Sep 1992

k 5 >5'^. % ¦i-. r. k k k L ‘i. ¦i; /' '•i’5 L I k k ¦t f n ''?t' Oe ’ IS w w -vx-'-S r t R pSciV»na T^cz 8^'-i September 1992 Volume 15 Numbers EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi ASSISTANT EDITOR Roxana A. Mirza 3 Readers' Forum 6 Events and Personalities DESIGN Kranti Shilotri, Varghese Fernandez MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Cheryl Sequeira CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala FINANCE B. L. Arora EDP Rohinton E. Daroga CIRCULATION Behram Umrigar MANAGEMENT Jasmine Driver 10 Zoroastrians Abroad 13 The 1992 BPP Elections 15 Dr Syrus Irani: A matter of trust by Gustasp Irani 17 Rusi Sethna: Leading the court campaign 20 Jussawalia* s model commitment OFFICE Khurshid Panthaki, Patricia D'Silva, Bakhtavar Batliwalla, Nowzer Batliwala, Bindu Pillai, Sugatha S. Kurup, Asha Pillai 23 Keki PestonjI: Summoned by the sea 4 27 Kharas ’ burning (com)passion by Homi Rogers OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Pramod Patil 31 Wedlock ’s end: 6 by K. C. Vajifdar 33 Deen Rarest: A forum for the faithful by Noshir Dadrawala 36 Milestones 39 In iVtemoriam Cover: Photographs by Gustasp Irani 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 Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Color processing. Comart Lithographers; and black and white processing, Samir Scantech Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved. Phone; 2048730 Fax: 2042922 For editorial enquiries: 2048183 Telex 11-85710 RABO IN Annual inland subscription Rs 100 for one year (12 issues); Rs 180 for two years (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates: Sea mail Rs 260/US $ 12/UK £ 7 for one year, Rs 475/US $ 20/UK £ 12 for two years (please allow six months or more from the time of publication); Air mail Rs 550/US $ 24/UK £ 14 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 290) for one year, Rs 1,050/US $ 45/ UK £ 26 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 560) 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 400001t READERS’ FORUM I. I ¦l>lll)(»I(ll,l'' ¦. ,«»> »»•»»,»»*>»»«• illi»llH»H|i,V' K .>»«I*»¦»><«{'' Al|< ?»»»»»»•( . * > * » * » * * •*! ^^«««<) »»*»> H H Hr, ’ fe'Kr most democratic of all hobbies and one can collect whatever one ’s heart desires; you may do whatever you like in your own house but when it comes to the pub- »»»»»•. »¦» I > I , I » O » ? II • I H » I « » Parsiana to merely reprint extracts from old books is to do a disservice to the cause of the multifold Zoroastrian inter ­ ests as well as to the extensive advances in the knowledge of our long history and lie eye one has to observe some of the ancient culture. Mr Patel must be aware that there ex ­ ists a thriving London-based World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO), very lically reputable countries but from active in the areas of amelioration of the prevalent regulations and practices. It is unfortunate that the stamps shown in the article are not from philate- t e 21»* itiM* |»H’ ’ active in the areas of amelioration of the countries which brought out a prolific conditions of deprived Zoroastrian s here number of stamps with the idea of fleec- and overseas. There do exist a South ing stamp collectors. Philatelic organi- “ ------ zations have long been campaigning against such stamps. The FIP has also taken up the matter with (he UPU (Uni ­ versal Postal Union). Stamps on birds, animals, butterflies, from philatelically 1 Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers' Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. Unsigned letters or those without an address will not be published. and overseas. There do exist a South Gujarat Fund and a Medical Benevolent Fund. The point about “combined re ­ sources ” falls flat if he cares to recall the clumsy attempts of our local association here to discredit the WZO at every op ­ portunity: attempts that have dismally reputable countries like Great Britain, misfired. Can these be connected with Sasanian coins? farrokh vahfdar London. U.K. Australia, New Zealand, India, etc could have been shown so that the collectors, especially beginners, are not misguided. The stamps displayed are not “rare ” stamps. Some of the early issues like Western Australia ’s “Black Swan ” or the other early bird and animal stamps which are not easily obtainable could have been shown. It is a misfortune that CTO (Cancelled to Order) stamps which have not passed J. “The Stamp Safari ” Let me congratulate you on the cover of Parsiana, June 1992 and the article con ­ cerning me, “The Stamp Safari, ” by Ms Meher Marfatia, which is very well worded. But I am very disappointed to see my photo on page 20 which looks nothing through the postal mail and against belter than wild life. d. r. mistry which there is much opposition from phi ­ latelists from all over the world, have been shown. No commercially used cov ­ ers, cancellations, etc have been shown D. R. MISTRY The Editor replies In deference to Mr Mistry we have repro ­ duced here the photograph he submitted which today are very essential, (right) alongside the one earlier pub ­ lished so the readers may judge. Sasanian coins The letter (“Sasanian coins, ” Parsiana, July 1992) from Mr Noshir Patel of Mid ­ dlesex is confused on several points. While Prof A. H. Bivar has an interna ­ tionally renowned expertise in the nu ­ mismatic field, it is to limit him unduly in implying that the Zoroastrian House lectures were confined to coins and per ­ haps stamp-seals. Indeed the good pro- fessor lectured amply on Ancient Iranian inscriptions, complete with slides. Similarly, Drs Kreyenbroek and Sims- Williams just happen to be among the very best scholars of Iranian languages; their lectures too had little or nothing to article “The Stamp Safari ” (Parsiana, do with numismatics. All three gentle- June 1992). However, I would be failing men are no doubt Fellows of the Royal in my duty as a vice president of the Numismatic Society here, but do their Philatelic Congress of India (The All In ­ Fellowships of the Royal Asiatic Society dia Federation) and as the Indian dele- make them Asiatics? Fardunji Paruck ’s large and excellent book is dated, as are the sections on art and history. Scholarship and specialized researches have greatly progressed. For One cannot also agree with the com ­ ment “Otherwise there is rarely any dif ­ ference between the value of used and unused stamps. ” There is difference in value in most cases. The write-up and presentation is also not up to current philatelic requirements. The presentation and- write-up for the Polish stamps done by numbers is not proper. The making of black borders around the stamp is long outdated. The album page shown with a non-philatelic photo/picture of a butterfly would imme- As an enthusiastic philatelist I was happy diately disqualify the exhibit at even a to see stamps on the front cover and the state level exhibition items must be shown. It is regrettable that the pioneering ef ­ forts of eminent Indian thematic collec ­ tors of the past like the late Mr Jal Coo ­ per, the late Ms Subhalaxmi, the late Mr gate to two FIP (World Federation — the K. D. Dinsha and Mr M. P. Polson have “United Nations of Philately ”) world not been mentioned. congresses if I were not to draw the at ­ tention of your readers to certain impor ­ tant matters. I I I I * only philatelic If Indian thematic collectors are to do well at slate, national or international Stamp collecting is the events they must properly study the sub- 3 Parsiana September 1992funds from all over the world. A comment has been attributed to our to sponsor a paramobed (“Federation lends a sympathetic ear, ” Parsiana, June 1992).” This was only a suggestion given colleague Mr Dadi Mistry that he had by one of the members and I disagreed as been wanting The WZO Trust to get an we already have a panthaky looking after early tax exemption clearance, the religious needs of the Jabalpur Parsis. I may mention that Ervad Darabshaw E. Karkaria is about 80 years old — and stamps. Today, he has more than 20,000 may God bless him — and he attends to wildlife stamps carefully pasted onto 1,200 ^bum pages. Some of the rare ject and the present trends. This letter is written purely from the interest of the fu ­ ture of Indian philately and with no other moti ve . vispi s. dastur Hon Editor, India's Stamp Journal been wanting The WZO Trust to get an It may be clarified that the application ' seeking tax exemptions for donors under section 80G(5) was made to the tax au ­ thorities on September 20, 1991. The every need here. He attends to the daily permission has been granted on April 6, _ ___ r prayers of the members, and in addition 1992 and is retrospective from the date stamps^ate baclTto 19th century. When performs the jashan ceremonies for the of application. Mistry held an exhibition of his stamps Anjuman, which number about 10 every Donors to The WZO Trust are thus in 1961, it was the first exhibition of year. He even attends to the muktad eligible for claiming exemption under wildlife stamps in the world. ” table. In his work there is absolute sin- section 80G(5) of the Income Tax Act Thus reads an entry on page 98 of the cerity and dedication, which the Parsis of 1961. dinshawk.tamboly Limca Book of Records 1992 under the Jabalpur have been appreciating since Managing Trustee, The wzo Trust section ‘Post and Telegraph. ’ It is indeed a great honor for Parsis that in this five- page section the names of only two phi ­ latelists appear Darabshaw Rustomji Mistry. His name was proposed by the Gov ­ erning Council of Baroda Philatelic Soci ­ ety for the award of Padma Shri. He was cited as ‘Doyen of Philately ’ by the she is famous for. Many passengers South India Philatelists ’ Association, Madras at BIOPEX-89 Philatelic Exhibi ­ tion. He was a president of the Empire of mention that Banoobai ’s malida is some- India Philatelic Society (EIPS). Mr Mistry ’s labor of love has resulted in a huge collection of zoos on stamps, depicting birds, mammals, fish, butter ­ flies, insects, reptiles, amphibians and pre-historic animals. A whole collection is built on each topic, sometimes funning Some statements pertaining to the World into hundreds of pages. His collection on pre-historic animals was displayed at the Eros Theatre during pathetic ear, ” (Parsiana, June 1992) re- the show of the movie One Million Years BC. In his one man show “Birds on Stamps, ” at the silver jubilee celebration of EIPS disclosed the fact, that India has poor Zoroastrian agrarians living below the Iranian Zoroastrians because the not issued a single stamp on birds. This the poverty line, Mr Jamsheed Kanga is news spread through the newspapers and reported to have commented that “There made the government issue stamps on birds. The Times of India of December 25, 1966 notes: “To this modest, old man, philately is hardly a hobby — it is a labor of love, a way of life, chosen and culti ­ vated with tender care through the long hard years of manhood and middle age. ” CYRUS D. SIDHVA “Largest collection of wildlife stamps — D. R. Mistry of Bombay collects wildlife Mistry held an exhibition of his stamps Anjuman, which number about 10 every table. In his work there is absolute sin ­ cerity and dedication, which the Parsis of 1961. one of them being Mr 1953. Ervad Darabshaw is not only the pan- Psrsi Calendar reform thaky but he is also the manager of The I was glad to know that the Federation of Jabalpur Parsi Dharamshalla which he Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India has been managing very ably, assisted by (FPZAI) has taken up the matter of Parsi his wife Banoobai, who, having suffered calendar reform and that the issue has at a hip fracture, manages with a walker, least found favor with several persons in- ' and still turns out the tastiest food which eluding the chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (“Federation lends a sympathetic e^, ” Parsiana, June 1992). It is well-known that all living organ ­ isms follow nature in the form of daily thing out of this world. It is ordered by (diurnal), monthly (lunar) or yearly (an- ‘ the kilo and taken out of Jabalpur. The nual) regular variations. These are | proof of the pudding (malida) is in the known as biological rhythms or circadian eating! d.c.bajan clocks. Our Shenshahi and Kadmi calen- * dars are all wrong because they have no relevance to the seasonal variations in nature. Secondly, there is historical evidence that a Zoroastrian from Persia named Jamshid, who arrived in India in 1736 \ AD pointed out that the calendar fol- ‘ lowed by the Parsis in India was one j month behind the calendar followed by | come only because of the sumptuous food that is served to them. 1 might also D. C. BAJAN President, Paisi Anjuman. Jabalpur Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) and the WZO Trust in “Federation lends a sym- quire to be clarified. Regarding the work being done in the villages of South Gujarat to rehabilitate community in India had forgotten to add { one Kabisa (or intercalation of one 1 is a wrong impression being created that month after 120 years) (Sanjana J. B., A ? the work is done only by the WZO.” Comprehensive History of the Parsis, i There is absolutely no doubt that were 1935, p. 608). It is well known that the it not for the WZO the rehabilitation orbit of the earth around the sun takes process would not have reached the stage that it has. The WZO, in keeping with its policies every four years as in the Gregorian cal- of accountability towards its donors, re ­ leases regular reports on the project, ery 120 years as done earlier in the Ira- | This has been appreciated very much by nian calendar. The late Mr K. R. Cama | our donors who have been forwarding was the first to preach this reform in our | Parsi calendar as early as 1882, but un ­ Regular reports on the status of the fortunately, to date we have not got our | 365.2422 days and the quarter of an addi- ? tional day is corrected by adding one day | i endar or by intercalating one month ev ­ ery 120 years as done earlier in the Ira- “Federation lends a... ” While reporting on the proceedings of contributions from all parts of the globe, the meeting of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, which project not only keep the donors satis- calendar right because of the bigoted at- was held in Bombay last March, you have erroneously mentioned that “Agra, awareness of this massive problem/pro- trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. Jhansi and Jabalpur have jointly agreed ject and results in a regular inflow of Our religion is the religion of right and fied, but also help in creating greater titude of some high priests and some awareness of this massive problem/pro- 4 Parsiana September 1992 s 5 Iwrong, and if a mistake has been com ­ mitted in the past, it must be rectified. Even Pope Pius acknowledged about a decade ago the mistake the ancient Christians made of persecuting Galileo for declaring that the sun was the center _______________ ___ _______ of the universe and not the earth. Today Parsi Punchayet were to set up a legal we know that Galileo was right and Pope guidance cell, wherein Parsi lawyers/so- j wu. vununai *.-uiuiinia wu Pius had the courage of exculpating the Heitors could give a helping hand to such indirectly favor conversion and mixed great scientist after about 360 years, aged people. marriages. Is there any doubt that the Such questions like vernal equinox on Such a cell could advise the aged on community will decrease because the March 21 would correspond to spring how to regulate their papers (will, etc) so majority of those who go out are least in- m the northern hemisphere but autumn that their assets pass on to their kith and terested in the Zoroastrian religion? in the southern hemisphere are only kin with ease and a minimum of legal On New Year ’s eve, we had a small foolish attempts at perpetuating a wrong formality and expense. get-together. As usual, in the party, con- ca endar, for don t the Christians all There is also a crying need for more version and mixed marriage came up for over the world celebrate their new social service organizations to arrange discussion. These topics were raised by year on January 1, be it winter or sum- visits, assistance and companionship to those who had non-Zoroastrian spouses, persons living alone. in explaining to their partners the rituals About the question of doing baj jal m. korkhao of the great religion they were born into. (prayers for the dead) on the varsi (anni- _ . . . But none of the preachers are practising versary) of a person who dies on Febru- Old ParSl Gujaratl SOngS Zoroastrian rituals or philosophy. ary 29 of a leap year, I have already After scrounging in the Chor Bazar, sec- One of the gentlemen was patting his stated that the heavens are not going to ondhand dealers and old record shops, I own back on his success in bribing a fall if the varsi rituals in a few cases are have collected several records of old priest in Bombay to get his white Ameri- done a day earlier or a day later (Par- Parsi Gujarati songs of which the new can wife ’s navjote done. Now two years siana, November 1991). Trustee Jam- generation of Parsis has not heard. after the navjote, neither of them wear sheed Kanga has supported me in my From the records I made several audio the sudreh and ku?ti. And his wife does stance by stating that Whether you pray tapes and gave them to my friends at not even know the basic prayer Yatha Ahu on one day or another is immaterial. All cost. According to their feedback three Vairyo and Ashem Vohu. Upon my re ­ days are equally holy (Parsiana, July very important songs are missing from questing him to subscribe to Parsiana, he 1992).” Dr P. D. SUNAVALA my tape. answered, “Who likes to read garbage! ” The only support for you I got was from the ones who were married to Zoroastrians and their reason for sub- •Goola mari gol gol, Bool ne maravi scribing to Parsiana was just to be in touch with the community. I suggest you take a survey of your readers and ask them their opinion re ­ garding conversion and mixed marriage. I am, confident the answer of the major ­ ity would be against it. ------- outsiders step into the vacuum, and much money goes out of the community — into the public exchequer or other private hands. It would be a good idea if the Bombay we know that Galileo was right and Pope guidance cell, wherein Parsi lawyers/so- unable to get the benefit. Sometimes Readership blues I do not understand why you are crying about our community getting smaller. Rather you should be worried about your job as an editor. What you sow is what you reap. The saying is old, but it holds value even to ­ day. Through your editorial columns you great scientist after about 360 years, aged people. Such a cell could advise the aged on how to regulate their papers (will, etc) so that their assets pass on to their kith and kin with ease and a minimum of legal There is also a crying need for more social service organizations to arrange visits, assistance and companionship to aged persons living alone. JAL M. KORKJIAO After scrounging in the Chor Bazar, sec ­ ondhand dealers and old record shops, I have collected several records of old Parsi Gujarati songs of which the generation of Parsis has not heard. From the records I made several audio tapes and gave them to my friends at cost. According to their feedback three Vairyo and Ashem Vohu. Upon my new my tape. „ . I shall be much obliged if some Parsi Emerging from the... gentleman or lady can loan me the fol- I refer to the article by Mr Gustasp Irani lowing records; about Ms Behroz Vacha, the founder of • " „ the Helen Keller Institute for the Deaf sole, Dinshaw saihe thaigai pole... and Deaf Blind (“Emerging from the val- •Kaka kalinger jeva, Su aven ley of silent darkness, ” Parsiana, April 1992). He has very well displayed Ms Vacha ’s international eminence in her field of service. In fairness to her husband Com ­ mander Nariman Vacha I would like to add that it was only after he had com ­ pleted his term with the Indian Navy that he had served as the secretary of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and the N. N. and R. N. Wadia Trusts. •Kaka kalinger jeva, Su damam... •O Morarji Bhai O, Dinkarrao Desai, Mumbai ma rehva hamne bhari padi gai... Please contact me at Yazdani Bakery, C. P. Street, Fort, Bombay. no T. M. ZEND Edited by Amavaz S. Mama H. N. PATEI-L 5 NEVILLE SARKARI Gaffney, SC. USA ! i & I R I J I I Legal advice for the aged With the dwindling numbers of our com ­ munity, it has become quite common to ­ day for aged Parsi men/women to live alone in their homes, unable to move about much. Some of these aged people have res ­ pectable savings which they would like to pass on to their kin. But for lack of le ­ gal guidance, their papers remain in dis ­ order at their death, and their kith and kin (who are often themselves old) are Aefl items 400 00^ PHONE 5 Parsiana September 1992 LI o I Events and Personalities Gallantry rewarded Of the 10,000 nominations from the armed forces, paramilitary forces and ketball and squash player, the curriculum civil services in India and from 30 coun ­ tries across the globe, 200 students were selected for the Defence Services Staff and College course — 1991-92. Among constituted Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, re- them was Major ports the Fed Newsletter. This award is Cyrus Addie Pith- awalla, the Fed Newslet­ ter of May 1992. Currently pos ­ ted in the Srinagar the Siachin sector in Ladakh. As in ­ valley organizing charge of Operation IBEX, Nanavatty re- counter-in sur- ~ gency operations, Pithawalla started if responsibilities; member of the Banking Services Recruitment Board, Western Region; member of the Board of Studies vitae further mentions. in Management at the Banaras Hindu For displaying exceptional gallantr"' University and at the Pondicherry Cen- leadership Brigadier Rustom tral University; member of the academic Kaikhushru Nanavatty won the newly councils of the Rajasthan Univer ­ sity, of the Indian School of Mines and of Human Re ­ source Develop ­ ment. He continues to be associated , with the Aligarh Muslim University * where he did his graduate, postgra- the university and the state in athletics. He is also an enthusiastic volleyball, bas- believed to rank the second highest in the informs distinguished service category. Nanavatty was rewarded for com ­ manding a brigade over a long period at an inhospitable altitude of 21,000 feet in J ( Pithawalla: in hard field, high altitude operations his military career in 1979 as an officer with the 17th Battalion Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. During his 13-year stint in the army, the 35-year-old major has been posted to most of the “hard field, high altitude and active operation areas . including Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, L&T ChaiT TOT PeStOHjee Ladakh and Kashmir, ” mentions his cur ­ riculum vitae. He has also served the Madras-based Officers Training Acad ­ emy as an instructor. Pestonjee: stress within control duate and doctoral studies, his bio data informs. Formerly active with the Indian Coun- portedly succeeded in throwing out Paki ­ stani intruders by his meticulous plan ­ ning of air and land resources in an area where not even a blade of grass can grow because of the year round frost. Earlier he was the commander of the Junior cil of Social Science Research, he is now Leaders School, according to the News­ letter. a representative of the International So ­ cial Science Council on the UNESCO board of commission for conceptual and terminological analysis. He had previ- Job satisfaction, employee morale and ously served the International Sociology stress management, the sphere in which ‘ Professor Dinyar M. Pestonjee has undertaken considerable research and The Ashok Chakra — the highest counselling, will be given further atten- award for gallantry in peace time — was t , . conferred on Pithawalla in 1982 when as L&T chair in organizational behavior at A regular participant at international a second lieutenant he had successfully the Indian Institute of Management congresses on applied psychology, headed a raid on a People ’s Liberation (IIM), Ahmedabad. This post he will ini- Pestonjee has presented more than 60 pa- Army (PLA) hideout in Manipur. De- tially hold for a period of three years dur- pers in his field of specialization. His spite a gunshot in the shoulder, ing which time “he plans to do more in- latest book is Stress Management — A Pithawalla continued to lead the opera- tensive work on executive stress and Primer, due in ’92; prior to that he has tion until the PLA chief was captured mental health, and the linkages between authored eight other books. He provides alive and the recovery of arms, ammuni- organizational stress and work motiva- training and consultancy services to a tion and equipment made possible. tion and satisfaction, ” as notes the IIM- number of national and international or- Bangalore-born Pithawalla was at the Air Force Central School in Delhi and May ’92. later did his masters in commerce from Association in different capacities and was also the regional representative on the division of organizational psychology of the International Association of Ap- tion following his appointment to the plied Psychology. L&T chair in organizational behavior at A regular participant at international (IIM), Ahinedabad. This post he will ini ­ tially hold for a period of three years dur ­ ing which time “he plans to do more in ­ tensive work on executive stress and organizational stress and work motiva ­ tion and satisfaction, ” as notes the IIM- Ahmedabad ’s publication Alumnus of ganizations like the World Health Organ ­ isation and has guided 16 PhD theses with five more under way, the bio data ....... ....... 1- _________ " ' His present appointment at the IIM the Delhi University having represented Pestonjee combines with several other further mentions. 6 Parsiana September 1992 I» I Excellence awards for two For his rare contribution to equine breed ­ ing and for upgradation of the Indian breeding industry Poona ’s Zavaray Soli Poonawalla was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award ’91 by the Shiromani Institute of New Delhi. Outstanding accom ­ plishments in the field of finance and management earned Adi Bapuji Rabadi of Calcutta the same award, informs a press release. Thirty-six eminent personalities chosen for this year ’s awards were felicitated on August 20, 1992, the birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Union fi ­ nance minister Dr Manmohan Singh recognized the efforts of these dignitaries in promoting the socio-economic advancement of India and emphasized that human resource development should be given top priority to meet the chal ­ lenges of the next century. Poonawalla, the managing di ­ rector of the Poonawalla Stud Farms, is credited for his horses winning 127 classics and five con ­ secutive Indian Derbies, a record unsurpassed in India. He is also the managing director of the Serum Institute of India, the largest manu ­ facturer of quality biologicals in the country, aiding the government of India ’s immunization and family health scheme, informs his curricu ­ lum vitae. Rabadi, who is the vice chair ­ man and joint managing director of M. N. Dastur and Company, spe ­ cializes in financial planning, man ­ agement and industrial cost ac ­ counting for which he has earned distinctions like the Vijay Shree Award and the Vijay Rattna, it is reported. rupees to promote advanced studies in Gulshan F. Sunavala (advanced study universities overseas, according to the press release. Five-of the Zoroastrian girls opted for lege. New York) and Ms Zenobia F. Tar- aporewala (PhD in cell and mo lecular Maryland, College Among the the choice was varied: Ms Dilshad Bil- limoria (higher studies in flute, B Royal College of Music, London), Ms Dilshad J. Master (masters in telecommunications/mass commu ­ nications management, Michigan State University), Ms Firooza B. Pavri (masters in geography. Uni ­ versity of Toledo, Ohio), Ms Meher Dhondy Saran (masters in business administration, American Graduate School of International Management) and Ms Dilnaz B. Unwalla (masters in audiology and speech therapy, Ohio State Univer ­ sity, Athens). Of the four boys, three were go ­ ing to pursue a masters degree in science and the fourth, a masters in business*administration. Their cho- sen fields of specialization are: Hormuzd P. Commissariat (mas- ters in electrical and electronic en- gineering, Michigan State Univer- sity), Mehemosh Engineer (mas- * ters in metallurgy, Pennsylvania State University), Adil F. Mistry (masters in business administration ; — finance and banking. University i of Michigan, Ann Arbor) and < Jamshid J. Tata (masters in com ­ puter science, Arizona State Uni ­ versity). A brief on each of the students was proferred by Malegamvala: Billimoria ’s stay in London will enable her to train as a professional flautist. A self taught flautist, she impressed a visiting British Coun ­ cil conductor who recommended her to study at the Royal College of Music. A gifted musician, she is ] believed to have enormous poten ­ tial to enrich the quality of western music in Bombay. An engineering graduate in electron- ! ics from the Bombay University, Com- j missariat is known for his creative and _ „ innovative designs. When doing his with serious, steady application and ton State University), Ms Kerman P. masters in electrical engineering he will above all with a sense of responsibility, ” Dubash (masters in preventive veterinary specialize in communications, digital he continued. In its centenary year, the medicine, Ohio State University), Ms signal processes and image processing. J Endowment selected 120 Shireen C. Pavri (PhD in psychology. Plant physiology and plant molecular 1 Miami University, Ohio), Dr (Ms) biology are subjects which Deboo has program in oral and maxillo facial sur ­ gery, New York University, Dental Col- 1 t* 14 select scholars Of the 14 Parsis selected this year as Tata scholars by the J. N. Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Poonawalla (top) and Rabadi (below) Indians, 10 were women. “The future of receiving the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence the community belongs to the girls, ” Awards from Dr Manmohan Singh noted Dinshah Malegamvala, director of the Endowment. “It is a joy to come across such quality... intelligent, studious Deboo (PhD in biotechnology, Washing- with serious, steady application and ton State University), Ms Kennan P. science related subjects: Ms Gulshan B. scholars and expended over 36.40 lakh medicine, Ohio State University), Ms signal processes and image processing. 7 2 ’ 7 . • Plant physiology and plant molecular 8 Parsiana September 1992 I? chosen for her doctoral studies. Her MSc was in biotechnology with specialization in plant tissue culture. She switched from chemistry at the bachelors level (she had stood first in the examination conducted by the Pune University) to biotechnology at the masters level. On completion of her postgraduation she was training as a junior research fellow at the National Chemical Laboratory. International management is what Dhondy Saran plans to master in at the American Graduate School of Interna ­ tional Management which is considered the best' management school in the US today. A Jamshedpur girl she had passed the personnel management course at the Xavier Labour Relations Institute with a first class. She has subsequently gained work experience at the Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Limited. Assistant professor of veterinary sur ­ gery, Dubash chose to further qualify in the USA. At the bachelors level she had stood first in Maharashtra and subse ­ quently at the masters in veterinary sci ­ ence, she came first in surgery. Engineer plans to do his masters and doctoral studies in materials sciences specializing in composite materials. Ear ­ lier he had completed his BTech from the Indian Institute of Technology with high grades in metallurgical engineering. After her commerce graduation from Bangalore University with a first rank in taxation Master switched over to a post ­ graduation diploma specializing in video and film production at the Sophia Poly ­ technic. She has worked as a production crew member with a BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) team in Bom ­ bay and only recently completed a year as assistant director with a television unit making prime-time serials for the na ­ tional network. Finance and banking is what Mistry will specialize in while doing a masters in business administration. A commerce graduate from Sydenham College, Mis­ try later did his masters in commerce and completed the chartered accountants and cost accountants examinations winning innumerable prizes and scholarships. While doing his articles with Price Wa ­ terhouse, he gained considerable experi ­ ence of banking in a multinational setup. <¦ 1992 Tata scholars (clockwise from top left): Deboo, Dubash, Sunavala, Billi- moria, F. Pavri, Unwalla, Engineer, Tata, Mistry, Commissariat, Dhondy Saran, Master, Taraporewala and S. Pavri I While pursuing a masters course in geography, Firooza Pavri will specialize in environmental analysis, planning and computerized cartography. Even when she had studied geography at the Bom ­ bay University and secured a first rank, her specialization had been cartography. Shireen Pavri has opted for a masters in education and a certificate course in school psychology. Earlier she had stood first at the BA as also at the MA level in special education. Sunavala enjoys the distinction of be ­ ing a rank student in dental surgery at both the bachelors and masters level from the Bombay University. In addition to her academic excellence which has earned her several medals and scholar ­ ships, she is a keen athlete having parti ­ cipated in the javelin throw, shotTput, heptathlon at the college, state and na ­ tional levels. After completing her MSc from the Bombay University, securing a first rank in microbiology, Taraporewala has de ­ cided to do her doctorate in cell and mo ­ lecular biology. She was active in all college extra-currieular activities, par ­ ticularly dramatics, and has also helped in organizing seminars. A masters in computer science with specialization in software engineering, artificial intelligence and computer graphics is Tata ’s plan of study after completing his bachelor of engineering in computer science from the Bombay University. Tata trained in software con ­ sultancy at the Tata Consultancy Ser ­ vices. First Unwalla will do her masters de ­ gree in speech therapy. Thereafter she will undertake her doctorate on hearing disorders in children. Audiology and speech therapy was also the subject in which Unwalla completed her bachelors from the Bombay University as a rank student. Her work experience has been at Jai Vakil ’s School where she served as a speech therapist. As a result of many students being of ­ fered financial assistance by the overseas universities, “the award of Rs 36.40 lakhs of Tata scholarships has resulted in the award of Rs 2.64 crores as financial aid from American Universities to Tata scholars, ” notes Malegamvala. “When the US is in the grip of a recession and university grants have been slashed, we take this generous support to our students to be a recognition of the quality of Tata selections, ” he adds. continued on page 25 * 9 Parsiana September 1992ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD Zoroastrians prosper in Hongkong Zoroastrian presence in the area predates the establishment of Hongkong Arnavaz S. Mama “We may be among the richest anjumans 60-year-old structure in 1991 and its re- rest, the people are not out to change in the world, ” says Jimmy Master of placement the association that began the system. No one would object to the j Hongkong. Shoring up his statement The more than 147 years ago is gearing up for performance of rituals... The (r^ident) Incorporated Trustees of the Zoroastrian a new life in the avant-garde British col- priest (Ervad Burjor Bhada, ex Deolali) | Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and ony that is slated to return to China in Macau (ITZCFHCM) will shortly be five years ’ time. And, in doing so, the moving into their spanking new fully air- Zoroastrians are reverting to their older, conditioned granite and glass building confident, venturesome ethos that pro ­ 60-year-old structure in 1991 and its re- more than 147 years ago is gearing up for performance of rituals... The (resident) j J- - . is under no pressures. The trustees never | force him into doing anything not in ac- j cord with his own beliefs. ’’ As an ex- ; ample Master cites the mobed ’s refusal j to set foot in a crematorium or aquiesce > even to the ashes being buried in the 142- j year-old cemetery. | _______ Same day burial is the norm, notes | The two schools of thought regarding Master. Holding the body for a second | bers serve as pallbearers and the four-day and subsequent prayers are said. Three to four generations, of Parsi families have made Hongkong their , home. Nonetheless ties with the host a new life in the avant-garde British col ­ ony that is slated to return to China in five years ’ time. And, in doing so, the Zoroastrians are reverting to their older. moving into their spanking new fully air- whose total construction cost (exclusive pelled them into the region in the first of interior decor) is currently estimated at HK $ 32.43 million (approximately Rs 126.4 million). The association will occupy four floors of the 22-storeyed Zoroastrian Building which has replaced the original Master; “The future may improve dra- two-storeyed structure in a little more ’’ than a year, according to the memo cir ­ culated by association president Jal Shroff to community members. This will account for a social hall and kitchen, bar, children ’s room, ladies ’ room, prayer hall, library cum meeting room, priest and staff quarters. There is no provision for a guest house or dhararnshala. The rest of the area, amounting to over 33,000 square feet, will be leased out on commercial terms with shops and showrooms at street level. With the occupation permit expected by end November, the official opening of the building will be on March 21, 1993 but kong, Taiwan, Canton and Macau (con- Shroff hopes to move in earlier. project has been financed by mort ­ gaging the association ’s land to the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Cor ­ poration (HSBC). The 12-year term loan is expected to be repaid from the pro ­ ceeds of the rental income, according to Master. With a prominent corner position be ­ tween 1 Road, the Zoroastrian Building stands cheek by jowl with a variety of high- class commercial buildings, banks and hotels in downtown Hongkong. It will be professionally managed by Wayloong ing, ’’ he adds matter-of-factly. , Property Limited, a wholly owned sub- 3 * sidiary of the HSBC, providing 24-hour Zoroastrians could be regarded as more management service to the occupants. orthodox, more likely to wear the sudreh With the demolition of the original kusti and pray daily, says Master. For the place, even before Hongkong was estab ­ lished in the 1840s, as notes the histori ­ cal outline in the anjuman ’s directory. The two schools of thought regarding Master. Holding the body for a second j the future of Hongkong are delineated by day is exceptional. Community mem- i . « , . 1 . 1- , z-1 f-V* £» ¦fzxi lt»_. 017 T matically. If Hongkong flourishes, pro ­ perty prices will appreciate, resulting in a healthy income for the trust funds. The negative scenario is that the fall in the asset value of land will continue until it reaches zero by 1997 and the anjuman must earn before that date. ” Master, who does not subscribe cither to the dooms ­ day theory nor to its total-success 0 VZ V»* • W* — - — ---- Qy— - ~ 1 to lie somewhere in between. “It is likely secondary schooling in Hongkong before that by the time China assumes sover ­ eignty it will have become so involved in Hongkong that Hongkong ’s success will depend on China ’s management... Hong- } family in India remain fairly strong, says f Master and many have bought properties Tn/Un rAfirpmpnf nlan nr r . in India as part of their retirement plan or f as a second home. The general pattern in recent years | counterpart, expects the emerging reality was for the children to complet^ their . proceeding to the US, Canada or the UK I for further education, with the majority I opting for the UK and the cream of the community migrating to North America. With the establishment of several new I % s The stitute) a separate region in terms of institutions of higher learning in Hong ­ prosperity and a population bloc of 80 kong, that compulsion may now cease to Hamilton and completed his masters from London University. The older gen ­ erations by contrast had no such intellec- million. These people have experienced apply, feels Master who graduated from the most rapid development, success and " ’ ’ - prosperity. They will not be agreeable to giving it up, ” says Master, a businessman whose export-import trade in textiles and tual exposure. They had hardly ever garments, like that of other fellow even completed their schooling before Zoroastrians, is said to be substantially being thrust into the family business^ In Leighton Road and Hoi Ping based on sourcing in India for export to ¦ ¦¦ •• • other countries. But Hongkong Zoroastri ­ ans are too small a community “to make any difference to anybody. We (have to) Parsi houses enjoyed years ago, keen our heads down and get on with liv- admits. Today there are 181 Parsis in Hong- other cases their career was interrupted by World War II. Conversely, “no Parsi trading house today enjoys the status that - • ¦------ ................. » he keep our heads down and get on with liv- The older generation of Hongkong kong as per the 1991-92 directory, with 50 families and 27 individuals. Accord ­ ing to Master many are on short or me ­ dium term postings and there may be orthodox, more likely to wear the sudreh 10 Parsiana September 1992 Lrecognized by the the old guard of the 1950s to the late 1970s had aged and required to step down. The social events include a weekly dinner and cards on Friday in ad ­ dition to 14 specific events in 1992 listed in the directory. “Adventuresome Parsis... ‘went East ’ several more “who choose not to make updated and their presence known. ” An occasional navjote or wedding is held in Hongkong, an additional priest ductible. being flown in from Bombay. But the general tendency is to hold the function pered, it rented its first property for com ­ in India. munity use in 1857 and went on to pur- Describing his Hongkong brethren as chase its first house at Elgin Street four for fame and fortune between the two “an insular community, ” Master explains years later. This property was later sold World Wars. Wherever P&O mail/pas- that there is a great deal of intracommu- and a plot acquired on Leighton Road on nity contact but little contact on the which the trust ’s first one-storeyed build ­ intercommunity level. “Our primary con ­ cern is with India — communities else- storey being added in 1970. During the Shanghai, Kobe, Yokohama... World where have no locus standi. If an appeal (for funds) comes from India, it is con ­ sidered. If it comes from other places, Hongkong government as a charity orga ­ nization, donations to which are tax de ­ As the mercantile community pros- senger ships stopped there were Parsi families: Bombay, Colombo, Rangoon, ing was constructed in 1931, a second Penang, Singapore, Hongkong, Canton, it’s just not considered! (There is a War II packed most of their return to In ­ dia. And from the 1950s the Parsi going abroad was a different breed — well edu ­ cated and far better suited to life in the West. Yet today the economic growth of the world is in the Far East, ” is how Ma- nek Daver of Japan sums up the Zoroas ­ trian presence in the area. The only flaw in Daver ’s assessment of Zoroastrian set ­ tlements in the great cities washed by the China Sea is the timing — they went much before World War I to help in the building of Hongkong. Names such as Mody Street and Kotewall Street attest to the contribution of ’the Parsi community to the wealth of Hongkong, writes Jon ­ athan Braude in the South China Morn­ ing Post of October 27, 1991. Jamsetji Jejeebhoy “traded in Guangzhou before the foundation of Hongkong. He became a partner of Jardine Matheson and Com ­ pany (his portrait by Chinnery can still be seen at the corporate headquarters on the 48th floor of Jardine House) and a di ­ rector of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, ” informs Kevin Sinclair in an ear ­ lier article in the same paper and repro ­ duced in Hamazor, the newsbulletin of Only recently the trust fund appointed the World Zoroastrian Organisation. Re- its first lady trustee — Ms Ruby Master, counting highlights of Parsi achieve- The proposal had been stymied on three strong belief that) Indian Zoroastrians need preferential treatment and support... Up to two or three years ago everything, the minutes, proceedings o£ meetings, etc of the association were written in Gujarati and read out in Gujarati at the annual general meeting, ” he adds, attest ­ ing to the conservatism of Hongkong Parsis. However, “religious issues have never been of burning importance, ” says Mas ­ ter. “When Khojeste Mistree (founder of Zoroastrian Studies) came a year or two ago, he had a massive response. People sat with him till midnight. When people come, they are well received but there is no active encouragement on a regular basis. ” The Hongkong directory traces the Master: “not out to change the system” history of the anjuman to 1822 when a piece of land was obtained in Macau for the establishment of a Parsi cemetery. Though records indicate that the China functioning from rented premises Canton Anjuman was established in 1834 Causeway Hill. it was only in 1845 that the Zoroastrians of the region “met in Canton to create a proper anjuman body for the mainte ­ nance of the burial grounds, a place of occasions before the change was incor- association and for rendering assistance porated in the trust deed, says Jimmy to the needy, ” informs the directory. Cemeteries were also established in Hongkong (1845), Whampoa (1847) and Shroff who is president, secretary Viraf scientious and outspoken Legco member Shanghai (1854). Parekh who publishes the directory, Keki in the 1960s. The trust deed of the anjuman dates to Jokhi, Homi Italia and Ms Master) may “The Ruttonjees, closely allied with 1874. Thereafter there were two major be elected to unlimited five year terms, the House of Jardine over the decades, revisions. The first in 1920 was effected ........... by Justice Dinshaw Daver of the Bombay I can ’t recall a single contested election. ” High Court in response to certain dis ­ putes and differences, according to the directory write-up. Then in 1989, to ac- which is proposed, seconded and carried “The first steam ferries that plodded commodate the increasing size and com- in the belief that a contested election is over the harbor in 1888 were operated by plexity of the trust funds as also the likely to lead to bad blood. In the upshot Dorabji Nowroji. “Probably the most famous Parsi busi­ nessman was Hormusji Mody, opium auctioneer and land developer. He is re- Photo: Varghese Fernandez current rebuilding activity the anjuman is on Master. The trust ’s five trustees (currently ments in the colony Sinclair elaborates, “Heerjibhoy Ruttonjee -was the first of that noted clan who came to Hongkong in 1843. One of his descendants was the much respected Dhun Ruttonjee, a con- Parekh who publishes the directory, Keki Jokhi, Homi Italia and Ms Master) may be elected to unlimited five year terms. But Jimmy Master says, “In my lifetime built the sanatorium named after them and funded a lot of medical care for tu ­ berculosis victims in the era when it was In practice the procedure is one of inter ­ nal selection of the incumbent trustee still a major and dreaded killer, which is proposed, seconded and carried in the belief that a contested election is planned redevelopment of its Zoroastrian the inflow of new individuals among Building property, the trust was in- trustees is sa'id to be very rare. It was said corporated and its rules and regulations -that the 1980s saw changes only because 11 Parsiana September 1992 ¦0 membered by Mody Road in Tsim Sha Tsui but he was also active with his Ar ­ menian partner Paul Chater in develop ­ ing the praya along the central water ­ front, the engineering work that gave Hongkong at the turn of the century its own character. Mody donated $ 300,000 to found the University of Hongkong, a stupendous sum in those days and the gift earned him a knighthood. His generosity also helped him construct the Kowloon Cricket Club on Cox ’s Road, an area where many Parsis and wealthy Indians then lived. ” Naorojee Burjorjee Futakia seems to be a typical example of the tum-of-the- century Parsi, going to Hongkong in 1900 at the age of eight. “A tough- minded optimist with implicit faith in Ahura Mazda, ” he withstood the losses of war, communist insurgence and domestic tribulations with equal forti ­ tude, holding it as his philosophy that “a man never fails until he gives up trying, ” as notes an obituary of the one-time trustee published in the anjuman ’s news ­ letter when he died in 1980. As Shroff told Sinclair, “We ’ve been in Hongkong a long time. We ’ll be around for a lot longer yet. ” VOUNG €NGIN€€RS You are needed by an expanding Company, presently a market leader In Hydraulic and CMC Metal Forming Machines (exporting also) and diversifying Into two large projects with a tenfold turnover In 4 years. MATRIMONIAL If you are a young, talented engineer ready to work with top management and want challenge and growth for your dedication and hard work, you are the right person. Correspondence invited from sophisticated, well-groomed and well-educated Zoroastrian men up to 55 years for a 49-year-old research psychologist, temporarily posted in Switzerland. An attractive remuneration and friendly atmosphere will be an added benefits. Please apply with details and photograph (returnable) to: Write to: The Managing Director, Himalaya Machinery Pvt. Ltd. HIMALAYA 608, G.I.D.C. Makarpura, BARODA (GUJARAT) 390010. The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (Sept/35-92) GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 * ! J For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324, Grant Road, Bombay 400007. Telephone 3073483 Fax 3099648 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 12 Parsiana September 1992POLITICS AND POLICY The 1992 BPP Elections Parties and Pacts The lead that the ZCWA initially enjoyed is being challenged by the other parties Gustasp Irani As the Bombay Parsi Punchayet Anju- formed an electoral alliance since the man Committee elections eventually get under way, a total of 1,632 candidates ___ ____ out of 4,812 registered voters have their Each party withdrew some of their nomi ­ nations to prevent a splitting of votes. This compromise accounts for a large share of the 122 nominations that were withdrawn before the cutoff date, No ­ vember 15,1992. In constituencies where the combined sounded out Patrawala ’s group on the strength of the CER and JC is less than possibility of a^ mutual understanding, the number of seats at stake, the CER but the offer was spumed. The Patrawala will be supporting independents as well ' as select persons from the ZCWA slate. “The CER is not a party in the strict combined strength of the two groups ex ­ ceeded the number of seats at stake. candidates. ” And talking of trustees, will Marazban Patrawala, member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly be in the fray? Re ­ ports from a number of sources indicate that a group owing allegiance to him will be contesting the Anjuman Committee elections from the Colaba constituency. Initially, the CER is believed to have 1 hat in the ring. With 802 seats at stake, about every other candidate will win. Of the total, 684 are Zoroastrian Cul ­ tural Welfare Association (ZCWA) can ­ didates. According to Dr Syrus Irani, president of ZCWA, 19 of his party can ­ didates over four constituencies with ­ drew their nominations after being, what he describes as “unfairly ” influenced by members of other parties. In particular, it is the Committee for Economic Re ­ vival (CER-formerly Committee for sense of the word. We support all indi ­ viduals who we believe are independent- minded and have the best interest of the Parsi community at heart, ” Dinshaw Mehta, a key member of the CER, ex ­ plains their strategy. Commenting on the CER’s alliance with the JC, Mehta observes: “Our December 5, r992. The schedule and the _ _ „ venue of the different polling centers group later reconsidered the offer, only to find that the CER had already reached an understanding with the JC. As a result the Colaba constituency has the highest proportion, 2.52 candidates for every seat available. At the other end of the scale, the Worli constituency has the lowest proportion, 1.76 candidates per seat. The casting of votes will commence Electoral Rights) that he holds respon ­ sible for a shift in loyalties among 18 of his members in the Byculla constituency who switched sides to join the CER- endorsed Kersi Limathwalla group. In the Dadar constituency, the Adi Doctor orthodox slate of 81 candidates has the endorsement of both the ZCWA understanding is for the Anjuman Com- venue of the different polling centers mittee elections only. For the trusteeship have been announced; December 5 — elections, each one will support its own and the Jashan Committee (JC). The other Dadar group of independent candi- dates, put together by Ms Pervina Doctor and Ms Silla Motivala among others, is being endorsed by the CER. The CER will also support the can ­ didates of the Petrasp Patel group in the Khar- eghat Colony constitu ­ ency. Certain other constitu ­ encies have witnessed the emergence of strange bed- fellowji with the CER-and the JC reaching an under ­ standing to support each other ’s candidates. In the Colaba and Fort constitu ­ encies, these two groups 13 Parsiana September 1992 * Electoral distribution of constituencies Constituency Colaba Fort Kalbadevi Malabar Hill Worli Parel Dadar Borivli, Goregaon and Jogeshwari Bandra and Mahim Tardeo and Hughes Road J Grant Road K Denoted by A B C D E F G H Allocated seats 74 90 79 71 84 49 81 72 I 69 79 54 Head Office Building, 209 Dr D. N. Contesting candidates 187 181 156 145 148 95 190 147 138 149 96 Road, Fort; December 6 —_Khareghat Memo ­ rial Hall, Khareghat Colony; December 12 — Palamkote Hall, Dadar Parsi Colony; December 13 — Rec ­ reation Centre, Bharu- cha Baug, Andheri (W); December 19 — Play Centre, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug; De ­ cember 20 — Head of ­ fice Building, Fort. Voting can be done on any of the six days at any center irrespective of the constituency one is affiliated to.POLITICS AND POLICY COVER STORY A matter of trust Gustasp Irani Dr Syrus Irani believes he would be better able to empathize with the community’s problems than any of the affluent trustees of the Punchayet BPP treated her. -What I saw at the face. Charity housing, he points out, is Doongerwadi, and not just in my To understand 43-year-old Dr Syrus D. Irani, the eighth of 11 children, is to real ­ ize that he still lives under the shadow of mother ’s case, made me realize how his father Darvish Irani, the poor migrant poor Parsis lived and how little the trus- Irani Zoroastrian who served as the cus- tees (of the BPP) understood then prob- todian of Bombay ’s Towers of Silence lems, ” says Irani. Little did they under- for 45 years up to the time of his death in , ,4 1980. To Irani, the simple lifestyle of his '' father is a touchstone, a constant point of J reference that keeps creeping into the in- I tCTview. It is almost as though Darvish | Irani is still sitting in the pavilion outside | the lower bunglis, a brightly colored | Irani hanky tied around his head, worry- | ing his string of beads and watching his | son who aspires to be elected to the I board of trustees of the Bombay Parsi | Punchayet (BPP) — the same body he I had served with unfailing dedication and I devotion. I Not surprisingly Irani informs us that I the idea of becoming a BPP trustee first | germinated in events that took place in the household of Darvish at the Doonger ­ wadi in 1988. In April that year, Irani ’s widowed mother, Goolbanu, who took on her husband ’s job and responsibilities Irani: "I shall carry on my fight" after his death, received a letter from the BPP office that as she had reached the age of superannuation she was being re ­ tired from her duties the following month community: for decent affordable hous- and should surrender the accommodation i which went with the job. Irani immedi- tional institutions, for proper religious For starters Irani obtained the mem- ately moved the courts for a stay order guidance and even to have a good meal bership list of the new general register of against her eviction and through the legal once in a while. “Why are they not using the BPP and started breaking down the system worked out an understanding that all those ghambar funds they manage? I alphabetic listing of 19,000 plus names his mother would stay on at the Doonger- know how I looked forward to eating at a according to localities. “I would work late into the night writing down names and addresses by hand, ” he recalls. The job done, his band of volunteers started fanning out in the city appealing to Parsis to collect their registration certificates under the new election scheme of the BPP and even offering to do so on their behalf. Often the reward for their efforts was a front door slammed in their face. ¦f? Photo: Gustasp Irani stand the real needs of the poor of the ing, for reservations in jobs and educa ­ tional institutions, for proper religious for the poor but the rents the BPP is ask ­ ing excludes them: “How do they expect poor Parsis to pay over Rs 1,000 per month? ” On the issue of reservation quotas he observes: “They can afford to say that the community does not need any special benefits because they have comfortable jobs and do not have to struggle for a living, like most others. ” In religious matters, he believes that their views, which milfy be commended by their peers, are not necessarily shared by the rest of the community. The time has come, Irani feels, for a complete over ­ haul of the board of trustees. The new trustees, he hopes, will reflect and under ­ stand the fears and aspirations of the community. The chance of effecting such a change presented itself when the new scheme for election of the Anjuman Committee (AC) and trustees of the BPP filtered through the legal system in December 1991 after a protracted period of wran ­ gling and delays. In February 1992 Irani called a meeting of the Zoroastrian Cul ­ tural Welfare Association (ZCWA), a cultural and charitable organization of which he is the founder president, and under its banner set out on the election campaign trail. I**' his mother would stay on at the Doonger- 1 ....................... wadi till alternative accommodation was ghambar as a small boy. I can still recall provided to her at Godrej Baug. She how much I loved the dal they served at however died before she could move and a ghambar held at Alibag. ” according to Irani she lived the last two ~ years of her life in constant dread, for her son had dared to challenge the might of Irani, is that they have all come from the the BPP. “This lady had worked for 50 years in a thankless job and this was the way the hardships their poorer brethren have to The root of the problem with the cur ­ rent lot of BPP trustees, according to affluent segment of the community and are not in touch with the realities and 15 Parsiana September 1992» ) “The BPP has done a lot for housing in the past 10 years, ” Irani concedes, but adds; “However, the system of allotment is not just. It is not the poor and the real needy Parsis who have benefitted. ” He then the election of the AC from October points out that the merit rating system “Parsis are fed up with the Punchayet CER and the BPP but according to Irani, and its trustees. They just don ’t want to get involved, ” says Irani pointing out that only about 5,000 bothered to get their new certificates by the middle of nations was shifted to September 17, October. To compound their problem they had to December and that of the two trustee has been manipulated. “For some there to convince 802 Parsis, from 11 constitu- ’ “ ' encies spread across the city, to stand for the AC elections on the ZCWA slate. Since the Fort constituency was proving to be a particularly difficult one, Irani and three other volunteers sei aside two Sundays in May to comb the area for candidates. From 9 in the morning to 8 in the evening, they went from house to house with their appeal and persuaded 96 Parsis to fill in nomination forms. “We were able to do this because of my father. When people heard I was Darvish Irani ’s son they would invite me into their house, ” Irani recalls. As a result of systematic campaigning, Irani claims that the ZCWA was the only party or group which had a slate of 802 'I'ndiilftLi' ¦ , ? candidates ready by end May 1992 — The bereft family mourns the death of the original cut-off point for filing of Darvish Irani Photo Rashid Bamanbehram nominations (this included a group of 81 candidates from Dadar led by Adi Doctor which the ZCWA proposed to support). Subsequently, the elections were post ­ poned and September 1, 1992 was set as the last day for filing of nominations. In the weeks that followed the BPP issued a series of notices in the Press intimating the latest development on the election front. Irani monitored and responded to each twist, and as the new deadline ap ­ proached, his ZCWA was the only group once again that was fully prepared. Of the 1,133 nominations filed, 802 be ­ longed to ZCWA, according to Irani. The election campaign, however, had be ­ come an entirely new ball game. The Committee for Economic Re ­ forms (CER — formerly Committee for all filed separate pleas for postponement. Electoral Rights) which had swept the earlier election, moved the courts in an attempt to get an extension of the nomi- it fell upon the ZCWA rather than the BPP to counter every move. Initially the last date for filing nomi- I posts from December 1992 to February are 10 rules why they cannot be given a 1993. The ZCWA challenged the post ­ ponements and got them rescheduled to their original dates. Only now the elec ­ tion of the AC was slated for the last two point. He argues that under the current H system, a person allotted a flat ¦ might be a deserving case but the ¦ moot point is that often a more m deserving one has been denied ™ accommodation. To remedy the situation he be- lieves that the trustees them- J selves should verify each case , personally rather than send repre ­ sentatives of the BPP to do the job. “But our present lot of trust- (• ees are so busy with their own ca- h- reers, where do they have the time to do something like that? Many of them do not even have time to attend board meetings regularly. ” Trustees elected on the ZCWA platform will, according to Irani, make a commitment to check out each days of October instead of the beginning application personally and further should of the month. The CER protested once they find that they do not have the tintg, more. The scheme allowed nominations to be filed up to 30 days before the date of the election. They got the last date for personal capacity, he states that should filing nominations fixed at September he become a trustee he will resign from 30. Since the BPP notice to this effect was issued after this date the CER filed for further postponement of the entire election schedule. On Friday October 23, the day before the courts went on a two- week Diwali recess, they won their case. Once more the AC elections were shifted to December and the trusteeship elec ­ tions to February 1993. “The three CER trustees, Guzder and Minoo Shroff, and two CER around BPP,” a suggestion was made members. Fall Poncha and Noshir Mehta flat and for others there are no rules, ” says Irani. He points out a number of out-of-turn allotments to illustrate his I to attend board meetings, they will vol ­ untarily resign from their posts. In his the Jain Mahila Samaj charitable trust where he is the honorary medical practi ­ tioner and devote the two hours between 2 and 4 p.m. he sits at their clinic every day to trust matters. And more, he will sit in the BPP office on Saturdays and Sundays, if the need arises. Criticisms also came the way of the BPP Skiff. In ‘-leaflets reportedly distri- Jamshced Kanga, Jamshed buted by Irani ’s “well-wishers in and that “All superannuated staff in BPP must resign. These jobs must be given to This alone shows that these three trustees our knowledgeable youths for the growth had put their own personal interest above of our community. ” the interest of the community and fair nation deadline on technical grounds, play, ” says Irani. But he is not deterred. Irani saw it as a blatant bid to gain lime as the CER had managed to scrape to ­ gether only about 250 candidates at that lime. “Instead of fighting the election over issues that concern the community, the CER was squabbling over dales in the courts, ” says Irani who likened what followed to a “legal tug-of-war. ” Tech ­ nically, the legal battle was between the and religious mailers. “God is on the side of the just and I shall carry on my fight for the poor of the community, ” he declares. Irani believes that there are three ar- ca.s the trustees of the BPP should give special attention and priority to — hous ­ ing of poor Parsis, reservation quotas for Parsis in jobs and educational institutions Irani ’s ‘glass house ’ which his critics keep reminding him about is that mem ­ bers of his family, himself included, have been allotted five BPP tenements over the years. “But, of course, and I’m not denying that. Punchayet housing is meant for poor families like mine, ” he retorts. He informs us that his father had 11 children and after 45 years of serving the BPP he was earning a “handsome ” continued on page 24 16 Parsiana September T992t POLITICS AND POLICY COVER STORY Leading the court campaign Gustasp Irani CER’s repeated trips to the court seeking extensions and clarifications has fortified its position in the 1992 Anjuman Committee elections The 1992 Anjuman Committee (AC) in 1981; but we were certainly not elections of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet asleep. ” (BPP) will probably be remembered as the first one held under the new scheme. It may also be an election more hotly as “a bit absurd ” that about 4,000 Parsis contested in the courts of law than at the hustings. The main legal contention ap ­ pears to have been a question of when the elections should be held rather than reference to the issues that concerned the Parsis. In the ensuing legal tug-of-w'ar the Committee for Economic Revival (CER, formerly the Committee for Elec ­ toral Rights) which controlled the outgo ­ ing AC, emerged triumphant when the courts allowed for a postponement of the schedule. This victory was crucial for, as one active CER member observed: “We would have lost the elections even before the first vote was cast. ” The dilemma the party faced was that as the original September 1 deadline for filing nomina ­ tions approached, it found that it was able to scrape up only around 250 candi ­ dates to contest the 802 seats at stake. One of the main persons guiding the fortunes of the CER through the legal maze was reputed lawyer Rusi Sethna of Manekshah and Sethna, a well-known law firm in Bombay. Sethna clarifies the position of the party thus: “As I look at CER, its pri ­ mary objective was fulfilled when it brought about an awareness in the com ­ munity as regards its electoral rights way back in the 1981 elections. Apart from that, its other aim was that the AC should elect trustees (of the BPP) regardless of them again when the deed was done, the party they belong to. We never looked at ourselves as a party in a formal thing like that when you are dealing with sense.' However, when it came to the election of the present AC I am inclined to agree that we were not as organized as Looking at both sides of the coin of the new election scheme, Sethna sees it F' 17 Parsiand September 1992 Sethna: ensure effective representation Photo: Gustasp Irani the CER though it was undoubtedly a product of its efforts. Personally, he would have preferred a more compact electoral college of an equal number of members elected from the General Reg ­ ister and the Donor Register. Such a scheme, he points out, was in the offing till some of the donors objected. Returning to the existing scheme, Sethna points out that it has a number of built-in flaws that needed to be, ironed out and it was for this reason the CER had to appeal to the courts of law. “The system needed to be rationalized. First, there was the issue of demarcation of constituencies and second, the problem of adhering to the scheme ’s timetable, ” says Sethna. Referring to the first problem of con ­ stituency demarcation, he observes: “The idea of having constituencies is that a voter knows the person he or she is vot ­ ing for. Its main purpose is to ensure ef ­ fective representation of the community. But all that is lost under the present cir ­ cumstances. ” For one, he points out that over the last decade there has been a ma ­ jor shift in the Parsi population from the will be voting for 802 seats (he does not city center to the suburbs and even other believe that all the 5,000 plus who have collected their new General Register cer ­ tificates will vote). On the positive side, the sheer size of the AC will make it al ­ most impossible to dictate to it. Sethna refers to instances in the past when the certificates of AC members were held by certain individuals who issued them to members who came to vote and collected Ik parts of the world. Furthermore, the de ­ marcation of the 11 constituencies has been, at best, arbitrary. “You cannot do that sitting in an office drawing lines on the map of the city on the basis of rec ­ ords that arc over 10 years old. Even if it means spending money, I believe you have to go from door to door updating your records, ” says Sethna. A fallout of such an exercise would be a better under- “It’s extremely difficult to pull some- standing of the real problems facing the community, and also a knowledge of the true strengths of the community. That aside, such an effort would in ­ volve time, which leads invariably to the 802 people, ” Sethna observes. He, however, clarifies that the new election scheme was not the creation ofI other problem Sethna identified in the current election scheme — adherence to schedules set by the courts which re ­ 0 1 I was born with a silver spoon in his her at the time, the flat should automai mouth; they did not come from very rich cally revert to the BPP to be allotted j " •--------- ------------ ------------------------- '•'2 “Of coursd speak for myself and not on behalf of u CER,” Sethna clarifies his position. One area the trustees should stei tions. “If we can get a minority status clear of is religion. “I am of the vie with dignity I see no problem in accept- - ¦ ¦ ¦ - families. They all have made the grade another deserving Parsi. quired the process to be completed through their own efforts, ” he protests, within a specified period. In effect, ac- ’ cording to Sethna, what the CER was seeking through its legal action was a guarantee that there would be fair and ef ­ fective representation of the community on the AC (the prime objective of any election process), thus defeating the de ­ signs of any single group taking undue advantage of the flaws in the system. Commenting on the office of trustee ­ ship of the BPP, Sethna believes that it should be devalued. “Don ’t treat them as gods; view them as servants, ” he advises all concerned. According to him, to be a good BPP trustee a person must possess three qualities: “One, vision and by vi ­ sion I mean that he should be able to see far ahead into the future. Two, the abil ­ ity to take a decision, right or wrong. And three, boldness and persistence to implement that decision. ” Sethna refutes the allegation that the present trustees of the BPP are insensi ­ tive to the needs of the average Parsi be ­ cause they hail from the more affluent This leads to the question of reservations for Parsis in jobs and educational institu- “We were not as organized as in 1981: but we were certainly not asleep” that they should not dabble in religio These matters should be left to religio scholars, ” says Sethna. And by religio scholars he refers not only to the pries but all recognized authorities on Zoros trianism, Parsi and non-Parsi, from Inc and all over the world. Finally, Sethna addresses the specu tion about his standing for election to I board of trustees of the BPP. “I do i believe in taking on something I knov won ’t be able to do, ” he states, referri to his flourishing law practice and otl responsibilities like his position as mi aging trustee of the R. D. Sethna Tr ing it. But we should definitely refuse to grovel for it,” says Sethna. _ _ Other concessions the BPP should which make it difficult for him to seek, according to Sethna, are from the aside the time he believes such a co Rent Act and those tax exemptions mitment would involve. “If and whe which are not available to our commu ­ nity trusts on the grounds that Parsis are a micro community. The specific Rent Act exemption Sethna refers to is that segment of the community. “Except for when a Parsi residing in a BPP flat dies possibly one trustee none of the others L-1 ' J **’ ' and has no relatives living with him or do ease off on my other activities I \ give it consideration, ” he adds. But, course, he points out, there is one asp that might prove to be a problem wl and if such a time comes. “My pipe, ” says from behind a cloiid of smoke. 4 Vi Best Wishes From RUSY & PURVIZ SHROFF9 ART JUSSAWALLA'S model commitment ¦ Gustasp Irani r . J if ri J’l B iiO HilBL' ’jss^ By his painstaking creations Burjor Jussawalla is rediscovering the dignity of labor of an older generation of Parsi craftsmen 20 Parsiana September 1992 On seeing splintered glass — the telltale sleep I am always thinking about my sign of a road accident — most people work, ” he says. He seeks ideas for new ‘tut-tut ’ sympathetically and drive models or how to refine small details — on. Not one Bombay Parsi a cross or maybe the afargan — in the k though. He stops to examine the existing ones. “I don ’t stop. I continu- I mess and without attracting too B much attention to himself collects ’ fistfuls of the glass splinters in a hanky before moving on. Back home he sorts out his booty: weeding out the slivers with sharp order, edges, he matches the rest for a close fit, piecing them together into a coni- Not one Bombay Parsi ously keep improving on.what I am do ­ ing. No two pieces are the same, espe ­ cially since everything is handmade. ” He adds that he has very little ready stock of the models and most are mad«^ According to Jussawalla, the afargans with agiary clock towers are his bestsell- cal dome which will house the flame of ers and can be found in Parsi households his model afargan (holy fire container). Around this afargan he constructs a model of the sanctum of a fire-temple, adding details like prayer books, bells and a tray with a pair of tongs, sandal ­ wood sticks and a chumuch (long buy in bulk —10 pieces at a time — tc handled, flat spoon). In the upper section of this miniature agiary is embedded a quartz clock. Meet Burjor Jussawalla, in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany and Sri Lanka. Nearei home they are found in Goa, Mahablesh- war, and of course Bombay and Pune He has a list to prove his point. Many distribute as presents. The Hindu temples are particular, favorites as gift items, h< adds. “The Parsi community may be verj wood sculptor and model craftsman of small but their business acumen is good remarkable ingenuity. If you do something good and different But Jussawalla has more than afargans they are the first to encourage you, ” says and clock tower agiaries to offer. He fab ­ ricates miniature temples and churches with nightlamps and timepieces built into the structures. '------ — * --------------- items like model pendulum clocks and received though at one he had to b< calendars with company logos. The content with comments like, “how sweet, ” and “how charming, ” rather that sales. Of course, these “sweet ” and “charm ing ” displays, Jussawalla explains, an the end result of a lot of sweat and bone If you do something good and different Jussawalla whose work was on display at stalls in five exhibitions in Bombaj city and its suburbs. In most of thes< There are conventional exhibitions his models were wel The unconventional pieces include calendars with company logos. more handcarts and skulls fitted with clocks, and owls with eyes that glow bright red at night. “I can make almost anything. I am always looking for new ideas of what to make, ” says Jussawalia. The idea of aching toil. He works in his sudreh ani the skull cloQk, for instance, sprang from the pages of a magazine. “When going to kusti at his Bharucha Baug flat will simple and improvised tools. He showus his hammer which combines an ice pick and bottle opener, and his set of chisels made by filing down the ends of broken saw pieces. Only the quartz clock with dial and hands he buys from out ­ side, the rest he fabricates himself. He uses only teak wood and though the work he does may be delicate, he assures us that it is physically taxing. The steeples, the crosses, the pillars, the doors, all are 1. .si k }• ¦T I Ingeniously designed clock tower agiary finely carved and demanding. “Do you know how many operations go into this model? ” Jussawalla asks as he fondly cradles the clock tower that houses an afargan. No, he does not know himself, but assures us that it is far more than one would imagine. “Carving is a gift God has given me, ’ says Jussawalla. Nevertheless it took him over 50 years to tap the full potential of this craft; and he was compelled to ¦ IL. ¦ ¦ i y / 'm >9 o Jussawalla: "I can make almost anything” ( pursue it because of the circumstances he found himself in. “I was jobless. I might I look young but once potential employers learnt my age (I am 55 today), they would say ‘sorry. ’” So in 1990 he took courage in his hands — also hammer, chisel and improvised tools — and con ­ verted what was an indulgence and a hobby into a full-time commitment. With every new piece he made he re ­ built his own self-esteem and redis ­ covered the dignity of labor his Parsi forefathers had valued. Most of the Parsi youths today, he laments, look down on working with their hands in general, and its superstitious beliefs. As a result he no on carpentry in particular. ‘“Who wants longer carves owl nightlamps as owls are to hammer nails? ’that is their attitude, ” says Jussawalla. Looking back at his own youth, Jus ­ sawalla would have liked to have put his talent to productive use earlier in his life. “If I had started when I was 18...” No, he has no regrets that he did not start young, for he believes strongly in destiny. “Life best clients, advises him each time she is like a film, it’s predetermined. We are just experiencing it as it unfolds, ” he ob ­ serves. And as the film on Jussawalla unfolds, we find him working on wood carvings in the carpentry shop of Boys Town School in Nasik where he briefly studied. Later he would carve logo calendars for a comes to check out his work: “Tari khopdi mane na batao (don ’t show me your skull). ” As we travel back after the meeting, we come upon a patch of shattered glass strewn on the road and think of Jussa ­ walla toiling in his sudreh and kusti in - „-------------------- his small apartment in Andheri, wood director of J. N. Marshall, a company he shavings scattered around him: appar- was to join in 1963 as head of the carpen- ’ '' ' try department. From here he moved to Nat Steel and was transferred to Poona. After 15 years of service he resigned and returned to Bombay in 1980 only to dis ­ cover that jobs in the city were not as easy to come by as he had imagined. For 10 years he knocked about doing odd jobs, including one in 1985 which in ­ volved the renovation of Late Night, a restaurant in Andheri which belonged to his neighbor Ms Mehroo Irani. When Jussawalla took to full-time model carv ­ ing in 1990, Irani was one of the first to encourage him in his efforts and even to ­ day gives quiet support. And, of course, there is the backing of his wife of 17 years, Banoo. Over the years Jussawalla has come to accept struggles and battle as part of life, yet he is greatly perturbed by the friction that is part of the Parsi community. “Ev ­ erywhere you go, you will find two con ­ tentious groups of Parsis fighting over everything, ” he observes. “We have to learn unity if we are to survive today, when everything is changing. ” Though he laments over the plight of the community he makes concessions to With every new piece he made, he rebuilt his own self-esteem 4 believed to be bad omens. Likewise a steeple has replaced the afargan that ear ­ lier crowned his agiary.clock tower mod ­ els as a priest pointed out that the holy fire should not be exposed, but protected. And of course his skull clock is not one of his popular designs. A lady, one of his ently one of the last practitioners of a once proud Parsi tradition of master carpenters. Or does he herald a renais ­ sance? Parsiana September 1992PROFESSIONS Summoned by the sea Seniormost Zoroastrian naval officer Rear Admiral Keki Pestonji would like to see more Parsi boys and girls in the Indian Navy Gustasp Irani 1971: Somewhere in the Arabian Sea. Under cover of the night an Indian Navy Ship with an ambitious young Parsi naval officer on board, slips past enemy sur ­ veillance. Big guns boom as shells rain down on the port city of Karachi. 1979; Off the coast of Goa. A merchant ship, M V Nandmayur, is in distress near the Vengurla Rocks. The Parsi, now the commanding officer of the naval vessel INS Betwa, braves the turbulent sea and rushes in to save and salvage the ship. 1980: Bonn, Germany. The same Parsi officer is now posted here as the Indian naval attache. Rear Admiral Keki Peslonji, tall and unmistakably brisk in his military bear ­ ing, has experienced all the romance the sea and a naval career has to offer — and more. He has been decorated with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1989 for dis ­ tinguished service of an exceptional or ­ der; the Nausena Medal in 1979 for dis ­ tinguished service as commanding offi- miral identified himself. The guard snap ­ ped to attention, flashed a crisp salute and waved us on. At each checkpost the exercise was repeated as Pestonji took us on a brief tour of the naval base, a do ­ main he presided over with apparent af ­ fection and pride. His bonds with the base, we were to learn later, go back a long way. As a young lieutenant he was selected, in 1968, to set up a naval academy at Co ­ chin, the first of its kind in India. Build ­ ing it up from scratch he worked out the syllabus, the administrative structure and organized the inputs required by the in ­ stitution. When the Indian Navy launched INS Godavri, the first ever frigate of its type designed and constructed indigenously, they entrusted it to the command of Pestonji. As commanding officer of the ship he successfully ‘interfaced ’ a mix of weapons and sensor systems of Indian, Russian, British and Italian origin. Later inventory of the Navy, a task which cer of the naval ship INS Betwa; and a he was to rationalize the entire Mention in Despatches for action off inventory of the Naw aia.v, Karachi in the 1971 war. Today, as the Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command Headquarters in Cochin, he is the highest ranking Parsi officer in all the three armed forces. Yet when we first met him and his charming wife Zarin in their sprawling Willingdon Island bungalow overlooking the Cochin harbor, we were embarrass ­ ingly unaware of his rank (this despite his no-nonsense demeanor and clipped speech). That was till we drove with him to a naval checkpost. A military guard marched up to scrutinize the occupants of the car. “Chief of Staff, ” the Rear Ad ­ many years. “I am still very interested and involved in the sport, ” Pestonji ob ­ serves. He recalls that when he first joined the Navy, there were many Parsis in the services; most Rad joined during World War II or just after it. A special bond of comradeship existed between them no matter where they were posted. Today, he laments, the number of Parsis in the Navy, or for that matter in any of the three armed forces, has declined. “The Navy offers an honorable profession with bright career prospects. I would encour ­ age young Parsi boys and even girls — the Navy is now open to women too —to join. ” The total package of benefits of ­ fered by the armed forces matches what the commercial sector has to offer, says Pestonji. “I personally feel that young Parsi boys in Bombay don ’t have what it takes to join the armed forces. They seem to be under the control of their mothers and unable to venture out on weapons open seas. ” ,. ____ re ­ sulted in large savings for the govern ­ ment and which won him the Ati Vish- isht Seva Medal. Pestonji ’s love affair with the high seas began with his infatuation with l lake. “Even as a young lad of nine, sail ­ ing fascinated me, ” he recalls. He first took to the sport in Secunderabad, where he grew up. Ever since he has been a keen yachtsman, was the naval champion Open seas aside, Pestonji urges the Parsis to break free of the magnetic pull that metropolitan Bombay seems to exer ­ cise on the community and venture out into the heartland of the country if they a hope to recapture some of their past glory. He points out that it was their far ­ sightedness and vision that prompted their forefathers to learn an alien lan ­ guage — English — which enabled them in the sport twice and represented India Pestonji with daughter Anheeta wife m two international regattas. ’ He has been a member of the Yachting Associa ­ tion of India since its inception in 1960, and has been on its board for the last He has Zarin and Ke fa Gandhi of Delhi (to his right) at the function to commemorate the memory of Param Vir Chakra Lt Col Adi Tarapore in 1990 in Delhi 23 Parsiana September 1992 *the advice of all seven dasturs and abide by them even if they go against their own personal beliefs, states Irani. What if they should be of the opinion that the face of a dead Zoroastrian should A MATTER OF TRUST continued from page 16 salary of Rs 850 per month. “Just be ­ cause I stay in a Punchayet flat does not mean that I must remain silent; it does not mean that I cannot fight for the rights not be exposed? Irani pauses before he of other poor Parsis, ” he adds. And his fight against the alleged in ­ sis sitting in Bombay? The greatest thing justice is not confined to community for them is to get a job in a bank and the sad part is that it is not an easy thing to come by any more. ” Referring to his personal experience he observes that in the 23 years he has to become the brokers of the British, the new rulers of the land. “Their ability to talk to the English and the Indians made them acceptable to both. Even today, those Parsis who have adapted to the lo ­ cal Indian customs have succeeded, ” says Pestonji. But for most, the equation has changed. “Why are most of the Par- answers — he had insisted that the face of his dead father remain uncovered. “I “Young Parsi boys in Bombay don’t have what it takes to join the armed forces” housing alone. He is of the opinion that much greater efforts must be made to seek reservation quotas. ZCWA trustees will make a concerted push for special concessions for the community. It is not an empty promise, Irani assures us, as he takes out a file of correspondence be ­ tween the ZCWA and State and Central government departments on this matter, “Reservations can be won but it would become so much easier if the Punchayet, which is the representative body of the community, pushes for them rather than the ZCWA,” says Irani. While seeking special reservation quotas for the community has been a low profile activity of the ZCWA, its reli- “Just because I stay in a Punchayet flat does not mean that I must remain silent )) been married he has accepted 10 major postings. “It meant that the entire family gious postures are by contrast high pro- had to move and relocate at an average of once every two years. We accepted it as an occupational hazard and both my daughters (Anheeta and Taheera of controversies that followed the death of whom he is obviously very proud) have Ms Roxan Shah and the decision of the adapted very well, ” he adds. Pestonji believes that while an indi ­ vidual Parsi is the master of his own des ­ tiny, the community as a whole is doomed. “I don ’t think that our decline in numbers has anything to do with Par ­ sis marrying out of the community. We will die out as a matter of natural evolu ­ tion, ” he states. Clarifying the term ‘natural evolution ’ he observes: “No edu ­ cated and progressive community has ever opted for a high birth rate. We Par-, religion and that they should not interfere sis are an advanced, educated and pro ­ gressive community. Our women don ’t want to be reduced to baby factories. They would rather opt for a career and have one or two children at the most. It’s a thing you can ’t reverse. ” The turning point in the community ’s fortunes came when they started trading in their farmlands for urban professions. It opened the doors of progress which in turn led to the crisis of numbers the com ­ munity faces today. “We came to India as farmers and remained farmers for cen ­ turies. It was only in the last 200 years or so we started selling our farms and taking up other professions. ” And some like Pestonji took to the sea, renewing their subconscious bond with the natural elements in true Zoroastrian tradition. file, especially so when the Association organized a morcha to the BPP and The Bombay Samachar to protest against the will accept it,” he says but adds: “In my father ’s case I had acted impulsively but later I discovered that what I had done had not gone against the teachings of our religion. Nowhere does it say that you should cover the face of a dead person. ” With the death of his father, Irani found that the mantle of leadership in his immediate family fell upon him even though he was only the eighth of the 11 children. This Because he had quali ­ fied as a doctor against all odds. ‘‘Ever since I was a kid my father wanted that I among his children should become a doctor. Maybe that was because I was the most studious of the lot, ” says Irani. BPP trustees to allow the bodies of Parsi women married to non-Parsis into a ear ­ marked clokhma. “We were protesting With the aid, in the form of free text against the way the trustees had handled the matter and the bad publicity the com ­ munity .was receiving in the general tai. Press because of it,” says Irani in defence of the morcha. Did it not add to the problem in the process? “No. It made the other communities realize that it was a matter that concerned the Parsis and their books, from a number of charitable insti ­ tutions, Irani graduated from Nair Hospi- At home, he learnt dedication and selfless service from his “illiterate ” fa ­ ther. “People respected him because he was always there to help them in a cri ­ sis,” says Irani. Often he would cut through red-tape and retrieve bodies of dead Parsi.s before they were mutilated on postmortem tables. To illustrate the point, Irani refers to the tragedy of 1960 in such matters, ” replied Irani. Irani ’s critics charge that some of his tactics such as the morcha are not in keeping with the behavioral norms one when about eight boys and girls of expects from a trustee. Allegations have also been made in The Bombay Sama­ char that Irani and his supporters tend to browbeat those who oppose them. According to him, the ZCWA protest days after the tragedy. “I still remember was not against the decision of the trus ­ tees in the Roxan Shah case but against the manner in which they reached their at Doongerwadi. Today Irani lives with decision and the effect it had on the com ­ munity. “It split the community into two camps. This could have been avoided if Baug in Mahim. But he believes his ori- they had consulted all the seven dasturs gins gave him a true understanding of the rather than just two (Dastur K. Jamasp hopes and aspirations of the poor of the Asa and Dastur H. Mirza). ” ZCWA trus ­ tees will base all religious decisions on Cusrow Baug drowned in the seas off Bombay and his father recovered their bodies from the morgue immediately af ­ ter they were found — some four to five that incident because the smell was bad, ” says Irani. It was all part of growing up his wife Zarin and two children Farzan (11) and Hushang (10) at N. Contractor community whose interest the trustees of the BPP are expected to protect. 24 Parsiana September 1992 1 «EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES continued from page 9 A top LLB student A remarkable performance at each of the three-year LLB examinations, scoring on an aggregate the highest marks, qualified Ms Tenaaz P, Mama for the Vice Chan­ cellor T. K. Tope Prize from the Bombay University. This academic distinction came to her shortly after she cleared the final examination of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, informs a press release from the family. Presently undergoing management training at Cadbury India Limited, Mama’s past experience was at vacation jobs as accounts assistant at Master Ma­ rine Services and summer trainee at Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Com­ pany Limited. Her early education was at the Con­ vent Girls High School, Worli and there­ after at the Sydenham College from where she graduated in commerce. Dur­ ing her academic career. Mama has won several scholarships and prizes including the National Merit Scholarship in 1986 for performance at the Higher Secondary Examination, the Glaxo Merit Scholarship and the Zoroastrian Student Teachers Association Scholarship, her bio data in­ forms. General knowledge, general profi­ ciency, speech and essay writ­ ing are die areas in which she has distinguish­ ed herself. Her other interests are French, having completed the beginners and intermedi­ ate courses at the Alliance Francaise, Bombay and western music having passed several Trinity College of Music exams in piano. She has additionally been an active fund raiser for the Na­ tional Association for the Blind and Helpage, India, mentions her bio data. Brothers win Veedol rally Every one of the 33 participants in the Veedol Monsoon Scooter Rally had fallen off their two-wheelers in the course of the 250 km ride from Bombay to Shahapur. However not all like Yezdi Pali Patel would have said, “I was ready to take any kind of injury if I could finish the race.” Nineteen-year-old Patel’s de­ termination won him the first place at the Sportscraft organized Rally on Septem ber 13, 1992, informs a press release. The Veedol trophy and a cash prize of Rs 2,500 went to Yezdi while his elder brother Kaizad had to settle for the second place with a trophy and a gift of Rs 2,000. Consistency in control and high speed on his LML Vespa were Yezdi’s chief assets. In the 110 cc to 160 cc class it was once again Yezdi and Kaizad who secured the first two places respectively, the release notes. For outstanding perfor­ mance in the first part Yezdi was de­ clared the winner of the Car and Bike In- ternational Trophy while for the second part the award was shared by Kaizad and his cousin Zubin Kersi Patel. Last year’s champion Zubin would have won the race this time too, had he not been pena­ lized for coming in 10 minutes early at time control six, according to the press release. It was the prompt medical assistance by the Highway Users Club and the Parsi Ambulance Division that ensured the smooth progress of the Rally, acknow­ ledge the organizers. Compiled by Roxina A. Miiza * MATRIMONIAL MATRIMONIAL Matrimonial correspondence invited from suitable, decent, educated and well-settled Parsi boys up to 27 years, preferably from AhmedabadZBombay by parents of a good-looking, educated (BCom, also done computer course) daughter, 5’5", aged 22. Please reply with full details and preferably photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (Sept/36-92) GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 Parents from an affluent background seek matrimonial alliance from well-placed Parsi boys of respectable families, for their two daughters, aged 24 and 26 respectively. The girls are currently residing and working in UAE and are due to come to Bombay in December 1992, Please forward full details with contact number and photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (Sept/37-92) GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 MATRIMONIAL Wanted an educated, home-loving, good-natured girl between 25 to 32 years for a son aged 33, tall, 5’11", handsome, having own accommodation and business. Girl should be willing to settle outside Bombay. Please apply with bio data, photograph and horoscope (essential) to: The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (Sept/39-92) GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 25 Parsiana September 1992WELFARE Kharas’ burning (com)passion Homi Rogers >1 I A magnanimous donation of Rs 1.40 crores by Bhikhaiji Kharas has helped create a burns treatment center at the Masina Hospital f'l J ¦J- ¦¦iii I • ilBil and two sisters, grew up on much love but with little lucre to spare, in the middle-class of t <-< Oi 3L0I- I. 4* * Above: Kharas (left) witnesses Tata inaugu­ rate the new burns unit at " Masina Hospital on May 3,1992 W Photo: Adi F. Suder Jj The Kharas I Memorial I Centre (along- I side) " Photo: Jimmy Patel The Parsis have never been known for she, along with their parsimony. The sethias (gentry) her two brothers have all along sustained the Parsi ethos by doling out the occasional lakh for a meritorious cause. Even the middle-class Parsi, struggling to maintain a good stan ­ dard of living despite inflation, sub ­ scribes to the Gatha-ghambar or the kathi stronghold fund in addition to feeding grass to the Bombay ’s Khet- cow. In a community celebrated for its charity, Ms Bhikhaiji Sorabji Kharas, ployed as an engi- fondly known as Bhikhoomai, is yet an- neer in other member who will long be remem ­ bered for her magnanimity. The diminu ­ tive, frail-looking octogenarian appar ­ ently walked in from the blue and, ever the country to places which offered him so quietly, put down a sum of Rs 1.40 job opportunities. Financial conditions crores to raise the Kharas Memorial Cen ­ tre for burns victims. Who is Ms Bhikhoomai Kharas? And elucidating the reasons in detail, “I had gold (or grime), that Kharas made her from which wealthy, philanthropic fam- to take the family reins in my hands. ” killing. By 1938, she had become a sub- ily does this new meteor of munificence hail? Surprisingly, none. Kharas ’ story is the archetypal rags-to-riches saga, or, yielded legitimate money. in her case, an incredible poverty-to-phi- made and sold syrups and pickles and ex- tive, a claim Kharas laughs off dismis- lanthropy story. And it is this fact that ported them abroad, ” says sister Dhun sively. But, despite her characteristic makes her donation so astonishing, so much more laudable. the construction scene. Among the build- for a good while she was the uncrowned Bom in 1910, Kharas was brought up ings that bear her imprint are the twin queen of National Rayon. “Even today, ” in Bombay by her maternal grandparents, skyscrapers Venus and Jupiter on Cuffe as Dr Jehanbux Chichgar, a consulting “I have the fondest memories of them, ” Parade where she, as one of the builders, physician at the Centre says, “she could beams Kharas, recalling the days when is said to have personally supervised the tip you with names of companies on wadi area. “My father was em- neer in textile mills ” and hence was constantly on the move all over project as also the allotment and sale of flats. • But it was on Bombay ’s legendary were always strained. “At a very early age, ” recounts Kharas, though without Dalal Street, where paths are paved with to take the family reins in my hands. ” So, enter a street-smart Bhikhoo, who broker, and traded in stocks and shares, dabbled in anything and everything that “She could move the sensex up or down, “She has by a twitch of her fingers, ” gushes a rela- made and sold syrups and pickles and ex- who resides with her. She even entered modesty, there remains little doubt that the construction scene. Among the build ­ ings that bear her imprint are the twin 21 Parsiana September 1992I Kharas ’ decision to help members of her sex has resulted in eight of the 10 beds in I serious condition. “And what about your the general ward being reserved for j J women and children. “Men get burnt in j ‘ he replied, industrial accidents ” but, as a doctor on j calls, informed her that he had come to check on one of his patients who was in a which you could make, your money, without you ever having heard of them before. ” It was with this assiduously ac ­ cumulated share portfolio that Kharas dinner, doctor? ” She inquired. “I carry built the bums unit, on land made avail- •«” »«'-• ” »*¦“ able to her by the Masina (Hospital) Trust. “I had no liquid money, ” con ­ fesses Kharas, a sheepish smile playing on her fragile face. “My well-wishers sold the shares I gave for this cause, and raised the money needed. ” But Kharas ’ story does not end here. For it’s not the story of how Dick Whit ­ tington-like she amassed a fortune, gave it all away and walked into the sunset. No, it’s the tale of how compassion was bom within her on the hospital floors of Masina, how it grew and flowered, and today continues to be nurtured by her Kharas was touched. “It was he who in- ever-caring hands and benevolent mind. It all began six years ago at the Mas ­ ina Hospital when her kind heart kept her at the bedside of her ailing cook whom bom. Kharas, who had seen her sister she regarded as a family member. It was on one such night that, walking down the back in 1929, and had nursed her back to her again tomorrow. Kharas gently lakes passage at around midnight, Kharas health “within a short span of three leave of her to attend to a pressing matter bumped into the renowned plastic sur ­ geon Dr M. H. Keswani who now heads her unit. Surprised, she asked him what bums victims are women and children; he was doing in the Hospital at such a they get injured in household accidents, late hour. The good doctor, Kharas re- sandwiches in my box, ’ the panel informs us, they amount to only 12 to 15 percent of the bums cases. “And what about brides burned for dowry? ” we probe Kharas. “Yes, that is another matter, ” she states with equa ­ nimity, “though right now, ” she chuck ­ les, “we have an inverse case: a man with two wives has been admitted in a charred condition. ” Kharas knows the names and case his ­ tories of all her patients. Even the inten ­ sity of their bums. But the knowledge is not only academic. She tmly cares for the victims, she makes their concerns, hers, advises them, chides them and counsels them. They return her love in ample measure. Zaverben, who is recov ­ ering from bums caused when her stove Dhun suffer from 50 percent bums way burst, beseechingly asks Kharas to visit “She went round the Hospital talking to patients before she came in to make a donation to us” spired me with his dedication, ” she as ­ serts simply. The cook died. But a dream was months ’,” was inspired by Keswani to do regarding the hospital ’s administration something for burns victims. “Most awaiting her in .Jier spartan cabin. It was a question Zaverben need not have asked, for Kharas is there practically ev- their saris catch and spread fire. ” ery day attending to the nitty-gritty of Steamship agents — master stevedores dubashes — lighterage contractors Darabshaw B. Cursetjee’s Sons (Bombay) Pvt Ltd Oarabshaw House, Ballard Road, Bombay 400038 Grams: DEADWEIGHT Telex: 5824 DBCB IN Phone: 2610021 (4 lines) (Dock Office: 2612230) Also associates at Calcutta, Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Mangalore, Bhavnagar, Bedi-port, Navlakhi, Veraval, Porbunder & Kandla Also sole Government Landing contractors at Jamnagar, (Bed!) Bhavnagar I * ft 28 Parsiana September 1992J running the Centre she has built, and dis ­ pensing her salve of compassion. one lakh! ” right people are lending their ears (or Even when the unit was being con- For Kharas that was no'rebuff. Be- reading this), Kharas ’ wand could give structed, Kharas would be there daily, cause, her forte was never cash, but com- the housing problem a boost. “With her “from nine to five, ” supervising every- passion. She had been through such dis- childlike enthusiasm, ” gushes a neigh ­ thing, according to her relative and ad- missals earlier, too. At the Bombay Parsi bor, “she can plunge herself into any new ministrator Minoo Siodia. “She person- Punchayet office she was rebuked by activity and make a success of it.” ally purchased the materials to be used. ” many a junior clerk when she asked to Enthusiasm, though, is not the only Kharas also had her say in the appoint ­ ment of doctors, nurses, and ward boys; she even sent a nurse to Eng ­ land for special training to head the nursing unit on her return. This minute attention to detail has been a Kharas hallmark. For * one who at 82 still scrutinizes the fine print of the stocks page, it is not | out of character. “I still recall the * time, ” says a trustee of the Masina Hospital who does not wish to be named, “when she went round the Hospital, as if she owned the place, talking to patients, enquiring about their condition, before she came in to make a donation to us. ” It was this meticulous approach that led ‘ to her decision to donate to the Mas ­ ina Hospital rather than another Parsi hospital which she also studied for Otte of the operation theaters at the the same purpose, and found disappoint- Kharas Memorial Centre Photo: Adi f. suder ing. The donation was not, as the trustees r initially thought (judging by her simple some dole, not realizing that she was sari and humble bearing), “in the region of Rs 10,000.” The soft-spoken Kharas _____ offered Masina Hospital a donation of Rs problem plaguing the community, espe- by the time her accountant and trustees i finalized the legalities. “And we nearly Kharas Memorial Centre was built on that we don ’t take donations less than afford to buy it and build on it.” If the one lakh! ” For Kharas that was no'rebuff. Be ­ cause, her forte was never cash, but com ­ passion. She had been through such dis ­ missals earlier, too. At the Bombay Parsi many a junior clerk when she asked to meet the chairman; they mistook her for thing Kharas shares with children. She shares her love with them. “When she goes to her bungalow in Thane, . the street kids surround her and wel ­ come her. She has a treat in store for all of them, ” says a friend. And, like a child, Kharas has the rare I qoality of innocence. “She is even Iw kind to those who do not deserve her kindness. ” Like children, Kharas also has her heroes. J.R.D. Tata is one of SJ them. “I very much wanted him to y inaugurate the Centre. It was a dream-come-true for me when he m agreed. ” JRD in turn sincerely ap- ¦ predated the honor and returned the ¦ compliment by valuing the welcome B address as an award higher than the Bharat Ratnp conferred on him. To ­ day one chair is missing from the Centre ’s conference room. Kharas, we are informed, has taken it home. It was the chair JRD sat on after the inauguration. We leave the Hospital, having wit- there as a benefactress. nessed the largesse of this kindly old Kharas is conscious of the housing lady. To us she reiterates : “Please don ’t . „ ------------—x--- write much about me. Write about the 10 lakhs which increased to Rs 15 lakhs dally in Bombay. “Give me land, ” she Hospital. I’m not important; the Hospi- I L Ul S 9 B JHAVERI BROS. 1914 • 5,Metro House,Dhobitalao, Bombay 400 020. Tel.:29 14 23,29 70 26. • 345,Abdul Rehman St.,Bombay 400 003. Tel.;32 00 65, 32 61 96/97. 32 Parsiana September 1992 ally borne by the party who makes an ap ­ plication. However costs can be awarded child ’s physical well-being and ties of af- by the court covering minimal cost and fection. not the amount actually incurred. The divorced spouse has no right at all in the intestate property of the deceased. A divorced spouse is not considered a surroundings. The health of the child is member of the family but is considered a ‘ stranger. However, that is not so in case of the children. If there are children of telligent opinion about whom he or she the divorced spouse and if the spouse wishes to live with, the decision of the liefs must be considered as well as the it is very important to bear in mind as to whether the child would have good ac ­ commodation in happy and congenial of the utmost importance. Whenever a minor child is capable of forming an in- intestate dies then the chil ­ dren of the di ­ vorced spouse would get an equal amount as the children of the spouse. Under Section 49 of the Parsi Marriage Divorce present and Act, Visiting rights cannot be denied to either party, even if he or she is living in adultery child would be taken into con ­ sideration by the court. In a very in ­ teresting case, an application was made to the court wherein it was stated that a child was very ill and the visit of the father, the Matrimonial Court is authorized to pass interim orders and make provisions in the final decree in respect to the cus ­ tody, maintenance and education of chil ­ dren under the age of 18 years. But the order is not final and the court can vary the same from time to time. No order can be passed regarding children who have she could still be regarded as a fit person reached adulthood. There is always a battle between hus ­ band and wife for the custody of their seriously affected by separation from her children. It is believed that girls are child, the court would normally give the handed over to their mothers and boys custody of the child to the mother, are given in their father ’s custody. This belief is entirely wrong. Usually the court refuses to give the custody of the ther) is living in adultery and this fact is child to the guilty party. However, under proved. The court ’s order would stipu- normal circumstances, as children are more attached to the mother, custody is given to her with visiting rights to the fa ­ ther. If neither father nor mother are fit entitled to a maintenance allowance for to have the custody of the minor child, the court will be justified in giving the custody of the child to a third party who Merely because the wife asks for more the court feels is the right person to look after the child. There is also a misconception that when there are four children, they are di ­ vided between the mother and feather at the time of the divorce. In fact, it is not so. It is not the right of the parents which would tilt the scale in the opinion of the court but the welfare of the child. It children, seeks to ascertain where the best welfare of the children would lie, whether they be girls or boys. What does the word welfare mean un ­ der the law? The moral and religious be- who was a drunkard, would retard the re ­ covery of the child. The court ordered that till the <^hild had completely recoverd from the illness, visiting rights would not be granted to the father. It is worth noting that even if the hus ­ band were to accuse the wife of adultery, to look after her children. If it is consid ­ ered that the mother ’s health would be Visiting rights cannot be denied to ei ­ ther party, even if the mother (or the fa ­ late where and when the child may be visited. It is also to be noted that the mother is the child, apart from the alimony which she is entitled to get under the law. money to look after the* child is no ground to refuse custody. In one case, the argument of the father that he had to support his brother and sister and therefore could not spare resources for the child ’s maintenance was disallowed. It was held that a fa ­ ther ’s primary duty is to support his own Koover C. Vajifdar is an advocate of the Bom­ bay High Court. He is a frequent contributor to the general Press on the implications of the Rent Act and the legal ramifications of marital problems. 1 i iCOMMENT pnvaw VO' 2 ' 43®^, A forum for the BP’’ lbehi O'* .99' * OH ?Wl'( 1 ten* »’ «r 0. M.o-1 , loOP^^, a • •"* fl I* ¦* J co*.”* ..kOP* '® I 9"' 'onT xe" oaice STSU" „ »<•' r.-« ”> ; • -'ll P#‘4' An editor of Deen Parast reviews the orthodox organ’s mission after a year of \ publication Noshir Dadrawaia Q POP* OA'O*' .0 „,nTOt>*' I**””' -I «¦ P“'' kopp*"’ OPOP*'” ohW-"”’ cS ,0 R-’ \\‘,X f”" \\ V'* Y O’*"' «* is (boys) to Mahrukh and A boy to Roshan and Neville Avari-, August 25 A boy to Tanaz and Keki A boy to Kashmira and Kaizad Merchant-, August 25 A boy to Maya and Limi Banaji-, A girl to Celin and Bomi Patel-, A girl to Shehernaz and Kaiwan A girl to Daizy and Zarir Mistry-, August 31 Married Yvonne Kampororo and Neveille Homi Sagar, May 7 Meher Zarir Gagrat and Nozer Barjorji Mehenty, May 11 Elizabeth Alexandra and Feroze Rustom Variava-, May 11 Mahafrine Mehta and Rodney Anthony Powell-, May 12 Kashmira Nariman Munshi and Bahmanshaw Dhunjishaw Baldawala-, May 14 Kunti Krishnaji Ranade and Zarir M. Karanjia-, May 18 Rashmi Laxman Pai and Zubin Marzban Nalladarw, May 28 Divya Karkhanis and Sam Palia-, May 28 Kashmira Phiroze Banatwalla and Dhependra Ramesh Bhatt; June 2 Mayuri Vijay Kelkar and Behram Jamshed Irani-, June 11 Bakhtawar B. Tantra and KumarakrishnanP. K.-, June 12 Yogiru PravifKhandra Varma and Sarosh Jamshedji Painter; June 19 Pearl Ronald O’Cormor and Hafeez Sorab Contractor; June 22 Delna Dadyburjor and Tarvinder Singh; June 26 Tina H. Saigal and Meherrutsh R. Daroowalla-, June 27 Zahidabano Mohmadraza Shaikh and Darayes Ardeshir Appoo; July 9 Meher Dinshaw Patel and Ajith V.; July 9 Meenakshi Maya Balachandran and Percy Jamshed Irani-, July 14 Roxana Shapur Irani and Pradeep Mohanty-, July 27 Fari^ Parvez Saklatwalla and Cyrus Marzban Gorimar, August 3 Aditi Kantilal Manseta and Faroukh Fall Mistry-, August 11 Kashmira Rustom Irani and Rusi Sam Govekar; August 23 Zenabia Farrokh Dalal and Firdosh Soharab Bulsara-, August 29 Armaity Nariman Sahiar and Kanwal Krishna Gopikrishna Wattal; August 30 Shobhana Durgashankar Desai and Adi Khodamurad Irani; August 31 i 1 J ft ; Died Jiji Jahangir Dastur (80), residing at 1-A, Ashoka Apts, Anandwadi, 3, Maylor Rd, Pune, 411001; January 4 (cremated) Rustom Framroze Jalanwala (73), Firoz Ara, 160, M. Karve Rd, 400021, January 9 (cremated) Roshan Sharokh Sabavala (72), Beau Rivage, 77, Worli Sea Face, 400025; March 27 (cremated) Farida Patel (43), 161-4, Anthony Mans, 29th Rd, TPS in, Bandra, 400050; April 8 (cremated) Keikhushru Ardeshir Dondy (84), 10, Sindhudurg Hse, 33, Mereweather Rd, 400039; June 17 (crematexl) 36 Parsiana September 1992Piloo D. Nariehvala (64), 29, Suleman Chmbs, Colaba, 400039; June 28 (cremated) Fakirji Hormusji Billimoria (13), 13, N-2, New Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; August 1 Shavak Bomanji Choksey (83), Divine Grace, 114, Turner Rd, Bandra, 400050; August 1 Dorabji Maneckji Daruwala (87), Fakhri Manzil, Shankerseth Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; August 2 Minocher Rustomjee Jijina (80), 21, Police Court Lane, Behind Handloom Hse, Fort, 400001; August 2 Rati Fardoonji Billimoria (71), Jehangir Mans, Next to Metro Cinema, 400020; August 3 Sorabji Khurshedji Daruvala (78), B, Yusuf Mans, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; August 3 Soli Menvan Iraru (80), 204, Shamaldas Gandhi Rd, Dhobitalao, 400002; August 3 Homai Jal Pavri (75), 816, Mistry Bldg (Widows ’ Chawl), lame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 3 Goses Sheriar Vakil (61), Malegaon Bldg No 1, Station Rd, Mahim, 4(X)016; August 3 Khorshed Sorabji Mehta (80), F-36, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; August 4 Aranvaj Framroze Tobak (86), 2/A, Soonawalla Bldg, Tardeo, 400007; August 4 Kawasjee Framroz Vakeel (73), Mayfair Gardens, Little Gibbs Rd, Malabar Hill, 400006; August 4 Jal Behramsha Anklesaria (66), 20, Rupa Lane, Chandanwadi, Chirabazar, 400002; August 5 Noshirwan Dadabhai Dalal (80), 2/C, United Chmbs, Chami Rd Jn, 400007; August 5 Morvarid (Motibai) Boman Irani (74), 1, Harganga Mhl Annexe, Khodadad Circle, Dadar, 400014; August 5 Sohrab Dorabsha Korkhau (89), Shroff Bldg, 259, Bazar Gate St, Fort, 400001; August 5 Amy Rustomji Mobedji (60), 815, Engineer Bldg, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 5 Piroja Jijibhoy Vatcha (88), Lady N. Tata Bldg, Dhanbai- wadi. Vile Parle (W), 4(X)056; August 5 Nadirsha Fardoonji Wadia (77), 5/3, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; August 5 Sovak Rustomji Kanga (78), l/B/3, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Parel, 400012; August 7 Telunurasp Edulji Mistry (90), 28/2, Malegamwalla Bldg, Mahim, 400016; August 7 Nergish Hormusji Randelia (58), Petit Sanatorium, Kemp ’s Comer, 400036; August 7 Shirin Pherozesha Elavia (81), 515/B, Ratan Mans, R. P. Masani Rd, Matunga, 400019; August 8 Ardeshir Pestonji Chinwalla (86), Burjor Bldg, Wadia St, 400034; August 9 Kersasp Nusserwan Dastur (75), Katgara Hse, 15, Nepean Sea Rd, 400006; August 9 Shavakshah Hormusji Wadia (73), F. S. Parukh Dharam ­ shalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; August 9 Tester Minu Udwadia (70), 35/C, Muncher Manzil, Jairajbhai St, 400008; August 10 Allamai Behramji Umrigar (91), 71, Ferena, Arthur Bunder Cross Rd, 400005; August 10 Sheroo Noshir Aibara (75), 639, Rati Manzil, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 11 Piloo Sorabji Gazder (82), Kashinath Bldg, Cadel Rd, Mahim, 400016; August 12 Farrokh Kekobad Mobedjina (64), 794, Family Hse, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 12 Khorshed Cawasji Bhandara (62), Karanjia Bldg, Above Nagina Restaurant, Grant Rd, 400007; August 13 Pheroz Dinshaw Khambatta (64), 14/2, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; August 13 Martekbai Faramroz Billimoria (92), Rehana Manzil, L. J. Rd, Mahim, 400016; August 14 Framroze Hormusji Dubash (82), 36, Kama Hse, A. Marzban Lane, S. B. Rd, 400039; August 14 Banoobai Jamshedji Sanjana (80), 728, Sorab Mans, J. Vimadalal Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 14 Banoo Jal Bharucha (75), 802/B, Gool Villa, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 15 Minoo Rustomji Damania (79), Master Chmbs, Metro Cinema irmusji Talati (75), Lane, Dhobitalao, 400020; August 15 Goolbanu Hosheng Kased (77), Sargent Hse, Allana Marg, Colaba, 400039; August 15 Tehmina Jehangirji Bhagwagar (72), 6/A, Cama Bldg, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; August 16 Keki Nadirshaw Jalnawalla (74), 203, Garden View, Off Hill Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; August 16 Amy Savaksha Kluunbatta (66), Room no 9, Pandey Sanatorium, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; August 16 Rustomji Nusserwanji Marfatia (75), 11, Andheri Kiran Hsg Soc, Amboli, Andheri (W), 400058; August 16 Kety Dara Subedar (73), G/3, S. B. Bharucha Baug, Andheri, 400058; August 16 Soli Maneckshaw Driver (58), Old Chinoy Bldg, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 4(X)007; August 17 Katie Rustom Ghadiali (60), Victoria Bar and Stores Bldg, Murbad Rd, Kalyan, Dist Thane, 400601; August 17 Eruch Navroji Elavia (77), 16, Tata Bldg, Parsee Clny, Dadabhai Rd, Vile Parle (W), 400056; August 17 Gustad Behram Irani (80), Post Bawda, Via Chinchan, Dist Thane, Vangaon, 401103; August 17 Putla Cavas Kerawalla (87), 13, Hampton Court, 125, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; August 17 Bapshi Naval Khandadiya (51), At Acchad, Post Uplait, Dist Thane, 401601; August 17 Mani Manecksha Deboo (61), 83/85, Mazda Mans, Dhobi ­ talao, 400002; August 18 . Dinshaw Harmusji Talati (75), Kerawalla Bldg, 307, Tardeo Rd, Nanachowk, 400007; August 18 Behram Nowroji Tavadia (72), (78), F/27, Cusrow Baug, S. B. B/22, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; August 18 Maneckji Nariman Amaria (87), 22, Aderbad, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; August 19 Rusi Boman Irani (63), 17/4, India Hse, Kemps Comer, 400036; August 19 Dina Burjor. Joshi (82), Burjor Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; August 19 Mithamai Kaikashrii Singpor- wala (68), A/12, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; August 19 Roda Rustumji GaruBii (74), Room no 16, Irani Dharam- shala, Gamdevi, 400007; August 20 Kersi Kaikasroo Mistry (59), 12/B, Cawasji Petit Bldg, Gilder Lane, Tardeo, 400008; August 20 Behriun Rustomji Pavri (J5), 204, Old Sitaram Bldg, Princess St, 400002; August 20 Barjorji Sorabji Achhadwala (96), F. S. Parukh Dharam ­ shalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; August 21 Naju DcuUba Banaji (78), A/604, Minoo Minar, Veera E)esai Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; August 21 Piroza Sariar Irani (80), Fakhri Manzil, Shankerseth Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; August 21 Jerestine Adil Sahukar (10 days) 14/A, Hammamabai Petit Block, Gilder Lane, Maizban Clny, 400008; August 22 Goola Phirozeshah Sodawater- walla (77), 603, Goola Mans, Jame Jamshed Rd, Matunga, 400019; August 22 Hoshang Cavasha Cavasji (43), 70/C, Phirojsha Bldg, August Kranti Marg, 400036; August 23 Bomanshaw Dorabji Mistry (87), 2, Shanker Sagar, Sophia College Rd, 400026; August 23 Nadar Dorabji Patel (68), F/17, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; August 23 Aspi Sorabji Contractor (68), Room no 11, Petit Sanatorium, Cumballa Hill, 400036; August 24 Sheroo Dinshaw Kapadia (73), 648, Kaka Bldg, Firdausi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 24 Tehmi Pesi U^adia (72), D, Petit Block, Dinbai Petit Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; August 24 Phiroze Rustomji Movdavala ? s ¦ Rd, 400039; August 25 Mani Merwanji Batiwalla (90), 686, Vevai Villa, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 26 Nargis Naoroji Mistry (70), (iQIN, Topiwalla Bldg, Supari Baug Rd, Parel, 400012; August 26 Najan Keki Havewalla (73), G/3, Bhivandiwala Ter, 618, J. Shankersheth Rd, 400002; August 27 Burjor Shiavax Pavri (81), Villa 37 Parsiana September 1992Bem-Vindex, 4, St Alexius Rd, Bandra, 400050; August 27 Minoo Nadirshah Shrojf (60), Room no 10, Bhabha Sana ­ torium, Bandra Band Stand, 400050; August 27 Eruch Homi Bhesania (78), 70/D, Meher Villa, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; August 28 Nergish Jehangir Elavia (68), E/34, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; August 28 Maru Dinshaw Kapadia (55), Wake Mohalla, Chirabazar, 400002; August 28 Rusi Eruchshaw Bengali (68), 511, Kanak Vihar, Adenwalla Rd, Matunga, 400019; August 29 Jeroo Manecksha Bharucha (72), C, Kanta Bldg, Grant Rd, Near Super Cinema, 400007; August 29 Sapal Cawasji Lovjee (73), Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari, 4(X)102; August 29 Baby of Kashmira Kaizad Merchant (5 days), 12, Jer Mans, Turner Rd, Bandra, 400050; August 29 Flicky Minoo Shroff (48), E/4, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; August 29 Framji Hormusji Commissariat (84), Sylmoyne, 3, Carmichael Rd, 400026; August 30 Jamshed Sorabjee Kalyanivala (84), 658, Khorshed-Abad, Firdausi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; August 30 Ratanbai Jehangir Patel (88), C/12, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; August 31 BORN Boys Girls MARRIED Parsi Intercommunal DIED INTERRED Male Female CREMATED Male Female TOTALS FOR 1992 Bombay A B Other Indian cities Foreign cities A B A B 18 19 95 91 1 4 1 1 13 15 5 20 47 41 4 2 144 44 279 335 4 2 1 3 2 5 5 15 14 49 53 5 2 26 18 A: Total numbers in this issue B: Running totals for 1992 (February-September issues) These figures peruin to information provided to or collected by Parsiana. They do not represent the total number of births, marriages and deaths in the Zoroastrian community in India and abroad. CALCUTTA Married Roda Avari and Tarun Das\ August 5 Died Burjor Dorab Mogrelia, husband of Dorothy and brother of Rusi and Phiroze; August 2 Saker Sovak Mehta, mother of Katie Dalal and Kerbanoo Bamji; August 3 Bejon Shapurji Tata, husband of Perin and father of Roshan Jeejeebhoy, Roda Bulsara and Navaz Verma; August 13 Taboot St, 411001; August 5 Maneck Burjorji Gandevia (72), 7, Castelino Rd, 411001; August 6 Khorshed Jamshed Nusser- wanjee (83), 12, Parvati Villa, 411040; August 8 Shiavax Jamshed Bokdawalla (67), 2414, East St, 411001; August 10 Baby boy of Lily Ghadially (5 days), 302/42, Peninshula Bldg, Gidney Park, 411001; August 12 Yasmin Chirag Anklesaria (1 month), 425/A, Rasta Peth, 411002; August 20 Katty Jimmy Baria (61), St Patrick ’s Town, Hadapsar, 411028; August 24 Dina Nariman Sethna (88), 7, Tulsidas Apts, Dastur Meher Rd, 411001; August 29 Najamai Khurshedji Marker (92), 2, Immamvada, Syna ­ gogue St, 411001; August 31 Baby boy of Yezdi Aspi Shroff (newborn), Bhimkacchi St, Nanpura, 395001; August 8 Munchershaw Jamshedji Bhagwagar (75), Palia Mohallo, Nanpura, 395001; August 10 Burjorji Cooverji Bhathena (75), Kumbhar Mohallo, Gam Bhatha, 394501; August 15 Alamai D. Patel (78), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; August 15 Baby girl of Cyrus Noshir Jabbar (3 days). Gam Bhatha, Dist Surat, 394501; August 21 Shavaksha Rustomji Ichhaporia (67), Gam Ichhapore, Dist Surat, 395003; August 24 Nariman Cavasji Tamboli (72), Agiary Mohallo, Rustompura, DELHI Born A boy, Parvez, to Aban and Aspi Dittia-, July 6 POONA Died Noshir Param Ogra (60), 761/6, SURAT Died Ratanmai Nadershaw Dadre- walla (78), Shanti Niketan, Leprosy Hosp, Tarwadi, Variav; August 1 Najamai Jamshedji Dastur (80), Agiary St, Adajan; August 1 Dolly (Mani) Dinshawji Dumasia (71), Parsi Wad, Saiyedpura, 395003; August 7 Phiroze Dhunjishaw Kharadi (71), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; August 8 38 Parsiana September 1992 395002; August 24 Shavaksha Nowroji Baria (93), Malesar Mohallo, Rustompura, 395002; August 25 Colamai Rustomji Mistry (80), Palia St, Nanpura, 395001; August 25 Mani Ratansha Patel (76), Parsi Mohallo, Nanpura, 395001; August 28 VADODARA Died Darashaw Edulji Wadia (85), Meher Villa, Alembic Rd, 390001; March 23 Pilloo Dady Muncherji (90), Piroja Villa, B-3, Shakuntal Park, Manjalpur, 390011; May 16 CHICAGO Born A girl, Nadia Elisabeth, to Karen and Daryoosh Tirandazi; March 18 KARACHI Died Burjorji Hoshang Baria (92); July 4 Ratanshaw Dorabji Kapadia (80); July 8 Pilamai Faramroz Bhujwalla (85); July 12 Aspi K. R. Cavina (78); July 13 Eruchshah Dinshah Sidhwa (71); July 19 Piroja Nadirshaw Lawyer (87); July 22 NEW YORK Died Hoshang Rustom Kakalia of Karachi (58); July 15 Compiled by Roxana A. Miiza Required Editorial Assistant For Parsiana magazine in Bombay. Person must have excellent command of the English language and preferably two years' work experience in a publication. Job responsibilities include proofing, editing, writing, re-writing and production. Write with full details to: The Advertiser (Edit) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 A IIN MEMORIAM The Open Heart KERSI DASTUR Arnavaz S. Mama I When celebrated sur ­ geon Dr Kersi Nusser- wanji Dastur suc ­ cumbed on August 9, 1992 to the cerebral stroke he had sustained nine days earlier, the medical fraternity in general and the com ­ munity in particular agreed they had lost not a peer but a lode ­ star. By all accounts surgery only became possible with the advent of the heart-lung machine which, attached to the patient, runs the pump and oxygenates the blood which is fil ­ tered and returned to the body while the lungs lie dormant during the operation, explains Soonawalla. Everything must be very precise as severe brain damage can result from inadequate pumping, he informs. Since the Indian government would not permit the import of a heart ­ lunch machine which then costed about seven lakh rupees, Dastur prevailed upon the local technicians to make one. Now Farokh Udwadia in the course of a speech everybody uses imported machines punctuated with pauses which cost in the region of 30 to 40 lakh as though to subdue rupees, he adds. the high tide of senti ­ ment. “I have learnt from him all I know of sur ­ gery, the ethics and morality of medical practice, ” acknowled- “I was his assistant during the first 20 cases done by us. Everybody came to see how it was done. He did everything here, never went to America... Senior surgeons from all over India would come to see his work. He was always a few steps ahead of them, ” rejoices ged Dastur ’s proteg6 Soonawalla, addisg, “Dr Lillihie, the first man to do open-heart surgery in the ___ world, had been very impressed. lf(Das- Soonawalla. “Although not a student of tur) had been in the US, he would have ¦ • *________ .__ . , • .i-T,....; been on par with (Lillihie). ” Recalling those days of triumph and deflation when a patient suddenly took a downturn, Soonawalla reminisced how ~ ¦ . Commented radiologist there were no electronic monitors in the Dr M. Tayabali of the Breach Candy hospitals in those days and resident doc- Hospital, “Words are inadequate to ex- and assistant of 15 years, well-known surgeon Dr Fardoon his probity as an individual rivalled his surgical skill which bordered on wiz- ardry. his, I was an ardent admirer of Kersi as a “A man of few words, gentle in his superlative surgeon with the most pol- manners and possessing rare integrity, he ished technique and sound judgement, ” made no distinction between the rich and wrote orthopedic surgeon Dr Jamshed the poor... His degree of concern for the Taraporevala. < _ - . patients was rare and he attended without P , . . . . ¦ looking to his own convenience, ” notes Hospital, “Words are inadequate to ex- tors were expected to watch the patients the condolence resolution adopted by the press one ’s loss. ” closely. Investigations of such reversals B D Petit Parsee General Hospital On his return to Bombay after a year ’s led to the realization that the resident study in England for his FRCS (Fellow doctors were neglecting their job in the of national of the Royal College of Surgeons) di- night and Dastur produced a characteris ­ tic solution to the problem: Thenceforth __ _____ „ ,. the resident was required to phone Dastur College (TNMC) and assistant honorary through the night with hourly reports on surgeon, B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospi- the patient. The resident could not sleep tai. In 1951 he began experimental work and neither could Dastur, but the patient in heart surgery in the research laborato ­ ries of TNMC with a large team of work ­ ers to help him in the difficult task of tients are legion. Not only did he refuse making a heart-lung machine, informs to charge professional fees to friends, re- his bio data. In 1957 the first indigenous lations, students, teachers or mobeds, he heart-lung machine was produced and used for animal experiments. On Febru ­ ary 16, 1961 Dastur performed the first using the machine on a 16-year-old girl cancellations of his own trips abroad in with a hole in her heart, notes the Indian response to requests from the Bachchan family, considering it his “contribution to the happiness of Amitabh ’s fans, ” in ­ forms longtime family friend Arvind On his return to Bombay after a year ’s (PGH). “Dr Dastur was a surgeon --------- renown who was loved and respected by ploma, Dastur had been aj^inted^ tens of thousands of families... He was felicitated on the 25th anniversary of his first open heart operation at the Interna ­ tional Conference of Heart Surgeons in Bombay in February 1985 and named as the Father of Open Heart Surgery in the Indian subcontinent, ” further attests the resolution taken at the condolence meet ­ ing organized by the staff ol the Breach Candy Hospital. “People like Dr Kersi Dastur do not die. They live on in their work, in memo ­ ries of people in various walks of life, in their acts of kindness, of decency... I was associated with him since 1959 when I returned from studies abroad. formed a team from the word ‘go ’... I will miss him sorely, ” admitted eminent physician and community doyen Dr tant professor of surgery, T. N. Medical got the requisite attention. Stories of Dastur ’s concern for pa- refused to take a single paise from film ­ star Amitabh Bachchan throughout the latter ’s long hospitalization at the Breach successful human open-heart operation Candy Hospital and made three to four s s 39 Parsiana September 1992- We with a hole in her heart, notes the Indian Express of August 20, 1992. Closed heart surgery, which had been the rule until jhc 1960s had very limited scope, informs Soonawalla. Open-heart Kaji.A model of self-discipline, Dastur would be up at 5 a.m. — even if he had Some of his unobtrusive generosity came to light when the subsidized in ­ mates of the Breach Candy ’s Godrej slept just three hours earlier, says Nur- Wing came after 10 years for replace ­ ment of the original pacemaker that had been implanted for them by Dastur, nar ­ rates Soonawalla. They were aghast when asked to pay for the new item — its price ranging beyond Rs 25,000 — not ­ ing that on the first occasion the Hospital Nursing Home. His faith in God was im- “enemy ” of the religion “out to play mis ­ chief with our unchangeable laws. ” Dastur ’s own body was confined to the tower of silence. On other issues, especially on the matter of intermarriage and conversion, Dastur ’s viewpoint was that of the athor- nan scion that he was. That one of his had supplied it gratis. After much inves ­ tigation it was established that it was not the Hospital but Dastur personally who had paid (approximately Rs 10,000 each) for the pacemakers installed in such cases! Indeed, money meant little to Dastur, says Kaji. He remembers how on one oc ­ casion Dastur was summoned by an ur ­ gent call from the Nanavati Hospital in Andheri when he was not even attached to the Hospital, to attend on a Marwari ’s son who had met with a road accident that had virtually ripped the boy ’s en ­ trails out. Dastur drove there, completed training his students, giving them all the the operation, then visited the patient 15 to 20 times. “At the end of it all, the Marwari gave Dastur a packet of Rs 501 for saving his son! Dastur never saw (Kersi and Nurgish had first met as medi- what came. He believed his rewards were accumulating in the Upper Bank! ” The man who went on to establish fine departments of cardiovascular tho ­ racic surgery at the Nair, Nanavati, Jas- lok and Breach Candy Hospitals was equally indifferent to ego and prestige and “always available — be it day or formity — one that had raised some hue night, ” remembered PGH president and cry in the community — had been in Homa Petit, recounting an instance when January 1974 when he had entered the a female patient — a case of tubal deliv ­ ery — was in need of urgent aid. “The gynac concerned could not be immedi ­ ately contacted. A frantic call was sent out to Dr Dastur and within five minutes he rushed the patient to the theater and saved her life, ” narrated Petit. As vouch ­ ed Udwadia, “I haven ’t met a surgeon so far with as ‘ (small) an ego as Kersi lay the mortal remains of my dear father Dastur ’s — and that is saying a lot! ” to rest. I was horrified to see four dead Dastur ’s wife Nurgish recalls an incident bodies consigned several months ago in- when her husband was called upon to op- side the dokhma lying untouched in iden- erate on the thyroid of a major millowner tifiable form, at the Sir Harkisondas Hospital. Dastur performed his usual artistry and left. The accolades were collected by another. An even more characteristic example of Dastur ’s humane qualities was an inci ­ dent when a number of friends met at the home of an ailing man in Tardeo. The patient needed milk: though there were several people present, it was Dastur who March 1974). went to fetch some. gish. He ’d be the first surgeon to report at the PGH. After the day ’s operations, Dastur would reach his consulting rooms in the early afternoon and remained there till 6 p.m. Thereafter, till 9.30 p.m. his working day continued at the Northcote daughters chose to marry outside the community was initially a matter of un ­ happiness for Dastur, acknowledges Nur ­ gish. The community and its institutions meant a lot to Dastur and, as Petit ac ­ knowledged, “He was deeply concerned for and ever striving to enhance the im ­ age of the (Parsee General) Hospital. ” Discussing the PGH in an interview with Parsiana at the time of the Hospital ’s “He was uncomfortable receiving praise or awards ” mense — there wasn ’t a day or night that he didn ’t pray. Indeed, he was known to platinum jubilee Dastur had said, “I’m pray before each operation and used to not in favor of cosmopolitanizing the say, “The greatest surgeon is Dadar Hospital because we Parsis. are such a Hormuzd. I am only an instrument, ” as recalls Kaji. Nor did he hold back on small community and once we start this, it will bring in the money but it’s not going to be beneficial to the community in the chance to work under him. “He would long run... Let Parsis donate. They don ’t wait patiently for them, ” adds Nurgish. “A liberal, good, thoughtful husband donate enough — they could do better! ” His thinking* in matters other than surgery, belonged to an earlier genera ­ tion, says Soonawalla of his late 74-year- cal undergraduates at the Grant Medical College) and a kind father, ” Dastur old mentor. “His only concerns were his wanted his daughters to be well-educated work and his family. He had no desire and to pray regularly, says his wife. He for social life. He was very uncomfort- had a collection of old religious books and had learnt Persian in later life. Dastur ’s one act of religious noncon- able socializing and would avoid major functions... He was uncomfortable sitting on a stage, uncomfortable receiving praise or awards. He was president of the Cardiac Surgeons ’ Association be ­ cause he was nominated to it — he never dokhma in Rajkot to retrieve the body of asked for it or tried for it.” Fond of lis- his father which he had then buried in the ground outside. In a letter to the Parsi Press he had explained; “I had occasion the family. to visit Rajkot to pay my last homage to my father who died on January 18, 1974. Along with the volunteers, my brother, Dr Homi, and I entered the dokhma to tening to classical music, he used to play the violin in his younger days, informs An earlier stroke, a year ago, had left Dastur with one arm impaired, “but he could do more with one hand than what most surgeons could do with two, ” said Udwadia, adding, “Long hours and stress of work took a toll of his health. ” It was at the end of his working day at the Northcote that Dastur realized that a second cerebral stroke was approaching and called for help, says Nurgish. He asked for a drink of Horlicks but before it could reach him, he had slipped into coma. He was shifted to the Breach “In view of this state of affairs, after 24 hours I decided along with my brother to remove the remains of my dead father from the dokhma. When we went inside the dokhma we found my father ’s body Candy where he passed away without covering consciousness. Dastur is survived by his wife Nur- re- was lying untouched by the vultures. We therfore took him out again and buried him just outside the dokhma (Parsiana, gish, daughters Sanober Ragina, Niloofer 1 aiA\ ” Balsara and Firuzan Patel, and five Dastur ’s critics had labelled him an grandchildren. J A 40 Parsiana September 1992 I