Jan 1991

I; *January 1991 Volume 13 Number 7 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 D’sousa 3 Readers’ Forum 10 Events and Personalities 14 Travels in Iran - 6 by Manekji Limji Hataria MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Cheryl D'Penha CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala 20 Blessings at the Baug by Noshir Dadrawala 29 The Brazen Betrothal by Dosabhai Karaka 31 Milestones FINANCE B. L. Arora EDP Rohinton E. Daroga CIRCULATION Behram Umrigar MANAGEMENT Minoo Patel, Jasmine Driver 34 In Memoriam Cover: Navjote at the Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary OFFICE Rajendra P. Nayak, Khurshid Panthaki, Patricia Lewis, Rajalakshmi Krishnan, Bakhtavar Batliwalla, Nowzer Batliwala Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd, at C/o H.L. Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K.Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001 and printed by him at Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd, C/0 Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Color processing. Comart Lithographers; and black and white processing, Samir Process. All rights reserved. Phone: 2048730 Fax; 2042922 For editorial enquiries: 2048183 Telex 11-85710 RABO IN Annual inland subscription Rs 80 for one year (12 issues); Rs 140 for two years (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs 200/US $ 12/UK £ 7 for one year, Rs 350/US $ 21/UK £ 12 for two years (please allow six months or more from the time of publication); Air mail Rs 320/US $ 20/UK £ 11 for one year, Rs 600/US $ 38/UK £ 20 for two years. For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 5 for bank charges; for US cheques add $ 5; for UK cheques add £ 3. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favor of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 or C/0 H.L.Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K.Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001BLAZE ADVERTISING PVT LTD AND ASSOCIATE COMPANIES iREADERS' FORUM innnr.n ¦t!' ^4^1 Jim.* »11 Hb-jIhb 3 k****,*»*»j i if Al*" tee can ignore such law on the ground of religious belief. My personal view is that while no attempts have been for it to serve the priest can be compelled to perform dead. Brig n.b. grant (Retd) religious ceremonies against his con- pune science, the trustees of community funds and properties can exclude the claims of The Parsi Punchayet trustees not allowing those Parsi Zoroastrians, who have the traditional funeral rites at doonger- married outside the community without renouncing their faith, only at their legal peril. Dr b. m. masani ¦ Mhow to serve religion, as long as he serves man. Unfortunately, so far, all our dead. wadi for the late Roxan Shah has upset a section of the community. The trustees would have faced similar criticism from a different section of the community if they had allowed such ceremonies to be per­ formed. To the best of my knowledge none of the present trustees is a religious scholar and therefore the board of trustees “Whither good...?” Congratulations for hitting the nail on the head, through your excellent editorial, “Whither goods thoughts, words, and has to depend on advice tendered to them. - deeds? ” (Parsiana, September 1990). Their action should be castigated only if Today, when Muslim fanaticism, and now Hindu fundamentalism, is raging like wildfire, devouring all sane thinking, I should not be resolved through legalistic would have thought that Zoroastrianism, measures. The secular nature of our con- the most simple and least complicated of stitution and the laws of this country give all faiths, would have shone out like a beacon for all religions of the world to look up to and follow. I am afraid, not only have we miserably failed in this, but of its rites and customs should have no have today become the butt of ridicule, interference whatsoever from others, of interest to the community and should and the joker bawaji (a term derisively Possibly there are those who think that be sent to the Editor, Readers* Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. Unsigned letters or those without an address will not be published. ¦'7 ‘S; Im Readers' views are welcome on any subject malafide can be attributed. All religious controversies cannot and total freedom and liberty in the practise of any religion, its customs and traditions. Every religious group, in the practise used by non-Parsis to refer to Parsis) of there should be a change with the chan- the whole nation, if not of the world. The Prophet ’s message is so simple and easy to comprehend. This is the only religion, which I know of, which has no rituals, no dogmas, no jpenance and no fasting. Any rituals and dogmas which leaders of our community have a referen- the Parsis observe in India, are only those of the country which gave us shelter. Secondly, it is a religion of happiness nity should be given all the necessary and and laughter, which expects its followers relevant information, knowledge and to eat, drink, make love, create wealth, opinions of religious scholars so that the and always be merry. However, it enjoins laity are educated on these matters and that, all the above must be enjoyed on the ging times; and there may be others for whom tradition and existing customs are sacrosanct. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary and feasible, considering that we are a microscopic minority, that the dum on this and related issues. Before holding such a referendum the commu- “The divine laws of...” Prefer to the article “The divine laws of God must prevail ” by, and the interview “If you want to come back, I want to stop you ” with, Dastur Firoze Kotwal, published in Parsiana, September 1990. that, all the above must be enjoyed on the therefore able to cast their choice as they In view of the furore created on the three pillars of good thoughts, good deem fit. The results of this referendum subject, I would like that there should be words and good deeds, bound together should then be adopted as a guideline for clarity of thought in respect of the aspects with a band which stipulates that happi- all future decisions. • involved. There is, first, the purely religious as ­ pect. We must acknowledge that, in this. Lastly, the Zoroastrian religion is a “Whither ParsianaV^ there are few better qualifled than Dastur faith of the living, by the living, and for This is in response to Aspi Moddie ’s di ­ Ko tw al. He is also correct in stating that no secular law or judgment can override religious tenets. There is, however, another aspect: the management of religious and trust properties. This is a secular matter, gov ­ erned by the law of the land, and no trus- ness comes only to those who give happi ­ ness to others. Lastly, the Zoroastrian religion is a PHIROZE AMROLIWALLA the living. It therefore stipulates that its rective (“Making good, clear choice*," tenets were made to serve the living man, Parsiana, March 1990) and Roni Khan ’s but that man was not created to serve its appeal (“Whither Parsiana,” Readers ’ doctrines. Zoroastrian doctrine therefore Forum, Parsiana, April 1990), that some is expected to bend to accommodate the form of religious education be imparted, needs of man, as such; there is no need for the latter to sacrifice his worldly interests in small doses, by Parsiana. May I make two modest suggestions? 3 Parsiana January 1991Could Parsiana see its way to printing brief articles, not more than a single page, on Zoroastrian concepts, in a series en ­ titled ‘Know your religion? ’ Basic con ­ cepts, such as the Amesha Spenta, Sraosha, Daena, Ashi Vanghui, etc should be described, and the article should un ­ failingly conclude by showing their appli- cationjn daily life. used to have leaders like Kabraji, Pijam, four enchanting children ’s books Secondly, to complement the above, Hirjibehdin, Vimadalal and others who (including The Navjote) has rather hastily, I feel, downgraded their inherent value, wish that Parsiana takes a leading role in They are an enduring and popular suc ­ cess. Certainly we have nothing quite like these in our London Zoroastrian House I am very sorry to hear that our commu- word and deed than in frequent empty nity, once so very well-known for its proclamations to that effect, for mere in ­ charities, is now not able to support its in ­ stitutions. Its downfall is mainly attri ­ buted to being a leaderless community. It can be compared to a ship in mid-sea, drifting captainless at sea. I remember in the good old days we Chance, ” Parsiana, May 1989) at Piloo ’s used to have leaders like Kabraji, Pijam, four enchanting tonation of this confessional clause does not of itself make one so. Piloo ’s little book — doing very well! — amply bears out my assertion. Homi Rogers ’ retro ­ spective glance (“Navjote by Choice, not there should be selections from our texts had great influence on the community. I illustrating the articles. This page could be entitled: ‘Our Beautiful Prayers. ’ I selecting a good leader. I am quite sure stress the adjective, beautiful, for it is es ­ sential that beautiful renderings of our the community. prayers be made to match Bahai, Chris- New Delhi A long-running sore with Piloo is the tian, Hindu and Muslim prayers. How of- , , vexing question of geush urva. Why can- ten have the young come to me and said: ‘‘Nsvjote by choiCG...” not early pastoral man ’s preoccupation “How beautiful the Bahai prayers are. I fear my dear friend Piloo Jungalwalla with and wonder at this most precious Why can ’t our prayers be translated in the has inadvertently knocked against well- material possession — domesticated same way so that we can respond with a intentioned, responsible scholarship cattle — backed by millennia of rich feeling of devotion because we under- (“Navjote by choice... ” Readers ’ Forum, Indo-Iranian, indeed Indo-European, my- stand what we are praying? ” Unless this Parsiana, May 1990). I know her to be thology, be allowed expression of lofty genuine need of our young is fulfilled, deeply involved in the religious instruc- cosmic concepts at the same time as deep there is bound to be a longing to seek out tion of the young amongst whom she has respect for the tragically oppressed bo- other religions or follow the saints of successfully achieved an enormous vine at a very earthly level? Zarathush- other faiths rather than our own. amount for the propagation of our noble tra ’s time and milieu easily accounts for A far more fundamental reform would universalist faith. his Mazda-inspired verses giving allegori- be for each anjuman to start Avesta - classes for old and young, teach them languages are at diverse levels. Learned through pastoral imagery. His Gathas how to chant the prayers in the original, journals will carry only those which go and side by side, have the beautiful trans ­ lations to inspire the learners. We still tend to be incomprehensible to all but phi- human as much as the brutally treated have our madressas which are teaching lologians. Less highbrow publications bovine. Why should this gentle vehicle of seven-year-old children the Avesta script aim at coherence and wide appeal at the his powerful universal message be re- and grammar. They would be happy to expense of close adhesion to the letter — garded as inadequate or as somehow be ­ advise anjumans at home and Zoroastrian actually paraphrases-cum-commentaries littling his grand vision for the inner associations abroad regarding such — arousing controversy when interpreta- transformation of all of mankind to classes. Then the various trusts could tions are challenged on their particular achieve a perfected world? It appears in ­ help in the printing of Avestan grammar line or direction. Popular journals and congruous just because it is, literally, di ­ books and texts, starting with our daily magazines come off worst with free-for- prayers. Gradually, our Khordeh Avesta all, irresponsible thoughts on heavy sub- would be printed in Avestan script rather jects, ensuing in endless and futile debate than in Gujarati or English transliteration. Irani Zoroastrians still keep up with their mother tongue, Persian/Farsi, no matter where they settle, so they can fol ­ low the prayers in Pazend very easily. Many also know Avesta and Pahlavi, so greater uncertainties than ever for the lay- we should learn from them. Finally, let us note the reason why the Jewish community is so well integrated. Conversions are very rare, if any, because not let fravarane happily rest at “I pro- from the age of five years children are taught Hebrew and learn their prayers in the original. Most important of all, they for, ” “I assert, ” “I affirm? ” Var undoubt- know the meaning of what they are pray ­ ing. Without such an understanding of our scriptures, we are lost. Ms 1'11,00 JUNGALWALLA New Delhi you will have full-hearted support from N. s. MARKAR Library. New Delhi “Navjote by choice...” I fear my dear friend Piloo Jungalwalla has inadvertently knocked against well- intentioned, (“Navjote by choice... ” Readers ’ Forum, enormous amount for the propagation of our noble Translations of texts in ancient, cryptic cal shape to his spiritual and social ideas sing and, yes, proclaim his compassion back to fundamentals of linguistics and and assurance towards the meek-spirited tend to be incomprehensible to all but phi- rect! Some “translations ” read easily and entice the unwary reader away from this precisely because they lack depth and sublime visionary ’s teachings and to- substance. wards the dangerous fantasies of occult- Constani probing into the very origin ists and theosophists. They engender the of certain technical words and religious most distressingly bizarre confusion in terms which defy precision arouses the unprepared mind, and would have bemus^ Zarathushtra himself. Dare I man. “When I use a word, it means just paraphrase the poet who punned that a what I choose it to mean — neither more translation is like a woman: it is seldom nor less ” — and there ’s the rub! So why faithful if it is in the least attractive, and — as corollary — unattractive were it to fess, ” cumbersome as it appears? Or be faithful. It should be noted that beauti- should we favor “I declare forth, ” “I opt ful, moving and occasionally inspiring translations conferred upon the texts of edly has its roots in choice. The fra prefix other religions are not wholly acceptable is “forth, ” “pro ” (as in pro-claim, pro- to the followers of those systems. Thus fess); note fravakhshya, “I proclaim. ” I the Muslim theologians fiercely contest consider it more important to be Nicholson, ditto for the Buddhists mazdayasno Zarathushtrish in thought, (though perhaps not fiercely!) and Mas- »5 4 Parsiana January 1991caro (who I much admire) has irreverently Save the Parsis been dubbed maskeril To my dear franco- Most people have heard the beautiful leg ­ phone friend I have to recommend yet end about the first arrival of the Parsis on another string-chew: the latest, astonish- i' - - ing, offering by Kellens and Pirart, Les ago. The ruler of the territories sent them Texies Vieil-avestiques, completed now with grammar and extensive philological commentaries. Our sacred texts by their very nature are destined for “dry ” treat ­ ment; it is left for theologians, philoso ­ phers and moralists to unravel the inher ­ ent profundities for future generations. We should not be disheartened at our certainly symbolic —->• the newcomers re ­ inability to discover a scholar with total fused to take no for an answer, mastery over the entire Indo-Iranian field. — - • - . . . _ Such a one will only come about in the dian life in all sectors. The religious tradi- person of the Saoshyant who will, alack tion which they brought with them was a and alas, expound the full majesty of signal contribution that enriched the spiri- Ahura ’s wisdom long after the only sur- tual and philosophical heritage of India. , ____ viving Parsi has gasped his last, for, one Quite apart from their business acumen in imminent danger of losing the should be reminded, statisticians have which has been a national asset, some Parsi entity, its ethos and all that it has assured us only five more generations of the most illustrious names in our free- stood for. of Parsis. However, I have one in the eye dom struggle were those of Parsis. Let it To an extent it is essential that with for these ruthless calculators — Zoroastri ­ anism will win out right up to the Frashokereti; in the meanwhile let us not get Parsis to accept separate representa- forever quibble over the brush-strokes I’ • - - ...... and instead learn to fully appreciate the offers were firmly rejected by the geographical base, the smaller communi ­ grandeur of Zarathushtra ’s visionary community. The House of Tata alone has painting! farrokh vajifdar done more for this country, than one of free India piit together. The Parsis are a happy mixture of East and West, naturally and easily at the w£st coast of India many centuries home everywhere. But — and here is the - 1 sad part — in this land of exploding a bowl filled to the brim with milk: there population, the Parsis are actually de- was no place in the bowl for anything more, and no place in his land for any more people. The Parsis put some sugar which many others emigrate — because into the milk, and sent it back to the ruler the stifling atmosphere in this country who accepted the sweetened milk and the denies opportunities and is a constraint on Parsis. Whether true or not, the legend is creativity and enterprise. That outflow aggravates the basic problem: that there is not much of a natural increase. The prob ­ lem is compounded by an old Indian tra ­ dition — the non-acceptance into the fold of people who marry outside their community, especially the women. With this steady decrease this country is creasing in numbers. Many of them are emigrating for the same reason for The Parsi community has enriched In- some of the most illustrious names in our free ­ dom struggle were those of Parsis. Let it never be forgotten that when the British, greater national mobility and the breaking with their divide and rule policies, tried to up, not only of castes but distinctive com ­ munities, increasing intermarriage, loss of tions in the political confabulations, their tradition through loss of contact with a ties of India are at risk. But the Parsi community seems to be London, UK could almost say all the governments shrinking before our very eyes at an For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324, Grant Road, Bombay 400007. Telephone 371483 Fax 899648 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 6 Parsiana January 1991' ' I views with their names and addresses to SHiAWAKR. MISTOY the Undersigned at Ratan Mansion, Forjett Street, Bombay 400036 so that we may I would exhort Parsis to: get together to formalize a concrete plan • Be a Parsi: buy/use Parsi goods and of action. d. t. marfatia services. AH Parsis should patronize, alarming rate. Their high profile on the young couple who wish to settle down national, scene probably blinds people to in life. : this fact. Whether they manage to pre ­ serve their identity in countries like Can ­ ada or USA is not clear. But in this coun ­ try they are an endangered species. scivivcs. rytt ratsia aiiuuiu pauwiiiz-v, • T O The trouble with trying to preserve the wherever available, goods and services, Touring Iran.' cultural identity of a human community is manufactured, marketed and provided by While appreciating the love and enthusi- that it is such a complex business, be- Parsi firms and Parsi managed compa- asm of Parsis for their madar vatan cause human freedom includes freedom nies. Similarly, all Parsis should patron- (motherland) I feel it my duty to warn to go in ways that lead to extinction. A new formula has to be found to re ­ concile the intermingling of peoples with • Adopt a poor Parsi family. There is no their preservation of culture and identi- dearth of organized Parsi charities and ties. The Parsis who have pioneered so I, „ ' ' much and achieved so much, will perhaps benefitted. However, such help is largely, compulsory under the Iranian Govem- find a solution to this problem too which inevitably, impersonal. I feel that many ment ’s latest regulation for all fweigners. is increasingly becoming a global Parsi families who are comparatively well The bank at the airport gave me only problem. MsCB.MurHAMMA,iFS(R«d) off — not necessarily very rich — would seven tomans for each US dollar whereas New Delhi like to adopt a poor family and seek to in the open market in Tehran, Isfahan and provide all their needs — monetary as other major cities of Iran one can easily As our community dwindles, the solution well as emotional. The adoptive family get a rate of 140 tomans per US dollar, lies in giving incentive to Parsi families will feel a sense of parental obligation In the interest of the community let me who have three or more children, to being fulfilled and the adopted family also point out that our Indian Government ties. The Parsis who have pioneered so Parsi firms and Parsi managed compa ­ nies. Similarly, all Parsis should patron ­ ize Parsi managed schools and other insti- them to make proper enquiries before tutions. booking their tour to Iran. When I landed at the Tehran airport in May 1990, I was ordered to convert large numbers of needy Parsis are being US $ 150 into Iranian tomans. This is find a solution to this problem too which inevitably, impersonal. I feel that many ment ’s latest regulation for all fweigners. off — not necessarily very rich — would seven tomans for each US dollar whereas like to adopt a poor family and seek to - . - - provide all their needs — monetary as lies in giving incentive to Parsi families will feel a sense of parental obligation be accommodated in a bigger house of woufd feel a sense of being wanted and also levys tax at 15 percent on foreign three rooms plus kitchen at a concessional cared for. Readers who feel that the currency purchased by us in India rent and other necessities of life, like a above are good ideas and can be made parvezj. katrak medical insurance scheme etc. Their one workable with suitable modifications/re- ---------------- ------------- -------------------- room plus kitchen could be given to a finements, are requested to send in their Edited by Amavaz s. Mama TriKaya.HRj.6.86 H&R Johnson (India) Ltd., Kakad Chambers, Dr. A. Besant Road, Worli, Bombay-400 018, 9 Parsiana January 1991Events and Personalities Long-lived Samachar years old), then The Times (of London, people ’s privacy had to be respected un- Furdoonjee Murzbanjee may never have 205 years old) followed by The Samachar less overriding public purposes were at imagined his small leaflet Mumbai na (168 years). The Times of India (154 stake; that the people written about had a Samachar, announcing the arrival of years), Th^ Statesman, Calcutta (115 right of rebuttal; that the paper would not ships from China 168 years ago, would be years). The Washington Post (113 years), pander to the baser instincts of the public so honored. The Herald Tribune — now The Interna- by references to religion, color, race, etc; Before a grand gathering of Bombay ’s tional Herald Tribune — (103 years) and and would not give coverage to the elite at the Tejpal Auditorium on January the Wall Street Journal (101 years). sleazy, seamy side of life to gain readers. 7, 1991 rich tributes were paid to The “A newspaper has the heart, soul and Under the editorship of Daruwala, Bombay Samachar, its present owners, mind of its owner, ” said Palkhivala prai- Palkhivala said The Samachar would go the Cama family and the editor Jehan sing Noshir and Rustom Cama, the two from strength to strength. “The first 168 Daruwala. The function was organized brothers who along with their families years of a newspaper are the most diffi- by the Abhivadan Trust. The fourth oldest daily newspaper in the world and the oldest outside of Great lowed a code of conduct which was simj- Britain, “T/tc Samachar combines Ion- lar to what the British papers had con- gevity with a degree of decorum and ceived and followed for many years: that isued by the government commemorating The Bombay Samachar. 1 .* I 1 Bombay mayor Chhagan Bhujbal stated he was proud to be the mayor of a city in which The Mumbai Samachar was bom. He noted that the Bombay Munici ­ pal Corporation (BMC) had honored the paper by naming a road after it. Speaking in Hindi he told the. gathering that the BMC gave all sorts of names to all kinds of roads but he was glad that they had honored The Samachar along the way. He said people trusted The Mumbai Samachar but added that that did not mean that the other papers were disho­ nest. News should be presented as news, he said; editorial comment should be re ­ served for the editorial/opinion pages or columns. He lamented the tendency to add "mirch masala (spice) ” to-news sto ­ ries. The Shiv Sena mayor also noted that when the controversy arose whether the city should be referred to as Mumbai in ­ stead of Bombay, he had stated that the oldest paper of the city was named Mum­ bai Samachar and not Bombay Samachar. Not to be outdone by the Bombay mayor, Gujarat ’s Chimanbhai Patel com­ mented that though The Bombay Sama- char was bom in Bombay of which Bhujbal was the mayor, the paper was published in Gujarati, the official lan ­ guage of Gujarat of which he was the chief minister! (Laughter.) He referred to “A newspaper has the heart, soul and mind of its owner, ” said Palkhivala prai- own and manage the legendary institu ­ tion. He noted that The Samachar fol ­ cult, ” he said jocularly, “after that it ’s easy. ” Palkhivala noted that a suggestion had been received from a trustee of the Abhivadan Trust that a postage stamp be II I fi I PA’ At the function to felicitate The Mumbai Samachar'5 existence {from left): Daru­ wala, Noshir Cama, Gandhi, Rustom Cama and Palkhivala BelowrNoshir Cama with Patel decency...rarely found amongst journa ­ lists, ” said chief guest Nani Pall±ivala, the eminent jurist. Palkhivala had re ­ searched the age of the various newspa ­ pers and told the gathering that the Aber­ deen Journal in Scotland was the oldest daily newspaper in the world (245 years old); next came the Glasgow Herald (208 10 Parsiana January 1991applied biology at the Bombay Hospital and honorary consultant in neuropatho ­ logy at the Grant Medical College and the J. J. Group of Hospitals, was conferred the eleventh nation^ award of The Birla Smarak Kosh. This award for 1990-91, presented for outstanding research in medical or related fields, comprises a memento, citation and a cash purse of one lakh rupees, reports the Indian Express of November 20,1990. In the field of neurological and neu­ romuscular disorders, Dastur has made the triputi (trinity) of the two Cama brothers and Daruwala that had made the paper indispensable to the public. Speaking in Gujarati he noted that “Many families don ’t drink their mor ­ ning cup of tea ‘without The Bombay Samachar. He also referred to the pre ­ vailing disquieting media trend of own ­ ers ’ views being pushed on to the read ­ ers, citing specifically the case of the Narmada controversy in which he had (Left) Dastur: handling nerves been attacked by several publications. The Samachar had supported the Nar ­ mada project, the audience was in ­ formed. In the name of investigative ------------ , , , „ journalism, newspapers print what route. “He thought if he printed a leaflet ing; nutritional disorders of the nervous should not be printed. He said he had giving this information it would be help- system; intracranial and intraspinal tu- preempted the Abhivadan Trust, having ful to the trade. It was originally called mors; allergic arid viral encephalitis; brain Adajania: goodwill for boxing know what cargo was to be discharged signal contributions relating to: cerebral from the ships plying the Bombay-China blood flow and metabolism in human ag- should not be printed. He said he had giving this information it would be help- already requested the government to is ­ sue a stamp honoring The Samachar. Mundjai na Samachar. He asked the audi- and spinal cord in tuberculous meningitis; ence not to forget the second oldest paper in the country also founded by and many such areas. _ __ _ _ __ ______ The ^-year-old doctor has published vinchandra Gandhi, managing trustee of Murzbanjee, the Jam-e-Jamshed. Though about 180 scientific papers, presented ¦¦ “ • ¦¦ around 40 research papers at nearly 30 international conferences and delivered about 70 guest lectures on his field of spe ­ cialization. He is co-editor of one book ____________________ each on leprosy, neurotuberculosis and senior. While he refrained from narrating proprietors, Cina noted that “our editor neurological sciences, all the pranks they played in school, he is our friend...he helps in making deci ­ said that in the newspaper business, as far as finance and administration goes, “Rusi is my guru. ” ____, ___ a technocrat and Gandhi sought his ad ­ vice when selecting machinery. Daru- Presiding over the function, Pra- ’________ . . „ „ the Saurashtra Trust that manages the now a weekly, Cama hoped it would be- Janmabhoomi group of publications, re ­ called that he was in Bharda High School with the Cama brothers and that Rustom task, ” he added. Stating that the newspa- was his benchmate. Noshir was one year per ’s editorial policy was laid down by its come a daily once again. “Running a newspaper is no easy . Among the no ­ table institutions of which he" has been sions. ” made fellow are: the Indian National Sci- auiiiuiiauauuii gwa. He added that The Times of India was ence Academy, National Academy of Noshir, he said, was not as old as its owners claimed as it had a Medical Sciences and Royal College of different name when started. Daruwala, while thanking the trustees wala followed in the tradition of editors of the Abhivadan Trust for honoring the Syed Brelvi and Benjamin Homiman. He could modulate the tone of his writing to . . suit the occasion. Gandhi recalled that day) taller than they entered. ” He praised J. J. Hospitals. As a Rockefeller Founda- when he was the managing director of the work being done by the Abhivadan tion feUow and visiting scientist at the the Dena Bank at which the Camas had Trust, a charitable organization that annu- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, their account, his only complaint was ally expends five to six lakh rupees pro- USA, Dastur pursued his studies on brain ¦ " ... metabolism. For nearly, two decades Das- ___ _______ tur has been associated with the Bombay Gandhi had suggested Rustom* Cama ’s spective fields. Through felicitation func- University, teaching neurology, patho- Pathologists, London, reads his curricu ­ lum vitae. The neuropath ’s education was at the paper, said every person connected with New Era School and later at the Wilson the paper “would walk out (of the hall that College, Grant Medical College and the Trust, a charitable organization that annu ­ ally expends five to six lakh rupees pro- that the brothers never used the overdraft moting the cause of artists and other pub ­ facility, such was their financial prowess, lie figures who have excelled in their re ­ name as vice president of the prestigious tions, or grants of monetary aid to the logy and neurosurgery at the postgraduate Indian Newspaper Society and thereafter once famous but now destitute personal!- level, further informs his bio data. Rustom became the president of the all- ties, the Abhivadan Trust confers recogni- . ' India body. In turn Rustom proposed tion on the talented. Boxing OiilCldl honored Gandhi ’s name for the same posts. . . The first Indian to be appointed technical Speaking on behalf of the family. Distinguished neuropath delegate to the boxing championships at Noshir Cama referred to the occasion as On the list of 39 “Neuropathologists of the Olympics is Capt Aspi Adajania, • a “great day in the history of The Bom- the Twentieth Century ” features Dr Darab president of the Indian Amateur Boxing bay Samachar...so many people who K. Dastur ’s name. This distinction came Federation (lABF), notes The Daily of matter hhve gathered here, ” he said, to Dastur in September last at the Interna- October 14, 1990. Adajania has offici ­ ated at international meets since his elec ­ tion in 1984 to the executive committee of the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA). His earlier expe- ties, the Abhivadan Trust confers recogni- to Dastur in September last at the Intema- “Furdoonjee Murzbanjee could have had tional Congress of Neuropathology in no idea that his paper would one day be Kyoto, Japan, when Prof H. M. Zimmer- the premier Gujarati newspaper of Bom ­ bay. All the members of the staff are re ­ sponsible for what the paper is today. ” Recalling the humble origins of the paper, Cama said Murzbanjee started the paper to help traders who wanted to man, believed to be the oldest living neu ­ ropathologist, shortlisted the few out ­ standing of whom only 22 are reportedly rience as recounted in The Afternoon alive, notes a press release. Despatch and Courier of September 19, Barely two months thereafter, Dastur, 1990 was as member of the jury at four who is director of neuropathology and World Cups, two Olympics and four 11 Parsiana January 1991Aga (left) corporate performer Mody: advisor on politics / X o III which she specializes: government and m politics of India, South East Asia, China and Japan. Mody is conversant with several lan ­ guages including German and Bahasa (Indonesian). Actually, an in-depth study of Indonesia under Suharto was the sub ­ ject for her doctorate studies in ’82, fur ­ ther informs her bio data. On two occa ­ sions was she invited to Indonesia to par ­ ticipate in ventures there. A first-class student throughout her academic career, Mody had stood first among politics students at the University ¦ a leader in boilers, pollution control examinations at the BA and MA levels, equipment, water treatment plants, spe- cial chemicals, energy conservation Asian Games which should help him dis- equipment and surface- coating techno ­ charge his duties at the 1992 Olympics logy. Of late it has branched into elec- scheduled to be held in Barcelona, Spain. Additionally, Adajania, who has been Bombay, ” played an important role at the Engineering Industry, Aga also chairs the the special committee outlining the Sixth World Cup Boxing Tournament Maharashtra chapter of the Quality Circle course of future research and study in held in November ’90 at the Bombay Forum of India. Since his training in Indonesia and Malaysia. Gymkhana, notes The ^ternoon. Besides officiating at bouts as a techni ­ cal man, referee and judge, Adajania him ­ self has been involved with the game as a participant and a live wire organizer. The release. Before launching Thermax as a Vivek Chakra Award for “The Best small company making packaged boilers. Sports Organizer of the Year ” was Aga was with Burmah Shell, and later awarded to Adajania last October by Duncans where he got his initial work Scribes Sw^inathan and Ms^Shahnaz Vivek Varta, a Calcutta-based organiza- experience soon after completing his eco- / ” * . "' “S ' **¦ She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for a year ’s doctoral study at the South ­ east Asia program, Cornell University, Ithaca. Thereafter she was selected to participate at the annual conference of the Association of Asian Studies at Los tronics and computer systems. Besides being a member of the na ­ tional committee of the Confederation of Angeles where she presented a paper to credited with bringing “the World Cup to Skth" Worid Cup Boxing Tournament Maharashtra chapter of the Quality Circle course of future research and study in 1 Not only has Mody been academically Business School, Aga is a much sought inclined. While studying at the Elphin- after visiting faculty member on senior stone College, she captained the Col- management programs, further reads the lege ’s basketball and hockey teams, fur- “ ther reads her bio data. management development at the Harvard Bombay ’s loss, Delhi ’s gain Scribes Swaminathan and Ms Snahnaz Anklesaria Aiyar, along with their two- nomics tripos from Cambridge, informs year-old adopted son Rustom moved to Delhi on a new posting where Swami ­ nathan took up associate editorship -of The Times of India (The TOT) and as- The new dean of the arts faculty at the sumed responsibility of its editorial page. University of Bombay is Dr (Ms) Nawaz Earlier they were in Bombay where Swa- _______ B. Mody who won the elections by se- The Outstanding Industrialist of the Year curing 74 of the total 104 votes cast, andmanagin^dir^tor of the P^na-based 1990. Besides being a member of the will continue to work with the Indian Ex- Thermax Limited, notes a write-up in The Academic Council and Senate, she is also press, reads the column by Dilip Thakore Afternoon Despatch and Courier dated on the Board of University Teaching and in the BusinessWorld dated August 1-14, October 9,1990. Research. 1990. The award instituted by the Indian In- For the last eight years she has been a While Swaminathan was keen to work ~ ¦ ” ¦ ¦ 'i on his new assignment in Delhi, Shahnaz was not as enthusiastic, believing “there is too much harassment of women in the stone and Sophia Colleges. Early last north. It makes my blood boil. ’’ year she was invited to the Advisory I , Vivek Varta, a Calcutta-based organiza ­ tion, reads the Jam^e-Jamshed of Novem ­ ber 18. His present ambition is to get the release, more youngsters interested in boxing by , , , creating a goodwill for the game, reads Mody elected arts dean The ^ternoonvnitxi-ixp. ~ Outstanding industrialist :_ :: - . - -. - award went to Rohinton Aga, chairman notes The Daily dated SqMMnber 29, minathan resigned as editor of the Finan­ cial Express to accept his new job in Delhi. Shahnaz, a special correspondent. Academic Council and Senate, she is also press, reads the column by Dilip Thakore Research. ____________ For the last eight years she has been a Stitution of Industrial Engineers (HIE) reader with the Bombay University ’s came to him for being “an exemplary Department of Civics and Politics. Prior corporate performer, a committed patron to that she was a lecturer at the Elphin- of industrial engineering and for his con- i . - - • ' • tribution to human resources develop- — —- - . .. menL ” Over 1(X) institutional members Council in Politics to frame the syllabi decade, Shahnaz started ou^ with Himmat from different countries and about for a university in Nasik, reads her cur- 10,(XX) members are affiliated to the riculum vitae. The ministry of home af- IIIE, notes a press release. fairs has, since 1982, appointed the edu- The Thermax company which Aga canonist as a guest lecturer at the Internal press. The TOI, the World Bank and the heads records an annual turnover of Rs Security Academy of the Central Re- London-based Economist during his 20 years in the writing profession, adds HIE, notes a press release. ___ , heads records an annual turnover of Rs Security Academy of the Centra^ Re- 217 crores, 20 percent of which consti ­ tutes exports. Making a beginning 23 years ago, today the group with a work educational, political and security or- force of 2,500 people, is recognized as g ’ 13 Parsiana January 1991 In the field of journalism for over a before she moved on to The Statesman and later the Express group. Husband Swaminathan has worked for the Ex- serve Police Force in Mount Abu. Forty- three-year-old Mody is invited by several BusinessWorld. ganizations to lecture on subjects in Compiled by Roxana H. KakaHISTORY TRAVELS IN IRAN: 6 Education amelioration Manekji Limji Hataria The best hope for the community’s revival lay in the education of the youth This is the sixth and last instalment of Hardly two to three percent of the Parsis Manekji Limji Hataria’s publication, Rishale Ej Har Shiyaate Iran. 7’ Gujarati original, rendered into English and poverty in mountain caves and for- by Jamshed M. Bilimoria, has been ests for fear of Arab tyranny and having Zoroastrians took to vices and led an evil abridged, edited and recollated by Par- known only broken Darri language they life in keeping with the customs of the siana (courtesy K. R. Cama Oriental In- were unable to carry on trade and com- wild Arabs. stitute to whom the translation manu- munication with people of other parts of The dokhma of Yazd was in a ruinous script was gifted). The author went to Iran in 1854, at was not difficult to realize their sorry the hill was constructed by the efforts of the behest of the Society for the Amelio- plight as they worked in the winter with- the Zoroastrian Anjuman of Bombay; bqt ration of the Conditions of the Zoroastri- out sufficient clothes. still the mobeds of the old school prefer ans of Persia (otherwise known as the After the Arab occupation, education to use the old dokhma, saying the new Amelioration Society), to report the con- had suffered. The Arabs were semi-bar- one was constructed in modem style and ditions prevailing there at first hand. He baric tribes who had no culture of their thus was not in keeping with our religion. returned only once to India, for an 18- own and did not know the value of edu- As the new one is constructed with stone month spell, at the end of the first 10 cation. Old madressas, teaching Avesta, walls and the old one has muddy walls, years. The book is largely a publication Pahlavi and Persian, were destroyed by the uneducated mobeds believe that the of the speeches he then made to acquaint the invaders. Consequently the Zdroas- real dokhma must have muddy walls the Parsis in India with the wretchedness trians who remained in Iran had no scope only. Stone walls are modem, adopted of their Iranian coreligionists and to seek for education; their children could not from western countries, and thus they are help to further the cause of Zoroastrian learn Avesta of Pahlavi and Persian lan- amelioration in Iran. Having devoted guages and consequently their religious the rest of his life to the task. Hataria knowledge was wanting. They were died in Iran in 1890. In the earlier instalments Hataria de­ scribed the ruins that attested to Iran’s dren of Iran remained uncultured and mobeds remained uneducated, they could ancient glory, the miserable conditions uneducated and, being uneducated, they not guide the behdins on the right lines in in winch the Zoroastrians survived after became aggressive. It is, therefore, nec- religious matters. They often believed in the Arab conquest, the spirit in which they celebrated the milestones of their mean useful education — to the children. personal lives, the political and economic Languages like Avesta, Pahlavi and Per- impact of the intervention of Indian Par- sian need to be revived. sis with the Iranian administration and the contributions of outstanding individ­ ual philanthropists. lam, girls were forced to marry Arabs and of Iran are in a somewhat better state Muslims and so on. Many Zarthushti The than the rest. A majority lived in misery girls remained unmarried through life ei- ¦ ther due to poverty or some other reasons. were unable to carry on trade and com ­ munication with people of other parts of Iran. Most of them were farmers and it condition. A new dokhma on the top of was not difficult to realize their sorry out sufficient clothes. After the Arab occupation, education had suffered. The Arabs were semi-bar- unfit for a dokhma. This wrong belief is due to want of education. There was a row and controversy bet- forced to learn Arabic instead. ween the supporters of the old dokhma Consequently, the Zoroastrian chil- and the upholders of the new one. As the essary to provide some education — I superstitious elements and introduced superstition into the religion. Thus the real tenets of our good religion were set aside and false beliefs crept in. Even in India today, it is quite neces ­ sary for Zoroastrian children to learn Persian and Avesta in order to acquire For want of education, many evil cus ­ toms entered into the community. Zoroastrians were forced to embrace Is- 14 Parsiana January 7997oriented education was given to the chil ­ dren even in very early times. Considering ^1 this, it was decided to start a boarding school so that the Zoroastrian children of Kerman, Yazd, Tehran and other provinces of Iran could 'live together and learn their own scrip ­ tures. Thirty-six Zoroastrian orphans were collected from different villages in Iran. Some of them were nourished and education was given to them by charitably The uneducated mobeds believe that the real dokhma must have muddy wails only disposed persons and it was found that they were really educated and useful members of the community. schools were established in Russia, it was found that not a child in the whole country remained illiterate. Education was sound and useful. Everyone learnt a means of livelihood and there was no unemployment. Iran wanted to follow the example of Russia. It was strongly recommended to start a boarding school in Iran for the benefit of the Zoroastrian children. Scholars of the western coun ­ tries were also consulted in this matter and they all approved the idea. A build ­ ing was donated by a Zoroastrian of Tehran to house the proposed boarding school. On October 30, 1860, a petition was sent to the Parsi Anjuman of Bom ­ bay wherein the proposal for a boarding school in Tehran was put. The petition dated October 7,1860, written and signed by the donor of the above-said building, runs: “I declare that I am a Zoroastrian in- When mended so that the Zoroastrian children may not be attracted towards Islam but habitant of Tehran and the house that I would follow with zeal the religion propose to donate for housing the pro- taught to us by our prophet. Let us take the example of Russia. perfect knowledge of religion. It is fool ­ ish to abandon our own language (Per ­ sian) and culture and adopt those of oth ­ ers. taught to us by our prophet. posed orphanage has been purchased by The great philanthropist Peshotan Let us take the example of Russia, me from a Muslim lady Imam Murteja Marker has set up an orphanage in Yazd There were no schools in Russia in the for 1,000 tomans. I donate this building at his own expense and hundreds of past yet education was imparted to the Zoroastrian boys in Iran benefit from it. children in different ways and young men There was a recommendation to start were prepared for army, navy, techno- a boarding school in Tehran for Zoroas ­ trian children residing in Tehran, Yazd they could get efficient men for certain and Kerman. This was supposed to be the jobs. Then schools were started and Rus- only way to inculcate 2k)roastrian chil- sia took a great stride in education. In dren in religious matters. A study of other countries of the West, all over the Avesta and religious rituals was recom- < ... . and the ground on which it stands to the orphanage with my own free will and ac ­ cord, under the following conditions: logy, theology, etc. Later they found that • Myself and my son and successor will live in this house so long as it is not used for the orphanage and we will pay three tomans per month to the Parsi Anjuman. • As there has been a need for starting a continent of Europe, very useful and job- Zoroastrian boarding school in Tehran, 15 Parsiana January 7997> J I I the Zoroastrians there. He said that the charity given by some of the well-to-do to school ParsisEf India covers, to Jazia Tax SuSTStoTtK tomans per function^ as under: imposed upon to ^roastnans .n tan; moMh, which amount would he used by Of to 24 hours pf to day. nine houre but tore were still many difficulties the Anjuman for the maintenance of the were kept for sleep. Of the remaining 15 which remained to be solved, orphanage. ' - . .. . , j • So long as the house is not used for the various achvities, including education, orphanage, it could be used by TLoroastri- r ’ j """* ans even as a godown for storing games, etc. foodsrains and the utilizers must pay to imv. —j — —------ , a \ i the fSjuman a rental of three tomans per boys were required to take a bath and then their ^tterment and the task Wrov- month. • I have been using this house at present but in my will I shall direct that the whole property together with the plot of land be handed over to the Anjuman after my life ­ time. And if the house is rented, the rental should be 150 tomans per annum. ” The author went to Baghdad for some urgent work and from there he sent a copy of the above document to Bombay to Seth Merwanji Framji Panday. Seth Mer ­ wanji Panday forwarded the same imme ­ diately to E----- ’E - „ , r J Readymony, but unfortunately Seth work of the school starts afterwards. Readymoney did not pay heed to it and Books printed in Persian only are used; the orphanage did not materialize for and Persian is the medium of instruction, some time. J . . - , - ., . The author came back to Bombay and they learn in books. Much attention is the same building can be used for that children between the ages of 10 and 15 Duroose and the organizers/owners of the were admitted from neighboring towns hours, specified times was allotted to The writer carried on a long corres ­ pondence with the various Zoroastrian religious instruction, gymnastics, rest, bodies in India regarding improving the After getting up early in the morning. conditions of the Zoroastrians in Iran. Large amounts of money were sent for say their prayers. Then there was time ing their conditions was a Himalayan one. Some people argued that instead of spending large amounts like that, why not bring those Zoroastrians to India and make them settle down here. Here they can follow any vocation and earn their living. The question is, who would spon ­ sor the travel of all the Zoroastrians from Iran to India. At present there are about 1 ,(XX) Zoroastrian houses in Iran, housing about 7,(XX) to 8,(XX) souls. Are they all willing to leave their ancestral houses Seth Cowasiee Jehangir enough for breakfast and tea. The regular and lands forever and come to India? Is - • .... ------ J- there any guarantee that they would get livelihood in India? Lastly, will the Government of Iran allow all of them to “We must weep over this Anjuman which does not listen to our complaint” Books printed in Persian only are used; Boys are taught to put into practice what migrate from that couhtry? The Iranis, • - ' -—¦— who currently come to India, leave their country in some disguise under the pre- w.vz __o___________________________ going for Haj or for trade. Then so that boys can ” b^ome fresh after the only they get permission to leave the some time. on March 1, 1864 he contacted the paid to handwriting. There is fixed time people concerned including Seth in the evening for games and recreation « wh w work. --------------------- . counuy. ^roasuians of « Tehran and appealed to the philanthro- There are special classes for science to come to Bombay, they must disuse of nists here for necessary help and dona- and mathematics. Besides, boys are their house and property m Iran. But the Sons. It was not possible for him to go to taught arts and crafts like carpentry, Muslims there are not willing to buy and Iran immediately; so the matter was pro- smithy, cane work, masonry, mechanics, pay full value of the property to the longed. etc. The aptitudes of the students are Zoroastrians. There are many other On November 16, 1864, a meeting found out by special tests and boys problems that baffle any definite solu- was held in Bombay by the Parsis to fi- given training to develop their abilities tion. - - - • • •------------ -------------- The Iranis who have come to Bombay are in the restaurant line and some are doing well; but if all the Irani Zoroastri- __ ans come down to Bombay there is no Every month, Hormuzd roz, Khorshed guarantee that they will all get employ- roz and Ram roz are days when the regu- ment, apart from getting accommoda- _____________ ¦ . Afte? coming to Bombay, many boys do work like washing, cleaning, become homesick andjo back to Iran as ironing clothes, etc. ____________________f . A register showing the record of work ancestral land and lose touch with it. of each student is maintained. ”” For improving the conditions of the vened at the bungalow at Mazagaon of ren can get proper education and become Seth Merwanji Framji Panday on March good citizens wherever they stay and ¦ - ---- — . Sir Jamsetji earn their livelihood. Jejeebhoy, Baronet, was in the chair. The writer (traveller) has collected Seth Manekji Limji Hooshang ancient manuscripts and books in Per ­ Hataria, who had lived in Iran for 10 sian, Khila Roki script, in Hindi, in the evening for games and recreation There are special classes for science and mathematics. Besides, boys are taught arts and crafts like carpentry. smithy, cane work, masonry, mechanics, etc. The aptitudes of the students are Zoroastrians. was held in Bombay by the Parsis to fi- given training to develop their abilities tiom nalize the venue and other details about so that they can become useful citizens the boarding school to be established in and stand ot their own feet. The educa- Iran. They had to decide where the tion imparted in the school is job-ori- school should be set up, what subjects to ented. be taught, how to impart religious educa- --------------------------------------- „ . - tion etc. and Ram roz are days when the regu- ment, apart from getting accommoda- The necessary fund was created by the lar timetable does not apply. Instead, the tion. After coming to Bombay, many Parsis of Bombay for the purpose of im- boys do work like washing, cleaning, become homesick and go back to Iran as proving the conditions of the Zoroastri- ironing clothes, etc. they cannot bear to be away from the • ans in Iran wherein the greatest contribu ­ tion was made by Seth Maneck Noshir- wanji Petit. Then Seth Bomanji Framji Cama donated Rs 5,000 in memory of his late daughter, amount was specifically to be used for the construction of the proposed orphanage. 20, 1864 at 2.30 p.m. The work was started and was carried on * ' ‘ ‘ with zeal and enthusiasm. . , . A boarding school was established in Hataria, who had lived in Iran for 10 sian, . the capital city of Tehran and Zoroastrian years, had studied the miserable plight of Gujarati, Urdu, English, German and sacred Zoroastrians of Iran, a meeting was con- This The best help for the Iranian Zoroas ­ trians is to send money to help and run schools for them in Iran so that the child- 17 Parsiana January 1991inany other languages both from Iran and research workers, from India, studied them well and pre ­ served them. Besides, he has collected health failing, he made his will in which ancient coins of gold, silver and copper, vessels of various metals, pictures, pho- mentioned above should be kept in such Museum. The author did not like this tos of inscriptions on mountains, etc after a place and in such a way that it is avail- idea and kept the collection with him for a labor of 40 years. able to scholars and research workers some time more. By this time he got a The value of the whole collection at whenever they needed the same. To this reply from the Anjuman that they could that time was estimated to be about Rs effect he had written to Seth Merwanji 30,000 and many European scholars and Framji Panday to take charge of the research workers were willing to buy the whole collection on behalf of the fered to take the collection and keep the whole collection. But the author handed Anjuman and keep It as stated above for over the whole collection to the Zoroas ­ trian Anjuman along with Rs 20,000 cash, with instructions to preserve them in a fitting place and augment it by the research work of other scholars so that Anjuman, he raised a voice, saying, the collection may be a permanent and everlasting measure. In Europe there are many such collec ­ tions of ancient articles, both public as know who is the listener of our com- well as private, in the houses of lords and plaints). ” nobles. The people appreciate these things and study them. The same spirit in the subject. By this time the then gov- must be here among the Parsis of today. Such a collection of ancient articles is a source of encouragement to scholars and the author (traveller). examined some of the ancient coins and When the author (traveller) felt his appreciated them and made a very hand ­ some offer to buy the whole collection to also he had mentioned that the treasure be kept in a separate room in the Victoria mentioned above should be kept in such a place and in such a way that it is avail ­ able to scholars and research workers not do anything in the matter. Different parties and organizations of- same in their museums or libraries or cre ­ ate a separate museum for the same. The author found that those institutions al- the use of scholars and learned men who arc interested in ancient studies. He had written to the Anjuman for the same but ready had some old books which were in as he did not get any reply from the a neglected state; so he realized what would be the fate of his precious articles. He declined their offers. He made several requests to the "Bareen Anjuman Bay ad jaar agist ke” nadaanad fariad rash kiat (We must weep over this Anjuman who does not Anjuman but in vain. He wanted his col ­ lection to be useful to Zoroastrian scho ­ lars and research workers. He also The Anjuman did not take any interest showed his desire that if the Anjuman could not acceed to his request he would emor ’s brother, the Hon ’ble Freare came like to create a new museum to preserve to know of this great treasure and sent for that untold treasure, as is done in many Hon ’ble Freare European countries. SERSON Electrolytic Capacitors For All Electronic Applications From 12 VDC To 350 VDC Man ttja ctu ren: Serson Industries Pvt. Ltd Pfmpri PJFJP.O., Poona-lS. Cable: EtchfoU Poona-l#. Phone: 82379 T 18 Parsiana January 1991 ITRADITION COVER STORY jILhe stage is decorated with, flora and fauna: the lighting is soft, save the glaring video lights; the band is all set to play, “Here comes the bride ” and at the tor an- decked gates, the omnipresent fooggawalo (balloon vendor) proffers his assortment of colorful balloons. In the rahnni (kitchen) the chutney for the patra ni machhi (steamed fish in banana leaves) and the masala for the sali ma murghi (chicken with potato straw) are being given the finishing touches. The backdrop is more or less the same for the Parsi functions — whether lagan, navjote, birthday or a wedding anniver ­ sary — from Sethna, Dadiseth, Saber and Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiaries to Cama and Allbless Bangs in South Bombay. If it is a mohte gher nu mohtu gathering (a large gathering from an affluent house ­ hold) it ’s got to be Allbless Baug or Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary. The dis- tinguishing features of these different venues — with their plus and minus points — come across in our discussions with trustees/managers administering these baugs. son of Eduljee Framjee Allbless in whose memory the Baug stands, at the adminis ­ trative office in Ali Chambers, Fort. We were told earlier by the secretary that he has been visiting this office every Mon ­ day-Wednesday-Friday from 10.00 a.m. to 11 a.m. for the past 40 years. Deaf S' I wg,- ¦¦ Allbless Baug Going alphabetically we begin with All­ bless Baug. We met the frail and aging Eduljee Bejanji Allbless, the great grand- BLESSINGS with age, our queries were understood with difficulty. However once the sub ­ ject matter was known, Eduljee opened for us his records and files. Allbless Baug, an institution of im ­ mense social and religious utility to the Parsi community, was publicly declared 1 KOTWAt < A' > 4.-5’ n '1 k ATTHEBAUG Noshir Dadrawala Despite the multiple options in a megapolis, Parsi bangs remain the most popular venues for weddings and navjotes in Bombay 20 Parsiana January 1991Eduljee 28, 1785. His father Framjee came to Bombay from Surat in 1780. Eduljee ’s H ; L i 1' ¦ IB . * & P »>. / ¦ open on October 13, 1868. Eduljee 28, 1785. His father Framjee came to June 11, 1865 at the ripe age of 80. On Framjee Allbless, in whose memory his Bombay from Surat in 1780. Eduljee ’s his uthamna ceremony, his five son,s an- five sons (Maneckji, Dhunjibhoy, was a rags to riches story. Beginning nounced that, to perpetuate his memory, Bomanji, Dadabhoy and Hormusji) built with almost nothing except a spirit of ad- they had set aside a sum of Rs 1,00,000 the Baug to fulfill the wish of the de- venture, he went on to become the owner for the benefit of Parsis. They purchased i ceased to do something for the benefit of of two ships Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy a plot of land at Girgaum, measuring the Parsi community, was bom on April and the Earl of Clare which dropped 4,772 sq yds at a cost of Rs 55,000 and M erected two separate buildings and ¦ equipped them with furniture, utensils H and other necessities at a cost of Rs KI 80,000. At the opening ceremony on Oc- k| tober 13, 1868, his five sons donated a fl further sum of Rs 15,000 towards crea- ting an endowment fund. The opening ceremony was short but impressive. A jashan was performed by about 50 priests and after the ceremony a paper was read by the sons of the mer- chant prince declaring that the building 9 was being handed over in trust for the use 9 of the Parsi community. 9 In 1889, Eduljee ’s sons carried out 9 major alterations to the two buildings at 9 a total cost of Rs 75,000. In the early 9 1960s, a permanent stage was constructed 9 on the grounds between the two buildings 9 at a cost of nearly Rs 16,000 which elimi- ¦ nated the trouble and expense of erecting 9 a different stage on every occasion. ¦ Later 9 the whole garden floor was paved in con- 9 Crete for over Rs 15,000 and a band stage erected for about Rs 5,000. The atash dadgah at Allbless Baug was consecrated on roj Govad mah Fravardin YZ 1238 (October 13, 1868) by Dr Ja- masji Minocher Jamaspasa. It is tended today by Ervad Bahadur Panthaky who is also the Bang ’s manager. The trustees for the last 122 years have been members of the Allbless family. The present board includes, besides Eduljee Bejanji Allbless, Ms Pilloo Jehangir Poncha, Ms Roshen Jehangir Lentin and Dr Emch E. Modi. According to records at Ali Chambers, on an average the Baug remains occupied for about 250 days a year. In the months erous he became. And in the twilight of of December and January there is hardly a his life, thought of building a baug — a day when the Baug does not echo with the kind of Parsi community center which chanting of prayers for either the navjote could be made available at nominal cost or wedding ceremony. for navjotes and other religious functions. But death does not wait for wishes to be fulfilled, and Eduljee passed away on Above: Grounds of the Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary Below: Entrance to the Saher Agiary Photo: Rashid Bamanbehram (Facing page) Top: The Cama Baug big otla hall Photo: Homyar Mistry Middle: At the Cama Baug small otla Photo: Naozer Dubash Bottom: The Allbless Baug stage Photo: Rashid Bamanbehram anchor at various ports. The wealthier he grew, the more gen- Technically the trustees divide the Baug in two parts, the west side or the sea side where navjotes/weddings areusually performed and the east side hall where jashans are normally performed. Usually wedding and navjote ceremonies involve the use of the whole Baug for a day for a fee of Rs 400. Nearly 3,000 people at a time can be accommodated in the Baug. However one is free to opt for only the west side for a fee of Rs 250 or in case of a jashan, the east side for a nomi ­ nal charge of Rs 75. Weddings and navjotes on the east side however attract a fee of Rs 150. According to Eduljee, lighting charges range from Rs 930 to Rs 3,500 depending on the glitter you re ­ quire. At all times one has to book the Baug six months in advance. Those requiring the Baug on say December 25 must come to Ali Chambers on June 25 and wait pa ­ tiently till 11.00 a.m. Those really keen stand in queue from 5 or 6 in the morning so that they may be among the first to draw lots. If no one else turns up for booking the hall you are blessed and con ­ sidered lucky. If there are more, thoje in queue get to pick slips until the favored one reads a “yes ” written on one of those. If you happen to be among the unfortu ­ nate and disappointed ones, the whole cycle has to be repeated on another suit ­ able day. There is no knowing how many trips you will need to make until luck fa- plaint was consistent, vors you. If you find over a dozen Parsis / " ' _ at Ali Chambers waiting for a Behram one, bucket of hot water from the kitchen is painted and this year we even carried roj, do not be surprised. to the dressing room splashing much of it out tiling work, ” he noted. “The charges If Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary is con- over the 50 meters distance. For the are reasonable, ” he continued, and they sidered the king of bangs by the local nahn (ritual purification preceding the are putting in every effort to see that the Parsi community. Allbless is certainly religious ceremony) the bride or bride- the prince. Its easy accessibility cuts a neat edge over the former. However, under the shimmering halo there are also a few pock marks. The men ’s room leaves much to be desired. Cracked mir ­ rors, damaged wash basins and not so clean urinals leave behind unpleasant the family however dismissed the com- memories. A short visit to the kitchen could make you think twice before tuck ­ ing into a chicken farcha (fried chicken) we repeatedly heard was regarding the or a patra ni machhi. We interviewed a family who had en ­ joyed the facility of this Baug last Janu ­ ary. ' - place ” to perform the navjote. The dot ­ ing mother in her early forties exclaimed. At the Rustom Baug pavilion grounds A little man in shorts brings one, just one, bucket of hot water from the kitchen to the dressing room splashing much of it over the 50 meters distance. original wishes of the founders are not groom has to use this precious liquid as defeated. sparingly as possible for if any more is needed, there would be none available. The women in particular complained quite rigid and prohibited any commercial about the sofas being in a perpetual state exploitation beyond the objectives of the of uncleanliness. The male members of trust. He admitted that a number of build ­ ers and developers had approached him with lucrative offers only to be turned ture of Parsi women. Another complaint away by him. His neighbor at Ali Cham- ; bers, solicitor Rustom Gagrat too had of- lights on stage being switch^ on only fered to work on a plan of development, after 6.30 p.m. "'Ketloo avardoo lage but Allbless flatly refused. (how inauspicious it looks), ” quipped an They believed “it was a great elderly member of the bride ’s family. Cama Baug The fans too are switched off the mo- Ensconced amid the cacophony and tu- ment the priests leave the stage, leaving mult of Central Bombay ’s Khetwadi area, "Jeevta rahya to baba na lagan bhi aheej relatives and friends drenched in perspira- karsoo (if we are alive we will also per ­ form the child ’s wedding here). Pun (but) we wish they would improve some of the conveniences but he felt everything at basic facilities, ” she continued. We talked to two other families and the com- plaint, attributing it to the fastidious na- 22 Parsiana January 1991 Pointing out a couple of clauses in the trust deed, he noted that the indenture was this staid hall of the community has been tion during summer. the venue of innumerable feasts for the We asked Eduljee regarding these in- past 121 years. By an indenture executed on June 5, 1869 Pallonji Cursetji Cama — a success ­ ful businessman of Bombay — dedicated Allblcss Baug was in order. “We carry out major repairs every year. The kitchen < I '1 (’ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ I “We have a complaint box but we to up-country Parsis, even Parsis staying have hardly received any complaints, ” in small one room-kitchen flats in Bom- trust deed that the property originally bay find it convenient to host a function at the Agiary and community center in his name for the use of the members of the Parsi community. It appears from the nominal fee of Rs 50 per day. In addition The big otla, according to the manager, is in use almost 250 days a year, the small which lays it open to bird droppings espe- otla following close behind with an aver ­ age of 200 days per annum. The months Antia noted. We pointed out a few per ­ taining to the toilet and dressing room fa- admeasured 5,116 sq yds and the settlor the Baug by staying there overnight and cilities that needed improvement, the had intended that the Baug be utilized by avoiding inconvenience at home. illkempt kitchen and the stage in the com- the members of the community absolutely The big otla, according to the manager, pound without a permanent covering free of charge. We learn from a souvenir brought out by the trustees on the occa ­ sion of the one hundred and eleventh an ­ niversary that nominal fees were charged between June-September are lean, but at- f i cially since there is a huge tree looming over it. While the roof is repaired every ______ ______________ year, plumbing and sanitation work is a for the use of the hall only from the year tract birthday celebrations, jashans and regular expenditure. The toilet facilities 1922._______________________________ other festivities. The trustees of the Baug have also been improved, said Antia. We wondered if all this expenditure also meant higher rates for booking the hall. The answer was in the affirmative. Antia however hastened to'add that, the hangWania. charges would not be exorbitant. “The The managing trustee claims to visit whole charitable object would be defeated otherwise, ” he emphasized. “Ours is not a poor trust, ” he clarified. “No hall in Bombay can claim to be poor. They all generate money. In our case we divert the other festivities. The trustees of the Baug have also been improved, said Antia, include chairman Jamshed Guzder, man ­ aging trustee Burjor Antia and Ratan While the small otla (wing) situated at the north end has the capacity to accom ­ modate about a hundred people, the big Nanabhoy, Sam Rao, Eruch Desai, otla at the south end of the property can Cowasji Dinshaw (Adenwala) and Hos- accommodate twice the number. The charges, according to Emchsha Wellington who has served as manager of the Agiary and Baug every Sunday mor- the Baug for the last 18 years, are very ning to look into the problems and diffi- reasonable. Rs 100 for the big otla and culties faced by the staff. We interviewed just Rs 30 for the small otla if booked him at his solicitors ’ firm in Fort. Ac- „ two months in advance. However, if cording to Antia, “The trustees are putting surplus income for maintaining the booked over two months in advance, the in every effort to offer the best facilities at Agiary and the Baug. ” The trust, accor- bigger hall attracts a fee of Rs 500 and the minimum cost. ” By way of example he ding to Antia, is also applying to the court smaller hall Rs 50. The upper hall, which according to Wellington is a blessing for up-country and suburban Parsis, attracts a 23 Parsiana January 1991 Above: At the AUbless Baug hall Photo: T. G. Panchal Bottom: Entrance to the Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary in every effort to offer the best facilities at minimum cost. ” By way of example he pointed out that a new permanent stage for permission to apply the income cy has been erected at a cost of Rs 10,000, pres for the uplift of mobeds. “We are a the garden around the Agiary has been forward-looking team of trustees and do not believe in lying dormant, ” he con ­ firmed. “Our object is to serve the poor, ” he emphasized for the third time. I “We are open to any scheme for deve- I lopment, ” Antia noted. “However, there I are inbuilt difficulties. Any plan for de- I velopment would lead to a sizable chunk I of property being lost in setback. ” Antia I also pointed out that presently the Baug I enjoys the luxury of open air. Any new I modem structure would be an assault on I the aesthetic sensibilities of the commu- j nity. He repeated however that the trust ’s ' architects were examining the various possibilities. Wellington recalled that in the year 1973, legal luminary S. R'. Vakil had also worked on a scheme for develop ­ ment but for various reasons the plans fell through. 1 Dadiseth Atash Bahram (Fanaswadi) Built in the latter half of the eighteenth improved, new neon lights have added century — September 20, 1783 to be pre ­ luster and painting work, estimated at around one and a half lakh rupees, is on hand. cise — the Dadiseth Atash Bahram ’s founder trustees included Dadi Nusser- wanji Dadiseth, Framji Dorabji Panday, Hormusji Mancherji Cama, Sorabji Cursetji Dadiseth, Khursetji Nowroji Sa- hiar and Ardeshir Hirji Dadyseth. Be ­ sides this scanty piece of information, the present board of trustees — Eruch A.Dastur, Muncherji J. Cama and Kerfegar feels an amount of at least 10 lakh rupees land, according to Nanabhoy Jeejeebhoy, K. Billimoria — were unable to throw will be involved in repairing the Atash were mainly fishermen and made their any light on the history of the Atash Bah- Bahram building and compound which living by the net The elders of about 125 ram, the adjoining property or the foun- includes the two otlas. Merchant la- Parsi families residing on Old Woman ’s ders. The trustees sent their assistant sec- mented the loss of the late Jehangir Island, appealed to Seth Jeejeebhoy Da- retary Behram A. Merchant with some of Dadiseth, the last managing trustee and dabhoy to build an agiary on the island, the details we had earlier requested. Mer- direct descendant of the Dadiseth family thereby obviating the necessity of moving chant, a retired employee of Tata Textiles, who was totally dedicated to the affairs of to the mainland by boat to meet their re- has been connected with the Dadiseth the trust and spent two hours every day at ligious requirements. Seth Jeejeebhoy, a Trust for only about a year. the trust office. resident of Parel, paid a visit to Old The baug, according to Merchant, was P gifted to the Dadiseth Trust by the Kadmi all appearance could be made more ap- Gambhar Fund. The year in which the gift was exc- I cuted was unknown. I With a capacity to ac- I commodate as many as L 500-800 people, the baug ’. adjoining the Atash Bah- ram is barely used for 50- » 75 days a year. The fee for 3 booking the Baug is a mere | Rs 60 and like Cama Baug, __________________ __________________________________ facilities for staying over- Yarosh, mah Shehrevar 1205 night are provided within YZ (March 15, 1836). the complex for an addi- Jeejeebhoy not only used to tional fee of Rs 30 per day. visit the Agiary from time to Snooty Bombayites -- , time but also stayed there would not think much of during the days of muktad. this place but there are The trust ’s secretary Nariman families in Surat who ccHne Neralwala, who has been in all the way to Bombay to Dadyseth Atash Bahram and the adjoining baug Photo; Homyar Mistry service of the trust for the perform their children ’s past 48 years, eagerly showed weddings and navjotes at the Dadiseth pealing. However there are others who us Jeejeebhoy ’s antique furniture at the Atash Bahram. Merchant claims there are feel the baug exudes an old-world charm. Agiary and in particular the rosewood families whose weddings and navjotes We met a devotee at the Atash Bahram table where he played cards with friends, have been performed at this Dadiseth who coaxed us to close our eyes and feel In the early years the facility of the Atash Bahram for three generations, the atmosphere. “Can ’t you sense it? The Agiary and baug was predominantly There is a belief among the Parsis of Surat atmosphere is charged with spiritual en- availed of by the residents of Colaba. that a wedding performed at the Atash ergy, ” he pressed us. We closed our eyes However, in today ’s small world the Bahram assures a happy married life with and, strangely, we did experience a sense Agiary ’s remoteness is no deterrent. The many children. of tranquility. baug, according to Nanabhoy, is in use The baug however is in a total state of almost 200 days a year. Even during the disrepair. The Trust has received a no- Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary monsoons there are several jashans and tice from the Bombay Municipal Corpo- Unlike Allbless Baug and Cama Baug, religious ceremonies performed in the ration to carry out necessary repairs. The Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary is tucked baug. walls have not seen a coat of paint in away in a remote yet elite comer of South many years. The kitchen, according to Bombay, within the naval complex just on a purely first come first served basis. Merchant, threatens to cave in any mo- off Pilot Bunder Road. Offering the Parsis residing abroad book the baug al ­ ment. There is no parking facility and panorama and freshness of the Arabian the premises stand surrounded by matka Sea, the Agiary ’s prime locale is un- (gambling) and opium dens. matched. We met the chairman, Nana- Unlike all the other Parsi baugs we bhoy Jeejeebhoy, bent almost at right stretched to 2,500 when the first floor visited, this was the only one incurring a angles with age, yet one who could recall room and terrace are also utilized, says loss. “There is an excess of expenditure historical data from memory and seemed the trust's secretary. over income, ” notes Merchant, “and the to be a living encyclopaedia on historical According to Nanabhoy, the baug of- trustees are contemplating extensive re- data and geographical records. fers one of the finest facilities in town. “It pairs and renovation. ” The use of the The place where the Agiary stands to- is even better than a five-star hotel, ” baug for religious functions, including day was then the “Old Woman ’s Island. ” adds Ms JerDhondy, a long time associate weddings and navjotes, was to be sus ­ pended for a period of at least two years starting November 1, 1990. Merchant Post Office. Parsis of Old Woman ’s Is- includes the two otlas. Merchant la ­ mented the loss of the late Jehangir Island, appealed to Seth Jeejeebhoy Da- Bombayites 24 Parsiana January 1991 vm 't Ef*?. I the trust office. Patrons generally feel the bang ’s over- Woman ’s Island and personally pur- " .. '' ‘ . ¦ chased a large piece of land for the pur ­ pose of an agiary and a com ­ munity center. Additionally he also purchased an adjoin ­ ing property to house the agiary ’s panthaky. house was occupied for many —years thereafter by the illus- '«nr hious (Dr) Sir Jivanji Modi. The f > ' ** Dadyseth Atash Bahram and the adjoining baug Photo; Homyar Mistry who coaxed us to close our eyes and feel to be a living encyclopaedia on historical The place where the Agiary stands to- The Agiary and commu ­ nity center was thrown open to the community on roj The baug, informs Neralwala, is given most 18 months in advance. It can ac ­ commodate about 800 people with ease and the capacity can be comfortably There was the Arabian Sea between what of Nanabhoy and director of Jam-e-Jam- is today ’s Regal Cinema and the Colaba shed. Repairs are carried out from time to time and the baug can boast of one of theI most well-maintained kitchens and toilet elite Bhulabhai Desai Road, Saher Agiary facilities. The office of the trust was originally housed in Alice Building, Fort, and had to be shifted to Colaba in 1973 after the fire which gutted that entire ill- fated complex. enjoys a unique distinction. Not many Parsis are even aware of its existence. However, those who do, experience a strange force of attraction. The greenery and geographic elevation provide one al- The present trustees of the Agiary and most with an out-of-town feeling. baug besides chairman Nanabhoy in- Built about 145 years ago by Homusji elude: Jamshedji Rustomji Jeejeebhoy, Dadabhoy Saher, the Agiary ’s affairs to- Dossabhoy Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy and day are managed by Naoroji Gamadia Russi Ardeshir Jeejeebhoy. The trustees (managing trustee), Muncherji Cama, Sir from the time of inception have been Jamsetji Jejeebhoy, Rustom Jejeebhoy members of the Jeejeebhoy family. The and Phiroze Bookbinder. trustees, says Nanabhoy, hold more than six meetings a year. _ . Development and commercial exploi- from the number of devotees patronizing tation of the property is a near impossi- the Agiary and availing the facility of the bility. Situated in a defence services compound for weddings and navjotes. area on a “quit and ground rent ” basis, * ’ ' ~ Nanabhoy claims builders and develo ­ pers have never bothered him. Financially the trust is rich. The baug accommodate about 350 people com- generates enough income to maintain the fortably and records indicate that on an Agiary, support educational institutions, ’ and extend medical and financial assis ­ tance to poor and deserving Zoroastrians. According to Gamadia, awareness of the Agiary is on the increase as is evident There is no regular kitchen and guests enjoy their dinner amid the lush greenery and canopy of stars. The compound can average it is in use about 125 days a year. According to Gamadia, the compound _____ facility is offered to the members of the According to Neralwala, last year the community for a donation of Rs 700 and trust spent over a lakh of rupees on educa- ' tional and medical assistance. Yet the trust foresees difficult times ahead. It may have to undertake major pose to provide patrons with still further repairs and carry out reinforcement facilities. work. “The saline air does our health a C . . lot of good but also corrodes the iron further FSI (floor space index) for deve- beams and general infrastructure, ” be- wac anv fhp moans Neralwala. To provide for this foreseeable expenditure the trustees, with a lot of hesitation and constraint, have re ­ cently raised the donation for booking the above. Repairs to the Agiary and com ­ pound are carried out regularly. The trust has a good income and the trustees pro- Gamadia believes the property has no lopment and even if there was any, the trustees would hate to put up any other structure that would come in the way of the Agiary ’s aesthetic grandeur. The trustees are presently contempla- baug'to Rs 5,(XX). This has ruffled a few ting an increase in the minimum donation feathers. “We might as well throw a re- ' ' " ' -- .l -*-- cepdon at The Taj, ” sighed a family we requested for the use of the Agiary com ­ pound. “After all we are providing and know. “We have to pay additionally for will provide one of the best and most the bus arrangement between the Agiary unique wedding-navjote facilities in and Churchgate (the nearest railway sta- town, ” explains Gamadia. and Churchgate (the nearest railway sta ­ tion, for the convenience of guests), pay for the lighting which ranges between Rs Sethna Agiary 2,300 and Rs 3,500 and even the caterers Somebody asked the other day what Tar ­ quote a fatter estimate, ” the family con- deo Road ’s highest common factor was, tinned. We were intrigued by the last and without a moment ’s hesitation the re ­ statement and decided to probe deeper, sponse was — Parsi fire-temples. Four of • But were happily informed that the cater- them, and that too, all fairly well-patron- ers ’ rates firom Cama and Allbless Bangs ized. The focus of our study however was to Jeejeebhoy Agiary were uniform. We not fire-temples but wedding-navjote ven- stood by the sea near the east end of the ues. Our eyes therefore turned to Sethna baug savoring the saline air. It was about Agiary situated at the junction of Tardeo The Agiary ’s managing trustee Jal Vakil talked to us for over an hour and thrice during the period he corrected us Saher Agiary for referring to the Agiary as Sethna Situated on a hillock just off Bombay ’s Agiary. “It should ^orrecdy be called 12 noon, the baug was empty and silent Road and Forjett Hill, save the chirping of birds and swaying of — ¦ - palm trees. 25 Parsiana January 1991 OUR WORLD OF VACATIONS-1991 Lala's ofter'special holiday package tours, both Deluxe and Economy for individuals and groups. J • Shimla-Manali • Nainital- Muasourie • Darjeeling- Sikkim e Nepal e Bhutan e Kashmir e Delhi-Agra- Jaipur e Mysore-Bangalore- Ooty e Madras-Trivandrum- Kanyakumari-Kodaikanal e Bhubaneshwar-Puri- Konark e Goa e Andamans • Lakshadweep Note: Rail Tour booking closes 70 days prior to departure. Chalk out your own package. Stay where, when and as long as you like, according to your personal interest, time and budget Lola tours V e U.S.A. - Canada • Europe- U.K. e Kenya • Japan e Bangkok-Pattaya-Hong Kong-Singapore e Maldives- Sri Lanka e Mauritius e Australia e New Zealand Note: Subject to GOI/RBI approval. FTS/NTS passengers only. For detailed itinerary, contact us or your Travel Agent: H.K.LALA&CO. • Capitol Cinema Bldg., Murzban Road, Bombay 400 001. Tel: 204 5094/5744/3006 Oattarom-LT 70/91the Muncherji Sett Agiary, ” he admon ­ ished. In the eighteenth century the majority razed to the ground. A new structure was of Parsis were residents of “Cote” (Fort built and thrown open to the community locality). It was Sohrabji Muncherji Sett on October 31, 1896. (who after adoption by his uncle became Sohrabji Maneckji Sett) who induced this century. Parsis began to sell their Hill. Parsis to settle in “Bahar Cote” (outside Fort). Sohrabji, states Vakil, owned vast fields around what is today ’s Sheik Menon Street and as an act of charity and benevolence gifted plots of land for resi ­ dential purposes to Parsis at a nominal rent of eight annas per annum, dadgah, better known as Khara Kuvani Agiary, was consecratead on November .............. and hall today are managed by Vakil and 24, 1796 (roj Sarosh, mah Ardibehsht) to property around the Agiary to non-Parsis his colleagues Dinshawji Maneckji Mis­ meet the religious requirements of Parsis and the Agiary was left with little or no try and Minoo Rustomji Sethna, all three of Bahar Cote. In the meantime, the Par- patronage. It was then that the trustees being descendants of the Sett family sis of Cote enjoyed the benefit of the decided to purchase a plot of land belong- Maneckji Sett Dar-e-Meher. ing to Adamji Peerbhoy at Jaifal Wadi With the passage of time the Parsi and relocate the adarian saheb. After per- population of Bahar Cote flourished and mission to sell the old property was ob- the dadgah was raised to the status of an tained in 1923 from the Advocate Gen- adarian on November 24, 1822. A deed eral, it was sold in 1927 for a sum of Rs the community from Mughal oppression, of settlement was executed on April 1, 4,75,000. The property at Jaifal Wadi Vakil claims his was the very first 1874. By 1896 the building was in such a along with Jaifal Terrace was purchased dilapidated condition that it had to be for a sum of Rs 3,11,000. Rs l,50,0(X) were spent on the construction of a new structure at Jaifal Wadi that would house the fire. The holy fire during that period However, around the second decade of was kept at Thuthi Agiary on Malabar A If no one else turns up for booking the hall you are considered lucky The Agiary at Jaifal Wadi, with the additional facility of a wedding-navjote hall, was thrown open to the members of the community on March 27, 1927 (roj Behram, mah Meher). “Thus we ob ­ serve two salgrehs (anniversaries), ” noted Vakil, one of the building, and one of the holy fire. The affairs of the Agiary whose founder was the illustrious Rustom Maneck (1635-1721), a broker in Surat who founded and developed the Rustom- pura locality there, and who is particu ­ larly remembered for his efforts to free 1 4,75,000. The property at Jaifal Wadi MATRIMONIAL Matrimonial correspondence invited from well-settled Parsi boys with good family background for 23-year-old, slim, 5' 3" beautiful, fair, well-educated (M.A. Eng. Lit. 1st class), domestically well-trained daughter. Willing to settle anywhere in India or abroad. Advertisement for better choice only. Write giving full details with photograph (returnable) to: Matrimonial alliance invited from good-looking, cultured Zoroastrian girls, 27 to 33 years, willing to settle abroad for a 39-year, tall, good-looking, highly educated, very well-settled Zoroastrian boy having bungalow accommodation. Boy arriving shortly in Bombay. Apply immediately with full photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Matrimonial (Jan/1-91) Parsiana GPO Box No 892 Bombay 400001 The Advertiser Matrimonial (Jan/2-91) Parsiana GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 Young (31 years), attractive, intelligent, petite, warm-hearted, Parsi Zoroastrian girl, management graduate, working in an engineering firm, belonging to a respected family, invites correspondence with a view to matrimony from intelligent, attractive; well-educated, well-settled, friendly, mature, broad-minded young Zoroastrian men. Please write, enclosing a photograph if possible, to: The Advertiser Matrimonial (Jan/3-91) Parsiana GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 26 Parsiana January 1991navjote to be performed at the with the music arrangement. Most pa- first birthday was recently celebrated at Sethna (oops! Muncherji Sett) Agiary trons complain about the quality of re- the hall. Vakil, on the other hand, felt hall. The hire of the hall, which has a corded music provided by Sam that besides bringing in Rs 20,(XX) annu- capacity to accommodate around 300 Poonawala — the hall ’s one and only of- ally for the trust, Poonawala was doing “It his best. “And there is nothing to stop any one from having a live band from people, also entitles the user to the benefit ficial and approved contractor. of a fairly spacious terrace and a little gar- leaves much to be desired, ” noted a fam- den which, according to Vakil, is hardly ily whose child ’s navjote was recently Nellie ’s to Hijackers, ” he continued. used. “I would strongly encourage the performed at the hall. “We have no The other complaints concern light­ use of the garden but Parsis seem to have choice. The trustees insist Poonawala is ing. “But nothing serious. course can be quite demanding, ” Vakil continued on page 30 an aversion, ” bemoans Vakil. the only official music contractor for the For a nominal fee of Rs 150 plus an hall, ” added the parents of a child whose Parsis of additional sum of Rs 150 to cover the cost of electricity, the hall is in use for almost 150-200 days a year. The facility is offered on a purely first come, first served basis. We asked Vakil about the mainte ­ nance and he seemed to take some pride in mentioning that the Agiary and hall re ­ cently received a new coat of paint. “We have also arranged for some new tube lights and additional fans, ” he added. “We have a very fine ladies dressing room and until recently I personally used to supervise the cleanliness, ” Vakil said. If there is a sore point it is mainly |6 designer & SirP-W- PHONE'- 2^ Steamship agents — master stevedores dubashes — lighterage contractors Darabshaw B.Cursetjee's Sons (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd. Darabshaw House, Ballard Road, Bombay - 400 038. Grams: 'DEADWEIGHT Phone: 260021 (4 Lines) (Dock Office: 262230) Telex: 5824 DBCB IN Also associates at Calcutta, Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Mangalore, Bhavnagar, Bedi-port, Navlakhi, Veraval, Porbunder & Kandla. Also sole Government Landing contractors at Jamnagar, (Bedi) Bhavnagar. 28 Parsiana January 1991! TRADITION The Brazen Betrothal Disregarding the Punchayet resolution, the son of a mobed decided to get married to a behdin girl Dosabhai Framji Karaka 1 While everyone knows the orthodox the Parsis seldom failed to accept without dered government interference necessary. priests' aversion to intercommunity mar- demur the decision of their governing The altercation sprang out of a regulation riages, many may not be aware that the body. or ordinance made by the Piuichayet of athornans many years ago similarly This state of affairs seems to have con- Bombay, with the consent of its commu- frowned on their daughters marrying behdins. In fact, the priests passed an ----- ........ . _ ordinance in the 1700s that they would Bombay found that it could no longer rule marriage to the mobeds. The Punchayet not permit their female relations to the Parsi community with its old author- took this step in order to counteract the marzy lay Parsis. ity. Under the earlier system offenders effect of an ordinance, which the priests In his 1884 publication History of The were punished by being beaten with a had passed among themselves, to the ef- Parsis including their Manners, Customs, shoe; but it was found almost impossible feet that they would continue to revive in Religion and Present Position, Dosabhai to enforce this mode of punishment when marriage the daughters of behdins, but Framji Karaka narrates the altercation the Parsis passed under British rule. The that they would not allow their own fe ­ male relatives to marry with the laity. The Punchayet, therefore, prohibited the giv ­ ing of daughters in marriage to the priests, and thus sought to deprive them of the unfair privilege they had claimed. The quarrel owed its im ­ mediate origin to a mobed having married or betrothed his son to the daughter of a behdin, in defiance of the regulation passed Uy the Punchayet. So great was the excitement that the govern ­ ment was compelled to take notice of the event, and a committee, composed of Puhehayet therefore, about the year i /78, three European gentlemen, was appointed and to report upon the best mode of bring ­ ing about a satisfactory settlement. After considerable inquiry the com ­ missioners gave it as their opinion that the ail intercourse between the person excom- with the sanction of the government. bandobast or ordinance, made by the municated and his countrymen was com- About eight years after this circum- mobeds, was unfair, and fully justified the pletely broken off. So great, therefore, stance a violent dispute arose between the behdins in refusing to give their daughters was the penalty of excommunication that mobeds and the behdins which again ren- in marriage. They also declared that the This state of affairs seems to have con ­ tinued until about the middle of the eight- nity, in the year 1777, which prohibited eenth century when the Punchayet of the behdins from giving their daughters in I that took place between the priests and laity in the last quar­ ter of the 1700s. Parsiana carries the pertinent extract. OWK VERDICT 1$ <^XC0HMVI HICATIGK A WITH ^Hoes The Punchayet was the court of M justice, and its decisions, being H invariably given after great de- B liberation, and without fear or H favor, were never disputed by the contending parties. Anyone refusing to obey the decision of yw that tribunal was excommuni- f cated from the caste, and his f coreligionists held no further in- tercourse with him. He was not invited to their feasts, religious ’ ceremonies or marriage festivals. He could not attend either funeral proces- ---------_ sions or the fire-temples; nor, if he died petitioned the governor of the time, Mr to investigate the causes of the dispute, while in this state of disgrace, could he William Hornby, for legal authority to in- ‘ receive the rites of Parsi burial. Priests flict this punishment. The prayer was were prohibited from performing any re- granted, and the Punchayet, for the first ligious ceremonies in his family. In fact time we believe, exercised this power with the sanction of the government. About eight years after this circum- <0 the penalty of excommunication that mobeds and the behdins which again ren- 29 Parsiana January 1991we. fRoww , oW OUR PAUG-HTERS MAKRYIH& BEHPIHS Timh we BLESSINGS AT THE BAUG C.0 W W T£R- continued from page 28 added. We asked him if, from his long association with the Agiary, he could re ­ count any memorable experiences. He remembered one occasion when on a sur ­ prise visit to the hall he found a large number of Hindu guests. Investigations revealed it was the wedding anniversary of a Parsi girl married to a Hindu. The girl however had surreptitiously booked the hall in her maiden name. The girl apologised and Vakil, not desiring to cre ­ ate unpleasantness, let her off with a warning. Before departing we asked if there was fault lay rather with the priesthood whose scope for development and further im- . _ V _ I J J AM ? fA 1* Z* « AzI ^^XIZa resolution passed by the former was cal- fault lay rather with the priesthood whose scope for development and fuiwer im- culated to enrich and aggrandise their selfish designs had necessitated the adop- provement of facilities. He replied, “We own sect, for as the behdins were ex ­ cluded from marrying in turn the daugh ­ ters of priests, their own women and property were carried into the clerical class without any reciprocal advantages sioners recommended that the Punchayef being gained by the laity. On these should be formed upon a more equitable bless Baug and ended with Muncherji Sett grounds the commissioners observed that basis, and that its authority, which Agi^, we reflected for a whiles A com- the behdins had every right to put a stop seemed to them to have been rather as- munity of barely 50,(XX) in Bombay and to this unequal intercourse by any means sumed than conferred, should be defined six venues for weddings, navjotes, and in their power, and that consequently their by government, which would thus invest other celebrations in just central and south resolution of 1777 was fully justified. ......................... ’ ’ * ' tion of such a resolution. mainly have to safeguard what our forefa- In order to prevent the recurrence of thers have left for us. Property after prop- these disputes, and to preserve peace and erty is being lost to the community. We good order for the future, the commis- must remain alert and stay on guard. ” Having started our journey with All- 1 IN APRIL ngt, A toMMirret op three en&ushmen was APrdIHTEp" I it with a formal sanction. In order to ef- Bombay. And we have not taken into ac- fect this, they recommended that some count the Dadar Parsi Colony Gymkhana instrument should be expressly drawn up grounds with a capacity of nearly 2,000, which would have the effect of giving rented at Rs 5,000 to non-memters and more weight and efficacy to the deci- free of cost to members, as per Gymkhana sions of the Punchayet. They further ad- secretary Mahiyar Dastoor ’s statement, vised that the Punchayet, thus constituted All however have to pay an additional 5 on a new basis, should have powers given amount to Chitrajan and Company, the If to it for settling petty disputes and matters contractors for the mandap erection and of religious form and ceremony. But they lighting, plus for the floral decoration of J likewise gave it as their opinion that the their choice. The Sorab Palamkote Hall, -* power of punishing with the shoe, which also at Dadar, rents its ground floor hall Before these commissioners the Parsi the Punchayet had exercised by special with a seating capaticy of about 4(X) for behdins asserted that the priests made this “ ................................................. regulation during their term of power at ommended that it should be withdrawn. Surat, while the latter contended that it . was the original law of their own religion, the Governor in Council concurred. It Unvala the manager there. The pavilion and not a modem innovation. On this was decided that the Punchayet, or gen- grounds at Rustom Baug have begun to be • point the commissioners reported that eral assembly of the Parsis, had a right to used for similar functions. Booking is there formerly existed a mutual inter- make regulations for the common benefit routed through the R. N. Wadia trust sec ­ course of marriage between the two and good of the community, as is custom- retary Adi Khan or assistant secretary classes, and the priests themselves were * ” ........................ forced to admit that there had been many cases of intermarriage. The commission ­ ers further reported that the resolution of 1777, which was the immediate cause of the dispute, was equitable in principle. permission, was objectionable, and rec- Rs 2,000 inclusive of chairs and electri- ............................ . city, and its first floor hall with a capacity With the general tenor of this report of 200 for Rs 1,200, according to Jimmy ary with the races of every denomination Keki Udwadia. In the more distant sub ­ living under the protection of the British urbs, serving community needs are the Government. Patel Agiary in Andheri and the agiary in Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari. What will become of these properties in 2000 AD and beyond, time alone will and no blame whatever could with justice dency magistrate and chairman of Her Uten, knusnitni jamva cnalo ji be attached to the Punchayet, but that the Majesty’s Bench of Justices, Bombay. (welcome to the dinner)! Dosabhai Framji Karaka, a scholar and author, was also chairman of the Municipal Corpora­ tion and sheriff of Bombay. He was a presi- 30 Parsiana January 1991MILESTONES I The age of Zoroastrian brides (as listed in this issue) in Bom ­ bay ranged from 19 to 37 years, the arithmetic mean — the total number of individual ages di ­ vided by the total number of brides — being 25 years. The conesponding figures for the grooms were 24 and 41 years, averaging at 29 years. Among the 86 Zoroastrians who- died in Bombay in Decem ­ ber, 20 succumbed to heart dis ­ ease. The next major killers were cancer claiming 12 vic ­ tims, pneumonia and lung dis ­ ease claiming eight and old age and general debility, seven. While six patients fell prey to diabetes, three succumbed to hypertension. Septicemia, liver and brain diseases and bronchi ­ tis claimed two lives each. Two victims perished in accidents. Isolated cases registered this month: Parkinson ’s disease, dementia, ulcer, uremia, arthri ­ tis, sereoma abdomer, kidney failure, motor neuron disease, malnutrition, respiratory failure, stroke, nervous disorder, arterial fibrillation (contraction of the muscle fibres of the heart), di ­ arrhoea, tuberculosis, myos- themia gravis and bronchiecta ­ sis (dilatation of the bronchial tubes following infection). Three baby boys (one premature and two stillborn) were lost to the community. The eldest and youngest to die in December were both males, aged 93 and 32 years respectively. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by various newsletters and anju- mans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information is not always complete or con ­ sistent. In this breakup of deaths, according to illnesses, • especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases. If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us. following BOMBAY Born A boy to Kashmira and Jahangir Doodha on December 1, 1990 A girl to Rukshana and Jimmy Colabewala; December 2 A girl to Jasmine and Aspandiar Kharas; December 2 A boy to Benaifer and Rattan Toddywalla; December 2 A boy to Jasmine and Hafez Katgara; December 4 A girl to Ferzin and Mehernosh Colsawala; December 6 A boy to Dilshad and Dinshaw Patel; December 6 A boy to Zarin and Farrokh Bharucha; December 12 A boy to Nergis and Mehernosh Bhagwagar; December 15 A girl to Rashna and Dicky Contractor; December 16 A girl to Mahrook and Firoz Jamshedji; December 19 A boy to Kermin and Dinyar Balaporia; December 21 A girl, Khushnam, to Yasmine and Nozer Mirza; December 21 A boy to Farida and Hoshang Jal; December 22 A girl to Kashmira and Homi Kotwal; December 22 A girl to Jasmine and Neville Bharucha; December 23 A boy to Annahita and Pesi Sidhwa; December 24 A girl to Manjula and Farhad Patel; December 26 A boy to Hutokshi and Hoshi Rao; December 28 Married Shernaz Merwanji Shroff and Kerman Homi Gagrat; October 27 Diana Soli Daruwalla and Homyar Burjor Goiporia; November 22 Zubina Faredoon Aga and Zubin Pervez Mehta; November 23 Roshan Hoshang Zaiwala and Rohinton Framroze Patel; November 23 Maharukk Minoo Irani and Adil Percy Antia; November 25 Nazneen Dara Daruwalla of Kanpur and Mozam Khushru Daruwalla; November 25 Thrity Maneck. Elavia and Nozer Tehmurasp Mistry; November 26 Gulshan Nariman Guard and Porus Phiroze Daruwalla; November 21 Parizad Jehanbux Pesuna and Adil Dara Elchidana; December 3 Parveen Homi Messman and Rohinton Phiroze Kerawala; December 3 Rukshana Keki Viccaji and Mehernosh Noshir Patel; December 4 Huffrish Pervez Dordi of Thana and Ruzbeh Dhun Patel of Nasik; December 4 Armin Jehangir Zaiwala of Ahmedabad and Dinyar Pesi Deboo; December 6 Anahita Naval Brass and Homi Farrokh Kaka; December 6 Zarin Tehmuras Jangbarwalla ' and Farrokh Pheroze Munsiff; December 7 Khusmede Jal Balsara and Manecksha Adi Patel; December 7 Kashmira Minocher Billimoria and Khurshed Jehanbux Gandhi; December 8 Hufriz Maneck Patel and Cyrus Minoo Poonawalla; December 8 Khorshed Rustomji Halhadaru and Jimmy Hoshang Patel; December 11 Mehernavaz Baji Maloo and Rustom Cyrus Vesavevala; December 11 Ayesha Dhunji Dhunjibhoy and Mahiar Bomi Mehta; December 12 Pervin Nariman Umrigar and Vistasp Burjor Sopariwalla; December 14 Kashmira Minoo Daruwalla and Rayomand Phiroze Daroowalla; December 16 Parizad Behram Billimoria and Kaikhushru Maneck Kutar; December 18 Yenisha Rashid Irani and Furokh Tehmurasp Santoke; December 18 Yasmine Cawas Behramji and Hooshman Behram Irani; December 20 Armin Rusi Randelia and Hector Gustad Kharadi; December 23 Bakhtawar Burjorji Moudawalla and Adeel Kekobad Medhora; December 23 Rukhshana Behram Gandhi and Zaheer Hosi Mistry; December 23 Dilshad Minocher Irani and Mehraban Rustam Yazdani Buicki; December 25 Maharukh Dinshaw Master and Viraf Shariyar Vajifdar; December 25 Perveen Keki Pithawalla and Mehernosh Mahervanji Elavia; December 27 Hamshad Cawas Bharucha and Sheri Framroz Bamboat; December 30 Erine Behram Vatchha and Jimmy Sovak Shroff; December 30 Died Tehnuna Faredoon Master residing at Dadachanji Bldg, Marzban Clny, A. R. Nair Rd, 400011; December 1 Rustomji Bejonji Allbless (92), Homi Mans, Oomer Park, B. D. Rd, 400036; December 2 Meherbai Nadirshah Daruwalla (90), 15, Walchand Ter, Tardeo, 400034; December 2 Pestonji Menabhai Desai (94), Bacha Manor, 600, fame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar 400014; December 2 Freny Cawasji Bengali (84), Dubash Bldg, 627 Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; December 3 Nariman Hormasji Bulsara (89), 16, Khareghat Clny, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; December 3 Kaikobad Shiavaksha Debadavala (67), Gulistan, 802, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; December 3 Khorshed Dinshawji Kadodwala (66), Kudiyana Bldg, 679, Katrak Rd, Wadala, 400031; December 3 Homi Jamshed Pavri (67), B/8, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; December 3 Minoo Pestonji Dastur (60), 2, Mehta Bldg, Panthaki Baug, Andheri, 400069; December 5 Dinyar Jal Dubash (40), 38, Sai AsWsh, Peter Dias Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 5 Minocher Ardisher Mama (81), 693, Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; December 5 Daisy Naoroze Baria (73), 3, Perry Cross Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 6 31 Parsiana January 1991Kaikhasru Framrme Bharucha (72), Afl, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; December 6 Peroza Pervez Engineer (60), Fairy Maix>r, R. Sidhwa Marg, Fort, 400001; Decembo* 6 Minocher Bomanshaw Mino- cher-Honyi (JK), AD, Bakhtavar, Opp Colaba Post Office, 400005; December 6 Baby boy of Diinavaz V. Shroff (stillborn), Jer Mans, Gazder St, J. S. Rd, 400002; December 6 Khorshed Dinsha Dastur (65), Kaiser-E-Hind, Ballard Est, 400038; December 7 Najamai Bapuji Gohvalla (85), BDl, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 40(X)12; December 7 Aloo Jimmy Mody (81), 16/17, Jyoti Mhl, 13, Noshir Bharucha Marg, 400007; December 7 Maid Sorabji Doctor (90), 216, Shalimar, Marine Drive, 400020; December 8 Siloo Firoze Fraser (69), 35, Gopal Mans, Guru Nanak Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 8 Behram Gustad Irani (49), CI2, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; December 8 Najamai Minocher Bhagat (J33), 228, Shirin Mans, J. Dadaji Marg, Tardeo, 4(XX)07; December 9 Pestonji Maneckji Cooper (85), A/18, Usha Sadan, S, B. Rd, Colaba, 400005; December 9 Framroze Dhunjisha Wadia (76), G/19, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; December 9 Khorshed Noshir Green (63), 14, Gautam Darshan, 7 Bglws, Versova, Andhori (W), 400058; December 10 Tehmi Ruttonshaw Madan (82), Sun-Shine, R. Patel Rd, Off B. Desai Rd, 400026; December 11 Nanu Ardesidr Bharoocha (67), West View, 952, Nana Peth, Pune, 411002; December 12 Darab Cooverji Lelinwalla (87), A/33, Bharat Ngr, Grant Rd, 400007; December 12 Farokh Sorabji Todiwalla (42), B-15/104, Vaishali Ngr, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; December 12 Khorshed Darabsha Arjani (84), 22, Arshiyana, Nepean Sea Rd, 400026; December 13 Behram Ardesher Irani (71), 9, Patel Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 4(X)007; December 13 Fall Rustomjee Karaka (71), Chotani Bldg, Proctor St, Grant Rd, 400007; December 13 Minocher Hormusji Mistry (89), 19, New Municipd Bldg, Nana Chowk, 400(X)7; December 13 Jer Jehangir Ruaom (70), Arsiwalla Bldg, 61, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; Decembo' 13 Perin Dorabji Bagwadia (77), B, Empire Ter, N. Petit St, Lamington Cross Rd, 400007; December 14 Maneck P. Sorabjee Tavadia (88), B/2, Mandar Hsg Soc, Raut Lane, Juhu, 400049; December 14 Rati Rustonyi Wadia (83), 29, Sethna Bldg, Naoroji SeOi St, Thakurdwar, 40(X}02; December 14 Soli Cawasji Jeejeebhoy (88), Flat no 11, 4-A, New Dubash Bldg, Gamadia Cbiy, Tardeo, 400007; December 15 Freney Ratanshaw Dubash (53), 3/4, Sir Ratan Tata Bldg, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 16 Freni Temurash Manekshana (60), Mota Parsivad, Valsad, 396001; December 16 Zarine Burjor Dhondy (65), 13, Halima Manzel, Forjett St Cross Lane, 400036; December 17 Goolbtu Minoo Iraru (72), Darshan Apts, V. K. High School Rd, Panvel, Dist Raigad, 410206; December 17 Belu'amji Cawasji Umrigar (91), 71, Ferena, 25, Arther Bunder Cross Rd, Colaba, 400005; December 17 Nilouffer Dinyar Jamshedji (39), 4, Vakil Bglw, Jitendra Larie, Juhu Tara Rd, 400049; December 18 Noshir Manekhji Makwa (72), B, Adam Mhl, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; December 18 Gool Jamshed Balaporia (69), 32/C, Meherzin, Colaba, 400005; December 19 Minocher Maneckji Cooper (76), E/15, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; December 19 Homi M. Mehenti (74), l -B/38, Tata Mills Hsg Soc, Elphinston Rd, 40(X)12; December 19 Homi DartdjJi Palsetia (73), 54, Ocean Crest, 85, Warden Rd, 400026; December 19 Dhunjisha Rustomji Bhagwagar (78), Adenwalla Bldg, Pauwalla St, Grant Rd, 400004; December 20 Ferdotm Behram Irani (66), Zarin Manzil, Mather Pakady Rd, Mazagaon, 400010; December 20 Framroze Ardeshir Jassawalla (80), 7/A, Sea Face Park, Warden Rd, 400026; December 20 Baby boy of Sunnu Sam Modi (stillborn) Ratan Mans, Forjett St, 400007; December 20 Shal^four KaUchshroo Yezdagardi (32), Sailor Bldg, 373, Dr D. N. Rd, 400001; December 20 Lulu Behram Dastoor (56), 4, Groveiwr Hse, Peddar Rd, 40(X)26; December 21 Sorabji Bejotyi Engineer (Amrolia) (85), Pushpavati Bldg, Chira Bazar, 400002; December 21 Nergish Ratansha Siganporia (60), E/13, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; Decembo* 21 Perin Nadir Bulsara (78), 8/11, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; December 22 Khusroo Jehangir Irani (35), Nanabhai Chmbs, Gunbow St, Fort, 400001; Decemb« 22 Minoo Jehangir Karaka (85), Worli Sea Face Co-op Soc, Abdul Gopor Rd, 400018; December 22 Sorab Navalsha Cooper (71), Ruluns AjXs, Setalv^ Lane, 30, Nepean Sea Rd, 400006; December 23 Eddi Nawroji Darukhanawalla (62), C/618, Bhiwandiwalla Ter, Girgaum Rd, 400002; December 23 Hiraji Bapuji Medhora (73), Setlrna Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; December 23 Banoobtu Jehangir Mistry (85), 28, Daruwalla Hse, Dhobitdao Lane, 400002; December 23 Meherbai Nusserwanji Toddywalla (90), Nusserwanji Hse, 13/15, Dhuswadi, Dhobitalao, 40(X)02; December 23 Dirdfai Erachshaw Gandhi (92), E/12, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 40(X)12; December 24 Pesi Nariman Karkaria (77), N/9, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, 400008; December 24 Aloo Bahadur Khan (90), 2, Kharegat Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; December 24 Jal Pestonjee Cooper (88), 139, Khushnum, Dr B. Ambedkar Rd, Dadar T. T., 400014; December 25 Savakshaw Meherwanji Jassawalla (92), 47, Jassawalla Court, B. Desai Rd, 400026; December 25 Baby boy of Mona Nevil Mistry (2 hrs), Chikalwadi, Tardeo Rd, 40(X)07; December 26 Jehangir Darasa Desai (61), 15, Malabari Bldg, New Khareghat Clny, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; December 27 Dara Bomansha Mehta (70), 29, Kerelwadi, Thakurdwar, 400(X)2; December 27 Dolly Pestonji Panthaky (52), 25, Cranome Rd, London, S. W. 10; December 27 Amy Meherjibhoy Dubash (65), Room no 28, Jame Jamshed Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 40(X)14; December 28 Parvez Kaikhushru Engineer (51), EZ16, Ginwalla Bldg, Captain Clny, Tardeo, 400034; De^mber 28 Dinshisw Hormasji Tachakra (78), 106, Valentina, N. Gamadia Rd, 400026; December 28 Mehroo Jehangir Madon (88), Room no. 22, Irani Dharamsalla, Gamdevi, 400(X)7; December 29 Dinshaw Khurshedji Panthaky (62), 595, J. S. S. Rd, 400002; De^mber 29 Rustom Honu Cooper (77), 51, Sonarica, 33/A, Peddar Rd, 400026; December 30 Rusi Behramji Gilder (63), Gilder Villa, Perry Cross Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 30 Daizy Jamshed Treasuryvala (72), 6, Marine Mans, Byramji Jijibhoy Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 30 Jamshed Rustom LJlaowalla (63), R/32, S. B. Bharucha Baug, Andheri (W), 400058; December 31 Phiroshaw Edulji Mistry (93), Lady Bomanji Bldg, 24, A. B. Nawtd) Tank Rd, Mazagoan, 400010; Decemb« 31 POONA Died Homai Sarosh Mody (70), 23/2, Bundgarden, 411001; November 4 Banoobai Kaikhushroo Doctor (90), 480, Rasta Peth, 411011; November 10 Horru Kaikhushroo Todiwala (56), Ktpadia Bldg, 873, D. M. Rd, 411001; November 13 Shernaaz Purcy Mistry (30), 232, Khadki Bazaar, 411003; November 21 Alloo Jamshed Karbhari (70), 832, Guruwar Peth, 411002; November 26 SURAT Died Shera Bapuji Pithawala (75), 32 Parsiana January T991Gam Suwali, Taluka Choriyasi, 395003; December 9 Shirinbai Cawasji Amalsadiwala (90), GEB Qrs, Nawagam, 395003; December 10 Cawasji Meherwanji Bharucha (82), Gam Suwali, Taluka Choriyasi, 395003; December 10 Edulji Cawasji Fatakia (78), Farampura, Rustompura, 395002; December 11 ? ? ? BRITISH COLUMBIA Born A boy, Shaquil, to Mr and Mrs Dehnani; July 1 A boy, Reza, to Hutosky and Darius Driver, July 16 BROSSARD, QUEBEC Married Golanaz Gulshah and Shahjehan Sotoodian; September 18 CALIFORNIA Born A boy, Neal Cawas, to Gulnar and Percy Irani-, December 4 Married Anita Malbari, daughter of Perviz and Bejan snd Jamshid Karanjia, son of Aimee and Jehangir: August 26 MATRIMONIAL TORONTO Born A girl, Alison, to Anna and Jamshed Boyce, October 2 Married Lilly Patell, daughter of Sooni and Bahadur and Terry Lee Creamer, son of Marion and Lionel; September 29 Died Darius Golwala, husband of Marge, son of Amavaz and Burjor and brother of Armaity Jussavala and Zarine Patel; October 18 TOTALS (for this issue) Births: Boys 12, Girls 11 Marriages: Parsi 36 Intercommunal 1 Deaths: 96 Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka Correspondence invited from tall, well-qualified, well-settled young men of amiable disposition, aged between 28 and 35 years for our daughter, tall (5’6"), well-educated, well-versed in household pursuits, teaching in school, and of a sociable disposition settle abroad. Please reply with a photograph (will be returned immediately). Write to: The Advertiser Matrimonial (Jan/4-91) Parsiana GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 willing to SAVE LIFE.STAY 0* 33 Arsana JknuarxIN MEMORIAM Naoroji Godrej HELMSMAN EXTRAORDINARY Arnavaz S. Mama was the managing director of die largest closely held company in India. Under his stewardship Godrej and Boyce burgeoned from a respected manu ­ facturer of locks, safes and steel furniture into India ’s first and leading producer of refrigerators; typewriters and forklifts, computers, machines for atomic reactors and other sci-fi products followed, with ­ out sacrificing its reputation for integrity, reliability. Accounts, marketing, produc ­ tion, delivery, all departments were said to be handled by Naoroji. His ideals, imbibed from his uncle Ardeshir, the founder of the House of Godrej, and father Pirojsha and conveyed to his heirs, ensure that the families of over 10,000 Godrej workers enjoy the fruits of their labor in terms of housing, health, education, security — Gandhian ideals of trusteeship of wealth for the benefit of all. A former trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), Naoroji Godrej had helped to found and stabilize the Indian machine tools industry. The Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, the Soonabai Godrej Trust, the Pirojsha Godrej Garden Town ­ ship at Vikhroli, Godrej Baug — the new residential colony for Zoroastrians off Nepean Sea Road that the Godrej Foun ­ dation developed jointly with the BPP, the Foundation for Research in Commu ­ nity Health... attested to his passionate interest in the welfare of people — all provided for from company profits. “I do not know how to ask, ” he had once confided to Housing Development and Finance Corporation (HDFC) chairman H. T. Parekh. “I have only given. ” Small-built, soft-spoken, low-key, everything about Naoroji seemed in re ­ verse proportion to his achievements. Few who interacted with the self-effac ­ ing 73-year-old on the go, escaped the imprint of his charismatic smile, the hon ­ esty of his responses, the simplicity of dress and demeanor. A professed literal in religious terms, Naoroji Godrej ab ­ jured the trappings of Zoroastrianism to practice the ideals propounded by the Prophet — courage, charity, kindness... When death claimed him on August 8, 1990 {after a long illness that doctors felt was related to the many blood transfu ­ sions in the aftermath of the assassina ­ tion attempt on him in 1979 by a dis ­ gruntled ex-employee owing allegiance to 34 Parsiana January 1991ing of the way Naproji succeeded, Burjor says, “you have got to be a little aggres ­ sive, even a little autocratic, to get on in life. Otherwise you fall by the wayside! ” No matter how important the matter at hand, Naoroji ’s decisions were very quick, says Raje. “He thoroughly knew each and every product that the company made. Every machine that was bought he ’d inspect, see it unpacked and in ­ stalled in his presence. Earlier he knew each and every worker in the factory, many by name... He knew the strength and deficiency of his workers and... for ­ gave genuine mistakes. ” During World War II, machine tools like sheet metal working machinery were not available. So Naoroji started to make them at the Godrej factory in Lalbaug, “The workers so loved him, they would not believe any unhappy decision could be taken by Naoroji, ” added his personal at the condolence meetings summoned by secretary of 30 years, Chandrasen Raje. the BPP and the then sheriff of Bombay Nana Chudasama. Attesting to Naoroji ’s wealth of virtues were a former vice president of India, fellow industrialists. the militant trade union of Dr Datta Sa ­ mant) the tributes poured in in a seem ­ ingly ceaseless fount in the press, on TV, “Old workers believed they were Naoroji ’s buddies because they had helped him to set up his empire, ” noted Bezun Dittia, president of the Parsi educationists, scientists, financiers, BPP Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad trustees and eminent citizens. and Hyderabad and a former chairman of “When the British quit India, and it Allwyn — the competitor Godrej left be ­ fell to Indians to build a nation compa ­ rable to the rest of the world, Naoroji was one of the men who helped to build them alternate accommodation, said BPP it. Doubt if in the history of India, with ­ out the share capital of outsiders, any hind. As his men retired, he tried to find trustee Jams heed Kanga, and even those who resigned were helped to set up for family has done even half of what the themselves, as noted Naoroji ’s wife, Godrej family has done, ” commented Soonu. Social worker Ms Perviz Doti- legal luminary Nani Palkhivala. “Plain vala recalled how Naoroji had employed living and high thinking never had a a qualified but inexperienced engineer, more dedicated exponent, ” continued depressed because two years of search Palkhivala recalling the small car 1 - - - ¦ • - Naoroji always drove: “Not for him the figure salary after one brief interview; posh cars in which lesser mortals move. ” Indeed, during his days as BPP trustee, Naoroji “would walk (from his down ­ town office in Godrej Bhavan) to the signed. Moved by her plight, Naoroji not Punchayet office, scan the papers and only authorized that all the provident “Because he designed and made them, he * state his decisions on the spot ” instead ‘ ' ' ’ ’ ’ ’ of having everything sent home to him as is the normal practice, attested BPP trus ­ tee Eruch Desai. To his workers, “Naoroji bordered on the level of the mythical and the legen- had failed to find him a job, on a four- Naoroji at the Goti Agiary celebrations, ' . . - . . Surat (Photo: Homyar Mistry) Top. ’Ar/lOZne Lam presented the case of the destitute with grandchildren (from left) Navroze widow of a Godrej worker who died on Godrej, Frey an Crishna, Raika Godrej the shop floor, his nomination papers un- and Nyrika Crishna fund, etc be made over to her, accepting had a love and understanding for ma- total legal responsibility, but permitted chines. He felt there was a lot of capabil- her to continue living in the company ’s ity in the country and not enough was quarters and schooling her children in the being done to show it off. It was his deci ­ Godrej school at Vikhroli. sion to start the Indian machine tools ex ­ Brother Burjor, managing director of hibitions (IMTEX),” says Naoroji ’s son dary, ” noted Godrej and Boyce vice presi- Godrej Soaps, recalls that Ardeshir, Jamshyd, tracing the history of IMTEX dent Phiroze Lam. “He was never our Pirojsha and Naval (as Naoroji was which Godrej hosted at Vikhroli seven employer but our friend, philosopher, known to family and friends), faced great times. The first exhibition, circa 1965, guide, father, mother... He believed in us difficulty in the early days. There was dis- had about 10 exhibitors. The last one had and taught us to believe in ourselves. ” difficulty in the early days. There was dis ­ crimination against Indian goods. Speak- 400 participants and occupied ap area of 35 Parsiana January 199155,000 square meters. “A permanent in ­ dustrial exhibition center (with a mini ­ mum of 30 to 40 acres for parking, recrea ­ tion and an auditorium) was one of his Godrej Foundation, in memory of his fa- search which Godrej jointly sponsored dreams, ” says Jamshyd. When IMTEX ther, is a general purpose charity for edu- with Vasant Sheth of Great Eastern Ship- began, there was no exhibition ground in cation, health, travel associated with edu- ping, a leprosy project aimed at finding India. The Pragati Maidan in Delhi came cation, etc. The Soonabai Godrej Foun- ways of diagnosing it fast enough. up in the 1970s. Every two or three years dation, named after his mother, is en- Invited to the Godrej shack in when a new Godrej shed was ready, an dowed with the Godrej land in Vikhroli Mandwa, Antia said he walked over the IMTEX would be held before putting it to Godrej ’s own use. The layout, the choice of exhibitors, “everything was completely done by him. Our people provided the includes preprimary, primary and secon- entire infrastructure. ” Raje recalls how dary sections, three media of instruction Naoroji would even help to move the fur- — Marathi, Gujarati and English — and is themselves? ” Naval ’s financial support niture! housed in three buildings. Its current was assured and Antia started out on Naoroji had a great love for planning strength of about 4,0(X) students, with 100 what became the Mandwa project - with things out in grand style. “The entire lay- percent results at the Secondary School one young doctor from the J. J. Hospital, out, landscaping (of the Vikhroli town ­ ship) was planned by Dad. Even for de- company two crore rupees a year, says stitute of Social Sciences — which even ­ signing the flats he would personally sit Jamshyd. There is no screening, but only tually had repercussions on the govem- with the architects. The many years ’ex- the first three children of each family are ment ’s health policy, he says. Groping to perience at Vikhroli was helpful in planning Godrej Baug, ” says Jamshyd. remembers the time when they started that would serve as a channel for trans ­ An abiding source of satisfaction for with seven or eight children in an old mitting knowledge at the grass roots and Naoroji was welfare work when people grain warehouse in the early 1950s. “We enable them to maintain better health in really did benefit, says Soonu. Also, had to go from house to house to get them their own surroundings, the project ulti- when he wanted to start something new to send the children, ” she recalls. mately trained a woman from each of 20 and it got going. And he liked doing “Naoroji ’s concept of charity was not to 30 villages grounded in poverty. The things to help children of schooling age. just handouts but help that would put education was imparted by trained nurses It is said that if he had a little time to spare people on their feet. ” With that aim in the local dialect arid eventually these while in Vikhroli, he would drop in on the Godrej was involved in two projects with company ’s school. noted plastic surgeon Dr Noshir Antia. Of the two Godrej trusts, the Pirojsha One is the Foundation for Medical Re- cation, health, travel associated with edu ­ cation, etc. The Soonabai Godrej Foun ­ dation, named after his mother, is en ­ dowed with the Godrej land in Vikhroli and is concerned with low cost housing, surrounding region and a new concept informs Soonu. Godrej ’s Udyachal School at Vikhroli developed: “How people coped and sur ­ vived was shocking. ” Recognising the rural folk ’s practical competence, Antia wondered, “Could we teach them to help percent results at the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, costs the and one young graduate from the Tata In ­ company two crore rupees a year, says the first three children of each family are accommodated, he informs. Yet Soonu establish links with the rural community remembers the time when they started had to go from house to house to get them to send the children, ” she recalls. “Naoroji ’s concept of charity was not Rotary Screw Air Compressors Crawlairs and Blasthole Drills I" 'I Process Gas Compressors I z- 't Portable Compressors ? Water Well Drills I j’J WfiCTSOU'W*© 8 Air and Gas Compressors • Construction & Mining Equipment INGERSOLL-RAND Ingersoll-Rand (India) Ltd., Maybaker House, S.K. Ahire Marg, Bombay 400 025 IR.191.88 36 Parsiana January 1991ladies were able to give injections, vacci ­ nations, diagnose the diseases that needed modem drugs and ensured that the medi ­ cines were administered to the patients in their villages. The training was given once a week under the trees and Naval would come and sit quietly on the ground like the rest of them, recalls Antia. The Mandwa project, carried out under the banner of the Foundation for Research in Community Health, even acquired a center designed by Jal Gobhai. Eventu ­ ally, however, the project had to be dis ­ banded because the village bigwigs re ­ sented the importance that the women got. They “started squeezing Godrej, making demands, ” informs Antia. When these were rejected, there was vio ­ lence and finally a shutdown. “Naval charges or requests the community chose membership of the Federation by a major- and I were adamant; but he was very dis ­ appointed. He was interested in people, overhauling the Punchayet ’s residential in looking after them. We worked for 10 properties to obviate ad hoc repair; to ap- years, spent nearly 20 lakh rupees, but no point a truly good administrator and give one knew about it — that ’s the differ ­ ence! ” Soonu remembers how when a doctor had mentioned that a woman needed a cesarian operation but there was not enough light above the table, Naoroji had immediately interjected, “Why didn ’t you call me? I’d have held buildings constructed by Godrej in Godrej the light up for you! ” Brought up in a Gandhian and nation ­ alistic atmosphere (uncle Ardeshir was a BPP scholarships worth Rs 5,000 could the apprehension of others that Bombay, friend of Mahatma Gandhi), Naoroji be asked to contribute to the BPP’s build- which had more Zoroastrians than the rest couldn ’t stand ostentation or a false sense of importance, say Naoroji ’s Sorab and Soonu. The children ’s and requested? “Where can you get such a grandchildren ’s navjotes were performed place for Rs 40,(XX)?” he had queried, at home. When the BPP sought to honor adding, “I have done this openly... what- outstanding members of the community, ever money comes in is given back to the come this problem Godrej suggested that Naoroji refused to accept the accolade, " “ noting that Sorab was more eligible, in ­ formed Kanga who also commented on project was incredible, ” says his son Naoroji ’s “impeccable record of atten ­ dance ” as BPP trustee. Revealing how much the Punchayet ’s Godrej Baug review the process. Right through his the approval of the BPP. The Federation project owed to Naoroji ’s dedication, Desai noted, “A few days before his death and on discharge, he desired to drive he rang up enquiring atxjut a problem and through Godrej Baug, remembers Jam- was happy to be informed that it had been shyd, adding “He was hurt that (his solved. ” “A true democrat, Naoroji never cotrustees) didn ’t back him up. ” Noted threw his weight around with the staff, never raised quarrels, ” noted BPP chief executive Rustom Anklesaria. Though a man of few words, he “never minced how he had been misunderstood, deliber- words when necessary ” and could be ately misunderstood. He was ensuring “fearlessly frank. ” Although Godrej ’s contribution to proach) was so obvious, so sensible. Zoroastrian welfare was immense — over Human beings have a tendency to stand 1,000 Parsis have found employment by and see a good man reviled. Let us aspects. Every Saturday there would be there, the vast Godrej Baug, developed say to the memory of the great man what a race. He enjoyed cruising down the on Punchayet land, will eventually house about 5,0C)0 families — Naoroji ’s one- informs 38 Parsiana January 1991 and-a-half-year foray into the Punchayet self unable to function. “He joined to was less than happy. He had wanted to help the community. When he realized computerize accounts; to introduce an open house policy where all seven trus ­ tees as well as the main administrative of ­ ficers would be available on certain days of the month to face and answer whatever “ He told me how he had been misunderstood, deliberately misunderstood ” that he couldn ’t do much, he withdrew. He never was interested in holding on to a chair. ” Naoroji ’s backing of the controversial Athravan Educational Trust (AET) is an example of his sturdy independence. Unmindful of all that was said against it, Naoroji not only accepted trusteeship of the body but provided space for its func ­ tioning in Godrej Bhavan. His ability to assess a situation for himself, undeterred by extraneous pressures, was also evident in his decision regarding the BPP’s mem ­ bership of the Federation of Parsi Zoroas ­ trian Anjumans of India. Prior to his join ­ ing the Punchayet, the BPP had resumed to make; to institute a regular system of ity decision of four to three of its seven ­ member board of trustees. With the re ­ tirement of businessman Jamshed Guzder, opinion on the matter was evenly him enough rein to do the job... None of divided with Naoroji holding the fate of it came to pass, largely perhaps because the Federation in the balance. Despite he resigned over the issue of collecting persuasion to the contrary, Godrej de- about Rs 40,000 in donations from those cided to attend a two-day meeting of the whom he recommended for allotment of Federation and see for himself. As rec ­ flats from the 50 percent donor quota in ords the November 1990 issue of the Fed­ eration Newsletter in its tribute to “The Savior, ’ Baug. As he had told Parsiana in an Savior, ” “Just before the end of the meet­ interview after the event, if rccepients of ing he spoke in his usual gentle tone about be asked to contribute to the BPP’s build ­ ing fund, why shouldn ’t beneficiaries of of India put together, might be forced to brother flats worth Rs 3.5 lakhs each, be similarly accept the viewpoint of other anjumans whose total voting power in the Federation ’s executive committee was greater than that of the BPP.” To over- BPP” for further construction. “The amount of time he spent on that the Federation ’s unwritten code, ensuring the autonomy of member anjumans, be embodied in its constitution together with a proviso that the body would make no Jamshyd. From the time of ground break ­ ing he was known to go every Saturday to representation to the government without long illness, on his way to hospitalization willingly accepted Godrej ’s terms and the issue was settled agreeably. Naoroji never took long holidays but he ’d be loth to miss a weekend from Mandwa. “Sailing was the only sport he Palkhivala at the condolence meeting, enjoyed and it gave him a lot of satisfac- “He considered housing as a major prob- tion, ” says Jamshyd. “Whatever he did, lem facing the community. He told me he want^ to get the best out of it and en ­ joy it. Because of his enthusiasm I grew up sailing, ” says Jamshyd who was com- that the work would carry on. (The ap- modore of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club. In the early days Naoroji was in ­ terested in yacht racing, in the technical we lacked the courage to say earlier... ” Soonu remarked how Naoroji found him- a race. coast to Goa, the Laccadives, Karachi, says Jamshyd. Naoroji ’s yacht Tir wasMATRIMONIAL A Chartered Accountant (CA) 25 years of age, height 5'4", working in an international firm in Bombay with very bright future prospects, desires matrimonial correspondence from a suitable, good-looking girl of a well-to-do Zoroastrian family. Write giving girl's details with recent postcard size photograph. The Advertiser (Matrimonial (Jan/5-91) Parsiana GPO Box No 892 Bombay 400001 MATRIMONIAL A Parsi youth of 27 years, 5'6" height, working in a reputed company of Bombay, drawing Rs 4,500 per month, desires matrimonial correspondence from Parsi working girls who can provide accommodation. Write giving girl ’s details with recent postcard size photograph. The Advertiser Matrimonial (Jan/6-91) Parsiana GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 built according to his own plan at the Al- cock Ashdown yard. Tir had two prede ­ cessors — the Wyvern and the Sagitta. Tir was designed and built when the Sagitta struck a sandbank near Cochin in the course of a cruise to Colombo. He had planned to make the trip but had had to change his plans at the last minute. Sorab Godrej, the eldest of the three brothers and chairman of the House of Godrej, remembers Naval as an average student. They went to St Mary ’s and then to St Xavier ’s School because father Pirojsha wanted his sons to intermingle with all classes of people, not only the elite, says Sorab. Though Versova-bom Naoroji was the youngest and most ro ­ bust of the three, he had an acute skin problem and hence was put on a vegetar­ ian diet. Like his father and uncle Arde ­ shir, Naoroji remained a vegetarian all his life. When he was three, his mother Soonabai had died of pneiinomia while on a holiday in Mussoorie where she is bur ­ ied, says Soonu. The Soonabai Godrej Dance Academy Theatre at the National Centre for the Performing Arts has been gifted by Godrej in her memory. Quick-tempered — a trait he later con ­ trolled so effectively his secretary de ­ Best Wishes From RUSY & PURVIZ SHROFF 39 Parsiana January 1991scribed him as “calm like the sea ” — but everything, ” continues Smita. “I looked Naoroji couldn ’t bear to watch further:- ''have to jowalu nahiS “In discussions, the most important thing that came through was his concern for others, ” says Jamshyd. “He had this great love for doing things for others, even to the extent of being put to personal . Even on long drives he would insist on driving half the time. There were innumerable instances when he ’d leave the nicer thing for somebody else. Always gave the credit to some ­ body else even if he had done it. Those who had worked with him for years and years had a very close feeling. They would literally do anything for him. But he was very hurt if somebody whom he trusted didn ’t come up to his expecta ­ tions in terms of honesty or if his trust friendly and cooperative, Naoroji was not allowed to go to college because their father wanted him to start working, says Sorab. At the age of 17, in blue overalls on the shop floor, he learned to handle machines, and files in the office, learning by experience, a self-taught engi ­ neer who could solve any problem. Thus, help run a family-owned company ” remi ­ nisces son-in-law Vijay Chrishna. “To my upon him as a true friend. He was inter ­ ested in all our activities, even those of our friends. He was so full of fun, so opti ­ mistic... ” “It was with some trepidation I ac ­ cepted his inyitation to leave my previous job some months after our marriage to discomfort. in later years, even when he interviewed people, he did not pay much heed to their degrees but to the way a man reacted, says Soonu. According to Burjor, Naoroji and Pirojsha were temperamentally on the same wavelength: “Naval was father ’s favorite from the beginning. He was me- ¦±il chanically minded (and) the partnership With the architects ” with father was ideal. Father needed such a person, otherwise he would have • was broken... ” been very lonely. ” “The only time his fa- amazement, in the years that followed, he That such a man was the victim of an ther is smd to have hit him was when he offered advice and support but left me assassination attempt was one of life ’s cheated in a game of cards and father completely free to run the unit totally, ironies. “There was no security because saw, ” Soonu recalls stories of Naoroji ’s Such a practical demonstration of trust Naval felt we had no enemies, ” says youth. “My father was very close to his ' .......................... ~ ‘ father Pirojsha, imbibed his taste for simple living from him, ” corroborates Naoroji ’s daughter Smita Crishna. “Pirojsha was very disciplined in his personal life, very nationalistic in his out ­ look. ” Smita also recalls that father and followed a recent play of mine. Royal son often had very intense and excitable Hunt of the Sun, from his sick-bed. He discussions on the business of the day. ' Literature and poetry were Naoroji ’s civilization of Peru and the Spanish con ­ quest with which the play dealt. We of ­ ten talked about Shakespeare, Bombay productions and his fondness for the Parsi nataks and the annual show per ­ formed by Bombay ’s Parsi doctors!! ” re ­ “ Even for designing the flats he would personally sit amazement, in the years that followed, he me Smita Such a practical demonstration of trust I’ ' ‘ ¦' and confidence naturally inspired the best Sorab. “Our father felt that if there was from me. “He always displayed an active inter ­ est in my hobbies. Amateur theatre has been important in my life, and he used to come sometimes to watch my plays. He favorite reading and the J. N. Petit his fa ­ vorite library, temembers Soonu. Zoroastrian to the core, Naoroji never be ­ lieved in the accoutrements of the reli ­ gion, says Soonu: “He didn ’t believe in rituals, said, ‘It ’s all in your own heart calls Vijay, and in your own mind... ’” Some rituals, like the segregation of menstruating women, was to him a way of keeping women down, she added. Naoroji ’s daughter-in-law Pheroza. “In our whole life father never forced Highlighting his simple ways, Pheroza anything. He ’d state his views but never insisted, ” informs Smita. “He encour ­ aged us to think and work things out for basket of strawberries? Some juice? Some ourselves, take our own decisions. Reli ­ gion to him was a way of life. He was very fair in all his actions. If we were wrong he wouldn ’t take our side. His actions spoke a lot... He never com ­ plained, right through the miserable final to do things, but if they were wrong, he ’d months. He would say, 'Soo thayoo? Jara haso ni (What ’s wrong? Why don ’t you smile a little)! Until Smita was 13 or 14 the family holidayed together. “Our holidays were after a film Naoroji had seen, recalls always trekking, ” she states. I years the family gathered together at the watcher. Godrej shack in Mandwa on weekends. “We were brought up with openness in A tension in employer-employee relations, we must leave all else and concentrate on that. We always took a firm and fair stand, did not believe in giving in. Naval was courageous, clearheaded. Be ­ cause he was handling the negotiations, he was attacked. There was a lot of was keenly interested in the ancienfinca propaganda. Even the union minister for labor said it was a political matter, not employer-employee relations. What is most remarkable is that it happened and it was over. He took it in his stride and never referred to it, ” says Sorab. “Never said workers did this to him, ” adds Raje. After the stabbing he was rushed directly to the Breach Candy Hospital where Doctors Farokh Udwadia, Fardoon on him for nearly two months. The excellent treatment saved his life, acknowledges his son. “So when . the government required that the Breach Candy Hospital have a good pickle? ” charity wing, they approached Dad... He An affectionate man, he loved to have gave 20 lakh rupees to found the Pirojsha his four grandchildren around him. He Godrej Memorial Wing ” and an annual was perhaps “more liberal with them than contribution towards its upkeep, says with us... a great one for enthusing them Jamshyd. Referring to his support to the AET, the tribute in the Zoroastrian Studies newsletter, Ushta, noted, “When no one believed in us, he believed in us and above all he gave us the strength to be ­ lieve in ourselves. ” “He instilled confi ­ dence in everybody. It was his biggest as ­ set, ” remarked Soonu. Naoroji is survived by his wife Soonu, son Jamshyd and daughter Smita Crishna. “He was not just a father-in-law, he was a great friend of mine. What can you say about the loss of a friend? ” asks Soonawalla, Kersi Dastur worked Naoroji ’s adds, “It was always difficult to find a present for Dad, his needs were so few! A tell them. ” Extremely fond of gardens, animals, especially dogs, a Labrador named Tuka was a member of the house ­ hold for many years. He had been named In later Smita, though he was not a great film She remembers going to a Satyajit Ray film on the Bengal famine with him. They left midway because 40 Parsiana January 1991 J