Jun 1993

JUNE 993 Rs15 Karl Khandalavala's art treasureJune 1993 Volume 15 Number 12 EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama 3 Readers’ Forum EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi ASSISTANT EDITOR Roxana A. Mirza 10 Events and Personalities DESIGN Kranti M. Shilotri, Varghese W. Fernandez MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Hormazd N. Dastur 12 Zoroastrians Abroad 16 The controversial navar ceremony by Parinaz Gandhi 19 Khandalavala’s art and acumen by Homi Rogers ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Niloufer Sakhidas CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala FINANCE B. L. Arora 22 Carry on Patients by Jeroo Irani 30 Books 36 Milestones 5#' * EDP Rohinton E. Daroga DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, K. P. Ravi SUBSCRIPTION/CIRCULATION Behram Umrigar, Khurshid Panthaki, Bindu Pillai, Khureshan Mandviwalla Cover: Radha and Krishna in a bower, Pahari School, Basholi, circa 1685 AD, size: 15.8x21.3 cm, from the Khandalavala Collection, Courtesy - Prince of Wales Museum of Western India MANAGEMENT Jasmine Driver OFFICE Nowzer Batliwala 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 two years (24 issues). Foreign subscription rates: Sea mail Rs 350/US $ 12/UK £ 7 for one year, Rs 550/US $ 20/UK112 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. IREADERS' FORUM » 4 > * « . , , » M Id I * . ulh » *»>»*'* t V 4 . I • *»»*«»*’»»•»* Mh***”*’*' * I»«* > 1« 9 4 9 M M 9 » a p '¦ *? < 1»»1' I, ¦ ki Kihhi 11« L< <>>>>>»»»» 1 Gullit**** ¦ in reincarnation. Again, some think that “Perin was a favorite with the masses, < vegetarianism is central to Zoroastrianism despite her reputation for her hot temper. ” and, therefore, orthodoxy; others (like the Perin was one of the most mild natured and ¦ followers of Mr Pundole) emphasize that lovable ladies one could come across and I every orthodox Parsi must be a meat eater. The all important questions arc: •What is orthodoxy? •Who can be called an orthodox in the strict sense of the term? Maybe you can gather the views of reference may be made to Mr Morarji Desai, to whom all the three sisters Gosasp, Perin and Khorshed were well known. »»»«•: __ _________________ knowledgeable Parsis and publish the same to clear the ambiguity once and for all. Hw Ms RODABEH J. KtLARAS 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 apace and clarity. Unsigned letters or those Mrithout an address will not be published. “Dispassionate scholarship” In the review of Dr Mirza ’s Sasanian Zoroastrianism (“Dispassionate scho ­ larship, ” Parsiana, March 1993), Maha- mahopadhyay F. Nariman has said a few words about the heterodox and pseudo ­ orthodox interpreters of our tradition and “In the tradition of... history. Besides it appears that many of our scholars and laymen use the words ‘orthodox, ’ ‘realorthodox (in Gujarati, saat paani-e dhoyelo orthodox), ’ ‘liberal orthodox, ’ ‘ultra orthodox, ’ etc in their speeches and writings. But it remains uncertain as to who can be called an orthodox. For instance. Parsis who are influenced by theosophy maintain that every orthodox must be a believer in reincarnation. Con ­ versely, those who consider the influence detrimental to our communal health say that no orthodox worth his salt can believe 3 Parsiana June 1993 don ’t think that anybody who knew her, would describe her as “hot tempered, ” al ­ though she would not tolerate any nonsense from anybody. If any corroboration of this is required. ¦M. R. S. CAPTAIN Parinaz Gandhi replies From other sources too we have a confirmation that the photograph to the left on page 69, Parsiana, March 1993 is of Perin Captain and not Goshi Captain. However not all are agreed on the “Caught in the...” The Empire of India Philatelic Society (EIPS) and India's Stamp Journal (ISJ) have started a Phiroze Medhora Memorial Fund to perpetuate his cherished memory. The fund will fulfil the objects which were identification of the photograph to the right, dear to Phiroze and Mehroo (“Caught in the While Mr Captain states the picture is of crossfire, ” Parsiana, February 1993), Khorshed Naoroji, Ms Surangiben Vakil namely, promotion ofphilately, repairs and who loaned us the photograph maintains it renovation of the Society ’s premises, furnishing the same and the library, and giving an annual rotating trophy for the best article in the ISJ on India and Indian States philately. It has set a target of two lakh rupees of which approximately Rs 50,000 have already been committed. May I request philatelists and the numer ­ ous friends, relatives andadmirers of Phiroze to help us by sending their cheques (in the name of the Empire of India Philatelic Society) to our honorary treasurer, Mr S. A. Vijaykar, 1008, Raheja Chambers, 10th floor, Nariman Point, Bombay 400021? All donations will be gratefully acknowl ­ edged in India s Stamp Journal. VISPI S. DASTUR President, EIPS and Hon Editor, !SJ is of Goshi. Dr Aloo Dasi ur was notable to Per in Captain (left) and her sister commit herself either way. Further, the referenge to Perin ’s hot- tempered demeanor is not attributed to Dr Aloo Dastur. But I may mention that not one, but three of the sources touched upon this trait. I have just seen the article entitled “In the tradition of Dadabhai Naoroji, ” Parsiana, March 1993 aad hope you will not mind my pointing out a few inaccuracies therein. To start with, may I observe that the caption below the two pictures, namely, denunciatory, sanctimonious “The patriotic ‘Captain sisters ’ Goshi (left) and Perin ” is incorrect. The picture on the lei t is that of my late aunt (kaki) Perin, and that on the right is of her unmarried sister Khorshed who was popularly known as ‘Bull ’ on account of her boisterous nature. 1 would also like to join issue with my friend Dr z\loo Daslur when she states that “Doors closed to...” Mr Behram Deboo ’s letter (“Doors closed to ...” Parsiana, January 1993) is full of sermons on how the “basic human rights ” of the likes of Ms Roxan Shah and Darius Puz-Surti have been violated, and how wrong we are. Human rights are nonns of behavior tliat are acceptable to the society one lives in. A man may be starving and his very life may be on the brink, but that does not give him a human right to steal. Why? Because IStealing is prohibited under the laws that the society has given to itself for its self-regu ­ lation. The Parsi society of Bombay has also given to itself certain traditional laws and customs. A defiling of our traditions and customs is equally intolerable. No individual ’s personal interests can gain pre ­ cedence over the society ’s interests if the two happen to be in conflict. Mr Deboo has no business to preach to us from his assumed loft in the USA on how we, in Bombay, should conduct ourselves. If and when we deem it fit to change our traditions and customs, we will. Secondly, he says, “...Since aeons,outof ignorance and lack of understanding of human biology, males have had a difficult time accepting female sexuality and have debased her fertile biological cycle as im ­ pure: a mythical, superstitious hangover. ” While one does not know Mr Deboo ’s scientific credentials, if any at all, we have with us a recently published series of ar ­ ticles in the Jam-e-Jamshed on “Menstrual Customs Among Zoroastrians, ” compiled from the notes of that great research scien ­ tist cum religious scholar, the late Dr Minocher D. Karkhanawalla. It may be in order to reproduce here some parts of this article in order to educate Mr Deboo and his ilk on what a renowned scientist had to say in the matter. “...To defile means to make unclean or impure. This can be divided into visible and invisible defilement. Visible defilement is recognized by our five senses as foul smell or dirt, mud, smoke on our clothes, body or environment. Steps can be taken to purify them. Invisible defilement can be once again sub-divided into that which cannot be perceived by our five senses but can be detected by modem powerful instruments, and that which cannot be perceived by our five senses nor can it be detected by the most sensitive, modern instruments... “According to Zoroastrian science, the human body is divided into nine parts, the first three are physical, the next three are ultraphysical and the last three are spiritual. By taking care of the physical body, i.e. piiri ty of skin, hair and nails by regular bath, purity of blood by exercising in fresh air and taking good food and sunlight, one keeps the physical body clean so that no visible defilement takes place. But what about the ultraphysical and spiritual purity? “Today ’s science is yet baffled by the working of the brain and thought forces. Its behavior is found tobeentirely inexplicable by any physical standard. When science cannot explain the third part of the physical body, how can we expect science to think or talk or form laws and theories about the ultraphysical and spiritual purity? “The invisible disturbance around the physical body, namely the aura or the counterpart body of energy, has been no ­ ticed by kirlian photography. In an un ­ healthy state, its shape is distorted or colors faded. It is affected by all our thoughts and emotions and we know that a lady in menses is emotionally disturbed. And under disturbed bodily conditions, it is proved that the aura is disturbed. “All these above defilements could be noticed just because there were some sci ­ entific instruments that converted the in ­ visible to visible range or from a non perceivable level to a level where we could perceive, our brains could understand and analyze. “But, as seen above, the other ultra ­ physical and spiritual defilement can nei ­ ther be perceived by our limited senses nor is there any modern scientific instrument to convert the ultraphysical and spiritual to a physical level for us to understand. “Remember, the slightest defilemen t or impurity , seen or unseen, affects the smooth running of the universe. Our religion has always emphasized purity. For us, purity is the highest good. We are told in our holy Galhas and Vendidad at several places that ‘Purity is the best thing for man after birth... This is purity, O Zarathushtra! the Mazdayasnian Law: He who keeps himself pure by good thoughts, good words, good deeds. ’ “Let us not challenge our age-old cus ­ tom as this defilement will not be visible but will remain unseen and unnoticed by our limited five senses. “Science has discovered an emanation from the eyes of animals and humans and the energies coming from human and ani ­ mal eyes vary with emotions and environ ­ mental conditions! “Are we surprised, therefore, when a lady in menses is not allowed to enter the places of worship or even glance at people at worship? In fact it is believed that her very look vitiates the purification of the padyab and consecrated things... “Last but not the least, always remem ­ ber that nonsense is only when we have yet not found that viewpoint from which it makes sense. Nonsense is something that cannot be understood by our limited five senses. Nonsense is something that doe.s not fit into the already ex isting idea, theory or reality. “But do we perceive reality? No, we do not and hence very often sense is bound to be nonsense to us. In that case, the only solution is faith. “Our religion has stood like a solid rock in this modem scientific era and passed all acid tests of science. May Dadar Ahura Mazda bless us with Vohu Mano so that with full faith in our Zoroastrian religion, we cany on the age-old precious, most scientific and ultra modern religious cus ­ toms forever. ” KHURSHED PASTAKIA Decent-minded Parsis everywhere bow their heads in shame! We, the descendants of Persian forebears who were welcomed to India to assure a safe haven for our religion, now exult in suppression and denial to others who seek the glorious haven of 2Loroastrianism to augment, and not diminish, the great work of Frasho- kereti! Moreover when such bans are put up against a young and welcome newcomer — the little gentleman Darius Puz-Surti — on the entirely spurious grounds of desecration and crim inality (“Doors closed to Darius, ” Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, November 1992), one is bound to ask those self-styled “staunch ” fellow-Parsis whether their ghastly thoughts, foul words and ill deeds do not desecrate our holy places. Just where does their Zoroastrianness lie? If a true priest of Zaratbushtra is a criminal,ihenjust what must one call these deluded followers of some repulsive sys ­ tem totally alien to our religion who bla ­ tantly masquerade as true devotees of Zo- roasU'ianism? Will they next heap such execration on our sacred books and com ­ mentaries because these contain incite ­ ments to the criminal activities of progress and proselytism, for they evidently find their contents discomforting? Here is another crumb for their discom ­ fort: “All profession of the Good Religion (=Ve/i Den/Den M azdes nan) bears upon the will and commandment of the Creator. When all of mankind which is in the physi ­ cal world attains to the professing of the Good Religion, the assault (of evil) shall be destroyed; all of creation shall arrive at an unsullied purity and perfect happiness: th is is the revelation of the Good Religion. ” Will its author too be arraigned before the criminal courts? He was, after all, a most learned priestly scribe who saw only great ­ ness and glory in his chosen religion —one among an obviously dangerous category of criminals! Those who look up to sanity and good ­ ness of mind, speech and deed as the incontrovertible tenets of our noble Zoro ­ astrian faith might derive further reassur ­ ance from this text, written in truth, fear ­ I 4 Parsiana June 1993lessness and honesty, in the very teeth of a fiercely proselytizing alien faith opposed to Zoroastrianism. They will notice it in our Denkard, Book III, chapter 172, in which seekers after truth will find enlightenment, as in ­ deed many have over the turbulent last 1,000 years. From one who came late to the realization of the fulness and grandeur of our unique world-embracing faith is offered a sincere and wholehearted welcome to our recent coreligionist Darius Puz-Surti. May this glorious faith, adorned with supreme wisdom, practised and taught by our Zara- thushtra and his saintly disciples, so very long ago, keep you, Darius, and all your family in goodness, peace and harmony with all of humanity! FARROKH VAJIFDAR London, UK. Table 1 -- ClassiIkation of Parsi population according to age-group % Population Sundbarg ’s classification Age-group Years 0-15 15-50 50+ Progressive 40 50 10 Stationary 26.5 50.5 23.0 Regressive 20 50 30 Parsis in 1961 census 17.84 51.57 30.59 Table 2 -- Distribution of population in USA Age-group Years % Population 1950 (Actual) 1990 (Actual) 2020 (Projected) 0-18 18-65 65+ 8.1 12.6 17.7 2030 (Projected) 18.2 60.0 21.8 The Aging Population The 1961 census of India had made a detailed study of the Parsis of Greater Bombay and, based on Sundbarg ’s classification, had classified the Parsi population as regressive as shown in Table 1. Table 3 -- Age-group distribution for Parsi population in 1961 Age-group Years 0-15 15-60 60+ % Population of Parsis in Bombay 17.84 64.25 17.91 Let us now examine the age-wise distribution of the American popula- tion as given in a recent book (Calleo, D.P. The Bankrupting of America, 1 William Morrow, New York, 1992) __ shown in Table 2. For the abovementioned age-groups in USA the closest comparison for the Parsi population according to the 1961 __ census is shown in Table 3. If the population of Parsis in the age-group 60+is 17.91 percent (Table 3), then in the age-group 65+ years it 1 would be of the order of say 10-15 percent which corresponds to the age distribution of 65+ years in USA in 1990 (Table 2). That means that even the population of USA in 1990 was regressive. Calleo attributes this aging of the population to the declining birth rate and increasing life expectancy due to better sanitation, medical care and nutrition. And yet the population of USA is expected to increase from 245 million in 1988 to 266 million in 2000 (UNDP Report, 1990). That poses a para ­ dox: the general population in the USA is regressive, yet shows an increasedn popu ­ lation . This apparent paradox is on account % WITH BEST COMPLIMENTS FROM SOFT-HEARTED ‘WIBS'BREAD k WESTERN INDIA BAKERS' PRIVATE LIMITED KHODADAD BUILDING, 100 D'LIMA STREET DOCKYARD ROAD, BOMBAY 400010 6 Parsiana June 1993! painted to present a decent appearance befit- Villa, Kati Wadi, Dahanu Road 401602. ¦ ¦ ¦ Ms BANOOGOSHASP A. IRANI Established by the doyen of surgeons, the Presiaem, Young Zoroasman Association of Dahanu laUJ OU ICIIIIIUUIJI liuiiiuflii iw ywua agO, the Parsi Lying-in Hospital was the first Help tO edUCHtC maternity hospital in the whole of Asia. In sive population not only among Parsis those days, a large number of delivery cases but also in the developed countries. " ' ' . - . An increase in life expectancy is wel ­ come, but if the Parsi community in Bombay is to flourish and not dwindle, aspect and cleanliness in every thing was the community must improve the birth strictly enforced. So great was the demand at rate from 10 at present to about 15 per 1,000 and also make serious attempts to stop migration of boys to USA because that is responsible for the vicious circle of intermarriages and never married women at home. DrP. D. SUNAVALA of immigration, many of whom are . illegal immigrants, employed as cheap ting a centrally located maternity hospital. labor. r ............... ' ' . - Theconclusion is therefore that the late Sir Tehmoolji Nariman 100 years ago, declining birth rate and increased life expectancy is responsible for a regres- The Amateur Artistes Association, now in its 36th year, has worked for the welfare of the fatal due to puerperal fever because of student community with selfless service and ¦ ¦ ¦ without any motive of gain. The Association was founded with the primary object of helping students of low income groups with financial aid under our education scheme. Over the years the stu ­ dents have benefited from books loaned at a very nominal charge or even free to the were I lack of observance of sanitary principles. Sir Tehmoolji paid the greatest attention to this this Hospital that rooms were booked six months in advance and Parsi mothers used to stay for a full period of 40 days. Unfortunately, during the last few years deserving, there has been a steady decline in the popu ­ larity of the Hospital due to certain causes. The need to raise funds is ever great with the escalating cost of education and our All the abovementioned work to enable limited resources. A sound education i.s es- thisHospitaltocomeupagainrequiresmoney sential in these difficult times. and the managing committee members are We make an earnest appeal to you in all Parsi Lying-in needs help The Parsi Lying-in Hospital is in need of urgent essential repairs. It has received a handsome donation of one of Bombay and upcountry punchayets, will lakh rupees through the efforts of Ms not hesitate to give their personal and institu- Ratoo Dastur and another Rs 50,000 tional donations to the Hospital. Donations areexpected. A donation from Hong to the Hospital are exempt under section 80G leur Artistes Association ’’to the joint honor- Kong amounting to Rs 1,50,000 is of the Income Tax Act. ary treasurer, Ms Naju S. Postwala, 5/3, expectedwhileadonationofRs 10,000 Ms ratoodaradastur Rustom Baug, Sant Savta Marg, Bombay has been received from a charitable , 400027. n, r daRuwala trust in Bombay and other donation Seventh Youth SeininSF amounts from charities are expected The Young Zoroastrian Association of in the near future. However, the Dahanu has taken up the onus of hosting the expenses to put the Hospital on its feet Seventh All India Youth Seminar to be held once again will run into some lakhs of from November 26 to 29, 1993. The main rupees more. objective of J e Seminar will be to bring From the amount already received, together and educate today ’s Zoroastrian the roof has been completely repaired youth regarding religious and economic over a certain portion of the Hospital, problems facing our community. The storage tanks on the ground floor are also in the process of being re ­ paired. These two items alone will cost over Rs 80,000. Two special rooms have been repaired and painted as also vival swategies for Zoroastrianism ’ and ‘ How the waiting room. A portion of thedor- far are the institutions and practices valid in mitory room for Parsis is under repairs, the existing times? ’ and also take part in a The rear entrance and the pas sa- “ ................ ges are to be plastered and painted as also the kitchen. The doors have to be oil painted. The toilets and bathrooms on the first floor have to be attended to. The terraces above the second floor require to be made waterproof so that there is no leakage. At present the leakages from the second floor perco- substantial expenditure on our part. As a late to the first floor and from there to the ground floor. The electrical instal ­ lation requires immediate attention. This work alone will cost thousands of Parsiana readers helping us by booking ad- rupees and has been taken in hand vertisement space therein. Cheques/cash/ where absolutely necessary. Many of drafts should be payable to the Young Zoro- the walls require to be plastered and astrian Association of Dahanu at Shahpur ; We make an earnest appeal to you in all confident that generous hearted individuals sincerity to donate generously for the better- andParsiu-usts,includingtheParsiPunchayet ment of our growing children, the future citizens of India. Donations may kindly be sent in cash or by A/c payee cheque drawn in favor of “Ama- of the Income Tax Act. Ms RATOO DARA DASTUR Unlike other seminars where experts give their views and ideas, here we hope to make the delegates themselves come forward to express their opinions on topics like ‘Sur- debate, the topic of which is ‘Is today ’s Zoroastrian youth an asset or a liability? ’ We hope to take the delegates on a trek to the historical Bahrot Caves 15 kms away from Dahanu as well as have other entertain ­ ing activities like campfires, etc. As we expect tu ’ound 300 delegates from all over India, this Seminar will entail a fund-raising drive, we have decided lo print a handy telephone book as a souvenir for this special occasion and we would appreciate 9 Parsiana June 1993 President, Amateur Art^tes Association liditcd by Amavaz S. Mama MATRIMONIAL Well-to-do parents seek alliance fortheir son, 26 years, who is tall, good­ looking and charming. He is a graduate of a foreign university, financially independent and well settled in USA. The girl must be beautiful, educated and willing to settle abroad. Please write with full information and photograph to: The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (June/23-93) GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001Events and Personalities Ahmedabad no ootaro modation as also private rooms with at- atelycalled Aijimai. TotheAPPhefurther During its 100 years of existence, the Lady tached bathrooms and verandahs for the gifted Rs 10,000, entrusting it with the BachubaiNavroji VakilParsiDharamshala convenience of couples and families. responsibility of administering the Dha- in Ahmedabad has gained in popularity for “The quiet compound of the Dharam- ramshala. In 1892 the city magistrate of varying reasons. Upcountry visitors have shala comes alive ” every year on Ava mah, Ahmedabad, Khan Bahadur Phiroze happy memories ofdaysspentat this abode, Ava roj when those who have faith in the Hoshang Dastur, laid the foundation stone commonly known as Aijimai no ootaro. ArmaanKuva come to pay their respects at ofthe institution which subsequently came The well in its compound has its own share a jashan organized by the Dini Mitra tobeknownasAijimai/ioootaro.Thereaf- of ‘well-wishers ’who turn to the Armaan - - -- Kuva for fulfilment of their desires. The culinary reputation of the present manager program, notes a press release sent by the makes the place a frequent stopover for Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP) secre- local residents. The centenary of this tary Navroze Kanga. institution on April 27 this year provided an opportunity for the community to get site ofan old dharamshala, built by Sorabjee together for a jashan and a contributory Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy in 1866, Kanga re ­ dinner. ( ¦¦¦ "¦ • ~ ¦ Situated on SalaposeRoad in the heart and 1875 had taken their toll of the old of the city, many a visitor to Ahmedabad dharamshala building, Sir Navroji Vakil, has enjoyed the hospitality ofthe red brick who had also contributed towards the the Bharucha family who served as manag- structure which offers dormitory accom- adarian and charitable housing blocks in ers, writes Kanga. Welcoming suggestions for improve ­ ment, the APP secretary notes that there are “plans on the anvil to make it a still more pleasant and comfortable place to live in, by providing better facilities and also by expanding its present capacity to meet with the ever increasing demands... ” Statue in Surat A full size bronze statue of Sorabjee Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy was unveiled in the compound of the Training College in S urat named after this benefactor. The statue, worth approximately Rs 1,25,000, was unveiled on May 22,1993 by the mayor of Surat Ajit Desai, notes a correspondent from Surat. In addition to the mayor, the chief guest Dr Sam Bhacca, president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP), and Gulabdas Khasi, chairman of the standing committee of the corporation, too paid their respects to the memory of Jejeebhoy. The monumental building that houses the Training College had originally served as the Government High School towards the construction of which Jejeebhoy had I contributed . The decision to name the School I continued on page 27 convenience of couples and families. “The quiet compound of the Dharam ­ shala comes alive ” every year on Ava znaA, Mandal. The jashan is usually followed by ter periodic alterations have sought to im- a religious lecture or an entertainment provefacilitiesforthepassengers.Anout- house, a kitchen and living quarters for the manager, called Nanavati Blocks, were later additions, writes Kanga. The present manager of the Dharam ­ shala, Faramroze Daruvala, and his wife Jinimai attend to Bie visitors and also ac ­ counts its history. Since the floods of 1868 cept catering assignments from families settled in Ahmedabad. Before the Daruvalas, there were two ge^lerations of The present Dharamshala stands on the New statue ofSorabjee Jejeebhoy towers over some prominent citizens of Surat ^‘1 adarian and charitable housing blocks in Ahmedabad, donated Rs 25,000 towards the rebuilding of the Dharamshala in memory of his wife Bachubai, affection ­ I % i ¦ 10 Parsiana June 1993 t ';ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD WZO: Adapting to change The World Zoroastrian Organisation has changed its constitution to accept non-Zoroastrian spouses and their children Arnavaz S. Mama ¦ _ ¦ (economic, social, cultural, occupational, mittee for taking this bold and necessary vocational, professional, etc) of the Zoro- Amongst the participants were Dinsoo and Dara Rivetna of Chicago and A special general meeting (SGM) of Dinshaw Tamboli, WZO committee the world body on April 25, 1993 ap- ' ' proved two fundamental changes to its constitution. The alteration to the mem ­ bership clause of the articles of associa ­ tion entitles non-Zoroastrian spouses of SGM had mentioned that “the committee The decision of the World Zoroastrian of the resolution, complimenting the com- Organisation (WZO) to open its member- i ship to non-Zoroastrian spouses has step, sparked a furore in Bombay and London. F astrians throughout the world. ” The new clauses numbered III (4) and (5) stale: •“The advancement of education for per ­ sons of the Zoroastrian religion. ” •“The relief of sickness for persons of the member from India... The resolutions were passed by a thumping majority with acclaim. ” The March 12, 1993 notice of the Zoroastrian religion. ” _______________________ ; The original membership clauses of Zoroastrians and their children to full has unanimously put forward changes to the articles of agreement stipulate: membership status. Similarly a change in the constitution and membership clause •“Persons bom into and confirmed in the the memorandum of association has been incorporated, at the behest of the charity ject. commissioner, UK, to enable the WZO to claim tax exemption as a charitable orga ­ nization. “The response of the from all comers of the world by way of WZO to apply for registration as a chari- proxy voting was extraordinary and posi- table organization subject to certain lively in favor of the change, ” notes a re ­ port forwarded by Ms Ruby Contractor, ciation. The charity commissioners have the association: chairperson of the WZO. “Besides, many requested WZO to delete certain existing members wrote letters with their proxies clauses... and to add two new clauses to commending the committee (for) taking the memorandum of association... These this forward and right-thinking step which would be of immense benefit to the com ­ munity now and in years to come, ” the re ­ port continues. The changes were “carried by an over ­ whelming majority... The opposition to the (resolutions) was miniscule, ” informs the report though there is no mention of enant... for members and fund raising ac- how many members attended the SGM or how many proxies were received nor the percentage of total membership repre- the memorandum read: sented. The SGM began with a short humbandagi by Ervad Burjor Magol fol- amongst the Zoroastrians throughout the some flak. lowed by Contractor ’s welcome address, world. The first salvo was fired by the Lon- The reading of the notice by the joint hon- •“Make representations on behalf of Zo- don-based Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Eu- orary secretary Rustom Dubash was fol- roastrians. rope (ZTFE). A month before the WZO’s lowed by vigorous debate among the large presence, notes the report. “Many facing the Zoroasirians world over. members spoke with conviction in favor the constitution and membership clause after considerable discussion on the sub- Zarathustrian faith only shall, subject to election as hereinafter provWed, be quali ­ fied to become members of the associa ­ tion. •“Zoroastrians within the age-group 18 to membership the charity commissioners who invited 25 shall be eligible to free membership and are not entitled to vote. ” These have now been amended to: •“The following can become members of “It was universally felt that the WZO should seek charitable status. Accord ­ ingly, the WZO committee approached table organization subject to amendments to its memorandum of asso- —persons bom into and confirmed into the Zoroastrian faith; or —non-Zoroastrian spouses married to Zo- amendments are such as will enhance the roastrians; and/or effectiveness of the working of WZO. —children of (mixed) marriages de- “Having charitable status will provide scribed above. obvious advantages to WZO, the main one being the non-payment of taxes which will assist WZO financially. WZO be eligible to free membership if they are will also be able to operate deeds of cov- •“Zoroastrians and children (as described above) within the age-group 18 to 25 shall full-time students but are not entitled to vote. ” tivities will benefit. ” Though some Zoroastrian organiza- The expunged clauses l(a)III3 g-j of tions have been functioning along these lines for several years, the official accep ­ tance of non-Zoroastrian spouses and •“Encourage and promote increasing con ­ tact, cooperation, unity and solidarity their children by the WZO has drawn world. •“Make representations on behalf of Zo ­ roastrians. •“Study and solve or ameliorate problems SGM was held, ZTFE president Kersey Jasavala noted in a letter to Contractor, “We submit that WZO would, in essence. •“Promote and safeguard the interests 12 Parsiana June 1993 * Ibecome a non-communal body with the distinct possibility of it being governed in the future by non-Zoroastrians... “The WZO was formed in 1980 and registered as a company in London by the then managing committee of the ZTFE Parsi Press. The WZO’s first casualty was its bulletin, Hamazor, as its editor Noshir Dadrawala tendered his resignation. “Throughout my life I have not only held behest of and as members of other local but actively propagated the conservative organizations. view, ” he noted. Expanding on his theme Dadrawala wrote, “As an individual I “”["1^020 arn©nClrn©ntS always beUeved that every conces- concerted at the WZO taking credit for all their social work in Bombay even when the same was accomplished at th. will enhance the WZO’s effectiveness At a meeting of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India in Bom ­ bay on June 5 and 6, 1993, Taleyarkhan sion that the Parsi community has made questioned the use of the entire amount of the funds collected for the amelioration of rural Zoroastrians in Gujarat. He con ­ tended that only, the interest thereon should be utilized. He also alleged that aid was being repeatedly channelled to the same recipients. These charges were countered by WZO’s Davar Kavasji Modi who gave an account of the aid defrayed over the past century or so had led to a further erosion of what we commonly re ­ fer to as our ‘Parsipanu. ’ I see the WZO’s resolution... as one more nail in the cof ­ fin. Each nail by itself is seemingly harmless but put together will seal the community ’s fate. ” Not to let down the body with which he has been associated for six years, by the world body which has been strictly Dadrawala has offered to help the WZO in kind or by way of help in developing produce the next couple of issues of human resources. The tussle between the WZO and the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India had been subdued following their joint venture to ameliorate the condition of rural Zoroastrians in Gujarat. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and the with full commitment to protect the inter ­ ests of Parsi and Irani Zoroastrians... It was then fully debated and endorsed that those bom and confirmed of Zoroastrian faith only can be members of the WZO. We therefore feel responsible and com ­ mitted to lodge our protest at these funda ­ mental changes and we sincerely urge you Hamazor or until a new editor is in the to reconsider your proposals, ” write.s chair. He has also acknowledged WZO’s Jasavala on the basis of grave concern help, “particularly in my hour of need. ” ^nnr-r- whllc thc prcscnt controversy is based on beliefs and principles, the WZO has been attracting adverse publicity since end 1992 when four of its stalwarts, all Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP) were other members of the managing committee of organizations which had cosponsored the WZO India, resigned: Homi Taleyarkhan, project as chronicled by Parsiar^a since chairman of the executive committee, Ms Silloo Kavarana and Dr Burzin Khan, joint treasurers of the executive commit ­ tee and Zal Contractor, joint secretary of the 80G facility which allows a 50 percent the executive committee. They had been associated with the organization in India almost since its inception. Indeed, hith ­ erto WZO India had functioned from Contractor ’s Walton Road address. Though no official reasons have been cited, it is believed that all these individu ­ als, well known for their social service ac ­ tivities in Bombay and Gujarat, finally ration work is being performed by withdrew from the WZO as they found it WZO’s Modi and his wife Roshan in to seek the London-based the Surat district and by Dinshaw committee ’s permission for minor details and Bachi Tamboli in the Valsad - district. voiced at a special meeting of the ZTFE managing committee on March 20, 1993, as notes his covering letter to Parsiana. “You will appreciate that the ZTFE has looked after and protected the inter ­ ests of the Zoroastrian community in Eu ­ rope ever since it was established over 130 years ago, and as the trustees and cus ­ todians of the community we will strongly uphold our constitution, which is to preserve and protect the interests of the Zoroastrian community, ” the letter adds. The ZTFE letter goes on to enunciate the familiar orthodox fear about Parsi properties being siphoned away. “Most importantly we feel that once the doors of the WZO are opened in this manner, then the charitable funds and religious founda ­ tions established by our forefathers exclu ­ sively for the use and benefit of our Parsi and Irani brothers will cease to be at the galling disposal of the Zoroastrian membership , of the WZO, thereby harming Zoroastrian of activity. They were also said to be dis- interests... “We are convinced that your actions are going to be detrimental to the Zoroas trian community at large, creating untold dissension and controversy within the community, particularly in the UK a.s WZO is based locally. This is a very heavy price to pay by the community for the sake of a few non-Zoroastrian spouses who have been respected and accepted by the community in the religious as well as the social and cultural framework of the community. Making non-Zoroastrians members of a Zoroastrian organization is a contradiction in uself... ” Orthodox fire echoed in Bombay ’s 1990. Initially funds for the project were entrusted to the SPP. Now that the WZO Trust has been incorporated in India with exemption to donors undpr the Indian In ­ come Tax Act, the SPP’s cooperation is no longer germane to the project and in ­ creasingly the WZO has been publicizing the Gujarat project as its own, to the dis ­ comfiture of the three other cosponsors. The latter are however quick to acknowl ­ edge that the actual nitty-gritty of amelio- * 15 Parsiana June 1993 5 shell itet^ -.vetusw®, Mzood « a**'**’ Uvip dCblv ’ C, 400 •2130 IRELIGION___________________ _ _________________ _ ______ _______________ _ ______ The making and breaking of priests The recent navar ceremony of a child of an intercommunity marriage has caused an uproar among the priesthood Parinaz Gandhi When youngPercy Sam Modi was accepted 25,000, Dastoor declares, “I was paid Rs should have been known by Dastoor too. as an initiate for priesthood this year It was ---- , . exoected that the strength of the athomans washing of clothes for the 25-26 days ----- , u • ‘ .v, » » in Bombay would increase by one. Who stay. ”FellowpriestErvadRustomBhadha Dastoor for having not ob^ned the uust- couldhaveknownthaiaflerthecompletion “was given Rs 1,000 for supervising the ees ’ clearance before decidinglioaccqna of the navar ceremony, ‘resignation ’ bells child ’s prayerroutme. I have never been a navar candidate. Since Cama frequents wouldhavetolledforlwopractisingpriesls: tanlc/,n(greedy)formoney.Infac^^^^^^ Sahe'^Agiar^y Ervad Bomanshah Dastoor and Ervad Hoshang Bhesania? Their sins of omission Agiary which is riow a and commission? They had inducted Modi, “ ...... a child of a Zoroastrian father and a non- Parsi mother, into the priestly fold, an event reportedly unprecedented in the history of the Parsi priesthood in India. Dastoor was involved because he con ­ sented to getting the child ’s navar rites 5 000 for the boy ’ s food requirements and “Why did they choose to bring the boy here --------- - • for the navar? ” He is also displeased with "was given child ’s prayer routine. I have never been a raise funds for the restoration of the Saher boy there. While he is willing to ac^pt .......... ._____ nies free of cost for poor people, Cama my own watch repair business. Last year repeats the words of a high priest who told . . . 1 « 1 tt’T’l-_ ___ __ .f/sit kAtra tkamnra popular venue for Dastoor ’s claim that he performs ceremo- celebrations within the community. I had nies free of cost for poor people, Cama my own watch repair business. Last year repeats the words of a high priest who told when I wanted to resign, the trustees asked him, “The more money you have, the more me to continue. I have been appreciated by you want; greed is such a thing. my trustees, and my customers (notable Also emphatic to prove his indifference being the Taleyarkhan,Vatcha and Gagrat to money, was'Bhesania who has ^en families). Even if I had known of the serving as a priest at the Soonaiji Hirji - - t Agiary at Gowalia Tank for the last 19 Breach Candy, where he is panthaky. have gone ahead with the ritual," relates years, anu Dciurc uiai ouivicui Bhesania was implicated because he tu- Dastoor in Gujarati. temples for 13 years I stated inyi tored the child in the navar prayers and The facts were only brought to his know- life on a salary of Rs 40, he reveals. I % introduced him to Dastoor with a request ledge by one of the uustees of the Agiary, would not consider loochaichoHai (cheat- that Modi be made a navar at the Saher Mancherji Cama, says Dastoor. Seeking to mg), ’’he notes before that e Agiary as there did notseem to be place for abide by the advice of respected men, may be him elsewhere Dastoor discussed the issue with Khojeste able to say no to anyone. According to his S^Slsloor,'believing lhal there would Misiree of Zoroaslrian Studies who told version, he had already undertaken three be one more welcome addition to the dwin ­ dling priestly ranks, and that the Saher Agiary too could gain from his services . . during muktads, agreed to take on the first (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa of his pre- navar during his 10 years of service at dicament, the High Priest is said to have Saher. Practising as a priest for over 50 asked Dastoor why he wished to resign at years, having trained nearly 20 navars in thisjuncture. Thereafter, the Saher Agiary the past, 72-year-old Dastoor says, “Why trustees showed him the opinion (see box should I have done such an act had I known Onmp t a the child ’s mother was a non-Zoroastrian? sought from Each time I enquired about the child ’s I------ B''healing mother'EveXodayi Validity and is ultra vires of the long- ceremony when Bhe^n.a was mtormeo E they explained her absence by stating that boy. ... • iiiinrr tn fiabt a iptral battle to establish her mother was critical. While the boy ’s “Bomanshah has gtven hts restgnatton wtlltng to fight a legal batde to es^^ priesthood. The father ’s argument, report- me to continue. I have been appreciated by you want; greed is such a^ing. my trustees, and my customers (notable t - . . ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ families). Even if I had known of the performed at the H. D. Saher Agiary, off circumstances on the last day I would not . --inffprpnt fire Breach Candy, where he is panthaky. have gone ahead with the ritual, relates years, andpefore that Dastoor in Gujarati. The facts were only brought to his know- Agiary too could gain from his services navar during his 10 years of service at Mistree of Zoroastrian Studies who told him to approach Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal. The act was a grave mistake, pointed out Kotwal. When Dastoor apprised Dastur navars and two martabs this year, so when the boy ’s father approached him he ex ­ pressed his inability initially. He was told that the boy ’s mother ’s name is Silloo, and his enquiries regarding the boy ’s navjote made the father respond, “Why do you need to know? ” Contrary to rumors that he has received Rs 50,000-70,000, Bhesania _ __ clarifies that he has received Rs 1,500 for Dastur (Dr) Hormazdyar the gewra bhanvanu and other prayers requisite for the navar ceremony. About 20 to 25 days after the navar ceremony when Bhesania was informed this juncture. Thereafter, the Saher Agiary “Three High Priests C^ine ”) they had Mirza, JamaspAsa and Kotwal who are agreed that “the said ceremony has no they explained her absence by stating that boy. her mother was critical. While the boy ’s “Bomanshah has given his resignation father used to visit him daily, the paternal and the trustees have accepted it, states grandmothercameonthefmalday.-Gladto Cama. While Dastoor wa.s to leave be- ,t,. „„„ battle te^rStohiX^^hcS fhSrw ’ilSdteLtdiunXnTaky "o ‘hingvjouldbelost^.hec« tion that he was surreptitiously paid Rs priests earlier, Cama presumes this fact against his family. 16 Parsiana June 19931 ance from Bhesania, asserts Bajan. They asked him for his version of the episode which they recorded. Thereafter he made that have sustained the clergy for the past conflicting statements which again they millennium and take such steps as may be necessary against the perpetrators of this Three High Priests Opine Respected Trustee Sahebs . We are in receipt of your letter of June 15, millennium and take such steps as may be noted down and asked him to attest with his 1993. We are shocked to learn that the necessary against the perpetrators of this signature which he refused to do. “He navar ceremony of a half-breed boy (born incident who have for monetary gains and probably feared that when his version comes of a Parsi father and an alien mother) has . . . . .... .. , r.. been performed in your agiary some time back. It is laudable on your part to take up the matter even though it has come to your notice after the initiation ceremony has been accomplished. In our opinion, the matter is very grave knowingly dared to tarnish the image of the out in the Press the father of the child may entire priestly class in the eyes of the contradict him, ” believes Bajan. “To cover community. We have to bring to your kind one lie you have to state a hundred other notice that the said ceremony has no vali- lies, ” reminds Bajan who says, “For the dity and is ultra vires of the long-standing sake of money spirituality has been taken customs, practices and traditions of our religion. We shall appreciate if you will and deserves to be treated firmly. In the make public the name of the boy (and his long and chequered history of the Parsi parents) so that the panthakis and trustees priesthood in India, such an incident has never happened. The main objection to it is that the priests do not want their lineage to ing priesthood. be sullied by alien blood and also because With kindest regards the act vitiates the pure and sanctified fibre Yours sincerely of the Zoroastrian rites. Hormazdyar K. Mirza Under the circumstances, we request Kaikhusroo M. JamaspAsa your good selves to uphold the long-cher- Firoze M. Kotwal ished and well-preserved norms and values June 25,1993 to the streets. ” Bhesania is supposed to have said that he acted as per his con ­ science and since the child ’s navjote was already done, he saw nothing wrong in of all agiaries and atash behrams may be proceeding with the navar training. “When the father approached the priests, was it not their duty to find out the farhesv, facts, records which trace the ancestry, the genealogical tree? In Navsari they have records of almost 15 pehris (generations) whereby a lineage is established. Even for a varasya, the lineage is established. Igno ­ rance of law is no excuse but mistake of fact is, ” Bajan reiterates. The two priests say they do not know where the father is trustees that he be permitted to continue for working, where the child is schooling or one more month. any such personal ^details. Accountability Instead ofprobing into this matter “why and responsibility, Bajan expects from don ’t you (Parsiana) look into graver is ­ sues: dormant fires in mofussil anjumans; the alleged entry offournon-Parsis into the at the madressas, most of the navar cer- Anjuman Atash Behram about a couple of emonies in Bombay are “fake ” in the sense years ago, similar to what had happened at 1 ‘ ..........................._ “ informed and thus debar him from practis- After this meeting, it seems all attempts Subsequently he requests us to urge the to trace the father have been unsuccessful. While he was formerly supposed to be residing near the fish market at Parel, thereafter he is believed to have moved to the “wilds of Andheri, ” and yet others say he has gone back to Surat. Bhesania how ­ ever says, “Give me one month ’s time and I promise you that I will find him some ­ where. ” He adds that once he finds the the Mevawalla Agiary too? ” Bhesania tries father he will offer him some monetary to raise other topics vexing the community, inducement so that he is agreeable to get ­ ting the navar ceremony cancelled. In re- priests. With the exception of the bbys trained that there -is no requisite knowledge of prayers and discipline accompanying this higher liturgical ceremony , points out Bajan who is wont to upholding the sanctity of 4 He refuses to sign a statement as re ­ quested by Ervad Parvez Bajan and Ervad this sacred act. A navar ceremony, accor- sponse to a query as to why the father Neriosang Turel, joint secretaries of the ding to him, is supposed to signify the should be given money, Bhesania says as Athornan Mandal. The contents of that “creation ofone spiritual soul in the wcwld, ” reimbursement for the costs he had to incur message, Bhesania gives us to understand, a deed which earns a blessing in the other on clothes, ceremonies, etc. He then asks are to the effect that he won ’t be involved world. ‘Navar, ’ means “one who is newly whether we (Parsiana) would be willing to accept a letter signed by the father to the effect that Bhesania was ignorant of the boy ’s antecedents. “I am willing to swear under the gumbaz (the dome above the sacred fire) that I an innocent, ” states a desperate Bhesania who informs us that he has made a sukhad offering of Rs 108 hoping to be forgiven for any mistakes he may have made. Has Bhesania been asked to resign from the Soonaiji Hirji Agiary? On this issue he preferred that we directly approach the panthaky of the Agiary Ervad Parvez Madon who reported that the chairman of the trust had asked him to convey to Bhesania their decision that he should leave at the earliest after the muktads. At one stage Bhesania tells us that he will act as per the legal advice he is soliciting. Athornan Mandal. The contents of that message, Bhesania gives us to understand, are to the effect that he won ’t be involved in such a lapse again whereby an offspring initiated in the work of offering prayers, of an intercommunity marriage is initiated rites and sacred things to the deity. ” as a priest. They have never sought such an assur- “You can ’t always condone a lapse on continued on page 21 17 Parsiana June 1993 MATRIMONIAL MATRIMONIAL Parsi boy, 27. electronic engineer, well settled in USA, invites correspondence from respectable, educated Parsi girls. Apply with recent photo. Write to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimoniai (June/24-93) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 Parents of young, 24-year-old Parsi girl, BCom, artist, 5'4" tall, well-groomed, invite alliance from graduate, well-placed Parsi boys of good family. Please reply with full bio data and photograph. No Mangaliks please. Write to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (June/25-93) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001i ART COVER STORY Khandalavala’s art and acumen Homi Rogers Among the country’s leading criminal lawyers, Karl Khandalavala today IS preoccupied with preserving the national art heritage No doctorate — earned or awarded — is appended to his name. And only the hon ­ orific Padma Shri precedes it. Yet, at 89, Karl Khandalavala straddles like a colos ­ sus die twin worlds of law and art. He continues to be a senior advocate at the country ’s supreme court and remains the x honorary editor of Lalit Kala Akademi ’s I journals and portfolios on ancient Indian art. I Khandalavala has many achievements I to his credit in these two disparate fields. I He has pored over his clients ’ briefs with I the same attention he has lavished on I palm-leaf folios. He has dusted off cob- I webs and gravel from terracottas and I sculptures with the same skill with which I he disposes of the clutter of legal papers I on his desk. Khandalavala ’s keen percep- I tions are as evident in his appreciation of I Radha-Krishna paintings as they had been I in his defence of Commander Cawas I Nanavati, earning an acquittal for the ..... who had confessed to killing his wife ’ lover. spanning toms, central excise and police. He under- six decades, Khandalavala has never de- ¦ • • - • - livered a lecture on law or the judicial system. Nor has he written on it. “It is not a conscious decision, ’’ he avers. “It is just the way it happened. ” Even in his one- __ page bio data supplied by the Prince of brought him Wales Museum (POWM) where he has been chairman of the board of trustees for over 35 years, only three lines refer to his legal background. They read, simply, “bar-at-law, ” and elsewhere, “served also as magistrate for a while ” and “has been an eminent lawyer. ” The “eminent lawyer ” bit conceals t.. array of legal successes. Called to the Middle Temple as a barrister, Khan ­ dalavala practised both civil and criminal law, and worked on cases from the cus- man s 19 Parsiana June 1993 ¦ w c' i I Mary and Karl Khandalavala: built a treasure house in 13 years tress, Indira. Khandalavala won the case on a technical point, but with a lawyer ’s tact refuses, to this day, to divulge his per ­ sonal opinion on the Antulay affair. Caught off-guard, he admits that he has taken up cases on a “first-come-first- serve ” basis; but adds that as a defence counsel he has been convinced of the va ­ lidity of his argur^nts. There could be no two opinions on that. Khandalavala destroyed the' facade so painstakingly erected by ^e manage ­ ment of the Jupiter and Empire Insurance Company resulting in the nationalization of insurance companies. Yet Khan- dalavala remains strangely reticent about his professional career. “The law is an ex ­ acting mistress, ” he muses cryptically, steering the conversation away from mat ­ ters of his ‘mistress. ’ For a man whose very name conjures up images of a lawyer as filmy as they come in courtroom sagas, arguing out a case before a packed court in the presence of a jury (the Nanavati case, it may be recalled, was among the last in India to be tried by a jury). ± ““ Khandalavah cites ™ « his LS FhP memorable one for favorite. “I was at my peak during the the Aarey Milk Colony. But it was his --------- — * - successes in criminal cases, most notice ­ ably the^ Nanavati case, that repeatedly 1 -I.-1-- 5^01^ briefs. In later years, Khandalavala distin ­ guished himself in the case against Ms Indira Gandhi when, during the Janata gime, he was the Shah Commission ’s spe ­ cial prosecutor against the former Prime Minister. A few years later Khandalavala defended Gandhi ’s protege, A. R. Antu- an lay, in the lower court, for his role in the cement scandal; the ex-Chief Minister of Maharashtra was accused of quid pro quo deals with those who had contributed to a fund set up in the name of his benefac ­ re- ____ .-..J en- tire period from 1930‘to 1984,” he states tersely. Khandalavala ’s brilliance at law was almost a family tradition. His father. Jamshed Dorabji Khandalavala, was a scholar of Persian, and served as a chief justice at the Gaekwad ’s court in Baroda. His uncle Nawroji Khandalavala was a sessions judge at Pune. His mother, Khorshed, was the niece of the legal lumi ­ nary, Sir Pherozeshah Mehta. It was only natural then that Karl was inclined to a career in law and had an eye for the arts. With persuasion and power he has built up, over the years, a case for the in ­ fluence of Persian art on the architectural IKhandalavala collected art with a discerning eye and a budget-conscious mind facades of Mauryan India. In a paper he breathtaking miniature, acknowledged signed at the POWM to house the Karl presented at the international conference as a classic by experts, it depicts a and Mary Khandalavala Collection which on Indo-Iranian studies hosted by the K. coy Radha gazing through a veil at an ar- will be looked after by a trust of the same R. Cama Oriental Institute (KRCOI) in dent Krishna seated in a bower. The name. (The Khandalavalas Anglicized January 1989, Khandalavala drew atten- painting purchased by Khandalavala at Rs first names were acquired in European tion to the affinity of pillars and designs 80 (double the price he paid for the Vali) schools where their names Kaikhusroo in Pataliputra to Persian art (see “When is today valued by Sotheby ’s of London at and Meherbai were considered difficult to scholars deliberate, ” Parsiana, May a stupendous £ 1.40 lakhs. pronounce.) An interesUng aspect of the as a classic by experts, it depicts a coy Radha gazing through a veil at an ar ­ dent Krishna seated in a bower. The painting purchased by Khandalavala at Rs - ¦ ; 1 is today valued by Sotheby ’s of London at scholars* deliberate, ” Parsiana, May a stupendous £ 1.40 lakhs. 1989). Relentlessly pursuing ¦ his pet theory, he recently de- ¦ livered the Naoroji Godrej ¦ Memorial Lecture in Bombay a to a select audience on “The I influence of the art of Iran on I India, with special reference to I Zoroastrianism. ” I Ask him about his favorite I painting and watch his eyes I light up as he deliberates be- I tween a Radha and Krishna I miniature of the Basholi I school, and a Pahari painting j which poignantly recreates the j death of Vali, -the monkey king, at the hands of Rama. There is an enchanting little anecdote on how Khanda ­ lavala came to own the Vali painting, the first he bought as an art collector. The purchase was made at the behest of Radhakrishnan Bharaney, a well-respected dealer in Am- a visit to the Lahore Museum. And guess Durjansinghi Raj^asthan School, J hU(ana what took Khandalavala to Lahore? It was a stint as a navigator in the Royal Air Force during World War II! “Looking back, ” says Dr Sadashiv Gorakshkar, di ­ rector of POWM and Khandalavala ’s col ­ league at this august institution for many years, “one feels that his joining the Air Force was providential. ” Though the painting of the monkey king ’s death (in gentle green and vibrant orange) never failed to move Khan ­ dalavala and his wife Meherbai (Mary), it marked, ironically, the birth of his collec ­ tion of miniature paintings which culmi ­ nated in Khandalavala ’s magnum opus, Pahari Paintings, published in 1958. ¦ L a.' s ¦ ¦'¦¦Ji i 1-F ¦11^- j ¦i i .1 1== ¦« ritsar, whom Khandalavala had met after Thakur Birafndevji and Kunvar Ghanerao. AD 7 774, size: 25.5 cm x 32.7cm Pholos of Khandalavala Collection courtesy Prince of Wales Museum of Western India Khandalavala Collection of over 700 items, reveals Gorakshkar, is that it has something of everything: sculptures in stone, wood and metal, tiny but intricate ivory figurines, a splendid pichchvai (hangings depicting the life of Krishna), palm-leaf folios, Chola and Nepali bronzes, and 11 wonderful Basholis. (The POWM earlier did not have a [ single painting belonging to I this school.) What is incred- I ible is that this entire Collec- I tion was buUf up by the I Khandalavalas during a short I span of 13 years. I Khandalavala bought his I first piece, a wooden bracket I figure from Patan (which I seems to provide support to I his unique collection) in 1937, I for the handsome price of Rs 17. The purchase was made at the instance of a relative, Burjor N. Treasurywalla, who inculcated in the young Khandalavala, a love for Indian art. Treasurywalla ’s collection was to form the cornerstone of the National Museum B * Yet typical of the man who has all in New Delhi which Khandalavala was “I would often go over to his place, ” reminisces Khandalavala, “to borrow his along shunned the limelight and led a largely responsible for setting up in 1947. simple but committed life in keeping nlace, ” with Zoroastrian precepts, Khandalavala turned down several staggering offers books on Europt^n paintings. One day from foreign museums and art dealers all over the world for hi.s collection, prefer ­ ring to bequeath the rich treasure, ctirly last year, to the POWM. “I know my collection will be looked alter better here than in pri ­ vate hiuids, ” says Khandalavala, seated on a sofa on the first floor of the Gothic-domed building which houses a fascinating collec- *shnrtlv thereafter ' Khandalavala bought tion of Indian, European, Chinese and Japa- , . -“r: ------- ^lesc art. “It will be seen and studied by Father Heras. And when hi^s fa^er sent thousands here. ” A spanking new gallery has been de- Treasurywalla, with a note of indignation in his voice, asked me to take interest in his art collection, not only in his books and records of Western classical music. ” And the process of initiation began. Soon, over Sunday teas hosted by the collector, Khandalavala heard discourses on art by such stalwarts as Ananda Coomara- swamy, O. C. Gangooly, Ajit Ghose and what he refers to as his “first major thrill : a very fine Basholi (circa 1680), from a Bombay collector who w'as selling out. A him off 10 England to provide him with a wider world view, Khandalavala used the 20 Parsiana June 1993opportunity to spend his free time visiting the galleries of the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, admir ­ ing and absorbing Indian and European art. On his return to India, Khandalavala embarked upon his twin careers, practis ­ ing at the Bombay sessions court, and pursuing passionately his study of ancient and medieval Indian art. In 1937, his first book on Indian art was published; and his first acquisition made, from an antique shop near the Taj. Over the next decade, till his appointment as a trustee of the POWM in 1950, Khandalavala collected art with a discern ­ ing eye and a budget-conscious mind. He scoured the markets, rambled across the country, visited archeological sites and crumbling temples; and even faced the wrath of God by carrying away a unique curly-haired Naga head of the Gupta pe ­ riod which he noticed lying near a tree, caked in mud, while riding past in a tonga near the Udaygiri caves. (The tonga- walla’s caution against a ‘curse ’ was not in vain, for just four days later Khan- dalavafa fell from the first storey of the aged to acquire a Mughal miniature as Viswanath temple at Khajuraho while they were rare and prohibitively priced tion which empowers it to take action photographing a sculpture, and broke his arm.) The Khandalavala collection was made at a time “when prices were not un J. 1 H H Tara, gilt brome, Nepal, circa 18th century AD, height: 34.5 cm THE making and BREAKING OF.... continued from page 17 the ground that a priest is poor, let him be excused. Why were the high priests not consulted? Today ’s priests are ignorant of the authority and command of the high priests, ” Bajan continues. The Athornan Mandal has yet to adopt a stand on this issue. As confesses Ervad Fali Master, secretary of the Iran League, “The orthodox move very slowly on all matters. ” Citing monsoons and muktads as thereasons for their slow pace of decisions, Bajan notes that the committee will decide whether the priests involved in this cer ­ emony should be debarred. In the past the Mandal has rusticated members from its fold; there are instances of priests being made to submit an unconditional apology, he adds. Any Parsi Zoroastrian male,either navar, martab, or osta, over 18 years of age, is eligible on payment of one rupee, to be ­ come a member of the Mandal. Presently there must be around 200-250 members, reports Bajan. Among its aims and objects is a clause [2(n)] in the Mandal ’s cpnstitu- even in those days. ” Today, according to against errant priests disregMding prin- Khandalavala, “art has become a form of ciples laid down by the Zoroastrian scrip ­ investment. ” Wryly he adds that though tures or traditional practices observed by many members of the Zoroastrian com- the community, munity are passionately interested in the Indian heritage, and in its collection and Athoman Mandal havecastigated the Modi preservation, they cannot afford to do so, family and the priests involved for per ­ due to the stupendously high prices. forming the navar ceremony on grounds of In 1950, when Khandalavala started tradition and morality, legally Percy Sam buying for the POWM as a trustee, he Modi is entitled to partake of all religious stopped all his personal buying. “Such in- and social Zoroastrian customs as he is by tegrity is exceptionally rare, ” declares law a Parsi Zoroastrian. Further, since he Pratapaditya Pal, senior curator of Indian happens to be a male descendant of the and Southeast Asian art at the Los Ange- athornan family, the rights accruing from les County Museum of Art, “and would that status are his du^too. However no be unthinkable in America where codec- priest could have been compelled to per ­ form his navar ceremony . It is only when a priest and the trustees of an agiary are While the three High Priests and the IP. Kneeling devotee, stucco, Gandhara region, circa 4th century AD, height: 34.5 cm real. Even so, ” muses Khandalavala who cannot recall having spent more than Rs 10,000 for an art object, “1 never man- tors not only sit on the board of museums, but continuously buy and sell. ” For the POWM, the Khandalavala Col- willing that such a navar ceremony can be lection is as munificent a gift as the one it performed. Of course, even once the child received nearly 50 years ago from another becomes a priest, other members of the Parsi: Sir Dorab Tata. In passing on his priesthood may bar him from joining them much loved collection, Khandalavala at ceremonies which they are performing hopes that people will enjoy these old and and may also socially boycott him. wondrous treasures of Indian and Hima- As writes Jivanji Modi in The Religious layan art “as much as I have, ” echoing a Ceremonies and Customs of the Parsees, statement he made over half a century “It appears, that the navar has been from back in his first book on Indian art. “If my the first a ceremony of trial, of self-abne- work, ” he wrote, “enables even a few of gation, self-denial and self-renunciation. ” my countrymen to realize the greatness of This navar ceremony has been particularly Indian sculpture and painting, I will feel 1 tryingforthecandidatePercy,forthepriests have not labored in vain. ” involved and the athornan community. As writes Jivanji Modi in The Religious 21 Parsiana June T993 ICOMMENT Carry on Patients Jeroo Irani A month long stay at the Parsee General Hospital gave the writer an insight into the world of the ill legs were operated on but his weak heart could not take the surgery envisaged to mend his collar bone. ""Chhelle, becharo (shoulder) latakto lai ne gayo. (Finally, the poor man took the shoulder dangling with him), ” she lamented. '"Kanh gayol (Where did he go?) ” I queried, not fa ­ miliar with the colorful nuances of the lady ’s “Parsi speak. ” "'Uppar van (To heaven of course)! ” Sooner or later, one gets a trifle inured to ths horror stories one hears about frac ­ tured limbs, bleeding ulcers, varicose veins in the gullet, bed sores, comatose patients... The Hospital soon begins to resemble a battlefield where death and suffering are the only realities. Yet many of the temporary denizens of the PGH re ­ semble characters out of an Adi Marzban play and provide the much needed comic relief. In the room adjoining the one occu- ily have been afflicted with. pied by my mother (separated by a parti ­ in another apocryphal encounter, tion), an obese patient was laid up with a which again took place in the common mysterious intestinal blockage. She was toilet section, a woman who was recover- being looked after by three members of ing from a cataract operation accosted me her family — husband and iwo'-^ons who with the usual queries. She could barely wait for my recital to get over before Her mouth was foamy with toothpaste call of all the diseases they and their fam as she virtually spat out her query: “Tamaru kohn chhe hospital maa? Mai, baap, bhai, behn, kakol (Who ’s the pa ­ tient? Mother, father, brother, sister, uncle?) ” My face was lathered with soap and we were in the common toilet section on the second floor of Bombay ’s B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital launching into her tale of woe about her (PGH). Before I could enlighten her husband who had been in hospital for example. One day when one of the sons about the relationship of the patient (my three months after an accident, some mother, incidentally) I was camping ; with at the Hospital, she proceeded re- a taxi, had fractured both his legs and col- gah ma to tu khaich — Havan, lentlessly: "Soo thayul Soo tutyu — lar bone. He was brought to the PGH, his Rapithvan, Ujiran... taubee tu bhookho haath, pag, mathu? (What hap ­ pened? What did she fracture? Hand,leg, head?) ” I tried to answer with the \\ lather on my face and couldn ’t — and probably resembled a beached whale flapping help ­ lessly on the sand. But after a month ’s stay at the PGH, one gets used to this type of relent ­ less inquisition and becomes al ­ most eager to discuss the patient ’s anatomy and constitu ­ tion with total strangers. Most of the relatives who are nursing near and dear ones don ’t bother to even introduce them ­ selves but use the opportunity to launch into philosophical discus ­ sions about God, fate, destiny or whatever force they feel is responsible for their presence in the Hospital. Or they recite a roll years ago. He had been knocked down by a taxi, had fractured both his legs and col- 22 Parsiana June 1993 I << O. o a 0 o ) i I- o would talk well into the night about food and more food, the merits of the mother ’s dhansak as versus Alamai ’s, for urged his mother to get well soon as he missed her dhansak, she snapped: “Dar gah ma to tu khaich ne bhookho'.” (“You gorge in ev ­ ery gah — Havan, Rapithvan, Ujiran... still you are always hun ­ gry!) ” Our neighbors ’ late night tete- a-tetes about food tended to keep us awake and we would snooze during the day. On one such occasion, I was jolted awake when I felt a light tap on my wrist. A powdered dowager stood next to me. She whispered sepulchrally; “Four people have escaped from the mental asylum in Poona. I am one of them, and three are next door, ” she giggled. Seeing my astonishment, she ex ­ plained, “I am joking. I-want to apologize for my relatives in the adjoining room. I know they are very noisy. ” And she sailed out. ~ Amusing encounters such as J these kept us going despite all ifthe gory happenings. We changed oiy room on three occasions for various reasons and were treated each time to a spectrum of case histories, as we could not help but over ­ hear the details from across the flimsy partitions. We would come to know if the pa ­ tient in the next room was constipated, had overeaten, had nightmares, had no con ­ trol over his bladder, had fallen off the bed or, worse still, had passed away in the quiet of the night. Days and nights would merge into each other till one lost track of time and the outside world. Some nights would be rent by screams of pain or moans of resignation and these became the stuff of our nightmares. Days were heralded by the peculiar smells of disinfec ­ tant, ether, eau de cologne and a variety of body odors and excretions as the bowels of our explanations, she pronounced her ver- the brave woman who had suf ­ fered so stoically the painful ravages of her illness, gave up the fight and the entire floor seemed to be shrouded in a thick pall of gloom. We were all ships that passed in the night — some got shipwrecked, others sailed into safe harbors, having forged lasting friendships in this the ­ ater of horror. We inhabited a place that was a cross between a friendly Parsi dharamshala and a professional haven where medical miracles were being performed almost daily in its operating theaters. One patient reported how he had been hospitalized on three occasions for a heart com ­ plaint. After the first time, the nursing staff dreaded his return and wished him a speedy and permanent recovery. For he not only railed against all the diet rules applicable to heart patients but requested his good the entire Hospital seemed to move in unison. Many a conversation in the deep diet. “You arc lucky, I’ve been in this supply the entire ward with airy verandahs or m the toilet area would Hospital lor a year. Hath, pag, badhii revolve around how to beat the big C — '' • • not cancer but constipation. (I once overheard a doctor say in exasperation: “I don ’t know why Parsis are so obsessed with their bowel movements. ”) “Try isabgol, ” said one relative to another ___ _______ __________ _ whose elderly mother ’s loud exertions tunately she had no “devoted daughierl ” often filled the Hospital with sound and C ... fury but signified nothing. Isabgol ap ­ parently didn ’t help and the nurse de ­ cided to relieve the poor lady of her daily contortions by giving her an enema. The results were greeted with whoops of joy from the neighboring room! PGH often reminds one of the Parsi community in microcosm - with its ob ­ session with food (“Eat like a Parsi, ” was an exhonation I often heard) and consti- in together and each becomes a wailing “Laughter is the best medicine ” jjation One saw an ageing community wall for the other. But there were some counselled our friend who puts this ad literally m Its death throes. The obstetrics who bore their pain stoically. We age into practice We 3 Xf Tome h 7^ watched as a relatively young husband his book and sure enough were dis- come in for a hysterectomy; and in the devotedly nursed his terminally ill wife charged within a couple of davs Our JS&a ’STpSSlly ’t: --'y «« new friends (we s.ill didn ’t know their wheelchairs while they waited for the therapist to breathe some life into their atrophied limbs. As my mother waited her turn, an eld ­ erly lady, her wasted body draped in a shapeless nightgown, started the usual inquisition. After impatiently listening to chhoolu chile (Hands, legs, all are de ­ tached.) It costs two lo three thousand per week. ” Another 87-year-old lamented how her 90-year-old husband was nursing her as their son had settled in the US and unfor- One related how she had been declared fit for discharge some days ago but none of her relatives were ready lo take her home. She had no children and her husband was dead. Finally, a distant relative relented on being promised that the ailing old lady would bequeath her sizable property to friend, a well-known Parsi caterer, to ... — --1 spicy lagan nu bhonu on the days he ha9a wedding/ navjotc contract. Delectable aromas of patra ni machhi, chicken farcha and mutton pulao would fill the empty corri ­ dors even as a friendly sweetmeat shopowner was corralled into supplying some of his delicious sweetmeats to round off the meal. As though this wasn ’t enough, the wives of the men in the general ward, who spent the nights on the hard benches outside, would be roused from their well deserved slumber lo make akuri in the pantry at midnight! Need ­ less to add, the high protein diet and 4^ 24 Parsiana June 1993 • * -r ------ pivivill VliVL UtlLi the person who would nurse her till death high voltage fun resulted in a series of did them part! patients being discharged — well and Pathos, bathos, tragedy... all are stirred happy. j_ - ----- . wall for the other. But there who bore their j watched as a relatively young husband in together and each becomes a wailing were some any sleep, so great was her pain, and names) bade us goodbye. As we left ting outside in the high ceilinged would spend a major part of the night sit ­ ting outside in the high ceilinged veran ­ dah. They would finally go to their room at midnight and one, could hear the hus ­ band praying softly by her bedside in the sing-song strains typical of a priest. .................. ..... ..^.,,^..,^..1 u, ,va Two days before we were discharged, had forgotten to take it with us. one of them came running up to us and said, “When you leave a hospital never look back. That ’s one way of ensuring that you never come back. ” But we had to return — to collect our discharge card. In the excitement of leaving, we — to collect our dischargeI I I I i I EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES continued from page 10 after Jejeebhoy was based on the recom ­ mendation of Edulji Talati, then headmas ­ ter of the School, states the write-up. Towards many other causes that needed support Jejeebhoy extended aid when he was touring Gujarat. People from different places had an occasion to interact with him when Jejeebhoy and his family had launched on a voyage from Bombay to Ahmedabad, travelling by carts, carriages and ships, and halting at several prominent towns along the route during the onward and return journey. Some other stalwarts — Ardeshir Kotwal, Bhimji Hadvaid, Lovji Wadia, Fardunji Marzban and Sorabji Adajania — who had made noteworthy contributions to Surat were remembered by SPP special officer Dr Ratan Marshall who impressed upon the mayor the need to keep alive their memories too. stamps on socially relevant themes like History Society have been designed by Despatching Irani’s birds leprosy and drugs. To mark the Interna- him. For the World WideFund for Nature A setoffourendangered birds of prey were tional YearoftheYouthlranihaddesigned — India, he has been designing greeting created by painter JamshedPirojshaw Irani at the request of the Government of India ’s postal department. Designed and painted notes a write-up. Before the Indian gov- by Irani, the osprey, shahin falcon, Himalayan bearded vulture and Himalayan the Government of Bhutan which had com- golden eagle were released towards the missioned him to design five bird stamps, advertising department of Larsen and close of last year by C. Subramaniam, then governor of Maharashtra. In addition to these exotic bird stamps priced at Rs 2,6, 8 and 11, Irani has designed 13 other stamps for the country. Flora and fauna he specializes in. But of Indian Birds, Birds of the Eastern he has also been commissioned to design Himalayas and Common Birds — Irani ’s works also feature in two other compila- Cozy Quiltessence tions on birds. Our Feathered Friends and Watching Birds. Certain covers of publi ­ cations released by the Bombay Natural her business is Ms Anahita Cowasji of a stamp which was released at the hands of cards for the past many years, according to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, his curriculum vitie. his curriculum vitie. A diploma holder in commercial art emment assignments, Irani had worked for from the Sir J. J. School of Art, Irani has been working as a senior ariist in the Irani learnt scientific bird painting from Toubro for nearly three decades. He also well-known ornithologist Dr Salim Ali. enjoys painting oil canvas portraits of well- Besides illustrating birds for Ali ’s 10-vol- known personalities. Paper sculpture, pho- ume The Handbook of the Birds of India tography, bonsai, book collection and na- and Pakistan and three others —The Book ture study are what 54-year-old Irani lists as his other interests. * C. Subramaniam (center) releasing stamps designed by Irani (left). Cowasji’s choicest bed accessories Beautiful beds is of the essence at Quil ­ tessence. And making beautiful beds B' ik 27 Parsiana June 1993 WiiB s - a w as ss= SiBSWith best wishes from Farah & Tanya 28 Parsiana June 1993 Mhow who has been manufacturing and marketing designer quilts, quilted bedcovers, cushion covers for the last three years, as notes a press release. To match the interiors of the room and to suit the moods of theclients Quiltessence offers an assorted range in varying hues. The motif designs are delicate yet eye ­ catching. News of her products has now spread beyond Madhya Pradesh with the exposure given to her by magazines like Inside Outside. Though Cowasji would have much liked to cater to the increasing de ­ mand, the existing infrastructure available to her does not permit her to stretch, she notes. Cowasji works from a garage, in her father Phiroze Illava ’s compound, avail ­ ing of a cash credit finance facility from the Central Bank of India. As the market expands for her choicest bed linen Cowasji would like to establish a retail outlet in Bombay. But to succeed in this venture she is dependent on institu- tions/individuals within the community to assist her with finance in her search for about 300 sq ft space in a prominent shop ­ ping area in the city. After all, even a cozy business needs room. Jhansi’s devoted drivers Of the 89 Zoroastrians residing in Jhansi, eight enjoy the distinction of serving the Indian Railways as mail drivers, writes Ronny Dick, president of the Jhansi Parsi Anjuman. While in 1990 all eight of them had earned awards for meritorious service, this year Minoo D. Maneckji was presen ted an award of Rs 500 and a silver medal by the general manager. Central Railway, according to the write-up. In ! 992, D. Billimoria and Dick won awards of Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respec ­ tively. Both the drivers ’ exemplary record during 20 years of service qualified them for the award, adds the press release. The periodic success stories of these dedicated drivers show that “in a small place like Jhansi (too) Parsis are doing very good work for the nation, ” notes Dick. Just as the community endeavors to keep the wheels of the nation turning, the Zoroastrians also strive to keep their tradi ­ tions alive by holding two jashans every year, one during Khordadsal at the dharam shala, and the other in the Farvardin month at the aramgah, according to the Anjuman president. Such community get- togethers give an opportunity to the Jhansi residents, ranging in age from two years to 87 years, to fraternize. Compiled by Parinaz Gandhi BOYS’ TOWN Public School Nasik 2 Recognised as a Public School by the Department of Educa ­ tion for Indian Merit Scholars. Excellent Climate — All- round Education: All Academic Subjects — Technical Subjects: Work ­ shop Technology, Mechanical & Electricals Maintenance, Carpentry & Farming, Train ­ ing in Self-Government through Elected Boys ’'"Office bearers. Games — Physical Training — Daily Assembly with Congregational Prayers — Weekly intensive Zoroas ­ trian —Geeta —Koran classes —Excellent Modern Kitchen and Dining Room facilities — Airy Dormitories. Moderate Fees. Concessions to Deserv ­ ing Students. Apply to THE MANAGING TRUSTEE P. N. MEHTA EDUCATION TRUST Cooks Building 324, Dr D. N. Road Bombay 400001 IBOOKS Life behind the ietters Hormazdyar S. Dalal Kavi Khabardama Patro compiled by Dr Dhar- mendra M. Master. Pub ­ lished in 1992 by Bombay Parsi Punchayet, 209, D. Naoroji Road, Fort, Bom ­ bay 400001. Pp: 30 +190. Price: Rs 42. of 6,(X)0 verses, questioning the whys and wherefores of life, the existence of God and his inexplicable ways. Critics ap ­ plauded this philosophic poem published in 1931. In 1930 his business partnership was dissolved, and the poet ’s financial condi ­ tion became precarious. Khabardar did not enjoy good health. Since the death of his grandfather, he had suffered from a weak heart. The ailment never left him. As age advanced, other complications followed. He often did his creative work while reclining for days to ­ gether on his large bed. Kalika and Darshanika were written under such physical constraints. In his own words, poems, Kavya Rasika “he was hovering between two worlds — (1901), which assured life and death (Letter 57).” In 1942 Khabardar wrote 112 sonnets within 36 days. They were “conversa ­ tions with God ” as he called them (in Let ­ ter 20). The collection of 202 sonnets was published in 1944. Apart from prosody, Khabardar had ap- i.. y// ¦; Khdbardar; Gujarat loved him him a place in Gujarati literature in line with Behramji Malbari. His second collection, Pra- kashika, appeared in 1908. I Khabardar deeply studied philosophy, astrology, as- to join his brother-in- law in a small cycle business which flour ­ ished. He formed a in left Daman for Madras tronomy and palinistry. His knowledge of tr, .o.n h.o Hindu philosophy was also considerable. As a matter of fact, astrology was one of his means of livelihood in old.^ge. At a very young age, the poet had new partnership in learned yoga from a guru. It was thanks 1910, opened bran- to this yoga shakti (power) that he could hold death at bay in 1952 as he had to complete the great work of U'anslating and annotating the Gathas into English, un ­ dertaken at the instance of Dastur ches in Bangalore and Secunderabad and con- Was Ardeshir Framji Khabardar a poet or a yogi or both? One of his admirers and a de ­ voted friend, the late Shri Yagnesh Shukla, called him a rishi. That he was no ordi ­ nary man is obvious from this volume of the poet ’s letters, compiled by Dr Dharmendra M. Master. Born in Daman on November 6, 1881, Khabardar lost his father when he was five and was brought up by his grandpar ­ ents. The family name originally was Postwala, but in friendly circles the grandfather was known as Kavasji Sorabji cepts of ahimsa, non-violence and civil Khabardar, and the poet retained the sur ­ name. Ardeshir studied up to the seventh grade in a private Gujarati school run by appeared in 1926. It was acclaimed in Lalbhai Pragji, then joined the New High Gujarat and later introduced as a textbook School in Bombay in 1891. But the plague raged over Bombay and Kha ­ bardar had to return to Daman to look af ­ ter the family estate. His grandfather had passed away in 1895. In the rural surroundings Khabardar by him in delicate, tuneful verses. He developed a love for nature, music and poetry; the seeds sown initially by the grandfather blossomed and he began writ ­ ing poems at the age of 14. His first con ­ tribution to Majah in 1897 won him the first prize offered by the monthly maga ­ zine. At 19 he published a collection of ¦ tinned writing poetry. Love for Gujarat — Gunvanti Gujarati — Khurshed Dabu (Letter 19). Earlier, his 700-page study of the Gathas in Gujarati was published. A long poem, Iranshah- no-Pavado, in praise of the Zarathushti remained with him in the distant south. Even before the spirit of nationalism had taken root in Gujarat, Khabardar had __ ____________ written national songs. Bharat-no-Tankar religion and Iranshah, the sacred fire at was published in 1919 before the con ­ Udvada, was written in 1942. After the dissolution of his business disob^ience were given to the people by partnership and the slump in the market, ’ ................. the poet had to face a loss of Rs 10 lakhs. But he paid up every single paise at the risk of jeopardizing his family and his health, and despite impending poverty, in Germany (Letter 119). A collection of He left Madras in August 1938 and came devotional songs, Bhajanika (1928), was followed by Ras Chandrika in 1929. Khabardar experimented with various po ­ etic forms and all the rasas are delineated longed for it. But now he was disillu ­ sioned (Letter 29). Khabardar turned bit ­ ter, and remained so till the end of his life. This was perhaps a shortcoming in a Gandhiji. Sandeshika followed in 1925 and a long poem of 3,000 verses, Kalika, to Bombay. For 37 years he had been away from his beloved “Golden Gujarat ” and had even attempted ghazals and sonnets. 1929 was a turning point in the poet ’s life. On July 17 of this year his daughter Prabhu bhakt, a iover of God. But as the Tehmina passed away, leaving a deep scar on his heart. Within five months of this unforgettable tragedy he began writ ­ ing an elegy, Darshanika, a classic poem reader of his letters patiently seeks out the root cause of this bitterness, it is not diffi ­ cult to see that his illness of over 30 years was chiefly responsible for such negative 30 Parsiana June 1993 * IUnder the auspices of the MAZDAYASNIE MONASTERIE and the ALL INDIA SHAH BEHRAM BAUG SOCIETY (for Scientific and Educational Research) The one and only in the world Zoroastrian College 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 MAZDAYASNIE MONASTERIE 2 1 Some of the books of Mazda- . yasnie Monasterie Books Publi- ' cations: Atash - Atashbehrams; Rainbow Colours of Light; Zoro- J astrian College Brochure; Metier Yazad, AshoSarosh Yazad; 1993 Memorial Volume;Life of Behram- shah N. Shroff; Khoreh - Aura. Centre: Dr, Meher Master ¦ Moos; Vada Oasturji Kalkobad Phiroze Dastur; Dr. Behramshah D Pithavala; Ervad Nadirsha N. Alibara. 3 Bottom: Dr. B. D, Pithavala's _ Magnum Opus-IN SEARCH OF I DIVINE LIGHT - Vols. 1 & 2. I I rl 4 1^’ Thisfoundationwasestablishedin 1977-78 as a Registered Society/ Charily Trust; for the purpose of promoting scientific, educational religious and charitable work, and research, to spread the light of knowledge, understanding andpracticeofthe scientific and spiritual, divine, universal, natural laws of AHURA MAZDA, enunciated in the Mazdayasnie ZaraihushtrianDaena,revealedthroughAshoSpitaman Zarathushira; in the scientific light of Ilm-e-Khshnoom, for the Universal benefit of Humanity. The Founder, Life and Governing Body members include inter alia. Prof. DR. MEHER MASTER - MOOS; MRS. AMY. K. MASTER; (Late) MR. K. A. MASTER Q. C.; MRS. HUTOKSHI KERSHASP KOTWAL;OR. DARAR. HAKIM; (Late) MR. HORMUSJIB. VANIA- MR. DARAB P. NANAVATI; (Late) MR. NOSHIR PRESS; MRS ALOO PESI DRIVER; MRS, DIANE B. COOPER; DR BEHRAMSHAH D. PITHAWALA; MRS. PEARL. M. DAROOWALLA- MRS. DINOO P. COOPER and others. MAZDAY ASNIE MONAST ERIE performed itsmainwork of spreading the knowledge, in modern English language medium, of the cosmic truths, contained in the ancient Avesta a nd other scriptu res, through publication of rare books. These books contain esoteric wisdom, the inner illumination of the Mazdayasnie Zoroastrian Religion, This spiritual treasure was given to the Parsis of India by the great mystic late Ustad Saheb BEHRAMSHAH NOWROJI SHROFF In the 19th Century as a young man, it was his good fortune to stay for some years in a 'Vaar', a 'Monastry' a secluded mountain village in the Elburz mountains, known as "Demavand Koh". This village was inhabited, at that time, by a group ol highly evolved Zoroastrian Priests, Masters ol Spiritual Sciences, known as the "Saheb-e- Delaan"or "Maghava Sahebs". This spiritual Science isknown by the name of'Ilm-e-Khshnoom' —The illumination which gene rates spiritual bliss, joy and ecstasy, by which every soul is enabled to make spiritual progress to become one with AHURA MAZDA to attain the goal of Unity with the Creator. Late USTAD SAHEB BEHRAMSHAH NOWROJI SHROFF had delivered many lectures in Gujarati in Surat, Bombay and elsewhere during the period 1906 to 1927, He had also published Gujarati medium books through the llm-e- li 1 Khshnoom Institute; and also the Parsi Vegetarian & Temperance Society, andtheZoroastrian Radih Society, His work wascontinued, after he passed away to his heavenly abode, by his followers, mainly late Dr, Framroze & Mr. Jehangirji Chiniwalla; late Ervad Phiroze S. Masani and others. In about 1975-76 a trunk of his lectures Manuscripts was opened. Mazdayasnie Monasterie'smainfunction since 1977 was to reveal, to the spiritually fit persons in the World, this spiritual treasure, in English language. Every year, since July 1977, one book in the series ol lectures has been released, under the General Editorship of Dr. MEHER MASTER ¦ MOOS usually on the Baj Anniversary of late Ustad Saheb Behramshah Nowroji Shroff, (on Buhman Roj Buhman Mah Shenshahi), and also books by DR. MEHER MASTER - MOOS and DR. BEHRAM D. PITHAWALA and others on Zarathus trian ancient wisdom, in modern English, for benefit of present day persons. 1977 JZHIRUM ¦ COSMOGENESIS (10 Lectures Series). 1978 ELEMENTARY SERIES Vols, 1 & 2 - Bird's Eye View of I Im - e - Khshnoom/What My MotherTaught Me. Sarosh ni Khshnoomam ni Kustl. 1978 SUDREHUQHT& SOUND. 1979 MEHER YAZD. 1930 KHOREH-AURA. 1981 LIFE OF USTAD SAHEB BEHRAMSHAH NOWROJISHROFFwithOUTUNEOF14000YEARSOFHISTORY OF IRAN and ADVENT OF SHAH BEHRAM VARZAV AND SAHEB, 1983. Registrationof ALLINDIASHAH BEHRAM BAUG SOCIETY (for Scientific & Educational Research) and 125TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY BOOK OF USTAD BEHRAMSHAH NOWROJI SHROFF. 1984 ASHO SAROSH YAZAD. 1985 RAINBOW COLOURS OF LIGHT & MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA (Kirlian Aura Diagnosis Technique) (Copenhagen World Congres Paper). 1986 BOOKLET ON ASTRONOMY. 1986 ATASH & ATASHBEHRAM (13 Lectures Series) 1987 DR. BEHRAMSHAH D. PITHAWALA'S Magnum opus “IN SEARCH OF DIVINE LIGHT” (Volume One). 1992 Volume Two of thegreat work was released with tremendous help of Mr. BEJON DESAI Principal ol Nasik Boystown Schook & Mr RONI KHAN of NASIK. The main work entrustedby the SAHEB ¦ E ¦ DELAANof DEMAVAND KUH to Ustad Saheb Behramshah N. Shroff was to prepare the Parsis, and People in India, for the advent of SHAH BEHRAM VARZAVAND SAHEB, the Prince of Peace, the Rainidar Saheb of the Aquarian Age, whose birth in India in mid-20th Century was predicted by the Maghav Sahebs over a Century ago. Through Mazdayasnie Monasterie this work was continued in the English language for the benefit of all spiritually fit souls, in all countries of the world. Through MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA INTERNATIONAL, the work of both, DR. MEHER MASTER - MOOS, President Mazdayasnie Monasterie & DR. BEHRAM D. PITHAVALA Vice President, ALL INDIA SHAH BEHRAM BAUG SOCIETY, received International recognition. The prestigious Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa), was conferred on them in 1985 and 1987 respectively. All the books published under the auspices of Mazdayasnie Monastrie have been released at the auspicious hands of VADA DASTURJIKAIKOBAD PHIROZE DASTUR, High Priest of Iranshah Atashbehram Udvada. Mrs. ALOO JAL CHIBBER retired MLA was usually the Chief Guest atthese Baj Functions. Miss SHIRAZ K. IRANI wasthe main office person in charge of the books work. Since 1981, through Masdayasnie Monasterie IRANSHAH HUMBANDAGI CIRCLE OF DEVOTION was commenced. Each person slops work at 12 noon for one minute, concentrates on SacredlranshahAtashbehramandpraysforthespiritualbenefitand Unity of all Zoroastrians everywhere. Kathi Wood is offered at noon and midnight, 365days of the year, to Iranshah. This HUMBANDAGI ¦Circle" is opento allpersons to joininthe “Powerof Prayer" for Unity, Peace & Prosperity. QUARTERLY NEWS LETTERS From 1981 to 1987, this work ot spreading spiritual knowledge was also done through publication of Quarterly News Letter tfi inc rease Unity, Peace & Harmony amongst all Parsis and other community members. This had a wide readership in many courtv^s. Since f 993, instead of Quarterly News Letter, a Monthly 'Report' is published through courtesy of Parsiana. OTHER ZARATHUSHTRIAN RELIGIOUS BOOKS Rare books by various writers are also available at Mazdayasnie Office in the form of Xerox bound copies. (A) Late KAVIARDESHIR KHABARDARinadditiontohis published Volume of.AhunavaliGatha, left MSSof hisgreat work onall Gathas, Vendidad, some Yashts, and Astronomy notes. Thanks to the courtesy of his grand daughters Miss MANECK and Miss ALOO KHABARDAR. The entire set ot Seven Volumes is available to Scholars and all interested persons. (B) LATE MR. H. SPENCER of Poona, left published books & MSS, including his magnum opus on the “ARYAN ECLIPTIC CYCLE”; the “ERA OF ZARATHUSHTRA” and other books. Some of these are available. (C) Late MR. TEHMUR AS R. SETHNA of Karachi rendered yeoman service to the Parsi Community in transliterating into Roman Script with English translation Gathas, Khordeh Avesta, Yashts, Yasna and Vendidad Other books are by well known Scholars ERVAD GODREJ SIDHWA" Discourses on Zoroastrianism" and MR. FAREDOON DADACHANJI “PARSIIANCIENT & MODERN" (D) DR. PURVIZ KOLSAWALLA'Sgreatwork on “HOM YAZAD” & AVESTA ENGLISH COMPUTER DICTIONARY, ALL GATHAS, YASNA & VENDIDAD with translations by 12 Scholars of every word, line and verse on Computer Disc and book formal, are also available. Mazdayasnie Monasterie publications and many other books on Zoroastrian religion as well as AUDIO & VIDEO CASSETTES of Avesta prayers and OVER 400 LECTURES are available at the Mustafa Building address, by order ol xerox copies of books, or Audio/Video Cassettes copies. DONATIONS ARE WELCOME All donations are Tax Exempt under Sec. 80 G. If you are interested and would like to support the Mazdayasnie Monasterie movement worldwide please sendihe Coupon below, orwrite to. The President, Mazdayasnie Monasterie, at the Mustafa Building Address: ? Lecture Cassettes -^1 I am inleresied in ? Books ? Prayer Cassettes ? Video Cassettes Please send me information. ? IranshatiHunbandagiKathiFund. ? I would like to support Mazdayasnie Monasterie work. Please find enclosed CASH or CHEQUE (in favour of MAZDAY ASNIE MONASTERIE) My Name/Addresszlel. Nos is;....................................................... ADVERTISEMENTI I f I I qualities, along with severe financial strain and the constant illnesses of other family members. And in a number of these letters one finds the poet com ­ plaining of the indifference of the Gu ­ jaratis towards him, of his work not being properly understood or appreciated in Gujarat. According to this reviewer, this is not a fair assessment. Even during his lifetime, Gujarat loved him, appreciated him and honored him. A few Gujarati friends even supported him financiily in his ad ­ verse days. But he complained because, after 1938, he was never at ease physi ­ cally or mentally. This discordant note in his letters is, therefore, jarring in compari ­ son to his very heartwarming, sincere and musical poems. Khabardar was a victim of circum ­ stances. The inscrutable ways of God made him suffer a great deal despite his faith. Who can unravel this puzzle? With a heavy heart Khabardar had left Madras to settle in Bombay, to leave be ­ hind unhappy memories and to seek peace in the midst of friends and admirers. But peace eluded him. His family became restless and wife Piroja desired strongly to return to Madras. The poet left Bombay in 1951. But fate remained unkind. On October 13, 1952, Piroja passed away. A married life of 54 years came to an end (Letter 45) and Khabardar found himself deserted in a wilderness, awaiting the end. He had completed his magnum opus, the masterly work on the Gat has. He was ready to meet his creator, and to be relieved of the physical and mental torture that life had inflicted on him. He died on July 30, 1953, only a day before he was to leave once again for Bombay to stay with his son. Dr Dharmendra Master has done a great service to this illustrious son of Gujarat, first by writing a thesis on him and publishing it in 1981, then by bring ­ ing to light his unpublished works in Gujarati and English, and now, the letters, Khabardarna Patro. True, not all these letters appear in print for the first time. Quite a few of them have been published before by other friends of the poet, but that does not diminish the value of this publication. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet ^5 and its past chairman. Dr Aspi Golwalla, deserve high praise from Gujarati readers for this memorable service rendered to Gujarati literature and to our community. It is certainly a fitting tribute to Kha ­ bardar from his coreligionists. Simple spirituality 77)0 Master by Bejon N. Desai. Published in 1993 by Navaz Publications, “De Sai," Ill-Shivagiri, Desouza Colony, HPT College Road, Nasik 422005. Pp: XVI+146. Price: Rs 90. Few centuries in human history can match the present one for its tow ­ ering materialism. As man ’s ego expands in direct ratio to his suc ­ cesses in finding new ways to pander to his 33 Parsiana June 1993 Roni K. Khan pantaao yo Ashahay, veespay anyae-shanm apanatanm (One alone is the path which is of righteousness — Asha — all others are dead ends). And yet, defying the tide of the times, the ever fertile sacred soil of India still manages to throw up the rare genu ­ ine master to blaze like a lighthouse in an ocean of darkness. One such was the late Kamu Baba, an authentic Sufi saint who lived a holy and humble life in a little cottage tucked away in a distant suburb of Bombay, unaware and uncaring of publicity, organization or cultism, and burgeoning material era- K^amu Baba: spotless life vings, his soul shrinks in inverse ratio to the headlong pursuit. Suf ­ fused with pride at having imprinted his footsteps in the dust of the moon, he little cares that he has brought life on earth to potential extinction. Ever heedful of his God-intoxicated from top to toe. . material standard of life, he is heedless of his spiritual standard of living. By the end of the soul shattering war against Hider, the face of the world was permitted a peek into so spotless a life, re-mapped, and so too the hearts of men. As true and timeless spiritual values took a nosedive, the jet age took off and so did actually a collection of 36 short stories, a bold new tribe of purveyors of instant each occupying a separate chapter and spirituality and snap solutions to life ’s standing on its own, and with the bonus of problems. After all, if instant coffee, why not instant salvation? No further comment is required beyond Asho Zarathushtra ’s immortal words that say it all: Aevo It is this great and gentle soul whom Bejon Desai refers to simply Ms the Mas ­ ter in his latest book. It is a privilege to be The way Desai sets about to do this is unusual and effective for this little book is a gem-like foreword by Dada J. P. Vaswani as a foretaste of the God-intoxi ­ cation we are to encounter. It is through this easy format that the author spins one ft * At the launch o/The Master (from left): Roni Khan, Dr P. D. Nigam, Bejon Desai, Tatyasaheb Shirwadkar (Kusumagraj), Deokisanji Sarda and Navqz Desai I «charming tale after another, each recount ­ ing a memorable and instructive real life incident that he personally witnessed in his many years of association with the spiritual exercise of dhikra, the repeated recitation of a holy name of the lord, reminiscent of the ancient Zarathushtrian tarikat of naam-setaayeshn meditation. Master. ,................................. As story succeeds story, the picture slightest suggestion of breaking faith with which emerges of the Master is that of a noble mystic who speaks with the fullness of wisdom descended from intuitive lev ­ els — and humility to match. The key ­ note is simplicity: simplicity in his method of teaching and in his teachings. But this simplicity is deceptive, for be ­ hind the Master ’s every simple utterance or action lies a profound truth or philoso ­ phy as he gently enlightens us on birth and death, on life and living, on love and sharing, on work and worship, on humi- lity and ego. And he nudges us to ignite help of your own Prophet and your own the mighty engines of faith and prayer to thrust ourselves forward on the path of righteousness to realize the divine. _________________ _____ The Master instructs and inspires chapters concerning the Parsis, to whom through the impeccable example of his the Master sends out this clarion call; “I own righteous living, through a Jesus-like beseech you Parsis... to adore your o«1 VI _____] _ 1-K a .. . _ _ through a free atmosphere of discussion, and through a dexterous ability of con ­ verting even mundane, day-to-day hap ­ penings into powerful learning experi- ______ , ____ ___ __ __ __ ences. His more advanced disciples also daily, insist on speaking the truth come bum the midnight oil with him in the what may; and thus follow the path of neki as shown by your Prophet. ” The author is a well-known education ­ ist, poet and Avesta/Pahlavi scholar, as well as a noted authority on comparative And through it all, never is there the religions and ancient scriptural languages. However it appears that he has chosen to write The Master not in his capacity as a learned scholar, but rather as a humble devotee of God with an almost child-like one ’s own religion. In fact it is quite the reverse, for the Master is emphatic in his insistence and explicit in his specific guidance that his disciples be faithful to simplicity that comes straight from the the precepts and practices of their own re- ' ~ spective religions. Thus, to the Parsi lady who seeks from him an amulet as an overnight cure for her sufferings, he has this to say: “My dear lady, return to your own ways of life; to your own religion and prayers... to solve your problems through the mighty heart. The result is a book of universal appeal to people of all ages from 12 to 80, and it should find a place in the home of every sincere spiritual seeker. scriptures. ” The mention of a Parsi brings to mind that the book contains three significant through the impeccable example of his the Master sends out this clarion call;" ‘T use of simple parables and sermons. Prophet, to walk on the path of Asha, to don sudreh and kusti, to engrave your Avesta prayers on your tongue and into your memory. Do at least this much! In addition, please visit your fire-temple Always remember TRTA SRTR KHflMBATA Ketayun & Bomi 22/^, Wellington Terrace, Wellington Street, Bombay-400002. Tel. No. 20696^6. * Steamship agents — master stevedores dubashes — lighterage contractors Darabshaw B. Cursetjee’s Sons (Bombay) Pvt Ltd Darabshaw 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 34 Parsiana June 1993 IMILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides (as of death is not available to Jdmbusarwalla and Jehangir listed in this issue) ranged between Parsiana. The youngest to die Jimmy Mehta-, May 6 18 and 56 years, the arithmetic was a woman aged 37 years, the Keshmira Ratansha Randelia mean (the total number of in- oldest, a man of 97. and Mehernosh Kaikhasroo dividual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 28 years. The corresponding figures for the grooms were 23 and 54 years, averaging at 33 years. in India and abroad, courts and Homai Shapur Baria and As compared to 15 births in hospitals. This information is not Darayus Hormasfi Chinoy; Bombay, there are 90 deaths listed always complete or consistent. May 9 in this issue. Heart disease For example, the birth figures for claimed 26 lives, 11 of them Bombay are supplied by four being over the age of 80. An hospitals; births in suburban Sanjana-, May 9 additional six fell prey to hospitals and private nursing hypertension. Fifteendeaths were attributed to various respiratory illnesses. Old age and general together with a copy of the birth debility accounted for 11 deaths, broken bones and septicem ia four each.Cancerandkidney problems especially of the elderly, death is claimed two victims each. Isolated cases registered included haem- morhage, accident, dysentery, nervous disorder, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, colitis, intestinal published, some proof to ensure obstruction, tuberculosis, cerebral malaria, hepatitis and blood disease. One death was attributed to “asphyxia due to hanging. ” In the case of cremation, the cause of death is not available to was a woman aged 37 years, the oldest, a man of 97. The data on births, marriages Khajotia-, May 7 and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by various newsletters and anjumans May 8 in India and abroad, courts and Zenobia Phiroze Daruwalla and Kersi Lavji Engineer, Zenobia Dadi Sanjana of Valsad and Shahrukh Jamshedji Dinaz Barjor Daboo and Sorab Phiroze Engineer, May 10 Kashmira Ferdoon Mistry and Zubin Dorab Vankadia-, certificate. In the breakup of May 10 deaths according to illnesses. homes are not included unless individuals send us information BOMBAY BORN A girl to Tanaz and Parvez Patel-, May 4,1993 A boy to Aarti and Kersi Mehta-, May 7 A boy to Aban and Daraius Shroff-, May 11 A girl to Daisy and Neville Motafram-, May 13 A girl, Dinaz, to Roxana and Aspi Mirza (Driver)-, May 17 A boy to Percis and Rumi Majoo-, May 18 A girl to Armaity and Adil Rivetna-, May 19 A boy to Huffrish and Hormuzda Davar, May 20 A girl. Liana, to Shireen «nd Khushru Mistry-, May 20 A girl to Monaz and Viraf Bhamgara-, May 21 A boy to Pervin and Adi Marolia-, May 21 A boy to Roshan and Khurshed Bacha-, May 22 A girl, Binaisha, to Persis and Dinshaw Bilimoria; May 22 A girl to Shirin and Mehernosh Patel-, May 22 A girl to Rashna and Sorab Tanaz Sarosh Amalsadiwala and Mehernosh Burjor Mistry-, often due to a combination of May 11 several diseases. Sheroo Nariman Madon and If readers have any births/ Cyrus Nadir Buhariwala-, mairiages/deatlis they would like May 13 Shiraz Dinshaw Irani of Palghar May 2 and Jehanbux Eruch Irani of Dahanu; May 14 Monaz Mehernosh Munshi and Farokh Pesi Kapadia-, May 14 Pervin Barjor Gandhi and Farhad Nari Contractor, May 15 Farida Fall Makuna and Herois Eruch Kambata-, May 15 Gulshan Nadirshaw Patel and Marzban Jal Gheewalla-, May 16 Villoo Keki Ghadialy and Darayus Jlormaz Irani, May 16 Daulat Shahbehram Demeri and Parvez Framroze Kaovasia-, May 16 Keshmira Rustomji Inspector and Neville Mirtoo Mistry-, May 16 Shiraz Homi Talati and Meherwan Keki Parbhoo-, May 16 Shaheen Khodadad Gowharyan and Kayomarz Aspandiar Kermani, May 18 Roshan Bhimjibhoy Jasawala and Jal Pirojshaw Deboo of Jamshedpur; May 20 Sanober Pervez Cooper and Yazdi Kaikhashroo Dastur, May 23 Farkhandah Rustom Sandalian and Farhang Kaikhushroo Demeri, May 24 the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us. Patel-, May 25 MARRIED Tanaz Percy Daruwala and Mehernosh Dhunji Bhiwandiwala-, April 11 Perviz Rumi Bhiwandiwalla and Firdaus Adi Motafram-, April 25 Persis Rumi Tatary and Godrej Rustom Daruwalla-, April 29 Benaifer Kersi Mistry and Adil Keki Elavia-, April 29 Hira Keki Tangri of Nasik and Noshir Faramji Pithawala of Balsar; April 29 Jasmine Soli Mistry and Rohinton Dara Sidhwa-, April 30 Ferriel Farrokh Pavri and Phiroze Behram Palkhivala-, May 1 Dilshad Nariman Dhanda of Navsari and Viraf Tehmatan Wadia-, May 2 Yasmin Kersi Panthaki and Bahadur Pestonji Dubash-, May 3 Shiraz Dara Desai and Sarosh Byram Irani-, May 6 Yasmin Pestonshaw DIED Rohinton Hormusji Patel (50) 36 Parsiana .lur^ I<i97 residing at S/3 Unit, Sunder Ngr, Malad (W), 400064; April 29 Sunnoo Burjor Desai (80), 4/28, A. H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400033; April 30 Aimai Homi Kasad (90), 17/C/ 27, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; April 30 Behram Jehangir Mistri (82), Luisa, St John Baptist Rd, Bandra, 400050; April 30 Dina Pestonji Mistry (77), 573, Umrigar Bldg, J. Shankarshet Rd, Chirabazar, 400002; May 1 Tehmina Kekobad Peer (88), 9, Toddy Ter, Dhuswadi, Dhobitalao, 400002; May 1 Tehmi Roomy Aria (80), 24, Batliwalla Bldg, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 2 (cremated) Burjorji Pirojsha Billimoria (72), 12/30, Fakri Manzil, Sanker Sheth Rd, 400007; 'p Khorshed Nadirshah Gandhi (31), E/12, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; May Sheroo Rusi Kharas (64), D/4, Corinthian, Arthur Bunder Rd, Colaba, 400005; May 2 Jerbanoo Behramshaw Marolia (94), 15, Roda Bldg, South Frere Bridge, Grant Rd, 400007; May 2 Noshirwan Faramroze Anklesaria (88), 667, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 3 Framroze Maneksha Bulsara (79), C/o Godrej Malaowala, 6/4, Khan Est, Chotani Rd, Mahim, 400016; May 3 Bhikhoo Sorabji (83), 304, Jupiter, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, 400005; May 3 Jerbanoo Eruchshah Bhimporewala (82), 5, Turner Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; May 4 Dhunjishaw Behramji Engineer (81), Paowalla Bldg, Grant Rd, 400007; May 4 Sorab Khodadad Irani (79), 18, Sunita, Opp Colaba Post Office, 400005; May 5 Najoo Morad Kohinoor (58), 12, Ahmed Mans, Arthur Bunder Rd, Colaba, 400005; May 5 Jaloo Framroze Peshotan (Kalvachwala) (84), Devikar Mans, Karelwadi, Thakurdwar, Girgaon, 400002; May 5 * IManeckbai Phirozsha Printer (90), 752, Dr Jal Vakil Bldg, Dr Ghanti Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 6 Jal Rustomji Bilimoria (78), 41, Curimbhoy Manor, B. Desai Rd, 400026; May 7 Aloo Burjorji Kapadia (75), 17, Jamshed Tata Bldg, Tata Blocks, Bandra, 400050; May 7 Nergis Homi Banker (81), 15, Boyce Hse, Vatcha Gandhi Rd, 400007; May 8 Homi Bejonji Kasad (52), HAJII, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; May 8 Dolly Kekas Udwadia (51), 22/A, Wellington Ter, Wellington St, Dhobitalao, 400002; May 8 Shapur Mehrwan Khavarian (75), 2/3, Ramodiya Mans, Dr A. B. Rd, Worli, 400025; May 9 Maneckbai Jangirji Mistry (87), 12, Buena Casa, Sir P. Mehta Rd, Fort, 400001; May 9 Dhanmai Vikaji Vankadia (83), Dr Sethna Bldg, Zoroastrian Blocks, Chikalwadi, Tardeo Rd, 400007; May 9 Jehabux Dinshaw Fitter (62), 3/10, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; May 10 Darabsha Nusserwanji Mehta (80), 7/729, Vimadalal Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 10 Jaiji Dhunjishaw Udwadia (90), B/15 Shilpa Apts, Besant Rd, Santa Cruz, 400054; May 10 Freny Sorabji Baria (80), Connaugt Mans, Opp Colaba Post Office, Colaba, 400005; May 11 Kaikhusroo Faramji Patel (87), G/618, Bhiwandiwalla Ter, J. Shankarshet Rd, 400002; May 11 Dohy Minoo Sethna (50), 28, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 11 Aloo Behramsha Charna (76), 32, Aderbad, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 12 Homai Minocher Engineer (47), 3/10, Vivina Bldg, Andheri (W), 400058; May 12 Gool Jamshedji Kavarana (72), Banaji Bldg, Forjett St Cross Lane, Gowalia Tank, 400026; May 12 Freny Maneck Mistry (66), D/1, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; May 12 Fakirji Bamonji Gandhi (83), E/20, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; May 13 Banoobai Faredoon Kermani (82), Mehar Mans, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; May 13 Faredoon Dosabhoy Madon (73), Aslaji Fire-Temple, Near Congress Hse, 400004; May 13 Rustomji Sorabji Bharucha (90), B/44, Gool Mhl, Sleater Rd, 400007; May 15 Tehmi Behram Chinoy (80), 623, Marker Mans, Lady Jehangir Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 15 Kolamai Hormasji Billimoria (62), 17, Mistry Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; May 16 Darabshah Dosabhai Bharucha (78), Gracious Teresa Villa, Khumbarwada Church Rd, Manikpur, Vasai (W), 401201; May 17 Bhikaji Rustom Kadwa (87), 5/2, Golf Links, Pali Hill, Bandra, 400050; May 17 Rata Rustomji Kharoliwalla (73), 2/B/12, Sonawalla Bldg, 400007; May 17 Dinshaw Framroze Palsetia (75), 27, Khan Block, New Khareghat Clny, Babulnath Rd, 400007; May 17 Sovak Framroze Poacha (84), U/2-3, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; May 17 Roda Firoze Vakil (63), 72, Hill-N-Sea, Pali Hill, Biindra, 400050; May 17 Rustom Bomanji Wadia (78), 41, Sealand, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, 400005; May 17 Sapal Rustomji Dalal (74), 739/5, Parsi Clny, Opp Wadia Baug, Dadar, 400014; May 18 Minoo Burjorji Nariman (68), 269, Nariman Hse, Dr Cawasji Hormusji St, Dhobitalao, 400002; May 18 Dali Navroji Darukhanawala (70), G/2, Bhiwandiwalla Ter, Dhobitalao, 400002; May 19 Minu Khurshedji Mistry (61), C, Petit Bldg, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; May 19 Homi Noshirwan Dallas (88), Jer Mans, A. K. Marg, Gowalia Tank, 400036; May 20 Manekbai Bomanji Jasoomani (88), S, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, 400008; May 20 Jal Manchershaw Kaka (77), C/o F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 20 Piroja Dhunjisha Ogra (80), 5/9, C. J. Clny, Tardeo, 400034; May 20 Pestonji Ardeshir Todiwalla (83), B/17, Cusrow Baug, S.B. Rd, 400039; May 21 Khorshed Dadiba Malesra (77), E/2, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; May 22 Cawas Piro show Mistry (74), 7, Amroliwala Hse, N. M. Joshi Marg, 400013; May 22 Mani Jivanji Wadia (75), 512, Talati Bldg, Chira Bazar, 400002; May 22 Eruchsha Pirojsha Bharucha (97), l/A/30, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; May 23 Nariosang Darabsha Bhathena (71), Parsee Hse, S. V. Rd, Santacruz (W), 400054; May 23 Minocher Khurshedji Mowdavala (90), Spenta Apts, Little Gibb’s Rd, Malabar Hill, 400006; May 23 Aloo Dadabhoy Patel (84), F/14, Captain Clny, Tardeo, 400034; May 23 Nancy Hormusji Patell (81), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 23 Gool Burjor Pavri {10), Bombay Samachar Marg, Opp Lion ’s Gate, 400023; May 23 Tehmina Pervez Balsara (60), BJi, N. Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; May 24 Nariman Nuserwanji Dallas (90), B/14, Ness Baug, Nana Chowk, 400007; May 24 Kersasp Dinshawji Gandhi (82), 1/8&3, Sakarwadi, 22-C, Nawab Tank Rd, Mazgaon, 400010; May 24 Khorshed Jehangir Lakdawalla (90), 1/7, Rustom Baug, Victoria Road, Byculla, 400027; May 24 Minocher Hurmosji Nariman (88), Roxana, 109, M. Karve Rd, 400020; May 24 Tehmi Pesi Dumasia (66), 10, Malbari Bldg, New Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 25 Roshan Minocher Gandhi (93), Keki Manzil, Band Stand, Bandra, 400050; May 25 Hormasji Dadiba Boatwalla {15), 501/502, Jupiter Apts, Yari Rd, Versova, 400061; May 26 Firoze Fakirji Sutaria (53), 304, Xavier Apts, St John Baptist Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; May 26 Rustom Merzaban Abadan (62), 18, Station Ter, Sleater Rd, 400007; May 27 Meher Homi Rana (80), Surya, 79, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; May 27 Aloo Jal Baria (82), Jony Castle, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; May 28 Shera Sorab Cooper (75), Jaiji Ter, Sleater Rd, 400007; May 28 Shirin Bejonji Daruwalla (83), 8, Hendre Bldg, Sleater Rd, 400007; May 28 Aimai Homi Nalladaru (81), G/25, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; May 29 Rustom Bomansha Behli-Homji (76), Unity Hse, 8, A. M. Parmanand Marg, Opera Hse, 400004; May 30 Perin Homi Bhagat (70), 1/4, Dorab Tata Bldg, Tata Blocks, Bandra (W), 400050; May 30 Rusi Kaikhushroo Choksy (68), 3/5, Sir Ratan Tata Bldg, Tata Blocks, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; ]\4ay 30 Dinamai Minocher Elavia (75), 598/C, A. H. Wadia Bldg, ' J. Shankarshet Rd, 400M2; May 30 Ratan Kaikhasrow Panthaki (73), 3/3, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; May 30 Nariman Framji Mehta (88), Mark Haven, Apollo Bunder, 400039; May 31 * CALCUTTA DIED Khorshed Phiroze Devitre {91), mother of Gustad, Freddy and Deena; May 6 POONA DIED Maneckbai Rustomji Mistry, Jupiter Co-op Soc, 54, Sholapur Bazaar Rd, 411001; May 4 Perin Jal Chaina (Ji), 502, Diwali Apts, 2090, Gaffer Baig St, 411001; May 7 Faram D. Mistry (87), 518, Mukund Ngr, Swargate, 411002; May 10 Rustom Ardeshir Contractor (72), HAU Sholapur Bazaar Rd, 411001; May 12 Daulat J ehang ir Nanavati (12), Widow ’s Home, Sholapur Bazaar Rd, 411001; May 17 Bahadur Maneckji Gamadia 38 Parsiana June 1993 I(65), 37, Universal Apts, East St, 411001; May 19 Gulcher Eduljee Coyaji (92), 1, Parvati Villa, 411001; May 31 Meheli Bomanji Dubash, 2, Castle Poonam Park, 411014; May 31 Homai Pestonji Pochara (73), 696, Taboot St, 411001; May 31 SECUNDERABAD DIED Savakshaw R. Moti-walla (83); May 8 Goolbanoo K. Panthaky (83); May 11 Ami J. Bulsara (76); May 12 Arnavaz Reporter (81); May 19 SURAT MARRIED Jasmine Minoo Poonawala and Rohinton Jal Katpitia-, May 9 DIED PerinbanuNariman Kasad (JJ), Lalgate, 395003; May 8 Jerbanoo Ardeshir Chiniwalla (73), Kelani Vakhar, Murzban Rd, 395003; May 12 Hormusji Pirojshaw Toddywalla (70); Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore 395003; May 13 Naoroji Hormusji Wadia (82), Kotwal Wadi, Saiyedpura, 395003; May 14 Yilloo Hiraji Daruwala (63), Jokhi Block, Shahpore, 395003; May 16 Sorabji Pestonji Chothia (70), Shirin Ranji Block, Shahpore, 395003; May 17 Alice Phiroj Mistry (55), Parsiwad, Kadod, 394335; May 22 DIED Khurshed Pavri, husband of Zarine, father of Aban Jimmy Patel and Farrokh; February 2 Russi Mirza, husband of Roshan, father of Rohinton and Zeenia; April 7 Vancouver, British Columbia BORN A boy, Marcus Jamshid, to Mehrshid and Phiroze Irani-, March 23 A boy, Shawhin, to Azita and Mitsuri Kanab, March 29 MARRIED Mehrnaz Jahangir Misaghi- Tafti of British Columbia and Daryoush Khosrow Joobani of Oregon; April 19 DIED Dali Tata (80), husband of Shirin, father of Bella and Zarine Nanu Dastur; March 30 IRAN Tehran DIED Manouchehr Behroozi, brother A BORN Boys Girls 6 9 MARRIED Parsi Intercommunal 32 Bombay B 169 147 52 46 261 67 196 14 of Parviz; March 9 PAKISTAN Karachi DIED Jehangir Framji (Bhurekhan) (67); May 7 Pesi Rustamji Gamwala (57); May 19 Jehangir Navroji Wadia (86); May 19 Jijibhoy Dadabhoy Minwalla (80), husband of late Jeroo, father of Sheroo Sohrab Sopariwala, Aban Erach Bhadha, Homi and Kamal Jamshed Vaatcha; May 29 Noshir Kaikhushru Gazder (82); May 30 USA Dallas, Texas BORN A boy, Sarosh, to Zenobia and Adil Irani-, March 21 La Jolla, California DIED Rustam Sarfeh (86), husband of Feman, father of Jamshid, Iraj and late Parvez; May 2 TOTALS FOR 1992 AND 1993 A C India B C 11 6 2 1 1 5 6 5 New York, New York DIED Sheroo hard, sister of Tiru, Behram, Peshotan and Mehroo Baria; March 30 Northern California BORN A girl, Zinia, to Gulnar and Percy Kawas-, January 30 North Texas BORN A boy, Kayvon, to Farahnaz Foroodi and Behram Farzaneh-, February 10 A boy, Aurash, to Saghar and Kamran Behroozb, March 13 San Jose, California DIED Katie Engineer, wife of Dossabhoy, mother of Zarina Kaji, Amavaz Gandhi, Dilnavaz Mooney; April 24 Sterling, Virginia BORN A boy, Kian, to Linda and Farhad ^ahiyary-, December 4,1992 A- A 4' World B C 7 2 31 34 12 13 1 16 10 5 CANADA Ontario DIED Dina Boyce, wife of Bomy, mother of Jamsheed and Pheeroozah Van ’a; April 30 Tehmi Rustom Tarapore, mother of Phiroze, Perviz, Freny Engineer and Farida Noshir Clarke; May 22 DIED INTERRED Male Female CREMATED Male Female 41 48 1 444 506 6 3 226 196 1 8 13 80 94 44 32 11 4 47 30 27* 13* I Toronto, Ontario BORN A girl, Nazaneen, to Zarine and Kaikhosroo Kalantar, January 30 A boy, Christopher Cooverji, to Sherrutz and Mark Chin-, March 2 A: Total numbers in this issue B: Running totals for 1992 (February 1992-June 1993 issues) C: Running totals tor 1993 (February-June 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. 40 Parsiana June 1993 I ?