Jan 1994

i January 1994 Volume 16 Number 4 EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi SENIOR EDITOR Dina Mehta ASSISTANT EDITOR Roxana A. Mirza CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Gustasp Irani DESIGN Kranti M. Shilotri, Varghese W. Fernandez MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Niloufer Panthaky CHIEF EXECUTIVE Rustom Thanavala FINANCE B. L. Arora EDP Rohinton E. Daroga DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, K. P. Ravi SUBSCRIPTION/CIRCULATION Khurshid Panthaki, Bindu Pillai MANAGEMENT Jasmine Driver 2 Readers ’ Forum 12 Events and Personalities 17 Zoroastrians Abroad 21 JRD: The last rites and wrongs by Arnavaz Mama 22 Uran: harboring hopes by Homi Rogers 28 Signals for seminars; FOZYA survey 32 Centenary celebrations of World Parliament of Religions 36 Zubin Balaporia: Instrumental to Indus Creed by Gustasp Irani 38 Books 40 Milestones OFFICE Nowzer Batliwala 43 in Memoriam OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Pramod Patil, Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav Cover: A divo illumines a well in the Uran agiary compound Photo: Gustasp Irani Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd at C/o H.L.Rochat, Navsari Chambers, ground floor, 39 A.K.Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001 and printed by him at Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Color processing. Comart Litho ­ graphers; black and white processing,Samir Scantech Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved. ISSN: 0971-3786 Phone: 2048730 Fax: 2042922 For editorial enquiries 2048183 Tlx: 11-85710 RABO IN. For subscription enquiries and payments: C/o Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman St (Behind Reserve Bank of India) Bombay 400001. Phone: 2658619, 2665661 Annual inland subscription Rs 125 for one year (10 issues); Rs 225 for two years (20 issues). Foreign subscription rates; Sea mail Rs 350/US $ 12/LIK £ 7 for one year, Rs 550/US $ 20/UK £ 12 for two years (please allow six months or more from the time of publication): Air mail Rs 600/LIS $ 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.READERS' FORUM Pi I s ¥ steps as may be necessary against the perpetrators... ” Nowhere in the whole opinion have they given any practical suggestion as to covering the ^riod August 1990 to July what is to be done. What steps are to be 1992, published in The Bombay taken by the trustees? What steps should Samachar of August 9, 1992 detailed the be taken to stop such ceremonies taking place in future? It is not at all clear. I to ­ tally disagree with such an attitude. I would suggest that all consecration ceremonies be stopped henceforth in Bombay. If the mol^ds of Bombay have we wish to state once again: lost the capacity and the alat, then they ’The survey of the poor Zoroastrian should go home. p.d. magol farmers of southern Gujarat was done at Karachi the bchcst of WZO by the Surat Parsi “wzn. Ari „ Panchayat (SPP) joining WZO in com- WAuSpting to... missioning the survey and the report by In “WZO: Adapting to change ” Dr (Ms) Cashmira Bhaya (then Bha- {Parsiana, June 1993) it is reported that rucha). Over and over again, we have at a meeting of the Federation of Parsi expressed our thanks to the SPP for this. Zoroastrian Anjumans of India in •The actual work for the project, from Bombay on June 5 and 6, 1993, Mr H. J. day one, has been undertaken by WZO Taleyarkhan questioned the use of the personnel who have followed the strat- entire amount of funds collected for the egy laid down by the WZO Committee, amelioration of rural Zoroastrians in ’ ' Gujarat. He contended that only the in ­ terest thereon should be utilized. He also _____ ______ alleged that aid was being repeatedly Bachi Tamboly, Mr Firoj Panthaky, Mr channelled to the same recipients. “ It is so very easy to make fallacious statements concerning WZO’s work, spe- P.D. MAGOL Karachi The statement that the aid was being repeatedly channelled to the same recipi ­ ents is totally inaccurate. Our report 1992, published in The Bombay measures taken to cover many families in many villages. Distance in time dims memories and sometimes comments and statements are made which are not accurate. Therefore, London. These WZO personnel com ­ prise Davar Kavasji and Ms Roshan Modi from Surat, Mr Dinshaw and Ms '“'prr-,,. “<* a™ be sent to the Editor, Readers' Forum, make fallacious the Tata Marginal Farm, all from Navsari Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 40000i’ statements concerning WZO’s work, spe- and Mr Purvez Italia of Fudvel. We are Letters are subject to editing for reasons of cially in the absence of WZO officials, happy to state that this group receives and .hereby cieaB doubtand cas. unwar- full support and help from Mr Shahpurji ranted aspersions. Fortunately, Davar Vajifdar of Navsari. Kavasji Modi of Surat was at hand to re ­ fute the wrong stajements made by Mr H. Taleyarkhan. From the very outset, WZO had made it very plain to the community at large that the problem of uplifting the Zoroas ­ trian farmers of South Gujarat was such that funds would have to be spent now to •Every year, two or more members from the WZO Committe, London, visit the villages of Gujarat to see for themselves the work that has been done, the work that requires to be done and discuss mat ­ ters with the WZO team in India con ­ cerning this project and related matters. •We have acknowledged with grateful - - • -----------i~o ----------------- — thanks the contributions made by the lull time mobeds by ^d large are of poor they had fallen over the decades. Interest Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and the capacity: fte Dastuijis are supposed to earned on amounts collected could only SPP of two lakh rupees each in the pe- give practical instruction in order to re- have been spent a year later and would riod up to December 31, 1992, In the year up to July 23, 1993 we understand that further donations of two lakh rupees “Three High Priests...” I have read the learned Dasturjis ’ opinion (“Three High Priests Opine ” Parsiana, June 1993) with regard to the navar cer ­ emony of Percy Sam Modi. The whole order is in a big mess, the pull them out of the quagmire into which capacity: the Daslurjis are supposed to earned on amounts collected could only give practical instruction in order to re- have been spent a year later and would vamp the whole system. This they have not be sufficient to meet the demands of not done. I am unable to appreciate how hollow words can help at this juncture. I quote which at 15 percent interest would have verbatim, “In our opinion, the matter is yielded Rs 4,79,326 only whereas the ex- very grave and deserves to be treated penditure on farming inputs during this firmly... Under the circumstances, we re- • - - quest your good selves to uphold the _____________ _______ long-cherished and well preserved norms requested us to capitalize their'donations th^projecrand^to speak't^OTd ans'wer and values that have sustained the clergy and use interest only, we have followed questions from the audiences in these for the past millennium and take such that course. countries. This is being done because the project. For example, up to July 31, _____________________ 1992, WZO had collected Rs 31,95,505 have been given by the BPP and SPP*^and we wish to record our thanks to them for the same. •WZO personnel have travelled to America, Canada, India, the Far East and Australia to make video presentations of period far exceeded this amount. How ­ ever, whenever donors have specifically and use interest only, we have followed that course. 2 Parsiana January 1994I I In Memoriam Mr Fall Meherji Variava Director BLAZE ADVERTISING PVT LTD AND ASSOCIATE COMPANIESAn article about the Parsis was printed in India Abroad, an international weekly newspaper printed in New York, USA. I 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 & Electrical 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 4 Parsiana January 1994 WZO is dedicated to see that this work, which is of vital importance to the com ­ munity, is brought to the notice of all Zo- roastrians, so that the community may understand from family and friends in see the need for substantial tinances for Bombay that a similar article had been this project. printed in many Bombay papers. In the We hope that this letter will clarify beginning I did not take much interest, any doubts that may have been created but it now seems that there is no end to by the comments made by Mr H. J. Taleyarkhan. Finally, we believe that a lot of dam ­ age is done and minds prejudiced unnec- turned from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We essarily through inaccurate, uninformed were extremely happy there. We left as and irresponsible statements, specially my husband had a better job opportunity when these are made by well-known and here. There are over 50 Parsis in Riyadh, respected Zoroastrians. It is a great pity! S.F. CAPTAIN President, WZO, Lxnden it, and it is definitely spoiling the Parsi community ’s name. I am a Parsi, and we have just re- and quite a big number all over Saudi Arabia. All of them are very happy as they are paid maximum — no other place in the world would give them the “You have to leave...” salary, perks, benefits, etc, that they get After reading the news article “You have there, tax free! Obviously it all depends to leave... ’’ (Parsiana, August 1992) I on one ’s qualifications and experience, was upset at the treatment given to a fel- ~ low-Zarthushti by the Saudi authorities, just because it became known that he be ­ longed to our religion. I am also surprised to see that no one seems to care about what happened to world! Rohinton Chichgar and his family, in “ terms of protesting to the Saudis, and pe ­ titioning the Indian government to t^e to some personal problems with their up the matter on an official level. Why boss in their job. There have been many do we accept such humiliation of our Parsis who were given jobs after the community member like submissive Chichgars left and many who left of their dogs? For my part I have written protest let ­ ters to the Saudi Consulate in Los Ange ­ les, their embassy in Washington DC, to King Fahd, president Clinton, vice-presi ­ dent Al Gore, members of the US Con ­ gress, the Indian consul-general, Indian reason for leaving the job, and blame the ambassador to the US and sent out elec ­ tronic mail messages to Zarthushtis (in ­ cluding the Federation of Zoroastrian As ­ sociations of North America) informing them about the incident and urging them Bombay papers, friends and family wor- to write similar protest letters to Saudi ried about us when we were in Riyadh, and US officials. This letter-writing is not guaranteed to produce quick action, but it demonstrates Dadar, Bombay, and were in tears to that we care for our fellow-Zarthushtis know the truth; that is when the and we do not take insults and injustice Chichgars themselves admitted that the lying down. whole story was not the truth but had no I urge your readers to ask the Parsi further reaction. Punchayet officers in Bombay as well as ~------- government officials (wherever the and rules. No one is forced to take a job reader resides) to communicate the there. No one is forced to work there, unacceptability of such treatment to One can leave when one wants to, but Saudi Arabian government officials (di- once in the kingdom we have to follow rectly and through consulates/embas- their rules, whether one likes them or sies). MANECK N. BHurwALA not! I am sure there are thousands of President, Zarihoshti Anjuman of Northern California ' ParsiS juSt wishing tO gCt a job there. There are many Parsis who have lived for over 20 years, and would prefer their future generations also to work there. The ones who grumble and mumble are the ones never happy anywhere in the For a fact the Chichgars were not thrown out as they were Parsis, but due own wish. Being a small community, most of the Parsis know each other in Saudi Arabia. We used to have lots of parties, picnics, etc, and never forgot Jamshedi Navroze nor Pateti. But it ’s sad when a family cannot admit the true host country and their own religion in ­ stead. It is a shame we have such people in our community. Since this article was printed in many After reading those articles, elderly Parsi parents have visited the Chichgars in The Saudi kingdom, has its own laws L{tqq income and pots of gold. In case you are under the impression that you are talking about some laborer, let me tell Most Parsis working in Saudi Arabia have their own apartments in India, heaps of money in NRI (non-resident In ­ dian) accounts, kilos of gold jewelry, etc; bought from their earnings in Saudi Arabia. This never would have been possible if they had not gone to Saudi Arabia. Ms feeruza shah Wilmington, Del, USA who called on us in Jubail. I will not go into the details of this conversation as it would be construed as hearsay. But suf ­ fice it to know that the Parsi community you I was a processing superintendent in in Riyadh was in the know as to what Hindustan Petroleum Refinery, Bombay was happening at our end and if Ms Shah and a Shift Manager in Petromin Shell was really staying there as she claims, I Refinery in KSA and to top that I went wonder how she did not hear about the back to Jubail (very near the Kuwait bor- plight of about 15-20 Parsi families stay- der) of my own free will on January 14, ing in Jubail. I have not mentioned in Rohinlon Chichgar replies: any article that there was a problem in In reply to Ms Shah, I would like your Saudi Arabia but specifically about the readers to know that I have given only problem in Jubail where we were em- one interview to The Afternoon Despatch ployed. and Courier and if excerpts or parts of that interview have been printed by oth- 1991, when the deadline served to the Iraquis was January 15,1991. The fact that my company took upon itself to keep me till the exams of my children, studying in the Indian Embassy School, got over in April 1992, even May I ask at this point what was the religion mentioned in Ms Shah ’s iquama though they were being pressured con- ers it has been without my knowledge. I (work permit)? I ask because there are tinuously from December 1991, speaks had given that interview not for gaining Parsis whose iquama qualifies them as any sympathy or compassion but to let Hindus or Christians, my fellow Zoroastrians know the facts i ..._ 7—-------- .1_ and not suffer as we did. I thank Mr ited the Chichgars at Dadar in Bombay Unalluring prOSpCCtS Maneck Bhujwala for at least believing and were in tears... but had no further re- Thirty years ago America was a country in me. action ” I declare that I and my family with tremendous job opportunities. One All the best to you Ms Shah and hope have never, repeat never, stayed in Dadar could walk into an office and wind up you don ’t have to go through the trauma and further, no Parsi elders have con- with a job. The economy grew at an av- that we had to endure. My case and at tacted me or met me. erage rate of five percent. Ours was the least three other cases have been referred to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and we also had a talk with the military attache years and everybody knows about the tax for itself about my relations with my bosses. As for the “elderly Parsi parents vis- and further, no Parsi elders have con- I know more about the place having first generation of Parsis (I have been stayed and worked there for nearly nine here since 1957) and since almost all were well educated, they established MATCH YOUR AMBITION TO A CAREER To do so we offer you: Diploma Course in Business Management (Postal) (IMC) Banking CAIIB Course (Postal) Executive Secretarial Course afie Private Secretarial Course sje Personal Assistant’s Programme (Working Stenographers) Shorthand & Typewriting (English/HindiZMarathi) Telephone Operating & Receptionist Techniques aie Electronic Telex Operating Electronic Typewriting & Word Processing >Se English Conversation & Writing Skills LATEST ADDITION: COMPUTERS Enquire at: Sir J. J. College of Commerce Q0 .A, 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk Bombay 400001 Tel: 2871185 6 Parsiana January 1994grants are costing the tax payers millions getting the degree there would enable them to secure a good job, are misin- “The American dream ” is fading for ply to warn individuals aspiring to immi- the average American. To add to these grate to America, UK, Canada, or Ger- predicaments, the corporate culture is many to safeguard their future. Think changing. More and more corporations twice before you take a mighty step. The have been restructuring their organiza ­ tion in order to be cost effective, and try- grass may not be greener on the other side. ERACHMUNSM New Yoric sands in the near future. Today, for one VsdodHra appeal middle management job there are 4,000 On our Panchayat ’s landed properties in paid them $ 60,000 to $ 250,000 are still perative: without a job after two years. This in- ’In Vishwamitri, which is the site of our eludes some Parsis too. There is no guar- ¦ dokhma, we have two plots of land. A university will secure a job immediately. Some, out of desperation, pick up odd any career opportunity. Most foreigners ing encroached upon and we even find accept such jobs with a view to getting the existing fencing continuously broken the “green card. ” But at what cost? Some feel that it would be disgraceful to return to India and start a career. Actu ­ ally, an immigrant visa allows a person to stay in the country but does not guar ­ antee the right job. On the other side, the Indian market mately five lakh rupees. themselves very well. To realize “the American dream ” was easy. I remember of dollars. Some of them are illiterate in 1968 a Parsi couple earning $ 7,000 and that becomes an added problem for formed, per year got a bank loan at four percent the local and State governments. The objective of this message is sim- and bought a three-bedroom house for $ 43,000. Today it is worth over $ 250,000. From 1960 to 1972, economic expan ­ sion was related to the American in ­ volvement in the Vietnam War plus a high export of goods and services. Then came the oil embargo imposed by the ing to remain lean and mean. Meaning Arab countries in 1973. Prices of oil and there will be more layoffs by the thou- gas (petroleum) shot up overnight, result ­ ing in higher prices for goods and ser ­ vices produced in America. American applicants. Many who lost their jobs that Vadodara urgent work has become im- products became more costly in the inter ­ national market. The resulting down ­ scale economy lasted until 1980 when the inflation rate was 11 percent and antee that an MBA from a prestigious part of the land has been fenced by ce- some 10 million Americans were out of a university will secure a job immediately, ment poles and barbed wire. In view of job. Then came the Reagan era (1980- Some, out of desperation, pick up odd vast housing development on the west 1988) when the mechanics of the supply jobs which pay poorly and do not offer side of the railway lines, this land is be ­ side economics were introduced. The economy grew at a steady rate but the national debt grew faster. The built-up debt is so huge that it would take two to three generations to pay it back. The prognosis is that for the rest of the 1990s the American economy would not be in a position to create new jobs at the rate that prevailed before 1988. During the last three years, quite a economy has taken off for sustained ‘In Fatehganj, the Panchayat has estab- few global corporations such as General growth for another 25 years. It is rightly ------------------------ --------------------------- Motors, Chrystler, I.B.M., Kodak, and said by some business leaders that the At last, many others have been struggling to sur- South Asian market economy will domi- . ? i vive. And they are still not out of the nate the 21st century in growth and pros- a COIUlOlSSCUr S CatCry . woods. Possibly it will take up to 1995 ] before any substantial improvement in I the American economy is visible. Un- j employment is on the rise, there are more : poor Americans than ever before, and the i number of the homeless is increasing at passes through one phase of growth to a an alarming rate. The influx of illegal immigrants is out of control and the gov ­ ernment has been trying its best to curb it but without any success. These immi- at different places. It is therefore im ­ perative that a proper brick and cement wall of suitable height be constructed to prevent such encroachments and to pre ­ serve the sanctity of the dokhma. The cost envisaged for this work is approxi- growth for another 25 years. It is rightly said by some business leaders that the South Asian market economy will domi ­ nate the 21st century in growth and pros ­ perity. This means that those who want to toil and have the right qualifications and attitude will be able to climb up the success ladder. More jobs will be cre ­ ated in various fields as the economy ' J more potential area of business activity. In my professional opinion those Parsis, who continue to believe that go ­ ing to the Stales or UK for studies and •"W- Cliff Vintage, Colaba, where the accent is * naturally on food and service. Specialities of the House: Pathar Ka Gosht Chicken Chatpatta Mirch Ka Salan Hyderabadi Biriyani . ¦siazpOFi ; tM*MT«<« NIML OMum* - 'I. . 7L„. ¦ TO T n 1 'x cT" nuMnnu Hill, SB I '1 e Wi w hili J# . X' example of Gothic architecture in the Layout and site city. The judges commended its trustees plan of a Centre for maintaining its pristine beauty. Spe- for Zoroastrian cially commendable was the BJPC Culture proposed Trust ’s decision to remove all advertis- by Bhagwagar ing material from the building (this in- (inset) eluded the famous 501 Bar Soap neon atop it for years together), despite the acute paucity of funds. The building was constructed in 1908 to serve as a school for boys of the The death of the 64-year-old doctor on weaker section of the Parsi community. Today it serves as a cosmopolitan edu ­ cational institution, thereby retaining a consistency in usage. The building drew Tata, his wife Thelma and other directors, Gool) and her grandfather who took it additional praise from the judges but also to the humble liftman and peon because the authorities managing the building have been displaying great the same dedication and affection, foresight in undertaking repairs and restoring the building to its original de ­ sign. Interestingly, the restoration work is being undertaken by the same conservation-architect (Vikas Dilawari) Andheri and back, recalls an associate, who has been responsible for giving a author Russi Lala. While she gave plenty Despatch and Courier of August 15, face-lift and carrying out repair work on of time to patients, for herself she had “Everybody came to pay their last re- the l(X)-year-old Bombay Municipal Corporation building, also an Urban Heritage Award . winning edifice this year. pathological tests unless absolutely necessary, acknowledges her patient Ms Meher Pestonji. Before she had established herself at the Tatas she had worked at the Adams Wylie Hospital, the ENT Hospital and even offered free service at the Oznama was rushed to the Nair Hospital where she Clinic. breathed her last two hours later, notes a write-up in the Mid-Day of August 25. Her father too was a medical practi ­ tioner but Contractor hardly knew him since he had died when she was barely six. She was brought up mainly by her mother for whom she had tremendous re ­ August 11, 1993 was a personal loss to scores of employees of Tatas for not only was she the personal physician to J. R. D. spect (the 90-year-old lady survived upon himself to look after his young serving the group whom she treated with daughter-in-law and her seven children. Inclined towards sports and games. Most Tata employees she attended to Contractor had served as captain of the at her consulting room at Bombay House. Indian women ’s hockey team and was to The more serious patients were paid later become president of the Bombay house visits even if it meant travelling to Women ’s Hockey Association. As notes a report in The Afternoon Homi Rogers of time to patients, for herself she had little, sustaining herself on spects at the Tower of Silence. All the one or two cups of coffee Tatas. And her friends from Air India on and a sandwich until din- whose panel she used to be. The pavilion nertime. It was from the for non-Parsis was full, the hall had no eminent surgeon Dr R. N. standing place, the lawn outside was Cooper that Contractor crammed with people... We ’ll remember imbibed her “goodness of her as she was — those spectacles, that heart, concern for patients and disregard for money. ” She has been described Artist conccives a Center as a strong, assertive, fear- “To instill a sense of pride, belonging less and no-nonsense and togetherness in the Zoroastrian com- person. Yet she was munity on a larger scale, ” Vistasp Minoo equally friendly, affec- Bhagwagar has come up with an “archi- tionate and kind. Among tectural solution. ” His vision of a Centre her strong dislikes were for Zoroastrian Culture, Ahmedabad, re ­ hypocrisy and injustice of fleeted in his thesis that he submitted for any kind. She was an allopath but had an his bachelors degree in architecture at open mind to alternative forms of the School of Planning and Architecture, medicine too. She was wary of the New Delhi, won him the Nomi Bose medical mainstream being exploitative Gold Medal for the finest thesis of 1992. and in fact did not recommend On a nearly five-acre plot of land ad- I f 11 Dear doctor, ¦ departed I When a patient dies, his I deteriorating health pre- pares his near and dear ones for the impending - end. But when a doctor Contractor : concern for dies suddenly, as hap- patients, not for money pened in the case of Dr (Ms) Gool Contractor, it is a loss that the patients take time to recover from. On her way to attend to an ailing pa ­ tient near Chowpatty, Contractor was knocked down by a speeding taxi. She 13 Parsiana January 1994 smile, that most unusual of voices. ” and Yet she not recommend Ljoining the towers of silence which was recently acquired by the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP), ( he has envisaged a complex that would accommodate a fire-temple, «| madressa, head mobed ’s quarters, dharamshala, home for the aged, K ceremony grounds, research cum li- », ¦ brary, arts and crafts center, culture museum, auditorium, restaurant, ad ­ ministration and services. “The underlining spirit of the de ­ sign is to create a complex which would be the cynosure of all eyes... The glory of Persepolis which epitomizes the zenith of Zoroastrian architecture is tried to be captured, albeit on a totally modest scale, with a touch of post-modernism and con ­ temporary influences, ” Bhagwagar explains his concept. Planning the roof Zoroastrian vs noif-Zoroastrian usage, 24- of the proposed fire-temple on the likes hour usage vs temporary usage. The of the Pundole Adarian at Udvada, clubbing and sharing of functions as also shown “more than just academic Bhagwagar notes, “For too long the fire- multi use of space has been planned me- interest ” in this assignment. As reported temple has been content in remaining ticulously. His blue print has been ap- by Bhagwagar, the World Zoroastrian muted ... in expression... It is now time pended with other details and particulars Organisation wanted to study this for the fire-temple to assert itself in built relevant to this project like the approach project as there are plans to develop a form... ” road for each unit, its accommodation ca- center on , similar lines in Toronto. While the fire-temple would be the pacity and floor space, and complexities Though nowhere does Bhagwagar men- most important component it would lie like circulation systems, volumetric dis ­ in the ‘private ’ zone as also would the position and landscaping, mobed ’s quarters and the service areas which would fall under the restricted en ­ try category. The library, madressa, studies at the School of Planning and Ar- be able to build a Centre sometime! ” ghambar hall, dharamshala and the old- chitecture. New Delhi, Bhagwagar won age home are deemed ‘semi public, ’ en ­ try being permissible only after screen- first class honors and was awarded the ing or identification. The arts and crafts centre, the auditorium, the restaurant and the museum would be open to the public, taking freelance cartoon work as a hobby The largest area in fact is reserved by he has also studied the piano. Bhagwagar for the museum which is lo ­ cated centrally. Thus various issues have been kept in mind before developing this project: pri ­ vate vs public, functional vs aesthetic. Today the elders live in solitude clutching At the third anniversary of the Zoroastrian Hall in Jalgaon, president Ms Maharukh Adajania (at the mike) gives a report of the Jalgaon Zoroastrian Trust. Also seated on the dais are (from left) Ms Mistry, Parvex Katrak who presented a slide show and songs, and Ms Jatgaonwala. onto their ancient inheritance while the young migrate toJarger cities, leaving behind their cul ­ ture, roots and ancestry. Both suffer in the process since the quality of life based on mutual interdependence and coexistence is missing. What is sad is that in the process they have pushed aside their rich cultural heritage as well. Here then is the need for a Centre for Zoroastrian Culture. ” Bombay which constitutes the cultural hub of Zoroastrians in India cannot afford such a centre in terms of space, says Bhag ­ wagar who finds Ahmedabad ideally suited being centrally located with convenient transport links and a Zoroastrian popu ­ lation which indicates “signs of growing in the future. ” Further the APP has tion the cost estimates, in a covering let ­ ter he notes optimistically, “Who A brilliant student throughout his knows, the Parsi philanthropic spirit school life at St Xavier ’s and subsequent may surface somewhere and we might his Bachelor of Architecture degree with SPOTLIGHT On the Indian team which won the World Railway badminton title last year was Poona ’s 21-year-old Ms Firoza Batliwalla, notes a press release from the Zoroastrian Youth Association, Poona. Twenty teams from across the globe reportedly participated in the World Railway Games in Denmark last May. School ’s Gold Medal as the best student in the batch of 1991-92. Besides under- Jusrifying the development of a Zoro ­ astrian Centre Bhagwagar writes, “There is a need to bring back the harmony be ­ tween the old and the new generations. Compiled by Parinaz Gandhi ADOPTION A childless Parsi couple wishes to adopt a healthy, Zoroastrian child preferably between the age of 1 to 21/2 years. The couple is well-educated and from a good, cultured background. The child will be brought up well, with love. Replies will be treated as confidential. Please write with child ’s latest photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana (Adoption) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 14 Parsiana January 1994 MATRIMONIAL A well-educated, intelligent, home loving, unmarried Parsi lady, 46, young looking, with good health and personality seeks matrimonial correspondence from educated, well-settled, preferably professional gentlemen, up to 55 years. Write to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimoniai (Jan/1-94)* GPO Box S92, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number dted here.ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD Feroze Kapadia have established Spenta and contracts, ” Choksy shifted his interest Real Estate in association with The Pro- to public issues, appearing in the appeal fessionals of Campbelltown, Sydney, in- courts in cases involving fundamental forms Manashni. They have pledged that rights, constitutional claims, challenging 10 percent of all commission they earn on elections and election petitions since the the sale/purchase of property by AZA election of J. R. Jayawardene in 1978, in ­ members or through their referrals, will be donated to AZA funds. forms the write-up. He was appointed chairman of the law commission and was Sri Lanka ’s delegate to the United. Na ­ tions General Assembly. When Premadasa became president, minister for constitutional and state af- Choksy, his long-time counsel and confi- fairs in the government of the Republic of dante refused his offer of political office. I I \ AZA House, at last! 1994 may be the year of wish fulfilment for Sydney Zoroastrians. “It will be the year when we finally build and be able to enjoy the use of our Darbe Meher and our Annangrove property...Hopefully we can celebrate Navroze in March 1994 at Annangrove! ” notes Australian Zoroastrian Association (AZA) president Ms Gulu Bilimoria in Manashni (September/October The President’s man 1993), the newslettCT of the Sydney based When Kershasp Choksy was appointed oiganization of New South Wales. On October 17, 20 Association mem ­ bers helped to clear the old Annangrove Sri Lanka in May 1993, he became “the He was appointed member of parliament House, the source and venue of much first Parsi (Zoroastrian)... cabinet minister on the national list nonetheless. Choksy heartache for AZA members as permis ­ sion to develop the property has been won in the teeth of opposition from the local authorities and uncooperative neighbors after prolonged litigation. evacuated items including barbeques, a table tennis table, books, etc have been carefully stored in various homes. Once the place had been cleared the construc ­ tion engineers Glendenning Group Archi ­ tects were scheduled to call tenders for construction expected to begin in Novem ­ ber and finish by March 1994, according to Manashni. The Association still faced a shortfall in funds to the tune of $ 33,514. The struggle continued despite donations of A $ 10,000 from the Zoroastrian Char ­ ity Funds of Hongkong and A $ 2,000 from Bombay Parsi Punchayet president Jam shed Guzder. The architects ’ estimate for the project as of December 1992 was $ 372,187. The team currently in charge of AZA affairs includes vice president Akhtar Ostowari, secretary Ms Arnaz Bana, trea ­ surer Tim Desai, and committee members states the press release. “They would like London based solicitor Sarosh Zaiwalla Ms Kitty Masalawalla, Ms Freny to see changes in the role played by the continues to be in the public eye. Early Kolsawalla and Kersi Meher-Homji. cabinet and parliament under the presi- last September the Financial Times car- Sports and Manashni are back in Meher- dential system. ” Hence Choksy ’s long- ried a report by Andrew Jack which noted Homji ’s court. Bana is in charge of Sun- term objective is to rethink the constitu- that the Bank of England is facing the day School, Ostowari of fund raising; Bilimoria and Desai will pursue the building ’s progress while Masalawalla * and Kolsawalla will be responsible for so ­ cial events/fund raising and the library re ­ spectively. In the meanwhile Sydney Zoroastrians known since Ms Sirimao Bhandaranaike ’s celebrated the Shehenshahi Navroze with premiership. Pestonjee ascribes Choksy ’s ing in India and East Africa, a table tennis tournament: “Trust Sydney many legal victories to detailed prepara- The Bank of England had asked for Zeros for new ideas, ” writes Meher- tion of his brief, profound and far-reach- provisional liquidation of Mount. “The Homji gleefully. jng knowledge of law and novel argu- grounds for closure were doubts whether the management of Mount was ‘fit and proper, ’ and not that it might be insol- first Parsi (Zoroastrian)... cabinet minister in a national government in any reluctantly accepted the cabinet post pressed upon him by Premadasa ’s succes ­ sor, President D. B. Wijetunga, as the need of the hour, at substantial sacrifice to Now the in country the world, ” as notes a press release his legal practice and personal fortune as sent by Pesi Pestonjee, trustee of The Ceylon Parsi Anjuman, Kasi (as he is better known) be- Anjuman Trust Funds. President ’s counsel both been born there. Choksy ’s education Choksy is expected to be a catalyst and son Vishtasp, attorney-at-law in the and advisor family tradition. Son Khurshed was due to on vital na ­ tional issues and to coordinate the polices and pro ­ grams of the national cabinet. Cabinet minister Choksy he was director of several companies, in ­ forms Pestonjee. A senior trustee of the Ceylon longs to the second generation of the Choksy family bom in Ceylon — his fa ­ ther Nariman and mother Khorshed had had been completed in Ceylon where he now lives with his India-born wife Freny return after his masters in business admin ­ istration from the US while son Jamsheed, a scholar who has authored the book Pu­ rity and Pollution in Zoroastrianism is as- The people of Sri Lanka have doubts sistant professor of history at Stanford about the suitability of their new constitu- College, USA. tion and the system of preference votes adopted for national and local elections. The ZdiWHlld trsil states the press release. “They would like cabinet and parliament under the presi ­ dential system. ” Hence Choksy ’s long ­ term objective is to rethink the constitu ­ tion, advise his colleagues accordingly first full scale challenge to its authority as and draft the necessary amendments. “Hopefully, these changes may even see the end of the north/south war which has gauntlet has been flung by Mount Bank- bled Sri Lanka dry, ” notes Pestonjee. Choksy ’s legal expertise has been well a regulator to supervise and recommend the closure of banks in the UK. The ing, a small Asian owned bank repre ­ sented by Zaiwalla and Company. Its 3,000 depositors are mainly Asians resid- many legal victories to detailed prepara ­ tion of his brief, profound and far-reach ­ ing knowledge of law and novel argu ­ ments and approach. After earning his AZA entrepreneurs Adil Sarkari and stripes as “the authority on company law 17 Parsiana January 1994vent, ” writes Jack. However, according to certain documents the international banking group Standard Chartered may make a significant claim against Mount running into several million dollars, in ­ forms the Financial Times report. Zaiwalla solicitor Andrew Milne is quoted by the Financial Times to the ef ­ fect that the Bank of England had peti ­ tioned for closure of Mount as a result of the Standard Chartered ’s allegations which were “proved completely false. ” As a result of Zaiwalla ’s presentation “the Lord Chancellor ’s department con ­ vened a three-person banking appeals tri ­ bunal under the 1987 Banking Act in what is believed to be the first instance of an in ­ stitution successfully triggering a formal appeal, ” writes Jack. By the end of September the Financial Times and Zaiwalla were again making news as reported by Business India (Octo­ ber 11-24, 1993). To launch its 24-page survey of India, the London daily invited leading members of the Asian community including Zaiwalla to a sit-down breakfast on September 30. Sometime before the date of the dejeuner Zaiwalla was dropped from the list of invitees, alleg- Parsiana Publications Private Limited requires 1) Editorial secretarial assistant 2) Sales trainees and executives to sell space 3) Management trainees (administration) Write giving full details to: The Advertiser Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd GPO Box No. 892 Bombay 400001 From the Publishers Change in Parsiana Frequency For the last 13 of Parsiana’s 28 years of existence we have successfully labored to bring out 12 issues in a year. Despite the financial loss incurred in publishing the magazine, we have attempted to bring the best to our readers within the limited human and financial resources at our disposal. We are grateful to our subscribers and advertisers for bearing with our publication delays over the last several months. As the September issue was behind schedule by nearly four months we have published a consolidated issue for four months and dated it September-December 1993. We would however like to assure our subscribers that the validity of their subscription period will be extended by three months to compensate for this combined issue. To ensure that we remain on schedule in 1994, we shall henceforth bring out 10 issues in a calendar-year instead of 12. The February issue will hereafter be merged with the March issue, and the July issue with the August one. Since the March and August issues are well over 100 pages, we hope to give you sufficient reading material while ensuring that these special issues reach you in time for the Fasli and Shehenshahi New Years. Subscription payments for Parsiana received before December 31, 1993 will be honored with 12 or 24 issues depending on the period subscribed for. For new or renewal subscriptions received after January 1, 1994, 10 issues will be despatched in one year or 20 in two years. We hope our valued subscribers and advertisers will appreciate that this change in frequency has been necessitated by circumstances beyond our control. We also hope that you will perceive this change as necessary in the long-term interest of all concerned. We look forward to your support in the coming years. 18 Parsiana January 1994AIR POLLUTION CONTROL Mazda-Croll Reynolds offer a variety of Wet Scrubbing Systems for cleaning and purifying air and other gases as well as reclaiming products instead of exhausting to the atmosphere. JET-VENTdRI SCRUBBERS A dependable device designed to scrub large volumes of gases without any complicated internals or moving parts. Fume scrubbing efficiencies are high 0 often above 98%. Simultaneous removal of particulates can be achieved with 99% removal of I particles larger than 4 microns. HIGH ENERGY VENTURI SCRUBBERS Uses energy from a high . velocity gas stream to atomize a liquid stream. Designed without moving parts for long term service and little no maintenance. Exceptional ability to remove small micron or submicron dust particles. tie or L—J edly on the express instructions of the Indian High Commis ­ sion which had lost a law suit to Zaiwalla for unpaid bills amounting to £ 6(X),0(X). Referring to the Financial Times imbroglio. Business India notes, “Now Zaiwalla promises to take the matter further if the High Commission does not cease its ‘vendetta. ’ And if he makes good on the promise, then it will surely be the costliest breakfast the Financial Times has ever had the misfortune to host. ” However, by Decernber Zaiwalla was hosting their usual Xmas party at their Chancery Lane office where the guest of honor was the British Attorney General Sir Nicholas Lyell. The other 400 guests included British aristocrats. Court of Ap­ peal and High Court judges, ambassadors including a delega ­ tion from the Chinese embassy, mayors and Asian bigwigs as informs The Afternoon Despatch and Courier (The ADC) of December 15, ’93. Lyell has been quoted by The ADC com ­ menting favorably on the distinguished gathering as “a testa ­ ment to the strength of international business in London. ” PACKED TOWER SCRUBBERS Mazda-Croll Reynolds packed tower is the most efficient gas scrubbing equipment employing countercurrent operation. Our engineers can select the type of packing, scrubbing liquid and tower size best suited for your particular needs. Can be used in concurrence with a venturi scrubber for very high efficiencies. "I NOx SCRUBBER WITH PATENTED HICKEL-BEARING MESH Essentially a packed tower with specially developed nickel-bearing mesh as the packing material. The mesh retains NO on its surface long enough to permit its oxidation to NO2 within the scrubber, thereby providing high removal efficiencies. 90% removal is guaranteed with most of the installations reporting over 99% efficiency. Yachting for gold Accepting the unpredictability of the sea as a part of the game, Lt Commander Homi Motiwala steered his state-of-the-art equipment with precision navigation to win the gold medal at tlie World Enterprise Championships in Zimbabwe last year, reports Ashish Virmani in the Blitz (October 30, 1993). Motiwala and mate Pushpendra Garg, both of the Indian Navy, had earlier participated in the Asian Championships held in Hiroshima whence they brought home a silver medal, again in ¦ ..V ’’ ¦ The Mazda-Croll Reynolds Wet Scrubbers are available in various materials of construction such as Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, FRP, Teflon and other speciality materials to suit your exact duty conditions, thus taking care of corrosion, erosion and temperature problems. Croll-Reynolds equipment is backed by more than 20 years experience in the air pollution control field, with successful installations all over the world. Mazda, its Indian counterpart, has a*reputation of over 15 years as a reliable and efficient manufacturer of process equipments like Desuperheaters, Safety Valves, Reducing Valves, Control Valves, Vacuum Systems, Thermocompressors, and more. Designed In USA by: by Mani niazda CONTROLS LTD. Patel Chambart, Near H.K. House, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad-380 009. Phone: 408967,408014, 408654 Fax : 0272-427394 Telex : 0121-6620 CROLi.-REYNDLO5 20 Parsiana January 1994 . t tv Motiwala: keen to popularize yachting the Enterprise class. Ten teams from five countries ’ had con ­ tested in this category, informs a report in The Times of India (October 9,1993). There are about five classes of yachting — the 470 boat, the Enterprise, the Laser, which is run single-handed, the Optimist and the Keel — as notes Virmani. “The Enterprise is a back breaking boat. The Keel boat which is used in match racing is less demanding. So is the 470 class boat in the sense that the second guy stands outside the boat on a trapeze-and it is less de ­ manding to maneuver, ” Motiwala is quoted in the Blitz report Motiwala is due to take charge of the Sailing Club ol Bombay and is keen to popularize the sport among the youth, urging them to join the courses run by the Colaba Sailing Club which anchors its boats off the Gateway of India, and the Sea Cadet Corps, further notes the report. Compiled by Amavaz S. MamaRELIGION JRD: The last rites and wrongs Arnavaz S. Mama The uthamna ceremony for JRD Tata causes a divide in the priesthood 1 I 1 Amid the accolades showered on the doyen of Indian industry J. R. D. Tata, an unseemly controversy arose in the press over the patriarch ’s uthamna ceremony in Bombay. Tata passed away in Geneva on No ­ vember 29, 1993 after a brief illness. Ervad Zal Sethna, past president of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, to ­ gether with a colleague, performed the geh sarna before the body was laid to rest in the mausoleum in the renowned Pere Lachaise Cemetery of Paris together with other members of his family. Some publications had erroneously mentioned that the body had been cremated. While 12 priests including Dastur (Dr) Hormazdyar Mirza and Dastur (Dr) Kaikhushroo JamaspAsa per ­ formed the uthamna ceremony on December 1, 1993 at doongerwadi which was thronging with mourners both Parsi and non-Parsi, two priests — Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal and Ervad (Dr) Peshotan Peer — who disapproved of the ceremony being performed found their views being splashed on the front page of The Afternoon Despatch and Courier (The ADC) on December 2, 1993. The paper ’s reporter Cyrus Merchant quoted Peer as saying, “According to our venerated scriptures — and no reformist can challenge my knowledge of them — it is a sin to marry outside the commu ­ nity. The holy book says in no uncertain terms that one who marries outside is an adulterer. JRD is not a full Parsi and in my 50 years of practising, not once have I performed any ceremony for a half- caste. It does not matter to me that his navjote was done. Today forget navjotes, we have priests making the child of a non-Parsi parent a navar (priest). But I am not one of them. ” Kotwal was quoted as saying, “JRD’s mother was not a Parsi; his wife is also bom of mixed blood... Maybe he himself did not want all this, this is all the work of the (Bombay) Parsi Punchayet, sycophants of those in power and position who are trying to curry favor with the Tatas. They use the occasion to cause mischief with our traditions. Mr Tata is being used by the Punchayct. It is sad. For too long they Dissenting priests Kotwal (left) and Peer have been trying to silence the orthodox priests because they all have their selfish motives. But we have put up a fight. It would have gone against my beliefs. For I know and have been taught through scriptures that whether it is a man or woman who marries outside, in the eyes of God neither is entitled to obsequial ceremonies. ” The Times of India amplified in an ar ­ ticle by Ms Bachi Karkaria the next day. The Times quoted Kotwal as saying that JRD “had virtually disowned his Zoroas ­ trian faith; that there were occasions when his pronouncements went directly against it ” (a reference to his outspoken denunciation of the orthodoxy ’s exclu ­ sion zones); that he is being buried in a Christian cemetery by expressed choice, not merely because he passed away in a place where he could not get an orthodox Zoroastrian disposal. “Why then did the trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayct have to bend over backwards and orga ­ nize an uthamna? JRD himself would have found it meaningless. ” According to reports from Navsari, the birthplace of Jamsetji Tata and the recipient of much Tata largesse, its High Priest Dastur Meherji Meherji-Rana, who is also the ex-officio head of the Navsari Anjuman, refused to hold a jashan or uthamna. The Parsi Prakash (The Bombay Samachar, December 29) carried a letter in Gujarati from Shapur Vajifdar to the effect that JRD had donated a sum of money about three years ago, part of which was to be used each year for a public jashan in memory of Jamsetji Tata on his death anniversary. The cer ­ emony had hitherto been carried out in the Navsari Atash Behram under the High Priest and JRD was named in the farmayashni (person at whose behest the ceremony is conducted) as “osta Jehangir, ” attests Vajifdar. As ev ­ eryone knows, only a man from the priestly class gets the osta prefix. The issue reverberated with letters in the general press for the following weeks and an extended debate continued in the Parsi Press. The coincidence of both dis ­ senters being hospitalized shortly there ­ after — Kotwal with a heart attack and Peer briefly with a cracked rib — height ­ ened the drama. And the plot thickened as the news got around that Peer ’s ser ­ vices as panthaky of the N. R. Tata Agiary and as religious instructor at the Avabai Petit Girls ’ School, both in Bandra, had been terminated. Liberal let ­ ter writers in the press wished Kotwal a similar fate. According to Peer he was given the choice by the Agiary trustees — to resign or be discharged. “I told them to give me notice. Dooniyani najare aapre down thai jaiye (the world may look down on me) continued on page 26 21 Parsiana January 1994INSTITUTIONS COVER STORY Uran: harboring hopes Homi Rogers at the neighboring Mora Bunder, the sea Sui claims to have Hxed mosquito nettings over windows which have fallen Sui recalls the days when the Sanato- off. rium would be full, its tables weighed with favorite Parsi dishes as picnickers dows, we espy the circular shape of a well, perched broodingly atop i a hill close to the Agiary. We It gather that this was the dokhma. The Parsi Tower of Silence was, interestingly 1^ enough, consecrated here on the same day as “the founda- tion of (a) new fire-temple, ” reports The Times of India of January 7, 1902. Barely a hundred years later, it is hard to understand why on such a I remote island the community had invested in building a doongerwadi and an agiary, ’ ' even if the latter was only a Ub dadgah (household fire, the H lowest in the category of fires H worshipped). " But a century ago, things 7 were different in Uran. The place bustled with about 20 distilleries (where the local mahua was brewed), all owned by Parsis whose population and holidayers flocked to it for a spot of then ranged around 200. It was an era of To my mind there is a similarity between Ralph, the amiable leader of schoolboys entrance to Uran. stranded on an island in Golding ’s Lord of the Flies and Kersi Behramshaw Sui, the de facto manager and fire-tender at Uran ’s Umrigar Sanatorium and Agiary. Sui appears to share Ralph ’s resourcefulness as he ekes out a living on — hold your breath! — an offi ­ cial monthly salary of Rs 120 sent at erratic intervals, he claims, by the Agiary ’s trust ­ ees. What strengthens the im ­ age is the setting of Sui ’s humble abode: right off the waterfront, amidst swaying palms, and amphitheatered by the looming hills that run down the coastal strip of western India. Across the gentle blue waters, just eight nautical miles to the west, its skyline marked by highrise buildings clearly discernible from the Agiary ’s terrace, lies the bustling metropolis of Bombay, home to the largest Sui standing at the entrance of the Umrigar Agiary in Uran concentration of Zoroastrians in the world. The journey across the . calm water barely takes an hour. But for darya ni hava (sea breeze). Today, the prosperity, of Parsi pomp and pageantry Sui, seemingly marooned, the journey to Parsi traffic is practically non-existent: — and philanthropy. In response to the the island across could conceivably be a Sui — and the trustees — mention only request of many Parsis staying in and lifetime away. one Parsi family from Bombay who visit around Uran, “some of the well-to-do in ­ habitants of Oorum undertook to supply the want of a tower, and with that object invited subscriptions from the commu ­ nity, which were freely given, ” notes a re- From one of the Sanatorium ’s win- i * j ta t • ' ' I HF *** one Parsi family from Bombay who visit it annually for a formight in the sum ­ mer, and enjoy its diminished yet toler ­ able facilities, considering the low rent Sui was bom and bred in Uran. His father, Behramshaw Pallonji Sui came here from Navsari over half a century ago with his wife Banoobai to take of just Rs 15 charged per day. The stair ­ charge of the Umrigar Sanatorium which way has been eaten into by termites port in The Titnes of India of January 6, stands in the Agiary ’s compound, over- (“sambhaljo,” cautions Sui, pointing to looking the peaceful bay. Since then the caving-in wooden steps during our much water has lapped against the jetty ascent), the toilets do not function, and Parsis (see box, “Uran dokhma: out of 1902. The dokhma is now out of bounds for The neglected institutions in Uran have the potential to serve the community of Zoroastrians in nearby Bombay 22 Parsiana January 19941 A bounds ”) the area having been cordoned off by the Navy for their armament de ­ pot. Of late, there has been a move by the Navy to take over the doongerwadi land, and one understands that a notice has also been served for its acquisition. It is, however, not clear to whom the notice has been issued. According to a takhti (tablet) on the dokhma, the doongerwadi consecrated on Din roj in the month of Tir, 1270 YZ (corresponding to January 6, 1902) was set up by the Mora-Uran Zarthosti Anjuman and, like the neigh ­ boring sagdi (small building near the tower, where the sacred fire is kept burn ­ ing day and night), would be managed by it. According to a revenue receipt, the doongerwadi land situated in village Kegaon in Uran taluka stands in the name of “Parsi Colony E. D. Umrigar. ” To hazard a conclusion, the concerned Umrigars may be the same family who built the dadgah here, at the personal ex ­ penditure, the takhti informs us, of Rs 22,000. Alas! The munificence of the Umrigars (Behramji Edulji, Pirojsha Cooverji and Pestonji Khurshedji are credited with the dadgah ’s construction in 1904) and their laudable aspirations were to come to a grinding halt within a few decades. Distilleries were declared illegal, and the exodus of the community to the sheltered isle across, left Uran an isolated outpost. “Today, ” Sui informs us with a listless air, “there are just around four Parsi families in Uran. And none of them visit the dadgah daily — or even occasionally. ” For years now the dadgah has re ­ mained uncared for. The roof leaks; the paint has peeled away, and even the por ­ trait of Zarathushtra is cracking. The Bhiwandiwalas who ' manage the Agiary ’s trust were, along with the Umrigars and the Barias, one of the most prosperous families in Uran having inter ­ ests in distilleries and salt pans, amongst other businesses, in villages in the neigh ­ boring Raigad district. “Today we have no business, no running source of rev ­ enue, ” states Keki Dumasia, manager of the Bhiwandiwalas who, according to the present trustee and Bhiwandiwala scion Dosabhai, has been with the family for three generations. One takes that with a pinch of Bhiwandiwala salt, for Dumasia ’s gait and razor-sharp memory seem to belie his years, even if his expe ­ rience and expertise don ’t. Dumasia candidly concedes that not much is being done for the Agiary ’s up- who ' manage Uran dokhma: out of bounds Gustasp Irani panions started to itch and a red rash broke out on his neck. At the entrance of the wall that en ­ circled the dokhma property, a marble plaque informed us that the wall had A State Transport (ST) been erected at a cost of Rs 3,500 in 1901 by Manekji Jeejeebhai Shroff in On Daepdin roj, Ardibehesht mah (Thursday, October 14, 1993), which is the salgreh or birthday of the Uran Agiary, the quiet that broods over its verdant, overgrown compound was shattered, i ... busload of about 50 Zoroastrians from . , Bombay, primarily from the Dadar memory of Hormusji Khurshedji Parsi Colony, descended on the prop ­ erty to enjoy what might be termed a picnic-jashan. While the priests car ­ ried the prayer equipment into the Umrigar Agiary, the laity bore the food into the adjoining Umrigar Sana ­ torium. Soon we were plotting our assault on the Uran dokhma located a few hundred yards away from the Agiary. We were a group of 12 (I had gone to photograph the Agiary), determined to visit it even though it fell within the re ­ stricted area occupied by the Indian Navy. The two sentries at the entrance of the navy colony turned down our re ­ quest to go further in. But we had come prepared. We brandished our Dubash. The vegetation within the wall was even more dense and most members of our party decided to wait here while four of the more adventurous kind pushed forward. And while we waited for them to return, we drank in the view of the sea below and the skyline of Bombay in the distance. Colorful butterflies fluttered around us and birds chirped from nearby trees. We were tempted to reach for our camera but were reminded that we had given our word as Zoroastrians not to take photo ­ graphs, and so let the equipment re ­ main untouched in the bag. Finally, our quartet of adventurers emerged sans torans and divas which they had left behind for the dead. The torans' (garlands), glass divas (oil environs were wonderful, they said, lamps) and even pointed to our two ac- ~ companying priests in full ceremonial dress. Some of us thundered and pro ­ tested that our religious and minority community rights were being in ­ fringed upon and violated. Others pleaded for sympathy and understand ­ ing; we were only going to pay our re ­ spects to our dead ancestors. “The dead will bless you if you let us go, ” said one. Apparently he had hit the right but ­ ton. A series of eight to 10 phone calls later, we were granted permission to enter — but on the strict understanding count. The problem is that he does not that no photographs were to be taken. But our problems were not over. On the hill, beyond the navy colony erty on behalf of an indifferent com- where the dokhma was located, the path that led up to it was choked with vegetation and could not be traced. Undeterred, we started our assault on the hill, brushing aside branches and circling obstacles in our way. Thoms nipped at our flesh. One of our com- The dokhma walls were as strong as ever, not a breach to be seen, they added. The question that haunted us, however, was how much longer this dokhma would survive. As one mem ­ ber of the group observed, we were probably the first Zoroastrians in years to have paid our respects to our forefa ­ thers ’ resting place, and would prob ­ ably be the last to do so. Not if Merwan Irani, a member of the Uran dokhma expedition, can help it. Irani showed us a land tax receipt of the dokhma paid from his personal ac- know what to do next; who to approach or how to go about retrieving the prop- munity. According to him the land can be used for housing Parsis. “The eld ­ erly and retired should be persuaded to move here and leave their flats back in Bombay for their children, ” says Irani. His appears to be a lone voice shout ­ ing in the wilderness. 23 Parsiana January 1994keep and maintenance. “To what avail of the Sethnas, expired. Merwan Irani, would it be, ” he counter-questions, “when there is no one to benefit from it? ” It is a commonly held line of argu ­ ment. A similar observation was made by Noshir Sidhwa, one of the five admin ­ istering trustees of the Agiary (the others, besides Dosabhai Bhiwandiwala, being putting up apartments here for the com- Rusi M. Sethna, F. R. Sarkari and Burjor munity. S. Sidhwa). Such a response from Sidhwa (a director of Grindwell-Norton, whose plant sprawls on both sides of the property, could have his way, he would nity centre. The scheme itself would who claims to have the power of attorney provide enough incentive for the trustees invested in him by Minoo Sethna before to spend on it, putting an end to their his migration, contests the claim as he present reasons for ihertia. strives relentlessly to wrest back the dis ­ puted plot and offer it, with Sethna ’s consent, to a builder with the purpose of question. The trust funds, as Dumasia shows us the audited figures, are pretty low and yielded only Rs 15,420 as inter- If Irani, who chanced upon the dadgah est for the currently concluded year, due to his involvement with the Sethna From this amount the trust has to settle . . . ,. I land taxes, pay government dues and, to road leading from the jetty to the Agiary) alter the Zoroastrian face of Uran. With keep the fire burning, buy kathi. Accord- was rather surprising, considering his as- its easy proximity and access to Bombay ~ - — - sociation with Uran. On the other hand, 0ust an hour ’s journey by motor launch, “What is made, is to be preserved, ” as ­ serts Merwan Irani, whose zeal for pre- Fj'i’'”' ‘ serving Parsi properties had led to the es- tablishment of the Council for Protection || of Zoroastrian Charities which had inter- fl vened against the sale of the Tithal Sana- B torium property in 1987. Irani is a regu- a lar visitor to Uran ’s Agiary and a few I years ago had its roof of Manglorean h tiles repaired. H Sui acknowledges Irani ’s assistance to S the Agiary with gratitude. He leads us || up the spiral iron staircase to its terrace, and shows the brick tiles laid by builder g Aspi Irani, some six years ago at Merwan @ Irani ’s instance. Now, even these have H started breaking. Sui points out the dif- s? ferent areas where they have chipped or How much, in any case, would the trust spend on the Agiary is the moot w - \ ing to Farrokh and Hoshang Govadia, who along with their youngest brother Mehemosh manage the century-old H. Sidhwa and Son and supply firewood to all the fire-temples in and around Bombay, the dadgah at Uran requires about five tonnes of kathi per annum. The bawal wood (kind of firewood) used ¦ to keep the fire going for a longer time, and hence supplied mainly to Agiaries, costs today Rs 2 per kg. Hence the Uran I dadgah ’s bill would average Rs 10,000 I per annum — practically two-thirds of I the trust ’s revenue. I Sui claims that he purchases some of I the kathi required for the Agiary himself I from his resources which (at Rs 120 per I month from the trust) are meagre enough I to require him to supplement the income I by giving tuitions. But he says it with I sincerity, and an abiding sense of duty towards the padshah (holy fire) who, be- reft of visitors even on weekends from ' neighbouring Bombay, is deprived of , 7fragrant sandalwood. We see large iciciii tticas wiicrc uicy nave cnippeu or given way, partly due to the inclement weather, and partly due to the stones, etc pelted by hostile neighbors. We, too, were greeted with similar missiles on en ­ tering the Agiary ’s compound, though at first we rather generously attributed the barrage to monkeys. But, like the deceptive calm on the Mora waterfront (the harbor was said to be the landing point and storage center Uran Agiary: managing to keep the fire for many bundles of RDX that Bombay ablaze Photo: Gustasp Irani lite Ik'S !•«*' ?¦ ' 1^:11 r 4; J j blocks of kathi lying around the Agiary ’s steps. “I brought them in a tempo from Bombay at my own expense, ” declares Sui, fishing out a bill for the kathi and its transportation charge. Irani, too, has given his mite, and made his co-religionists and colleagues which ply all through the year barring the at the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman con- monsoon months), its re-emergence on ' ' the commercial map of the country with the setting-up of Jawaharlal Nehru Port at neighboring Nhava-Sheva, and with the ONGC project at Dronagiri, Uran it for many bundles of RDX that Bombay ablaze was blasted with), there appear to be sin ­ ister designs on the land as well. This is because large areas of land owned by the community are lying fallow — easy pickings for a take-over. The more than two acres of doongerwadi land could be lost if no action is taken. (And no action . . _____ seems to be taken, as the Trust does not could be the panacea, Irani believes, for jfo community ’s housing problem. Job opportunities in the port and the ancillary industries may not attract the young, but would insist on the Govadias making tribute frequently. The Govadias, who claim to personally contribute to needy agiaries, have occasionally chipped in too. And they recall with a chuckle how, some years ago, when the Hindu munimji of Ardeshir Bhiwandiwala (fa ­ ther of Dosabhai, the present trustee) came to buy and cart away the kathi, he even acknowledge its existence, or pos ­ sible development, the property not be ­ ing under their administration.) A large plot of land standing right Uran could at least, argues Irani, house their own contribution too. next to the Agiary, and belonging to one the community ’s elders who could settle Minoo K. Sethna, who has since settled by the seaside and give their youngsters in the States with his two sons, is under more living space within the city across, dispute; a Radhabai Parkar has claimed it Such housing would also provide succor on grounds of being a tiller of the soil for the Agiary, which could become self- when her husband, a long-time caretaker reliant and once again a bustling commu- “But, ” states Farrokh Govadia “with the escalating costs, sooner or later it w.ill be the panthaky ’s responsibility to see that the fire is fed with ample kathi. ” And he cites the names of several agiaries in Bombay, whose panthakies 24 Parsiana January 1994I have raised their own resources from obliging behdins (laity) to meet the kathi costs which for some years have not been borne by the trustees. Sui has been treading a similar path. He requests the occasional caller to con ­ tribute kathi to the Agiary. Dr Nariman B. Mistry, a visitor from America, was similarly approached. Not only did he comply, but further entreated the com ­ munity through Parsiana (Readers ’ Fo ­ rum, March 1993) to contribute likewise. The trustees, according to Dumasia, do not seek financial contributions for the Agiary either, for even a generous donation can yield only a few thousands as interest, which can be expended. The monthly payments for this service are donation of kathi, on the other hand, would keep the ancient fire aglow, and provide for alternative utilization of the trust ’s finances. Yet, will Sui ’s attempts to gather more funds and kathi for the Agiary serve only to endanger his own exist ­ ence? For Sui is not a mobed; he is not occupation of a large portion of the quar- even a paramobed. Sui took charge of tending the dadgah when the trust-ap ­ pointed mobed/panthaky, a certain Rusi Fatakia, ran away one fine morning after bolting the Agiary from the outside. Sui The exodus of the community to the sheltered isle across, left Uran an isolated outpost batable. “I would like the trust to re ­ settle the fire elsewhere in Bombay where it can be looked after properly, but allow me and my family (now compris ­ ing of mother, a young wife and a child of few months) to stay on here, as a re ­ ward for our years of unflinching devo ­ tion and service. ” Sui ’s existence in Uran, like Golding ’s fictitious Ralph ’s on the is ­ land, is closely related to the fire. Ralph had set up a fire on the uninhabited is ­ land to attract a passing ship to rescue them. Yet, towards the end when Ralph is isolated, and efforts are made to smoke in is not even, as per the trust ’s records, a manager of the Sanatorium. On the de ­ mise of his father, the trust generously continued to let his widow stay on at Mora, and manage the Sanatorium. The him out by setting fire to the entire is ­ land, it is ironically this cloud of smoke that attracts a cruiser. Sui may be facing a dilemma similar to Ralph ’s. His attempts — and those of Irani — to make Uran ’s fire self-reliant, may lead to the building of an atash kadeh which would require the services of a full-time mobed, and not just a,fire-tender. Will his efforts to make the fire bum brighter, ters. Sui has a different tale to tell. “No only smoke Sui out? Or, will Sui ride on Uie Parsi girl wants to come and settle here, ” he states wryly, his dreamy eyes gazing at the horizon. But whether Sui, offered the opportunity, would leave Uran, is de- sent in her name and Sui, for all practi ­ cal purposes, is persona non grata as far as the trustees arc concerned. “He has other interests in Uran, which is why he stays on there, ” states Dumasia, implying that the trust turns a Nelson ’s eye to Sui ’s activities and to his crest of the bay ’s waves and rescue not just himself, but the community as weU when a decade from now the dadgah celebrates its centenary? in as a mourner on the verandah of the ments, conceded the lofty stature of Hodiwalla Bungli. “Tan thi thoru be JRD as an individual, their stand roused ravan tau dekhai (The dead body is JRD: THE LAST RITES... continued from page 21 but spiritually I don ’t want to be involved ravan tau dekhai (The dead body is much community ire; “Everyone of us in new karma, ” he explained, relating partly visible from there), ” claims Peer stands defamed by the implication that how he had been so advised earlier in life by the late Dastur Khurshed Dabu of the H. B. Wadia Atash Bahram. Peer recounts his meeting with the Tata trustees at an interview with Parsiana: “On December 9, Ratan Tata who was suffering from cancer decided pointedly questioned if they would be called me. He is a thorough gentleman, to opt for cremation to avoid embarrass- amendable to perform the ceremonies noble soul. He said, ‘We all trustees ing those around him. for a full-blooded but adulterous Parsi have unanimously decided that now we shall part...We differ from your views. ’ I said, ‘These are not my per ­ sonal views. This is what is said in the Jam-e-Jamshed (December 12) notes, scriptures. ’ He said, ‘But the scriptures are interpreted differently. ’ I said, ‘We have made our own translation. We are MA, PhD in Avesta-Pahlavi. ’” The Petit notice dated December 17 and hand delivered on the 20th contains neither approached by members of the no reason for the termination of service, he notes. Peer spells out his credo; “Trust in God and do the right, ” and says his im ­ mense faith has been justified. The Tata connection became tenuou.s when Naval Tata ’s brother Shavak died and Naval ’s non-Parsi wife Simone sat who was the only person there to request in acknowledging the legality of mixed the lady to shift to the pavilion where marriages one is condoning adultery non-Parsis normally sit during funeral and by doing so is himself immoral, ” ceremonies. According to the commu- writes Ms Feroza Seervai in The nity grapevine it was then that Naval Samachar of January 2, 1994. Another to opt for cremation to avoid embarrass ­ ing those around him. According to The ADC article Peer Zoroastrian. had declined to perform the ceremonies "...L ¦¦ ¦ " ! In their articles in support of the for Naval but the priest ’s letter in the priests, orthodox lobbyists like- Noshir Dadrawala and Faribourz Nariman harped on JRD’s acknowledged distaste for rituals and organized religion; “Would he have approved of this uthamna? ” they ask. The uthamna may not have been nec ­ essary for “the progress of his soul; ” nei ­ ther were the accolades when alive or “It is unfortunate that the statement is incorrect and far from the truth. In re ­ ality, on the sad demise of Mr Naval Tata who was the respected managing trustee of the N. R. Tata Agiary I was Tata family nor the Agiary trust to per ­ form the four day ceremonies for dead. But one can imagine him re ­ Mr Naval Tata... My statement was ab ­ solutely general that any Parsi Zoroas ­ trian who wants to be cremated (where tated for the Bharat Ratna award; “From the dokhma exists) does not qualify for Zoroastrian rites for four days. ” Though the two priests, in their state- ceiving it with grace as he did the other at Cusrow Baug in 1992 when he was felici- the bottom of my heart...thank you for honoring me; thank you for liking me...I am proud of being bom a Parsi. ” 26 Parsiana January 1994SEMINAR nnual get-togethers of Zo ­ roastrian youth necessitate “months of effort and tons of money in order to make the show a success... To ensure that the expectations of the majority of the participants are fulfilled to the maximum ex ­ tent possible ” the Federation of Zoroastrian Youth Associa ­ tions (FOZYA) sought to de ­ termine the pulse of the del ­ egates. To obtain “candid views, ” a questionnaire was circulated to 600 delegates who had attended one or more of the six all-India meets orga ­ nized in the past, writes then FOZYA president Jehangir Disney who tabulated the 93 responses that came in from different comers of India. That the respondents were candid can be gleaned from some of the answers: I “The first festival (for me) was very nice (Calcutta). Everything was new and refreshing. The second one (Poona) was an eye-opener. It made me real ­ ize I was never going to an ­ other one again! ” “Once a topic started there was no end! ” “Topics are often bor ­ ing and involve a one-sided con versation.” I These remarks were elicited by the question “If any of your expectations have not forums, been fulfilled at all or were only partially asked whether they would participate at The financial commitments ranged from fulfilled, please indicate why this hap- group discussions during workshop ses- Rs 5(X) to over Rs 2,000. pened and what you or others could have sions, 93 percent indicated they would “Try as hard as they may, it is virtu- done to ensure fulfilment of your expec ­ tations to a greater extent. ” The most popular reason cited for at ­ tending youth meets was “to make they would only like to listen. is literally a holiday at the expense of the friends from other locations ” as admitted At briefing sessions, the majority, 77 hosts and for the serious few it is nor- 51 percent of the youngsters. Eleven percent, preferred to ask questions to mally a case of returning home with percent noted that they were chiefly mo- panel speakers, 37 percent said they mix^ feelings, ” he adds. “As one who tivated to go to enjoy the company of would only listen, 26 percent were will- has attended all the six annual get- members of their own group while for 10 ing to be moderators and only 14 percent togethers (among the respondents there percent it was “to have fun. ” “The fact undertook to be panel speakers. Three were 29,13, 11 and two youths who had that 51 percent come to make new percent admitted they would rather re- attended two, three, four and five meets friends and 21 percent come for a picnic, main absent from such sessions. Noted respectively) ” he recommends “that shouldn ’t the future annual get-togethers Disney, “(This) shows a greater need for inspite of all (their) shortcomings these be made just festivals and not seminars? ” organizing workshops rather than brief- annual get-togethers must continue... enquired Disney. ing sessions. Only 14 percent wish to be The reason is simple. For even if a few A common refrain voiced at youth keynote speakers... Does this indicate benefit, even if a few matches are made, get-togethers is that “we have no oppor- shyness or unwillingness to put in the even if a few men are separated from the tunity to air our views. ” Yet only four work required? ” boys to (become) leaders of the future, it percent indicated that expression of their When asked whether they would like is a big achievement for a small commu- views was a priority with them at such A their own location, ” 48 percent were ready, while 44 percent declined. Many may not be keen to speak themselves but when asked to suggest speak ­ ers and topics for discussion, they were willing. The sub ­ jects ranged from religion to careers to social issues; and the speakers were mainly those they had heard at earlier youth seminars. Though 71 percent of the youth who responded to this questionnaire were below 25 years, only 16 percent wanted to hear the voice of their own age-group. The majority, 44 percent wanted speakers from the 25-40 group, 14 percent from the 41 to 50 group, and, yes, 14 percent even wanted to listen to speakers aged 50 and above. As versus the lavish meals spread out on such occasions, 85 percent indicated they would like “simple homely food. ” Further saving in costs for the organizers would also be possible if the participants were made to contribute to ­ wards their five days ’ stay: 81 percent offered to pay be ­ tween Rs 200-500 for the meals provided. Further, 82 percent offered to help collect However, when specifically funds to defray the costs of the seminar. Signals seminars Camaraderie seems to be the main reason that draws Zoroastrian youth to the aii-lndia Zoroastrian meets organized annuaiiy be made just festivals and not seminars? ’ 28 Parsiana January 1994 sions, 93 percent indicated they would like to express their views, 32 percent of- ally impossible for the organizers to sat- fered to act as a moderator, 14 percent as isfy the varying expectations of the del- a keynote speaker. Eighteen percent said egates, ” observes Disney. “For many, it At briefing sessions, the majority, 77 shyness or unwillingness to put in the When asked whether they would like to speak on “Youth and their activities in nity like ours. ” bThe age-group of the youth who replied 8%; No reply: 19% were: 31-40 years 16-21 yrs: 46% A: 22%; B: 26%; C: 25%; D: 8%; E: 3%; 22-25 yrs; 25% No reply: 16% 26-30 yrs: 9% 25-30 years 31-35 yrs: 10% A: 22%; B: 18%; C: 18%; D: 24%; E: Above 35 yrs: 5% 2%; No reply: 16% No mention of age: 5% 18-24 years A: 16%; B: 16%; C: 10%: D: 10%; E; Did you attend the annual get-togethers 31%; No reply: 17% at Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, Secunderabad and Hyderabad, Nagpur, Ahmedabad? Not attended any: 3% Attended one: 37% Attended two: 31% Attended three: 14% Attended four: 12% Attended five: 2% Attended six; None In briefing sessions would you like to: Be a panel speaker Yes: 14%; No: 65%; No reply: 21% Act as a moderator Yes: 26%; No: 54%; No reply: 20% Ask questions to panel spe^ers Yes; 77%; No: 15%; No reply: 8% Only listen Yes; 37%; No: 47%; No reply: 16% Remain absent Yes: 3%; No: 73%; No reply: 24% Please indicate through letters. A, B, C, D, E, F your order of preference. If you have not attended any of the annual get-togethers, but would like to attend in future, you In group discussions during workshop should still answer this question. You attended/you would like to attend in future: To enjoy the company of members of Yes: 14%; No: 58%; No reply: 28% your own group: A: 11%; B: 14%; C: 15%; D: 19%; E: 19%; F; 8%; No reply: 14% To make new friends from other loca ­ tions: A: 51%; B: 18%; C: 12%; D: 10%; E: 1%; F: Nil; No reply: 8% To have fun: A: 10%; B: 14%; C: 27%; D: 15%; E: 20% F: 3%; No reply; 11% To be admired and appreciated: A: 1%; B: 8%; C; 10%; D: 10%; E: 11%; F: 47%; No reply: 13% fo know more about the topics covered: A: 32%; B: 25%; C: 12%; D: 12%; E: 11%; F: 1%; No reply: 7% To express your own views on them; A: 4%; B: 19%; C: 23%; D: 16%; E: 15%; F: 15%; No reply: 8% sessions would you like to: Be a keynote speaker Act as a moderator Yes: 32%; No: 45%; No reply: 23% Express your views Yes: 93%; No: 1%; No reply: 6% Only listen Yes: 18%; No: 62%; No reply; 20% Remain absent Yes: Nil; No: 76%; No reply: 24% Would you like to speak on the topic of “Youth and their activities in your own location? ” Yes: 48%; No: 44%; No reply: 8% What kind of meals would you like at these get-togethers? Lavish: 11%: Simple homely food: 85%: No reply: 4% How much would you like to contribute from your own pocket for meals to be The age-group of participants is gener ­ ally 16 to 40 but most of the participants provided by the organizers for approxi- are in the 18 to 25 age-group. Would you like this to continue? . Yes: 73%; No: 17%; No reply; 10% Please indicate through alphabets A, B, C, D, E your order of preference. Age-group of speakers should be: 50-1- years A: 14%; B: 12%; C: 12%; D: 15%; E: 27%; No reply: 20% 41-50 years A: 19%; B: 18%; C: 18%; D: 18%; E: ply: 18% mately five days of the get-together? Nil: 5%: Rs 100: 10%; Rs 200: 23%; Rs 300: 29%; Rs 400: 20%; Rs 500 and above: 9%: No reply 4% Would you be able to collect advertise ­ ments, donations, raffle tickets, etc from your location to help defray the cost of the seminar up to a value of: Rs 500: 34%; Rs 1,000: 24%; Rs 2,000: 10%; More than Rs 2,000: 14%; No re- 31 Parsiana January 1994 MATRIMONIAL Correspondence invited from pretty, well- educated, accomplished girls for a very affluent 34- year-old gentleman, tall, very handsome, well- educated and well established in his own business in a very big industrial city of Gujarat. Advertisement for better choice only. Apply with details and photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Jan/2-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 •Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MECHANIC WANTED Wanted A/c & Refrigeration Mechanic. Minimum qualifications Inter-science and diploma from a technical institute. Good knowledge of electricals and electronics. Minimum 5 years experience. Apply to: Ref. Recruitment Post Box No 9051 DubaiSEMINAR Echoes of on event aided by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in its noble purpose — to “help create a new understanding and approach, which would lead to long-term peace and har ­ mony, goodwill and brotherhood amongst mankind ” — as also by the In ­ dia Iran Cultural Society, the Bombay Parsi Association, the Rahnumae Mazdyasnan Sabha and the Youths ’ Own Union. Such a full-throated Zoroastrian sup ­ port to an event which otherwise would have gone unnoticed in the premier me ­ tropolis of India, drew C. N. Sanghavi, founder president of the Jain Social Groups ’ Federation, to commend the Parsi organizers for calling this meeting. Sanghavi ’s sentiment was shared and ex ­ pressed by almost all the learned speak ­ ers. “An echo, ” as Bombay Parsi Asso ­ ciation president Vispi Dastur described it, “of the small echo of the Parliament being held once again at Chicago to commemorate the centenary event. ” The Parsi presence was not restricted to the sponsorship of the event, but was evident both on the dais and in the audi- § ence. The three-hour session started at 10 I a.m. with a taped recitation of prayers of 1 seven religions. The Zoroastrian prayers I selected for the tape were the Ahunavar I {Yatha Ahu Vairyo} and Ashem Vohu. I They were sonorously conducted by re- I tired Justice Dinshaw N. Mehta, a trustee I of the KRCOI. An invocation followed I by a silent meditation were presided over S by Dastur (Dr) Hormazdyar K. Mirza of Udvada. Dastur delivered the welcome Exactly a 100 years ago on August 29, a seating 41 denominations and religious address in conference was inaugurated in Chicago traditions spoke about their faiths. dent Jehangir Shroff who was ill. as part of a world exhibition aimed to The ovation accorded to Swami Jamshed Guzder, chairman of the bring about a “real fraternity of nations, and unite the enlightened people of the sality of all religions is too well-known pitulating the history of the 1893 confer- whole earth in general cooperation for to bear repetition. But a lesser known the attainment of the great ends for fact is that Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, which humanity is organized. ” The Par ­ liament of World Religions was well re ­ ceived, and was by far the most popular to the Zoroastrian scholar and savant tered. ” Guzder, according to Mehta, was of the congresses held at the exposition. It was well attended by audiences of over 4,000 per session, as 400 persons repre- Homi Rogers goodwill and ¦ As part of the centenary celebrations of the Parliament of World Religions, members of different faiths met on a common platform at Bombay ’s K. R. Cama Oriental Institute ¦te .. . : A X - ' c T e 4^ 1 I ¦I 9 ¦» • absence of KRCOI presi- The ovation accorded to Swami Vivekananda for his talk on the univer- BPP, started off the speeches by reca- ence at Chicago where the “basic prin ­ ciples of 41 religions were enunciated, ” author of The Religious Ceremonies and and prayed that at meets like these “a Customs of the Par sees and spiritual heir spirit of love and brotherhood was fos- Khurshedji R. Cama, submitted a paper invited to attended at the centenary cel- which was read and well received at the ebrations in Chicago, but preferred to same international congress. sacrifice his seat there in favor of a Parsi It is hence fitting that Chicago ’s grand priest to whom he extended all assistance Representatives of different faiths centenary celebrations of the momentous for attending the global event. assembled at Bombay to mark the event were echoed in the K. R. Cama centenary celebrations of the Parliament Oriental Institute ’s (KRCOI) Sir Jivanji of World Religions Photo: Spectravision The theme of the meet in Bombay was the unifying doctrines of all reli- Modi Hall, Bombay. The KRCOI was gions. In short speeches an impressive 32 Parsiana January 1994number of speakers emphasized the fact that though ^1 religions are not the same, they share fundamental beliefs and norms. The meeting served to reinforce one ’s faith, and worked towards a decla ­ ration that mankind can live together de ­ spite professing different beliefs. Among the learned speakers on this occasion were former St ^vier ’s College principal Fr John Correia-Afonso, who spoke on Christianity ’s love of mankind and the humanitarian approach, well-known through the much repeated adage of “love to Salman Rushdie ’s Satanic Verses, dis- thy neighbor as thyself, ” observed by coursed on the Islamic approach to broth- being racked by communal forces, had tody ’s generation in the actions of erhood, understanding and peace. Prof S. Mother Teresa. Speaking on ‘Jainism and Anekant- wad ’ Sanghavi enlightened the gathering on love towards all living creatures, on the Jain way of life which rules out dogmatism and fanaticism in favor of a broad mind, liberal outlook and reconcili ­ ation of conflicts. “If adopted as a univer ­ sal law, this attitude would lead to a life amongst the two main communities resid- of peace in the 21st century, ” asserted Sanghavi. The teachings of other religions, and how they are tailored to spread goodwill precise presentation on how the Zoroas- and love for all, were similarly enunci ­ ated. Sam Levi, consultant to the Austrian words, good deeds promotes righteous- a visible lack of leadership. ” Trade Commissioner in India for western ness and ameliorates the lot of suffering region, spoke on the Jewish approach to humanity. Mirza, a professor of Avesta- universal harmony and peace, ftof S. A. Pahlavi, spoke of the three-fold duty of cago. If in the intervening 100 years man- Upadhyaya, director of the Bhavan ’s man: his duty to God, whose blessings he kind has forgotten what Vivekananda and postgraduate and research department, enjoys; his duty to himself, which may be other learned speakers had expounded, dwelt in some detail on the teachings in fulfilled by the discipline of keeping his the session served to revitalize and re ­ Hindu scriptures which commend the body healdiy and strong; and his duty to kindle the values of humanity. It was an fight against evil and the promotion of society, as all of God ’s creatures are inter- righteous actions. Ahmed Zakaria, founder chairman of the Islamic Cultural gathering to fight against ignorance and disease which are evil and which have to be dispelled to make for a stronger and better society. Mirza ’s statements and exposition of the Zoroastrian faith echoed a very evoca ­ tive keynote address delivered by the Hon ’ble Sheriff of Bombay, F. T. Khorakiwala, at the beginning of the ses ­ sion. Khorakiwala, who championed the cause of peace and brotherhood, and was Centre and author of the faith ’s rejoinder able to provide Bombay citizens the re ­ quired vision at a time when the city was Fight against ignorance and disease to make for a stronger and better society made a similar observation in his address D. Pawar, vice principal of Siddharth Col- when he asked people to be knowledge- lege, interpreted Lord Buddha ’s teachings able. “Do not be a prey to disinforma ­ tion,* ’he beseeched, maintaining that bet- Sardar Balwant Singh laid before the au- ter understanding could only be achieved dience the teachings of the 10 Sikh gurus if we know the fundamentals of all reli- — Sikhism being a religion founded to gions. “We should include the best bring about amity and brotherhood thoughts of every religion in our children ’s textbooks, ’’ he added. Former governor of West Bengal A. L. Dias, as chief guest of the conference. ing in northern India. The last speaker, representing the ‘host ’ religion, Mirza made a short and panned the leaders for the present state of affairs. “Violence has pitted man against trian theology of good thoughts, good man, religion against religion, and there is A century separated the morning ’s pro ­ ceedings from that historic meet in Chi­ dependent and cannot live without one another. Mirza gave a clarion call to the satisfaction. achievement that the KRCOI can justifi ­ ably be proud of, and look back on with 4C000A Always remember TflTfl 34 Parsiana January 1994 Sir 6RTR KHRMBATR Ketayun & Born! 22!K, Wellington Terrace. Wellington Street, Bombay-400002. Tel. No. 2069636.Under 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: 3644737 Fax: Bombay India 022-2662735-A/c 121 ASIA DEPT. KARACHI/LAHORE/PAKISTAN 9, M B Bil' <* .r shmkJHKK. , -war ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ Z C CONVOCATION CEREMONY OCT. 1989. KARACHI: AVARI TOWERS ORGANISED BY MR. BYRAM DINSHAWJI AVARI, M.N.A.FORTHE ZOROASTRIAN COMMUNITY. THEDEGREECONFERREDON PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO BY DR. MEHER MASTER-MOOS ON BEHALF OF O.I.U.C.M./Z.C. Zoroastrians living in the settlement of India during the era of the British Raj would recall that the old BOMBAY PRESIDENCY area encompassed what is today parts of Pakistan, including Karachi, and the Colleges in Karachi issued Degrees of the University of Bombay. Several thousands of Parsis & Irani Zoroastrians, having their family and relatives in Bombay, and other cities on the West Coast of India, including Navsari, Surat, Udvada, Poona, etc. were suddenly cut off from the mainstream of the Parsi Community about 45 years ago at the time of Indian Independence. Those living in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, all cities having Fire Temples facilities, continued to fan the flames of faith and clung to the Zoroastrian religion. In this work ERVAD GODREJ SIDHWA played a key role, teaching Zoroastrian Religion to the Parsi children at both the Parsi Schools, the Mama Girts School and B. V.S. Boys School - Karachi. I n this he receivedthe wholehearted support ofthe Parsicommunity, the Karachi Zoroastrian Youth Association Late Mr & Mrs DINSHAW & KHORSHEDBANOO AVARI and their family members, Mr & Mrs FAREDOON & GOOLCHER DADACHANJI; Late Mr. TEHMURAS R. SETHNA and others. Numbering in 1980’sat about over 4000,the Karachi . Parsi Community being homogeneous and united, was far better preserved as a community group than any others of theParsiSettlements in India. In 195O's Late Mr. JEHANGIR S. CHINIWALLA was invited to give a series of lectures in Karachi, and after that an embargo was clamped on visits of Scholars from India. It was not until January 1980, almost after a quarter of a century, that the Parsis of Karachi, starved of religious scholarly contact with Bombay, were abletoresume watering theirspiritual roots once more. Late Mr. DINSHAW B. AVAR!, the founder of the Beach Luxury and Avari Towers Hotels in Karachi invited Zoroastrian College President Dr. MEHER MASTER MOOS to deliver aseries of 13 Lectures under various organisations auspices f* in Karachi: and the response was overwhelming with the great hall in Jamshed Baug overflowing to over a thousand auidence seating capacity. The Zoroastrian Community in Karachi is amonst the best preserved of all in the World. The Leading Parsi hoteliers were Late Mr CYRUS MINWALLA and Late Mr. DINSHAW B. AVARI. Their families continue their Social Service work. In 1989, Dr MEHER MASTER MOOS was thrice invited to give a series of Lectures in Karachi, April 1989: Lahore in May 1989: and in October 1989 fora Zoroastrian College Convocation a grand function Organised by Mr. & Mrs Byram & Gospi Avari for conferring the Degree of Doctor of Science Honoris Causaon Madame BENAZIR BHUTTO on her achievement on being elected the first lady Prime Minister of any country in the Muslim World. It was a glorious felicitation function from the Parsee Community to honour her, arranged entirely thanks to the goodness and generosity of Mr. Byram Dinshaw Avari, then Member of the Pakistan National Assembly at the AVARI TOWERS HOTEL in the presence of a glittering assembly of Members of the Sindh Assembly, Judges, Ministers, Consuls of many Countries and his beloved Karachi Parsi Community. Zoroastrian College through its President & Governing Body expresses its sincere appreciation for all the wonderful warmth support and friendship and thanks all the Zoroastrians of Pakistan for all their steadfast help with the construction ofthe Zoroastrian Building at Sanjan and their generous help for a hall in memory of LATE JAMSHED NUSSERWANJEE MEHTA. Zoroastrians of Karachi and Lahore had played a pivotal role in the educational programmes of Zoroastrian College. The eminent distinguished persons who specially deserve to be thanked are Ervad GODREJ & MRS. DINAMAI SIDHWA, Mr & Mrs. FAREDOON & GOOLCHER DADACHANJI, Justice RUSTOM & Mrs. ROSHAN SIDHWA, Late Mr. TEHMURSAS R. SETHNA: Mr. VtSPI MEHTA and Mrs. ARNAVAZ DINSHAW. ERVAD GODREJ SIDHWA of Karachi was destined in December 1986 to deliver the first lectu re of the first "monthly lectures course* when Zoroastrian College opened its doors in December 1986, in the hall of the SOUNDTRAVELCORPORATION Office at Nariman Point, Bombay, ZOROASTRIAN COLLEGE expresses its thanks to Rtn. Dr. KHUBOO AND Rtn. MANOJ GURSAHANI, themselves staunch followers of Sufi Saints of Northern parts of Pakistan, for all their generous and steadfast support for the educational work of Zoroastrian College. Etvad GODREJ SIDHWA’S book “Discourses on Zoroastrian Religion “is useful as a basicteaching text for Navjote aged children. It has become a favourite in India, and is now available only in xerox bond copy format from Zoroastrian College Office: together with Late Mr. TEHMURASP R. SETHNA’S book on ’Instructions in Zoroastrian Religion'. The 2 books form an indispensable set for all parents faced with the task of teaching Zoroastrian Religion to children at home. The yeoman service rendered by the Late TEHMURASP R. SETHNA in transliterating and translating into English all the basic Zoroastrian Religious texts of Khordeh Avesta, Yashts, Yasna, Gathas, Vendidad from the Scholarly Gujarati Texts of Late ERVAD KAVASJI KANGA, has made this set of books the daily use prayer books in many Parsi English speaking homes world wide. These books, together with Mr. FAREDOON DADACHANJI’S Classic “PARSIS ANCIENT & MODERN which is now in its 3rd ed are all available In xerox binding format from Zoroastrian College Office. The Lahore Parsees, undertheablestewardshipof Justice RUSTOM SIDHWA of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Ervad RUSTOMJIPAVRI and Mrs TEHMINA BHANDARI have also given great support to the Zoroastrian College building construction work and through Ervad RUSTOM PAVRI, Zoroastrian Religious Dicsourses with ILM - E - KHSHNOOM content are conducted at the Lahore Agiary. Zoroastrian College also expresses its grateful thanks to Late Mrs. MEHER JAMSHED PATEL and Mrs. NERGISH GIARA Mrs.ROSHAN and Mrs. FRENA N. BILLIMORIA, Mrs. PERIN S. DINSHAW and all other friends and well wishers amongst the Parsis of Pakistan for all their kind support over the years. OTHER ZOROASTRIAN CENTRES IN ASIA In MALAYSIA through Dr. PUNAMCHAND R ATHI and Dr. LIEW Zoroastrian College has affiliated a Centre with Its ALTERNATIVA MEDICINE Dept, for teaching Magneto Therapy and Herbal Medicines. Over a dozen Malayasian Doctors qualified with the Zoroastrian College Diploma Course in these subjects during 1992/93. In KOREA The SU JOK INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY of Dr. PARK JAEWU has established collaboration with Zoroastrian Collegefortraining persons intheSU JOK ACUPRESSURE/ ACUPUNTURE methods for Diploma Courses. InTAJIKISTAN in Central AsiaTheTAJIKTECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY in DUSHANBE/KHUJAND has established a special department for Avesta and Zoroastrian Religious Studies torthe students to take Zoroastrian College DIPLO­ MA & DEGREE Courses and translatethe Scriptual books into Persian & Russian. In KRASNODAR, RUSSIA The HERBAL NATURE CURE UNIVERSITY has established collaboration with Zoroastrian College ALTERNATIVA MEDICINE DEPT, lor exchange of information of students/professors. If you are interested in supporting ZOROASTRIAN COLLEGE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION/pursuing a DIPLOMA/DE- GREE COURSE by RESEARCH/or Books on Zoroastrian Religion & Health - please contact ZOROASTRIAN COLLEGE PRESIDENT at Mustafa Building address. Donations are welcome: CASH or CHEQUE in favour of SHAH BEHRAM BAUG SOCIETY. All Donations are Tax Exempt under Sec. 80G of I.T. Act. ADVERTISEMENTMUSIC Instrumental to Indus Creed The Indus Creed group with whom Zubin Balaporia performs won the 1993 American MTV award for the Best Asian Video Gustasp Irani The music hit us with physical force. The conforms, drums and electric guitars seemed to I pound their rhythm against our chest, the locks behind his head in both hand^ keyboards wailed and the singer belted out song after song with all the vigor and ferocity he could muster. This live performance two years ago at Bombay ’s Rang Bhavan was a trifle indulgence with him: it is his full-time too rich for our middle-aged ears as we occupation, floundered in a sea of wildly screaming fans. On stage Rock Machine, India ’s leading rock band, now renamed Indus gade and The Second Coming and Creed, punched out melodies in a frenzy; the long flowing locks of the musicians percent of the music they play at live swung wild in the dazzle of spotlights to performances is original. Two of their keep pace with their swaying bodies. Sweat streamed down their faces and drenched their garments. On the elec ­ tronic keyboards or synthesizer Zubin Balaporia, the only Parsi member of the Our songs don ’t have deep messages like group, pounded the ivories with savage dexterity. Modern music, we realized as we watched and listened, was more than a matter of harmony, it was a physically Die For Your Country, he explains, is a taxing exercise. little different. The piece was inspired Let me stop the tape here. Then fast during their visit to Kohima in Nagaland living rooms of millions of families forward it through the years. We now where they had performed live and later across Asia. “MTV has changed the encounter the lanky 27-year-old ’ ’ ’ .................... Balaporia during the quiet of the day in ; his Bombay apartment on Warden Road Japanese soldiers who had died there and discover that his rebel image has during World War II, “It seemed so been neatly wrapped up and tucked away pointless. Young men dying for what? along with his keyboards. The Balaporia You realise the absurdity of war when we meet here is an amicable family man, married to Tanveer and looking forward to the birth of their first child. Thrice a week he relaxes with a good game of football at the Priyadarshini Park. But in many ways it is to the non-con ­ formist world of music that Balaporia the lanky 36 Parsiana January 1994 “I’m comfortable with my eluded. An occupational hazard of the hair, ” he says as he gathers his flowing profession is that there is no permanency in the location where they rehearse. “We are constantly moving from one place to the next as we are constantly being thrown out. Our music is way too loud, ” says Balaporia. But their audience cannot seem to get enough of it. Cries of ‘encore ’ followed them as they toured the country from Bombay to Madras, Calcutta, Bangalore (a very receptive audience), Pune, Goa and even the far-flung north-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland. Abroad, they have enter ­ tained audiences in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. “There is a certain energy about a live performance: the lights, the vol ­ ume, the atmosphere... The beauty of it is that you can ’t duplicate the excitement of it at home, ” says Balaporia. Then along came MTV and added a new dimension to music. With the aid of visuals, rock stars gatecrashed into the “You don ’t expect a banker to go to of ­ fice in casual clothes. You don ’t expect a musician to perform in a suit, ” he adds. And music, he informs us, is not just an The group, Balaporia informs us, has released two records: Rock-n-Roll Rene- are currently working on their third. Over 80 videos were aired on MTV and the sec ­ ond, Pretty Child, won the 1993 Ameri ­ can MTV award for the Best Asian Video. “We are not into statement music. saving the planet or the rain forests. Our songs are fun tunes that people can relate to, ” says Balaporia. Of course the song where they had performed live and later visited a graveyard lined with tomb ­ stones in memory of Indian, British and across Asia. business of music for all of us. At one time the only way you could promote your record was by giving live perfor ­ mances. Now our videos are aired in 30 countries all over Asia and if good, they are shown as often as five times a day, ” says Balaporia. The video Top of the you read messages on tombstones like: < " ' ‘ ~ “ ‘Here lies so and so who never got to see Rock was ranked by Asian viewers as his unborn child. ’” Back home, like in any other job, the six-members of the group go through their paces and practise between 4 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. each day, Sundays ex- 17th on the Asian Top 20 charts and 33rd among the top 100 videos released world ­ wide in 1992. Ranking ninth in the latter group in 1993, Pretty Child also won the MTV Asian Viewers ’ Choice Award.Though it merited just a fleeting moment our identity and destiny and made a con- “The audience probably thought that it on the worldwide telecast of the award scious decision not to perform with any was part of the song. But the band knew ceremony, Balaporia and his colleagues other singer. ” and I knew that this performance was dif ­ are not complaining. “It was an Ameri- “ can show and even the European award Rock sums up the group: “They started winners were not called on stage, ” he ex- out like any other hard rocking band, plains. And only two members of the Together we ’re gonna conquer every cor- group, the singer and lead guitarist at ­ tended the function, and, that too only did with crackling live performances, a the Prime Sports channel on TV. “When because an airline gave them •««¦«¦» ki music six days a three complimentary tickets. ** Three tickets? Yes. The third a* /' lo do is listen to more music, ” was used by their newly ac- says Balaporia who admits quired British manager ‘ "* ... ... Russel Mason, based in the Middle East. With Mason taking over the headaches of the commercial side of music, the future of the group looks even more promising, first he insisted they change their name if they hoped to . make it big in the West, b “Rock Machine is too naive, ” I Mason said, and the I musicians agreed. They did " not like the name either, but had got Balaporia (secondfrom right) with stuck with it from their college days and members of Indus Creed did not know how to shake themselves free of it. But finding a new name had truckload of equipment and the PA sys- its own problems. “We fought over it for tern trailing them from one stop to the three months, ” says Balaporia. As equal other. “There are about 120 lights alone Balaporia. When he does listen to music members they all had one vote each. And and the power we require for a perfor- being temperamental musicians, the mance is enormous. In small towns, like baptism proved to be quite a problem. “In fact it ’s been quite an achieve ­ ment that we have held together for so rounding area when we perform, ” says long. Most other music groups disinte- Balaporia. grate, ” says Balaporia, giving us an in ­ sight into the functioning of individuals Balaporia recalls the time they travelled most encouraging. They "have always within a unit. In such a situation, some- by tram to perform in Kanpur. thing unusual had to happen to resolve Kanpur station they found that their mu- the name game. Someone suggested ‘In- sic system had been loaded into the lug- discreet ’ and the six tore the word apart gage compartment for a station down the through your downs that makes the dif- into ‘Indus Creed. ’ “It ’s Indian, it ’s line. The station master refused to open catchy, it ’s different and we all liked it, ” the doors, so they jumped back on the says Balaporia. train and rode down to the next stop The bonding of the group goes deeper, where the station master refused to hand It started in 1985 when young college over the equipment as it was booked for kids from H. R. College and Jai Hind Kanpur and not at his stop. Only after a says Balaporia. He wishes he had stayed College (from where Balaporia gradu- great deal of pleading were they able to with it longer though, for in the years to come the training would have provided a solid foundation on which to build his More disastrous were the bloomers on glittering career under the spotlights and scious decision not to perform with any The words from their song Top of the ferent from the rest. ” Back home in Bombay, Balaporia re ­ laxes not by listening to music or the MTV as one might imagine, but with a ner of this land. ” And rock the land they rousing game of football or by watching British I* of But said. 4 ’ I that he is not a great ‘rap ’ fan but is quick to add; “But it does not mean that that is bad music. All it means is that it is not my kind of music. To each his own. As a musician, I realize that you can ’t appeal to all tastes. All I can say is that if you don ’t like what you hear, don ’t listen to it. ” When he tunes in to music from a professional stand ­ point, he instinctively listens to the background. “Maybe I am missing the message in the words, but I prefer to see what ’s going on behind the voice. In our group I come in after the song is written. My contribution to the piece is on the production side, ” says for pleasure it is the rock and roll of the ’60s and ’70s. “The Beatles and the the ones in the north eastern states, there Rolling Stones are my favorites, ” he is a virtual power blackout in the sur- And goof ups are part of the show. states. Has his choice of career been ' the cause of headaches for his parents? “No, my parents (Russ and Vispi) have been At maintained that I do what I want to do. Everyone has their ups and downs and it is knowing that they will stand by you ference. ” Their more substantial contribution to his music was when they sent him for pi­ ano lessons when he was six years old. “I did it for four to five years and hated it, ” ated) banded together and started out on free their goods from the red tape they their journey down melody lane. As they had got entangled in. soon became the best group around, 1' other performers, notably singer Gary stage. Balaporia tells of the time they before appreciative audiences. Lawyer, would request them to provide had been performing on a beach in Dubai backup accompaniment at their perfor- before an audience of Asian and Euro- mances. “It reached a stage when it be- i came Gary Lawyer and the Rock Ma- rock music ”) on a hot day in May, and chine, which was quite unfair to our lead the light displays on his keyboards went singer. So we sat down and worked out blank. He had hit the wrong switch, happened to Balaporia. “To perform live is thrilling, ” he says. “It ’s kind of realizing your childhood pean expatriates (“Arabs don ’t care for dreams: You imagine yourself perform ­ ing before 10,000 people and never be ­ lieve that it will really happen to you. ” It 37 Parsiana January 1994BOOKS The wisdom of ancient Iran Homi Rogers Journal of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute (No the east and then onto the plains of the Zarathushtra and a set of probable dates west... Neither the theory of the in which he lived, thus dismissing, MS H. N. Modi tor the K. R. Cama Oriental Insti- _ tute, 136 Bombay Samachar Marg. Bombay 400023. Pp:60. Price: Rs 25. west... Tokharian remnants of a greater Guti amongst others, W. B. Henning, Mary land, nor that of a long migration to the Boyce, Shapur Shahbazi and ancient Per- east of a group of Guti from Mesopotamia sian texts, to conclude: “So we are left Is it the aim of the K. R. Cama Oriental makes geographical or archeological with the pre-Achaemenid period which Institute (KRCOI) to become reader- sense. ” Sorry, Professor, but it makes no cannot be further determined, which is friendly? If so, this may cause the ped ­ ants to fret, but for the rest of the com ­ munity interested in Zoroastrian matters theory is. Similarly, what can one make (hitherto rebuffed by the closed-door at- of the “identification of the Tokharian two essays, though each imparts a new titude of scholars) this heralds a refreshing change. We are referring to the current proliferation of books and journals from the KRCOI, set in a teld and very readable type, and put to ­ gether without the diacritical marks associated with works of scholarly study in Zoroastrianism. The most recent case in point is Journal No 58, a slim volume of four contributions of which the first two are based on lectures delivered Frye (left) and Vajifdar under the Institute ’s auspices in May 1991 by Professor Emeritus Richard N. speakers with the Yueh Chih who are first Frye, Aga Khan Professor of Iranian reported in Chinese sources as living in Studies at Harvard University. Frye ’s papers are titled “New Views on the Homeland of the Indo-Europe- one ’s own ignorance; it is a plea that ans ” and “Zoroastrians in Central Asia when bodies decide to publish scholarly in Ancient Times. ” Unfortunately Frye, works, it would be fitting to publish brief like most scholars secure in their ivory notes on the theories being referred to by towers, writes not for mass consumption the learned authors. Also, as in the case but for academia. This is an impediment of Frye ’s talk, a map which he may have to the enjoyment of scholarly works, as used when delivering the lecture should opposed to journalistic fare which, even be incorporated to help the reader visual- when addressed to an exclusive audi- ize the migration patterns, and see the ence, is concerned with providing a places mentioned. Only then will works his duty. ” It is a thought that centuries background to the piece. A scholar aimed for a wider readership get across to holds no such brief, perhaps because he the new audience. Innovations like believes he is addressing only an in- handy size and clearer type face, as formed coterie. Thus Frye ’s “Homeland adopted by the publication under review, know/Through the world we safely go. ” of the Indo-Europeans ” expounds the are not enough to encourage lay readers. As interesting as Vajifdar ’s lengthy theory of V. V. Ivonov and T. V. Gamkrelidze on the homeland in Anatolia and includes sentences like, present set of papers, is their penchant for Japan ’s Destination. ” His paper exam- “Any group moving from Anatolia building new edifices on the demolished should go south to the Fertile Crescent premises of an existing theory. Frye sug- rather than through high mountains to gests four different homelands of Prophet sense to the lay reader who is not aware what one should expect in prehistory be- who the Guti were or what the Tokharian fore written records in eastern Iran. ” A similar strain pervades the other Gansu province of western China? ” This is not to criticize Frye, or exhibit and distinctive approach to its theme. Farrokh J. Vajifdar ’s paper on “The Glory and the Victory ” considers at length the concept of kkwarrah: “the divine incarnation in man manifesting itself as an effulgence... allotted to an indi ­ vidual to render him capable of (assuming) the task incumbent upon him in the great cosmic battle. ” Vajifdar ’s strength lies in the fact that he peels the onion ­ like layers of history, literature and sym ­ bolism to consolidate his theory on the activation of the khwarrah and its spiri ­ tual motivating power to release the la ­ tent energy embedded in the moral ideas of the Gathas. It is indeed interesting to note that our ancestors linked the increase of one ’s khwarrah with one ’s temperament: “Ever fortunate is he who is ever joyous. Ever sound of body is he who is sound of soul... Never depressed is he who, by reason of his daily apportionment, is con ­ tent with his lot. He who makes his khwarrah to increase is the one who does later the metaphysical poet William Blake was to echo: “Man was made for joy and woe/And when this we rightly Yet another failing of scholars, and piece (38 pages) is Shahab Setudeh- one which comes to the fore in the Nejad ’s exposition on “Persepolis as ines the similarities between the two eastern civilizations from the standpoint of their common ideals as assimilators of 38 Parsiana January 1994diverse backgrounds. At a time when the staff. But by this time it is too late, more sophisticated Ila. After explaining management world looks to Japan, and Sakshi leaves his home — and his life, why she is returning everything given to politically as well as economically she is The happy ending takes its own time her, as their daughter and their son ’s viewed as a contender in world affairs, it coming, so that the happiness-ever-after wife, she adds: “If my mother was still is interesting to note the author ’s conclu- is hard-earned. on earth, she would pray for me now. sion that he views Japan ’s destiny as be ­ ing the same as that of Persepolis as en ­ visioned by our tolerant Achaemenid an- the story ’s rough edges. It makes cred- cestors: the embodiment of a nation ible even what is difficult to accept as, which Herodotus considered unique in its for instance, when on a shopping spree ready adoption of foreign customs. Jai leaves the car with the keys dangling All the three authors through their from the ignition. Sakshi, sitting inside, four essays in this book have broken is tempted to take the wheel. The car fresh ground which is fascinating for “leaps forward like a restive horse. ” Jai, both the layman as well as the scholar, coming out of the shop a moment later, is The slim work is the result of profound panic-stricken. He follows and overtakes study and research, and hence a substan ­ tial contribution to documenting the wis- himself — refusing to acknowledge that dom of ancient Iran. Additional notes and maps, as suggested earlier, plus short and chose to do so — as if the car had a homely, simply told and warmly old- resumds about the authors would have will of its own instead of she willing it: heightened its impact. is hard-earned. Barnabas ’ strong narrative sense and Since she is not, I ask you to. I need a instinct for character ride smoothly over mother ’s prayers. ” There are others who people this To the central character courage is second nature and dignity more than her in an autorickshaw. He starts blaming HnVthinO 10 th© WOflcI ¦ztfTA it wasn ’t his fault, that she knew i ’iving fashioned story: Sakshi ’s grandparents Dominic and his Scottish wife Fiona who Can love be so blind? Burjor Karanjia Sakshi by Sarala Barnabas. Published for the Writers Workshop by P. Lal, 162/92 Lake Gar ­ dens. Calcutta 700045. Pp: 280. Price: Hard ­ back Rs 250, Flexiback Rs 100. “Was I so careless as to leave the engine on, or the brakes off? ” Can even love be left him because she was homesick, but so blind? who lives long enough to play a crucial Credibility takes a knock again at the role in Sakshi ’s life when she and Jai call suddenness with which Jai decides to di ­ vorce Sakshi and marry Ila. Even infatu ­ ation has its doubts and hesitations. Such ter of Dutch ancestry so that Sakshi has things do happen, but it is the novelist ’s “gold-flecked green eyes and hair shot job to make them seem to happen, to full of russet highlights. ” Jai ’s own par ­ make them credible. The decision is ents are Ketan Samartha, with his rather taken too soon, and even his discovery of forbidding exterior hiding a warm and Ila ’s deception follows too quickly after, affectionate nature, and his gentle Parsi But in the reading, this doubt is subdued wife Piroza. Then there are Binty, god- and overwhelmed by Sakshi ’s typical but mother and midwife, Sohrab and Gulnar still unique reaction. She doesn ’t argue. on her on a visit to Scotland. Her own parents are Adrian and Rebekah, the lat- “I’ve always loved to tell stories, ” says still unique reaction. She doesn ’t argue. Dubash, a homely and wise Parsi couple. Dr (Ms) Sarala Barnabas. And judging She doesn ’t protest. She leaves behind all whom Sakshi calls Uncle and Aunt, and by her novel Sakshi, people must have the clothes, all the gifts and trinkets, ev- loved listening to them. Sakshi, protagonist of the novel, is which she no longer is. The very next Their son Aftab, three years her senior, witness to happenings that are fairytale- morning she leaves his parents ’ home shares Sakshi ’s love for horses which, like. And a fairytale ambience permeates without a word as to where she is going, the unlikeliest locales — an advertising She leaves without even telling her hus- agency in the beginning and a stud farm band about the gift she in turn has for owned by some friendly Parsis later. Sakshi, too, in spite of herself, is very much a fairy princess, almost Words ­ worth ’s “perf^ect woman, nobly planned, to warn, to comfort and command. ” The hers early in life, she has made his par- Crown Prince (CP), otherwise Ice Ma- ents her own, just as having no daughter chine (IM), whom she falls in love with of their own, they have “adopted ” her. dignity more than anything in the world. . and marries, is owner of the advertising This heartbreaking letter is the high point agency in which she lands her first job. There are no wicked stepmothers, no dragons, but there is the efficient, sophis ­ ticated, sexy and wicked Ila who works temess. in the same agency and casts her spell on Jai (CP alias IM) so that, foolishly infatu ­ ated, he is ready to divorce Sakshi. Of gry with him. The failure is mine en- course, as in all fairy stories, Jai discov- ers in no time at all how Ila is brazenly ging doubt in her that her lack of social deceiving him with a member of his own who readily come to her rescue by pro- erything he had given her as his wife, viding her with a job on their stud farm, which she no longer is. The very next not so strangely, are a formative influ ­ ence on her character. In her first novel Barnabas, who has written other stories too, reveals an un ­ canny knack of pulling at her readers ’ him, the most wonderful of all, now growing in her belly. Sakshi does leave behind a letter, not heartstrings. Sakshi is deeply and warmly for Jai, but for his parents. Having lost sentimental, but not mawkishly so. Domi ­ nating is the central character to whom courage is second nature and who respects When Jai, repentant, recognizing the of her engrossing story. It reveals her child she has brought up all by herself as deep hurt made more poignant by the his own flesh and blood, returns to her, fact that there is no recrimination or bit- she accepts him without upbraiding him or in any way humiliating him. It is a mark of her character that, taking him back, she respects his dignity as much as she did her own when leaving him-, tirely. ” This she says because of a nag- Knowing her, sharing her daily vicissi ­ tudes and the niceties of her imagination, graces had made Jai leave her for the becomes an enriching experience. “Last night Jai asked me for a di ­ vorce, ” she writes. “You must not be an- 39 Parsiana January 1994MILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides — as listed in this issue — ranged boy and a 29-year-old man were between 21 and 33 years, the arithmetic mean (the total num­ ber of individual ages divided 92-year-old woman as com- by the total number of brides) pared to a three-day-old female being 28 years. The corres ­ ponding figures for the grooms were 29 and 35 years, averaging at 32 years. There were 90 Zoroastrians consigned to the Towers of Si­ lence in Bombay as compared to 32 births in November. Twenty- four victims fell prey to heart disease of whom nine were above the age of 80. The other major killers were cancer (14) urban hospitals and private nurs- and pneumonia and lung disease (13). Old age and general debil ­ ity, brain disease and septicemia took the lives of five patients each whereas three Zoroastrians each succumbed to kidney fail ­ ure, malaria and accidents. Two deaths each were ascribed to asthma, liver disease and ane ­ mia. Ulcer, premature birth, diabetes, hypertension, angina, Parkinson ’s disease, ulcerative collitis and epilepsy were some of the isolated cases registered. In the case of one death, the coroner’s report was still pen- ALLAHABAD DIED Khorshed Faramroz Ghandi (67) on September 22, 1993 BOMBAY BORN A boy to Niloufer and Kurush Baria; November 1 A boy to Shiraz and Jal Mandviwalla; November 1 A girl to Zinobia and Neville Dadrewalla; November 2 A boy to Rukhshana and Feroze Titina; November 2 A girl to Rachel Ann and Sohrab Bhot; Novembei 3 A girl to Yasmin and Tehmtan Engineer; November 3 A girl to Binaifer and Firdosh Homavazir; November 3 A boy to Methoo and Keki Surty; November 4 A girl to Khorshed and Soraab Frenchman; November 6 A girl to Simone and Marazban Bhumgara; November 8 ding. A four-month-old baby A boy to Nazneen and Faridoon Gamadia; November 22 A girl to Niloofer and also lost to the community. The eldest to breathe her last was a Rayomand Karkaria; 92-year-old woman as com- November 22 A boy to Maharukh and Minoo Balsara; November 23 A girl to Kulsum and Perviz baby, the youngest age at death. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled Poonawala; November 23 from information supplied by A girl to Pearl and Homyar various newsletters and anju- mans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information Readymoney; November 25 is not always complete or con­ sistent. For example, the birth figures for Bombay are supplied A girl to Maharukh and Percy by four hospitals; births in sub- ing homes are not included un­ less individuals send us infor­ mation together with a copy of the birth certificate. In the breakup of deaths according to Cyrus Jal Bulsara; November 5 illnesses, especially of the eld­ erly, death is often due to a com­ bination of several diseases. If readers have any births/ November 5 marriages/deaths they would Farah Khurshed Pardiwalla like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate Porus Soli Sheriar; this requirement and cooperate with us. A boy to Rashna and Godrej Mistry, November 8 A boy to Niloofer and Jim Lakadia-, November 9 A boy to Tushnamaiti and Percy Sasuri-, November 10 A girl to Mehernaz and Yazdi Bhof, November 12 A girl to Jerestin and Cyrus Watchmaker, November 12 A boy to Prescitla and Sammy Major, November 13 A girl to Bena if er and Aspi Bilia-, November 14 A girl to Rashne and Carl Athaude; November 17 A girl to Yasmin and Homi Sopariwatla; November 17 A boy to Rukshana and Cyrus Cardmaster, November 18 A girl to Nilufer and Sharukh Dubash; November 18 A girl to Manek and Dhagi Pithawalla; November 18 A girl to Benaifer and Noshir Surveyor; November 20 Madan-, November 24 A boy to Farida and Jesse A boy to Maharukh and Maneck Painter, November 26 Dalal; November 28 A boy to Pervin and Noshir Gotla; November 30 MARRIED Franak Noshir Pastakia and Farahnez Kaikhosrov Narimanizadah and Jamshed Merwan Falhazada; and Farrokh Bhikhaji Jijina; November 16 Jeroo Eruchsha Katila and November 18 Armede Aspy Rana and Kairoos Minoo Bhaya; November 19 Anahita Rohinton Mistry and Jehangir Behram Katrak of Poona; November 19 DIED Sorabji (Soli) Rustomji Anklesaria (59), residing at A/1, S. B. Bharucha Bang, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; November 1 Jeena Cursetji Antia (72), 77, Jehangir Mans, Hughes Rd, 400007; November 1 Behram Rut tanshah Bodhanwala (71), 11, Wadia Block, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari, 400102; November 1 Keki Dinshaw Irani (70), B. N. P. Bldg, N. A. Sawant Marg, Colaba, 400005; November 1 Vistasp Darayas Mistry (4 mths), 4, Bai Hirabai J. N. Petit Bldg, 189, Alibhai Premji Marg, 400007; November 1 Rustom Fardunji Vakharia (85), Silvern Roche, 21, Carmichael Rd, 400026; November 1 Keki Jalejar Mistry (58), B/503, Shangrila Premises Co-op Soc, Sqn Leader Harminder Singh Rd, 7 Bglws, Andheri, 400058; November 2 Piroja (Pilamai) Bhikaji Variava (75), C/o Maharukh J. Katgara, C/1, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 4(X)027; November 2 Nariman Jehangirjee Mistry (90), 3/16, Kashinath Bldg, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; November 3 Gool Fall Bamji (75), La Emerade, 14th Road, Khar, 400052; November 4 Naja Maneck Kutar (11), Shirin Manzil, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; November 4 Adi Jamshedji Nadodwalla (74), 3, Sayeed Bldg, 324, Maulana Shaukatali Rd, 400007; November 4 Minoo Fakirji Boyce (61), 803, Mount Bldg, J. P. Rd, Versova, 400061; November 5 Minocher Jehangirji Jasawalla (76), 8/B/l, Patel Bldg, Marzban Clny, Gilder Lane, 400008; November 5 Jinjan M. Kuri (60), 52, Jawahar Ngr, 6th Rd, Goregaon (W), 400062; November 5 Tehmiiw Jalejar Mehta (85), Union Bldg, 54, Sleater Rd, 400007; November 5 Jehanbux Dadabhoy Mistry (73), A, Bhatia Bldg, 286, Princess St, 400002; November 6 Amy Faramroze Rogers (69), Q/2*’5, Tardeo Rd, 400007; November 6 Jehangir Darabshah Aibara (59), 39/5, Godrej Staff Qrs, Hill Side, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rd, Vikroli, 400079; November 7 Phirozeshaw Limjibhoy Elavia (91), 515/B, Ratan Mans, R. P. Masani Rd, Matunga, 400019; November 7 Mani Behram Talati (71), 661, Sereneham, Rd no 12, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 7 Behram Rustomji Adajania (52), 5, Turner Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; November 8 Rumi Framji Banker (61), M/23, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 40 Parsiana January 1994400039; November 8 Rustom Faramroze Screwvalla (75), 42/B, Paradise Apts, Nepean Sea Rd, 400036; November 9 Dara Nussurwanji Marshall (87), 18, Military Square, 4(X)023; November 10 Baby girl of Nilu Kushroo Udwadia (3 days), Ratan Mhl, Shradhanand Rd, Ghatkopar (W), 400086; November 10 Keki Dadabhoy Bhathena (79), 5NW, Venus Apts, 40, Cuffe Parade, 400005; November 11 Dhun Jal Daruvala (82), lAllAH 1, United Chmbs, Grant Rd, 400007; November 11 Naval Khursedji Kapadia (71), New Petit Mans, Co-op Hsg Soc, Nana Chowk, 400007; November 11 Goola Shapurji Avari (71), 133/19, Old Mody Khana, Dinbai Petit Widows' Chawl, Mody St, Fort, 400001; November 12 Gool Jasi Bomanji (66), C/o Ms Dolly K. Khambatta, 684, Lalkaka Hse, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 12 Nargesh Byramji Secretary (84), 5/524, Commissariat Bldg, Adenwalla Rd, Matunga, 400019; November 12 Sorabji Hormusji Mirza (71), 43/K/2, Shivaji Ngr, 400043; November 13 Dina Dhunjishaw Sarkari (89), E/1, Mandar Co-op Soc, Raut Lane, Juhu, 400049; November 13 Shera Navalsha Daruwalla (78), Piroja Ter, Near Zanda Chowk, Vapi, (Dist) Valsad, 396191; November 14 Hilla Jamshed Motiwala (77), B, Mota Mans, Opp Bhatia Hosp, Tardeo Rd, 400007; November 14 Firoze Munchersha Photogra­ pher (73), Soonawalla Bldg, Khetwadi, 12th Cross Lane, 400004; November 14 Rustomji Meherjibhai Sethna (72), 13, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; November 14 Dolat Hormuz Irani (86), C/4, Bhabha Sanatorium, Bandstand, Bandra, 400050; November 15 Nariman Phirozshah Kapadia (66), 71/A, Vikas Finlay Tower, G. D. Ambekar Marg, 400033; November 15 JamshedPirojsha Majoo (81), 42, Jamasji Apt, Sleater Rd, 400007; November 15 Kersi Rustomji Amrolia (55), G/ 14, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; November 16 Phiroze Rustamji Karkaria (63), Tehmi Ter, 805, Dr B. A. Rd, Dadar, 400014; November 16 Minoo Nusserwanji Khari (76), V, Dalal Est, Bombay Central, 400008; November 16 Banoo Framroze Mehta (86), Neela Hse, Off Peddar Rd, 400026; November 16 Arnvaz Behram Sukhadwala (JI), D/44, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; November 16 Rusi Nusserwanji Billimoria (65), 53, Panday Sanatorium, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; November 17 Freney Jamshedji Dastur (59), 104, Kavarana Bldg, 3rd Marine St, Dhobitalao, 400002; November 17 Homi Kaikhushroo Elchidana (81), 9, Pudamjee Bldg, M. M. Chotani Rd, Mahim, 400016; November 17 Erach Boomanshaw Major (67), Queens Chmb, 89, M. Karve Rd, 400002; November 17 Soona Phirozeshah Mistry (85), D/5, Shapur Baug, V. P, Rd, 400004; November 18 Farrokh Furdoon Mody (58), West Breeze, V. Patel Rd, Santa Cruz (W), 400054; November 18 Aban Dali Parekh (44), 1/17, Dhunbai Wadi, Dadabhai Rd, Vile Parle (W), 400056; November 18 Mehera Ardeshir Vasania (75), Karani Widows ’ Chawl, Marzban Clny, Gilder Lane, Lamington Rd, 400008; November 18 Jal Khurshedji Wadia (82), H/3, Captain Clny, Tardeo Rd, 400034; November 18 Keki Manecksha Dastoor (81), Mohamadi Minar, 14th Khetwadi Lane, 400004; November 19 Homai Ardeshir Merchant (78), Gulshan, 3rd Pasta Lane, Colaba, 400005; November 19 Pesi Jalejar (Jalbhby) Mistry (63), 20, Mistry Bldg, Old Khareghat Clny, Babuina th Rd, 400007; November 19 Lawaji Munchersha Mithaiwala (55), 204, Destiny, Ambadi Rd, Vasai (W), 401201; November 19 Kaikhushroo Burjorji Singporwalla (11), A/12, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; November 19 Dinshaw Kavasji Dastoor (85), 12, Poho Villa, Malcolm Baug, S. V. Rd, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; November 20 Maneck Minocher Talaty (50), Commonwealth, Nariman Point, 400021; November 20 Homi Jehangir Davierwalla (72), A/15, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; November 22 Bacha Jal Khajotia (80), Ness Baug, Annexe-2, Nana Chowk, 400007; November 22 Peshotan Sorabji Kuka (iB), 9()ID, Villa Modem, Worli Sea Face, 400018; November 22 Minoo Khurshedji Palkiwalla (63), 44/D/l 13, Manish Ngr, Andheri (W), 400058; November 22 Nusserwanji Ardeshir Bulsara (89), Mody Hse, Near Dreamland Cinema, 400004; November 23 Noshir Manekji Engineer (84), 3, Kashinath Bldg, Kashinath Rd, Tardeo, 400034; November 23 Motibai Faredoon Irani (80), Petit Block no 2, J. Petit St, B alaram St, 400007; November 23 Burjor Shavakshah Dubash (61), 779, Daruwalla Hse, Jame-Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 24 Burjor Sorabji Mehta (87), 4/North, Spenta, Little Gibbs Rd, 400006; November 24 Dhun Behramji Motiwalla (86), Fem’s Mans, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; November 24 Shirinbai Rustomji Panthaky (86), Dawoodi Manzil, Gogha St, Fort, 400001; November 24 Homi Rustomji Vachha (62), 18, Guru Nanak Bldg, Grant Rd, 400007; November 24 Homai Rustam Irani (79), 1/104, Shangrila, 7 Bglws, Andheri (W), 400058; November 25 A loo Jamshed Parbhoo (71), 617/B, Cooper Bldg, Girgaum Rd, 4(X)002; November 25 Piroja Bapuji Rabadi (92), 660, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 40()014; November 25 Dossamai Dinshaw Anklesaria (86), 61/B, Meher Apt, Anstey Rd, 400026; November 26 Kelty Jimmy Adajania (49), 599, Sharma Nivas, fame Jamshed Rd, Matunga, 400019; November 27 Banoobai Dhunjishaw Daji (79), 112/A, Rockside, Walkeshwar Rd, 400006; November 27 Shavakshaw Bhikaji Mistry (87), 20, Yusuf Manzil, Khetwadi 12th Lane, 400004; November 27 Kersi Dinshawji Rana (62), 15, N. M. Wadia Bldg, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; November 27 Homi Merwanji Randeria (62), Sethna Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; November 27 Marezban Pervez Vimadalal (29), 7/6, Old Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; November 27 Framroze Cawasji Austin (87), 3/32, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400013; November 28 Eruchshaw Nariman Contractor (73), Vaibhav Apts, Old Prabhadevi Rd, Worli, 400025; November 28 Nari Kaikhosru Rustomji (74), 96, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; November 28 Minoo Maneckji Vania (83), B, The Reward, Next to Ganga Jamuna Theatre, Tardeo Rd, 400007; November 28 Najoo Burjor Chehna (74), 3, Wadia Blocks, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; November 29 Pheroza Siavax Wadia (90), 102, Citadel, 18, L. D. Ruparel Marg, 400006; November 29 CALCUTTA DIED Freni Sohrabji Kiash, mother of Rohinton, Khushroo and Shahnaz Parvez Guard; November 22 DELHI BORN A boy, Darius, to Behroze and Navdeep Jaikaria; November 25 NAVSARI DIED Kavasji Pestonji Ravji (80), father of Jamshed; September 10 SURAT DIED Shirinbai Navroji Karanjia {ib}. Gam Bhatha, Disc Surat, 41 Parsiana January 1994394510; November 2 Framroze Kaikhushroo Dadina {12), Shirin Engineer Block, Shahpore, 395003; November 5 Gustadji Ukadji Kadodwala {15), Gam Kamlapore, Taluka Mandvi, Jilla Surat, 394160; November 9 Pirojshaw Burjorji Sethna (80), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; November 13 Najamai Kekobad Masalawala (72), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395(X)3; November 22 Bachamai Manakji Doctor (87), Parsi Wad, Siganpore, Dist Surat; November 22 Savakshaw Dinshawji Daruwalla (70), Por Mohalla, Nanpura, 395001; November 24 Dhunmai Jamshedjt Amalsadiwala (81), Gam Amalsad, Via Kim, Dist Surat, 396310; November 25 Shaparast Ardeshir Elavia (22), Gam Saroli, Bapa Barimal, Dist Surat; November 25 CANADA Ontario DIED Aloo Batliwalla, mother of Piloo Bahadur Deboo; August 14 IRAN Tehran DIED Ardeshir Jehangir Khosravi of Ontario, husband of Daulat and father of Sohrab, Manijeh, Fereshteh and Farideh; May 22 Zomorod Rashid Bastani of Ontario, son of Shirin and Bahram and brother of Farshid and Fariedoon; May 31 PAKISTAN Karachi BORN A girl, Dilshad, to Roshan and Asphandyar Moruiegari; May 19 A girl, Shirin, to Mehruiz and Feroze Irani', September 18 A girl, Autrin, to Niruiz and Jahangir Yazdani', September 23 A girl, Daleara, to Perveen and Khursheed Katila', September 30 A boy, Danish, to Jessica and Jamshed Dubash', October 10 A girl, Vera, to Tashnumaity and Jamshed Minwalla', October 5 DIED Mehroo Gustad Irani (57); September 6 Dhunmai Godrej Majainah (76); September 17 Jamshed Jehangir Mehta (70); September 25 Khurshed Pestanji Minwalla (69); September 26 Nanabhoy Hormusji Patel (73); October 2 Minoo Maneckji Patel (71); October 7 Dirut Vispi Daroga (72); October 12 Tehmurasp Khurshedji Mody (70); October 12 Homai Homi Hansotia (72); October 16 Jamshed Sohrab Dhatigara (68); October 26 Multan DIED Homai Hoshang Bomanji (54), mother of Peshotan and Mehemosh; November 6 USA Bethesda, Maryland DIED Esfandiar Jamzadeh, husband of Shirin Mazdai; October 9 Dallas, Texas BORN A girl, Farah, to Pearl and Poras Balsara', July 28 Garden City, New York MARRIED Scherazade Merwan Kham- batta of Forest Hills, New York, and Anil Parthasarathy of McLean, Virginia; May 30 Hialeah, Florida DIED Navroz Palanji Dastoor (32); July 29 Los Angeles DIED Adi Shroff {45), son of Soona and Pcsi and brother of Behram; August 7 Northern California BORN A girl, Zar, to Arbez and Hoshang Patel', May 31 A boy, Cyrus, to Dilruiwaz and Kaizad Rustomji', August 2 North Texas BORN A boy, Aaron, to Naju and Bomi Bharucha', August 9 Tinton Fall, New Jersey BORN A boy, Dorian Anthony, to Delna and Terence Edwards', June 12 Compiled by Roxana A. Mirza Toronto MARRIED Shiraz Bagli, daughter of Freny and Jehan of Princeton, New Jersey, and Alistair Macfarlane', July 10 Lydia Capsan, daughter of Thelmar and Phillip, and Far hang Pedram, son of Katayoon and Shahriar; August 7 Binaifer Hosie Surti and Rustom Mirza, son of Putli and Noshir; August 8 BORN Boys Girls A 14 18 TOTALS FOR 1993 Bombay B A India B A Worid B 122 120 1 5 2 5 8 24 32 MARRIED Parsi Intercommunal 6 236 54 8 2 1 3 11 5 DIED Khorshed Jamshed Pardiwalla, mother of Soli, Godrej, Katy and Tehmi; July 20 DIED CONSIGNED Male Female 55 35 515 483 6 6 82 66 11 7 44* 31* Vancouver, British Columbia BORN A girl, Jillian, to Jane and Kershaw Nanavaty, July 25 CREMATED Male Female 2 5 GERMANY Dusseldorf BORN A boy, Jahan, to Frenaz and Kersi Mogrelia-, November 29 A: Total numbers in this issue B: Running totals for 1993 (February 1993-January 1994 issues) NB: In Parsiana, August 1993 and September-December 1993, the running totals include the data listed in the respective issues. • Overseas deaths are listed in the consigned column as Parsiana does not have a breakup of those cremated. These figures pertain to information provided to or collected by Parsiana. They do not represent the total number of births, marriages and deaths in the Zoroastrian community in India and abroad. 42 Parsiana January 1994 I.I IN MEMORIAM Avant-garde architect Parinaz Gandhi This beach house will have no doors. Fearless himself, architect Nari Dossabhai Gandhi had envisioned a house that would blend with the sur ­ rounding natural scenario. “A house shouldn ’t have things which can be sto ­ len. It must have memories; it must have ambience, ” Gandhi tried to convince those whose security was threatened by such an outlandish design concept. Whilst this unusual house did take shape many more of Gandhi ’s dreams died with him when the 59-year-old avant-garde architect was killed in a road accident near Khopoli on August 18, 1993 on his way to Ahmednagar to visit one of the project sites. One of his cherished ambitions was to create Madhusthali in Orissa, a campus akin to Tagore ’s Shantiniketan geared with classrooms, dormitory, amphithe- ater, etc where those with an artistic bent of mind could draw inspiration, mentions ¦ Pravin Bhayani whose relationship with B Gandhi had spanned several decades „* working as his “coordinator/trouble- 'W shooter ” during the execution of his * projects. Some clients and associates a who swear by Gandhi have remained H with him over the years; others have B sworn at him for not adhering to sched- B ules, for not complying with their speci- 3 fications, for leaving jobs incomplete. B “A strong personality, difficult to work with, ” is the appraisal Gandhi had ® earned from some of his associates. 0th- g ers who understood him regarded him as ’ “God ’s own man... A wonderful soul g who cared for what he was doing, mak- S ing others push themselves to attain that g same standard. ” His unmatched “sim- • plicity and sincerity, ” have been refened v to oft and on. He would respect a client ’s needs but / would brook no interference. Deadline reminders would annoy him. “A house, ( _ to him, was a work of art, ” sums us Sadruddin Daya, chairman of Dawood and former sheriff of Bombay who has aspects of a house, its bedrooms and had the distinction of having Gandhi de ­ sign several of his houses, f who are concerned with the functional himself. I created by Gandhi) it becomes difficult afterwards to live in a normal house. ” Referring to his Versova house that Gandhi redesigned as “the most comfort ­ able ” and the Madh Island resort (the one without doors) as “the most interesting ” Daya recalls how 20 years back he had commissioned Gandhi to do the interiors of his Versova home within a budget of Rs 25,000. Gandhi chose to use that amount to create a chandelier of mother of pearls. “I was so delighted with the chandelier that after that I would allow him to do what he wanted... ” mentions Daya. As new ideas struck him, he would be constantly breaking and remak ­ ing things but Daya did not mind: “I found that he was not expensive. He would use discarded glass, wood... to create things in an artistic manner. ” Supplements Bhayani, “He would have beds of onyx or bricks, windows of plastic beads, doors without shape... ” These innovative features that reflected his creativity had a scientific basis too. JK “For example when designing doors with a weight of 500 kg he would keep in mind the wind and the pressure load, use pivots of brass, lead, marble as deemed necessary such that even with a push of a finger the door would swing open, ” points out Bhayani. Giving attention to every minute detail, he was even known to monitor the growth of the plants, often talking to them if he felt they were not faring well. The environment conscious Gandhi would never chop trees to build a house but instead build the house around the trees, compliments Kishore Bajaj, pro ­ prietor of Badasaab, for whom Gandhi designed a farmhouse in Karjat which af ­ ter seven years is now nearing comple ­ tion. The house, which to Bajaj is “di ­ vine or heavenly, ” bespeaks not only “a piece of art but a piece of Nari ’s heart. ” Since the site overlooks a lake, Gandhi had developed the house such that from every corner, whether one is sitting or re ­ bathrooms, Nari Gandhi would not have dining, you feel you are on the deck of a For those fitted the bill, notes Daya, adding, “Once ship in the midst of the water. Bajaj had f -----1„..„1 you are comfortable in such a house (as originally planned for an architect from ? 1* A W'-- 43 Parsiana January 1994 s I * * -s'' • 5^ Gandhi: simple and sincere t 4 i i'’ Houses created by Gandhi with an eye for detail and perfection 0%i Switzerland or Italy to design the area jokes. “We never talked comrnercial, ” but says that once Gandhi ’s name was recommended, he opted to try out this In ­ dian architect who after 71 calls in around six months finally answered the line. For Bajaj, the persistence was worth it. “I worshipped the ground he undue advantage, walked on, ” he adds admitting to certain very pleasant and certain agonizing mo ­ ments he shared with Gandhi when for instance Gandhi initially refused to agree to airconditioning in the bedrooms say ­ ing “I was not commissioned to build the have been conversant with almost every topic, Gandhi ’s hobbies were phoiogra- mentions Sethi who remembers Gandhi ’s words that art was God ’s gift which phy, ceramic pottery, gardening. After should not be commercialized. At the same time he used to advise his young colleagues to be wary of clients who take completing his school education from St Xavier ’s, he put in a year ’s study of sci ­ ence at St Xavier ’s College before switching to the J. J. School of Art. Dar ­ ing to be different in his architecture while yet a student, Gandhi, as a story goes, had drawn houses without ventila ­ tors. His instructor apparently wanted this anomaly conected but to prove his point Gandhi walked home to Dadar from Crawford Market because along the larly the dog pound, as recount different way he wanted to count the houses that sources. Always dressed in kurta-pyjama with Gandhi would not like it if some client a Parsi topi covering his head, Gandhi ’s changed the setting, informs Suresh own needs were few. He was a vegetar- Sethi, project designer of Circus Design ian; eggs too were taboo. Featuring regu- Studio who had been working with Gandhi on the sites for the last three years. Often drawing a parallel between a painting and a house Gandhi, as re ­ members Sethi, was wont to question: “After you buy a painting would you change its contents and color? Why then should you alter things in the house? ’’ Sethi ’s colleague Ms Armin Driver refers to an incident when Gandhi once refused to fix window grills for a client and the impasse that resulted when he insisted working every day of his life, that he had completed the job on the ~ house, and the client maintained that he was leaving the assignment midway. Since he had not set up his own firm mentions that despite her 23 and his 59 of architects, in the last few years he _ would be in and out of Circus Design friend ’’ with whom she could share her Studio ’s premises where he had estab ­ lished a close rapport with Sethi, his wife Simran and Driver. “We never felt over ­ awed by him. Yet his presence brought a certain serenity and peace in our work, ” acknowledges Sethi. There was never an official business arrangement amongst them. However they functioned well as a team — working together, sharing On his part, whether he accepted pay ­ ments for all jobs is not known. Gener ­ osity came effortlessly to Gandhi: treat ­ ing friends to gifts, sponsoring education costs, giving money to families in Udvada on his frequent trips there, or Juhu (Vile Parle Development) Scheme. ’’ raising funds for animal welfare, particu- In his vision of a house every item had a rightful slot — the position of the flow ­ ering pots too had to be exactly so and had open ventilators. He came to the conclusion that barely one percent had open ventilators. The promising student later got an opportunity to study exten ­ sively at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foun ­ dation. On his return he taught at the cause of which some of his friends used Baroda University, at the Bombay Uni ­ te lease him by addressing him as 'pau (bread). ’ Not for him tea or coffee or chocolate as Gandhi believed he did not need artificial stimulants in life. For a watch too, he had no use, telling others that each should be a clock unto himself. Starting his day with a trip to the fire- larly on the bachelor ’s diet was bread be- versity, and was for a while employed with Ta*ta Consultancy before he chose to be self-employed, informs Gandhi ’s sis ­ ter Dr Khorshed Adrianwala. Gandhi ’s brilliance over the years has been recognized in different quarters. Sethi mentions that his Italian friends temple and ending it too the same way if wanted to write a book on him. But the that was possible, Gandhi would be seen self-effacing architect was only comfort- self-effacing architect was only comfort ­ able if people wrote on his work, not if There was always a prayer on his lips, they chose to focus on him. “From what Even whilst entering a work site he could I have seen internationally, I find his be seen praying, recollects Driver who work exceptionally original, ” Sethi pays ") Gandhi a tribute. And being in the same years, she regarded him as “a really good field and knowing the limitations in this country, he is better able to value Gandhi ’s talent. The accolades that he received the master architect used to gra ­ ciously share with those who assisted him in his work saying frequently, “Vi­ sion is one, hands are many. ” Gandhi is survived by his mother joys and sorrows. In fact she was among the few trusted by him to translate his vi­ sionary plans into blueprints. “In the two and a half years that I have been close to him, I have gained more from him than my entire college education or my whole life. There was always something you Najamai, brothers Jimmy, Dali, Pesi and could learn from him, ’’ says Driver. An avid reader who is believed to sisters Khorshed Adrianwala and Zarin Vachha. 44 Parsiana January 1994 L