Feb 1991

FEBRUARY1991 RslO few I /^ooo\ ro^ J \_ 9 y ’’3, G'S^ ,0 I (i. ROTS^H PS O ’o e WDffLP^*^ HISTORY o i A M' T 6 . • c • 0 tt r I i Y'-.-ij f ''tt 'Q. b * & 31 A 0 vj ¦ V :QEDITOR 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 MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Cheryl D’Penha CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala February 1991 Volume 13 Number 8 2 Readers’ Forum 8 Events and Personalities 16 The Federation acknowledges by Arnavaz Mama 21 Food for thought by Gustasp Irani 25 Bridging Islands by Dosabhai Karaka 29 Books FINANCE B. L. Arora EDP Rohinton E. Daroga CIRCULATION Behram Umrigar MANAGEMENT Minoo Patel, Jasmine Driver 31 Milestones 35 In Memoriam OFFICE Rajendra P. Nayak, Khurshid Panthaki, Patricia Lewis. Rajalakshmi Krishnan, Bakhtavar Batliwalla, Nowzer Batliwala Cover: Illustration by Mario Miranda S 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 tor two years (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates: Seamail Rs 200/US $ 12/UK E 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.LRochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K.Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001F READERS’ FORUM '• 1»»1 *»* * t»»>»»> ‘ »I » M ? 1I U » » » > f > » j»H»» *'***» ' i.» 1 > * » * < * * f t > < i >» 1 4 > 1 • » ’ * » I » « » * » U i I » 1 * »« » * » 1 f I I I » > q* 4*»»*”**4**' ft have dreamt of such reforms at that time - for persecuted women! Our Congress > does not exist even a single sentence in party should start something on this line • Avesmn Pahlavi, PersLi, Dari or to help women battered by their m-laws ¦ Gujarati ’to show the beginning or end of and drunken menfolk -^instead of r. the ritual (barashnum of nine nights). ” dering crores on a statue -,if^they re^ly " Does the answer lie in a footnote by wish to perpetuate Ms Martin Haug in his study. The Parsisl mewon.. Ms nergish h.umber (See Haug, The Parsis. Essays on their r' Sacred Language. Writings and Religion, 1878, Reprint, Cosmo Publications, New Delhi, 1978, pg 242, n.l). Discussing the barashnurn of nine nights, described in fargard nine of the Vendidad, Haug writes; “The person who has to undergo the ceremony must drink the urine of a cow (or bull?), sit on stones within the com- ‘ tent potion ” considered so important in w** iH«" l»l»* (»'»»» Kn­ au*’ the Vendidad. Dr J a farcy adds: “There 1111 * ( t (• »« *«> < y>»- «».« {4 t M F»» UhiiHdf Readers’ views are welcome on any of interest to L.- 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. Does the answer lie in a footnote by wish to perpetuate -- _ . Q ---- (See Haug, r/ie Parsis. Essays on their Reprfnt, Cosmo Publications, New Delhi, 1978, pg 242, n.l). Discussing the barashnurn of nine memoiy. “Membership rules” 1 have read Brig N. B. Grant s letter under the heading “Membership Rules ” (Par­ siana, “Readers ’ Forum, ” October 1990). Brig Grant ’s grievance is that the rules of the Poona Parsee Punchayet (PPP) deny its membership to a Parsi Zoroas- trian who is married to, or co-habits with ­ out marriage with, a non-Zoroastrian of Sss^^of cer^in rna^c circles, and while the opposite sex. but if a Parsi Zoroas^ian moving from one heap of stones to an- keeps a Parsi Zoroastrian misuess then other he must rub hif body with cow ’s he, his mistress and their children born omer, ne niusi. u j am nnt pxrlndp.d from urine, then with sand, and lastly, wash it c- - with water. This custom has descended mernberehip. from the most ancient times, when a puri- * fying and healing influence was described to the urine proceeding from so sacred an animal as the cow was to the ancient Ar ­ yans ” (Haug, op.cit.p 241-242). In footnote 1, pg 242, Haug writes: “Cow ’s urine was probably a metaphori- are welcome on any ouujBv. » v , < . „ the community and should cal name lor ram water originally tne clouds being cows metaphorically. ” This interpretation finds full support if we turn to Monier William s Sanskrit Dictionary (1976, revised edition) ^d look up the word, go, gao, meaning ‘cow. ’ Several pages, with complete tex ­ tual references, are c ---------- meanings of the word, go, gao. Scudding ___ • said to be “herds in the sky. ” The cluster of stai s known as the Pleiades are described as “cows. ” Nature is repre ­ sented as a beautiful cow. Go also means out of wedlock are not excluded from According to Brig Grant it is a tragedy that the Poona trustees are not willing to do anything about it and a greater tragedy that the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India is not willing to get it ­ self involved in this problem. It is indeed a problem for the Parsi Zoroastrian who is denied membership by the PPP under its rules and it can be re ­ solved only if the required majority of its members are willing to change the rules. No one else has the right to intervene, more so the Federation which is pre- -5 w.u. eluded from interfering in the internal af- devoied to ihe varied fairs of its member anjumans and punchayets whose autonomy is enshrined in the Federation ’s constitution. The Federation only deals with the in ­ ternal problems of its member anjumans pnren as a neauiiiui ...v...... at their request and the agenda of ^ch life ’ and ‘light. ’ Is it any wonder that the meeting of the execudve council provides It was under this item that Brig Grant which openly aegraaes ano msuns our creation as geu.s« raised the issue of the membership rules most sacred scripture of the Vendidad and It is, there ore, o refers to rain of the PPP at the Delhi meeting of the our most holy ceremony of nirangdin. co^s council of the F^eradon in a H-MtNOCHEm-Hom be cOTSidered more September, 1990. When it became eta ___________ Rni both would be metaphorical that he did not have the ronsent of ht board of trustees to deal with this matter which was their internal affair, a point of order was raised, whatever Brig Grant had said was expunged from the record and the meeting was adjourned. “The Purifying...” We are profoundly distressed and pained clouds are by the blasphemous article of Dr Ali A. Jafarey entitled “The Purifying Prescrip ­ tions (Parsiana, November 1990).” We deeply regret that a Parsi magazine like Parsiana had to print such an article ancient Iranians which openly degrades and insults described the soul of time for such discussion^. _ . „ creation as geush urvan, soul of the cow? -membership rules ucncr«i ocvicvaij kz —----- , . The Bombay Zoroaslrian Jashan Commiuce potent. But bOth WOUld bC metaphoncai images of rain water. Ms PUjOO n. jungalwalla New Delhi I was very interested in reading Dr Ali A. Jafarey ’s review of Jamsheed Choksey ’s Purity and Pollution in Zoroastrianism nf Spva Sadan” (Parsiana, November 1990). Dr Jafarey The p mnct have been a Brig Grant suggests that the only other wonders why the bull ’s urine was not dei- Seth Bchram^Malabm mus be^^^ta (the Zoroas- fied like the Haoma plant and why the remarkable man ( P ^^s been denied membership of S^PPP)tot.ethemat.rtocourt.He 2 Parsiana February T991feels that such a move would lower the prestige of the community and make it a butt of ridicule in the country. In the pre ­ vailing atmosphere, in which emotions __ _______ are being aroused in the name of religion system. p • • - ------ This and other such problems have got and many portions thereof, are held as for gaining political advantage, one can only hope that better sense would prevail among the concerned parties and the mat- tcr resolved amicably. k. j. gandi n Honorary Secretary, Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India ?» mamed outside the fold, she is lost to the such wedlock, as “illegitimate. ” In sup ­ community. The question that she still port of these volatile accusations the High professes the Zoroastrian faith does not Priest quotes the Vendidad (ch 18, para arise at all as we follow the patriarchal 62). Firstly, the Vendidad as a scripture. This and other such problems have got and many portions thereof, are held as to be solved once and for all so that there questionable by many Zoroastrian scho- is no dispute later on. We ought to have a leader to guide us and to keep us informed of the true tenets of the Zoroastrian reli ­ gion and its customs and traditions, other ­ wise there is a lot of controversy and fights. This attitude not only breaks the unity of the community but also ridicules lars mainly because of its later (about 2,000 years after the time of Zarathushtra) origin. Despite that, the actual paragraph says absolutely nothing about the act of marriage between a Zoroastrian and a non-Zoroastrian. The para refers to a Gahi (incarnation of a female demon) who lives a sexually promiscuous life with a good and an evil worshipper (see .pg “In the event, We, the undersigned Parsi-Zoroastrians, fully support the appeal of the 32 ladies, it in front of others, married under the Special Marriage Act of 1954, seeking reassurance that their mortal remains would be accepted at society and form approved by the majority and whose deci ­ sion has to be binding on us all, whether men alike. It is extremely difficult to we like it or not. Opinions do differ, but comprehend the bearing of this reference to the case in question. Through this cita ­ tion the High Priest is comparing all doongerwadi (“In the event of death... ” Parsiana, October 1990). Ms GOOL BHUJWALA, Ms VERA N. LAM, Ms RUTTY A. UNVALLA, Ms VILLOO N. LAM, Ms ALOO G. LAM, Ms MANECK E. CAMA, Ms THRITY K. PE- SHOTAN, Ms SHIREEN J. DESAI, Ms FEROZA M. BHUJWALLA, Ms THRTTY M. BHUJWALLA, Ms ABAN K. RAGINA, Ms AMY DHALLA, Ms SHIRIN K. BHARUCHA, Ms PERSES KOTHAWALLA, Ms MEHER “ThO diVinC IHWS... R. TITINA, Ms HOMAIPESTANJIGAZDAR, Ms RUBY A. CHICHGAR, Ms HILLA K. MADON, Z. J. UN­ WALLA, K. D. BHATHENA, HOMI BHUJWALA, RUMI remarks about a most basic human right P. TITINA, SHIA VAX R. TITINA, PHIROZE R. UTINA, A. J. CHICHGAR, NOSHIR N. LAM, ADI N. LAM, A. P. UNWALLA, J. A. UNWALLA, F. A. UNWALLA, FARE- DOON A. BHUJWALA, NOSHIR CAMA, Ms ZIA CAMA, Ms SHIREEN CAMA, S. RAGI, Ms MANI B. DUB ASH, Ms TARA SAB AVALA, Ms RADHKA SA- BAVALA, SHAHROOK MUNSIFF, Ms PHIROOZA SIGANPORIA, Ms BINAIFER N. MARSHALL, Ms KHORSHED KEKI MASTER, Ms TEHMI K. MASTER, Ms SHIREEN H. VAKIL, DARAB DA VAR, B. N. J. N. GAMADIA, Ms SHERNAZ S. KHAREGAT, Z. D. DA VAR, Ms MEHER H. SETHNA, R. J. JEIEEBHOY, K. R. DADABHOY, T. B. MORRIS, K. R. BATLIWALA, Ms ABAN B. PARDIWALLA, Ms SHIRIN VEVAINA, Ms PERVIN SHROFF, Ms RASHNA COOPER, Ms FARIDA GREEN, SOLI COOPER, N. N. SHROFF, DR BOMI B. PARDIWALLA, CYRUS VEVAINA, Ms TANAAZ N. SHROFF, MS AMY K. ANTIA, P. P. TA- LATI, G. P. TALATI, B. C. KHAMBATA, R. HAVE- WALLA, P. J. DARUWALLA, T. A. MEDHORA, M. R. VEVAINA, K. R. BHARUCHA, G. K. IRANI, A. N. SIGANPORIA, M. F. MARSHALL, Ms SILLOO MA- NEKSHAW, Ms SHERRY BATLIWALA, Ms MAJA DARUWALA, Ms SEHRA K. MODY, K. J. MODY, J. H. F. MANEKSHAW, Ms KITTY A. MODDIE, ASPI. D. MODDIE, Field Marshal SAM MANEKSHAW. our We have been very liberal all these years. Let us have a closer look at our Sacred Books of the East, VoViV, p" , > a council of members 200). The paragraph refers to a harlot and her sexual behavior with good and evil men alike. as far as the religious customs are con ­ cerned they have got to be followed __ closely. Hope this suggestion will not fall Zoroastrian girls married outside the com- on deaf ears. asfandiyar sohrab munity to a harlot, and all non-Zoroastri- ans to evil worshippers. It must be recognized that Zoroastrians in India are entrapped historically in a ASFANDIYAR SOHRAB It is indeed astounding, that an allegedly __________ learned High Priest can make provocative web of ethnicity of die religion woven by ’ J t our immigrant ancestors to maintain the — the religious belief of a human being integrity of our faith. This was an act of — without providing a shred of religious evidence on which such inflammatory declarations are based (“The divine laws Zarathushtra. of God must prevail, ” Parsiana, Septem ­ ber 1990). It is incredible to note, how any human being, least so a Zoroastrian high priest, can dictate circumstances un ­ der which a person can or cannot follow fessed by the Prophet. Every Zoroastrian group outside India must recognize that the religious truths and abiding values that pervade the Gathas are universal. convenience, rather than the conviction of the fundamental religious core of Prophet ---------------- The ethnic term Parsi- Zoroasirian characterizes a distinctive so ­ ciety with strong overtones of racial dis ­ crimination. This is sacrilegious to the otherwise universal religious core prb- Zoroastrianism when Prophet Zarathush- tra has left this to the discretion of every individual (Yasna 31.11). To speak of the traditions and customs They must be appraised distinct from as Dr Kotwal does to override the law of other spiritual texts that followed millen- the land is a clear demonstration of his disrespect for the law where Zoroastrian ­ ism has •flourished for over a millennium. Traditions and customs in 2Loroastrianism have arisen out of convenience, to protect protect the community (Parsiana, Octo- and preserve the practice of a religion under a set of prevailing circumstances. To mix them with the principal convic ­ tions of the religious core, and to impose one ’s personal sentiments amounts to a desecration of the religion of Zarathosht, and could constitute a serious setback to „ the efforts to perpetuate Zoroastrianism in Intermarriage: a Studv. “The Controversy...” India as well as abroad. ” ” Zoroastrianism forbids interreligious To add fuel to the fire of the bias ­ marriages and thus a woman who flouts phemy. Dr Kotwal labels all marriages and defies this cardinal principle, abdi ­ cates all her religious rights. Once she is mums later. We must therefore refrain from associating our faith with any par ­ ticular racial group. Dr Kotwal, who tells us, “My job is to ber 1990, pg 33),” through this disagree ­ able action has done irreparable harm to the same community he avows to protect. Dr JEHAN BAGLI Editor, Gavashni Princeton, NJ, USA forbids interreligious Ms Huzan Kharas Fraser, whose work on the Parsi priesthood resulted in the esta ­ blishment of the Athravan Educational outside the Zoroastrian fold as an act Trust, is now working for a PhD at the “next to adultery ” and children out of University of Manchester under my su- 4 Parsiana February 1991( pervision. The subject of her research is hereby requested to forward their dona- intermarriage. The first stage of the work tions — the cheque may please be issued is in Manchester on the theoretical ap ­ proach to surveying methods, and the sec ­ ond stage is a series of structured, in- dCpth interviews conducted in Bombay, slated above. both with people who have married out and with people who have married into the community, to study the impact on Repsir OodHVSra Agiary beliefs, practices, attitudes, bringing up of Members of the community are aware children, etc. The purpose of this letter is to inform people of the work she is doing, and ask ­ ing in particular for any intermarried Fort, Bombay, for over 130 years, couples to supply their name and address ~ if they are willing to be interviewed, to of the Parsi Punchayet of Bombay. Due Huzan. The replies should be addressed to percolation of rain water during the to her at her parental home: Corinthian monsoon from the roof since many years, D4, Near Strand Cinema, Bombay the Agiary building is in need of urgent 400005. Huzan will be in India from the repair. Unfortunately the trustees of the end of April. john r. hlnnells Parsi Punchayet have pleaded their help ­ lessness in the matter and have declared their inability to carry out the repairs due to paucity of funds. The honorable charity commissioner at Bombay, on application of the devotees of the Agiary, has been pleased to restrain the trustees from removing the sacred fire in the name of “Parsi Punchayet Bombay ’ — along with an appropriate covering let ­ ter, to the Punchayet for utilization as Dr ASPI Gr“ /. 6^ Patrawala: privileged politician ¦ Americas, Africa and Asia, reads The TOI write-up. With the recent unification of the two crore rupees to the project of which Rs 50 mits savings by easy monthly deposits Germanys the artistes foresee an increase lakhs were contributed by banks, adds the and the Deposit Re-investment Certifi- Jame write-up. cates where a lump sum is invested for a in the already competitive musical atmos ­ phere and the need to determine new stan- Concerted efforts were made to stall long-term project with the interest being dards of admission, as reported by The the public issue venture by distributing automatically reinvested quarterly. TOI critic. The musical education sys- about 13,000 handbills at stock excha- ’ *“ _ . nges in Bombay and Ahmedabad. The number of shareholders now total 4326. With 67 added during the year, the tem in East Germany is believed to be su- . perior admitting only the most talented to opposition lobby appealed to the public The subscribed and paid up capital of the their schools free of cost, notes Antia. In to boycott the issue on grounds of: * ‘ — “ceaseless carnage that will be perpe ­ trated, the barbarity of couping poultry in cramped batteries, the questionable man ­ ner in which land for the plant is being did the loans and advances by over Rs 60 acquired and the resultant outfall that will lakhs, mentions the sixty-third annual re ­ defile the environs, ” reads the Express port and accounts brochure, report. According to the Company ’s prospec ­ tus, the new project was to be accommo ­ dated in 10 units over an area of 26.69 other directors on the board of The portunity to the participants to perform in hectares within a radius of 15 kms from Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank Limited public and be rated by international Ahmednagar. A modem processing plant, are: Rustam Gagrat, Cawasjee Dinshaw, judges, the Festival also offers a ground imported specially from the Netherlands, Jehangir Shroff, Homa Petit, Tehmtan for interaction, says Ms Roxanne Ankle- was to be put into operation. “No signifi- Andhyarujina, Bomi Bulsara, Soli Engi- saria, chairperson of the Festival commit ­ cant quantities of waste or harmful efflu ­ ents will be generated ” by the plant, as ­ sured a Company spokesman. The Ahmednagar-based Damania fam- board after serving on it for several years, ily are already experienced poultry breed- further informs the brochure, ers, agriculturists and land developers. In , Eric Mirza from Bombay excelled in the past they had promoted two broiler Four-handS music the seniors category winning the Mary farms producing 16,500 birds per week, “It is difficult enough to coordinate one ’s Tickner prize. After passing his grade iurthar reads the Jame write-up. ' own two hands, so one can imagine what eight exams of the Royal School of Mu- Bank increased by nearly two lakh 20 West Germany, oh the other hand, many thousand rupees, showing the year ending talented have to pay fees and many not so figure as Rs 13,44,275. The Bank ’s re- gifted are admitted free to the music serves increased by Rs 10 lakhs, and so schools. Piano Festival Of the 16 prizes earmarked for the Second With Pochkhanawala as chairman. All India Piano Festival/Competition, five Jehanbux Gandevia as vice chairman and were won by Zoroastrians, notes a press Limji Mistry as managing director, the release. In addition to providing an op- neer, Ms Bacha Keeka and D. K. Contrac- tee. Outstanding international adjudica ­ tor. Homi Ranina and Nanabhoy tors Alice Enns, Lorraine Ambrose and Jeejeebhoy resigned from the directorial Bonita Shuen were invited by the Poona Music Society, the organizers of the Fes ­ tival, to rate the 76 participants. 10 Parsiana February 1991I sic, he is presently working towards a per- I formers diploma. A final year student of I the Government Dental College, Mirza I studies the piano under Ms M. K. Sun- I toke, the release informs. I In the intermediates category Sh- I erezade Panthaki won the second prize. I Naushad Edibam of Poona in the third I position won the Mary Tickner prize as I also the Hilla Khursedji Memorial Prize. I Both of them have been learning the pi- I ano under Anklesaria since a tender age. I Among the juniors was Ms Lyla I Nicholson, also a student of Anklesaria, I who won the Mary Tickner prize. All the I prize winners performed on October 16, I 1990, the last day of the Festival before I chief guest Dr Raja Ramanna, minister of " state for defence and an accomplished pi- . anist himself, who in turn regaled the au- ? dience with a rendition of Liszt, further | notes the release. n «*«•» a**" f » Hold on housing During the decade that Keki Minoo Mis ­ try has been associated with the Housing In addition to being a fellow of the Insti- Development Finance (HDFC) Limited, he has undertaken over ­ seas assignments like working as consult ­ ant to the Commonwealth Development countants, further reads his bio data. Corporation in Bangkok and subsequently (Left) Anklesaria with her prize winning piano students (from left): Nicholson, Edibam and Panthaki. (Inset) Mirza: senior performer. (Right) I Mistry: on housing I and finance. (Below) ® Nowsherwanji: I trusted officer advance accountancy and auditing. Mis- sive Anjuman only to readily relinquish try later studied for his chartered account ­ ant and company secretary qualifications. them to incoming president Lt Gen Adi Sethna at their next elections. “I wanted new faces to come. Beejaao ne chance Corporation tute of Chartered Accountants of India, he aapvo joiye (others should be given a chance), ’’was his rationale. Bom and educated in Hyderabad, his career as a government officer brought _______„___________,____J . . . him to Delhi in 1963. His first job was as in Mauritius, notes his bio data. His cur- Silver lining for trUStCC tahsildar with the Nizam ’s government, rent position as general manager, finance No, he isn ’t a permanent trustee of the mentions his bio data. In the Delhi Ad- and planning, involves overall responsi- Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA). But invari- ministration Service he worked as magis- bility for accounts policies, taxation ably, Zal Nowsherwanji has been trate I class, collector (land acquisition), planning and recoveries at the head of- reelected to the board of trustees for the joint director industries, secretary. New fice as also the 24 HDFC branches in the last several terms. During his tenure, Delhi Municipal Committee... His college country. A public limited company which spe ­ cializes in the provision of housing fi ­ nance to individuals, cooperative housing quiet, modest and unobtrusive manner, ” societies and the corporate sector, HDFC was promoted in October 1977 by the In ­ dustrial Credit and Investment Corpora- Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, he jail superintendent in Delhi during a sen- tion of India (ICICI), the International has been involved with organizing the sil- Finance Corporation (Washington) and ver jubilee celebrations of the Delhi dar- His Royal Highness The Aga Khan, notes e-meher, securing additional land for the a press release from the company, aramgah, extension of the Mengusi Dhar- Among their popular schemes to accom ­ modate different pockets and needs are: Step-up repayment facility (SURF), short term bridging loans, home savings plan, the Anjuman, ” says 70-year-old Nowsh- • the HDFC line of credit scheme and the erwanji, shying away from publicity fact, it was his interest and willingness to advance processing facility. when asked to elaborate on his contribu- work for the welfare of the community Thirty-six-year-old Mistry was previ- tions to the DPA. For 21 years he func- that is said to have brought him an invita- ously with Hindustan Lever and The In- tioned under Delhi ’s dynamic yet auto- tion to join the DPA board of trustees, dian Hotels Company Limited before he cratic president Shiavax Nargolwala notes the write-up in the Fed Newsletter. joined HDFC in 1981. He is a widely which made colleagues jocularly compare ParinazG»ndhi travelled person who has been on several him to “a bridesmaid who had never be- overseas training programs. come a bride. ” On Nargolwala ’s sudden Ajmer rCTTlCIllbcrS A commerce graduate from Sydenham death in a car accident in 1986, Nowsher- “ College who had earned distinction in wanji took over the reins of the progres- is also an associate member of the Michi ­ gan Association of Certified Public Ac- No, he isn ’t a permanent trustee of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA). But invari- spanning 25 years, he has served the DPA education in economics, politics and law as joint secretary, secretary, vice presi- saw him through his appointments as offir dent and acting president. With his “cool, cer on special duty (general administra ­ tion) at New Okhla Industrial Develop ­ ment Authority (NOIDA), an Uttar as notes a tribute to him in the of Septem ­ ber ’90 newsletter of the Federation of Pradesh government undertaking, and as sitive period. Throughout his career in govern ­ ment service he ensured that community causes were given a fair representation whether on important issues like property and law enforcement or relatively routine amsala and construction of priests quar ­ ters. “In my own humble way I have served matters that just needed appropriate chan ­ nelization to be settled expeditiously. In when asked to elaborate on his contribu ­ tions to the DPA. For 21 years he func ­ tioned under Delhi ’s dynamic yet auto- To remember their past president of 34 years, the Sri Ajmer Parsi Jarthosti 13 Parsiana February T991The two new ervads underwent their who struggles to break free of her oppres- navar ceremonies at different venues. While Farhad Marazban Bhesania com- Bahram, Udwada, Marzi Maidyomah work a wasted investment of effort and time. In the second act she is fighting dis ­ crimination against the female sex in a Earlier too, Bhathena, who resides in male dominated work environment. The Anjuman organized the birth centenary celebrations of the late E. D. Mehta, reads navar ceremonies at different venues, sive circumstances. In the first act she is a press release from the Anjuman. While Farhad Marazban Bhesania com- fighting domestic stereotypes that see a The morning of October 18, 1990 pleted his training at the Iranshah Atash girl fit only for marriage, and studies and started with a jashan after which senior members of the anjuman paid tributes to Kerawalla spent a month at the Anjuman Mehta who was also a respected city mag- Atash Bahram, Bombay, istrate, judge of the small causes court and special judge at Ajmer for nearly 25 Canada had sponsored the navar costs of first act is a gripping • family drama, the years. On this occasion, the late presi- one boy from the Madressa indicating that second, a thriller. It is like watching two dent ’s family announced the institution of she has “the good of the Parsi community different one-act plays fused together, the E. D. Mehta Centenary Education and priesthood at heart, ” further notes the Awards to be conferred on two Parsi release, school students securing the highest marks in the academic year 1990-91, fur- J. B. Petit pidy fcst ther states the release. A hesitant, uncertain girl on the threshold of life strips off her chaddar, the symbol more girls up on the stage, of her oppression and stuffs it into her Darasha ’s message may seem simplis ­ tic. There is no attempt to be profound, but that was probably necessary for the work is aimed at her students. And there is that little extra thrown in; excuses to get Sponsorship of navars of her oppression and stuffs it into her And the girls, the actresses, responded The four-week-long navar ceremony that bag. Later she wields the same bag as a brilliantly — as always. The supply of culminates the training of newly initiated weapon, clubbing down the social barri- priests can be exhausting physically ers that conspire against her. Still later, and financially. Thus Ms Coomi Faram- the bag takes on a new significance: a roz Bhathena ’s. sponsorship of two symbol of her social and financial and applause of the audience. “He was boys from The Athoman Boarding emancipation. Mariam’s Bag, a two-act Madressa at Dadar was welcomed by play written by Ms Shirin Darasha, prin- principal Ervad Rustom N. Panthaki, cipal of the J. B.. Petit High School for adjective, reads a press release. acting talent in the School seems inex ­ haustible as over the years new girls step into the limelight and capture the heart brilliant, ” we overhear the comment. He? More was said in the pronoun than the The ‘he ’ was a ‘she ’ — Girls and directed by noted theater per- Chaitali Trivedi playing Sakaram, the sonality Ms Pearl Padamsee, peon; Reshma Vaidya playing Mr Bedi, was performed on the week- the boss; Ayesha Panthaky playing end of October 11 and 12, Ashgar Ali, Mariam ’s father. And the 1990 at Patkar Hall, Bombay, female roles — the three Mariams over by the students of the J. B. the years played by Aadya Bedi, Ayesha Petit School. It was another Dharker and Zeenat Potia; Munira Khalil chapter in the growing tradi- as Mariam ’s mother; Sanvari Alagh as the tion — J. B. Petit Festival of office girl... OususpIrani Plays — that has become an annual event in the city ’s Family figures theater circuit. First there were twins, then came triplets. The play tells the story of followed by twins again. All the addi- Mariam, a young Muslim girl ¦ ¦ i Ll w Sponsored navars Kerawalla (left) andBhesania (Below) Scenes from Mariam's Bag tions to the Palkhiwala family may be good news for demographers but a chal ­ lenge to the couple, Dolly and Phiroz Palkhiwala who are cheerfully bringing up these seven children aged between 11 years and 15 months. This case was ¦mu brought to Parsiana'3 notice by Homi Bagwalla who wanted to establish that despite space and financial constraints some couples do add to the community . numbers. ¦ The five older children — twins Rasna and Rusbe, and trip- lets Nancy, Navil and Nozar — were bom to Phiroz ’s brother • Rohintan and his Maharashtrian tA wife Hemlata. But since the death of Hemlata, it is Dolly and * ¦ Phiroz who have shouldered the SLuS responsibility of the family. Add to these children, twins Afrid and continued on page 34 constraints '¦l ¦1 r«iAWARDS ¦wo more awards for excellence marked the second presentation ceremony as the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India recognised outstan ­ ding achievements by 19 community members in 1988 and 1989. However, of the existing 11 awards, only five were presented for both years while six were given for only one year. The Lt Col Adi Tarapore Memorial Award, for excel ­ lence in the military field, was contri ­ buted by the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) in honor of the gallant officer who per ­ ished in battle in circumstances of excep ­ tional gallantry 25 years ago and remains, to date, the only Parsi recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India ’s topmost recog ­ nition for bravery in battle. The second is an additional award for sports donated by Singapore perfumer Dadi Balsara, the chief guest on the oc ­ casion, who had also contributed towards the cost of the function and hosted a din ­ ner thereafter. A Diwan-e-Am full of witnesses gath ­ ered to applaud outstanding Parsi recipi ­ ents of the Federation ’s excellence awards now totalling 13. Unlike the first presentation ceremony in Bombay in 1988, the congregation at New Delhi ’s Taj Mahal Hotel on September 22, 1990 reflected the capital ’s cosmopolitan glit ­ ter. An added dimension was the pres ­ ence of members of the armed forces — those in service as well as those who had retired. They had foregathered at the in ­ vitation of DPA president and Federation vice president Lt Gen Adi Sethna as the Federation ’s Delhi meet this time aimed to commemorate Tarapore ’s twenty ­ fifth death anniversary and thence to honor all Parsi servicemen, past and present. At the first awards presentation cere ­ mony in Bombay, honoring the achievers for 1986 and 1987, 35 Zoroastrians were on the merit list. Flooded with nomina ­ tions for the nine awards then consti ­ tuted, the selection committee had com ­ promised by naming two awardees for tion. some of the categories. Other outstand ­ ing claimants were conferred a ‘special sports persons being away for the Asian mention ’ without the accompanying Games, others being prevented by rea- award. For the 1988 and 1989 awards, the se ­ lection committee faced an ebb in nomi ­ nations from the community, explained BPP chief executive Rustom Anklesaria. In certain cases, Anklesaria added, the i ¦ ¦ * .V-. - I ¦ * - ¦ ¦ e Mi ¦ ¦ ? fl < I < ^vVhile 19 Zoroastrians^ were honored for excellence in various fields, six awards went a-begging nominees did not qualify as they failed to Memorial Award for outstanding stu- meet the criteria laid down by the Federa- dents, donated by the late Maneck Several awardees were absent, the Gheyara, was presented to Dr Nozer Sh- eriar. Sheriar had topped the year ’s list of successful doctors of medicine (MD) at Bombay University, bagging two presti ­ gious gold medals and the Hansraj Pragji without the accompanying Games, others being prevented by sons of health or business. Thus Dr Sa- rosh Wadia, Russi Mody, Ms Navaz Thakersey Fellowship. Sheriar, who has Bhathena, Dr Ratan Marshall, Firoz Das- held staff positions in hospitals and pre- tur, Ms Zenia Ayrton and Cyrus Cama ’s sented many scientific papers at gyneco- awards were presented in absentia. logical conferences, is currently a lec- The 1988 Dhunjishaw R. Gheyara turer in gynecology and obstetrics in sev- 16 Parsiana February 1991 9 trients — proteins, fats, vitamins, miner ­ als — are analysed for their composition, their source, the human body require ­ ments, diseases that result from their de ­ ficiency and, yes, even their excess. For instance, a high dose of Vitamin C could lead to uric acid kidney stones, gastroin ­ testinal disturbances and changes in the blood coagulation time. The second part of the book explores the nutritional value of daily food items like cereals, pulses, milk, meat... Here many popular myths are exploded. For instance in the chapter devoted to eggs: “A long-term study (shows) there is no relation between consumption of eggs, blood cholesterol level and coronary heart disease. To restrict an average in ­ dividual to half an egg a day or one or two per week for fear of rising blood choles ­ terol has no basis. ” But the fats in eggs, we are warned, can be painful and dis ­ comforting to a patient suffering from a diseased gall bladder. The third section explores the dietary requirements for different ailments: ul ­ cers, diabetes, heart diseases, kidney stones... There are even chapters on “Diet for Children ” and “Diet in Old Age. ” And so...the meal is prepared. But wait, in the last section Antia exam ­ ines the nutrition value of cooked foods and the calorie content of each dish. Even the angel cake goes under the mi ­ croscope. At ^e end of each of the 83 chapters are lengthy reference notes which Antia assures us was a task in itself. “There are about 2,500 references. It (the book) is not right because I say so. What I have put in has been substantiated by evi ­ dence. ” The basic concepts have not changed from the publishing of the first issue in 1966 to the present third edition; they have only been advanced, refined and updated, says Antia. According to the doctor, the curricu ­ lum of most medical colleges also need to be advanced, refined and updated, es ­ pecially in relation to dietary studies. His fierce gaze reiterates his point: “Nu ­ trition is not really taught in medical col ­ leges; it is touched upon in a very cur­ sory manner. A medical student is taught about scurvy and beriberi, but on the whole he is not taught nutrition. ” After the student starts a professional practice his sources of dietary informa ­ tion are limited. There are few books on the subject and those that do exist are not very practical. This lack of sound scien ­ tific knowledge makes even qualified doctors fall prey to the promotional hype of the food industry, notes Antia. Mention the food industry and Antia is agitated. “The misconcepts about nutri ­ tion that exist today are the creation of food companies... They advertise that XYZ is good for the heart and it means billions of dollars in profits in a couple of months till a rival company advertises something else. ” Do not underestiihate the food industry; it is the biggest indus­ try in the USA, according to Antia. “People (may) buy a car once a year at best, but they eat three times a day. ” Antia substantiates his viewpoint by referring to the assessment of the Coun ­ cil of Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association. “More food no ­ tions flourish in the United States than in any other country and most of them are wrong and like mythology they are a blend of fear, coincidence and adverti ­ sing. Most people have little genuine knowledge about the science of nutrition. 21 Parsiana February 1991I i \ no salt. It makes them miserable and disease alone. ” The myth about low cho- ¦¦ t lesterol illustrates the malady. “More ____________ and nutrition the less one will advise any people have been killed by trying to lower ings are unfounded or premature but the restrictions, ” says Antia. He refers you fear thus created adversely influences atti ­ tudes about foods. The public is also mis ­ led by advertisements with extravagant claims of health benefits derived from the use of certain foods or nutrient supple ­ ments. ” The advertisement hype about high He suppresses the smile on his lips, but it fiber diet should be tampered with cau ­ tion, he advises. To illustrate, he points out that the life expectancy in the UK has risen even though they consume less fi ­ ber, more sugar and have more bath ­ rooms while in Asia and Africa where fiber consumption is greater (being largely vegetarian-based diets) the life expectancy is lower. Simple correlation is not scientific knowledge, asserts Antia. Similarly, what applies to the West does not necessarily apply to the East. Low fat may be true in the West but cer ­ tainly not in India where the average consumption of fat is low anyway. --------------------r -------------. > . “What happens' when people follow do anything to prevent it. They forget 9 to 10 minutes a kilometer). Even for diets advised by a cardiologist? No fat, that one does not live by preventing heart patients with heart disease, exercise is The public is constantly distracted by an ­ nouncements of hazards associated with weak. The more one knows about diet foods and dietary practices. Many warn- i------------------- to a poem on eating taboos that con ­ cludes with: “So let your life be ordered By each documented fact And die of malnutrition But with arteries intact. ” twinkles in his eyes. The misconcepts about nutrition are the creation of food companies // The greatest misconception, accor ­ ding to Antia, arises from the paranoia about heart disease. “The fear of heart disease is so deep rooted that people will that one does not live by preventing heart Rotary Screw Air Compressors Crawlairs and Blasthole Drills I I fftiilriBiii Process Gas Compressors Portable Compressors ? cholesterol levels. Low cholesterol leads to cancer of the colon and other forms of cancer, ” says the doctor. He shows us a letter from a medical colleague asking him to explain how Parsis who consume one to two eggs per day (high cholesterol diet) have such a high life expectancy. Antia sees no contradiction in the corre ­ lation. Heart disease, today, according to An ­ tia, is not so much a function of lack of proper diet as a lack of proper exercise, especially in the corporate world. “It is the utter lack of exercise that is the main cause of heart disease in senior execu ­ tives. The only exercise they seem to get is by playing golf which, as far as I am concerned, is not enough. ” If nothing else, the senior executive should at least walk; it ’s excellent exercise — that does not mean strolling. According to Antia, walking is considered exercise when one covers one mile in 15 minutes (between Water Well Drills WSHISOU-***® B s JB. Air and Gas Compressors • Construction & Mining Equipment ? INGERSOLL-RAND Ingersoll-Rand (India) Ltd., Maybaker House, g.K. Ahire Marg, Bombay 400 025 IR.191.88 sZ 23 Parsiana February 1991 4the modern way of treatment. ” He cites In fact Antia has strong reservations class proteins — dal and rice or pulses the Mashi tribe in Africa which has a diet about eating out: “People take great and chappati (unleavened dough). Yet that is higher in cholesterol than the av- care to boil and filter their water at home erage USA diet (they drink blood directly and then go and eat in a restaurant ” from their cattle ’s veins) but because of where they have no idea about the water their high level of exercise they have a lower cholesterol count than the USA average. Exercise, or rather the lack of it, is the bane of the Parsis today. Before World War II the normal Parsi breakfast con ­ sisted of two eggs, bacon, butter and ghee (“It was considered social status to eat oil ”) — all high cholesterol products and yet one hardly heard of heart ail ­ ments in the community. This, Antia at ­ tributes to the fact that the Parsis of those __ ________ ___ ______ days placed greater emphasis on games the non-vegetarian diet is healthier than stage under a load of files and runs into a and exercise. Today the complacency of the vegetarian one because of the lower friend. ''Arre arre. Where are you the community is reflected in its mem- protein content of the latter. Proteins, he going? ” the friend asks. “To Dr An- bers aspiring to land the job of a bank explains, are formed by a number of tia, ” our hero replies. “But why with clerk. amino acids, all of which must be present On the whole Antia gives the Parsi diet simultaneously. In non-vegetarian pro- a clean chit but warns against excess fat and chilli. Chilli causes indigestion and amino acids are present and they are re- three months. ” Antia melts. “It ’s im- r^tum burning on passing stool. He ad- ferred to as first-class proteins. In vege- portant I know what my patient eats, af- ditionally remarks that the lagan-nu- tarian products not all the amino acids ter all I am a gastroenterologist, ” he bhonu (wedding feast) lacks carbohy- are present in a single product and are pleads. Indeed, and a highly resected drates and also mentions that he avoids referred to as second-class proteins, fish for he can never be sure about its However, by combining the second-class freshness. In fact Antia has strong reservations about eating out: ¦ - • care to boil and filter their water at home served or the freshness of supplies. “Restaurants run to make profits, not to look after your health. ” He dismisses as myth the belief that "One does not live by preventing heart disease alone such a combination still lacks one amino acid which can be provided by milk or milk products. In fact, a vegetarian diet has a higher protein content as pulses contain 25 percent protein as compared to only 18 percent protein available in non-vegetarian products. Further, non- vegetarian products, red meat and white meat, do not differ in nutrition content. The only difference, according to Antia, is that the latter is easier to digest and the former has the property of generating heat. We allude to a scene from a Parsi na­ tak (play) in which a man labors onto the ^1 and exercise. Today ±e complacency of the vegetarian one because of the lower friend. going? ” the friend asks. “To Dr An- the files? ” asks the friend. “Don ’t you know. Dr Antia wants a detailed record ducts like meat, fish, eggs, etc all these of everything you have eaten for the last amino acids are present and they are re- ' ferred to as first-class proteins. In vege ­ tarian products not all the amino acids one too as any of the many patients who fill his waiting room in Bombay will tes- proteins they can be converted into first- tify. FIRDOS & S. CAMBATTA CO. 'Cambatta Central', Bharat Bobins Ltd Premises Rakhial Road, Ahmedabad 380023 Agents in Gujarat for: M/s ION EXCHANGE (INDIA) LTD For INDION Water Softening Plants, Demineralisers, Cation & Anion Resins, Filters, Chemical Dosers etc ? ?? Sole concessionaires in Gujarat for: M/s INGERSOLL-RAND (INDIA) LTD For Air Compressors and Vacuum Pumps 24 Parsiana February 1991 1 J Li HISTORY Bridging Islands Dosabhai Framji Karaka Until Lady Avabai Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy financed the Mahim Causeway, travelling between the islands was rough and risky IVAe/i Bombay was a city comprising seven islands, getting from one place to the other was not only time consuming but also dangerous (incidently that's the way it is today as well though all the is­ lands have been long since connected). To alleviate the commuters’ agony. Lady Avabai Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, wife of the first Indian to be knighted by Queen Victoria, contributed vast sums to construct the Mahim Causeway which today is the main roadway connecting Mahim to Bandra. Parsiana carries an extract from Dos­ abhai Framji Karaka s History of the Parsis including their Manners, Customs, Religion and Present Position (London, Macmillan and Co 1884) that relates the history of the building of the Causeway. To the poor and needy, Lady Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy ’s helping hand was always ex ­ tended. The Mahim Causeway, which connects Bombay with Salsette and which was built at a cost of Rs 1,57,(XX), is a standing proof of her wise liberality. Before the execution of this useful work numbers of persons were drowned every year in the roaring current which had to be passed through in crossing from one island to the other, and it is owing to her merciful heart that hundreds of lives have been saved since the building of that Causeway. The speech which Sir cotrunuters ' George Arthur, Governor of Bombay, made at the opening of this Causeway brought out Lady Jamsetjee ’s character in such bold relief that we are tempted to give it here in its entirety. He said: “This is an occasion which affords me the highest gratification, and I would wish to preface my remarks with a few general observations. Some years back it was suggested to the Government the de ­ sirableness of erecting a causeway bet ­ ween Mahim and Bandra, but owing to the state of its finances the improvement was abandoned, and for the present the matter fell to the ground. Some three or four years back the then Government caused a survey to be made, and the esti ­ mate of the engineer was prepared and 4. (Above) Lady Jejeebhoy: brought relief to presented, but owing to a demand on its resources from other quarters they were compelled to postpone the consideration of the subject. “In the year 1841 very great calamities occurred through the upsetting of 15 to 20 boats while attempting, during the mon­ soon, to cross the river, occasioning great loss of life. Lady Jamsetjee, on hearing of these dreadful accidents, inquired, ‘Why do not the Government build a bridge across these waters to prevent such acci ­ dents? ’ and, on hearing that for the pres ­ ent the rulers of the land were not then prepared to carry out such projects as would prevent a recurrence of them, stated that she herself, out of her private fortune, would willingly defray the ex ­ pense was she made acquainted with the actual outlay required. “Upon this an estimate was framed which, like the estimates of the engineer officers generally, was in the end found to be a very long way behind the actual cost. The estimate presented at that pe ­ riod computed that Rs 67,000 were suffi ­ cient to complete the undertaking, but after this sum had been expended it was (Below) Mahim Creek Photo: Bombay Through <4 Camera {^922) f 25 Parsiana February T991 kI AV. THIS P*U-V commuting TOWE SO0URBS, IS fieniNG VMORSB , 7" 1 / circumstances which to some here present may be totally unknown — I allude, Sir Jamsetjee, to the very great liberality of your family. From a memorandum that I made some two years back, and from what I have since been able to collect, though many of your deeds of charity are hidden from the sight of all men, I sum up that no less a sum than £ 1,00,000 has been subscribed by your family for public works; and when I come to place this sum in juxtaposition with the gifts of British merchants I say, ‘Give me a Bombay merchant. ’ It matters not to what creed they may belong as they are created of one and the same God; and the act of be ­ found that it was in comparison scarcely pense should be defrayed by them, and one-third of what was absolutely needed, the work went on, advancing rapidly to- “Lady Jamsetjee then, rather than wards completion. Only the day before that the work should stop, increased her yesterday I heard that a handsome ap- donation to a lakh of rupees, and, on it proach was suggested to the Causeway, being intimated to her that even this sum and that the want of further funds prohi- was insufficient to defray the expenses of bited its being canied into execution. I items of outlay which had not been in ­ cluded in the estimate, contributed a fur ­ ther sum of Rs 10,000 shortly after her previous contribution. The Court of Di­ rectors were then applied to by the exist ­ ing Government; but Lady Jamsetjee, fearing a delay in such an application, required for the embankment, etc, thus further added to her former subscriptions i ' ‘ ¦* ***"’ **" ‘ and Rs 10 (X)0 making a total gift to this amounting, for this useful undertaking now conclude by proposing the health ot most useful and most important under ­ taking of the sum of Rs l,30,(XX). “The reply of the Court of Directors, with the usual liberality for which they nity were concerned, it was no more than are famed, more particularly in any ob- right and just that the rich should contrib- ject tending to promote the welfare and ute to their wants. In thus noticing the lib- prosperity of the natives of this country, acceded to the request that all further ex- and that the want of further funds prohi- have since been informed that on this cir ­ cumstance reaching the ear of Lady Jam ­ setjee, she, with her usual unbounded lib ­ erality, immediately consented to defray the expense, estimated at about Rs 22,000, in addition to a former Rs 5,(X)0 making a grand total of the donations of nevolence and charity will, it is to be the several sums of Rs 4,000, Rs 6,000, this most liberal and generous lady hoped, hays^its^wdght_®yf^ ‘^yally J^shall alone, to the sum of Rs 1,57,000. Lady Jamsetjee, and that she and Sir Jam- “Lady Jamsetjee had frequently urged setjee and family may for many years be that, as the poorer classes of the commu- blessed with health and prosperity. ” Dosabhai Framji Karaka, a scholar and author was also chairman of the Municipal Corporation - and sheriff of Bombay. He was a presidency erality of her ladyship, I cannot but avail magistrate and chairman of Her Majesty's Bench myself of the opportunity of mentioning of Justices, Bombay. right and just that the rich should contrib- Statement ot Ownership & Other Particulars about Parsiana: Form IV (See Rule 8) Place of Publication: Bombay Periodicity of Publication: Monthly Printer, Publisher, Editor: Jehangir R. Patel Nationality: Indian Address: 285, J. Dadaji Marg, Bombay 400007 Proprietor: Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd, 39 A. K. Nayak Marg, Bombay 400001 Shareholders holding more than one percent of the total capital: Jehangir R. Patel, Veera and Simin J. Patel, address same as above. I, Jehangir R. Patel, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Sd. (Jehangir R. Patel) 1 March 1991 27 Parsiana February 1991 REQUIRED Field staff For daily newspaper distribution agency in Bombay city. Candidates will be require to visit various parts of the city early morning, liaise with vendors, follow-up for collection and try to increase sales. Write giving full details to: The Advertiser (Circulation) GPO Box 892, Bombay 4(X)001t BOOKS THE PATH TO AHURA MAZDA Dr Ali A. Jafarey present her approach, she does not translate this term. It is generally ren ­ dered as the “holy immortals, ” “incre ­ mental immortals ” or “benevolent immor- that the ame^ha tals, ” without ever considering that gram ­ matically the term should have read in reverse: spenta amesha. The author of this review translates this non-Gathic term to mean “immortal progressives ” and states that in the earlier part of the later Avesta, the term applies to any being which attains wholeness and immortality and continues to progress in Mazda ’s presence. Jhabvala-Kansara takes four more pages to explain “the approach of Ahura Mazda by man and his activity in the world also takes place through the two mainiiu: spenta mainiiu = benefi- cient spirit; angra mainiiu = evil spirit. ” Here she uses the term some 60 times, almost in every second or third sentence, to come to her conclusion. She bases her theory on the philological rendering of the Gathic word td in Yasna 47.3 by cer ­ tain translators, including Dr Irach Tar- certein refusal to define (Ahura Mazda) aporewala and Dr Stanley Insler, to mean __ __________ ... - -o ' “ “father, ” and therefore “Ahura Mazda is unity (man) feels and yet whose activity implicitly...the father of spenta mainiiu.” he perceives under a diversity of modali- And since the two mainiiu (are) said to ____________ ... '¦ be twins...Ahura Mazda is implicitly Ahura Mazda is transcendent and the father of angra mainiiu." The two, also opposed to each other in choices, “are complementary to each other: they both fulfill the will of Ahura Mazda in man and in the" world... The Being of the beyond... Their duality is therefore not Ahura Mazda is thus situated beyond the good distinction between unity and plurality. ” She sounds very much like a Sufi or a Hindu mystic who sees God in every di ­ versity, plurality, and the ultimate unity. Though she uses the term amesha external and internal approaches, how- spenta some 40 times in six pages to c , “For an understanding of the name Ahura Mazda, it is important to take into account the significance of the role of the amesha spenta," and she adds, finding it “more correct to say L— --------- Zoroastrian Identity: Ahura Mazda by Yasmine Jhabvala-Kansara. Published in November 1989 by Zoroastrian Research Publications, 16 Mt Keny, 1290 Versoix, Geneva, Switzerland. Pp: 22. Price; 30 Swiss Francs + 5 SF postage and packing. The author begins by acknowledging that spenta are perceptible to us either as con- ments on our path toward Ahura Mazda... (They) are found on the path between “the thoughts expressed in this article crete manifestations or necessary instru- are deeply divergent from the theories generally forwarded today on the Gathas." The reason: “Scholars have, in general, sought an explanation of a linguistic nature to account for (the) grammatical difficulties ” they encounter in unfolding the Gathic doctrine. But Jhabvala-Kansara says that “We (note the plural which she uses throughout the booklet) believe that we are not con ­ fronted here only with a problem of a lin ­ guistic nature but, and above all, with a problem of understanding... We are thus led to adopt a path of study which is in ­ ternal to the texts... Our path is volunta ­ rily different from the so-called external the path leading Ahura Mazda to man and annroaches fi.e. linguistic, historical and man to Ahura Mazda. The encounter with Ahura Mazda through the amesha spenta “gives rise to a (_____________ in an exhaustive way... a Being whose Who is druj and who are the deavas —entities, spirits, demons? man and Ahura Mazda and vice versa. They manifest themselves as presences on approaches (i.e. linguistic, historical and comparative). ” She, however, does not abandon the external approach and adds: “The two types of approaches, external and internal, are necessary and comple ­ mentary." It is with this conviction that she hopes “to understand better the nature of ties. ” She comes to a happy understand- Ahura Mazda (and of the amesha- ing: “Ahura Mazda is transcendent spenta)." Although “inadequate and immanent to the world; his unity is situ- • ...used here only to guide us to a certain ated in his transcendence, his plurality extent, ” she agrees to translate ahura .................. ¦ “as the lord, the powerful one... mazda by wisdom, memory... asha, justice, righteousness; vohu ma nah, t thought; khshathra, kingdom, power; ar- maiti, devotion; ha ur vat at, wholeness; ameretat, immmortality; seraosha, obe ­ dience; ashi, retribution; (and) daena, conscience, religion, inner being, vision... and his diversity in his immanence in a dualism, in the generally accepted meaning of this term. ” She again bases her approach that it is the coming together of the two mainiiu that “created the world. ” A search through the Gathas by ever, would not and cannot lead to the 29 Parsiana February 1991two mainiiu creating the world. One Mind (manah) is created and mentality the author takes up the amesha spenta and wishes she had provided her references to (mainiiu) comes with it. the two mainiiu together and observes such an inference. Furthermore, all Zarathushtra says in “that the two mainiiu and the amesha The Gathas say that when the two lh& Gathas is that the two mainiiu are spenta characterize the universe and lend mainiiu came together, they created, or “said to be twins, ” a statement which their meaning to the material world. The rather “gave ” gaya and ajyditi, generally shows that the idea of these two being amesha spenta are situated at the begin - translated as “life ” and “not-life ” (Ta^zia twins is not what Zarathushtra originally ning and at the end of the world; they also 30.4). Although not mentioned in the presented, but the idea held by people at characterize its development and evolu- booklet under review, the two above- that time. To come to the terms gaya and tion, ” and “the two mainiiu... impose mentioned terms and their taken-for- ¦•-••• • ¦ ¦ — ¦ • - - - granted meanings of “life ” and “not- life ” make her deduce that “Ahura Mazda appears to be at the same time Being and Non-Being, or better, neither Being nor Non-Being. Indeed, he creates Being and Not-Being and make further Being and Non-Being, through the two mainiiu.” She continues to dwell upon her theory: “The ontological function of the two mainiiu shows Ahura Mazda a creative and founding God. But the ap ­ pearance of the two mainiiu as twins, themselves creators of the world, implies ______ in Ahura Mazda a unity which cannot be expound his ethical'dualism of right encompassed or expressed, and is situ ­ ated beyond history and creation. ” It may be noted that other translators, including the traditional translation in Pahlavi and still later in Sanskrit, do not make Ahura Mazda a father of spenta mainiiu. In fact, the Avesta does not pre ­ sent spenta mainiiu as a created being. Mind (jnanah) is created and mentality Furthermore, all Zarathushtra says in the Gathas is that the two rnainiiu are “said to be twins, ” a statement which shows that the idea of these two being twins is not what Zarathushtra originally that time. To come to the terms gaya and ajyaiti, while one simply means “life, ” the other means “not-living. ” It other words, it means a life not lived as it should be — a life with no creative purpose. There is no room here to turn Ahura Mazda into REQUEST We are a highly educated Parsi couple in our mid-twenties. The ooy has a Master ’s degree and earns a five-figure pre tax monthly income. The girl is doing her postgraduate studies. We are looking for a good residence in the area between Colaba and Andheri so that we can marry lion, ” to the world the conditions in which his ­ tory will unfold itself until its end. ” She concludes her article with the question: “Indeed, man perceives equally through ­ out his path towards Ahura Mazda the unity of a demand and the diversity re ­ deductions. quired by this demand; but, do the notions It is strange that the author takes up of unity and plurality, of good and evil (in angra mainiiu, not used as a “term ” at all in the Gathas and dwells upon it so long but does not treat druj, wrong, harmful lie. While Zarathushtra uses druj 17 times lowing such a path...that we may be able and dregvant (wrongful) 45 times to fully t ver ­ sus wrong throughout his 'Gathas, Jhabvala-Kansara has this much to re ­ mark: “druj who is a part of deava, the followers of angra mainiiu, is totally pas ­ sive and does not act herself. ” One won ­ ders: who is she and who are the deavas — entities, spirits, demons? In the concluding part of her article, with her internal and external approaches, and repetitive interchanges and interlink ­ ings of Gathic concepts arrives at meta ­ physical interpretations of the songs, one can well anticipate what her promised Vers Ahura Mazda, her PhD thesis to be published in French and English, would look like. Her “deeply divergent ” ap ­ proach is, in practice, very much in tune and line with what theosophists and other mystic interpreters do. It is earnestly hoped that the author will, if it is not too late for her to revise her Vers Ahura Mazda, take into consi­ deration not mainly her “internal ” approach but more of the “external, ” and also take the traditional Pahlavi approach. Let us be honest, the message of Zarathushtra was not completely lost to or entirely misunderstood by those who have conveyed it intact to us, the expounders of the Gathas. For obvi ­ ous reasons, the Gathas have remained out of the reach of the average Zoroas ­ trian. Let us convey the divine message of Zarathushtra in clear, understandable language, at least for the educated to comprehend it as easily as possible. Let us not unfold it in metaphysical words that swim above one ’s head. The Zoroas- trians need an identity they can under ­ stand in order to be able to adhere to it. in our >oy has a Master ’s degree and earns and have a family of our own. By this advertisement we are trying to contact old Parsi couples/individuals having their own residence (flats/ bungalows) who would be willing to sell a part (or foil) of their residence for about six lakh rupees. If outright sale is not suitable, we are willing to consider other means of reimbursement e.g. a good monthly rent, etc. couples/individuals having their own residence (flats/ In case you are interested, kindly write to: The Advertiser (Accommodation) Parsiana GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 We thank you for sparing your time to read our request. 30 Parsiana February 1991 the Gathic sense) still hold a meaning when he reaches the end of this path to ­ wards Ahura Mazda? And is it not by fol- to express what we mean by Zoroastrian identity? ” One odd point about her style: She speaks in plural — we, our — as if there were more than one author of the article; unless, of course, she belongs to a certain school of thought on whose behalf she writes the treatise. Looking to her article and the way she. I ......MILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides (as exhaustibility of voluntary Nilufar Rotan Sanjana and listed in this issue) in Bombay muscles), myxedema (severe Vispi Khurshed Daruwalla-, ranged from 20 to 51 years, the hypothyroidism characterized " arithmetic mean — the total by firm inelastic number of individual ages di ­ vided by the total number of brides - being 26 years. The corresponding figures for the lated grooms were 22 and 58, avera ­ ging at 30 years. Among the 94 Zoroastrians who died in Bombay in January, heart disease was the major kil ­ ler claiming 35 lives. Lung dis ­ ease and pneumonia took 13 victims whereas 11 died due to old age and general debility. The other killers were: cancer (five), brain disease and hyper ­ tension (four each) and malnu ­ trition, diabetes, liver disease, tuberculosis, and dehydration (two patients each). Septicemia, Parkinson ’s disease, haemorrhage, bums, accident, asphyxia (suffoca ­ tion), atherosclerosis (deposi ­ tion of fatty substances in the arteries), anemia, myasthemia gravis (a disease characterised by progressive weakness and the total ALLAHABAD Bom A girl, Dolly, to Gopa and Dinsha Framjee; September 16, 1990 BOMBAY Born A boy to Hutokshi and Hoshi Rao, December 28 A boy to Shiraz and Parvez Pan­ thaky-, January 4,1991 A boy to Jasmine and Kerman Patel-, January 4 A girl to Jermie and Phiroz Khambatta; January 5 A boy to Jasmine and Mirwo Mistry-, January 5 A girl to Perviz and Jamshed Gandhi-, January 6 A boy to Mehera and Kurush Kolah-, January 6 A girl to Anahita and Khurshed Fitter; January 8 A girl to Baktavar and Viraf Mehta-, January 10 A boy to Mona and Hormasji Seervai-, January 10 A girl to Gulshan and Jamshed Sachinwala; January 11 A girl to Roshan and Francis Fernandes; January 12 of December 27 Nilofer Aspi Daruwalla and Porus Nariman Khambatta-, December 28 Anahita Marazban Karanjia registered last and Percy Shapur Tarapore; month. The youngest age at December 29 death was 20 days as compared Najoo Sorabjee Mehta and to the eldest: 96 years. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled Dilkhush Percy Antia and Viraf from information supplied by Homi Bhesania-, January 1, various newsletters and anju ­ mans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information is not always complete or con ­ sistent. deaths, according to illnesses, especially of the elderly, death Niloofer Pheroze Engineer and is often due to a combination of Rayomand Dara Karkaria; several diseases. January 4 If readers have any births/ Kerbanoo Fakir Hyderabad- marriages/deaths they would walla of Poona and Cyrus Sam like published, some proof to Solairui; January 4 ensure the veracity of the report Percis Homi Divecha and Rumi would be required. We are sure our this requirement and cooperate with us. by firm inelastic edema, dry skin and hair and loss of mental and physical vigor) and enlarged prostrate were the iso ­ cases internal shock, 1991 Ziyah Minoo Mehta and Rumi Keki Palia-, January 1 Maharukh Dara Patel and ki the breakup of Rohin Manek Hilloowala-, January 3 Minoo Majoo-, January 6 readers would appreciate Daisy Rohinton Shroff and Cyrus Phiroze Patel-, January 6 Delna Naval Bharucha and Jimmy Rotan Antia; January 7 Khurshed Firoz Mistry and Darayas Faredoon Mistry-, January 7 Shernaz Nadirsha Umrigar and Porus Shiawak Mistry-, January 7 Dilbar Hormazd'uir Daruwalla and Sorab Dara Rupa of Ontario; January 7 Binaifer Kersasp Mehta and Neville Jimmy Bagli; January 8 Khurshid Jehanbux Wadia and Mac Vispi Spencer; January 8 Khurshid Parvez Bharucha and Mehernosh Adi Avasia-, January 10 Dinaz Godrej Karkaria and Rohinton Pesi Dastoor, January 10 Shernaz Jehangir Mistry and Kaizad Bomi Heerjee of New Delhi; January 10 Nazneen Jamshed Daroowala and Percy Gustasp Mithuji-, January 10 Niloufer Pheroze Mehta and Hormazdiyar Shiavax Vakil; January 10 Zarine Minoo BatUwalla and Yazdi Phiroze Chinoy; January 11 Jasmine Homi Sui and Kekobad Sheriar Jassawalla, January 11 A boy to Perviz and Adil Katrakr, January 12 A girl to Khushnuma and Khushru Tampal\ January 14 A girl to Tinaz and Mahiyar Wellington-, January 19 A boy to Yasmin and Kayomerz Mehervanjee-, January 20 A girl to Shiraz and Kaikhushru Faroodi-, January 21 A boy to Shahnaz and Rustom Vakil-, January 21 A boy to Firuza and Yazdi Nagla-, January 23 A boy to Rashna and Khurshed Cooper, January 24 A girl to Hoofriz and Manek Nikorawala-, January 24 A girl tQ Armin and Rohinton Panthaky-, January 24 A girl to Hira and Rohinton Pavri-, January Tl Married Mahanaz Hormaz Mirzan and Adi Homi Irani-, December 1, 1990 Farida Fall Cooper and Rustom Adi Hiramaneck, December 6 Tanaz Ratanshaw Patel and Farrokh Manekshaw Sutaria-, December 23 Cyrus Faramroze Pater, December 31 Fariz Khurshed Shrojfoi Poona and Mehernosh Jehanbux Kapadia of Calcutta; January 11 Viloo Rusi Sherdiwala and Vispi Minoo Tumboli; January 11 Anahita Rusi Khodabux and Hormuz Jamshed Vazifdar, January 11 Daisy Darabshah Damania and Farokh Naval Hilloo-, January 12 Rashna Hoshang Daruvala and MahiyarNavroze Panthaki-, January 12 Nilufar Nadersha Patel and Yazdezard Nariman Pavri-, January 12 Arruivaz Rusi Baugwalla and Darius Dinshaw Baria-, January 13 Rukhshana Phiroze Bhathena and Marazban Erach Taraporewalla-, January 13 Homa Hormuzdiar Jamsheedian and Hoshang Boman Irani-, January 14 Maharookh Phiroze Bharda and Darayus Hosang Hozdar, January 17 Shernaz Rustom Kavarana and Cyrus Mehli Mancherji-, January 17 Rukshana Phiroze Patel and Cyrus Behram Cardmaster-, January 18 Ava Rustom Panthaky and Nozer Minoo Damania-, January 18 Beroz Adi Chirioy of Gurgaon and Tehmten Gev Wadia; January 18 Rati Burjor Vaghaiwalld and Nadir Burjor Godrej-, January 19 Arruivaz Nariman Darasha of Poona and Sorab Rustom Irani of Nasik; January 20 Tanaz Feroze Master of Nasik and Jawahar Rohinton Sumandy-, January 20 Kashmira Framroze Billimoria and Rayomarui Murzban Bhesania-, January 21 Nawaz Phiroze Dubash and Dinyar Dhanjisha Medhora-, January 21 Kashmira Sovak Sarbhanwala and Mahiyar Dhanjisha Medhora-, January 21 Maharukh Maneck Bhamgara and Hazir Hoshang Dubash-, January 21 Kashmira Behram Jarruidar and Sarosh Behram Irani-, January 22 31 Parsiana February 1991Shiraz Behram Jamadar and Jehangir Homi Pardiwalla-, January 22 Maharukh Eruch Patel and Tehmton Pesi Dastur, January 24 Arnavaz Savak Balsara and Khushroo Byram Tarapore; January 24 Jasmine Keki Kotwal of Navsari and Neville Pervez Damania; January 25 Perveez Dinshaw Irani and Darayus Dhunjishaw Mistry; January 27 Sheroo Jehangir Davar and Hoshang Jehangir Mistry; January 27 Thrity Firoze Daruwalla and Percy Kaikhasaroo Billimoria; January 28 Khursheed Dorab Kanga and Eddy Noshir Daruwala; January 28 Denaz Kali Nania and Kerman Sheriar Jassawalla; January 28 Kerban Nariman Elavia and Manek Nariman Daruvala; January 29 Nergish Homi Sheriarjina of Udwada and Ratansha Ardeshar Gilder; January 29 Prochi Sam Rabady and Khushrow Hormusji Mehta; January 29 Jeroze Firoze Elavia and Jangoo Minoo Dalal; January 31 Ruby Minocher Damania and Percy Khurshed Sanjana; January 31 Died Rattamai Kaikobad Avari (14), residing at 26, Baug-E-Sara, Nepean Sea Rd, 400036; December 31, 1990 Firoze Dinshaw Boga (65), Ali Manzil, Turner Rd, Bandra, 40(X)50; December 31 Dinshaw Sorab Vakharia (68), C/9, Ben Nevis, 100/A, B. Desai Rd, 400026; December 31 Sorab Manekshaw Daruwala (IQ), 10, Mistry Bldg, Padamji Rd, 400004; January 1, 1991 Nariman Kekhsaru Sarkari (81), 7, Sheel Co-op Hsg Soc, 180/A, Old Police Stn Rd, Vile Parle, 400056; January 1 Rusi Merwanji Bharucha (15), 45/B, Meherzin, 77, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; January 2 Aloo Phiroze Bisney (15), 1/Q, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, 400008; January 2 Hormusji Pirojshaw Cooper (15), 14/A, Tardeo Chmbs, Kashinath Rd, Tardeo, 4(X)034; January 2 Dhanjishah Cawasji Damania (80), 174, Lam Bldg, Delisle Rd, Lower Parel (E), 400013; January 2 Shiavak Pirojshaw Mistry (81), Flat no 3, Moonlight, 158, M. Karve Rd, 400020; January 2 Piro show Framroze Umrigar (85), 15, Wadia Bldg, Khareghat Clny, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; January 2 Goolbai Tehmuras Buxy (83), 15, Contractor Bldg, Raju Kotak Marg, Fort, 400001; January 3 Bomanji Pestonji Master (75), B/5, Siiapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; January 3 Rustom Khudabax Raubux (15), Dahanu Darshan, Dahanu Rd, 401602; January 3 Manekbai Ardeshir Saher (95), 12/B, Cawasji Petit Bldg, Marzban Clny, Lamington Rd, 400008; January 3 Shirin Rustomji Daji (65), Edenwalla Bldg, Chami Rd, 400007; January 4 Eruchshah Beramshah Dumasia (11), B/15, New Prem Ngr, Borivli, 400092; January 4 Piloo Dorab Khambatta (6?,), 4, Ivorine, M. Karve Rd, 400020; January 4 Aloo Homi Mehta (65), A, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, 400008; January 4 Homai Rustomji Mistry (70), 303, Mercury Apt, Samarth , Ngr, Four Bglws, Andheri (W), 400058; January 4 Dinamai Meherji Khajotia (1&), 1/14, Readymoney Clny, Tata Rd, 400034; January 5 Boman Dossabhoy Killawalla (86), B, Wassiamul Bldg, Grant Rd, 400007; January 5 Cooverbai Bejonji Sethna (93), 724, Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 6 Jal Muncherji Dotiwalaa (81), 38, Auburn Hse, Forjett St, 400036; January 7 Nurgesh Rustomji Jeejibhoy (88), Paradise Apts, 44, Nepean Sea Rd, 400026; January 7 Maneckbai Jamshedji Patel (80), 648, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 7 Bamanji Dhanjibhai Siganporia (96), Seva Sadan Armexe, Gamdevi, 400007; January 7 Jehangirji Dorabji Siganporia (78), R/38, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; January 7 Roshan Jehangir Siganporia (50), R/38, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; January 7 Gustad Phirozshaw Mistry (76), Flat no 7, Sunshine, 156, M. Karve Rd, 400020; January 8 Jamshed Nowzer Marzban (65), 15/C, Balmoral Hall, Mt Mary Rd, Bandra, 400050; January 9 Manek Hormusji Daroowala (90), P/21, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; January 10 Adi Jamshedji Palkhivala (58), 4, Shroff Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; January 10 Banoo Gustad Hiramaneck (75), 275, Old Master Bldg, Zoroas ­ trian Clny, Tardeo, 400007; January 11 Nergish Homi Madon (67), A/5, Alka Soc, Ceasar Rd, Amboli Village, Andheri, 400058; January 11 Gool Jamshed Tarapore (82), Gool Villa, 802/B, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 11 Pessy Behramji Billimoria (84), Fire Brigade Bldg, Rd no 2, Shivaji Park, 400028; January 12 Daulat Pervez Dalal (82), 11, Sea Green, North Side, Marine Drive, 400020; January 12 Maneckbai Shapurji Lala (95), New Khan Bldg, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; January 12 Sorab Cawasji Madon (74), Ghamat Lodge, 804/A, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 12 Khorshedbanu Naoroji Daruwala (82), Readymoney Bldg Nol, Ratan Tata Rd, Tardeo, 400034; January 13 Dinoo Noshirwan Dubash (90), Oceana, Marine Drive, 40(X)02; January 13 Ratanbai Pestonji Engineer (82), R. J. Cottage, Mithaiwalla Agiary Lane, Sleater Rd, 400007; January 13 Tehmina Cawasji Masani (81), 625, Seth Jagannath Shanker- sheth Rd, 400002; January 13 Maneckshaw Ratanji Movewalla (15), Hamabai Petit Block, Marzban Clny, Gilder Lane, Tardeo, 400007; January 13 Jehangir Cawasji Randeria (87), Tapia Bldg, Jalbhai St, Chami Rd, 400007; January 13 Merwan Khodadad Dehee (74), Bandra florist, 22/D, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; January 14 Sarosh Bomanji Irani (15), Sneh-Kuttir, Dadyseth Rd, Chowpatty, 400007; January 14 Gool Behram Patel (50), Room no 14, Lam Bldg, 173, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, 400013; January 14 Nasarwanji Kaikhushroo Sahiar (74), 304/A, Zaveri Bldg, Grant Rd, 400007; January 14 Parvez Kaikhushroo Sanga (68), Contractor Chawl, D. K. Marg, Sussex Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 14 Ferdun Sorabjee Battiwala (86), 220, Jehangir Baug, Veer Savarkar Marg, Mahim, 400016; January 15 Dinabai Meherjee Bodhanwala (70), B/13, Jer Baug, Dr Am- bedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 15 Soli Dara Coma, brother of Roshni Baji Sethna and Nergish Robert Cresto; January 15 (cremated) Mahiyar Shapurshaw Dalal (76), Convent Avenue, S. V. Rd, Santacruz (W), 400054; January 15 Banoobai Rustomji Ghadiali (80), 275/0, Umrigar Bldg, Tardeo Rd, 400007; January 15 Ratan Manecksha Patel (90), B/46, Meenakshi Apts, Dockyard Rd, 400010; January 15 Soli Merhwanji Italia (59), 247, Veera Hse, Cawasji Hormusji St, 400002; January 17 Nariman Nusserwanji Khari (74), V/7, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, 400008; January 17 Tehmurasp Rustomji Lalla (64), 123/3, Merwanji Chamarbaug Chawl, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parel, . 400012; January 17 Meherbai Nadirshah Mulla (86), Marble Arch, 52, Peddar Rd, 400026; January 18 Goolbai Sorabji Barrdwat (78), 3/3,’ Wadia Block, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; January 19 Pesi Pirojsha Billimoria,(15), 27/A, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 19 Rustom Hormusji Bhamgara (65), 6, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; January 19 Behram Pacy Patel (20 days), Jerbai Hse, Mota Parsee Wad, Valsad, 396001; January 19 Jimmy Manchersha Satta (15), Seva Sadan Annexe, Gamdevi, 400007; January 19 Behramjee Shapurjee Vakharia (84), 26, Maison Belvedere, 107, M. Karve Rd, 400020; January 19 32 Parsiana February 1991 IShera Nadirshaw Fitter (70), 10/A, Saravsar Bldg No 2, Marzban Clny, Gilder Lane, Tardeo, 400008; January 20 Nariman Phirozeshaw Vakil (74), Flat no 7, Rele Chmbs, Raghavji Rd, Cumballa Hill, 400026; January 20 Pillamai Kavasji Kanga (82), G/1, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; January 21 Behram Behroase Khayanoja (59), 0/11, S. B. Bharucha Baug, Andheri (W), 400058; January 21 Sorab Nusserwanji Karaka (75), 1, Sleater Hse, Sleater Rd, 400007; January 22 Fardoon Adalji Daruwala (68), Room no 5, Sapot Bldg, Irani Rd, Dahanu Rd, Dist Thane, 401602; January 24 Mehramai Dorabji Masani (81), Allana Chmbs, 6th Bomanji Petit Rd, 4(XX)26; January 24 Dosamai Kekobad Bharucha (82), 275/V, Tardeo Rd, 40()007; January 25 Meherbai Ardesher Bharucha (80), Maharukh Mans, Lamington Cross Rd, 400007; January 25 Dhun Shapurji Patel (75), Jaiphal Ter, Forjett St, 400036; January 25 Naju Homi Ratnagar (77), Empire Cinema Bldg, Fort, 400001; January 25 Rati Kaikhushro Vakil (17), 1A/12A, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; January 25 Perin Padamji Ayrton (83), C/19, T/3, Dewanshah, Ambadi Rd, Vasai (W), Thane, 401201; January 26 Banoo Jehangir Driver (80), 148, Abbasi Bldg, Pathe Bapu Rao Marg, 400008; January 26 Meherbai Behram Irani (80), B/1, Petit Bldg, Avabai Petit St, Grant Rd, 400007; January 26 Meheramai Hiraji Mahuvewalla (80), Yogi Star Co-op Hsg Soc, C/46, Yogi Ngr, Borivli, 400092; January 26 Dara Framroze Amin (74), 20, Station Ter, N. Bh^cha Marg, 400007; January 27 Bomanshaw Framroze Ankle­ saria (79), D/13, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; Janui'y 27 Gai Khurshed Dhondy (78), Gemfrina, 630, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 27 Framroz Jamshedji Katrak (78), Desai Bldg, 668, Katrak Rd, Wadala, 400031; January 27 Nariman Cawasji Panthaki (73), Gulshan Ter, 643, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 27 Mehroo Kaikhushroo Engineer (79), Sethna Bldg, 216, S. Gandhi Marg, 400002; January 28 Jal Nadirshah Cursetji (72), 8/A, Dolphin, Pilot Bunder Rd, Colaba, 400005; January 29 Kaikhoshru Hormusji Erani (86), 11, Breach Candy Gardens, Warden Rd, 40(X)26 ; January 29 Minoo Ardesar J esing (75), Room no 37/D, Kranti Galli, Worli Village, 400025; January 29 Dinshaw Dadiba Kerawalla (60), Kismat Ngr, Bhangarwadi, Lonavala, 410401; January 29 Shirin Bomanji Pavri (80), D/15, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 29 Sam Jehangir Khambata (92), 501, Sonata, 15/B, Peny Cross Rd, Bandra, 400050; January 30 Rustomji Hormasji Pavri (93), 87, Shirin Manzil, Chandanwadi Cross Lane, 400002; January 30 Goal Sheri Vaghchhipawala (53), 5/17, A. H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400013; January 30 Mani Minocher Surty (52), Bharucha Bglw, Gilder Lane, Lamington Rd, 400008; January 31 CALCUTTA Married Tehnaz Taraporewala and Aamzi Punwani', December 28, 1990 Died Mani Chatterjee-, November 12 Dina Nadir Gandhy, mother of Dhan and Thritty Dastur; January 6, 1991 Jal Edulji Dandiwalla, father of Godrej and Aspi; January 13 DELHI Born A boy, Jehan, to Rinchen and Adil Nargolwala-, January 23 KANPUR Died Freny Darabshah Mehta (85), mother of Nergish Keki Parekh, Sheroo Homi Virji, Phiroze and Sam; January 9 NAGPUR Died Dina Maneck Masani-, November 28, 1990 POONA Died Dosabhai Savaksha Sukhia (76), C/o G. F. Engineer, Dastur Boy ’s School, Col Tarapore Rd, 411001; December 11 Kershasp Erachsha Driver (32), Dubash Bldg, Kashinath St, Tardeo, Bombay, 4(X)034; December 21 Behram Firoze Badni (40), Mental Hosp, Yerwada, 411006; December 24 Burjor Maneckji Desai (88), Cecilia Bldg, Ardeshir Irani Rd, 411001; January 9, 1991 Dinshaw Merwan Irani (87), 882, Boottee St, 411001; January 10 Maneck D. Anklesaria (67), 303, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, 411001; January 12 Dara J. Billimoria (87), 5, Dr Coyaji Rd, 411001; January 15 Dadabhai A. Bharucha (65), 31-C, Near Lal Deval, 411001; January 21 Gev Marzban Dalal (JI), 4, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, 411001; January 23 Shirin Bomansha Sethna (97), West View, Arvind Rd, 411002; January 29 SURAT Died Rustomji Dinshawji Elavia (78), Adi Nusserwanji Marg, Lilava Dhol, Rajpipla, 393145; November 25, 1990 Sheramai Jehangirji Jalgam- wala (JE), 334, Navi Peth, Stn Rd, J^gaon, 425001; December 27 Mehroo Minoo Toddywala 934/12, Kelani Bazaar, Lam Gate, 395003; December 27 Nowroji Meherwanji Anklesaria (91), Gam Itkala, Dist Bharuch, 392001; December 28 Saram Behramsha Kathawala (62), Bhavnagri Mohalla, 395003; December 28 Najamai Ardeshir Kavarana (80), Nariman Home and Infir ­ mary, Shahpore, 395003; December 29 Dara Maneksha Bharucha (SO), Shahpore, 395003; December 30 Homai Faramroze Javeri (65), Mistry Bldg, Dhatigara Mohalla, Nanpura, 395001; January 3, 1991 Nariman Manakji Umrigar (S\), 1/41, Athugar Mohalla, Nanpura, 395003; January 5 Nariman Burjorji Umrigar (84), 12/1375, Maachli Pith, 395003; January 5 Soli Hirjibhai Va^aiwala (62), Gam Vasfai, Via Madhi, Dist Surat, 395003; January 7 Rusi Hormusji Adajania (63), Bhatar Rd, 395003; January 9 Rustomji Nusserwanji Minina (89), Vanki Bordi, 395003; January 11 Sorabji Ardeshir Patalwala (90), 162, Surgeon Soc, Athwalines, 395001; January 11 Minoo Burjorji Wadia (60), 12/2659, Vanki Bordi, 395003; January 11 D P. Bhumgara (Navalsha Pestonji Bhumgara) (80), 12/2893, Rani Talao, Bibini Wadi, Saiyedpura, 395003; January 14 Jal Rustomji Bhagat (57), 402, Sarkari St, Adajan, 395009; January 18 Hormusji Sorabji Mansaheb (87), Bag-e-Parsi Sheheristan, Maachli Pith, 395003; January 19 Burjorji Rustomji Jabbar (81), 351, Popat Mohallo, Nanpura, 395001; January 21 Goolbai Nariman Kalifa (87), Rani Talao, Bibini Wadi, Saiyedpura, 395003; January 21 Najamai Pirojsha Dumasia (72), Agiary Mohallo, Gam Vesu, Dist Surat, 395003; January 25 Khorshedbanoo Phirojshaw Havewalla (78), Gam Kim, Dist Surat, 394110; January 27 Firoze Pestonji Bhesania (62), Bartad, Gam Mahuva, Dist Surat, 364290; January 28 Keld Ardeshir Batliwala (68), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; January 31 AUGUSTA, GEORGIA Born A boy, Sheriar, to Zarin and Neville Sarkari, January 20 KARACHI Married Snober Aspi Sethna and Sohrab Rustom Ferozpurwalla-, September 3, 1990 Nilufer Homi Behr ana and Burjis Homi Rabadi-, November 16 Shiraz Firoze Khambatta and Yazdi Maneck Wania-, 33 Parsiana February T991 . ....... . lIMlNovember 29 Gulnar Khurshed Mondigarian and Jamshed Farokh Irani', December 11 Arnavaz Ardesher Khusroo and llosi Khodad Irani; December 14 HutoxL Bejon Kandawalla and Jal Noshir Bharucha', December 24 Sherezad Ruslom Wania and Xerezex Viraf Daroga', December 21 Faranaz Dadabhoy Mama and Darius Soli Patel', December 28 Died Mahakhurshid Bejan Irani (66), November 9 Feroze Hormazsha Wania (68), November 9 Goolhanu Dadiha Mulla (65), November 10 Cyrus Faramroze Pat loo (54); December 1 Eruch D. Gandhi (61); December 17 MICHIGAN Died Jamshedji N. Kharas, husband of Villoo and father of Dilnavaz Ruslom Dnd and Zenobia Sharookh Lala; January 15 TOTALS (for this issue) Births: Boys 13. Girls 13 Marriages; Parsi 71 Intercommunal 1 Deaths: 143 Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka MATRIMONIAL Matrimonial alliance invited from young, good-looking Zoroastrian girl with good family background for a well-settled 3()-year-old having own business, own accommodation in posh locality and earning handsomely. Apply with photograph (returnable). The Advertiser Matrimonial (Feb/8-91) Parsiana GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES continued from page 14 Astad born 15 months ago to Dolly and Phiroz and one can guess how the family must be managing. In one small room flat 13’ x 13’ on Forjett Hill resides the family. The girls are boarders at the Avabai F. Petit Parsi Girls ’ Orphanage at Bandra; the elder boys study at the Cowasjee Jehangir School at Tardeo. While the schools have exempted them from fees, the conveyance costs of the boys is financed from grants received from different trusts. Phiroz ’s The Palkhiwala family (standing from left): Rasna, Dolly withAfrid and Phiroz with Aslad (Sitting from left): Nozar, a friend, Nancy, Ruzbe and Navil Tax consultant Homi P. Ranina has been 34 Parsiana February 1991 The Board of Control for Cricket in India has nominated Russi Jeejeebhoy of Cal­ cutta on its selection committee for 1991, notes the August-September 1990 issue of Calcutta Gavashni. The newly appointed vice president - marketing of Burroughs Wellcome, India is B. S. Bacha, reports The Daily dated February 3,1991 Numi Mehta is the newly elected vice president of the Advertising Club, Cal ­ cutta for the year 1990-91, notes the Cal­ cutta Gavashni of August-September 1990. own salary as an employee of Tata Mills is stretched to the fullest by Dolly whose full-time responsibilities as a mother leave her with hardly any time to seek a job herself. Occasionally help in the form of provisions and groceries from well- wishers is a welcome relief for the family. P.O. SPOTLIGHT The first to be conferred fellowship of The Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF) was Sorab H. Commissariat, managing director of Mercury Iron and Steel Com ­ pany Private Limited, notes a press re ­ lease. elected president of The Bombay Share ­ holders ’ Association for 1990-91, notes The Economic Times dated October 19, 1990. Chairman and managing director of Bom ­ bay Dyeing and Manufacturing Company Limit^, Nusli Wadia has been re-elected chairman of the Bombay Millowner ’s Association, informs The Economic Times of October 16,1990. The Sir Cowasji Jehangir Public Hall in Bombay, leased to New Delhi ’s National Gallery of Modem Art for a period of 30 years, is to house a theater and provide permanent exhibition space, according to Bombay of November 22-December 6, 1990. Compiled by Roxana H. Kaka? L ? • I IN MEMORIAM Katrak’s studied treasures are supposed to have held Katrak in high notes the press release. He was sent to Died: Ervad Jam- are supposed to have held Katrak in high notes the press release. He was sent to shed Cawas Katrak, respect. the villages of Gujarat to prepare a list of 93, Avesta-Pahlavi Of the over a dozen publications to his the valuable manuscripts in Avesta, scholar, researcher credit, some of his popular works are Pahlavi and Persian which were in the and author, on Au- Civilization and Culture of Ancient Iran, possession of agiaries, priests and lay gust 26, 1990 in Marriage in Ancient Iran, The Age of people. Several of these manuscripts Rnmhav foliowine Zarthushtra. Glimoses of Extinct Pahlavi are now believed to be lost because Ka ­ trak ’s advice to guard them were disre- What has upset Of the over a dozen publications to his researcher credit, some of his popular works are Civilization and Culture of Ancient Iran, Bombay following Zarthushtra, Glimpses of Extinct Pahlavi cardiac arrc'^t j______ At in ­ ternational conferences to which he was invited it would not be unusual for Katrak to present papers on subjects as diverse as linguistics, history and philosophy, and that too in different languages, noted a tribute by The Borrdyay Sama­ char editor Jehan Daruwala during the scholar ’s lifetime. As fluent as he was in Avesta, Pahlavi, Persian, Sanskrit, Ara ­ bic and old Gujarati, equally conversant was Katrak with di ­ verse subject matters. At one time he was a regular partici ­ pant at All India Oriental Conferences Katrak meets Shahbanu Farah in Iran Mithra on the Roman Reliefs, Literary Muncherji Khareghat and Edulji Kmga. Gems, a couple of books in Persian and some in Gujarati like one on Afsun-e- Shah-e-Faridun. ]______ articles must he have contributed to the newspapers. As remembers his son Hos- 0 conferences r « Literature, M it hr a in the Avesta and garded. Katrak ’s family more is that, despite his devotion to the re ­ ligion and the community, not a single condolence resolution seems to have been passed in his honor by the different or ­ ganizations with which he was connected. Bom in Navsari, Katrak ’s early education was at the N. R. Tata Zand Madressa and the Sir ' Cowasji Zarthoshti Madressa. Since his college days at St Xavier ’s, Bombay he was interested in Zoroastrian scholarship, men- lOshang. Among the scholars Jehangir and the International Congresses of Ira ­ nologists and Mithraic Studies, remem ­ bers Dastur Hormazdyar Mirza. He drew much of his inspiration from Iran and was in turn held in high esteem by the Iranians. He was appointed Per ­ sian scholar by the Government of Iran in 1959-60, mentions a family source, and _ especially sponsored by the Iranian gov- (towards the last couple of years), if he emment to attend the twenty-fifth centen ­ ary celebrations of Cyrus the Great and the millenary celebrations of the Iranian scientist-scholar Al Biruni. Katrak ’s monumental book, Oriental send off a rejoinder. Treasures, where he has laboriously pre- 1--------- -—- lions whom he held in high respect were After his postgraduation in Avesta, there is no count of the number of jobs he Besides, innumerable changed. He was teacher at the Boys ’ Town Public School, Nasik, at the J. J. Fort School and the madressas in Bom- hang,*^even when eyesight was failing him bay, he also practised as a mobed being a z. J ----- 1—f ------ \ ;f Uz, ‘bahtari navar ’ who knew 72 has by came to hear of any misrepresentation or heart... With a stem face and unbending inaccurate reports in the Press on religion disposition, his disciplinary ways often or history, subjects with which he was brought him unpopulmty, remarks Hos- fully conversant, he would immediately hang. In addition to his avid reading hab ­ its, his other interest was Indian classical music. His memory was awesome. He could _ ______________________ quote chapter and sometimes even page Desai himself who credits Katrak for hav- of the reference book which people of ___ \ . • His contribution to the treatise History sented the old Iranian culture, rites\ cus- of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (1860- toms, etc has come to be regarded as an 1960) is recorded by the author Sapur F. useful for Avesta scholars, ” according to ing “laboriously compiled from 1860 learning could fall back on to confirm a press release The Iranian government onwards meaningful material which their facts. In the compilation of the Par- dirrinff the reeime of the late Reza Shah formed a basis for this work. Ervad Ka- siana Book of Iranian Names, he was one “encyclopedia of ancient Iranian culture. press release. The Iranian government onwards meaningful material which during the regime of the late Reza Shah formed a basis for this work. Ervad Ka- Adds The Bombay Samachar of for things Iranistic he is a walking ency- Irak himself is a doyen of scholarship and of the scholars who extended gratuitous assistance. Though orthodox in his think- invited him to attend the Tehran Univer- September"2" *199o" ihat^ “his teachers clopediZ ” Katrak served the Punchayet ing, he respected other religions and was were so impressed by his knowledge of for over two decades in his capacity as li- always ready to highlight the good ^ints Avesta, Pahlavi and Iranian history that brarian and in charge of the translation of other faiths, notes The Bombay Sama- within a few weeks, his professors started fund. c/wr write-up. seeking his advice and guidance on these As research scholar of the K.R.Cama Kaffak is survived by his wife subjects! ” Besides the leaders and priests Oriental Institute in 1920-21, it fell to Ka- Tehmina, sons Hoshang and Farrokh and of the community, even Muslim scholars Irak to examine over 1,000 manuscripts, daughters Banoo, Daisy and Hutoxi. impressed by his knowledge of for over two decades in his capacity as li- As research scholar of the K.R.Cama Oriental Institute in 1920-21, it fell to Ka ­ trak to examine over 1,000 manuscripts. 35 Parsiana February 199 JPUNDOLE made room for art Died: Kali Nowroji Pundole, 64, mainstay dolence meeting convened in Pundole ’s Gallery was not neglected. During lean of contemporary Indian art who strove to honor by the Bombay Art Society con- bring closer the artists and the patrons for jointly with other art galleries of the a mutually rewarding experience, on No- city. “Kali genuinely believed that paint ­ vember 20, 1990 in Bombay, following ings should be acquired for love; unless himself a vacation. cardiac arrest. an emotional chord was struck between The Gallery at Hutatma Chowk had More than an art dealer. Pundole was regarded as an art promoter. Several art ­ ists remember: being given their ¦ first human credence, break at the Pundole Art Gallery that he buyer had second thoughts about an ac- had founded as a proprietary concern; of quisition he had made. Kali took the Patel, Jehangir Sabavala, Prasanna and R. him financially helping strug ­ gling artists; of him arranging for work space to ease the artist ’s constraints. “Name any leading painter of the past 30 years and there is a greater chance of finding his work in a Pundole show than anywhere else, ” remarked art critic Dnya- neshwar Nadkami in his tribute Before starting the Gallery, to Pundole in The Independent Pundole had intended pursuing of November 22,1990. a career in plastic manufactur- “The paintings, when they ing after studying the subject in enter these premises, feel England. When those plans did wanted and cared for, not not move according to sched- merely a commodity to buy ule, he joined the family ’s and sell but an identity of an clock business which has since enhanced human endeavor, ” been wound up. The subse- acknowledged M. F. Husain, quent framing section and the among India ’s most celebrated artists. His painting back without fuss, ” artist Badri antiques outlet have also been discontin- relationship with Pundole dates back 25 Narayan remembered, years or more, ever since he casually works that he bought were not allowed walked into the Gallery and volunteered to help out Pundole with the lighting ar ­ rangement for one of his earlier exhibi ­ tions. In turn. Pundole is said to have helped Husain find buyers when he had yet to establish himself as an artist. “Artists held him in complete bust, ” recalled Kekoo Gandhy of Gallery Che- manual, posting invitations and even mould who is believed to have introduced hanging up the exhibits himself, if neces- Pundole to the framing business which in sary, to bring out the best in the work, turn led to an art gallery. “He was never Whatever his schedule, his day would dishonest in his criticism. If he didn ’t like always start out with prayers. Once the ported Dadiba, he would be disgusted a painting he ’d politely reject it but only exhibition was under way. Pundole when confronted with a query, “What ’s after giving the artist a chance to explain himself, ” noted artist Shamshad, Husain ’s preferably) observing the displays, the son, whose first one-man show was spon ­ sored by Pundole Gallery. “He wanted art to move in all direc ­ tions, encouraging everyone to take an interest, even without buying, ” said art most a one-man show with him having to collector Jehangir Nicholson at the con- sacrifice his other interests so that the season, however, the fun loving art pro ­ moter would even spend a whole day at home to watch cricket on TV, or permit an emotional chord was struck between the work of art and the viewer-buyer, a been inaugurated by Sir Cowasjee sale, whatever the price involved, lost its Jehangir in 1963 with an exhibition of Sometimes when a paintings by Almelkar, Ara, Chavda, Gai- tonde, Hebbar, Badri Narayan, Homi C<| 36 Parsiana February 1991 D. Raval, notes a write-up by Narayan. A year later Husain designed for the Gallery a horse logo to mark its progres ­ sive movement. Since then it has provided exhibition space to a number of painters, graphic artists, sculptors and ceramists. So often, art ued. He was ah alumnus of the Bharda High School and later studied at St Xavier ’s to pass out of his own possession. They stopped being investments and became College for two years before proceeding friends, ” commented another art veteran Bakul Patel. When exhibition time approached, the soft-spoken, ever-smiling Pundole could fond of western classical music and be seen in action: designing/planning a theater, mentions Dadiba. In the last couple of years, he is known to have been disillusioned with the showbiz and commercialization that had made inroads in the art scene. As re ­ to the UK. A cyclist of repute in his younger days, having represented India at an international meet. Pundole was also exhibition was under way. Pundole would be at his desk (facing the east his price? ” According to him, “That is a false way of looking at an artist; judging his price instead of noting what ’s good and bad in his work. ” The art lover is survived by his wife artists, the public from the shadows un ­ less called upon to proffer advice. Until his son Dadiba joined him a few years ago, the running of the Gallery was al- Freany, daughter Lalerukh Sarbh and son Dadiba. ______________________ _ Written by Parinaz Gandhi