Jun 1990

h i '<‘1 k ¦ ' - - s4'« MANECK GOIPORIA CHAIRMAH STATE BANK OF INDIAIJune 1990 Vokune 12 Number 12 EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi ASSISTANT EDITOR Roxana H. Kaka DESIGN Kranti Shilotri, Varghese Fernandez, Deborah Fernandes 3 Readers’ Forum 9 Events and Personalities 13 Zoroastrians Abroad MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Cheryl D'Penha CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala FINANCE B. L Arora EDP Rohinton E. Daroga CIRCULATION Behram Umrigar MANAGEMENT Minoo Patel, Jasmine Driver OFFICE Rajendra P. Nayak, Khurshid Panthaki, Patricia Lewis, Rajalakshmi Krishnan, Bakhtavar Batliwalla, 16 Goiporia’s mounting credit by Parinaz Gandhi 20 Dorabjee Trust: land(ing) in dispute by Gustasp Irani 24 The Visitors’ Vision 30 In Memoriam Cover: 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/o Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Color processing, Comart Lithographers; and black and white processing, Samir Process. All rights reserved. Phone: 2048730 Fax; 2042922 For editorial enquiries: 2048183 Telex 11-85710 RABO IN Annual inland 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 Pacsiana 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 400001READERS’ FORUM gate ” as to cause to continue or increase by sexual reproduction; to pass to off ­ spring; to cause to spread on and affect a For that we must start to lay a good foun ­ dation now. Our present religious schol ­ ars should write text books on our reli ­ gion for three types of students: for chil- greater number, dren upto eight years, for students upto 15 years and for adults. Religious know ­ ledge should be made compulsory at child is the progeny of Parsi parents or of Only do not shun mixed marriages, but an intercommunity marriage. These three they welcome them, for they bring new text books should be in every Zoroastrian candidates “within. ” Also, they can home. Later on, community examina ­ tions should be introduced at all stages. In this way, the Zoroastrians, though and fundamental way of “propagation ” few, will be well informed in their reli- as well as a scientific way of propagating gion. and generating new genes and, conse- Two or three of our scholars should quently, termination of degeneration get together and do this work. The text through intramarriages, bocdcs should be in three languages: "" ' Gujarati, English and Persian. Iranian representative of the Iranian Ztxoastrian the religion. Yet we are constantly indig ­ style. Such books should not be costly nant at the progressive mathematical ad- and should be available in all Zaoastrian dition to other religions while the If other religions do broadcast their religious virtues, the sole purpose is to _____ ____ recruit and convert That is one of the navjote time irrespective of whether the ways to “propagate ” religion. They not intercommunity marriage. These three they welcome them, for they bring new , J•----------- rr -------------------------------------“within. ” Also, they can count on further new members, as a re ­ sult of such marriages, a very natural. Through bigotry, we shun new addi ­ tions to the Zoroastrian fold, either by scholars could make the Persian books marriage or by voluntary request to enter style. Such books should not be costly nant at the progressive mathematical ad- centers, all over the world. There may Zoroastrian population decreases, be a couple of such books available to ­ day, but they are very few and costly. MsF.B.BOMANJI Pakisun 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 400001. . . --------„— Letters are subject to editing for reasons of Apropos Mr Phiroz Dotiwala ’s letter un ­ space and clarity. Unsigned letters or those — without an address will not be published. “Propagating...” We do not need the sword nor the propaganda of emissaries to add to the number of the followers of Zarathushtra. The Gathas constitute the most powerful instrument available. Three millennia ago, when the rest of the planet earth was struggling in dark ­ ness, an enlightened teacher by the name der the title of “Propagating Zoroastrian- ness, an enlightened teacher by the name ism ” (Parsiana, November 1989), his of Zarathushtra Spitama came to show us suggestion to “adopt more conducive the way. In simpler terms, he directed us methods to gain limelight in the main- towards the rewards of the ‘Bright Mind ’ _______ stream of western hemisphere, ” would and the downfall of the ‘Dormant and In “Creating die capacity to car? ’ by Ms be applaudable, were it not for the pre- closed Mind. ’ We have digressed from Amavaz S. Mama (Parsiana, January ceding sentence; “In contrast the Parsis his teachings and yet we become indig- 1990), it has been erroneously stated that propagate mixed marriages and hold nant at the diminution of our power and ences. ” I am a Zoroastrian, by choice as an I request enlightenment upon the fol- adult and not because I was borp unto __ .1__ : Zoroastrian parents — a choice given to • What Is a Parsi? Is it a race? A special me by my creator and endorsed by the “Creating the capacity...” --------- - . , In “Creating the capacity to care ” by Ms be applaudable, were it not for the pre- closed Mind. We have digressed from Amavaz S. Mama (Parsiana, January ceding sentence; “In contrast the P^sis his teachings and yet we become mdig- I am a trustee of the Parsi Amelioration endless stereotyped seminars and confer- the decreasing population! Committee (PAC). Kindly note that I am not a trustee of the PAC. I had attended the workshop as the chairman of the lowing questions: board of the District Benevolent Society ' — L ~ ‘ and the Sir J. J. Dharamshala, a cosmo- branch of religion? Or a special group of teachings of my chosen leader, politan and completely free home for the people equating themselves with the hroozehyeganegi iWihitpag pd YispisnAsruR province of Pars (or Fars) in the southem Amham, ca. usa region of Iran? In my understanding the “World Zoroastrian...” followers of zarathushtra Spitama, re- [Mr Phiroze Dotiwalla's letter was titled It was interesting to read about the Fifth gardless of origin and/or nationality, are "Propagating Zoroastrianism by the col- World Zoroastrian Congress (Parsiana, all Zoroastrians. umn editor in terms of the meaning: "To January 1990). It is sad that our commu- • How does Mr Dotiwala propose to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity nity will be almost half in number after “propagate ” Zoroastrianism if mixed with or acceptance of (as m idea or be- some years. Those surviving should marriages are not to his liking and semi- lief): publicize" (Webster ’s Ninth New therefore have more religious knowledge nars and conferences deliver no progres- Collegiate Dictionary)/ and be more dedicated to their TLoroas- sive results? trian religion than what we are today. Webster ’s dictionary defines' “propa- I understand that conversion has been a VlSHS.nASTUR • Hovz does Mr Dotiwala propose to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity “propagate ” Zoroastrianism if mixed with or acceptance of (as an idea or be- Those surviving should marriages are not to his liking and semi- lief): publicize" (Webster's Ninth New sive results? Webster ’s dictionary defines '“propa- 3 Parslana June 1990concern among the Parsi community in Zarathushtra as set forth in the Gathas. people who wish to join. About half of India. I feel that if a person wants to fol- There are many beliefs and practices these are bom Zoroaslrians, the rest are low the religion of Zoroaster (in a ritual held by the orthodox which Asho people who wish to convert. ” sense, that of the pre-Islamic Persians Zarathushtra did not teach or practice, with developments by later authorities) even some which he condemned. As dif- spread our religion but we do not want it. he/she should be allowed to do so (with ficult as this must be for some people to Our community has come to a very grave an appropriate initiation ceremony). Since it is believed that all valid reli ­ gions are from Ahura Mazda and consi ­ dering that Zoroaster ’s religion origi ­ nally had missionaries who very possibly sweep aside all those changes which zation — Zoroastrian Front — can be influenced others, then following one came later and of which he would not formed for this purpose. Indeed, Prophet particular ritual tradition (the older Per- have approved. Zarathushtra did not say anytime to keep sian or Fars one, as do Iranian and Indian “So I, and those who believe as I do, his teachings to ourselves; rather he Zoroastrians), should be no problem if a convert wishes to do so. It is sad tliat because we seek to restore the original all of humanity would accept his teach- abuse from Mustons and Christians led teachings of the prophet to their proper ings. scx»ABA.umi to a view similar to that of orthodox Jews place in the religion. Among us, there Omw (and you can ace tww many of these are very few rituals. Our emphasis is on tribal religionists are left). ‘ Mixed marriages are always a prob ­ lem — it would be nice if the couple were should live our lives, both Zoroastrians or tried to harmonize their traditions in some rational way. I’ve heard of one couple in which the the hereditary priesthood and allow any woman was a staunch Zoroastrian and person, after suitable training, to become any consensus. Why is it that we, our the man a former Hindu (now an atheist) a Zarathushtrian minister (clergy). Also, -problems there! Rev davidbrock the ‘priests ’ will no longer be in one Portland, Oregon, USA It is a pity that foreigners want to understand, all religions change over period, with our diminishing population time and gradually errors come in. After comparing poorly to the adherents of a time, it becomes necessary to go back other religions numbering in crores. One to the teachings of the prophet and to now needs a rationalist spirit. An organi- “So I, and those who believe as I do, are not orthodox. We are restorationists prayed for so many years, wishing that the teachings of Zarathushtra and the A burning problem implications of his teachings on how we Much has been written and discussed by the stalwart thinkers of our faith on the “Two very noticeable differences problem of extinction facing us as a race here will soon be that we will abandon and the great religion we practice. How ­ ever, we do not seem to have come to claim to adaptability notwithstanding, cannot come to grips with the real prob ­ lem, the essential crux of the matter? It is apparent that we cannot hope to room while the people are in another. Everyone will come into the room where the fire is, in order to offer worship to disentangle this important problem by Ahura Mazda before its flames. And that taking sides. Also most thinkers seem to “Why I became....” This refers to “Why I became a Zoroas ­ trian ” by William Brawner (Parsiana, worship will become congregational — confuse religion with racial purity. December 1988 and January 1989). In with all the people joining together to ~ his response to my query regarding the offer praise to God. The days of the marrying outside our community and our status of our religion in the USA, Wil­ liam Brawner writes (excerpts): “It is to be regretted that so many will be gone forever. bom Zoroastrians are ignorant of the many beautiful and noble truths taught here in North America. I am a member by Asho Zarathushtra, and it is a crying of the Council of Elders of The dren of Zoroastrian girls marrying out- shame that there are so many who would 2^arathushtrian Assembly, Southern Cali- side our faith, are debarred from pracdc- close the door to the Good Religion for- fornia. This new organization is a ing our religion. However, those of ever. Such would be a denial and be- Zarathushtrian missionary organization Zoroastrian boys can take up the leligidn trayal of our beloved prophet. Surely, he which will be actively spreading the of their father. On this issue, it was the did not labor at teaching the religion to Good Religion throughout the world. It learned view of the late Dr Minocher D. others for so many lonely years, yet be ­ lieving that his was not a missionary reli ­ gion! No! Rather he prayed that all of and who has a suitable basic knowledge rying non-Parsi ladies, is due to a legal humanity would embrace his teachings. - ----- - “In the West, Islam, Judaism and taught by this Assembly, will be limited not have religious sanction. ” So far, so Christianity have failed. More and more only to that which is consistent with good. Some learned thinkers opine that people are losing confidence in these Asho Zarathushtra ’s own personal teach- when a Parsi Zoroastrian boy or girl mar- religions...There are a large number of ings in the Gathas. Westerners who are now ready to con ­ sider and accept the teachings of branches even in India. We need people having voluntarily opted to marry a non- Zarathushtra. who are truly committed to understand- Mazdayasni, whether to retain the reli ­ gion or not is no longer theirs to decide. I Today more and more youngsters are priests, sitting by the fire alone to chant thinkers feel that this is very wrong and words which they don ’t even understand. “These steps are now being taken proclaim it in loud tones. Whether these youngsters are at all affected by it or not, is another issue altogether. It is a great injustice to find that chil- will be accepting as converts anyone Karkhanavala that “this so-calfed prefer- who desires to become a Zarathushtrian ential treatment given to Parsi men mar- of the faith. The Zarathushtrian faith, as advantage grudgingly accorded and does when a Parsi Zoroastrian boy or girl mar ­ ries outside our community, he ot she “Later, we will be establishing automatically stands excommunicated: who are truly committed to understand- “The religion here in North America ing and practicing the religion as Asho will be quite different from what is nor- Zarathushtra actually taught it, without do not think anywhere in our religious mal in India. We are discarding all those the superstition and other nonsense beliefs and practices which contradict or which was tacked (Xito the religion later, are inconsistent with the teachings of texts, this issue is mentioned. Barring those cases where a boy or a girl volun- “We already have a large number of tarily takes up the religion of their non- 4 Parsiana June 1990I Zoroastrian spouse, the others should be nity, in the Fantiayashni (citation of These guidelines can be of immense help • - • - - • ____ -• • • -to youngsters who are contemplating sioned the ceremony) at the time of death such marriages but do not have the capa- One does not cease to of the parents. I feel that by refusing to do so, at the time when one ’s emotions allowed to exercise their freedom and be immediate survivors who have commis- considered as Zoroastrians for all practi- ... cal purposes. One does not cease to of the parents. I feel that by refusing to bility to view all the pros and the cons practice religion after one mairies. do so, at the time when one ’s emotions before taking such a momentous and ir- Further, these scholars maintain that are in turmoil and when one is in need of reversible step. when a girl marries, she automatically sympathy and understanding, we are un- ¦ ¦ ¦¦ All practical problems notwithstand- goes and belongs to the family of the necessarily trying to punish a person by ing, children from such mixed marriages, “ ¦ either from a Zoroastrian mother or fa­ ther, should be allowed to come into our All these scholars claim that in the faith if the non-Zoroastrian partner has boy. They cite exarnples that a girl not raising the question of putting one ’s rela- only takes up the name and surname of tionship with the parents at stake. her husband but is even presumed to • have left her family and merged with that past our forefathers preserved our great no objection in this matter. Then, we of her husband ’s. For example, if a religion, by not indulging in inter-com- shall be able to retrieve at least 50 per- daughter of an athoman marries a munal marriages. With all due respect to cent of the loss. After all, a child is not behdin, then her name in the ceremonies our great ancestors, they were living in born with any religion. Is it fair to de- ihereafter is taken as “behdin so and so ” an altogether different social milieu, prive an innocent child of the protection and conversely, the daughter of a behdin. The girls who were kept at home and and strength of a true and enlightened if manied to an athornan is identified as who had no access to higher education, faith? “osti so and so ” as if she was bom in the did not have the opportunity, leave aside I am neither “in favor ” nor family of her husband. Similarly, they the inclination, to even mingle with those “against ” such marriages. But I feel that give instances between Shehenshtthi and of other communities. Similarly, the when we take a definite stand, one way or Kadmi marriages. Well, this may be men, owing to the type of social atmos- the other, we limit our vision and be- true, but do all these things have rcli- phere in which they were bom and come dogmatic and bigoted. Let us not gious sanction or merely social sanction i . as a measure to avoid confusion and faiths. Docs all this hold valid today? chaos among families and to maintain . . unity and identity. We should think the problems staring in our face in the thers sacrificed so much and for which deeply about this. hands of good non-partisan thinkers, of they migrated so far. Another related issue is the case of the whom there ’s no dearth in our commu- priests refusing to take names of the nity. They could set up guidelines in daughters married outside the commu- dealing with these important problems. religion, by not indulging in inter-com ­ munal marriages. With all due respect to our great ancestors, they were living in an altogether different social milieu. faith? I reared, did not seek partners from other become so blind that we cannot find a way to preserve this noble, profound and Today the immediate need is to put priceless heritage for which our forefa- Ms ARMATTY H. BHABHA Edited by Amivaz S. Mama MATCH YOUR AMBITION TO A CAREER To do SO we offer you: * Diploma Course in Business Management (Postal) (IMC) * Banking CAIIB Course (Postal) . * Executive Secretarial Course * Private Secretarial Course * Personal Assistant’s Programme (working Stenographers) * Shorthand & Typewriting (English/Hindi/Marathi) * Telephone Operating & Receptionist Techniques * Electronic Telex Operating * Electronic Typewriting & Word Processing * English Conversation & Writing Skills Enquire at: Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk Bombay 400001 Tel: 2871185 ¦ A, 1 6 Parsiana June T990BPP trains leaders Events and Personalities and stationery was Rs 100 per participant. Goda, Bombay. The project coordinators Ms Diana Mar- - , The marble-topped tables freshly cov- Take to farming, was the advice given by fatia and Ms Kamal Damania were guided ered with red checkers, heaped with pat- Dr Homi Sethna, ex-chairman of the by BPP chief executive Rustom Ankle- ties, sandwiches, canapes, awaited the Atomic Energy Commission and princi- saria and assistant secretary Ms Sheroo ceremonial snipping of the red ribbon, pal secretary to the Government of India, Master, adds the release. Others working The comfortable old chairs, freshly lac- in his inaugural address at the Fourth i ‘ „ Holiday Youth Programme (HYP) 1990 were Prof Noshir Kaikobad, family coyn- organized by the Bombay Parsi sellor Ms Roda Pardiwalla and commu- Punchayet (BPP). Our ancestors had nity counsellor Ms Banoo Ismail, prospered as agriculturists, Sethna re ­ minded the 114 participants, who had en ­ rolled aftCT appearing for their school leaving examinations, while impressing galee was in the chair and Bombay sheriff ever since Maneckji Rustomji Patel upon them the need to avail of career Nana Chudasama was the chief guest, bought it over from a Ms Edwards in openings in carpentry, welding, electro- The credit for conceiving the HYP goes to 1934. nics, computer science, etc. Bengalee who, four years ago, was keen The traditional coconut, red-scarfed In keeping with his recommendations, to encourage leadership among the com- chambura (pot-bellied silver vessel) and the organizers had arranged for outstand- munity youth and mold them into becom- ddva (lamp) nestled against the wall, shed- ing professionals from different fields to ing responsible citizens, it was noted, ding an auspicious aura as Deora snipped brief the youngsters from Bombay, The Program has since become an annual the ribbon on June 1, 1990 to be wel- Dahanu, Navsari, Panchgani and Satara, event. Many from this year ’s batch have corned by Ms Pinky Parvez Patel who is notes a press release from the BPP. In offered to join the BPP Youth Club which enthusiastically involved in the running of addition, the adolescents benefitted from organizes social and community service the Inn. a well-laid out program that included programs like the grandparent adoption talks on religion, workshops on effective scheme, it was reported, communicatitm and parent-child relation- , ships, seminars on topics of interest to the HlStory by the Way side youth, self-awareness and personality “One small place where the windows are of long standing. Deora had been invited development programs, aptitude testing still open, the footpath still walkable... ” to do the honors “because he represents and career counselling, and visits to insti- Congress member of Parliament Murli today ’s youthful dynamism, likes to do tutions of educational value. Deora was describing the haunt of gen- things, has made a notable contribution to The registration fee for the 24-day pro- erations of officegoers, advocates, artists the city of Bombay... ” _ ' ' _' . Qualifying that his appearance was in Dr Homi Sethna, ex-chairman of the by BPP chief executive Rustom Ankle- I' ‘ saria and assistant secretary Ms Sheroo ceremonial snipping of the red ribbon. with them on the organizing committee quered, invited the throng of familiar pa- ........ — - - - Irons gathered to celebrate the reopening of the 75-year-old cafe after one and half years of renovation and building repair. At the valedictory function on April Over the last 56 years the Inn has flour- 30, BPP trustee and Bombay University ished under the devoted management of vice chancellor Dr (Ms) Mehroo Ben- three generations of the Patel family — In his welcome speech, Parvez Patel, proprietor of the restaurant he inherited from his father, Ruttonshaw, in 1978, in ­ troduced the chief guest and other patrons gram in April, including lunch, tea, drinks and journalists: The Wayside Inn at Kala t (Left) At the inauguration of the Holiday Youth Programme 1990 (from left): Marfatia, Homi Sethna, Eruch Desai, Gool Sethnd, Anklesaria and Damania (Right) At the valedictory function (from left): Bengalee, Anklesaria, Nana Chudasama, Munir a Chudasama and Master Photos: Asian Photos 4- I 9 Parsiana June i990his personal capacity, Deora reminisced, late Benjamin Guy Homiman, editor of Punchayet, that Bharda had been made a “Pervez Patel was my guru. I remember the Bombay Chronicle, Russy Karanjia scapegoat in the ire of the Athoman Ma- the days when he taught us public speak- and another had agreed to launch Ae dressa trustees against a letter dated Sep- ing. ” • Blitz, that Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had tember 9, 1987 written by Mr Kerawt^ A loft built into the high-ceUinged Inn spent many an evening drafting the Indian of Bharuch charging gross mismanage- used for the filming of a documentary on dressed to Farrokh Sidhwa, Jehangir Ambedkar ’s life informed Patel. Amavaz S. Mama ing. ” i _ ___________ w w- * • — ___ to generate greater sitting space has been constitution... The premises are due to be ment of the Madressa. The letter, ad- sealed off on the municipality ’s injunc- used for the filming of a documentary on dressed to Farrokh Sidhwa, Jehangir tions, Patel informed the gathering. Com- Ambedkar ’s life informed Patel. Shroff, Ervad Rustom Panthaki and Din- misserating with him, Deora noted, **The Amavaz s. Mama shaw Kapadia, trustees of the Madressa punishment of wise men is to live under , and respondents to the petition, had al- the government of unwise men, if you The High Court VCrdlCt leged that the Madressa ’s inmates were don ’t come forward, don ’t take part (in The Athoman Boarding Madressa, Da- subjected to beatings with wooden rods, were refused food and locked up for 24 hours at a time; that meals were insuffi- government). ” Deora urged the gathering dar, and the Dadar Parsi Youths Assem- — among whom were high court judges bly High School (DPYA) have bowed to and professionals from various disciplines the verdict of the Bombay High Court cient and Parsi Oliver Twists asking for — to stand for municipal and state elec- and reinstated Kobad Jehangir Bharda, more, were coerced into silence. “The tions. “Come and see me with problems the 12-year-old boy who was dismissed division bench said the allegations were regarding administration at any level, ” for misconduct from both institutions in grave and, if true, must shock public con- Deora offered. “Catch us (in our mis- 1988. The appeal bench comprising Jus- science, ” reports The Times. The Ma- takes)... only then the city, the state, will tice G. H. Guttal and Justice V. V. Ka- dressa trustees demed these allegations, improve. ” mat thus reversed the verdict of the It may be pertinent to note that during The new beige and light brown color single judge. Justice S. C. Pratap, who this very period 1987-90, the Zoroastrian scheme provides a pleasant background to had dismissed Bharda ’s petition, notes a community at large registered its own the stained-glass ventilators and the old report in The Times of India dated May vote of confidence in the 70-year-old wall plates, while the brandy and rum vats 13,1990. Madressa — perceived as embodying the — Old Smuggler, Johnnie Walker, Black The judges held that since the spirit of cooperation between the trustees, and White — remain a prominent focus of Madressa “was subject to state control the principal Ervad Rustom Panthaki and _ . . «« « « J .b__99 . ____ V.. 1C rupees towards the construction of an an ­ nexe. The case had initially come up for ceiving grant or not, to be mandatorily hearing before Justice Sujata Manohar ~ . appointed a committee — com- notes the report. prising Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal, High According to The Times, the judges Priest of the H. B. Wadia Atas Bahram, had accepted the claim of the pe-titioners, -------............. Dr Minoo R. Bambot, a medical practi ­ tioner and Kekobad Savaksha Pavri, Punchayet, Jal Contractor, a fOTmer dep- for misconduct from both institutions in 1988. The appeal bench comprising Jus ­ tice G. H. Guttal and Justice V. V. Ka- mat thus reversed the verdict of the — Old Smuggler, Johnnie Walker, Black w — — ----------- - a «?««« the decor. Patties, cutlets, rolls, chappa- and performed a public duty, ” a writ can the donors — by contnbuUng 15 lakh ties, etc are available directly, at the new be issued against it, informs The Times. takeaway counter. Another innovation is A far reaching aspect of the judgment that the Inn, which over the years used to holds all recognized schools, whether re- be closed on Sundays, now offers a three- ( ___ course meal of Parsi delicacies at Rs 60 subject to the Secondary Schools Code, per head, along with the normal la carte fare. The eatery which specializes in sim ­ pler western cuisine like mixed grill, fish and chips, crumb chops, etc has seen his ­ tory in the making. There it was that the president of the Ahmedabad Parsi uty commissioner of police, and noted lawyers Sohrab Morris, Dara Zaiwalla Left: Entrance to The Wayside Inn and the late Firoze Damania — to look Right: Deora (cutting ribbon) at the j^to the workings of the institution and inauguration of the eatery as Parvez the complaints which were made. Patel (left) looks on Though it is known that the committee holds all recognized schools, whether re ­ Dr (Ms) Nelie Noble, a social worker and former trustee of the Bombay Parsi met several times there is no reference to I A r' I 10 Parsiana June 1990 ¦ 1 ¦ H I its conclusions in the judgment as fea- II ¦ in The Times story. I ¦ Pilgrims of peace ‘U To remind the world of the devastation ,I i caused by World War II and to forestall fly its recurrence, 160 pilgrims of peace con- iM r gregated at Warsaw on the occasion of the ¦ fiftieth anniversary since the inception of the War, notes a report sent by Zoroas- trian scholar Dr Homi Dhalla. H No religion would condone the use of war, was the message reinforced by the representatives of different faiths who met in September 1989 under the aegis H of the Vatican and other co-sponsoring- HB organizations of Italy and Poland.Subedar: proved her physical fitness Coached by Naval Pithawala, Subedar is a member of the Mahatma O^dhi Swimming Bath and the Wheel Wheelers Club of Pune. The sportswoman is pres ­ ently doing a home science course at Nir- mala Niketan, notes the Jam-e-Jamshed of March 4,1990. An aerial view of the gathering at Zamkowy Square. (Inset) Dhalla laying a wreath at the International Monument for the Victims at the Birkenau concentration camp The triathlon, in Felxuary this year, practice at the Nagpur Bar. She was recendy reelected lady mem- ber on the managing committee of the Shree Nagpur and Kamthi Parsi Zarthosti Anjuman for the fourth time in succes- Patel’s PhD in law A doctorate degree in law was conferred on Ms Thrity D. Patel, lecturer at the post ­ graduate department of law, Nagpur Uni ­ versity, notes a press release. Her thesis, “Dimensions of personal liberty under the Constitution of India Article 21,” fi­ nalized under the guidance of well-known jurist Dr S. P. Sathe was recognized by was the message the delegates carried the Pune University which conferred the back to their respective traditions and degree. cultures, further notes Dhalla. A senate member of the Nagpur Uni- . versity, Patel is also a member of the aca- Best triathlete demic council and the faculty of law. At the first ever individual triathlon in Subsequent to obtaining her masters in Dhalla, the only Indian invitee apart from India, 20-year-old Ms Khushnaaz Adal law she took up the lecturer ’s post at the Justice H. R. Khanna, explained the con- Subedar was declared the women ’s Nagpur University, according to the cept of peace from die Zoroastrian per- champion, notes The Times of India of write-up. A law graduate from the spective. Prayers on peace from different February 12,1990. Nagpur University, she started her legal religious scriptures, a peace march to the ~ - - .Zamkowy Square where each delegate attracted 165 entrants who had to swim, lighted "a torch of peace, and written ap- cycle and run to prove their physical fit- i peals sent to world leaders to restore har ­ mony, were some of the activities under ­ taken at the meet ness. Subedar, a state swimmer and cy ­ clist, came fourth in swimming and cy ­ cling but managed to get an edge over sion, and is a trustee of the J. N. Tata The highlight was a solemn ceremony others in the last course, running. During Girls ’ High School, further adds the re ­ al the concentration camp at Birkenau the race she fell off when a car came lease. (Auschwitz) where each representative dangerously close to her but undaunted , , laid a wreath at the International Monu- she completed the event with a timing of Chargeman on friend ship’ ment for the Victims. The Second World one hour, 11 minutes, 13.52 seconds. The only youth from the state of Mahar- War was symbolic of destructive power reads The Times report ashtra and the only Zoroastrian on the 11 Parsiana June 1990V Ship for World Youth Programme 1990, Hoshang N. Chargcmari was one of the 18 youths selected to represent India, notes a press release. The two-and-a- half-month cruise was organized to pro ­ mote global friendship among partici ­ pants from 13 countries and to encourage discussion on matters from an interna ­ tional perspective. Sponsored by the Japanese Government, the Programme , enabled the participants to visit Japan, ¦' Singapore, India, Egypt, Greece and Patel (left): thesis on personal liberty Oman, further adds the release. Chargeman: a global glimpse To qualify for this Programme, f I ¦ r Commanding shareholding I “It is South India Viscose (SIV), the company he took over in the early eight ­ ies, that would do most proud to his acu ­ men as a corporate investor, ” industrial magnate Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, who owns the construction firm Shapoorji H Pallonji and Company, is commended for his bold decision in an article in Busi- H ness India of March 5-18, 1990. Un ­ daunted by labor trouble, power crisis, water shortage, poor management and _____________________________________________________________________falling profitability, he reportedly con- ChargenTan had to pass gruelling inter- Rustom Cursetji, president of the Thana solidated his holding in the Coimbatore- “ . based viscose fiber and yam manufactur- His college education was initially at ing company until he controlled the larg- the St Xavier ’s College and later at the R. Chargeman: a global glimpse views conducted by the Ministry of Hu- Zoroastrian Anjuman. man Resources Development Another I ' „ ‘ , point in Chargeman ’s favor was his Na- the St Xavier ’s College and later at theR. est share (37 percent) of the company ’s tional Cadet Corps (NCC) background. N. Ruia College. The versatile young- Rs 11 crore equity capital. ............................................... ¦ With a change in the managerial team Mistry was able to alter the fortunes of SIV — against sales of Rs 19 crores and a As president of the Thana Parsi loss of three crore rupees in 1983, to At the 1989 Republic Day Parade, ster ’s hobbies include swimming, read- Chargeman, representing Maharashtra, ing, elocution and playing the guitar, it is was the platoon commander of the NCC reported, contingent, it is reported. Aspiring to be / an Air Force pilot, 20-year-old Charge- Zoroastrian Youth Wing Chargeman sales of Rs 103 crores and a net profit of man is a member of the NCC air wing takes a keen interest in community proj- Rs 12 crores last year. “I knew the com- and the Bombay Flying Club where he ects like blood donation camps and visits pany had a good future if managed holds a student ’s pilot license, informed to the homes for the aged. continued on page 32 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, Naviakhi, Veraval, Porbunder & Kandla. Also sole Government Landing contractors at Jamnagar, (Bedi) Bhavnagar. 12 Parsiana June 1990ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE Arnavaz S. Mama Zoroastrians have blazed a trail in anti-apartheid politics, medicine and trade Unlike the Parsi communities in East Af- The 56-paged mimeographed report, pub- smarting under the apartheid whip. Law- rica and the Mozambique, the majority lished in August 1987, is witness to yer Sorabji Shapurji Adajania was the of Parsis have chosen to remain settled in Naidoo ’s painstaking assessment of the chosen individual to test the principle of South Africa, Dr (Ms) Jer Randeria from community ’s past, present and future in Gandhian satyagraha against the Immi- Durban informed the Fifth World South Africa, largely concentrating on gration Restriction Act of 1905 which Zoroastrian Congress in Bombay last the attitudes revealed by a host of ques- debarred Indians from entering the January. Thirty percent of the Zoroas- tionnaires and interviews. Transvaal except with a special permit, trian population of about 80 individuals The Zoroastrian contribution to the “Sorabji entered the Transvaal in defi- compiises children, 30 percent are over professions in South Africa has been ance of the Act and publicly declared his abhorrence of the law, ” Naidoo de ­ scribes the event, citing Mahatma neurs spanning the gamut of commercial Gandhi ’s 1928 publication, Satyagraha activity in insurance, shipping, film dis- ' “ - tionnaires and interviews. The Zoroastrian contribution to the professions in South Africa has been 60 years and the rest include young phenomenal and varied — doctors, law ­ adults and the middle aged, she adds, yers, architects, teachers and entrepre- The community is Currently on the look ­ out for a mobed. Stemming from the general conditions tribution and motor cars — notes Naidoo. of apartheid, one of the factors most det- T ~ ' ’ „ ' ' rimental to the community is the blanket the Boer (Afrikaner) Republic in the as a lawyer, felt unsure of himself. Sot- ban on the immigration of Asiatic Transvaal stayed overnight with the Ta- abji informed the police superintendent spouses bom elsewhere. The prevailing lati family in Barberton in the course of in Johannesburg of his arrival across the problem of paucity x)f likely mates being his ox-wagon journeys, notes Randeria. border between Natal and the Transvaal, thus exacerbated, young Parsis choose to ‘ — either remain unmarried or migrate from South Africa. . _ , _ After some 120 years in the country, gold — and Parsis were employed as outside the courthouse by his friends and the identity and history of four genera- guards on trains, a position often re- Sorabji made a fiery speech in which he tions of Parsis of Natal, the Transvaal garded as a white man ’s preserve, adds announced his readiness to go to jail as • and the Cape have been archived through Randeria. often as necessary for victory and lo brave a national video this year, notes Ran- An attempt in the early 19(X)s to claim all dangers and risks. He was ordered to deria. The impact of the minute community pearance, Aryan heritage and British citi- — estimated at 0.0125 percent of the total zenship was, however, rejected by the au- Indian population of South Africa — on thorities, informs Naidoo, though into- in South Africa. “The officer in charge of the case had no orders to arrest him President Paul Kruger (1825-1904) of and, being aware of Sorabji ’s capabilities ~ border between Natal and the Transvaal. A Parsi named Camay (first name not The police summoned him to appear in available) was Postmaster General in the court, which he did on July 8,1908. Be- early days in Johannesburg — the city of fore the case began, a meeting was held An attempt in the early 19(X)s to claim special status on the basis of physical ap- leave the Transvaal within seven days and on refusing to do so was sentenced to one month ’s hard labor... Sorabji, in Gandhiji ’s words, ‘turned out to be pure Asiatic life in South Africa and the reper- mally they were “often accepted as gold ’ and ‘proved himself to be a first cussions of that minuteness, was also (white people) in cinemas, restaurants class satyagrahi, ’...the first in the studied by Dr Thillay Naidoo of the In ­ stitute for Social and Economic Research of the University of Durban-Westville. class satyagrahi, ’...the first in the Transvaal. and other centers of social intercourse. ” Transvaal. His views on satyagraha Apart from this solitary instance, the commanded respectful hearing from Parsis threw in their lot with the Indians many people and he himself suffered 13 Parsiana June 1990pohaps the longest term of impriscm- vehemently articulates the labor view- the drive for bilingual (English-Farsi) ment, ” adds Naidoo. point as secretary of Cosatu, the coun- .................... * Another outstanding Parsi in South try ’s largest labor trade union, says Ran- publishing is the quarterly Pak-e-Mehr,a __________________________________ „ labor of love for its owner-editcff Dr African history is the late Rustomjee deria; Randeria herself belongs to the Mehraban Shahrvini of Vancouver, Can- Jivanjee who arrived virtually penniless Cancer Research Unit at the University ada. Zoroastrian News, the newsletter of around 1870, says Randeria. Then be- of Durban-Westville and is credited with the Zoroastrian Association of Metro- friended by Mahatma Gandhi, Parsi Rus- being the first person in the world to sue- politan Washington, is now quite com- tomjee, as he came to be subsequently — cessfully inbreed certain strains of mas- fortable with its bilingual formal. Join- and respectfully — known, saved tomies, “a most important contribution ing them is Gavashni, the newsletter of Gandhi ’s life on the occasion when the to the field of cancer research, ” adds the Zoroastrian Association of Quebec, lat ter was mobbed by an angry crowd at Naidoo. perhaps the oldest and most sustained of the Durban dockyard. Rustomjee went The first Parsi burial in South Africa die Zoroastrian newsletters of North America. The Farsi debut in Gavashni’s March 1990 issue, as it entered its six- tan charity through free m^ical clinics, forced by Hindu conservatism with regard teenth year of publication, included contributions to school buildings, hospi- ------------------------------------------------------ Sorabji Adaiania lishment of the M. K. Gandhi Library J J (“for some time the only Indian-owned W3S th© flfSt library in the country ”) and the Parsi Rustomjee Hall which provided the plat ­ form for the Indian community during the early years of its struggle for survival in South Africa. The Sultan of Turkey had presented Rustomjee with a gold medal in acknowl ­ edgment of his donation to the Red Cross for medical assistance to South African to marriage, language, food, eating habits soldiers in the First World War, writes and modes of worship, ” writes Naidoo. Naidoo. Gandhi in the formation of a stretcher- bearer corps to assist soldiers of both ar ­ mies in the Anglo-Boer War. His death in caused deep hurt and consternation, 1924 was mourned by people of all races Naidoo reports the comment of an inter- in Durban, the then mayor and members of the City Council paying generous trib ­ utes. same high profile in social and political who are recognized as priests: “Despite ing committee of the Seventh North work being, in addition, the president of their efforts to combine their religious American Zoroastriah Congress (NAZC) the South African Indian Congress, duties with their secular work, they are scheduled to be held in Houston, Texas, Naidoo notes that he maintained his subjected to considerable criticism by August 31 to September 3, 1990. The father ’s generous traditions and hosted those who consider the two (jobs) incom- letter requests that some provision be in- numerous social functions at his home, patible. This type of internal animosity corporated by the Congress organizers known as Mayville Castle in Durban and ill-feeling in what is a very fluid for the benefit of Iranian Zoroastrians. which is a landmark in the city — ironi- situation, may yet be the forerunner to Writes Deboo: “Mr Chairman, there is a the Durban dockyard. Rustomjee went on to establish the Bai Jerbai Rustomjee dates back to 1902. “The conservatism Charitable Trust, pioneering cosmopoli- prevalent among Parsis is strongly rein- Nowruz greetings and a translation of the letter from the editor which notes: “One of the main objectives of (Gavashni) is to help unify... Parsi and Iranian Zoroastrians... on this continent. It is clear that this objective cannot be satisfactorily achieved without the par ­ ticipation of the language of our cultural heritage — Farsi... “With the influx of highly educated members of the Iranian Zoroastrian com ­ munity in recent years, their zeal to pre ­ serve their culture and language, we feel confident we can achieve the above 6b- Rustomjee had also assisted Thus, non-community marriages of Parsi jective. The Nowruz greetings and re ­ men have been accepted but the marriage production of this letter... is made pos- of a Parsi female to a colored person had sible by the cooperation of Dr Mehraban Shahrvini...' The March Pak-e-Mehr also carries a viewee. letter from Behram Deboo of British Co- Naidoo writes that he was able to de- lumbia addressed to Dr Meherwan Boyce His son Sorabji maintained the termine only two Parsis in South Africa of Houston, the chairman of the organiz- Gandhian satyagrahi against the Immigration Registration Act w cally, the present headquarters of the eventual demise of the Parsis as a sepa- vast population of Iranian Zoroastrians in Mayville Charge Office of the South Afri- rate community in South Africa... North America who would like to attend can police. “(But) South Africa has need of its the meeting. However, what has de- The first Indian lady doctor to prac- Parsis as much as the Parsi community terred them is their inability to compre- tice in Durban was Dr (Ms) Freni Man- feels appreciative of the abundance of hend the high vocabulary used by the chershaw; Dr (Ms) Khorshed Ginwala, a South Africa ’s God-given resources, scholars. I am in a much better position senior specialist and senior lecturer in They choose to live here because of what to understand this problem as my wife is * community health at the University of this country has given to all its citizens in an Iranian Zoroastrian and through her I Natal ’s medical school is noted for her varying degrees of generosity. Given have come in contact with many of them, outspoken views on socio-political issues opportunities (for) advancement. Parsis I have realized that even after staying ' influencing public opinion in the coun- will inevitably make their valuable con- many years in North America they are try; Dr (Ms) Frene Ginwala, a noted his- tribution to (the country ’s) growth and not able to overcome this deficiency. ” torian, was forced to leave South Africa development.. ” Referring to an incident at the Sixth j in 19^ because of her strong political , , , , NAZC in Toronto in 1988 when in res- views. A full-fledged member of the Af- Binding communities \ ponse to a request from the floor, Dr rican National Congress, she writes for An understanding of the linguistic prob- Farhang Mehr, with the permission of the the United Nations and various press lems of Iranian Zoroastrians is gaining chair, provided his Iranian listeners with agencies, says Naidoo; Pirojsha Camay ground in North America. Spearheading continued on page 22 Af- Binding communities for An understanding of the linguistic 14 Avstara June 1990PROFESSIONS GOIPORIA'S MOUNTING CREDIT O As the newly appointed chairman of the State Bank of India, Maneck Goiporia intends to promote marketing and consumer services As he sits with his eyes closed, his chin resting on his interlaced fingers, one can sense that Maneck Nadirshaw Goiporia is selecting his words to explain the thrust of the Stale Bank of India (SBI) since he has taken over as chairman: “We are, as a corporate policy, looking into various innovative things like em­ phasizing on marketing in banking, con ­ sumer services... There are a number of important programs in the offing, but till they become more concrete in shape and receive the approval of the authorities, it would be premature to talk about them. ” Being at the helm of a 2,00,000 strong work force, believed to be the largest among Indian banks, and 7,462 branches in India and 40 offices in 28 countries, Goiporia ’s new position calls forth all his banking acumen. As the seniormost among the current bank chairmen, and with a non-contro- versial disposition, Goiporia was se ­ lected by the central government to head the country ’s trailblazing banking insti ­ tution. For 58-year-old Goiporia, this new designation follows a series of ap­ pointments as chairman that have come his way since 1978 — first at Dena Bank, then Bank of Baroda, and subsequently Central Bank of India before he took charge at the SBI on February 19, 1990. The versatile Goiporia sees this top-level mobility, this “cross fertilization ” as leading to “a very healthy interaction. ” Like a contented foster parent, Goipo ­ ria states, “The SBI is the largest bank in the country and has been running on very “ 16 Parsiana June 1990 Parinaz Gandhi sound professional lines. ” Actually it is suppos^ to rank among the 100 largest banks in the world, according to a SBl, publication titled The Third Eye. His au ­ thority extends to the seven associate banks of SBI viz State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Indore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Saurashtra and State Bank of Travancore. If the size of the chairman ’s room at the SBI is any indicator, then Goiporia ’s domain must indeed be extensive. In the 20-minutc time slot for the Parsiana in ­ terview on May 7, 1990 (extended to 25minutes) there are three telephone calls stagnate in clerical or junior banking posi- I r bottleneck wherever, intimating another people I do not certainly advocate a career of his tour plans... His replies to the Par- siana posers are brief and to-the-point; no time has he to elaborate. Yet after Bombay, each terse response he welcomes the next question with a disarming smile that sof ­ tens the fullness of his features. The State Bank Group - in the last financial year accounted for about 28 percent of aggregate do- mestic deposits, 31 percent of advances and 32 percent of total investments. The 11,898 offices established by the SBI constitute more than one-fourth of the total number of offices of all commercial ______ _______________ _ ______ __ ____ 1 Z. J ' • The functioning of The Zoroastrian that he attends to: being apprised of a tions throughout their lives. For such Co-operative Bank, which was initially ' . ¦ founded for the exclusive use of Zoroas- in banking, ” asserts Goiporia who has trians but has subsequently opened its spent half Ws 36-year bank career outside doors to non-Parsis,has created a “favor- ~ . able impression ” on Goiporia. He views “Please accept responsibilities. Please it as “a well-run bank which despite its accept positions that come your way and limited funds gives loans and does its move out of Bombay, ” he makes a re- best in the interest of the community. ” And what about the banks? Do Zoroastrians the schemes loans to bet- ter their financial lot? Ac- cording to Goiporia ’s ob- servation, “They do ap- proach the banks for funds. The most patron- ized is the scheme for scheduled commercial small scale industries, and banks (excluding regional Ih^ popularity is banks), notes the Bank ’s $ the scheme for farmers in last report. Of these 74 villages... But the spirit of percent are in the rural and entrepreneurship needs to semi-urban areas, further be further developed. In specifies the report. “We addition capital, it is the do try to go all out to keep zeal to do business, techni- a good customer with us (otherwise) we newed plea. “Only then can you show the cal qualifications and experience that con- will be saddled with only second class management that you are capable of tribute to the success of a venture, the customers, ” Goiporia had stated in an shouldering higher responsibilities... banker continues. intCTview with Business India of Febru- “Our community being so small we One pattern that the financial chief is ary 19-March 4,1990. That social banking has strained play a role ” in the Indian bm^ng sce- banks ’ profitability is a wrong impres ­ sion, believes Goiporia. The real causes of dwindling profitability of banks are chairman of Central Bank of India is a I “Our community being so small we can ’t say we dominate, but we certainly happy to see is that the community, “liter- ¦ ate and enlightened, is channelizing its naiio, is Goiporia ’s opinion. To impress savings to get the maximum returns pos- his point he mentions that the present sible which is essential in today ’s eco- ¦ .................................I nomic climate. They are out to maximize very low service' charges and constantly Parsi and so are many others holding their returns from investment and that is increasing cost of funds. The establish- “responsible executive positions ” in In- how it should be. Earlier they used to de ­ ment costs — periodical wage revisions, dia both in national and foreign banks: posit only in fixed deposits while to^y high rents for premises and residential Union Bank of India, Bank of Tokyo, we find that the averageinvestor looks for accommodation for the staff, travelling, Grindlays Bank, Chartered Bank, Indo better returns, keqiing safety and security communication, etc — have not been pro- Suez... in mind. Under the circumstances, invest- i portionately passed on to the borrowers. Beginning with Sorabji Pochkha- ments — in units, national savings certifi- he explains the workings. Viewing a bank job as a “very chai- India, “our community has been rea- good return (mi savings are being pre- lenging and rewarding experience, ” sonably in the forefront and played a ferred. Those who are more conversant Goiporia qualifies the statement with ctxicrete role in the development and with the money and share market also “but only if one is willing to work any- growth of banking. By virtue of their prefer investing in shares of reputed com- where in India. ” The chairman adds, high standard of integrity, members of panics... “Unfortunately it has been my experi- the community were preferred for ap- Suez... Beginning with Sorabji Pochkha- nawala, labelled the father of banking in cates, Indira Vikas Patra — which give a India, “our community has been rea- “Apart from a few families who are ence that the majority of Parsis, while pointment to cash departments in earlier in the top income bracket, ours is essen- preferring bank jobs, do not desire re- days, ” Goiporia summarizes the com- tially a strong middle-class community — sponsibility outside Bombay and prefer to munity ’s pivotal role. literate, reasonably well-settled and inte- I 17 Parsiana Juna 1990f spent outside Bombay, handling respon- prepares himself for die untraversed path sible positions, have definitely been a * ’ " .1—n munity ’s financial meter. very big stepping stone in my career, ” In addition to being the SBI chief, Goiporia acknowledges. Goiporia also serves as director of the /_ -----------—--------------- grating itself well in the Indian environ- ! ment ” is Goiporia ’s reading of the com ­ ahead of him. The painting on the wall facing him sums up the mood: against the backdrop of a rural panorama, a trail very big stepping stone in my career, ’ As his career tal^ a new course, he winds its way, no destination in sight Agricultural Finance Corporation Ltd, the Industrial Development Bank of India and the Discount and Finance House of India Ltd. That is not all. He is vice ¦ president of the Indian Institute of Bank ­ ers, a member of the governing board of the National Institute of Bank Manage ­ ment and is on the state level security committee of the Reserve Bank of India. He also makes time for his work for the blind, assisting on the placement com- L mittee and taking an interest in the reha ­ bilitation, training and employment of ! the blind. The reasons for his successful ascent? “I was fortunate to get the right break at the right time... I would say rewards come to those who work hard and get thoroughly involved in the work en ­ trusted to them, ” the banker remarks. Although ‘family reasons ’ is frequently cited as an excuse for refusing transfers, in Goiporia ’s case, his family — wife Dolly, daughter Zenobia Patel and son Yazd — have been supportive of his moves. “The 18 years which I have I I [ .t . .j„. I L ¦o' n Parsiana Juno 1990 Gifts& —IMUgg The Friendly Gift Shop for handicrafts, festive reli^ous artefacts, executive desk sets, exdusive shell ite^ designer jewelry & specializing in wood & copper-enamel gbfts. BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. (Mezzanine Floor) Sir P.M. Road, Bombay-400 001 STUDIO AKAR 6T/2660 J il Tata Housing. Building magnificent new ideas in g\ housing comfort. * In keeping with their spirit of • Innovation, Toto Housing has ’ ** jrv** designed a wholly different concept in living —a concep that represents comfort at its most luxurious, spacious . .W* apartments, splerKtid views, s peaceful surroundings orxd •is excellent amenities, r Beautifying and enhancing L the quality of living — the p guiding philosophy of Tata Hotting. 2 E ‘i» A ¦'fcT'.i.'j ’x'. .y.:X±? :5 ’ ll rd 7^ Tata Housing Development Co. Ltd. 0-20. Dhanraj Mahal 2nd Floor ApoioBun^ 8ombav400030. Tel • 2024607 2026427 2026S66 Ux.: 011-3234 IAIN IN ^(' CheShit^Morg Ik* * Di «z4Ar A »« 8 $ a IINSTITUTIONS Dorabjee Trust land(ing) in dispute Gustasp Irani The Bombay High Court has admitted a plea by the Surat Parsi Punchayet challenging the sale of the Dorabjee Trust land in Poona sioner sanctioned the sale but fixed the their appreciation for the many years Patell served the community and the Trust. She adds: “The SPP is the guard ­ ian of the orphans and the poor in Surat. This time it is the sale of trust land be ­ longing to the Dorabjee Pallonjee Patell purchasing price at Rs 9.75 lakhs. Sub- Edncational Charity Trust in Poona sequently Savak Patell entered into an which has been challenged. Though ear- agreement with Mehta Raheja Construe- _ her the joint charity commissioner in tion Company to develop the property That is the only role they have, and if new Poona turned down the application of the into a commercial complex. According trustees are appointed they have to be in ­ Surat Parsi Punchayet (SPP) trustees, last to Ms Thrity Poonawalla, Savak Patell ’s formed. ” November the Bombay High Court ad- daughter-in-law, Mehta Raheja Con- However, it appears that when the sale ¦ ¦ ~ . > of the Trust property was considered, Dorabjee and Company, major tenants of Patell was indeed a trustee. In December the land, for granting them leave to de- Mehta Raheja Con- mitted their petition questioning the land struction Company paid Rs 41 lakhs to sale. The SPP’s involvement stems from the fact that they have been named bene- ficiaries/custodians, entitled to a 50 per- velop the property, cent share in the trust proceeds. The core issue, according to the SPP, is that the land was sold to Savak Patell, „ . . _ _ who was a trustee of the Dorabjee Trust a trustee to the trustee himself. ” Sorab reads: “The application smacks of ab- until a month before the sale was trans- . " 7 acted, at a price far below the market states in an interview: “The main issue is price of the land. The trustees of the that the properly is taken by a trustee Dorabjee Trust maintain that technically himself who retired from trusteeship on Patell had ceased being a trustee at the grounds of ill health. However, at the cannot purchase the trust property, time of the sale and besides, he was the i L * ' . _ * major tenant (occupying 80 percent) of trustee ’s brothers and relatives continued the Dorabjee Trust land. to remain the sitting trustees. ” Further- The Dorabjee Trust traces its origins to 1911 when Dorabjee Patell founded a 1987, R. M. Master, one of the trustees at the time, referred Patell ’s proposal to buy In their apjplication to the joint charity the land from the Trust to Justice J. E. commissioner, the SPP described the sale Sanjana (retd) for his legal opinion. The as “void and illegal...since it is a sale by retired judge ’s opinion on the matter Katpitia, chief executive of the SPP, sence of bonafides... the main object (it seems is) to enable Savak Patell who is one of the trustees to purchase the Trust property at a nominal price. A trustee \ \ Dorabjee Trust maintain that technically himself who retired from trusteeship on . _ _ - I Time of the (purported) sale, the buying amounts to misconduct on the part of the trustees. ” Justice Sanjana ’s opinion also high ­ lighted other discrepancies. For'one, it refuted the trustees ’ contention that the trading concern, Dorabjee and Company, the local papers were not issued. Besides, Trust is not a “public trust. ” He argues: In 1930 he sold the business to his wife ’s the purchasing price of Rs 9.75 lakhs was “The beneficiaries are not restricted to brother (Savak Patell ’s father). However, way below the one crore rupees esti- the Patell family. Thus the Trust cannot * the land on which stood the business premises, formed the corpus of the Dor ­ abjee Trust that he created for the educa ­ tion of the children he never had: the poor and orphaned Parsis of Surat and trust property. ” Poona. Poonawalla argues that Patell was not In March 1989, the trustees of the a trustee at the time of the sale and that other trustees are from the Patell family Dorabjee Trust applied to the joint char-, notice of his resignation had been sent to whereas the trust deed provides for only ity commissioner in Poona to permit the the charity commissioner and the SPP. one member of the Patell family as a sale of the trust land to Savak Patell for The latter, she claims, even acknow- trustee. In sum. Justice Sanjana cot- six lakh rupees. The charity commis- ledged his resignation and expressed eludes that the proposal to sell the Trust to remain the sitting trustees.' more, the SPP contends that proper no ­ tice of the sale as also advertisements in the purchasing price of Rs 9.75 lakhs was way below the one crore rupees esti ­ mated price of the land. They dismiss be a private trust. Merely restricting it the involvement of Mehta Raheja Con- (the beneficiaries) to the Parsi commu- struction Company as a matter that does nity does not make it a private trust ” “ ¦ .u- opinion also points out an “i regularity ” in the management of the Trust in that except for one trustee all the “not divest the Dorabjee Trust of the ir- one member of the Patell family as a trustee. 20 Parsiana June 1990i i i > ? land to Savak Patell is not legal and tensive repair — app-oximate cost Rs charity commissioner no longer had ju- maintains that “no member of the settlor ’s 7.75 lakhs — which if undertaken would risdiction over the matter since the sale family can claim any preferential rights in have been way above the gross annual was completed and the land was no purchasing the Trust property. ” receipts of the Trust (Rs 33,693 in 1987): longer trust property. The plea was Poonawalla, however, sees the equa- “One must realize that we were coll- based on a precedent to that effect set ^y tion differently: “My family has always ecting rents at old rates, ” says Jehangir a Nagpur bench and accepted by the been in the majority (on the Trust board) Patell. charity commissioner who ruled that he and the Trust is main ly a family trust that Katpitia sees the problem differently: was thus no longer the competent body helps the poor children of Poona and “The settlor in his trust deed has specifi- to decide the issue. (Justice Sanjana sees Surat. ” Jehangir Patell, trustee during cally mentioned that in the event the the Nagpur ruling as an important one the time of the sale and currently manag- trustees of the Dorabjee Trust are unable which will have direct bearing on many ing trustee of the Dorabjee Trust, justi- to manage, then the entire management Parsi public trust matters.) fies the sale of the land to his uncle should be handed oveMo the SPP.” Antia^senior Parmer of JMulla Savak Patell by observing: “Besides being a trustee, he (Savak) was also a major tenant of the Trust property and legally the property can be sold to a ten ­ ant. It just so happened he was also an ex-trustee. ” J.l—„ though that the sale of the property was plied many times over. The sale returns not advertised in the local newspapers. cf ’ -2-’-: --.u Would the sale price have been higher the Unit Trust of India as per the chanty them removed so that the Trust corpus were it properly advertised? No, says commissioner ’s recommendation, and no longer remains in their charge. Ac- Poonawalla, Rs 9.75 lakhs is a fair price, the annual income of the Trust is now cording to him any two persons can file She points out that Mehta Raheja Con- about Rs 1.20 lakhs. “This year we sent such an application. “Since it happen^ struction Company had to pay another Rs Rs 60,000 to the SPP and distributed Rs in Poona, someone from Poona should do 57 lakhs to the authorities to convert the 60,000 in Poona. Earlier the SPP and it or possibly the Bombay I^arsi property into freehold land. The Rs 41 Poona would get only Rs 2,000 each. ” th,« t«sk lead lakhs paid to Dorabjee and Company was ' ' ' ' ' ‘ -j--i.. as compensation for their 80 percent ten ­ ancy rights. “We will be occupying a much smaller space in the new complex...The value of property belongs price which they peg at one crore rupees, to those who actually possess it; the ma- Kaqiitia confirms that Mehta Raheja jwity of value remains with the tenant ” " Was there need to sell the land? Yes, says Jehangir Patell. “In the original “At present we are studying this pro- trust deed there is a clause that if the rent posal but it does not seem practical. ” is not sufficient and if the trustees are The SPP’s initid appUcation to the able to generate more income elsewhere joint charity commissioner in Poona to they are allowed to sell the property. ” reverse the sanction to the sale proposal. He points out that the building standing had been contested by the t^tees of the on the property is old and in need of ex- P have been way above the gross annual was completed and the land was no receipts of the Trust (^33,693 in 1987): longer trust prt^rty. ”” “One must realize that we were coll- 1 ______ ____________ J -‘The settlor in his trust deed has specifi- to decide the issue. (Justice Sanjana sees JdiMgir Patell, trustee during cally mentioned that in the event the the Nagpur ruling as an important one to manage, then the entire management Parsi public trust matters.) ___ _ __ _ ;_______ ____ ’ Buijor Antia, seniw partna* of Mulla “But the Dorabjee Trust is very much and Mulla and Craigie Blunt and Caroe, in existence, ” counters Jehangir Patell who fought for and obtained admission while refuting the inference that the of the plea in the Bombay High Court Pooria trustees are unable to manage the sees the Court ’s acceptance of the appeal Trust affairs. Rather, after the sale of the . as a major victory for the community. “The community should demand the res- ______ _________ ______ ignation of the trustees and should ap- of Rs 9.75^ lakhs have been invested with proach the charity commissioner to have Jehangir Patell admits land, the revenue of the Trust has multi- commissioner ’s recommendation, and no longer remains in their charge. Ac- the annual income of the Trust is now ________________ about Rs 1.20 lakhs. “This year we sent struction Company had to pay another Rs Rs 60,000 to the SPP and distribut^ Rs property into freehold land. The Rs 41 Poona would get only Rs 2,000 each. Punchayet should take on this task, lead Apparently? the SPP feels that getting and guide the Parsi community.'' more than it did earlier does not imply ’ ' that it is getting as much as it should, had the property been sold at a fair market Jehangir Patell sees no wrong done on I 21 Parsiana June 1990 Construction Company had approached the SPP with an offer to settle the matter. reverse the sanction to the sale proposal. Dorabjee Trust who submitted that the ¦ I i fAbove) Hoardings armouncing the sale of land. (Left) Dorabjee and Company: major tenants Photos: Gustasp Irani the part of the trustees of Dorabj^ Trust. “Technically it was all above board, ” he states. According to him the sale was legal and the beneficiaries benefitted by it as the Trust income has grown many times over. He concedes that the sale has also helped Dorabjee and Company (“which incidently is heavily in the red ”) but only because they were the major tenants of the land. According to Dinshaw Anklesaria, trustee of the Poona Parsee Panchayat, the issue goes beyond Dorabjee Trust; it concerns the right of trustees — the custodians of trust proper ­ ties — to compromise community inter ­ ests to sort out personal problems.' ¦ V Moos is consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the world renowned plastic ,¦ surgery unit of Glasgow ’s Canniesbum ’-ILI BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD continued from page 14 a brief synopsis of bis English speech. Hospital where those genetically disfig- Deboo recalled the objection of an Indian ......................... Zoroastrian to this procedure. He added that whenever the Zoroastrian Society of institution deals with about 700 fractures Vancouver, British Columbia organized a year — 60 to 70 percent of the woik- lectures, one-day seminars or other meet- load — stemming directly from physical ings, “we invited speakers who were violence related to alcohol, notes The proficient in both languages so that Times. Zoroastrians who lacked a deep know- The article refers to Moos as a pio- I^ge of the English language, could ac- neering surgeon whose knowledge and ured and those injured in accident or as ­ sault are given a new lease of life. The The article refers to Moos as a pio- I Recognised as a Public School by the Department of Educa­ tion for Indian Merit Scholars. Excellent Climate — All- round Education: All Academic Subjects — Technical Subjects: Work­ shop Technology, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance, Car­ pentry & Farming. Training in Self-Government through Elected Boys’ Office bearers. Games — Physical Training — Daily Assembly with Con- gregational Prayers — Weekly intensive Zoroastrian —Geeta—Koran classes— Ex­ cellent Modern Kitchen and Dining Room facilities—Airy Dormitories. Moderate Fees. Concessions to Deserving Students. Apply to THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building, 324 Dr. D.N. Road, Bombay 400(X)l. 22 Parsiana June 1990 tively participate, could understand what experience to perform such complex sur- (was) going on and relate to each other. ” gery is daunting: two degrees in dentistry Deboo suggests that the Seventh and medicine in addition to specialist fel- NAZC invite bilingual scholars like lowship in dentistry and surgery. Mehr, Dr Ali Jafarey and others and per ­ haps reserve a session when Farsi synop ­ sis could be provided. “If your commit ­ tee favors such a decision, it should be Hitherto, “patients who had lost chure, ” adds Deboo. (was) going on and relate to each other. ” Moos is in the news because he is in the process of introducing a new type of surgery to Scotland, informs the article. . t an ear widely publicized through your bro- or nose, would be fitted with a prosthesis chure, ” adds Deboo. - Other conscious attempts at integral- „ _______ ing the two Zoroastrian communities is barrassing risk of it falling off. But the the holding of Persian classes by a num- Branemark method, first developed in her of I^rth American associations and a Sweden, involves the implanting of spe- etna to use the opportunity presented by the convergence of Hormuzd roj accord ­ ing to the Shehenshahi, Kadmi and Fasli ____________ calendars on March 21, 1992 — and and we have found that the bone grows — to arrive at the use of a single calendar. Quoting from a paper “Some historic facts on the Zoroastrian calendar ” pre ­ sented by Dr Jehan Bagli, editor of £ 1,000‘(approximately Rs 29,006) and Gayashni and the FEZANA Journal, shortage of funds is Moos ’ main com- which shows the Fasli calendar as being plaint, the article notes. the most in step with the seasons, Ri- The surgeon, who works 12 hours a vetna wntes, “From 1992 to 1995 we day in the hospital, forecasts “an excit ­ will be presented with a golden opportu ­ nity that will not recur in i lifetimes...On this continent, Zoroastri ­ ans are making a new beginning. What ­ ever we do, or fail to do, will have a last ­ ing effect on future generations. ” Riv- etna ’s letter addressed to all North American associations urging discussion and inviting comments, suggestions and papers on the subject has been published peeled president of the" London Zoroas- in the March-April 1990 issue of Zoroas- trian Association for many years who trian News. rendered valuable service to the commu- « nity as well as other cosmopolitan or- ^rMting 3 new race ganizations in England. The scion may “Patients with genetic deformities are have inherited similar leanings: “I think eternally grateful for anything that you it is very important to learn how the other half of the world lives, ” he told The Times reporter. “I would be happy to work abroad in some third world coun ­ try such as India where there are exten ­ sive problems. ” Compiled by Anuvtz S. Mama (artificial substitute) which could only be glued on and there was always the em- Branemark method, first developed in call by FEZANA president Rohinton Riv- cial screws into the bone which allows the prosthesis to be clipped on securely, ” informs The Times. “The screws are made from titanium every subsequent March 21 through 1995 into the grooves of the screws, which . . . . . makes the implant strong and long-last ­ ing, ” Moos told the paper. The cost of each implant is reckoned by Moos at ‘ _____J Gavashni and the FEZANA Journal, shortage of funds is Moos ’ main com ­ The surgeon, who works 12 hours a ing future for his speciality with the pos- our sibility of foetal surgery on genetically disfigured babies...The technology exists and the surgery has already been carried out on animals. ” Cyrus Mehta of Essex, UK who sent The Sunday Times clipping to Rarsiana, informs that the 55-year-old healer is the son of the late Jehangir Moos, a res- in the March-April 1990 issue of Zoroas- “Patients with^ genetic deformities are have inherited similar leanings: “I think can do for them, whereas trauma patients have a very precise self-image and if you don ’t get it perfect, they are on your back all the time, ” notes Dr Khursheed Moos in an interview with The Sunday Times of Scotland, February 11, 1990. II MEDIA The Visitors ’ Vision Gustasp Irani The community ’s religjous structure is weak and yet adherence to religious principles has contributed to its success, observe two British TV documentary makers “Be-far-ma-id, ” Richard Harris, British i ‘ _ .*_ L____ _____ 1________ _ _ TV producer on assignment in India for with the title oT the book Thus*"Spake wiJ. BBC Channel 4, welcomes you in perfect Zarathustra or have some vague notion contact with. Farsi. You soon come to learn that he is t* ' Z, ___ _______________ equally fluent in Urdu. His director and their dead to the vulturesT*^ “PeisonaIly, I nize that the relipon h^ SOTiething to do in Bombay they are not concerned Parsis have moved far that they are fire worshippere and leave away from their roots — the nomadic _ _ '------ -----------I trib^ in northern Iran. ” Signs of our ^er^OT, Jot Pester does not venture think that this manner of disposing the times is the growing migration of Parsis teyond English. In one comer of their dead is... as good or as bad as any other from rural Gujarat to urban Bombay* an hotel room m south Bombay, cases of method. ” clarifies Pester. abandonment of their rural roots even in mineral water are neatly stacked — a sign that camp has been established. Books, mainly on Parsis and Zoroastrianism, are scattered around and at the desk is a and religion of the prophet Zoroaster that buildings in the v illag e were the Parsi spread of charts and cards listing the dif- is of consequence. “Zcrccctcr cffcrc a —=---------j.v. ferent aspects of the community and reli- simple explanation for good and *evU gion. Presently, the two start probing, i ‘ ___________ ___________ __ exploring, seeing. Their quest? Abet- and the fact that it is a religion of choice. ’ ter understanding of Parsi Zoroastrians appeals to me. The other aspect about on whom they plan to make a 52-minute ^roastrianism is that it relates to the documenury film. For about two things that really matter in life: earth, months iti Bombay and Gujarat they water, fire, air, plants. I hope to get that worked with single-minded devotion on aspect across in the film: that it is a reli- the project. The blur of the early days gion based on the simple fundamental had focused into sharp images, not only things of life,” says Pester. “The issue on film, but also in their perception of of air, earth, water are not confined to their subject matter. Indeed, they had Zoroastrians alcwie, they concern the tuned in to the sensitivities of the com- ' ' ----- munity. “The Parsis will have to forgive us for our shortcomings because while the film ’ is made with them very much in it, they are not the target audience, ” says Harris. “But I do imagine that our film will edu ­ cate the people in Britain that Parsis do exist and that they are a different type of bags do not rot...they are one of the worst Agiary many would worsfup at the Sai Indians, says Pester. forms of pollution. - - - - According to the filmmakers, the av- (then) becomes meaningless, crage Brit knows little or nothing about Parsis or Zoroastrianism. ' ____________ might have heard of them probably recog- They may observe the°rituals, “but living abandonment of their rural roots even in “I don ’t think it is our job to suggest India. The crew visited a villa g e near to toe Parsis what they are supposed to Navsari that had been totally deserted by dobelieves Pester. It is toe message the Parsis. “The two most substantial is of consequence. ‘Zoroaster offers a agiary and the Parsi dokhma. The rust 1 on the locks testified to the number of which does not blame God for evil. This, years they had remained closed, ” says --..I Harris. The agiary was full of spiders and the dokhma overgrown with plants. whole world. No day goes by without a major story about pollution, ” adds Har ­ ris. He recalls the time when the film crew was at Chowpatty on Ava mah, Ava roj to record the Parsis paying their re ­ spect to water. “It was quite distressing Harris: "more religious than before” to see them throw their offerings into the Facing page sea along with the plastic bags. Plastic (Top row left) After visiting Aslaji forms of pollution. The symbolism Baba temple Photo: Homyar Mstry « — - . . Pester agrees; there is not much evi- >» (Right) Audience at World Congress: a ___________ sea of glasses? Those who dence of Parsis caring for the elements. (Below) Ava mah, Ava roj; worshipping -m... ..-v .. . ... . or polluting water? PiyQio:»omyar Mistry I 24 Parsiana June 1990principles. “The success of such a small community in almost any field can be think that they are very powerful symbols “It was really quite sad. ” needs of the community. If a Parsi has a that has created as vast a welfare system In their encounters a problem that Har- problem, the last person he will go to for for its own as the Parsis have, ” adds Har ­ ris and Pester had to deal with was the help is a mobed. ” ris. “It does not stop the Parsi from being divergence of views in the interpretation of the Zoroastrian texts. ris, “You ask a Parsi what his religion is and he replies, ‘Zoroastrianism. ’ But the community is because of their religious canceofasudreh andkusti toaParsi: “An moment you ask, ‘what is Zoroastrian- principles. “The success of such a small armor against evil. I think that ’s true. I ism? ’ you don ’t get the same answer un ­ less the respondents are high priests, traced to two Zoroastrian principles: one for those who wear them are aware that “Behind this divergence (among die lay- which approves of wealth and the other they are engaged in a battle against evil. If men) is the lack of a unified system of which encourages charity. These two are more people are engaged in this battle, the society we live in benefits. Parsis have to stand up and be counted. The Parst rec ­ ognizes that he has to constantly fight this evil because in the city of Bombay you are surrounded by drug. It manifests itself everywhere: poverty, dirt, appalling liv ­ ing conditions... ” But worse, according to Harris, is the fatalism of the East which •makes people accept their lot as karma rather than fight the evil and rise above it. To the degree that a Parsi, as expected by Though the religious structure may be dissatisfied, but that ’s good. Dissatisfac* Says Har- weak, the British filmmakers recognize tion shows that they are struggling to im- that much of the success of the Parsi prove. ” Harris elaterates on the signifi- religion... Very often, what Parsis hold as very workable principles, ” says Pester. Zoroastrian beliefs d I defitriiely have as being faifti been niwe religious thte before. I don ’t ***' ' ” bftondy from entry tax and more. Helping them in the age I am at —- 39,” confesses Pester. -> Harris traces his contact with 2k)roas- 7 com- was a growing awareness of India in the munity is. It ’s an old Parsi joke — there ' are as many views of Zoroastriteism as there are Parsis. ” There will soon be one more — on BBC, Channel 4. like the hippies. ” WITH BEST COMPLIMENTS FROM \ SOfT'HEARTE D ‘WIBS’BREAD WESTERN INDIA BAKERS' PRIVATE LIMITED KHODADAD BUILDING, 100 D'LIMA STREET DOCKYARD ROAD, BOMBAY 400010 28 Parstana June 19S0IN MEMORIAM Lucknow’s Khodaiji ered “an authority in matters of housing reader, writer and lecturer, a chapter writ ­ policies and planning at a national level ten by him on “Zarthustra and his Teach- and his expertise was utilized by many ings ” has been translated and approved by states and the center, ” writes F. M. the government for inclusion in the sylla- Soonawalla, vice president of the bus of UP government schools, according Lucknow Anjuman. He had been ap­ pointed member of the working group constituted to improve the performance Bapsy, sons Jal and Kaiyomarse, and of housing boards in India. On his retire- daughter Freny. ment from the IAS, he was made chair ­ man of the UP Housing and Development Board for two years, notes a resume of his career. During the Emergency he served as secretary in the home ministry in UP, the “largest and politically the most sensi ­ tive stale in the country, ” mentions Soonawalla, commending him for dis ­ charging “these onerous responsibilities with utmost fairness. ” The “straightfor- Died: Rustom Ardesher Boga, 78, res ­ ward, good-natured ” officer ’s conduct of pected industrialist and philanthropist of public duties was so exemplary that he Amritsar, on February 7,1990 follow- was popularly referred to as “the honest officer, ” it was stated at the condolence meeting. Keen to see other members of the have heard of the...charities of Mr Boga. ” community join the IAS, at the executive to his bio data. Khodaiji is survived by his wife Warm hearted iceman ing cardiac arrest. “I do not think there is a single Parsi in the north-western sector who would not Died: Boman Jalejar Khodaiji, 66, presi- community join the IAS, at the executive These sentiments are expressed by K. B. dent of the Lucknow Parsi Anjuman and council meetings of the Federation of Antia, deputy chief manager. Bank of In- member of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Mi- - - - _ - - norities Commission on March 27, 1990 he attended as a representative from following a brief illness in Lucknow. Regarded as a “pillar of strength to the community all over UP,” it was Khodaiji ’s advice and guidance that was sought on different occasions, it was re ­ called at a condolence meeting convened by the Lucknow Parsi Anjuman on March 31,1990. Among those who came to pay their last respects to Khodaiji were during his early years, had graduated Anjuman in Amritsar, informs his daugh- the former finance minister Narain Datt ' - . _ .. ._ ... Tewari, former chief secretaries of UP, the commissioner, the peons of the vari ­ ous departments that he had served dur ­ ing his association with the government ers on the Saharanpur aramgah properly as Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India that dia, presently posted in Patiala. “The help extended by him to the members of our Lucknow, he would invariably volunteer community during the partition of the more information on this subject. He be- country is still fresh in the minds of lieved that il was not necessary for all many, ” adds Antia before confirming that aspirants to make it to the top echelons Boga ’s reputation for “kindness and hos- of the IAS ladder — even from the lower pitality was unmatched. ’’ rungs they could be helpful to the com ­ munity. Khodaiji, who had studied at the came to be recognized, to him goes the Bharda New High School in Bombay credit for having set up the local Parsi “The last Parsi in the region, ” as Boga from St Andrew ’s College in Gorakhpur ter Minnie Grosskurth from Delhi. He is before he joined the civil service. His advice on other community issues — whether in dealing with the encroach- also known to have spent considerable time and resources on the maintenance of the Parsi cemetery in Amritsar. He had established “a number of also Parsis from the neighboring or inducing the youth lo launch business charitable, cultural, educational add social towns of Kanpur and Varanasi who held schemes from government subsidies for service organizations... for the well-being him in high esteem, notes a family minorities — was practical. As a member of poor and downtrodden ” citizens, notes source. of the UP minorities commission, he a write-up in the Indian Express of Febru- The community projects in which he • is said to have taken a special interest were the creation of a mobed ’s benevo ­ lent fund, the repair of anjuman build ­ ings, the construction of the Katrak Block the Banking Services Recruitment Association for over 50 years and donated for which his wife Bapsy helped him col- Board, he had served as bench chairman both land and money for their education, Icct donations, and the repair of the ar- on several occasions, informs the family, treatment and welfare, it is stated in the amgah bungli which he was keen to see completed, mentions a write-up from the family. An Indian Administrative Service Pradesh Nagrik Sangh and the Indian quenily responsible for its expansion lo (IAS) officer for 36 years, he was consid- Council for National Solidarity. An avid all the major centers in the Punjab. In of the UP minorities commission, he made il his business to be accessible ary 9,1990. to all. Since ’85 he had been appointed director of the UP Minorities Finance bilitation of TB patients, Boga served on and Development Corporation Ltd. On the governing body of the Amritsar TB Banking Services Evincing a keen interest in the reha- on several occasions, informs the family. He wa.s vice president of the Society write-up. for Himalayan Environmental Rehabili- “ tation and Peoples Action, the Uttar to North India by Boga who was subse- The Lions movement was introduced 30 Parsiana Juno 1990 Council for National Solidarity. An avidaddition to holding responsible posts in had earned his wealth in the family busi- this organization he was also recognized ness, the Amritsar Ice Factory founded by with international awards. Under the aus- his grandfather Edulji Boga. The of all religions, the Amritsar-born Boga pices of the Lions Club he was effective Amritsar Ice Factory, reportedly the lar- was interred at the Parsi cemetery there, in setting up a children ’s park, a doll gest ice factory in the Punjab, got a boost By his graveside, in addition to the museum and a library as also a free under his management when a cold stor- Zoroastrian rites, were also recited polydiagnostic clinic in his area. For age division was added to the existing prayers by a Christian priest, a Sikh over 40 years he was an active member plant, notes a family source. The busi- raghi, a Hindu pundit and a Muslim mul- of the Masonic order, rising to the rank of deputy grand master of the United the business skills on the job itself. Actu- Scottish Freemasoiuy of India and Paki- ally (xi the death oi his father when he der Kaur, and daughter Minnie Boga Stan, according to a family source. “The civic-conscious philanthropist ” to join the family business. A strong believer in the universality nessman-cum-social worker had learnt lah,'mentions his daughter. Boga is survived by his wife Mohin- was 18 years old, Boga had perforce to Grosskurth by his first wife, Freny. give up his studies at the Khalsa College written by Pannaz Oandhi EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES continued from page 12 well, ” believed Mistry who brought in Colabawalla, chairman; S. E. Heer- SPOTLIGHT the dynamic G. S. Keshavamurthy as jibehdin, treasurer; Ms Pareen Lalkaka, Inspector Homi Sorabji Irani was managing director of SIV in 1986. “We honorary secretary; and J. J. Ollia, B. S. awarded the President ’s Police Medal for have been able to exploit the potential of Paymaster and Dr N. H. Wadia, members Meritorious Service. The Governor of the company tightly. The workers have at large. Maharash tra, C. Sidxamaniam, presented been properly motivated. We have built — - • ................. a sense of belonging among the employ- International Federation of Right to Die Jam-e-Jamshedoi May 6. ees of the company, ” Keshavamurthy Societies, has as its first objective “toas- sums up the reasons for his success. sert the right of every man and woman of Yachtsman Farokh Tarapore, medalist After a decade of consolidation, the sound mind to freedom, within the limits at the 1982 and ’86 Asian Games, won emphasis will now be on expansion and that may be laid down by law. to choose the Danish Spring Cup in the 470 class in diversification. The capacity of the com- to live or to die. ” Denmark on May 6, 1990. notes The pany ’s staple fiber plant and wood pulp plant was increased, earmarking Rs 77 support the Society. Masani said. “The he was training for the Asian Games to be crores for the modernization of the exist ­ ing capacities. In addition. Rs 200 crores will be expended on diversification in ar ­ eas ranging from edible oil, lubricants, forestry, pesticides, etc. “Our aim now is annual report. Their records show 56 life ment of Maharashtra, notes Bombay of to grow in other areas and be a multi- members and 350 long-term members in March 7-21,1990. It is his line drawings, product company, ” says B. L. Gupta, vice the year ending June 30,1989. abstract oils and dance figures that have president in charge of diversification. won acclaim in art circles. SIV is also preparing to take over a pesti- Japs’ falling numbers cides company, a textiles firm and a boil- Just as the Parsis are hit by declining National cycling champion Ms Jasmine ers factory, reports the Business India numbers, the Japanese too have registered Arethna is included in the Indian write-up. a decrease in their birth rate. The total women ’s team that will participate at the The success of SIV is expected to en ­ hance Mistry ’s clout on the Indian corpo ­ rate scene, notes the journal. Already, year, according to population statistics shed dated May 6,1990. Mistry is believed to be the largest share ­ holder in the Tata group of companies, in addition to holding substantial shares in that the number of babies bom in the na- ships, Ms Dilshad Rusi Cooper, repre- other companies like the ACC (Asso- tion in a year ” had shown such a decrease, seating Maharashtra, won the doubles ciated Cement Companies Limited). comments News (February 16-28, 1990), title along with partner Ms Mansi Par- . . the fortnightly publication from the con- adkar, notes the Jam-e-Jamshed May Die-hard support sulate general of Japan in Bombay. 6, 19^. The Maharashtra team bi^ed Taking an active interest in the Bombay- The reasons attributed for the declin- the team championships at the meet in based The Society for the Right to Die ing birth rate are also similar to those ap- Madras early this year. with Dignity are several Zoroastrians. In plicable to the Parsi community: couples fact the executive committee for 1990- 1991 comprises of an all-Zoroastrian team, according to a press release. With Japan a baby was born every 25 seconds notes The Daz/y ’of December 31,1989. M. R. Masani as president emeritus, the others on the committee are Dr B. N. The Society, which is affiliated to the him the medal on May 1,1990, notes the to live or to die. ” Referring to the public reluctance to Times of India dated May 10. In Europe, intellectual conviction is there but when it held in Beijing this year. comes to action, there is a great deal of hesitation. ” Membership on the Society Shiavax Chavda was felicitated as the continues to remain “static, ” as per their Artist of the Year 1990 by the Govem- a decrease in their birth rate. The total number of babies born in Japan in 1989 International Cycling Championships in were down 71,000 from the previous France this year, notes the Jam-e-Jam- from the health and welfare ministry. “This was the first time in the past decade At the Sub-junior Carrom Champion- sulate general of Japan in Bombay. The reasons attributed for the declin- marrying later in life, as also a reluctance D. M. Tavadia takes over as vice presi- among many to tie the knot. Even then, in dent (marketing) of Unilite Marketing, as compared to a death that occurred every 40 seconds. Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka 32 Parsiana June 1990