Feb 1993

F € iili I is^W !fcV"8’ ji«^40 ed FEBRUARY 1993 Rs 15 more killeo in Bombay rio ’S as g^^khoot ¦ ! I I ‘ ‘ ‘ i I I I (»»»••« J ! . i * I MO » M . I > 1 , t I M « I I « I » t 4i* «>«<»» s >I ‘ M t * M * ? > * • » » X t •»».................... M > Il »> t » >•««* » » » 111» 11^ I It * > t » « > I'l f • I ufl « V« o ..)»? <^1 »»¦ litMittn* >¦ il St! •• - a <..j*r**“** >»r t The Gathas translated We in Pune have a small group who meet once a month where we have learned I people speak to us on the Gathas. Mr Ali (when it comes to inter-racial marriages), | A. Jafarey who has translated the Gathas divisions between those holding extreme I was good enough to have us reprint his book entitled The Gathas, Our Guide. The book is available from Gatha the only community to suffer from prob ­ lems relating to inter-marriage, the treat ­ ment of women as second-class citizens (»’¦»' f»*'' h was good enough to have us reprint his views and those holding more moderate M book entitled The Gathas, Our Guide. ones. Perhaps by looking at and trying to '*».> The book is available from Gatha understand other communities, their sto- Study Group, 21 Sassoon Road, Pune ries of the same problems and how they A11AA1 ,~i r-rrooo n„ ca---------- copcd or didn ’t, we might be in a better position to understand why these prob ­ lems occur, why people react the way they do. Not so insulnr, plcssc! in order to bring back to us a sense of Parsis have always put across an image being open-minded, and appreciative and of being an open-minded, educated and knowledgeable about others and thereby diverse community, qualities that yield ourselves, we should focus on our know- strength in any community. Parsiana has carried articles concern ­ ing the narrow-mindedness of some of ply this knowledge to ourselves. For ex- our priests and self-proclaimed leaders, ample John Steinbeck in his book The their views on the treatment of women Grapes of Wrath, an all-time classic and the religion, non-Zoroastrian spouses and such-like. In this country we have obviously seen the same things from people around us, such as the priests and Parsis have helped each other, the way committee members. Their actions and the Parsi Punchayet in Bombay acts as a words have only alienated and offended safety net to catch the few who fall. people and to me, personally, show how Mark Tully, BBC correspondent in insular and inward looking they really Delhi, in his b(X)k No Full Stops In India | wrote, “My foreign guests expect the taxi-drivers to take them back to their nr 1 uilfe f. .j 41 ICiOl, tel 666883 at Rs 50 per copy. 1 DARIUS FORBES Pune i- J ledge of others and other surroundings than just the one we live in and then ap- novel, teaches us about how people in troubled times unite to help each other. Is this any different from the way in which 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. Mark Tully, BBC correspondent in L* are. These people have come to Britain but have not realized that these are dif ­ ferent surroundings from where they hotels whatever the hour of the night it spent their earlier years. may be. Before leaving, they will check The community has lived in India for the fare with me to make sure the taxi ­ generations and has hence absorbed the drivers don ’t get a few more rupees than Indian way of life, but it must not be for- they are due. That ’s the way my guests “Sacred soil of Sanjan” Sanjan Day being an annual occasion for the whole community, we have decided to prepare for the next function in right gotten that we have retained our own usually ‘cope with poverty. Indian way of life, but it must not be for- »» earnest. As there is no separate fund for unique philosophy, religion and tradi- the purpose we wish to build a corpus . that can generate sufficient income to meet the ever increasing expenses of the function. We hope to ensure that it shall not discontinue for want of funds. Till then we have to depend on voluntary People will not accept this and thereby contributions every year to celebrate the ignorance of their surround ­ occasion. Those of you who wish to sponsor . . _ „ , ___ Sanjan Day November 93 may rush your People and the way of life, the religions, lege in England. But what else can they proposals to us. Your ideas on financing beliefs, customs, traditions, knowledge, do? Why don ’t we hear about that? and celebrating the occasion will be views of not just our immediate sur- What else are Parsis, and in particular the highly appreciated. Donations may be roundings but the whole world, do we youth, doing with their lives besides made in favor of “Sanjan Memorial Col- learn to understand why the problems we growing up, school, college, university, umn Local Committee’’ and sent to the have, exist, and what the strengths of so- job, marriage, children? undersigned at Khan Bahadur ’s Bunga- While there are a horrendous You do highlight successes in the arts low, Sanjan 396150. amount of differences between any two and sports, which is great, but they are commqniUQSs te QJjJX W WM. Tte « • *1 XtAH* A ^2 A1 T _ 1 _ 1 z* * * < •• . Here ’s something all of us as visitors to India have done but don ’t think about tions. Hence here in England, as else­ where out of Asia, Parsis can retain their how silly it really isf And it wasn ’t writ ­ identity and traditions, but must accept that there will also be the influence of the surroundings in which they live. Some citly show that we do know more about I ten by a Parsi. Why don ’t we as a community expli- I Iv chn\i/ thaf u/a Hr* lrr»r*\i; mAro okAnf I life than the four walls that surround us? It’s great to see in Parsiana that some ings. smart kid has just passed his exams, or Only by opening our minds to the got his degree, or a scholarship to a col- proposals to us. Your ideas on financing beliefs, customs, traditions, knowledge. views of not just our immediate sur- learn to understand why the problems we g have, exist, and what the strengths of so- job, marriage, children? ciety are. While there are a horrendous amount of differences between any two President, Sanjan Memorial Column Local Committee equal number of similarities. Ours is not Wealth of interesting articles and subjects 2 Parsiana February 1993 .( 1historical, religious, social and humorous origin, often centuries old. Names such as the Crown, the Rising Sun (the badge of King Edward III) and the King’s Head are common, as are the Coach and Horses, the Carpenters ’ Arms and a multitude of others. All are of interest. Some names are unusual. At the vil­ lage of Bolney in Sussex, on the A23 road from London to Brighton, the Queen’s Head displays a sign bearing a portrait of Farrokh Bulsara, better known to its patrons as Freddie Mercury. TEHMTAN FRAMROZE Brighton, England Exhibits for our complex On land admeasuring 10,000 square me­ ters we are putting two laboratory blocks, one for food and pharmaceuticals and the other for household electrical appliances, main office, library, the complaints and computer sections, small meeting rooms, trustees ’ office, conference and canteen halls and large reception area. The total construction will approximate 2,000 square meters. The laboratory buildings are under construction. All the rest are ready and we have moved into the premises as of late 1992. Since this is your Suraksha Sankool, would you make available to us a paint- . , - - r- -------- o—r-- ’ ing, photograph or artwork from any ma ­ their aspirations and the influence of Shahpura and Kotah States. -------------------- terial (wood, glass, bronze, copper, al- A former editor of India’s Stamp loys, stone, marble, leather, wax, paper -------------- Ti.lL- or any other fiber or fabric) of any size, telic Congress of India and former shape and form; wall hangings, or any member of the Government of India ’s which people within the community have RiotS Claim philatelist what do Bombay ’s Parsi youth feel about Empire of India Philatelic Society which fU-------**-- - ’ • • as satellite television have changed their and his wife Mehroo, an eminent educa ­ tionist and social worker, became vic­ tims of mob fury when rioters burnt down the building at Dalal Estate, Bom- extensive knowledge of. For example, Mr Phiroze M. Medhora, president of the _4, J _ 1-1 1, _ » _ __ ___ . . . * the way the advances in technology such recently celebrated its golden jubilee, expectations of life? Having been ex­ posed to American programs, MTV and other youth oriented corporation/market- ing mediums, are they now more con- bay Central, cerned about Levis and Madonna than they are about infighting within the com­ munity? What do they really think an international authority on India and Mr Medhora, who was the seniormost professional philatelist in the country and about? What influences today ’s youth Indian States stamps and postal history, who will be tomorrow ’s lawyers, doc- was responsible for bringing to light the -tors, teachers, engineers...? By looking at thereto unknown stamps of Dungarpur, their aspirations and the influence of Shahpura and Kotah States. forces and mediums outside the commu- / " „ J__ nity we may be able to form a picture of Journal, former vice president of Phila- the Parsi community in 20 years ’ time. I should at this point say that I count Parsi youth as being between the ages of Philatelic Advisory Committee, his sad 15 to around 25, up to 30 and I think demise is an irreparable loss to the you’re pushing your luck. Anyone who philatelic world. is 30 at this point in time would not have The Medhoras were also silent philan - been at a young enough age to be heavily thropists always helping individuals and institutions without distinction of caste, creed or religion. They were regular sup- % other article worth displaying? If you would like to spare one or more such articles, kindly let us have some description of their size, or a photo thereof. After consultation with our interior designers, we shall get back to you as to whether and where your offer will fit into their design. Thereafter, on our request, Dharamshala (the first free cosmopolitan you may kindly arrange to despatch the same. We shall acknowledge the source immediately below the exhibit. Please write to us at Suraksha Sankool, Thaltej, Ahmedabad-Gandhi- nagar Highway, Ahmedabad 380054. Prof MANUBHAI SHAH Managing Trustee, Consumer Education and Research Centre The Medhoras were also silent philan- influenced by the media revolution, and I think while their views are worth taking into account, they should be treated with porters and^ visitors to the Sir J. "j. caution. T' ................ " I do not feel that Parsiana should home for the aged in Asia). publish work relating only to Zoroastri- vispi s. dastur anism. A poem, for example, about a Hon Editor. India’s stamp Joumal more general subject which does affect us but in a more general or global per- MerCUry aS history spective, should be published. Not to do " ... that would be to stifle one of the greatest assets of any community, diversity. NARIUS N. PATEL Surrey, England country, bearing names and pictures of Those of your readers who have not vis­ ited Britain may be unaware that inn or public house signs are something of an illustrated guide to the history of this Edited by Amavaz S. Mama 3 Parsiana February 1993 IEvents and I Personalities WZCI Sum and substance wise tolerance, ” he adds. different parts of the world ” was the third “By all standards, the Fifth World With regard to the formation of an In- topic. The next session concerned Zoroastriah Congress (WZC) proved ter-Regional Zoroastrian Congress Com- “Strengthening community organiza- | most successful. It caused an awakening in the Zoroastrian community, not only in India but around the world, and it is earnestly hoped that the information gained and the lessons learnt from the various discussions and business sessions of the Congress will help the community to meet the challenges that are likely to arise in the year 2000 and beyond. ” So remarks Jamshed Guzder, chairman of the Congress in his preface to the 89- page Summation. Through this report, brought out nearly three years after the holding of the Congress from January 3 to 7, 1990 in Bombay, the salient points emphasized by a cross-section of speakers over eight sessions are recapitulated. The inclusion of several color photographs helps cap ­ ture the spirit of the meet. While the ac ­ knowledgements refer to the contribution of different individuals and organizations in the preparation of this report, Guzder gives special credit to Aspi Moddie for compiling this “most factual presenta ­ tion, all-embracing and highly illumina- wise tolerance, ” he adds. With regard to the formation of an In- topic. mittee to act as an institutional bridge for tions, covering aspects such as leader- the global community between Con- ship, asset management, development, grosses, Moddie clarifies that its role is philanthropy and communications. ” An- not that of a competitive world body. other session related to “Demographic trends of the community and future im­ plications for Zoroastrian institutions.” “Identity problems of Zoroastrians in other religious societies” was taken up for discussion at the sixth session while the seventh session explored “Metho ­ dologies of religious education for pre/ post navjote groups. ” The last session concerned “Survival of traditions in the 21st century. ” The subjects discussed at the two workshops were: “Problems of the poor and the aged in our commu- , nity,” and “Future problems of young 4 Zoroastrian families as perceived by the youth e.g. problems of marriage, chil ­ dren, adoption, identity problems, etc.” “Let us keep the visions simple and elevated, the tasks specific and clear, ” Moddie recommends. “This is a time for big minds, big hearts, not big egos... We will in the futurist theme of the Congress ‘2000 AD and beyond ’ need good lead- ting.” ers, elected and non-elected, who can Recommendations that may have have those perceptions and abilities; emanated from different sessions but those who can negotiate agreeably and hold together under one subject, have wisely; those who can carry colleagues been logically clubbed together. Adop- Each of the topics taken up for discus- into new solutions to old problems, those the ijtvocvjU of “tcxQttwewl where skette et the 'hhh QM hXOMhh the action is,” suggestions have been put chapter detailing the names of the chair- forth for action at three levels — global, regional and anjuman. “Any Congress is bound to throw up a diversity of views. These do not have the force of law. They are recommenda ­ tions for consideration by community in­ stitutions which have their own auto- "Making Zoroastrian religion more nomy,” states Moddie in his preliminary meaningful for the youth of today ” and clarification on the summation, summation should therefore be consi­ dered in that context, allowing for a plu­ rality of views and social contexts, for community organizations. ” “Studies of the sake of a larger global unity and a contemporary Zoroastrian societies in to 2000 AND ONO 4 Parsiana February 1993 I "rhe ¦ Each of the topics taken up for discus- those who can mount and support tasks and study groups; those who can ‘em- person, the rapporteur, and the speakers followed by the highlights of the discus- power ’ people, especially youth, the sion. The first topic was “Regional fol­ low-up action on the recommendations of the Fourth WZC and future priorities. ” The second topic concerned the youth: Damailia takes Off “Making Zoroastrian religion more Damania Airways took off as planned on March 10, 1993. With Bombay as the fiuO, ifte new air/ine ts stfieorufecr to oper­ ate on the high-density trunk routes — poor, the aged to help them help them­ selves.” "fnvofvement/participati'on of yout/i in community organizations and communi­ cations of youth inter se and with the Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore and Goa. “Passenger traffic in India is galloping at a robust rate of 12 percent so obviously contemporary Zoroastrian societies inI W: i i Y- J W! I J t is ¦ J * I IM group is Damania Pharma Limited that is expected to be launched in April 1993. To be set up with an investment of Rs 4 crores, the new company will be manu ­ facturing mineral mixture for poultry to supplement the needs of the promoter company. Agritech Hatcheries and Foods Limited, the country ’s largest poultry processing unit in Ahmednagar, men­ tions the Sunday Mid-Day write-up. “In the very first year Pharma ’s sales are ex­ pected to be Rs 5 crores purely because India is witnessing the world ’s fastest growing poultry market, ” informs Dama ­ nia. In the meanwhile. Agritech ’s sales ¦ and profits have also leaped as per the figures quoted* in The Economic Times: At the end of the first six months of the financial year 1^92-93 the sales in­ creased to Rs 4.5 crores as against Rs 1.9 crores achieved in the corresponding pe­ riod in the previous year. Simultane ­ ously the net profit leaped from Rs 9.13 lakhs to 70.4 lakhs. Planning to further expand its capacity. Agritech would like its sales figure to cross the Rs 50-crore mark, one-third of^he amount being gen­ erated from exports. The group ’s turn ­ over is expected to reach Rs 200 crores by 1993-94, Damania is optimistic. i /A* ?'ft ’’3 t® Dcuncmio S oltcrnutivc airline Photo: Anthony Azavedo, The Alternoon Despatch and Courier there is great potential, ” believes chair- edly be worked for eight hours a day al- man and managing director Parvez lowing time for adequate maintenance Damania. “The company will essentially serve the needs of itinerant corporate travellers by paying great attention to flight scheduling, departure timing.s and vide spares backup, periodic mainte- service standards, ” Damania is quoted in the Sunday Mid-Day of November 29, 1992. The private airline decided to honor J. R. D. Tata, the father of civil aviation in India by naming one of their leased Boeing 737s after him and getting him to inaugurate their airport booking office. Spirit of JRD and one other Boeing named after a famous aviator will ini­ tially operate on the scheduled routes un­ til three more Boeings join the Damania fleet, mentions the Indian Express of pacity of 67 percent, states Damania. March 9, 1993. The aircraft will report- Billiards champs Marzun Eruch Jokhi of Ahmedabad who recently claimed the Junior National Bil­ liards title was felicitated by the Ahme ­ dabad Citizens’ Council and presented to the mayor of Ahmedabad, Dr Mukul Shah, according to a handout sent to Par­ siana. The 20-year-old champion ’s interest in the game started in 1988, seeing his el­ der brother Yashan in action. Yashan has reportedly represented the state of From 4 5 Parsiana February 1993 which would otherwise suffer were it to Gujarat at the national level. be overused. Apart from the planes, Yashan and his coach'Rohinton Master British Airways is also expected to pro- does Marzun acknowledge learning the basics of billiards. A daily practise schedule of four to five hours at the Parsi nance checks and training to Damania ’s cabin crew. Most of the crew have been Gymkhana along with a few tips from wooed from Indian Airlines and East West Airlines, as per The Economic Times report of December 3, 1992. The finance for the new venture is to guidance received from prominent Parsis be raised from a promoters ’ contribution of Rs 4.10 crores and a public issue of Rs 12.30 crores. Damania is confident of a revenue of Rs 100 crores in their first having recently graduated in commerce year of operations. Actually the private with 70 percent marks. Music and thriller airlines will break even at a seating ca- the late Arjuna awardee Satish Mohan has helped Marzun to fine-tune his game. He also acknowledges the inspiration and in Ahmedabad. Besides excelling in the field of sports, Jokhi is good in academics too. Another development from the same movies are his other interests. Another Zoroastrian from Gujarat to show a good performance at the juniorChampion Jokhi sion. Ek Rattna distinction. This award, instituted sion. Surveyor ’s great grandfather, by the International Friendship Society Khanbahadur Ratanji Surveyor, was the of India recognizes the efforts of indi- first qualified Indian surveyor in the viduals to enrich human life, and lauds country. His sons Maneckji and Framji were the first Indian executive engineers of the Bombay Port Trust while another During the last 42 years that Surveyor son Mancherji was among the first Indian has been running his civil engineering Report- outstanding attainments, according to the only citation. nationals was 19- year-old Parvez Adi Kapadia. edly the unseeded player to reach the semifi­ nals, Kapadia stood firm, he has constructed numerous edu- fourth at the same championship meet, notes a press re ­ lease. Like in billiards, Kapadia is also good in swimming, having already won several medals and cups. He has lifted the Limca Shield in swimming, -further graduate in engineering from the Univer ­ informs his curriculum vitae. sity of Bombay. He is associated with diverse institutes: He is a life member of joined the family ’s distinguished line of the Indian Council of Arbitration, a fel­ low of the Institution of Engineers (In- executive engineers of the Calcutta Port Trust. Mancherji ’s son Pheroze was the cational and religious establishments, first Indian chief engineer of the Bombay commercial and residential buildings, Port Trust while Maneckji ’s son Shi- hospitals, workshops and homes for the avaxshaw was the technical consultant destitute, notes a press release. Sixty-nine-year-old Surveyor is a sci­ ence graduate in physics and maths and a and advisor to Veer (Khurshed) Nariman in the famous Harvey-Nariman land scam which Nariman ultimately won. Ratan is the fourth generation civil engi­ neer whose son Darius only recently Encomiums for export the Indian Council of Arbitration, a fel- engineers, the release informs. Export of textiles is the sphere in which low of the Institution of Engineers (In- Ratan ’s father Dr Dinshaw was Burjor D. Bharucha has been excelling, dia) and The Royal Society of Health among the pioneers of dentistry in India and his contribution to this field was re ­ warded with the Vijaya Rattna Award in- is the patron. He is a member of the lists Organisation presents an award and stituted by the International Friendship Anjuman Committee of the Bombay a certificate to a student of the Bombay Society of India. Some prominent NRIs and others were chosen for this award special executive magistrate. presented by Ms Baswa Rajeshwari, min­ ister of human resource development, at a function in Delhi on January 22, 1993. As general manager, marketing, of Nowrosjee Wadia and Sons Limited, the export division of Bombay Dyeing, Bharucha has been instrumental in the company showing an export performance of Rs 114 crores last year. For the period 1992-93, they expect to do even better with Rs 120 crores, Bharucha provides the statistics. During his career with Bombay Dye­ ing spanning three decades, Bharucha has gradually risen up the ladder, he in­ forms. The latest appointment requires the 54-year-old executive to travel exten­ sively through Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand to service clients over ­ seas and create a better market for Indian fabrics. After graduating in economics from Jhansi, Bharucha had come to Bombay in 1958 and worked with the State Bank of India for five years before he joined Bombay Dyeing’s export department. With a tight schedule that does not permit him to pursue other interests, Bharucha says that whenever he can spare time he likes to work for the upliftment of the poor and the needy. (London) of which the Queen of England in whose memory the Zoroastrian Den­ is the patron. He is a member of the Parsi Punchayet and is also appointed University who stands first in the final examinations of Bachelor of Dental Sur- Five generations of Surveyors have gery. been pursuing the engineering profes- a Rattna for Ratan One of the seniormost active civil engi­ neers in the country, Raian Dinshaw Sur ­ veyor was recently conferred the Vikas On Parade^s popularity Bombay ’s B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital isn’t the only institution to have benefitted from Doctors on Parade. The Bomanshaw Minocher-Homji Parsi Gen- eral Hospital in Karachi is richer by nearly five lakhs after the show was staged before a houseful Hashumall Au­ ditorium on December 4, 1992, reports Dr Bomi Pardiwalla, one of the key orga ­ nizers of the show. Coordinating with new sound and light technicians and per ­ forming in a new environment made the troupe members work even harder at their roles, he adds. A team of 12 doctors from Bombay representing The Parsee Medical Ama ­ teurs along with seven backstage assis ­ tants entertained the Karachi audience with their skits, music, dances and other creative presentations. “Even though the show is a month old, people are still talk ­ ing about it as if it was held yesterday, ” wrote the Dubashes of Karachi. “Your video tapes are selling like hot cakes in Karachi... You will be happy to know that he (Sam Jamasji) has kept a certain percentage for the Hospital from the sale of each video cassette, ” the admirers added. Above: Surveyor (right) receives the Vikas Rattna from K. C. Lenka Below: Bharucha (right) receives the Vijaya Rattna from Baswa Rajeshwari 6 Parsiana February 19931 Dr Bomi Pardiwalla compered the High-scoring CA show delightfully... Dr Pauras Irani thrilled the audience with his dancing... the Nalladarus showed talent too... on the first attempt 23-year-old Pirooz tion of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of In- (However) Dr Homi Dordi stole the Pervez Movdawalla secured the second dia, to bring out an all-India directory show, ” was the impression of another rank in the November 1992 batch. It was and to form a Zoroastrian chamber of Karachi resident, Ms Sunnu Golwalla. the same rank positioning he had held at commerce. The Christian Directory, in the mean ­ while, ha.s been published by the Indian Christian Economic and Entrepreneurial Association (ICEEDA) ((* ferent vocations and callings in Bombay. At the all-India final examination of Subsequent to that there has been talk. Chartered Accountants which few clear especially at the meetings of the Fcdera- on the first attempt 23-year-old Pirooz b 'T ¦ f / \ Pardiwalla (left) with Thrity Nalladaru in Doctors on Parade rank in the November 1992 batch. It was the same rank positioning he had held at the intermediate examinations in May 1991, mentions a press release. Currently working as an industrial trainee in the corporate finance and Development treasury department of Godrej and Boyce which aims to inculcate business enter- Manufacturing Company Limited, Movdawalla is involved with systems de ­ velopment and computerization opera ­ tions, as notes his curriculum vitae. Prior to that he served as an articled clerk in S. R. Batliboi and Company gaining experi ­ ence in statutory, tax and internal audits of different companies. The final examination of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India Movdawalla had cleared in 1989 with the eighth rank. At the BCom examinations the same year Movdawalla had stood fourth in the University of Bombay, mentions his bio data. His college ^h||||B education was at the Narsee Monjee Col- lege of Commerce and Economics and * his schooling at Bombay ’s Sheth M. A. High School. After appearing for the final Com­ pany Secretaries ex­ amination in June 1993 Movdawalla councils, all-India trade and industry or- . 1 ganizations and foreign diplomatic mis­ sions. Advertisements have been accepted only from the Christian fraternity. Ulti­ mately the Directory aims to “open up new avenues of business opportunities for members in India as well as abroad. ” Company » “This mirth for us was possible be­ cause of Karachi ’s Dr Zarksis Anklesaria who (as president of The Friends of the Hospital) approached the Bombay doc- plans to pursue a postgraduate degree in tors, set in motion all the arrangements for their stay and inspired young workers to take care of every detail. ” But the man reportedly responsible for clearing all the sic, astronomy reading and writing, procedural requirements was Hoshang Bharucha, member of the Provincial As- Calling busineSSmen _ . While an all-India directory of Zoroas ­ trian businessmen is still in the notional stage, the Christian Business Directory, SPOTLIGHT 1992 was launched recently as a “maiden venture to integrate, harmonize and de- management services or business admin ­ istration. In addition to his academic pur ­ suits Movdawalla also finds time for mu- sembly in Pakistan, without whom the trip could not have materialized. The Bombay medicos, glad to their efforts yield profits for the Karachi Hospital, appealed to the large-hearted community in Karachi to extend their velop the Christian community.” This “economic see prise in a greater percentage of its com­ munity. “I-need-you, we-nccd-us ” is the driving force behind their workings. An opportunity to introduce them ­ selves and their services, the Directory promises “confidence and fellowship. ” The list of enterprises within Maharash ­ tra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu i.s extensive. However the publishers refer to their inability to incorporate data from all corners of India. They have there ­ fore, in this first edition, provided for forms towards the end, urging members to update and enlist more business con­ cerns. In the case of each city, there is first an alphab^lic index listing of the vo­ cations followed by individual entries within each calling. From advertising, bakeries and couriers to umbrellas, vid ­ eos and wines, Christians have taken to varied forms of business. Maps of the metropolitan cities of In­ dia, pin codes, STD and ISD codes also feature in this directory along with lists of Indian investment centers, state indus ­ trial corporations, export promotion -4^ J* At the third annual Energy Conservation _ ___ Forum in Washington in October last, generosity to Bombay s Parsee General effort would promote “economic Roh in ton Aga, chairman of the Pune- Hospital too which needed funds. growth, something which is so vital to based Thermax India, created an aware- A spin-off from this show could well develop a dynamic and self-reliant com- ness of India ’s energy requirements by munity,” as reads the announcement for 2000 AD. He was the only Indian busi- thc 261-page directory. nessman invited by the US Energy Asso- In 19S1, Dr (Ms) Mcher Master-Moos, ciation to address the participants, ac ­ cording to Business India of October 26- November 8, 1992. be an invitation to perform in London, if sponsors are forthcoming; and the setting up of a Parsi Naiak Company in Karachi with keen interest being evinced by Minoo Bhandara, brother of the well- known novelist Ms Bapsy Sidhwa, writes Golwalla. effort would promote growth, something which is so vital to t com- loundcr of the Mazdayasnie Monasterie, had brought out the Mazdayasnie Monas- leric Business Direclory for the Parsis, that listed a cross-section of Parsis in dif- Compiled by Parinaz Gandhi 8 Parsiana February 1993ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD 1 Second dental meet A judicious mixture of science and conviviality marked the Second World lease. The growing incidence of dental Zoroastrian Dental Congress (WZDC) decay and gum disease in the developing stantial support — the 45 Zoroastrian in Karachi last December, informs a press release from the India-based Zoro ­ astrian Dentists Organization (ZDO), co­ organizers of the Congress with the Paki ­ stan Dental Association (PDA). Based the closing day. At the valedictory func- on the theme “Excellence in Dentistry, ” the Congress saw the presentation of of Avari Towers Liaquat Jatoi, finance high quality professional papers followed minister of Sind, presented plaques to ond WZIX3, Mr Avari has nurtured it.” by a post-Congress course on “Dental speakers and trade representatives. The ZDO responded by presenting a gold implantology and restorative dentistry ” conducted by three dentists from the participation of student members in­ Bombay. eluding Ms Kainaz Zorabi, Ms Ooshin Nicholson, Hoshang Sukhia and Ashdin by the ZDO in Bombay in 1988. The of- Tumer and their pres ­ entations. Outstanding among equipment and techniques during the the social events was intervening years. “We have spared no a banquet hosted by effort to ensme that you have the highest Ms Goshpi and Byram level of the latest information, ” assured Avari, president of the Sidhwa. Cosponsored by the India and Karachi Anjuman and Pakistan ends of the multinational corpo- member of the Na- ration Colgate Palmolive, the Congress, tional Assembly, at in their seaside residence form for learning and a with and a live band in at ­ tendance, memorable was the dinner hosted Sadar Agiary by Congress chairman Below: (From R) Turner, Shah, Sukhia, Dr Rumi Sukhia, Avari and PDA members at the inaugu- president of the PDA ral of the second WZDC US, Dr (Ms) Pervin Bhesania and Dr (Karachi chapter) and his wife Kamal Firdaus Batiwala, as notes the press re- on the lawns of their residence. The ZDO acknowledged Avari ’s sub- i J countries was discussed with particular dentists and their families were hosted reference to India and Pakistan. free of charge at Avari Towers for A highlight of the Congress was a the duration of the Congress. Referring symposium on “Restorative dentistry ” on to him as “a pillar of strength and de ­ pendability ” at the inaugural function, tion on December T1 at the Dinshaw Hall WZDC secretary Dr (Ms) Daisy Sidhwa noted, “If Dr Sukhia conceived the Sec­ A notable feature of the Congress was Zarthust medallion and a silver plaque to the Avaris. Silver plaques were also pre ­ sented to the Sukhias and the PDA. The First WZDC had been organized fice bearers were at pains to note the progress and changes in dental materials, Another evening Above: Delegates and hosts outside the Sukhia ’s words, “(created) a plat- source for entertainment knowledge. ” A souvenir published on the occasion testifies to the support of In- ¦ * A jashan at the Sadar Agiary presaged the official inauguration of the Congress on December 24, 1992 by Syed Muzzaf- far Hussain Shah, Chief Minister of Sind. Welcoming the delegates at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Shah “lauded the Zoroastrian community for their honesty and loyalty to the country of their adoption/ ’ informs Dr Porus Turner, president of the Congress. The scientific sessions began on the morning of December 25, 1992 with an address by Dr Tariq Zaman Ahmed, president of the PDA’s central council, and a keynote address on “Prosthetic re ­ habilitation of oral cancer patients ” by Dr Sarosh Master. Other notable partici ­ pants included Dr Fali Driver, Dr Kali Kapadia, neurosurgeon Dr Keki Turel, Dr (Ms) Kamal Taraporewala from the 10 Parsiana February 1993dian and Pakistani business and professional firms to the success of the Congress. The Diu connection When the Zoroastrians first landed in Diu they lived in a cluster of caves about two to four kilometers from Diu, says Rohinton Temurasp. A scion of the Divecha clan, Temurasp has dropped the family name and made “nice, quiet,” Lisbon his home. Visiting India in end 1992 after 31 years, Temu­ rasp ’s return was prompted by the new diplomatic ar ­ rangements between Portu ­ gal and India. His aim was to salvage some of the fam- J ily property in Diu which had been expropriated by I the Government of India after the takeover of Goa. They had a bungalow, near the Diu airstrip at Nagoa Beach; there were orchards surrounded by vast land. Temurasp ’s comparative tion of the caves, ” says Temurasp. At Diu, the dokhma (above) and remains Regular prayers used to be said in the of the sagdi. At left, towering above Dui agiary earlier, he says. When he was Temurasp issthe statue of an unidenti- ___ ___ __ about eight to 10 years old Temurasp fied Parsi guarding the Zoroqstrian unease with English and his strong Portu- remembers holding the afarganiu when heritage on the Diu shoreline guese accent make details difficult to I communicate. I Temurasp one of the two sons of the late Col ’ I Ardeshir Divecha who also had two I daughters. Bom heritage on the Diu shoreline the fire was ferried to Rajkot. Eventu­ ally, apart from the Divechas there was only the mobed ’s family plus Cowashaw Patel and one old lady left in Diu, he recalls. Referring to the dokhma that his tion’s work for the uplift of rural Zoroas- trians in Gujarat when he received news of his son’s death while enjoying a swim* in Brisbane, Australia, on January 10, Temurasp family had maintained, Temurasp hopes 1993. Xerxis is said to have sustained ¦ ’ cerebral hemorrhage while swimming, notes the March issue of the newsletter __ ___ _ _ _ of the Zoroastrian Association of Metro ­ in Diu, Temurasp pany in Lisbon. His wife Helena works politan Chicago (ZAC). says that at one for the Sunlife Insurance Company. They This tragedy was followed by another time there had been “lots and lots of Parsis in Diu’s Parsi wad. ” After stints in Panchagani and Boys’ Town, Nasik, Temurasp went or five Parsi families in Portugal — most Mexico, on February 2, 1993, also in- in 1957 to Goa as he “wanted to maintain of them in Lisbon. His brother and one forms the ZAC newsletter. The young his Portuguese links,” completing his sister, an aunt and a cousin have also re- couple had gone for a week of sun and schooling in Loyola High School there, located there. Another sister lives in scuba diving with 11 other enthusiasts. Four years ’ service in the Portuguese Benoni, South Africa. leaving their two children Nicole (4) and army was compulsory but there was no Eric (16 months) in the care of ZAC discrimination says Temurasp who re- A SaddCT WOrld friends. Air and sea search conducted by tired from military duty as a corporal. He Within the first two months of 1993 two the local authorities failed to locate their had been sent to Mozambique, Portugal ’s healthy young Zoroastrians have met an whereabouts. East African colony. Thereafter he mi- untimely end. Uthamna, sarosh nu patru and grated to Lisbon about 13 years ago. Xerxis Captain (27), a fresh young chahrum prayers were organized for According to Temurasp there are medico, had sought to see the world be- them at the Chicago Darbe Mehr while Zoroastrian inscriptions rn the Diu caves fore settling down to medical practice in the Hagen family held a memorial mass which are said to be cemented over. England, informs Hamazor, the bulletin for them at St Terrence Church in Alsip, “Can the Archeological Survey of India of the World Zoroastrian Organisation mentions the newsletter. ascertain this? ” he enquires. A well (WZO). His father Shahpur Captain, '--------------------------------- within the cave was a source of water. “Elderly Muslims in Diu know the loca- is someone will get the sagdi repaired. Temurasp says he works in the admi ­ nistrative department of a French com- ' This tragedy was followed by another have two children, Sandra Maria (21) when Ms Niloufer and Mike Hagen and Joao Manuel (17). disappeared near the Palancar Reef According to Temurasp there are four off Cozumel island south of Cancun, or five Parsi families in Portugal — most ” of them in Lisbon. His brother and one sister, an aunt and a cousin have also re ­ located there. Another sister lives in Within the first two months of 1993 two healthy young Zoroastrians have met an untimely end. Xerxis Captain (27), a fresh young medico, had sought to see the world be­ fore settling down to medical practice in England, informs Hamazor, the bulletin ZAC has instituted the Niloufer and WZO president, was in India to see for Mike Hagen Memorial Fund, the pro- himself the progress of the Organisa- ceeds to be utilized for the benefit of 12 Parsiana February 19931 1 abashedly play the ladies ’ man. He did it Nicole and Eric at the discretion of Nil- oufer ’s mother Roshan Patel. At the other end of the scale. North ofhis wife, Gladys, who woiked with him. America ’s oldest Parsi inhabitant and restaurateur, Rustom D. Wadia (93) died be charmed as much by his engaging per- on December 19, 1992. Journalist Porus sonality as by the generous portions he Cooper sent to Parsiana a pen-portrait of served. If there was hearty laughter and the colorful, nonagenarian: boisterous talk coming from a group in the far comer of the Ceylon India, in the shadows just beside the tiny bar, Wadia invariably was at the center of it. ‘“He ran his restaurant more as a so­ cial club than as a business,’ said Pesi Bavaadam, a long-time friend whose wife, Dolly, for several years served as in good humor, secure in the indulgence “Guests at his restaurant were apt to “A pioneer in running Indian restaurants (Raja, Ceylon-India Inn) in New York, Wadia was a raconteur with a lively wit and boundless curiosity. To recent gen­ erations of immigrants from India, he was a window to an America that even most native-born Americans know only hostess at the Ceylon India Inn. When from the history books. The New York Times once published a “Over the years, he was befriended by flattering review of the restaurant, professors, journalists, diplomats, busi- Bavaadam recalled, there was a rush that ness people, Broadway personalities, surprised Wadia — and dismayed him. artists, down-on-luck waiters, at least He did not need all that money, Wadia one camera repairman and some who told people, irked that the crowds were turned out to be charlatans. With many, interfering with his desire to strike up lei- he compiled years of correspondence, surely conversations with his customers, the topics ranging from articles in The New York Times that piqued his interest to political and social events in India. “Often, he would needle fellow laid off during the Depression from a job with a subsidiary of Con Edison that pro ­ vides electricity to the Bavaadam said. “Related to the great entrepreneurial Wadia family of Bombay, Wadia was A Parsi film producer having already produced three films seeks finance on reasonable terms. Co-producers welcome. Write to: The Advertiser (Finance) Parsiana GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 t J I 1 / /j Rustom and Gladys when they cele­ brated the diamond jubilee of their marriage in 1988 Effig city. He acquired the p I Raja restaurant, | I founded by another In- | I dian. The Raja closed i I in 1955 — “It wasn ’t ¦ I making any money,” ! I says Gladys. Two years * I later, he purchased the I I Ceylon India Inn, which | . was founded in 1918 | I and was advertised as i I the oldest Indian restau- ¦ I rant in New York. Per- ! I haps it was the oldest in I I the United States. I I “Recently, one of | " those he regularly cor- | responded with received a typically play- i ful missive from Wadia. It was a clip- ¦ ping of a page-long newspaper advertise- . ment for an anti-aging formula with a J short note attached to it. ¦ ‘“I am afraid to try it,’ Wadia wrote of I the purported formula. ‘Might make me | % Zoroastrians who displayed what he thought was inflexible religiosity, but to the end retained a great fondness for his roots, making donations to projects of the leave my house and home and look for local Zoroastrian association. “A handsome man with a well- groomed moustache and a penchant for not only most of his contemporaries, but wearing American-Indian string ties, he also the Ceylon India Inn.’’ once modeled for a magazine advertise ­ ment. Among close friends he would un- unrestrained excitement.’ “When he died, Wadia had outlived Compiled by Amavaz S. Mama 15 Parsiana February 1993 Sardar Dastur Schools’ Trust managing three renowned schools right from pre-nursery to twelfth standard imparting high level of education through English medium, with separate hostels for boys- and girls, and best messing facilities (veg & non-veg) in the country. Parents desiring to enrol their wards in the schools’ hostels and interested in the hostel prospectus are requested to write or contact The President Sardar Dastur Schools’ Trust 2, Lt Col Tarapore Road Poona 411001POLITICS AND POLICY Guzder elected BPP chairman Gustasp Irani With the support of the CER candidates, Jamshed Guzder was elected chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet At a tense trustees ’ meeting on March vote, however, and Shroff was elected to 30.1993, by a vote of four to three, noted preside over the meeting. They then pro- , . ceedetj ^he election of chairman, the being tabulated upstairs," the two nounced the unofficial results of the con­ test to the gathering waiting outside. The CER-backed candidates Kanga and Kav ­ arana had won by comfortable margins. A volley of cheering greeted the an ­ nouncement. Well-wishers and support ­ ers of the CER converged to congratulate the two victBrs and each other. Kanga took a brief moment off to embrace his wife Firoza before wading through the raucous, celebrating crowd to embrace Kavarana and share a moment with her. industrialist Jamshed Guzder was elected chairman of the Bombay Parsi Pun­ chayet (BPP). The three dissenting trus ­ tees — Eruch Desai, Homi Ranina and Dr (Ms) Mehroo Bengalee — reportedly Guzder ’s name was suggested and he walked out of the meeting at this stage. At the start of the meeting the Com­ mittee for Economic Revival (CER) can ­ didates Guzder, Jamsheed Kanga, Minoo the parties vehemently asserting their Shroff and Ms Silloo Kavarana were rights. agreed that Minoo Shroff should tempo­ rarily chair the meeting till the election of the chairman took place. Desai re ­ portedly objected, stating that as the sen- iormost trustee, he w^ the chairman of Nariman Mehta of the CER walked down the Punchayet. The matter was put to the a flight of steps to emerge at the entrance "-xv1 w 1 fy;-. LOne couple was burnt to death and several other Zoroastrian families were rendered homeless during the recent communal camage in Bombay Homi Rogers For Kersi and Feroza Daruwalla, a couple in their mid-30s, January 10, 1993 started like any other Sunday. Only, maybe a little busier. With the navjote of their two children, Khush- numa and Farhad, just a fortnight away, there were many loose ends to be tied up. And the situation outside their flat at Dalal Estate in central Bombay was not so peaceful, with the neighborhood reel ­ ing under the second round of riots that half the number killed in the entire coun­ rocked Bombay after December 1992. But there were few portents that could have prepared them for the events of that afternoon when their little world turned to ashes. Two storeys above them a loving couple perished, the septuagenarian Medhoras, united in a gory death after a mob bolted their doors from without and set the building on fire. Across the tracks, separated by the sprawling Western Railway station of Bombay Central, Noshir Patel had his tenement in Tulsiwadi torched: his new television set exploded, his children ’s schoolbooks were burnt to cinders. He and his family escaped, literally, by the skin of their teeth and the strength of his sudreh. At Dadar, in the Parsi Colony founded pendence years before joining the Tatas by Mancherji Joshi, where tigers are said to have once prowled, the saber-toothed feline roared again — this time in the form of a mascot of the militant Hindu group, the Shiv Sena. F ' Muslims sought refuge in the compound affluent pockets of Colaba, Fort, and building of Palamkote Hall, posing a Churchgate, etc where life proceeded security problem for its residents who reasonably smoothly; the pao-walla were accused of harboring members of a (man delivering bread at home) occa- ‘traitorous ’community. • •• For well over a week the qualities of mercy and love were thrown to the winds. And the Parsi community, which practises compassion and charity, stood bewildered as flames of communal ha ­ tred engulfed the city which houses their largest population in one place. No at- bawaji (the endearing word used by secuted. Residents of at least two Parsi Bombayites of all communities to de- colonies faced (he threat of being sub­ scribe a Parsi), though Rustom Tirandaz, jected to searches for harboring Muslims municipal councillor from Dadar, does who had fled for sanctuary into the speak of one Zoroastrian who was hu- neighboring Parsi baugs. On January 9, miliated on the main road by being made recalls Nariman Mehta, president of the to kneel and shout ‘Jai Maharashtra ’ 10 Navroze Baug Play Centre, 30 to 40 hut ­ times over. Yet many Parsis became in- ments outside Navroze Baug (situated in nocent victims as mobs took control of Lalbaug, central Bombay) were demol- the city and the riots left 500 dead — ished, forcing their residents to jump over the wall and enter the colony. The distraught people rushed into the first “I available block and the residents, with the community’s customary compassion, responded by giving first aid and feeding the women and children. This action in­ furiated the militant mobs, whose men came the next morning armed with swords to get their prey. By that time, however, Mehta says die residents had spirited away the fugitives under cover of darkness through a hole in the wall, thus averting a possible carnage. A greater threat was posed by militant Hindus at Dadar ’s Parsi Colony. Rustom Tirandaz, a member of the Municipal Corporation ’s standing committee, may have defied Shiv Sena ’s militant might, as stated by a resident who does not wish to be named. .But Tirandaz ’s primary concern was to “prevent an epidemic in where he is now a director. “Even after the Parsi Colony. We Parsis have little Partition there were scattered incidents of violence, but nothing like this. ” Few areas in Bombay remained un- For here, 800 touched by the violence except the more try during the Ayodhya violence - thou ­ sands injured and lakhs homeless. have never seen anything like this, ” re- The building which suffered the most damage was the only one in Dalal Estate with predominantly Parsi occupancy marks Sharukh Sabavala (75), who brought out a city paper in the pre-Inde- immunity against disease and, sure enough, one would have spread. After all, from where was I to get 800 addi ­ tional litres of water to-wash 800 arses? ” queries Tirandaz rhetorically. He had the Muslims evacuated and escorted to the dargah and school compound at Mahim, “overseeing the operation from sionally missed his daily rounds. Even Varsha, ” the chief minister ’s residence, Parsis staying in the ghetto-like baugs where he claims to have rushed when the could not remain unaffected as buildings police did not respond immediately, around them burst into flames and streets ~ ran with blood. The skies were overcast with smoke and road.s emptied as snipers shuddering halt and the police, like the fire brigade, had to be prodded into ac ­ tion. Tirandaz claims to have evacuated the refugees with the help of the chief minister and the country ’s defence forces, who by then had camped in Bom- Parsis staying in the ghetto-like bangs From many accounts, Bombay ’s law and order machinery had ground to a aimed at innocent passersby. tacks were deliberately targeted at the Sanctuary for the hunted What was even more terrifying was the house-to-house search mounted by mili­ tant Hindu mobs, even in Bombay ’s posh bay. Mehta has a similar tale to tell, .. . . crediting Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) Facing page'. The building at Dalal Estate that was set ablaze Photo: Nalin Solanki/rZie Economic Times localities, in search of Muslims to be per 21 Parsiana February 1993trustee, Jamsheed Kanga, an ex-IAS nantly Parsi occupancy — six of its 10 looters was hurt in the leg and reportedly man, for assistance through the secretar- resident families were Zoroastrians. died on his way to hospital. This casu- iat of the ministry of home affairs. resident families were Zoroastrians. Recapitulating the ordeal of that black alty infuriated the mob who returned Sunday Jasmine, the pretty, petite wife of with triple strength, and set the entire Aspi Irani, almost breaks down. Aspi, an building ablaze. ex-Taj hand, who had left the hotel after 14 years to join Esselworld (Bombay ’s ? An estate up in flames An equally volatile situation was dif- ex-Taj hand, who had left the hotel after “It was a nerve-racking experience, ” fused through Kanga ’s assistance, it is 14 years to join Esselworld (Bombay ’s says Soli Mehta, a self-employed auto claimed, at Bombay ’s Ness Baug, the popular amusement park) before branch- consultant who operated from his ground youngest jewel in the Wadia crown of ing out on his own as a management con- floor flat, and hence lost all in the in- Parsi bangs in Bombay. A series of suitant, had just returned from Pune femo save, fortunately, his entire family, semi-circular buildings at Nana Chowk, the arc of open space formed by Ness Bang ’s distinctive architecture is rented out for use as auto repair garages. At least one such garage was run by a Mus­ lim. As the Shiv Sena reportedly had launched a pogrom to torch any estab ­ lishment — small or big — run by Mus­ lims, the garages at Ness Baug were ear ­ marked for destruction, endangering the buildings around them. “We pleaded with them to spare us,” says a resident seeking anonymity, “even offering to drag the cars out ourselves to a spot indi ­ cated by them, where they could make the bonfire. ” When, however, the plead ­ ings availed nothing, Kanga is said to have intervened, at the instance of the Committee for Economic Revival (CER) activist FairPoncha, to ensure that secu­ rity was strengthened and the garages and buildings were safe. Not as fortunate, though, were the residents of block G at Dalal Estate, barely two kms away. Here the entire building was gutted and reduced to rubble, when “a mob targeted a Muslim flat ” on the first floor of the four-sto ­ reyed building at Bombay. Central, as re- Despite all odds Kersi and Feroza ported The Times of India. Five Parsi Daruwalla succeeded in hosting the families residing in the building were scheduled navjote function for their rendered homeless and an aged couple, children Khushnuma and Farhad the Medhoras, trapped in their fourth floor flat, were charred to death (see homecoming, the action started... mo- “Together to the end, ” pg 26). The resi- ments that would totally alter our lives,” around noon. “Within minutes of his including his aged in-laws. Only 40 days M 9 ago, wife Maharukh ’ s parents had shifted into the same building, succumbing to the endearing pleas of a loving daughter and son-in-law who would be at hand to afford the old people better care. For the blind 73-year-old Nariman Italia, life holds no gleam of light. And now his wife, too, is bereft of home and hearth, consigned to charity and a place in the transit camp. Yet, had it not have been for the Italias, the casualty rate may have been higher. In the 15 minutes or so that elapsed between the mob retreating and II returning, Soli and his family ran up the 1 two storeys to bring his in-laws down. I Noticing that all doors had been latched R from the outsit^ by the mob. Soli said he I opened them up, providing the residents ¦ an escape route when minutes later the B hoodlums doused petrol and bounced 1 flaming rags into the building. fl Within minutes the wooden stairways H and ceiling beams gave way, and there I was no way Pheroze Medhora, the noted I philatelist and his wife Mehroo could de- ¦ scend from the fourth floor. The build- “ ings at Dalal Estate are interlinked with one another and neighbors from the adja ­ cent block tried to storm open the door from their side to enter the Medhora flat and save the old couple. But the blinding smoke and smoldering heat staved off any such rescue bid, and the couple per- __ _____ ______ _ ________ ________ ____ . ished in their flat. Their neighbors, the dents in the neighboring F and H blocks continues Jasmine, while an ashen-faced Iranis, being in their 30s, were more ag- too experienced the impact of the fire. Ms Maharukh Mehta, seated under the ile, and descended from their fourth floor Once a predominantly Parsi resideh- benign portraits of our sethias at the flat by clinging on to the balconies and tial colony, the Dalal Estate in its check ­ ered career passed through many hands, till the present set of trustees set up the dated the riot victims), gazes into space. Dalal Estate Owners Association and de- ~ cided to offer the flats to its tenants on ownership on payment of 100 times the monthly rent. Many of the original Parsi tenants sold out, and members of other communities, predominantly Muslims- came to occupy what is i _ perceived to be a Parsi preserve. It is suffered the most damage was the only ing blocks to the accompaniment of loud over an hour they stood across the broken one in the Estate which had predomi- chants of ‘Allah-o-Akbar. ’ One of the wall, while the building smoldered. Ms Maharukh Mehta, seated under the ile, and descended from their fourth floor benign portraits of our sethias at the Hughes Road F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla perching on the footholds offered by the (where the BPP had promptly accommo- verandahs, before attempting the final 2 . • jump from the first floor into the open From Jasmine ’s account, and that of arms of a human ring formed below. “If other residents, it appears that a large there is a vacancy in a circus, do let us mob of around 100 or so (“we peeked know,” jests Jasmine, staving off a sob-, through the lourves in our doors ”) laid siege to the flat of a Muslim. The owner, luy iviusimia, like the Mustafa Garage owner of Ness .— —-----------„-------- <------------ still generally Bang, had already fled. While returning city eveninger. The Afternoon Despatch ¦ ~ • ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ and Courier, “the criminal elements did not allow the fire engine to enter, and for Any hope of rescuing the Medhoras was dashed when the fire brigade could not help. According to a report in the after looting the flat the mob is said to cruelly ironical that the building which have been fired upon from the neighbor ­ chants of ‘Allah-o-Akbar. ’ One of the wall, while the building smoldered.works in an Irani-owned bar/liquor shop, eking out his living in Tulsiwadi, a large opment Authority), which would pay around Rs 60 per sq foot against the ac ­ tual cost of Rs 250 to Rs 300. Though slum in Bombay situated right behind the the repairs would normally take around posh Willingdon Sports Club, five years, Anklesaria is confident that E_, (The Economic Times was more chari ­ table, attributing the delay in action to “blistering winds. ”) The BPP came to the rescue with ex- — — ------------- . emplary promptness. Dinshaw Mehta, five years, Anklesaria is confident that But the future seems bleak, being perceived by many as a leading light in with the BPP’s close rapport with the married to a non-Parsi, Patel is denied the CER victory at the recently-con- J eluded Anjuman Committee polls, was completed within three years, there within minutes. Dinshaw, who has i a gas agency and runs a foundry, is the son of slain councillor Rusi, and elder brother of Noshir who contin­ ues to nurse the same constituency in central Bombay as did his father. The brothers got to work, consoling, as ­ suring, and even ameliorating the condition of Parsi riot-hit families. CER luminaries Kanga and Poncha were soon at the site, joined by BPP trustee and businessman Jamshed Guzder who promptly offered Soli Mehta ’s 20-year-old son a job at DHL/Airfreight. Without much ado, the trustees ar ­ ranged accommodation with free food for the riot-hit families at the Parukh Dharamshalla or the Petit Sanatorium on Cumball Hill. Five Parsi families comprising seven males, six females, and two children (figures as supplied by the BPP from' their records) opted for admission to the Dharamshalla where, for one, the power situation is better and the ac ­ commodation grouping easier. Whatever furniture could be salvaged from the ruins was stored at the Sana ­ torium. Within a fortnight, two Parsi The gutted G block at Dalal Estate families had left to be with other family Photo: Homyar Mistry members, and at the time of going to press, it is anticipated that the remaining help, and push matters, ” he adds cau- families will be settled on a temporary tiously. basis in a modest one-room-and-kitchen ' “ transit camp accommodation at either tate makes the situation even more am- Mahim ’s Contractor Baug or Andheri ’s biguous. While most of the residents re- Bharucha Baug, till such time as their call having paid around 100 times the through knowledge of the law. original accommodation is repaired/re- rent some lime in 1971-72, they have no Nariman Mehta also advocates a constructed. certificate to prove their ownership, and middle-of-the-road policy. In the event The BPP trustees have also offered as- have continued to pay what, in the re- of a backlash from any quarter the com- sistance in having the burnt down or badly-affected flats speedily repaired, claimed as ‘rent. ’ Further, the buildings should not receive the brunt of an attack Kanga is organizing an NOC (no objec­ tion certificate) from the Repairs Board for this purpose and has already sent an engineer for the same, informs Rustom Anklesaria, chief executive of the BPP. According to Anklesaria, the BPP will bear the initial cost of the repairs (esti­ mated at around Rs 20 to 25 lakhs by Noshir Patel, an ex-factory hand, married could be of immense help at times like Dinshaw Mehta), till the same is reim- to a Muslim, whom he met and wed dur- this. bursed by the government body MHADA ing his years with Ceat Tyres. Laid off Tirandaz, however, advocates a stron- (Maharashtra Housing and Area Devel- from his job after an accident, Patel ger representation; “It is time we ex- Housing Board, the process could be the privilege of BPP accommodation — ____“Ulti- 1 cA nr anv fnrtn nf mately, of course, only the tenants can M grouping 24 Parsiana February 1993 I k ! I temporary or otherwise — or any form of help meted out to Parsis as per the trust deeds. Fifty-five seems hardly the age to pick up one’s life all over again. «-» His plight is slightly relieved by *5^ his employer, kind-hearted Cyrus Irani who, through his association with Dinshaw Mehta, has been able to procure for Noshir temporary ac- commodation on Balaram Street till his children ’s term at Tardeo ’s C. J. School expires in May. And while I Patel, “looking a ghost of his usual -» self,” as Cyrus Irani puts it, continues _ ’ to serve portions at the bar-cum-res- taurant, his own cup of woe spilleth over as he muses over his future. I > 1 ll'. p>f The nature of ownership at Dalal Es- The uncertain future Patel is not alone in his musings. The communal frenzy in as'cosmo ­ politan a city as Bombay has set many Parsis thinking about their ex­ istence in the City of Gold, which they helped to build and nurture over the past three centuries, ever since the British invited them to develop the seven water-logged islands. Anklesaria advocates a cautious approach. “Speaking out against a com­ munity or groups or persons, ” he advises, “would only bring tomorrow ’s wrath on us today. At such a time, what can mere words do? ” He appears to shy away from the thought that it is time for Parsis to once again take the lead and restore sanity by the pow&t of the pen, or rent some time in 1971-72, they have no certificate to prove their ownership, and have continued to pay what, in the re ­ ceipts issued to them, is officially munity, because of its outspokenness. do not seem to have been insured against not meant for it. “We should continue to fire, and certainly not against riots. Nor can it be determined if the Estate is held by a trust registered with the charity Mehta concedes that it is important that commissioner. the community has more people like The labyrinths of law makes for yet Kanga — actively involved in govern- another pitiable story in the case of ment or local administration — who maintain a cordial relationship with all, ” he advises. At the same time, Nariman f' to a Muslim, whom he met and wed dur ­ ing his years with Ceat Tyres. Laid off from his job after an accident, PatelI posed the corrupt people in society.” Zo­ roastrians should take a more active part longing to the first generation of Indians who were born in republican India, ” la ­ ments “the souring of our dreams, ” and queries “the legacy we will be passing on to the second generation of free Indians affected and are in distress due to the precedented disturbances. ” This dona ­ tion, “irrespective of caste and creed, ” as stressed by Anklesaria, was channelized through the Red Cross. Parsi social workers like Ms Silloo Kavarana, who has since been elected trustee of the BPP, and Ms Homai Modi of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, dis ­ bursed assistance through it by way of food packets, blankets, etc to over 1,000 families in Madanpura camp and in Tul­ siwadi at Tardeo. The Pirojsha Godrej Foundation pre ­ sented Rs 5,00,000 to the Governor of Maharashtra for the Government Riot Relief Funds. The Times of India, which kicked off a ucha, who describes herself as one “be- in politics; people of conviction should enter it and strengthen its moral fiber, he feels. “And, yes,” he asserts, “a Parsi could make even the hoodlums listen,” quoting the examples of Sir Pherozeshah who are now attaining maturity. ” Mehta who had made his presence felt in Frustrated by the rot that has set into Mehta who had made his presence felt in the Bombay Municipal Corporation, and all professions, pinched by the paucity of ’ accommodation, the younger generation nounced an initial donation of Rs 50,000 from Seth P. F. Davar Charitable Trust (later upgraded by another donation of the same amount) to help members of all communities “who have been badly un­ Anklesaria, of B. K. Boman-Behram later on, who had commanded respect as a Mayor. “It would make them bow their heads in shame. ” What greatly assisted in bringing the city back on its feet was perhaps the con­ cerned call given by J. R. D. Tata and Nani Palkhivala that the army be sum­ moned, and the city placed under its care. Strong words spoken by men respected in all quarters bear hearing, and cannot be taken lightly. The titans even called on the Prime Minister when he was in Bom­ bay, to voice the citizens’ feelings and propose a course of action. At the nor ­ mally staid and politics-eschewing jobs abroad, kersi Daruwalla, a char- Bombay House, the corporate headquar ­ ters of the Tatas, a high tea was hosted for Arjun Singh, Minister for Human Re­ source Development during his visit later job overseas, in the month, underlining the message that in times of crises one has to cease being a bystander. Not all, however, would like to take predict gloom. But the city — and the lected. Many other Zoroastrians sent in the new Tata line. Poised at the cross- community — have in the past displayed their donations, however humble, to the roads, community members have voiced a rare resilience that has proved the Cas- various relief funds set up. At a sports opposite views in equally strong terms, sandras wrong. meet organized by the A. H. Wadia Baug There even seems to be a hearkening Welfare Centre, in early February, many back to the strength and safety afforded The agony... and the empathy of the prize winners decided to turn in by numbers, and the advantage of living If there is one thing that the riots in Bom- their cash prizes to aid homeless Parsi families and other riot-hit victims. Charity, as the community proved, be­ gins at home. But it does not end there. “The criminal elements did not allow the fire engine to enter iJj contemplates migration as a possible an ­ swer. Unfortunately, few in the commu­ nity are suitably qualified to get good relief fund with a donation of Rs 5 lakhs, received its first major cheque from ju­ rist Fali K. Nariman who contributed one lakh of rupees. Another lakh came from Gharda Chemicals. The Afternoon Despatch and Courier, edited byBehram Contractor, which donates one paise per copy sold to charity, sent in a cheque for tered accountant whom we mentioned earlier, is aware that his qualifications do not match the requirements for a good It may be a while before Bombay re ­ turns to its Mammon-worshipping, cos­ mopolitan culture. The prophets of doom Rs 25,000 from its trust money so col- community — have in the past displayed a rare resilience that has proved the Cas ­ sandras wrong. * The agony... and the empathy If there is one thing that the riots in Bom- amongst ourselves in the light of the bay have re-established, it is the Parsi Dalal Estate tragedy. baugs ‘for Parsis only’ solve the prob ­ lem? Or, would they provide a future target for concerted attacks when our af ­ fluence and/or individualism could incite envy or hatred in the less fortunate? Nariman Mehta as vice chairman of the Navroze Baug Maintenance and Devel­ opment Committee has petitioned the trustees, in view of the recent distur ­ bances, to raise the boundary walls or through other voluntary organizations. ” provide them with extra barbed wire, the Paeterasp, with the help of his son who present supply being too short to be ef- runs a printing press, had 4,000 leaflets fective. But will high walls survive the printed overnight; these were distributed crumbling dreams or stormed bastions within the community? White the older generation laments the failure of law and order or, more pre ­ cisely, its non-existence, having wit­ nessed the strict disciplinary action of the British, the post-independence genera ­ tion feels let down. Ms Nilufer E. Bhar- But would more jivro (philanthropy). The embers had barely cooled when the community was busy collecting and donating resources for the amelioration of the victims. Paeterasp Patel, chartered accountant and president of the Khareghat Colony Youth Association, galvanized his group into collecting food, clothing and medi ­ cine for the riot-hit and carrying out “re ­ lief work under personal supervision in the major Parsi baugs and societies when they went on a collection drive on January 24, 1993. The group collected Rs 50,000 in cash, bcside.s heaps of clolhc.s and rations, Patel informs us. The BPP, which zealously guards the community’s trust funds and espe­ cially its properties, spontaneously an- Statement of Ownership & Other Particulars about Parsiana: Form IV (See Rule 8) Place of Publication: Bombay Periodicity of Publication: Monthly Printer, Publisher, Editor: Jehangir R.Patel Nationality: Indian Address: 285, J. Dadaji Marg, Bombay 400007 Proprietor: Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd, 39 A. K Nayak Marg, Bombay 400001 Shareholders holding more than one percent of the total capital: Jehangir R Patel, Veera and Simin J. Patel, address same as above. I, Jehangir R. Patel, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to'-the best of my knowledge and belief, Sd. (Jehangir R. Patel) 1 March 1993 25 Parsiana February 1993 Iest of 18 children born to a marine engi­ neer, was also a student there at a time “when there were only three lady stu­ dents, ’’ according to Dalvi. Praising Mehroo ’s enthusiasm and en­ ergy, Adi Mulla adds that “her strict and Together to the end It was a most tragic | way for two gentle and I loving souls to have perished. Born just 12 days apart, the 78-year- old Medhora couple died together when ri ­ oters set their building afire at Dalal Estate on Sunday, January 10, 1993. Yet, barring the manner of exit, it could have been death as hoped for by educationist and social ciety the possession of their room which worker Ms Mehroo Medhora. would^ often lell^ her husband Phiroze of India. It was Medhora ’s evidence in couple helped individuals and institutions . irrespective of caste, creed or religion. ¦'i I Phiroze and Mehroo Medhora “She ers. “He was not a mi­ ser of knowledge, ” says Dastur in a tribute impartial ways, along with her sense of to Medhora. Dastur as humor, endeared her to all. ” The ‘all ’ for secretary of the EIPS, and Medhora had nursed the organiza ­ tion through trying times after 1972, when . Cooper died. One of have been more Zoroastrian in nature, ' Medhora ’s last contri ­ butions to the EIPS was to win for the So- Medhora the Medhora couple was not restricted to the school and stamp circles only. Besides philately the couple had one more common cause: philanthropy. While Phiroze ’s concept of charity may Mehroo ’s involvement, as Dalvi puts it, was more Christian: “she gave of her personal self.” “Shunning publicity and refusing (the) was being claimed by the Central Bank limelight, ” to quote G. J. Dastur, the [president of the Empire of India Philete- I lie Society (EIPS) and former editor of EIPS,” observes G. J. India’s Stamp Journal], ‘You dare not die before me,”’ reminisces Ms Roshan Dalvi, a city civil court judge about her fui (father ’s sister). And even as scorch ­ ing flames of hatred engulfed the city, not even the icy hand of death could part the loving Medhoras who were due to celebrate the golden jubilee of their mar ­ riage with ’n a few months. Phiroze Medhora had all along abided by Danton ’s maxim: “Boldness. Again by her husband, Mehroo set about to make a thematic collection of stamps on fruits, flowers and animals. Her article Geography and Stamps ” won her the interestingly, a rough exterior con- Diwan Bahadur Quazi Prize in an open cealed her generous heart. B. F. competition for Bombay teachers, while Chhapgar, an authority on marine life her thematic collections bagged for her, and a colleague at Bharda ’s, confesses to plaque sponsored by the being occasionally piqued when referred to as “ae, chokra (here, boy)!” This term, we understand, she used even to summon Vispi Dastur and the inmates of the Dharamshala. Ms Meher Mast^-Moos, founder of the Mazdayasnic Monasterie, has an amusing story to narrate that fairly well summarizes Mehroo ’s personality. “Six evenings a month she would be unfail- the high court that won the case for Dastur, husband of Medhora ’s niece. Mchroo Medhora also did her bit to pro ­ mote philately. “She had the knack of con­ verting one hobby into another, ” according to Dalvi. It was thus not “She would often tell her husband, ‘You dare not die before me’” The Medhoras were regular supporters of the Sir J. J. Dharam- shala, described by Dastur as the first free cosmopolitan home for the aged in Asia. Kind- hearted and'sensitive, tears welled up in Mehroo ’s eyes when a boldness. Always boldness. ” It was re ­ flected in his articles and editorials. More importantly, it was mirrored in his dealings as recounts Vispi Dastur, editor of India’s Stamp Journal, the official or ­ gan of the EIPS. He enjoyed an interna ­ tional reputation for honesty and integ­ rity, which stood him in good stead after 1957 when he became an independent stamp dealer. His keen eye could un­ cover the ‘fakes, ’ which many other phi- _________________ , latel^ts failed^to detect, or feigned not only a means to promote knowledge. An house of Christie ’s as their agent in India surprising that inspired and encouranged few years ago, the home initiated the ‘adopt a grandparent scheme ’ and school * children ‘adopted ’ inmates of the Dhar- amshala at a small but touching ceremony. Interestingly, a rough exterior cealed her generous heart. EIPS, and a silver medal from the Phila ­ telic Society of India (PSI). But for Mehroo, teacher of English, Persian and social sciences, philately was to. For years he represented the auction educationist at heart, “and a typical on matters of philately, and served as a jury member at many state and national exhibitions. But Phiroze will always be bered for bringing to light hitherto known stamps of the three Indian states of Dungarpur, Shahpura and Kotah. Till Medhora ‘discovered ’ them, “it was not even known that these states issued stamps, ” lauds Dastur. Phiroze learnt much about stamps from Jal Cooper, the doyen of Indian phi ­ latelists whose firm he joined in 1942. And what he learnt, he passed on to oth- remem - un- schoolmarm in her looks,” as Dalvi con­ fesses, Mchroo taught uninterruptedly for 48 years. For some years she was with _____ __ ___ _ __ _ the Sir J. J. School and thereafter at the ingly present, on the dot of 6.15, foi lec- Bharda New High School. She contin- tures organized by the Zoroastrian Col- Bharda New High School. She contin- tures organized by the Zoroastrian Coi­ ned to be involved with school activities lege. At 7.30 sharp, irrespective of the even after she retired in 1985, to spend speaker or the state of the proceedings, more time with her husband, ” recalls ------- * • Gooi, wife ol Adi Mulla who i.s principal ol the Bharda School. The Medhora ro ­ mance had blossomed early when Phi- roze, after having completed his school ­ ing as a boarder at the Surat Orphanage, was studying at Bombay ’s St Xavier ’s College. Mehroo Siganporia, the young- she would tap her wristwatch, rise, and leave the hall stating, ‘It is time for Phi- roze ’s drink. ’” A teetotaller before mar ­ riage, Mehroo had learnt to share a drink with her husband, the two, to quote Dalvi, “complementing each other... ” Homi Rogers 26 Parsiana February 1993Under the auspices of the MAZDAYASNIE MONASTERIE and the ALL INDIA SHAH BEHRAM BAUG SOCIETY (for Scientific and Educational Research) The one and only SOROASTRIAN 0OLLEGE Correspondence address: Mustafa Building, (2nd floor). Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Road, Bombay 400001, India. Tel: 2660214/2662950 after hours: 3674737 Fax: Bombay India 022-2662735-A/c 121 OR 91-22-3633509-011 THE AVESTA AND SCRIPTURAL STUDIES DEPT OF THE ZOROASTRIAN COLLEGE. This Dept opens up the educational possibilities of Di­ ploma and Degree Courses on the Zoroastrian Reli­ gion, the Avesta and other Texts, Ceremonies, His­ tory, Culture and all that relates to the Irani/Parsi Zoro­ astrian religion and ethnicity. The emphasis is on the ancient cosmic wisdom contained in the Zoroastrian Scriptur ­ es, espe­ cially the esoteric understand­ ing ex­ pounded In Gujarati by (Late) Us- tad Saheb wnraran Nowroji Shroff, the Founder of the llm e Kahshnoom prestigious internalional SAARC Award of the PAX MUNDI through the O.I.U.C.M.; cr.J fcl- with Z.C. Faculty Members (I to r) Dr Y. Varma. Dr Shiavux Khambata, Dr Leo Rebello, Prof Sam Doctor, Prof Dr Meher Master Moos and Ervad Noshirwan Kanga January 1993 Z.C. Convocation Ceremony: Mr Mehraban Zartoshty Z. C. Patron seen congratulating Padma Shri Homi J. H. Taieyarkhan on being conferred the and his fol- lowers, (Late) Dr present at the function. Framroze, and Mr Jehangirji Chiniwala, Ervad Phiroze Masani, Mr Hormusji B. Vania and others; and in English through the Mazdayasnie Monasterie publications and the Lec­ tures and Courses of the Zoroastrian College. The facilities are open to all interested persons in all coun­ tries, mainly in the English language. The Avesta and Scriptural Studies Dept Advi­ sory Board and the College Faculty comprises of distinguished Scholars and High Priests, including Vada Dasturji Kaikobad Phiroze Dastoor of Iranshah Atashbehram; Vada Dasturji Noshirwan M. Dastur of Surat; Vada Dasturji Meherjirana of Navsari; Dr Dasturji Kalkhusroo M. JatnaspAsa of Bombay: Mobedan Mobed Ervad Jehangirji Turel of Surat; Ervad Ramiyar Karanjia, Vice Principal, Dadar Athornan Madressa; Panthaky Saheb of Vaccha Gandhi Agiary, Ervad Aspendiar Dadachanji; Panthaky Saheb of Mithaiwalla Agiary, Ervad Behramshah Anklesaria; Panthaky Saheb of Manekji Seth Agiary, Ervad Noshirwan Kanga; Ervad Godrej Sidhwa of Karachi; Prof Dr Siegfried Hermerding of Germany; Prof Dr Gerd Gropp of Ger­ many; Prof Dr Dodikhudo Maestipish and Prof Dr P. Pulatov of Tajikistan; Prof Dr Meher Master-Moos, Z. C. President; Dr Ketayan F. Dalal; Dr Behramshah D. Pithavala; Dr Homi Press; Prof Sam Doctor; Mr Rustom Chothia and others, in India and other countries. Since December 1986 several series of lectures have been conducted through this Dept, on subjects ranging from the Gathas, Yashts, Vendidad, Khordeh Avesta, Yasna Texts, Boye, Baj, Yasna, Vendidad, Nirangdin, Navjote, Ashirwad, After Death and other in the world ceremonies to Pazend and Pahlavi Texts, Life After Death, Reincarnation in Zoroastrianism and other topics. Every Lecture is tape recorded on C-90 Audio Casset­ tes. (The Z. C. Research Library has a collection of over 400 Audio Cassettes on various subjects.) Persons interested in studying at home, and Anjumans/Associa- tions out- s I d e Bombay — Sanjan area in In­ dia and countries abroad, concerned with teach­ ing the ba­ sic prin­ ciples of Zoroas­ trian Reli­ gion in En­ glish lan- g u a g e have the fa­ cility of ob­ taining cop­ ies of the Lecture tapes and books. In this manner, the Zoroastrian College encourages thorough and system­ atic study of the Avestan Literature and the Zoroastrian Religion; and provides facilities to all interested persons in all countries, in English medium for the general DI­ PLOMA CERTIFICATE COURSES. [Certain Lectures Series have been translated into German and Persian for the use of the College Depts conducted in Germany and Tajikistan, by the collaborating Institutes.] The Special Avesta and Scriptural Studies Di­ ploma Course was inaugurated in June 1988 by Dr Dasturji K. M. JamaspAsa.This basicthree years Course covers Avesta Grammar and Scriptural Studies; the Grammar Course being taught by Ervad Ramiyar Karanjia and Prof Sam Doctor; and the Scriptural Textual Studies by Prof Dr Meher Master-Moos and Prof Sam Doctor. The Course coverage includes basics of Avesta Grammar and Scriptural Studies with empha­ sis on the Parsi tradition and scholarship. The books used include Kangaji's Avesta Grammar and Dictionary; Jackson ’s Grammar; Dr Bartholomae’s Dictionary; Dasturji K. M. JamaspAsa, Ervad R. Karanjia and Prof Sam Doctor's AvestaGrammar notes; Varnehade Avesta by Dasturjis JamaspAsa and Mirza; and Texts of Gathas and other scriptures by Ervad Kavasji Kanga, Dr Framroze Chiniwala: Dr I. Taraporevala; Kavi Ardeshir Khabardar; Mr T. Sethna: Prof S. Insler; Prof L. Mills; Dr Geldner's Avesta Texts; Moulton; Gutherie; Spiegel; Harlez; Dr J. J. Modi; Poonegar; and other Books and Texts includ­ ing Denkart; The Sacred Books of the East Series; Revayats, etc. Since 1988 the benefit of this Course has been availed of by a number of ladies and gentlemen who have successfully completed the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years Diploma Certificates. These include Mr Bomanshaw Kias; Ms Freny Postwalla; Mrs Grace Khambata; Ms Coomi Mistry; Mr Burzin Atashband; Mr Divya Thakar; Mr Jamshed Singporewala; Mr Rashid Irani; Mr Phiroze Chapgar; Ms Dina Nanabhoy; Mr Edal Vajifdar; Mr Shahpur D. Tavaria; Mr Burgese K. Bhadha; Mr Neville Mistry; Mr Rustom A. Dadachanji; Ms Dinaz Munshi; Mr Astad E. Itchhaporia; and others. Special thanks to Nergesh and Noshir Madon for all their support. Outstanding and original research work, sub­ mitted through guided PhD Degrees, Research The­ sis is also possible through this Dept. In January 1992, Dr Purviz Kolsawalla of Sydney, Australia, submitted for the first time in English language, a Thesis on Homa Yazad and the Yasna Ceremony, including its Esoteric Significance, based on Gujarati llm e Khshnoom writings; and he presented to the World for the first time in history, an authentic COMPUTER DISC of the entire Avesta-English and English-Avesta Dic­ tionaries; based on the 19th century work done in Gujarati by Ervad K. E. Kanga. This major contribution to Avesta Research by modern technological methodology has been hailed worldwide. In January 1993, Dr Keyoumarz Keyanian of Sydney, Australia presented his massive original 3 Vol­ umes Research Thesis for PhD on the Spread of Zoro­ astrianism from Iran to other countries; ancient Sacred Sites in Iran; and a Biographical Index of Zoroastrians in eminent positions worldwide. The Zoroastrian College Research Library at Sanjan has a collection of over 16,000 books. Many are rare books in Avesta, Persian, Pazend, Pahlavi, Tajik, German, French, Russian, Lati n, Arabic, Turkic, G ujarati, and other languages. The Library also has a collection of rare manuscripts. At present, whilst the College building is in the finishing stages of construction, as the carpentry work tor bookshelves continues, the Library Catalogu ­ ing work is going on. From 1993, its facilities will be made available through Seminars: and Scholars desiring to stay at the Zoroastrian College Research Centre may avail of its benefits. All persons interested in attending Lectures Courses may also avail of its benefits. If you wish to support the work of the Zoroas ­ trian College, please make use of the form below. Donations are welcome. Persons interested in sending for Books and Audio Cassettes, should write to the Mazdayasnie Monasterie Office at the address given on the form below All donations are tax exempt under Section 80G of the I.T. Act. Cash or cheque should be in favor of Mazdayasnie Monasterie. r "I To: Zoroastrian College, Avesta and Scriptural Stud- I les Dept; Mazdayasnie Monaeterie, Mustafa Build­ ing, 2nd floor. Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Road, Bombay I 400001, India. (Tick applicable column). I am inter- I ested in: 1. Books/Cassettes; please send me the list. 1 2. Attending Z. C. Lectures Courses; please inform I 3. Attending Avesta Grammar/Scriptural Studies Course. | 4. Doing Research towards Degree Programmes. | 5. Giving a donation. Please find enclosed cash/ J cheque for Rs / $ / £ I Name | Address and Tel No ------------------------- 1 ADVERTISEMENT k I 1POLITICS AND POLICY Offers for FOZYA’s coffers Jehangir Bisney For vocational guidance and self-employment projects, the Federation of Zoroastrian Youth Associations has been promised monetary support Generous offers of financial support to the community youth have come from two philanthropic Parsis, reminded Jehangir Bisney, president of the Federa ­ tion of Zoroastrian Youth Associations (FOZYA) at the second executive coun­ cil meeting held at Ahmedabad on October 25, 1992. The monies promised are: Rs 5,(X),000 by advocate fHMHMM Kersi Shethna to pro- mote self-employment and an indefinite amount (equal to the sum raised by the youths) by businessman -Affeez Khambatta for youth welfare activities. “FOZYA will only succeed if there is inter ­ action, ” stressed Bisney, impressing At the FOZYA meet in Ahmedabad (from upon the large number of delegates as- left) Palkhiwala, Karanjawalla, Bisney, sembled under a shamiana in the com­ pound of St Xavier ’s College the need to keep the communication channels open. Since the meeting was scheduled on the agenda of the Sixth All India Zoroastrian of us should try and get it more subscri- Youth Seminar, in addition to the six 1 ................ " executive council members present there I were several other youths from different to support Parsiana which was incurring As no one ventured to speak when the parts of India lejuming of the workings of huge financial losses over a long period, delegates ’ views were sought, the discus- the one-year-old FOZYA. Of the three projects FOZYA has de ­ cided to focus on, “‘career opportunities ’ and ‘employment opportunities ’ are at a strong advertisement and subscription very formative stage. When there are support from the members of the com- any employment opportunities in any munity and its well-wishers. FOZYA’s proposals and a desire to contribute to- city, FOZYA could be informed which in goal is that every family in every loca- turn would inform its members, ” urged Bisney. Every youth wing should send a write-up on its activities and get-toge- are: an 28 Parsiana February 1993 thers for publication on the youth page of the executive council meeting, Bisney the Fed Newsletter, he continued. invited the youth to suggest ways of gen- Progress was reported on FOZYA’s erating the maximum possible funds and ‘support Parsiana' project. P'----- ----- ’ ’ stated that Parsiana had 230 new sub­ scribers for which FOZYA could take Bisney creating an effective machinery to pursue FOZYA’s mission in light of the hand ­ some financial commitments. Rasna ’s Khambatta is keen to promote youth welfare ¦ in various ways and support programs for vocational guidance and training. He had offered to contribute for this purpose single­ handedly, from his own resources, an amount equal to what FOZYA would collect with the help of its member as ­ sociations, anjumans and punchayets, other trusts, bodies, individuals and organiza ­ tions all put together. Shethna ’s assis ­ tance is earmarked for the pursuit of self­ employment oriented careers in business some credit; but “I do not think we and the professions. The Pirojsha Godrej should be satisfied with that. Everyone Foundation ’s donation of Rs 5,(XX) is meant to strengthen FOZYA’s coffers, the income from its subscription dues be­ ing limited. 4' * Parakh, Debara and Gandhi bers which could mean going from house to house, ” he said. Explaining the need to support Parsiana which was incurring Bisney briefed the gathering about the sion was concluded with a request that reasons behind the magazine ’s financial suggestions may be communicated to plight. He reiterated the importance of FOZYA in writing. In the meanwhile, the delegates were requested to create in their areas an awareness of the monetary wards their fulfilment. tion become a Parsiana subscriber. A delegate from Bombay indicated After the conclusion of the annual that a large number of delegates who had general meeting which briefly followed come from Bombay to Ahmedabad to at-tend the youth seminar were living out­ side the bangs. As they were not eligible to become members of the bang associa ­ tions in their neighborhood, they wanted to become members of FOZYA by forming an association of youths living outside the bangs. Another delegate from Bombay felt that there should be a composite Bombay Association of Youth — in which young people living inside and outside the bangs could become members — and that Association could then become a member of FOZY A. Yet another suggestion was that Bom­ bay could be divided into two parts — Andheri to Colaba, and Andheri and be­ yond. The session concluded with a request to the delegates from Bombay to send their suggestions in writing for consi­ deration by the executive council. Members of the executive councU present at the meeting were: Jehangir Bisney, president; Porus Karanjawalla, vice president; Ms Mehemavaz P^akh, honorary secretary; Sarosh Palkhiwala, honorary treasurer; Porus Debara and Homi Gandhi, members. The sole absen ­ tee was Rukshad Bhagwagar. MATRIMONIAL Good-looking Parsi brothers, aged 27 and 31 years, from respectable and cultured family, invite matrimonial alliance from Zoroastrian girls of suit­ able age. Both men employed in Dubai. If interested, kindly forward details along with photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (Feb/5-93) GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited for fair, good-looking, intelligent and cultured Zoroastrian girl aged 28 years, postgraduate in economics, from professionally qualified, well-settled, cultured Zoroastrian boys up to 35 years of age. Please reply with full bio data and photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (Feb/3-93) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 MATRIMONIAL Match desired for an educated Zoroastrian gentleman, 40 years old, tall, handsome and healthy with his own business and living accommodation. Girl should be under 30-32 years, slim, beautiful, domestically trained, well educated, and from a decent Zoroastrian family. Full confidence assured. Please reply with bio data and recent photograph (returnable) to; The Advertiser Pirsiana Matrimonial (Feb/4-93) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 h 1 4^ Steamship agents — master stevedores dubashes — lighterage contractors Darabshaw B. Cursetjee’s Sons (Bombay) Pvt Ltd i 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 30 Parsiana February 1993 IRELIGION Outside the entrance of the dar-e-mehr in the Center-ruled enclave of Nani Daman in southern Gujarat, the passerby ’s atten ­ tion is drawn to a sign in Portuguese: Sagrado Fogo dos Parsis - Proibida A Entrada. He need not be a linguist to de ­ termine that the inscription means Sacred fire of the Parsis - entry prohibited. It is a reminder of another era when Daman was under foreign dominion, a bustling duty-free trading outpost with ba- _ zaars stocked with imported wares. The Portuguese have withdrawn H but the town still retains much of H the ambience of that bygone period H even today. And if you are fortu- H nate enough to be born a Parsi, and H may thereby gain unrestricted ac- H cess to the dar-e-mehr, you will have stumbled upon a niche that is B of value (or should be so) to our H dwindling community. For it is a H house of worship that has been dili- H gently tended by four generations H of the same family of priests for the H past 156 years. It is families like the H Unwalas who have steadfastly and H stoically sustained the values of our H faith; who, by their virtuous living, B espouse the tenets of Zoroastrian- ism. This Unwala family of Daman is the only such athornan family we know of that has been faithfully at ­ tending our sacred fire for such a long, unbroken span of time. The Nani Daman dar-e-mehr is not an ornate or grandiose structure. A squat brick and mortar edifice, it is located in a walled-off compound within a larger compound set off with a wrought iron gate. This pre ­ cinct is today hemmed in by the pressures of a swelling population, with residential complexes having sprouted right up to its periphery. It is nonetheless cloistered from the area called Navi Sheri, not far from the throb ­ bing market square. The dar-e-mehr was established in 1836 on Daepadar roj of the month of Shehrevar by the founder of Mumbai no Samachar, Fardoonji Murzban. A phi ­ lanthropist, he was responding to a peti­ tion from Meherwanji Naoroji Manekji (Satinwala), an opium trader with China, who believed the Parsi.s of Daman needed a place of worship. Until then, ? Faith and the fire T*» Dadabhai Unwala and his forefathers have served the Nani Daman fire-temple for four generations Aban Bana / the nearest dadgah had been in Moti Daman across the creek. The kathi fund for this new fire-temple was set up by Ms Motlibai Wadia of the eminent family of shipbuilders. Murzban, who was a Shehenshahi, was tutored by a priest who was a Kadmi. It was on account of this influence that he felt the dar-e-mehr he had established should be maintained along Kadmi beliefs. The first panthaky was Ervad 1 Naoroji Hormusji Unwala, who I used to walk to Nani Daman from I Udvada, around eight km away, to I serve the dar-e-mehr. He performed I the rites in the Kadmi tradition. For I his labors, he received four annas a g day from the local anjuman. He I used to impart instruction also to H several priests of Udvada, among I them Ervad Kayoji Mirza from the g family of Udvada ’s high priests. I Naoroji was said to be a stern I teacher, single-minded in ,his re- ¦ solve to propagate the faith among ¦ the future clerics of the community, R and took recourse to the cane when I he deemed it necessary. ¦ There was a sizeable settlement H of Parsis in those days in Daman, most of them toddy-seller,s and cul- i tivators. There were two dokhmas and a dharamshala as well as a T dadgah in Moti Daman. Daman then was a flourishing trading cen- “ ter, a haven to a vast community of Catholic Christians. Naoroji Unwala was the panthaky until he died about 10 years later. He was succeeded in thejianthak by his son Jamshedji who in turn passed on the mantle to his son Hormusji. Hormusji Unwala had five sons and a daughter, the eldest being Da ­ dabhai Unwala. Two of the sons unfortunately died early, while Dadabhai grew up to gain his religious training from his father who taught him on the verandah of their house. Those were the halcyon days of our community when Parsi mohallas or neighborhoods re ­ sounded with prayers rendered in Avesta, and the fragrance of incense and sandal ­ wood wafted into the streets from the ve­ randahs and drawing rooms. Fluttering in the bright sunshine and gentle breeze would be the sudrehs and lenghas Christians. * 31 Parsiana February 1993 II (pyjamas) hung out to dry on the clothes ­ lines in the backyards and kitchen gar ­ dens. With the thorough instruction he received from his father, Dadabhai says he did not need to attend any madressa or religious school. He became a navar- martab at the Iranshah in Udvada at the age of 14. Since that time, 80 years ago, he began assisting his father at the Daman Dar-e-Mehr little realizing then what a remarkably long, eventful and blessed tenure he would enjoy in the years ahead. His father had been the patriarch of a joint family of some 20 members, remi ­ nisces Dadabhai, but his absurdly paltry salary of Rs 15 managed to sustain his extended household in this inexpensive colony. Those were the days when a bottle of vintage Muscatel wine could be bought at 10 annas. Dadabhai recalls that a year before his marriage in 1929, his father had won the Goa sortition (lottery) of Rs 65,000, a magnificent sum in those days. From the amount, he purchased utensils for the dar-e-mehr, a measure of his selfless commitment to his vocation and his concern for the house of worship us with their conversation which in- he tended. He died within a year of Goa ’s liberation by the Indian Govern ­ ment in 1961, the panthak passing on to Dadabhai who was then 63. It is indeed a privilege to meet some­ one like Dadabhai who has served so faithfully and with such devotion for al ­ most 80 years in the same place. He rep ­ resents the shrinking numbers of our mobeds who are unwavering in their commitment, while the rest are becom­ ing increasingly dispirited by the petty family represent Zoroastrian conscious- emoluments they are offered and are drawn to professions which provide rela ­ tively decent wages and greater security the community, for them and their families. Dadabhai married Alamai in 1929, but his wife died in 1967 following a paralytic stroke. ___ Dadabhai recalls that fateful day, Ava that any of them mah and Hormazd roj-. Alamai had just will assume ot- come to bed after brushing her teeth, when she got her third paralytic attack. Fortunately, Dadabhai is blessed with two doting daughters, Soonamai, 61, and Tehmina, 59. A third daughter had died at the age of four. Soonamai was happily pletely dedicated married, but widowed in just 10 months, to his work. She has a daughter from her marriage simple to the who lives in Poona. Tehmina chose to point of being remain a spinster to assist her father in austere, fully his daily chores. The affable and dex ­ trous trio live and work on the premises, surviving contentedly on Dadabhai ’s earnings. life worth emulating for anyone aspiring to be a good priest or, quite simply, a good Zoroastrian. The house he lives in was built by Mehrwanji Naoroji Cama, the place having just four walls and little else. Gradually, rooms were fashioned out of this crude structure and a floor added for lodging visiting mobeds. During the 1961 conflict with the Por ­ tuguese, Dadabhai says the dar-e-mehr complex suffered damage too. One can ­ non ball crashed through the roof of his house and got embedded in the heavy teak rafter, while another splashed into I one of the two wells in the compound. I Two more bombs also cratered the com- I pound. Most of the residents of Daman fled the place during the operation, while people from the villages around, includ ­ ing Udvada, clambered on to their roof ­ tops to gain a view of the raging battle. It has been reported that some of the I Parsis, apprehending the ruin of their place of worship, urged Dadabhai to have the sacred fire shifted temporarily , away from their besieged township. But A most gracious family, they regaled the wise panthaky retorted: “How can we seek to rescue p:^shah saheb? It is in fact padshah saheb who will protect us all. ” The fire remained where it was and I cluded perceptive anecdotes from the past as they wove in and out of each other ’s stories, making sure that nothing faith carried them through the ordeal, noteworthy was left out. We were made to feel at home right away and served plemented its meager income by keeping freshly-made bhakhris and soft drinks as we sat chatting on their sunny verandah. A far cry, indeed, from some of the bra ­ zenly inhospitable mobeds of Udvada who seldom have a word of praise for no duty levied. The Portuguese governor anyone around them. Dadabhai and his Dadabhai, whose family earlier sup- milch cattle and cattle carts, said the area prospered under the Portuguese reign and just about everyone was happy and con­ tented. Daman then was a free port with I I I t I. *1* ! 1 I 32 Parsiana February 1993 ness as it was in evidence at the time when our religion was a creative force in It is distressing that though he has two brothers and three nephews, it does ¦ not seem likely that any of them § made certain that all food-stuffs reaching Daman were of good quality (substan ­ dard grains were dumped into the sea). At the entrance to the fire-temple in Nani Daman js j fice after him. Dadabhai has lived his life like a true Zoroas ­ trian priest, com- to his simple to austere, conscious of his duties to the di ­ vine and to his fold; indeed, a * r*-* , I J {s®!iijs»8ae»8e»»>x^^\ A Once when a consignment of honey ar ­ rived from Africa, the governor ’s wife went to distribute it to the local folk. These colonialists were large-hearted people and had tremendous respect for our priest, curtsying before him when they came across him on the road. As during the colonial period, Da ­ dabhai continues to be revered by the townsfolk. For many he presents the im­ age of a sage. In fact, he mentions that a three-year-old girl accompanying her grandmother to the dar-e-mehr the other day prostrated before him. Others come to him for advice. He estimates that about 150 Parsis live in the area, includ ­ ing Vapi. There are also the holiday homes of Parsis in Devka and Daman, but these are locked most of the time. Consequently, very few visit the dar-e- mehr, though patrons have set machis and muktad there. A regular visitor is Dosabhai Oliaji, the proprietor of Duke’s Hotel in Devka and president of the Daman Parsi Anjuman, who comes to pray daily. Oliaji helps the dar-e-mehr in his own quiet way. The frail but sprightly Dadabhai maintains a rigid schedule, starting his program or two on television. His tage? Instead of ingratiating ourselves day at four, before the crack of dawn. If daughters say he finds Doordarshan quite with the wealthy and influential sections his services are required during the few entertaining. of our community, how many of us have hours he retires for the night, on account He had a fall in 1984, fracturing his thought it worth our while to visit such of a death in the community, he takes it left leg. He was hospitalized in Vapi and selfless, committed souls, if only to as- in his stride, travelling to the Farvardian though he is cured, has to support him- sure them that there are those of us who even at midnight. In fact, he used to wake up at three previously, but now sleeps an hour longer because of old age. He has his breakfast at 6.30, his lunch at around 11 and his supper at 6 p.m. The better part of his day goes towards prayers and keeping the padshah saheb in Unwala wuh daughters Soonamai and Tehmina I I r !> Dadabhai, whose entire life has been spent in the service of the Daman dar-e- mehr, feels that the Parsi community could help by contributing towards a public hall for ceremonies like jashan, and sundry religious functions and dis ­ courses. There is also need for two rooms for mobeds who are requisitioned at the time of muktad and other occasions. According to him, the paucity of ac- P commodation is the single important fac ­ tor in the community’s decline. He re ­ gretted that this aspect was delaying mar­ riages as also compelling marriages out­ side the religion, but added: “We’ll nev­ ertheless survive. Aapro dharam chhelle sudhi rehse, rehse ane rehse (our religion will endure to the end). ” The greatest need of the hour perhaps is to ensure the survival of our priest ­ hood, especially devoted priests like Da ­ dabhai Unwala. It is religious instruction that will rekindle our faith in our religion and restore our identity. Have any chari ­ table Parsi individuals or organizations cared to ascertain the plight of such dedi- the best possible condition. Before he cated priests like Dadabhai who repre- goes to bed at 9 p.m., he often takes in a sent our cultural and theological heri- program or two on television. He had a fall in 1984, fracturing his left leg. He was hospitalized in Vapi and though he is cured, has to support him ­ self with a walking-stick. The recently care? And surely there would be more concluded Trade Fair at the Pragati Dadabhai Unwalas in our midst if only Maidan in New Delhi had an exhibition enclosure on Daman and Diu. In the of­ ficial video footage on Daman, Dadabhai could be seen performing a navjote cere ­ mony. our community bothered to nurture our clergy and accord it the respect and secu­ rity it richly deserves. For, after all, we need to be realistic and ask; “After Dadabhai, who? ” ¦1 I ( J * 5 -- - ' 400 0®\ •2730 34 Parsiana February 1993 Always remember ^C-wi TflTA <42Hi BflTfi 12%%«ii KHRMBRTA Kctayun & Bomi 22/A, Wellington Terrace, Wellington Street, Bombay -400 002. Tel. No. 2069636.BOOKS Liturgical worship Faribourz Nariman People whose interest in the liturgy is more than superficial often inquire about the attitude an ideal priest is expected to adopt vis-a-vis the recitation of the text. The authors maintain that “... the priest surrenders himself to the speech act it­ self, neither immediately comprehending nor reflectively considering the meaning of the words. ” Eight figures and 17 plates precede the second part of the book which is di ­ vided into the prefatory rites or the par- agna and the yasna proper. The prefa- I A Persian Offering — The Yasna: A Zoroastrian High Liturgy by Dastur Firoze M. Kotwal and James W. Boyd. Published by L'Association Pour L’Avancement Des Etudes Iraniennes, Paris 1991. Pp: 173 + XIII, eight figs, 17 plates. Price: 200 French francs or 1,200 Belgian high liturgy, the yasna. ” While expound- __ jng the theological meaning, the authors tory rites are further divided into'eight parts, beginning with requisites for the > on seven different rites. The yasna section is fur- to ther divided into 24 sub-sections cover ­ ing the complexities connected with the recitation of each of the 72 chapters of of the service. A useful glossary and two appendices tempted “to illuminate, in a tentative and introductory way, the theological mean ­ ing, the liturgical order, and the experi ­ ential significance of the Zoroastrian I wor- In ac- a have done well to give the difference be- j ’ tween Zoroastrian and Platonic concepts liturgy followed by short notes -a point which would be of special in- tercst '' ^glllllllllM those work- the comparative religion and enhance the value of the work. The first After presenting interested in explaining the text and cere- an overview of the litur ­ gical order second appendix which the specialist in of service, consider ­ able light is thrown on appendix deals with the Pazand dibacha — this may be special interest to those mony. The liturgical ordering of the chapters of the yasna is the theme of the ¦ rituals would find worth consulting. It is difficult to think of a pair of spe­ cialists better qualified to produce a work of this kind in tandem than Kotwal and specific aspects of liturgy by way of jot- Boyd. As explicitly stated in the fore ­ tings on fire, water, manthra, hair of the bull and hom. Next, ritual actions and gestures are dealt with by grouping them in two kinds of activity. The first in- * The Avestan term yasna embodies all the denotations and connotations of sacrifice and ship, certain con­ texts, the word is used for a liturgy which has been corded pivotal role in the Zoro- a s t r i a n church. The ritual is performed by qualified liturgists in Kotwal (left) and Boyd a ritually tings on fire, water, manthra, hair of the word: “The details and significance of purified area to mark solemn as well as bull and hom. Next, ritual actions and the liturgy are better known to no one convivial occasions. gestures are dealt with by grouping them than Dastur Firoze M. Kotwal, High Today two priests perform this ritual in two kinds of activity. The first in- Priest of the Wadiaji Atash Bahram... in and they are known as zot, the chief eludes consecrating actions involving Bombay. ” Besides his scholarly work, ' ' " — • • Kotwal has been a steadfast and single- minded fighter for the cause of ortho- nary ablutions by the latter, cleansing of doxy and he has rendered 15 years of ritual area (pawi), liturgical instruments, etc, consecrating liturgical instruments. priest and raspi, the assistant. To our physical cleanliness of the officiating voluble, “progressive ” and mindless priests, the performance of the prelimi- iconoclasts it may appear strange that an ancient liturgy like the yasna should have ritual area (pawi), liturgical instruments, dedicated service as a high priest, as its main aim the purification of the etc, consecrating liturgical instruments, A common complaint of three or four corporeal world. In practice, the latter is gathering of the date-palm leaf and popular writers is that, except for I. J. S. invigorated by the performance and its pomegranate twig, consecrating the hom Taraporewala and Phiroz Masani, every " _ - ¦ • Iranist, Parsi or non-Parsi, is a “mere phi- milk. The second activity consists of lologist (Jukhicha bhashashasth)-,” in other words, an Iranist is devoid of any which, in turn, is sub-divided into five philosophical insight! Gormless and an- parts: the connection with the menog tagonistic as these complainants are, their charge just would not stick James the ritual area, the connecting gestures, Boyd who, besides being professor of furtherance is thereby ensured. For the twigs and the rite of taking the goat ’s celebrants, the yasna coupled with self­ discipline is a way to serve Ahura connecting conditions and gestures Mazda who, in turn, increases their spiri ­ tual strength. In the publication under review, the (spiritual) realm, the connections within authors have taken pains to present a fairly comprehensive-study of the liturgy the connections with the recited text and philosophy at Colorado State University, in two parts. Part I contains an interpre ­ tative introduction while Part II gives a lucid description of the ceremony. As the authors modestly mention in their in­ troduction, in the first part they have at- the connection with the getig (material) has published, jointly with other special ­ creation. The first part concludes with some thought-provoking observations on the experiential significance of the yasna. ists as well as individually, books and ar ­ ticles on philosophy. Coming as it does from such illustri ­ ous scholars, this admirable work con- 36 Parsiana February 1993 I1 I Food and more Asha Sandilya Hotel Golkonda by Hoshang Merchant. Poems published in 1991 by Writers Workshop, 162/92 Lake Gardens, Calcutta 700045. Pp: 86. Price: Rs 100 (hard back), Rs 80 (flexiback). I I contain the whole range of emotions that love bestirs — anger, wonder, humor, passion, sexual explicitness, even reli ­ gious mysticism. Witness the tongue-in-cheek of: “When I see a serving boy There are stars in my eyes And he on seeing me: tains something for everybody. For fel­ low scholars there are updated and more acceptable interpretations. For instance, early in the present century, Bartholomae saw a “cabalistic medley ” in Y 11.9, but the authors have interpreted the text in question in the context of the ritual itself — an attempt which merits serious con­ sideration. Of absorbing interest to non- Parsi scholars would be the part plan and section of Wadia ’s fire-temple plus some figures portraying the implements used in the service and their positions at vari ­ ous stages. Even laymen, desirous of Hotel Golkonda follows two earlier vol­ familiarizing themselves with the ritual ­ istic aspect of our religion in general and various facets of the liturgy in par ­ ticular, can consult this work. Only some something of a poet in exile, having There comes my gold mine” Parsi preachers of reincarnation would spent many years abroad studying, teach- find this work disappointing. In the paragna in general and in the rite of taking the parahom (which is the Bombay where he was born, but to culmination of the prefatory rites) in par ­ ticular, the reincarnationists see a “clear allusion ” to rebirth. harm likely to be caused by such misin­ terpretations, Kotwal and Boyd have done well to give the traditionally ortho- _______ __________ ___ ____________ dox exposition which is faithful to the proved to be a ‘golcTnnne’ not only for Srinivas. His relationship with Srinivas makes him ponder upon the nature of the pla ­ tonic and the ideal. His quest is for the “ideal friend ” whom Merchant at 45 has not found yet. But that relationship in its sombre moments made him reflect on the questions of life, suffering, redemption as is evident in the several allusions to Christ on the Cross, the sacrificial lamb — an image which is juxtaposed with that of Buddha. In some poems, the ho ­ tel food becomes flesh and spirit and helps in the search for solace. In the last poem everything vanishes like a dream: “Maybe life is a dream: Only dream is real. ” What I wish would" vanish are the ty- and pographical errors (which have been cor ­ rected by hand) in this very artistically bound volume brought out by Writers Workshop. Why can ’t they employ com­ petent proofreaders? Even though some critics have placed Merchant in the cultural group of Nissim Ezekiel, Keki Daruwalla, and Adil Jussa- walla, his poetry is lighter, his vision brighter. There is less bitterness and alienation. Other critics feel that his many years abroad have left him more western than Indian. His is a valid ‘post­ nationalist ’ voice which in this satellite dominated world, represents essential human sensibilities. umes Yusuf in Memphis and In-discre- tions. As the titles of these two books suggest, Hoshang Merchant has been ing and practising his art as a poet. Now the poet has come home, not to Hyderabad where he teaches at the Uni­ versity and stays near the Hotel Considering the Golkonda, a successful three-star hotel which was able to break even, within a year, in a city where most hotel accom ­ modation goes abegging. The hotel has which leads up to ’the very Indian Phi­ losophy in the coffee shop-. “A Moslem boy thinks it sawab A Hindu boy punyam to serve food I dribble dharma and karma mixed with seva in my noodle soup” The guest who has become such a fix­ ture at the coffee shop has problems, and some of these lead to sexual fantasies as you will see in Funny Poem and Srinivas, text and free from any alien influence. They have categorically affirmed that has provided the inspiration for his work, “the passage refers to the religious prac ­ tices of the living, not to the departed soul.” Similarly, in their interpretation of the paragna, there is no reference to the doctrine of reincarnation. Thus, just as the yasna service is designed to purify the world, so also the authors have adroitly purified, to my way of thinking, the world of scholarship by nailing a lie “I like watching Srinivas serve His hair in a coxcomb His waist bent just enough Dodging raindrops from a leaky roof he goes past me so fast this evening each time he sets up a shiver its owners but also for Merchant, as it This collection of poems is not so much a reflection of the city as it is a witness to a growing love. It is un­ abashed passion dedicated to Srinivas. These poems were initiated by the poet’s meeting with a young graduate of a catering college who arrives to take a steward ’s job. up while adhering to traditional orthodoxy. In the passage under discussion, the authors have slipped up once: while ren ­ dering dahri “the Zurvanite heresy ” in­ stead of “a Zoroastrian heresy (perpe ­ trated by Zurvanites). ” But for this, the shattering my day-dream... ” The encounters with Srinivas < ’ other waiters generate a number of reso ­ nances and tensions which lead to poeti­ cal utterance: “To catch the dullness full in things is that something make a day translation is exemplary. Iranists all over the world would wel­ come this commendable work in which the orthodox Zoroastrian worldview has never been lost sight of. It is a must for libraries and for young aspirants in the _________________ field of Iranian studies, though they may into a poem” find it rather expensive. It is gratifying and poetical offering: “But when I give him a poem he pockets it swiftly.” The volume commences with Pro­ logue: Food and observes the develop ­ ment of a relationship which as the poet says had the dice loaded against it from the start. But the poems were conceived before this realization came, and they to note that Tahamtan Aresh, president of the Traditional Mazdaysnie Anjuman of California, has arranged to purchase 101 copies of this work for free distribu ­ tion. It would be in the fitness of things if a few more individuals/institutions could likewise come forward to encour ­ age scholars of international repute. 37 Parsiana February 1993 * IMILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides — as listed in this issue — ranged between 18 and 40 years, the arithmetic mean (the total num­ ber of individual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 26 years. The correspon­ ding figures for the grooms were 21 and 43, averaging at 30 years. As per the data available to Parsiana from four hospitals, there were 15 births as com­ pared to 90 deaths in Bombay in January. The major killers last month were heart disease (20, of whom five were above the age of 80), pneumonia and lung dis­ ease (12) and cancer (10). Eight Zoroastrians each fell prey to old age and general debility and seven to kidney failure, whereas septicemia, hypertension and a road accident claimed five vic­ tims each. Diabetes and brain disease (four each), anemia (three) and fracture and 100 per­ cent bums (two patients each) were the other killers. Isolated cases of haemorrhage, angi­ na, multiple organ failure and myxedema (hypothyroid) coma were additionally regis­ tered last month. In the case of one death, the coro- BOMBAY Born A girl to Shahnaz and Farhad Juyia on November 13, 1992 A boy, Danesh, to Havovi and Phiroze Sethna, brother to Zara; December 31 A boy to Meher and Noshir Marfatia; January 1, 1993 A girl to Pearl and Hafeez Contractor, January 2 A girl to Gulshan and Dinyar Captain-, January 5 A girl to Pervin and Homyar Katgara-, January 6 A girl, Arnaz, to Hoofrish and Jehangir Bisney-, January 7 A girl to Shernaz and Dinyar Turel-, January 8 A boy to Pervin and Nairyosang Turel-, January 14 A girl to Farida and Shiraz Mogul-, January 17 A girl to Rati and Bhiku Sethna-, January 18 A girl to Kerman and Darius Khambatta; January 19 ner’s report was still pending. A stillborn baby, two children aged 12 and 17 and a 34-year- old youth were also lost to the community. The youngest to die was a 10-year-old boy as compared to the eldest, a 96- year-old male. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by various newsletters and anju­ mans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information is not always complete or con­ sistent. For example, the birth figures for Bombay are supplied by four hospitals; births in sub­ urban hospitals and private nursing homes are not included unless individuals send us infor­ mation together with a copy of the birth certificate. In the breakup of deaths according to illnesses, especially of the eld­ erly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases. If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us. A girl to Hutoxi and Fazdz Captain-, January 20 A boy to Zarine and Jehanbux Mistry, January 21 A boy to Hutoxi and George Philips-, January 24 A girl to Armaity and Rohinton Chiniwala; January 30 A boy to Roshan and Parvez Malegamwalla; January 31 Married Anahita Manek Sathvavwala of Cambay and Hoshang Savak Chothia-, January 1 Dinaz Dadiba Nazar and Rayomand Bahdur Engineer; January 1 Beenaifer Sorab Ghandhi and Firdosh Edul Antia-, January 2 Binaif er Jamshed Mistry and Navroze Tehemurasp Avari-, January 2 Shiraz Eruch Bhathena and Kerman Bejon Bhandarb, January 2 Pervin Homi Gai and Baheli Dinsaji Ambapardiwala of Navsari; January 3 Khushman Pervez Gilder and Khushroo Rusi Cooper, January 3 Amestrice Rustom Irani and Yezdi Dhunjishaw Talati; January 3 Arnavaz Firoze Mistry and Jamshed Jal BAot; January 4 Shanaz Minoo Master and Farokh Homi Commissariat-, January 4 Simonil Bhickoo Ghasvala and Zarthushtra Dins haw Karab, January 4 Armin Gev Bhumgara and Edul Bahadur Marena-, January 4 Erien Dhunjisha Mehta and Zarir Jeejeebhoy Dubash-, January 5 Delna Godrej Bhathena and Percy Noshir Gotla-, January 5 Shirin Savak Mogal and Neville Homi Lacca-, January 5 Neelam Phiroze Patel and Homiar Cavas Bhaisa-, January 7 Parinaaz Bomi Deolaliwalla of Deolali and Zubin Nariman Irani of Kamatak; January 8 Roshni Tehmul Laher and Khushroo Behramshaw Mogal; January 8 Nilufer Homi Bagwadia and Darayas Kersi Khajotia; January 9 Tina Phiroze Lilaowala and Burzin Aspi Engineer, January 9 Farnaaz Dara Dumasia and Burjor Noshir Sethna-, January 10 Shirin Dinshaw Bajan and Viraf Purvez Bhesania-, January 12 Daisy Sam Baria of Poona and Yazdi Firoze Patel of Gholvad; January 12 Vabiz Ardeshir Tatakia of Bulsar and Viraf J alejar Bhesania; January 14 Anahita Bomi Patel and Viraf Dhunjishaw Katrak; January 14 Niloufer Jal Dolasa and Gev Savak Katgara-, January 15 Armaity Rustomji Edibam and Jimmy Minoo Ranikhetwala; January 15 Naznin Sheriar Jehani and Kuresh Meherwan Gourabian; January 17 Farida J emi Tavadia and Percy Meherji Karkaria; January 17 Pervin Homi Bharucha and Rohinton Homi Kavarana; January 17 Dinaz Khodayar Irani and Vispy Noshir Bilimoria-, January 18 Kashmira Jal Solai and Khuzista Burjor Dastoor, January 18 Ferzeen Framroze Ghaswalla and Jimmy Minoo Palelb, January 18 Dinaaz Hirji Lentin of Australia and Farokh Jamshed Batliwala; January 19 Farzana Godrej Merchant and Percy Jal Engineer, January 19 Anahita Jehangir Minina and Darius Dihshaw Pandole-, January 19 Shiraz Khurshed Dick and Freddy Pervez Talati; January 21 Gulnaar Jamshed Irani and Sharookh Shapur Irani-, January 23 Maharukh Phiroze Talati and Maneck Sorabji Painter; January 23 MahrukhNoshir Unwalla of Navsari and Farokh Firoze. Balsara-, January 24 Faranaz Behram Khosravi and Menucher Hormazdiar Jamsheedian; January 24 Kashmira Mehervanji Merchant and Pervez Rusi Katila-, January 24 FaranakJal Baria and Cherag Jehanbax Khandadia-, January 24 Rashna Firoze Bam and Pervez Noshir Mehta-, January 24 Farzana Pervez Patel and Keku Bomi Writer; January 24 Behnaz Nariman Attaie and Danesh Kaikhushroo Nejadkay-, January 25 /ienobia Farokh Mistry and Zubin Sam Tantra-, January 26 Sherin Eruch Mistry of Ahmedabad and Yazdi Keki Khapoliwala-, January 29 II I 4^ * ; Died Mani Eduljee Dick (84), residing at Nariman Bldg, 625, J. S. Sheth Marg, Dhobitalao, 400002; December 31,1992 Tehmurasp Cavasji Engineer (90), F. S. Parukh Dharam- shalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; December 31 Ratansha Sorabji Master (93), 53/A, Band Stand Bldg, A/197-C, Kana Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 31 38 Parsiana February 1993 II » I Rustamji Hormusji Bharucha (74), 202, Krupa Nagar, Wing No 1, Nallasopara (E), Dist Thana, 401209; January 1, 1993 Jehangir Faredoonji Katrak (82), E/11, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 1 Aimai Khurshed Mistry (80), 2/17, Readymoney Bldg, Ratan Tata Rd, Tardeo, 400034; January 2 Manekbai Shapurji Khajotia (91), C/2, Petit Chawl, Balaram St, 400007; January 4 Bahadur Ardeshir Shroff (81), 9, Batliwalla Bldg, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; January 4 Minocher Ardeshir Bharucha (92), 803/B, Adajania Hse, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 5 Khurshedji Cooverji Chinoy (85), C/o Mr A. K. Surveyor, Chapsey Ter, Altamount Rd, 400026; January 5 Goolbai Framji Cooper Petit Mans, 95, Sleater Rd, 400007;January 6 Aloo Tehmurasp Daruwalla (85), 664, Roshan Mans, Rd No 13, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 6 Jer Faramroze Daruwalla 622, Palia Mans, Lady Jehangir Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 6 Kaikhashroo Sorabji Daruwalla (76), C, Bhiwandiwalla Ter, Dhobitalao, 400002; January 6 Banoo Nusserwanji Engineer {62), AI2}., Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027;January 6 Dolly Homi Forbes (83), 47, Sagar Tarang, Warden Rd, Cumballa Hill, 400036; January 6 Ratansha Dinshawji Gandhi (66), 20/1, Garda Bldg, Panthaki Baug, Andheri (E), 400069; January 6 AbanJal Irani (46), Colaba- walla Hse, 71, Lower Colaba, S. B. Rd, 4000 )5; January 6 Baby of Samanaz Mickey Mehta (stillborn), 1, Malegaon- walla Bldg, Mahim, 400016; January 6 Faramroj Shapoorji Udwadia (91), 6, Arsiwalla Bldg, 59, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; January 6 Perin Dinshah Mehta (83), J/7, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; January 7 Behr am Kaikhushru Mistry (68), 35/A, Bandstand Bldg, 197/C, Kane Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; January 8 Jamshed Framroz Dotivala (75), 511/A, Ratan Manor, R. P. Masani Rd, Matunga, 400019; January 9 Banoo A rdeshir Irani (62), Sarkat Bldg, 4th Rd, IGiar, 400052; January 9 Sawak Jamshedji Palkhiwalla (74), 5/4, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; January 9 Diana Maneck Adajania (63), 30, Kashinath Hse, Khetwadi, 7th Lane, 400004; January 10 Dolly Pesi Jehangir (74), Commonwealth, Madame Cama Rd, Nariman Point, 400020;January 10 Dhunmai Jehangirji Mistry (90), F/1, Godrej Baug, Nepean Sea Rd, 400036; January 10 Sohrab Nowroji Kharas (92), 803/C, Laxmi Bhuvan, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 11 Pirojshah Meherwanji Patel {Ichaporia) (83), Cawasji Petit Bldg, Marzban Clny, Gilder St, Lamington Rd, 400008; January 11 Cawasji Jamshedji Kharadi (88), 654, Society Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 12 Mehroo Phiroze Medhora (78), G/10, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, 400008;January 12 Phiroze Manekshaw Medhora (78), G/10, Dalal Est, Laming­ ton Rd, 400008; January 12 Goolbai Kaikhushroo Mithaiwalla (84), 688, Wadia Bldg, Dr Dinsha Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 12 Erach Phirozshah Nagla (80), 16/3, Baria Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; January 12 Firoze Nusserwanji Bhesania (55), C/o C. E. Tarapore, B/24, Ajanta Darshan, Jijai Nagar, Gograswadi, Dombivali (E), 421203;January 13 Piloo Minoo Desai (75), Empire Mhl, Khodadad Circle, Dadar, 400014; January 13 Rustom Ilormusji Vacha (70), Chapsy Ter, Altamount Rd, 400026;January 13 Darasha Ardeshir Dhanboora (95), D/7, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; January 14 Dolly Kersi Katrak (51), 5, Godiwalla Bglw, Mount Mary Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; January 14 Nariman Behramshaw Vara (53), 178/1903, Pratiksha Ngr, Sion Koliwada, 400022; January 14 Keki Munchershaw Tukina (75), Lentin’s Hse, 147, Alibhai Premji Marg, 400(X)7; January 15 Jimmy S. Variava (54), C/o Mental Hosp, Thane, 400601; January 15 Freny Dorabji Bengale (63), 44/B, Sonawalla Bldg, ftoctor Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; January 16 Eruch Noshir Marker (12), 161, Casablanca, Cuffe Parade, 400005;January 16 Noshir Jehangeer Marker (48), 161, Casablanca, Cuffe Parade, 400005; January 16 Rustom Noshir Marker (10), 161, Casablanca, Cuffe Parade, 400005;January 16 Sanobar Noshir Marker (45), 161, Casablanca, Cuffe Parade, 400005; January 16 Trushna Noshir Marker (17), 161, Casablanca, Cuffe Parade, 400(X)5; January 16 Manijeh Khursedjee Choksey (80), Damniya Bldg, Chikal- wadi. Grant Rd, 400007; January 17 M ondegar Hormuzdyar Irani (84), 45/47, Karelwadi, Thakurdwar, 400002; January 17 Aban Dhanjibhoy Surti (89), B, Gul Mhl, Sleater Rd, 400007; January 17 Jamshed Phirojshah Chaina (87), 20, Girdhar Niwas, S. B. Singh Rd, Colaba, 400005; January 18 Fall Jehangirji Engineer (78), A/2, Petit Bldg, Avabai Petit St, Grant Rd, 400007; January 18 Rashid Meherwan Irani (58), Vijay Niwas, Sleater Rd, 400007; January 18 Shirin Shapurji Irani (80), 8/12, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; January 18 Gulnar Darius Irani (Juyia) (54), 158, Alibhai Premji Marg, 400007;January 19 Mehroo Ratan Patel (62), 11, Dubash Bldg, 22, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; January 19 Mani Savak Bharucha (72), 28, Jame Jamshed Bldg, Jame Jam shed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 20 Keki Dinshaw Chinoy (86), A, Bhatia Bldg, Princess St, 400002; January 20 Soli Kaikhusroo Shroff (73), 66/C, Motiwalla Bldg, Soniaji Comp, Gowalia Tank Rd, 400036; January 20 Piloo Nariman Vakil {61), l-A/2, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Parel, 400012; January 20 Erach Framji Buhariwalla (75), 649, Firdausi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 21 Banoobai Merwanji Irani {15), 25, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; January 21 Parvin Jamshed Khambatta {10), DI4, Captain Clny, Tardeo, 400034; January 21 Aloo Burjorji Sanjana {12), ^12, Motan Mans, Opp Bhatia Hosp, Tardeo, 400007; January 21 Shireen Jehangir Taraporevala (79), 203, Walkeshwar Rd, 400006; January 21 Bhikhafi Rustomji Barjorji (96), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; January 22 Meherji Dinshaw Framroze (82), 70/12, Darya Mhl-A, Nepean Sfea Rd, 400006; January 22 Edul Ardeshir Gyara (78), Khorshed Vila, 89/90, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; January 22 Shera Jehangir Kharadi (88), Dadyseth Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; January 22 Ilomi Jal Mulla (60), 8, Marine St, Dhobitalao, 400020; January 22 Meherbai Pestonji Jassawalla (92), 645, J. Shankershet Rd, Dhobitalao, 400002; January 23 Shirinbai Ardeshir Khandhadia (82), F. S. Parukh Dharam­ shalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; January 23 Motamai Cawasji Marolia (82), 1, Parsi Punchayet Staff Qtrs, Doongerwadi, Kemps Comer, 400036;January 23 Rohinton Aderbad Billimoria (34), 1/21, Dhunbaiwadi, Irla, 400056;January 24 Dinshaw Pestonji Guzder (88), Malabar Mans, Garden Rd, 400039; January 24 Jal khurshedji Mehta (88), Dhun-A-Patel Bldg, 232, Tardeo Rd, 400007; January 24 Tehmi Jehangir Suraliwalla (66), 8/1-A, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Parel, 400012; January 24 Phiroze Burjorji Bulsara (50), 731, Polson Bldg, Jehangir Vimadalal Rd, Parsi Clny, % 39 Parsiana February 1993 IDadar, 400014; January 25 Khurshed Rustomji Gandhi (54), The Reward, Tardeo Rd, 400007; January 25 Kaikobad Dossabhoy Cooper (78), 2/13, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; January 26 Rustom Sorab Jehangir (47), 62, Nymph, Narayan Dabolkar Rd, 400006; January 26 Nariman Pallonji Masani (90), C/o Dr Homi K. Dordi, Dhun Hse, 4, Tejpal Rd, Gamdevi, 400007; January 26 Pervez Kekobad Karanjia (63), F/28, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Singh Rd, 400039; January 27 Jamshed Ramyar Keravalla (70), 622, Palia Mans, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 27 Banoo Ratansha Katrak (58), 5, Jehangir Mans, Dhobitalao, 1st Marine St, 400020; January 28 Bhikamai Dorabji Mogal (58), 669, Boyce Malegamwalla Bldg, Katrak Rd, Wadala, 400031; January 28 Savakshaw Behramji Parekh (JJ), 3, Readymoney Bldg, Sir Ratan Tata Rd, Tardeo, 400034; January 28 Phiroz Rustomji Batliwala (70), 'BI2, Saurabh Apts, Ambadi Rd, Vasai (W), Dist Thane, 401201; January 29 Jamshed Mervanji Daruvala (83), 4, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; January 29 Nariman Sorabji Bhathana (78), 4/1, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; January 30 Jalejar Savaksha Kapadia (80), 112, Manek Bldg, Lamington Rd, 400008; January 30 TOTALS FOR 1992 AND 1993 BORN Boys Girls A 6 11 Bombay B 169 147 C 5 10 Other Indian cities A B C Foreign cities A B C r 1 7 5 1 5 3 25 27 MARRIED Parsi Intercommunal DIED INTERRED Male Female CREMATED Male Female 48 53 40 243 46 444 506 4 2 48 51 39 3 5 6 3 5 8 15 4 77 92 15 3 40 27 I CALCUTTA Married Kashmira Eruch Rajkotwalla and Kaikhushroo Jehangir Dastoor, January 2 Died Naval Dorabji Edulji, husband of Perviz and father of Phiroze; January 1 JAMSHEDPUR Married Sonya Sarosh Gandhi and Viraf Meher Mehta; January 5 MHOW Died Goolbanoo Furdunji Guard (99) of Bombay, Bglw No 82, 453441; December 28, 1992 40 Parsiana February 1993 A: Total numbers in this issue B: Running totals for 1992 (February 1992-January 1993 issues) C: Running totals for 1993 These figures pertain 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. NASIK Died Homi Cawasji Dotiwalla, father of Behram, Roshni B. Panthaki and late Rati; January 17, 1993 NEW DELHI Married Farahnaz Bajan of Jabalpur and Cyrus Soonawalla of Lucknow; January 21 POONA Born A girl, Taronish, to Daisy and Jimmy Mehta; Januiiry 16 Died Homi Naorojee Driver (65), 15, Wellesly Rd, 411001; January 2 Behram Ardeshir Sethna (81), 10, Napier Rd, 411001; January 2 Dinshaw Jehangir Irani of Madras; January 3 Tehmina Phiroze Mehta (79), 21, Koregaon Park, 411001; January 6 Banoobai Kaikhusroo Cama (89), 2405, East St, 411001; January 16 Savak Maneckji Masani (89), 2040, West St, 411001; January 16 Maneckbai S. Bharda (80), B.C.-117, Navlock Camp, Belgium; January 19 Phiroze Dinshaw Gandevia (75), Khan Rd, 411001; January 22 Shapoor Jehangir Irani (78), Cannought Bldg, Sadhu Vaswani Chowk, 411001; January 22 Nauzer Noshir Kayani (37), 426, Sachapir St, 411001; January 27 Noshirwan Dorab Dorabji (73), D-5, Mody Clny, Syna­ gogue St, 411001; January 31 SURAT Died Ardeshir Khurshed Dabu (85), Sava Sadan, Bhavnagri St, 395003; January 2 Pervez Pirojshaw Mistry (73), Palanpath, 34, Jalgaon, 425001; January 6 Darabshaw Ratanji Chiniwala {Dokawala) (85), Saiyedpuri Bhagal, 395003; January 8 Dhunjishaw Framroze Baria (JJ), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; January 18 Eruchshaw Manchershaw Vatcha (78), Wadia St, Maachlipith, 395003; January 21 FAIRLAWN, Ohio Born A boy, Carl, to Lorraine and Neville Moos; November 5, 1992 KARACHI Born A girl, Nerissa, to Spedta and Rustom Mavalwala; October 6 A boy, Sam, to Anaita and Rayomand Dubash; October 23 A boy, Rushad, to Farida and Adil Dastoor; October 26 A girl, Freya, to Arnaz and Adil BanJcwalla; November 5 A girl, Sharmeen, to Shirin and Bejon Garshasbi; November 18 LAHORE Born A boy, Farzan, to Mr and Mrs Darayus Pestonji; November 11 A boy, Yazdiar, to Roshni and Hormuzd Irani; December 26 MARYLAND Died Manijeh Minocher Vania (82), mother of Luke, Hormuzd, Rustom and Kamal Rohinton Tengra; December 13 Compiled by Roxana A. Mirza CORRECTION A boy was bom to Ziya and Kairus Tarapore on Novem­ ber 11, 1992. The full par­ ticulars were inadvertently missed out in the printing of Parsiana, December, 1992. The error is regretted.