May 1993

r a ( J 1 -L, I UH 'j'ji nd i';5] I :f .JW /< ¦ J ' ""¦1^1 •r "axil VT-PQ0 • 8 ¦• ¦' DhMIkWk MR^TkN^B • i 8 18Istiaaississsss 'jUS^ X NT - I I I ;; ,.| ¦:•' i Parvez Damania takes wings I " .fi' ‘ I IMay 1993 Volume 15 Number 11 EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi ASSISTANT EDITOR Roxana A. Mirza DESIGN kranti M. Shilotri, Varghese W Fernandez MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Hormazd N. Dastur CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala FINANCE B. L. Arora EDP Rohinton E. Daroga DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, U. Raghunathan SUBSCRIPTION/CIRCULATION Behram Umrigar, Khurshid Panthaki, Bindu Pillai, Khureshan Mandviwalla MANAGEMENT Jasmine Driver OFFICE Nowzer Batliwala 2 Readers ’ Forum 8 Events and Personalities 17 Zoroastrians Abroad: Lahore Agiary Celebrations by Arnavaz Mama 23 “Our hopes lie in you” 29 A haven for the homeless by Gustasp Irani 31 Damanla ’s eye on the sky by Parinaz Gandhi 33 Books 36 Milestones 39 In Memoriam Cover: Damania Airways chairman Parvez Damania k % OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Pramod Patil Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd at C/o H L.Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K.Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001 and printed by him at Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Color processing. Comart Litho­ graphers; black and white processing, Samir Scantech Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved. ISSN: 0971-3786 Phone:2048730 Fax 2042922 For editorial enquiries: 2048183 For subscription enquiries: 2665661 2662709 Telex: 11-85710 RABO IN Annual inland subscription Rs 125 for one year (12 issues); Rs 225 for*Iwo years (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates: Sea mail Rs 350/US $ 12/UK £ 7 for one year, Rs 550/US $ 20/UK £ 12 for two years (please allow six months or more from the time of publication); Air mail Rs 600/US $ 25/UK £ 15 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 320) for one year, Rs 1,100/ US $ 48/UK £ 28 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 600) for two years. For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 5 for bank charges; for US cheques add $ 5; for UK cheques add £ 3. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favor of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001. II READERS' FORUM ‘»f ? i»• # I I » »> i i I Hi i i n i < i » I t . I » i V I M M »». 1» i »> , i i • t ill » ? » , » ». »»»»*> * * f I MH »• f ‘ . » » » »111» » * K . » y « > y » » . » O » . > » « ‘ ? ?« . ¦ >•»»»?• [•tllKtI »!»*• Pervez Italia, Dr Rohintan Avari and WZO in the name of this Trust. Re- his brother Percy. Davar Kavasji Modi cently, we have also registered another and his wife Roshan work for WZO in the villages in the Mandvi and Mangrol trust called WZO Trust for Women and , I..V ..uugv,, ... v.,v !««..«». «..w Children. The former is chaired by Vada districts of Surat, whereas Dinshaw Dasturji Meherji Meherjirana of Navsari Tamboly and his wife Bachi work in and the latter by Mr Rustomji Gae of New Delhi (ex chief law officer of the Government of India). We certainly appreciate the joining of forces with the SPP at the time of the commission of the Bhaya Report and this has been stated by us repeatedly over many years. In the same vein, we have appreciated the donations of two lakh ru­ pees given for this project by the SPP Tamboly and his wife Bachi work in the villages around Navsari and even some of the villages in the Surat district. Both these couples are ardent workers and supporters of the WZO in all its ac ­ tivities and Kavasji Modi and Dinshaw Tamboly are members of the managing committee of the WZO headquarters at London. In order to raise the funds, and to ap ­ prise the community at large all over the and the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) world (including India), yearly visits are and which we believe has been similarly made by WZO delegations from London endowed last year. In fact, WZO has headquarters to the villages not only to thanked all the donors large and small for supervise the project by on-the-spot in- their kindness and generosity which has spection (to follow up progress reports made it possible for WZO to undertake continuously received in London by this enormous but very worthwhile pro­ correspondence and telephone conversa- ject for the community, tions), but also to take video films of the implementation of the project. WZO per­ sonnel then make video presentations world are requested to send their dona- round the world to make the community tions, payable to WZO TAist, to Mr Readers' views are welcome on any subject aware of the scale of the problem, how it Dinshaw Tamboly at 1215 P. Jeejeebhoy 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. ? ’ttH tt.1 »»»«•’- »»*» A This project will last at least another 10 years and Zoroastrians throughout the has been tackled and what the results Towers, Dalal Street, Bombay 400023, have been. Besides this, WZO has prom ­ ised to issue yearly reports on the functioning of the project, the first one of Herts. CM23 2RY, UK. which was issued in August last year. Further, we invite donors to visit the villages to see for themselves the trans ­ formation taking place in the villages as a result of WZO’s initiative. Many local for their dedication and tremendous and overseas donors have taken up this India; or to WZO, C/o Mr S. F. Captain, 25 Willow Close, Bishop ’s Stortford. We end this letter by thanking once again all the donors for their generosity and kindness, SPP and Dr S. Bhacca for their constant help, all the WZO workers “Seeds of self...” Under Events and Personalities (Par­ siana, January 1993), we read with and overseas donors have taken up this work, and the farmers and their families incredulity comments made presumably offer and applauded WZO for its sterling for their enthusiasm and response that from'a letter written by Dr Sam Bhacca, work. they have given to this self-help pro­ chairman of the Federation Sub-Commit- From the above it will be clear to the gram. s. f. capfain tee for Rural Welfare under the heading community that this work which com- President, wzo, London “Seeds of self dependence. ” It seems that an attempt is being made to rewrite his ­ tory, for a similar report given by Dr Sam Bhacca appeared in The Bombay this project, the Surat Parsi Panchayat as- Samachar of January 10, 1993. The project for the upliftment of the poor Zoroastrian farmers of Gujarat was conceived by the World Zoroastrian Or­ ganisation (WZO) and is being was necessary as WZO did not have the Parsis was taken up at the instance and implemented and supervised by WZO requisite facility and for this timely help monetary assistance of WZO along with headquarters, London. The WZO work- we are grateful to the Surat Parsi ’ ’ ers engaged in this massive project Panchayat and Dr S. Bhacca. However, include Davar Kavasji T. Modi of Surat since then, WZO has established a WZO and his wife Roshan, Dinshaw Tamboly Trust in India, which has an 80G certifi- of Navsari and his wife Bachi, Shapurji Vajifdar, Fanokh Kasad, Firoj Panthaky, work. From the above it will be clear to the gram. menced in August 1990 is under the central command of WZO headquarters “Seeds of self-dependence ” in Parsiana at London. At the commencement of (January 1993) has given a good account - of the attempts made by the World Zoro- sisted WZO by providing the facility to astrian Organisation (WZO) and the receive funds earmarked for the Gujarat Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP) to amelio- project and make the same available to rate the condition of rural Parsis of South WZO workers, whenever required. This Gujarat. The survey of South Gujarat being was necessary as WZO did not have the cate from the revenue authorities and, as such, the funds are now collected by report is known. the SPP. Much effort was put in by some of the officers and assistants at the SPP office. Of course, the major share of the survey work was done by Ms Kashmira Bhaya (nee Bharucha), after whom the 2 Parsiana May 1993 <» Ichosen to go to Europe, thanks to having defeated in Bombay, Mills and Braddick forward their amounts to the following in (Empire Games champions, returning beneficiaries will ever remain thankful to them for the same. They are requested to Very good publicity was given to the findings and recommendations made in the said report by the Parsi Press. As ----------------------- „ , . - such the report drew the attention of India: home to UK from Australia). The Zoro- community institutions such as the •Cheques made payable to WZO Trust to astrian community went all out to Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), the Fed- Mr Dinshaw Tamboly at 1215, P. acknowledge and honor this feat — per- eration of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of Jeejeebhoy Tower, Dalal Street, Bombay haps the first time in modern history that India, etc and a subcommittee was also 400023. ^ny Asian ever defeated a European at appointed by the Federation to look into •Cheques made payable to the Parsi any sport. And yes, Malcolm also went the report and do some concrete work Panchayat to Dr Sam Bhacca, President, to the Warsaw-Berlin-Prague race in ¦ - ¦ - ‘ 1954, an event sponsored by the Eastern Bloc and therefore cost the cyclists not a penny. Until his son, Bapoo Malcolm Mal- ” colm, took it upon himself to fulfil his amelioration. Such an effort, howsoever My father^ Malcolm Bapooji Malcolm dying father ’s wish to introduce profes- humble, needed large amounts. Fortu- was in no way related to Rohinton Noble sional cycling in India, with the Nehru nately the BPP and SPP gave liberal (“An Olympic pedal, ” Events and Per- Centenary event, no cyclist in India ever amounts and the work was given a start. sonalities, Parsiana, December 1992). got financial gain — at least never over The WZO took immense interest in this project and because of wide and im ­ pressive publicity that the WZO gave to the amelioration project, in and outside India, further liberal amounts were se ­ cured for this noble work. We believe but for the efforts of the WZO the project like a teammate-coach-guardian, would not have drawn much attention and large sums would not have been collected for this work. Mr and Ms Din ­ shaw Tamboly (of the WZO) and Davar but none was ever more noble a man than and Ms Kavasji Modi (of the SPP) took Malcolm. ” Could it be because of this very good personal interest in this project obituary/epitaph that you confuse the but for which the work that has been ex­ ecuted so far perhaps would not have been executed. The WZO members spe ­ cially come from England more than once to India to see the work in progress. They went on site, inspected the amelio- porting, your magazine ’s credibility is that went off without a single untoward ration work, gave wide publicity to what once more at stake. Besides you insult incident, thanks to the superb organiza- they saw on the spot and as a result fur- my real uncles, Jal and Dhun (as also tion and Bharat Petroleum sponsorship, ther amounts were gathered. We who are Keki, whom I never saw racing) by nam- One felt young and so proud to be a cy- residing nearer the South Gujarat rural Parsis are very grateful to all these good cycling, ladies and gentlemen who took keen in ­ terest in the project as well as to liberal hearted donors, but for whom some of total recall; but surely, Homi Rogers Homi Rogers replies the recommendations of the Bhaya Re- should have done his homework better. The names of the 1948 Olympians as port would not have been put into before putting pen to paper. You also in- published were as given to me by Mr practice. suit Rusi Mistry by calling him Rumi. Rusi Engineer. I am sorry if the transpo- The project taken in hand is a huge And was Keki Printer a ’48 Olympian? sition or omission of certain names has one and it seems that efforts will have to Perhaps you meant Erach Mistry or be made in the direction for a further 10 Homi Pavri or Piloo Sarkari or Adi years at least. Such efforts will naturally Havewalla — Parsis all and not a few of ing Olympians, however unintentional it require considerable funds. The amounts that were collected have been already the Malcolm Cycling Club! If Rusi Engi- utilized for the purpose. In order that the work may be continued without any in ­ terruption, we members and especially the trustees of the Parsi trust funds to give liberal mon ­ etary grants to be utilized for the had already experienced international furtherance of the project. We and the racing way back in 1938, when he was •Cheques made payable to WZO Trust to Mr Dinshaw Tamboly at 1215, P. •Cheques made payable to the Parsi Panchayat to Dr Sam Bhacca, President, in the "interest of the rural Parsis. In the Parsi Panchayat, Shahpore, Surat 395003. past similar surveys were made but Drsams. bhacca there was practically no follow-up. This President, Parsi Panchayat Board, Surat time an honest effort was made to do . something concrete in the direction of ‘‘An Olympic pedal was in no way related to Rohinton Noble (“An Olympic pedal, ” Events and Per­ sonalities, Parsiana, December 1992). As a matter of fact, Rohinton, his protege the counter. For a lifetime that the Mal- (probably his most favorite one, at that — and sadly, the one who broke his heart the most), was only allowed to go for the London Olympics by his own father pro­ vided Malcolm was there too — sort of, words of encouragement and perfect To coaching have produced more national paraphrase Faribourz Nariman, another champions than any coach in India. In- of Dad ’s disciples, “later, there may have been better coaches, faster riders, etc, etc colms have devoted to cycling in India, not one has ever been paid so much as a brass razoo. And frankly, we don ’t want monetary gain either. Daddy Malcolm ’s deed at one timt we said that all those from Bombay who won the - national sprint were coached by Malcolm or were coached by someone Nfiilcolm had trained! How sad it was to be in Bombay this year and not even hear of the state two? Nobody in the cycling world (a Parsi stronghold in our time) would ever dream of such a faux pas as yours. Not cycling selections — a complete non- only am I terribly upset, I am appalled to event! And what a thrill to be part of the think that if this is the caliber of your re- professional Bombay-Nasik cycle race porting, your magazine ’s credibility is my real uncles, Jal and Dhun (as also Keki, whom I never saw racing) by nam ­ ing some other as Dad ’s brother in cling Malcolm again! Ms SHIRIN J. MISTRY (nee MALCOLM) Victoria, Australia It is obvious that after more than four decades, Rusi Engineer is incapable of should have done his homework better, before putting pen to paper. You also in ­ sult Rusi Mistry by calling him Rumi. hurt the sentiments of Ms Mistry or any of the family members of the participat- whom at one time or another members of may have been. Ms Mistry ’s letter, however, throws up an exciting poser. Who were the Zo­ roastrian Olympians to have donned national colors? After having received Ms Mistry ’s letter, 1 was introduced in ­ to Adi Havewalla. My acquaintance mentioned to me casually that Havewalla was an Olympian and neer can ’t recall the results of their team event (seems incredible that anyone request community could forget such a momentous occasion as their own Olympics!), one only has to look up the ’48 results. Also Malcolm formally 4 ‘^arsiana May 1993 i-had participated in the 1948 Olympic i „ ' " " cycle race. Havewalla beamed through the following: The first successful open heart surgery in Bombay was performed in 1958 to get the facts in perspective, I present the introduction, but I was by then too embanassed to inform him that I had met another Olympian, and written a small (or was it 1957). The surgeon was Dr piece on him, and let the matter drop, Bomi Rustomji Billimoria with assistants hiding my pale blush, before anyone Drs Jer Lashkari and Mehroo Kanga. The venue was St George’s Hospital, ; was re­ pair of atrial septal defect (hole in the partition between two upper chambers of the heart) in a seven-year-old boy, under hypothermia (cooling of the body), not would pursue the topic. Would the 1948 "" ~ ~ \ Z. Olympians please stand up, and be Bombay. The surgical procedure counted? I regret that Ms Mistry has been “ap ­ palled ” by the “caliber ” of my reporting. It was, to my mind, a piece of precise re­ porting and it was featured in Parsiana's utilizing a “pump ” or heart-lung ma- chine. Bomi passed on in 1961. Dr (Ms) MEHROO M. PATEL Oak Park, Illinois Events and Personalities pages, as it looked at a major world event, through the eyes (and voice) of one of the partici ­ pating personalities. It was not meant to be a history of cycling heroes amongst Sacred Books of the East Parsiana readers may be interested to know that the following books on Zoro­ astrianism have been republished in the series Sacred Books of the East by M/s Motilal Banarsidass: •The Zend Avesta (volume no. 4, 23 and 31) and •The Pahalvi Texts (volume no. 5, 18, 24, 37 and 47). These authoritative translations may be obtained from the publisher at A-44, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase I, New Delhi 28. b. m. masani Mhow, MJ’ Parsis, and hence, there was no reason for me to check, or supplement, the facts provided. If however readers, including Ms Mistry, were to see the write-up as a biography of Parsi bicycling greats, then I apologize for being a poor Boswell. “The Open Heart of...” “The Open Heart of Kersi Dastur ” {Parsiana, September 1992), is a well- nanated tribute to the life and work of Dr Kersi Dastur. It is always a pleasure to read the recognition of achievements of stalwarts of the community in Parsiana. Not taking anything away from the achievements of Dr Kersi Dastur, rather Edited by Amavaz S. Mama Best Wishes From Essay Competitions The K. R. Cama Oriental Institute invites entries for the following essay competitions, each having a choice of three subjects: Sarosh K. R. Cama prize essay (Open to the public) K. R. Cama prize essay (For school going children) Bai Aimae K. R. Cama prize essay (For college students) T. R. N. Cama prize essay (Open to the public) Ms Pouruchisti R. Cama prize essay (For Parsi school going girls) Zarthoshti Fasali Sal Mandal Fund (single topic for Zoroastrians). Library facility for research will be accorded to participants. Last day for submission: Sept 24, 1993. For choice of subjects, guidelines and other detail? please contact the Joint Honorary Secretaries, K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, 136 Bombay Samachar Marg, Opp. Lion Gate. Fort, Bombay 400023, Telephone 243893. * RUSY & PURVIZ SHROFF1 Events and Personalities 1 150 years of Patel Agiary The High Priest in Poona was joined by his counterparts from Udvada, Navsari and Bombay plus 30 priests from different corners of India who had come to partici-' pate in the jashan on May 9, 1993 to cel ­ ebrate the 150th anniversary of the Sardar Sorabji Ratanji Patel Agiary. The pres ­ ence of more than 500 devotees who were in attendance at the morning prayers had transformed this place of worship which normally stands desolate in the congested Nana Peth locality. In the mid-19th century when the Agiary was founded, it was situated in the midst of Parsi households. Over the years the Zoroastrian population has moved out from this area but the Agiary still re- had contributed towards the establishment ment in India has prompted well-estab- mains. “The trustees are therefore keen to of this fire-temple. What started as a lished industrial groups like Tata and consider alternatives to this location and dadgah on roj Behram mah Adar in 1843 Godrej to initiate radical business maneu- (are) considering setting up a Centre for was later converted into an adarian, ac- Zoroastrian Religious Studies — besides cording to a brief history recounted in the housing the Dar-e-Meher — in ,w/ easy reach of the community members and in keeping with the traditions and status of the premier religious undertaking, ” notes a press release sent by Sardar Dastur Hormuzdiar Das ­ tur, chairman and managing tru­ stee of the Patel Agiary. Among the dignitaries pre­ sent at the evening function on May 9 was chief guest Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw who expressed the need for the com ­ munity to maintain its institu ­ tions, revive its religious beliefs and look after its priests. Fol­ lowing the round of shawl presentations and garlanding Manekshaw released the com ­ nccirly 180-page souvenir. For the maintenance and repair of the 150-year-old Patel Agiary the trustees had launched a fund-raising drive last year which resulted in the collection of nearly Rs 7,00,000, writes Dastur. But to build a future for this institution the trustees need further donations. Since they have been memorative souvenir that ciirrie.s mes ­ sages from prominent members of the community, outstanding members of sis ­ ter communities and political leaders. A list of donors, photographs of uustecs and priests associated with this Agiary also find a place in the souvenir. Ervad Jamshed Kyas who has served the Agiary for 56 years was specially singled out granted the 80-G tax exemption, they to receive a memento on the occasion, hope more donations will be forthcoming. Musical renditions by the choir of the Contributions by cash or cheque in favor Stirdar Dastur Noshirwan Girls High School set the pace for the evening ce ­ lebrations. The anniversary mtirkcd the muni ­ ficence of a well-known Parsi resident CoSt of Competition of Poona, Sorabji Ratanji Patel, who The newly liberalized business environ- had conuibuted towards the establishment of this fire-temple. What started as a of Sardar S. R. Patel Agiary Fund may be forwarded to the chairman 613/B Nana Peth, Poona 411002. J. *5 Patel Agiary in Poona mW**"***' ' vers that have caught commercial circles off guard. The changed economic climate has made mega companies real- / ize that “no longer can they hide ifi behind protectionist rules. The panoply of conU'ols, known as the licence raj, is giving way to ¦ an economy in which market t forces are being given rein. This ¦ is creating opportunities but also ¦ exposing Indian companies to I competition, ” summarizes an I article by Stefan Wegstyl in the I Financial Times reproduced in ¦ The Metropolis on Saturday I (April 24-25,1993). I To deal with competition, I different strategies are em- I ployed by different groups. H When Godrej Soaps announced I a tie-up with the international 1 giant Procter and Gamble * (P&G) and subsequently went ® public with an issue of an 8 Parsiana May 1993 ( f iI I 70,80,000 shares at a premium of Rs 130 per share, Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO) made known its merger with long ­ time rival Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL). The Rs 1,600 crore turnover Godrej group, according to a write-up in The Afternoon Despatch and Courier of April 20, was facing declining profits, a loss in the case of Gujarat- Godrej, and the investors ’ impatience for not declaring a I, I' I I. Reprinted with permission from R. K. Laxman/ The Times of India maiden dividend in the case of Godrej Foods. The alliance with P&G is expected to bring many benefits to Godrej. They have already constituted a new company Procter and Gamble Godrej Pvt Ltd (PGG) chaired by Adi Godrej which will do the mtirket- ing, advertising and distribution for both Godrej Soaps and P&G in India. As P&G is considered the world’s largest con ­ sumer products company and the world’s largest advertiser with a strong base in research and development, Godrej will benefit from the latest technological advances and vast marketing ex­ posure, announced the PGG chairman. What was the need for a company, closely held for 65 yetirs, to go public? “The pace of growth accelerated with the P&G tie-up, ” noted Godrej in an interview with The Economic Times of May 3. “We realized our debt-equity ratio will go out of hand unless we raise our equity. We didn ’t want to miss the growth opportunities ahead of us. Hence the public issue (which) de­ spite the very bad state of the primary and secondary market... has been fully subscribed and we could close the issue on the earliest closing day. ” One of the spin-offs of the Godrej-P&G collaboration was ihe merger of TOMCO and HLL as acknowledged the chairmen of TOMCO Dr Homi Sethna and of Hindustan Lever, S. M. Datta at a press conference covered in Business India of Mtirch 29-April 11. And when the 76-year-old Rs 400 crore TOMCO was sold to HLL, critics questioned how it could be termed a merger considering that TOMCO shareholders got a stake of only one percent in Levers, as per a write-up in India Today of April 15, 1993. (TOMCO shareholders were to get two HLL shares for every 15 of theirs surrendered. The exchange ratio was subsequently challenged in court.) While one camp main ­ tains that the Talas have sold TOMCO cheap, others feel that HLL is paying a high price as it will have to absorb TOMCO’s losses (over Rs 13 crores in March 1992) for a couple of years more. During sale/merger negotiations, the criteria im ­ portant to the Taias were: it should be good for the share ­ holders, for the employees and be to a reputed company I VACUUM REFRIGERATION CHILL-VACTOR® SYSTEMS Outperforms lithium bromide vapour absorption and mechanical refrigeration systems, in price, simplicity, efficiency, reliability and we can prove it. 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Phone : 408967, 408014, 408654 Fax : 0272-427394 Telex : 0121-6620 11 Parsiana May 1993Addendum The photographs of Ervad Dadabhai Unwala and the Nani Daman dar-e-mehr on pages 31 and 32 of the February 1993 is ­ sue of Parsiana are courtesy Zend Zend. The photograph on page 34 is courtesy Aban Bana. The omission is regretted. Always remember TRTR BRTR KHRMBflTA Ketayun & Bomi 22/A, Wellington Terrace, Wellington Street, Bombay-40'0002. Tel. No. 2069636. that would not bring disgrace to the name of Tatas, as mentioned in The Sunday Times of May 23. “The merger will add 160,000 tonnes of soaps and detergents to HLL’s 600,000 tonnes, giving the merged entity a third of Tata Sons holding only modest stakes in the Indian market, ” reported the Business India write-up. While TOMCO’s popular brands like Jai, Hamam, 501, Revel and charge. OK will be retained, others may be dis ­ continued. But barring the marketing front the rest of TOMCO’s present orga ­ nizational structure will not be touched is the assurance given even though “by Tatas ’ own reckoning ” employee strength resolution was to have repercussions on needs to be pruned from 5,500 to 1,500, the company ’s manufacturing facilities urgently need upgradation and discipline Tata Chemicals chairman Darbari Seth on the shop floor has to be restored, notes Business India. Greater group discipline has been the thrust of Tatii Sons chairman and 1. R. D. Tam ’s successor, Ratan Tata. Observing that there has been autonomy at the cost of the group’s profitability Ramn intends to redraw the boundaries of the Tata em­ pire and dismantle many of the fiefdoms that exist within it, as notes an article in Jamshedpur wap finally dismissed as The Independent of April 22. Raian would like to sec Tatas enter high technology ar ­ eas or sunrise businesses like oil and gas or telecommunications; and also to pull out of areas where the Tatas do not have a competitive edge, the article continues. But with the senior chieftains so firmly ensconced in their respective seats and the larger public quoted operating compa ­ nies, it became difficult for Ratan to t^e So he introduced a retirement policy for the group whereby directors with ex­ ecutive responsibilities have to retire at 65 years of age, and non-executive members of the board would have to go at 75. This several Tata directors — ACC chairman Nani Palkhivala who is 73, Tata Tea and who is 72 as is S. A. Sabavala, informs In­ dia Today. The most disgruntled however was TISCO (Tata Iron and Steel Com­ pany) chairman Russi Mody who turned 75 in January this year. The man who had served the Tatas for 53 years and only three years ago was regarded as India ’s finest manager and motivator of men with an amazing rapport with his workers in chairman on April 19. The TISCO board ’s decision was based on the interview Modyihad granted I * MATRIMONIAL MATRIMONIAL Affluent parents invite proposals for their 5'6" tall, fair, slim, beautiful, cultured, 22-year-old graduate daughter. Boy should be highly educated, well-settled, industrialist/ businessman or professional with cultured and affluent family background. Write with full details and photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (May/17-93) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 12 Parsiana May 1993 Alliance invited from well-to-do and professionally qualified boys, up to 32 years, for our good-looking daughter. 5’7", aged 24 years, professionally qualified and working. Reply with photograph (returnable) to: MATRIMONIAL Matrimonial correspondence invited from respectable parents of good-natured, good-looking Parsi girls, professionals, willing to settle abroad, for fair, handsome, medical doctor, 28 years. Please write with details and photograph to: i } The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial {May/20-93) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (May/21-93) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 I .30 The 400 •2130 JUnder the auspices of the MAZDAYASNIE MONASTERIE and the ALL INDIA SHAH BEHRAM BAUG SOCIETY (for Scientific and Educational Research) The or^^nd only jp world S^ROASTRIAN COLLEGE Correspondence address: Mustafa Building, (2nd floor). Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Road, Bombay 400001, India. Tel: 2660214/2662950 after hours: 3644737 Fax: Bombay India 022-2662735-A/c 121 ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE — HOLISTIC HEALTH — DEPARTMENT. J I ir Standing L - R . I Above; February 1987 Convocation —Standing L - R Dr. Minoo Bhamgara, Miss Shiraz K. Irani, Dr Sarosh R Wadia, Dr. Meher Master-Moos. Dr. Shiavux R. Khambala, Dr. Krishnamoorthy, Dr. Noshir Gandhi, Sealed; Mrs. Chandan Patel. Mrs. Perin K. Anklesaria, Mr. Rustom C. Palel, Prof, Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya, Dr. Dara R. Hakim, Dr. Behramshah D. Pilhavala, Mrs. Amy K. Master, Mr. K A. Master Q.C Lower; June 1988 Convocation — L-R Mrs Vimlaben Kenia. Prof. Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya, State Education Minister Ms. Chandrika Kenia, Bombay High Court Hon. Mr. Justice MadhukiranKenia. Dr Meher Master-Moos, Dr. AspiGolwalla Dr Mrs Ketayaun F. Dalal Since Its commencement in December 1986, Zoroas­ trian College is affiliated to MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA INTERNATIONAL, whose World renowned Chairman Prof, Dr. Sir ANTON JAYASURIYA is Hon. Patron of Z.C. In 1988, with the establishment of the OPEN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY FOR COMPLEMEN­ TARY MEDICINE, under the patronage of the then PRESIDENT JAYAWARDENE OF SRI LANKA, Zoroas­ trian College was enabled to provide facility for Degrees of B.Phil, M Phil, and Ph. D. by research Thesis to fit persons from any country. Bombay's Doyen of the Parsi Mecical Profession, Dr. DARA R. HAKIM, (hailing from a family of 14 genera­ tions of Hakims, and the first F.R C.S. to teach Microbi­ ology lb India, poet and scholar,) is the distinguished Department Head of Zoroastrian College's A.M, H-H. Dept. Dr. Dara Haxim is the only person in the World who combines allopathy with Hakimy, Ayurveda, Homeopa­ thy and his special practice of Col. Dinshah Ghadiali's Spectro-Chrome-Metry, for which he was awarded the unique International Honour of the ALBERT SCHWETZER LAUREATESHIPatthe 1990 Zoroastrian College Convocation Ceremony, This Department conducts Public Health awareness through (1) LECTURES on many subjects by special­ ists, (2) WORLD CONGRESSES; and (3) RESEARCH facility tor Degrees and Diploma Studies Through this Dept, Z.C, is the only College in India providing the special facility to persons from ail countries to come to India, tlie traditional home of ancient wisdeom and time tested methods of health care, and study the broad spectrum of Holistic Health, Alternative Medicine Methods. The Department has distinguished specialists on Its ADVISORY BOARDand HONORARY FACULTY MEMBERS, responsible for training persons in different fields and methods of Health Care. These include since 1986, Dr. DARA R. HAKIM Dept Head, Hakimary/ Spectro chrome metry Dr, A. K. BHATTACHARAYA of Naihati and Dr H. M. MISTRY pendulum diagnosis/ Radiesihesia/Tridosha/Colour/Magnets, Dr MEHER MASTER-MOOS — Spectro chrome metry/Kirlian-aura Diagnosis/Pendulum Dousing/Magnet Therapy/Sound/ Flyborg/MusicTherapy/Radiesthesia/'Manthra Therapy. Dr Mrs. SHYAMALA CHANDRAN —/6 Tastes ano Narivyed System/pulsediagnosis/Chakhras and Sound Therapy. Dr. J. M. JUSSAWALLA — Nature Cure. Dr. LEO REBELLO — Homoeopathy/Yoga'Nature Cure. Dr. PUNANCHAND RATHI — Magnet Therapy. Dr. P. M. RAHMANY — Pyramid Therapy. Dr. SOLIPARUKH — Raj Yoga/ Mind, Body Breathng. Dr. JAYANT DESAI — Radionics. Dr. SHIRISH THAKUR Acupuncture and Acupressure, Dr. NARSHI SHAH — Acupressure/Mas- sage/Sujok Method. Dr. DILNAVAZ BANA — Eurythemy. Dr. K. N. KASAD — Iscador Therapy of Cancer. Dr. Mrs. VIJAYASATHE Nutrition Therapy. Dr. Mrs. MANGALA CHAVAN — Acupuncture. Dr. Mrs. H. K. SAHANI — Magnet Therapy. Dr. HOMI PRESS — Spiritual Healing. Dr. MINOO BHAMGARA — Nature Cure. Dr. B. T. SAHANI — Holistic and Divine Healing. Mr S. N. BAILOR — Agnihotra/Homa/Healing Method/ Ayurveda. Jvir. R. CHANDRAN — Japanese Reiki. Dr. SAM BATLIWALA — Acupuncture. Prof. Dr. SIEGFRIED HERMERDING — Acupuncture/Manthras and Holistic Health. Dr. S. CHATURVEDI — Ayurveda. Dr. RAVIKANT GOYEL — Holistic Health. WORLD CONGRESSES Alternative Medicine World Congresses are organised annually in Bombay through Z.C./M.A/O.I.U.C.M. to pro­ vide a forum for persons concerned with Health Care, specialists in a broad spectrum of Holistic Health Meth­ ods, to meet, update, and get the benefit of latest researches conducted world wide for public health. O.I.U.C.M. has affiliated Colleges, Hospitals, Institutes in Scandinavia, Germany, Holland, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, U.K., Canada, U.S.A , Cuba, Australia, Ma­ laya, Korea, Japan,China, Ex. U.S.S.R., India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. The O.I.U.C.M. World Con­ gresses are held in many countries every year, to create a Network of Holistic Health Practitioners; and Govern­ ment support to use these tried and tested methods for public health care (in addition to allopathy, and chemical — drugs based medicines) now approved by WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION. Zoroasirian College has collaborations World wide with such Institutions, Z.C. President Dr. MEHER MASTER MOOS attended the Medicina Alternativa World Congresses in Denmark (1985); Spain (1986); Sri Lanka (1986); Athens (1989); Madras (1990); Moscow (1991) and other distinguished Zoroastrian College Faculty Members, including Dr. Sir NOSHIR GANDHI Dr. Sir LEO REBELLO, Dr Mrs VIJAYA SATHE, Dr. SAM BATLIWALLA, Dr. Mrs. SHYAMALA CHANDRAN , Dr. POONAMCHAND RATHI, Dr P. M. RAHMANY have attended World Congresses in Australia, Cuba, Ireland, England, Hol­ land, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere; and have been invited to conduct Workshops, Training Seminars and Lecture Tours abroad, adding^uster to the ancient wisdom of India in many countries, where people are eager to learn and gain the benefit of goou healtn, using natural meth­ ods. RESEARCH DEGREES ** Distinguished persons have submitted original Research Ph. D. degree Theses through this Department. These include Dr. ALI IRANI on Sports Medicine (Sports Inju­ ries Department Head of Nanavati Hospital) (1990) Dr. KAIKHUSHROO D. CHARGEMAN on Helpful Hints for Health in Daily Life (1991) Rtn Dr. KHUBO GURSaHANI on Spiritual Healing and Free Clinics at Haji Malang; (1992); Dr SHIRISH THAKUR on ULTRA SOUND ACUPUNCTRE (1992). Holistic Health Practitioners from Canada. Germany, England have also taken Di­ ploma Courses at Z.C. Through the activities of Zoroas­ trian College the public has received immense health benefit. Dr VIJAYA SATHE conducts a clinic at Dadar Parsee Colony, and saved many persons from the expense of heart by-pass surgery. Dr NASRI SHAH of the A.I.C.A.R conducts free Acupressure Clinic al Matunga East. Dr SHIRISH THAKUR has a clinic in Bhayander;alsonextto Chikalwadi ParsiColony,Tardeo. Dr. Mrs. SHYAMALA CHANDRAN has rendered great service from her Napean Saa Road Clinic. INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION & SUPPORT In 1989 and 1993, Zoroastrian College President Dr. MEHER MASTER MOOS steady work in promoting the cause of Holistic Health received recognition at an International Level, by the Medicina Alternativa Chair­ man appointing her VICE CHANCELLOR in charge of the International Legal Affairs of the O.t.U.C.M., and in special charge of SAARC region. ¦-it Through Zoroastrian College A.M . — H.H. Dept, it is part of the long term planning to establish a Government approved Board for training and licensing Holistic Health Practitioners at All India Level. If you are interested in your Health and would like to study/receive health care guidance/support the Zoroas­ trian College A.M. H.H. Department. Please write to the Mustafa Building address given above. DONATIONS ARE WELCOME. Cash or Cheques in favour of SHAH BEHRAM BAUG SOCIETY may be sent to Mustafa Building address. ADVERTISEMENT I4 The Hindu where he spoke of “how prof ­ its and share prices arc plummeting be ­ cause Tattt.s arc undoing all that I had done to optimize profits. ” There was also reference to Mody “waging an anti- TISCO propaganda war ” by circulating articles against the ruling group in cer- perpetrated by those tain newspapers. Mody’s disappointments were cited in the Business Standard of April 20: incompetent nobodics being given charge of giant companies, TOM- CO’s sale for a paltry consideration, TISCO not making a bid for Indian Iron and giving instead a free run to Mukand, Ratan Tata ’s plans being non-stirtcrs and Independent in the his winning each war only because JRD wants to back his namesake and ensure total control of the group. Mody on the Mody has yet to de- other hand has been faulted: for making cide on his future unilateral changes in the TISCO senior plans, though The management, over the propriety of the aircraft he flics, of his preferential treat ­ ment to a certain group of steel and scrap traders. Complaining of Tatas ’ double stan ­ dards in dealing with senior colleagues, Mody’s plea was that the “present incum ­ bents ” should be given a few years to ad ­ just and to make necessary preparations. He asked for one more extension on the understanding that during the pendency of Bharat Singh in the finals, as notes a re- this contract he would of his own accord quit the scene completely. “I am not en ­ amored of the idea of remaining chairman while executive authoriy rests with some ­ one else, ” Mody had written in a letter to JRD as quoted by The Independent (April 21, 1993) which carried news of his ouster. “This is the first time in corporate history that the chairman of a company is being dismissed without even being given a chance to explain himself... Time will performance in 1992, according to The Judo veteran Cawas Billimoria (right) I 15 Parsiana May 1993 show s(X)n enough < that my speaking the hometruth had been in the interest of the company. 7'he harm is being who are actively ca ­ using all that harm to TISCO... I could not keep white ­ washing ail the wrongdoings... ” Mody said to The course of a midnight call Irom London. Economic Times of May 10 notes the pos ­ sibility of his joining Indian Iron and Steel Company if Mukand gets to run the Burnpur-based steel plant. Aashdin Billimoria (far right) at the exhibition promoting his wear exclusive range of gannents and, what re­ ally thrilled him, a request from HMV to Judoka’s tenth title design album sleeves for their local For the tenth consecutive yetir Cawas Heavy Metal compilations. Having al- Billimoria emerged the national judo ready submitted oSe sleeve and working open category champion. Despite a ham ­ string sprain he managed to overcome port in the Mid-Day of March 17, 1993. A veteran of many a national and inter­ national meet, 31-year-old Billimoria was also declared the best judoka on view but magnanimously conceded that title to Sarabjit Singh of the Border Security Force, add.s the write-up. Billimoria is among the 73 sportsper- sons selected by the Government to re­ ceive cash awards for their outstanding Independent of May 12, 1993. The award of Rs 75,000 is meant to encourage the judo champion. on his next, Billimoria says, “It had al ­ ways been my aim to get into the main ­ stream music industry. ” Bulk orders Billimoria is not willing to accept, preferring to create exclusive de­ signs for each piece. Cartoons, graphic and modem art specimens too he paints on gannents. The labor involved for dif ­ ferent creations could vary from one hour per piece to 40 hours. After deciding on the proportions, he directly paints on the fabrics; no rough sketches, no trials. His T-shirts arc available in the Rs 200-850 range, while jackets with the Aashdin im ­ print come costlier in the Rs 800-3,500 range. Fantasy art oricnted, ‘-Billimoria ’s inter ­ est developed with encouragement and guidance from his uncle (maasa) Bhola Sharma, himself an artist, who steered his protege’s progress until he was estab ­ lished. Soon Billimoria realized that his future lay in art and not electronics that he was originally keen to pursue a.s a science student at Bombay ’s Elphinstone College. Artist with a bang Heavy Metal was his inspiration. Heavy Metal was his destination. As an ardent fan of Heavy Metal music, Aashdin Billimoria started painting graphics and other designs he saw on the album covers onto his own T-shirts. He was even will­ ing to oblige friends and admirers who Starting with the academic year 1993"he wanted similar T-shirts for themselves. As the demand grew, Billimoria stitricd becoming more creative. The five-day exhibition of his hand- painted heavy metal T-shirts, jackets, caps and back patches in April last brought enhanced popularity for 20-ycar- old Billimoria. He received orders for his has enrolled for a five-year course in commercial an at Raheja ’s Bandra School of Art, he mentions. Scouts and games like soccer, cricket, table tennis, badminton and carrom arc Billimoria ’s other interests. Compiled by I’arinaz. Gandhi I ?1 it. ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD Lahore Agiary Centenary Celebrations The saga of the Avanbai Cooper Agiary is a tribute to the determination of the Parsis of the Punjab Arnavaz S. Mama- many years held a monopoly in the field. Within a few years Cooper became a celebrations of the Bai Avanbai Ardeshir able to find'a priest but the Parsis of prosperous and successful businessman. Cooper Agittry in Lahore, Pakistan. The Lahore remained undaunted and the sa- He contributed generously to all Parsi Agiary ’s joint managing trustee Perin Boga ’s (nee Cooper) letter in the Parsi Press had extended an invitation to Zoro­ astrians the world over and they came from the US, UK and India to participate. It was fitting too that young Laisha, daughter of Kamal and Avanbai ’s grand ­ son Keki Byramji Cooper of Bombay, should be inducted into the faith with a navjote performed by two High Priests from India — Dastur Meherji Meher- jirana of Navsari and Dastur Kaikobad Dastoor of Udvada. The High Priests were aided by the Agiary panthaky Ervad- Rustam Pavri, Ervad Sorab Mogal, head priest of Karachi and Ervad Dorab Pavri of Bombay. The navjoie marked the in ­ ception of the celebrations, the navjote dinner being catered by a Zoroastrian lady He established a successful wine and gen- from Karachi who had transported her cooks to Lahore for the oc ­ casion, informs Jamshed Ollia, noted book collector from Pune who attended the festivities. “The present Agiary has a most attractive facade, a separate office room and an attached modern bungalow with three residential quar ­ ters and large spacious grounds and garden, meticu ­ lously maintained, ” writes Ollia. Ollia says he was de­ lighted with his visit to Lahore which he described in glowing terms as a beau ­ tiful city of fine buildings and fountains. “The present prosperous Three days of jashans, talks and feasting Agiary had undergone vicissitudes. For (July 3-5, 1993) marked the centenary two years, try as they did, they were un- The Bai A. A. Cooper Agiary 17 Parsiana May 1993 Lahore remained undaunted and the sa ­ cred fire was kept alight day and night, charities, assisted members of his com- and the Agiary and its spacious com- munity in need, organized and supported pound kept clean by seven or eight community services and activities, ” notes Lahore Parsis who took up duties in rota ­ tion. The amazing part of it is that none of them looked upon it as an unavoidable chore but derived great satisfaction from it. Such spirit flourishing in our commu ­ nity ensures a great future for the Parsis, ” exults Ollia. Pavri, the current incumbent since 1989 is said to be a dedicated man and refuses to charge anyone for the four- day, after-death ceremonies, reports Ollia. The Agiary was founded by Ardeshir Byramji Limboowala Cooper, a Zoroas ­ trian pioneer of overwhelming energy who “came to the Punjab in a bullock cart, before the railway lines were laid. eral provision business in Lahore and for '-JI*- ’ST the Agiary uust chairman Justice Rustam Sidhwa who has compiled the history of the Dar-e-Mehar published in the centen ­ nial brochure. To his first wife Avanbai, mother of his 19 ^.'hildren. Cooper dedi­ cated the family dadgah which he had es ­ tablished in a room in the family resi ­ dence. (His second wife Na'j^azbai bore him four more.) Cooper retained the mobed, Ervad Nusserwanji Dastoor (Meherji Rana), who had come to per­ form Avanbai ’s obsequial ceremonies who thus became the panthaky of the Agiary for the next 20 years, according to the brochure. Though the Agiary was open to all Zoroastrians of the Punjab, the maintenance of the fire and the mobed re­ mained Cooper’s personal responsibility. On July 29, 1893 roj Sarosh, mah Bahman, the dadgah had been formally I consecrated by Dastur (Dr) Jamaspji Minocherji Jamas- pasana. When the Dastur I arrived he was ceremonially I received at the Lahore rail- I way station and after the I consecration of the Agiary I Jamaspasana was presented I a shawl and affectionately I appointed Dastur of the Dar- I e-Mehar and of the Parsi I community of the Punjab, I informs the brochure. I That Cooper simply " shifted his residence to a * bungalow on Lahore Road in 1909-10 and took the e 35 32 Parsiaria May 1993 % 'Vi I1 BOOKS Kangaji’s classic in English Adi Doctor which, among other things, three more yashts were added. At the time of Kangaji ’s death in 1904, five editions had seen the light of day; ad ­ ditions and emendations being made in each edition. His son, Pestonji, then car­ ried on the good work and after his death in 1923, his son Navroji, continued with it. A noteworthy event, however, in the lifetime of Pestonji, was that for the first time the help of another scholar was Khordeh Avesta transliterated and translated into English by Prof Ervad Maneck Furdoonji Kanga from the Gujarati original Khordeh-Avesta-Ba- Mayeni of Ervad Kavasji Eduiji Kanga. Pub­ lished in 1993 by the trustees of the Parsi Punchayet Funds and Properties, 209, Dr Dadabhai Naoroji Road, Fort, Bombay 400001 Pp: 510. Price: Rs 85. The vacuum that existed till now in the correctly interpreted and translated into realm of prayer books, in Roman script Gujarati. These made the want of a trans- with correct pronunciation, has been ad- lation of the Khordeh Avesta, according mirably filled by the English edition of to the most correct rules of grammar and thereby hangs a small tale worth narrating the Khordeh Avesta prepared by the late philology, keenly felt; and I, therefore. Prof Maneck F. Kanga and published by undertook to supply it, at the suggestion the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). of many educated and intelligent Zoroas- Based on the Gujarati translation of Kavasji Eduiji Kanga, the present book gains in stature when we understand nyaishes and a few yashts. However, in- Kavasji Kanga ’s contribution. Better known as “Kangaji ” to students of Avesta scriptures, Kavasji Eduiji Kan ­ ga was the first pupil of Khurshedji R. Cama to translate the entire Avesta texts in Gujarati more than 100 years ago. Kavasji Kanga has been a household word for many faithful Zoroastrians in India who have used his Khordeh- Avesta-ba-Mayeni, Yasht-ba- Mayeni and Gatha-ba-Mayeni for their daily prayers. From among these, his Khordeh- Avesta-ba-Mayeni (KAbM) has been the most popular, as it is undoubtedly a standard work on the subject. No won ­ der then, that since its first edition in 1880, it has run into 13 editions, the last being published in 1976. The raison d’etre for the first edition, given by the au ­ thor in the preface, is worth quoting in parts: “Thanks... to the rapid but immensely satisfactory progress made in comparative philology during the last half century by the indefatigable savants of Eu­ rope, considerable light has been thrown, not only on the ancient Zoroastrian religion, but on the interpretation of many a difficult passage in the Zend Avesta. Facts unknown be ­ fore and excellences buried in obscurity have, by its aid, been brought to the sur ­ face while some portion of the Zend sought at the time of publication of the Avesta, so ambiguous before, has been eighth edition. He was Ervad Phiroze S. Masani who, besides his expertise in Ira ­ nian philology, was an outright champion and exponent of Ilm-e-Khshnoom. And trians. ” This edition contained all the gahs. stead of the Pazend No Kalmo, the Avestic Ha 12 was in ­ cluded. The 1,000 copies of the edition were sold out in no time and in 1887, a new edition was brought out, in ¦ ¦1 Kyi, pX I ¦ 18th. century savant Kavasji Kanga and (inset) translator Maneck Kanga here. It’s a pity that Ervad Kavasji Kanga missed meeting the founder of Ilm-e- Khshnoom, Ustad Behramshah Shroff, just by a year or two, unlike his mentor, Khurshedji Cama, who had prolonged discussions with Shroff on many an ab ­ struse subject of the religion. Cama.was thril- with the cfetailed inner exposition and interpretation given by the Ustad of Avesta and Pa- hlavi passages, luck would have Cama, too, died a year after meeting Shro ­ ff. Had Kangaji, as much a seeker ofjruth as his teacher, come into contact with Shro ­ ff, the subsequent editions published in his lifetime would have been quite different. However, nature has her own way of doing things. In his translation of the Haftan Yasht, Kangaji was not able to give the translation of the famous Yatu zi Zarathush- tra... prayer. According to him, the Avesta therein was corrupt and “translations of European scholars are also not satisfactory. ” So also with reference to the Behram Yasht, karda 19.59, he wrote, ¦ 33 Parsiana May 1993 * IJ do not understand the translation ol (BPP) will also authorize the publication as early as possible, of the two other works, namely, Gatha-ba-Mayeni and Yasht-ba-Mayeni, completed by the late ____ ___ ___________ Prof M. F. Kanga, for the benefit of the general reader; later still appeared Zer- Parsi community. ” ' A pleasant surprise in the form of a bo ­ nus, not to be found in most earlier edi­ tions of Kanga ’s Avesta, is the inclusion of the Farvardin Yasht in the English ver­ sion. Grab a copy soon! the entire paragraph 59, from asanem sighuire to amava narna.” From the eighth edition of KAbM, however, the last pages of the book saw the translation of both these passages — the translator be ­ ing none other than Shroff ’s ace disciple and Kanga ’s pupil, Masani. An intriguing factor in Kanga ’s KAbM is the absence of the letters ‘e,’ as in ‘dad ’ and 'au, ’ as in ‘ball. ’ For instance, in the first two words of the Ashem Vauhu prayer, the transliteration reads as Ashem (‘e’ as in ‘bait ’) and Vohu (‘o’ as in ‘poll’). Another peculiar feature of Kangaji ’s opus is that the full gah prayers come after the five nyaishes, although Zo­ roastrians are enjoined to recite every gah in full before any nyaish. Yet, the transliteration of the Avesta is not exact, firstly, because of the two abovementioned Avesia letters not used by Kanga in the original, and secondly, because the word ‘an ’ as in French 'quand' is not to be found in the translit ­ eration at certain places. For instance, in the prayer, Yenghe Hatanm, while the word Tanscha is correctly written, the word Hatanm is given as Hat am. Same is the case in the last line of karda 8 of the Ilaftan Yashf. instead of Vispanschan Ameshan Spentan, wq have the words without the ‘n ’ at the end. Again the se ­ quence of the prayers remains the same. It would have been better if the gahs were placed before the nyaishes. Again, in the Khorshed and Meher Nyaishes, the word nyaish given as heading on each page, has only the first letter in capital letters whereas everywhere else, the words nyaish and yasht have all their letters in capitals, which is as it should be. The above nit-picking apart, Kangaji ’s KAbM, as painstakingly transliterated and faithfully translated into English by Prof Maneck Kanga, is a gem of a book with 510 pages encased in a hardbound ma ­ roon jacket. The paper is of high quality and the printing by the up and coming Bhada brothers ’ Jenaz Printers is impec ­ cably neat. Besides a posthumous bravo to Prof Kanga, a big shabaash is due to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) — during Dr Aspi Golwalla ’s tenure as chairman — for conceiving this unique venture and selling the book at an incred ­ ibly low price of Rs 85 for the present. As Ervad Df Rooyinton Peer says in his preface, “...h is earnestly hoped that they followed by a small booklet on the great man, A Model for Indian Youth Today, by Dr Sarosh Wadia, which provides excel ­ lent material for schoolchildren and the Ervad Phiroze banoo Gifford ’s Britain s First Asian MP in the Makers of History series, on the oc ­ casion of the centenary celebrations in London to mark Dadabhai Naoroji ’s elec ­ tion to the House of Commons. Farrokh Vajifdar ’s The Twist in the Rope, the fourth book on the subject, was J cel- ---------------At a function held at India Burjor K. Karanjia House on February 26, 1993, the High Commissioner Dr L. M. Singhvi launched ~ while Ms Betty Boothroyd Dadabhai Naoroji by Farrokh Vajifdar. Published Sneaker nf the Hnnce ’ by The World Zoroastrian Organisation, 135 ^P^*5®r House of Commons, un ­ Tennison Road, London SE25 5NF, England. Pp:72. Price: not mentioned. Inspiration to a jaded world ° centenary ebrations. At a function held at I Commissioner Dr L. M. Singhvi launched Speaker of the House of Commons., veiled a bronze bust of Naoroji in the presence of several dignitaries. The rather intriguing title for the recent book is de­ rived from Naoroji ’s own words about his original surname, Dordi (rope): “One may bend a dordi, but the twist be taken out of it.” But the value of Dadabhai Naoroji ’s many-splendored life has been recorded for posterity in R. P. Masani ’s monumental biography The Grand Old Man of India which has at- _______ __ ,aiuv ui tained the stature of a classic. This was Vajifdar ’s labor of love lies not in his un- ____ _________ » can never 4 J 4' * Vajifdar at the launch of his book 34 Parsiana May 19931 the domination of what they called the Their fears appeared to be realized when a Parsi lady set about doing the un ­ thinkable: contesting a will by actually going to court and obtaining separation from her husband. She even had the te­ merity to place her daughter in a girls ’ school, and that too run by an English schoolmarm. “History does not record whether she was agreeably beaten with a few shoes! ” comments Vajifdar wryly. Naoroji wasn ’t cut out to be a politi ­ cian. His interest in politics rose from his conviction that if India didn ’t become free DAMANIA’S EYE ON THE SKY to control her destiny, the drain of India ’s continued from page 32 wealth to England would not cease. He was happier denying the superiority of the European races over the Asiatic. He held that it was the ancient Persian and In ­ dian literatures which had influenced the viirious masterpieces of European thought Bandra office, during which time we ob- systems. With quiet pride he recalled the Indian Brahminical achievements in Mehar is being looked after by Ervad Rustam Pavri of Bombay who had earlier served the Hong Kong anjuman. Pavri ’s visa is being graciously extended by the Pakistani Government. Life patron Ms Tehmina Bhandara, chairman Sidhwa, managing trustees Boga and Dr Dara Hormasji, Dr Dinshaw Jassawalla, Jal Setna and Dinshaw Pes ­ tonji comprise the current board of trust ­ ees. In one avatar or another, each one of them has contributed personally to the maintenance of the holy fire. I I like to see him. “Give me five minutes, ” he repeats a third time. Yet we are in no hurry to leave his cabin. We had after all waited for nearly an hour to meet this self-made man in his doubted summarizing skills, but in the di­ versions provided by Naoroji ’s life and New Woman, work with which he regales the reader. Delay in executing needed reforms was even then holding back the Parsi community from its full potential and brilliant destiny. Vajifdar says: “I see the much lauded good work of Dadabhai and his fellow reformers fading fast in the alarming and dangerous resurgence of a so-called ‘orthodoxy ’ among the Parsi.s who neither know nor care for their true heritage, and instead subscribe to base be ­ liefs, superstitious notions, and primitive magico-religious practices. ” No truer words were spoken. Orthodoxy and narrow-mindedness have proved to be the bane of the commu ­ nity. But on rtire occasions, they bene- fitted the community too. Vajifdar has a word of praise for the manner in which the community rose in protest against the conversion of two Parsi men by the wiles of Dr John Wilson who brazenly offered general education in exchange grammatical analyses and Sanskrit works for indoctrination in Christianity! The dealing with various branches of science, consequent uproar made most Parsi He pointed out how in spiritual and philo- families withdraw their children from sophical speculations the Indian sages Wilson ’s schools. But, more positively, the community ’s leaders, stung into ac ­ tion, determined upon an educational physics, as in medicine, India had at- drive within the community in both schools and madressas. The then leaders of the community, as represented in the Bombay Parsi Pun ­ chayet, resorted to quixotic measures to bring into line those members who didn ’t behave. One of these measures was what Vajifdar calls “beating with the shoe. ” In fact, in the late 18th century, these Parsi worthies begged the then British Gover ­ nor of Bombay in a petition that “some low Parsis, who are ignorant to the rules of our religion, be allowed to be shamed proceeds of the book, sponsored by the in the Punchayet by beating them with a few shoes, agreeable to their crime, which will certainly amend them. ” The British Organisation ’s Medical Benevolent Fund Governor actually issued an edict at their request “to the Parsis, not of the priest caste: You are hereby empowered to pun ­ ish the offenders agreeably to the rules of your caste, so far as not permitting them to come to your feasts, or beat them with Maj Nadir Wankadia, Pearl Ghadially, ' ' ' “ Roshan Sidhwa, Dolly and Thrity Das­ toor, Amy King, Mohta Engineer and oth ­ ers took turns to assist. “During the Gatha serve a neophyte airline, in a new pre­ mises, with an enthusiastic band of re­ cruits. Not everyone seems to know each other by name. Not everyone is familiar with the set-up (a new face is presumed to be a fellow employee). Even then the staff had fully kept pace with the thinkers identify easily withOamania Airways and of Greece and Rome. In astronomy and show a keenness to know how it is Taring on a day-to-day basis. tained a noteworthy proficiency. A fax machine regularly prirtte out data If at all there is a divine intervention in regarding the nature of passengers who human affairs, Vajifdar believes Naoroji was an instrument of such intervention, a man endowed with wisdom, foresight, concern for his fellowmen and a rich hu ­ manity — in the timeless words of the Yatha Ahu Vairyo prayer: “The sover ­ eignty will be his, whom God has ap ­ pointed a shepherd to the poor.” Appropriately, in tune with what the book ’s persona lived and died for, the Aimai and Fakirji Educational Trust, will go to benefit The World Zoroastrian which has this simple and telling motto: “Save Life. ” LAHORE AGIARY CENTENARY... continued from page 18 shoes, but no other corporal punishment. ” Small wonder, the progress in wo­ men ’s education roused the ire of the orthodox in the community. Viscount days and on other important religious cmony even though he was not a navar or maratab, thu.s maintaining some continu ­ ity of worship on religious and important 1 cstix al days, ” states the write-up. Currently, since 1989, the Dar-e- Falkland, the Governor of Bombay at that days, Sidhwa performed the jashan time, hailed the progress in women ’s edu­ cation as “an epoch in the history of edu­ cation in the Bombay Presidency. ” The orthodox thought otherwise. They proph ­ esied the total breakdown of society under since 35 Parsiana May 1993 have boarded each flight. While certain routes are fully booked, others have spare capacity. (An airline is able to break even when 67 per cent of its flight is booked, reveals Damania.) The Damanias, how­ ever, are committed: they will not cancel a flight for want of passengers. And even though they operate in an uncertain Indian milieu they optimistically look for the rainbow rather than the clouds in the government ’s open-sky policy and lure passengers with their catchword: “Expect the world of us. ” 4' * MATRIMONIAL Parents (Dr & Mrs) invite matrimonial correspondence for their onjy son (innocent divored) aged 27 years, fair, handsome, with good income, from young, home loving, domestically trained girls of good family background and of calm and kind nature.Apply with photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (May/22-93) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 matrimonial correspondence forMILESTONES The age of Zoroaslrian brides (as listed in this issue) ranged between 20 and 37 years, the arithmetic mean (the total num ­ ber of individual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 25 years. The correspond ­ ing figures for the grooms were 25 and 42 years, averaging at 30 years. As compared to 24 births, 73 Zoroastrians passed away in Bombay in April. Heart disease was the major killer, claiming 26 victims of whom five were above the age of 80. An addi ­ tional three succumbed to hy- homes are not included unless in- Persis Jimmy Vazifdar and pertension. Respiratory dis- dividuals send us information to- Ardeshir Bomi Sholapurwalla', eases together accounted for 16 gether with a copy of the birth April 15 " ' ' certificate. deaths according to illnesses, es- deaths. Brain disease took its toll of eight patients and eight more succumbed to old age and pecially of the elderly, death is general debility. Six were vic ­ tims to cancer, three to septice- several diseases. Jangbarwalla and Homiyar mia and three to physical injury If readers have any births/ Ardeshair Mohta', April 17 (including one “asphyxia due to marriages/deaths they would like Roangiz Ardeshir Irani (Tafti) hanging ”). The coroner ’s re- published, some proof to ensure and Mehernosh Homi port is pending in one of these the veracity of the report would Kerawalla', April 18 cases. Parkinson ’s disease, pa ­ ralysis, hypovolumic (fall in to­ tal quantity of blood) shock, ce ­ rebral malaria and still birth In the breakup of Shirin Behram Dehmehri and Rustom Jamshed Maswa', April 16 often due to a combination of Kashmira Tehmurasp several diseases. If readers have any births/ BOMBAY BORN A boy to D Us had and Firdaus Irani on April 3, 1993 A girl to Kalpana and Jimmy Fitter, April 4 A girl to Banoo and Riard Jasubhoy', April 5 A boy to Kashmira and Rusi Goenkar; April 8 A boy, Nushad, to Arnaaz and Rus tom Irani', April 9 A girl to Roshni and Pervez Bana', April 11 A boy to Shernaz and Kaizad Heerji', April 11 A boy to Parizad .-ind Xerkxis Khambatta', April 12 A boy to Diana and Navroze Dastur, April 13 A boy to Sanobar and Adil Kotwal', April 13 A girl to Rukhshana and Meher Anklesaria', April 15 A boy to Elsie and Hossi Nanji', April 15 A boy to Parinaz and Jamshed Chinoy', April 17 A girl to Aban and Hoshedar were the isolated cases regis ­ tered. The highest age at death was 94, the youngest 18 — both JamshidDosu Umrigar, April 4 men. A youth of 33 was also lost to the community. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled Vahbiz Jehangir Daruwalla and Murzban Rustom Daruwalla oi Vashi; April 6 Jasmine Noshir Elavia and from information supplied by various newsletters and anju- mans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information Neville Hector Mevawala\ is not always complete or consis ­ tent. For example, the birth fig ­ ures for Bombay are supplied by four hospitals; births in suburban Rukshan Jehangir Aga and Aspi hospitals and private nursing Bejan Gotla-, April 11 homes are not included unless in ­ dividuals send us information to- published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our Nergish Cawas Randeria and readers would appreciate this Homiyar Framurze Madan', requirement and cooperate with April 18 us. Benaz Dinshaw Irani of Dahanu and Sharukh Dady Kavarana', April 20 Rashida Rohinton Buxy and Zubin Behram Chothia', April 24 Freny Behram Pervez and Cowsie Ratan Amra', April 26 Bakhtawar Rusi Daruwalla and Rumi Firoze Panthaky of Nagpur; April 27 Mehanaz Rustom Amuyan and Yezdi Tehamurash Sheriar, April 27 Kyandukhta Bahram Zorabi KalarUari and Cyrus Keki Irani of Chicago; April 28 Arnavaz Behramji Sukhadia and Rustam Jamshedji Noble (76), Jamshed J alejar Dhabhar, April 30 Contractor, April 18 A girl to Annahita and Rohinton Kapadia\ April 20 A boy to Roxane and Darayus Desai', April 23 A boy to Kashmir a and Mahiyar Medhora', April 24 A girl to Kamal and Kersi Karanjia', April 26 A girl to Khurshed and Khodaram Zandhbef', April 26 A boy to Bakhtawar and Manjit Singh Bhullar, April 28 A boy to Hira and Zarir Todiwala', April 28 A girl to Denaifer and Aspi Billimoria', April 29 A girl to Parizad and Kaikhushru KuJar, April 29 A boy to Valerie and Zarir Baliwala', April 30 MARRIED Percis Minoo Maneckji and Adil Ratansha Paghdiwala', April 3 Hutoxi Pirojsha Mistry and Adi ¦ Minoo Edulji Icchaporia (11), Eovji Doctor, April 4 Jennifer Pesi Sarkari and Minocher Jehangir Italia', April 4 Shernaz Jamshed Irani and Kashmira Sam Marfatia and Flomarz Khodadad Ahrestani, April 5 April 8 Aban Burjor Dastur and Gev Nari Patel', April 9 DIED Minoo Cooverji Wadia (92) residing at Sultan Manzil, 177, Bohra Bazaar St, Fort, 400001; December 14, 1992 (cremated) Pallanji Jamshedji Driver (89), 8/A, Anamt Smruti, Phullapada Rd, Virar(E), 401303; March 31, 1993 F/6, Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; March 31 Tehmina Pestonji Karkaria {^1), E/11, JinwallaBldg, Capuin Clny, Tardeo Rd, 400034; March 31 Aloo Rustom Sethna (76), Ruman Hse, Opp 3rd Pasta Lane, 47, S.B.Rd, 400005; March 31 Kali Jal Dubash (73), N/5, Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; April 2 Serene Pirojsha Mama (85), 392, Samudra Mhl, Worli, 400018; April 3 Banoobai Pirojshaw Pagdiwalla (77), 2, Patel Chmbs, Rustom Sidhva Marg, Fort, 400001; April 4 Maneck Bahadur Patel (75), 22, Sagar Resham, B. J. Rd, Band ­ stand, Bandra, 400050; April 4 Nergish Nadarsha Tavadia (Mandroina) (85), 30/G, Bomanji Lane, Fort, 400001; April 4 Dhun Rustomji Bharucha (67), Mehta Bldg, Khan Est, Station Rd, MaliinT, 400016; April 5 Eduljee Navroji Katrak (78), B/4, Meera Madhuri, Bandra (W), 400050; Affil 5 Pallonji Darabshaw Daruwalla (68), Jewellers Apt No 1, 56, Pedder Rd, 400026; April 6 Adi Kaikhushroo Davar (67), 15, Ajanta, Kalina Village, Kalina, Santacruz (E), 400029; April 6 Homi Edulji Dadachanji (68), Mancherji Seth Bldg, Tardeo Rd, 400007; April 7 Rattanshaw Pirojshaw Ichhaporia (91), Kashinath Bldg No 2, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; April 7 Homayun Noshirwan Bharucha (41), 1/7, Blossom Soc, Marol, Andheri (E), 400059; April 8 4* * 151, Noble Bldg, Nanubhai Desai Rd, 400004; April 8 Mahiar Parviz Rabady (43), Ardeshir Mans, 9, Buddha Temple St, Parel, 400012; April 8 Minoo Sorabji Variava (76), 1, Wadia Block, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari, 400102; April 8 Adi Faramji Buhariwalla (75), 2/32, A. H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400033; April 9 Homi Rustomji Master (83), 17/C/22, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; April 9 n' 36 Parsiana May 1993 I1- k I Dhanjishah Hormusji Dumlavwala (67), 5/A, Horizon, 11/A, Pali Hill, Bandra, 400050; April 10 Tehmina Kaikhasroo Jesung (83), D/20, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; April 10 Aloo Dadiba Kharas (72), A/16, Tardeo Chmbs, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; April 10 Amy Pirojshah Mistry (73), Windmere, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, 400005; April 10 Shirin Jalbhai Dhanbhoora (73), A/3, Breach Candy Apts, Breach Candy, 400026; April 11 Pillo Jamshedji Hansotia (72), E/11, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; April 11 Rattanshah Dosabhai Lakdawalla (78), M/3/13, Merwanji Cama Park, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; April 11 Dadiba Manchersha Mukadam (81), Malegamwalla Bldg No 1, Station Rd, Mahim, 400016; April 11 Homai Nusserwanji Tumboowalla (91), Pushpa ViharNo 1,S. B. Rd, 400005; April 11 Motibai (Mota) Maneckshaw Bharucha (85), Vijay Niwas, 5, Sleater Rd, 400007; April 13 Freny Sorab J ilia (82), E/8, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; April 13 Framroz Hormusji Lala (86), 122, Adarbad, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; April 13 Pesi Hormusji Majoo (80), 5, Ava Mans, Tardeo Rd, 400007; April 13 Khershedji Bhikaji Sarkari (73), 103, Manoram Sadan, 535/B, M. M. C. Rd, Mahim, 400016; April 13 Burjor Rustomji Siodia (83), J. J. Dharamshala, Sir J. B. B. Rd, Nagpada Jn, 400008; April 13 Piroja Dkanjisha Buhariwala (Ti), 25, Matharpakadi, Mazgaon, 400010; April 14 Gool Homi Panthaky (85), 12/ 668, Desai Bldg, Katrak Rd, Wadala, 400031; April 14 Firoze Nariman Entee (71), 12, Island Heights, 36, Mount Mary Rd, Bandra, 400050; April 15 Yezdi Mashuk Irani (33), 6, Old Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; April 16 Shapour Cooverji Kerawala (58), 2, Baria Bldg No 3, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; April 16 Faramarz Dehmiri Aliabad (94), Kumar Villa, 1st Pasta Lane, Colaba, 400005; April 17 Phiroze Jehangir Banatwalla (68), 11, Neel Sagar, 28th Rd, T. P. S.in.Bandra, 400050; April 17 Ketty Cawesji Cooper (79), K/6, Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; April 17 Pourushasp Kersasp Khambata (18), 4/49, A. H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, Parel, 400033; April 17 Nariman Darashah Sanjana (92), 11/22, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; April 17 Dolly Phiroze Tavadia (70), 3/ 13, Sir Ratan Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; April 17 Freny Erach Master (65), 10, Park Haven, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari, 400102; April 18 Godrej Dins haw Wadia (56), 11/12, Tata Clny, Sir Ratan Tata Rd, Tardeo, 400034; April 18 Jamshed Sheriyar Dadinath (79), 5/36, Mistry Bldg, Sun Mill Rd, Lower Parel, 400013; April 19 Behramshaw Cursetji Dastur (88), C/41, Meherzin, 109/A, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; April 19 Noshir Bapoji Joshi (62), Camp B, Zopadpatty No 144, Ulhasnagar, 421001; April 19 Nergesh Minocher Mama (77), 693, Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; April 19 Homai Rustamji Talati (76), A/4/39, Mehta Blocks, New Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; April 19 Boman Jehangir Irani (72), Haji Ebrahim Latif Bldg, 11, M. P. Agiary Lane, Grant Rd, 400007; April 20 Dadabhai Minocher Mehta (83), 4/39, A. H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400033; April 21 Pervize Jimmy Balliwalla (61), 9, M. P. Agiary St, Grant Rd, 400007; April 23 Hormusji Burjorji Kharas (86), New Khan Bldg, Zoroastrian Blocks, Chikalwadi, Tardeo Rd, 400007; April 23 Piloo Nariman Neralwalla (72), G/3, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; April 23 Baji Byramji Patel (55), 782, Patel Bldg, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; April 23 Jal Framroze Bhajiwalla (80), B, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, 400008; April 24 Pesi Framji Kerawala (64), K/3, Shapuiji Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; April 24 Aban Rusi Mistry (57), 24/A/B, Nawab Tank Rd, Mazgaon, 400010; April 24 Baby of Rashna Hoshi Tantra (stillborn). Noman Manzil, Wadia St, 141, Tardeo Rd, 400034; April 24 Jamshed Ardeshir Amroliwalla (92), 5/B, High Peak Apts, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; April 25 Dinabai Darabshaw Contractor (80), C/o R. N. Dubash, 5/A, Karai Est, Tardeo, 400007; April 25 Khorshed Jamshed Hansotia (76), 4, Khambata Lane, Khetwadi, 400004; April 25 Jamshed Ardeshir Mountvala (92), Court View, 126, M. Karve Rd, Churchgate, 400020; April 25 Merwan Jal Bulsara (48), Naguji Sayaji Bldg, 9/A, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; April 26 Mehru Rustomji Commissariat (72), Sethna Bldg, Princess St, 400002; April 26 Sheerin Jehangir Patel (90), B, Dhun Bldg, Lamington Rd, 400007; April 26 Phiroze Dorah Bilimoria (Ti), Sorrento, Mount Pleasant Rd, 400006; April 27 Dolat Minoo Colabawalla (72), 786, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 40(X)14; April 27 Noshir Darabshaw Nariman (80), Dadachanjee Bldg, Mehrban Clny, Dr Nair Rd, 400011; April 27 Nadirshaw Navroji Tavadia (91), 17/C/28, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; April 28 Khorshed Kawasji Kapadia (82), C/o Dosibai Masina Home, Masina Hosp Comp, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; April 30 Noshir Behramji Popat (56), G/ 17, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; April 30 CALCUTTA BORN A boy, Yohan, to Aban and Cyrus Confectioner, April 20 JAMSHEDPUR DIED Tehmul Aspi Gabba-, November 30, 1992 POONA DIED Jerbanoo Kaikhusroo Taliarkhan (84), Plucko Bglw, 168, Lullanagar, 411001; April 3, 1993 Ratan Cawasji liharucha (88), Khorshed Villa, 15, East St, 411001; April 27 SURAT DIED Jalejar Cooverji Amalsadiwala (83), Gam Amalsad, Via Kim, Dist Surat, 395310; April 7 Burjorji Jamshedji Ichhaporia (57), Gam Ichhapore, Dist Surat, 395003; April 11 Minoo Jal Mistry (Patel) (50), Ookaiji Dharamshala, Surat, 395003; April 14 Farokh Tehemton Behramji (31), Parekh Blocks, Shahpore, 395003; April 27 Kaikhushroo Jalejar Bhumgara (65), Ndhman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; April 28 *** CANADA Mississauga BORN A boy, Jason, to Trecey and Vispy Panthaky-, April 15 ¦r PAKISTAN Karachi BORN A girl, Nina, to Cyra and Dinshaw Ankleseria-, April 15 DIED Homi Darabshaw Vania (76); April 1 Jehangir H. Vania (96); April 10 Homi Dadabhoy Mama (74); April 17 Pilan Phiroze Rabadi April 22 Noshir Sohrabji Mehta (83); April 29 USA Los Angeles, California BORN A girl to Tanaz and Zarir Bhandara-, April 1 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania BORN A boy, Nicholas Sam, to Robin and Malcolm Morris-, 37 Parsiana May 1993 IJanuary 18 TOTALS FOR 1992 AND 1993 BORN Boys Girls Bombay B India B World B Providence, Rhode Island BORN A boy, Kyrus, to Khursheed and Farrokh Wankadiya\ January 30 14 10 169 147 46 37 11 6 30 34 6 11 MARRIED Parsi Intercommunal 21 261 67 164 14 16 10 DIED INTERRED Male Female CREMATED Male Female A: Total numbers in this issue B: Running totals for 1992 (February 1992-May 1993 issues) C: Running totals for 1993 (February-May 1993 issues) * Overseas deaths are listed in the interred column as Parsiana does not have a breakup of those cremated. 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. 48 29 444 506 185 148 80 94 36 19 47 30 16* 9* San Jose, California DIED Katie Engineer, wife of Dossabhoy and mother of Zarina Kaji, Amavaz Gandi and Dilnavaz Mooney; April 24 Torrance, California DIED Noshir Daruwalla (60), husband of Nergish and father of Navaz and Jehangir; January 4 Tucson, Arizona DIED Nari Sethna of Chicago (67), brother of Aspy; March 23 Virginia BORN A girl, Margo Anne, to Sandra and Rustan Dalal; April 2 Compiled by Roxana A. Mirza A C A C A C 1 7 1 1 6 3 2 1 3 3 5 6 4 6 2 4 I * Steamship agents — master stevedores dubashes — lighterage contractors Darabshaw B. Cursetjee’s Sons (Bombay) Pvt Ltd Oarabshaw House. Ballard Road, Bombay 400038 Grams: DEADWEIGHT Telex: 6824 DBCB IN Phone: 2610021 (4 lines) (Dock Office: 2612230) <1 Also associates at Calcutta, Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Mangalore, Bhavnagar, Bedi-port, Navlakhi, Veraval, Porbunder & Kandla Also sole Government Landing contractors at Jamnagar, (Bed!) Bhavnagar 38 Parsidna May I99J IIN MEMORIAM Burns Benefactress Homi Rogers “Do not go gentle into that good night Old age should burn and rave Al the close of day... ” who wrote a biography of the indus- Kharas had built a rock-steady portfolio, augmented by her entry into real estate and the construction business. As a builder, she was responsible for the con ­ struction of Jupiter and Venus, the twin 30-storey skyscrapers at Cuffe Parade, the Grand Paradi apartments, and the trio of theaters Badal-Bijlee-Barkha at trialist and philanthropist, was greatly Matunga, among other buildings, impressed by Kharas ’ generosity. In his speech at the opening of the burns unit, garded the invitation to inaugurate the “She brought her knowledge of con ­ struction to the KMC,” states Dr Sam Batlivala, medical superintendent at Masina Hospital, recalling how Kharas would be physically present from nine to five supervising the building work. She extended the same minute supervision to all matters pertaining to the unit: be it the __ J. _____ _ appointment of doctors and ward boys, Bhikhamai was brought or the purchase of bedsheets and bed- up by her maternal grand- pans. “Each item in the KMC has been parents in the middle- ne.rsonallv bought by her, reveals class surroundings of Bom­ bay ’s Khetwadi. She dab ­ bled in small money ­ making ventures before hitting big time as a stock ­ broker. “She had always wan ­ ted to be rich, own three to four bungalows, ride in a Mercedes, and help those poorer and weaker than her, ” says Niranjan (Niju) Nanavaii of M/s Hiralal T. Nanavati, a impressed by Kharas ’ generosity. In his The above lyric written by Dylan Tho ­ mas 1 , „ quoted for Bhikhaiji Kharas (83) who passed away suddenly on May 3, 1993. When Parsiana first met her in the mon ­ soon of 1992, barely a few months after the Rs 1.40 crore Kharas-funded Memo­ rial Centre for burns vic ­ tims opened its doors, Bhikhamai (fondly referred to as Bhikhoomai) was a frail but fighting-fit octo ­ genarian. A year later, alter battling against two coro ­ nary attacks, and the many hazards and hassles of day- to-day supervision, Kharas succumbed to a heart at ­ tack in the solitude of her home. Call it an act of provi ­ dence, or an irony of fate, but Kharas had warded off death for exactly one year kharas: care and concern . from the date the Kharas Hiralal T. Nanayati, lirm ol stockbrokers named after his grandfather. Nanavati ’s family has been associated with the Kharas ’ for over 50 years, his grandfather Hiralal Thakoredas for his dying father could be aptly Tata himself acknowledged that he re- ® _ « 1 1 .1. _ : : 4.mifnta KMC as a higher award than the Bharat Raina conferred on him. Kharas was not born to riches, though. The third of five children to Shireen- bai and Sorabji Kharas, pans, personally bought by her, ” Batlivala, eulogizing her sincerity and devotion to the cause. The trustees of the Masina Hospital, in their meeting held on May 8, 19g3 placed on record “the laudable services and munificent dona ­ tion rendered by Ms Bhikhaiji Kharas. The KMC, Batlivala o^erves, began as a one-storey building. Gradually, with more money coming in, and more ser ­ vices being mooted for the unit, two more floors were built. To date, accord ­ ing to Nanavati, Kharas has donated Rs 1.7 to 1.8 crores to the project. And to think, as a trustee of the Hospital con ­ fesses, that Kharas with her humble bearing was nearly dismissed by them as one who would “at the most donate in the region of Rs 10,000!” “But for the having ‘adopted ’ Bhikhoomai who then Mercedes in which she arrived (and operated from-his office. She was at that which was the only car allowed to be time (the late ’30s) the only lady in the parked in the KMC porch), there was stock market, and her furious speculation nothing to distinguish her from an ordi- had earned her the sobriquet of queen ol National Rayon. ’ “1 have played on her lap, ” recalls Memorial Centre (KMC) was inaugu ­ rated on May 3, 1992. Even the hour of her passing away coincided with the lime of the ritual: half an hour after noon. Il had been a momentous year for publicity-shunning Kharas who had seen a dream come true. Dr M. H. Keswani, a .. .j- ... to Kharas as a jewel m hiding. ‘nlavcd on her Ian ” recalls membered not for her charity, but for her SS the™:"; S: S:;?, htttc Spt™; yeha„bux -duchgal. a physician cook back to health, i ne aomiraiion uc tween the doctor, who was to later head her burns unit, and the donor was mutual. Keswani pays handsome tributes to the lady who seemed to appear from no- nurse strings “without being solicited by day. purse strings u t, The KMC was funded by her from the sale of shares she held. With her “mathe ­ matical mind and business acumen, ” whose compound the KMC stands, reters tn Kharas as a “iewel in hidinu. ” The Parsiana, where, and who generously loosened her anyone, or without benelitting her family in any way. ” J. R. D. Tata, according to R. M. Lala 39 Parsiana May 1993 storeys below the Kharas ’ apartment m a all the patients at inc mviv, tv ................... which their needs and problems, states Dr Bhikhaiji herself had built, and person- Jehanbux Chichgar, a visiting physician ally supervised the allotment and sale of at the unit. “She was also very caring flats. “There was not a single day that 1 did not meet her, and apprise her of the market, ” avers Niju. “She knew all her Bombay building, investment holdings by heart, till the last and considerate of the patients ’ rela ­ tives, ” adds Batlivala. Very fond of children, Kharas is said to have been surrounded by street kids when she visited her bungalow in Thane. Her younger sister Dhun has adopted a schoolgirl, Shirin Bamji, and both the sisters lavished their affections on the Ichild who was present with her foster- mother on the first anniversary of the KMC. “Bhikhamai insisted we hold a Jamselji Tata... all of them were creative function, however small and low-key it Parsis who looked at India as a whole, may be, ” says Chichgar, “though we never a.s a part. pleaded with her to defer it to a later date when she would be able to attend it.” Dariyas Bhappu, the newly-appointed managing trustee of Masina Hospital tells us that the Hospital is committed to fulfilling Kharas ’ vision. “However, ” he community. We have not suffered dis- adds a precautionary note, “much will depend on how the executors of Bhikhamai ’s trust propose to spend the though I might say that in spite of it we amounts. ” Kharas had founded two trusts — the Shireenbai Sorabji Kharas Chari ­ table Trust and the Kharas Memorial Trust. She is survived by her elder brother Dinshaw who lives in Calcutta, and her younger sister Dhun. Her eldest sister Banoo, and younger brother Eric, in whose memory the Centre was built, pre­ deceased her. did? Dadabhai Naoroji in his own lime, Phcrozcshah Mehta, Khurshed Nariman, Legislation is not lacking, what is lack ­ ing is the will to implement; that cannot be imp'lcmenied except by organizing these very people. Who can organize? Young people who are willing to lake the risk and the challenge that such kind of tasks involve. “Now I wonder why the Parsis are no § “We tire a very advantaged commu ­ nity because we have 100 percent lit­ eracy. We have more young people go­ ing to universities than any other group longer, or only to a small extent, com ­ in India. We are also the most long-lived milted to such things, to improving the lot of those who have far less than crimination in our country of adoption they have... We do need to reflect seri- and we have done very well for ourselves ously on it and to decide what priorities as a community... ” Before Armaity Desai fired the youngsters to thing along selfless lines, the chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, Jamshed Guzder, impressed upon them the necessity of not being ob ­ sessed with making money in life but re­ membering instead that “we must make money with dignity. ” Citing instances from the lives of Nusserwanji and We have to Jamsetji Tata and other industrialists who with determination and persever ­ ance made successful careers, he added, “If God has showered his bounty upon us we can only repay ’'by telling God to give us the opportunity to do good in this world, by alleviating human misery and ” A “Wisdom modifies destiny. Destiny without wisdom doesn ’t pay; and wis ­ dom without the push and part help of destiny cannot succeed. But with a com ­ bination of both you can make a success of life. Therefore you should not miss opportunities. You must look ahead and it is looking ahead that really gets you what you want. ” He forewarned, “There are good moments in life; there are diffi ­ cult moments in life. (So) reputation, ____ 3 very do have poor among us who have been well taken care of by the munificent charities that our forefathers very fore- sighledly left for us... “We need to come out of this introvertedness into which we have gone in the last few decades because earlier we were not so. We have to come out of it and we have to go to the forefront of the nation-building task. take up this challenge, whether you be in the civil service (or) in the police. (There are) social activists fighting for the rights of the disadvantaged through grass roots movements, (but) very few Parsis are at ­ tracted. Al least some women come, but men very rarely come for such training suffering... and of course very few join (such) move ­ ments which are going on around the country. I don ’t even know if you are aware how many young people — com ­ puter scientists, engineers, doctors, etc — have left their professions and gone to backward rural areas and are working for the lot of the poor and using the skills are our “OUR HOPES LIE IN YOU” continued from page 28 room but the majority don ’t even have access to safe drinking water which is the prime requirement for survival. This is the condition of India today and I ask you what is your role in this situation in which your country finds itself? In Bombay I see thousands of chil ­ dren, and you see them too, who have run away from home, from a very un ­ happy home (homes that are poor don ’t drive the children out, that never hap ­ pens). They say that Bombay city itself they have learnt in these activities... “We believe that almost 10 million children are working children, many of them in high-risk jobs, for example in the credibility you must build from the match factory. They are in fireworks — you play with fireworks. You should know Shivkashi where these fireworks are made. Who makes them? Children — five-year-old, seven-year-old, 10- year-old — make fireworks and I do not even want to play with these fireworks any more when I think of these young ­ sters who have been made to work, whose families have no other go but to selling products was painkillers. Every- has about 1,00,000 such children roam ­ ing the streets and there are many adults and children who make their liv ­ ing entirely out of the huge rubbish heap match factory. They are in fireworks — beginning... ” which the city collects. We have enough you play with fireworks. You should Guzder’s ultimate emphasis was on affluent people to have large rubbish know Shivkashi where these fireworks prayer; “The power of prayer is so heaps in this city. And these people are made. Who makes them? Children strong that it grows on you and by devel- m^e all their living through salvaging — five-year-old, seven-year-old, 10- oping this habit you will have a certain what you and I throw away which they year-old — make fireworks and I do not peace within you which you will not ex­ resell to earn some money. even want to play with these fireworks perience otherwise. Life is very diffi- “Now I ask you, all of us, where is the any more when I think of these young- cult. When I was the chairman of Boots conscience of our community to reach sters who have been made to work, I used to notice that one of our largest out to this other India? And this other In- whose families have no other go but to selling products was painkillers. Every- dia IS very euphemistically being called send these children. Similarly they are in body wants pills for headaches. But why Bharat, it s not called India, it’s a cieshi Firozpur, in th; ...J..'. ... - - (local) version, Bharat. The India is the glass and bangles and things like these. India of the minority who lack nothing, ~ they have everything which the west cn- Bharat, it’s not called India, it’s a deshi Firozpur, the glass factory, making should you get headaches? If you feel “Then we have a lot of people who ----- — -. ¦¦¦o-”/ cx- joys, which the people in the first world ploited. Many of them are agriculture la- enjoy. Now do we want to turn our back ' on this India or a blind eye, or do we want to do like people in our community provided for it but people never get it... live in rural areas who are highly bor who never gel the minimum wage. Minimum wage is there, the country has you are in trouble, why don ’t you go to a corner and sit and say your prayers for a little while? “Concentrate, contemplate, meditate, that will give you relief and that will give you a certain inner strength which you will not get elsewhere... ” 40 Parsiana May 1993 r