Ceramic Limited Daily & Direct Service To Maharashtra, MP UP, Rajasthan Haryana & Delhi Chandigarh & Punjab Regd Office 111, Trapinex House 1st Floor Sholapur Street Bombay 400009 Residence 215674, 212885 Office 860913, 867531 8727831, 8518679 6 Parsiana August 1988 we may daily see his face. By him our livelihood and income would increase and the hearts of the people of the faith would be glad ­ dened. ’ All the people rejoiced at hearing him, all were relieved from trouble of going to Bansda. They brought the sacred fire with a hundred marks of honor and located him in a beautiful tem ­ ple. ” One would feel that these were rather selfish reasons for removing the fire from Bansda. Hence, following Mr Doctor, the removal from Bansda must have depleted further the Iran- shah ’s stock of spiritual power and au ­ thority. It will be noted that the Nav ­ sari Parsis had no qualms about shift ­ ing the Iranshah; in fact they expected benefits to accrue from it. When the Sanj ana priests brought the fire to Navsari, they reached an agreement with the Bhagaria priests there as to the division of priestly duties. This agreement lasted for over UUUCa. 1 Ilia a^ivviiiviii laaivu xv»i 250 years, but tension must have built up between the behdins, the Bhagarias and the Sanjanas, because in 1673 the behdins of Navsari decided that they would not accept the decisions of the priestly Anjuman as to the choice of priest for performing their private ceremonies. In 1685 an agreement was signed before the Diwan of the Gaek- wad that the Bhagarias and the San ­ janas would honor the arrangement originally made in 1419. The peace, however, was shortlived; behdins and priests were split into rival camps and in a riot in 1686 several behdins and priests were killed. As a result of the riots, the behdins secured a fresh agreement between the priestly parties in 1687. Truce now prevailed for a while. In 1733 political conditions in Gujarat were very unstable and Navsari was raided by the Pindaris, so the Iranshah was removed to Surat in that year. In 1736 the fire returned to Navsari. Would Mr Doctor consider these two removals in three years a “very very rare instance? ” In spite of the various agreements, quarrels continued, mainly because the Sanj ana priests wanted the right to perform ceremonies from which they were barred by the original agreement of 1419. Eventually matters reached such a pitch that in a litigation before the Diwan, the Bhagarias said: “If they all would stay in Navsari, we For FRESH: MAFCO*S Mutton, Beef, Pork and Vegetable products VENKY*S Chicken, Legs, Breast and easy to cook products ALKABEER'S Mutton, Khima, Brain, Trotters, Veal, Beef and Meat products SHALIMAR’S Pork products Remember TARACHAND &CO 80, Sleater Rd N. Bharucha Marg Grant Rd (W) Bombay 400007 Ph: 383691/389531 We give free home delivery Bulk Orders Accepted 9((I The Eureka Forbes salesman is so good, he is more a friend who introduced modem cleanliness and hygiene in my home ” , ' ' - Mrs. Archana Kampani of Bombay. One of these days the Eureka Forbes salesman will ring your doorbell and introduce himself with his identity card. This man inspires confidence—which is only natural. Because he is a member of the largest, most successful sales organisation of its kind in India. Backed by dependable after sales service. 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Euroclean The all-purpose cleaning system which is much more than a vacuum cleaner. Aquaguard On-line, water filter-cum-purifier. S EUREKA FORBES LIMITED Pioneers in modern cleanliness and hygiene. 1 87/EFL7470Cwould be performing all their cere ­ monies. Or, as an alternative, they should quit. It would be better if they live within the limits of their own panthak. ” The Sanjanas accepted this suggestion and in October 1740 they removed the Iranshah from Navsari to Bulsar. However, even here the Bha ­ garias harassed them and, in 1742, they carried the Iranshah to Udwada, where it now remains. Two facts should be noted here: first, neither the Bhagaria nor the San- jana priests thought it wrong to shift the Iranshah from place to place; in fact, it was the Bhagaria priests who suggested that it be removed from Navsari. Second, the cause of removal was the constant quarrels between the two priestly parties, neither of whom were willing to abide strictly by the terms of the various agreements. If the reason for removing the Iranshah from Bansda to Navsari can be called ‘self ­ ish, ’ then the reason for removing it from Navsari to Udwada can only be called ‘unethical. ’ The Iranshah has now been shifted seven times, twice for selfish and un­ ethical reasons. If, as Mr Doctor says, shifting an adarian fire deprives it of spiritual power and authority, then the Iranshah must now be totally drained of all power and authority, and is no longer worthy of the veneration Parsis pay to it. Does Mr Doctor agree with this? It would be interesting to have Das- turji Hormazdyar Mirza ’s views on this, as he must be very concerned ab ­ out the sanctity of the Iranshah. H.E.EDUUEE Ootacamund It was distressing to read Adi Doctor ’s arguments in “Atash adarians: not for shifting ” (Parsiana, May 1988),against relocating adarians. If similar arguments had been put forward by an ordinary Parsi, one could have ignored him, saying, “He is just being emotional. ” But Doctor is • supposed to be an orthodox scholar of Avestan, and scholars in general are supposed to be balanced. I wonder how many orthodox dasturs, mobeds and scholars will be prepared to agree with Doctor ’s arguments, which are nothing but a refusal to take into account the circumstances and pre ­ dicaments we are facing as a commun ­ ity. Some months ago another orthodox 9 Parsiana August 1988 "Lift out of order again” “We don 7 want a new lift” “Ch// Concord” "Concord services old lifts "Concord converts them to electronic elevators” 9f **But ours is ancient” “Ourpu^h buttons are missing” ^Concord installs vandal proof self­ illuminating touch buttons” "Our doors don't open and close” '"Concord “We don't can make them have a automatic” liftman” "Concord uses the latest technology, minimum maintenance” **This calls for a celebration” * Vust cull Concord^* CONCORD ELEVATOR Telephone 2041830 2047460 CON CORD Maintained & Supplied by Zaina Electric & Mechanic Works Prospect Chambers Annexe, 2nd fl D.N. Road, Bombay 400001 . ....A, 11 RsrswM August 1988 scholar. Dr Rooyinton Peer, had analysed the same problem in Jam-e- Jamshed and he had rightly arrived at the conclusion that for the Padshahs, the laity and the practising priests, it would be ideal if some fires, from a cluster of half a dozen among the dwindling Parsi population of Bom ­ bay ’s Fort area, are shifted to the sub ­ urbs where agiaries have become a ne ­ cessity for the increasing number of Parsis there. As Mahatma Gandhi has said, “Re ­ ligion which takes no account of prac ­ tical affairs and does not help to solve them, is no religion. ” Emotionalism on religious issues often leads to fana ­ ticism which is a destructive force. PESHOTAN H. CHARNA Bangalore The silenced Voice ” Very few may have shed tears because The Parsee Voice is silenced for good (Events and Personalities, Parsiana, May 1988). The reason can be given in the words of one of our mobeds. Ab ­ out two years ago this mobed had said, '"The Voice is crying itself hoarse, therefore it can ’t last long. ” The pre ­ diction came true. Other points to be taken into account are: • It was not the voice of the commun ­ ity. • It was the voice of the editor and three or four others. Contradictory views were never published. • The high priests and scholars, even of the orthodox variety, kept their dis ­ tance from this tabloid. • It took up matters which were either non-issues or publicity stunts. • Even the arguments advanced for or against various contentions in this tab ­ loid were hollow. For an example of this, one has only to go through Mr Adi Doctor ’s article “Atash adarians; not for shifting ” (Parsiana, May 1988) which, in plain language, advises us to shut our eyes to hard facts so that the “padshahs can take care of them ­ selves. ” An amusing proposition by any standards. It is significant that a picture of the Karani Agiary appears alongside the article. The significance would need some explanation. About five years ago, the trustees of the Agiary wanted to carry out painting and whitewashing work in it and, as per the accepted pro ­ cedure followed in our places of worship (including the Iranshah), the holy fire was to be temporarily shifted GALLERY CHEMOULD keeps a large and current stock of oil paintings, graphics & water-colours of well-known and up & coming artists We also give Services in Retouching & Renovation of old paintings Valuation Framing Lamination Gallery Chemould First floor Jehangir Art Gallery Bombay 400023 Tel: 2443S6compiler of ‘Events and Personalities ’ laments the decrease in Parsi read ­ ership, but isn ’t it a natural reaction to the holier-than-thou attitude of some who like to throw practicality to the winds? Mr Doctor says that the shifting of the holy fire would displease the sanc ­ tified land and that such an exercise would evoke evil forces. By the same logic, that piece of land which would be sanctified to relocate the holy fire should be pleased and this procedure should evoke good forces. Thus, even by extension of the same logic, the forces of good should be able to neut ­ ralize the forces of evil. So we may conclude that, even from the spiritual and then brought back to the sanctum sanctorum after performing the re ­ quisite ceremonies. I know about this episode because my parents live in Cusrow Bang and when it took place I was with my parents for a few days. Mr Doctor and one or two others threatened the panthaky saheb saying • that they would not allow the holy fire to be shifted even temporarily, but they would provide Parsi “volunteers ” who would carry out the painting work free of labor charge and, therefore, there was no necessity to shift the holy fire at all. Now we know very well that our community no longer possesses skilled masons, painters, tilers, etc. quali?y^ w^Smanshi^p^wS wTs^the Mr Doctor and his supporters. The point of view, ultimately we Jave no- S of the S in view of the priests and the scholar were unani- thing to lose by relocating the holy threatened agitation, one of the trus- mous in saying that considering the cir- fires which can bei better looked a tees, Mr Jehlngir Shroff, showed im- cumstances, the shifting of the holy in their new abodes^ kalapesi mense diplomacy by inviting the three fire was a must. Thus the agitators . dasturjis - Hormazdyar Mirza, were silenced. ------ ’----- -------- Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa and Firoze I ... K’ntwal — and the well-known scholar styled knights in shining armor — ---------- - Sang^from S Baug .o be s,x,„s,ble lor our right thinking, edu- plicity on Mtn^heh^Hom,. present at a particular time and give cated brethren being turned aMv in Bangalore ( W, dieir candid opinion in the presenti of from such a travesty of religion. The pnest, Pnrrnmn, April 1988), for they 12 Parsiana August 1988 Minochehr-Homji: “foresighted and...’’ I think the approach of such self- ................... • is re- »> “The compassionate priest Some so-called orthodox practised du- HI Mid-town Bombay’s Premier Restaurant adds yet another feather to its cap. Effective Parsi New Year Day, 24 August 1988 Quick, Economical, specially prepared EXECUTIVE LUNCHEONS (12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.) Exclusively laid out with a SALAD BAR in its AMBER ROOMl With choice of Relishing Non-Veg and Veg delicacies — Cold Cuts, Burgers, Rolls, Pies, Sandwiches with special Fillings & Kababs. JOI HOUR {6:30 p.m. to 800 p.m.) In the AMBER ROOM with your favourite refreshers. Sumptuous SNACKS ‘on the house’ of India — a new experience In Gourmet Dining I For retervatlontlenqulrles: I I Dial 4949^14^7-19 ¦* APPOINTED VALUERS OF JEWELLERY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA GAZDAR PVT. LTD. Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay Tel: 2023666 2023366 Ext 3204 Telegrams: MANUSCRIPT’ never raised a finger when navjotes similar to those of the Soohawallas and the Mistrys were performed in Bom ­ bay, Poona, Ahmedabad and Madras, to name just a few places. I am one of those who have benefit- ted from meetings and discussions with the late High Priest. When the author of the piece Ms Amavaz Mama states that he had asked his daughter to be good even to his denigrators, the reason is that Minochehr-Homji was not perturbed by their views. But he was shocked that the present office bearers in the Rahnumae Mazdayas- nan Sabha should invite advocate K. N. Dastoor, who lacks a background in the Avesta and Pahlavi languages, to give sermons from its platform. Foresighted and prudent as the late Dasturji was, he took a step (rare in his life) to enter into a controversy by warning the Sabha in particular and the community in general about the harm which would be caused by such indiscretion. Would it be too much to hope that, in future, the powers that be would be guided by the words of wisdom of the erudite High Priest? HORMUZ J. KHORAMSHAHI Addendum Subsequent to the publication of “The compassionate priest ’’ (Parsiana, April 1988), we learnt that kirtankar Parvez Katrak had also been of con ­ siderable help to the late Dastur Nav- rooz Minochehr-Homji on the day of his fateful accident. While Minochehr- Homji was driven to the B.D.Petit Parsee General Hospital by Blitz director Karl Mehta, Katrak under ­ took to convey the unhappy news to the Minochehr-Homji family. Encyclopedia on Parsis I have been asked by the Mindrities Commission, Government of India, to prepare a paper on the Parsis ’ con ­ tribution to philanthropy, charity and relief, to be included in an encyc ­ lopedia on the community. May I request the major anjumans, through the columns of Parsiana, to favor me with information on the com ­ munity trusts, including the trusts of a cosmopolitan nature, under their con ­ trol? Information regarding institutions, hospitals, dispensaries, schools and colleges, or any other public charity = organization in their area to which White Cloud Filter Pads Pvt Ltd 14 Parsiana August 1988 (Parsiana, Pioneer Manufacturers of Finest Quality machine-made Filter Pads in the Country 412 Gultekdi Road Pune 411037 Phone 432236 - Grams Filter Padsdonations may have been given by a young Parsis between the ages of 17 Zoroastrian, would also be very use- and 40 years and will embrace discus- fjil sions and debates on matters vitally The information may be forwarded affecting youth and the community sent in large numbers at this festival of the youth, by the youth, for the youth. Ms ABAN J. MEDHORA Calcutta to H.S.Dalal, 21 Convent Avenue, and, in a lighter vein, quizes, sports dwindluifi COIlUnUllitV Santacruz, Bombay 400054. and games, outings and lively enter- -xu • tho HORMAZDYAR s. DALAL tainment specially laid on for them. I have been reading with interest the and games, outings and lively enter ­ tainment specially laid on for them. , The festival will be held from Satur- alarmist articles about the dwindling uay, nwwiuwi 5, to Tuesday, Parsi population. 1 find, however, no November 8, 1988. The CPYL will attempt being made to place the prob- The Minorities Commission of the day, November _ 5 Government of India has asked me to v, *— — — — , . . compile a history of Parsi dentists - play host to the participants and will lem in its proper historical perspective, past and present - for inclusion in the guarantee four pleasant days of fun The only point of reference seenis to proposed encyclopedia on the com- and stimulation. The only expense the be the higher population figures of the munity. I would appreciate Parsi de- participants will have to bear is the last 150 years. Would some student of ntists around the world sending me fare to and from Calcutta. n their life sketches at an early date. Registration forms are Heirs of deceased dentists are also re ­ quested to send their ancestors ’ l.xw ..—------- --------------------------- - sketches to the undersigned at Yusuf the youth festival - Ms Aban J. 5,000. If more than 5,000 , they would Building, Flora Fountain, Bombay 400023. Dr DINSHAW F. BOGA Calcutta youth festival ____________________ The Calcutta Parsee Youth League September 5, 1988. Although it may been less hospitably inclined? (CPYL) - the youngest of six Parsi be difficult for the participants to plan I":: “ ** ***“ organizations in Calcutta - is celebrat- ' ing its golden jubilee this year and, in­ ter alia, is giving the youth of our com ­ munity all over India a golden oppor ­ tunity to get together for a festival at --------------------------------------------- . - Calcutta. The festival is intended for here ’s calling on Parsi youth to be pre- port a population of > say, 20,000 or and stimulation. The only expense the be the higher population figures of the Parsi history care to answer some of available the following questions? How many Parsi boat people landed i Registration forms xw from the anjuman offices in the va- How many Parsi boat people landed life rious cities and from the convener of in Sanjan in 716 or 785 AD? 500? me youin lesuvai — ivia i-ivaii j . xx muxv. n.«.. ——J Medhora, 215 Kamani Mansions, 25A have required a fleet of ships (not Park Street, Calcutta 700016. The boats) to reach India. And if their forms should please be filled in and number was so large, might not the returned to the convener not later than Hindu king who helped them have . *1 ____________ ___ ______ ______ I It is said that around the year 1484 so far ahead, it is fmperative that the the Parsis of Gujarat took shelter in deadline be observed to enable the the Bahrot Caves to escape persecu- organizers of the festival to make tion. I have not visited the Bahrot adequate arrangements and, in par- Caves, but would they (and the sur- ticular, to book return reservations. So rounding areas) have been able ^sup- 50,000 for 12 years? If the answer is ‘no, ’ then where was the rest of the Parsi population of India? Unless historical evidence is pro ­ duced to the contrary, the only logical conclusion one can arrive at is that the population of Parsis in India, through ­ out their 1,300-year stay here, has averaged less than 50,000. The 1,00,000 plus figure at the beginning of the present century can be regarded as a freak occurrence. ASPI DOCTOR cleaning machine! 1923-1988 Sixty-five years of clean service! DIANA-ECLIPSE For all your carpat and upholstery cleaning. ? “Parag" 27, Redder Road Tel: 4841987 The endangered species “Marital statistics ” {Parsiana, January 1988) states that an average of the last five years indicates that 27 Parsi girls and 29 Parsi boys contracted intercom ­ munity marriages per year. It is possi ­ ble that these figures are confined to Bombay, whereas Parsis living in other parts of India, where there is less chance of meeting and mixing with members of the opposite sex of their own community, are more prone to in­ tercommunity marriages and the fi­ gures, therefore, are likely to be high- This is particularly true of Parsis who have migrated to other countries. Hence, if our present policy of not accepting the children of Parsi women married outside the community per ­ er. 16 Parsiana August 1988sists, we are only hastening the dis- of the .ruling families married people and often infirm members of their appearance of the Parsis. of other nationalities. Hence, the cus- families. Such sanatoria would also be Is there anything wrong in allowing tom of not marrying outside the reli- better for those living alone, uncared people of other faiths to adopt or gious community must have been of for and entirely at the mercy of ser- accept our religion if they wish to do so recent origin, that is, after the com- voluntarily, without any coercion or munity was well established, perhaps compensation? Let us not forget that when it became prosperous! initially our Prophet Zoroaster must TL_ have preached to those who did not being so limited, this custom has un- _ ... belong to the faith and convinced them fortunately led to too much inbreeding ing couples who have little time for to believe and practise the preachings which accentuates the more negative cooking and household chores. Cafe- of Ahura Mazda as enunciated by him. genetic traits as compared to the posi- tarias should provide nutritious meals Repeated migrations notwithstanding, tive ones. Day by day, the physical at economical prices. Such hostels the numbers that came from Iran were constitution of the members of our should have social and recreational undoubtedly small. Since there are few community has deteriorated as com- facilities which would provide better genUlO© --------- ---------------- • ' * 1 1_ migrations, it must be assumed that spite the better nutrition and improved girls to get together. Parsi males must have had more than health care which our community en- ’* ¦" ?*"»“ wife (which was common practice joys today. Inbreeding leads to an in- vants. In most metropolitan cities and par- ________ ___ _____ ticularly in Bombay, there is an urgent The number %f *^our community need to build hostels with cafetarial services for singles and married work- to believe and practise the preachings which accentuates the more negative cooking and household chores. Cafe- Repeated migrations notwithstanding, tive ones. Day by day, the physical at economical prices. Such hostels the numbers that came from Iran were constitution of the members of our should have social and recreational historical records of the pared to that of our forefathers, de- opportunities for unmarried boys and It is high tfme we look forward to one wife (which was common practice joys looay. inoreeumg icaus lu an m- where we are going rather than live on in those days) and many of these could crease in degenerative diseases and re- the past laurels of our forefathers. Par- have been local women. It is obvious suits in infertility, defects in the new- sis today have alienated themselves, that in this way alone could the Parsi bom, deterioration of the visual sys- both culturally and socially, and cre- community have reached a figure of tern, increase in mental disorders, etc. ated an artificial barrier by their re- over 1,00,000. There is nothing like a This can be easily ascertained by luctance to leam the national and local “pure ” race or community. Even in checking the health records of the languages, thereby being unable to ancient Iran, during the Achaeme- members of our community, particu- properly integrate amongst the people nian, Parthian, and Sassanian dynas- larly the families of those who marry with whom they live. With the increase ties, soldiers and particularly members amongst close relatives. of education amongst the masses and Records and information on all more emphasis on providing jobs for . — aspects of our community should be “the sons of the soil, ’ the members of Z* \ computerized, so as to be easily re- our community are unable to compete trievable for research and develop- with their fellow citizens. ment. There is a need for health insur- If the Parsis want to rejuvenate their ance and preventive health care for the community, it is time to discuss all the entire community or at least for those problems frankly, objectively and un- who want it. The community has emotionally. If we plan properly for enough financial resources to fund a the future needs of our community and system of preventive health checkups boldly implement these plans for the for the very poor, which will serve to larger good of the entire community, improve the overall health of those we can face the future optimistically. It who are most vulnerable and thereby is true that Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta reduce absenteeism at work as well as means good thoughts, good words and the need for hospital beds. good deeds, but surely one good deed From the information given in Par- is better than a hundred good words siana regarding births, marriages and and a thousand good thoughts! deaths, the average age at death is sam h, dalal above 80 years. In fact, the average age of our community is over 50 years. Day by day the problem of looking af ­ ter and caring for old people is increas- Why can ’t the others like us Parsis be? ing. Hence there is a need to build We think ourselves first as Indians, sanatoria having boarding facilities in then Parsis. places which are not overcrowded and In none other brethren we ever any polluted, and where the climate is malice sec, salubrious, with access to medical care Each one unto himself we let be. and hospital facilities, so that the aged We stake no daims to a new Parsbsdwn ran be properly cared for. This would Or start a fight with some Khomeini, also be of help to many young people So why can ’t other communities who are unable to get married or leave Like the Parsi minority be? ! their homes to take advantage of bet- Ms mickie sorabjee ter opportunities elsewhere, as they _ ________________________________ are burdened by the care of the old Edited by Amavais. Mama EXCLUSIVE SAREES Indulge yourself in luxury with one of a kind creations of Hand Painted Sequined Embroidered Sarees designed by Mrs Perin Screwvala the designer with experience and flair Readymades availalde and orders undertaken Contact Tel 367084 803, Cumballa Ciest 42, Pedder Road Bombay400026 18 Parsiana August 1988 Pune s “Be like US...”Events and Personalities I Navroz editor honored fundamental principle of the tary social organization of graduates) paper, which later became a tradition, on July 22, Patrawala was felicitated On the occasion of the Calcutta week- Kanga said, was that it should “never by over 40 associations “from different ly Navroz completing its seventieth be used as an instrument for getting parties, groups, factions, views and anniversary, its editor Ms Jaluben money, position or power...We have states, ” reported the Jam-e-Jamshed Naval Kanga was felicitated by t,he gained the goodwill of the people by on July 24. Patrawala was congratu- Abhivadan Trust at a function in Bom- adopting a non-partisan policy and en- lated on being one of the 19 ministers of bay on May 27, 1988. Several leading couraging good causes and good state who form part of the 36-member, Gujarati writers were present, with work, ” she added. two-tier cabinet, and one of the 14 new Jehan Daruwalla, editor of The Bom- » x _ in inducted into the cabinet. bay Samachar, presiding over the * airawaia SWOril in Patrawala reportedly comes to his function. Forty-one-year-old barrister and Bom- new post after 17 years of political Sixty-seven-year-old Kanga has bay city MLA Marazban Jal Patrawala activity. After starting out as founder- been involved with the Gujarati news- was sworn in as a minister of state in convener of the National Students Un­ paper for over 45 years, according to the cabinet of Maharashtra ’s new chief ion of India (NSUI) in 1970-73, he an interview in The Bombay Samachar minister, Sharad Pawar, on June 28, worked his way up, “through the Weekly dated July 10, 1988. according to The Afternoon Despatch ranks, ” holding posts in several com- - ¦ ; - ' - • ’ mittees and cells set up by the Con- As minister of state for three depart- gress (I). Patrawala, whose loyalties Navroz, which serves the Gujarati- and Courier of the same day. speaking population of Calcutta — /___ ... Parsis, Muslims and Hindus — has a ments — general administration (in- lie with the Congress (I), had first circulation of around 4,000 copies and eluding protocol), law and judiciary, been elected to the legislative assein- has several reputed Gujarati authors and tourism — Patrawala will be in- bly from the Colaba constituency in writing for it, Kanga said. teracting with three cabinet ministers 1985, and was chairman of the pri- Started by Edulji Kanga with the and will also be involved with promo- vileges committee for four years in purpose of reaching out to the Gujara- tions, demotions, the departments of succession. ti readers in Calcutta, Navroz con- housing, languages, archives and civil Prior to his new appointment, Patra- tinues to be a family newspaper. Edul- aviation. wala practised at the Bombay High ji ’s son Naval (Jaluben ’s late husband) Now based at Mantralaya, he told Court and the Supreme Court. He was became its editor soon after Edulji The Afternoon of July 14 that he would called to the bar at Lincoln ’s Inn, UK, died in 1955. Jaluben was the associate be making changes only after much de- in 1973 and has also studied air and editor and while the entire editorial liberation. “I will change things only outer space law and done research on “responsibility for Navroz and the after careful study and if I find any the subject. He was part of the United press ” was hers. Naval was in charge lacunae that need bridging. ” Nations Commission for Space Law of the advertisements and other admi- At a function organised by the Un- from 1977 to ’79, adds The Afternoon nistrative work. After Naval ’s death in ited Graduates Association (a volun- report. 1982, the paper is virtually a “one- woman show, ” in the words of Kan- Below: Kanga ga ’s daughter Bachi Karkaria, who is Right: Patrawala the Bombay-based assistant editor of (Photo: Homyar Mistry) The Statesman. The younger generation of Parsis in Calcutta is not conversant with Gu- jarati, admits Kanga, who is worried about the future of Gujarati periodic- als and literature. Despite “powerful lobbies ” among the Gujarati-speaking community in Calcutta who tried to get Navroz closed down, the paper has remained “fearless and value-based (in its cover- age), ” Karkaria told Parsiana. l WDHIb • 4 ' 'iJ 21 Parsiana August 1988His appointment as minister of state is a further fulfillment of a childhood ambition, as he had wanted to enter politics from the time he was seven. Patrawala told The Afternoon. On board the airlines Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Indus ­ tries, was reappointed as chairman of the board of directors of Air India for a new term of one year, according to a report in The Times of India of July 2, 1988. Tata is also a director of Indian Airlines. With a view to “encourage more professional handling of issues and less debating, ” the boards have been re ­ constituted with personnel from the hotel and tourism industry, notes The Times. Cyrus Guzder, representing the travel trade, was among the new mem ­ bers inducted on the Air India board, according to the report. The Jam-e- Jamshed of July 3 says that Guzder, chairman and managing director of Airfreight, has been a president of both the Travel Agents Association of India and the Air Cargo Association of India. The 12 new directors who have joined the airline boards include Ms Sharmila Tagore, film actress, Ms Shobhna Bhartia, managing director of The Hindustan Times, and Ms Bil- kees Latif, wife of the former chief of the air staff. In the case of Air India, “all the ‘management baiters ’ have been dropped ” to support the manag ­ ing director Rajan Jetley, “who has been having problems with the board, ” according to The Times of India. Some of the directors are common to the boards of both Air India and Indian Airlines. “This commonality between the boards is expected to lead to greater coordination between the two carriers, ” says The Times. Rescue drama at mid>sea Responding to an SOS from a sinking ship, Swiftco Angel Anosh Eruch Lala, the 31-year-old captain of Jag Pragati, an Indian oil tanker, played a key role in rescuing the stranded crew members of the ill-fated ship, accord ­ ing to the Indian Express dated May 16,1988. Captain Osuyos of the 5,600 tonne Swiftco Angel, and its 20 crew mem ­ bers reportedly had to bail out when I * • ties from Rustomji published in German. Normally the importer of high tech ­ nology from Germany, India is no^ “reversing the process and exporting management expertise in a big way to West Germany, ” notes the release. Khurody revisited Home on vacation after a year at the University of San Francisco, Ms Khur- sheed Khurody has been taking stock of the social service activities she had begun in 1987. The singing group of school children she had organized to (Above) Air India directors: I, •. Tata (left) and • Guzder (Alongside) Lala: liven up the depressed patieins at the rushed to the stranded crew B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital and the J. J. Hospital ’s Parsi Ward has continued to frequent the hospitals. The constitution of the group has their ship started flooding and sank “in changed a bit, however, as the weekly a matter of minutes, ” at a location 160 routine has now been adopted by the miles north-east of Visakhapatnam. Bombay Parsi Punchayet ’s (BPP) The vessel carrying timber from Youth Club, comprising junior college Malaysia to Visakhapatnam was prob- students under the supervision of the ably damaged in the bad weather, two BPP counsellors Ms piana Marfa- according to Osuyos. tia and Ms Kamal Shroff. And Khur- Sailing from Haldia to Madras, Lala ody was a little sad to find that the received news of the accident and im ­ mediately altered/flg PragatTs course. Two other ships joined the rescue op ­ eration and after a search of more than her rapport with Ms Roshan Driver, nine hours, five crew members in one principal of the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy life raft were picked up. Soon thereaf- Parsi Charitable Institution (BJPC) ter, the remaining crew in the second who arranged a substantial group from life raft were also rescued. the school to visit the J. J. Hospital, For Lala, “the rescue mission was a providing the transport as well as a unique event in his career, ” the report specially ordered meal for the pa- says. “My ship (a three-year-old, tients. Khurody was delighted to find 27,400 tonne oil tanker owned by that the ward has acquired a coat of Great Eastern Shipping Company) did paint, [courtesy Fall Poncha, manag- an excellent job and it is a feather in ing committee chairman of the Com- the cap of the country ’s merchant mittee for Economic Revival (CER)] navy, ” he is quoted as saying. Indian book in Germany The German edition of Understanding for its forsaken inmates. Management, one of the latest books group ’s original name — Sweet Medicine - has been a casualty along the way. Undeterred, Khurody reestablished and that the patients were happy to see her again. Khurody is eager to furnish the place and make it more like home i The response from the Parsee by Indian author Minoo Rustomji, is General Hospital was different. Khur- on its way to becoming a runaway ody ’s offer to find donors to get sec ­ bestseller, according to a press release tions of the hospital painted was de- from its author. dined by its medical superintendent Published by leading West German Dr Homi Mehta who, she says, firmly publisher Norman Rentrop, the book told her to confine herself to the sing- is said to have received over 20 rave ing! “The group has lost the excite- reviews. ment of singing at the Parsee Gener- Illustrated with 130 cartoons by al, ” notes Khurody. “They prefer to leading Indian cartoonist R.K.Lax- go to the J.J. where they are not al- man, the book ’s sale in Germany is ways monitored, ” she adds, expected to bring in considerable fore- khurody was disappointed with the ign exchange. The publishers are, re- high mortality rate of the saplings she portedly, also keen on having more ti- had planted at doongerwadi last year * ? 22 Parsiana August 1988Above: Marfatia (in sari), Khurody (in striped T-shirt) and students of Byramjee Jeejeebhoy entertain patients at JJ. Hospital (Photos: Roxana Kaka) and Plato utterly engrossing. Khurody picked religion as the topic of Throughout her holiday here, Khur- her undergraduate research “because ody was busy learning the navar it fascinates me... (Also) being alone prayers, spending a couple of hours among 6,000 students, you have to de- with a priest every evening. “It’ll tear fend your religion and your commun- with the aid of BJPC volunteers. Lack the Parsis apart to have the first girl ity. You can ’t do anything without of watering and weeding had ensured priest! ’’ she laughs, then adds solemn- knowledge... ’’ that even the survivors were wilting, ly, “Everyone says it’s against the reli- she says, contrasting their plight with gion (but) I don ’t think Ahura Mazda Special feeding program the exquisite looking specimens at the is going to punish me for wanting to be Five hundred poor, crippled and blind Saher Agiary at Breach Candy, which a priest. ” Khurody hoped to finish persons were fed on June 13,1988, the had been planted the same day. learning the five gahs and the tan- day marking the first month Appalled at the “dead and rotting doorasti prayers before the end of the anniversary (masiso) of the late Ms trees...bottles, slippers, old clothes ” vacation. Nargi^Engineer, a joint founder trus- littering the doongerwadi grounds, ’ ’ - - - - Khurody and 45 BJPC youth cele- nia know more about Zoroastrianism able Trust, notes a press release. Din- brated Kadmi New Year on July 25 by than I did when I went last year. ” So ner was also sent for the inmates at the clearing up the mess. BPP joint secret- _ . ary Ms Gool Tata and member of Figure of Nargis Engineer at a BPP’s subcommittee on doongerwadi function commemorating her Ms Homai Modi took time off to appreciate the children ’s involvement, informs Khurody. “Why can ’t they get an ex-army officer and pay him professional wages to run the whole estate, cultivate it into a garden? ” asks Khurody, adding, “There are plenty of Parsis with a lot of money, ready to donate. ” The year at Frisco has been busy but fulfilling for Khursheed. She bagged one award for her piano playing and two for her essays. Although she had initially desired to go into medicine, she realizes that she loves to write, and studying medicine, “I won ’t get to S write anything except prescriptions and death certificates! ” So Khurody has opted for psychotherapy which is : “close enough to medicine yet gives time to study philosophy and theolo- ¦ gy.” Khurody finds Aristotelian phi- H losophy and Zoroastrianism, Socrates H vacation. “Kids of seven and eight in Califor- tee of the Free Food Service Charit- masiso widows ’ chawls in Bombay. The feed ­ ing program was sponsored by her hus ­ band, Samy S. Engineer, the founder trustee of the organization. Also participating in the dinner function were some of the regular donors to the Trust. The collections netted at the donation box, placed alongside a life-size figure of Ms En­ gineer, will reportedly be. used to promote the Trust ’s projects. Founded in 1979, the Trust mainly aims to feed the destitute. Poor pil ­ grims are also taken on tours to reli ­ gious places, free of cost, adds the write-up. A group of young social workers, some of whom have been appointed trustees, will now shoulder the work of the Trust, according to an announce ­ ment in the Jam-e-Jamshed of June 19. Badminton ’s new prospect “A new star is emerging on the bad ­ minton horizon, ’’ wrote Ramadas Rao in The Times of India dated June 16, 24 Parsiana August 1988I At Zoroastrian I College I convocation (from I left): Chandrika I Kenia, Justice Madhukiran Kenia, Master, Dr ’ Aspi Golwalla and Dr Ketayun Dalal 31-year-old * ¦J brilliant academic career throughout dependent on the Madressa and well- Davierwala is also a good sportsman 1988. He was referring to Pune school- j girl Firoza Batliwala who reportedly j played a gruelling match against Ami i Ghia, the 31-year-old national I women ’s champion. “Firoza lost (12- ' 10, 9-12, 9-12) but what a match it . was! ” exulted Rao. j With “subtle deception ” and court- j craft marked by varied strokes, she re ­ portedly “had the crowd delirious with delight. ” The “brilliance ” of her play was however unable to outlast Ghia, I probably because it was the 15-year- old ’s fourth match of the day. 1 . Batliwala, a left-handed player, is his school life, according to the report, wishers to help defray expenses which the reigning national sub-junior cham- He now wishes to take up a career in total nearly Rs 10,000, notes Panthaki. pion. She has reportedly won all the medicine. 7nrftn«frisin Co IIpop major titles in her age-group since she Davierwala is also a good sportsman lau vuuvgc started playing as a 10^-year-old. She and has taken part in intercollegiate Nine Zoroastrians received first year has been coached by Satpal Rawat, a hockey, football, table tennis and soft- diploma certificates at the second con- renowned coach responsible for “a .................................... ’ - - — number of promising prospects from music and reading science-fiction College on June 11, 1988 at the Pune. ” According to Batliwala ’s books, the Jame adds. Khareghat Colony Hall, notes a press mother, Firoza exercises for two hours • , release from Dr (Ms) Meher K. Mas- in the morning and plays an hour of ^avar SpOIlSOreO ter, founder-president of the All India badminton in the evening. ~ ~ ~ " A tenth standard student at St Bombay, was instrumental in finding a manages the College. The ceremony Anne ’s School, Batliwala wishes to sponsor ----- concentrate more on her studies for Bhathena of Toronto, Canada - to Society and the Mazdayasnie Monas- the present year, but after that, she bear the expenses of the four-week- terie which set up the Society in 1983. would like to join an arts college to long navar ceremony of its student The chief guest, Ms Chandrika Kenia, “devote more time to the game. ” Mehrooz Bahadur Dastur, says the then Maharashtra minister for educa- _ Madressa principal, Ervad Rustom N. tion, presented the certificates to the High on his marks Panthaki ’. College ’s second batch of diploma hol- In the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) - twelfth standard - board now qualified to be addressed with the ! ball matches. His hobbies include vocation ceremony of the Zoroastrian According to Batliwala ’s books, the Jame adds. Navar sponsored The Athornan Boarding Madressa, Shah Behram Baug Society which Ms Coomi Faramroze was held under the auspices of the Panthaki. Thirteen-year-old Dastur, who is ders. ! Since 1986, the College has been examination (Pune division) for 1988, prefix* ‘Ervad, ’ is one of the Madres- running monthly lecture courses that Piroze Minoo Davierwala stood fifth sa ’s four students who have completed lead up to a diploma certificate after in the overall merit ranking and first in their navar training this year. The 10 months and 125 to 150 hours of lec- his college, according to a report in the rituals to mark his initiation into the tures attended. The subjects include Jam-e-Jamshed dated June 19, 1988. priesthood were performed at the Bis- “health, alternative medicine, spiritual He also ranks first in the Parsi com- ni Atash Kadeh, Surat, in June this science, ecology, the esoteric, ancient, munity, the report says. year. occult wisdom of the Zoroastrian reli- A student of St Vincent ’s Junior College in Pune, Davierwala has had a have family members who are practis- interfaith (insights), ’’ ing priests, in which case the financial brochure. burden of the necessary ceremonies The College ’s diploma holders will and accessories is reduced, others are be eligible to work towards a second year diploma certificate, and perhaps, at a later stage, a third year program that will include a research and writing project, and lead to a degree through university affiliation. The College also started a research library in 1984, which now includes nearly 7,000 volumes, among them a collection of rare books on Parsi his ­ tory, Zoroastrianism, and the culture of Iran. It contains “some valuable manuscripts and rare nineteenth cen ­ tury publications in Gujarati, English, German, Avesta-Pahlavi, year. While some boys are fortunate to gion, history, culture, law, music and notes their Below (from left): Batliwala, Davierwala and Dastur I I •I 6 o £ 27 Parsiana August 1988 Pazend¦ strength and resistance. father and younger brother were The cost of the film is comparatively motormen), after stints as assistant and Persian, ” adds the brochure. As the construction of the College . buil din g at Sanjan is still under way, cheaper than conventional tin or plas- driver and a goods train driver, he be- monthly lecture courses are held in t * L*' ’ - trains. In the past Cantinwalla used to drive L” _ teakwood car ­ cost of running this center (apart from percent of the expenditure that would riages - for the suburban system out to Rs 45,000 per annum, the Socie- were used, according to The Indian The first motorman to drive these ty hopes to receive donations for their Post. wagons, J. Daruwalla, died last year, project in either cash or building mate- * ’ ’ ’ " rials. Lease increase In its third year of operation ending March 31, 1988, Vitta Mazda Limited facture the film were supplied by the Express. showed an increase in gross income by Reifenhauser GmbH of West Ger- 88.45 percent over the previous year, many, reportedly the world leaders in according to a press release -from the extrusion machinery. The plant has a Noshir Maneckshaw Mistry, the company.The provisional statement of capacity to produce 1,200 to 1,500 ton- seniormost general manager of Cen- profit and loss account showed an in- nes of different varieties of the film, tral Bank of India, has been elevated come of Rs 228.26 lakhs as compared while the country ’s annual require- to the post of executive director of the to Rs 121.12 lakhs for the previous ment is around 60,000 tonnes, notes bank, according to The Economic year, notes the release. the write-up. Times of July 2, 1988. Affiliated to the Mazda group of companies, Vitta Mazda, whose chair- niOling lOCal iralnS Farida D. Khambata has been man is Dara Deboo and managing Fifty-six-year-old Minoo Cantinwalla appointed divisional manager. Capital director, Yezdi Master, procured addi- is the oldest serving motorman on the Markets, Division III of International tional leasing and hire purchase busi- Central Railway ’s suburban service in Finance Corporation (IFC), a World ness worth Rs 224.38 lakhs during the Bombay, according to an article in the Bank affiliate, Washington, reports ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ’ ” The Economic Times of July 2. It is repiortedly the first time that IFC has appointed a woman as head of the di ­ vision. ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ I tic containers, yet hygienic packing came a motorman on Bombay ’s local Bombay. Since 1984, dn agricultural andunadulteratedproductscanbeen- research center has also been function- sured. To package one kilogram of ing on the site. To meet the present edible oil, for instance, will cost just 25 the “Old Stock ’ c ___ -____ -LI_________ ' . ~ • the cost of construction) which works be incurred if conventional containers which were discontinued in the 1960s. The company has already received according to Cantinwalla. confirmed orders to supply the film to I ' firms like ITC, Britannia and Glindia, Railway ’s Victoria Terminus, Cantin ­ according to Ranina. walla finds “the past more pleasant to The plant and machinery to manu- contemplate ” than the present, notes In the centenary year of the Central SPOTLIGHT the write-up. Piloting local trains year, according to the release. It also weekend supplement of Indtjtn Ex­ invested Rs 35.11 lakhs in property de- press dated July 2, 1988. With trains velopment and Rs 24.89 lakhs in carrying up to four times their normal shares and securities. capacity, and basic amenities not func- The public issue of Mazda Prop- tioning due to overloading and break ­ erties Limited was managed by the downs, Cantinwalla has had to face the H.B. Dhondy, a chartered accountant ¦ ' • and director of various companies, in­ cluding Glindia, has been appointed When engines or brakes fail, the director of-The Pharmaceutical Pro ­ motorman “immediately becomes the ducts of India Limited, reports The personification of Central Railway ’s Economic Times of July 2. evils, ” the article says. On one occa- -------------------------------------------------- merchant banking division of the com- wrath of commuters on different occa- pany, jointly with the merchant bank- sions. ing division of the Bank of India, adds the release. Packaging gets under way Mazda Packaging ’s highly sophisti- sion, he nearly lost his left eye when a Compiled by Ramgopal Balakrishnan cated plant, situated in Uplat in the stone smashed his windscreen and the Thane district of Maharashtra, com- glass splinters got embedded. A quick menced production of nylon-based operation, however, saved the eye. films on June 13, 1988 according to Once, when he was driving a ‘fast ’ loc- The Indian Post of June 15. al, the train was converted into a ‘slow ’ Although the estimated cost of set- local due to a technical problem. Una- ting up the plant was Rs 5.65 crores, ware of this, Cantinwalla continued to the actual cost was cheaper by Rs 15 drive the train as a ‘fast ’ local, skipping lakhs, mainly because the project was the smaller stations. At the next halt, completed ahead of schedule, accord- he was reportedly dragged out of his ing to Homi Ranina, chairman of Maz- cabin and manhandled. da Packaging. The increasing number of slums has The computer-controlled plant caused, among other things, more manufactures films which are capable people to be knocked down by trains, of “revolutionizing the packaging in- he feels, dustry ” because of their universal ap- “ plication, the report says. The films way in November 1950. Belonging to a are also believed to have more family of railwaymen (his grandfather. AN EXCLUSIVE FLAT Outright sale, 3 sides open, airy top floor furnished flat with marble flooring and excellent planning, (area 1200) enjoying sunrise, sunset view, greenery, in Bangalore's most prestigious residential-cum.office complex (having six lifts, 24 hrs water, power, garden, club) located strategically in city centre, beautiful surroundings of Raj Bhavan, Cunningham Road, M.G. Road. As owner emigrating abroad, genuine buyers financially ready to invest ten lacs, write to: The Owner (Flat), GPO Box No 892, Bombay 400001 computer-controlled ITALIAN FIAT FOR SALE 29 Parsiana August 1988 Cantinwalla joined the Central Rail- 1980 Italian Fiat (4 Cylinders), 132 GLS Righthand Drive, Directly Imported, One owner driven, for sale in excellent condition. Write to: The Owner (Car), GPO Box No 892, Bombay 400001POLITICS AND POLICY Despite the Bombay High Court stay on elections, social worker Perviz Dotivala has announced her candidature for the BPP trusteeship seat to be vacated by Dr Aspi Golwalla that she been settled. The hearing on July 4 was post- counsel for the intervenor, the late No elections insight I The chances of the Bombay Parsi Pun- appeal pending before the court has Suresh ’s scheme, was having second chayet (BPP) elections being held in been disposed of. The blanket ban thoughts. (Suresh ’s judgment, which the near future appear dim following now covers the Anjuman Committee abolished the right of donors - of Rs an order of the two judges of the Bom- elections which were originally sche- 5,000 and more to BPP charities - to bay High Court that elections not be duled for March 1988, as well as the directly elect trustees, has split the held until the appeal pertaining to trusteeship election which was antici- BPP’s board of trustees with Guzder, electoral reforms is decided. Even pated in September this year. When Jamsheed Kanga and Minoo Shroff then, social worker Perviz Dotivala Golwalla ’s second 10-year term ex- supporting the revised scheme and has announced her candidature for the pires in October, his place on the Golwalla, Eruch Desai, Homi Ranina trusteeship seat to be vacated by BPP board will thus remain unfilled until and Mehroo Bengalee seeking to chairman Dr Aspi Golwalla, this the challenge to the new electoral make common cause with the petition- October. scheme, handed down by Justice ers in opposing it.) Mehta, who sought Citing the “wishes of my numerous H.Suresh in February/March 1987,has time to arrive at an out-of-court con- friends and well-wishers ” that she been settled. , sensus, was supported by Rusi Sethna, stand for election, Dotivala stated in a ~ ‘ letter to the Press, “I would like to poned to August 1, when lawyer Keki municipal councillor Rusi Mehta (now continue to serve my community to the Mehta of Payne and Company who represented by his son Dinshaw). A best of my ability and I see no better represents the petitioners — Jehangir donor member himself, Rusi Mehta way to do this than as a trustee of the Bamji and three others - told the had been opposed to the concept of Parsi Punchayet. ” Her candidature court that Jamshed Guzder, one of the the donor ’s “vested right to vote. ” was supported by letters to the Press three BPP trustees who support — by Maharashtra minister of state for general administration, law and tour ­ ism Marazban Patrawala, Minorities Commission member Homi Taleyar ­ khan and several educationists, amongst others. Dotivala is president of the Maharashtra Youth Hostels Association, and vice-president of the International Tourism Council. She is active in community politics, having been a leading member of the C Register of graduates and, hence, an elected member of the Anjuman Committee. The Bombay Samachar however appealed to Dotivala to withdraw her candida ­ ture in favor of Nani Palkhivala who has so far declined to run for the office. The CER (then known as the Com ­ mittee for Electoral Rights and there ­ after renamed Committee for Econo ­ mic Revival) which won the last Anju ­ man Committee elections in 1981 has so far not announced its support for any candidate. The CER is one of the parties in the election suit before the High Court. In an interim order. Justice Shah > and Justice Sawant of the Bombay High Court have decreed that there will be no BPP election until the Arnavaz S. Mama Dotivala with Taleyarkhan: “no better way to serve than as trustee” The other controversial aspect of Suresh ’s scheme is the raising of the level of donation to Rs 50,000 to merit a direct voting right. Keki Mehta de ­ scribed this amount as unrealistic “be ­ cause the donor would be required to pay an additional Rs 10,000 as gift tax. ” Though the judge countered, “ You have the money and therefore you pay, ” Mehta contended that the donation limit should lie between Rs 15,000 and Rs 19,000. According to Mehta, “an unscrupulous builder ” could easily buy 100 direct votes by paying Rs 50,000 each and “have the Parsi Punchayet in his pocket. ” Soli Cooper, the Punchayet ’s coun ­ sel who had allegedly not been briefed about his client ’s response to the con ­ sensus moves, was against any further delay as the Punchayet administration would be snowed under “weeks and weeks of work if constituency-wise voting ” was the final outcome of the appeal. The suggestion for constituen ­ cy-wise voting had initially come from the CER as a way of ensuring fair rep ­ resentation from all Parsi localities on the elected E Register. When the lawyers met again at the next hearing, on August 1, they sought — and were granted — another post ­ ponement of four weeks as the consen ­ sus talks did not seem to have made much headway. 31 Parsiana August 1988POLITICS AND POLICY BPP LABOR: settlement likely Homi J. Rogers With an agreement between the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and its workers close at hand, the chances of a strike recede Dr Aspi Golwalla, Jamshed Guzder, Jamsheed Kanga and Eruch Desai, the Punchayet ’s chief executive Rustom An kiesaria, and its joint secretary Ms Gool Tata. Sharing the dais with them was H. N. Trivedi, president of the IN- TUC-affiliated Bombay General Em ­ ployees ’ Association, who, say the un­ ion members, had demanded on their behalf, an increase of Rs 275 per month. The Punchayet, it seems, had offered an increase of Rs 50 per month which, according to its chairman Aspi Golwalla, “had been accepted by some Class IV members. ” The speeches at the meeting, as re ­ ported by different staff members, have submitted a fresh memorandum, finite strike from August 5, if the de- supposedly alternated between re- For over the past four months, trouble has been fermenting amongst the Class IV staff of the Bombay Parsi Pun­ chayet (BPP). Numbering 165, accord ­ ing to official sources, the employees in this category include mazdoors, hamals, sweepers, gardeners, watch ­ men and nassessalars. They help in the maintenance of the BPP-administered properties like the Parukh Dharam- shalla. Lady Hirabai Jehangir Health Unit, the Parsi-tenanted colonies and the doongerwadi (Towers of Silence). Governed by a settlement between the BPP trustees and the employees ’ union, reached three years ago on September 13, 1985, the workmen 1 - - - asking for higher wages and better ser- mands were not met. The wheels of quests and threats. Golwalla is said to vice conditions. The demands, if the Punchayet were set in motion, and have beseeched the workers to call off granted, informs the BPP in a public a hurried settlement staved off the the stir, explaining that the BPP is no notice, “would increase the annual strike. Had it materialized, it would industry and hence cannot generate wage bill of the Class IV employees have had the Punchayet, as much as additional funds. Guzder, we are told, alone by about Rs 12.5 lakhs, and the workers, facing the wrath of the threatened to recruit substitute labor, overall for all employees to about Rs disgruntled community. Inconveni- Kanga, speaking in fluent Marathi, is 25 lakhs per annum. ” This would incur ences like non-removal of garbage, believed to have cajoled the workers for the BPP “a burden (which) can shortage of water in the colonies, and to call a truce, quoting the allegory of never be sustained by the trustees non-cooperation and go-slow,tactics at “do not kill the cow, lest you be dep- from the income derived (from in- the doongerwadi, would have assumed rived of milk altogether. ” No settle- terest on permitted investments and greater importance in Parsi house- ment, however, could be reached, donations) ” which, the BPP publicly holds at a time like the muktads. But, Trivedi pulled himself out of the confessed, “are dwindling. ” Ten days after the agitation was fray and appointed six members of the It was on July 8 that the workmen, launched, the trustees convened a union to continue negotiating with the seeing no visible breakthrough, laun- meeting with the workers at the Man- trustees during his absence over the ched an agitation to secure their de- cherji Khareghat Hall at Khareghat next fortnight, mands. Little red flags and banners Colony. The venue was situated, ironi- / _ mands. Little red flags and banners Colony. The venue was situated, ironi- According to Dr Syrus Irani, son of (now removed) proclaiming allegiance cally, at the foot of the doongerwadi - the late Darvish Irani (caretaker at the to the Indian National Trade Union the huge, sprawling Parsi Punchayet doongerwadi for over 40 years till his Congress (INTUC) - the trade union property which would have been the demise in the early ’80s), what caused body affiliated to the ruling party - foc^ point of the stir as the majority of Trivedi to retract was his (Irani ’s) let- were strung up at the Punchayet prop- the union-led workers are concen- ter published a day before, on July 17, erties,'and a notice was issued to the trated there. The trustees said to be in The Bombay Samachar and Jam-e- trustees, threatening to go on an inde- present at the meeting on July 18 were Jamshed. In this letter, Irani, as presi- 32 Parsiana August 1988dent of the one-year-old Zoroastrian Irani, who claims he got wind of the ing the past seven years, receive. Cultural Welfare Association (which action plan when he went visiting his according to Irani, a salary of around aims to infuse cooperation and com- mother who has been provided re- , Rs 930 per month (Rs 230 basic -I- Rs mitment among the youth), fore- sidential accommodation on the 679 dearness allowance-I-Rs 20 house warned the community of the agitation doongerwadi premises as a goodwill rent). The relief obtained, even planned. He put forth a three-pronged gesture for the 40 years ’ service under- though less than half the amount de ­ campaign to counter, with the help of taken there by her husband. While Ira- manded, has been welcomed by most ni’s letter may have dissipated the stir, of the employees Parsiana spoke to. it was treated as a stab in the back by But while the imminent threat of a many workers at the doongerwadi who strike has blown over, the unsavory knew him as a child and were shocked chapter has not ended. Anklesaria, at the volte face by a person who had aware of “the sensitive nature of the first-hand knowledge of the low wages topic, ” as he puts it, refuses to discuss and poor working conditions. “My it in detail with Parsiana. “Suffice to father, at the time of his demise, after say, we are looking into the matter and working for 40 years, drew a monthly working out an amicable settlement, ” salary of only Rs 850,” admits Irani, he says, adding that “if would be pre- “But,” he argues, “the letter was writ- mature to write about the issue now. ” ten by me not because I am against the Sawant guardedly expresses the same workers, but because I am for the pro- view, stating that it would be up to tection of my religion. I will not allow “Trivedi-saheb to finalize the matter, anything against the faith to take place as he alone can sign the settlement, ” at the doongerwadi as long as I am and, hopefully, convince the trustees alive, ” Irani asserts, alleging that “to- to raise the amount by at least another day if these demands (for extra wages) 10 rupees. To be looked into also is the are fulfilled, then tomorrow they will matter of an eight-hour duty for even demand houses in our private watchmen, as against the present 12- colonies, and finally a place at the hour round. Other facilities, like an in- doongerwadi for their last rites. ” It is a matter of conjecture,however, being sought. The tinderbox could be ignited in Inconveniences like non-removal of garbage and shortage of water would have assumed greater importance in Parsi households during the muktads young and bold volunteers, socialism (on) the doongerwadi 7 ' lands... and protection of our col- whether it was really because of Irani ’s onies. ” Irani, a medical general practi- letter, dubbed by The Bombay tioner, whose dispensary lies opposite Samachar editor Jehan Daruwalla as his residence at the Punchayet- “unduly alarmist, immature and mis ­ managed Navajbai Contractor Baug at leading ” that Trivedi withdrew. Left Mori Road, Mahim, credits himself to promote their cause were his lieute- with having “foiled the bid to hold the nants who included Anand Natalkar, a community to ransom by exposing the peon at the Punchayet ’s office, two sinister plot of a strike. ” ramoses (as watchmen at the doonger- Tehmuras Mehta, who continues as wadi are called) Rajaram Sawant and manager at the doongerwadi (when his Dattu Pawar, and a mali (gardener) appointment was not confirmed by the Balkrishna Pohelekar from the trustees after the expiry of his proba- doongerwadi. “Aay beechara garib tion period, Mehta reportedly moved manaso chhe (these people are poor) the Labour Court which granted him a and easily intimidated by the trus- stay order), agrees that should the tees, ” explains Mehta, strike have materialized, the doonger ­ wadi would have been badly affected. Guzder, Desai, Anklesaria and Tata the early future once again. For The staff would have resorted to a go- on July 27, in the company of five Mehta, deprived of his confirmation slow: the ravaan gaadi (hearse) would other union members. “Guzder-saheb and other facilities, threatens to take have taken its own time in getting the refused to pay a rupee over 100. The up the union ’s demands forcefully body; the nassessalars (pallbearers) settlement, nevertheless, inched its once the court gives its decision on his would have lifted the ravaan (corpse) way up to an additional payment of Rs appointment. “There may yet be a at their own convenience, and even 115 per month. ” After working as a strike, ” he cautions. The present si- the ceremonies might have been de- watchman for over 23 years. Sawant, lence could well be an opportunity for layed by at least an hour or two. today, draws a salary of around Rs introspection. The community, re- However, according to a clarification 950. BPP sweepers, according to nowned for its charity, needs to re- from the Punchayet, only the non- Sridhar Ankush, employed as one, are evaluate the sad plight of those who Parsi workers would have joined the paid in the range of Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 serve them, and as Jehan Daruwalla strike, not the nassessalars. per month. Nassessalars, whose num- notes, “seriously think about helping “I would have none of this, ” says bers have dwindled from 40 to 15 dur- the BPP to cope with the situation. ” anti- Sawant recalls his meeting with 34 Parsiana August 1988 £ crease in travel allowance, are also "Tomorrow they will even demand houses in our private colonies and a place at doongerwadi fortheir last rites"RELIGION COVER STORY k THE BURNING NEED OF FIRE-TEMPLES Text and photographs: Parinaz Toddywalla “We were wondering whether we Zoroastrian favorites presented to the Sandalwood tree and dose-up of branch should discontinue selling sandalwood ceremonial fires. There is a demand sticks worth 50 paise...But we felt we for sandalwood derivatives like oil, Rs 210 to Rs 230 to Rs 250 with the must not deny this to the poor who can paste and incense sticks from the Hin- sellers and consumers looking on help- only afford humble offerings to the dus while artefacts in the shape of lessly. With an additional tax on san ­ sacred fires. ” Ms Gool Contractor, a idols, animals and decorative desk dalwood sales imposed by the govern- partner in Edulji Rustomji Sukhad- accessories may take anyone ’s fancy. ment, and the wholesalers ’ boycott of walla (a sandalwood retailer next to Usually, it is the family members, the last auction, it was the small-timers Banaji ’s Atash Bahram), was narrat- whether first, second or third genera- who were bearing the brunt of the in- ing the challenge faced by the sandal- tion who, under the protective eye of evitable price escalation when demand wood establishments in Bombay, the shop ’s founder whose portrait is exceeds supply. “Yet, we never com- Their hired laborers have to put in ex- prominently hung on a wall, attend to promise on the quality of the sandal- tra effort to cut the expensive wood the customers, exchange pleasantries wood. We buy only the best and never into such fine splinters, yet the cus- and gossip, revive memories of the from black marketeers who illegally tomer is always dissatisfied with the good old Parsi ways, and speculate as cut the forests in Karnataka to sell diminishing returns of his money ’s to what the future will bring. Most san- wood in truckloads in Bombay , notes worth, she says. dalwood merchants are confident of Ms Daulat Mulla, managing the family Indeed, even the Federation of Parsi their customers ’ loyalty which has shop next to the H.B. Wadia Atash Zoroastrian Anjumans of India dwel- been retained over the decades. The Bahram. The government inspectors led on the rising cost of firewood for skilled laborers, who saw the wood and monthly visits to check the stock and the fire-temples, at its executive coun- chip it to the desired size, have also sales figures is considered unwar- cil meeting in Ukai last April. been with the family for generations, ranted harrassment by most retailers Located near fire-temples, with the The storage of sandalwood logs and who believe in self-imposed honesty, largest concentration at Dhobitalao the weighing of this valuable commod- Mulla ’s constant lament is that Parsis which boasts two atash bahrams and ity is relegated to the inner confines of occasionally offer inferior quality san- four agiaries, sandalwood shops bear a the shop. Every chip of wood is weighed dalwood at the fire-temples as notice- fraternal resemblance. Shelf space precisely, as a difference of 10 gm could able in the khumchas (ceremonial plat- within easy reach of the buyer is ear- mean a price fluctuation of Rs 2.50. ters)there.In contrast,well-to-do Hind- marked for different forms and de- During the course of the interviews us buy generous pieces of sandalwood nominations of sandalwood. Maachi spanning a week, when Parsiana for cremation purposes, she sighs, (thin long sticks), ganderi (stumps), sought to glean the reactions of diffe- Framroz Sukhadwalla (Contractor s periya (small pieces), tachho (shav- rent sandalwood retailers, the per kilo father) remembers the time when one ings) and vher (powder) are the rate of sandalwood had increased from maund of sandalwood was sold for Rs With the escalation in the costs of sandalwood and kathi, the community is finding difficulty in sustaining the fires in the numerous agiaries and atash bahrams in India 37 Parsiana August 198810 (one maund = 12*4 kg approx). of the sandalwood trees that^^has been Rohinton ' Operating from Ws shop next to *e the san- two months to journey by bullock cart ?rS^ BotniX^ s:?s S' h7 has no 5alwoo3 tree taking « m 60 yea. to to *e site^of the^auctmm, S^’d^^rX^r^jilSSh SpaSbleXr^Sprop^^^^^^^^ EsssaSSx dreary future for the fire-temples and In June last, wholesalers boycotted the government auction in Tamil Nadu. They are re ­ portedly protesting the 35 percent (botanical name additional tax imposed on the sale of v ’”''’’ ? <»¦’ sandalwood, and the income tax de- 1 duction at source which has become trunk is vaiueu note the retailers. Ms Dina Dordi,who obligatory under the 1988 amendment remnant brane r _ owns the shop next to the Anjuman to the Income-Tax Act. In India, san- fetch even one-tenth^price o san- ^^wns^the^j^^^op next to^t dalwood is used mainly for religious yJe d^otees visiting the temples has purposes unlike the countries to which region of Rs 1,40,000 per ton .. ine or oe o ^ut increased, with a S is^ex^ricd where iis chief use is for numbm of youngsters fre- cosmetics, --------- - Sorabji Rustomji and Company, one ern means of the largest sandalwood wholesalers transportation in Bombay. With exports comprising t—**—• 90 percent of his business. Lawyer prides himself on transacting in only . pure “malbari (government autho- I rized) ’ ’ sandalwood bought in consign- P ments worth Rs 20 to 30 lakhs at the auctions. He feels that as long as Parsi wholesalers are able to meet the de- ¦ mand, community retailers should patro ­ nize them and not go to non-Parsis. I The visible threat of galloping prices and scarcity of sandalwood that is pla ­ guing most retailers is exaggerated, feels Lawyer. “At least for our reli- j gious purposes there is no fear of non ­ availability of sandalwood for the next few years, ” he maintains. There is a demand for export of sandalwood pro ­ ducts - chips, powder and oil - be ­ cause the superior quality available in India is not found elsewhere in the world, not even in Indonesia and Au­ stralia, it is believed. Reportedly, 50 kg of oil is extracted from 1,000 kg of sandalwood. “The government is only interested in its earnings from exports and not in looking after the religious needs of the community, ” laments Jamshed Parbhu, a partner in Faredun Burjor ’s at Princess Street. A member of the sandalwood advis ­ ory committee which looks after the interests of the trade. Lawyer explains that up to now it is the natural growth | Above: Bomi /rani I Alongside (from left): Framroz Sukhadwalla and Behram Nava j of the sandalwood trees meeting the country ’s internal and ex ­ port requirements. But with the san- dalwood tree taking 40 to 60 years to to the site the aucUom mature, and no successful formula all eminent holds its six “monthly auC" -j----- - , sindalwood tions, sandalwood trees are also found recommends that they be amagj in Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnata- ui _ _____________ mated to conserve the scarce supplies k*a. From these tropical parasitic trees of sandalwood. the _ santalum album) The temple-goer usually spends the which gather their nourishment from same amount on t------------ santalum album) sandalwood that he whicn gainer men uuuiuuuhuh ixw... - -------------------- the host trees, only the heart of the did years ago, boti^™ trunk is valued as sandalwood. The it means less sandalwood for the lire, remnant branches and twigs do not note the retailers. Ms Dina^^Dord^who fetch even one-tenth the price of san- owns the shop next to the Anjuman dalwood whose wholesale rate is in the Atash Bahram, feels that the number ------- -. The of devotees visiting the temples nas infoJms S^mer^wyer of ably shSw an upward trend. The mod of communication anc . 1 make the Lawyer auspicious or earmarked occasions. Samee, Faroukh and I------ brothers ar I i 1 3B Parsiana Augusi lass and quenting it regularly, and not only on Most of the shops are open all seven i. Hdays a week. A commitment to their forefathers is the common motivating factor which inspires every subsequent generation to continue the sandalwood business though there have been cases of two retailers at Dhobitalao closing shop because of the non-viability of their ventures, or, as may happen with Dordi, there is no offspring to con ­ tinue the business. Many shops, however, are seen diversifying into sale of Parsi garments and other reli ­ gious requisites. The business from the Hindu, Jain, Marwari and Muslim clientele too, considerably eases the load on the retailers, acknowledges Homi Mody, manager at Manekshaw Nowroji ’s shop opposite Cama Baug. Opening the shop at 6 a.m. and down ­ ing its shutters at 7 p.m., Contractor says, “We are almost like the chem ­ ists. ” The only difference being that medical stores sell remedies to soothe the pains of the physical body and the sukhadwallas sell fuel for the suste- nahce of man ’s religious beliefs. t & -’1 I Significance of sandalwood Proffering the sweet-smelling sandal ­ wood is meant to signify the devotee ’s determination to spread the fragrance of charity and good deeds, explains Jivanji Modi in his book The Religious • Ceremonies and Customs of the Parsees. Like the fire, the pilgrim is supposed to spread the light of right ­ eousness and knowledge before being reduced to dust, the shared destiny of both, the sandalwood and the human being. Sandalwood could not have formed an integral element of Zoroas ­ trian ceremonies while the community was keeping alive its faith in Iran, sur ­ mises Lawyer, because there are no The sweet-smelling sandalwood is supposed to signify the devotee’s determination to spread the fragrance of charity and good deeds Above: Jamshed Parbhu Alongside: sandalwood artefacts Left: cutting sandalwood into chips out that in the absence of sandalwood, any clean, good wood may be used. This indicates that alternatives to san ­ dalwood had not been ruled out for the ceremonies. Kathi is convenient With the exception of a few fire ­ temples like the Dadyseth Agiary, and the Rustom Framna and Narielwalla Agiaries in Dadar where, according to Irani, more sandalwood than kathi is consumed, in the case of most others it is kathi from the babul trees that is used to keep the fire burning for 24 sandalwood forests there. The custom hours, while sandalwood is only must have originated after they settled offered at stipulated hours and in mea ­ down in India. sures gifted by the laity. Since the cost For the bui diyan ceremony, which of kathi is one-hundredth that of san ­ ushers in a new gah (five times a day, dalwood, it is considered economical corresponding to the time cycle), the amount of sandalwood fed to the fires differs, depending on the status of the fire in the temple. It is enjoined that one piece of sandalwood should be offered to the atash adarian fire (second in hierarchy). But for the most venerated atash bahram fire, six pieces, resemblant of a throne, are necessary for the maachi (sandalwood offering at the time of bui diyan), de ­ tails Jivanji Modi. It is further spelt to use it for the fire-temples where this heat-retentive hard wood is popular because it burns slowly, without emit ­ ting any sparks or toxic smoke. The prices of kathi have* more than doubled in the last two years, informs Farroakh Govadia, partner in Hor- musji H. Sidhwa and Son, reportedly Bombay ’s only Parsi wholesaler deal ­ ing in firewood, the other two having wound up their business years ago. Supplying kathi to 36 of the 42 fire- 39 Parsiana August 1988¦ •<- 5 temples in Bombay, Govadia states that formerly the family owning the agiary and the trustees would donate towards the kathi costs, but with the rising prices they can no longer afford to do so as there are hardly any “sethias (moneyed gentry) ” left in the community. If there is a harmonious relationship between the panthaky and ¦ the trustees of the agiary, observes H Govadia, the panthaky will approach | clients for donations (approximately m Rs 3,500) for a month ’s supply of ¦ kathi. This gesture prevents the bur- den from falling on the trustees who, faced with a static corpus, can hardly spare funds for the repairs of the agiaries, most of which are nearly 100 years old. But when there is a disgrun- Samee Lawyer: sandalwood is soaring tied panthaky on the scene, it is often (Right) Farroakh Govadia: the Govadias who are left to solicit kathi is dearer donations towards the kathi funds of that agiary. ____ . . - . . „ does not burn as well as the wood Pradesh but now the embargo imposed gas. “But what about the agiaries? ” which has aged and which is costlier by by these states prohibits the transport asks Govadia. Rs 500 per ton, yet most often there is of firewood outside their geographical The only solution he visualizes is to a plea, “Kathi apo, junu ke navu (give ' limits. Later it was bought at the auc- grow babul trees on community lands us kathi, whether old or new) ” as the tions at the Gujarat government sales like the tract in Palghar owned by the clients cannot afford to be choosy depots, but the recently introduced Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman. Each when there is a scarcity of kathi, re- moratorium under the reforestation agiary should be self-sufficient in its ports the kathi stockist. The Govadias program prohibits the cutting of babul kathi stock and minimize the interven- usually store about 1,000 tons of kathi trees on government-owned lands in tion of middlemen, advises Govadia. in their vakhar (godown). While the Gujarat. The private growers, faced Maturing after a minimum period of produce is brought from the forest in with an increasing demand, sell the 15 years, each tree yields half a ton of trucks, the Govadia brothers - Far- wood to the highest bidders. kathi, insists Govadia, countering the roakh, Hoshang and Mehernosh - Of the one and a half lakh tons of claim of others that a tree can mature take turns in personally delivering the firewood annually consumed in Bom- in seven to 10 years. He also refuses to cut, manageable pieces of kathi to bay, barely 500 tons is used at the fire- consider su-babul as a substitute for their customers. temples, estimates Govadia. The chief babul, saying, “It is just like a matchstick users are caterers/bakeries, cremator- that bums and is soon extinguished. ” Sawing babul wood for easy handling iums, kilns and liquor stills which may In an agiary in Bombay, the Parsi Punchayet is known to have ex- H perimented with su-babul to gauge its I burning properties. The project was I abandoned when the priest tending the I fire indicated his dissatisfaction. Re- I newed attempts to measure the ser- I viceability of su-babul were to be I made by Dastur Meherji Meherjirana ¦ of Navsari. I With the prohibitive costs of sandal- I wood, will the devotees be forced to I offer kathi sticks instead of sukhad to ¦ the sacred fires? The ‘faith-fuUs ’ look forward to a day when sandalwood for religious purposes will be easily avail- I able. But there are also the ‘fear-fulls ’ I who predict a gloomy future. In the words of one sandalwood retailer: “ Varso pachhi Parsi mari jas^ ne lakdu J bari jas^ (after some years Parsis will S be dead and the wood will be burnt)! ” . Formerly, kathi was brought to perforce have to opt for alternatives The^fresh wood with its reddish tint Bombay from Karnataka and Madhya like coke, diesel, electricity, kerosene. SBa -^clRI ¦ - "5^ I® ¦ 40 Parsiana August 1988RELIGION Feeding the fires Two schemes have been proposed to help meet the fire-temples ’ requirements of kathi B Parsiana publishes abridged and wood may not be available. The permanent solution for sup ­ plying babul kathi is to grow babul trees in the compounds of doongerwa- dis, atash bahrams, agiaries or on any land available with Parsi punchayets, anjumans or members of our commun ­ ity. At the Udwada doongerwadi, ab ­ out 400 trees of babul, casuarina and eucalyptus, planted under my gui­ dance in 1982, have grown very well. Some babul trees have also been planted at the doongerwadi in Baroda. If any punchayet, anjuman or indi ­ vidual of our community wants to plant trees, I am willing to offer my honor ­ ary consultancy services to prepare a scheme or project depending on the availability of land, funds and water. Left: Growth of a 10-year-old babul tree (Photo; Gujarat State Forestry Department) i Below: Devotee offers firewood esides coping with a shortage of ing a 250-acre plot of land near Nav- priests, fire-temples are also sari to grow baval trees and to serve being faced with rising fire- other community uses. Chothia sug- wood bills. Approximately 7,300 kg of gests that the punchayets and agiaries firewood obtained from the baval (also utilize the land available with them to known as babul) tree are used in an cultivate baval trees, agiary annually. While sandalwood is used as an offering and at specified edited versions of their proposals, times, it is the baval wood that bums for 24 hours. Chothia ’s recommendations In order to provide kathi to the fire- The kathi requirements of atash temples in India at a reasonable rate, bahrams, adarians and dar-e-mehers is two proposals were put forward at the around 600 tons (1 ton = 1,000 kg) per executive council meeting of the Fed- year in Bombay city and thus the eration of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans annual cost of kathi consumed in Bom- of India in the Gujarat township of bay alone is around Rs 7,50,000 per Ukai in early April: one by business- annum. In spite of the high cost, some- man Dara Deboo, chairman of the times sufficient quantity of kathi is not Mazda Group of Companies, and the available in the market because some other by retired forest officer Homi of the states have placed an embargo Chothia of Baroda. Deboo ’s scheme on the movement of firewood to other envisages a Rs 60 lakh project: acquir- states. A time may come when babul 42 Parsiana August 19885 leather industry. The pods are also Deboo ’s plans The wood of the baval tree, kathi, is of Babul trees exude gum known as very great importance to our commun- The quality of the babul tree The babul tree produces firewood of used as cattle-feed. good quality - with a high calorific value that burns slowly, without sparks gum ghati or gum arabica. It is of great ity as it is used principally by our or toxic smoke. The tree can grow sue- use in calico printing and dyeing-sizing agiaries and atash bahrams to keep ouf cessfully in different types of soil, rain- silk and cotton. This gum is also highly sacred fires burning. fall regimes and terrains. The most nutritive and is often used in the crea- common gauge to measure the wood ’s tion of sweets and paaks (special nutri- combustive quality is its density - the tive preparations) in winter, heavier the wood (when dry), the greater its calorific value which keeps Babul plantations on community lands the fire burning slowly. This quality is For producing 600 tons of kathi per price of kathi has gone up consider- present in the babul tree. The technic- year for Bombay city alone, we must ably. Nor is it available in the quanti- al name of babul is acacia nilotica (old have 2,000 trees per year. One ties we need. It is feared that in the name acacia arabica). thousand one hundred trees, spread Babul is a fast growing tree under over 10 to 15 years, can be grown on favorable soil and irrigation condi- one hectare at a cost of Rs 10,000. We have been using kathi for the above purpose for years on end, and it was freely available until now in suffi ­ cient quantities and at reasonable rates. But in the last few years, the future, due to paucity in the supply of kathi, our religious institutions will be faced with great difficulty in obtaining their regular requirements. Keeping this idea in mind, we have been making strenuous efforts to ob ­ tain a suitably large piece of land for growing baval trees. To the good fortune of our com ­ munity, about 250 acres of land owned by Hindu and Muslim families is avail ­ able about 25 km from Navsari. The site is approachable by a pucca road. Although these families have received higher bids, they have shown their wil ­ lingness to sell the land to us with a ___ view to help us out on religious If sufficient land and funds are avail- grounds. Thus an excellent opportun- able, 20,000 trees can be planted in one ity has arisen for us to purchase a vast year or the project can be phased out to area of land for kathi cultivation, plant 5,000 trees per year in four years or any other If, at the end of 10 years, it is found four km away from the seashore and that the trees have not sufficiently ma- government beach resort. Electricity tured or grown big enough to give and telephone facilities are available, good kathi with hard wood, the period A canal nearby provides as much wa- of exploitation can be extended to 15 ter as required. Besides, the new coas- 1^1 highway from Kanyakumari to Similarly, for all other punchayets Kandla passes quite near our land, tions. Silvicultural practices such as and anjumans throughout India, a pro- and therefore, the distance from Nav- weeding, intensive soil working and ject can be prepared according to their sari would be reduced from 25 km to pest or disease control can greatly in- requirements of kathi and availability 17 km. crease the yield. The trees grow two to of land, funds and irrigation. Acording to the rules and tegula- three cm in diameter each year. Fire ­ wood plantations, if carefully managed availability of land should be collected Gujarat at present, an individual or a and protected from fire, animal graz- by the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian trust can hold only 15 to 20 acres of ing and poachers, can be self- Anjumans of India from punchayets, agricultural land. Further, as per the renewing. The plantations are usually anjumans, private trusts and indi- law in Gujarat, only farmers or agri- ’ managed on a short rotation of about viduals of our community. culturistS can purchase more agricultu- 10 years, though they could be man- ral land. Thus the question of how to aged in a 15-year rotation cycle. Those interested in the project may con- acquire such a large piece of land of Besides the firewood, the bark of tact Homi P. Chothia, “Zar-E-Hom,” about 250 acres posed a problem. the babul is highly prized as tanning 66, Suvarnapuri Society (Chikuwadi), Several Parsi public trusts in Navsari, material and is one of the most exten- Jetalpur Road, Alkapuri, Vadodara however, hold small tracts of agri- sively used tanning barks. Babul pods 390005, Tel 324187. A copy of the letter cultural land and thus come within the contain high percentage of tannin. The may be sent to the honorary secretary, definition of “farmers ” in accordance tannin content of deseeded pods (pods the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian with the prevailing law. They can without seeds) is 18 to 27 percent. The Anjumans of India, D-24 South Exten- therefore acquire and hold additional bark and pods are mainly used in the sion Part II, New Delhi 110049. land up to the prescribed ceiling. We z 2 c u Q V c ft lU J cc g O I ui ¦ I I I Q S 61 oB I H h 43 Parsiana August 1988 if I Left: Foliage of a su-babul plantation I after four years Chothia (center) and Deboo The land is situated on the Navsari- Umbharat Main Road which is about It is suggested that the data on tions applicable to agricultural land incan thus purchase the entire 250 acres of land through the agricultural trusts of Navsari. I Burjor Framji & Co. Licensed Plumbers Sanitary & Drainage Contractors MARINE MANSION 1ST MARINE STREH BOMBAY 400002. TELEPHONE 313207 Kathi demand and supply We have eight atash bahrams and ab ­ out lOO agiaries throughout India. We have obtained complete statistical data of their annual requirements of kathi. Each atash bahram requires 100 kg of kathi every day. Each agiary needs 20 kg of kathi per day. Accordingly, the daily requirements of eight atash bahrams would be 800 kg and of 100 agiaries, 2,000 kg. The total daily re ­ quirement thus works out to 2,800 kg. The annual requirement of kathi therefore would be (2,800 kg x 365) 10,22,000 kg. Scientifically we can grow 1,400 baval trees on one acre of land. On a conservative estimate, if we can grow 1,300 trees per acre, we can grow 32,500 trees on 25 acres (one- tenth of the total area) and annually use the wood therefrom as kathi. Each tree yields 25 kg of kathi on maturing after eight to 10 years. On this basis our annual production would come to (32,500 trees x 25 kg) 8,12,500 kg. Thus, against our annual requirement of 10,22,000 kg, we can obtain 8,12,500 kg (80 percent) of kathi from our plantation. We are trying to obtain additional land near the 250 acres available to us, and if we succeed in this, we will be able to meet the entire 100 percent re ­ quirement ourselves. Normally, a baval tree matures eight to 10 years after it is planted though its wood can be used even after five years. At present a new variety called su-baval has been imported which ma ­ tures even in five years, and we intend to plant those trees also on our land. We will start cutting some trees after five years sb that in the sixth year, we will be able to provide kathi to our re ­ ligious institutions. Project costs A sum of about Rs 60 lakhs needs to be amassed in two years for the pro ­ ject. The entire scheme will be divided into 101 sectors of two and a half acres each, based on the 101 names of Ahura Mazda, and whosoever gives a donation of Rs 51,000 or more will be entitled to select a name for that par ­ ticular sector. The name of each donor of Rs 11,000 or more will be displayed on a tab ­ let, erected on every half acre of land. According to the above data, each agiary requires kathi from one tree daily, and the donor of Rs 3,000 will - be deemed to have presented a tree or provided a day ’s requirement of kathi to an agiary. As a result of the three schemes, the trust hopes to complete the entire kathi project within two years. Twenty persons will be employed to manage the farm. If needed, addition ­ al laborers would be available from nearby areas. We have been fortunate in obtaining the honorary services of Firoj Panth ­ aky in connection with the plantation and management of the entire kathi scheme. Panthaky, a resident of Nav ­ sari, has recently retired from the Gu­ jarat Government ’s service as division ­ al forest officer and is now working as a consultant. Profitable trees Some farmers of Navsari grow sandal ­ wood trees on their land although the product ’s quality cannot compare with the sandalwood grown in Mysore. To ascertain whether we can profitably grow sandalwood trees on our land, we have approached the Agricultural University of Navsari as well as the Research Centre and Forest Depart ­ ment of Gujarat. Considering that a teakwood planta ­ tion would result in additional income, we would plant these trees also. 1 Future plans- As our land is only four km away from the seashore, and as Umbharat is a holiday resort, we have set aside about 10 acres of land to build for the com ­ munity a dharamshala, sanatorium, play center, scouting camp, etc from the income of the trust, or the help of donors. Since only the Parsi trusts of Navsari would be entitled to purchase plots of land, the donors will be requested to donate the amounts to the trusts named by us. The trusts will purchase the land and hand it over to the central trust, for administration. Since donations are to be obtained through various established trusts only, we will give further particulars within a very short time. We hope that our community will respond splendidly as always, and help us in keeping the fires burning perpe ­ tually in our religious institutions. 44 Parsiana August 1988RELIGION Does Zoroastrianism teach cAdNmkIOR I I REINCARNATION? A 0 M 6 It ^1 1. rL 9 0 w 2. 10 X f ite % 4- II ¥ !! I ..... =y Most Zoroastrians believe that the, soul of the individual has to cross the / Chinvad Pool (Bridge of the Separ- ator)after death.But thereisadiverg- i ence of opinion as to what happens/1 to the soul thereafter. While the / Zoroastrian doctrine talks of a / heaven and hell and a final resur-/ rection, there are many who state \ * that Zoroastrianism preaches rein^- carnation. In order to ascertain the views of high priests, scholars and well-known writers and speakers on Zoroastrian ­ ism, Parsiana sent out 52 question ­ naires, eliciting responses to 11 ques ­ tions pertaining to the after-life and. ^WB VBAV* BlA^ i ’ specifically, whether reincarnation is a part of Zoroastrian doctrine. The subject was suggested to Par­ siana by Avesta-Pahlavi scholar Fari- bourz Nariman who drew up the initial questionnaire on which some minor modifications were made. Nariman also helped in identifying the people to whom die questionnaire was to be sent. The questions are published along No. say 25 of the 29 scholars who responded to Parsiana's questionnaire on the subject lastur Dr Kaikhusroo oe Anjuman • Atash \ with the answers, with the respondents \ being listed in alphabetical order. A Each respondent's style and spellings • \ have been retained. Where the ans- ¦ \ wer has been a simple ‘yes ’ or ‘no, ’ \the respondents have been grouped -Vyi alphabetically after the ‘yes ’ or \\ I ‘no ’ response. -J The 29 respondents (in alpha- —' betical order) ^re: High priests — ~ JamaspAsa of Bahrmn, Bombay; Dastur Dr Firoze Kot- wal of die H.B. Wadia Atash Bahram, Bombay; 4he late Dastur Navrooz Minoch^hr-Homji of the Petit Fa^ Atash Kadeh, Bombay; Dastur Dr Hormazdyar Mirza of Udwada; Other Zoroastrian priests - Dr Kersey Antia, head priest of Chicago; Ardeshir Azargoshasb of Tehran, Dr Jehan Bagli, editor of Gavashnr, Dr Peshotan Peer, president, Parsee Vegetarian and Temperance Society; Dr Rooyintan Peer, professor, J.J. Madressa, Bombay; Rostam Shahzadi of Tehran; I 1 47 Parsiana August 1988 iNon-Zoroastrian foreign scholars — Dr College, New York; Dr (Ms) Meher breath, his soul departs from the dead (Ms) Mary Boyce, professor of Iranian Master-Moos, president, Mazdayasnie body but stays in this world till the studies. University of London; Dr Paul du Monasterie; Dr Farhang Mehr, faculty dawn of the fourth day when his good Breuil, professor of Indo-Iranian studies associate. Center for Middle Eastern and bad deeds are judged by the and of oriental anthropology, Sorbonne Studies, Harvard University; Khojeste angels Mehr, Srosh, Rashn and University, Paris; Prof William Darrow, Mistree, author, public speaker and Ashtad. Then only the soul passes the Department of Religion, Williams Col- founder of Zoroastrian Studies; Fari- Chinvat Bridge towards the spiritual lege, Massachusetts; Prof J. Duchesne- bourz Nariman, Iranologist of Bom- world and does not return to the mate- Guillemin, Department of History and bay; Dr Rustam Sarfeh, chairman, rial world in human form. Oriental Literature, University of Liege, Arbab Rustom Guiv Foundation, /e/ianBflg/i;Yes.Prophet Zarathush- Belgium; Prof John Hinnells, head of the USA; Farrokh Vajifdar of London, tra questions the Creator in Hadokht Department of Comparative Religion, Avesta-Pahlavi scholar and English Nask (Yasht XXII) in verses 1 and 19 University of Manchester; Prof Rev translator of Dr Paul du Breuil ’s regarding the souls of the righteous Gikyo Ito of the University of Kyoto, works. and evil beings respectively. The Japan; Dr Philip Kreyenbroek of Am- answer of the Creator is contained in sterdam; Dr Cyrus Pangbom, professor of Question la: Regarding life after verses 2-16 and 20-25. Furthermore, theology, Rutgers University, USA; Dr death, Zoroastrianism teaches that the Gatha Ushtavaiti (Yasna 46) verses 10 James Russell, associate professor of Ira- departed soul ’s future existence is con- and 11 also refer to the Bridge of Judg- nian studies at Columbia University, New fined to the spiritual world (menog}. ment and the consequences that the York; Dr H. Michael Simmons, director. If yes, please describe, in not more souls of the righteous and the deceitful Center for Zoroastrian Research, than five lines, the scriptural view re- humans will experience at the junc- Bloomington, USA; garding the future existence of the soul. ture. Zoroastrian scholars in India and No: J. Duchesne Guillemin, Meher Mary Boyce: Yes. The soul is judged, abroad - Ms Arnavaz Chubb, Aves- Master-Moos, Michael Simmons. three days after death, and departs ta-Pahlavi scholar; Adi Doctor, Ilm-e- Kersey Antia: Yes. In the case of the accordingly to heaven, hell, or an in- Khshnoomist, public speaker and edi- Ashavan (Righteous souls). termediate place. There it remains un- tor of the now defunct The Parsee Ardeshir Azargoshasb: Yes. We til the last day (Frashegird). Then all Voice-, Prof Kaikhosrov Irani, head of Zoroastrians believe that from the mo- departed souls will be reincarnated in the Department of Philosophy, City ment a person breathes his or her last their own resurrected bodies and, with / / 48 Parsiana August 1988 Between the past and the future there is an interval which is ours r-/ those then still living, will undergo the Last Judgment through the river of molten metal. Paul du Breuil: Yes. The soul remains three nights near the dead (person ’s) head, then meets her daena (conscien ­ ce) at Chinvat Bridge. The quality of his life leads his first, second and third steps to Heaven ’s places of good thoughts, good words, good deeds; the fourth one to the {Garodman) of Infi­ nite Light while the bad will be brought to the Infinite Darkness. The departed soul {urvan-ravan) remains alive thanks to her Fravohar (Fravarti) in the spiritual world (tnenok). The dead go from the perishable world to the everlasting one (Ys 22.7/34).With ­ out the Fravarti there would be no sur ­ vival, for the body goes to earth, ahu to the wind, baodho and form (di- vinak) to the Sun, the soul (urvan- ravan) to meet and be fed by her Fra ­ varti with whom she becomes one.it is judged by a divine tribunal. If judged righteous, the soul crosses the Bridge with ease and enters Garo- demana (the House of Hymns), Heaven; whilst if wicked, the soul falls from the Bridge into the abyss of Hell , called Drujo-demana (the House of Deceit). Philip Kreyenbroek: Wrong question. At the End of Time, the body will be resurrected in getig form viz Greater Bundahisn III, 23. This does not, however, point to the notion of rein ­ carnation as commonly understood. Farhang Mehr: Yes. The Gathas speak of Tanu and Urvan, of Astvant and Manahya (Yasnas 28-2, 43-3); it speaks of the law of consequences (I do not like rewards and retributions): the happiness and the sufferings (Yas ­ nas 44-8, 43-4) in this and the next world. The soul reaps what it causes the body to sow. Navrooz Minochehr-Homji: Paro-asti in Hormuzd Yost para 25 and Para- ahu (Gatha, Yasna 46, stanza 19) both mean “life beyond. ” Referring to Getig-menog, the Dinkard says, “Hap ­ py is the man who maintains the ba ­ lance between matter and spirit. ” Be ­ tween the past and the future there is an interval which is ours. “Ravaan garothmaani baud (May the soul gra ­ dually - progressively - experience Arnavaz Chubb: Yes. On death, after Mind, or the House of Best Thought; the deeper realizations of conscious- the separation of the soul from its and the Abode of Songs. All these are ness). ” There are three stages of con- physical body, the soul travels into the states of the spirit. sciousness in Zoroastrianism - the spiritual plane and js judged at the Gikyo Ito: Yes. For example, Zdroas- star stage, the moon stage and the sun Bridge of the Separator (Chinvat ter refers in the Gathas to the soul ’s stage. Garothman is the highest. Pool). If its good deeds outweigh the passing over the Chinvad Bridge with- Hence, future life is progressive, not bad, it goes to heaven; if the bad out- out any mention of its return to this static in the Zoroastrian concept. The weigh the good, it goes to hell and if world. five gahs are the five stages of the both are equal, the soul remains in Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa: Yes. After soul ’s increasing consciousness from limbo until the Renovation. death, while the body is disposed of, Usha-hina (without consciousness) to William Darrow: Yes. The important the soul, which is immortal, passes Aiwi-sroo-threma or the highest self ­ proviso on this is that, at the end of into the spiritual realm where it is realization (Frayashi). time, the body of the soul will be re- judged by a divine tribunal. In accord- Hormazdyar Mirza: Yes. The soul is constituted and the distinction of ance with its earthly existence, judg- immortal. After bodily death, the soul menog and getig will collapse after the ment is passed, and, while the soul of a passes to the spiritual realm, and di- material world has been purified. We good person leads a blissful existence, vine justice is meted out. Accordingly, will then exist in the final body, tan-i the soul of a wicked one experiences the soul of a good person leads a bliss- pasen, where matter and spirit are un- the pangs of hell; if a person ’s good ful life, and the soul of a wicked per ­ ited. and bad deeds are equal, the soul is in son leads a miserable life, in the spir- Adi Doctor: Not always. hammistagan (limbo). itual world. If good deeds are equal to John Hinnells: Yes. Graphic imagery Firoze Kotwal: Yes. After death, the bad, the soul leads a mixed life in is used to depict the soul ’s encounter soul remains for the first three nights purgatory. with Ahura Mazda as pure light. in this material world, which is its last Khojeste Mistree: Yes. The soul is Kaikhosrov Irani: Yes. In the Gathas resting place. On the dawn of the judged at the Bridge of the Separator the expressions that refer to the final fourth day, depending on its own ac- by a host of spiritual beings at dawn, state are (in translation) the Best Men- tions performed in the material world, on the fourth morning after death. De- tal State, or the Best State of Con- the soul makes its way to the Bridge of pending upon the life the person has sciousness; the House of the Good the Separator {Chinwad Puhi), where led in this world, the soul is rewarded 49 Parsiana August 1988/¦HINVAl J V KEGf^TTfl? 6W)^P ¦ 5; I b: Regarding life after death, Zoroas- harmonized at the Renovation. to the House of Song (Heaven), if the good thoughts, words and deeds out ­ weigh the bad ones. If judged wicked, the soul relegates itself to the House of Deceit (Hell). The soul remains in either of these spiritual states till the end of time, when the Last Judgment and Resurrection for all the souls will take place, upon the total annihilation of Evil from the world. Faribourz Nariman: Yes. On the fourth day after death, the soul is judged by a divine tribunal at the Bridge of the Separator {cinvato pere- tu}. The soul of a good person obtains blissful existence, that of the wicked suffers the torments of hell, and ham- mistagan (limbo) is meant for the soul of a person whose good and bad deeds are equal. Cyrus Pangborn: Yes. If, at death, a person ’s virtues exceed his sins, the person ’s soul is admitted to paradise and assigned to one of four levels according to merit. If sins exceed vir- spiritual bliss before Ahura Mazda, those with wicked thoughts do come tues, the assignment is to hell. The fra- The reinstated Fravarti doctrine in no back after getting their desserts - tru- vashis (prototypal souls) of persons way contradicts this. Gathic references ly their existence is in the abode of who were good are the “entities ” are many and unequivocal. druf' — Yasna 49, 11. which maintain spiritual contact with Hinnells: No. The menog and getig are the living descendants. _ _ - - - Peshotan and Rooyintan Peer: No. Not trianism teaches that the departed soul Irani: No. However, in late Pahlavi permanently; it depends on the stage returns from the spiritual world once literature, there is a description of of advancement of the individual soul, again to the material world (getig) in bodily resurrection at the end of time. James Russell: Yes. Until ristaxez (the human form. Kreyenbroek: See la. final resurrection), disembodied souls If yes, please describe, in not more Master-Moos: Both yes and no. The remain in Paradise, Hell, or the place than five lines, the scriptural view re- soul crosses the Dakhyus regions and called Hammistagan, where there is garding the future existence of the reaches the Chinvat Bridge which neither pleasure nor pain. soul. separates those souls who are judged Rostam Sarfeh: Yes. Asho Zarathush- No: Antia, Azargoshasb, Boyce, by the Yazatas in charge of the laws of tra, in eight verses of the Gathas, men- Chubb, Darrow, Guillemin, Ito, karma (Keshas) as fit spiritually to tions the word Soul (Urvanem, Urva- JamaspAsa, Kotwal, Mehr, Mirza, cross over and attain immortality no, Urva which in Persian is called Mistree, Nariman, Sarfeh, Vajifdar. through spiritual progress on the Path Rawan). All verses indicate the per- du Breuil: No. Fravartis come back of Ashoi from those who are spiritual- manency of the soul, after its depar- once a year at the Farvardin (Jashne- ly unfit and have.to return to this class- ture from the body. In Yasna 28.10 Farvardigan). They remain in Heaven room of Nature called Planet Earth to and 49.10, Zarathushtra teaches that and help the incarnate souls until the learn the lessons of obedience to the the Soul of the Truthful, attuned to world becomes perfect by the exclu- Divine Laws. Vohumano, full of Divine Love, will sion of Evil. The soul will not come Minochehr-Homji: Rev James Hope gain abode with God or Exalted Home back to this world (getek) until the Re- Moulton in Early Zoroastrianism . (Paradise). novation (Frasho-kereti) and resurrec- notes, “Deed is the determinant of Rustam Shahzadi: Yes. We have both tion of the Final Body (“glorious destiny. ” Geti and Mino in Avesta. While Geti body ” Yt. 19.11.89; Bdh, XXX). Im- Pangbom: Yes. But this doctrine is or the material world can be seen and mortality everywhere will come only not found in the Scriptures. It is the thought, Mino or the spiritual world when the (one) responsible for death, doctrine of the Pahlavists who wrote can neither be seen nor thought. the Destroyer of Life (called Ahri- such tracts as the Denkard and Bunda- Farrokh Vajifdar: Yes. Our Gathas man) will be expelled with every evil hishn (ninth century AD). According teach us (on the postmortem fate of substance (Bdh. 11.10/11). to this doctrine, all souls are eventual- the soul) that anyone who lives a life of Doctor: Yes. “Those souls of the sin- ly perfected and given perfect bodies pious deeds in accordance with the ners who enjoy evil power, who are for dwelling eternally in a perfected good words emanating from a culti- doersof wicked deeds, speakers of evil world - a world coextensive, so to vated good mind shall forever dwell in words, those with evil conscience and speak, with heaven. But this is afterAngra Mainyu (the evil spirit) is finally defeated. Peer and Peer: Yes. Yasna Ha 49.11 ((i.e. Gatha No. 3 - ch. 3, para 11); Nirang-i-Gozashtegan; Yasna Ha 43.5 (i.e. Gatha No. 2 — ch.l, para 5); the significance of reciting Patet Pashema- ni prayer at the time of a child ’s nav- jote, etc. Russell: Yes. After ristaxez, men live in restored bodies at the eternal age of 15. Their bodies are reassembled by Ohrmazd. Shahzadi: No. Avesta mentions an illi- mited Zarwan or time and illimited Twash or space. Why then should God send the departed souls of this world again to it? Simmons: Yes. Fraso-Karqti will be accompanied by the reunion of soul and resurrected body prior to the Final Judgment. The process of “making wonderful ’’ will culminate in the estab ­ lishment of the righteous in the per ­ fected (terrestrial) world where they will dwell with Ahura Mazda and the immortals for eternity. that the soul of a deceased person is bom once again in this world) in ex ­ tant Zoroastrian texts? If yes, please mention the chapter ant) verse of the text. No: Bagli, Boyce, Chubb, Darrow, Guillemin, Ito, JamaspAsa, Kotwal, Mirza, Nariman, Shahzadi, Simmons, Vajifdar. Antia: No. The texts quoted by Das- turji Khurshed Dabu and Prof I.J.S. Taraporewala are now translated dif- fined to the material world. If yes, please describe, in not more than five lines, the scriptural view re ­ garding the future existence of the soul. No: Antia, Azargoshasb, Boyce, Chubb, Darrow, Doctor, Guillemin, Hinnells, Irani, Ito, JamaspAsa, Kot ­ wal, Kreyenbroek, Master-Moos, Mehr, Minochehr-Homji, Mirza, Mis ­ tree, Nariman, Russell, Sarfeh, Sim ­ mons, Vajifdar. du Breuil: No. The essence of Man is ferently and do not support reincarna- menok. He got a getek body only as a vestment to be “parachuted ” down in this material world to fight against the Druj and help to expel Evil out of the mixed world (Dk. 245). Pangborn: See lb. Peer and Peer: No. Not permanently; it depends on the stage of advance ­ ment of the individual soul. Shahzadi: No. In Pahlavi book there is mention of Mah Paye or moon stage, Setareh Paye or star stage and Korshid Paye or sun stage of the departed souls. c: 2k>roastrianism teaches that the de ­ parted soul ’s future existence is con- Question 2: Is there any reference to reincarnation or rebirth (in the sense tion. However I was deeply influenced by them until I studied the problem on my own. Azargoshasb: No. In none of the ex ­ tant Zoroastrian texts (Avesta, Pahla ­ vi, Pazend and Parsi books) can you find a reference to reincarnation. du Breuil: No. The only misunder ­ stood reference comes from a wrong interpretation made of the Gathas by I.J.S.Taraporewala (Y.49.11) who confuses this world with the Druj House (drujo demane) i.e. in a Man ­ ichean way instead of the Zoroastrian view where this world is only mixed with evil but belongs to Ahura Maz ­ da ’s creation. He translated the words li{i H.J JI HDR . IRANI HORTICULTURIST Supplier of all kinds of Plants & Fruit Grafts Contractor for Gardening and Supervision Undertaken on Annual Basis and Exporters 8-B, St Martin's Road, Bandra Bombay 400050 (INDIA) Phone Off 6423068 Res 6427180 Telex 011-5162 53 Parsiana August 1988ptuti yeinti as “coming back ” instead of “going forth ” (to the Druj House). No other translation agrees with this; The other person who quoted reincarna ­ tion wrongly was M.N. Pundol in his The true knowledge which Minocheh- er Pundol Saheb acquired from the Sahebs of Demavand Koh, Udwada, November 14,1976, with no argument nor evidence whatsoever. Doctor: Yes. (1) Yasna 49.11; (2) Yas- na 31.20; (3) Yasna Ha 12; (4) Our Kushti ’s Jasa-me-avangahe Mazda prayer in which the word Nidds- nayithishem occurs. This means (the religion which enables one) “to put down the weapon. ” The “weapon ” here is our physical body which is the “weapon ” of the soul. Even the Sans ­ krit translation of this word is perti ­ nent: Bhava-chhedam means release from (this) incarnation; (5) Paragraph beginning with Yeshdn keshdn... in Afrin of Gahambar Pdvi and in Dhoop sarna ritual. Hinnells: No. But as a non- 2Loroastrian I do not think my opinion is important on spiritual matters. Irani: No. See lb. from the darkness of self individualism Sarfeh: No. This ‘no ’ should be qual- Kreyenbroek: No. Not in the sense the to the light of universal spirit, from ified. Some scholars, both occidental word is normally understood. See la. falsehood to truth, from the slavery of and oriental, influenced by Hinduism Master-Moos: Yes.Gflt/ifls;Ha43/verse the world (matter) to the liberty of the and Buddhism, misinterpret the words 5,Ha46/verses 8, 11,. 19 (This is the eternal (spirit). ” Demane Drujo in Yasna 49.11 as “this Ha regarding reincarnation). Meher Mistree: No. In fact, not only is there world, ” but the real meaning is the Yasht, Fravardin Yasht. no proper reference about reincarna- “abode of untruth. ” Asho Zarathush- Mehr: (1) Yasna 49-11 speaks of the tion in Zoroastrianism, but there is a tra, in none of his verses in the Gathas, return of the souls of the wicked. It is clear reference against it in the Jamasp refers to this world as abode of un- by no means explicit. (2) Desatir Namag, where it is stated: “They can- truth. speaks about reincarnation, but De- not return to this world once again so satir's authority has been challenged, that they may do virtuous deeds {Per- Question 3: Did any scholar in the Both Dastur Dhalla and Dr Tara- sian Rivayats translated by Ervad B.N. middle or late nineteenth century porewala regard reincarnation as non- Dhabhar, pg 485).” The Avestan re- speak of reincarnation as a Zoroas- Zoroastrian. ferences given by the supporters of trian idea? Minochehr-Homji: Yes. (1) I.J. Tara- reincarnation are spurious and for If yes, please mention the name(s) of porewala ’s Divine Songs of Zarathush- further details see “Reincarnation and the scholar(s). tra, Yasna 30 St 10 (p 167) is debatable Zoroastrianism ” by Dr H.E. Eduljee No: Boyce, Chubb, Guillemin, Ito, but Yasna 49, St 11 (p 730) is positive, published in the Zoroastrian Studies JamaspAsa, Kotwal, Kreyenbroek, (2) In his The Religion of Zarathush- newsletter of March ’82. Mirza, Nariman, Simmons. tra, Sohrab Balsara thinks that the Pangbom: No. Even in the Pahlavists ’ Antia: No. I am not sure if Dastur above is a categorical mention of the tracts, the soul is not said to be reborn Azar Kaewan Bin Azar Guspasp, who doctrine of reincarnation in the but, rather, given back its original, taught in Patna in King Akbar ’s time, . Gathas. (3) Also Yasna 51, St 12: finally perfected and thereafter perfect preached reincarnation because Taraporewala says, “It is possible to body. (I can ’t cite chapter and verse of though born and raised in Iran, he attain this goal (perfection) within one these tracts, but see M.N. Dhalla ’s comes close to being a precursor of life upon earth. ” (4) Desatir (pub- History of Zoroastrianism for refer- modern-day theosophy. His teachings, lished circa tenth century AD). (5) Of ences to them.) however, are colored by mysticism and Qayaamat (Resurrection) Dr S. Peer and Peer: Yes. See lb. cannot be said to be purely or strictly Radhakrishnan wrote “Resurrection is Russell: No. Nobody is reborn. The Zoroastrian. not the rise of the dead from their bodies of men, dispersed into the ele- Bagli: Yes. (1) Dastur Khurshed S. tombs, but the passage from the death ments of the material world (bones to Daboo in his books Message of of self absorption to the life of unself- stones, hair to plants, etc), are reas- Zarathushtra (p.54-61) and Handbook ish love {bahman love), the transition sembled. of information on Zoroastrianism But 55 Parsiana August 1988 r • z f G' '»o LOO 4 q9^ G ?5W.. Bm reincarnationity was tight and the community was ists were the first to see reincarnatiop relatively insular to alien ideologies, in Zoroastrian texts and what was their save that of traditional Christianity in background? (Answer in not more Russell: I believe the followers of Zoroastrianism (p. 155-157) edited by Prof Mary Boyce, refers to some of the references mentioned in answer 3 sented a case for a doctrine of rein- Sarfeh: Yes. Khurshed S. Dabu of above. (p.66-79). (2) I.J.S. Taraporewala in trianism, in the mid or late nineteenth in any way a Zoroastrian idea! his book The Religion of Zarathushtra century, mentioned this alien belief as alludes to the concept (p.3O, 31, 136). the ord tradition within the commun- Question 4: Who among the Iranolog- du Breuil: Yes. But they were no scho ­ lars. Two authors o*f high esoteric in­ spiration but of no scientific back ­ ground and no specific knowledge on which reincarnation does not feature, than one line per Iranologist.) history of religion and on the Iranian Pangbom: No. I say “No, ” but I sup- Antia: No Iranologist who is non ­ religion: Edouard Schur6 (1841-1926) pose there could be some such scholars Zoroastrian has ever seen that and mostly in his Les Grands Initiks (The whose works have never come to my only those Parsis (never Irani Zoroas- Great Initiates), Paris 1889; and his attention. trians because they are never colored master, Rudolf Steiner, (1861-1925), Peer and Peer: Yes. Ervad Kavasji E. by Hinduism in their beliefs) who were another esoteric author influenced by Kanga, the celebrated translator of the theosophists and Ilm-e-Khshnoomists the Theosophical Society and who entire Avesta, and the compiler of the have tried to see it. founded his own Anthroposophical Avesta Dictionary. Bag//.-Textual sources for the 5mdy o/ Society. i_____ _.. Darrow: No. i.e. among European Mme Blavatsky were disposed to rein- scholars I don ’t believe any have pre- terpret the Zoroastrian faith this way. carnation among the Zoroastrians. I Surat, Professor Bartholomea and Boyce: I know of no serious Iranolog- do not know as much as I should about probably others. ist who has done so. Parsi scholars. Shahzadi: Yes. Dr Irach Taraporewala du Breuil: I do not know any serious Doctor: Am not aware of it. in his translation of the Gathas be- Iranologist having taught reincama- Hinnells: Yes. Those scholars associ- lieves that in the eighth para of the tion as being a ZLoroastrian belief. One ated with Theosophy in Bombay. twenty-ninth Ha of ajasna there is such cannot take argument that we own a Irani: No. As far as I know. an idea, but we know that this Ha was little part of the original Avesta. In no Master-Moos: Yes. Late nineteenth added to the Gatha later on as a pre- remaining part is there any tiny refer- century: Ustad Saheb Behramshah N. face to it. ence to reincarnation. Would someone Shroff. Vajifdar: No. No responsible scholar decide that Zarathushtra might have Mistree: No. No scholars of Zoroas- of ^roastrianism would claim this as taught cannibalism in the lost parts of Tata Housing. Building magnificent new ideas In housing comfort. 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Bdh.XXIX 8). on their interpretation of certain reli- coverers of “hidden meanings ” com- Chubb: Erroneous interpretation to gious texts. bined with their irremediable incom- texts based upon their leanings to- Kotwal: The background and/or influ- prehension of the spirit of Zoroastrian wards theosophy or, perhaps, ence of non-Zoroastrian ideas and In- tradition. Buddhism. dian pluralism yoked to various gurus Pangbom: There are always some Darrow: I would think it is the Indian and mahatmas prompts the minority to people for whom curious speculative context in which many Zoroastrians reject the majority view of scholars notions are more exciting than is the now live that lends authority to the whose conclusions are founded on the serious task of ordering their lives truth of reincarnation. solid rock of the Zoroastrian scrip- around sound character-building pre ­ Doctor Tangible, incontrovertible tures. cepts. evidence even in the fragmentary, ex- Kreyenbroek: Hindu or Theosophist Peer and Peer: The majority of Irano- tant Avesta and Pahlavi texts, as influences. logists are as such non-Parsi Western stated earlier. Mehr: The influence of Hinduism and scholars, and some of the Parsis are Hinnells: The Pahlavi texts have a Buddhism; some similarity between under the influence of these people, linear view of time in which individual the effects of the Law of Karma and Besides, the majority of them do not souls have a single life in the getig the Law of Asha (as to action and want to go deep into this concept, world where they have free will but in reaction or the law of consequence). They would stop at a certain stage, and which the Zoroastrian goal is to help Mirza: Their convictions based on would generalize it as “mystery of the restoration of the Good Creation, their interpretation of certain religious life, ” “mystery of God, ” etc..The con- Life hereafter is determined by the use texts. cept of reincarnation is based not only of that lifetime of free will. I believe Mistree: The majority of Iranologists on the study of philology, but also re- the Pahlavi texts here spell out what is have rejected the reincarnation theory quires philosophical insight and com- implied in the Gathas. but people are exposed to popular reli- mon sense. If Zoroastrianism firmly Irani: Pervasive influence of the spir- gious beliefs where they live. In India, believes in the Doctrine of Justice of itual conceptions emerging from Hin- as reincarnation is a popular theory, God, then the theory of reincarnation What on earth I is Jeena up to? It’s transporting rhinos to Brazilian zoos. Air-lifting human live glands with a 48-hour lifespan to Sweden. Doing everything from the exotic to the Herculean, around the four comers of the globe. Hardly surprising when you consider Jeena’s credentials. Jeena is one of India's leading, most experienced clearing and forwarding agent. 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When refer- grasp at other religions or “holy per- tion 10(a) and (b), I personally see no ences are found in the scriptures, why sons ” and thus lose faith in their own reason to persuade the young minds not expound them? religion; Russell: Reincarnation accords with through ignorance. the doctrine of karma. Both represent Mirza: The question does not arise. inroads of Indian religion and are con- Mistree: If Zoroastrianism preaches mity among the learned and scholarly venient explanations for circumstances that there is reincarnation, which it individuals, the best option for the lai- in life and fate which proponents of does not, then no harm would come to ty is to admit the limitation of know- this (Zoroastrian) doctrine find inex- the youth by telling them that the doc- ledge, and encourage the interested plicable otherwise. trine of reincarnation is un-Zoroastrian young Zoroastrians to investigate and Sarfeh: If I knew who are the majority, anti-Zoroastrian. think for themselves. probably I could answer this question. Peer and Peer: It would be harmful in It is important to point out that the Shahzadi: Those who believe in rein- such a way that the young minds would dogmatic attitude presented by Mr. carnation think that there is no planet tend to be shaky in their belief in the J.E. Sanjana (as quoted in ZLS News- or space beyond this earth for God ’s Justice of God. They would think that letter Vol. Ill No. 1, April 1982) creatures. if nothing is going to happen after- is totally unacceptable. To say that be- Simmons: There is no minority among wards, then why take trouble to diffe- lief in ‘transmigration ’ and belief in Iranologists who support reincarnation rentiate between good and evil; this one Creator are incompatible is a clear as a Zoroastrian idea. Among Zoroas ­ trians who believe in reincarnation, sponsibility. the reason is faith. . ~ _ Vajifdar: An incorrect evaluation of does not care one way or the other. Zoroastrianism, perhaps through a ' strong background of “karmic ” influ ­ ence and, again, theosophy. (3) spiritual regression one way or the other about a concept that is so profound and yet so poorly understood. When there is no unani- trine of reincarnation is un-Zk)roastrian anti-Zoroastrian. Peer and Peer: It would be harmful in Question 10a: If Zoroastrianism preaches reincarnation, what, accord ­ ing to you, would be the harm caused Simmons: Does not apply, to young Zoroastrians if they are per- would thereby affect their moral re- expression of one ’s ignorance of either concept in its fullness. One does not Sarfeh: The ignorant, uninterested youth find answers to ideas of this magnitude in ‘black and white. ’ It is the experi- Shahzadi: If Zoroastrianism preached ences accumulated over long periods reincarnation then there would be no of time - a lifetime, maybe more - need of killing or destroying harmful that evolves the contention of humans creatures, such as microbes, flies, mos- through appreciation of the knowledge quitoes or other of Ahriman ’s crea- of creation around them. tures. Boyce: Their grasp of the essential doctrines taught by Asho Zardusht would be weakened, and they would suaded to believe that the doctrine of b: If Zoroastrianism does not preach rein- become wholly confused, more Hin- reincamation is un-Zoroastrian / anti- carnation, what according to you, would dus than Zoroastrians. Zoroastrian? be the harm caused to young Zxjroastrians du Breuil: Zoroastrianism teaches the (Answer in not more than three lines.) if they are persuaded to believe that rein- truth as first commandment. Teaching du Breuil: It does not. Thus it is good carnation is a Zoroastrian idc;a? reincarnation to young Zoroastrians to tell them that it is anti-Zoroastrian (Answer in not more than three lines.) would thus be a lie. Most of all, not to have confidence in this world, Antia: Little harm can come to those Zarathushtra did not teach reincama- not to act to serve it, not to believe in who are not aware of the ZLoroastrian tion because he preached the affirma- Zarathushtra ’s faith (that it is Man ’s philosophy and way of life as ex- tion of life while the Indian teaches the duty) to help God to save the world, plained in the Gathas. Asho negation and"illusion of life. Hence the How can the most audacious and Zarathushtra, however, preaches that Zoroastrian has a reason to fight for gorgeous doctrine ever edicted in reli- we have a mission to fulJfil in this life the good in one life, and not to escape gions be balanced by beliefs coming and that mission has to t)e fulfilled in by hoping for another life and flee the from another ethnological world? (see this very life, and we ’ll be judged on responsibilities of doing nothing for answer 9a). the basis ofone life alone. He does not the world, humanity and improvement Ito: The young Zoroastrians will surely say there is more life than one nor of life. Instead of willing to leave this be perplexed by the antinomy and ask does he say there is no reincarnation, world for ever (moksa, nirvana) a the textual foundation of reincarna- He simply wants us to take this life Zoroastrian knows that he is Ahura tion. seriously or else. Mazda ’s soldier and that he has only JamaspAsa: Since Zoroastrianism Azargoshasb: As said before, Zoroas- one life to become a righteous man if does not preach reincarnation, the trianism does not preach reincarnation not a saint. Once he struggles against question does not arise. so the harm done to young Zoroas- evil in this life, he (is) sure to (feel) i Kotwal: Zoroastrianism does not trians wh6 believe in reincarnation is safe in the spiritual world (mendk) and I preach reincarnation, and so the harm that, since according to their idea,the to serve with the Fravartis until the lies in misleading the youth and mak- soul of a departed person returns to Renovation comes. ing a mockery of a number of Zoroas- this world in human form, so our reli- Chubb: The very rationale of rein- trian doctrines crucial to the proper gious ceremonies such as Sevom carnation being against the basic i understanding of the faith. (oothumna), Chaharom, Daha, teachings of Zoroastrianism, accept- Siroozah, Rooza, anniversary day and ance of such an alien doctrine would Chaharom, Master-Moos: Harm caused is (1) mis ­ understanding the sublime, spiritual, Gatha and Farvardingan days would naturally lead to unZoroastrian ideas lofty teachings of Asho Zarathushtra; be senseless to them. (2) confusion, which can lead them to Bagli: Regarding the answer to ques- and beliefs. Darrow: This is a moral judgment that 77 Parsiana August 1988 b,I do not think is appropriate for a sym- Pangbom: It could, and often does, Antia: Yes (Hindu tradition). Early pathetic outsider to make. encourage complacency with social Vedas may not mention it, especially . Hinnells: As a non-Zoroastrian I am evil and injustice. Becoming infatu- those Rig Veda hymns written before not happy to say what spiritual path ated with wholly speculative ideas-ab- the Aryans reached India, you should or should not follow. out a next life distracts from the task of Bagli: Yes (with reservations). Irani: Religious beliefs are matters of improving the present one. It substi- du Breuil: No - not before the t/p- deep personal conviction; they are harmful only if they lead to, or permit, a life of moral corruption. I do not life in the “here and now. ’’ Irani: No — think belief in reincarnation would be Russell: The idea of inherited karma tradition, yes. harmful. encourages a fatalistic and quietist Simmons: Yes - If one includes the JamaspAsa: It would lead to un- approach to the inequalities and mis- Upanishads Zoroastrian ideas and beliefs. fortunes of life. This undermines Kotwal: If 2Loroastrians are persuaded ZLoroastrian belief in the necessity to b: Do you find the doctrine of rein- to believe that reincarnation is a _____________________ ;____________ carnation in Judaic tradition? Zoroastrian idea, important Zoroas- "Tho rnnPPnt nf Azargoshasb, Boyce, du trian doctrines such as the belief in ’UvJI lUtJjJL VI Breuil, Chubb, Darrow, Guillemin, Heaven and Hell, the Last Judgment, rOinCSmStiOn TGClUirGS Hinnells, Irani, Ito, JamaspAsa, Kot- the Resurrection and Renovation of wal, Kreyenbroek, Mehr, Mirza, Mis- the world would become redundant. P ' . and commonsense and the theory of ceaseless births would make Ahura Mazda a weak creator and a powerless ruler of the fight evil, assist others, and promote Simmons: No — if one excludes the universe. Furthermore, maintaining equality and brotherhood. Kabbalah, genealogies and remembering the Sarfeh: The intelligent and educated souls of the dear departed ones would youth who has studied the Gathas, c: Do you find the doctrine of rein- also become redundant, as there knows very well that reincarnation has carnation in Christian tradition? would be no purpose in performing the not been preached by Asho No: Antia, Azargoshasb, Boyce, du All Souls ’ Days (Muktad) ceremonies Zarathushtra, and is not compatible Breuil, Chubb, Darrow, Guillemin, if the souls have already been reincar- with the modern trend of thought in Hinnells, Irani, Ito, JamaspAsa, Kot- nated. In sum, the belief in reincama- the realm of spirit. If we insist to wal, Kreyenbroek, Mehr, Minochehr- tion would reduce Zoroastrianism to preach to them this non-2Loroastrian Homji, Mirza, Mistree, Nariman, an adulterated form of an indefinable idea, we might lose some of the follow- Pangborn, Russell, Sarfeh, Shahzadi, creed. ers of the religion. Simmons, Vajifdar. Kreyenbroek: No greater harm than a Shahzadi: A real Zoroastrian would Yes: Doctor, Master-Moos, Peer and young Christian would surfer if he be- never come to believe reincarnation. Peer, lieved that Christ was a Marxist: one Simmons: This is a question which can Bagli: Can ’t say. can believe in both — they are just not only be answered by a Zoroastrian. part of the same system. Non-Zoroastrians should not make d: Do you find the doctrine of rein- Mehr: Distortion and misrepresenta- prescriptive statements about the reli- carnation in Islamic tradition? tion of the 2Larathushtrian doctrines. . gion, and this question calls for ah No: Antia, Azargoshasb, Boyce, du Mirza: It leads to unZoroastrian ideas answer which would not qualify as Breuil, Chubb, Darrow, Guillemin, and beliefs. simply descriptive. Hinnells, Irani, Ito, JamaspAsa, Kot- Mis tree: As reincarnation according to Vajifdar: As the very notion of rein- wal, Kreyenbroek, Mehr, Minochehr- the Zoroastrian scriptures does not ex- carnation contradicts basic Zoroas- Homji, Mirza, Mistree, Nariman, ist in the religion, then clearly it is trian doctrine, it stands to reason that Pangbom, Russell, Sarfeh, Shahzadi, wrong for the youth to believe in this any such acceptance vitiates their be- Simmons, Vajifdar. theory, as ideologically they would be liefs and distorts their knowledge of Can ’t say: Bagli, Doctor, Master- heretical to the faith. Our eschatology 2^rathushtra ’s wonderfully unique Moos, Peer and Peer, and after-life rituals are based upon system, the assumption that reincarnation does e: Do you find the doctrine of rein- not exist in the faith, otherwise what is Question Ila: From the viewpoint of carnation in Buddhist tradition? the point of performing the Muktad comparative religion, do you find the Yes: Antia, Boyce, du Breuil, Chubb, ceremonies, if the soul has already doctrine of reincarnation in Vedic Darrow, Doctor, Guillemin, Hinnells, reincarnated into this world, whilst we tradition? Irani, Ito, JamaspAsa, Kotwal, Kre- pray for its salvation in the next? Yes: Azargoshasb, Hinnells, Master- yenbroek, Master-Moos, Mehr, Mirza, Nariman: Young Zoroastrians would Moos, Mehr, Pangborn, Peer and Peer, Mistree, Nariman, Pangborn, Peer become fatalists because Zoroastrian Russell,Sarfeh,Shahzadi, Vajifdar. i * ~ ~ - • j"- ideas of individual judgment, final No: Boyce, Chubb, Guillemin, Ito, Vajifdar. (collective) judgment and renovation JamaspAsa, Kotwal. Can ’t say: Azargoshasb and Shahzadi. would be blotted out in the process. Can ’t say: Doctor, Kreyenbroek. Bagli: Yes (with reservations). tutes “toying with ideas ’’ for engage- anishads. ment in the struggle to live the good Darrow: Yes, i.e. after the Vedas. life in the “here and now. ’’ Irani: No - But in the late Hindu J / The concept of phllosophical insight tree, Nariman, Pangbom, Russell, /' Sarfeh, Shahzadi, Vajifdar. ------- ---------- ’ Yes: Doctor, Master-Moos. Can ’t say: Bagli, Peer and Peer. 9 9 Kabbalah. 78 Parsiana August 1988 and Peer, Russell, Sarfeh, Simmons, Can ’t say: Doctor, Kreyenbroek.INSTITUTIONS The lift at Masina Hospital Homi J. Rogers % :,H I* . • ¦J rj irT I HI < 1 *- jatte>v.v- - ~«sesasv.p-s- ¦"'.'•i.'’sas«w liejwwT- r r or over the past five months, tees, charges of misconduct against the Bombay ’s Masina Hospital, lying institution ’s superintendent, and a sandwiched between the two strike by the staff members affiliated Parsi-tenanted Wadia Bangs at Bycul- to the Hospital ’s militant union, la, has been in the eye of a storm. The _ ________________ _ ___________ _ controversy, that has spilt over into the Parsi Press and subsequently into Frontage of Masina Hospital the leading Bombay dailies, saw a split (Inset) Statue of Jerbai Masina amongst the Hospital ’s board of trus- Photos: Homyar Mistry (Homz Prints) 80 Parsiana August 1988Once a palace belonging to the rich from the Hospital by just a wall, to casualty (department) and took me to Jewish merchant David Sassoon, the frequent the Hospital at any time of task for an alleged negligence...which building was converted into a hospital the day or night and catch the nurses showed his callous (?) mind. ” in 1902 by Dr Hormasji Masina to or wardboys unawares - sleeping on Soon, other stories of Batlivala ’s whom it was gifted by his Jewish be- the job, stealing food and vials of glad eye started making the rounds. A nefactor, as a token of gratitude for dangerous drugs. “I have frequently nurse he confronted in the dark cour- having treated him. Until the Hospital caught my staff indulging in malprac- tyards around the building insinuated went cosmopolitan, Masina functioned tices, ” says Batlivala, “and not hesi- that he had come around to molest for the Parsi community like a step- tated to chastise them. After all, I am her. Six nurses alleged verbal and sibling to the larger and more re- not here as a candidate in a popularity physical advances in a memorandum nowned B.D. Petit Parsee General poll. ” “He is a man in a hurry: he tried submitted to the Kamgar Utkarsh Hospital. Over the years, however, to do too many things in too short a Sabha (KUS), the militant union (not the Hospital made a name for it- time, ” says Dr (Ms) Maharukh Joshi, an recognized by the management) whose self in laying down standards of honorary pediatrician at the Hospital. president is Gulab Joshi. The union professionalism in medical care. It was on one of his nocturnal visits has a hold in many medical and re- search institutions (Haffkine ’s for one) long quite strident in its anti-Batlivala stand. care, thanks to the untiring efforts of its strict superintendents - men like Col Dara R. Bharucha, and later, Col Gev S. Godiwala. They brought the disci ­ pline and regimen of the armed forces to bear upon the administration. With the onset of advancing age, coupled When Badar released to the Press with an untimely stroke, Col Godiwa- scooped?) a letter to the la ’s presence at the Hospital became Hfll, | y trustees written by her with the object minimal, forcing Rustom Kuka, one of B" ' “that no other person should suffer the trustees, to comment that the “Hos- \ jB I I . pike me), ” the local Press had found pital became an orphan after 5 p.m. ” I j its new whipping boy. Hailing from the On the lookout for a dynamic super- backwaters of Ratnagiri district , Badar intendent, on November 27, 1986 the f claimed that Batlivala offered her trustees placed the mantle on Dr Sam “dinners at the Taj, and a good time, ” Batlivala (now ^1), a doctor who, over when she had chosen the medical pro- six years ago, had started the acupunc- Batlivala: earned censure for? fession with the “aim and object to ture division at Masina ’s outpatient practice medicine in (my) village department. He remarks with justifi- that he summoned a young, attractive where there is a general scarcity of able pride that he “has sold drugless houseman. Dr (Ms) Farida Badar “at lady doctors. ” And though the Indust- 1 therapy to a company manufacturing an unusual hour of 11 p.m. to take on rial Court gave its verdict that “not t ?b! I ‘ ' 1 .•rt’ and commercial companies, including the J.K. group, which publishes The Indian Post, a fledgling city daily, for drugs, ” referring to his appointment as the rounds...You are aware that no much credence can be given to Badar ’s a medical consultant at Glindia (pre- physician takes a routine round at 11 grievance, ” the slur on Batlivala ’s viously Glaxo India), a job which he p.m., ” complained the 22-year-old character continued to be perpetrated, has continued to hold even after Badar to the trustees, in her letter of The Court also felt that Badar had assuming charge as superintendent at January 6, 1987, written a week after been a negligent doctor, and Batlivala Masina. she had resigned of her own accord, shows us a thick file on Badar, with Trouble, however, was soon to start not willing to reply to a charge sheet warning letters and memos issued to when Batlivala, who kept his patients served on her. “Similarly, ” the letter her even by Col Godiwala - not just on ‘pins and needles, ’ extended the continues, “the superintendent of a by him, to persecute her, as has been same treatment to his staff. It was not hospital does not take (a) round at 11 m^e out. uncommon for Batlivala, who stays in p.m., unless he has some purpose. uncommon for Batlivala, who stays in p.m., unless he has some purpose. Badar ’s “mental agonies and torture •theneighboringRustomBang, divided Once he called me at 1 a.m. in the at Batlivala ’s hands ” upset the aging A controversy over the management of Nasina Hospital and the conduct of its superintendent has led to a split amongst the institution's trustees, doctors, nurses and workers 81 RsrsianaAugust 1988a ¦ tees to determine his involvement in the affair. They confirmed that Nakhooda had spoken to them of Bat- livala ’s alleged sexual misdemeanors. Recalling the day (March 3, 1987), , Nakhooda says: “After the testimony session (with the trustees) Dr Batlivala called me to his room, shook me up physically, and threatened to throw me out of the Hospital if I did not write down an apology letter. I obliged under duress since I needed a hospital to admit my patients to. ” When Nakhooda needed hospitalization a few days later, there was a split in the sympathies and allegiances of the medical fraternity. Batlivala earned censure for his arrogance, a trait many - patients and their relatives, as well as senior doctors — feel Batlivala pos ­ sesses in abundance. Simultaneously, Dr Batlivala had been moving the trustees to bring ab ­ out a retirement age for honoraries, with the prime purpose, asserts Dr Nakhooda, of getting rid of him. (The honOraries appointed by the board of trustees are expected to render free service to the Hospital ’s poor pa ­ tients.) The Hospital trustees re ­ portedly passed a resolution at their meeting of February 14, 1987, retiring I from January 1, 1988, all honoraries above the age of 65. What, however, made the resolution a red rag was that under the move, one trustee and his brother-in-law, who were availing of the benefits extended to a hospital I honorary, would not be allowed to do Dr Abbas H. Nakhooda who, having Top: Busts of Ardaseer N. Mody completed his MBBS in 1939, was one (left) and Merwanji K. Alpaiwala in of the oldest and most highly respected the Masina Hospital compound honoraries practising at the Hospital. Above: Marble slab (below Jerbai Nakhooda credits himself with being Masina’s statue) depicting one of the ‘founding fathers ’ of Masina Zoroastmn virtues Right: A patient in the female ward by bringing it to public notice when it opened its doors to other communi ­ ties. “I shifted all my practice to Masi- right: An operation theater at na, even forgoing honorary-ship and Masina Hospital the superintendent ’s post at other hos ­ pitals, ” recalls Nakhooda. Enjoying a of the medical committee of the Hos- fairly large practice amongst the mid- pital, and one of the trustees, also die class, he would admit his patients, admitted awareness of this fact to him. including the workers of Mahindras, 1\ ’ / ' ' including the workers of Mahindras, Nakhooda, however, denies that he where he is a company doctor, to was part of a vilification campaign Masina. Badar was his houseman, and against Batlivala. He is visibly upset Nakhooda, it is said, embarked upon a with Drs Bejan Parakh and Maharukh whisper campaign against Batlivala. “I Joshi, Sister James, the matron, and knew he was a womanizer even before Ms Banoo Irani, a social worker he took over as a superintendent, ” attached to the Hospital for over 20 says Nakhooda, and mentions that Dr years, for having testified against him Jimmy Vajifdar, the managing trustee at an enquiry conducted by the trus- 82 Parsiana August 1988'1 so any further. The matter was re- stirred a hornet ’s nest, it was the ver- in donations, and, informs Antia, was portedly sought to be raised at the fol- tical split amongst the trustees that naturally upset about the misuse of lowing meetings and the resolution pushed matters to breaking point. The funds. In the bargain, he turned not rescinded. The affected trustee Dr straighter-than-thou Batlivala, accord- only the RMO, but also certain trus- Aspi Golwalla is said to have called a ing to Burjor Antia, the managing tees against him. Rustom Kuka was re ­ meeting on December 19, 1987 with- trustee of the Hospital and a partner in portedly requested by a fellow trustee out consulting the chairman. Dr Rus- the city ’s leading firm of solicitors, to discontinue his daily visits to the tom Colah, with the two-point agenda Mulla and Mulla, Cragie Blunt and Hospital as his functioning is supposed of rescinding the retiremenbat-65 re- Caroe, reported to the trustee the un- to have prevented the superintendent from discharging his duties. Kuka re ­ fuses to talk to the Press though he says he knows everything. When Batlivala resigned on Decem ­ ber 14, 1987 - for the fourth time, as claimed by a newspaper espousing the line of Golwalla and Kuka - these two trustees pressed for the accept ­ ance of his resignation. While Batliva ­ la and Antia strongly deny that this was the fourth resignation tendered note from necessary expenditure incurred by the (“Ask them to produce my earlier A trust is to be administered as per the decisions of the majority of the trustees ' / / / / solution, and accepting Dr Batlivala ’s resignation. Dr Golwalla has no answer as to how such a meeting could be called, and maintains a stony si ­ lence, refusing to discuss the Masina Hospital affair with Parsiana. His brother-in-law. Dr Adi Sahiar, is more vocal. In an interview with the staff reporter of the city eveninger. The Afternoon Despatch and Courier, Sahiar laments that he did not get so much as a “thank-you ” i either the trustees or the Hospital Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Dr three resignations, ” challenges Batli- management after putting in 35 years Rahil Nachin in renovating his quar- vala), another trustee, Keki Alpaiwa- of service at the Hospital. ters. The RMO, it seems, was receiv- la, according to an honorary, felt that Nakhooda is even more critical. He ing support from one of the trustees, he had had enough of Batlivala ’s res- shows us the curt note dated Decern- whose unnecessary interference in ignations and threats of resignations, ber 26, 1987 signed by Colah, the Batlivala ’s duties was frowned upon, and, lending credence to the four- chairman, stating that “as you are The same trustee was also criticized resignation theory, voted for accepting already aware, by the resolu- for allegedly offering concessions run- the resignation. The schism was com- tion...your services stand terminated ning into thousands of rupees to plete: three trustees against Batlivala, as on December 31, 1987.” Nakhooda friends and acquaintances without the three (Antia, Vajifdar and Colah) claims that he was never aware of such knowledge and consent of the board, favoring his continuation as superin- a resolution, though the trustees claim It was Batlivala, according to Antia, tendent at the Hospital. The chair- that they had announced it to the hon- who had brought the Hospital out man ’s casting vote carried the day, and oraries at a breakfast meeting held on from the red within just one year, and it was decided to persuade Batlivala to May 17, 1987 at the Talk of the Town showed a healthy profit of six lakh stay. Had the resignation been restaurant. rupees against a loss of two lakh accepted, Masina Hospital would, for If the termination letters served to rupees. He ensured that all outstand- the first time in its checkered history, around nine doctors of the old guard ings were properly collected, brought have had a non-Parsi superintendent claims that he was never aware of such knowledge and consent of the board, f ‘ ’ a resolution, though the trustees claim It was Batlivala, according to Antia, tendent at the Hospital. The chair ­ i' 3'^ J / 83 Parsiana August T988LALA TOURS A WEALTH OF HOLIDAYS Wishing all our Parsee patrons A Very Happy & Prosperous New Year KASHMIR . WITH DELHI a AGRA Cost: Rs. 3,690/- CH class) BY RAJDHANISAIR Cost: Rs. 5,790/- DELUXE TOUR BY AIR WITH SUPERIOR HOTELS Cost: Rs. 7,190/- NEPAL BY RAILS AIR Cost: Rs. 3,790/-(II Class) SHIMLA-MANALI BY AIRS DELUXE MOTORCOACH Cost: Rs. 6,050/- BY RAIL S DELUXE MOTORCOACH Cost: Rs. 3,750/- DARJEELING-SIKKIM Cost: Rs. 3,990/- CH Class) MUSSOURIE fi NAINITAL Cost: Rs. 2,975/- (11 Class) SOUTH INDIA Cost: Rs. 4,250/- (11 Class) MYSORE-BANGALORE- OOTY BY AIRS DELUXE MOTORCOACH Cost: Rs. 5,45(3/- BY RAIL S DELUXE MOTORCOACH Cost: Rs. 4,625- Cl Class) Rs. 4,050/- (11 Class) RAJASTHAN Cost: Rs. 2,850/- (11 Class) GOA Cost: Rs. 975/- (Upper deck by ship) ALSO FOREIGN TOURS BY AIR WITH FIRST CLASS HOTELS AND EXTENSIVE SIGHTSEEING BANGKOK, PATTAYA. SINGAPORE Cost: Rs. 7.590/- + US $ BOZ- BANGKOK, PATTAYA, PENANG. KUALA LUMPUR, GENTING HIGHLANOS, SINGAPORE Cost: Rs. 9,490/- -I- US $ 80/- BANGKOK, PATTAYA. HONGKONG, SINGAPORE Cost: Rs. 10,990/- -I- US $ BOZ- BANGKOK, PATTAYA. HONGKONG. MANILA, SINGAPORE Cost: Rs. 13,390/- -I- US $ 100/- BANGKOK, PATTAYA. MELBOURNE, SYDNEY. SURFERS PARADISE, BRISBANE, SINGAPORE Cost: Rs. 18,990/- -I- US $ 300/- ALSO ? INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC AIR TICKETING ? PASSPORTS, VISAS AND POE ASSISTANCE ? RAILWAY TICKETS ? HOTEL BOOKINGS ? TOUR PACKAGES For further details contact: H.K. LALA & CO. Capitol Cinema Bldg., 1st floor, Opp. New Empire Cinema, Murzban Road, Bombay 400 001. Tel: 204 3006, 204 5094, 204 5744 Cable; EDTOURS, Bombay Telex; 011-3680 LATO IN I appointed,say the institution ’s associ ­ ates of long standing. Golwalla, it is believed, was preparing for a vacancy to be filled by either Dr Khare from . Nagpur, or Dr Varde, dean of J J. Hospital (for a short duration). Within barely three days of Batliva- la ’s resuming work as superintendent at Masina, the KUS launched an illeg ­ al strike, with a 22-point charter of de ­ mands, including a revision in wages of all categories, quarters for staff, pay ­ ment of allowances like dearness, leave travel, house rent, education, etc and other facilities. Nowhere in their charter, however, did they mention the removal of Dr Batlivala due to his alleged sexual misconduct. This was a new facet they introduced only on April 5, 1988 by when the Industrial Court had declared their strike prima 1 facie illegal, and Batlivala had demon ­ strated that despite their effigy- buming and placard-wielding, he could keep the Hospital operations going. Badar fried, at this late stage, an affidavit against Batlivala, which was summarily rejected by the Court. Yet another intern. Dr (Ms) Seema Raj- guru, was quoted as having resigned due to Batlivala ’s sexual advances to ­ wards her. The decision to terminate her services as a part-time extemee in the outpatient department was taken by the trustees because she refused to take the post of a houseman offered to her in the gynecology department, stated a press release issued by the management. The Hospital, explained Batlivala, did not require a homeopathic intern at a salary of Rs 400 plus lunch, when they already had 12 interns doing the same job. When, on the night of May 29,1988 one of the temporary ward boys at Masina allegedly raped a girl, who was neither a patient, nor a relative, but an outsider who had come to the Hospital with her bag of clothes, presumably to elope with her boyfriend, the Bombay Press cried blue murder. “Masina staff allege molestation by superinten ­ dent, ” ran a headline in The Indian Post in a manner that suggested that the superintendent had raped the girl, or had had a hand in it. The campaign to oust Batlivala was persistent even if it meant that the fair name of the Hos ­ pital could be tarnished. It was, as Antia put it, “a case of a mother kill ­ ing her own son, so that her daughter- did Dfltteram-LT in-law would become a widow. ” 84 Parsiana August 1988 IBut does Dr Batlivala have a glad eye? The Indian Post reporter, Ms Bhafati Sadasivam, affirms that he does, and claims that female em ­ ployees at Glindia have also testified to this. Dr Daksha Jadeja, his first houseman, diplomatically evades the answer with a “Well, it takes two hands to clap. ” Yet another honorary, who does not wish to be named, says that it was not uncommon for Dr Batli ­ vala to put an arm around any lady, and all had witnessed this behavior at the New Year ’s Eve parties hosted by the Masina trustees. Some residents of Rustom Bang / / M. NUSSERWANJI &C0 Transport Contractors I am not here as a candidate in a popularity poll WITH BEST COMPLIMENTS FROM B.R.T. LIMITED & / 9 Reet Owners Head Office 94, Mahatma Gandhi Road Poona 411001 Grams Timber Tel (0212) 64891 66422 Daily services to BOMBAY PUNE BANGALORE MADRAS who do not wish to be named, but hold a know-it-all attitude, seem to indicate that the doctor is a lothario. But Darab Ghadiali, a special executive magistrate and the vice-president of the Rustom Bang Association, who re ­ sides in a flat right across from the Bat- livalas, thunders that these are canards being spread to harm and bring dis ­ repute to a man who has brought hon ­ or to the community. (Batlivala re ­ cently won the Pax Mundi Dag Ham ­ marskjold award for his contribution to alternative medicine.) “Yes, he is reserved, he walks with a dignified air — but a womanizer, never! ” avers Ghadiali. Meanwhile, over 100 women employees, in a letter to The Times of India, stated that they feel absolutely safe with Dr Batlivala, and dismiss the charges levelled against him as false and biased. A patient at Masina quip­ ped: “It seems the doctor is only attracted to KUS women. ” Batlivala himself shrugs off the accusations though, as matters have gone too far, he has filed a defamation suit against the Jam-e-Jamshed, a pap ­ er edited for years by the master of bedroom comedies, Adi Marzban, and after his death, by Rusi Dhondi. “I re ­ frained from taking this step earlier, ” says Batlivala, “as a lot of cost and time is involved in filing a civil case, and I would like to spend my time doing my research work, and attend ­ ing to the Hospital, rather than fre ­ quenting the courts and paying hefty court fees. ” The suit, however, had an Neville House J.N. Heredia Marg Ballard Estate Bombay 400038 86 Parsiana August 1988immediate result. The Jame's advo- attending. And, even if the Jam^ has put their shoulders to the wheel. The cate, as stated by Colah in his rejoin- stopped publishing the list of dona- trustees who wish to disassociate der countering Jamf9 stand, volun- tions received by the Hospital, con- themselves from the Hospital adminis- tarily gave an undertaking not to pub- tributions are yet pouring in, for the tration should do so, rather than lish any further defamatory articles re- people continue to have faith in the. claiming to do so, recommends Antia, garding Batlivala. The calumny did Hospital, says Batlivala. The Lions “A trust is to be administered as per stop, though the next week, the Jame Club of Byculla has donated dental the decisions of the majority of the shifted its focus to the trustees, in- equipment worth Rs 25,000 on June trustees, ” writes Colah, subtly calling creasing the age of the chairman (who 12; an association called the Friends is in his mid-70s) by 10 years. It also Unanimous Trust have offered to urged Alpaiwala, a practising char- build an additional unit of 1,500 beds tered accountant, to undertake a fresh in the Masina complex, and Batlivala study in the matter so that he would has plans to set up a new burns unit revert to voting against Batlivala, with the donations received. when the need arose. But when will the present imbroglio Yet, amidst the fury and furore, the end? Dr Batlivala feels that once the Hospital continues to attend to the enquiry against Sister Chandrika Mo- sick. As reported by the management, hite (who spearheads the Union ’s the operation theater is booked more movement against the Hospital ’s than two months in advance. And the administration) for using abusive lan- register of inpatients for the period gauge against him is over, and she can June 1 to June 11 reveals that the Hos- be sacked by a majority vote of the for the resignations of the trustees who pital had 2,080 patients, as against trustees, the KUS will fail like a pack are pitted against the majority. In the 1,904 during the corresponding period of cards, closing the messy chapter, meanwhile, Antia, an ordained priest, in 1987. This higher figure is all the The KUS secretary, a ward boy, was disappointed with the approach of more creditable as it shows that the sacked earlier. Golwalla and Kuka, states that he has Masina Hospital, despite the campaign Antia, who would like facts to speak resigned from all other trusts where against it, enjoys the confidence of the for themselves, sees no problems, for the two are trustees, “for they have people and the doctors, barring a few despite the strike and the mud- deviated from the principles of our re ­ Even the outpatient figures, 1,842 for slinging, the Hospital is working nor- ligion, viz Ashoi (righteousness), by May 1988 are higher than the 1,141 mally, “as you can see for yourself, ” not upholding the truth in our Hos- patients attended to in May 1987. The he says. The Courts have already pas- pital. ” staff attendance muster shows that sed judgments in the management ’s A fresh fusillade will probably be there are around 45 workers, from a favor. Of course, normalcy can only be fired at the end of the year when the total strength of 330, who are not fully restored when all trustees jointly Hospital management may refuse to renew the term of those honoraries (appointments are made annually for a period of one calendar year) who they believe have not supported it in the hour of trouble. It is hard to tell how the matter will finally close, though like Eliot ’s world, it could end with a whimper rather than a bang. The Press, save for Jam^, have called off the war against the Hospital; the Court judgments have struck continuous blows to the Union. And Dr Batlivala is determined to fight it out till the end with the sup ­ port, as he claims, of his wife 'Viloo, formerly practising as a nurse, and their children, Niloufer, now an intern at Masina, Zubin, a student at Grant Medical College, and Khushnuma, a fresh collegian, who have taken the calumny campaign and threatening phone calls in their stride. But ultimately, for a complete re ­ covery of the Masina Hospital, it is essential that its ailment be diagnosed. For the Hospital, as a body, has to function robustly if it wishes to inspire health and confidence in its patients. Batlivala, who kept his patients on 'pinsand needles extended the same treatment to his staff J J 1 Gifts& —iMittgg The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive reli^ous artefact executive desk ¦ ler sets, exclusive shell ite^ de^gni jeweby & specializing in wooa & copper-enamel ^fts- BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. (Mezzanine Floor) Sir RM. Road. Bombay-400 001 STUDIO AKAR 6T/266O 88 Parsiana August 1988COMMENT The state of Zoroastrian orthodoxy Adi F. Doctor The orthodox movement has not been able to regain the momentum it had under men like Vimadalal, Shroff, Masani and Chiniwalla me a fanatic? Having established the word ’s true sacrificed many transient pleasures There is perhaps no other word in the dictionary is given as “sound in doc- then had such immense faith in their English language to which a modern trine; believing, or according to, the religion that with utmost sincerity and Zoroastrian is more allergic than the received or established doctrines or fidelity they responded to the observ- word “orthodox. ” Through the years, opinions ” (Chambers Twentieth Cen- ance of many an austere religious rite, its meaning has been so distorted and tury Dictionary). If I am a believer or As one writer has aptly put it, “So twisted, that it has now acquired pe- a follower of sound and established staunch was their faith in the religion, jorative overtones in many circles! It doctrines where the Zoroastrian reli- and so untiring were they in its service, has been wantonly and wrongly used gion is concerned, how does it make that they, ungrudgingly put up with to suggest a bigot, a fanatic or some- me a fanatic? many inconveniences and willingly one whose thinking is outdated. It shouldn ’t surprise many, then, that a meaning, the purpose of this article is and comforts... ” couple of years ago a registered to briefly survey the scene of Zoroas- It is pertinent to note that the Parsis, ' Zoroastrian organization approached trian orthodoxy as it exists today. For during their thousand-year stay in In- ¦ the charity commissioner with a re- this, a glimpse of religious orthodoxy, dia, until, say, the middle of the quest that the word “orthodox ” be re- as it prevailed in the past, is necessary nineteenth century, had passed moved from its name as some of its as a background. through the rules of the Rajputs, the members thought it a hindrance to The picture of a typical Parsi home, Moghuls, the Marathas, etc, but by their activities! just about 100 years ago, shows how it and large the fortress of orthodoxy was But the etymology of this abused was the bastion of Zoroastrian ortho- kept intact. Through these centuries, word indicates that its meaning is doxy, in keeping with the religious the Parsis adapted themselves to the almost the opposite. Made up of two principles of righteousness and purity times and conditions in which they Greek words — ortho — straight, up- of body, mind and soul. At a very ear- lived, as far as social, cultural and eco- right, genuine, and doxa - opinion, ly age, children were taught the nomic customs and mores were con- doctrine - its meaning in any standard 2Loroastrian way of life. The people cerned. But they never even dreamt of 91 Parsiana August 1988I'H I After the passing of the Parsi Mar- making any changes in the religious “Thus the Punchayet vindicated its traditions and customs because they existence as an authoritative body and were well aware that the gospel truths its members always commanded the mentioned in the extant scriptures respect of both the government and were timeless and universal. the public... ” The akabars were very Then came the British. And slowly strict regarding two issues in particu- but perceptibly, the bastion of ortho- lar, proselytism (converting non-Parsis doxy began to develop cracks and, la- to ^roastrianism) and morality. As ter, to crumble. How and why did this the late historian J.R.B. Jeejeebhoy happen? After years of study and states in his article in the M.P. mulling over this sad decline of ortho- Khareghat Volume No I, “The elders doxy, I can pinpoint three major perceived clearly that once the sluices causes: of immorality and brazen-faced con- With the advent of the British, high- versions were opened, there would be ly materialistic, rationalistic winds be- no staying the tide which would soon gan blowing from the West. Quite a envelop in its fatal fold those eminent few Parsis of those times outclassed all qualities which the Parsis had inher- other Indian communities in unwit- ited from their ancestors and of which tingly proving Darwin ’s theory! As anjuman, while the judicial work was they were so justly proud. ” What ’s Prof John Hinnells, senior lecturer in managed by the full complement of pertinent is that the sethias of yore had comparative religion at Manchester the Punchayet, and the administrative earned an abiding place in the hearts University, so admirably put it, “The work by some of the members of that of the masses. “They were a band of middle-class Parsis at the turn of the body. sincere and honest workers, the in­ century became so westernized that When settling burning issues, the terests of the anjuman were their in- they were more British than the Bri- whole case was referred to the samast terests, the spiritual and moral salva- tish...Where, I believe, the commun- anjuman which assumed the roles of tion of their hamdin (coreligionists) ity went wrong was in the way it copied law-giver, judge and jury, all rolled their only aim. ” or aped the West...That generation into one, for every member of the departed from its own ideals and de- community. Not only was the justice riage and Divorce Act in 1865, the serted its tradition; they and those like meted out impartial, but it was tern- Punchayet ceased to legislate and act them are not true to themselves... ” pered with mercy. The sethias (rich in personal matters or domestic How, then, did the Parsis resist merchants - some of whom were affairs. Thirty-five years later, the these same westerly winds through the knighted by the government - also wheels of “reform ” and “progress ”'in- eighteenth and the first half of the known as akabars) were the de facto troduced, for the first time, the nineteenth centuries? custodians of the morals of the com- scheme of having the trustees elected That brings us to the second reason munity. by an electoral college or the “Anju- for the decline of Zoroastrian ortho ­ doxy. The passing of the Parsi Mar- . riage and Divorce Act, 1865, triggered the beginning of the fall. It was only after that year that the communal dis ­ cipline - engendered and splendidly maintained by the Bombay Parsi Pun­ chayet (BPP) since its inception in ab ­ out 1728 AD, with the backing of the anjuman and the samast anjuman (general assembly of the Parsis con ­ vened for specific purposes) - began to weaken. It is interesting to note briefly that up to 1786 AD the membership of the ‘Punchayet was generally hereditary. Then on January 1, 1787, the govern ­ ment of Rawson Boddam reformed it by decreeing the election of six mem ­ bers from the behdin (laity) and six from the athoman (priest) class, who would be responsible for “the settle ­ ment of private disputes and the inter ­ nal management of the community. ” All legislative work, however, was subject to the sanction of the samast The orthodox who tried “to keep the flame flickering”: Vimadalal (top), Kutar (left) and Karkhanawalla 93 Parsiana August 1988i ’i Justices Davar and Beaman (bottom) recognized Tata (right) as a Zoroastrian 9 man Committee, ” as per the judgment of Justices Davar and Beaman. It is significant that simultaneously with the akabars who ruled the roost in almost every single department of communal life and meted out punish ­ ments ranging from social ostracism to religious boycott (the latter included being barred from visiting places of worship, one ’s body not being con ­ signed to the Towers of Silence, and even excommunication), there grew a new, small breed of sophisticated. Reformists supporting rational thinking (from left): Coma, Dhalla and Bode westernized and mostly aristocratic Parsis, strongly influenced by rational- that tradition was everything, and that biggest IPs of the history of the Parsis ist thoughts of the West. Their ideas without it they just wouldn ’t exist. But in India! were supported by the nascent Zoroas- the translations and interpretations of Thus, these three factors, operating trian school of philology, founded by the Avesta scriptures and Pahlavi liter- at the end of the last century, com- the great K.R. Cama, which had be- ature by foreign and Parsi philologists bined to produce a vertical split be ­ gun to grow steadily. changed all this. No more were the tween the orthodox majority and the This brings us to the third main scriptures taken as the gospel truth, so-called “reformists ” or “progres- cause which virtually shook the very Inquiring and sceptical minds among sives ” - a new group of anglicised Par ­ foundation of the orthodox citadel, the followers of Prophet Zarathushtra sis who accepted the philological inter- Through the centuries that the Parsis began to question and doubt the verac- pretation of religious lore. One dis- lived in India, since the ninth century ity of their own religious heritage! If astrous result of this formidable com- ACj the highest common factor that Dastur Darab of Surat had not re- bination of factors was evident in that ¦ bound together both the priestly class moved the veil of secrecy over the cause c616bre, the Parsi Punchayet and the laity, the rich and the poor, mystic revelations of the Prophet of case of 1906, in which, for the first was their implicit, unquestioning faith Iran, before Anquetil du Perron (the time in Parsi history, a suit was filed in in the Zoroastrian scriptures, tenets, first European scholar to spend three the Bombay High Court against the doctrines and tradition; Like the cen- years in Surat learning Zoroastrian Punchayet trustees. The petitioner was tral character in the movie Fiddler on scriptural languages) nearly 230 years a leading Parsi industrialist who the Roof, all of them firmly believed ago... will surely remain one of the claimed that his French spouse, who had undergone the navjote and ashir- wad ceremonies, was entitled to all the rights of a Parsi Zoroastrian. Although this plea was negatived by the Davar- Beaman judgment, Zoroastrian ortho ­ doxy had sustained a vicious blow - not so much by Ratan Tata, as by the renegade priests who performed the ceremonies on Ms Tata, as well as by some scholar-priests of Cama ’s school who endorsed conversion and alien marriages as having the approval of Zoroastrian doctrine! Again, at that time, emerged a white-turbaned Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Columbia in the person of Dr M.N. Dhalla. For the elite reformists, he was a godsend who had come to boost their morale and rationalist thinking. A couple of “Zoroastrian conferences ” were called to thrash out burning religious prob ­ lems. Though the infinitesimal number of the “reformists ” resulted in these meetings being veritably stillborn, a warning bell seemed to have been sounded for Zoroastrian orthodoxy! Yet, the operation of the law of polarity in nature saw to it that ortho- r L ¦ J 95 Parsiana August 1S88? the doxy survived. During the Parsi Pun­ chayet litigation, two great personali ­ ties emerged on the orthodox front. One was a champion of tradition and a first-rate orator: Jehangir R. Vimadal ­ al who thundered against alien or jud- din navjotes and weddings and, of course, against conversion. The other was a taciturn mystic who not only revolutionized the orthodox camp and instilled it with renewed vigor, but firmly cemented the cracks that had developed in the very founda ­ tion of orthodoxy. He was Ustad Behramshah N. Shroff, the founder of Ilm-e-Khshnoom - the beatific know ­ ledge or science which expounded Zoroastrian philosophy in its pristine purity. So great was the impact of the various explanations and expositions of the cryptic ZLoroastrian scriptures that Shroff propounded, that many in­ tellectual Parsi philologists, including the veteran K.R. Cama himself, and theosophists like Jehangir Vimadalal, came under the influence of Khshnoom. Many were the battles royal which were fought between the reformist camp, led by Dr Dhalla, and the orthodox camp, led by Vimadalal, Ervad Phiroze S. Masani, etc. Once again the scales of victory tilted in favor of orthodoxy. The early forties - by which time both Shroff and Vimadalal had died - saw at least two major events that almost knocked the bottom out of the orthodox edifice: the Vansda navjotes who had banded together under the from which the reformists carried on (of children of Parsi men and native Parsi Federal Council, a lion of the their propaganda was the Rahnumaye women in the village of Vansda - caliber of the late Vimadalal was Mazdayasnan Sabha. This had been thereafter sometimes used as a urgently needed. Nature, abhorring a established in the mid nineteenth cen- synonym for juddin) and the wrongful vacuum, threw up another such fear- tury, ostensibly to weed out non ­ consecration of the Fasli fire-temple in less leader, Jehangir Chiniwalla, an Zoroastrian beliefs, dogmas and su- Bombay. The doyen of the reformist ace disciple of Behramshah Shroff. So perstitions from the community. But, movement. Dr Dhalla, was now joined great an orthodox firebrand was he, unfortunately, it invariably ended up by Dr Framroze Bode who played a that- the religious gauntlets he threw throwing out the baby with the bath ­ leading role in both these events. It is down to Drs Dhalla, Bode and their water! significant to note that both Dhalla patrons like Sir Rustom Masani and and Bode were ordained dasturs in Burjorji F. Bharucha, were never The role of the Parsi Press peculiar circumstances. While Dr picked up by them! In the ding-dong battle between the » Dhalla was perhaps the only navar (he Instead, the reformists suggested a two groups, the Parsi Press took sides was not a maratab) who was made a Round Table Conference between the depending on the convictions and be- ¦ ~ " liefs of the owners and editors. Thus, Instead, the reformists suggested a two groups, the Parsi Press took sides dastur. Dr Bode, though belonging to two warring groups to thrash out va- the Shehenshahi sect, became a Fasli rious religious issues. But this move for example. The Rast G of tar and the dastur. The lectures and writings of was aborted by the orthodox group, Kaiser-E-Hind were right from the be- these two priests created an unpre- who felt that the new breed of liberals ginning taking brief for the reformists, cedented furore in the community, the tried to snuff out whatever faith to be joined later by The Mumbai vast majority of whom were orthodox. Zoroastrians had in their scriptures Vartman, while The Sanj Vartman, Though the orthodox Parsis had even though the orthodox had always and Jam-e-Jamshed upheld the cause stalwarts like Dastur Kaikhushru attempted to rekindle that flickering of orthodoxy. Kutar, F. Dadachanji and many others flame. Incidentally, the main platform However, in the late forties, the Kutar, F. Dadachanji and many others flame. Incidentally, the main platform 97 Parsiana August 1988 •i/-'I Selvel For Effective Outdoor Advertising Throughout India With Best Compliments from SELVEL PUBLICITY & CONSULTANTS PVT. LTD. Ravindra Mansion Annexe 194, Dinshaw Vatcha Road 4th Floor BOMBAY 400020 Tel. No. 2026512 2027560 very backbone of Parsi orthodoxy be ­ gan to crack, thanks to the volte face of its staunch champion, the Jam-e- Jamshed\ Almost overnight, this most popular newspaper of the Parsis, which had lambasted the reformist sec- . tion for decades, suddenly took up the cudgels on their behalf and began ridi ­ culing the orthodox section and their leaders. This was one of the severest blows anyone had delivered to them in decades! The traditionalists, for the first time, were without any medium of their own through which they could voice their views. It was in such cir ­ cumstances that Chiniwalla ’s The Parsi Avaz was born in 1947. Though basi ­ cally meant to air the philosophy of the Zoroastrian religion as interpreted by Ilm-e-Khshnoom, it became the voice of the orthodox section for 27 years. The attacks and counter-attacks be ­ tween the two camps soon became more vicious and vitriolic. The refor ­ mists were now openly branded as “heterodox ” and the enemy of the re ­ ligion, while the orthodox were casti ­ gated as fanatics and bigots. The orthodox group had stalwarts like Ervad Dr J.M. Unvala, Dr Maneckji Davar, Dastur Dr H.K. Mirza, Jehan ­ gir Sanjana, Dr M. Karkhanawalla, and others, all of whom were freely accommodated in the columns of The Parsi Avaz. But two relatively new and discon ­ certing factors emerged, which made the orthodox camp a house divided. One was the somersault of some sup ­ porters, who began to placate, though subtly, the reformist class, which was now gradually growing in strength. For them the temptation of being in the limelight with the elitist intellectuals was stronger than any principles or scruples. The other factor was the emergence of a new disease, called “I-trouble, ” from which some erstwhile orthodox persons began to suffer. The demon of a bloated ego gripped them so firmly that traditional values went by the board. The effects of these two factors snowballed in the next three to four decades, so that today there are at least a dozen splinter groups, all of them claiming to be the legitimate espousers of orthodoxy! Fissiparous tendencies and internecine squabbles and wrangles have done far more dam ­ age to the orthodox cause than the attacks of all the heterodox thinkers put together! With Best Compliments From PHIROZE KARAKA &CO Sanitary Engineers and Fire Fighting Specialists 27, Tamarind Lane 1st Hoor, Block No 11 Rajabahadur Compd Opp Allahabad Bank Apollo St Bombay 400023 Tel 272986 & 270066 98 Parsiana August 1988 1 1 1 «effective As regards the Parsi Press, while existence. While some wore orthodoxy orthodoxy in India? To many, the near Jam-e-Jamshed, in the seventies, once on their sleeve, others, either out of future may look bleak. Once- again changed sides and tried to take jealousy or vindictiveness, never hesi- prominent organizations like the Bom- up the cause of Zoroastrian ortho- tated to run down the editor for his bay Jarthoshti Jashan Committee - doxy, it had lost the trust of its ortho- forthright comments on certain burn- ' from where giants like Jehangir Vima - dox readers and was a mere shadow of ing issues. The trouble with many of dalal, Dastur Kutar etc. had thun- its former self. The Bombay today ’s Zoroastrian orthodox is that dered against heterodoxy and laun- Samachar, while having a distinct slant they don ’t want to risk unpopularity by ched highly effective campaigns towards the reformist movement, has upholding the basic religious tenets: against it - have become almost mori- had a remarkable penchant for blow- they ’d rather compromise on princi- bund [though the newly-formed Conn ­ ing hot and cold on various religious pies than earn the opprobrium of soci- cil of Vigilant Parsis (COVP) is doing issues through the years. ety. Equally bad are the cheap public- a commendable job in preserving Parsiana, the monthly magazine ity seekers - and they are legion. Zoroastrian traditions]. The orthodox started by the late Dr Pestonji War- When the crunch comes, these self- camp is divided into factions. The trus- den, began by projecting the orthodox styled orthodox champions do not tees and members of various pun­ image, but later on, under the ste- hesitate to go into hibernation! chayets and anjumans - most of whom wardship of young Jehangir R. Patel, One blatant fact of modern life that are members of the Federation of Par- it published several write-ups catering kept hitting The Parsee Voice's editor si Zoroastrian Anjumans of India - are to the non-orthodox readership. straight in the face was that the youn- vying with one another to not appear Keeping these factors in mind, the ger generation of Parsis does not orthodox in their views or way of life! late B.K. Boman-Behram mooted the bother to read about, and is not in- But to this incorrigible optimist, the idea of starting at least a small tabloid terested in, communal matters or reli- pot of gold is almost visible at the end that would take up the cause of ortho- gious controversies. A host of modem of the rainbow. In the last decade of doxy and he asked this writer to take gadgets and contraptions, ranging from this century, when nature takes a hand over as editor of The Parsee Voice, the video and TV, to computer games, in a big way in the affairs of the com- The complete lack of unity among keeps them “busy. ” So, with virtually munity, and drills some sense in the those who styled themselves orthodox no feedback and a poor subscriber highly materialistic granites of most of was the biggest disappointment for its response. The Voice had to fold up. us, the clarion call will be, “Back to editor, through the journal ’s four-year What is the future of Zoroastrian orthodoxy! ” I In this world Take always the position of the giver. Give love, give help, give service. Give any little thing you can, but keep out a barter. Make no conditions, and none will be imposed. Let us give out of our bounty. Just as God gives to us. 1 ( - SWAMI VIVEKANANDA I With Best Compliments From Well Wishers 4 100 RsrsZans/lugusr 1988!i BUSINESS ZOROASTRIAPl THIMGS TO GIFT Gifts and Things is one of the largest retailers of Zoroastrian artefacts Joy Fernandes f Gifts and Things started stocking fravashi metal plaque which can be Zoroastrian items in 1980 when a sister concern called Things began manufac- “We realized years ago that there turing small articles for Zoroastrian Perin and Cyrus were looking for a gift pendants, decorative items in shell and tail stockist of Zoroastrian artefacts, for their parents. “It must be some- bone china, and small miscellaneous the general public is far more familiar thing special, ” they decided, “not an items like stickers and magnets. Prices with the shop ’s wide range of exclusive article they ’ll use for a few months and range from a few rupees for a keychain gift articles. then forget about. And it has to mean to several thousand rupees for a huge Gifts and Things started stocking something, have some significance... ” ‘ ‘ “ Eventually a friend guided them to a made to order, little shop where they discovered a ' wide range of Zoroastrian artefacts was no shop catering to (such) Zoroas- Studies - an organization aimed at and, after much discussion, bought an trian needs, so we started developing ethnic and religious revival and found- engraving of the prophet on mother- this section, ” says proprietress Ms ed by Khojeste Mistree. (Things is a of-pearl. Siloo Limboowalla. But although Gifts wholesale manufacturer of gift and The name of that shop is Gifts and and Things claims to be the largest re- novelty items.) “We began mainly Things, located on the mezzanine floor with them, ” recalls Siloo ’s husband of Bombay Swadeshi Stores on Sir Keki, who is a partner in Things. P.M. Road, and Perin and Cyrus are * “They wanted somebody to develop typical of many of the customers who I artefacts. Khojeste Mistree gave us the visit it to buy gifts for Zoroastrian rela- J right indication; he was sure that a lot tives and friends. Today, eight years of Parsis would want them. ” These after the shop started stocking such MF[ PVC stickers, magnets and keychains articles, the Zoroastrian artefacts are | | were sold at the Zoroastrian Studies crafted from various materials. There J office, and at Gifts and Things. “We are desk sets in rosewood and acrylic, M gradually started expanding as more wall plaques in wood and metal, silver ; M Zoroastrians kept asking for M I MR* “ At the Gifts and Things shop: a wide range of souvenirs PHOTOS; JOY FERNANDES <1 1 lA J* 1 ii ?’’WW T ..-Ji hi i I «k ’4’ ... ...... Mwiiwimiii • 'I S-b'A: ST aBfli I* JM ‘ IF fc. T*i' J® 'IS ,a ? I « 1 . 1 ’¦ ^***' !more and more items, ” explains Siloo, talks and lectures they hear. ” And silver ses (tray with traditional acces- articles grew bigger, the price range adds, it “seems to personify their faith, piece by piece, few items from other suppliers.. ’_____ -______ :______ . . . . - . - - petitors. Aren ’t there any rivals who trian artefacts which are ranged along and pin holders, and paperweights, all are capable of grabbing their market? " " ' *¦ “None, ” say both the Limboowallas firmly, and after some thought Keki adds, “One probable reason why a lot of people haven ’t entered this market is because they feel it’s limited. ” At a their faith, makes it more concrete" tracing the growth of this section. The when they give such gift items, she sories) which can be bought as sets or articles grew bigger, the price range adds, it “seems to personify their faith, piece by piece. grew wider, and she began ordering a make it more concrete. ” Desk accessories are among the 2___ 2___ 1 ' .. Later we wander round the shop, most popular items here, and shelves We turn the conversation to com- paying special attention to the Zoroas- are laden with pencil tumblers, paper decorated with fravashi or Zarathush ­ tra motifs photoprinted on iridescent ovals of mother-of-pearl. “We put them together ourselves, so they are abso ­ lutely exclusive, ” notes Siloo. Among "When they give Zoroastrian gift • luvciy CAViuaivc, iiuica auvk/. Items, It personities the ornamental items are portraits of the prophet carved on mother-of-pearl their customers are Parsis, though not *«**^** laiui/ muiwu av 115), on a capiz shell (Rs 45), and all of them come in for Zoroastrian mOFC CXJUCTetC** painted on a bone china plate (Rs 125). artefacts. “We get a lot of young peo- ______________________________ ___ The variety available in this section pie coming in for something reli- devoted to Zoroastrian artefacts is in- gious, ” says Siloo. “They either buy it the shelves and hung on the walls. The dicative of the wider range of general for themselves or as a gift. Then there themes and motifs are repeated, but gift articles sold at the shop. Copper are those who are going abroad and the materials and execution vary, trays and plaques, enameled in glow- come here to buy gifts for their rela- Among them are images of Zarathush- ing greens and oranges, fascinate one tives. And in the winter we get quite a tra in brass (Rs 37 to 57), photos of customer; another lingers over the cos- few who have come to India on holi- Zarathushtra in acrylic frames of diffe- tume jewelry section; in other corners day. ” She feels that the demand for rent sizes, a German silver etching of a are decorative note paper, leather such objects is increasing, perhaps due priest in an agiary, richly framed in silk jewelry boxes, delicate miniatures to a growing religious awareness. “I (Rs 240), winged bull and fravashi pla- painted on ivory and lamps cunningly . think more Zoroastrians, especially ques (Rs 45 to 110), afarganyas (tradi- constructed of shell. At the far end of youngsters, are aware of their own re- tional fire holders) of stainless steel or the room are the desk accessories and ligious beliefs today, ” she says with German silver, with a flickering elec- brightly colored hangings crafted out conviction. “Perhaps it is due to the trie light (Rs 154 to 250), and German of fabric, braid and cord, swinging in PROTECTION & INTELLIGENCE SERVICES Ahura Mazda Agencies (Manpower Consultants) Federal Trade Agencies 250, Perin Nariman Street, Fort, Bombay 400001 Tel 261926 H.P. Enterprises (Courier Services throughout Indio) 2501 /I, Bazar Gate Street, Fort, Bombay 400001 Tel 267178 Bombay Poona Consultancy Services Pune 411001 Partner Mr. Dady P. Hataria Consultant & Adviser Mr. Jal B. Contractor Deputy Commissioner of Police (Retd.) of Federal Trade Agencies Tel: Res. 822-1581 105 Parsiana August 1988the drau^t of the electric fan. “We try dia, and the shell ones directly from able and honest. But he disagrees with to stock items you can ’t get in the open the Andamans. And if a client wants the oft-heard criticism that Parsi youth market, ” says Siloo. The room is something special? “We do take are less enterprising today. “There hushed, with an occasional murmur as orders, ” admits Siloo. “It all depends might not now be new Tatas or God- someone asks a sales assistant about on the items. If someone comes in and rejs, ” he says firmly, “but there are a prices. They encourage browsing: tells me they want 25 pieces, I can give lot of young entrepreneurs who have “You may not buy anything today, ” - i---- «—— «... —.-j <¦ .... reasons Siloo, “but you may come back for something tomorrow. ” There are the ‘regulars ’ - mainly from nearby offices - who drop in frequently to look for new items, tourists, and corporate clients who shop here for giftaways. For Gifts and Things, the festival season - lasting from November to April - is a busy one when they can expect about 70 customers per day. The dull trend is from May to July, with an average of about 20. Working hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and they ‘ ----------------------------------------- ness. ’’ are closed on Sundays, and from 2 to 3 for a machine-made one, this order In future, the Limboowallas intend p.m. daily for lunch. would be too small. Also, I can de- to concentrate on the two main factors We talk about the sources of the pend on my husband to supply the that have built up the clientele of the articles and learn that Things supplies items in time; I can ’t depend on some shop: the exclusivity of the gift items the rosewood and acrylic items - the other suppliers. So we are frank right and the friendly service. Their plans desk sets, trinket boxes and photo from the start, and tell them whether include constant change. “We have to stands — while local suppliers produce or not it is possible. ” think new, otherwise we wouldn ’t sur- the metalwork pieces such as the ses Talking of what it means to be Parsi vive, ” says Siloo. “We have to dream up and the afarganyas. The shisham wood business people, Keki admits that Par- (new ideas) at night; we have to wake items, however, come from North In- sis are generally thought to be depend- up with (them) in the morning... ” ‘We do take are less enterprising today. “There “T+ oil ______ 1____________ rr._x________ j on the items. If someone comes in and rejs, ” he says firmly, “but there are a it if the item is a handcrafted one. But started small concerns in electronics, printing and the fabrication of metal items. I personally know many that have come up, are growing and doing inculcate that sort of spirit in the child. ” And what qualities does Siloo think would be necessary to make a business venture a success? “You would first have to visualize the type of items or service you wish to project. Then honesty and forthrightness help a lot. You may not make a lot of extra money, but it helps run up the busi- They encourage browsina for. even if Finally, it is up to the parents to you do not buy anything today, you may come back for something tomorrow Talking of what it means to be Parsi I With the Compliments Of TATA ENTERPRISES 106 Parsiana August 1988 1sists, we are only hastening the dis- of the ruling families married people and often infirm members of their appearance of the Parsis. of other nationalities. Hence, the cus- families. Such sanatoria would also be Is there anything wrong in allowing tom of not marrying outside the reli- better for those living alone, uncared people of other faiths to adopt or gious community must have been of for and entirely at the mercy of ser- accept our religion if they wish to do so recent origin, that is, after the com- voluntarily, without any coercion or munity was well established, perhaps compensation? Let us not forget that when it became prosperous! initially our Prophet TLoroaster must Tl__ ----- * have preached to those who did not being so limited, this custom has un­ belong to the faith and convinced them fortunately led to too much inbreeding ing couples who' have little time for to believe and practise the preachings which accentuates the more negative cooking and household chores. Cafe- of Ahura Mazda as enunciated by him. genetic traits as compared to the posi- tarias should provide nutritious meals Repeated migrations notwithstanding, tive ones. Day by day, the physical at economical prices. Such hostels the numbers that came from Iran were constitution of the members of our should have social and recreational undoubtedly small. Since there are few community has deteriorated as com- facilities which would provide better genuine historical records of the pared to that of our forefathers, de- opportunities for unmarried boys and migrations, it must be assumed that spite the better nutrition and improved girls to get together. Parsi males must have had more than health care which our community en- It is high time we look forward to one wife (which was common practice joys today. Inbreeding leads to an in- where we are going rather than live on in those days) and many of these could crease in degenerative diseases and re- the past laurels of our forefathers. Par- have been local women. It is obvious suits in infertility, defects in the new- sis today have alienated themselves, that in this way alone could the Parsi born, deterioration of the visual sys- both culturally and socially, and cre- community have reached a figure of tern, increase in mental disorders, etc. ated an artificial barrier by their re- over 1,00,000. There is nothing like a This can be easily ascertained by luctahce to leam the national and local “pure ” race or community. Even in checking the health records of the languages, thereby being unable to ancient Iran, during the Achaeme- members of our commfunity, particu- properly integrate amongst the people nian, Parthian, and Sassanian dynas- larly the families of those who marry with whom they live. With the increase ties, soldiers and particularly members amongst close relatives. of education amongst the masses and Records and information on all more emphasis on providing jobs for — aspects of our community should be “the sons of the soil, ” the members of computerized, so as to be easily re- our community are unable to compete trievable for research and develop- with their fellow citizens. ment. There is a need for health insur- If the Parsis want to rejuvenate their ance and preventive health care for the community, it is time to discuss all the entire conununity or at least for those problems frankly, objectively and un- who want it. The community has emotionally. If we plan properly for enough financial resources to fund a the future needs of our comniunity and system of preventive health checkups boldly implement these plans for the for the very poor, which will serve to larger good of the entire community, improve the overall health of those we can face the future optimistically. It who are most vulnerable and thereby is true that Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta reduce absenteeism at work as well as means good thoughts, good words and the need for hospital beds. good deeds, but surely one good deed From the information given in Par- is better than a hundred good words siana regarding births, marriages and and a thousand good thoughts! deaths, the average age at death is ......... above 80 years. In fact, the average age of our community is over 50 years. .j. ,, Day by day the problem of looking af- • • ter and caring for old people is increas- Why can ’t the others like us Parsis be? ing. Hence there is a need to build We think ourselves first as Indians, sanatoria having boarding facilities in then Parsis. places which are not overcrowded and In none other brethren we ever any polluted, and where the climate is malice see, salubrious, with access to medical care Each one unto himself we let be. and hospital facilities, so that the aged We stake no daims to a new Parsi^irthan r an be properly cared for. This would Or start a fight with some Khomeira. also be of help to many young people So why can ’t other communities who are unable to get married or leave Like the Parsi minority be? ! their homes to take advantage of bet- Ms mickie sorabjee ter opportunities elsewhere, as they ___________________ _ ____________ _ are burdened by the care of the old Edited by Arnavaz s. Mama vants. In most metropolitan cities and par- ___________ r _____ ticularly in Bombay, there is an urgent The number of our community need to build hostels with cafetarial services for singles and married work- EXCLUSIVE SAREES Indulge yourself in luxury with one of a kind creations of Hand Painted Sequined Embroidered Sarees designed by Mrs Perin Screwvala the designer with experience and flair ReaityBUMles available and ordera undertaken Contact Tel 367084 803, Cumballa Ciest 42, Pedder Road Bombay 400026 18 Parsiana August 1S88 SAM H. DALAL PuneIf I * .•ft kA n s aft; Master chef Bhicoo Manekshaw outlines the qualities and ingredients that make cooking a fine art ' 4^ ^9 in the transmission gets metamorph ­ osed into something which cannot be replicated in a restaurant. For this reason, the average housewife might prefer to entertain at home. “How can she ensure that her dinner party is a success? ” we ask Manekshaw. “The housewife should not overtire herself by preparing hundreds of dishes. It is not economical and today it is consi ­ dered positively vulgar to have more than two to three main courses, a salad and a dessert. A gourmet cannot savor more than one or two dishes at a time. So prepare a few but prepare them well, ” she counsels. The most important factor to be considered when preparing a good meal, however, is the choice of raw materials - fish, meat, vegetables. “No amount of expensive ingredients and splendid cooking can set a meal right if (some of the basic) ingredients are in­ ferior. ” Today vegetables are allowed to be served crisp, meats have permis ­ sion to be rare, and pastry is light and flaky. Visual elements It is also the visual elements of the feast that make the difference between a successful and mediocre evening - sparkling crystal, gilt-edged crockery, strongly on the point. “The lot of the ment of India awards prizes to weav- champagne that is perfectly chilled and poor has certainly improved in our ers, even cricketers! But it has never too delectable to be refused, dishes of country, ” she argues, pointing out that thought of awarding it to a chef, ” she contrasting tastes, textures and colors, her butler bought himself a TV set a regrets. Manekshaw reveals that in And given an elastic budget, the hos- few years ago and that her ex-sweeper Lucknow alone, 120 varieties of kebabs tess can do anything to keep her guests dons a safari suit and thunders to work are available and are concocted from yawning. on a motorbike. by traditional kebabwaUas. “The Whether the country is developed or kebabs are fantastic. 'The kebabwallas Connoisseur’s palate under-developed, cooking is a science are a dying breed and if something Keeping all this in mind may be diffi- and an art, probably more an art than isn ’t done for them... ’’she trails off. cult for the average housewife, but not a science, says Manekshaw. “It is the However delectable the food may for Manekshaw who developed her only art that has not been officially be in a fancy restaurant or a sidewalk connoisseur ’s palate dining on con- acknowledged by the government, eatery, tradition has it that the best tinental fare and Parsi delicacies like Painting, dancing, literature have re- cooking is done at home. Many an In- patra ni machi, murgi na farcha and ceived official recognition, yet this vit- dian recipe has been passed down dhansak, prepared by Goan cooks al and important art has never been from mother to daughter and from who worked for her aunts and her accepted or appreciated. The Govern- mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, and grandmother. She was allowed, as a 109 Parsiana August 1988child, to gb into the kitchen and fuss substitutes where necessary, but up to mangoes in 1-incfa pieces. Add to diic- over the cleaning of rice and dal. The a limit. Cleanliness is very important ken, mix well, cover and simmer for 5 three-month advanced certificate as are sharp knives, and use of the minutes. Serve with ghau nee rotii. course at the Cordon Bleu School in right utensils: “I was horrified on^ to London in 1963 opened out a whole see my cook turn a fried egg with a -.mcwo new world for her. “I thought that I spoon! It broke, naturally. ” But ulti- LIVER AND KIDNEYS was a good cook; but I realized, after I mately, all it requires to be a good Fresh lamb liver (1 small) joined the course, how little I knew, cook or a great chef is to cook with Fresh kidneys (6) and that one can go on learning. ” love and patience, she concludes. Seasoned flour (as required) Manekshaw in fact gave several de- offering a few recipes for Parsiana Butter (75 g) monstrations of Indian cuisine at the readers... Oil(30g) Bacon (6 rashers) Onions (2 large - peeled and cut into- rings) Green and red capsicum (1 each-seeded and cut into strips) Fresh basil (1 tbsp - tom into 2-3 pieces) Tomato fettuccine (500 g) TOMATO FETTUCCINE WITH LAMB mately, all it requires to be a good Fresh lamb liver (1 small) cook or a great chef is to cook with Fresh kidneys (6) Cordon Bleu School of Cookery as also to the Royal Air Force Wives Association and Council Boroughs to collect money for their Freedom from Hunger campaign. Even an ordinary housewife can attend the fortnightly courses at the Cordon Bleu School of Cookery - it all depends on her level of interest. Cor ­ don Bleu teaches a technique of cook ­ ing which is foolproof and it empha ­ sizes the finer points of the art, ex ­ plains Manekshaw. After her return from London Manekshaw continued to conduct cooking classes, and when her husband Air Vice-Marshal J.H.F. Manekshaw was posted at Bangalore, Tomato fettuccine Flour (500 g - sifted) Salt (1 tsp) Tomato puree (4 tbsp - thick) Eggs (3) Oil (1 tsp) Water (if required) Sieve flour and salt together in a bowl or on a marble slab. Make a well in the center. Add beaten eggs, tomato puree and oil. Mix and knead, main ­ taining a fairly solid consistency. Knead for about 10 minutes with the heel of your hand. Then pick up the dough and slap it down hard on the table about 6 to 8 times. The dough should by this time have an elastic con ­ sistency. Sprinkle the work surface with flour and roll out half the dough. Wrap the dough round the rolling pin after each rolling and flour the surface of the table or board. At each rolling, stretch the paste a little more with the rolling pin until it is transparent enough for you to see the surface of _________ o________ o—c,_____________ w the table through it (this will take ab- Tully of the British Broadcasting Cor- together. Peel and finely slice the 4 on- out 10-12 rollings). It should be like a (BBC) ions P_ ' Uzanf rtf mutprial and ran h#* iin Encouraged to scale culinary heights Brown sliced onions on a slow fire. by her parents, husband and children. Add A r.cr t." —-------- . - - L-i Manekshaw has now passed on her onions are mushy and the water has with a floured cloth while the other skills to her two daughters. Her older evaporated. Add ground paste, carda- piece of dough is rolled out. Hang daughter has perfected the art of mak- mom, cinnamon and cloves, salt and both sheets of pasta for 30 minutes, on ing a soufflb omelette. “She now turmeric. Saute for about 2 minutes, the backs of chairs. Then roll up each makes it better than I do, ” admits adding about 2 spoonfuls of water, one lightly like a newspaper and cut Manekshaw. The younger daughter is When the water has been absorbed, across with a sharp knife into Mi-inch “a born cook ” and Manekshaw ’s five- add chicken and saute till it is brown, strips. Spread them out on a cloth or a year-old grandson already has a re- adding a little water if needed. When flat thal or basket. fined palate. “I always say T hope he the chicken is brc^wned, add a cup of Heat half the butter and oil. Fry becomes a chef. ’ I think he has the water, cover and glimmer till chicken is bacon and when cooked, remove and potential to be a great cook. ” three-quarters d^ne. Add pickling on- drain. Dust liver and kidneys in sea- And what are the qualities of a great ions and simmer for another 5 minutes soned flour, fry separately, drain and cook? Read a recipe thoroughly, use or so. In the meantime, peel and cube keep warm. (Do not overcook liver she worked as a catering consultant to KERI KANDA MA MURGHI West End Hotel, run by the Spencers Chicken (1-jointed, with skin) group at that time. She was also a con- Garlic (6 cloves) suitant to the Governor of Mysore, su- Ginger (2-inch piece) pervising and planning his banquets. Green chillies (4-6 - slit) On her husband ’s transfer to Delhi, Turmeric (1 tsp) Manekshaw put in five years as a Onions (4 medium - sliced) catering consultant at the India Inter- Cloves (4) national Centre and also taught at the Black cardamom (4) Delhi Polytechnic for Women. In 1978 Cinnamon (i/^-inch piece) she did a refresher course at the Cor- Salt (to taste) don Bleu School of Cookery. Ripe alphonso or pairee or malgoba Manekshaw has given lecture de- mangoes (2) monstrations to the wives of the mem- Small pickling onions (1 kg) bers of the Commonwealth Press Club Oil (50-75 g) during CHOGM in 1983, and was in- Cummin powder (1 tsp) terviewed on Indian cookery by Mark Grind garlic, ginger and green chillies Peel pickling onions. Heat oil. piece of material and can be picked up _______ . ________ ‘ . as if it were a piece of cloth. Lay it on Add A cup water and simmer till the the back of a chair which is covered 110 Parsiana August 1988and kidneys as this toughens them.) Add rest of butter and oil and lightly fry onion rings. When light brown, re ­ move and drain. Toss capsicum in pan and stir fry on high heat for a minute; remove and keep hot. Have a pan of boiling water ready while you are frying. Add a teaspoon of oil and cook fettuccine a few at a time till they rise to the top; drain. When all the pasta is cooked, place on a warm platter, re ­ heat liver, etc, spoon over pasta and serve. the bowl with a piece of cut lime and salt, rinse and wipe. The result of mix ­ ing the meringue in a copper bowl is quite marked. A chemical reaction takes place between the egg white and copper so that one gets a faster and greater bulk of ‘snow ’. There is less tendency to ‘grain ’ (i.e. when the beaten egg white separates into fine particles with a liquid residue). There should be no trace of egg yolk among the whites. Soak apricots overnight in water with the clove and cinnamon. Next morn ­ ing, simmer till all the water is absorbed and dry out the apricots a bit. Stone and puree them. Add a pinch of salt and a dash of lime juice. Keep in refrigerator until needed. Whisk egg whites, which should be at room temperature, with a pinch of salt. They are whisked gently at first, the pace being increased as their con ­ sistency changes from a viscous mass to froth and from froth to firm white ‘snow ’. Add 1 to 2 large tbsp pow ­ dered sugar and continue whisking for about Vz minute or until stiff peaks form again. Remove the whisk quick ­ ly. Fold in half the sugar with a metal spoon. Then repeat with the remaining . , , J flour and cold water. Heat oil, fry gar- bag and fill in the circles marked on lie till light brown. Toss in capsicum, the baking trays. Sprinkle with castor prawns and cashew nuts and stir fry sugar and leave for 4 to 5 minutes be- over high heat for 1 minute. Add the fore putting them in the oven preset to cornflour solution, salt and ajinomoto 200°F. This gives the meringues a crisp and bring to a boil. Pour in a bowl, frosted surface. sprinkle with spring onions and serve Note: This is the Cordon Bleu way of with boiled rice. making meringues; there are other methods as well. Dry out the meringues in the oven for about IV2 hours or until they can be easily detached from the trays.Tum over and dry out the reverse side until quite crisp. Whip cream till stiff and add 2 tbsp to the apricot puree. Add brandy, a pinch of salt and mix well. Put a spoonful on a serving platter and place a meringue circle on top of this, so that it does not shift about. Spread apricot puree on top of the meringue and cov ­ er with the second meringue. Spread -. , \ . -2-- 2 circles (8 inches in diameter) marked the gateau. Make rossettes of cream ]................ on the edge, top and sides of the PRAWNS, CASHEW NUTS AND CAPSICUMS (Far Eastern Cookery) Oil (6 tbsp) Garlic (4 cloves - crushed) Prawns (500 g) Cashew nuts (40) Capsicums (2) Sait (2 tsp) Sugar (2 tsp) Ajinomoto (Vz tsp) Cornflour (2 tbsp) Spring onions (2 - with greens, finely sliced, and kept in ice-cold water) Wash, shell, devein and dry prawns. Mix well with sugar and keep aside for 20 minutes. Dice capsicums into V a - inch pieces. Make a mixture of corn- sugar. Spoon into the prepared icing ' ". _ _ ............................¦ I lie till light brown. Toss in capsicum, the baking trays. Sprinkle with castor With compliments of Starlite Electrical Works Electrical Engineers & Contractors GATEAU INDIRA Egg whites (4) Granulated sugar (250 g- powdered) Dried apricots (350 g) Salt (as required) Cream (300 g) Brandy (1 tbsp) Walnuts (50 g - chopped) Clove (1) Cinnamon (1 small piece) Lime juice (as required) • Castor sugar (as required) Thick baldng trays [2 - weU greased and dusted completely with flour with cream evenly on the top and sides of 2 circles (8 inches in diameter) marked the gateau. Make rossettes of cream out] on the edge, top and sides of the Icing bag fitted with a fluted meringue gateau, gently pressing in the chopped nozzle walnuts on the sides. Make a fluted Note: The whisking bowl and the bal- edge around the bottom of the gateau loon whisk should be completely free with remaining cream and serve. of all grease. If an unlined (unplated) Note: Do not keep this gateau in the re ­ copper bowl is used, rub the inside of frigerator for more than 1 or 2 hours. FERN HOUSE 13, BEST MARG BOMBAY 400039 113 Parsiana August 1988BOOKS SURTI'S SHAH NAMAH Having translated Hrdaosi's epic into seven volumes of English prose. Dr Bjuiman Surti says the Shah Namah's true worth lies in its moral code Arnavaz S. Mama mir rnring man ’s best and worst emo- Christian priest and his assistants who tions and actions, Surti felt driven to arranged for its disposal according to tr ansla ting the epic because the pre- Zoroastrian rites. “Now I would like sent generation was “unable to to know from my readers whom they appreciate the magnificence of the consider to be real Zoroastrians - the ancient Mazdayasnian, Iranian reli- Roman Catholic priest or the regicides gion, culture and civilization...a Maahooya Soori, Beezhan and the kil- treasure-house of morals and ethics, ” ler Khusrav? ” asks Surti. he said in an interview with Parsiana. Fully attuned to Firdaosi ’s concept Firdaosi ’s ideas of nonviolence and of goodness as righteous action, Surti control of the emotions, views the ma- says the values of a religion are re- jor Zoroastrian controversies dispas- flected in the lives of its followers. In sionately. Referring to the dokhma- the including pages of Volume VII, burial-cremation debate that periodi- the translator writes about what he cally surfaces in the community, Surti considers the most poignant event in says, “After the soul leaves the body, the entire epic - “the most disgraceful it’s up to the relations to dispose of the and despicable manner in which the body. ” Nor will he “condemn men or so-called Zoroastrian nobles and sub- women to spinsterhood because they ordinates of the last emperor Yazd- do not find suitable (partners within) gurd Shahriyaar let down the brave their own community. ” As for the nav- emperor and sabotaged his valiant jote of children of mixed marriages, efforts to rally forces from all over Iran Surti believes that the decision should to drive out the Arab invaders. ” Stab- reside with the parents. “Roda Mis ­ bed to death by a pseudo-Zoroastrian try ’s (prominent politician from miller named Khusrav at the instiga- Andhra Pradesh) daughter married a tion of Maahooya Soori and Beezhan, (black American) and Dastur (Fram- govemors of Toos and Khoraasaan re- roze) Bode performed the navjotes of spectively, the beleaguered king ’s their children less than 10 years ago, ” body was unceremoniously flung into a he notes matter-of-factly. He cites the rivulet whence it was salvaged by a instance of a Catholic nun - Mother Surti, who says he is imbued with ''R ustom (pahelvan of the Shah Namah) was history ’s first caesa ­ rian baby, ” says consulting gynecologist Dr Bahman Surti of Secunderabad who has himself performed more than 1,900 obstetric operations. The quiet, diminutive septuagenarian has labored hardest, however, over the birth of his own brainchild - reportedly the first complete English prose translation of Firdaosi ’s Shah Namah. Not only did the 55,994 extant couplets of the 60,000 which Firdaosi composed over more than 30 years take 12 years to translate, but publishing the work was to lead Surti onto an emotional seesaw where he was sustained only by his in­ herent faith in God. The special func- • tion in Dadar on Jamshedi Navroze 1988, where the last two volumes of the seven-volume series were released by Bombay Sheriff Jehangir Nichol ­ son, thus marked the successful cul- L mination of an epic effort. Although Firdaosi ’s great work is replete with adventure and history ^'^2 I' ¦•Ss ? Nicholson (left) with Surti: releasing the last two volumes of the Shah Namah 115 Parsiana August 1988Gloria - who used to follow Zoroas- and written various articles underlin- know that 200 to 300 years after the ter ’s principles, and says he remem- ing the concepts of freedom, medita- Arab invasion, the Persian language bers with distaste how Noshirwan En- tion, yoga and divine grace in the Maz- was taboo in Iran. It was not allowed gineer, an orthodox Parsi, used to dayasnian faith. Surti was introduced to be spoken. ” Surti then illustrated break up meetings addressed by Das- to publishing activity when an article the conditions of the time with an tur Bode in the Eros building... on Rabindranath Tagore ’s visit to anecdote about a Persian poet named A vegetarian by conviction (eggs ex- Iran, written by the first consul general Marv Abbasi in the days of Khalif cepted), Surti believes the people of of Iran in Hyderabad, needed transla- Mamun, a son of the benevolent Iran were vegetarians prior to the tion. The Osmania University, Surti Harun-Al-Rashid. Known to be a be- reign of the evil king Zahhaak and that recalled, assigned the task to Persian nevolent khalif himself, Mamun is said “the devil appeared in the form of a scholar Sheriar Kawasi, but when it re- to have enquired, “Is there anyone cook, ” luring the good people, initial- mained incomplete, the job was reas- here who can recite Persian verse? ” ly, with the taste of eggs! “The body is signed. Surti ’s translation was and Abbasi responded with a beautiful like a temple; thoughts will be good if approved and published in a memorial Persian piece. As soon as the recital the body is healthy, ” says the ramrod- volume of the Maulana K. Azad was over, Mamun ordered Abbasi ’s backed practitioner of yoga who be- Oriental Institute in Hyderabad. execution. When some people re ­ lieves diet and exercise hold the key. “ Questioned about his opinion re- tween obstetric demands - his profes- you want to destroy the culture, the garding the declining community, Sur- sional help was freely available even to civilization of a people, the first thing ti says simply, “People must desire those unable to pay - Surti first wrote you must strike at is their language. ” children (as recommended in) the by hand, then painstakingly typed his Such were the conditions preceding Atash Nyaish. If you have the will (to own manuscript, eschewing secretarial Firdaosi ’s attempt to resurrect the lan- raise a family), the resources will help that would hike the cost of the guage and history of Persia although come, ” illustrating his faith by his own final product. Even so, by the time the Sultan Mahmood who commissioned recent experience in publishing the first volume was published, the project the work was of Persian stock. All the Shah Namah translation. The sherwani-suited doctor patient- Rs 50,000. ly answered Parsiana’s questions at computer professional Marazban this work resulted in a certain neglect Surti hopes that his English transla- Giara ’s Dadar residence that Navroze of his wife and children, acknowledg- tion of the epic will lead to a similar afternoon. Giara ’s invaluable assist- ing their tolerance and encouragement revival of the sterling spiritual qualities ance in the printing and sale of the tot- verbally and in print. Wife Khorshed, which had sustained the Zoroastrians al edition of 1,000 copies has been ack- a Licentiate of the Royal School of of those bygone days, nowledged by Surti in his preface: Sur- Music (LRSM), London, has imbued ti had originally sought a sponsor but their daughter Rati with a love for when no sponsor was forthcoming and music and the lattef is now practising all avenues to a publisher led instead music therapy-which lulls the patient, to discouraging dead ends, he met the requiring very mild anaesthesia - in like-minded Giara. The two were de ­ termined to produce a simple, inex ­ pensive book that the average reader father ’s footsteps - the third genera- could afford. When they joined forces tion doctor in the family, as Bahman ’s in 1982 they decided they “didn ’t want father Sohrab had been a surgeon. profit (but) attractive books to catch Surti, who retired as an additional the eye... There were two reasons for director of the medical and health ser- breaking up the work into seven vices of the government of Andhra volumes. One was the ease of hand- Pradesh, had also served as the prin- ling; the second was the cost. A hard- cipal of the Gandhi Medical College bound book wouldn ’t be affordable, ” and superintendent of the Govern- says Surti. The seven volumes are ment Maternity Hospital in Hyder- available at Rs 540, including postage abad, besides being directly involved ^within India. in teaching as professor and head of Surti had been taught Persian since the department of gynecology and ob- he was eight years old by a senior pupil stetrics of the Osmania Medical Col- of the Madressa Nizamia in Hyder- lege for 19 years, abad. He started reading the Shah Namah in the original at the age of 15. Steeped in Persian literature, Surti sion of the release of Volume III by says he has translated the Odes of Sufi Nani Palkhivala in 1986, Surti stated poet Haafiz into English in matching that it was Firdaosi ’s desire that “the rhyme and meter, has authored a Iranians should not forget their Per- booklet Thus spake Zarathushtra for sian language and that they should al- the Sri Ramakrishna Math of Madras ways speak (it). Many people do not Translating a couplet at a time be- monstrated, Mamun explained, “If had entailed an expense of more than Sufi poets - Haafiz, Omar Khayyam, ~ * ’ J. Rumi - were to draw their inspiration Surti ’s only regret has been that all from Firdaosi, informs the scholar, professional Marazban this work resulted in a certain neglect Switzerland; son Navzar is a fully qual ­ ified gynecologist following in his At a function organized by the Oriental Heritage Trust on the occa- 117 Parsiana August 1988 Old Crockery Cutlery & Glassware wanted Single pieces or sets plates, bowls, jugs, vases, bottles, glasses, etc Please reply to GPO Box No 402 Bombay 400001I BOOKS 66 The actions of the just Indira Gandhi. And her husband. Grey Eyes, who was her father ’s adversary at one time (shades of the Mundhra-Menon scandal), is Feroze Gandhi, who dies young, leaving Kha- num all powerful, and in charge of his kingdom, and, as it happens, her father ’s too. On yet another plane, Gorwala ’s work can be read as pure fiction, with ­ out seeing any parallels to the course of modern Indian history, which Gor- wala, in his own little way, had never ­ theless helped to shape. Viewed in such a light. The Marriage is a rejuven- The Making of a Marriage (Roumela - Alfresun) tor is the alter ego of Gorwala: just, ated Ivanhoe, replete with tales of chi- by Astad D. Gorwala. Published in November deeply fanatical about his duties, a valric honor and rivalry, complicated 1987 by H.M. Patel, Charutar Vidya Ma nd al, Vallabhvidyanagar, Gujarat 388120. Pp 271. Price Rs 80. 99 Homi J. Rogers Astad Gorwala’s book The Making of a Marriage portrays the travails of a civil servant gourmet (as all Parsis are) and a sage- plots and scenes of high action and poet who seeks the company of the adventure. It may be purely coin ­ wise and the literati of the land. cidental but the name of Gorwala ’s The Marriage is a series of adven- heroine, Roumela, is faintly similar Memoirs of civil servants normally make interesting reads. In the Indian tures in the life of the assistant collec- phonetically to Scott ’s Rowena, the context, one recalls the profound tor: the central strand being the story fiancde of Athelstane. (Now, does not knowledge and meticulous presenta- of how he brings about the union of that, too, sound like Alfresun?) tion by Deshmukh, the lyrical charm Roumela and Alfresun. Woven into - . of Menon, the gourmandizing of this narrative, with the skill of a master Marriage spring from a feudal code of Noronha, the delicate situations en- storyteller, are innumerable subplots, honor: the assistant collector abides by countered by Dharma Vira, and the which, in the manner of many a it; Zubeida Khanum adheres to it poignant portrayal of the ’40s ’ famine medieval story, add to rather than de- while dealing with friends or foes by Mangat Rai. Thus, when A.D. tract from the main plot. Shuttling alike; even the minions ’ deeds are Gorwala, one of the oldest hands at back and forth in time. The Marriage ruled by it. It is the towering virtue in the game, having joined the ICS (Indi- abounds with tales of social mores, Gorwala ’s narration. One senses Gor ­ an Civil Service) in 1921, writes a book gently satirizing, as Jonathan Swift had wala ’s lode-star in matters of adminis- which the blurb claims “is a story with done over two centuries ago, the poli- many sidelights on administration, and tics, intrigues, bigotry and human self- the management of men and affairs, ” ishness. Midway through the book, one reviews it with an autobiographic- one realizes that Gorwala desisted al interest, even though the author from making his work an autobiogra- cloaks it as fiction with the rather phy, for what he wanted to tell was not romantic title. The Making of a Mar- only how he handled the situation, but riage. The narrative deliberately mis- how, in view of the recurring nature of guides the unsuspecting reader by set- such events, they should be dealt with, ting it in a semi-feudal society, com- - - plete with knights in shining armor and dia up to the late sixties - the time damsels in distress. when the novel was serialized by Gor- The protagonist, on whom the book wala in his magazine. Opinion. opens and who dominates the pro- Though the parallels, in the absence of ceedings with a rare blend of power a diary of events being appended to and subtlety that Gorwala may have the book, cannot be viewed as sharply that he believes bureaucrats should lent to his post, is a nameless assistant as in Orwell ’s Animal Farm, the phan- govern with, rather than resort to sub ­ collector. He sets things right, be toms of the past cannot be missed in terfuge and deceit. Gorwala, who is they as petty as restoring conjugal bliss Gorwala ’s narration which, unlike named after the Zoroastrian angel of or meting out punishment to a pimp, Orwell, does not sledgehammer the righteousness, Astad, stresses this to allaying matters like ensuring that satire, but coats it, like Swift did in quality through the deeds of the assis- Ihe state is not deprived of any re- Gulliver’s Travels, in a totally different tant collector, who sings, summarizing venue due to lapses in land assess- garb. Yet, one cannot miss getting a ment, or a war is not brought about nagging feeling that Zubeida Khanum due to the romantic liaison between whom the assistant collector culti- Roumela and Alfresun who belong to vates, as she alone can bring about the two warring clans. The assistant collec- end as desired, is a disguised version of lies in blank verse and rhyme, laying The Marriage is thus a satire on In- 119 Parsiana August 1988 As with Scott, all actions in The Resets things right, from meting out piunishment to a pimp, to allaying matters of importance to the state tration lies in a strict code of honor his beliefs: “Only the actions of the just Srhell sweet and blossom in the dust. ” The Marriage is strewn with homi-J down the code of a moral life, and stressing the greatness of the soul over mundane mortal matters. “See ye the soul? No. Yet there greatness lies. Learn ye then, kings, to recognize the soul. Its sign is magnanimity, its sym ­ bol serenity... ” And where the law cannot bring about a decision, the lorh (a mace-like weapon) lays down the lorh, wielded skillfully by our protagonist, lays down the vanquished. Gorwala charms equally at playing Aunt Agony. Take for example his advice to two souls in love with each other, facing economic retribution and the stigma of a broken vow, if they should marry. “Now God guide me put upon me. Fifteen years hence Nana Chowk, Bombay’ 400007.* _______ 1_______... . ’ in 100'7 TL.. A thought-full book Nariman Dotiwala has culled more than 1,000 quotes and compiled them into a book Poets and philosophers down the you would have contributed nuggets of wisdom There that have enlightened and inspired generations of the more worldly ----- in- as one s heart, as it reads like an innocent ', brook gurgling past, have never ceased to fascinate man. For a long time, it _ was considered [ essay with a verse or a quote from remained perennial sellers, being used continuously for reference by students and writers • £ J* 1 ivi v/rew inougnis and Wisdom of Aees A tn 7 ruly It IS a fearful responsibility you Culled by Nariman H. Dotiwala, Ness Baug C put upon me. Fifteen years hence P*®*^*^* Nana Chowk, Bombay 400007. Pub- when your beauty is no longer fresh- ^04. ...will you not think with deep regret of the ease and comfort „„„• • have had in your intended ’s house in­ stead of the endless work in your lov- 2eneratinn< nt vumcin, me quotes of the great er ’s? Men change too, you k„w a ”,;;; tTT"„obte<>f j-pe s so do women ’s hearts. ” His veMiet, “ le a ma«Ll aS b^sS on Z «>. arrived at after much dehberation, study of men aS XS.; ™ X? for Dotiwala may not win approbation from all sunX wish that toZSe chord, J I’T^ ¦*?( has culled these se- readers, but the presentation here, as one ’s heart as it reads like an innorent “voluminous with many other incidents in the book, brook gurgling past have neve^rpf?d Thereaderwouldhenceex- is plainly delightful. to fascS mfn PectquotesfromDante, Voltaire,Mil ­ ton, Russell, and the Russian masters The assistant “ collector is the alter are “SneTS^^^^^^ ! ego of Gorwala: just, and writers ’^ re erence by students vad Gita as interpreted by A..C. Bhak- , deeply fanatical about fo™de7Vh:™'of ' his duties, a :fon\.^ “:iXVN^ri;i??^ ' gourmet and a sage- ' venture. Yet, one cannot help com ­ menting on the limited fountainheads of wisdom that Dotiwala has scalped for his work. The book is primarily a ^llection of the wisdom of the East. -----e is very little of Western thought -J and content, the quotes of the great o iKusscii, ana tne Russian master*! proper to begin an like Dostoevski and Tolstoy, who are e or a ouote from an k..» ___ _ __ andent and books ’of quoudoni $¦umi;«seme’d remained nerenmal oil,,... ________ J .... << • Lx £ liiV lllVSl Jr?,, X school days it was the Gita. books, good thoughts and words ’of poet my hobby to collect in well-bound WU .V . ---- Wi VUllCVUUn uoes not The Marriage, despite its rather wompn nf great men and of the Zoroastrian over ;•<« —^hX^tJn (?u= magazine-size book of 204 pnges, with .4 • --------- — vri ^arusn permanent value to the young and which -------------------- oajAv, J the period wherein it k panegyric to a hard-working7honest . civil servant. It is l righteousness, of fair play, of chivalry. com- 120 Parsiana August 1988 - is set, is a assembled by Dotiwala _ *------- 1 ] _____ a celebration of the explicit Churlish as it may sound, Dotiwala ’s collection does not explore the wisdom -- J scriptures either at fuliest. The Ahunavar prayer in the book (quotes 14 and B-FT.-' o' ----- 1 are ennobling in thought and contain the quintessence of the faith, are not included. Dotiwala ’s transla ­ tion of Vohu Mano, an all- encompassing term for the good mind IS rather limited as “wisdom. ” Similar- Of selflessness, of self-knowledge Tnd th7groX-uprto%d^ discovery. And if the life of an acck become miS?™he Skei TthTS^f Dotiwala's lofty (and all it stands for), and live S on?” Z tooS^-- judging marital com- i patibihty and the quality of stallions. 1 Or, do today ’s civil horse-trading? tne book free amongst individuals and ly the translation nr7f™d k v r institutions (though, Dotiwala recrets KaWPc Ta * ? Preferred by him for that due to the high coslXn^S^ 'Me jus- . — or matter. Dotiwala has culled great thoughts,1 , but the wisdom of ages is amiss, the land where files accumulate and Equally missing is the A to Z part of men decay. ” The original quote is, the book ’s title. The work is neither “Hl fares the land, to hastening ills a prey assembled in chronological nor in alphabetical order; nor have the decay. ” quotes been arranged under subject- Dotiwala has lapsed in quoting what wise headings. Hence, what Dotiwala must have been a later-day parody on means by A to Z, remains a mystery. Goldsmith ’s famous and longer cou- Yet^ it is this manner of carelessly plet. strewing gems over 200-odd pages that - -- is the book ’s strong point. What would of the likes quoted below, doing in a have otherwise become a dictionary of work like this? “Nehru has been the wisdom to be referred to only when greatest disaster to India, and in any well-organized country, he would have been thrown out early...His successors are mediocre and merely carry on... ” or “Whose has been the principal re ­ sponsibility in this matter (of en ­ couraging corruption)? Why, clearly the Prime Minister ’s, Indira Gandhi ’s ...far from discouraging corruption, she has encouraged it by her own ex ­ ample. ” The latter is attributed to P. C. Sethi, a Congressman till last year in Rajiv Gandhi ’s cabinet. And he said “You have killed the elephant and you have revived it. But has it enabled you to realize God?” I Where wealth accumulates and men Besides, what are political opinions, one requires to learn how a particu ­ lar theme has been reviewed by seers the above lines on October 9, 1972. and sages, is now a book that can be Not a very wise selection, when Cha- pored over at any time, lending succor nakya or Machiavelli could have been and soothing one ’s mind. Great quoted if an emphasis on politics was Thoughts, hence, is mercifully not en- necessary. cyclopedic: its amateurishness, even by way of quotes repeating them- Thoughts is definitely worth preserv- selves, is its strength. The repetition of ing. Ponder over the political com- certain quotes, as Dotiwala gracefully mentary that rears its head occasional- explains, helps “in laying emphasis on ly. Try and work out the diversity in certain valuable thoughts. ” Only, it is the wisdom of the West vis-a-vis the a bit disturbing to find the same quote East by contrasting “There is every- repeated on facing pages. Surely, thing in a name. The world will dis- Dotiwala could have been just that solve into nothingness if we take away marginally more careful in proofing, the name and form ” with Unfortunately, mistakes abound in Shakespeare ’s contention that “A rose spellings, and, even more tragically, in would smell as sweet by any other the names of the authors being name; ” or King Vikramaditya ’s quoted. Hence Gibran is often refer- ghoul ’s statement that a man ’s good red to as ‘Khalil ’ instead of ‘Kahlil. ’ and evil deeds accompany him, with What however shocks and dismays “The good (that men do) is oft inter- is the fact that Dotiwala seems to have red with their bones... ” This reviewer paid little regard to the subject matter had hours of fun in undertaking this of his quote, and the person to whom workbook exercise. Reflect over the the quote is attributed. Could the thoughts and try to put them into prac- Satya Sai Baba, who is remembered, tice. Debate over ideas expressed, and even revered, for whisking out And memorize Abraham Lincoln ’s watches from his sleeves and offering deeply touching prose-poem. Teach vibhooti (ashes) to his devotees Him Kingly World, where the senti- allegedly by a sleight of hand, actually ments expressed by Lincoln on the eve have said: “Then the Lord said to the of his son going to school, will be vain sadhu with occult powers: ‘You shared by all parents, have killed the elephant and you have ~ ~ revived it. But what has that done for to be dipped into at will over the years, you? Do you feel uplifted by it? Has it The wistfulness lies in the fact that enabled you to realize God? ”’ Or, Great Thoughts is more a cornucopia take the example of Goldsmith, to of other men ’s flowers, rather than a whom Dotiwala attributes “Ill fares bouquet. Homi J. Rogers Yet, for all its pitfalls. Great name Great Thoughts is a collector ’s item 121 Parsiana August 1989 BOYS’TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a Public School by the Department of Education for Indian Merit Scholars. Excel­ lent Climate — All-ronud Education: AU Academic Sobjecfs—Tedi- nical Subjects: Workshop. Tech ­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance, Carpentry & Fann ­ ing. Training in SdC-Govanmcnt through Elected Boys ’ Office bearers. Games—^Physical Train ­ ing — Daily Assembly with Coagr^timial Prayers — Week ­ ly intensive Zoroastrian ^Geeta- Koran classes — Excellent Modem Kitchen and Dining Room facilities — Airy Dormi­ tories. Moderate Fees. Freeships and Concessions to Deserving Students. Apply to — THE MANAGING TRUSTEE I P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building, 324 Dr. D. N. Road, Bombay 400 001.MILESTONES The data on births, marriages Irani-, July 21 and deaths has been compiled A girl to Rashna and from information provided by Chalakkal Harikumar-, various newsletters and anju- July 24 mans in India and abroad, A boy to Parveen and Percy courts and hospitals. It must be Wadia-, July 26 pointed out that this informa- A girl to Ketayun and Sarosh tion is not always complete or Sanjana; July 27 consistent. A boy to Gaimai and Rajesh Of the 94 Parsis who died in Sachdev; July 28 Bombay, heart disease claimed 35, while seven fell prey to can­ cer. The other killers were di­ abetes, pneumonia (six each); brain disease, bronchitis and old age (four each). Accidents, blood Veera Ratan Cooper of Poona disease and hypertension and Yezdi Sorabji Engineer, claimed three victims each, July 4 while two died of dehydration. Isolated cases of asthma, her­ nia, kidney failure, liver dis- Firdosh Tehmurasp Colah ease, nervous disorders, sep- (24), residing at 679, ticemia and tuberculosis were Kudiyaniwala Bldg, Katrak recorded. Two infants, both Rd, Wadala, 400031; June 30 ¦ stillborn, were lost to the com- Bachi Noshir Daruwala (56), munity. Sainara, Cuffe Parade, In the breakup of deaths 400005; June 30 according to illnesses, it must Nergish D. Anklesaria (80), be noted that in some cases, ’’ especially in those of the very combination of several dis- Rusi Hiraji Baria (71), C, eases. Banoo Mans, Cumballa Hill, If readers have any informa- 400026; July 1 tion they would like published, Dosibai K. Cambhatta (84), some proof to ensure the verac- " ity of the report would be re­ quired. We are sure our readers Bomi Behram Gordan (51), would appreciate this require- 5/1, Sleater Rd, 400007; ment and cooperate with us. July 1 Tehmina Gustasp Nadirshah ~ ~ (76), Gool Mans, Dinbai BOMBAY Petit St, Grant Rd, 400007; Bom July 1 A girl to Roshni and Harvesp Bomanshaw Nadirshaw Sopariwala on July 6, 1988 ~ A boy to Persis and Ferrok Billimoria-, July 9 A girl to Rita and Homiar Billimoria-, July 15 A boy to Veera and Anand Mahajan-, July 17 A girl to Maharukh and Homi Ustad-, July 19 A girt to Persis and Darayus Bharucha-, July 20 A girl to Dolly and Rohinton Bharucha; July 20 A boy to Armine and Hoshedar Muharaka-, July 20 A girl to Persis and Vistasp A boy to Gulcher and Hormazd Chesan; July 31 A boy to Yasmine and lung disease and Mehran Irani-, July 31 Married and Died Shroff Bldg, Dadi Santoke Lane, Dhobi Talao, 400002; old, death is often due to a July 1 19, Petit Sanatorium, B. Desai Rd, 400026; July 1 Pardiwala (75), 18, Orion, Omer Park, B. Desai Rd, 400026; July 1 Minocher Eruchsha Dotivala (72), Ratan Manor, 511-A, R.P. Masani Rd, Matunga, 400019; July 2 Shirin Merwanji Patel (80), A, Kanta Bldg, Maulana Shaukatali Rd, 400007; July 2 Soli Themulji Rabadi (70), Lam Bldg, Lower Parel, 400013; July 3 Tehmina Ardeshir Amaria (90), lUb, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; July 4 Fredoon Peshotan Tavaria (81), A/4, Rustom Bang, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; July 4 Freni Nusserwanji Daruwalla (59), Shiv-Chhaya Co-op Soc, Andheri (E), 400069; July 5 Bachoo Jimmy Irani (62), 512, Meher Muncher Mans, Matunga, 400019; July 5 Mehran Darabshaw Kapadia (85), Happy Home, Forjett Cross Lane, 400036; July 5 Jerbanoo P. Patel (82), B-47, Gool Mhl, Sleater Rd, 400007; July 5 Khorshed Meherwanji Tur el (78), B/52, Central Apt, Vile Parle, 400057; July 5 Firoz Navroji Dastoor (50), Fairy Manor, Rustom Sidhwa Marg, Fort, 400001; July 6 Eruchsha Ardeshir Goza (86), 191, Bhabha Hse, Fort, 400001; Jyly 6 Eruch Navroji Jamula (75), 815, Engineer Bldg, Jam-e-Jamshed Rd, Dadar^ 400014; July 6 Dinabai Piroshaw Sutaria (72), 4, Elavia Bldg, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; July 6 Minocher Ardeshir Tavaria (72), Dotiwalla Est, Byculla, 400027; July 6 Meher Hosang Jal {11}, Banoo Manor, Babulnath, Chowpatty, 400007; July 7 Khorshed Dorab Kanga (74), 123, Aderbad, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; July 7 Sherbanu Merwan Khaksar (65), 135, B. Sindhi Soc, Chembur, 400071; July 7 Banoo Gustad Dubash {15}, Wadia Bldg, Marzban Clny, Motlibai St, Nayar Rd, 400008; July 8 Tehmina Byramji Nariman (73), Arsiwala Bldg, Grant Rd, 400007; July 8 Ardeshir M. Sukhia {73}, Ashish Apt, Sorabji Santoke Lane, 400002; July 8 Dhun Adi Irani (54), 302, Swati Apt, Juhu Lane, Andheri (W), 400058; July 9 Aloo Dinshaw Panthaky (64), 10/21, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; July 9 Rati Rusi Buhariwalla (68), 44-A, Batliwalla Villa, Sleater Rd, 400007; July 10 Dinbai Erachshaw Choksey (75), C-52, Meherzin, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; July 10 Homiyar Jal Patel (21), 16/ 2, Wadia Block, Malcolm Bang, Jogeshwari, 400102; July 10 Vicaji Jehangirji Unwalla (86), Roda Bldg, South Frere Bridge, Grant Rd, 400007; July 10 Shirin Rustom Irani (76), Ramesh Bldg, Pawwalla St, Grant Rd, 400007; July 11 Shemaz Phiroze Siganporia (20), 286-C, Irani Chawl, Supari Baug, Parel, 400012; July 11 Jehanbux Cawasji Barsiwalla (82), 489, Jagganath Shankarseth Rd, 400002; July 12 Ratanshaw B. Bhesania (82), 679, Kudiyaniwala Bldg, Katrak Rd, Wadala, 400031; July 12 Dhunjisha Jehanbux Sethna (63), Chandra Mhl, 241, Shamaldas Gandhi Marg, 400002; July 12 Herabai Jehangir Meherji (93), Shirin Mans, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; July 13 Phiroze Palonji Mullan (76), 98 Sunita, Cuffe Parade, 400005; July 13 Kersi Nariman Sahukar (54), 112-B, Twin Towers, Prabhadevi, 400025; July 13 Shirin Motabhoy Shapoorjee (78), A-3, Botawalla Bldg, 239, Tardeo Rd, 400007; July 13 Nasarwanji R. Bam (89), C/o M.A. Ghadially, F-51, Cusrow Baug, Colaba, 400039; July 14 Soona Behramshaw Mehta (74), 3, Manek BW)g, 112, Lamington Rd, 400008; July 14 Minocher Sohrabji Patel (84), T-16, Cusrow Baug, Colaba, 400039; July 14 Ratamai Framroze Writer (88), Rita Villa, Amboli Rd, Andheri; 400090; July 14 122 Parsiana August 1988Katie Byramji Daroowala (82), 66-D, Soonaiji Ter, Gowalia Tank, 400036; July 15 Boman Naserwanji Shroff (85), 6, Ahmed Bldg, Gunpowder Rd, Mazagaon, 400010; July 15 Naznin Minoo Engineer (9), 785, Ready Money Bldg, Dadar, 400014; July 16 Phiroze Erachsha Mallu (70), Durlabh Bhavan, Jalbhoy St, Chami Rd June, 400004; July 16 Khorshed Pesi Motashaw (70), Achrekar Est, Dist Thane; July 16 Uomi Pestonji Vajifdar (77), 2, Banet Bldg, Bharucha Parsi Clny, Andheri (W), 400058; July 16 Dhunmai Darabsha Singanporia (81), 7, Jeejeebhoy Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; July 17 Fredoon Savaksha Todywalla (65), 12-3, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; July 17 Minoo Shapurji Bhaijina (63), F.S. Parukh >¦ THE PARSIANA BOOK OF IRANIAN NAMES The Iranian names of boys and girls along with their meanings which originally appeared in Parsiana have now been reprinted in an attractive 24-page booklet. The book, which is priced at Rs 15 is available on sale at; Kaiser-E-Hind, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Behind Reserve Bank of India. Fort, Bombay 400 .001. Faredoon and Burjor Sandalwood Shop, Princess Street. Union Press, 13, Homji Street, Bombay 400001. Dharamshalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; July 18 Mehera Framji Kapadia (81), 7/A, Sagar Sangeet, 58, S B. Singh Rd, 400005; July 18 Dina Savaksha Mistry {12), Dharwar Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Chikalwadi, Tardeo, 400007; July 18 Avan Jamshed Talati (81), King of Suburb, 7th Rd, Khar, 400052; July 18 Kersas N. Kharas {1^), 2, Jalsagarika, 2Ti, Off Carter Rd, Bandra, 400050; July 19 B/o Silloo Jehangir Dadachanji (stillborn), 682/ B, Kapadia Bldg, Khareghat Rd, Dad^r, 400014; July 20 Rustom A. Vakshoor {75), 404/A, Bahubali Tower, S.V. Rd, Borivali (W), 400092; July 20 B/o Navaz Keki Meherji (stillborn), B. Rawalpindiwala Bldg, Tribhuvan Rd, 400004; July 21 Keki Bomanji Irani (68), Mubarak Manzil, Gholvad, Dist Thane, July 22 Rustom Mi Irani {(ff), 1, Gamadia Clny, Tar<^, 400007; July 22 Naval Rustomji Mistry (65), Batliwala Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Chikalwadi, Tardeo, 400007; July 22 Dhun M. Printer (46), 13/2, Rupal Apts, 98, D. Phalke Rd, Dadar, 400014; July 22 Noshir Marzban Shroff (58), 59-B, Wadia Bldg, J.S.S. Rd, 400002; July 22 Boman Behramji Desai (82), 205, Kenwood, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri, 400058; July 23 Pesi Kaikhushru Kerawalla (72), D-20, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, BycuIIa, 400027; July 23 Keki Dhanjishaw Mistry {77), Hira College, 68, R.R. Roy Rd, 400004; July 23 Ratan Keki Panthaki (80), U-4/3, Cusrow Baug, Colaba, 400039; July 23 Pesi Naoroji Patel (58), 4-B/ 17, Sir Ratan Tata Bldg, C.J. Clny, Tardeo, 400034; July 23 Peshotan Ardeshir Sanjana (82), 5, Dev Doot, B.J. Rd, Bandra, 400050; July 23 Ratanbai Framroze Mukadam (88), 1/3, Lady Dorab Tata Bldg, S.V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; July 24 Hirabai Jalejar Contractor (83), Sethna Bldg, Khan Est, Stn Rd, Mahim; 400016; July 25 Kaikashroo Manekshaw (76), New Mistry Bldg, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; July 25 Jamshedji F. Hansotia (76), E-11, Cusrow Baug, Colaba, 400039; July 26 Khodayar Kayomarz Irani (55), 5, Hirabai Petit Bldg, Opp Grant Rd Stn, 400007; July 26 Jal Rustomji Vimadalal (73), 5, Moti Mhl, Churchgate Reel, 400020; July 26 Khodadad Rashed Irani (74), E, Vasiamall Bldg, Grant Rd, 400007; July 27 Freny Dinshah Lellinvala (75), 598, A.H. Wadia Bldg, J.S.S. Rd, 400002; July 27 Hilla Nusserwanji Rana (78), P/31, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; July 27 Nariman Bamanshah Cama (83), 81, Cassa Grande, Little Gibbs Rd, 400006; July 28 Nariman Sorabji Golwalla (76), C-24, Rustom Baug, Byculla, 400027; July 28 ManeekJ. Manekshaw (89), 6, Kerawala Bldg, Tata Blocks, Off S.V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; July 28 Sherbanoo Jehanbux Mehta (90), 5, Piroja Mans, Opp Grant Rd Stn, 400007; July 28 Eruchshaw Naoroji Patel (60), 12/3, Baria Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; July 28 Perin Maneckji Dalal (80), Nepean Hse, B.G. Kher Marg, Malabar Hill, 400006; July 29 Aloo Kaikhushroo Engineer (73), C.M. Banaji Bldg, Gowalia Tank, 400036; July 29 Khorshed Rustomji Mehta (52), 5, Radha Bldg, 44, Paowala St, 400004; July 29 Soonamai Darabsha Dalal (77), Motibai Bhavan, Proctor St, Grant Rd, 400007; July 30 Nariman Edulji Buchia (62), 89 / 90, Bhivandiwalla Ter, J.S.S. Rd, 400002; July 31 CALCUTTA Born A girl, Roxanna, to Perveen and Xerxes Vesuvala; July 20 COONOOR Died Roshan Nazir (68), wife of Col (Retd) Soli; July 3 HOUSTON Died Cavas Dubash; March 10 KARACHI Died Piroja Tehmurasp Mehta (76); May 1 Shirinbai Sohrabji Cooper (83); May 6 Dhunmai P. Panthaky {82); May 20 POONA Died Freny J. Irani (76), 10, Ma Parviz Hall, Ma Parviz Rd, 411001; June 6 Boman Jehangir Dalal (83), 62, Koregaon Park, 411001; June 28 Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka 124 Parsiana August 1988