Oct 1989

} ' 5 Si' ¦•^1 .zi'-S- W ^¦- S' r-iif-! V ¦1^ •5 .1 I J • <•; 1 "¦' “a: • ¦J, 4 o • * K'- W'? .¦'* , 3 :iS; T » '<. w •S’.-: V i¥. 'K S! ft . «' Sjt’lsfc** ''M > !¦ iljiiSi!' [s?^ O; 'if' ss S;S^J s iT«« ;A '1' i*!-I I I October 1989 Volume 12 November 4 EDITOR Jehangir Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz Gandhi ASSISTANT EDITOR Roxana Kaka DESIGN Kranti Shilotri, Varghese Fernandez, Deborah Fernandes MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Cheryl D’Penha CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala FINANCE B.L. Arora EDP Rohinton baroga CIRCULATION Behram Umrigar MANAGEMENT Minoo Patel, Jasmine Driver OFFICE Rajenara P. Nayak, Khurshid Panthaki, Patricia Lewis, Rajalakshmi Krishnan, Bakhtavar Batliwala, Nowzer Batliwala 3 Readers ’ Forum 7 Events and Personalities 13 Zoroastrians Abroad 16 Shirdi ke Homi Baba by Gustasp Irani i 20 How does it feel to be a minority? by Aspi Moddie * 22 Madame Cama: In Parliament, at last by Arnavaz Mama 25 Nariman makes a Point by Dara Kadva •^1 29 An encounter between Friends by Parinaz Gandhi I 33 Jimmy Ollia: for Love of Books 39 Books 43 Milestones Cover: Horn! Baba of Shirdi Transparency by Varghese Fernandez 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 Pvt Ltd, C/0 Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Color processing. Comart Lithographers: and black and white processing, Shilpart. All rights reserved. Phone:2048730 Fax 2042922 For editorial enquiries: 2048183 Telex 115710 RABO IN Annualjnland subscription Rs. 60 for one year (12 issues): Rs 100 for two years (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs 130 for one year, Rs 245 for two years: Air mail Rs 275 for one year, Rs 525 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 are 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 JREADERS’ FORUM t I > i*Wi Rogers “wistfully ” recalls my Farvar- eral and of the mobeds in particular. ane, first published in 1958. It is still popular; the fifth edition came out in 1987, The Zoroastrian Religious Trust for » popular; me iirtn eaition came out in iv»/, Udwada Mobeds is a communal trust and processed entirely by members of the Delhi hence unable to get exemption under sec- Parsi youth and published free of charge tion 80-G which is a serious impediment in by The Bombay Samachar Press. collecting funds. For the sake of our As for the meaning of the word “frav- community ’s psyche, our target of one '¦ * J— iililp* jemmmh e ' arane, ” with due respect to Dr Jafarey, the crore rupees is indeed a negligitje amount. Ejj word does not mean, I choose. Fravarane I expect my community to donate gener- kI means I declare, I proclaim, I affirm, I ously towards a cause which will enable us confess. The word for choice is “varyo ” to face the coming century and it ’s compli- K as in our Ahuna Vairy a prayer. It is sad that cations with confidence. H very few Parsis study and know the ancient Mobed paurusasp p, magol H languages in which our prayers are writ- karachi, Pakistan ten. Anyone can, therefore, fool us. Would Parsi landing in Saujau it not be wiser if, in future, Mr Rogers first As per Mr Homi P. Ranina ’s letter (“Sanjan consults a learned priest before he rushes Dar-e-Meher, ” Parsiana, July 1989) we into print? Ms piloo n. jungalwalla landed in Sanjan 1,354 years ago. This is not correct. We landed in Sanjan 1,273 Homi Rogers replies years ago. To be exact our illustrious Ms Piloo Jungalwalla ’s surprise at my Pilgrim Fathers touched the soil of Sanjan ‘carping criticism ’ is, as can be seen from on August 25, 716. rustom p. mirza her letter, unsubstantiated. Nowhere does she point out the fallacies in my review, or reply to the errors as indicated by me in her Mr R. H. Kuka asks how Parkis acquired work. I hence fail to understand where I English surnames ('^’arsi surnames, ” Par- have ‘carped. ’ siana, July 1989). An interesting book in Regarding ‘fravarane, ’ I grant, and so Gujarati by S. M. Desai entitled Parsi too. I’m sure, will Dr Jafarey, that the word Vishayas (subjects) deals in part with Parsi literally means “declare ” or “profess. ” surnames. Desai says most Parsis acquired Zoroastrianism is not a dogmatic faith, English surnames because they were work- and hence the declaration indicates the ing with either a European firm or an individual. As example, and I quote, “Seth Pestonji New Delhi “Parsi surnames ” Readers ’ views are welcome on any subject of Interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892. Bombay 400 001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. Unsigned letters or those without a decision that has been made. Ms Jungal- complete address will not be published. herself writes in the book under ¦............ . ——— review: “Lord Zarathushtra said: ‘Let the Beramji was serving in the firm of Messrs people choose to serve Ahura Mazda and Baxter Ferar (another version that he was put on the sudreh and kusti for the first complete address will not be published. Afttr^aniun for NA center put on the sudreh and kusti for the first a partner) and he got the surname Baxter. ” A North American Zoroastrian center time at the Navjote. ’” According to the book, Parsi surnames requires a large afarganiun and the other As for the books having sold very well, were more to identify a particular person accessories that go with it. If any agiary or let us not make commercial success the than a family appendage. Thus they were institution has one to spare, please contact yardstick for judgement. A recent book easily acquired for all sorts of reasons and me at 3311, Nadine Crescent, Mississauga, published by Penguin India has sold its as easily changed. Hence there was a Ontario L5A 3L4, Canada. first run, and is going for a reprint, yet its plethora of surname^ Sir Jamsetji author candidly confesses that she writes Jejeebhoy ’s ancestors were surname^ ‘readable trash. ’ While Jungalwalla ’s work Vatchha but because Jamsetji started life is definitely not ‘trash, ’ its phenomenal selling bottles, he was known as Batliwala. As Jamshedji became famous, the Bat ­ liwala appendage was dropped and Jejeebhoy was used. As for the books having sold very well. KOBADZAROLIA Ontario, Canada “Navjote by choice...” I am surprised at the carping criticism sales are primarily because of the paucity levelled by Homi Rogers (“Navjote by of similar literature. choice, not chance, ” Parsiana, May 1989) against the illustrated children ’s books “Udwada TrUSt” The author gives instances of families published by the Delhi Parsi Anjuman. Apropos “Udwada Trust ” (Events and where three sons (brothers) bore three Not having taught navjote-age children. Personalities, Parsiana, July 1989) it is Mr Rogers has little idea of the function wrongly asserted that we should have just and purpose of readers and activity books, one trust for all the mobeds. It is like Cawasji. He had learnt watch-repairing Be that as it may, I am' happy to say that saying that we should have just one won- - - 4,(XX) copies of Activity Book II, The der drug for all sorts of ailments! Navjote and Me, with its reader. The Navjote, have almost sold out within the year of del. Th^ bareshnum preserved there is our nobody could repair them. However, the publication, having been bought by Zoroas- heritage. We must work together to im- trian associations at home and abroad. Mr prove the life-style of this village in gen- “Udwada Trust” different surnames. One well-known in ­ stance is that of a behdin of Surat, Sorabji from an European. Some watches pre ­ sented to one of the Mughal emperors by Udwada is the community ’s last cita- an European stopped functioning and Surat Parsi ’s fame had spread to Delhi and he was specially summoned by the em- 3 Parsiana October 1989Her husband Parvez Davar, who works For the first few days Parvez refrained from taking part in the ceremony, but •1 1. r rfS 1 ' I Worshipping Ganesh The Hindu festival, Ganesh Chaturthi, is years. ” celebrated by a Parsi family in Goregaon each year. Ms Parveen Davar, who has for a private firm, was once a staunch been bringing home an idol of Ganpati believer in the Zoroastrian religion and I along with the one installed by her co- never believed in any other religion or operative housing society, says, “I have God. Says Parvez, “When this proposal great faith in Lord Ganesha. Four years was put forward, I was against the idea of j back when my family was in great trouble having a Ganpati at home. For days on end 1 a Hindu acquaintance of ours advised me I had this argument with my wife. But v to bring in the idol of Lord Ganesha for ultimately she did have her last say in the five years consecutively. ” Since then every matter and got the idol home. ” year, religiously, the ceremony is being performed by the Davars. Asked whether she would continue with slowly he realized that it was foolish on his the practice after five years or stop the part to be so one-tracked. Now he philo- ritual completely, Ms Davar said that she sophically analyses his mistake, “Relig- was thinking about bringing in the Ganpati ions are many but God is one. It doesn ’t for another three years. “My doctors have really matter as to whom you worship, be warned me about my delivery not being it Lord Zoroaster or Ganpati or Mother safe; but if, God willing, my delivery is a Mary. What really matters is how yoii success, then I will definitely keep my worship. ” For him what is important is, vow to bring in the idol for the next three “To have faith. ” Ms niloufer s . irani I 1 t peror. He repaired the watches and the tune) and Behremandkhan (master of good ther settled in Kalyan where he owned pleased emperor bestowed on him the blessings). While the two other surnames property and had a big garden. The flow- honorific Neksatkhan (master of the aus- are not heard of, Taleyarkhan is a very picious hour). His two sons, who were also well-known surname. ' proficient in watch repair, were given the titles Taleyarkhan (master of good for- Antias from Navsari. My father ’s grandfa- Edited by Arnavaz S. Mama ers, specially roses, "from there were daily brought to Crawford Market for selling. In my own case, we were originally Hence we came to be called Bagwala. H. F. BAGWALA Mi With Best Wishes From STEELAGE INDUSTRIES LIMITED ¦h Hi 5 Parsiana October 1989t r I Navroze with the PM Events and Personalities tives we happened to overhear. face to face, chatted with them,^ot photo- With tili, aachhu michhu and miththoo graphed with them, aired views, comments, mohnoo, the Prime Minister and Ms Sonia suggestions and, in a case or two, even their grievances. The snacks and the dinner served by On the morning of the Shahenshahi New Year heavy rain and the Prime Minister ’s Gandhi were ceremoniously ushered in by security staff flooded the Delhi Parsi Ms Dhun Bagli, manageress of the Men- Anjuman (DPA) complex. The security gusi Dharamshalla. The speakers for the Bagli were excellent. She had been liter ­ personnel, not haWng attended the four- evening indulged in the oft repeated re- ally run off her feet catering for the large day awareness course in March, dutifully wanted to enter into and search the Dar-e- Mehr (for bombs), but DPA vice president to escape attention of all and went unre- ough inspection of the Anjuman complex Zal Nowsherwanji stood firm and his tact- ported. He said that our small community by the security personnel. Her overbur- ful persuasion carried the 4ay. was able to make a tremendous contribu- dened shoulders also carried the load of a That evening the traffic police also had tion to the country ’s development because substantial portion of the organizational a tough time clearing the Bahadurshah Zafar Marg for Prime Minister Rajiv but of late we had started looking inwards Gandhi ’s passage — because they could and if we could once again switch over to Minister on the spot by seeking his neither book the violator nor convince looking outwards, our contribution to the agreement to be with the community every him. The next day ’s Patriot carried a development of the country could be pro- year. Though he w;^ not able to extract a photograph of the violator and the traffic portionately far greater in the future than firm commitment, he certainly got out of police locked in a head-to-head combat for in the past and the present. the Prime Minister a more positive re- the right of possession of the road. The - - violator, a powerful bull, had his head encourage the children by giving away the (We shall see)! ” What one cannot under- against the ftont bumper of the police jeep merit scholarships. (One youngster seized stand is why Mistry did not think of re- and was trying valiantly but in vain to push it off the road! The Bhiwandiwalla Hall in the DPA Prime Minister who graciously invited him the function and taking photographs, complex was packed with Parsis — many to send his ideas in writing to the Prime The late Prime Minister Ms Indira Gandhi sitting on the window sills or lining the walls. In the process the few seats in the second row meant for the Press were found cil of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian her heart during her Jamshed-i-Navroze to be occupied by distinguished Delhi Anjumans of India in Madras last Septem- speech and referred to Parsis as “my Zoroastrians who did vacate them but felt ber.) community! ” The present Prime Minis- humiliated by the tone and content of the announcement over the microphone. Several suggestions were made about the methods for avoiding or resolving such situations. They ranged from polite whis ­ pers in the ear to placing the reserved chairs in position only at the last minute. The one about the trustees and their fami ­ lies releasing their own front row seats was stoutly opposed by their friends. The ones which we liked most and would commend to the organizers were to announce cancel ­ lation of the program. Or better still, a bomb scare which would achieve the de ­ sired result at a much .faster pace. The announcer in that event would, at the most, be dubbed an irresponsible prankster, which is far better than most of the other adjec- frain about our ‘greats ’ — past and present crowd in the face of daylong pressures and a subtle hint given by the PM seemed upon her time and energy due to the thor- in the past we had been looking outwards, aspects of the evening function. DPA trustee Dadi Mistry put the Prime in the past and the present. The Prime Minister agreed to meet and sponse than the usual “sochenge, dekhenge the opportunity to further his concept of questing the PM to turn up in a dugli and India ’s economic requirements with the pugree or at least putting them on him at to send his ideas in writing to the Prime Minister ’s office, as DPA president Lt Gen had established an emotional bond with Adi Sethna informed the executive coun- the community when she put her hand on DPA members Nergish and Noshir Captain with Rajiv Gandhi 7 Parsiana October 1989 Everyone met the PM and Sonia Gandhi ter, a bom Parsi, did not say so, nor didanyone put it across to him that he was one. . Edited and abridged from Fed Newsletter, September 1989. Jokhi’s donation to PGH • Hong Kong-based philanthropist Shapoorji Fakirji Jokhi has proved that the era of the great Parsi benefactors is still very much with us. A promised donation of Rs 1.5 crores to Bombay ’s B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital made welcome news when published by the Jam-e-Jamshed of Au ­ gust 8, 1989. It is anticipated that the money will be partly used towards the costs of new construction [planned to re ­ house the operation theaters, the ICU Company Private Limited, 68-year-old of foundrymen (intensive care unil) and other infrastruc- Commissariat is also chairman of the IIF Contractor with puppet Rudabeh in tural departments] and partly towards the Standardization Committee. Rustom Sohrab costs of new medical equipment. A por ­ tion of the giant donation may also serve to create a corpus towards maintenance of Committee. The one-time chairman of the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, one of the community ’s most popular in- IIF’s Ferrous Technical Committee, Com- on July 31, 1989. Over 5(X) prominent stitutions. missariat had also headed Indian delega- men from the international aviation com- Publicity shy Jokhi had earlier gifted tions to international foundry conferences, munity witnessed the evening ’s ceremo- two crore rupees to the community in the notes his bio data. A number of technical nies against the backdrop of vintage planes shape of Avan Bang, the colony in Navsari papers on foundry related topics, authored like the Puss Moth and Tiger Moth amongst that has housed 496 Zoroastrian families, by him, have been published in newspa- other things, the paper further adds. notes Jame'. ----- ..... ... According to the Jam^ report, Jokhi is deeply devoted to the town of Navsari and had wanted to donate for further residen ­ tial accommodation there in the name of his wife Manijeh. However, no one was one of the community ’s most popular in- L w* I / Limited and Mercury Iron and Steel Commissariat (left): on the world body At the International Foundry Congress in ’87, he chaired the Technical Sessions Medal, at a function held at the Pacific pers. The widely tiavelled technocrat is as- Tata, who in the^ast has received other international awards in aviation, is recog- sociated with several government bodies nized for his pioneering work in develop- including the Maharashtra Smoke Nui- ing commercial air travel throughout India sances Commission and was awarded a and Asia. For nearly 50 years he directed bronze shield by the National Research Indian commercial airline operations, willing to accept the responsibility to see Development Corporation of India for his Reportedly India ’s first licensed pilot, the the project through. contribution to import substitution. In octogenarian is sometimes referred to as Navsari's loss may prove to be ' " ‘ more beneficial to the community as the demands on the Parsee General Hospital are always greater than what the institu ­ tion can meet. Jokhi has provided a neces ­ sary shot in the arm. The alloy connection I I I contribution to import substitution. addition, on community organizations and the country ’s Charles Lindbergh (Lind- trusts like the Bai Motlibai Wadia Udwada bergh flew a solo flight across the Atlantic Atash Bahram Trust, the N. M. Wadia in May 1927), the paper notes. Charities and the B. D. Petit Parsee Gen- eral Hospital Commissariat serves as a Puppeteering in Tehran trustee or committee member, further adds Noted puppeteer Ms Meher Contractor the bio data. was invited with her troupe to perform the •' I rl* > • • shadow play Rustom Sohrab at the first Sorabji Hormusji Commissariat is the second India S aViatlOn piOnCCr International Puppet Theatre Festival in Indian to be appointed on the world body With the presentation of the Daniel Gug- Tehran from July 21 to August 4, 1989, of foundrymen, notes The Bombay Sama- genheim Medal to J.R.D. Tata, the notes a press release. Difector of the pup- char of July 23,1989. It is after a gap of 22 industrialist will now be officially included petry section of the Darpana Academy of years that a seat on the executive commit- in the select list of all-time aviation pio- Performing Arts, Contractor led her group tee of the Comite International Des Asso- neers, notes the Jam-e-Jamshed of August of nine members which included another ciations Techniques De Fonderie (The 6, 1989. Tata, who is credited with start- Parsi, Dr (Ms) Perizade Maloawala. International Committee of Foundry Tech- ing the aviation industry in India, founded Over the years. Contractor has partici- nical Associations) was occupied by the the country ’s first national carrier, Tata pated in several international puppet festi- Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF). The Airlines (later renamed Air India), in 1932. vals, and has also trained many students decision to include Commissariat on the The award presentation took place on who too have achieved distinction in pup- five-member executive committee was the first day of the three-day Aircraft Design petry. taken at the Association ’s annual general and Operations Conference and Applied Deeply involved with the Union Inter ­ meeting in Dusseldorf ,in May this year. Aerodynamics Conference, under the aus- nationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA), she in the select list of all-time aviation pio- Performing Arts, Contractor led her group neers, notes the Jam-e-Jamshed of August of nine members which included another The award presentation took place on who too have achieved distinction in pup- taken at the Association ’s annual general and Operations Conference and Applied Thirty-one different countries in Europe, pices of the American Institute of Aero- chaired the UNIMA Asia Pacific Commis- Asia, Africa, America and Oceania are nautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The sion in 1988, notes the July issue of Fed affiliated to the world body, reads the medal and scroll were presented to him by Newsletter, the newsletter of the Federa- paper. ’ " ' . ’' ' “ ‘J ~ ‘ Currently chairman and managing di- Foundation and chairman of the board of (FPZAI). I Reportedly the first lady to receive the John Enders, president of the Flight Safety tion of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India rector of Premier Economisers Private award of the 1988 Daniel Guggenheim 9 Parsiana Octobar 1989 *: : I ? ¦ !Master (left): concern for the child Jehangir: keen to study computers Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for pup ­ petry from the Government of India, the Ahmedabad-based septuagenarian ’s name has been recommended for the 1988 ex ­ cellence award instituted by the FPZAI, adds the newsletter. New lease of life For the year ended March 31, 1989, Vitta Mazda ’s provisional statement of accounts showed a further increase in income of Rs 42.83 lakhs as compared to Rs 213.43 lakhs of lijie previous financial year, notes a press release signed by Yezdi Master, managing director of the company. The cash profits indicated an increase of Rs 9.23 lakhs over the last year ’s figure of Rs 123.71 lakhs. Like all leasing companies in India, which had previously enjoyed tax shelter for five to seven years, Vitta Mazda too will now have to pay tax on its past and current book profits. A subsidiary of the Mazda Group of Companies, Vitta Mazda has, beginning this year, started offering consultancy serv ­ ices to some companies in Gujarat and one in Maharashtra. They have also helped these companies set up leasing divisions, the release notes. With a view to augment the company ’s resource position, negotia ­ tions for fresh bank limits up to three crore rupees are nearing finalization. The publication division of Vitta Mazda had, last year, incurred a loss of Rs 7.83 lakhs. However, this year they showed a provisional profit of two lakh rupees de ­ spite facing odds like non-availability of c o X c IXI O ? tn (E 10 Parsiana October 1989 newsprint, the release further notes. ^Master’ in psychiatry In recognition of her pioneering work in the field of child psychiatry and rehabilita ­ tion of the mentally retarded for over three decades. Dr (Ms) Roshen Master was in ­ vited by the Andhra Pradesh chapter of the Indian Psychiatric Society to present a paper at their annual conference in Hydera ­ bad on August 20, 1989, notes a press release. Poona-based Master spoke on “Child psychiatry — the emerging sub ­ speciality of the twenty-first century in India. ” Child development and social psychia ­ try have been Master ’s chief concern. She has also played a key role in the founding of the Kamayani School for the Mentally Handicapped which is reportedly in its silver jubilee year. Despite her professional commitments. Master also devotes time to social work. She is a recipient of the N. K. Diwan Award from the National Association for Equal Opportunities for the Handicapped (India). TTie Federation of Parsi Zoroas- trian Anjumans of India honored the psy­ chiatrist last year with a Special Mention Award in the social and community serv ­ ice category. I Jokhi on Judo Committee Navsari's Phiroz D. Jokhi will be one of the five members serving on the Judo Technical Committee, newly constituted by the Gujarat State Judo Association, notes the Jam-e-Jamshed of October 8, 1989. Joint secretary of the State Judo Association, Jokhi is also member of the Gujarat State Sports Council, the Jame further reads. Recently.at the National Sports Talent Contest in Gandhinagar in October last, Jokhi was due to attend in his capacity as wrestling official. Physical instructor of the Tata Boys ’High School in Navsari, Jokhi is credited with having coached many outstanding sportsmen and women of Gujarat. Top science scorer In the science subjects it was Kaizad Rumi Jehangir of Bombay who topped the list of ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) students with his score of 96 percent, notes a press release. At the examinations held in March, 16-year-old Jehangir also fared well in other subjects like histoty, geography (92 percent) and accounts (95 percent), achieving an over ­ all percentage of 86. Son of the eminent Bombay ophthal ­ mologist Dr Rumi Jehangir and Ms Parvia Jehangir, Kaizad is currently studying^ the eleventh standard at Bombay ’s K. C*. College. He says he is interested in pursu ­ ing a career in the computer science field and would like to do his bachelors in the USA after he completes his twelfth stan ­ dard next year. If he fails to get admission to a scholarship program in a reputable American university, Jehangir ’s alternate plan is to study engineering in India. During his school days at Campion, Jehangir had represented his school at science exhibitions and general knowl ­ edge competitions. In sports and games like football, swimming and tennis he has participated in inter-school events. He was also an active participant of the Junior Red Cross and attended several social awareness camps held by his school, states his bio data. From 1985 to ’87 he was a member of the National Cadet Corps (NCC)NavalWing and held the post of leading cadet. In his free time Jehangir Kirtankar Pervez Kdtrak (far right) cele­ brated New Year with the inmates of the F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla in Bombay regaling them with songs and talks of his adventures abroad continued on page 18ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD «< “We’ve got to be competitive to survive in New York” « Arnavaz S. Mama A personal review of Zoroastrian problems and achievements in North America by ZAGNY president Erach Munshi n Rochelle, where it is currently housed. The community in New York is going cated services, its value has appreciated. ” through a critical period, remarks Munshi. Despite that, “the third floor and base- He cites Dr Farokh Tarapore, Jamshed and ment can ’t be used, there are no separate Yasmin Ghadiali, Fredy Patel and Astad rooms for religious classes ” and, more Clubwala among those who are giving importantly, is authorized to accommo- their best to the community. “Some people date 99 persons a* against the 250-275 feel the project is not needed; but the who get together on special occttsions. majority is convinced that the religious “By having a new center we can have and cultural needs of the community, pro- proper facilities for everyone, irrespective jected for the next 15 to 20 years, do of where they come from; interact with require a new center. ” However Munshi Zoroastrians from Iran... they too would feels that interest is petering out and a lot of people prefer to wait and watch. “We still don ’t have sufficient funds to buy the different, ” says Munshi. The Iranis shy land, ” estimated to cost between $3,00,000 away because of difficulties with the English and $5,00,000. language. Besides, they have grown up The property is expected to be designed within the confines of Islamic culture. But on the lines of an agiary for, “no matter Munshi sees these barriers as temporary. and members of ZAGNY and their dedi- like to sec a resident priest... ” “We do not see Irani Zoroastrians as * One reason why Parsis and Iranis are not getting together is because there is no what anybody says, it is a binding force, ” affecting the first generation settlers only, space (at the Darbe Mehr where they can according to Munshi who also notes that ZAGNY has introduced Persian in its reli- meet), ”says Erach Munshi, professor of due to lack of exposure North American gious classes and children from both business administration and management, bom Zoroastrian children find it difficult communities are very friendly, attests and the current president of the Zoroas-, to relate to an agiary when they visit one Munshi,attributing the bridging of the great trian Association of Greater New York ~ (ZAGNY) who is spearheading the drive North America funded by the late Zoroas- classes at which Lovji Cama, Prof to build a new Zoroastrian center in New trian benefactor Arbab Rustom Guiv, is Kaikhosrov Irani, Ms Ivy Gandhi (and her York. “There are no facilities for teen- under litigation. Though the supreme court late husband Faroke), Pervez Patel, Villy agers. It i.s very difficult to organize a of Winchester County has ruled in favor of Gandhi, Freny Dalal, Noshir Hormuzdiar, dance even on Pateti, ” elaborates Munshi, ZAGNY and dismissed the petition of the Farrokh Deboo,Kuku Bunshah and others a longstanding community activist, who Rustom Guiv Foundation, which admini- have contributed so much. “They have was on a visit to Bombay and Surat in July sters the late millionaire ’s other estates, played an important role in bringing teen- 1989. for ownership of the New Rochelle prop- agers together. Our children have real Agreeing to a departure eve interview erty, the Foundation has filed an appeal, sound religious knowledge as compared to with Parsiana in his individual capacity No matter how the case is eventually settled, (their compeers) here in India, ” notes and not as ZAGNY’s officebearer, Munshi Munshi claims that the Darbe Mehr “costs Munshi. “We are extremely proud of our spoke about the plans for the $1.3 million us $17-18,000 annually in terms of main- teenagers. They are well behaved, well New Zoroastrian Temple and Cultural tenance ” to which the Iranian Zoroastrian educated, clean...I don ’t have children. Center (NZTCC)with which the Associa- Association, which shares the use of the The community children are my children, tion hopes to replace the Arbab Rustom property with ZAGNY, does not contrib- I really want to do a lot for them, ” he adds. Guiv Darbe Mehr (ARGDM) in New ute, says Munshi. “Thanks to past boards The second priority for ZAGNY as to relate to an agiary when they visit one The ARGDM, the first darbe mehr in divide to the summer camps and religious Ute, says Munshi. “Thanks to past boards 13 Parsiana October 1989 iMunshi sees it is to create a viable educa ­ tional fund. “Ours is one of the oldest associations (in North America). We have more resources than others. We ’ve got to road ahead...is quite rough. But what fun Mehr ’s lecture on “Internalizing Zoroas- would it be if it were not a real challenge? trianism for daily life. ” In “One youth ’s We have highly dedicated members on the opinion, ” a versified, not wholly compli- bjoard and also equally dedicated mem- mentary assessment of the YLC published be competitive to survive in the greater bers on the fund raising committee. Plus in the ZAC newsletter, Zubin Shroff notes, B New York area. (But) we are the first we have the blessings of members at “With the dawn on Sunday, came the y* generation settlers. We have tO' allow for house mortgages, college education, etc, calculates Munshi who attnbutes the community ’ s present prosperity in the New project, will be completed and we have the York area to its high educational level and blessings of Ahura Mazda, Lord Zarathush- large...We are creating something for the lecture of Dr Farhang Mehr future generation to remember and cher- Whose speech kept me awake in my ish. So be it! I am totally confident that the chair Actually, I liked what he sdid. He spoke with a voice that was alive, tra and Pak Iranshah. We can ’t fail unless not dead we want to. ” Then came the most interesting thing to me It wa^ a game where you agree or dis­ agree It helped me form my opinion on things... ” It seems that the youth were divided into small groups and given problems to I wants to ensure that this level is main ­ tained in future. “Quite a few girls and boys are seeking partners in the 35-40 year age-group, ” says Munshi. He estimates that there will be more marriages within the community in the years to come. Two marriages have resulted from the two youth congresses so personal opinions without becoming frus- far and Munshi predicts higher attendance trated or offensive, ” notes a write up in the solve. Then followed an agree/disagree at future congresses: “The boys and girls August newsletter of the Zoroastrian As- session when they responded to each state- are aggressive...motivated...they want it sociation of Metropolitan Chicago (ZAC) ment by moving to either the agree or the on a yearly basis. ” ZAGNY may sponsor on the Second North American Youth disagree side of the room where they were a youth congress in 1990 or 1991, ventures Leadership Camp (YLC) hosted by Hous- asked to explain their choice. On the Munshi. ton, June 30-July 4. The theme of the following morning, youth under the age of The self-styled “liberal conservative ” conference — “Zoroastrian crossroads with 25 were segregated into a room and en- believes,"We have to change according to visions and decisions for this new world ” couraged to express and discuss their time. What does not change, dies out. But — drew active participation from the youth, thoughts freely, notes the ZAC report, traditions which have given us strength to largely from Chicago, California and surviveshouldn ’tbeweakenede.g.sudreh- kusti, muktad,jashan etc are very precious report published by Zoroastrian News, the trying to influence freewheeling discus ­ things. ” Though in favor of accepting the newsletter of the Zoroastrian Association sions, ” notes Minwala. “As a result, nd “Visions and decisions” “It was very inspiring to see how well the leaders of tomorrow ’s Zoroastrian com ­ munities could handle disagreements and “The conference was for the youth; but Canada, notes Ms Tenaz Minwala in the throughout the discussions, the elders were progeny of mixed marriages, Munshi of Metropolitan Washington (ZAMW) in definite conclusions could be drawn nor qualifies that “names should maintain Parsi its July-August issue. The majority of (was) a clear agenda for the future direc ­ identity. ” But “a dead body is a dead those who attended were in the 13-20 year tion of tl^e community perceivable. It body. Why shouldn ’t non-Zoroastrians age-group and there were quite a few adults, seems that the elders want things left just see a dead Zoroastrian? ” he asks. “I am of the opinion that any Zoroastrian should bagged the Most Involved Youth Award back in India, Pakistan or Iran, ” she adds, be allowed to be a priest. If my soul wants instituted by Dr Farhang Mehr of Harvard me to do the priest ’s job, no one should University's Center of Middle Eastern stop me. I might turn out to be a more Studies, successful priest...! don ’t think inherited priesthood has proved to be anything versity spoke about Zoroastrian roots in great... ” the western tradition where “he compared Viewing the Federation of Zoroastrian and contrasted our religion with Islam, help ” from the Zordastrian Youth Group of Houston featured in ZAC’s November newsletter. Left “struggling with a $6,000 deficit, ” young Houstonians are reaching out for contributions from participants and notes the ZAC report. Zoroastrian associations across North The second session, conducted by psy- America to alleviate the loss. ZAC youth will be organizing a fundraiser to help the age-group and there were quite a few adults, writes Minwala. Ms Michelle Engineer the way they have been accustomed to Prof James Russell of Columbia Uni- As Shroff summed it up, “On this trip I attained goal number one That was to have a whole lotta fun I even learned a little on the side... ” Financially, however, the YLC was a mini disaster as appears from a “cry for A ssociationsof North America (FEZANA) Christianity, Judaism, etc, ” informs Min ­ as analogous to the Parsi Punchayet, Munshi wala. Russell ’s speech was followed by an considers its creation “an extremely im- “opinion filled discussion about contro- portant chapter in our community history, versial topics that are usually banned, ” We need such a body to pull socio-eco ­ nomic interests together ” and is confident that once its teething phase is past, it will chologist Yazdi Rustumji, dealt with be doing yeoman service in the years to “Facing evil, embracing goodness ” which Houston youth notes the appeal. Cheques come. began with a video presentation of a white favoring the Zoroastrian Association of Despite about 20 years in the US, Munshi woman and a black woman and the way Houston may be sent to the Zoroastrian maintains his Indian citizenship, considers they perceived good and evil, writes Min- Youth Group of Houston C/o Arron Rus- himself Indian first, Parsi second and wala. Rustumji ’s discussion examined the Zoroastrian third. His zest for the good religion and its philosophy on a more fight, however would appear to reverse psychological level “but the audience will be held in Toronto in 1990 while the that order. Referring to the New Zoroas- seemed unable to understand the analy- ZAMW have been asked to hold the fourth trian Temple project in a subsequent letter sis,” she adds. conference in Washington DC in 1991. to Parsiana he notes, “As it stands, the An outstanding event was Dr Farhang continued on page 18 tom, 944 Highland, Houston, Tx 77009. | Minwala informs that the third YLC sis,” she adds. An outstanding event was Dr Farhang 14 Parsiana October 1989RELIGION COVER STORY ¦ jto. . SHIRDIKE HOMI BABA Gustasp Irani .*¦ 'tJ , ''JM w I IP i >1? ¦ ¦ I 80 IF The young lady respectfully approaches In response to his devotion, the Sai the 78-year-old man with a handsome Baba is supposed to have visited Homi Roman nose and white beard. She stoops five times in dreams and visions. The first to touch his feet but he objects: “If you time he advised Homi to grow a beard. / must touch someone ’s feet, let it be the The second time around, it was advice to 11, feet of Sai Baba, not mine. ”Then, smil- dress as he, Sai Baba, did in kurta-pyjama ing, he playfully pats the lady on her and a scarf around his head. This Homi did back as he offers her a seat on the in the privacy of his home, but Sai Baba stone bench. There is still power in was not satisfied. He insisted that Homi those arms for five dress as he asked, in public too. - , .. The next time around, the Sai Baba Adopting ¦ came pleading for a smoke. “I have not Cai Rsihsi’c smoked for three days, ” he told Homi. So w devotee filled a chelum (a locally de- life-style and signed pipe) and placed it in front of the - portrait of the saint. The very next da^, a man from Hyderabad came visiting " when Homi ’s back was turned, he slipi , into the house and was puffing on the inspires chelum placed near Sai Baba ’s picture. “I - - - knew who he was. He was my budha (old man) ” as Homi affectionately refers to his master. “I tried to grab his arm but he slipped away and was gone in a flash. ” There are other boons that have been granted to Homi, one being the image of _ Sai Baba embossed on his chest. A Maha- who rashtrian couple tells us of their experi ­ ence, of how Homi bared his chest for come them. “At first we saw nothing and we said so and that only made him angry. As he grew angrier, his chest became all red lady is massaging her and then we saw it — a very clear image ol Sai Baba. It was quite unbelievable. ” Homi Baba ’s first contact with Sai Baba was in 1950 when a friend gave him a B' s 'H A 16 Parsiana October 1989 dress, Homi Baba a substantial following among the pilgrims ¦1. to Shirdi >pOT minutes the ¦ back. Years ago, the old man informs us, he had bagged the second prize in the All - India Body Beautiful contest. Now, since , .r- 1974, he has been residing in Shirdi, his photograph of the saint. “That day I wor • life dedicated to Sai Baba who lived in the "* **•— village for 60 years before he attained samadhi (saints, it is believed, don ’t die) in ^tel918. Invariably, many of the numerous H pilgrims who come to Shirdi to pay their I respects at the Sai Baba Temple also stop he lost on the stock market. He recall ¦ ~ " once having walked from Bombay ’s Flors Fountain area to Dadar, where he used ti live, because he did not have enough mone; by to visit one of Sai Baba ’s most famous devotees — Homi P. Dadi-Barjor, other ­ wise known as Homi Baba. at the races, ” recalls Homi. “Sai Baba, thought, was going to make me a lakhopat (wealthy man). Instead, he made me < bhikhari {beggsa}." After that first win Homi ’s luck ran out. He lost at the racesI I Miniature temple in Homi Baba’s courtyard Photos ; Varghese Fernandez major occasions celebrated by Homi Baba. One is his own birthday which he observes on December 26; the other is the Abhishek Pooja to Lord Shankar (Shiva) performed on the first Monday in the mon^ of Shra- van according to the Hindu calendar. “Around 8,000 to 10,000 people attend these celebrations, ” says Homi Baba, and he feeds them all. He points to two large pittal (brass) vessels in which the cooking IS done. The 'worship of Lord Shankar started some years ago when a visitor presented Homi with a piece of marble which he had carved into the lingam of Shankar. Now Shankar, according to Homi, is supposed to have consumed some poison which had got stuck in his throat. Due to this the body temperature of the Lord was prone to rise alarmingly and make him exceedingly excitable. To keep him cool and even- tempered water mm^ constantly drip on him, like from a trough of water suspended over the lingam. “If you do this, Shmkar is very happy with you, ” says Homi. Apparently Shankar expressed his joy over Homi ’s care and concern for him in the form of a gift presented to him a year ago. A visitor brought Homi Baba a marble statue, sculptured in Jaipur, of the Lord and his consort Parvati, now enshrined in a miniature temple in his courtyard. When we first visited Homi Baba in the morning, he was engaged in ceremonies before the enshrined couple. He was abrupt, almost rude as he waived us away. “Not now. Come later. This evening, 4 o ’clock. ” for the bus fare. The soles of the shoes he I really cared for, you took away from me. ’ It ’s an abruptness you don ’t hold against wore had to be tied to his feet to keep them And he replied: ‘Come to me, come to godmen. Sai Baba reportedly had it too. in place. Shirdi. ’” In the Shirdi Diary of G. S. Khaparde, Though Homi remained a bachelor, he “ admits having had intimate relationships took the plunge. Shirdi, as he remembers, dom fighter Lokmanya Tilak, is the record with a number of women. “Askmewhat was a far cry from the modernization it has of one such instance: “29-2-1912... Sayin I did not do, ” he laughs. Study, he admits, witnessed in recent times. Though the Sahib (Sai Baba) exhibited an angry mood, is one thing he did not do. “My father (a place where he resides is less than a five- abused those that had gone on the roof of doctor) would whip me but it made no minute walk from the temple, the heart of the Masjid for lighting lamps and threw his difference. My budha would not let me the town, 15 years ago it was a jungle. “A stick at Mrs Tai Jog, the wife of Bapusaheb. study. He would not let me do anything, mongoose bit my toe. A snake slithered At the Chawadi I thought he would beat He planned to make me a fakir, ” says over my body... ” he breaks off. There is Bapusaheb Jog...but after a while he beat Homi. But first he let Homi have a go at too much to tell. Today, concrete struc- Bala Shimpi with his stick and later on life. He worked as an.assistant carding tures ring his humble habitat; over 30 new Trimbakrao. Bala Shimpi ran away but master with Bombay Dyeing, Elphinstone hotels have opened within the last two Trimbakrao received the blows standing Mills and Jacob Mills. years, according to officials of the Shirdi and prostrating before Sayin Maharaj. I Then, in 1972, Alu Sethna, a woman he Sansthan of Sai Baba. think he received the full measure of fa- treated as a sister, died. Homi Baba ’s eyes The growth in the number of devotees vour and got ahead by at least a stage. ” In mist over. “I was left all alone in this coming to Shirdi has resulted in a rise in other parts of the Shirdi Diary we get world. I cried to Sai Baba. ‘The one person the number of people attending the two glimpses of a gentler and more tender. *. Shirdi. ’” Two years later, in 1974, Homi Baba noted lawyer and right-hand man of free- 17 Parsiana October 1989I ! 14 ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD continued from page 14 EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES continued from page 10 likes to swim, play tennis, squash and badminton. He enjoys playing the guitar caring fakir saint. Homi too radiates this human warmth. A white mongrel bitch nuzzles up to him (q Mobed Council? and then curls herself near his feet. Thats Zoroastrian Association of and listening to music, he says. ; ‘Mr Bombay university’ tion of family and rehgious photographs American Mobeds Council Out of 43 students competing at the inter- that line the walls of his house are pictures informs ZAC’s November collegiate Best Physique Contest, Kaizad | of his dogs —dogs that have teen buned in j^g decision is stated to be Kapadia of R. N. Ruia CoUege of Arts and j one comer of his compound with marble . ... —<— gravestones to mark the place. Age has taken its toll. Arthritis, Homi complains, has affected both his knees. He hobbles into his simple house and offers you ash from the fire he maintains. But the North American Moteds Council Out of 43 students competing at the inter- (NAMC), informs ZAC’s November collegiate Best Physique Contest, Kaizad based on the belief that “Membership in Science walked away wilh the Mr Bombay ] the Council, as it is currently organized. University title, notes the Jam-e-Jamshed j will not be in the test interests of the of August 20,1989. Kapadia was also the priests or the Chicago Zoroastrian com ­ munity ,” reports the newsletter. As per the mobeds ’recommendation to c the board of directors of the Association, Vicaji. A student of H. R, College of ZAC has declined the invitation to host the Commerce and Economics, Vicaji finished next Moted Council conference in Chi- ^cond in the Middleweight Class (up to cago, scheduled for Easter in 1990. ZAC mobeds however have notified their willingness to help the Council in any specific matter which may be significant . .u r- . . to the Zoroastrian cause in North America, women s singles title at the first ever Maharashtra State Selection Badminton ’ Tournament in Poona which concluded on August 18, 1989. She also claimed the junior girls ’ singles and doubles titles, notes the Jam-e-Jamshed of September 3, 1989. ____________ P®*" women ’s singles title, which is 7 aUttiefive ’(SJflm days. Each reportedly her first, the 16-year-old junior required a payment of $25. Fruits champion had to defeat BombayV mte^ collegiate champion Jyoti Sanghi at th^ quarter finals, Shirin Garda at the semi _______ finals and international and third seeded of the moteds Manjusha Pawangadkar of Poona in the finals. Despite the fatigue from playing three final matches on the concluding day. An LP of perennials from such Indian the left-handed champion overthrew Pawan- . ___ ___________ _________ In the junior girls ’singles class she teat boli,"*a~pe^atrici'an and an allergist by Bombay ’s Anju Nair. Oveipowering Larissa well away from the trodden path, Homi the ZAC newsletter. together with F^eti Nerlekar, bag^d Ae has had his share of critics; his family, in The melodies recorded have been played junior girls dotibles title, notes the sports general, and his brother, in particular. Homi by Tamboli on a Wurlitzer 950 Organ and correspondent. . . At the Punc Distrtct Batfeiinton Cham- dollar^, half the record ’s sales proceeds pionships held in the second week of August, Batliwala defeated Devika Rajwade, thus Paring l^d esteem' Jtherrhoid Dr Karan Singh, India ’s Ambassador to with Nerlekar, the duo bagged the girls ’ He the US,was surprised to learn of the size of double title beating Geeta Gandhi and ----------------------------------- Being Sai Baba's devotee does not stop me from being a Zoroastrian the Council, as it is currently organized. University title, notes the Jam-e-Jamshed winner of the Bantamweight Class (up to 65 kg). Another Parsi to win a medal was Kavas specific matter which may be significant 80 kg), the Jamd’ adds. Batliwala’s glorious win Unseeded Firoza Batliwala won the first, he chants a prayer over the ash; it ’s a The ZAC muktad prayers were “dedi ­ prayer he claims Sai Baba has given him. cated to the commemoration of the fra- Muslims assure him that it is not from the vashis of the past, present and future, ” Koran and Hindus cannot recognize it ei- notes the Association ’s August newsletter, ther. The offering of ash is similar to what Names of the departed, submitted in ad- Sai Baba did in his lifetime - ash or udhi vance, were included in the common daily from the fire that the saint maintained, prayers on < was, and is, reputed to have miraculous name i qualities. for the chasni (consecration) were pro- The fact that Sai Baba ’s fire is still kept vided by ZAC. Individual prayers on burning endears him to many Zoroastrian those days were priced at $300 and were devotees, especially as no one knows the subject to the convenience cf the “chede true name, origin or religion of the saint, and availability of time. “Sai Baba prescribed no form of worship and being his devotee does not stop me — -- ,-------- from being a Zoroastrian, ” says Homi movie hits as Avara, Anar kali, Taxi Driver, gadkar. . , , . , , . , , Baba. Yes, he wears a sudreh and kusti etc have teen recorded by Dr Adi Tam- In the junior girls ^gles class she teat and lifts his kurta to prove the point. boli, a pediatrician and an allergist by Bombay ’s Anju N^. Over^wenng LansM But like many men who choose to walk profession, informs the September issue of Sadarangani and Ramola Naik, Batliwma has had his share of critics; his family, in Baba shows us a letter written by his a Prophet 5 Synthesizer. Priced at seven brother a little before he died two years <------- , ago. In it, the brother confesses that he have teen earmarked for ZAC funds, never really understood Homi, but judging by the respect i— -------- ----- Homi in, he probably was wrong. --------,---------r------------- . * asked for Homi ’s forgiveness. “He even the Zoroastrian community in Chicago Chaitali Pandit, notes the Jame of August visited me twice in Shirdi,” says Homi. when apprised of its presence by ZAC 20, 1989. . . _ . With his implicit faith in Sai Baba, Homi president Kayomarsh Mehta at a dinner I JI. _ 1___________________ Jiz^ofozl tlio Indi^ nnnciil opneral Pvare- Sai Sa7(X)ks after brs devotee lai Santoshi. In a TV speech a couple of women ’s singles title. Later she teamed continues, “My budha looks after me. Yes, !________________ and it shows. That evening in a restaurant , _ family members at the adjoining table are tra ’s message with admiration, notes ZAC s _______ -At the same meet, unseeded Garda hosted by the Indian consul general Pyare- defeated Archana Deodhar to bag the days later, Singh acknowledged Zarathush- up with Deodhar to teat the junior pair ol discussing Homi Baba. A young girl gushes: November newsletter. “My, he ’s so handsome. 1 ; believe that he is 78 years old. ” Batliwala and Nerlekar in the women ’s doubles, the Jame further reads. 18 Parsiana October 1989 I just can ’t Compiled by Arnavaz S. Mama Compiled by Roxana H. KakaH ¦ ¦ COMMENT B B ¦ S ¦ Mlilijl 8 lllll SiS Wl I K«®Bnra? 1 1 To adapt to t>o wBSMm mUiau without being engulfed by it, is ttte proWem faced bx Hindus. Muslims and Paisis for a majority of converts among them and I nourish a mystical dimension on Islam. I Similar to the Jews in past ages, the nodal I points of the Islamic community were the I mosque, the community center, the Koran I and religious education. I The central question faci|ig the Islamic I community there was how to live an Is- i 4amic life in a secular context. The con- I flict between American civil law and the I Shariat family law particularly affects the I self-image of Muslim women. Matters ' I such as the charge of interest on capital, j welfare, inheritance, wills, diet, alcohol I and participation in a permissive Ameri- I can culture are other perceived areas of I conflict. Such areas of differences ex- I tended to clothing, dating, birth control, I abortion, divorce and child custody, sig- I nificantly affecting everyday life. 1 Other socioreligious issues embrace the | growing impact of centralized, hard-core 1 Islam on '“unmosqued ” Muslims, its mis- I sionary out-reach including attempts at | conversion of Blacks and whites, its rejec- I tion of Western culture and the West ’s j negative image of Islam. In the American view, the central issue j What are the problems of identity and cultural assimilation? How far are minor ­ ity communities able to carry traditional For example, leading scholar Nirad seemed to be: is Islam a religion of peace? I , o . . , ____ _____ fanatic. ror example, leaaing sviiuim i-^uou ---------------- r . Z i Chaudhari has described the Parsis in India Islam was widely j^rceived to jjatic, , A minority is a i teliefr, practices and customs''into present minority anywhere, with its consequences, day plural t ---------- ----- religion, family and language are severed, people seem to float into a new world to try and find new identities and meaning. How Muslims in the! US we float or find new moorings is the prob ­ lem of adaptation, assimilation and iden ­ tity. At the forthcoming Fifth World Zoroas- , . trian Congress, January 3 to 1, 1990, the the late Ayatollah Khomeim Ir^ s maver- community is likely to face these ques- tions. Prof John Hinnells, professor of comparative religion at Manchester Uni ­ versity and his assistant. Dr (Ms) Rashna community in a variety of host societies i and also in the home countries. Apart from be the^econd largest religion in the US how the young view these issues, the ses ­ sions on religious education will also address the future of Zoroastrian tradition and rit ­ ual in the West. - Zoroastrians may find a reflection of their own situation through a considera ­ tion of the comparative studies of other Asian minorities in the West. The commu ­ nity may <------------------- in the older homelands of India and Iran. as “friendly aliens. ” Three-fifths of societies? Once the bonds of Assimilation could be partial; else the community ceases to be a minority. terrorist and warlike. Americans were apprehensive of the spread of Islam which seemed in historical con ­ flict with the Judeo-Christian tradition. The scenario was hardly favorable. Hindus in the UK Let us consider the situation of Islam in the -------------- , West first. Islamic Values in the USA by There is a contrasting study of the Hindus Yvonne Yazbeck, Haddad Adan, T. Loomis - Preservation of (OUP, 1987) had been pubUshed long before Immigrants in England by D. K FocwK ' _ _____ . . -v I C1111 V-TjACftmhftr I S maver ­ ick leader, pronounced the death sentence on Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses. In contrast to the paucity of Zoroas ­ trian temples and priests, the two to three million Muslims there already had 598 community in a variety of host societies it was anticipated that by 2010 Islam would - Preservation of Religious Li^: Jlindu (Vikas, Indian Sociology, July-December ’76). It is about a Gujarati sanstha (organi ­ zation) originating from Kutch, now settled in London. Here, in a culture of religious “exclusiveness ” full of prescriptions and prohibitions in the customary pracrices to make the religious co-exist with the secular? The study shows that the larger the amount of exclusivity in an immigrant community inclined to prescriptions and .. ...lx! — social adaptation. The origins of the East African Gujarati community was in “the psychology of the ghetto, ” resulting in the clustering of kith and kin to escape loneli ­ ness in the new homeland. So strong was this clustering that it remained unimpaired after Christianity- It is interesting.to see the Islamic com ­ munity in the US divided into five groups, Itioc in with different world views. There are the prohibitions, the greater the difficultly in liberals, the westernized conservatives who adhere to the minimum Islamic require ­ ments, the evangelicals who follow Is- iiui.iivo ..1 U.V .V ___ _______ lamic tenets in daily life, the zealots whose also examine its minority status goal is to transform all societies to the Islamic way, and the Sufis, who account 20 Parsiana October 1989I by religious differences, even when some themselves in two broad groups, the ortho ­ members declared themselves as atheists. Because sanstha families were close, individuals were brought up in the family values of respect for elders, religious be ­ liefs, vegetarianism and the hrahmachari (abstinence) concept, ^on-sanstha fami ­ lies were under greater strain as their chil ­ dren were more prone to external cultural influences. When the next generation drifts to a mixed bhasha (language), and then to English on either shore of the Atlantic, It was anticipated that by 2010 Islam would be the second largest religion in the US after Christianity the result is “the impoverishment of the mother tongue. ” They are caught be ­ tween two cultures speaking different fanatics among Zoroastrians too, but they languages, thinking differently. Gujarati, have not graduated to being terrorists! in such a sect is a special, sacred language. Even English translations of religious texts the religious and the secular in day-to-day seem weak and misleading; not authentic, life. This is an advantage in a religion Among sanstha families, “England-born which mixes both in the golden mean, in girls are devalued. ” There is a preference for . better trained, traditional girls from Gujarat. As in the case of the Muslims, food orthodoxy makes integration with others very difficult. The lack of a resident priest and local lay versions of scripture among the san­ stha Gujaratis in UK impedes the trans ­ mission of pure doctrine and introduces extraneous elements into it. The annual examination papers in religion come from a central place in Gujarat. All this is reported to create “conceptual confusion. ” Religion did not seem to be congruent with the culture of the real world. These mani ­ festations are common to most traditional societies in transition, both in host coun ­ tries as well as in their home countries. How far can such a sect be embedded in foreign culture, especially “when British society itself is in a process of redefini ­ tion? ” Zoroastrian identity in the West How far do these accounts mirror Zoroas ­ trian families in the US and UK? How far not? Usually, contemporary Zoroastrians see 21 Parsiana October 1989 taboos about food, are not so rigid about sex relations, and socialization comes easier. Besides Zoroastrians are almost unknown in the West. Though some East African Zoroastri ­ ans may exhibit traces of ghetto psychol- dox and the reformist. With better re ­ search, one may find,we too are in more than these two groups. We may find ourselves in several social categories simi ­ lar to the Muslims in the US, for example, except that we have no great desire to ogy, to them Gujarati is not a sacred lan- convert the world. We await the Hinnells/ guage. It is a khichri (mishmash) folk Writer response to this question at the language, not as pure as Ahmedabadi Congress. Having been exposed earlier to westerni ­ zation and the English language in India, Pakistan and East Africa, most Parsi Zoroas­ trians in the US would probably not find such deep and extensive conflict in their values, customs and life-styles as the Muslims do in the US and the sanstha from Jewish boys who can chant and know Hindus in the UK. Comparative research the meaning of sacred texts since ‘Barmitz- could throw light on their adaptability vis- vah, ’ the equivalent of the navjote. Cen- a-vis the Iranians, who do not share the tral theological texts need the most careful same degree of westernization and famili ­ arity with the English language. Also it may be safe to assume that there through the centuries “they have made is no such negative image of Zoroastrians translation and interpretation a fine art. ” in Christian history as of Muslim “infi ­ dels ” of Crusadic lore. We are too micro ­ scopic in number to pose any kind of threat intellectual tradit^n. to any other society. There may be some -----’¦* “ Gujarati. There is the complilating factor that the language of Zoroastrian texts is so archaic that there may be as many vari ­ ations in translation as there are scholars. So there are no deep roots in language either. It is significant to note the difference handling. Jewish scholars have found true meaning from the original Hebraic; and Zoroastrians, partly because of their bro ­ ken history, have lacked this sustained Thus it would appear that while the Muslims are perceived as a violent threat to Western society and the Hindus seem There is not the same sharp divide between culturally confusing, the Zoroastrians pose no problems, except among themselves! Aspi Moddie, who belonged to the first batch of the Indian Administrative Service, is a scholar of history and economics with publications in both fields. moderation in all things. They have no Gifts& |—iWitqg The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive gifts, reli^ous artefacts, executive desk %ts, exclusive shell items, designer jewelry & specializing in wood & copper-enamel gifts. BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. (Mezzanine Floor) Sir P.M. Road, Bombay-400 001 J STUDIO AKAR 6T/2660 1Asc- S' .•X dox and the reformist. With better re ­ search, one may find,we too are in more than these two groups. We may find ourselves in several social categories simi ­ lar to the Muslims in the US, for example. by religious differences, even when some themselves in two broad groups, the ortho ­ members declared themselves as atheists. Because sanstha families were close, individuals were brought up in the family values of respect for elders, religious be ­ liefs, vegetarianism and the brahmachari (abstinence) concept. Non-sanstha fami- except that we have no great desire to lies were under greater strain as their chil ­ dren were more prone to external cultural influences. When the next generation drifts to a mixed bhasha (language), and then to English on either shore of the Atlantic, taboos about food, are not so rigid about sex relations, and socialization comes easier. Besides Zoroastrians are almost unknown in the West. Though some East African Zoroastri ­ ans may exhibit traces of ghetto psychol ­ ogy, to them Gujarati is not a sacred lan- convert the world. We await the Hinnells/ guage. It is a khichri (mishmash) folk Writer response to this question at the Congress. Having been exposed earlier to westerni ­ zation and the English language in India, Pakistan and East Africa, most Parsi Zoroas­ trians in the US would probably not find such deep and extensive conflict in their either, values, customs and life-styles as the Muslims do in the US and the sanstha Hindus in the UK. Comparative research language, not as pure as Ahmedabadi Gujarati. There is the complicating factor that the language of Zoroastria|i texts is so archaic that there may be as many vari ­ ations in translation as there are scholars. So there are no deep roots in language It was anticipated that by £010 Islam would be the second throw Ught on their adaptability vis- vah, ’the equivalent of the navjote. Cen- a-vis the Iranians, who do not share the tral theological texts need the most careful same degree of westernization and famili- handling. Jewish scholars have found true arity with the English language. meaning from the original Hebraic; and Also it may be safe to assume that there through the centuries “they have made is no such negative image of Zoroastrians in Christian history as of Muslim “infi ­ dels ” of Crusadic lore. We are too micro ­ scopic in number to pose any kind of threat intellectual tradition. ___ J _____ '...J. ~______ '_______ J Thus it would appear that while the fanatics among Zoroastrians too, but they Muslims are perc^ved as a violent threat It is significant to note the difference from Jewish boys who can chant and know the meaning of sacred texts since ‘Barmitz- ? largest religion in the US after Christianity the result is “the impoverishment of the mother tongue. ” They are caught be- to any other society. There may be some tween two cultures speaking different I languages, thinking differently. Gujarati, have not graduated to being terrorists! to Western society and the Hindus seem in such a sect is a special, sacred language. There is not the same sharp divide between culturally confusing, the Zoroastrians pose Even English translations of religious texts I seem weak and misleading; not authentic. Among sanstha families, “England-born which mixes both in the golden mean, in girls are devalued. ” There is a preference moderation in all things. They have no for. better trained, traditional girls from Gujarat. As in the case of the Muslims, food orthodoxy makes integration with others very difficult. The lack of a resident priest and local translation and interpretation a fine art. ” Zoroastrians, partly because of their bro ­ ken history, have lacked this sustained the religious and the secular in day-to-day no problems, except among themselves! life. This is an advantage in a religion Aspi Moddie, who belonged to the first batch of the Indian Administrative Service, is a scholar of history and economics with publications in both fields. lay versions of scripture among the san- ¦¦¦¦I Gifts& stha Gujaratis in UK impedes the trans ­ mission of pure doctrine and introduces extraneous elements into it. The annual examination papers in religion come from a central place in Gujarat. All this is reported to create “conceptual confusion. ” Religion did not seem to congruent with the culture of the real world. These mani ­ festations are common to most traditional societies in transition, both in host coun ­ tries as well as in their home countries. How far can such a sect be embedded in foreign culture, especially “when British society itself is in a process of redefini ­ tion? ” —iWngiSi I Zoroastrian identity in the West How far do these accounts mirror Zoroas ­ trian families in the US and UK? How far not? Usually, contemporary Zoroastrians see 21 Parsiana October 1989 The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive reli^ous artefacts, executive desk sets, exclusive shell ite^ designer jewelry & specializing in wood & copper-enamel gifts. BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. (Mezzanine Floor) Sir P.M. Road, Bombay-400 001 STUDIO AKAR 61/2660 =/ s »-HISTORY -J ¦» I* I 4 t IN PARLIAMENT, AT LAST Arnavaz S. Mama jsSAa,. 9* l^^ladame Bhikhaiji Cama “came to much success, notes the Fed Newsletter ¦ President and the Prime Minister. Floral (the mouthpiece of the Federation of Parsi tributes were offered to J akhar and parlia- (the mouthpiece ot the reaeration oi rarsi uiuuics wciv waw vw Zoroastrian Anjumans of India) of Sep- mentary affairs minister H. K. L. Bhagat, | be known as ‘ the high priestess of Indian nationalism. ’ Her portrait has appeared in French papers along with that of Joan of Arc.” Vice President of India, Dr Shanker member of the Minorities Commission, Dayal Sharma ’s tribute to the fiesty free- put his shoulder to the bureaucratic wheel, dom fighter as he unveiled her portrait in «"A «"*>» the Central Hall of Parliament House on August 2,1989 unleashed waves of eupho ­ ria in Parsi bosoms and justifiable satisfac- of his cabinet as also the Speaker of the at Pragati Mandal (SPPM). bers of parliament — as to give the lie to on British soil, ” said Taleyarkhan. Bo.n ¦ It had been artist Coomi Dallas ’dying decades ofneglect. On behalf of the SPPM, wish that her portrait of the valiant Bhikhaiji its founder president Dr Minocher Con- Above: Shanna unveiling Cama s take its place among the other immortals tractor responded by presenting a shawl portrait Photo . The Press Trust of ind,a^ of the fre^om struggle. The Pragati Mandal and a sandalwood plaque, inscribed with Right: Members of the Surat antf Delhi had tried relentlessly for 30 years without Mme Cama ’s portrait, to both, the Vice anjumans with Rajiv and Soma Gandhi. tember 1989, until Homi Taleyarkhan, as Taleyarkhan later described the happy j occasion. I Speaker after speaker paid homage to 1 Dall^ derir^as fulfilled with such aplomb Cama, the hitherto ^miforgotton episode 1 Minister Rajiv Gandhi and other members first woman crusader for India s freedom ?osuiiisaiiu usuiiauiv aauomv- ..x., __________ _ -1- ___ " ‘ I » tuiie whcn it was considered very X^XS^ftte^atFtoi Lok Sabhl Dr Balram j ’akhar and mem- foolhardy. She dared to defy British imght . — the ceremony was attended by Prime in India ’s history. ‘Mme Cama was the 22 Parsiana October 1989K I, ¦ to wealth and social status —Bhikhaiji was daughter-in-law of the renowned scholar K. R. Cama — she sacrified everything to “her uncompromising patriotism and tire ­ less efforts to fight against exploitation and injustice, ” attested Jakhar. Best known for having hoisted the In ­ dian tricolor at the International Socialist Conference at Stuttgart in 1907, Cama ’s “perceptions and expectations were very clear. She had visualized much before that India would be a republic and Hindi would be the national lanjjpage, with Devnagari as the national script, ” said Jakhar, con ­ centrating on Cama ’s advocacy- of com ­ munal harmony and stand for “liberty and justice for all people irrespective of caste, creed or country. ” “While she was considered ‘mother of the Indian revolution ’ by her colleagues, the British described her as a ‘notorious lady ’ ... an ‘anarchic revolutionary, anti ­ British and irreconcilable, ”’ informed Sharma. The Vice President provided a rare glimpse into how other outstanding Indians had assessed Cama ’s contribution. Sharma recalled former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ’s comment, “It was the tricolor she unfurled which was adopted with some alteration by our freedom movement. ” Continued Sharma, “A flag is far more than a mere piece of cloth. Bapu had said a flag ‘represents an ideal. ’ It symbolizes the values and aspirations of a nation. Mme Cama ’s tricolor inspired countless revolutionaries during the days , V Bhikhaiji Cama ’s portrait has joined other notables of the freedom struggle in Parliament Hall 82 years after she defiantly unfurled the Indian tricolor of the struggle. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said, ‘We looked up to this flag not only with pride and enthusiasm but with a tingling in our veins... when we were sometimes down and out, the sight of this flag gave us courage to go on. ’” These tributes to Cama were echoed in other fora. The Times of India of August I ¦Oi !•’ f 16 reports that T. K. Tope, former vice chancellor of Bombay University, sug ­ gested that a fitting tribute to Mme Cama would be to rename Bombay ’s interna ­ tional airport at Sahar after her. Tope was speaking at an Asian Book Trust function concluding Bankim Chandraf Chatto- padhyay ’s one hundred and fiftieth birth anniversary celebrations. When the Parliamentary function con ­ cluded, the Parsis had another treat in store for them. At the request of Contractor, Taleyarkhan had conveyed to Rajiv Gandhi the desire of the Surat delegates for a group photograph with the Prime Minis ­ ter. Gandhi ’s response was a gracious invitation to tea at his residence where the Prime Minister and Ms Sonia Gandhi met and spoke to all. “As if to prove ‘Zoroas ­ trian unity worldwide, ’ the Delhi Zoroas ­ trians also went along —some were invited, others wittingly or unwittingly gate- crashed, ” notes the Fed Newsletter. The National Herald of August 4 reports the Prime Minister ’s tribute to the commu ­ nity ’s role “during the freedom struggle as also in pioneering various economic and educational programs and projects. ” SPPM president Bhesania and Contractor were quick to support Taleyarkhan ’s fulsome thanks for the Prime Minister ’s hospitality and affection, notes The Herald. An unexpected fallout was a spontane ­ ous invitation to, and acceptance by, the Prime Minister for a dinner engagement with the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) on Navroze night. According to DPA presi ­ dent Lt Gen Adi Sethna who related the anecdote to the Federation ’s executive council at its Madras meet in September, the scenario went somewhat like this: The irrepressible Dadi^Mistry, a com ­ mittee member of the DPA and a former secretary of the Federation, asked Gandhi why he did not grace DPA’s Navroze functions the way his mother had done. “Ask me, ” smiled the unperturbed Prime Minister. “Join us on the twenty-sixth, ” responded Mistry, adding waggishly to Sethna, as though in afterthought, “It ’s all right Adi, isn ’t it? ” “Of course, ” sup ­ ported Sethna, “We ’d be delighted! ” “Fine, ” accepted Gandhi, cutting through all the normal reels of red tape that pack ­ age prime ministerial social appearances. Thus Cama ’s spontaneity and commit ­ ment to national unity and harmony is being carried forward-hopefully into the twenty-first century. * 23 Parsiana October 1989HISTORY Nariman makes a Point N aranan PoaBft w a veiy wf—™ ano ^eo oy some nanmausi uusincwwiicn wuu afflueirtlbc^ity now, but ’ffew are resented that they were kept out of Ae s and later a member of the All India Con- Development Department, Mr Harvey. The of the Congress Nationalist Party of the history, lasting over 68 hearings. Its result Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) was an immense loss of face for the Bom- for 15 years and president of the Bombay bay government. Even more damaging — - ----——V .« . .e II 1- • - -----------a. -k hands of a fearless nationalist. Thereafter, Nariman preoccupied him ­ self with an active role in the Congress Party. He led the salt satyagraha in Bom- —’ariman P(mit is a very faeanNts ami ^d by some nationalist bosiiM^Hnen who ¦ « .. .. ... ..... J _ , aware that the man in whosememory reclamation contracts which were awarded the place has been named wasadisheartened only to British firms. figure in his last days, lived the life of a rec- The reclamation work had begun in luse and died anunsung hero at theage of 65. 1919 and the first salvo of Nariman came Khurshed Framjee Nariman met with in 1923 in the BMC. He succeeded in this fate even though his career was full of forming a Vigilance Committee under achievements - as an advocate, politician himself which led to the institution of the and social crusader. Back Bay Inquiry in 1926 in which the He became mayor of Bombay in 1935 principal accused was the secretary of the and later a member of the All India Con- Development Department, Mr Harvey. The gross Committee (AICC). He was a member inquiry was one of the longest in me city ’s of the Congress Nationalist Party of the history, lasting over 68 hearings. Its result Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) was an immense loss of face for the Bom- for 15 years and president of the Bombay bay government. Even more damaging Provincial Congress Committee (BPCC) was the fact that the drubbing came at the for seven years. ’ ’ " But he achieved national prominence through his exposure of what had come to be known as the “Back Bay Scandal ” which also earned him the popular title of bay, and boycotted the Gov ernor ’s Coun- “Veer (brave). ” But ifthis incident brought cil during the civil disobedience move- him popularity, the subsequent “Nariman ment. He also spent four jail terms inter- Then came the famous “Nariman epi ­ sode ” at the time of the formation of the ministry. Nariman was deemed a natural Contracts choice to be the first Indian chief minister In the Back Bay Scandal, his battle was of Bombay Presidency by virtue of his with the Bombay government ’s Develop- presidentship of BPCC and membership ment Department over reclamation of the of AICC. But the Congress Parliamentary Back Bay area. Nariman rallied the citi- Board, and particularly Sardar Vallabhbhai zens of Bombay to his side because of the Patel, regarded Nariman as too corruption, bungling and over spending on pendent ” a person and wanted a safer the project which he proved in the famous man like B. G. Kher, a solicitor by profes- Nariman-Harvey libel case. He also raised sion. a cry against the government ’s “usurpa- Fearing public humiliation, Nariman tion ” of the functions of the Municipal started a campaign against Vallabhbhai I be known as the “Back Bay Scandal ’ “Veer (brave). ” But ifthis incident brought ciT during the civil disobedience move- episode ” cost him not only the chief min- mittently. istership of Bombay Presidency but also "" the eventual eclipse of his political career. of Bombay to his side because of the Patel, regarded Nariman as too inde- the project which he proved in the famous man like B. G. Kher, a solicitor by profes- r " ........................................... * a cry against the government ’s “usurpa- Corporation. In this, Nariman was encour- and complained to the Congress Working PHOTOS THf r/MfS OF WDM » Khurshed Narimari after whom Nariman Point is named, was active in exposing the irregularities in the Back Bay reclamation deal J’ Dara Kadva 25 Parsiana October 1989! 1 i F i i In Ahmedabad The CAMA is simply the best ? n 5 'I t f ? A. Garden Hotel in the heart of the city ? Excellent Amenities ? Spacious Rooms with TV and Fridge ? MAJLIS, the Conference Room with all the facilities AAB-O-DAANA, invites you to a gourmet ’s delight RANGOLI, the only Poolside Restaurant in town SILVER LEAF, the Coffee Shop for the young at heart if ? ? NEED WE SAY MORE Cama cares for you coma hotel Committee (CWC) against his “persecu ­ tion ” by the Sardar. Unfortunately, some of Nariman ’s supporters gave a communal twist to the issue by publicly hinting that the Sardar did not want a Parsi to be the first Indian chief minister of Bombay. To avoid this impression, the CWG formed a sub committee comprising Gandhiji and D. N. Bahadurji, himself a Parsi, who was a former Advocate Genefd of Bombay. Nariman ’s detractors listed a number of charges against him which included an undenied allegation that in the Central Assembly election of 1934, Nariman had “betrayed ” Congress by withdrawing in favor of Sir Cawasji Jehangir who con ­ tested as an independent. Some leading citizens of Bombay ap ­ pealed to Gandhiji to undo the “injustice ” to Nariman and followed this up with a memorandum bearing 20,000 signatures. Embarrassed by the communal overtone of the issue, Gandhiji and Bahadurji did not publicly announce their report but only showed it to Nariman privately. The Bombay Press later quoted a state ­ ment by Nariman that he was withdrawing from the race,* with an acknowledgement of his “indifference ” to the 1934 election. He was also quoted as saying that he would not accept any other office in the Congress organization again. Unfortunately, Nari —• man retracted the statement the very next day under tremendous pressure from his agitated followers. Ultimately, the CWC at its Wardha session ruled that “in view of the findings of the report and Nariman ’s acceptance of it and his subsequent recantation, his con ­ duct has been such as to prove him unwor ­ thy of holding any position of trust and responsibility in the Congress organiza ­ tion. ” B. G. Kher then became the first Indian chief minister of Bombay. Thenceforth, Veer Nariman ceased to figure in the public life of Bombay. Later, he joined the INA (Indian National Army) at the invitation of Subhas Chandra Bose and also spent a year in Singapore. But that stint was wholly ill-starred and ended with the disappearance of Bose himself. Nariman returned to Bombay shortly be ­ fore the end of the Second World War. A bachelor all his life, Nariman died in 1948. His name is, however, commemorated by naming “Nariman Point ” after him, as well as renaming the road down Churchgate as the Veer Nariman Road. 1 Khanpur, Ahmedabad, India Tel: 25281 (9 lines) Edited from an article in The Times of India of September 1,1989. 26 Parsiana October 1989r DANCE BBS « Modern dancer Astad Deboo and puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee came on stage together to treat the audience to a rare blend of dance and puppetry Parinaz Gandhi An encounter between Frieruk I A confluence it was — of dance and pup- manipulated the puppet without any strings, music, ” informs Dadi, “to go with the petry, of traditional and contemporary art. The gestures were evocative of the senti- concept. ” Sometimes music is the moti- of life and form. The force behind the life ments shared in the relationship: from the vating factor, and sometimes the theme. In was the talented modem dancer Astad beginning when they explore each other, this case, they had decided on the theme. Deboo; the spirit behind the form was the build a friendship, support each other in friendship, before the quest for music began, popular puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee. And, times of difficulty, to the stage when the Was there a reason for selecting the they had joined hands to depict the theme, friendship turns sour and both ‘are left theme — friendship? “No, ” reply the duo friendship, at Bombay ’s'Tata Theatre on feeling more desolate than ever. in unison. In fact, the two of them who October 12, 1989. The whole idea of an abstract presenta- have known each other for nearly nine While Astad, casually dressed, was the tion “is not to spoonfeed the audience, ” years — art having brought them together mainspring, it was Dadi ’s towering puppet said Astad in an interview with Parsiana a — “toyed with the idea of a joint perform- that was the cynosure of all eyes. The week before the performance. The title of ance for over a year and a half ’ before it puppet ’s face was a picture of composure, the item is there to give the guidelines, started materializing. For eight weeks the forehead and half-closed eyelids re- The corresponding music plays a con- they labored. Rehearsals themselves re ­ sembling the Buddha ’s: The neck and tributory factor in identifying the ideas quired a lot of time coordination, Astad palms were the only other visible seg- projected. Beyond that, the interpretation being based in Bombay and Dadi being ments of the puppet, the rest being con- is left to the audience. In the case of based in Delhi and each having his own cealed within a flowing red robe. Synchro- Friends, the accompanying music was a nizing the movements of the puppet with composition by Ryuchi Sakamoto, David Deboo with Pudumjee's puppet those of Astad was Dadi who physically Byrne and Cong Su. “Astad selected the in Friends Photo: Shantanu Sheorey 29 Parsiana October 1989i 3 fl ,i ! BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a Poblic SHmmI by the Department of Education for Indian Merit Scholars. Excel­ lent Climate — AU-roimd Education: All Academic Subjects—Tech­ nical Subjects: Workshop. Tech ­ nology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance. Carpentry & Farm ­ ing. Training in Sdf-Goverameot through Elected Boys ’ Office bearers. Games—^Physical Train ­ ing — Daily Assembly with Congregational Prayers — Week ­ ly intensive Zoroastrian — Geeta- Koran classes — Excellent Modern Kitchen and Dining Room facilities — Airy Dormi­ tories. Moderate Fees. Freeships and Concessions to Deserving Students. Apply to — THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building, 324 Dr. D. N. Road, Bombay 400 001. 30 Parsiana October 1989 program schedule. propriate light effects which were a visual The first presentation of Friends was at delight. The lights for the program were Delhi early this year under the auspices of designed by Sam Kerawalla, and the sets the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, by Ratan Batliboi. It was well-received by the Delhi audience which prompted Astad to introduce this tour of the USA, Canada, Honolulu and item to the Bombay theater goers in his Australia in between regaling audiences in repertoire of six pieces choreographed and India. At the grand inaugural function of performed by him on October 12 under the the Festival of France in Jndia, Astad and aegis of the National Centre for the Per- his troupe performed on the sands of forming Arts. Chowpatty while sophisticated audiovis- In Delhi, there is a cross-sectional crowd ual laser beams spun around them and the — from diplomatic corps to street vendors traffic in South Bombay ground to a halt to —that attends theater shows while in Btrobay witness the event. An awareness for As- it is the regular crowd that makes the rounds, points out Astad. These days he is used to seeing a fairly good turnout at his shows “but it didn ’t start out that way, ” admits the dancer whose innovations with the traditional dance forms the Indian crit ­ ics only learnt to appreciate after repeated Gratified with the public adulation Astad theater shows, while adds, “People like my work. People are curious enough. ” For, at each presenta ­ tion Astad tries to introduce a new ele ­ ment: collaboration with a puppet was just one of the many concepts he has experi ­ mented with, “ft is not that one has to do it but as the work grows there has to be a tad ’s talent was created in his native land certain amount of input to make the work when the famous French designer Pierre., look better and have a greater impact ” is Cardin invited him to choreograph a piece Astad ’s rationale. for the Bolshoi ballerina Maya Plisetskaya. * And, he also likes to project themes For years he trained in the classical dance with a socially relevant message as was the forms of Kathak and Kathakali, his inno- case in his dance piece Broken Pane where vative approach surfacing only subse- the desperate, carnal nature of a drug addict quently . was effectively conveyed with a broken pane and a lone table to accentuate the India International Trade Fair, the Repub ­ isolation of the addict as he gropes in vain in darkness for his pills and syringes. Skin Deep was a silent satire on the way people Sutradhar Puppet Theatre, Dadi has also project an image. There was no auditory been involved in directing a TV serial with stimulus, just the strut, amble or scurry as puppets. In Japaru. Canada, Germany and Astad paraded on the stage, the slightest the rest of Europe he has performed at the change in garment each time and the cor- International Puppet Festivals. Folklore, responding mannerisms matching the per- mythology as also abstract themes chosen by Dadi have been presented in his puppet shows. Of late he has been concentrating on serious puppetry to impress upon the In ’89 itself, Astad has been on a dance In Delhi, the diplomatic corps as well as street vendors attend in Bombay it’s the regular crowd that makes the rounds Dadi ’s recent shows have been for the lie Day Parade and at several art centers. The artistic director and founder of the sonality depicted. There were also dances on abstract subjects like in Search where he maneu ­ vered his steps through a maze of entwined audience that through the medium of puj^ts strips in search of a resting place. Through he can entertain adults and children. Confluence he showed that Indian and contemporary Western dance are inter- Dadi together. The bonds being estab- linked. Dancing with rings suspended on lished, they would next like to widen their elastic bands, he gave proof of his muscle fraternity by involving more dancers and control. The rings, symbolizing the two more puppets in their ensuing collabora- dance forms, he manipulated to indicate tion which will last for a longer duration, the distinctive yet cohesive nature of dance. The theme has yet not been finalized but it In Passage of Life, a man ’s journey through different stages was highlighted with ap- It was friends that brought Astad and promises to strike a new accord which the theatergoers can look forward to.BOOKS IIMMY OLLIA for Love of Boobs Gustasp Irani it X o I m cn m a g z ? tj » I I V With prices running into iakhs of rupees, rare books are treasurpd more for their monetary value than their contents laments collector " Jimmy Ollia “If you want a tiger you have to hunt for ; one. You stalk It for days. The chances are FFI helped as most of the maharajas had good deal of antiques are collected for you may not get it, or you may. Likewise private cinema halls and they knew Ollia, with antiques, you ’ve got to hunt and stalk the film man; Ollia, the book collector, _rr_______ _ - .vvai« .luw what you want. ” The retirement years of invariably got a red-carpet welcome. There he found Gould's Birds of Asia lying in Jimmy Ollia, former secretary of The Film is really no marketplace for rare books, heaps of dust in the library of Rajkumar Federation of India (FFI), have been one states Ollia: “Life is full of surprises and College in Rajkot. “They were not aware big shik^. His prey: beautiful, old, rare very often you find a rare book in the most of the value of those volumes, ” says Ollia. books. His modest apartment flat at Kore- unlikely place... Y'ou may find a treasure Only after he pointed it out to the authori- gaon Park spills over with his trophies; on a casual visit to Walkeshwar, or visit trunks and drawers are crammed with bodes, s posters and more books. They have even show for your efforts.' usurped cupboards that were once used to store clothes. ________________________xavz... Ollia has travelled the entire span of the an amateur. “The thing with antiques, and country, in rattling trains and over un- i ‘ ' payed roads, with smgleminded determi- for years before you get something of command. In the West, Birds of America nation to dig out treasures from private value. ” It took him seven ____ k a unvc up lu prunes and collections^ big Md small, down the 1846 publication Views of Simla one crore rupees and more. Yet books ^n the former royal states. “There are that the big ones have the best collec- in this country are still not considered 33 Parsiana October 1989 5^’ . .j*,- 9 ijr, * tions, ” says Ollia. Being secretary of the collector ’s items like jade and ivory are. A status value and not as a result of true appreciation, is his view. Ollia recalls how Federation of India (FFI), have been one states Ollia: “Life is full of surprises and College in Rajkot. “They ties are the books now being properly seven princely states and have nothing to cared for. Ollia estimates that the seven ­ volume set may cost up to six lakh rupees. But it is eventually patience and perse- that is if the Rajkumar College is willing to verance that set aside a true collector from part with it. .1 Six lakhs, however, is modest com- not just rare books, is that you must wait pared to the price certain other rare books »» nation to dig out treasures from private value. ” It took him I" • - One rewarding source of rare books has and he finally found it in Finland. around 500 states and it is not necessary books are not generally ajqneciated. Books seven years to track by John Andobon may fetch a price up to have a value that has little to do with their Unlike the West, however, in India rare price tag, or the resale value, and sadly, it 11,. g value that few take seriously. “I’ll never sell any of my books, ” Ollia Mr 'emphatically declares. But since books Ollia. According to a Washington Library trade market. “My grandfather did busi- cost a pretty penny there are economic report, books published after 1840-1850 ness in China, ” says Ollia. “In fact my realities a collector must contend with, are more prone to destruction because of father was bom in China. ” While many Ollia, however, has worked out a unique the acidity in the paper. Paper produced Parsis were directly involved in this opium system: for a price he permits reproduc- 1 “ ‘ tions from his collection. Large corporate content. “I have very few books after drug, they frowned upon its use. Special houses, magazines and advertising com- 1840-1850 so I don ’t have to worry about care had to be taken to see that servants did panics have had rewarding calendars, is­ sues and campaigns as a result. Ollia has an ‘open house ’ where visi ­ tors are welcome, with prior appointment though, to browse through the rich pages Ceylon. “The pages are as good as new. Ollia shows us a passage where the author of the past. Yet, there are few takers. For This book will outlive books published writes of how noisy children are quietened those who do take up the offer, there is a after 200 years, ” he observes. He is off down and made to sleep by dipping the cup of tea, maybe a snack; but more, a rich again to dig out another volume; to illus- back of their heads in the cold waters of and rewarding experience. Don ’t expect trate another point. One gets used to the Himalayan streams. We flip through the an orderly, catalogued library. What you mercurial quality of Ollia as he flits around book, taking in the illustrations. “Simla will find areleemingly disorganized heaps from one stack of books to another; from has changed, ” Ollia laments. “The old- of books scattered all over the place — one topic to another. Ollia, lean and chis- world atmosphere and natural beauty is testimony to the fact that they are not eled featured, exudes energy. gone. The only place that you will still find collected to be hoarded but to be enjoyed. He has dug out a sleek, gilt-edged, it in, is books. ” Books are history, and Constant handling of books has another crocodile-leather-bound, 1910 edition of geography, and culture, and art; books are advantage too — it ’s the best way to pre- Asprey's World Gazzatteer. “I must have more than printed words. serve them. Dust, direct sunlight and been about 20 when I bought this copy for “I buy books not just because they are dampness can affect the life span of books, Rs 10 and that too after three days of old. I buy them for their value and I don ’t possibly- even destroy them. To counter bargaining at a flea market, ” he mentions, mean resale value. I buy them for their these dangers, “You may fumigate your He flips through the volume to Bombay beauty, ” says Ollia. “I have been collect ­ collection yearly along with your regular which then encompassed Aden and Sind, ing books ever since I was 18, so it is not pest control if you want. Camphor'tablets “Even today, film distribution rights for really sometlang new, ” observes Ollia. will also do but don ’t ever use DDT,” Bombay cover Aden and Sind, ” adds Ollia. Serious collecting however, hegan with warns Ollia. The greatest destroyer of Bombay, the book informs us, was an retirement. At that time, collection of books, however, is the paper itself informs important center in the international opium marine products and fossils were other before 1840-1850 had reportedly no acid trade and amassed fortunes trading in the 1840-1850 so I don ’t have to worry about them, "says Ollia, adding matter- of- factly, not drug children to keep them quiet. "Most things modern are made not to last. ” Talldng of soothing children spariks Ollia. "Most things modern are made not to last. ” To illustrate, he takes out a 1726 vol- He is up and sifting through bwks. This ume. Modern History of India, Burma and time it is a 1846 volume of View s of Simla. " ' Ollia shows us a passage where the author those who do take up the offer, there is a after 200 years, ” he observes. He is off down and made to sleep by dipping the ¦ 7 "i again to dig out another volume; to illus- He has dug out a sleek, gilt-edged, it in, is books. ” Books are history, and Dust, direct sunlight and been about 20 when I bought this copy for Best Wishes From RUSY & PURVIZ SHROFF 34 Parsiana October 1989 ¦options Ollia had to weigh before plump- the total dedication that goes into a book collection of books on die Zoroastrian ing for books. But first there was a year of that makes it outstanding — the printing, religion, says Ollia. His own stock of rare intensive study and research; time spent in ~ “ libraries in Bombay, Delhi, Madras and all over the country. There is even specialization in the kind published had to be processed by licks of Most Early Times to Modern Times, of books one may collect, Ollia informs us. the artist ’s brush. Referring to Gould ’s MDCCCXV (1815). But Ollia is quick to “Some collect books only related to the Birds of Asia Ollia observes: “The first point out: “Parsis are Indians first and last crafts, some only to trade catalogues, or maps or literary works, or astronomy or even comics. “If I come across any good copies each. It gives you an idea of the Indians. ” He comments on the compla- book I will pick it up, ” says Ollia, though time and effort involved. ” cency that one finds in th^ community ! he prefers “books of visual beauty with old woodcuts and lithography. He illus ­ trates the point with posters: “Prints that are like paintings. Today, with all the modem teckpology, you still cannot re ­ produce these vibrant colors. ” He tells us of one method of how the color amber was people knew how to sketch. It was the only dren of Zoroastrian women married to made in the days of yore. A cow was way to record your travels. The very best non-Zoroastrians are being accepted as denied water for two days and made to eat were reproduced, ” says Ollia. To do members of the religion. “There should only a certain strain of grass. Its urine was justice to the illustrations the printing had be no distinction between man and woman; then collected and mixed with some spe- to be, and was, of the very highest quality, it ’s against modem trends and modem cial mud found only in certain specified Two Indian presses that did excellent quality thinking. Men and women can only be areas. “The amber you get from this work were Ravi Verma ’s Press at Malavli, happy if they are equal. Discrimination process will not lose its vibrance in 500 Lonavla and the Chitra Shala Steam Press, breeds unhappiness, ” says Ollia. years, ” says Ollia. You find yourself Poona. Both are no more; only their bylines ' leafing through a 1915 volume, Indian on outstanding posters remain as testi- His life has been dedicated to the visual Sport Birds, and a 1898 publication. Deer mony to their excellence. The best print Of All Lands. Time has not dimmed the ing presses, according to Ollia, were in brilliance of the colors. Colors are only part of the story. It is the binding, the text, the illustrations. Before books on the Zoroastrian religion and the advent of color printing books were community is limited. He does, however, hand painted; every plate of every copy own a rare volume. History of Persia From volume was published in 1850 and the and there is nothing more to it. We treat seventh (the last) in 1888; 530 plates, 500 India as our home and India treats us as Modem printing has killed the art of today: “Parsis are resting on the halo of lithography and woodcut printing. Fur- their past glory. In fact, it is the Parsis ; ther, photography, according to him, has settled abroad —in UK, in Canada, in USA killed the art of illustration. Earlier, trav- -who are more vibrant. They care. They ellers carried sketchpads and pens instead want to do something for the commu- of cameras. “Seven to eight out of 10 nity. ” He is happy that abroad the chil- Ollia, however, remained a bachelor. arts —first ciSema, now books. “I have no TV, no music system, no other form of Germany. entertainment, only my books. I don ’t Germany also probably has the best need more. ” Steamship agents — master stevedores dubashes — lighterage contractors Darabshaw B.Cursetjee's Sons (Bombay)Pvt. Ltd. Darabshaw House, Ballard Road, Bombay - 400 038. Grams: DEADWEIGHT' Phone: 260021 (4 Lines) (Dock Office: 262230) Telex: 5824 DBCB IN Also associates at Calcutta, Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Mangalore, Bhavnagar, Bedi-port, Navlakhi, Veraval, Porbunder & Kandla. Also sole Government Landing contractors at Jamnagar, (Bedi) Bhavnagar. 36 Parsiana October 1989BOOKS Cow/d India have avoided the Partition? Khusro F. Rustomji Partition irf India - Legend and Reality by H. M. Seervai. Published by Enunenem Publications, India Book House, 22, Bhulabhai Desai Rd, Bombay 400026. Pp:237. Price: Rs 70. i seemed insignificant and which showed the mind rather than the public stance. Only a man of exceptional skill and the deepest regard for every word in evidence could have produced a book of such an incisive nature. From among the main characters who played their parts in the drama of p^ition — Mohandas Gandhi, Mohammed Ali Jin- nah, Archibald Wavell, Louis Mountbat ­ ten, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Jawaharlal Nehru — the two that he picks out as the heroes are Wavell and Azad. The Maulana ’s faith in Hindu-Muslim unity was so great that he was prepared to accept a postponement of independence. Rajmo- han Gandhi quotes him in the following words: “If an angel descends from the heavens today and proclaims from the Qutub Minar that India can attain swaraj within 24 hours provided I relinquish my - :¦ •-•ii 0 * f ' Reality by Hormasji Man- When I took up the book Partition of India eckji Seervai, I wondered how that legend of Indian law, whose book Constitutional Law of India is a classic, has dealt with a political subject. Law is based on words j and interpretations. Politics is not only the • written word but numerous unspoken fears and anxieties and hopes, unspecified per ­ sonal ambitions and attitudes, the emo ­ tions of millions of people. How has he dealt with this complex subject? Nfr Seervai ’s method of writing a book is unique. There is meticulous analysis of records. There is an emphasis on words and their juxtaposition which an ordinary man may miss. The narrative takes ac ­ count-of the unexpected remark in a letter, the sentence in a press conference which ,*A ¦* •»*|S'X From left Wavell, Azad and Nehru: played their parts in the drama of Partition 39 Parsiana October 1989 :tt i I 1 < < 'ti1"'! J THE PARSIANA BOOK OF / V 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 Pehn Nariman Street, Behind Reserve Bank of India, Fort, Bombay 400001. Faredoon and g,. Burjor Sandalwood Shop, *4 Princess Street. % e } Union Press, 13, Homji Street, " Bombay 400001 t. > '! F 1 < J < r O J' demand for Hindu-Muslim unity, I shall the British at reconciliation was distrusted retort to it, ‘No, my friend,! shall give up and spumed, and it was generally accepted swaraj but not Hindu-Muslim unity, ’ for if that die British were playing the Congress Swaraj is delayed it will be a loss for India against the Muslim League to stay in power, butif Hindu-Muslim unity is lost, it will be Some sagacious men like Chakravarti a loss for the whole of mankind. ” Rajagopalachari hinted at the possibility Waved comes out as “the rugged, straight of the war weary British leaving India, but soldier ” — direct both in approach and they were ridiculed. How could Britain statement — who more than anyone else give up its empire which was the comer- was responsible for opening the doors to stone of Churchill ’s policy? Even when negotiations in 1945. He was a scholar, an the Cripps offer came in 1943 the Con- administrator who prevented the recur- gress was hesitant to believe that they rence of the Bengal famine and a man who would quit India. Jinnah, ^n the other wanted to transfer power to a united India, hand, was quick to see that keeping the He was opposed first by Churchill and then British on his side was the best way to by Clement Attlee. Had he been sup- secure his initial objective —parity, ported, it is claimed by Mr Seervai, the - - - - - - partition of India may have been avoided. Wavell was a man who never understood and convinced Nehru and others that His Gandhiji, probably never understood any Majesty ’s Government (HMG) had given politician at all, and was summarily dis- him the mandate to transfer power before missed on the pretext that he was a soldier June 1948, the deadline set for him by and lacked political training. Mountbatten on the other hand is shown as vain, deeply rooted in himself, his own glory, and his unbridled ambitions: “left Once that was accepted, against Maulana alone for an evening he would devote Azad ’s firm advice, Pakistan began to himself to geneology. ” The author feels that the contemporary verdict on Mountbat ­ ten will be reversed by history and the last struction by the Muslim League in the few days of his viceroyalty “will live in interim government made the Congress infamy ” because of the tragic results of accept partition. What they wanted to the partition. He underscores the energy, avoid —rioting and bloodshed —ended in the drive, the sincerity with which he pushed the bloodbath of 1947. the concept of independence, wrongly perhaps precipitating the date so that ade ­ quate preparations could not be made. Jinnah appears as a realistic politician all the horrors of the partition riots would who wanted parity with the Hindus, played have been avoided. Some part of the his cards with astute diplomacy and won trouble was undoubtedly due to lack of the British over to his side. And, what preparation. A postponement till the comes through at the end, in the words of communal tension had subsided may have his biographer Ayesha Jalal is, “It was the saved us from some of the troubles. But to Congress that insisted on partition. It was think that if the partition of India had been Jinnah who was against it. ” It is doubtful prevented we may have been better placed whether her statement, which amounts to saying that partition was forced on him, is correct. The book traces the transforma ­ tion of the nationalist Jinnah into the man who strove to protect Muslims from Hindu produced a fever which had made settled domination, but in the process forced the larger number to stay behind in an inde ­ pendent India and bear the odium of what achieved in future as Canada and the United he had achieved. States have done, as all the warring states In the light of hindsight, one error of of Europe have been able to do — by strategy is clearly visible. The Congress, like the rest of the country, had become convinced that the British would never part with power voluntarily. All their the whole of the period from 1942 to 1947 moves were based on this assumption. In before us in a compact and discerning consequence, the war effort was opposed; study, removes misconceptions, puts for ­ ward some original theses, and does it all * which was a blunder. Any effort made by with clarity and good faith. the Congress ministry resigned in 1941 40 Parsiana Octr^r 1989 \ The shift in Congress policy came too late when Mountbatten came on the scene Attlee. By that time the idea of Pakistan had emerged, in a small way in the begin ­ ning, in the shape of a grouping of states. appear as a feasible proposition, and the frequent riotipg and the continuous ob- A view which is commonly accepted is W. that partition was an avoidable disaster, and that if a compromise had been achieved, to deal with our problems is a debatable proposition. We had reached a stage where no progress in undivided India was pos ­ sible. The virus of communalism had administration impossible. Yet what we could not achieve in 1947 may possibly be moving into a common market. Mr Seervai ’s book can serve as a refer ­ ence book but it lacks an appendix. It putst I BOOKS leven years ago, Homi Homji became the “prophet ” of the writing on the wall to declare: O Whither Parsis? Placate and Perish or Reform and Flourish (Karachi, 1978). He was then in Karachi and his book was addressed to the entire dwin ­ dling community, particularly those in his hometown and Bombay. Now as a well- settled immigrant and a prominent social worker among an increasing number of the immigrant Zoroastrians, both Parsis and Iranis, of North America, “guesstimated ” to be around 9,000 souls, he appears quite optimistic of the future. His third and latest book has disEfgarded the warning of “placate and perish ” and focusses on his message of “reform and flourish” in the new land of plenty. The Gathas of Asho Zarathushtra pro ­ vide the guideline for reform. But the Gathas, translated by many with “a heavy emphasis on the individual author ’s per ­ sonal pride, prejudice, orthodoxy or liber ­ alism, sometimes even seemingly manipu ­ lative, ” have “no two translations...in adequate conformity of meaning and con ­ ception. ” Homji has, therefore, “attempted to read several of these translations and to select therefrom what seems proper to an intelligent mind living in a modernized society of free thinkers. ” The translations quoted by Homji are by Ardeshir Framji ____ Khabardar {New Light on the Gathas of Zoroastrianism: contemporary perception of ancient 23 pages to give an account of “the two In Search of the Gathas Ali Jafarey choice (Y.30.2) in the understanding of his religion, man by man, and to be aware of the false prophets (Y.32.9, 31.1-2) that would follow him and who would super ­ impose on, or sidetrack from, his pure philosophy by blind and total indulgence in the cult of rituals. Could he have meant to convey to his followers that his univer ­ sal religion is for all mankind and for all time, and that the application of individual intelligence and choice has to be related to changing societies as best suited to the needs of the time? Did he ever advocate practice of religion by surrogate interme ­ diaries between man and his God, and of rewards or merits to be achieved by inter ­ vention of priestly rituals? Think about it! Would he have advocated the acceptance of his Gathas at par with later Avesta, Pahlavi and old Persian scriptures and ‘traditions, ’ as now being advocated by pseudo-scholars who brazenly challenge the omnipotence of Ahura Mazda? ” The author gives his perception on the life hereafter by stating that “die theory of reward or retributioi^ is firmly established in the Gathic philosophy ” and finds in Taraporewala ’s translation “some confu ­ sion or vague distinction ” on rebirth. “For want of better knowledge or wisdom, for the moment we will have to let the matter rest here, ” he says. Yet he devotes some Holy Zarathushtra, Bombay 1951), Irach wisdom, a search for the true meaning and scope rtf Bhavnagri sons Vispi and Ratoo ” who I. S. Taraporewala (The Religion of after their death in a motorcar accident 1950), Stanley Insler SI £ establish “telepathic commnnications ” (Ineijatnas of Zarathustra, Tenran-Liege lowdaie, Ontario M2M3S6, Canada. Pd: 214. Price: with their mother to descnbe in detail their life after death, and to inform about re ­ peated rebirths of soul in order “to qualify J. S. Taraporewala (The Religion of Gaf/ws by Homi B. Minocher Homji. — - - Published in 1989. Available from the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO), 3590 Bayview Ave Wil­ lowdale, Ontario M2M 3S6, Canada. Pp: 214. Price: 1975), The Zoroastrian (a publication Canadian $10 +postage (payable to ZSO for use in of the California Zoroastrian Center). The book has, in addition to an Intro- ---------------------------------------------------- - for rising higher spiritual levels. ” duction. Prologue and Epilogue, five parts, IZ_ " J _2 _ ' 2 '' ' each with several sections of stimulating tance. ’ Homji deals with “some contro- takes the reader from the freedom of choice ZSO’s Publication Fund). Homji deals at length on ethics which titles and the author s own “perceptions. ” versial problems that have vexed the to ecology in order to emphasize man ’s With thp nothns in viAw Hnmii oainetav, community ” in every section. part in promoting God ’s'world and con- The author does not confine himself to eludes that “Prophet Zarat hushtra, by his '' ' ’ " “ ‘: own precept, shows us that our duty is three-fold. We have to strive for our own names and characteristics, the wisdom and temporary scholars of Zoroastriamsm and perfection, but simultaneously also carry mind of mankind, the cultivation of bodily modem science to arrive at his “percep- along other members of the brotherhood to senses as a means to attaining spirituality tions ” at the end of every title. He speaks perfection by our thought, speech and acticMi. and perfection, rebirth, ethics, the origin of the pure, progressive and modem teach- In addition we also have an obligation and history of Avestan scriptures and their ings of the Gathasilater additions, interpo- towards evil persons, pretenders and false pollution, dilution and reversion, the dual lations, interpretations, institutionalizations speakers, to convert them to the right way mentalities in the Gathas, Pahlavi scrip- by succeeding priests and the growth of of thinking... ” tures and their quality .and influences, ritualism, changes that have forced Homji The Gathic and other quotations fol- manthras and their proper recitation, Sas- to express himself in forceful words: “One lowed by Homji ’s perceptions clearly state sanian theocracy and ritualism, the post- wonders whether Zarathushtra, the great that the message of Zarathushtra is univer- Sassanian situation interpolating Islam, seer, had a premonition of this sacrilege sal. “Zarathushtra ’s vision was ... not the reformist movement and orthodox tra- that forced him to advise his followers to necessarily limited to conversions by ditionalism, and demography and ‘ accep- use their own individual intelligence and navjotes, but more the formation of a uni- With the Gathas in view, Homji painstak ­ ingly reviews the purpose and goal of Creation, the character and philosophy of the Gathas, but quotes from non-Gathic Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazda and His parts of the Avesta, Pahlavi writings, con- 41 Parsiana October 1989 •9Could Zarathushtra have meant to convey to his followers that his universal religion is for all mankind and for all time? versal brotherhood of the righteous (soci- the self-restraint for obtaining funds, one perceptions, gives the clear, modem mes- ety of maza magha —great magnanimity), would understand why he has printed a sage of Asho Zarathushtra to promote a So when we talk about conversion or ac- modest number of only 500 copies. One better world of loving and living together, ceptance, let us be clear that what we are wishes that the message could be con- It provides one with the insight of the after is to win over both Zoroastrians and Goixi Religion. It is a very good introduc- non-Zoroastrians to this brotherhood ----------------------------------------------------- tion to Zarathushtrianism and the after ­ math. It may not be received well by some who might feel hurt at Homji ’s frankness. Yet a cool consideration wo^ld reveal his love and respect for everyone who truly serves the community and the humanity at large. Let us keep in mind that in this book Homji is concerned with the growing community in North America faced with a totally new environment and many chal ­ lenges. It is on this community that he has pinned his hopes for a bright future. Incidentally, the book also portrays Homji not as a free thinker he perhaps wants the reader to believe, but as a serious thinker and a sincere contemplator. He is (p.214).” The part on scriptures describes well the Gat has, Haptanghaiti and other sec ­ tions of the Younger Avesta and some Pahlavi writings. Unfortunately due to Zaehner ’s The Dawn and Twilight ^Zoroas­ trianism, Haptanghaiti receives some degrading r^arks by Homji for the sup ­ posed degeneration of Gathic concepts. One wishes he knew that when Haptang ­ haiti, now in prose, is shorn off later inter ­ polations and restored to its original form in poetry, it fully agrees with the Gathas (see Yasna Haptahati, an attempt at resto ­ ration of meter and translation of re-versi- fied text, by Ali A. Jafarey, Tehran 1975). veyed to a much larger circle. It is hoped much concerned about the future of his Should one keep in mind Homji ’s urge that the second edition, duly revised, would community and above all, is not _ happy to serve his small community in Toronto in have a wider circulation. over the very limited reach of the universal particular and in North America in gen- eral, the financial resources at hand and the laity to grasp the points put in the The book, although a little heavy for message of Zarathushtra. He wants it to “spread overlhe seven continents. ” 42 Parsiana October 1989MILESTONES i The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from information provided by various newsletters and anjumans in In ­ dia and abroad, courts and hospi ­ tals. It must be pointed out that this information is not always complete or consistent. Of the 81 Parsis who died in Bombay, 24 succumbed to heart diseases while 11 fell prey to lung diseases. Eight victims died due to pneumonia. Old^fge claimed eight. The other killers were brain disease (seven), hypertension (six), blood and kidney diseases (three each) and Parkinson's disease (two). Isolated cases of tubercu ­ losis, cancer, liver disease, diabe ­ tes, dehydration and nervous dis­ order were registered. In the case of two deaths, medical reports were pending. In the breakup of deaths ac ­ cording to illnesses, it must be noted that in some cases, espe ­ cially in those of the very old, death is often due to a combina ­ tion of several diseases. If readers have any informa ­ tion they would like published some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would ap ­ preciate this requirement and co ­ operate with us. I BOMBAY Born A boy to Perviz and Pervez Daboo on September 2, 1989 A boy to Jeroo and Firoze Vazifdar, September 2 A boy to Aban and Percy Damania', September 3 - A boy to Feroza and Neville Bachana', September 5 A girl to Havovi and Khodadad Irani', September 6 A boy to Piroja and Farokh Mistry-, September 9 A boy to Farida and Jimmy Pardiwala', September 9 A boy to Zarine and Homyar Bodhanwalla; September 11 A girl to Jasmine and Darayas Bhot', September 12 A boy to Havovi and Farokh Patel', September 13 A girl to Nilufer and Sarosh Doomasia', September 15 A boy to Zenobia and Khushrove Mody, September 15 A boy to Kamalrukh and Pervez Wadia', September 15 A girl to Zarin and Temti Bodhanwala', September 17 A girl, Zanoishta, to Jasmine and Rohinton Vania', September 17 A boy to Meher and Rajan Mathrani; September 19 A girl to Hufrish and Rajiv Bahl', September 20 A boy to Khorshed and Jimmy Colabawalla', September 21 A girl to Aban and Jamshed Irani; September 21 A boy to Roshni and Shahrukh Tata; September 22 A girl to Freny and Behru Cardmaster; September 24 A girl to Jasmine and Yazdi Bharucha; September 25 A boy to Indrani and Cyrus Gandhi; September 26 A boy to Banoo and Farokh Mobedji; September 27 Married Dilshad Bhikhaji Marfatia oi Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh and Farokh Keki Pestonji of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh; September 3 Binaif er Burjor Katrak and Kersi Phiroze Hilloo', September 6 Niloufer Pirosha Rustomjee of Australia and Minoo Keki Patel', September 8 Benaifer Palanji Bajina and Farhad Darius Sethna', September 9 Kashmira DorabBardoliwalla and Percy Meherji Karkaria', September 10 Kerban Farukh Godrej and Homiar Cavas Bhaisa-, September 26 Dhan Jal Mehta and Nosheir Maneksha Daruwala of Secun ­ derabad; September 29 Died Homi Zand Ardeshir (73), residing at ‘B,’ The Reward, Tardeo, 400007; August 31 Perin Muncherji Aderiyanwala (58), 257, Botawalla Bldg, Thakurdwar Rd, 400002; September 1 Homi Kaikhushroo Lalkaka {10), 39ri,3^\\a. Court, Colaba, 400(X)5; September 1 Jamasji Kawasji Pithawala {^3), 515 B, Ratan Mans, R. P. Masani Rd, Matunga, 400019; September 1 Jehangir Dossabhoy Banaji (84), 4, Babulnath Rd, 400007; September 2 Rusi Kavasji Dubash (68), 111, Galaxy Apt Annexe, Bandra, 400050; September 2 Manek Manchershaw Lakadawala (75), Aidun Bldg, Dhobitalao, 400002; September 2 Homai Ruttonshaw Batliboi (82), 33, Hormusji Limjibhai Rustomfram Bglw, Bandra, 400050; September 4 Roshan Keki Kanga (46), F/38, Cusrow Bang, S. B. Rd, 400039; September 4 Pallonji Behramji Bajina (69), 8, Gautam View, Seven Bglws, Versova, 400061; September 6 Piroja Ardesar Dotiwala (91), 16, Rustom Bang, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; September 6 Ratan Jamshedji Mqdon (82), 143,Fariyas Apt, Cumballa Hill, 400036; September 7 Dosibai Dhunjisha Pagdiwala (78), 9, Ruby Light, Bandra, 4(X)050; September 9 Freny Nusserwanji Talaty (78), M/32, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 4(X)039; September 9 Khorshed Eruchshaw Chinoy (83), 522, Moon Mans, Opp Chira Bazar, J. S. Sheth Rd, 400002; September 10 Goolan Dara Dadachanji (84), 39/B, Gool Mhl, Sleater Rd, 400007; September 10 Edul Dhanjishaw Sodawater- wala (53), 15, Lady Navajbai Tata Bldg, Bandra, 400050; September 10 Savak Framroze Bamboat (83), G 1/2, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; September 11 Kaikhashroo Cavasha Dhalla (93), 11, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; September 11 Pervez Darabshaw Panthaiy (54), ‘B,’ Tardeo Chmbs, Kashinath St, 400034; September 11 Goolbai Kaikhasru Patel (93), Ali Manzil, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; September 11 Nusserwanji Nawroji Screwwala (95), 804 B, Sainiketan, B. Ambedkar Rd, Dadar, 400014; September 11 Bachamai Dosabhai Surty (74), Bhivandiwalla Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; September 11 Hilla Beharamji Bhagwagar (75), 8/3, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 40()034; September 12 Rustom Framroze Eranee (80), Park View, Prof Almeida Rd, Bandra, 400050; September 12 Fall Sorabjee Fanibanda (62), 730, Jehangir Vimadalal Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 4(K)014; September 12 Rustomji Navroji Kutar (73), C/o Zoroastrian Studies, KRCOI Bldg, Bhagat Singh Rd, 400001; September 12 Dina Naval Master (77), 28, Ganesh Bhuvan, Dhobitalao Lane, 400002; September 12 Banoobai Burjorji Punjiaji (91), Master Chmbs, Cinema Rd, 400020; September 12 Najamai Pestonji Bhesania (78), 294, Crasto Bldg, Dhobitalao, 400(X)2; September 13 Tehmina Nusserwanji Hozdar (80), Singanpori Bldg, 609, Girgaum Rd, 400002; September 13 Dinshaw Saeriarji Irani (68), Spenta Mans, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; September 13 Kaikobad Jamshedji Rabadi (64), Kashinath Bldg, Khet- wadi. Sth Lane, 400004; September 13 Jamshedji Pestonji Sarkari (96), H/31, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; September 13 Khorshed Naoroji Wadia (88), Jamaspji Apt, Sleater Rd, 4(X)(K)7; Se^ember 13 Nariman Khurshedji Wadia - (79), Wadia Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 40(X)34; September 13 Ruttonshaw Cawasji Panthaki (82), 682, Kapadia Bldg, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; September 14 Daulatbanoo Jamaspji Postwalla (80), J/7, Captain Clny, Tardeo, 400034; September 14 Aban Sam Aga (46), Banoo Mans, Cumballa Hill, 400026; September 15 Dhunmai Nariman Daruvala (62), M-8, Navroze Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; September 15 Noshir Hirjibhoy Gorimar (75), 28, Ganesh Bhav^, Makhamali Talao, Thane, 400601; September 15 Jamshed Noshirwan Engineer (70), Buena-Vista, Poch- khanawala Rd, Worli, 400018; September 16 Piroja Khushru Irani (88), Kapadia Bglw, Khetwadi, 12A Cross Lane, 400004; September 16 Darabshaw Burjorji Medhora (96), G/8, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; September 16 Pirojbai Jal Palkhiwala (93),‘B,’ Daruwalla Bldg, Frere Bridge, Grant Rd, 400007; September 16 Rustorn Jalejar Taraporvala 43 Parsiana October 1989n li (80), Family Hse, 794, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; September 16 Pali Manchersha Titina (62), 182, Enterprise Apt, Forjett Hill Rd, 400036; September 16 Goolbai Shawaksha Dolikuka (97), 170/D, Amtoobai Bldg, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; September 17 Homai Erachshaw Bhacka (92), Sushil Bldg, Arthur Bunder Rd, Colaba, 400005; September 19 Hormuzd Boman Irani (75), B. Merwan Bldg, Opp Grant Rd Stn, 400007; September 19 Tehmina Hosang Kothawala (85), 2, Seagull, Bhulabhai Desai Rd, 400026; i ! (85), 2, Seagijll. Desai Rd, 4000; September 19 Khorshed Sorabji Kotwal (85), P/36, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; September 19 Pali Burjorji Gandevia (68), Sunder Mhl, 561, Chira Bazar, 400002; September 20 Rustom Namdar Irani (62),‘A,’ Tapya Bldg, Jalbhoy St, 400004; September 20 Darabshaw Dinshaw Neterwala (85), C/o Dataram Chavan, New Transit Camp, Block 5,1-3, Sion, 40(X)22; September 20 Nariman Pestonji Bhesania (75), 70-D, Meher Villa, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; September 21 Jamshedji Rustomji Dalal (86), Dubash Hse, Walchand Hirachand Marg, 400038; September 21 Homai Pirojshaw Shroff (84), 20, Hampton Court, Wodehouse Rd, 400005; September 21 Shirinbai Jal Shroff (66), Karani ’s Widow Chawl, Gilder St, 400008; September 22 Hilla Behram Umrigar (65), Dinshaw Bldg, Dhunbhai Wadi, Vile Park, 400056; September 22 Jerbanoo Savakshaw Master (82), E/6, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; September 23 Tehmina Burjorji Bhiwan- diwalla (95), P/1, Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; September 25 Dinbai Pirojsha Daruwala (85), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; September 25 Behram Jal Godiwala (60), Hoshang Baug, Santacruz (E), 400055; September 25 Rusi Darabshah Parakh (75), 6/S, Bhivandiwalla Ter, ‘A,’ Dhobitalao, 400002; September 25 Homai Dorab Sidhwa (68), N/10, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 40(X)12; September 25 Najamai Pallonjee Zaiwalla (75), Dist Bordi, Thane, 401701; September 25 Homai Minocher Dalal (64), Piroja Villa, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; September 26 Piloo Pallonji Dumasia (62), 43, Madani Hse, Jijibhai Dadabhai Lane, 400001; September 26 Behram Jahangir Nazir (88), Bimal, Krishna Complex, Vasai (W), 401201; September 26 Eruch Bomanshah Dahk (79), 8, Rusi Mehta Bldg, Dinabai Petit St, Grant Rd, 400007; September 27 Jal Rustomji Mirza (85), BI2%, Gool Mhl, Skater Rd, 400007; September 21 Jamshedji Dhanjibhoy Vesuna (94), 5, Vijay Niwas, Skater Rd, 400007; September 27 Maneck Keki Asavaid (63), Jehangir Mans, Dhobitalao, 400020; September 28 Hirabai Burjorji Basla (12), D/16, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 4(X)027; September 28 Nusserwanji Vicaji Dodhi (88), Green Fields, M. Karve Marg, 400020; September 28 Tehrnina Rustomjee Banaji (il), 6/B, Crown Mans, Forjett St, 400036; September 29 Mehranbai Rustomji Daruwala (88), Navroze Mans, Tardeo Rd, 40()007; September 29 Maneksha Sorabji Radhei^ (68), ‘A,’ Kuka Bldg, Pila Hse, Liberty Hotel, 400008; September 29 Dhunmai Dossabhoy Balsara (81), Boman Hse, Homji St, Fort, 400001; September 30 Dorab Meherwanji Patel (83), M/30, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 4(X)039; September 30 KARACHI Died Meher Patel, mother of Rubina Patel Lovelace; July 10 Praney Pramroze Mody (71); August 4 Goolfi Bapuji Shroff (82); August 22 Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka i fbr Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324. GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY 400007, TELEPHONE: 371403 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 44 Parsiana October 1989 e.