Feb 1994

it . <> j t-T M. FEBRUARY-MARCH 1994 Rs 15 : • 1 ¦J, i » -1?^ ¦;* t »2J *. <» 'W—• 'j|y • " •«¦>•••» . ANJUMAN ATASH BAHRAM community consciousnessFebruary-March 1994 Volume 16 Number 5 EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi SENIOR EDITOR Dina Mehta ASSISTANT EDITOR Roxana A. Driver CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Gustasp Irani DESIGN Kranti M. Shilotri, Varghese W. Fernandez MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Niloufer Panthaky FINANCE B. L. Arora EDP Rohinton E. Daroga DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, K. P. Ravi 2 Readers* Forum 18 Eventsand Personalities 26 Zoroastrians Abroad 42 BPP: Widening horizons 50 Anjuman Atash Bahram: When heat turned to light by Gustasp Irani 54 PGH: A hospital in labor by Arnavaz Mama 57 Iranian pilgrimage...! by Ardeshir Damania 66 As you sow... by Rustom Daboo SUBSCRIPTION/CIRCULATION Khurshid Panthaki, Bindu Pillai 70 Yet another landmark by Parinaz Gandhi MANAGEMENT Jasmine Driver 74 Billimoria ’s pres(s)tigious assignment by Homi Rogers OFFICE Nowzer Batliwala OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Pramod Patil, Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav 84 Poonawalas: Pioneer Processors 89 Dinshah Sanjana: All that jazz 93 Family adds flavor by Bhicoo Manekshaw 97 Books 114 Milestones 133 In Memorlam Cover: Anjuman Atash Bahram* s 96th salgreh Photo: Gustasp Irani Par si an a wishes all its readers, advertisers and well-wishers a very happy Jamshedi Navroze and thanks them for their unstinting support and trust over the years 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/UK £ 7 for one year, Rs 550/US $ 20/UK £ 12 for two years (please allow six months or more from the time of publication); Air m&il Rs 600/US $ 25/UK £ 15 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 320) for one year, Rs 1,100/ US $ 48/UK £ 28 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 600) for two years. For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 5 for bank charges; for US cheques add $ 5; for UK cheques add £ 3. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favor of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001. 3READERS' FORUM Last Rites: Orthodox Parsees Object to JRD’s Uthamna. ” As a Parsi I felt very sad and ashamed that a controversy good deeds. Humata, hukhta and could come up over praying for a de ­ parted soul. Is our religion so narrow that praying for the soul of a departed person is made principle, an issue because the person ’s mother was a non-Parsi? One of our high priests is quoted as having said that according to our scriptures ‘it is a sin to marry outside being paid to this giant of a man, the em- the community! ’ Even if our scriptures bodiment of goodness and self-effacing have said this, in lune with the new modesty. For a whole month hoardings thinking do we have to hold on to archaic all over Bombay proclaimed his great ­ views? One of the beautiful qualities of ness. Said some of them: our community is our ability to change “Words cannot describe the height of his and adapt. Can we all take a stand that greatness/Or the depth of our loss. ” ‘first — I am a human being; and then I belong to a particular religion and country? ’ JRD symbolized the best among hu ­ man beings and we are fortunate that he belonged to our community. Instead of recognizing this and honoring this great organizations and to municipalities that man, we are making a.controversy! The whole nation is saluting him; in Bombay there are posters saying “JRD — the nobly, and died leaving behind him the Jewel of India, ” and in our community fragrance of the true Zoroastrian faith, we are squabbling over whether we Ms jer jussawala Readers' views are welcome on any subject should pray lor his departed soul! of interest to the community and should Ms anu aga be sent to the Editor, Readers' Forum, r. Parsiana, Q.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. Unsigned letters or those controversy over J. R. D. Tatas (^Parsiana, August 1993).” The Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman, Mhow, has many funds earmarked for 4 1 .1 roastrian who lived abidingly by our dic ­ tum of good thoughts, good words and hvarshta 'nqtq incorporated into the em ­ blem of the Tatas by J. N. Tata himself, and JRD was pledged to adhere to this This is the third month after his pass ­ ing. Every day in the papers for a month or more mighty tributes were constantly And yet Parsiana slumbered! I think Parsiana should bring out a big number totally dedicated to this man, one in cen ­ turies, and send this magazine out all over the world to libraries, to institutions, to colleges and schools, to government all humanity may wake up and know that here was a man who lived selflessly and “Parsis at the heart of...” This refers to remarks attributed to me in the article “Parsis at the heart of India, Letters are subject to editing for reasons of . _ _ _ . L writhout an address will not be published, uthamna was very much called for. It is the Zoroasirian politics of religion, a positive sign and an eye opener to show specific purposes. Due to changed cir- " ' cumstances, some of these funds are underutilized, while many are in deficit. To remedy this, our Anjuman secured court permission to utilize the surplus in ­ come of some funds to meet the excess of expenditure over income in others, for the benefit of the community. • The court ’s permission was not sought to use our funds for other anjumans, which please note. OrB. m. masani Secretary, Paisi Zoroasirian Anjuman, Mhow JRD’s uncommon touch Mr J. R. D. Tata died as he had lived, quietly and without any fuss, like a pri ­ vate citizen. It was only when the tele ­ phones started ringing from all over the figure like J. R. D. Tala cannot escape world that the hospital realized that they religious criticism for not following its had an international celebrity living with principles. We ultra orthodox believe them as a patient for nearly a month. that what our priests Dr Peshotan Peer He straddled the world. He walked and Dr Firoze Kotwal have pronounced across our century in splendor. Such was his stature that wherever he went people looked up to him, and whatever he personality like J. R. D. Tala who has touched came to life and fruition. Our ...................... JRD is now a part of India ’s history. DINSHAH MALEGAMVALA that our young Zoroastrians are now be ­ coming aware of the principles of our Zoroastrian religion, and wanting to practice it. It shows that even a lowering is right and it requires courage to speak out the right even if it attacks a national left behind him a legacy of managerial “Medicare and more” talent. dorabpiiirozshawpatel I refer to the comment on Mr Darius Forbes, “Looking back, however, he feels that the one area where the Parsis DORAB PIIIROZSHAW PATEL Our beloved J. R. D. Tala passed away at the end of November last. Since then we probably defaulted was in looking after their own priestly class (‘Medicare and more, ’ Parsiana, August 1993).’’ This opinion is absolutely correct and shared and Courier in which there was front totally to this great man, the hero of our by many but nothing has been done so .... - _ far to correct this error. “JRD: the last rites...” Two days after JRD’s death I was travel ­ ling from Bombay to Poona and I hap ­ pened to look at The Afternoon Despatch full number of your magazine devoted have received three copies of Parsiana. Many of us were looking forward to a page news on the “Controversy Over community and the epitome of a true Zo- 2 Parsiana February-March 1994 kTo briefly sum up the situation, the mobed and the panthaky is paid on a piece rate basis. This system can only work when the following three condi ­ tions are satisfied: •An employment policy; •Guarantee of workload; •Adequate rate per unit which is mutu ­ ally agreed upon. Sadly, all the three conditions — ____ __ quired for the smooth administration of the existence of educated full-time “WZOI SdaDtinS tO Change” waees. under the niece rate svstem nf rnnkoric T . J u ® . 1 have noted with some regret and alarm the lack of support and encouragement given to the World Zoroastrian Orga ­ nisation (WZO). This body, among the many activities it undertakes, is doing re- We only want full-time mobeds, who are well versed in many subjects, in * U ’ W --------—--------- ~ ¦««UT order to take the cultural battering to kindly be sent to: Hoshang N. Wania which we are all exposed by the mass Coachman House, 12, Karelwadi, ’ exodus to the W^est. Such a priest class Thakurdwar, Bombay 400002 or the un ­ is also necessary to give a meaningful dersigned at P. 6. Box 7677, Karachi interpretation of our texts and to main ­ tain the ceremonial structure which is our cultural and spiritual heritage. This last reason alone is good enough to justify Donations to The Zoroastrian Reli ­ gious Trust For Udvada Mobeds may 74400, Pakistan. 12, Mobed PAURUSASP D. MAGOL Karachi wages, under the piece rate system of mobeds. payments, remain unfulfilled when it We have a trust in Pakistan titled The comes to paying our hardworking and Mobed Welfare Trust which is doing dedicated mobeds. The absence of such well. Now we have a trust for the nractis- basics means abject poverty and down ­ right misery for all our mobeds. The total remuneration package under this system is certainly not good enough to counter ­ balance inflation, much less for aca ­ demic or spiritual growth. This fact is re ­ alized by the smart ones and they quickly ment benefits and other infrastructural world opl for jobs in the secular world where facilities. I„ d,e past few months quite a few various attractive remuneration packages Freed from economic uncertainties, noted Zarthustis have resigned or with ­ are available. This self-ehmmation of the new generation of Udvada mobeds drawn their support from the WZO higher caliber manpower from the pro- will be able to duly fulfill the trust re- (“WZO: adapting to change, ” Parsiana, June 1993). One of the reasons given was the change in its constitution permitting non-Zarthusti spouses to become mem ­ bers of the WZO. The argument put We have a trust in Pakistan titled The well. Now we have a trust for the practis ­ ing mobeds of Udvada called The Zoro- „ _________ ________ astrian Religious Trust For Udvada sterling work in the upliftment of the Mobeds. It is through these trusts that poor Zarthustis, specially in southern we hope to narrow and then remove Gujarat. It had been supported in the past the wage differentials by providing by leading Zarthustis, vada dasturs and monthly stipends, medical cover, retire- rank and file Zarthustis throughout the ment benefits and other infrastructural facilities. Freed from economic uncertainties. higher caliber manpower from the pro- will be able to duly fulfill the trust re ­ fession is certainly not desirable, but will posed in them and provide solace and continue unless we narrow out and then guidance which will eventually benefit finally remove the differences in wage the Parsi Zoroastrian community as a structures. the Parsi Zoroastrian community whole. Hope Mr Forbes agrees! Conference, Wedding or Party — Leave it in West End’s experienced hands. Your Favourite ‘The Gourmet* Restaurant offers Executive Buffet Lunch • 16 delicious courses • From 12.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day. Including Sundays. Restaurant open from 8 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. ’’’’’^Conference Plan Inclusive of: Room Rent. Buffet Lunch, Morning and Evening Tea. Ask for special concession offer for larger ________ conferences. A LA CARTE in the soothing comfort of ‘The Gourmet or TAKE AWAY to the comforts of your home, or office Continental, Moghlai, Tandoori, Vegetarian -7 A NAVJOTE. A LAGAN. A SILVER f OR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY A HRST X BIRTHDAY PARTY — OR ANY SUCH ^ HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR LIFE. West End Hotel 45. Nev; Maenc Lmcs. E3ombay-400 020 Tel 299121 Telex 0 1 i-2892 BEST IN ’ BESTHOTEL Celebrate them at West End Hotel, in the beautiful setting of terrace Hall which is covered during monsoon. 4 Parsiana February-March 1994forward is that this could lead to office One needs to look at the last four videos The Iranian tribes first settled in the bearers and ultimately the president of produced by the WZO to see the great north of modem Iran, and were first the WZO being a non-Zarthusti. This progress already made. mentioned in recorded history in 836 BC comment is valid, but the problem is not " unsurmountable. Quite a few Zarthusti associations in the West do have similar the weak and the poor who need the help the “kings of Parsua" and reached the membership rules where non-Zarthusti most. It would be like throwing out the “land of the Mada ” (the Medes). By 820 spouses and their progeny belong to the baby with the bath water! Future genera- association. tions of Zarthustis will indeed judge us One simple way of avoiding the fear very badly. I appeal to our vada dasturs, of a world body of Zarthustis being led by a non-Zarthusti could be amending Zarthustis to put our past differences be- the constitution of the WZO, where a clause could be inserted that the presi ­ dent or all office bearers must be bright future. Zarthustis. The legal brains of our com ­ munity worldwide would find a solution to this problem. One of the reasons I decided to join the management committee of the WZO above subject (Parsiana, April 1993), Persian. It is also significant that the was to assist needy and poor Zarthustis . ................................................... throughout the world, and specially in southern Gujarat. WZO and several other organizations are doing a fantastic job in trying to alleviate the hardship and pov ­ erty faced by them. For so many years, 500 BC. Olmstead has given the translation of the some of our brothers and sisters were In support of his contention Mr Khan Xerxes inscription: “...I am...a Persian, forgotten and conveniently ignored. It quotes the Naqsh-i-Rustam inscription of son of a Persian... ” Mr Khan will find the took action on the part of the WZO and Darius and the Persepolis inscription of references to all the translations of this other organizations to do something Xerxes. Mr Khan is misled by the word inscription in Olmstead ’s History of the positive by taking corrective action, paarsa and its resemblance to Parsi. Persian Empire (1970). If the WZO is weakened due to lack when the Assyrians mentioned in their of support, the first ones to suffer will be annals that they received tribute from BC the tribes had moved south and were located in the land of Parsuash, after the name of their tribe. From Parsuash we community leaders and rank and file get the modem name Pars (Fars) and Persia. The cuneiform inscriptions were first hind, resolve any shortcomings in a logi ­ cal and sensible way and forge ahead to a deciphered by Rawlinson in the early part of the last century, and no translator of the inscriptions since then has trans ­ lated paarsa as Parsi, although the name “Doors closed to...” Parsi was well known by then. Thus, Sir Ms Homai Bode, in her letter on the Henry Rawlinson translates paarsa as PURVIZ D. KOLSAWALLA Sydney, Australia wrote that Parsis were called by that Parsi scholar K. D. Kiash (Ancient Per- name only after they arrived in India in sian Sculptures, 1889) has translated the the 780s. Mr Roni Khan refutes this Darius inscription into Gujarati as "aik (Parsiana, August 1993) and says that Irani anay aik Iranino chokro (...an Ira- we have been called Parsis since before nian and son of an (ranian). ” A. T. 500 BC. In support of his contention Mr Khan MATCH YOUR AMBITION TO A CAREER To do so we offer you: Diploma Course in Business Management (Postal) (IMG) <> Executive Secretarial Course <> Private Secretarial Course <> Personal Assistant ’s Programme (Working Stenographers) <> Shorthand & Typewriting (English/Hindi/Marathi) <> Telephone Operating & Receptionist Techniques <> Electronic Telex Operating <>¦ Electronic Typewriting & Word Processing English Conversation & Writing Skills LATEST ADDITION: COMPUTERS Enquire at: Sir J. J. College of Commerce 14, Nanabhoy Lane. Hutatma Chowk Bombay 400001 Tel: 244329 6 Parsiana February-March 1994APPOINTED VALUERS OF JEWELLERY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA GAZDAR Private Limited Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay Tel: 2023666, 2023366 Ext 3204 Telegrams: "MANUSCRIPT" 8 Parsiana Fobruary-March 1994 It is interesting to see when the name Parsi was applied to the Zoroastrian refu ­ gees who landed in India in the 780s. Many early European travellers in India met the Parsis and have left their impres ­ sions of them. The earliest account we have is by Jules Jordanus who met Parsis in Gujarat in 1322. He writes: “There be also other pagan-folk in this India who worship fire; they bury not their dead, neither do they burn them. ” At about the same time (in 1323) Friar Odoric met Parsis in Thana and wrote; “The people thereof are idolaters for they worship fire. ” Apparently in the 14th century the name ‘Parsi ’ was not yet widely used, if at all, or Jordanus and Odoric would have used the name. In 1534 Garcia da Orta visited Bassein and he wrote: “...there are also merchants called Coaris, and in the kingdom of Cambay they are known as Esparcis;...they are Gentiles who came from Persia. ” It seems that in the 16th century Parsi was beginning to be used in north Gujarat but not yet around Bombay. In fact, it would seem that Parsi was not much used even in south Gujarat, for Anthony Monserrate who visited Navsari in 1579 wrote that Navsari “is the chief seat of certain men who call themselves Persians or Jezeni, from the city of Jeze (Yazd) in Persia. ” There are some copper-plate grants of the Western Chalukya dynasty which are dated 700-6AD; in these grants occurs the word parasika-dvipa, which some early Parsi scholars took to refer to Parsis — “island of the Parsis. ” As I have shown in my Kisseh-i Sanjan, Parsis had not yet arrived in Sanjan so early in the eighth century, and in fact had not yet left Iran. The great Parsi scholar, M. P. Khareghat, has suggested that the word parasika means ‘Persian. ’ The name parasika occurs in Indian literature as early as the 5th century AD, and prob ­ ably refers to the Persian officials and settlers in Sind and West Punjab (now Pakistan) which then formed part of the Sasanian empire. Ms Bode is therefore right, that the Parsis were so called only after they came to India; and from the evidence of the European travellers, that too fairly late. It would be interesting to have Indian evidence as to when the name Parsi was first used and when it became widespread. h. e. eduljee Ootacamund * compliments from NARIMAN NALLASETH Pvt Ltd PLUMBING ENGINEERS CONSULTANTS C7, Tamarind Lane Rajabahadur Compound Apollo Street Bombay 400023 Phone Nos: 2650066 & 2652986 «rWith Best Compliments M/s Framji Rustomji Choksey ESTD 1850 JEWELLERY Well-reputed firm for buying guaranteed gold ornaments & jewellery. We pay highest price for old gold & jewellery ornaments. (Approved Valuers by Govt of India for Jewellery) 253 Sheikh Memon Street Bombay 400002 Tel 3425422/2063099 Resi 2051118 Dahm Yazad It hurts to read Farrokh Vajifdar poking fun at Dahm Yazad (“The case for accep ­ tance, ” Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, Sep ­ tember-December 1993). Nowhere in Parsiana (March 1993) is Dahm Yazad promoted at the expense of Asha. It says that Dahm Yazad upholds righteousness,- which is different. For the information of the ignorant; •Asha Vahishta- (the arch angel Ardi- behesht, who signifies truth, order and righteousness) is helped by the Yazads Adar, Sarosh and Behram, and they work as a team. The contention that Asha could fail to fulfil the function of truth is the greatest insult one could hurl at the Holy Immortal. •Dahm Yazad is the custodian of the souls of the pious and hence for the de ­ ceased an Afringan of Dahm is per ­ formed on the chahrum day in the Havan gah. Dahm Afringan should also be per ­ formed on the 10th day, the 30th day and every proper day of the month up to the end of the first year along with the Yasna ceremony. •Dahm Afringan is to be recited along with the Afringan of Rapithwan at midday on the day Khordad in the month of Farvardin and again on the day Marespand in the month of Meher. •When the Afringan ceremonies of gham- bars is performed, one Afringan of Dahm is recited. •In the Zinde Ravan ceremonies, Afrin- gans of Dahm are also recited. •‘Dahman Afrin ’ literally means bless ­ ings for the pious. •The Nirang of Dahm forms part of the Yasna prayers. Why does Farrokh Vajifdar have to implicate with indignity Dahm Yazad and Asha Vahishta in his ignorant vitu ­ perative tirade against Ms Mistry? One ’s views on different religious issues may vary, but poking fun at the Ame- shaspands and Yazads is sacrilege. It is a shame that such things are allowed to come out in print by Parsiana. RUSTOM C. CHOITDA Liturgical worship Faribourz Nariman ’s review of A Persian Offering — The Yasna (“Liturgical wor ­ ship, ” Books, Parsiana, February 1993) refers to the voluble “progressives ” and the “mindless iconoclasts, ” to whom “it may appear strange that an ancient liturgy like the Yasna should have as Get good value for your money Visit RAILWAY HOTEL Charm Road Grant Road Junction Bombay 400004 Telephone: 35102,8 Home comforts Moderate rates A/C ? Noh'A/C rooms Deluxe A/C rooms Beer parlour Centrally situated 10 Parsiana February-March 1994HAPPY JAMSHEDI NAVROZE from HOMI & Company Opticians and Contact Lense Clinic Authorised dealers of Bausch and Lomb Raybans and soft contact lenses and solutions Varieties of frames lenses — CR39 plastic multifocals, photochromatics tinted — high index and UV for ultra violet protection from computer glare For complete eye-care A trusted name for over 50 years only at Grant Rd e book, hoping it will have >X“XXtZ “ u ““riage and children of non-^o^Btan much to mach me. m.per.nd.vecha ^™XySbZble to get belter jobs spouses XTi' assimilating and become better citizens. Zoroastr a As the cost of education is ever in ­ creasing, it becomes more and more dif ­ ficult for most parents/guardians to bear perception of perdition and the entire cost of educating their chil- „ot ^nk into the dren, and therefore the demand for fma P conscience. Unless we are cial help from our education fund is co - global historical disap- stantly increasing. . c Thanks to the benevolent institutions have also increased gradually, en- Ms PERIN DIVECHA Kent. England WZO Trust exempted Donations to the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust (WZOT), 8-121, Kutar Street, Tarota Bazar, Navsari 396445, India, were exempt under sec ­ tion 80G (5) of the Income Tax Act 1961 till March 31,1993. .kp Thanks to the oenevuicm niMii.uL.w..c We are happy to inform you drat he t hanxs^to Income Tax department has renew increased gradually, en- exemotion for a further period of three a rin-mrial heln to an in- ano our comiiiuiuiy ivouvo...... . Anrii 1 1993 to March 31, ablmg us to give ^elp to an m a j^^^ership is the Bombay Parsi oi.ig number ol students. However, znupVanH more recently, the ¦ funds being limited, we are not able help all needy and deserving appli- 11.3 IV mv-** ---------------1---- * . . . Last year, after carefully scrutinizing ex-Zoroastrians from Iran and the south ­ ern Russian states or even accepting total non-pedigreed Zoroastrians who wish to Income Tax department from April 1, 1993 to March 31, Your donation is iherefor^eli^ible for Income Tax Act 1961 as per permission years 1996. exemption under section 80G (5) of the Income Tax Act 1961 as Per permission received by a letter dated July 29, 1995 from the office of the Commissioner of apphcations Income Tax, Surat. DINSHAW K. TAMBOLY given Managing Tnisiee, WZO Trust Daman Agiary appeal The trustees of the Shree Daman Vapi Parsi Jarthosty Anjuman and the Zoroas ­ trians of Vapi Daman have decided to construct a new building for our Daman Agiary in place of its old and dilapidated • • ¦ -- constructed 155 benevolent Seth utilizing more Structure which was years ago by the Meherwanji Navroji Manekji. Since the Anjuman does not have sui- ficient funds we have to humbly request all benevolent individuals, trusts, funds, the Bombay and Surat Parsi Punchayets and other Zoroastrian organizations and associations to give us full support and XSn and help us in this noble Mancherj. cause by giving/collecting contributions and donations and in return receive the blessings of this old and sacred fire. The total estimated cost for recon ­ struction is likely to be Rs 10 to 12 lakhs. reconciled to a global historical uisap- pearance altogether, we must shed our attitude of laissez faire; we must wake up and force the issue with our intelligentsia and our community leader^ip.^Ou^tra- creasing number of students. p‘“'"chaveuVpP) a^ more recently, the our funds being limited we are pa^si Zoroastrian Anju- to help all needy and deserving pp ^^^ns of India. Overseas, we now have cants to their full requirements. Federation of Zoroastrian Associa- g,.,^.i financial help to 208 Parsi a -p_,,„,p„ndsofEurope,andsmallerasso- Irani Zoroastrian students, totalling ov t nncinilK Honekong Australia, the ks 1,46,500 and over 50 percent of these “ seems students were from poor farmer fami caoable of taking a lead, is the BPP, with of Gujarat and other places in India, obvious abiUty to muster the support orphan students and students w Zoroastrian associations of the loll their fathers and whose mothers were ^“K“So:Xm^ai.dited regularly gtb^^^asS and are ''’‘“''X’^sZeem of our “ ¦ Federation but it is still some distance Utilizing more than 85 percent ot our lo Meanwhile the BPP must assume r ” ouZses the mantle and if necessary, go it alone till others join in. . u t As such, the BPP trustees, with the In ­ dian Federation, should now seriously consider expanding their horizons and their constitution, to meet this all-impor- 208 Parsi and aslrian Organisarion and donations and in return receive the The^total estimated cost for recon ­ amount spent for administrative purposes being minimal. Account payee cheques/drafts drawn in favor of the “Mancherji Joshi Memo- XiVnJmbiAjlameJamshedRoail'. XSmTw^'eoTX ZtZ'fiom the dona,ions will be sen. to you imm^n el» winch toy Hl Iflvui f-* -------- *’ . rial Education Fund ” may be sent to the ately. Trustee and Hon Treasurer Mancherji Joshi Memorial Education Fund the manifesto of all incoming nominees for trusteeship and their bio datas should -I A Parsiana February-March 1994be geared to this one obsession of salvag ­ ing the Parsi community worldwide. A Global Council for Zoroastrian Survival should be instituted, as an autonomous body, parallel to the BPP but incorporat ­ ing representatives from the BPP, the In ­ dian Federation and all the aforemen ­ tioned overseas associations. Its terms of reference should be to find out ways and means of stopping this demographic ; care- tation. Any association/unit not accept ­ ing this manifesto should be free to de ­ termine its own future, the doors being open for them to join as and when so de ­ sired. The BPP and the Indian Federation should initiate and gear themselves to this exercise, to this exercise at the earli ­ est. Time is not in our favor. No time .. ---. wasted in carrying out elaborate dram in the community, looking care- surveys, studies or research, as all that is fully and equally at the two aspects of already done. Contributory funds may possible change within the community be invited by the BPP from individuals — in the societal structure as well as the ecclesiastical tradition, to the extent necessary to conform to the problems and needs of the 21st century, using the Gathas as their guide. Representatives of the high priests, social workers, the media, demographers, businessmen, in ­ dustrialists, educationists and some scholars of repute and impartiality, with background in Zoroastrian history and tradition from all over the world could be coopted on the Council as non-voting The DHIIbearers members. - Neither blind orthodoxy nor rabid lib ­ eralism should be tolerated in discus ­ sions. These have been divisive, retard ­ ing factors leading to our present pre ­ dicament; we don ’t need any more schisms. A very capable chairman should steer a middle-of-the-road course, since that alone will gain universal sup ­ port and acceptance. No excessive weight need be given to change for the sake of change whether in ecclesiastical or social matters. • Care should be taken not to throw out the baby with the bathwater and not to lose sight of the for ­ est for the trees. Focus should be on the ___ world in which we have to survive in the Escorting the lifeless to the one w"ay door next century, taking into account the Once =----- likely trends of population transfers and the need for relevant transfers of commu ­ nity resources for optimum utilization. Attention should also be given to work ­ ing out a modus operand! for harmoniz ­ ing these changes with the Zoroastrians eternal night and their associations in Iran and the / ’ " southern Russian states, so that we may They live amongst the dead simultaneously muster a unified world Zoroastrian community. The recommendations of this Council should then be referred back to all its component associations and units for sounding out the views of their member ­ ship, statistically by numbers, and then collating such views and statistics in the form of a revised manifesto to be widely population, globally, for their implemen- cold light of pure reason, into the best mode of disposing of the Parsi dead must be our duty to ourselves as well as our re ­ sponsibility to other communities. The towers of silence, built in sparsely populated times and places, con ­ tinue to occupy much costly land close to where people of other communities live, and thus are seriously disadvantageous to all around them. Our own community too is harmed, because they create unneces ­ sarily within the Parsis a degraded class, the nassessalars, who have to enter the dokhmas and move the decaying corpses, pit. In their great personal grief, the users of the dokhmas cannot be expected to di- ~ , P „ . . rect their thoughts to the details of the . of Bombay (and India) lives of these poor nassessalars, but from men whom v- ---- - to such degrading work we cannot expect high principles and scruples. Gradually, Parsis must cease using our dokhmas and build on them electric crematoria, the ashes from which could be disposed of in any way preferred by the mourners — and without nasses ­ salars. Our dead will have had their destined life on earth. All that matters is what our immortal part, the soul, has experienced. The perishable instrument we can leave behind as of no further consequence to the soul. If it is allowed to disappear into ashes we will have done the only sensible thing suited to to ­ day ’s highly populated civilized world. After all, in places where there are no dokhmas. Parsis use public crematoria. Let the dokhmas of the past be turned into gardens and lakes and nowhere ob ­ struct the lives of the growing communi ­ ties in the thoughtful new age which we are entering. Thus our last memories of our dear ones can gain pleasantness and dignity, without any loss to the religion to which they belong. Dr KAEKHOSRU KABRAJl Former Director of Meteorology, GOI London Priestly pronouncements The hypocrisy of our orthodox high priests and other like-minded people amazes me. Recently, we heard that a wedding took place according to Zoroastrian rites of the son of the present Sir Dinshaw Petit notwithstanding the fact that the groom is only partly Parsi (his one ma ­ ternal grandparent being a non-Parsi and his paternal grandmother partly French). continued on page 109 and associations around the world. The __________________ _ trustees should appoint a very capable partly eaten by vultures, into the central and salaried official with a small office staff and modern office equipment to maintain rapid communication globally. should bear this objective in mind when electing their future trustees and repre ­ sentatives. HOMI B. MINOCHER HOMJI Toronto Four valiant soldiers in their uniform of white Carry the remains of one whose life was wrong or right They march in mute unison towards the well of the dead Grim, mask-like faces, inwardly smiling perhaps For the dead provide them their bread. ’Tis all over for the one who lies in the cot The power, the pomp, the glory, alas came to naught. The procession of mourners linked together follows the four in, never to return again except the brave four. Unknown, unhonored, forever chained to their plight Poor wretched souls, entangled in And so from generation to generation None do them reverence, none care they be happy or sad. But with each new day they rise for the battle to fight The four valiant soldiers in their uniform of white. NAVROZ N. PATEL distributed to all pockets of Zoroastrian TowerS Of silcilCe reform A careful and thorough enquiry, in the 16 Parsiana February-March 1994 of unfortunate we putEvents and Personalities War crimes prosecutor / ------ “J---— ? wy. X XV/ TV UO * VpV/1 LVUiy UIV On the International War Crimes Tribunal challenge the orders of the chief instituted by the United Nations (UN) leading Indian advocate and former attor- pro^uSr" Pastur..4he right note Fj April 1990). He was reportedly the first to — __ ----------/ censor when emergency was clamped in the counU ’y. He has earned a reputation for s&Tvice. For five years she was councillor of her Nagar Palik Nigam, mentions the write-up. » J** f M zens particularly the rights of the down ­ trodden. Whether it is safeguarding the fundamental rights, the freedom of ex ­ pression or I ............ * has fought many legal battles. But his Dastur: striking the right forte however has been administrative _ ___ ____ _ uuiouvu u md constitutional law, the highlights of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet as part of its his car^r have been highlighted. series of biographical profiles of eminent Besides his consuming interest in law Parsis. Sorabjee also makes time for his books and jazz music. M Honored by the Governor Joint secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Congress (I) Committee Ms Amavaz Fali Contractor was accorded a felicitation by the Governor of Madhya Pradesh uman wnere ne sang six songs was Mehommed Shafi Qureshi on September also Wadia:s first ‘talking ’ film and it 26, 1993, notes a press release. The func- ' ‘ — tion in her honor was held at Bho- pal ’s Gandhi Hall. OT . Whilst espous- ing different social 'J9 causes As a man he was simple; as a singer he was profound. The different facets of the man and the singer have been effectively personal liberties, Sorabjee conveyed by Homi Rogers in Firoz ... . page booklet was recently published by /' ’ - ~ , - 3 series of biographical profiles of eminent The 74-year-old maestro who started his music career as a teenaged cine actor starring in films made by J. B. H. Wadia, Eastern Arts and Sohrab Modi later opted to devote himself to Indian classical mu ­ sic. The ties with Wadia Movietone were the most enduring though. His first film Lal-e-"Faman where he sang six songs was ' ’ „ ‘ ____ i made box office history in those days by being the first Indian talkie to run to a full house for 14 consecutive weeks. In the next 17 years Dastur had acted in 15 films appointment was made by the UN seent- ing diffeVen?S m±h ‘' laty-general Boutros Boutros Ohali, notes causes Railam- ,, Sften “ Th«' ’¦Shest paid to an a re^n m The T^ee of Mia of October based Conuacior Neither his entry into filmdom nor his “Sifting through evidence of war with te"G?amin w® planned. With crimes in forme. Yugoslavia-the exter- Shksh^ sS" m^nScTe'rr: S^f'oSt 1 h^ piiu”“i x~ur:t isZ::^ h"a;a®^:s sai„^; “““ “¦ — be a harrowing experience for me person ­ ally. What will be challenging, however, is ensuring that the accused are given a fair trial, ” Sorabjee is quoted in The Times report. Frank and forthright in his assessment of unfair practices and warped judge ­ ments Sorabjee has tried to uphold the law (see “At the law post, ” Parsiana, SI" Sorabjee : for a fair trial has with the Gram in Shiksha f the Bhartiya Vid- social causes -! i ' ¦ i the advent of playback singing and himself admits, “I was too lean and ___ what pigeon-chested to face the onslaught of the hefty Punjabi men. ” Without an el ­ ement of remorse Dastur took this oppor ­ tunity to apply himself to classical music, nents of the Kirana gharana, known for its serene, devotional renderings that suit his “soft melodious voice. ” Rogers has tried to explain the nuances of the gharana in detailed terms but the jargon used does iti and the District Family Planning Com ­ mittee where she worked as convener. In addition she has been member of organi- ___ ____ .............. . ^«ooivai muoiv Employment Exchange, becoming one of the most respected expi ’ the Western Railway Mahila Advisory —- —• Committee and the Government ’s 20- point program, according to the write-up. Amritsar-born Contractor completed her education at Mhow and took to public 18 Parsiana February-March 1994Dastur: devotional renderings Thakkar and Company, the 56-page booklet covering 16 topics in all is priced at Rs 28 and is available at all leading bookstalls. Dalal ’s earlier book Kaido ane of the many words misspelt in the biogra ­ phy. A few of the typographical errors have been corrected in ink however. On Wadia Movietone ’s 60th anniversary is to be produced Grant Road Raga by SamaJ (Law and Society) is reportedly in Wadia ’s grandson Riyad, and Farukh Dhondy of BBC’s Channel 4. The film will be a tribute to Dastur in celluloid just advocate practising at the Bombay High as Striking the right note celebrates his contribution in print. As notes Rogers in his foreword, “My pleasure in writing this short sketch would be doubled if it served to inspire even a fistful of readers in emu ­ lating this great simple man of our com ­ munity. ” its second edition. A master of arts and law, Dalal is an Court. He is a regular columnist in The Bombay Samachar and writes articles of interest in several periodicals. He is also the joint honorary secretary of the World Zoroastrian Organisation and an active Freemason, further informs the release. Second retirement Despite an eye problem, Rustom Thanavala kept an eagle eye on the work ­ ings of all at Parsiana Publications. De ­ spite a spinal problem Thanavala was the not enable a reader to tune in to the expla ­ nation! The intensive training that Dastur re ­ ceived at the hands of guru? like Sawai Gandharva and Balkrishna Buva Kapileshwari he later tried to share with his pupils. Some were privileged to re ­ ceive private coaching from him but the rest came in contact with him when he was on the faculty of the Bombay Univer ­ sity. “The university is like a karkhana (factory), ” noted Dastur who can speak and write fluent Urdu. This want of total commitment to music among his students he attributes to a changing life-style char ­ acterized by “speed and hurry, stress and strain, suspense and tension. In such con ­ ditions, taking to music as a profession alists and the common man, notes the edi- becomes an uncertain, even insecure, pro- fession. ” For posterity, Dastur only leaves be ­ hind three audio cassettes released under the Rhythm House Classic series. He is totally indifferent to fame or recognition, choosing instead to opt for a simple, veg ­ etarian way of life and adopt J. Krishnamurti ’s philosophy, “Be in the world, but never of it. ” Even though he may smoke occasionally (“I had to pick brought under the Consumer Protection up a few of the film world ’s vices, ” he Law for the layman Lawyer and columnist Tehemton Dalal ’s second book in Gujarati Kaida Ni Anti Guntio (Intricacies of Law) is meant to apprise the general public of the different backbone of the organization. After serv- Uws. in. the country . U would, tn^ as director and chief executive of be particularly useful to traders, industri- Parsiana Publications for 15 years. t 4' (¦». I k t 4 1 Thanavala: total commitment. Vakil releasing book authored by Dalal (right). ___ Thanavala finally decided that at 77 years of age he deserved to enjoy a life of re ­ tirement. On December 31,1993 he parted com- tor of The Bombay Samachar Jehan Daruwala in his preface to the book. When the book was released at the hands of the famous criminal lawyer pany with the office keys and papers en- Phiroze Vakil at a function in Bombay on trusted to him. As chief executive, the ad- September 16,1993, it was acknowledged minjstrative and managerial responsibili- that without consulting a lawyer or paying high fees information would now be available on varying issues: whether the services rendered by doctors can be Act; how to obtain free legal aid; why the Income Tax Department cannot take over been “hailed by his contemporaries and properties which are above Rs 10 lakhs; critics as the only one that maintains the rights and duties of the police; appeal and purity of the Kirana gharana in an unri ­ valled manner, ” mentions the author. Bom Faredun to Goolbai and Bejonji, the name Firoz was conferred on him by be known before purchasing a flat; when J. B. H. Wadia who is believed to have given Dastur a new lease of life when he was young. Incidentally Firoz is just one ' confesses) his voice, despite his age, has remand; effectiveness of Terrorist And Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1985 and its implications; salient points to can the landlord obtain possession of his flat, etc. Published under the banner of N. M. ties of the company fell under his pur ­ view. His name would possibly be famil ­ iar to Parsiana and Voyage subscribers and advertisers because letters of com ­ plaints for delays and non-receipt of cop­ ies would invariably be acknowledged by him. Once a job was entrusted to him, no follow-up action was necessary. He did however expect the same level of effi ­ ciency from all the staff members too. Neither Bombay bandhs nor riots gave him reason to stay away from office. He had the leave sanctioning authority but for himself he would only grant leave if ne ­ cessitated by ill health or a death in the family. 21 Parsiana February-March 1994national Piano Competition scheduled in Rome from November 11-19, 1993 was Pune ’s Ms Roxana Anklesaria. His stern exterior and upright posture MusiC honor often caused people to confuse him with Nominated to represent India on the an ex-serviceman. His calling, before he jury of the 16th Valentino Ducchi Inter ­ joined Parsiana, was with the Life Insur ­ ance Corporation which he served for several decades until his retirement. His job postings in different regions of India had exposed him to different life-styles and attitudes; so tolerance and under ­ standing were evident in his approach. A bachelor and yet a father-figure, many a tale of woe and lament would be carried to him which he would invariably give a patient hearing to and guard as though it were his burden. His own travails he bore cheerfully thereby teaching others to face life with the same composure. While reluctantly accepting his retire ­ ment the directors of the company noted Anklesaria (left): music ambassador at th^ir board meeting: “His dedication Chinoy: losing weight, winning medals and loyalty were unstinting and on nu ­ merous occasions when the company faced a cash-flow problem he always vol ­ unteered and did help out without seeking any benefit. He was fair and impartial in his dealings with all employees and even assisted them monetarily. ” Thanavala was Childhood, ” notes a press release. Ankle- also a director of Kaiser-E-Hind, the 113- year-old printing press. At Parsiana, age differences do not deter colleagues from addressing each sical Association and the Conservatorio other by first names. But Mr Thanavala di Musica Santa Cecilia - have attempt- was always Mr Thanavala. This formality ed to foster cultural unity and integration As honorary secretary of the Poona Music Society, Anklesaria has been in ­ strumental in promoting the musical arts in the city. Besides performing she teaches piano, music theory and history. Skating success “I was a very lazy child. I was stout, so my dad regis ­ tered my name on the waiting list of this class where they teach roller skating. ” Ten- year-old Mithrobeh Chinoy is still a child but the 15 months of practice he has put in on his roller skates has toned up his muscles and won him medals at the district and state championships. In April last he won three gold medals in the Bombay District Roller Skating The Italian ministries of tourism and Championships. The following month he entertainment, foreign affairs, cultural won one gold medal in the All Bombay property and environment, and education. Roller Skating Championship. Barely 20 were to sponsor the competition which days later he represented Bombay at the had for its theme: “Music and Nature for Maharashtra Roller Skating Meet held in ................... Pune where he won one gold medal in the 2,000 m road race and one bronze medal in the 1,500 m road race. Chinoy shows certificates attesting his prowess in this sport. In October 1993 he represented Maharashtra at the 31st National Champi- however was not a mark of distance but of through music, by drawing young pianists onship held at Trivandrum where he stood regard, with awe and respect, all of which ' ~ “ ............. he deserved. saria was to speak on “Nature and the Arts on the threshold of the year 2000.” The organizers — Valentino Ducchi Mu- 1 ' “i • * irtUi S n. ,• I Aa ; t lii K* i up to 13 years of age to exhibit their talent fourth in the 2,000 m road race. Disap- at performance and composition. pointed with the tactics adopted by some of the other competitors in his 8-10 age- group. Chinoy explains how some of the participants would try and intercept and trip the others to gain a lead. The fair-play approach that Chinoy likes to adopt is to allow another contestant to take the lead initially such that he does not have to tire himself cutting the air. He saves his ener ­ gies for the last lap when he sprints. Aspiring to be a national champion. Chinoy now gladly goes for practice: be ­ fore competitions, he daily puts in at least one hour at Pradeep and Vishalya Zaveri ’s coaching class; during examina ­ tion time, he skips his skating practice. A fifth standard student at St Mary ’s ICSE, Chinoy ’s favorite subjects are mathemat ­ ics and social studies. Roller skating will remain his hobby, maintains Chinoy. He would like to be a mechanical engineer like his father when he grows up. Notorious Parsis Modus operand! one: poses as a rich Pars! inheritor or businessman about to get crores of rupees; intensely religious. I » » J# At the Martyr's (War) Memorial at Bombay ’s K hare ghat Colony office bearers of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, Bombay Parsi Association, Youths Own Union, Athornan Mandal, Iran League plus retired and serving officers of the armed forces had assembled on September 10,1993. Wreaths were offered and The Last Post was sounded as a mark of respect to the soldiers who had sacri­ ficed their lives for the country. 22 Parsiana February-March 1994Modus operandi two: poses as a poor o^randi two: poses as a ^or where I am still working nicely. Early Dumasiya ’s work is the fusion of petals employee of an anjuman with an ailing this month I came here on a short leave birds and roses. Though her creations "loiner. to meet my old mother who is in Surat ’s rich cclcr ...w.v a'..uu- Nariman Home. She is ailing from throat dred reels for each outfit ” — she manages cancer since last two years... I am very ¦ • ¦ • • poor... I feel very bad to bother you at such time but have come to your door to beg you to please help me for my train fare back to Hubli (Rs 200) and get me : name as Rusi S. Mehta residing at Dhobitalao. Believing that something was amiss. rich in color — “I use more than a hun- The ignominious and subtle ways in which fraudulent acts are being perpe- cancer since last two years... I am very the right balance to keen her outfits from ated, taking advantage of Zoroastrian poor... 1 feel very bad to bother you at appearing garish. Her ensembles have to fiehTw^?^^In iTp Switzerland, Banga- Sd KhatiL^ n } h”"’ u P ^®*P "’y ’ore and other cities although most of L piFtheri^^^^ fare back to Hubli (Rs 200) and get me clients are Bombay-based. Her work 1 L "’y chiefly appreciated by Parsis and lookout for a 37-year-old, fair, 5 6 tall, Rusi S. Mehta residing at Dhobitalao. Gujaratis, it is reported. bespectacl^ P^si male who has been Believing that something was amiss, “In my 62 yeis on the iob onlv one named as Sohrab Fr^ji Jussawalla in an the lady brought the letter to Parsiana. Gujarati lady has ever given me a sub- “Wanted ’’ Enquiries with the Hubli Parsee Zoroas- stantial baksheesh — Rs 1,001. Three 6^23 1993^'’”^''^ Saz«acAar of Octo- ^lan Anjuman revealed that the others on separate occasions, have given Aic\ fk 1- u r . Anjuman has never employed him nor me Rs 11 as baksheesh, ’’ she recalls devoue k a mJS ’lo teqSiitiS — supplement die family income, familiarizes himself with the workings there and at the opportune time steals sil ­ ver torans and disappears, according to letters of complaint that have appeared in the Gujarati Press. The Boyce Agiary at wrote back to say that they have neither Dumasiya started working on her sewing an inmate by the name of Ms Mehta nor i---- - ’ ' -- -- a patient suffering from throat cancer at income wasn ’t sufficient to raise their six their Narirnan Home. Thus ended the children so Dumasiya undertook embroi- dery assignments in right earnest, often working for 18 hours a day while her hus ­ band took over the kitchen chores. She mastered her art under the guidance of her younger sister Khorshad Khan who had honed her embroider ­ ing skills at the Sir Ratan Tata Industrial Home. When 26, Soona was se ­ lected a national winner (from among 300 participants) at the All-India Machine Embroidery Competition. The competition was organized by the German sewing machine giant Pfaff, then "known as Bell and Com ­ pany in 1937. Her prize — a genuine burr wood Pfaff Sew ­ ing Machine — kept in her drawing room attests to her skill to date. In the prime of her creativity Dumasiya used to charge her clients Rs 45 for embroidering a nine-yard sari border. That was a time when the reels cost Rs 16. Today the reels machine when she was 20. Her husband ’s income wasn ’t sufficient to raise their six ‘poor ” Parsi ’s fictitious tale. Tardeo, the Poonjiaji Dar-e-Meher at An eye for a needle Nargol and a fire-temple in Surat reported Eighty-two-year-old Ms Soona Duma- such thefts. In the case of the Boyce Agiary the cheat won over the confidence of the priests and . employees by giving gener ­ ous tips. He referred to his I scooter parked outside and 1 then called for some Change JU to ensure that his was the soli- fl tary presence in the room. His H mission of theft accom- fl plished, he subsequently walked off. In Siirat too this »• * ploy worked, reports Ervad Framroze M. Bhada. In Nargol, the cheat impressed the agiary workers with a bundle of notes from which he paid for the oil lamp and sandalwood Dumasiya and the ‘life-giving ’ machine and announced his intentions to invest in “ property in the vicinity. Their trust in him siya ’s life depends on a machine. But it is alone cost Rs 400. And so'too has nXr cautioned not a pacemaker she is attached to, but a mounted the value of her work, other tire-tempIes. The Nargol agiary sewing machine, spending eight hours pnest has volunteered to identify the cul- daily embroidering sari borders, pillow- SPOTLIGHT pnt If he IS booked. cases and bedsheets. “I often feel my The Royal College of Obstetricians and I I IM- J Photo: Vishwanath Salian, The Afternoon Despatch and Courier siya ’s life depends on a machine. But it is not a pacemaker she is attached to, but a sewing machine, spending eight hours ParI?L^XveThTno^t b ’ blood getting cold, like it ’ll all soon be Gynaecologists, London, honS ^r Parsi employee has not been as convmc- over for me. But then I perch myself on Ruzva Keki Bhathena last year with cnnirt Suspicions that he roused my sewing machine, and feel rejuvenated membership on its faculty of family Lavlivlvi :.c uiicicu Ills conaoiences to September 2, 1993. Her eyes are still as the deceased ’s spinster sister and further sharp as ever, though she now needs kind help, I had gone for a job in our bachelor he offered his condolences to September 2, 1993. Her eyes are still - year back wnh his glasses while threading a needle, she ad- Hubli Agiary and towers of silence over for me. But then I perch myself on T my sewing machine, and feel rejuvenated membership all over again, ” Dumasiya is quoted in j.' __ ______ vmv T/ie Afi^noon^Despatch and Courier of Bhathena ’s work on contraception makes o inni „ him the first gynecologist practising in India to earn this distinction, notes a press release. mits. The dominant pattern running through Compiled by Parinaz Gandhi 24 Parsiana February-March 1994F- ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD Zarthusti presence pervasive Zarathushtra ’s priorities reechoed at the Parliament of the World's Religions Arnavaz S. Mama person of the FEZANA Journal Commit ­ tee, in the issue. Over 7,000 representatives of more Assembly of Religious and Spiritual than 150 faiths had gathered at the Leaders that met for several private sessions concurrently with the Parliament of the World's Religions that was held last August-September in Chicago, informs the FEZANA Journal (Winter, 1993). Among the 150 reli ­ gious leaders who endorsed the policy paper were Dastur (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa, High Priest of the Anjuman Atash Bahram of Bombay. Ervad (Dr)Jehangir Oshidari vice president of th< Mobeds ’ Council of Tehran Ervad (Dr) Kersey Antia, High Priest of Zarolia ’s Chicago, Ervad Kobad Zarolia, president was a part of the opening ceremony of the North American Mobeds ’ Council, run Ervad Mehraban Zartoshty, president of Palmer House Hilton, venue of the Par- the Council of Iranian Mobeds of North liament, and at off-site events in America, Rohinton Rivetna, president of Chicago ’s museums, churches and tions^of NorthAmerkT(reZANA), Homi tha/'had been sown at the 1893 Parlia- town of Southport Manitoba. We are the Talevarkhan former member of the Mi- ment in Chicago, states the Journal, only Zoroastrians here. By Ahura norities Commission of the Government Thus, “in comparison to the size of the Mazda s grace Ervad Ko w of India and Dr Homi Dhalla of Bombay, community world wide, the Zoroastrians happened to be in Winnipeg, 53 mi es ?he Xumern i.^baXn a book, Global had a more than adequate representation fi^m here, on business and his w^ Responsibility In Search of a New World thanks to the efforts of Rivetna who is Nergish had reminded him ro bnng s EMc bv Kans Kune For a world sorely also a trustee of the Parliament, ” notes mobed s attire, so we felt tfuly blessed to ?nneed^Te^ical^TonVensurthe docu": the October 1993 newsletter of the Zoro- be able to offer this jashan for world ment affirms the core values found in the astrian Association of Metropolitan Chi- peace. Other venues were Sydney, rX OUS Sings of the world. “It cago (ZAC). By early July Rivetna had Jamshedpur, Delhi, Bombay, Karachi, religious teacnings s ____ j cc-y ama .,HIy ggsgj-fg k- , _ that with this addition Chicago" has five Bemused patients and relatives struggling with medicare bills and other insurance forms in the West Suburban Hospital have a new source of aid in Jehangir and Olive Mobed. F "¦ Jehangir puts his accountancy and tax background to work for their benefit. Re ­ tired since 1989, Jehangir says “volun- . teering is now a valuable part of my life. ” ZAC has been blessed with three new priests with the ordaining of Zarvan Karanjia, Hoshi and Neville Vazifdar as navars in F ' — - newsletter proudly and happily t' . ..................... homegrown priests — all bom and bred in the United States. The six-year-old winner of the Indian Derby and St Leger made a “copybook ride ” in the well-known orange and mauve quartered silks of Rusy and Purviz Shroff. The Shroffs had under ­ gone considerable expense and risk to ship the winner to the US for six months to satisfy Hongkong quarantine restric ­ tions, writes Lawrence Wadey in earlier involvements include a stint with January 9, 1994. the ICICI and a 22-year career with Glaxo, the pharmaceutical giant. Eureka Forbes, a Tata Company, her Hongkong ’s Sunday Morning Post of The win was one of the shocks of the colony ’s racing season as Astonish, with 38 Parsiana February-March 1994Bezan his wayward temperament, had taken plenty of time to settle in at the morning trackwork, according to Wadey. Bred at the Poonawalla Stud Farm, he had been initially trained by the noted Bombay trainer Bezan Chenoy. Astonish ’s win in the 2,000 m event has given the quality of India ’s best perform ­ ers an international benchmark which could pave the way for more imports, writes Wadey. In Hongkong, Astonish was in the stables of the former Calcutta champion Lawrie Fownes. Sadly, his stable jockey Darren Gauci, who had done a marvelous job of getting the horse to settle down, missed the winning ride due to a three- day ban imposed against him for careless riding, informed Fownes. Zavaray and Cyrus Poonawalla were able to monitor the race at their main of ­ fice on the Stud Farm thanks to an impromptu telephone link, write Wadey and Robin Parke in a side piece. One of them, a good friend of Zavaray, dangled a telephone in front of his tele ­ vision set, turned up full volume, to con ­ vey Robert Geller ’s commentary in English to an ecstatic audience. MATRIMONIAL MATRIMONIAL Upper-class parents invite alliance for their good-looking, home loving, daughter, aged 22, graduate with Diploma in Catering. Boy should be well-settled in career. Business preferred. Girl willing to settle anywhere in India or abroad. Apply with full details and photograph (returnable) to: Alliance invited from slim Zoroastrian ladies between 30 to 40 years of age. No objection to divorcees or widows, for Bombay-based, professionally qualified, well-settled and cultured Zoroastrian man, aged 45 years, with own accommodation. Please reply with photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Feb-Mar/3-94)‘ GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 'Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (Feb-Mar/4-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ’Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. With Best Compliments Of HOSHANG J. BUCHIA & CO ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTORS 4/24, Tata Mills Co-op Housing Society Ltd Elphinstone Road, Bombay 400012 Tel: 4112539 40 Parsiana February-March 1994POLITICS AND POLICY Widening horizons The nourishment of children and expectant mothers and maintenance of the third child born to a couple are amon^ the Bombay Parsi Punchayet's major priorities Beginning March 1994 undernourished October 9, 1993 which dwelt mainly on children as also pregnant women in the the Punchayet building houses, the sec ­ community can avail of a daily ration of ond press conference demonstrated that milk, egg and butter, offered free of cost or at concessional rates by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) at The Lady H. C, Jehangir Health Unit at Gamadia Colony. Beginning April 1994 the Punchayet is expected to introduce its ....... vi me run- third child support scheme whereby chayet ’s third child support scheme have couples who have conceived their third ’ ‘ ' child after July 1993 will be assured that the maintenance, health and education costs of that child will be borne by the BPP. By May 1994 the Punchayet should have started preparatory work on its pro ­ posed day-care centers in colonies where working couples miss such a facility. All the seven trustees of the Punchayet were in attendance at the determining the need for it. “It will be al- press conference on February 5, 1994 most a nursery center where children (the second meet to be convened in four from the age of six months to six years months) when the chairman. Jamshed will be looked after. ” stated BPP irnsipp Guzder, revealed that the interest from a sizable donation they have received will be used to supply >/4-'/2 litre of milk and an egg daily plus 100 gms of butter every fortnight to undernourished children. The child ’s progress would then be monitored monthly at the clinic. The scheme would also be extended to pregnant women who would be sanctioned ’/a litre of milk plus an egg daily together with tonic, tablets and prescribed injections at a nominal , cost. In case of a third child the mother would be supplied these requisites totally free. The milk coupons that will be dis ­ tributed to the deserving will be made availaHe at a discounted rate courtesy with the premises of the erstwhile Godrej Parsi Dau-y Farm. Poor and debilitated Printing Press which the BPP was con- retired people who frequent the clinic as sidering it could also exploit commer- outdoor patients will also benefit from ¦ - - the provisions of the scheme. Unlike the earlier press conference on option to relocate or to stay on by paying at 125 times the original rent, suggested Fali Poncha representing the CER (Com ­ mittee for Economic Revival) newsletter The Zoroastrian which, discontinued for several years, has reportedly applied ’for re-registration. (In fact the presence of The Zoroastrian representatives at the first press conference had made the Jam- e-Jamshed reporter sarcastically com ­ ment, “We hope that at the next press conference the trustees will also invite editors of the now defunct Parsee Voice, Astavani, Gupsup and Rast Goftar.) Imrther housing for the community, fordable in the suburbs. A questionnaire on the waiting list of the BPP enquiring whether accommodation in the suburbs would be acceptable to them and their choice of location. Of the 985 responses received by the Punchayet, 765 indicated that they were amenable to living in the suburbs. Encouraged by the response, the BPP is in the process of scouting for a be converted into a residential colony for the community ’ The survey work has been entrusted to BPP trustee Minoo Shroff and chief executive Rustom to educate young peopje to Anklesaria who feel that among the dif- ” T,. , visItcd by them one plot, equidistant from Ghatkopar and Kurla, two miles away from the railhead,could very good but be developed if they can afford the price. P fn run .1 ” Ho ghould be looking at is the Punchayet building houses, the the Punchayet was taking an intiative in the field of social welfare. An Anjuman Committee meeting had also been con ­ vened on November 18, 1993 (see latter part of article). While the mechanics of the Pun- to be worked out, it is decided that as an added incentive couples with two chil ­ dren residing in a one-room kitchen flat will be granted a two-room kitchen flat when they procreate a third child. The _____ vumiuuiui shift would depend on the availability of the Punchayet realized .would only be af- r> u . • . ' *---------------- ------------ -- 4uvoHUI 11 lane I he Punchayet is also willing to start therefore was mailed to 2,246 apolicants a flat and the family ’s financial position. a day-care center in every colony after will be looked after, ” stated BPP trustee Dr (Ms) Mehroo Bengalee. Persons se ­ lected for the job will be trained for Ihree months and then entrusted with the urr is in uie process or scouting for a children s nutrition, medicare, recreation plot of land in the suburbs which could onn raft f •_ i « « ** and rest. One or two flats in each colony will be reserved for this purpose. Guzder was keen that the BPP take the initiative to set up a venture capital institution “I—--------------- become entrepreneurs. ” Its initial "fund ­ ing could be raised from a share issue. According to fellow trustee Homi Ranina, “The concept is ' , ' ‘ _ we must have the expertise to'run it. ” He ______ an wondered whether it could be linked Panvel, ” advised Poncha. Supported BPP w.t t ........ Jamsheed Kanga, “Anything on rintmg Press which the BPP was con- the rail line is better than (a place) even a sidering it could also exploit : daily. Give space at a subsidized rate to ............... . upcoming young businessmen who after be a better city than old Bombay. In 1935 a period of 10 years could be given the when the Cusrow Baug flats were built trustee Jamsheed Kanga, “Anything _ the rail line is better than (a place) even _ short distance from the station. ” Accord ­ ing to Ranina “New Bombay is going to u-.v .. .. - - ;_j when the Cusrow Baug flats were built. 42 Parsiana February-March 1994TARACHAND & Company Suppliers of the meatiest of Venky's/Mafco's Al Kabeer's/Shalimar's Non-Veg. delicacies this side of town K & D Distributors Exclusive suppliers of Venky's for South Bombay 80, Sleater Road Grant Road (West) Tel 3883691/3889531 44 Parsiana February-March 1994 some remained vacant. It shows the shortsightedness of the community. ” Noted Kanga, “Parsis shouldn ’t think they are a special species that can only survive in south Bombay. ” If community trusts with vacant lands could collaborate with the Punchayet, a solution may be in sight. For the mutual benefit of all the bodies, the BPP was planning to start a dialogue with other trusts by convening regular meetings. Towards the middle of last year, the trustees were faced with a proposition put forth by businessman Cyrus Irani, Nirooman Bastani and some others who contended that Godrej Baug at Napean Sea Road, being prime property, flats OUR WORLD OF VACATIONS-1994 Lala lours announce the opening of bookings for 6p^mer 1994 package tours. it Nothing creates greater animosity than ignorance or lack of facts ” • Shimla-Manali • Nainital* Mussourie • Darjeeling* Sikkim e Nepal • Bhutan • Delhi-Agra-Jaipur • Mysore-Bangalore-Ooty- Kodaikanal • Trivandrum- Kanyakumari • Bhubaneshwar- Konark-Puri • Wild Game Sanctuaries • Andamans • Lakshadweep • Goa there should be made available to those who could promise five flats in the sub- I urbs in return for one flat at Godrej Baug. They were convinced that such a scheme would enable the BPP to clear the backlog of applicants on their waiting list. Then ensued a prolonged debate in the Press. Finally the trustees ruled that they did not favor this scheme. The inter ­ ested parties next brought a stay on allot ­ ments by appealing to the charity com ­ missioner. When the BPP got that stay vacated, the issue was brought before the Bombay High Court where the matter is now pending. In the meanwhile the BPP has given an undertaking that they will temporarily suspend allotments. An ex ­ ception will be made for the donors ’ nominees and the 29 allottees to whom a commitment has already been made. Thirty-eight flats al Bharucha Baug have not been allotted for over a year, observed Poncha. He also sought to con ­ firm the number of flats ai Godrej Baug actually available for accommodation and lying idle because of pending litiga ­ tion. It emerged that a no objection c; tificate had been obtained for 69 flats Godrej Baug and another 140 flats awaiting the certificate. The Godrej Baug agiary is expected to be ready by the end of the year as the construction has already reached the dome level. The trustees were hopeful that they would win over some residents of Bharuch who were objecting to the cer- -J at were L Lalo tours Also tours to: • U.S.A/Canada (9 itins.) • U.K. — Europe (16 itins.) • Australia • New Zealand • Egypt — Nile Cruise • Kenya- Tanzania Safari • Turkey • Israel • Far East — Thailand, Singapore, Hongkong, Japan, Taiwan, China, Indonesia • Mauritius • Sri Lanka Cruises: Alaska, Norway, Antarctica, Mediterranean, Caribbean, ' Bahamas, Hawaii etc. Note: Subject to GOI/RBI approval, FTS/NTS passengers only For details contact us or your Travel Agents: i H.K.LALA & CO. Capitol Cinema Bldg., Murzban Roao, Bombay 400 001 Tel: 2045094/5744/3006 Telex; 011-83680 LATO IN Fax; 022-204 6925 DflttaraW'LT 2A/95Happy eJamsliedi Navroze to all Parsis If you want your function to be the very best, then there is only GOnrWALLAS All your problems are solved! Contact M/sRB. GODIWALLA Sai Niketan, B-Wing 13/13, 345, Mount Road Mazagaon Bombay 400010 Res Tel No: 3765842, 3762065, 3765360 44b Parsiana February-March 1994 fire from the Doongaji Agiary being tire trom the Doongaji Agiary being cupants are keen to sell out but refusing brought to Godrej Baug. Why couldn ’t to share the returns with the landlord, the BPP, by parting with 50 percent of the unearned income from land as stipulated. Their offer to part with a “ridiculous ” 10 percent of the price, the BPP has declined. In other housing colo ­ nies several flats are under dispute with il ­ legal tenants being in ­ ducted and court cases of the new provisions under the amended the trustees use the same approach to shift the fire at the Godavra Agiary which too was languishing due to limited worshippers, pointed out Ms Khorshed Da- boo representing Jame. Before the year is out, one fire would be available for the Godrej Baug agiary, the trus ­ tees were optimistic. While new con ­ structions are being planned on the FSI available at Bharucha Rent Act, by which landlords and tenants Baug, Khareghat Colony and the Dadar could legally accept money for transfer- Parsi Colony, the norms for the merit rat- ring tenancies, what stand will the BPP ing schenae may be revised by consulting adopt, enquired a press person. As the income limit of Rs 7,500 per month which, if exceeded, disqualifies an appli ­ cant will also be reconsidered. When the Press was asked whether they were in fa- _ __________________ vor of this limit, different opinions Kanga had turned down arguing that it emerged with some believing that the ' ‘ worthiness should be decided on a case by case basis and others opining that un ­ der the urban land ceiling regulations the bution from the Punchayet for daring to BPP is bound to give flats to the weakest ................................. section. Many of the old Punchayet buildings ___ are in urgent need of repair. A sum of Rs against the Punchayet ’s workings and es- 82 lakhs have been set aside to start re- j ' __ 1, ................. .... pair work on 14 such buildings. Repair Kanga comment, “We are very grateful work on other buildings will commence to the community for expecting us to be depending on availability of funds. The experts in every respect. We do make Punchayet provides land “for people to mistakes, are willing to improve, but stay, not for trafficking, ” asserted fellow why can ’t we be given guidance beTore trustee Eruch Desai in reference to the hand instead of waiting for us to make residents of the Aderbad building who mistakes and then pointing fingers? ” Ad- were provided flats at the rate of Rs 151 mitting that “brickbats for the Punchayet per square foot. Presently the price quoted for a flat on Hughes Road is Rs 10,000 per square foot. Some of the oc- The Punchayet provides land “for people to stay, not tor tratticking" a panel of experts, informed Guzder. The proposed reforms are still to be passed by 1 " ¦ the State Assembly, the trustees stated they had not decided on a policy as yet. A compromise for the present cases as suggested by some Press representatives would not serve as a deterrent for future inductions. Ranina felt that such tenants needed sterner action in the form of retri- make what should be “an obligation into a commercial proposition. ” The criticism frequently levelled pecially its weak public relations made mistakes and then pointing fingers? ” Ad- were because of lack of communica ­ tion, ” Guzder had, at the October press conference convened after a lapse of five It pays to invest in Pune properties For purchase of flats, bungalows, plots, etc. Write to: Minoo Bhathena BySel Estate 302 Devika Apt, 2010 Janmohmed St, Pune 411001years and eight months, made known his intention to adopt an open-door policy by holding periodic press conferences and Anjuman Committee meetings. “The best way to keep the community in ­ formed is through the Press... Nothing MATRIMONIAL creates greater animosity than ignorance or lack of facts, ” he added. The handouts distributed prior to each press conference gave a brief on the Punchayet ’s various housing projects at Bombay ’s Bharucha Baug, Godrej Baug, Khareghat Colony, Dadar Parsi Colony, Panthaky Baug and the Blue Hills prop ­ erty at Pune. Its scholarship assistance programs estimated nearly eight lakh ru ­ pees last year; by way of stipendiary and other help around Rs 1,50,000 were given to needy families and priests. Un ­ der its publication scheme two more booklets — on Behramji Malbari and Sorabjee Shahpurjee Bengalee — were made available. Community institutions benefitted from Rs 1,16,000 donated dur ­ ing the year 1993. Towards national causes too the Punchayet showed its lar ­ gesse by donating Rs 1,50,000 for the earthquake victims in Maharashtra s Latur district. Acknowledging that there are certain areas where there has been no progress for the last several years, CHINDHY'S INTERIORS Decorative Painters, Designers and Furnishers Parents of a pretty graduate girl, aged 25, with an artistic flair, from a highly affluent and respected family invite matrimonial proposals from parents of boys well-settled in business or profession with similar family background, preferably with photograph (returnable) to: Maharashtra ’s Firdaus Enich Chindhy Medhora Block, 4 East Street, Poona 411001 Tel: 662974 Resi: 668267 The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (Feb-Mar/13-94f GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ’Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here With Best Compliments From LYSHA ENTERPRISES 5 PROMOTERS, PROPERTY DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS & INTERIOR DECORATORS Wc undertake projects from concept to completion Contact: Mr D. H. Dhunjibhoy Mr H. D. Dhunjibhoy LYSHA ENTERPRISES 533/534 Clover Centre, 7 Moledina Road, Pune 411001 Telephone: 658123, 655957 (Rest: 669177) 44a Parsiana February-March 1994Guzder responded, “We are trying to make amends for the things we did not ________________ ______ _ _ __ do...We are now moving from a snail ’s ding to the BPP). He "added that in tlie pace to a racehorse ’s. ” .............................................. At both the meets the Press was repre ­ sented by The Bombay Samachar, Jam-e- Jamshed, Deen Parast, The Zoroastrian and Parsiana. Parinaz Gandhi 1,604 members attend, they could not speakers maintain a three to four minute time limit and avoid repeating questions: “This meeting is for an exchange of views ... not for anyone to impose their views. ” Housing, repairs and the declining year. “Next time, if you like, we can have a > the questions that were raised. The topics drop us a line and let us know. ” Referring to “comments like ‘There is no such thing as a white paper ’ made by dining numbers, its distribution in very Responsible member of the Bombay was brought to the fore when the attention of the Punchayet was drawn to the fact that over the past two decades the Parsi population has shifted substan ­ tially to the suburbs and distant suburbs whereas of Bombay ’s 42 fire-temples only eight are available in the region be ­ tween Dadar and Jogeshwari. Informed Ervad (Dr) Rooyintan Peer, principal of the M. F. Cama Athoman Institute in Andheri, “There is no place of worship beyond Jogeshwari. (Parsis in Vasai, etc) are drifting away from the community. ” be expected to stand (203 attended accor- white paper he had issued earlier in 1993, he had committed himself to holding periodic press conferences and an Anju ­ man Committee meeting at least once a community figures accounted for most of meeting of the community. Please do were discussed on much the same lines Hrnn nc o UnA u. confcrenccs reported above. Apart from the community ’s de ­ in Reporting to the electors Presiding over the first meeting of the new Anjuman Committee after the elec ­ tion of trustees, Guzder extended an , _____ ______________ _ apology on behalf of the Punchayet for paedia Britannica definition as British not being very consistent in holding Government policy on particular issues. Anjuman Committee meetings. ’’ The last Guzder said he had similarly issued the held in March 1986. During the six years while the restructuring of the BPP’s elec- _______ ___ ________ _ toral scheme pended before the High greater interaction between the Pun- Court, no meeting had been called. The chayet and the community. Having dis- ?®nyrc^f Jhe last Committee had expired claimed the perception of Punchayet at the fag end of 1992. .......... ..................... ............. . awa num me wniiuunii Guzder, who was visibly disappointed anybody else. The Punchayet must also He suggested that the PuSayS* act that only a fourth of the house was oc- fniinw democratic mip.ci ’'’es ” Guzder _ __ .Ci —. ___ cupied, ” noted that the Punchayet had added, “You have erectcd*us.. ’.it ’s up"To booked the Patkar Hall for November 18, 1993 on the assumption that even if only one-fourth of the Anjuman Committee ’s a ’ community, ” Guzder gave the Encyclo- not being very consistent in holding Government policy on particular issues. *_.•------ ---------•— ~ ‘ _ Anjum^^ Committe^meeting had been paper as a summary of his recommenda ­ tions to his fellow trustees. Guzder was also at pains to establish Court, no meeting had been called. The chayet and the community. Having dis- A A « ? L* A 1 4. M - - ? A.A. _ _ I— _ * t « • in 1987; the new Committee was elected trustees as akabars, “In this age of de ­ mocracy, nobody can inflict their will on follow democratic principles, ” Guzder as catalyst, appoint one of the seven members of the board as guardian trustee us to report to you. ” for ihe community settled between Before throwing the meeting open to Andheri and Virar. Accepting the sug- the audience Guzder requested that gestion, Guzder volunteered, “We could WITH BEST COMPLIMENTS OF Hotel Rutt Deen Ideally located in the heart of the city, centrally air-conditioned with all modem amenities at reasonable rates 21 B, Loudon Street Calcutta 700016 Tel No 401691, 401878, 402389, 403340, 2476911, 2475240 Fax No 91-33-2475210 441 Parsiana February-March 1994I send the Godavra Agiary fire, but the Court order prevents us. ” With the community aging more rap ­ idly, Tehmton Davar urged the Pun ­ chayet to cover the community in a group mediclaim policy. He based his ar ­ gument on the losses sustained by the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital due to its free/subsidized treatment to a substan ­ tial number of poor patients each year but Guzder replied that “community health insurance was not possible for a body like the Punchayet. We don ’t have the funds. ” Accepting that geriatric wards are an unhappy place to visit, Guzder ascribed the problem to our “genetic propensity to old age ” and suggested that community members band together to avail of com ­ paratively lower premia for medical in ­ surance. Specific health problems like heart disease and arthritis, attributable to the Parsi diet, could be better avoided through preventive medicine and medi ­ cal guidance for the community, he added. A suggestion from Cyrus Bhaya that the Punchayet establish a second community hospital in the suburbs was similarly declined. 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Dial 026387-2097 MATRIMONIAL Parents of attractive, smart daughter, UK based young graduate, 32 years, working, domestically and religiously well- trained, home loving, seek matrimonial correspondence from highly qualified and educated Parsi boy with culture, class and good family background, well-settled abroad, preferably UK, Write with full bio data and latest photograph to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Feb-Mar/8-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 •Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. De-introducing the Prestigious & Oldest Exhibition Gallery of Designer Furniture tirtie Srattiiiig i^oom Interiors Showroom 14, K. Dubash Marg, Kala Ghoda, Bombay 400023 Ph: 242986 44g Parsiana February-March 1994their Marriage Bureau. “Something new takes on for the time being and then fizzles out, ” admitted Guzder, asking community and Committee members for advice on how to make the Bureau “more attractive and efficient ” and was told to work in league with Ms Mithoo Jesia, the redoubtable social worker of the Dadar Parsi Colony, who runs a similar body. Construction on dokhma land in Andheri and on top of small buildings in the Dadar Parsi Colony were alternatives suggested by Anjuman Committee mem ­ bers. The Punchayet has FSI in Dadar, conceded Guzder. One alternative was to break down a couple of small buildings and construct an eight or nine storey highrise if they succeed in overcoming the intransigence (“I was bom here, I will die here ”) of some of the tenants. He was also committed to holding a joint meeting with other trusts in order to bet ­ ter utilize community assests like the Andheri dokhma land. Poncha voiced his concern regarding the Punchayet ’s income in the face of ris ­ ing costs. He contended that the BPP was “doing less in real terms than in 1973” as its funds “in real terms were going hope ­ lessly down. ” The brunt of Poncha ’s r i So p^i I hapjm 44 MATRIMONIAL I 4 > o p vvvo 4 BILLY & ZAM 5 5 2 9 3 J DANNYADVTC Matrimonial alliance invited from good looking, cultured, well-educated girl, prepared to stay in a big and industrialised city of Gujarat, for a handsome, fair, 5'6", 33-year-old boy, MBA from the USA working in a public limited company and earning handsomely. Apply with bio data and photo (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana Matrimonial (Feb-Mar/11-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here t Elevators with latest & The most Reliable MICROPROCESSOR technology for Single Speed, Two Speed, A.C. VVVF (Variable speed) Drive, Collective, Selective, Simplex/Duplex/Group Controls, Auto Doors, Elegant Fixtures with Self Luminating Touch/Push Buttons. NEW ELEVATORS MODERNISATION of ANY TYPE of Elevator MAINTENANCE of ALL Types of Elevators ZAINA ELECTRIC & MECHANIC WORKS CON CORD ELEVATOR PROSPECT CHAMBERS ANNEXE, 2ND FL, DR D. N. ROAD, BOMBAY 400001 TEL 2047460 • 2041830 CABLE: NIRUPAMA. SERVICE STATION 2067503 UNWALA BLDG, GR FL, 813/14 BHAWANI PETH, PADAMJI COMPOUND, PUNE 411042 PUNE OFFICE TEL: 654655 45 Parsiana February-March 1994criticism concerned the Punchayet ’s re ­ pairs policy. Poncha noted that the Punchayet ’s repair costs have been mounting by 25 percent per annum against its earnings at 12 percent. Alleging that not even one third of the moneys promised for repairs to Punchayet residential structures in 1984 had been spent, Poncha questioned with characteristic irony, “Because we live to 70-80 years of age as Parsis, does that give us the right to defer questions like as Only at Dadar TT AtoZ Happy Jamshedi Navroze LORD'S CENTRAL HOTEL Matheran 410102 Telephones Matheran - 021483-228 Bombay - 3867776 46 Parsiana February-March 1994 “Nobody can inflict their will on anybody else. The Punchayet must also follow democratic principles ” this? ” He also berated the Punchayet for having failed to evolve a uniform repairs policy vis-a-vis repairs to Punchayet buildings where the aim is that the tenant and landlord share the cost of repairs equally. Nariman Mehta referred to a recent sale of property on the periphery of Nowroz Baug that had netted the Wadia trust more than two crore rupees. Mehta was anxious to know whether the Punchayet would spend at least a part of the sum on the Baug. The Punchayet was willing to spend 50 percent of these re ­ ceipts on Nowroz Baug, assured Guzder, but said that the charity commissioner wanted the trustees to capitalize the in ­ come and then decide what to do. In the meantime the municipality had served them a notice conscripting part of the Nowroz Baug area for road widening with a compensating FSI that could be used elsewhere, informed the chairman. Guzder referred to the flaw in the new Khareghat Colony buildings where the entrance is through the balconies which are now sagging. The colony had no sinking fund (“How to create one when rents range between Rs 29 to 35?” asked Guzder). He also referred to the flaw in the community character when Parsis haggle with the Punchayet about sharing repair charges but are eager to install cable TV at Rs 75 per month in tene ­ ments where they pay Rs 16.50 as rent! Everything in Textiles Furnishings Carpets ? Household Linen Sarees 0- Shirting Suiting Imperial Mahal Dadar TT Bombay 400014 Tel: 4121936 Broadway Shopping Centre Dadar TT Bombay 400014 Tel: 4124820 No branchesNAVROZE MUBARAK To Our Dear Patrons • Leather Belts, Wallets, ' Passport Covers, Folders, Pouches etc • Neck Ties & Bow Ties • Handkerchieves Gift Boxes with & without Embroidery Initials •Sash Bow Kerchief Sets • Cufflink Tiepin Sets •Varieties of Gift sets of Gent's Accessories by MARZBAN INTERNATIONAL 246 Dr. S. S. Rao Road Lalbaug, Bombay 400012 Phone; 4132084, 4134881 Fax: 91-22-4145437 Available with All Leading Garment Shops and Departmental Stores (Export enquiries will be solicited) MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited by parents of smart, intelligent, beautiful daughter, aged 22, 5'1" working in foreign based export house as fashion designer/co-ordinator with almost five figure income, domestically well trained, from educated well settled preferably professional gentlemen up to 30 years. Write to: The Advertiser, Parsiana Matrimonial (Feb-March/15-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ’Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here Trespassing was a source of worry, admitted Guzder. “One Kharwa (resi ­ dents of slum colonies off Napean Sea Road tend to overflow into parts of the doongerwadi grounds) is so arrogant, he is preventing (the Punchayet contractor) from building a foothpath to the doon ­ gerwadi from the mobed quarters (in Godrej Baug), ” he added. Khareghat Colony residents also want a gate to their colony because of the problems they encountered during the riots last year when Muslims parked their taxis on the premises and the Shiv Sena wanted to burn them, said Jal Rabadi. At night people come and sleep in the Colony, he added. With the exception of Kanga who was out of town, all the Punchayet trustees shared the stage. However, barring one query whether Ranina would seek reelec ­ tion this year (“At this point of time, I will certainly contest, ” replied Ranina), all the questions were fielded by Guzder which led Jal Vakil to protest, “Other trustees may supplement the answers, be ­ cause otherwise there ’s no use in their sitting there. ” The Anjuman Committee members had been asked to bring their electoral certificates with them. Why was the cir ­ cular invitation not good enough for identification purposes, enquired Davar. The dismal attendance was blamed upon poor publicity though Guzder countered that the Punchayet had advertized as usual in one or two English and one or two vernacular papers. The trustees were questioned regard ­ ing their disagreement over who should be president of the board on the retire ­ ment of Dr Aspi Golwalla and the subse ­ quent litigation pending in the Bombay High Court. “A lot of people ask me ‘Kem chalech, hajun garbar che ke? Mona jawch ke? (How are things? Does the conflict persist? Do you acknowledge each other?) ’” responded Guzder light- heartedly and added “I can put a hand on the prayer book and say our relations are most cordial. ” Becoming almost lyrical Guzder said, “We expect criticism, we accept criti ­ cism, we welcome criticism, ” and as ­ sured the gathering, “We propose to fight the problem, reverse the trend, aim at an ­ other one lakh population. We ’re going to build, buy more land... Our business is to provide for the upkeep and accommo ­ dation of the community. ” 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 had 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 being merged with the March issue, and the July issue with the August one. Since the March and August issues are well over 150 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. Arnavaz S. Mama 48 Parsiana February-March 1994RELIGION COVER STORY T ne holy fire crackled with greater intensity. An endless stream of Parsi Zoroastrians marked the occasion with offerings of sandalwood. The thickly car ­ peted central hall of the fire-temple buzzed with devout activity. Some pored over prayer books, others sat in silent contemplation, a handful prayed in full voice and a few clung to the railing around the holy sanctum where the fire burned. Evident in this diversity was the harmony of orange-red flames that danced in unison in the afarganiu. Ardibehesht roj of Ardibehesht mah (September 24, 1993) marked the 96th salgreh or birthday of the Anjuman Atash Bahram off Princess Street in Bombay. Large trays of divas on the floor turned the outer hall into a sea of flickering lights. On the floor above, 72 white-robed priests celebrated a solemn jashan to mark the occasion. And the cel ­ ebrations spilled out of the Atash Bahram ’s imposing wrought iron gates, aglow with garlands of colored lights, onto the street. Here one had to weave one ’s way through an obstacle course of traffic, sandalwood vendors and poor Parsis seeking alms. The special significance of the Anjuman Atash Bahram is that it sym ­ bolizes the collective benevolence of the Zoroastrian community and the triumph of their faith in the religion. For unlike the other Atash Bahrams in Bombay — Wadiaji, Dadyseth and Banaji — that owe their existence to the generosity and piety of affluent families, this Atash Bahram was built from funds collected from the rank and file of the Zoroastrian community: a fact reflected in its name, Anjuman. The Anjuman Atash Bahram, how ­ ever, was conceived in controversy (see 'Fires of Controversy, ” page 53 ). Around the 1880s a dispute over rituals split the Bhagarias, or priests of Navsari lineage at the Wadiaji Atash Bahram, into two groups. Eventually one of these groups left the Wadiaji Atash Bahram and turned to Dastur (Dr) Jamaspjee Mino- cheijee Jamasp-Asana, one of the three high priests of the Bhagaria priesthood, for help and redressal of their grievances. ’ Trays full of divas on the Anjuman Atash Bahram Photos: Gustasp Irani When heat turned to light Gustasp Irani A disagreement within the ranks of the Bhagaria priests at the Wadiaji Atash Bahram led to the establishment of the Anjuman Atash Bahram 50 Parsiana February-March 1994Unable to resolve the differences, the (from May 1896 to October 1897) of find very few mobedj willing to pray learned High Priest deemed it necessary to build an alternative atash bahram, where the aggrieved priests could con ­ duct their religious ceremonies. But atash bahrams require time and funds to build. So the High Priest made arrangements whereby the priests who holy atash bahram fire, ” says Khurshedji .................... ¦ '' Desai, longtime secretary of the Navsari Atash Bahram. For instance, Desai points out, part of the rituals involve the recit ­ ing of 1,000 vendidads which were per ­ formed by 25 to 50 pairs of mobeds pray ­ ing endlessly for days. “Today you will prayers and rituals to achieve. “Today even one vendidad. That ’s why when even if we tried, even if we wanted to, we atash bahram. We just do not have enough full-time priests to perform the ceremonies necessary to consecrate a had left the Wadiaji Atash Bahram could perform their religious ceremonies at the Dadyseth Atash Bahram till such time that the new place of worship was ready. Next he turned to the Zoroastrian com ­ munity at large, and appealed to Parsis to fund his holy mission. They re- i|Rai sponded generously and dona- tions started to pour in. Soon, on May 23, 1886 Jamasp-Asana laid the foundation stone of the new Atash Bahram in the presence of the elders of the community, in ­ cluding the then trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). But as with most construction S projects, there were cost over ­ runs, and funds started to dry up before the building that was to j house the holy fire was com ­ pleted. The popular belief is that Jamasp-Asana turned to his friend Ervad Jamshed Kookadaru, the panthaky at the Kappawalla Agiary at Tardeo, Bombay, for L help. Deeply moved by the High ¦ Priest ’s plight, Kookadaru gal- I lantly offered to come up with the I funds needed to complete the ¦ project. There was, however, one I serious impediment: Kookadaru I did not have the resources to I make good his promise, so he I turned to the holy fire and prayed I for guidance. As he prayed, di- 3 vine inspiration instructed him to H dig up a specified area of the | flooring of his residence. Sure enough, he came up with two ¦ • bricks of gold, the sale of which I helped complete the Atash Bah- 9 ram building. In appreciation of his efforts the front hall of the Anjuman Atash Bahram is known as the ‘Dastur Jamshed Kooka- . daru Hall. ’ But there was still one important de ­ tail to attend to — the consecration of the holy fire. This task took more than a year 51 Parsiana February-March 1994 you consider that the Anjuman Atash would not be able to build another Bahram in Bombay is probably the last atash bahram that will ever be built, you realize that it is a very significant one, ” says Desai. The special event took place on Octo ­ ber 17, 1897, 11 years after the laying of the foundation stone, when the Atash Bahram was officially opened to the Parsi Zoroastrian community with Jamasp-Asana as the High Priest and member of the managing committee of the holy shrine. It was a fitting tribute to the then 68-year-old scholar Dastur who, among other things, was awarded an honorary 3 doctor of civil law degree by the Oxford University in recognition and appreciation of his contribu ­ tion to the study of ancient Avesta and Pahlavi texts. As a to ­ ken the University sent the Dasturji ‘a gown and hood made according to the prescribed regu ­ lations for the use of doctors of civil law of the University of Ox ­ ford. ’ The University also hung a large portrait of the High Priest on the walls of the reading room at their Indian Institute. But it was the Anjuman Atash I Bahram that was the crowning glory of the Dasturji ’s eventful life. Eleven months after its es- I tablishment, he died in Septem- Iber 1898. The mantle of High Priest of the Anjuman Atash Bahram rests today on the shoulders of his great -grandson Dastur Kaikhusroo M. JamaspAsa who took o'ver the stewardship of the holy shrine in October 1955. The scholar priest, who sits on the Atash Bahram premises almost every morning, ensures that the running of the fire-temple is as crisp as the spot ­ less white robes he wears. The boiwallas who attend to the holy fire, the Dastur informs us, must ’ wear their priestly robes at all times. They must in general lead a simple life (not go to plays or the cinema or eat out at restaurants) unconiaminated by worldly impurities. Naturally, the s M ¦ *ibv J t ¦I The well and the hall of the Anjuman Atash Bahram wear a festive lookHigh Priest leads by example. Further- ago in 1989 the first, and to date, only ness in the community. According to more, the boiwallas must compulsorily non-Bhagaria priest, Karanjia, was re ­ perform the purification yasna ceremony cruited as a boiwalla at the Atash each day before tending the holy fire. Another ceremony common to all fire-temples is the maachi or en ­ thronement of the holy fire (see “Ma ­ achi; the throne, ” Parsiana, August 1990) five times a day, at the turn of every gah. Since two of the gahs change at around midnight and five a.m., the and soon, we will be faced with a serious priests are required to wake up twice crisis in the near future, ” says Jama- each night to perform the maachi cer- spAsa. emony. “We use an alarm clock to wake us up. But even if it does not ring, and this has happened on a few occasions, I get up anyway. It is almost as though the possibility of supplementing the someone is shaking me awake and say- earnings of the boiwallas with a monthly ing: ‘You must get up and perform the stipend, and also appealing to other com- maachi, ”’ says Daraius Karanjia, the youngest of the four boiwallas attending the fire. The others are Kersasp Kotwal, Darabshah Masani and Ardeshir Raoji, all in their mid-60s. Earlier there were six boiwallas and JamaspAsa fears that there may not be pooled boi offered by devotees along enough full-time priests in the future willing to tend the sacred fire. Once, car ­ ing for an atash bahram fire was consid- that they perform, ered an honor, and only priests from the Bhagaria lineage were allowed to serve at the Anjuman Atash Bahram. Now any priest is gladly welcomed. Four years or every Despite the crisis in the Zoroastrian priesthood, there is a resurgence of religious awareness in the community 22-year-old Ervad Masani who has been a boiwalla for the past 40 years, more Parsi Zoroastrians Bahram. have been visiting the Atash Bahram in Watching young Karanjia tend the the last 10 years than in the past. “Not just the old, but also the younger genera ­ tion. We get a lot of boys and girls in their school uniforms who come in holy fire is a heart ­ ening sight, but it also highlights the fact that there are daily, ” he observes, very few young priests willing to make the same commitment. “Un ­ less the community recent years. And many turn to him for does something spiritual guidance and for advice on how about this problem, to handle personal problems. “I help and guide them as best I can, ” says the High Priest who does not elaborate further, for he prefers to keep his interaction with his flock on a one-to-one basis. “As Zoroastrians I remind them that JamaspAsa agrees. Even though the total number of Parsi Zoroastrians is de ­ clining, more members of the commu ­ nity have been visiting the fire-temple in The board of trustees of the Anjuman Atash Bahram, of which the High Priest is the chairman, is reportedly considering good will always triumph over evil. There is really no choice but to do what is right, ” he observes. We, however, re ­ mind him that in life things are not al ­ ways black and white; that we are often munity trusts to provide them with facili ­ ties like housing, etc, to make the job confronted with shades of grey. The more attractive. The other trustees are Eruch Dastur, Shiavax Sethna, Pheroze Katrak, Burjor Antia and Burjor Dabu. Currently the income of the four serving priests consists of an equal share of the with sandalwood, and their earnings from the higher liturgical ceremonies And they are earning more than they did before. The paradox is that despite the crisis in the Zoroastrian priesthood, there is a resurgence of religious aware- Bhagarias, regardless of where they had settled, to return to Navsari to have their navar and maruib ceremonies performed at the Atash Bahram there. He decreed that they could now be ordained as Fires of Controversy “They say that it takes one Brahmin to broke with the tradition that required all bring out the worst in another Brahmin. The same is also true of us Zoroastrian priests, ” observes Khurshedji Desai, longtime secretary of the Navsari Atash Bahram and a priest himself. The dispute amongst the Bhagarias at priests at the Bombay Atash Bahram too. the Wadiaji Atash Bahram in Bombay in 1880 was just another instance in the his- . tory of Zoroastrian priesthood that is checkered with differences of opinion over rituals and other religious matters. Where it differs from other such dis ­ agreements is that it led to the establish ­ ment of a brand new atash bahram. The dispute erupted when the then Jamasp-Asana, one of the three high High Priest of the Wadiaji Atash priests of the Bhagarias. The rest is his- Bahram, Dastur Peshotanji Sanjana tory. One group of priests objected to this new ruling. They decided that they would rather leave than perform ceremonies in an atash bahram where the High Priest had so little regard for long-standing tra ­ ditions. The aggrieved group took their case to Dastur (Dr) Jamaspjee Minocherjee 53 Parsiana February-March 1994 High Priest ’s stern countenance melts into an understanding smile. “I know, ” he answers. “But I still maintain that you must stay with the truth no matter what the consequences, and you will not go wrong. ” Situation Wanted High-ranking Parsi, ex-government official who is relocating to Washington DC, USA, is interested in working as a liaison officer for business houses/individuals who have interests in the US. The gentleman has 30 years experience in handling the financial and logistic functioning of large ' establishments and especial skills in human resource management. Extremely hardworking and honest, he is prepared to make adjustments and/or to undertake any training to enhance his skills. Apply to: The Advertiser Parsiana (Emp-1) GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001INSTITUTIONS A hospital in labor Arnavaz S. Mama A tussle over a new labor a^eement paralyses the working of the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital Deserted corridors, locked rooms, empty Sirvala, general manager and financial sue of financial burden ” be referred to a beds — an uncharacteristic scenario for controller of the PGH. Emphasizing the --------- inHi. the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital greater need for discipline in a hospital in (PGH). As on March 3, 1994 there were contrast to a factory, the affidavit notes, only 19 patients on the Hospital ’s r.r indjcrjpiinpd hphavinr sprawling premises. Since end January can result in a loss of life or permanent in- the Hospital has accepted no new pa- capacity and hence it is incumbent upon tients and those who had been registered the management to take all necessary pre- earlier have been progressively dis ­ charged. Even the geriatric ward is de ­ serted, its inmates having been relocated at the Masina Hospital, The H. C. ¦'private informal arbitrator, ” the indi ­ vidual suggested being Jamshed Guzder, chairman of the Free Trade Union Multi- ‘Any disruption or indisciplined behavior purpose Project Trust who, as Bombay Parsi Punchayet president, is also custo ­ dian of the PGH property. Petit re ­ sponded,. “It would not be fair or proper to embarrass such a personality in this matter. ” Thereafter it appears that the The union' and management had MMS began refusing to accept letters, signed an interim settlement on May 4, Jehangir Health Unit at Gamadia Colony 1993 (attached to both affidavits) accord- or reluctantly taken “home. ” This diaspora of Parsi patients in Bombay followed when labor at the PGH cautions when workmen resort to a go- slow or undisciplined behavior. ” telephone calls and fax messages from the Hospital and its labor consultant, ad ­ vocate S. G. Shivnani, as notes a letter written by Petit dated February 10 at ­ tached to the affidavit. Alleging “unfair labor practices ” by a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) the Hospital, the MMS sought an injunc- was a 1 which was supposed to be finalized in six J to the months. The resources for the VRS were management ’s series of notices. Fearing to be raised by the union by way of dona- for the health and well-being of patients, the PGH executive committee, by its cir ­ cular of January 24, stopped new admis- ing to which the Hospital would pay up to an addititonal Rs 12 lakhs a year in terms of wages and salaries. The union embarked on a go-slow so that patients and management agreement to introduce were served their meals nearly two hours , ‘ late, medicines were not issued on time was a part of this interim settlement tion from the Industrial Court on Febru- and ’water and electricity supply were which was supposed to be finalized in six ary 14 restraining the PGH from declar- tampered with, according to the months. The resources for the VRS were ing a lockout. Their application for in- - • • •¦ ¦ ¦ - - terim relief says, “this is a fit and proper case where the Hon ’ble Tribunal be pleased to dispense with the service of notice to the respondents for granting in ­ terim and ad interim reliefs. ” Accord- agement, employees were informed that ingly arguing that “The delay arising out "I of the notice being given to the respon- not be filled. The Hospital also paid an dents could be utilized by the respon- additional Rs 175/2(X) per month retro- - ---------- ” spectively to its employees for a 17- tion, as noted in a letter dated May 18, 1993 from PGH president Homa Petit to MMS president R. J. Mehta. In a notice sions and sought an early discharge of put up on the bulletin board by the man- the patients in its care. s _ . . Ruling upon the complaint filed by the vacancies ^reated by the VRS will the Mumbai Mazdoor Sabha (MMS) in anticipation of a lockout, the order of S. S. Hirurkar of the Bombay Industrial Court dated March 2,1994 notes, “Pend ­ ing hearing and final disposal of the informs the affidavit, complaint the respondents are restrained I" . ' . . by injunction from declaring lockout of final settlement, the Union ’s demands dents to effect a lockout of the Hospital, ” the Court granted an ex parte ad interim month period beginning January 1992, injunction on February 14 preventing a . lockout until the hearing and final dis- However, in its draft proposals for a posal of the complaint. When the case came up for hearing on February 22 the court amended its earlier the respondent Hospital except by due amounted to Rs 27 lakhs per ye^, in- process of law. The respondents are fur- ' "¦ ¦ ¦ ther directed to carry out negotiations with the complainant union and reach at or fully subsidized by charity, had regis- the final settlement subject to complain- tered a loss of 63 lakh rui^s in March ant union and the workers (maintaining) 1992, informs the affidavit. The union peaceful working and normalcy in the however believes that the Hospital is de ­ Hospital... ” The red flags and mounting tension had led to a daylong (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) clerk at the PGH and an MMS activist, Hospital. ” gherao of the trustees and senior man- claims that donations and charities have Until that laudable goal is achieved, a agement on January 29 accompanied by made the Hospital “financially viable, if full staff and a near empty Hospital add the shouting of slogans and abuses ulti- not sound. ” to the drain on the coffers of a charitable mately requiring the police to be sum- The union, in a letter dated February 7 institution even as they confound the moned, as notes the affidavit of Kersasp suggested that “the alleged disputed is- community ’s suffering members. forms Sirvala ’s affidavit. The institution ruling to what the Hospital demanded: where 259 of its total 280 beds are partly that the Hospital prevented from de ­ claring a lockout “except by due process of law. ” The court added a further clause urging both parties to the suit to “reach at the final settlement subject to complain ­ ant union and the workers (maintaining) affidavit of Manek Amrolia, senior bill peaceful working and normalcy in the liberately avoiding a final settlement. The claims that donations and charities have The union, in a letter dated February 7 54 Parsiana February-March 1994COMMENT Iranian pilgrimage...! fii Zoroastrian scientist traces his roots through Yazd and the surrounding areas Ardeshir B. Damania I 1 except for 35-year-old Erach Marzbani Photos of Zarathushtra and stalwart male and female Zoroastrians of the past from pervision of Ms Whabiz Sohrabi. The Yazd and Kerman adorn the walls. elderly widow, convinced that I was a well-meaning Zoroastrian from India, in- In the course of his shrine is of great significance to the Zoro- entered the shrine. A plaque outside reads . work with the UN astrians of Iran and especially those living “Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good I funded International in Ardakan, Yazd and the surrounding Deeds ” in Farsi. Inside there are two I Center for Agricultural towns and villages. rooms. The first room had a raised plat- f Research in Dry Areas form where King Yazdegird ’s fire was 1 (ICARDA), plant ecolo- Pir-E-Herisht shrine kept by Herisht. The fire was not burning gist Ardeshir Damania On June 24, 1993 when I visited the (the shrine seems to be visited infre- made a professional shrine of Pir-E-Herisht it was deserted quently except on certain festive days). visit to Iran. It also en ­ abled him to visit sites that are a part of who looks after the shrine under the su- Zoroastrian history and legend. Damania s account of what he saw there is published here in two parts. In this issue we read of the shrines that structed Erach to open the shrine for me. commemorate the last Sasanians and the Climbing up the long flight of steps and photos of Zarathushtra and some Zoroas- condition of Zoroastrians and Zoroas- after washing my hands and face with trian community leaders from the past. trian institutions in and around Yazd. cool spring water and performing kusti I Erach was still suspicious because of the The next issue of Parsiana will feature Damania ’s report on Perse polls, Pasar- gadae and Hamadan. The second room contains an altar where several oil lamps bum perpetually. The wall was once again adorned with after washing my hands and face with cool spring water and performing kusti I Pir-E-Herishl shrine where Yazdegird Ill's fire was guarded by his faithful servant A winding dirt road, northeast of the small town of Ardakan on the plateau in central Iran, cuts through the dusty semi ­ desert. The hills glow in the blaze of the setting sun on a long summer day in June. Shrubs of wild watermelon with in ­ nocent-looking fruits, the size of base ­ balls, but poisonous if eaten, lie on either side of the road. After 15 km, the road appears to go no further; high, almost vertical, hills lie directly ahead and soon one expects to hit a dead end. Just at that moment, abruptly, the road turns right between two steep hillsides, and there, glowing red in the rays of the setting sun, hidden from the cruel world outside, lies the shrine of Pir-E-Herisht! Dedicated to Herisht, the faithful ser ­ vant of Yazdegird III, the last Sasanian (and Zoroastrian) king of Persia, the 57 Parsiana February-March 1994IVifli best L'oiiipliiiieiits from AHURA Investments presence of my Muslim colleagues who C.,__ _______ m i also entered the shrine and hence made 40 years. The task was'enmis^to herTy little conversation. I once again per- her late father Dinyar Sohrabi whose pic- formed kusti prayers inside, lighted a san- ture hangs in her tiny unlit room. But she dal wood incense stick proffered by Erach is now ageing and with failing eyesight and exited after some hurried photogra- most of the physical work is performed by phy as light was fading fast. Erach imme- Erach. Also, arthritis prevents her from diately locked the shrine securely behind climbing the many steps to go up to the the maintenance of the shrine for the last once again per- ber late father Dinyar Sohrabi whose pic ­ ture hangs in her tiny unlit room. But she most of the physical work is performed by Erach. Also, arthritis prevents her from me. From his behavior I could deduce that shrine too often which is at least 100 both Whabiz and he are constantly wary of mischief makers tampering with the shrine or desecrating it (the fear ds well- founded as you will read later in the case of the dokhmas). A system of vents, which bring cool air from the earth below to the surface, serves as a sort of natural air-condition ­ ing system. Nearby is an underground spring whose water is very cool and a ______ ___ plaque mentioning the Zoroastrians who photos of her room and picture frames of came here from far corners of the world ’ is placed atop the entrance. The spring water can be reached by descending a long flight of steps. A decent rest house with about four rooms for overnight stay of visitors is available. Other rooms and _______ _ ____ _ a dharamshala are also available for the nally, totally overcome with sadness I pilgrims but these are in a neglected con ­ dition and the walls covered by graffiti. Whabiz informed me (through an in- . _______ _ _______ terpreter) that she has been looking after turned for one last look a faint smile fi- meters above her humble dwelling place, a single room with a kitchen and toilet. She has a daughter, Keshvar, who lives in Tehran and comes to visit her occasion ­ ally. By now the sun had set and it was rap ­ idly getting dark behind the hill. Whabiz lit a petromax lantern (her electricity had been cut off) and offered to make tea. She retreated into the kitchen while I took her deceased ancestors. In the dim light I could see the outlines of her few meager belongings and evidence of a bleak exist ­ ence, no doubt due to poverty. Neverthe ­ less, her faith was unwavering, and she vows to fulfill her duties till the end. Fi­ placed a bundle of money in her hand, patted her cheek in encouragement, and made ready to return to Ardakan. As I With best compliments M/s Khator Fibre 58 Parsiana February-March 1994 & Fabrics Ltd Assembly Lane Dadi Seth Agyani Lane Kalbadevi Bombay 4OOOO2With Compliments Of Classic Fashions Exporters 104 Neelgiri Ind Estate 183 T. J. Road Sewri (W) Bombay 400015 nally appeared on her creased face. one of the tributaries of the river The same evening I visited a book and Euphrates. The fortunes of battle fluctu- stationery shop in Ardakan. The owner, Gustasp Baliwani, informed me that his father Roskim Baiiwani, was a mobed at the agiary at Ardakan. I bought some books from the shop in Farsi on the Zoro ­ astrians of Kerman and Yazd and on the holy shrines in the Ardakan area. Gustasp promised to wait for me the next day at Pir-E-Sabz (Nikh Banoo), another deal, to find release in a frenzy*of reli- giou.s zealotry and violence which was now unleashed on Persia. Alter the loss at Qadisiyah, Yazdegird III retreated and regrouped his armed forces under his brave commander-in- chief Rostam, but the Persians were once again defeated in the final battle at Nahavand (642 AD), a town south of Hamadan which still exists. Rostam was killed and Yazdegird III fled to save him ­ self and his family. Finally he retreated to the village of Ardakan (near Yazd) where larger shrine, as he knew the mobed there. I spent the night at the Ardakan Inn where the proprietor, after I explained the ante ­ cedents of my name, kindly agreed to be paid in Iranian rials instead of the hard currency demanded of all foreigners. ated daily, but the Persian armies, already weakened by the long and hard Byzantine campaigns and internal dissent (of noble ­ men and priests), were ultimately routed by the Arabs. To these Arab conquerors, war, plunder, spoils, terror, rape, and ultimate salvation in heaven if killed, were all woven together in a package The legend of Nikh Banoo Yazdegird III, the last Sasanian king, was crowned in 632 AD (the year Mohammad, the founder of Islam, died). The king was a devout Zoroastrian. Hi.s reign began promisingly but only four he and his family and the remaining reti- years later his kingdom was attacked by Muslim Arabs from the desert who had already conquered the Byzantine-ruled Syria and now marched upon the once mighty Persian empire. The fate of the empire was decided at the crucial battle of Qadisiyah (636-37 AD) on the banks of nuc stayed safely for a few years. Yazdegird III chose this area for refuge particularly for its bleak appearance, harsh climate and mountainous terrain which he thought would be difficult for his enemies to find. But the Arabs came to know of his whereabouts and came With best compliments from Tata Industries Limited Bombay House 24 Homi Mody Street Bombay 400001 60 Parsiana February-March T994L APOLLO COURIER SERVICES INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC 22-1 st Marine Street Opp Metro Cinema Near Kit-Kat Restaurant Dhobi Talao Bombay 400002 Tel; 2086917 Fax: 2085325 chasing to Ardakan. Yazdegird Ill ’s royal fire, which followed the King wher ­ ever he went, was hid and guarded by his servant Herisht among the hills. But one of Yazdegird Ill ’s three unmarried daughters, the 22-year-old Nikh Banoo, was not so lucky. With the Arab hordes at her heel, Nikh Banoo fleeing all night, hid in one of the mountain gorges 37 km from __ _____ ________ Ardakan. Unfortunately, at daybreak she The Zoroastrians of Iran call it Pir-E was found out and she climbed higher and higher up the gorge until a sheer wall of rock impeded further progress. Ex ­ hausted by heat and menstruation, sur ­ rounded by sheer walls of solid rock, with the blood thirsty and lustful enemies closing in from below, her fear and ap ­ prehension can well be imagined! Real ­ izing that there was now no escape, Nikh Banoo thrust her walking stick in the ground and made a final desperate appeal to Ahura Mazda to save her honor! Leg ­ end has it that Ahura Mazda, in His im ­ mense mercy opened a crevice in the rock close to where she was suinding and witnessed. The stick which Nikh Banoo thrust in the ground at the spot, revived by the wa ­ ter, grew ultimately into a huge tree which still stands. Her scarf, until about a 100 years ago, was still to be seen emerging from the rock, Zoroastrian pil ­ grims having taken away bits of the cloth for veneration in the past. Today the spot has become a shrine. Sabz, the Arabic name is Hayat Banoo, and some, no doubt deridingly, call it Chak Chak, after the sound of the drip ­ ping waters at the shrine. Yazdegird Ill ’s two other daughters and two sons were either killed by the in ­ vaders or died in hiding. One daughter. Pars Banoo, is buried at another shrine 50 km from Ardakan. Another daughter, Mehr Banoo, is also buried near Ardakan. One son is buried at Noraki 60 km from Ardakan, and another son at Sett-E-Pir. Yazdegird III was a very devout Zoroas ­ trian and hence all these places are con- sidered holy by the Iranian Zoroastrians. she wedged herself into this opening They are visited on festive occasions, which closed instantly. Soon after this event a trickle of water began to flow at the spot from a mysterious source. Some say the mountain weeps at the tragedy it Depressed by the loss of his kingdom and these tragic events, Yazdegird III wandered from province to province un ­ til he was killed by a miller for his purse WITH BEST COMPLIMENTS Rajeev Silk Mills 191, Kolbodevi Rood Bombay 400002 Tel: 2016028/2063862 Fax: 2087656 62 Parsiana February-March 1994in 652 AD at Merv (now called Mary in Turkmenistan), one of the remotest out ­ posts of his former empire. Pir-E-Sabz shrine (Nikh Banoo) I travelled 37 km on the dirt road through semi-desert to arrive at Pir-E-Sabz. Gustasp Baliwani was already there as promised. He introduced me to the mobed at the shrine, Rostam Rashidi. I washed my hands and face with the cool spring water (considered sacred) and per ­ formed kusti while the mobed unlocked the gates to the shrine. The gates were covered with brass plating and engrav ­ ings of two handsome Persian guards (similar to the stone carvings at Persepolis). Inside I saw a fireplace in the center and another stainless steel lamp-holder close to the stone wall where Nikh Banoo had met her fate. Bits of colored cloth were nailed to the stone symbolizing the original scarf. Being a botanist I identified the tree, which grew out of the staff which Nikh Banoo thrust into the ground, as Myrtus communis (common name: sycamore, or button wood tree, or also sometimes called plane tree). The tree is Mediterranean in origin and grows to a height of about 100, feet. It can be propagated by budwood so Marzbam guards the fire at the shrine of Pir-E-Herisht it is possible that the stick which Nikh Banoo was using was in fact a live piece of wood albeit without leaves or roots. The place had coolness and tranquility which brought great peace to one ’s soul. On my behalf, Gustasp inserted a bunch of sandalwood incense sticks into the ashes at the altar which I thought was in ­ ert. But the embers were very much there below the ashes as the incense sticks lit up filling the room with sandalwood aroma. This was the way of keeping the fire alive 24 hours with minimum attention, said Rostam Rashidi. He also showed me some prayer books from Bombay printed at the Union Press which were in a cup­ board together with other prayer books in Farsi. By this time a group of Zoroastrian and Muslim youngsters had gathered around the fire and Rashidi was once again narrating the story of Nikh Banoo, the tree and the miracle which is said to have taken place at the spot 1,300 years ago. Zoroastrian farmers in Ardakan The next day, I was taking an early morn ­ ing walk outside the inn when I spied from afar an elderly woman and a younger one squatting in a field close to the road and harvesting wheat with a sickle. They did not wear the obsequious chador, the black garb for women in Iran which covers all but the upper half of the face. Some inner instinct made me ap ­ proach them I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they were Zoroastrians! The With best compliments from DINSHAW & DINSHAW ENGINEERS & CONTRACTORS 390/286, Bootee Street Camp, Poona 1 64 Parsiana February-March 1994With Best Compliments From Mrs Dina Dara Sukhia And Victory Theatres 2429 Gen Thimayya Road Pune Camp 411001 older lady introduced herself as Goolbanoo and the younger woman, with light blue eyes, was Shirin, her daughter- in-law. They were delighted to know that I was also a fellow Zoroastrian from In ­ dia, and that my late mother was also herself area, which borders on the desert, is very scanty i.e. approximately 100 mm (less than an inch) only. All cultivation is car ­ ried out by irrigation. In the bygone ages the Persians developed a unique system of irrigation by the construction of qanat.s named Goolbanoo and one of my late (long underground tunnels) to transport aunts, Shirin. ... They explained that they were culti ­ vating the land left to them by their an ­ cestors even though their holding was digging and maintaining of qanats is a now much reduced due to the setback as highly skilled job, normally undertaken a result of the construction of the by families from the Yazd area. water from the wet mountain slopes to the dry, arid and unproductive areas. This system of irrigation is still in use. The — -------o -- ,------ -- a now much reduced due to the setback as highly skilled job, normally undertaken Ardakan-Yazd two-lane highway. They said that only about 1(X) Zoroastrian families lived in Ardakan. Half of these are farmers and cultivated ancestral land and the other half work for the govern ­ ment in administrative jobs. They told mobed in Ardakan. The house was situ- me that at one time there was a very large Zoroastrian community in Ardakan but the younger generation migrated to larger cities (like Yazd and Tehran) or went abroad leaving only the old behind. After meeting Goolbanoo and Shirin I could not help thinking that if my ances ­ tors had not been among the ones who took the boat to India, these two, toiling hard in the sun in 40°C heat, could be part of my family! The rainfall in and around the Ardakan Visit to the Ardakan Agiary After asking for directions I located the home of Rostam Baliwani (Gustasp ’s fa ­ ther), a community leader and chief ated in a very narrow lane (not unlike some in Navsari) in Sharifabad, an old quarter of Ardakan, where most of the Zoroastrians live. The home was modest and naturally ventilated against the heat with a series of indirect vents open to the sky. The house had a small garden in the center with pomegranate trees which are native to the areas around Yazd. Rostam Baliwani was overjoyed to see me and narrated stories about Yazdegird continued on page 78 With Best Commitments From When in Bombay Contact LEACH & WEBORNY For attending to your laundry. They are Launderers & Dyers of repute. They will also attend to your carpets for cleaning or dyeing. 66, Off E. Moses Road, Worli, Bombay 400018 Phone: Head Office 2654294 Factory: 4924384, 4925644 64 b Parsiana February-March 1994COMMENT AS YOU SOW. Rustom M. Daboo O J O P D o ^<5 Superovulation and Embryo Transfer have been suggested for a six-folalncrease in the community's birth rate however, assures it will pro ­ tect their jobs. This move has reportedly received the green signal from the health and family welfare ministry and the National Commission of Women, according to The Times of India, November 25, 1993. If this draconian law is passed, this has to be taken into consideration by the Punchayet as well. Although Mr Guzder ’s pragmatic resolution is a step in the right direction, it is not sufficient to solve the crisis. The reason is that we marry late, due to which the num ­ ber of offspring remains be ­ tween one or two. Also many remain single. Therefore, one of the root causes of the declining birth rate, late mar ­ riages, must also be ad ­ dressed urgently and incentives ought to . - be given for encouraging early marriages t e financial crunch experienced by all of (e.g. the marriage expenditure of couples us today the most important factor between the age-group 19 to 25 years, which prevents us from producing more ' ' ‘ ----- than two offspring. A practical view of demonstrates that financial ought to be launched to change the ‘late .... -¦ marriage mentality ’of Parsi youth, high ­ lighting the advantages of marrying early. Similarly, a fashion to many, within the community needs to be introduced, especially among the fashionable and af ­ fluent class. The above steps, if taken, are surely in the right direction and together with the incentive for the third child and early marriages, if the fashion to marry within the fold picks up, the birth rate is likely to go up marginally. But you cannot expect a dramatic upsurge in our numbers. A bold, unconventional offensive is the need of the hour, as we need not only to arrest the downward slide, but we need to give a thrust upstream. The Embryo Transfer (ET) technology 1 T he single most important problem that has emerged from all our deliberations is of the dwindling Parsi population, which has reached crisis proportions, de ­ manding an immediate solution. It is feared that we may not be left with enough numbers to be classified as a com ­ munity by the government! I recall my grandfather, Dastur Khurshed Dabu ’s words on the subject — “Not for nothing has the Zoroastrian reli ­ gion been kept alive and simmering in _________ ___ ____ mo this world, for it has yet to burst into the insufficient housing, late marriages and pristine flames of its past glory and it has i' yet to guide the world! ” Such faith had our ancestors in the survival of our reli ­ gion and race, and maybe, in their wis ­ dom, their prophesy may come true. However, should we give the above ___________ _ hope a chance and lie low? Should we not rectly proportional, try to do what we possibly can to over- come this crisis? Some believe that the migration from India coupled with an in ­ accurate world census of Parsis, has re ­ sulted in the reported “dwindling popula ­ tion. ” Maybe they are right, but do we . just cross our fingers and wait for the best? I do acknowledge that they also serve,,who with faith await. But, we must be more realistic in our approach and take prompt action as the worsening situation .. .......... ..................... demands, lest — Ahura forbid — the children are not entitled to paid maternity Parsis as a race die an ignoble death. At the youth workshop organized der the aegis of the World Zoroastrian Congress at Bombay, the reasons for the 66 Parsiana February-March 1994 ¦ un- / diminishing birth rate were shortlisted as well-being and the Parsi birth rate are di- This conclusion seems to be rightly en ­ dorsed by Mr Jamshed Guzder, president, Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), who nounced at the last Sanjan Day celebra ­ tions that the entire expenditure of the third Parsi child could be borne by the BPP. Here it may be noted that the labor ministry is reportedly working on an amendment to the Maternity Benefits Act 1973, so that women with more than two an- leave. If women working in private com ­ panies choose to have a third child, it would be at their own expense and at the risk of losing their job. The government, may be borne by the BPP). Secondly, an information campaignWITH BEST COMPLIMENTS FROM Sovika Chemicals Private Limited B-2 Parekh Mahal 80 V. N. Road Churchgate Bombay 400020 68 Parsiana February-March 1994 is presently used by the bio-technical in ­ stitutes in the country and abroad to en ­ hance the national breeding program of milch animals. This same technique can be applied for human breeding, but due to the population explosion worldwide, we cannot expect anybody to start this pro ­ gram on humans. It clearly means that we Parsis have to be pioneers by initiating this technique — yet another untried field. ET is the quickest way to multiply “ge ­ netically superior and pure-pedigreed Parsis, ” six times faster than the natural rate of reproduction. In this technique, do ­ nor females arc treated with certain hor- Do we just cross our fingers and wait for the best? mones to make them superovulate, i.e. produce around six eggs instead of the normal one. This enables the fertilization of six eggs simultaneously (by artificial insemination or naturally). After fertiliza ­ tion these eggs are flushed out non-surgi- cally, using a catheter and a special flush ­ ing medium, and transferred through a sy ­ ringe into a thin tube (called straw) where they are stored in liquid nitrogen contain ­ ers at a temperature of -197°C. The flushed fertilized egg is transplanted arti ­ ficially and unsurgically into the wombs of six ‘desirous mothers ’ (of any race or creed) who ultimately give birth to six bonny pedigreed Parsis of pure lineage. The Parsis can hence multiply and pro ­ duce children six fold within a year (i.e. six times the present birth rate). Recently a donor cow superovulated 11 embryos in a single flush in one year which produced 11 calves. It is technically feasible and safe to use this ET technology to increase the human population. If the World Zoroastrain Organisation and the BPP akabars have the grit and the courage of conviction to really increase the Parsi population, are the present trustees in power ready to bring up and groom such Parsi children as Community children? If so, I am sure many a Parsi youth would be ready to par ­ ticipate in the ET program and donate embryos after two children, to the com ­ munity pool. A castaway on a desert island does not wave a hankie to attract attention. He lights a fire! The present critical situation necessitates such a daring, fire-lighting measure. Are the punchayets ready? With Best Compliments From SEALOL HINDUSTAN LIMITED* PROFESSIONS Parinaz Gandhi ¦ 1^0 0 •• Facing page: Jamshed Aga who designed and supervised the construction of the Indrajit Palace al Rajpipla (center and right) . * \» • * • • • .. \el another landi The oldest firm of architects i Shapoorjee N. Cnandabhoy a prominent community instit and regal palaces in its 125 y ¦ ¦ w ¦ Nusserwanjee Chandabhoy (above ) founder of the firm that created monuments like (from top) B. D. Petit Parsee General Hpspital, F. D. Petit Sanatorium and M. F. Cama Athornan Institute ¦¦ ¦I i ¦ li^W ¦ 70 Parsiana February-March 1994nark [Maharashtra, id Company has built itions nrs of creativity r * » J w I ¦ I ¦ ^¦(11 - ¦ Building on land was the routine busi- to cure the system nor endure ” he de- ness of Shapoorjee N. Chandabhoy and cided to call a halt to the firm ’s building Company (SNC). Building under water activities seven years ago. Referring to was a novel project that proprietor the love and respect that an architect Jamshed Aga wanted to float. He had earned in the days of yore Aga recalled envisaged an under-the-sea restaurant but when he found that there was no sponsor willing to take the plunge with him, he and a gold chhera (chain) and pocket decided to defer the issue: ‘"Aavtaa bhaave aavsu tare karsu (We ’ll take up the project in our next incarnation), ” laughs 77-year-old Aga who for 55 years coming. There was no question of de- has been associated with this firm of ar ­ chitects founded by his great grandfather 125 years ago. The oldest firm ’ of architects in Maharashtra, SNC, as informs Aga, is re ­ puted to have designed and built monu ­ mental landmarks in Bombay like the Framjee Cawasjee Institute opposite culation, a synopsis of the family history Metro, the B. D. Petit Parsee General and the day ’s newspaper, often Jam-e- Hospital at Breach Candy, the F. D. Petit Jamshed. “Laborers then did not while Sanatorium at Cumballa Hill, the Mount Mary Church al Bandra; in Yazd, Iran, the famous orphanage building and clocktower in memory of Peshotan Marker; and palaces and palaces — in Gwalior, Raj- pipla, Chhota Udaipur, Devgadh, Reva... Over 50 names feature in their list of prominent structures and clients. The prevailing bribe cul ­ ture, the inordinate delays, the deteriora ­ tion in the quality of material and labor, are the conditions Aga eschewed. And slowed down his pace of activity. Yet realizing that he would “neither be able he continues to work all through the .1 how a silver salver would be presented to him before the foundation stone laying watch gifted on the completion of the building. As soon as the bill was des ­ patched the payments would be forth- ducting even one rupee. Among Zoroastrians, at the time of laying the foundation stone, usually with a silver pavda (spade), there was also the custom of burying in the northeast corner a Chinese urn bearing a gold sovereign, a few denominations of the currency in cir- away their time, smoking.or chatting. In fact, the contractors and laborers used to understand each other even without labor laws, ” Aga continues. And the archi ­ tects themselves used to be concerned about supervis ­ ing the quality and progress of the work. Aga remem ­ bers the days when he used to climb 30 storeys of the Union Bank building at Nariman Point when it was under construction. With advancing age, says Aga, he has w ¦ IO ¦ *? ¦ WB fft iiil I ™- . 4^ I I I i V ¦I a -f* ¦ ii ^lil O 111 1^’4*' •< t ?b I o « 1week, even Sundays and Navroze if nec ­ essary. As a life member of the Indian Council of Arbitration in New Delhi, Aga is loaded with assignments where he has to officiate on differences over im ­ movable properties. Since the arbitration procedure accords relief quicker than law both the parties may agree to have one arbitrator. When two arbitrators are se ­ lected by the warring factions, an umpire is called for, Aga explains the workings. Whether the parties choose to accept the verdict or to take further recourse to the legal machinery is their choice. Occa ­ sionally the court may refer a matter to Shapoorjee Chandabhoy (left) the arbitrators, in which case the award and Burjor Aga decided upon by the arbitrators along with the relevant documents are then mittee Aga has served too on the board ther) started his practice in Bombay, of advisors for the Sir J. J. College of Ar- naming the firm after his son Shapoorjee. ehitecture, Bombay. In the history of the The son continued in this field until he xwas joined by his sister ’s son Burjor. Then came Jamshed, to be followed by his son Vistasp who assisted the family firm for a short while before opting to re ­ locate in the USA. But Jamshed has no regrets because he realizes that his son has better prospects away from this cor ­ rupt economic climate: “Within 21 years of being away he ’s much richer than I am after 55 years of practice, ” notes a proud father. Not just his son, but most Zoroastrians abroad are doing well for themselves, be ­ lieves Aga. Dismissing the doomsayers ’ been the only family where both father predictions on the community ’s inevi- submitted to the High Court. and son have served as presidents, re- table death he insists, "Aapre khalas A registered architect of India and UK ports Aga. While his father Burjor nathi thai javana (We will not die out). ” who has distinguished himself as a cor- served a single term. Jamshed continued Within India he has noticed that the girls porate architect and surveyor plus as a for two terms. Similar has been their are doing better than the boys. Besides, chartered architect, Aga also contributes record at the Iranian Zoroastrian a lady ’s ethics are superior to a male ’s, as a fire loss assessor and as estate duty Anjuman too where Aga is currently he believes. “Try to bribe a lady; she and wealth tax valuer. Formerly a mem- president. won ’t grant you any favors, ” Aga is ber of the Government of India s plan- The family ’s involvement with archi- certain. One universal trait within the ning commission as also the Bombay t ' —" ' _ ”_______ Municipal Corporation ’s advisory com- Chandabhoy (Burjor ’s maternal grandfa- Indian Institute of Architects, theirs has and son have served as presidents, re- i ........................................... „ . While his father Burjor nathi thai javana (We will not die out). ” served a single term. Jamshed continued for two terms. Similar has been their the Iranian Zoroastrian The family ’s involvement with archi- ^ture dates to 1868 when Nusserwanjee community is that “we ’re still cosmo- . . „ continued on page 96f With Best Compliments From White Cloud Filter Pads Private Limited Pioneer Manufacturers of Finest Quality Machine Made Filter Pads in the Country 412 Gultekdi Road Pune 411037 Phone: 432236,441078 Fax:(0212)448942 Gram: Filter Pads J 72 Parsiana February-March 1994 iPROFESSIONS Billimoria’s pres(s)tigious assignment Homi Rogers T FC 3? A' ¦« "1 '* I*- w. .•e •i t 1 1. ¦' 9^ WBj- !«*¦ ^WS Cid would have been a better proposition! “But then, ” as he spells out the company ’s policy, “we do not expand and modernize to earn more money, ” but to ensure the best quality possible. Unfortunately, Framroz was around to witness this big leap forward. An astrologer had forewarned him that Sanj Vartman (Annual) of 1936 carried 1973 would be a fateful year for him. i':.. ' f' : ' " Having survived through the better part Burjor Poonawala of it, and having opened a letter of credit for the import of equipment, Framroz went to thank Iranshah for sparing his life. But death, caught up with him as predicted, and he succumbed to a mas ­ sive heart attack at Udvada on the night alma mater to sen^d down to him young of December 26, 1973. Twenty years ---— —, — j — , later the family still recall the incident are work shirkers, ” states Burjor. ‘ They puted processing companies in the coun- with ’oain. have no loyalty to the company, and in- try, respected by leading publications. It ’s not just the memories of the dulge in trade union activities, ” he adds, presses and art directors, and honored na- founder-patriarch that linger on: The Such activity is apparently anathema to tionally and internationally for its jobs. Poonawalas still have in working condi- the Poonawalas, who claim “fairly har- With the scope almost limitless, to tion block-making machines over 100 monious relationships with workers ” to- quote Burjor, as satellite transmissions vears old which Framroz had purchased day. They cannot forget the prolonged will make image processing possible second-hand when he set up the business, strike of 10 months in 1982 which practi- even on telephone lines, the Poonawalas “Since block-making has become practi- callv out them out of business and caused see an impressive future ahead. Burjor returned to India, armed with a used, ” Burjor informs us. More impor ­ tantly, what still remains is the old Parsi Institute of London as well as the London ethos, reflected in the Poonawalas ’ corj»- as not rate philosophy: “We try to run a straight, another Parsi youth, frets Poonawala, re- • ••• ¦ - ------ turned within 100 hours from a foreign assignment, complaining of homesick ­ ness. “They don ’t want to dirty their hands, ” says a visibly-disturbed Burjor who continues to practise the German philosophy of work which he picked up during his training there. “No one can work with his hands in his pockets. But if a Parsi youth is prepared to work hard and learn this business, I would be happy to teach him, if he came forward and said so, ” avers Poonawala who attributes the family success to “hard work and sacri ­ fice. ” Yet another reason for this success story could be the rare togetherness of the family. Brothers Dadi and Cyrus — both diploma holders in printing technol ­ ogy from London — look after the ad ­ ministrative side of the company. Dadi s son Fred handles the sales. Buijor, his hands ever busy, is the technical supremo. His two children, Khurshed and Shernaz and nephew Neville (Cyrus ’ son) look af ­ ter the electronic scanning systems. Every vital function is handled by a family member at its helm. Yet the “fairly God ­ fearing ” Burjor, who visits the fire-temple every morning, points out, “It is the Al­ mighty who controls our successes and failures, our joys and sorrows. ” The Poonawalas have experienced a fair amount of life ’s vicissitudes, like the light and shades of the photographic film. The Rs 4,000 Alamai gave her hus ­ band by pawning her jewelry have ‘repro- over, with a sparkle that illumines the company ’s diamond jubilee as it turns 60. Today, with its six and a half crore turn- clean business, upholding the finest tradi- • « Vt Parsiana February-March 1994 I .ART t/M'5 advertisement featuring two-year-old If, however, there is a change it is in band by pawning her jewelry have repro- the brothers ’ experience with employing duced an impression a thousand times Parsi youth. Framroz, a product of the ' **¦"* " Surat Orphanage, used to write to his Zoroastrian lads. But, “our youths today over, CAE ranks as one of the most re- have no loyalty to the company, and in- try, respected by leading ^p^ublications, dulge in trade union activities, ” he adds. Such activity is apparently anathema to the Poonawalas, who claim “fairly har ­ monious relationships with workers ” to- Strike of 10 months in 1982 which practi ­ cally put them out of business and causedMUSIC Dinshah Sanjana: All that jazz Gustasp Irani Dinshah Sanjana and band Divya have been performing at international jazz festivals but he also learnt how to play the guitar Tryst in 1980, the Ji-Whiz band in 1983 and the tabla. Each day he put in long with whom he recorded an album in Hol- hours of practice, perfecting his skill. “I land. Ultimatum in 1985, and finally started playing the piano when I was five Divya in 1987 with whom he recorded and played classical music. In my teens I two albums, Madras Cafe and In a Man- was into rock music and grew up with ner of Speaking. Success came to Divya As we listen to the music of Dinshah Sanjana ’s jazz band Divya we are in ­ trigued by its complexities: it ’s Indian and Western, it ’s modem and traditional, it ’s intense and laid-back, it ’s vocal with ­ out words, it ’s electronic and more. Call it fusion if you will, but it ’s distinctly the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Rock almost immediately when it was selected different and it ’s Sanjana ’s musical state ­ ment to the world. In a way it reflects its 37-year-old creator ’s life-style. From childhood Sanjana pursued mu ­ sic with an uncompromising passion and commitment that kept him in step with a rhythm that was often out of sync with conventional living. Relatives, friends and acquaintances expected him to become a doctor like his father Minoo F. Sanjana. But by the age of 14 he had decided otherwise. “I asked my dad, ‘Do you want me to be a good musician or a bad doctor? ’ He looked at me for a moment and answered, ‘A good musician, ”’ Sanjana recalls the fateful day that sent the lives of father and son into a tailspin. “People started to ostracize us. Friends stopped coming over or inviting don ’t need words. Musicians communi- me to their place as their parents thought cate as they play, literally talk to each froze. ” Al Jarreau, an immensely popu- thatl was a corrupting influence on their other. It ’s fascinating, ” says Sanjana as lar jazz player, jumped onto the stage children. Patients even stopped coming to my father for treatment. We were treated like lepers. Even today, I meet people who ask, ‘What do you do? ’ I an ­ swer, ‘I’m a musician, ’ and they react as though I have said a bad word. ” Sanjana to music. “It ’s a full-time commitment. briefly relives the rejection and is visibly moved. But now he is not unduly dis ­ turbed by this social paradox where it is chic to appreciate music and go ‘tut, tut ’ at musicians. As a younger man, however, Sanjana India ’s best known and most talented of withdrew into a shell and pursued his jazz exponents and composers. In 1978 music with an even fiercer commitment. The piano was his mode of expression •* \ 1 / 89 Parsiana February-March 1994 a j is easy listening, music that communi ­ cates with words. Jazz is different. You as one of the 10 Hnalists at the ninth Bel- I gian International Jazz Concert of 1987 I and won an award in the contest. From I here on, the world was their stage and I they performed at a number of intema- I tional jazz festivals in Holland, Poland, I Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, USSR, I Hong Kong, USA, Japan, Malaysia and I of course India. I Sanjana particularly I Divya ’s first performance on US soil at I the Fifth John Coltrane Festival, Los An ­ geles, in 1991. Eighty percent of the au ­ dience consisted of jazz musicians and the atmosphere was emotionally charged. “Miles Davis (one of jazz ’s greatest sons) had died the previous day and ev ­ ery group was playing for him. We were I on stage and had just started our first song and... the sound system quit. We remembers he traces his changing tastes in music till and pulled off what Sanjana considers to he discovered his niche in jazz. He is not particularly religious in a conventional sort of way, but you realize ad-libbed with the members of Divya till that there is almost a spiritual dedication be one of the finest rescue acts. For 20 minutes he entertained the audience and the sound system was set right and the show was on again. “What Al Jarreau did that night was what jazz is all about: Your instrument is your, altar. You have to pray long hours every day and only communication and ad-libbing, ” says then will God say, ‘I will be with you. ’” And the god of music hears Sanjana ’s prayers. Today he is probably one of things to different people. “It ’s street music. It ’s hep and cool. It ’s ad-libbing. It ’s playing the moment. It ’s much more he started his first jazz band. Holy cerebral than rock. It ’s not music for the Smoke. A series of other bands followed: masses, you have to understand it to re- Sanjana with profound admiration. Jazz, Sanjana explains, is differentThe Divya jazz group (from left): drummer Sanjay Maroo, vocalist Sandhya Sanjana, electric bassist Jaykanth Srinivasan, Dinshah Sanjana, guitarist D. Wood and saxophonist Carl Clements I ally appreciate it, ” says Sanjana. And yet it has popular appeal. Sanjana recalls the time Divya performed at a concert for street kids at Colaba Woods (he lives opposite them) and his composition Western classics on the piano and the son Electric Lungi went down particularly plays a mean set of drums and a whole well with the audience. “After that the street kids would see me on the road and hum Electric Lungi back to me, ” he says. And probably the oldest form of jazz is Indian classical music, according to Sanjana. “Puritans and traditionalists may object but both forms of music have a lot in common. Both are about com ­ munication, ad-libbing and playing the moment, ” says Sanjana. In fact, a distin ­ guishing feature of Sanjana ’s music is that it has undertones of Indian classical music; and the lead ‘instrument ’ of hind rock stars prancing about in the Divya is the voice of Sanjana ’s wife limelight, and you will probably recog- Sandhya who is a keen student and expo- - -. nent of North Indian classical music. And the bond between husband and wife is special. “Sandhya moved into my home the very first day we met 20 years ago, and has not left it since, ” says Sanjana. Providence, in the form of a by providing them with backup accom- thunderstorm, played its part on that fate- paniment and helping them smooth out ful day. The play Jesus Christ Superstar, the lumps in their compositions and ar- ied and practised homeopathy, allopathy and ayurvedic medicine and mixed all the disciplines in his profession. He was J 11, and Jeto, nine. Sanjana believes they composed and recorded, have exceptional skills that far exceed his own. “And I don ’t say this as a proud the night before for a Dubai based tea father, ” he clarifies. The older girl plays company. The rich orchestration is laced with a distinct flavor of the, Arabian deserts. Listening to it we could almost visualize the moving sands of endlessly He plays for us the one he recorded range of instruments. Sanjana hints at the possibility of them exploding on rolling dunes. MTV in a sensational manner. “.............. Of course Sanjana does not expect his own brand of music to feature on MTV. “The problem is that jazz is not music for puter-aided synthesizers and electronic the masses. It ’s intellectual and does not have a large audience. This is also true abroad, ” he explains. Jazz musicians cannot expect to live by their music alone and have to moonlight to make ends meet. Check out the musicians be- The individual strains of instruments that blend together to make up an orches ­ tra have been simulated through com- nize a number of jazz musicians. “These guys are professionals. They are the ones who add class and gloss to rock mu ­ sic, ” says Sanjana. Similarly in India, Sanjana has periences. worked with a number of local rock stars equipment, he explains. We are treated to a demonstration of the process by which the drums and percussion in ­ struments, the piano and the violin, etc are woven in turn into a tapestry of harmony. “Beethoven and Bach would have killed for equipment like this, ” Sanjana observes as his fingers dance over the keyboards with ease. Indeed, his recording studio is an extension of jazz into his personal life; the assimila ­ tion and synthesizing of different ex- One of Sanjana ’s greatest influences has been his late father Minoo. “He was the jazz musician of medicine. He stud- in which Sandhya played a part had got rangements. His more serious commer- over and she found herself stranded in South Bombay, unable to reach her home in the suburbs. So along with a friend recording studio which is reportedly one who knew Sanjana well she turned up at his house for shelter... and has stayed on with him ever since. The musical talent of the Sanjanas is endless list of companies that have fea- inherited by their two children Ambika, cial enterprise is composing and record ­ ing advertisement jingles at his personal my hero. His advice to me was that if you don ’t give what you do all you ’ve got, it ’s not worth doing at all, ” says Sanjana. He certainly gave jazz his best shot and under that rebel image of flow­ ing locks tied up in a ponytail, there is a tured over 2,000 jingles that he has dedicated and sensitive musician. of the best in the country and housed in a soundproof room at his residence. Vimal and MRF are only two of the 90 Parsiana February-March 1994FOOD Family adds flavor A Cordon Bleu cook teams up with her son-in-law to offer delectable food at Delhi ’s Basil and Thyme Bhicoo Manekshaw t- ‘ t * opened on October 26, 1992, We went in with a prayer on our lips and a The Santusti Complex was the brainchild of Srilata Katre, wife of the then chief of air staff. Air Chief Marshal L. M. Katre, in 1985. I was asked by her to start a restaurant at the complex. I was even told that all the equip ­ ment for the kitchen and the restaurant would be provided; all I had to do was to run the restaurant. My answer was no. I was asked again by the wives of the succeeding chiefs of air force to take on the Eatery (how I hate the word!). Again the answer was no. Then Asha Suri, the last chief ’s wife, who augmented the complex with extra shops and laid the whole area out with the help of Mohit Gugral, asked me to start a new restaurant (the old one was broken down to make place for a shop). When I said that I was too old, she asked if my daughter Ema, along with her hus- with his 20 years of hotel ex ­ perience and I with 30 profes- . , sional years in the field of lighted divo — nothing else. Of course cookery. the torans and chalk patterns were there. We toyed with several and the first dish made on the new stove was ravo which sweetened the mouths of all our staff. We had not advertised, but weeklies and magazines that wished to comment on us were not stopped. Since not many people knew of our new venture, the first week of the restau ­ rant was poorly attended. On October 31, the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi, ____... as I sat listening to Hari Prasad Mr* Thyme! Sunil felt there was a need Chaurasia ’s magnificent flute, I prayed ¦ ‘___________for the restaurant to be a success. At that very moment a leaf fell on my lap — and names for the restaurant, till Sunil came up with Basil and Thyme. We thought it more sensible than calling it Plats du Jour which would attract a hundred and one questions from all our patrons. But we had no answer ready when we were asked who is Mr Basil and who is for a restaurant of this type where a per ­ son could sit and eat good continental , food in pleasant surroundings without I knew my prayer had been answered. I went to work after the ceremony was over and that day was a complete V vu, w.. sellout; we ran out of everything at Quiche Lorraine and Sale and the pate the restaurant^ After that, we have not main course and dessert change every day. And so far, even after a year, we have not repeated a single dish except on request. What is it like to work for a son-in- law? My husband was not at all keen. My daughter Erna was nervous as both of us have strong personalities and strong views of our own. What Erna and her father evi- dently forgot is that Sunil had 20 years of dealing with very difficult people, while I’ve had the experience of working with everyone, from the top brass to the lowliest utility Mflmi worker, at the West End Hotel in Bangalore, Delhi ’s India having to pay through the nose. We have maintained the standard because we will not cut on quality. have not been removed from the a la looked back. The plats du jour of soup, carte menu since the inception of the res ­ taurant because of their popularity. And, ......___ _________ ,___ of course, the famous Gateau Zara was band SunU Chandra (who had resigned created for and dedicated to granddaugh- from the Flagship of the Oberoi hotel in ter Zara, aged six, who loves chocolates. Delhi about four years ago) would take it on, as the first In choice was given to families ||H of air force personnel. So I rang up my son-in-law, asked I if they were interested. Yes, I came the answer after some I thinking, but only if I would I help. Well, one cannot say no I to a son-in-law, so that is how I my love affair with Basil and Thyme started. Our application went in J with other strong contenders, i but we got the contract. Not 1 only because of the air force I connection, but because we | were a powerful team, Sunil ' Hlft r, < ?l:9 93 Parsiana February-March 1994 •te? ’ 9 i)&: •t' If) a BasU and Thyme: popular for its food and personal attention. (Above) ManekshawWHEN YOU RETIRE, YOUR INCOME NEED NOT. i’V LET THE BLOOM REMAIN... WITH A STEADY INCOME. Sardar Dastur Schools Trust runs three renowned schools right from pre-nursery to SSC, imparting high level of education through English medium, with separate hostels for boys and girls, and best mess facilities (veg & non veg). Special concession to deserving Zoroastrian students may be considered. Parents desiring to enrol their wards in the schools ’ hostels are requested promptly to write or contact: The President Sardar Dastur Schools Trust 2 Lt Col Tarapore Road Poona 411001 for the hostel prospectus International Centre, Chef Air and Air India. But ask Sunil what it ’s like having ma-in-law in tow. If asked this question, he is likely to say, Bhicoo is not working for me, but with me! But he is the boss as the restaurant belongs to him and Erna. He is the kindest and most considerate man I have ever worked with. Even if he does not agree with me, he will put his arguments in such a way that I cannot but see his point of view. He has never shown impatience or curtness as some younger people do to their elders in this day and age — even if at times, I know, I exasperate him! So, what is it like to work for a son-in-law? Very fulfilling and satisfying, because he is like a kind and loving son. I cannot give away the recipes of Ba ­ sil and Thyme which have made it fa ­ mous, as they no longer belong to me but to Basil and Thyme. But I wish to put down on paper, for the readers of Parsiana magazine for which I have deep affection, a few dishes prepared at the restaurant. One last word before I give you the recipes. What has made Basil and Thyme famous is not only the food, but the per ­ sonal attention of Sunil, Ema, Jay I PgiMStgW YOjAMA "~] Retirement may seem like a very unsure time, especially financially. Akshaya Pension Yojana assures you of a good, steady income, month after month. By depositing Rs. 100 or in multiples thereof, every month for a period of 5 to 10 years — you get an attractive pension, every month for the rest of your life. You could use it as an additional income for your children's education or other expenses. What's more, your principal amount remains intact. So don't let retirement unnerve you. Check out details on Akshaya Pension Yojana, from any of our branches. ® Baak Ot Bar Medora; Prof. Mineo Moritani; Prof. Homai Billimoria as proxy for Dr. Joyce Penn; Dr. Sandeep Sathye; Dr. Sudhir Shah; Mr. Ruslom Chothia; and Dr. Mrs. Zarine Turel; Ms. Nawaz Kotwal; Mrs. Hutokshi Kotwal; Dr. Meher Master - Moos; Mrs. Abab Patel; Dr. John Jayasuriya; Dr. Behramshah Pithawala; Prof. Anton Jayasuriya; Rtn. Dr. Khubo Gulsahani; DR. J.M. Jussawalla and others. Since January 1990, Annual CONVOCATION Ceremonies have been held in Bombay adjunct lo the MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA CONGRESS. This month we review the performance of past five years of unusual and original RESEARCH conducted world wide through the facilities provided by the ZOROASTRIAN College, various Departments, for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, by Research Thesis. 1990; DR. DARA R. HAKIM, Alternative Medicine Dept. Head of to introduce microbiology on the College Curriculum in India during the British Raj, and isa Poetand Scholar of theZOROASTRIAN faith. DR. ALI IRANI was the first candidate to submit his original Research Thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This was on the subject of SPORTS MEDICINE. Dr. All Irani is wellknown as a specialist in this field, and is appointed by the Government to accompany all the major Indian Sportsmen on local and foreign tours. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra was so impressed by him, that he was given a special O.P.D. al the Nanavati Hospital in Bombay to treat the patients for all kinds of Sports Injuries. Dr. All Irani's tamilyresides near Sanjan, the location ot theZ.C. Research Centre. DR. AHMAD ABDALLAH Of Jordan, was the first candidate from abroad to submit his Research Thesis for the Ph.D Degree, through the Inter Faith Peace Dept. He is well connected with the Royal Family of Jordan and with connections in former U.S.S.R. His unique Research Thesis on the subject of “PEACE in the MIDDLE EAST" provided the historical insight and practical solution to the problem of claims for the same territory by Jews. Christians & Muslims all cf whom historically have vested interests in the land. His Thesis provided a working solution which eventually resulted in the King of Jordan succeeding in bringing about the Peace Settlement between the Jews & Palestinians Muslims, and the final Peace Accord with Palestinian leader, Arafat, in 1991 The Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, Guest Speakers at the 1990 Convocation included. Mr. Justice Madhukiran & Mrs. Vimlabehin Kenia, Mr. Justice Sam and Mrs. Variavar of Bombay High Court. Padmashri. Horn! J.h: Taleyarkhan, Prof. Dr. Sir. Anton Jayasuriya Chairman O.I.U.C.M. Dr. J.M. Jussawalla, Dr. Meher Master - Moos, Mrs. Aloo Jal Chibber, Mr. Marazban Patrawala, General Administration Department Minister, and others. The Convocation venue was the Taj Mahal Hotel. 1991: Dr. Prof. FRANCIS DESSART of Belgium, of the United Nations Peace University was conferred the Prestigious ALBERT SCHWEITZER AWARD for his outstanding work in promoting PEACE studies in many countries. The award was conferred “in absentia", with the Dy. Consul for Belgium in Bombayaccepting the award in his place. Prof. Dessart is a member of the ZOROASTRIAN College INTER FAITH PEACE, DIALOGUE & STUDIES DEPT. & INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD. He is also actively associ­ ated in the several International Educational associations in the European Economic Community, including “ERASMUS Program in Bdgium, and the International Association of Educators for World Peace. Prof. Dessart also submitted an original Research Thesis for the Degree of Doctor of philosophy through the Z.C. on the subject of INTER-CHURCH PEACE DIALOGUE, to bring about “Unity” within the Christian Churches. His outstanding work, resulted in 1^ in the Catholic Cardinal of Milan, CARLO MARIA MARTINI Church History by celebrating High Mass jointly with the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch for the first time in two thousand years. Dr. KAIKHUSHROO D. CHARGEMAN of Bombay, a retired Engineer over 80 years of age, had a life time of experience of coping with Daily Life Health problems. He compiled together his own original experience & Research, and submitted his Thesis entitled HELPFUL HINTS FOR HEALTH IN DAILY LIFE'. At this Convocation Ceremony, held at Oberoi Towers Hotel. Bombay, The Chief Guests and Honour included Justice Parekh of Bombay High Court, Minister Arun Gujarati, Prof. Or. Anton Jayasuriya, Chairman, O.I.U.C.M., Dr. Meher Master - Moos, President Z.C., Dr. Shyamala Chandran, Dr. Mrs. VijayaSathe & Dr. Leo Rebello, Dr. Behramsha Pithavala 1992: The Bombay Medicina Alternativa Congress Venue was al the Soviet Culture House. DR. PURVIZ KOLSAWALLA, President of the Parsees of Sydney NSW, Australia, submitted his unique Research Thesis on the “HOM YAZAD”, and simultaneously the first Worldwide Release of his Magnum Opus, on COMPUTER DISC - The Avesta/English & English Avesta Dictionaries based on the work of the late l^h Century Scholar, Kangaji, was released. Dasturjis KAIKOBAD PHIROZE DASTUR, High Ervad Kavasji Eduljee Priest of Iranshah, Udvada, and NOSHIRWAN M. DASTUR, High Priest of Surat, presided for the Release of the Book and Computer Disc, - a truly remarkable achievement in the World of 1 Z.C. was the first medical person in Asia to be awarded the prestigious ALBERT SCHWEITZER AWARD tor his unique pioneering work in promoting the method of late Col. DINSHAH GHADIALI’S SPECTROCHROMETRY(Colour Therapy). Dr. Dara R. Hakim descended from a family of generations of Hakims is an ZOROASTRIANReligious Scholarship, internationally renowned F.R.S.C. qualified medical doctor, the only Parseedoctor who combines allopathy, homeopathy ayurveda & colour therapy, using rare medicinal formulae, preserved as ROTARIAN DR. KHUBO GURSAHANI, Vice President o( the International Sindhis Association and Past Governor of Rotary District, conducts three free charitable clinics at Haji Malang.I Dr Gursahani isadevoteeof the Sant; and he produced an unusual Thesisentitled THURSDAY’S DOCTOR SAHABaboulthe various ways by which the poor patients living in the Lepers Colony and on the2,000steps of the mountain aregiven treatment every Thursday by him and his group of Doctors. DR. SHIRISH THAKUR, is a noted Acupuncturist of Bombay. He has established training in Bombay sub-urban Schools lor Acupressure and Yoga. He was closely associated with the produc­ tion of the SUB - SONIC ACUPUNCTURE machine, marketed by Panacea for Pain Relief. He submitted a scientific Thesis on the Principles of Physics involved in the production of the Panacea machine, and the Gateways of Body Pain Relief. 1993- The World Congress Venue was Russian Cultural Centre, with Justice S.Y. Deshpande, Padmashri Homi. JHJaleyarkhan, and Consul Fyodor Romvsfy as Chief Guests. Fromlitelayasia. PROF. P.KRISHNAMOORTHY I YER submitted a massivefour volumes Thesis on Astrology entitled THE PHYSICAL AND MATERIAL IMPLICATIONS CAUSE BY COSMIC VIBRATIONS. This Thesis is a valuable original work of great use to Astrologers, giving for the first time in English, certain ancient South Indian system of Astrology. ...... rmr.nnnu From Australia, the Persian Scholar, KEYOUMARS FEREIDOtW KEYANIAN submitted a well research 3 volumes Thesis entitled ZOROASTRIAN INFLUECE AND CULTURAL SPREAD IN SURROUNDING REGIONS OF IRAN. This contains much original material on ZOROASTRIAN customs in Iran, ZOROASTRIAN Religious places of archeological interest and a compilation of famous ZOROASTRIAN personalities and Biographical details of Zoroasteains residing in various countries of the Wc^. This is a most useful original Thesis. „ . „ , 1994- THE WORLD CONGRESS VENUE was the Russian Cultural Centre with Consul General Gleb hranshenlsov. Consul Fyodor Rozovsky. Minister Ram Rao Adik. Minister Marazban Patrawala. Padmashri Homi J.H. T aleyarkhan. Justice Y.S.Deshpande. Jusli^ Dinshah Mehta and others as Chief Guests, 3 candidates from abroad and 3Trom India submitted original Research Thesis of exceptional quality. Dr. JEHANGIR R. MEDORA, of Canada through the Inler-Failh Peace Department, submitted a fascinating Thesis entitled THE HOLY CROSS, giving the Histoiy of the Iranian Sassanian Dynasty King Khosrau’and the Byzantine Emperor and the manner in which the Cross was brought Io Iran and returned Io the Church. fSunil ’s brother who is also a hotelier) Dr. PROF. MINED MORITANI, Professor of English fi'UOU s Rnhaan literatureatlheUniversilyolKobe,JapansubmitledasplendidThesisol and my 11-year-old grandson Rohaa . over 30 years Research entitled. A THEORETICAL STUDY Of jhgy h^ye served in f-------- --- " MILTON’S ART - AN INTERPRETATION Of PARADISE LOST ON MAN’S FIRST DISOBEDIENCE. Dr JOYCE PENN of England presented an unique Thesis on PSYCHOTHERAPY AND NATURAL MEDICINE, presenting for the and Thy me. first lime Io the World the method she has evolved lor Psychological Therapy termed CONCEPT RELEASE THERAPY, using also Acupunc­ ture Spiritual Healing, Hypnotherapy and Kinesiology, and acombination of other methods. . From India Dr. SHARAD P. NAYAMPALLY presented aThesis SURYA NAMASKAR indicating howvaluable this Yoga Exercise is for general promotion of good health. ' .• , . , Dr. SUDHIRO.SHAH. thewellknownAsIrologerolBombaywho Strong chicken Stock (o CUpS) writes weekly columns in the Bombay Samachar, submitted his original Thesis on MEDICAL ASTROLOGY indicating the method by which the would be parents can choose Io have a boy or girl baby. Dr 5..,..-ZET • ' Specialisr'oT Poona, of the Sathye Eye Hospital Inter Disciplinary Eye Research Centre submitted an intensively Researched original Thesis entitled HOMOEOPATHIC TREAU ' rhnriripdT or dried MENT OF VERNAL KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS d great value to Thyme (4 tSp — CnoppeOJ or orieu EyeSpecialists intropicalcountrieswhohavelocopewithepidemics (2 tsp) of this disease. mi ? crc m Tomatoes (6, blanched, deseeded and The work conducted through ZOROASTRIAN COLLEGE, to encourage original Research Worldwide, has enabled many persons cnoppeu} who would not have had the possibility Io present their own original Butter (60 gms) work lor the Public benefit. Io do so, through the formal of the Research Thesis, for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This work is for the Universal benefit of humanity. (Sunil ’s brother who is also a hotelier) person and helped guests feel at home and comfortable; and that is the secret of the success of Basil on BASIL AND THYME PRAWN SOUP (serves 6) Prawns (500 gms — with heads and shells) Onions (2 medium — chopped) Carrot (1 medium — chopped) aremscancnooseiuiidwauuyui n . SANDEEP SUDHAKAR SATHYE wellknown Eye Celery (2 Sticks — chopped) Garlic (4 cloves — crushed) Basil leaves (4 tsp — chopped) ine WOiK conuuueu iniuuyii LununuiHH..- —- ------- - encourage original Research Worldwide, has enabled many pereons cnoppeuj " ... . »_ ....I tkA'ir Aiiin /xrininal TPl /Z'/A n.1-1^ Dash of Tobasco Dash of oil Wash prawns well, remove heads and shells and de-vein. Put shells, heads, on ­ ions, carrot, celery, garlic, salt and pep- IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE Z.C. DONATIONS, BY CASH OR CHEQUES, IN FAVOUR OF " SHAH BEHRAM BAUG SOCIETY' MAY BE SENT TOT^JEMUSTAFA BUILONG THESIS FOR M. Phil OR Ph D. DEGREE MAY ALSO CONTACT THE DONATIONS BY CASH OR CHEQUES, IN FAVOUR OF " SHAH l^rmVtock and bnng ’ to boil. Lower heat THESIS FOR M. Phil OR PhD. DEGREE MAY ALSO CONTACT THE simmer for 15 minutes. Strain. Cut Z.C. OFFICE AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ prawns into small pieces. Heat butter and oil, add prawns and saute for 16 minute. ADVERTISEMENT TATA HOUSING Building magnificient new ideas. In keeping with the TATA GROUP S __ '¦ 'I pursuit of excellence TATA HOUSING, has spirit of innovation and its continual pursuit of excellence TATA HOUSING, ha.s evolved a whole new concept in property development. The company, whose activities comprise the development of real estate, including project identification, design, management & marketing, has successfully completed quality residential & commercial complexes in Bombay & New Delhi, with others in the development stage. 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CHICKEN SAUTE ALSACIENNE (serves 4) Roasting chicken (1 kg) Oil (1 tbsp) Butter (60 gms) White wine (200 ml) Strong chicken stock (made from giblets, neck, onion, bay leaf, black peppercorns, a piece of carrot and celery — 100 ml) Cornflour (1 to 2 tsp) Foie gras (100 gms; I use a good chicken liver pate) Cream (4-6 tbsp) Salt (to taste) Pepper (to taste) Joint chicken, sprinkle with salt and pep ­ per. Melt butter with oil and when foam ­ ing add chicken, skin side down and saute till brown on all sides. Add half the wine and saute till cooked. Remove from frying pan and keep warm. Add rest of wine and stock in frying pan and bring to a boil. Slack cornflour with a little water and add to liquid. Bring to a boil and strain into a pan. Mash foie gras till smooth or sieve it. YAZDANI RESTAURANT and BAKERY FOR REAL BREAD J 96b Parsiana February-March 1994Add to the wine liquid, mix well, add cream. Reheat carefully (do not boil) and spoon over the chicken and serve with roast potatoes cooked the Cordon Bleu way, buttered broccoli and carrots. PERSIMMON MOUSSE (serves 6) Persimmons are one of the most delight ­ ful fruits I have come across. Given be ­ low is a recipe which retains its delicate flavor. The fruit must be ripe. Persimmons (1 kg — ripe) Whipped cream (250 gms) Sugar (to taste) Gelatine (2-3 tbsp dissolved in 6 tbsp wa ­ ter, according to the weather) Lime juice (made from 1 or 2 limes) Pinch of salt Cut persimmons in half horizontally and remove stone. Scoop out all the pulp and mash. Fold in cream and sugar to taste adding lime juice (if needed only, to per ­ haps sharpen the flavor). Add gelatine and stir gently and occasionally till semi ­ set over ice. Pour into a glass dish or in ­ dividual glass dishes. Chill till set and serve covered with a thin layer of cream. This recipe is without eggs. The strictest of vegetarians can enjoy it. Bon appetit ! Whether an executive From OR A STUDENT. SRTCC HAS COURSES FOR BOTH OF YOU. And computers for all of you. Yes, Sir Ratan Tata Computer Centre has more number of computers. It means lots of practicals, more computer time and greater computer competence. This and much more at the most competitive fees. Being a part of Tata Trusts, SRTCC is not a profit-making business venture but a committed educational institute, with a variety of courses for all of you and yes, computers too. well­ wisher SIR RATAN TATA COMPUTER CENTRE PROGRAMMED FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE Sir Rat«n T.ti BldB.No.12, Sir Ratan Tata Street, C.J. Colony, Tardeo, Bombay 400 034. Tel. : 492 8847 - 493 3590. (3 minutes' walk from the Bombay Central RIy. Stn.) (A division of srtyloys industrial scheme trust.) I 96d Parsiana February-March 1994“CORE-CHILL” ! Freshly Picked (even crated!) or Piping-Hot Cooked Foods... I I Designed in USA by : ...preserve the freshness, flavor, color and quality of vegetables, fruits & sauces. 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Environmentally safe Rotajectors®eliminafe the wilting, browning and spoilage that can result from products sitting around for hours in conventional refrigeration sys­ tems before they are sufficiently cooled. NOW! Test Quick Core-Chilling in Your Facility. Find out today about the new Croll-Reynolds ’ Rotajector® test unit that can be setup in ygyr facility and tested on vour food process. Call or FAX : Mazda Controls Ltd. Patel Chambers, Near H.K. House. Ashram Road, Ahmedabad-380 009, India. Tel : 408967, 408014, 408654 Telex : 0121-6620 Fax : 0272-427394 Manufactured in India by : ifg^da CONTROLS LTD. THE LEADER IN VACUUM SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY YET ANOTHER LANDMARK conlinued from page 72 politan. We always go on merit, ” points out Aga. A non-partisan and impartial approach is what Aga likes to carry with him to the board meetings of 11 institutes and trusts — like the Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy (Baronet) Charity Funds, The Zoroastrian Building Fund, the Maneckji Cooper Education Trust — where he is a trustee; of nearly 10 bodies which he has headed like the Satara Suburban Municipality and The Maharashtra State Anti Tuberculosis Association; and nearly 30 other organizations — like the Society for the Vocational Rehabilitation of the Retarded, the Association for Senior Citizens, the Consumer Education and Research Society — where he is a member. Aga is not only an architect but also a mason. Six pages of his curriculum vitae refer to his involvement with the freemasonic movement, he being a senior and founder member of many lodges. With community institutions Aga ’s involvement has been equally if not more enduring. Several of the community landmarks in and around Bombay were built by SNC: agiaries like Sethna, Batliwala, Mithaiwala, Fasli, Motlibai Wadia; educational institutions like the Sardar Dastur Boys ’ and Girls ’ Schools, Bai Avabai F. Petit Girls ’ School; Cama Athornan Institute; buildings in residential colonies like the Tata Colony and Zoroastrian Building Funds at Tardeo, and the Dadar Parsi Colony. In the case of the Tata Colony, Aga remembers the then European manager of BEST who on hearing that the flats would be rented for Rs 20, enquired of him, “Can I take all the flats? ” Innumerable other residential and commercial establishments like the old Stock Exchange Building are regarded as SNC’s contribution to the Bombay skyline. Among the monuments particularly dear to Aga are the athoman madressa at Andheri and the Framjee Cawasjee Institute. Describing the Madressa building, he talks of the stone facade and the stone columns which make the building “plain and simple and yet beautiful. ” Of all the pal ­ aces that have been built by SNC, the one at Rajpipla Aga considers particularly striking. The hospital with its four ­ pronged wings in Rewa is another of SNC’s structures in which Aga takes infinite pride. Built in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the blueprint of the Hospital is now in the custody of the United Nations, mentions Aga. The concrete jungles of today hold no fascination for the old-world architect. They are not even worth a second look, he feels, equating them to old ladies who apply powder and rouge in the mistaken belief that they will look attractive. With air conditioning now considered the basic requirement of every new structure, present day architects don ’t have to bother to design creations keeping in mind the presence of natural light and breeze, he has noticed. For one who has “never accepted or given a bribe, ” Aga is appalled at how money has become the most important con ­ sideration in the construction industry. “Barring the govern ­ ment, the builders and a few private parties, who can afford ” to keep paying bribes to construct a house, he asks. The thrills that Aga derived from his job involved accommodat ­ ing the clients ’ requirements within the resources available. For ultimately, “You have to satisfy the owner, ” Aga contin ­ ues, “and that too is an art. ” 96t Parsiana February-March 1994 LBOOKS Community housing: fertile or futile? Ava Khullar Study of the Effects of Housing on the Fertility Behaviour among the Parsis by Dr (Ms) P. M. Sandhya Rani. Published by the Trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet Funds and Properties, Bombay; Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India. New Delhi; Surat Parsi Panchayet, Surat. Pp; 88+xiii. Price; not men­ tioned. survey, was relatively higher than that of their counterparts among the non- allotiees (the husbands registered an av ­ erage 40 years as against 34.8 years, the wives 35.1 years as against 30.7 years). However, this is more an indication that collected on the basis of a specially pre ­ pared questionnaire, there emerged a so ­ cioeconomic profile of the sample popu ­ lation which provided data on age com ­ position, educational, occupational and income status, family size, housing con ­ dition and other demographic indicators. The age compositon of the allottees, tion make real estate in the open market both male and female, at the time of the a prized and expensive commodity, the claimants for community housing out ­ number the accommodation available. Families applying for such housing, con ­ sequently, have to wait several years, the average working out to 5.5 years; and for couples contemplating marriage this allottees in general get housing allotment leads to long engagements and delayed after a considerable waiting period, marriages. — . It was thought imperative, therefore, to carry out an empirical study on the repercus ­ sions of housing on the reproductive behavior of Parsis as compared to other socioeconomic, demographic and cul ­ tural factors. The pro ­ ject was undertaken by Dr (Ms) P. M. Sandhya Rani and fi­ nanced by the Federa ­ tion of Parsi Zoroastrian graduates working in the service sector. Anjumans of India, the However, an unexpected picture emerges BPP and the Surat Parsi Panchayat. While the purpose of outnumber non-allottees in the higher the study was to know the effect of housing on fertility behav ­ ior, the subject was wisely made more comprehensive and had the following specific objectives; • To know the fertility behavior of Parsis who have been allotted houses by the BPP, as compared to those who have their own sources of accommodation. • To study the various factors that influ ­ ence fertility behavior among the Parsis. • To assess the impact of housing allotted The fear that the Parsi Zoroastrian com ­ munity is an endangered species has come to nudge, if not to haunt, the con ­ science of more and more of its members, es ­ pecially in the last two decades or so. Since 1948, when the late Sapur Desai, the long serving and highly moti ­ vated erstwhile secretary of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) pro ­ pounded his thesis, A Community at the Cross­ road, there has been a growing interest among scholars, social scien ­ tists, leaders and con ­ cerned members about the path of self-extinc- ihe study was to know income brackets; 15 percent as against tion that the Parsi Zoroastrian comma- the effect of housing on fertility behav- 10.2 percent in the Rs 5,001 to 6,000 per nity appears to have almost wilfully cho- ior, the subject was wisely made more month income; 11 percent as against 8.4 sen for itself. comprehensive and had the following percent in the Rs 6,001 to 7,000 per While various socioeconomic charac- specific objectives; month income; and 23 percent as against teristics have been considered for this de- • To know the fertility behavior of Parsis 17.4 percent in the Rs 7,000 and above mographic decline, the abiding reason who have been allotted houses by the income bracket. Taken together with for the phenomena of late marriages and BPP, as compared to those who have the assumption that non-allottee.s (50.6 low fertility — the two crucial indicators their own sources of accommodation. percent of whom stay in rented accom- of population growth — in the popular • To study the various factors that influ- modation, obtained presumably in the mind has been the lack of housing, espe- ence fertility behavior among the Parsis. open market), pay a much larger percent- •cially in Bombay, where an overwhelm- • To assess the impact of housing allotted age of their income on rent — Bombay ing majority of Parsis reside. The issue by the BPP on the fertility behavior of being the most expensive Indian city as rents go — while the allottees pay a nominal rent, the allottees appear to be better off on the whole, belying the and 500 couples married since 1982 who theory that community housing is for the had their own housing, comprised the needy. The finding on marital age confirms the pattern of late marriages noted in ear ­ lier studies undertaken by the BPP in s? 5 in <»*• ?«»¦ i'UiM »«t } 'i I’ittsi i-rv, ttivi, »: u.-.j i" was The higher age is not, the survey shows, an indicator of delayed marriage among a majority of the allottees as the difference in the mean age of marriage between both groups is marginal. The non-allottees marrying at slightly higher ages (husbands: 30 years as against 29.7 years among allottees and wives: 25.9 years as against 25.4 years among allottees). The same kind of uniformity between the two groups is evident at the educa ­ tional, occupational and income levels. The overwhelming majority consists of !! !<) !¦: i when family income is considered. The comparative levels show that allottees gets magnified and often charged with the Ptirsis. emotion because while philanthropic Parsis have left large housing complexes flats by the BPP between 1983 to 1989, i — the famous bangs of Bombay — the allotment of these to needy Parsis is left to the discretion of the BPP and a few study samples. In both categories, the private trusts. In a metropolis where lim ­ ited space and a fast burgeoning popula- A hundred couples who were alloiied wife was in the reproductive age-group of 15 to 44 years. From the information 97 Parsiana February-March 1994the latter tended to marry late, once mar ­ ried, there was no conscious effort to cur ­ tail the number of children. The Parsis demonstrated the contrary preference for fewer children. It would be too simplistic and naive to claim lack of accommodation as the prime motivator for either delayed mar ­ riages or low fertility. About 30 percent of the couples in the survey gave “no rea ­ son ” for late marriage and another 28.2 percent asserted that in fact it was the “proper age ” to get married. Only a quarter of the allottees mentioned lack of housing as a cause for delayed marriage. 1961, by Dr (Ms) Malini Karkal in 1974 and 1982, as well as studies in Delhi, Belgaum, Bhavnagar, Visakhapatnam, etc. Population experts tell us that the proportion of Parsi females not married between 20 and 29 years is an index of late marriages and the 1982 survey in Bombay showed this to be 68.2 percent, while comparative all-India figures for non-Parsi unmarried females showed six percent! These statistics could not give a clearer picture of,the stark contrast in marital behavior between Parsis and other Indian communities. Late marriage tells only half the story, the more crucial half concerns fertility. The survey findings show 26.5 years as the mean age of the Parsi woman at first conception, which clearly demonstrates tions. that married couples go in for their first child within one or two years. But what and seem to be embedded in the Parsi they start, they then curtail drastically — psyche. Statistics from earlier censuses and this is the most devastating aspect and researches show this trend as not of allottees indicated no shift, and only 21 for the community ’s survival. The mean number of children for the majority of that the Parsi birth rate has been declin- Parsi couples surveyed is 1.19 with the rate being slightly higher among allottees (1.67 as against 1.09). However, the re- _ port clarifies that this is due to allottees world also, so comparisons are apt. couples. To a limited extent, independent being relatively older and having com- However, the difference between the housing may speed up marriages but that pleted their family size. Note further that Parsis and the Europeans was that while is meeting only half the problem: once Independent housing may speed up marriages but there is no way of ensuring more offspring! 18 percent of non-allottees and six per ­ cent of allottees have not conceived at Similarly, a majority of the respondents, all. Further, only a few Parsi women in the sample had three or more concep- The reasons for this go much deeper more significantly among allottees of BPP flats (70 percent) said they did not desire any more children. To the direct question if allotment of housing had brought about a shift in the number of children, 79 percent of the recent origin. Sociologists have noted percent responded with one more child, of which 16 percent had a second child. The report clearly establishes that ing over a century, way back since 1881. This is around the time that fertility there is no direct relationship between started going down in the developed housing and fertility behavior of Parsi world also, so comparisons are apt. STERLING AND WILSON ELECTRICALS PVT LTD Leading Electrical Engineers & Contractors Bombay Office Esplanade House, 2nd Floor Hazarimal Somani Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001 Telephone; 2041882, 2044177 Telex: 011-85153 SWIL IN New Delhi Office Flat No 205, Ansal Chamber II 6, Bhikaji Cama Place New Delhi 110066 Telephone: 608250, 6882454 Telex: 031-82025 SWIL IN 1 98 Parsiana February-March 1994 Registered Office 70, Medows Street, Fort, Bombay 400023 Telephone: 273287 LI bl married, there is no way of ensuring tively and a dialogue on this is long over- speedy and more offspring! The solution, if any, must be found elsewhere. It is here that the survey does by more than one speaker at the Fifth riot go far enough and deep enough. What is vital here, if any meaningful breakthrough is to be achieved in raising . ___ ________ fertility rates, is to probe the attitudes encouragement and moral support by the by Dr (Ms) Perin Cabinetmaker who served as a member of the advisory com ­ mittee which designed the 1982 study. She concludes that the reasons for the de ­ mographic woes of the community are: late marriage, no marriage, small fami ­ lies, childless families and marriages 390 men and 369 women) were asked to respond to a battery of 38 statements which purported to ascertain their atti ­ tudes towards the institution of marriage. World Zoroastrian Congress, the issue of family and children. In her book Parsis marriage and children requires a flexible And Marriage, the responses of this attitude from both youth and elders. The group have been painstakingly analyzed due. However, as was brought out clearly and the flickering conscience of the young, including the young marrieds, to ­ wards the community ’s demographic di ­ lemma. Youth involvement in world Zoroas ­ trian congresses, all-India Federation de ­ liberations and annual youth conferences has created in the youth of the ’90s more felt inclined to consider one more child, positive awareness than their counter ­ parts in the ’50s and ’60s. The attack must be conducted on two fronts: firstly to activate youth percep ­ tion of the deep crisis and thus hopefully encourage personal commitment towards the Parsi community — as happened among the Jews, where couples take helplessness that lulls us into a stupor of pride in large families; and then the com- inactivity, and make even a last ditch at- munity organizations and individuals tempt to stem the tide of racial suicide? could step in to offer the necessary eco ­ nomic and emotional support to help couples marry and bear children. What the study has missed out on (as a logical sequence to the inquiry on fer ­ tility behavior), is in collecting sugges ­ tions from the couples themselves on community measures or incentives which could have induced them to go in for older generation, along with offers of fi­ nancial backing, if needed, to enable their children to marry early and then helping in the upbringing of grandchil ­ dren would be, in my view, the most positive attitudinal adjustment. In recent years, a young working mother has often outside the community. -, The attitudes to marriage are gener- if only the parents and in-laws would ally grouped under the factors that affect share the burden of rearing it. More day ­ care centers could be run by the old who are retired and in need of activity and re ­ muneration. What better way than to be children, marriage and a sense of respon- involved with the community ’s young? ...... ' “ Can we overcome the sense of utter it, such as marriage and health, marriage in relation to housing, economic and cul ­ tural aspects of marriage, marriage and sibility to the community, non-Parsis and maniage, etc. The trends which emerge from the analysis appear to irreyocably establish what has been seen and feared in earlier studies: a marked inclination towards personal independence in choosing a life partner, and a very strict criteria for marital happiness and fulfilment, which, if not satisfied, could easily lead to re ­ nouncing marriage. The responses given to the following statements, which the author has ana- netmaker. Published by the author from B-303, lyzed under the four socioeconomic vari- The answer lies hidden within us. Singles surveyed Ava Khullar Parsis And Marriage by Dr (Ms) Perin H. Cabi- more children. The report touches only Sudhir Pawar Road. Mody Baug, on two community aids, namely day-care 411016 in 1991. Pp: 116. Price: Rs 50. centers and family counselling. The pic ­ ture on both fronts looks dismal, with 80.2 percent of couples having no day ­ care center in their locality and 60.2 per- not aware that family counselling condition is comparatively dismal. As agreed. • Marriage is not essential for satisfaction of one ’s basic needs — 48 to 68 percent Pune 411016 in 1991. Pp: 116. Price: Rs 50. It is evident that the ethos of the Parsi community is more akin to western mod ­ ernized communities. However, the Parsi ables of education, occupation, income and housing, illustrates this beyond doubt: • Marriage limits one ’s freedom — 69 percent agreed. • Single status is happier — 53 percent cent I centers exist for their benefit. Hopefully, demographic stories show. Parsis have their participation in the survey has opened their eyes. In its concluding remarks the report plenishment by way of babies the com- suggests financial assistance for educa ­ tion, more easily accessible day-care centers, speedier allotment of BPP hous ­ ing. It also recommends a movement out of congested Bombay to other cities seeking their independence, while small where better employment opportunities Parsi households usually are of the aged who are childless, or left behind as the young migrate to other lands. The 1982 survey of the Parsis of quently prohibitively expensive.) almost the lowest percentage of young in < " • - ¦ the 0-14 years age-group, and without re- agreed. • • Marriage comes in the way of a suc- munity can only age as each year cessful career :—35 to 61 percent agreed. • A man or a woman wedded to a voca ­ tion or a profession or a career has no time for marriage — 47 percent agreed. • A couple should have a house of their own — 90 percent agreed. (This in an overcrowded city like Bombay, where housing availability is scarce and conse- progresses, and finally pass away into oblivion. Small households of two or three in the West signify young couples and healthier living conditions are pos ­ sible; and, finally, programs to bring young members of both sexes together to get them to share views and understand Greater Bombay (jointly sponsored • One must choose one ’s life partner himself/herself — 85 percent agreed. each other, which may hopefully lead to by the International Institute of Popula- matrimony. tion Studies and the Bombay Parsi (This, in a miniscule group where the Over the years several suggestions for Punchayet) had a special schedule choice of a partner within the group is se- economic and other incentives have been (Schedule B) which was administered to verely limited!) made. The community now needs to in- “never-marrieds ” in ages 25 to 49 years. • Everyone should get married — 34 per- duce the young to respond to these posi- These never-married adults (numbering cent disagreed. “never-marrieds ” in ages 25 to 49 years. These never-married adults (numbering 100 Parsiana February-March 1994! But more significant than attitudes to marriage are the attitudes towards having children, illustrated by the following: • Children are not essential for a happy marriage — 30 percent agreed. (A truly alarming sentiment!) • Marriage is not complete without chil ­ dren - 19 percent disagreed and eight percent were undecided. • Parsis should encourage large families — 46 percent disagreed. It would have been interesting if the views of those already married could have been elicited on these issues. It would have given a deeper insight into than as individual attitudinal probes. For the thinking of a crucial wider group example, to the statement “The institu- covering both marrieds and unmarrieds. tion of marriage should be abolished ” How typical these responses are to the only 14 percent agreed while 68 dis- Parsi situation in India can be understood agreed, indicating that inspite of the had probed the respondent directly by if one were to obtain responses to such a growing spinsterhood there is no aver- asking if he/she considered marriage and questionnaire from sister communities sion to the institution of marriage. Con- children to be an obligation on his/her e.g. the Hindus for whom the institution of marriage is not only sacrosanct, but the bounden duty of every adult male and a generally accepted institution irrespec- female, and a childless marriage is un ­ thinkable! However, this reviewer would like to attitudinal probe, but a general statement put in a word of caution regarding the 38 statements in Schedule B. In sev ­ eral instances, these were worded in the manner of generalized truisms about the care for their community they should get married and have children ” is a senti ­ ment with which most respondents, re ­ spective of their education, occupation or income are likely to agree. That the community has a demo ­ graphic problem and therefore requires remedial support from its members, is ac ­ cepted as valid on a theoretical level. But when it comes to actually modifying one ’s personal life to meet such commu ­ nal obligation, one encounters a contrary set of priorities. In such a situation the institution of marriage and family rather tendency is to get a socially acceptable - answer which may often have no relation to the respondent ’s own personal bias or behavior pattern. If, on the other hand, the statement Without replenishment by way of babies the community can only age as each year progresses growing spinsterhood there is no aver ­ sion to the institution of marriage. Con ­ sidered from another angle however, it part because of a sense of responsibility may be said that one is loath to condemn to a diminishing community, the re ­ sponse would have been more accurate. A major portion of the book is de ­ voted to relating these various answers to socioeconomic characteristics among the to which an average person, irrespective sample of respondents. The analysis is done according to the respondent ’s edu ­ cational level (SSC, graduate, postgradu ­ ate, diploma, etc), income levels and oc- live of one ’s personal preference towards marriage. Hence this was not really an of community or marital status, is likely to respond negatively. Again the statement “If Parsis really SERSON Electrolytic Capacitors For All Electronic Applications From 12 VDC To 350 VDC Manufacturers: Serson Industries Pvt. Ltd. Pimpri P.F.P.O., Poona-18. Cable: Etchfoil Poona-18. Phone: 772379 & 774296 102 Parsiana February-March 1994promote a cause dear to him, the laws, knowledge and information on prudent rules and regulations that enmesh chari- planning that Dadrawala imparts in this table organizations are a befuddling booklet. maze. He is overwhelmed, and under ­ standably so, by what will be demanded of him should he have the temerity to set up a charitable trust. And so many good strokes, the details and nitty gritty of intention.s and good deeds never come to fruition. There are a host of problems that con- As Dadrawala has said, these guide ­ lines and information on investments are only broad ones, done with broad brush which the trust managers will have to pore over in order to make intelligent and gainful decisions. To this I would add my own word of caution; One of the main failings and money so that the charitable organization weaknesses of our legal system is what has been very appropriately called “the maddening instability of our laws. ” Today ’s writ may not hold good even for the length of one financial year. Invest ­ cupational divisions (profession, clerical services, crafts, business, non-earning, etc) and housing. This is the normal de- ipographic method used to draw a com ­ parative pattern of differing attitudes be ­ tween the groups interviewed. However, because the statements were framed in this generalized fashion, this exercise has not brought forth very meaningful varia ­ tions in the responses. The book includes some interesting front charitable organizations, but one of information about the marriage practices the most difficult is how to handle its among Zoroastrians in ancient Iran which placed great stress on continuity is put on a sound, self-sufficient basis, of lineage. So much weightage was given to this that in one type of marriage called Sutur Marriage, if a couple were child ­ less, the man went through a formal wed ­ ding ceremony with a maiden, who was then given in marriage to a man who agreed to allow one of their children, preferable a male, to be adopted by the childless couple. The man had no contact with the girl before or after the cer ­ emony, as it was just a formality. Thus to avoid that ever ready tax net and pen- the family name was kept alive. The book also deals briefly with mar ­ riage practices of the Parsis after settling Charitable Organisations will come as a in India, including the laws governing big boon to all managers of funds for capital appreciation. One would have marriage and divorce, which should be of charities. thought this was a situation eminently in interest to students working on the sub- Dadrawala, starting at the source, has the public interest. But this facility was ject. able to support its work and its over ­ heads. It is the rare and fortunate chari ­ table organization or trust that is en ­ dowed so generously by its benefactor ments which are permissible for charities that it will rarely, if ever, have to raise further funds to carry on its work. But to all charitable organizations at all times will come the dilemma of how to invest the funds they have to the best advantage, to get the maximum returns, dated by the powers. For example, years- ago trusts were permitted to invest in the shares of public one year may be withdrawn die next. That such vacillation and indeterminate ­ ness forfeit the faith of the public in our laws and are, therefore, detrimental to the working of a trust has not been appre- alties. This is where Noshir Dadrawala ’s booklet Investment Opportunities For companies. This meant better returns for the trust, both in terms of returns and Minding the funds Shirin Bharucha Opportunities For Investment Opportunities For Charitable Organisations by Noshir H. Dadrawala. Pub­ lished in 1993 by The Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy, C/o J. N. Marshall Ltd, Mistry Man­ sion, 4th Fl, 107, M. G. Road, Bombay 400023. Pp: 44+vii. Price: not mentioned. For the ordinary citizen who wishes to Dadrawala, starting at the source, has explained and set out from the relevant withdrawn and no public charitable trust law the duty that is cast upon all trustees of private charitable trusts, namely to in ­ vest the funds of a trust which are not re ­ quired immediately for the trust ’s pur ­ poses. Certain investments have better yields; certain disqualify the trust from tax exemptions; certain would put the could be got from investments in public trust in breach of the provisions of the companies in the private sector. The rea- law... should I carry on? This will daunt son for this is not difficult to fathom and the generous and giving even more! This is the last thing Dadrawala would want to happen. But for every trustee, it is invaluable to be armed with the can now make such investments. Invest ­ ments can only be made, in “approved ” areas — mainly in government securi ­ ties, government companies and institu ­ tions, banks, etc, the yields from which are significantly lower than those which needs no elaboration. The industrial and economic climate of our country has undergone a sea change. Liberalization and economic ad- attefaS^®' iev>eW .tst-W- v\oor\, , 400^^^^ Always remember iiel«lHi TRTfl pbot^e ’. SRTR KHRMBATA Ketayun & Bomi 22/A, Wellington Terrace, Wellington Street, Bombay-40DOO2. Tel. No. 2069636. 104 Parsiana February-March 1994bi vance are in the air. In this vastly im ­ proved scenario Dadrawala, with his commitment to charities and their work. details would have helped the serious grandchild who pleaded “don ’t die, don ’t reader to appreciate the poet as a seer, and a molder of people ’s thoughts. But should take this up with the government, perhaps this omission is calculated. A Turning back the clock on this restriction good poem, as Robert Frost has written, on trusts would inestimably help chari- • table work in India; and his efforts in this ,,________ direction could be made through the perceived instantly. It hasn ’t to await the Centre for Advancement of Philan ­ thropy. Can we persuade him to take up this difficult but most rewarding task? This booklet is a companion piece to the previous two by the author — Hand ­ book on Administration of Trusts and The Art of Fund Raising; and together they are designed give a bird ’s eye view, but in the round, of the subject. No charitable trust should be without them. is like an ‘immortal wound. ’ “That is to say, permanence in poetry, as in love, is Dark Glasses, CLEAR VISION Homi Rogers The Man in Dark Glasses by Jimmy P. Avasia. Published in 1993 by the Department of English, St Xavier's College, 5 Mahapalika Marg, Bombay 400001. Pp: 32. Price; not mentioned. die ” in his final moments, “He said never interrupt me child. ” Contrast this with: “Forgive your parents, you cannot understand them... When you need a hand And they give you a glove You will know your dependence From your love. ” It is as if Avasia wishes that he would never grow up; a feeling echoed in Childhood’s End: “Rise now from this death-bed Rise if you are able Enter the world Or die in your cradle. ” And re-echoed in Mana, where the nanny dies heartbreak ” the child grows up. Yet, like Tenny ­ son in his InMemo- riam Avasia "wage (s) not any feud with Death. ” If Ten ­ nyson is angry with Death because he “put our lives so far apart/we cannot hear test of time. ” The poems in this collection, which in ­ cludes his new work and a sprinkling of his earlier output, <-1 to wound. They arouse a reader ’s sensibili ­ ties and make him receptive to the sting in lines which con ­ tinue to enthrall us to date. In thought and content the present collection brings to mind the metaphysical poems of William Blake and John Donne as Avasia tackles the questions of life, death and time in his poems through a fine blend of free verse and controlled . __________ ________ meter. His Nursery, where he writes of each other speak, ” Avasia “fear(7) the IHE'WWW WWCOAMK Jimmy Avasia began writing in the ’70s, when Indian poetry in English was in its nascent stage. Two decades later. The his parents taking possession of an unin- Man in Dark Glasses, strangely enough his first published work (and that too “for private circulation only ’’) bears witness that he has lost little of his incisiveness, but the earlier rage and despair have been replaced with boredom. In his very first poem in this slim collection he says: “A future will come with its trimmings... I’ll meet my maker, bored As if I were a sage. The future is assured. ” Not that the angst that distinguished Avasia ’s poems 20 years ago and made him the voice of the ‘flower power ’ gen ­ eration, is absent in this collection. The very title of the book sets the tone for a dekho at the world around him with a fa ­ talism that is disturbing. Sample his sparse words in Atlas Divided, which effectively create our present times: “This my country, this map traces a geography of diffidence. A history charts impotence masquerading tolerance. ” We do not know when this poem was written. Avasia provides no place names, or, more importantly, dates with his collected verse. The inclusion of such SO 106 Parsiana February-March 1994 that “of when death of lamily, the one by one dropping out, ” because when alone as both sentry and king, “who will sleep when I guard? ” Avasia ’s poems transcend all barriers of caste, creed and religion, as they are addressed to humanity. There is no echo of anything Zoroastrian in his poems, though Zoroastrian death rituals could make for some visual lyricism, or morbid ­ ity. Yet it is this very catholicity of imag ­ ery that makes Avasia ’s work appealing and enduring. It seems a pity that his pro ­ lific pen is limited to just around 30 po ­ ems in print, when his total output over the last two decades would be enough to fill a sizeable volume of verse. But in this age of hype and tripe, a wordy Seth (paradoxically, Avasia ’s reading was held in the same week as Vikram Seth read his magnum opus in habited house, “that will absorb its every master like a hungry room opening a hinged mouth: cavities of disaster ” reminds one of Thomas Hood ’s I member. Avasia ’s Nursery ends with fatalistic resignation to the fact that though “each room is linked with more deaths than an open acre, ” father knows best as he is the home maker and “I am a child. ” Hood concludes his poem on the house where he was born, and where he believed the fir ’s slender tops to be close against the sky, with “It was a childish ignorance. But now ’tis little joy To know I’m larther off from heaven. Than when I was a boy. ” Avasia s mocking stand on age and Bombay) is preferred to a thrifty Avasia. our elders, which so endeared him to the ™ •• youngsters who strove to be heard, is dis ­ cernible in many a poem, the tone vary ­ ing from the humorous vein to disillu ­ sionment. Sample his ode to his grandad who, as he stales in his dedication, “be ­ gan it all for me. ” The old man “was not a bigot/but he had his ideas. ” And to the Re- a The slimness of The Man in Dark Glasses may be attributed to Avasia ’s economy of language. (It is a com ­ mendable feat since Avasia is a practis ­ ing counsel in the Bombay High Court where briefs are anything but so.) And yet how telling and effective can such re ­ straint and brevity be!My own personal belief is that bigotry with religion anyway) be changed or RFADFRS'FORUM My own personal beiiei IS tnai Digoiry wiui icugiuii anyway/ w continued from page 16 of any kind has no place in our religion amended to give the same rights to Parsi * and any child of a Parsi parent, mother or women as are given to Parsi men? Nevertheless, two high priests performed father, should certainly be permitted to mssheroogupta the Zoroastrian ceremony. be a Zoroastrian. zerkis dumania The orthodox priesthood seems to have kept absolutely mum on this issue. ». - -e, ------ . ,..____. .. . b that only becanse the said groom is the It »nly aooyrt ™r^Z?^*nn%ars!^ A son of a well-known baronet and so gets “special dispensation? ” - - When Ms Roxan Shah ’s death kicked until death and thereafter, and bring up up an unseemly controversy and when the likes of Dastur Kotwal dub those married outside the community “adulter ­ ers ” and their children “illegitimate ” why this silence over a Zoroastrian mar ­ riage for a part Parsi groom? I know of a child who is three-quar ­ ters Parsi and a quarter non-Parsi whose marry non-Parsi women, as they have navjote was not permitted simply beca ­ use the quarter non-Parsi blood came from a non-Parsi grandfather. If this child should also marry a Parsi then their children would be virtually wholly Parsi, yet according to the foolish notion preva- women as are given to Parsi men? be a Zoroastrian. Women’s rights? decided that Parsi men could marry non- Parsi women unopposed, remain Parsis The Editor replies No court ruling has decreed that “Parsi religion ’’ if they married a non-Parsi. A Parsi woman so married under the Special Marriage Act is entitled to all her personal rights as a Parsi Zoroastrian. As for the children of inter-commu ­ nity marriages, according to the 1908 judgement of Justices Daver and Beaman, children of Parsi Zoroastrian fathers are considered Parsis as this was their children as Parsis, whereas Parsi women would lose everything of their re ­ ligion if they did the unspeakable (i.e. marry a non-Parsi). Any right-thinking person would see at once that all this is done to give a seal of approval to Parsi men to go ahead and an accepted practice prior to the case and ¦ ¦ ! racial heritage was deemed to descend nothing to lose. from the father. There is no dictum re- Moreover, in the Parsi community the garding the children of Parsi mothers, women not only outnumber the men, but also outshine them (they are superior to the men in every respect!). So if a Parsi _ ____ _ woman marries a non-Parsi man, it is lent among the orthodox, such a child done out of sheer desperation because would not be permitted to be a Zoroas ­ trian as the non-Parsi blood would have come from a distant nori-Parsi male an ­ cestor! No Parsi woman has gone to court to expand the definition of Parsi to include the children of Parsi mothers married to non-Parsis. Under the Indian consti ­ tution, men and women have equal rights and it is unlikely that any court would permit the male ’s children to be consid- the Parsi men are rare and hard to find. I would have gladly married a Parsi . man if I could have found one! Can ’t the ered Parsis while denying this right to the court ruling (which has nothing to do Parsi female. WITH BEST COMPLIMENTS FROM SOn-HEARTED ‘WIBS’BREAD WESTERN INDIA BAKERS' PRIVATE LIMITED KHODADAD BUILDING, 100 D'LIMA STREET DOCKYARD ROAD, BOMBAY 400010 109 Parsiana February-March 1994Dharampur we faithful Parsis should also jections against the expected chemical pay our respect to the Maharaja of and biological attacks via the Scud mis- Dr KERSI BILIMORIA Bilimora The Parsis’ true host Every year we celebrate Sanjan Day in pious memory of our ancestors who first Vansda who is a direct descendent of siles. arrived and settled here. We also pay our Pulkeshi Chalukya. Dr kersi bilimoria We all dutifully carried our NBC respect to the Maharaja of Dharampur BUimora (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) who is a direct descendant of Jadirana suits, NBC gas mask and overshoes, all who allowed Parsis to settle down in Robert BumS in the GuIf neatly rolled up in a specially provided Sanjan. This was right in the midst of the Gulf holder, the gas mask in its own separate After the fall of the Sasanians, most of War on January 20, 1992, in the middle nylon bag. As if this were not unusual the population accepted Islam but a few of the Arabian desert on the outskirts of enough there was Red Alert (imminent orthodox groups preferred to migrate to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. We, the medical attack) right in the middle of the Com- India to save their life and religion. Why detachment of 205 General Hospital manding Officer ’s speech extolling the they selected India is explained by his- based in Glasgo, were on high alert be- immortal poet. I will never forget the tory: friendship between Shah Khushru < " ' S', ' ', Parvez and Pulkeshi Chalukya of Badami missiles, so much so that these" scuds Kalyani. The Irani ambassadors used to speeding towards us were jokingly re ­ visit his court with gifts and messages of ferred to as the “Scud Express ” from goodwill and this proof can be seen even Baghdad, today on wall paintings of the Ajanta caves. It was a storm at sea which forced Parsis to land on the soil of Sanjan. Even when Padshah Allah-ud-din Khilji (1759-1796), a colorful character who, attacked Sanjan, the Iranshah was first like most Scottish people, loved his drink taken to the hills of Bahrot and then to and women and showed it — in as au- based in Glasgo, were on high alert be- immortal poet. I will never forgel the cause of almost nightly attack by scud transformation of that gathering in the next few minutes. Everyone of us (as trained) whipped out our gas mask and donned it with the usual “gas, gas, gas ” while exhaling, followed rapidly by the NBC suit, gloves, overalls and l^ot pro ­ tectors, plus of course the “tin ” hat. Then there was the scramble for seeking pro ­ tection under the tables. Then came the agonizing wait; wait that could be one ’s ... last few moments on earth, or the begin- taken to the hills of Bahrot and then to and women and showed it — in as au- ning of prolonged hospital treatment for Ghodmal in Vansda state where the thentic a manner as circumstances and the injuries received as a “war casualty. ” Iranshah was protected by Chalukya de- the environment would allow. Can you As per our training we had to stay in scendents who ruled there. imagine a Bums Night without whisky? that position until the “all clear ” was an- Indeed the^mighty Chaiukyas are the The thought makes one sick*. We all nounced. Every second was a minute and minute an hour. The heat and claustrophobia were indescribable. At This did not deter our Scottish friends from holding the Burns Night — the an ­ nual birthday celebration of Scotland ’s national poet and hero Robert Burns the environment would allow. Can you imagine a Bums Night without whisky? true hosts of the Parsis in India. When we gathered in our dining room with a pay our respect to the Maharaja of mouthful of tablets and an armful of in- With best e«iii|»liiiiciits of Starlite Electrical Works ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS & CONTRACTORS 104, Shree Hanuman Industrial Estate 42 B, G. D. Ambekar Marg, Wadala, Bombay 400031 Tel: 4140887. 4146424 11® Parsiana February-March 1994 LWith Best Compliments From PENOSH 94-A, M. G. Road Pune 411001 Tel: 645162-65 Fax: 645166 Telex: 145-7418 112 Parsiana February-March 1994 last, after what seemed ages, we were given the “all clear. ” What a relief to take off the gas mask and breathe “God ’s good air, ” the air which we take so much for granted! The Burns Supper continued with the ceremonial entry of the haggis by the chef, preceded by the piper. Being a country where alcohol is banned, two glasses of water (yes water!) were duly placed and offered to the chef and the piper, instead of the traditional whisky. Robert Bums would have turned in his grave! However it was not to be. The Scots would not, could not, let down Robert Bums. A bottle of whisky was produced from a gas mask bag and duly replaced the water. I have never seen anybody grab and down the precious liquid so quickly with a hearty “Slainte Mhath. ” The whole crowd applauded and cheered as loudly and sincerely as was possible. When it came to the singing of Auld Lang Syne, there were tears in many an eye, including mine. I had not known Robert Bums from Adam. I made it a point of attending the Burns Night celebration on January 25 whenever I had the opportunity. I ate, drank and sang with my Scottish friends and officers. In spite of this I never really appreci ­ ated the great regard in which Robert Bums is held by the Scottish people or their longing for Scotland. All this was brought home to me at this most unusual and bizzare Bums on record. It is when one is far away from home that the Burns supper takes on a very pre ­ cious, nostalgic and sentimental mean ­ ing. In this particular case, close to death as well (only a few days ago a scud mis ­ sile had landed on an apartment block killing 20 American marines)! This feel ­ ing knows no political, religious or class barriers. It affects us all to a lesser or more degree depending upon what state of inebriation we are in; and of course the feeling for near and dear ones back home, where one ’s roots are. More whisky bottles appeared on tables and we all had our traditional “dram. ” I had three. Th6 last two were “medicinal, ” prescribed by a doctor (me) for another doctor (me). What a Burns night! If anyone knows of a more memo ­ rable one I would like to know. On sec ­ ond thoughts, don ’t bother! Li Col BEl IROOZ IRANI RATAN SURVEYOR & Company Engineers, Contractors and R. C. C. Specialists Engineers of Repute for Construction Works of Good Quality Piramal Mansion 235/37 Dr Dadabhoy Naoroji Road, Fort Bombay 400001 Phone: 2619670 Edited by Amavaz S. MamaMILESTONES This combined issue of Parsiana for the months February and March 1994 presents Milestones data for the months of Decem­ ber 1993 and January 1994. The age of Zoroastrian brides (as listed in this issue) ranged between 19 and 41 years, the arithmetic mean (the total number of individual ages di­ vided by the total number of brides) being 25 years. The cor­ responding figures for the grooms were 23 and 45 years, averaging at 29 years. As per the data available to Parsiana there were 51 births for the two-month period of De­ cember and January as com- various newsletters and anju- Twin boys to Havovi and Ruhi- pared to 173 deaths in Bombay, mans in India and abroad, courts nam Fouzdar; December 31 Heart disease claimed the most and hospitals. This information December 31 victims — 39, of whom 18 were is not always complete or con- A boy to Hoofrish and 80 years and above. The other sistent. For example, the birth Khurshed Kutky; major killers were pneumonia* figures for Bombay are supplied January 1, 1994 and lung disease (33), cancer by four hospitals; births in sub- (15), hypertension (14), old age urban hospitals and private and general debility (12) and nursing homes are not included brain disease and septicemia (11 each). Five Zoroastrians suc­ cumbed to tuberculosis, three each to fractures, bronchitis, malaria and diabetes. Nervous disorder, accidents and athero­ sclerosis (deposition of fatty substances in the arteries) took two lives each. The isolated cases registered for the two months were: Pneumothorax (air or gas in the pleural cavity), kidney failure, blood disease, dehydration, anemia, Parkin­ son’s disease, urinary tract in- fection, acid peptic disease, liver disease, uremia, asthma, motor neuron disease and arte­ riosclerosis (degenerative arte­ rial change associated with ad­ vancing age). One death was at­ tributed to “haemorrhage and shock due to firearm injury” and another to “haemorrhage and shock due to multiple firearm injuries.” Four youths, aged 17, 19, 20 and 21, were also lost to the community. The oldest to breathe her last was a 97-year- old lady. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by Tarapore; December 30 various newsletters and anju­ mans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information is not always complete or con­ sistent. For example, the birth A girl to Reshma and Ashad Udwadia; December 19 A boy to Delna and Rumi Batliwala; December 21 A girl, Delshad, to Silloo and Aspi Irani; December 21 A boy to Kashmira and Hirji Elavia; December 23 A girl to Eileen and Rasheed Ardeshir; December 24 A boy to Shahnaz and Shahrukh Irani; December 24 A girl to Kashmira and Meher- nosh Nazir; December 24 A boy to Khushnum and Cyrus Raimalwala; December 26 A girl to Farida and Shiraz AHMEDABAD BORN A boy. Shahrukh, to Khush- numa and Perseus Banaji on September 29, 1993 BOMBAY BORN A girl, Ava, to Anahita and Cyrus Nagporewalla; September 14 A girl to Frenny and Zerxis Lakdawalla; December 2 A girl to Shehnaz and Bemunali Hajati; December 4 A girl to Roshni and Noshir Sethna; December 4 A girl to Khorshed and Meher- nosh Avasia; December 7 A boy. Marzban, to Rashna and Khushroo AmroUwalla, brother to Niloufer; December 7 114 Parsiana February-March 7994 MARRIED Shiraz Burjor Tarapore and Yazdan Manchersha Fulwadi- wala; October 19, 1993 Kashmira Zahir Guzdar and Behram Jal Amroliwalla of Bhusaval; November 8 Goolshan Dinshaw Kamdin of Bharuch and Sharookh Soli Contractor; November 14 Vahishtai Rashid Medora of Ahmedabad and Jamshed Soli Daboo; November 15 Daisy Kersi Panthaki of Surat and Nariman Furokh Elavia; November 15 Maharokh Parvez Nalladaru and Mehervanji Aspi Nalla- daroo; November 15 Dilshad Maneck Dubash and Mehernosh Noshir Buhariwalla; November 18 Khurshid Phiroze Daruwalla and Nadir Noshir Elavia; November 18 Benaifer Kersi Bhagalia and Ruzbeh Melhi Parbhoo; November 19 Jeroo Eruchsha Katila and Porus Soli Sheriar; November 18 Yasmin Homi Mistry and Nariman Darabshaw Khan; November 20 Rukshana Nadar Mistry and Homi Jal Heerjibehedin; November 21 A rmin Nariman Marfatia and Twins (boy and girl), Jehan and Zarir Lovji Shroff of Kalyan ; November 21 Parizad Godrej Mehta and Nozer Behram Bhamgara; November 22 Gulshan Homi Kasad and Rohinton Ratan Kasad; November 22 Farida Rustom Irani of New Delhi and Cyrus Nari Katgara; November 22 Navaz Darabshaw Bhathela of Secunderabad and Parvez Keki Daruwala; November 23 Shiraz Pervez Zack and Shiraz Jal Kanga; November 23 Dhunu Minoo Pastakia and Paurusasp Bomi Tavaria; November 23 Parvin Khushroo Desai and Aspy Phiroze Buhariwalla; November 25 Maharukh Phiroze Gagrat and Neville Homi Clubwalla; November 25 Rashna Russi Javeri and Navroze Russi Bilimoria; November 26 A girl to Mahazarine and Porus Patel; January 2 A boy to Jean and Peshotan Wadia; January 2 A boy to Dilshad and Noshir Lala; January 3 A boy to Tehmina and Hormazd Irani; January 5 A girl to Farzana and Dicky Vajifdar; January 9 A girl to Tanaz and Rohinton Contractor; January 12 A boy to Monira and Jimmy unless individuals send us infor­ mation together with a copy of the birth certificate. In the breakup of deaths according to illnesses, especially of the eld­ erly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases. If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report (Jamshed) Bhada; January 13 would be required. We are sure ~ our readers would appreciate Jennifer, to Farida and Percy this requirement and cooperate with us. A boy to Sharmin and Khushroo Moudawalla', December 11 A girl to Nippa and Heinz Mirza; December 12 A boy, Kaizen, to Farzana and Keku Writer; December 13 A boy to Dinaz and Vispy Dilimoria; December 14 A boy to Farah and Ramyar Balsara; December 16 A boy to Maharukh and Rat an Daruwala; December 16 A boy to Goolcher and Jimmy Mehta; December 18 A boy to Daisy and Pervez Sidhwa; December 18 A girl to Tanaz and Kersi Deboo; December 19 A girl to Gulnar and Sharookh Irani; December 19 Twin girls to Shiraz and Adil Kandawalla; December 19 Karkaria; January 14 A girl to Beroze and Shapoorji Mistry; January 14 A boy to Kashmira and Aspi Dadina; January 15 A girl to Zeenia and Godrej Guzder; January 17 A girl to Tanaz and Meherwan Daruvala; January 18 A girl to Aban and Soli Irani; January 18 A boy to Binaifer and Dinyar Gandhi; January 19 A boy to Anahita and Kali Driver; January 22 A girl to Delna and D ar ay us Mehta; January 22 A girl to Yazmeen and Cyrus Contractor; January 25 A boy to Banoo-Benaaz and Minoo Dastur; January 27 A girl to Tinaz and Minoo Mody; January 28 A girl to Manashini and Rajendrakumar Patwa; January 30Arnavaz Burjor Doriawalla and Percy Jal Kothavala\ November 26 Shahdokht Khodayar Dehmeri and Jimmy Faredoon Dholoo-, November 28 Jernaz Hosang Dhabhar and Mehernosh Adi Mehta-, November 28 Rukshana Rustom Fuladi and Farokh Aflatoon Shokri; November 28 Paricher Adi Mody and Cyrus Jamshed Kanga of Navsari; November 29 Mahatab Rusi Damania and Neville Erach Gheewalla-, November 30 Beneifer Hoshider Yazdabadi of Poona and Neville Dinyar Madan-, November 30 Delna Behr am Dumasia of New Delhi and Viraf Manekshaw Sutaria; November 30 Binaifar Noshir Motiwala and Darayas Minu Dadachanji-, December 2 Binaif er Kersi Jamadar and Parvez Jal Balaporia-, December 3 Khushnuma Homi Sukhia and /Irzan Rusi Khambatta\ December 3 Roxzana Minoo Crawford and Khushroo Kersi Mistry, December 3 Monaz Cawas Poonawalla and Porus Bahadur Soonawalla\ December 3 Shahnaz Ratan Mehta and Shiamak Edul Soonawalla\ December 3 Dhun Jimmy Uormusji and Firdosh Jtomi Cooper, December 4 Pervin Keki Bengali and Ratan Pervez Mistry; December 4 Kashmira Sarosh Bharda and Kerman Aspi Shroff of Ahmedabad; December 4 Khurshid Sarosh Patel and Porus Behram Taraporewalla-, December 4 Arnavaz Khurshed Cooper and Dinyar Eruchshaw Kodia-, December 5 Khushi Dinshaw Jassawalla and Cyrus Dara Vevaina; December 5 Persis Fall Homavazir and Vispy Erach Bhot; December 6 Tinaz Rusi Buhariwalla and Xerxes Hormasji Panthaky, December 6 Monaz Soli Variava of New Delhi and Heroiyce Hoshang Ranina-, December 6 Denaz Minoo Katpitia and Hormuze Shiavax Kandawalla-, December 7 Niloufer Pesi Sakhidas and Darayus Jehangir Panthaky-, December 7 Benaifer Nozer Antia and Zubin Freddy Shroff-, December 7 Parveen Naval Daruvala and 'Zareer Minoo Mistry-, December 9 Nina Nanabhoy Mistry and lloshang Burjor Guard-, December 9 Anahita Minoo Bharucha and Vispy Hosang Aibara-, December 10 Parizad Behramji Tampal and Neville Sorabji Gandhi-, December 10 Marzbin Aflatoon Irani and Sheriar Homi Irani-, December 10 Nancy Homi Bhagalia and Parvez Soli Daruwalla-, December 11 Nelly Navroze Wadia and Cyrus Noshirwan Kalrak-, December 11 Maharukh Kersi Homavazir and Kaizad Rusi Patel-, December 11 Jasmine Khurshed Daru- khanawalla of Thane and Percy Aspi Katrak-, December 12 Yasmina Jehan Contractor and Kerfegar Aspi Bajina of Middlesex, UK; December 14 Huzaan Kali Bilimoria and Naozer Cusrow Dalal-, December 14 Shernaz Sorabji Gandhi and Kerman Bomi Mistry-, December 14 MehrtaJ Syrous Ghibi of Tehran and Mehrdad Bahram Namira- nian of Denmark; December 17 Anahita Mehernosh Mistry and Burjis Sorabji Mehta-, December 18 Jasmine Behram Dotiwalla of Nasik and Viraf Jal Todiwalla-, December 18 Kashmira Bomi Karanjia and Cyrus Pesie Billimoria; December 19 Rohena Nariman Irani and Neville Rusi Khodabux; December 19 Shernaz Faredoon Irani (Shokrekhoda) and Fredy Rusi Kapadia-, December 20 Jasmine Jal Dumasia and Zubin Khurshed Shroff-, December 20 Maharukh Nariman Mistry and Neville Adi Anklesaria-, With Best Compliments From Indian Dyestuff Industries Limited Mafatlai Centre, Vidhan Bhavan Marg, Nariman Point, Bombay 400021 SUN-GRACE-MAFATLAL 116 Parsiana February-March 1994 LDecember 21 Heena Dara Mevawala and Jhangir Pestonji Kerawala of Calcutta; December 21 Zarin Manek Dordi and Hormuzdiar Erach Nariman; December 21 Dilrutvaz Jhangoo Elavia and Zersiss Hoshang Buhariwala; December 23 Hoofrish Rusi Jail and Keki Jal Nagporewala; December 23 Ketayun Rusi Gilder and Sarosh Homi Bana; December 24 Pervina Ratan Doctor and Farrokh Parvez Mahava, December 24 Frenaz Fredoon Shaker and Zubin Dali Sarbhanwalla of Thane; December 26 Amy Sami Mistry and Rohinton Siavax Sinor, December 26 Khushnaz Dara Saklat and Yazdi Jail YJadiwalla', December 26 Tannaaz Jehangir Sethna and Sheriar Sorab Irani; December 27 Havovi Fall Framji and Erich Rusi Tavadia; December 27 Freny Jamshed Wadia and Mahiyar Jal Kapadia; December 28 Niloufer Farrokh Sidhwa and Rumy Nariman Dukandar, December 30 Arnavaz Adi Doctor and Hormuz Bomi Bhaka-, December 31 Farida Burjor Mirza and Bomi Sam Gandhi', December 31 Kamal Farrokh Keravala and Firoz Keki Motafram-, December 31 Jasmin Hoshang Palsetia and Firdaus Rusi Bhathena, January 1, 1994 Kermiz Godrej Patel and Histasp Burjor Mehta\ January 1 Kareena Jimmy Panthaki and Cyrus Kersie Vandrevala-, Jandary 1 Maharukh Kersi Patel of Canada and Aspi Jal Kootar, January 2 Meher Kobad Panthaki and Rustom Dara Patel of Thane; January 2 Anahita Phiroze Choksey and Hormuz Minocher Bhagwagar, January 3 Diaruz Noshir Kateli and Meherruzsh Behram Kotwai, January 3 Mahtab Firoze Munshi and Shahrukh Marzban Cooper, January 4 Katayun Shapur Navder and Mahiyar Gustad Dastoor, January 4 Jennifer Rohinton Guzder and Berjis Firoze Gilder; January 4 Dilshad Faredoon Delkhan and Sheriyar Sohrab Tirandazi; January 4 Shernaz Minoo Vesuna and Yazdi Fakir BardoUwalla; January 6 Teruiz Dinshaw Dastoor and Rumy Jehangir Cooper; January 6 Firuza Bomi Peer and Hoshedar Pervez Elavia', January 7 Havovie Jamshed Marfatia and Neville Ratansha Pardiwalla; January 9 Laila Homi Commissariat and Jehangir Dinshaw Petif, January 9 Freny Framroze Antia and Naozer Rusi Wankadiya; January 12 Dinaz Jamshed Vazifdar and Sarosh Firoze Khan; January 13 Jasmine Eruch Cooper of Navsari and Nozer Dhanjisha SarZn; January 13 Aruihita Sorab Billimoria and Merwan Adi Dubash; January 16 Bakhtawar Keld Ghadialy and Rustom Khodu Shelangi; January 16 Aruthita Erach Amaria and Rohinton Phiroze Aderianwalla; January 17 Binaifer Behram Kapadia and Zarir Sam Amaria; January 17 Shahin Jamshed Varzavanrh and Darayes Nariman Munslu; January 18 Almitra Nadirsha Durruisia and Darius Jamshed Desai', January 20 Kamal Nariman Mistri and Marazban Shiavax Doctor, January 20 Ferhiz Jimmy Cooper of Poona and Darius Philly Lawyer, January 21 Tiruiz Pesi Elavia and Farhaad Jimmy Unvala-, January 22 Navaz Keki Irani and Dinyar NOshir Anklesaria of Karachi; January 23 Shahernaz Meherjee J ilia of Thane and Khoorshed Jamshed Buhariwala; January 23 Feroza Marzban Bhujwalla and Khusrow Dady Dadabhoy, January 23 Tanaz Minoo Irani and Neville Godrej Dubash; January 23 Benaaz Burjor Hiramanek and With best compliments from a Well-Wisher 118 Parsiana February-March 1994Pheroze Kearsasp Mistry, January 23 Kashmira Minoo Fanibanda and Farrhad Purviz Vakharia; January 23 Binaifer Rusi Kelawala and Sharukh Minoo Mandroina-, January 24 Shirin Dara Contractor and Behzad Keki Mehta', January 24 Farzana Jamshed Irani of Dahanu and Ardeshir Merwan Namdarian of Palghar; January 24 Benaifer Soli Daruwala and Naozer Sohrab Bachana', January 25 Tanaz Cawas Todiwala and Zubin Rustam Mehta', January 27 Dilmeher Hoshang Bharucha of Navsari and Hoshedar Phiroze Bholw, January 28 Maharukh Sorabsha Dhamodiwalia and Hormuz Hoshang Lavangia-, January 28 Avan Dinyar Bhagat and Kayomars Faramarz Doomasiw, January 30 Pouruchisti Noshir Sethna and Rustom Jamshed Wadia', January 30 Firuza Minoo Daver of Thane and Yezdi Diniar Dajarv, January 31 Tank, 400036; December 2 /V. M. Surly (TO}, Sanjivni Prasad, Khed Gali, Sayani Rd, 400025; December 2 Jamshed Ardeshir Daji (OS), 82, Persepolis, Cuffe Parade, 400005; December 3 Nadir show Maherwanji Karbhari (91), Karbhari DIED Pirozshah Ratanji Dalal (82), residing at F. N. Patel Agiary, 19, Gunpowder Rd, Mazgaon, 400010; December 1, 1993 Sherbanoo Ardeshir Engineer (83), 14, Jer Bldg, Khetwadi 6th Cottage, Subhash Rd, Lane, 400004; December 1 Goolbai Aspandiar Irani (80), 9, New Mistry Bldg, Balaram St, 400007; December 1 Gool Jehangir Mistry (63), E/10, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; December 1 Rusi Hormusji Mistry (60), Motibai Bhavan, Proctor St, Grant Rd, 400007; December 1 Dina Faramji Fitter (68), 7/694, Doctor Bldg, Dr Dinsha Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; December 2 Aimai Nadirshaw Patel (82), 3, Cama Bldg, Merwanji Cama Park, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; December 2 Pestonji Navroji Patel (79), Golwalla Bldg, Khetwadi 8th Lane, Grant Rd, 400004; December 2 Banoobai Phirozeshaw Shroff (87), 72/B, Cozy Bldg, Gowalia Jogeshwari (E), 400060; December 3 Godrej Pestonji Mugashelh (82), 319, Samudra Mhl, Dr Annie Besant Rd, 400018; December 3 Khushroo Boman Aurophy (75), 12/A, Papa Bldg, Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; December 5 Neville Homi Hakim (19), C, Mistry Bldg, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; December 5 Dara Pallanji Kheshwalla (70), 8, Patel Bldg, Forjett St Cross Lane, A. K. Marg, 400036; December 5 Hoshang Dhunjishaw Taraporewalla (65), Noor-E- Rchmat, 59, B. J. Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 5 Banoo Eruchshah Dumasia (76), S, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, Bombay Central, 400008; December 6 Ardeshar Hormasji Engineer (Cawas Gama) (92), B/7, Tardco Chmbs, Avabai Kashinath Rd, Tardeo, 400034; December 6 Daulat Marzaban Irani (Abadan) (85), 18, Station Ter, Sleater Rd, 400007; December 6 Shireen Cursetji Limjee (88), 77, Hirabai Petit Bldg, Opp Grant Rd Stn, 400007: December 6 Jehangir Dadabhai Madon (83), Bhiwandiwalla Bldg, 10/12, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; December 6 Sam Bomanji Mistry (84), 22, Wadia Bldg, Marazban Clny, Dr A. L. Nair Rd, 400011; December 6 Rustom Kaikhushroo Manjara (78), 723, Dr Dinsha Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; December 7 Dolat Edulji Kalyaniwalla (85), B, Merwan Irani Bldg, Opp Grant Rd Stn, 400007; December 8 Tehmina Sorabji Patel (93), 34, Jame Jamshed Bldg, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; December 8 FIRDOS & S. CAMBATTA CO 'Cambatta Central', Bharat Bobins LtcJ Premises Rakhial Road, Ahmedabad 380023 Agents in Gujarat for: M/s ION EXCHANGE (INDIA) LTD For INDION Water Softening Plants, Demineralisers, Cation & Anion Resins, Filters, Chemical Dosers etc ? ?? Sole concessionaires in Gujarat for: — V-FV/IVz VzOI IQ I I CO III kJ UJ Cl I O L IVI . Fy M/s INGERSOLL-RAND (INDIA) LTD For Air Compressors and Vacuum Pumps 120 Parsiana February-March 1994 a.Rusi Feroz Cooper (79), Cooper Bldg, Comer of Grant Rd, 400007; December 9 Burjor Jamshedji Khambatta (78), 10, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; December 9 Dhunmai Dorabsha Udhnawala (81), 29, Ganesh Bhavan, Noori Baba Rd, Makhmali Talao, Thane, 400601; December 9 Framroze Burjorji Shroff (89), Hormaz Baug Bldg, Kashi- nath St, Tardeo, 400034; December 10 Ratanshaw Hiraji Bhiwandi- walla (70), 2, Kavarana Bldg, Dadar Cross Rd, Dadar, 400014; December 11 Bhanu Dhunji Daruwala (JS), 5, Nariyalwalla Bldg, M. M. C. Rd, Mdiim, 400016; December 11 Cawas Faramroze Jassawalla (71), C/o 21, Alankar, Worli Sea Face, 400025; December 11 Maneckshaw Meherjibhai Khambatta (iG), 16, Dubash Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; December 11 Jerbai Rustomji Mehta (90), di. Petit Block, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; December 12 Behram Framroze Nava (65), 247, Vira Hse, Dr Cawasji Hormusji St, 400002; December 12 Dinamai J alejar Dordi (79), 617/B, Cooper Bldg, J. Shankersheth Rd, 400002; December 13 Khorshed Ardeshir Engineer (82), Jehangir Mans, 1st Marine St, 400020; December 13 Sheru Rustom Sethna (87), Seervai Bldg, Sleater Rd, 400(X)7; December 13 Mehrwan Nariman Haivai (67), Engineer Bldg, Princess St, 400002; December 14 Khorshed Bejanji Kanga (83), 23/22, Guru Ngr, Four Bglws, Andheri (W), 400058; December 14 Nelly Dadi Naegamwalla (80), Chapsey Ter, 30, Alta- mount Rd, 400026; December 14 Jamshed Burjorji Patel (80), 2/2, Malegaumwala Bldg, Murzban Clny, Gilder Lane, 400008; December 14 Minoocher Dossabhoy Shroff (68), C/o Ms Jer Naval Shroff, 10/2, Kashinath Bldg, Kashi­ nath St, 40(X)34; December 14 Mehra Dinshaw Italia (80), 1, Kashinath Bldg, Avabai Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; December 16 Perviz Jal Batliwala (44), 27, Rupal Apt II, 98, Dada Saheb Phalke Rd, Dadar, 400014; December 17 Arruiz Darayus Irani (20), 9, Piroja Mans, Opp Grant Rd Parcel Office, 400007; December 17 Jal Manekshaw Kotwal (83), C, Contractor Bldg, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; December 17 Amy Kaikhushroo Master (81), Sakseria Sadan, 20, Nepean Sea Rd, 400036; December 17 Dadabhoy Pestonji Fanibanda (95), V/9, Dalal Est, Bombay Central, 400008; December 18 Jal Rustomjee Fenivala (87), Meher Mans, Jamshedji Petit St, Grant Rd, 400007; December 18 Shirin Behram Irani (70), 11, P. P. Qrs, Ambawadi, B. G, Kher Marg, 400006; December 18 Jerbanoo Kuwershaw Bulsara (70), 275/1, Master Bldg, Tardeo Rd, Chikalwadi, 400007; December 19 Rustom Boman Irani (77), 32/E, Parsi Punchayet Blocks, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 4OO(X37; December 19 Mehli Manchershaw Photogra­ pher (64), Soonawalla Bldg, Khetwadi, 12th Cross Lane, 400004; December 19 Edulji Cavasji Pavri (82), 6, Jehangir Mans, 1st Marine St, 400020; December 19 Goolcher Minocher Antia (73), Pannalal Bldg, Bazar Gate St, Fort, 400(X)l; December 20 Jer Jehangirji Sopariwalla (73), A/3, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; December 20 Burjor Ratanji Bhagwagar (63), 16, Habib Hse, M. Shaukatali Rd, 400007; December 21 Jal Cawasji Hansotia (60), 387, Tata Ngr, Near Qureshi Masjid, Govandi Stn Rd, 4(KX)43; December 21 Mehroo Farokh Patel (77), Josephine Apts, Chimbai Rd, Bandra (W), 40(M)50; December 21 Shirin Rustomji Pithawalla (84), F/11, Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; December 21 Colan Framji Vania (87), Jalbhai Seth Bldg, 279, Tardeo Rd, 4(X)007; December 21 Rustom Phiroze Master (59), Crawlairs and Blasthole Drills e (SI I I/' Water Weil Drills fjfcl Rotary Screw Air Compressors I A. Portable Compressors mwmumw ^^4 0 ? Process Gas Compressors I Air and Gas Compressors • Construction & Mining Equipment ? INGERSOLL-RAND Ingersoll-Rand (India) Lid., Maybaker House. S.K. Ahire Marg, Bombay 400 025 lamjB 122 Parsiana February-March 1994A/26, Anand Ngr, Forjett St, 400026; December 22 Jer Darabsha Vesuna (70), 2/20, Park Darshan, Opp Lallubhai Park, Andheri (W), 400058; December 22 Homee Cawasji Ragina 'il\, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; December 23 Minoo Bomanji Sahiar (85), 24, Palkhiwala Bldg, Dhobitalao Lane, 400002; December 23 Nariman Maneckshaw Amrolia {(>5), TiZ, Ratanbai Katpitia Bldg, Rd no 4-14, Parsi Clny, Dadar 400014; December 24 Dinbai Maneksha Ghadiali (83), C/o, Sheramai Katrak, Banaji Bldg, Foijett St, 400026; December 24 Khodadad Mondegar Irani (72), 4, Henre Bldg, Sleater Rd, 400(X)7; December 24 Dina Dhunjishaw Patell (82), 313, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, 400027; December 24 Burjor Behramji Wadia (Banga) (60), C/1, Petit Bldg, Avabai Petit St, Grant Rd, 400007; December 24 Bomi Motabhai Anklesaria (11), 5, Sai Niwas, J. Petit St, Balaram St, 400007; December 25 Sheriyar Merwan Irani (Kuebiyogi) (82), 1/7, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; December 25 Noshir Rustomji Shrojf (76), Motlibai Wadia Bldg, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; December 25 Cawas Darabshaw Bhathena (58), lA/31, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; December 26 Firoze Burjorji Bulsara (72), F/20, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; December 26 Kali Hormusji Vesuna (62), 1, Padamji Bldg, Khan Est, Parsi Clny, Mahim, 400016; December 26 Kety Nadirsha Vesuvala (84), 614, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; December 26 Sorab Jamshedji Forbes (84), Jer Manzil, 17, Oliver Rd, Apollo Reel, 400039; December 27 Rustom Khodadad Irani (75), G/20, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; December 27 Homai Fram Merchant (80), 602, Shiv Shakti, Ceasar Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; December 27 Goolbai Nadershaw Sidhva (97), The Beacon, 140, Backbay Reel, 400021; December 27 Freny Jamshed Pochkhanawala (81), A/2, Cuffe Castle, Cuffe Parade, 400005; December 28 Bacha Rustom Irani (71), A/24, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; December 29 Naju Nanabhoy Patel (70), 780, Karani Mans, Mancherji Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; December 29 Perin Framroze Dabhoiwala (82), 14/B, Carter Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 30 Alanmai Jamaspji Raja (86), 14/A, Dr Sukhia Hse, Cawasji Patel St, Fort, 400001; December 30 Lovji Maneckshaw Fraser (Fracis) (82), 501, Sankalp, 65, Turner Rd, Bandra, 400050; December 31 Sorab (Sorabjij Cawasji Dotiwalla (80), 603, Goola Mans, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 1, 1994 Hoshang Muncharshaw Polishwalla (76), 61, Go-Nidhi, 10, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050; January 2 Naju Jehangirshah Shrojf (75), 7/B, Tata Blocks, Tardeo, 400007;January 2 Pesi Pirojshah Engineer (61), E/11, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 3 Roda Homi Aga (62), 347/C, United Chmbs, Grant Rd, 400007;January 4 Feroze Framroze Cama (75), 1, Malegamwalla Bldg, Chotani Rd, Mahim, 400016; January 4 Aimai Minocher Kharuiadia (84), 44/A, Batliwalla Villa, Sleater Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; January 4 Darabshaw Faramroz Machhli- wala (70), A/6, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 4 Navazbai Pirojshah Mistry (92), 7, Kety Ter, Sleater Rd, 400007; January 5 Behram Barjorji Ankleshwaria (53), C/o Ms A. H. Vazifdar, 106-11, Godrej Clny, Stn Rd, Vikhroli (E), 400079; January 6 Dina Burjor Ginwalla (76), Lalita Kunj, 63, Ambedkar Rd, Khar, 400052; January 6 Najoo Khurshedji Jassawalla (85), 808, Boman Lodge, Khodadad Circle, Dr B. For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324, Grant Road, Bombay 400007. Telephone 3099648 Fax 3073483 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 124 Parsiana February-March 1994Ambedkar Rd, Dadar, 400014; January 6 Banubai Eruchshaw Tangri (86), 4, Banu Manor, Azad Rd, Andheri (E), 400069; January 6 Naja Khurshed Tata (79), R, Dalal Est, Bombay Central, 400008; January 6 Alamai Kekobad Bamboat (80), 4/A, Satya Bhama Nivas, Kashinath Rd, Tardeo, 400034; January 7 Khurshed Jamshedji Dhondy (84), 630, Gemfrina, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 7 Noshir Ferdunji Divecha (75), C/o 250, Bazar Gate St, Fort, 400001; January 7 Freny Aspi Irani (81), Chinoy Mans, Warden Rd, 400026; January 7 Meherbai Nadirshaw Mistry (83), 42, Shroff Hse, Sleater Rd, 400007;January 7 Shavaksha Dinshawji Gotla (86), F. S. Parukh Dharam- shalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; January 8 Framroze Erachshaw Cooper (93), 4/9, Beuno Vista, Windy Hall Lane, Colaba, 400005; January 9 Roshan Cyrus Dubash (56), 4 == Best View, Raghavji Rd, Cum­ balla Hill, 400036; January 9 Dhunjishaw Nasserwanji Sethna (52), Tapia Bldg, Jalbhai St, Grant Rd, 400004; January 10 Jer Bejan Khambatta (63), 7/19, Panthaky Baug, Andheri (E), 400069;January 11 Jaloo Eruchsha Medhora (90), F/11, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004,January 11 Sorabji Jehangirji Mistry (^2), MJ, Gai Bldg, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 11 Freny Ardeshir Katki {5^), A.I9, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; January 12 Darabshaw Phirozsha Banker (80), C/o F. S. Madon, 12/1, Sleater Hse, Sleater Rd, 400007; January 13 Aloo Minoo Billimoria (56), 691, Dr Dinsha Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 13 Allamai Dhunjishaw Chhoga (89), 2/4, Sir Ratan Tata Bldg, Tata Blocks, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050;January 13 Noshir Merwanji Karanjia (91), Najoo Kutir, 20th Rd, Chembur, 400070; January 13 Padam Savaksha Patel (77), C/o Eric Padam Patel, 502, Samer, 206,1. C. Clny, Borivli, 400103;January 13 Mehroo Dhunjisha Wadia (59), B, Wassiamall Bldg, Grant Rd, 400007;January 13 Keki Sorabji Medhora (82), 112, Maneck Bldg, Lamington Rd, 400008; January 14 Shavak Pestonji Anklesaria (79), Motibai Bhavan, Proctor St, Above Cine Corporation, Grant Rd, 400007; January 16 Roshan Pestonji Damania (68), Zavcri Bldg, Albless Baug, Chami Rd, 400004; January 16 Navalshaw Ratanji Daruwalla (82), Piroja Ter, Near Zanda Chowk, Vapi, Dist Valsad, Gujarat, 396001; January 16 Jal Hormusji Dumasia (66), 6, Maneck Mans, Stn Rd, Mahim, 400016;January 16 Hanosh Rashid Khambatta (17), 7, Sai Ashish, Dr Peter Dias Rd, Hill Rd, Bandra, 400050;January 16 Nadirshaw Nanabhoy Mistry (90), Shroff Hse, 42, Sleater Rd, 400007;January 16 Hoshang Sorabji Wadia (75), R/4, Shapoorji Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W). 400058; January 16 Zavareh Jal Havewala (46), 34, Panday Sanatorium, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; January 17 Kawasji Shapurji Kanga (84), 12, Patel Bldg, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; January 17 Faroke Jehangirji Rustomji (J2), MI5, Vijay Chmbs, Tri- bhuvan Rd, 400004; January 17 Roda Tehmurasp Contractor (65), Cosy Comer, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; January 18 Sheramai Erachshaw Cooper {^Jj, 14/1, Panthaki Baug, Andheri (E), 400069; January 18 Tehmina Ardeshir Kapadia (76), 618/D, Bhiwandiwalla Ter, J. Shankarshet Rd, Dhobitalao, 400002; January 18 Minocher Ratanji Khambatta (^J), Mishra Bhuvan, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; January 18 Sam Sorabji Mistry (79), A, Yusuf Mans, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; January 18 Shirin Homi Bhar-ucha (83), 4, Phayre Rd, Pune, 411001; January 19 Burjorjee Eruchsha Khambatta (88), 659, Keki Hse, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 19 Jamshed Framroze Charna Best Wishes From RUSY & PURVIZ SHROFF Vi J* L(62), 595, Jagannath Shanker- seth Rd, 400002; January 20 Behram Savak Suntoke (65), 2/A, Skyscraper, Bhulabhai Desai Rd, 400026; January 20 Dinshaw Dadabhai Kapadia 648, Kaka Bldg, Firdoshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 21 Jehangir Jalejar Daruwalla (65), 27-28, Hill Niketan, Mount Mary Rd, Bandra, 400050; January 23 Rustom Eruchshah Irani (64), R/30, 23(A), C, Bhabha Block, Bhabha Sanatorium, Bandstand, Bandra, 400050; January 23 Aloo Dhunjishaw Kharas {92), (>21 A., Grand Paradi, August Kranti Marg, 400036; January 23 Sorabji Edulji Modi (93), Mithaiwalla Mans, Khetwadi 12th Lane, 400004; January 23 Banoo Pestonji Toddywalla (81), B/17, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; January 23 Hilla Kaikhushroo Madon (82), Motabhoy Mans, 130, M. Karve Rd, 400020; January 24 Jimmy Nasarwanji Motiwala (74), 73, Shangrilla, Colaba Post Office, 400005; January 24 Mithan Minoo Pavri (JJ), 16/A, Anand Ngr, Forjett St, 400036; January 24 Jal Maneckji Todiwalla (84), 92, Engineer Hse, Ardeshir Dadi St, Khetwadi, 400(X)4, January 24 Eruch Shavaksha Batliwalla (JJ), 554, Jonette, Jame Jamshed Rd, MatCinga, 400019; January 25 Sarosh Manchi Bharucha (21), Shiv Parvati Bldg, Elphinstone Rd, 400013; January 25 Roshen Pheroze Gimi (72), 12, Jer Mans, Gowalia Tank Rd, 400036; January 25 Khodamorad Rashid Kohinoor (65), Ahmed Mans, Arthur Bunder Rd, 400005; January 25 Tehmina Sorabji Bilimoria (90), B/20, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 40(X)27; January 26 Coomi Jal Press (74), 36, Press Bldg, Mangalore St, Fort Market, 400038; January 26 Maneck Burjorji Sahiar (87), 650, Karani Bldg, Firdoshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; January 26 Aloo Rustomji Talati (80), D-3/31, S. B. BharuchaBaug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; January 26 Mehlli Hormusji Umrigar (74), A/14, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 4(X)012; January 26 Roshan Nasarwanji Bharucha (63), 24/10-A, Sir Ratan Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; January 27 Jamshedji Burjorji Mirza (88), C/o S. M. Sidhwa, R/4/12, Sundar Ngr, Malad (W), 400064; January 27 Rusi Darabshah Modi (77), F/21, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 4(X)039; January 27 Sheroo Jehangirji Sidhwa (75), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; January 27 Darabshaw Dhanjishaw Elavia (74), 28, Daruwala Hse, Dhobitalao 1st Lane, 400002; January 28 Dina Homi Panthaki (75), 2/3, Bai Jeevanbai Tata Bldg, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; January 28 Shirinbai Ratansha Sahuraja (87), T/2, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 40(X)12; January 28 Banubai Nadirsha Thanawala (85), Sethna Bldg, Parel Tank Rd, 400012; January 28 Perin Dinshaw Fitter (71), 3/10, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 4(X)027; January 29 Rustom Naruibhoy Shroff (76), C/12/A, ShapurBaug, V. P. Rd, 400(X)4; January 29 Tehmina Sheriar Sidhwa (88), M. Wadia Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; January 29 NergishBomansha Mody (89), 8, St Martins Rd, Bandra, 400050;January 31 CALCUTTA BORN A boy, Sarhan, to Sharmila and Sohrab Italia; October 22, 1993 A girl, Natasha, to Priscilla and Kershasp Anklesaria; January 8, 1994 MARRIED Denaz J. Bhesania and Amrit- enduRoy, December 17, 1993 Sujata Kumar and Xerxes Pesi Gazdar; December 26 COONOOR DIED Dorab Kanga; November 15 DELHI MARRIED Navaz Daroga and Zubbair Aria; November 21 POONA DIED Khodabux E. Irani (54), 3, M. G. Rd, 41 IGOl; October 5 Edulji Shapoorji Poonawala (90), B/16-18; Connaught Rd, 411001; October 5 Nargesh F. Merchant (79), 551/6, Gultakdi, Salisbury Park, 411001; October 8 Jal Ardesher Meher-Homji, father of Feroze; November 8 Khushroo Minoo Fraser (42), 22, Jaysom Bldg, Lullanagar, 411040; November 11 Sam Kaikhushroo Patel (65), 90, Konark Ngr No 1, Viman Ngr, 411014; November 15 Percy Pervez Kapadia (19), Neta Ngr, 411040; November 21 Rohinton Khodadad Govarian (28), 956, Sachapir St, 411(X)1; December 12 Hosang Jehcingir Buhariwala (68), 33, Banoo Apts, Dastur Meher Rd, 411001; December 13 Jimmy Jehangir Ollia, brother of Jal, Nosher and late Nargesh Wadia; December 15 (cremated) Manijeh Firoze Mehta (85) 895, Synagogue St, 411001; December 18 Phirozeshaw Burjor Mehta (94), 827, Dastur Meher Rd, 411001; December 19- Gool Rustom Wadia (72) Canopus Apts, Boat Club Rd, 411001; December 28 Roshan Dinshaw Irani (69), 8, Kahun Rd,411001; January 7,1994 Jehan Savak Dastur (90), 14, Stavley Rd, 411001; January 24 Lovji Maneckshaw Malegaon (71), 7, East St, 411001; January 30 SURAT MARRIED Jennifer Wadia, daughter of Mehru and Pesi of Jamshedpur and Firdose Kapadia, son of Khorshed and Aspi of Ahmeda­ bad; November 18, 1993 DIED Ratanshaw Eruchshaw Patel (90), Par Mohallo, Nanpura, 395001; December 3 Tehmina Rustomji Kapadia (83), 12/1260, Maachlipith, 395003; December 5 Najamai Gustadji Vesuna (86), Par Mohallo, Nanpura, 395001; December 10 Najamai Dinshawji Dalal (80), Vado Mohallo, Rustompura, 395002; December 13 Minocher Hormusji Dumasia (86), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; December 13 Alamai Dinshawji Pajnigara (68), Unwala Bldg, Nanpura, 395001; December 21 Cawashaw Dinshawji Daruwala (89), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; December 22 Freny Keki Elavia (65), Rajendra Ngr, Sasapati, Rajpipla, 393145; December 23 Fare^on Rustomji Adajania (59), December 29 Pirojbai Eruchshaw Pithawala (84), Ankita Apts, Vanki Bordi, Shahpore, 395003; January 2, 1994 Sheramai N. Unwala (86), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; January 8 Jehangirji Framji Jalgaonwala (90), 334, New Peth, Stn Rd, Jalgaon; January 10 Framroze Darabsha Mehta (85), Dangore St, Nanpura, 395001; January 22 Aloo Nariman Petigara (63), Sherdiwala Blocks, Shahpore, 395003; January 23 Framroze Ardeshir Vakharia (76), 4, Yogi Smruti Apt, Nanpura, 395001; January 23 Dadi Cawasji Bhathena (60), Bhathena Mans, Muglisara, 395003; January 24 Khorshedbanoo Manekji Turel (74), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; January 30 Kekhashroo Rustomji Dastoor (Randeria) (71), Parsi Wad, Rander; January 31 AUSTRALIA Sydney BORN A boy, Rishad, to Nilufer and Rohinton Shroff; October 11, 1993 CANADA Calgary DIED Noshir Kapadia, husband of Freny and brother of Kersy, Nani and Pervez; December 17 HONG KONG BORN A boy, Farhad, to Roxy and Rustom Jokhi; January 11,1994 PAKISTAN Karachi BORN A boy, Behram, to Shahnaz and Yazdi Sethna; September 13,1993 I 128 Parsiana February-March 1994 LA girl, Miraal, to Delara and Murzban Mavalwalla; October 3 A boy, Homi, to Yasmin and Aspi Sethna; October 22 A boy, Sharyar, to Juliet and Julian Patlu; October 26 A boy, Shaun, to Dilnawaz and Eruch Malbari; November 23 A girl, Evita, to Armin and Yazdi Mehta; December 31 Mehemosh hard, brother to Jasmine and Mubarukh; October 21 USA Columbus, Ohio DIED Noshir Toddywalla, husband of Barbara, son of Rusi and Rhoda and brother of Aspi, Adil and Rormie; November 11 Los Angeles BORN A girl, Shahnaz, to Mahrukh and Khushroo Fitter, sister to Roxanne; Augxist 4 Monrovia, California BORN A boy, Eric, to Nora and Cyrus Batty; August 24 Compiled by Roxana A. Driver TOTALS FOR 1993 AND 1994 DIED Perin Nariman Marker (84); November 1 Eruch Dorabji Kapdia (70); November 21 Daulet Felfali (79); December 8 Homi Nadirshaw Mehta (93); December 22 UAE Dubai BORN A boy, Nushzaad, to Khushnum and Malcolm Darukhanawalla\ October 19 A girl, Amy, to Zenobia and Dinshaw Billimoria; October 30 BORN Boys Girls Married Parsi Intercommunal DIED INTERRED Male Female CREMATED Male Female Bombay B India World 24 27 128 92 81 136 135 320 54 563 524 10 12 44 44 40 21 13 10 4 98 75 32 36 11 5 48 33 A C A B C A B C 2 1 2 2 7 2 1 5 4 9 4 4 2 1 UK London BORN A boy, Byrom, to Susan and 2 5 1 1 A; Total numbers in this issue B: Running totals tor 1993 (February 1993-February-March 1994 issues) C: Running totals tor 1994 Acid rain. Forest fires ... global warming ... Yes. The choice of the future is entirely ours. We at Tatas are ever conscious of the dangers facing the environment And are involved in its preservation. Be it planting of trees. Or installing electrostatic precipitators. So that we can leave behind a beautiful world for our children. TATA ENTERPRISES MM COMMUNICATIONS-BOM-TE/292 A 130 Parsiana February-March 1994 LIN MEMORIAM I . D.TATA A penchant for perfection Arnavaz S. Mama I men who could be described as great (but) it is very rare that in addition to be ­ ing a builder and doyen of industry, pa ­ tron of the arts and prince among philan ­ thropists (one can be) correctly and faith- vened by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet fully described as a good man. ” (BPP) at Cusrow Baug. “So much has Alexander recalled that Tata, on being been said and written about him in the asked to indicate the guiding principles past 10 days... But there is one common of his life had noted, ‘“No success or denominator. He was invariably referred achievement is worthwhile unless it to as a good man... We have lost several been “one case in post-independence In ­ dia when the death of an individual has Zoroastrians around the world claimed him as one of their own. Erect figure, steady gaze, unfailing courtesy — they been so universally mourned, ” attested were part of the legend that surrounded a Governor of Maharashtra P. C. man implacably correct and unflappably Alexander at the condolence meet con- outspoken. All of us basked in his re ­ flected glory. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhai Tata ’s speeches invariably made headlines even as little known stories of his many acts of kindness sometimes surfaced in an eveninger to lighten the weariness of the homebound commuter. Like the time he had been spotted helping a couple of old ladies bravely pushing their stalled car in the rain; or when red faced TELCO (Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company) officials, dumbstruck that a wheel of the model truck they presented to their chair ­ man with fanfare had come adrift in his hands during the ceremony, were set at ease by Tata ’s masterly diffusion of the crisis: “Does it come with a warranty? ” The fine honing of humor and timing that came so effortlessly to JRD thick ­ ened the mystique round the 89-year-old who steadfastly disclaimed the eulogies showered upon him. Now, in death, Zoroastrians every ­ where bemoaned his loss. Nor were they alone. A spate of public condolence • meetings all over India and the spontane ­ ous outpouring of affection and respect in the Pres.s for almost a month after his death in Geneva on November 29, 1993, gave the lie to his own disarming self-as ­ sessment: “I have usually felt that I had plenty to be modest about. ” Apart from the death of Jawaharlal Nehru and the assassinations of Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi there has not serves the interests of people and is achieved by fair and honest means. ’ I wonder how many people can say such a thing anywhere in this world with the moral courage of J. R. D. Tata. “When we speak of the business world we have a profile of bitterness, ri ­ valry, putting down competitors, resort ­ ing to all sorts of means. Success is the god that ’s worshipped. JRD contributed a moral dimension to success... that is JRD’s main contribution to our country ’s society, business and culture. ” (As Lt Governor of Delhi P. K. Dave expressed in the condolence book, “India will re ­ member him not only for his achieve ­ ments but also for his dominant'role in civilizing society in innumerable ways. ”) Alexander referred to Dadabhai Naoroji, Jamsetji Tata, JRD, Homi Bhabha as “peaks of excellence... deeply, passionately committed to the country, intensely patriotic, men of vi ­ sion (and of) impeccable character, straightforward, honest men who re ­ spected themselves and therefore re ­ spected all men. ” Reflecting on the vast economic power JRD wielded, “the enor ­ mous clout, the influence he could have used for himself, ” Alexander concluded, “Real power is to touch power but be un- 133 Parsiana February-March 1994¦ ¦ IB Rifc 11 I 1 »» 30 ’i-'! 3U maw li(SiH®LfSSE . EE BOMVA'i k ¦ JRD and his Puss Moth: a long love affair have known the man (perhaps a driver) who, while the audience listened to the articulate speakers, stepped in front of his garlanded frame, carefully stuck a companies. That was his major impact... (and) Tata symbolized what business eth ­ ics really mean. We are always told it is single rose among the rest, namaskared very difficult for business to be honest.and departed. While the turnout at Cusrow Baug had been substantial, an even larger number touched by it. ” BPP president Jamshed Guzder re ­ ferred to the meet in April 1992 to felici ­ tate Tata on the Bharat Ratna award and poignantly recalled Tata ’s speculation that he may not be around when the BPP calls the next meeting on the Cusrow Baug lawns. Guzder noted how Tata had succeeded in fusing the more than 80 commercial units that comprise the House of Tatas into a family. His deci ­ sion to start a social audit in Tata compa ­ nies led to not only the employees being looked after, but embraced the people of the area where the industrial unit was lo ­ cated. The initial area with a five-mile radius around Jamshedpur has grown to incorporate land and people within a 45- mile radius of the steel city, noted Guzder, including the land, waters, for ­ ests and creatures that inhabit them. “The zest for life can begin to fade as we get older, ” reflected Guzder, contrast ­ ing the general image against Jeh ’s atti ­ tude that spurred him into learning skiing at the age of 45 and enjoying the sport for the next 40 years! Surat Parsi Panchayat president Dr Sam Bhacca stated that people in Surat who had never once met JRD were deso ­ late at his passing. The observation is corroborated by several messages in the condolence book at Bombay House and JRD proved that it (is) possible to grow letters in the Press from people who had and prosper with high business ethics, never known him yet felt orphaned by Tatas ’ ethics became the cornerstone of of mourners of all communities had his death and spoke of the vacuum his their philosophy for 50 to 60 years. ” Not- flooded the doongerwadi as 12 mobeds loss had created. Legal luminary and ACC (Associated with Tata, Vaghul added, “modest and Dastur (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa Cement Companies) chairman Nani people have dignity, not only in life but performed the uthamna ceremony. De- Palkhivala described Tata, one of the last in death. ” spite the unpleasantness generated by a to leave Bombay House at the end of the ~ day, as a frugal man, a simple man: “Ex ­ travagance was foreign to his nature. He did not believe in ostentation. ” He under ­ lined Tata ’s legendary openmindedness: “He often revised his ideas. Not for him the obstinacy of a man who thinks he ’s always right. ” Palkhivala said he “didn ’t remember a time when (Tata) thought of The Sheriff referred to Tata ’s commit- profitability before the welfare of people. His warmth of heart, genial tempera ­ ment, understanding of human frailty en ­ deared him to colleagues, staff and em ­ ployees. He saw to it that everybody had a fair deal. ” According to N. Vaghul of the Indus ­ trial Credit and Investment Corporation throughout his life. ” of India (ICICI) JRD had “risen above petty narrow interests, beyond country, beyond community, to humanity at how things were shaping in India, as large... In the 1930s he thought of notes India Today. If perchance he was professionalized management in his present at the condolence meet he might their philosophy for 50 to 60 years. ” Not ­ ing that modesty was almost a byword led by Dastur (Dr) Hormazdyar Mirza in death. ” Bombay Sheriff F. T. Khorakiwala few orthodox dissenting priests (see took up the story from there, noting, “We “JRD: the rites and wrongs, ” Parsiana, know more about JRD after his death January 1994) all ceremonies for the first than when he was alive. ” He ascribed month after his death were conducted at the goodwill present in Tata organiza ­ tions to JRD’s accessibility, humane na ­ ture, his ability “to make people feel they were not working for him but with him. ” the H. B. Wadia Atas Bahrant and there ­ after at the Tata Agiary in Bandra, in ­ formed a source at Bombay House. His devoted secretaries ensure that a diva continues to burn on his desk'under his benign, smiling photograph in his green ment to communal harmony and his spir ­ ited (though infructuous) demand during and white Bombay House office. the Bombay riots of 1992-93 that govern ­ ment take a firm stand. Khoritkiwala said he knew he “wouldn ’t find a better similarly extolled at the condolence Zoroastrian - (one who) followed good meeting convened by the Delhi Parsi thoughts, good words, good deeds Anjuman where Dr Karan Singh, minis ­ ter of civil aviation and tourism during Tata ’s years as chairman of Air India, Air Marshal Arjun Singh, Union welfare minister Sitaram Kesari and Harish Khanna who had been associated with JRD due to their involvement in family JRD was wont to say that after death he would return from time to time to see 134 Parsiana February-March 1994 JRD’s qualities of head and heart, his immense humility and lack of ego were Le planning, recalled their individual expe ­ riences with Tata. A lady employee of Tatas related an incident at Bombay House where the lifts are not available for going down from the first floor. A greenhorn liftman, punctiliously following the law, pre ­ vented the chairman with whom he had not yet been acquainted, from entering. Everyone around was discomfited ex ­ cept JRD who walked down the stairs, connected with the liftman on the ground floor and complimented him on dis ­ charging his duties so responsibly! A samast anjuman meeting was sum ­ moned by Byram Avari, chairman of the With heir Ratan Tata: practice rather than precept tary, ” writes R. L. Mehta of New Delhi. “The likes of him visit the planet but rarely. The meetings won ’t be the same again, and nothing else with which he was associated. ” As R. Chandrasekhar has noted in The reveal that JRD touched many lives in many ways: “In my humble capacity... I have been involved in assisting Mr J, R. D. Tata, ” wrote Jiban Mukhopadhyay, a senior economist at Tata Services. “Each assignment was not only a chal ­ lenge but an education for me in the Independent, “the image of JRD that has sense that a job has to be done (to) me ­ ticulous perfection, in total dedication and seriousness, and that excellence is a moving target... He was, and will always remain, my personal hero. ” “He was a towering figure — he never allowed others to feel small before him, ” writes A. R. Gupta of Tata Steel “... Why them after the game. “It did wonders for did you go so soon? I am addressing this the morale of the Tata boys and the teams were inspired by the presence of ‘their ’ chairman... The Tata business phi ­ losophy permeated to the Tata sportsmen as well. They were always well turned out, well behaved and believed in the spirit of sportsmanship. ” David Rockefeller, chairman of the international advisory committee of New York ’s Chase Manhattan Bank on which JRD served as a member for more than 20 years, paid a personal tribute to Tata in the Sunday Observer of London. “There have been only two or three members of the committee who served as long as he did. Because of his personal charm, modesty and wisdom. The Chase asked Mr Tata to remain on the commit ­ tee far beyond a normal retirement age and until he himself indicated two years endured in (my) memory is of one who stood up for a person in the latter ’s mo ­ ment of adversity. ” Farokh Khodaiji recalls how Tata would visit cricket, football and hockey matches impromptu to watch his teams perform, exchanging a few words with Bill-Ci »a fl ¦iSf. B ago that the lengthy trip from India to ¦ New York had become too tiring for him to make. ” It may be noted that this com ­ mittee comprises the Crbme de la creme of International business and finance. As Ratan Tata, the man he groomed to succeed him to the chairmanship of the House of Tata notes, “Jeh never preaches, he merely lets his practices to you JRD Saab, because I feel you are alive through your memories and work, ” writes S. Venkau-aman. “Our undisputed leader, our pillar of stand out as examples. ” Karachi Parsi Anjuman Trust Fund. Their condolence resolution notes, “His strength and source of inspiration... ” Ms was a rich life, dedicated to service and humanitarian work which should serve as a guiding star to the present day youths... In 1953 his name was included in the book entitled The Hundred Most Influ ­ ential Persons in the World...” Almost every city in India held a con- and writers have alluded. 1904. In a sense Ratanji was Jamsetji dolence meeting. Zoroastfian associa- “We in aviation shall miss him the Tata ’s nephew, being the son of tions around the world passed resolutions most. HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Lim- Dadabhai, his wife ’s brother. Being a com ’memorating this renaissance man ited) in general and self in particular Tata from another branch of the family, whose interests spanned industry, man- have lost a real well-wisher, ” writes R. he was also Jamsetji ’s cousin. This was agement, philanthropy, aviation, science, technology, the arts... Indeed, any activ ­ ity that reflected on the human condition seemed grist for JRD’s intellect. Outpourings in the condolence book The early years Usha Mehta ’s tribute to her co-trustee on the Central Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, the Jehangir, the second child of Ratanji and trust which administers Mani Bhavan, the Mahatma Gandhi museum at Bombay ’s Gamdevi, encapsulates the charisma to which a galaxy of speakers Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, on May 19, and writers have alluded. “We in aviation shall miss him the most. HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Lim- Sooni (nee Suzanne Briere) was born in Paris 70 days after the demise of the founder of the House of Tata, have lost a real well-wisher, ” writes R. N. Sharma, chairman of the Bangalore Ratanji ’s (RD as distinct from Ratan, based public sector giant. “I found the late Mr J. R. D. Tata ‘a gem of purest ray serene ’ whenever I met 20-year-old French beauty. him at meetings when I was labor secre- Jamsetji ’s second son) second marriage, contracted at the age of 47 to the His first wife had died shortly after their youth- 135 Parsiana February-March 1994JRD told his biographer, adding ruefully, flight between England and India, gal- “This decision is one I’ve regretted lantly losing to 18-year-old Aspy Engi- throughout my life and which caused me to have a long-lasting inferiority com- ful marriage many years ago, RD became a partner with Jamsetji, 17 years his senior and Jamsetji ’s son throughout my life and which caused me neer who used the spark plugs JRD Dorab when Tata and Sons was estab- to have a long-lasting inferiority com- spared him as their paths crossed in lished in 1887 writes R. M. Lala in his plex. ’’ Cairo, to win the prize. book Beyond the Last Blue Mountain. When RD died in 1926 JRD, 22, in- JRD’s fondness for fast cars, espe- Ratan joined them a few years later. Fas- herited his father ’s position as a perma- daily his Bugatti, had led to his being cinated by gems and silk, RD established nent director of Tata Sons at a salary of framed in an accident by the Bombay Po- trading companies in Kobe and New Rs 750 a month. Years later JRD told his lice. To clear his name Tata sought the York. On his deathbed Jamsetji had ex- biographer, “Honestly, if I had not been services of Jack Vicaji, a top criminal pressed the hope that his two sons and RD would carr; on his work together, the main Tatas, I don ’t think I would Though RD and Dorab “did not always have been so driven. I was driven by the see eye to eye, they decided to work to- ’ ' ~ gether and honor his wishes, ” writes life and so that is what urged me to do an English doctor with a taste for adven- Lala. things to justify myself. I was very ture. Thelma and her sister Kitty had JRD’s youth was divided between doubtful about my own capacity to fol- been brought up by Jack as his own chil- schools in France, India and Japan. After low these people. I had great admiration dren. his mother succumbed to TB in 1923 at for my father, little for Dorabji Tata, the age of 43, he was sent to a crammer enormous for Jamsetji Tata and what in England to brush up his English before Tatas meant. ” The motivation spurred tablishment of the Tata Aviation Service entering Cambridge. But a new rule in . France required all male citizens aged 20 education, to do a two-year compulsory stint in the ' French army. Eldest sons were permitted family; at 34 he succeeded Sir Nowroji to Bombay. It marked the inception of to opt out after one year. At the end of Saklatwalla to the chairmanship of Tatas. the year JRD had learnt to wield a sabre on horseback and had expected to con ­ tinue with the planned study in Cam ­ bridge. “But father decided that a col ­ lege degree was not essential for a career possession), but had participated in the in Tatas and summoned me to India, ” When RD died in 1926 JRD, 22, in ­ herited his father ’s position as a perma- Rs 750 a month. Years later JRD told his biographer, “Honestly, if I had not been the son of R. D. Tata or the son of one of lawyer. In the process he met Thelma, the beautiful daughter of Jack ’s brother Sohrab Vicaji (also known as ‘Prince fact that there was Jamsetji Tata in my Vicaji ’) and his estranged wife Muriel, life and so that is what urged me to do things to justify myself. I was very doubtful about my own capacity to fol- JRD won the case and the girl. Soon after their marriage came the es- JRD to all manner of activity and self transporting mail between Karachi, Bombay and Madras with JRD person- At 22, JRD became the head of his ally flying the first leg solo from Karachi civil aviation in India. Though it was only a modest weekly service, as per Lala, “Tata Aviation Between those years he had not only ac ­ quired his pilot ’s licence — the first to do so in India (in 1929 — the certificate achieved what Indian aviation is now with No 1 endorsed on it was a prized struggling to achieve. Cent percent punc ­ tuality, ’’ notes an Economic Times spe- celebrated Aga Khan competitive solo cial publication on JRD Tata. “Indeed, Kermani Transport Service Truck Owners & Contractors H. O. & Admn Office: Guru Himmat ‘A’ Wing Dr Mascarenhas Road Mazgaon, Bombay 400010 Phone: 3723333, 3712715 Booking Office: Opp Jakeria Masjid 7-C, Dhobi Street Bombay 400003 Phone: 3420271, 3420272 Branches: Delivery Godown: B-Anjirwadi, Mount Road, Mazgaon, Bombay 400010, Tel: 3725002/3724273 Thana: (1) Chitalsar, Manpada, S. V. Road, Next to Tatwadyan Vidhyapeeth, Tel: 5344823 (2) Puma Village, Thana Bhiwandi Road, Near Uttam Roadways, Tel: 24698 Vapi: Near R. T. O. Check Post G. I. D. C., Tel: 20437/22766/22767 Valsad: Kamla Nehru Road, Tel: 2284 Billimora: Gohar Baug Road, Tel: 3175/3397 Navsari: Opp Central Bank, Tel; 4008/4009 Delivery Godown: Zaveri Sadak, Tel; 1601 Udhna: Road No 2, Tel: 88612 Surat: Delhi Gate, Dangi Sheri, Tel: 35428-35712 Delivery Godown: Ring Road, Near Surat Textile Market, Tel: 24026 UNN: Near Bus Stand, Tel: 972807 136 Parsiana February-March 1994the directorate of civil aviation in its re- ‘a, ’ ‘an ’ and ‘the. ’ They are never where port for 1933-34 asked Imperial Airways they should be. You should get them to send a team to the Tatas to learn a few right. ” lessons on reliability: ‘As an example of how an airmail service should be run, we commend the efficiency of Tata Services same antiquated little plane — to com- " ' memorate Air India ’s 30th and 50th an ­ niversaries (he was 78 years old in the fessional managers into mega stars in their own right. As notes the special pub ­ lication on JRD produced by The Eco­ nomic Times, no other industrial house can claim to have a “galaxy of high pro ­ file chief executives ” like Darbari Seth, Nani Palkhivala, Russi Modi, Ajit and, more recently the JRD and Thelma Tata Trust for the education of women because he understood well the inverse The man who twice reenacted his his- relationship between female education toric solo Karachi-Bombay flight in the and fertility. The decentralization of management becahie an art as Tata nurtured his pro- who on October 10, 1933, arriving at Karachi as usual on time, complet^ a year ’s working with 100 percent second instance) had been equally non ­ punctuality...Even during the most diffi- ............................. cult monsoon months when rainstorms increased the perils of the Western Ghats enthusiasm. By 1952 he had urged them portion of the route no mail from Madras ‘ " or Bombay missed the connection at Karachi nor was the mail delivered late on a single occasion at Madras...Our es ­ teemed trans-Continental Airways, alias set) and to unshackle the nation ’s cre- Imperial Airways, might send their staff ative economic energy. ~ The government responded in due course by abolishing the managing Gentleman three years ago, “I make full agency system, by nationalizing the air ­ lines, the banks and life insurance and by unceremoniously relieving him of his job their ways and deal accordingly and with pardonable pride, urged all within as chairman of Air India which “pro- draw out the best in each man. ” At times, vided yet another opportunity for Mr he explained, “it involves suppressing Tata to give proof of that force of charac- yourself. It is painful but necessary. To ter which made him the spokesman for be a leader you have got to lead human L’Evenement of December 2, 1993. JRD chalant in telling the government that its socialist policies was a case of misplaced on deputation to Tatas to see how it is done. ’” Punctuality was the chairman ’s hall ­ mark. When Air India International ’s maiden flight reached London, Tata, to contain the burgeoning Indian popula ­ tion (and was duly rapped on the knuck- _ ____ ____ , les by Jawaharlal Nehru who claimed Kerkar... According to Tata, “the crux of the issue lies in finding a person with a deep sense of values and then giving him the latitude to carry on with his job, ” as notes The Economic Times. He had told that India ’s large population was her as- allowance for a man ’s character and idio ­ syncrasies. You have to adapt yourself to earshot to set their clocks by its touch ­ down. Another was his penchant for per ­ fection. Chandrasekhar recounts an in ­ formal session with the patriarch after Indian industry, ’ draw out the best in each man. ” At times, as notes La Croix beings with affection. ” the press conference at Bombay House. L’Evenement of December 2, 1993. JRD When JRD stepped down from the He complimented the journalists on their countered by establishing the Family chairmanship of Tata Sons in favor of reports, then added, “But why are you so Planning Foundation of India, the Inter- Rata Tata on March 25, 1991 the careless about the articles? You know, national Institute for Population Sciences continued on page 140 reports, then added, “But why are you so Planning Foundation of India, the Inter- ........................... . , national Institute for Population Sciences DINSHAW SHAPOORJI & COMPANY 414/3, Kasarwadi, Bombay-Poona Road Pimpri, Pune 411034 (212) 779656 0146 204 DIN IN 662052 "‘Truck ” Pimpri Phones 778373, 778055 Fax Telex Poona Phone Poona Grams Branch Of fice 92C Mohamedali Road, Bombay 400003 Phone 3432497,3423977, 3435392 Telex 011 76597 DSA IN Bombay Grams “Motor Truck ” TRANSPORT CONTRACTORS LUXURY COACH & STAFF BUS OPERATORS 138 Parsiana February-March 1994 L*¦ IN MEMORIAM Kuka ’s screening success Homi Rogers For Peshotan Sorabji Kuka, a pioneer in the business of film exhibition in India, the final curtain came down on November 22, 1993. Kuka, who had been ailing for some time, never recovered from a stroke in early November. Complications set in, and he passed away after valiantly fight ­ ing death for a fortnight at the Breach Candy Hospital in Bombay. He was 86. A self-made man, Kuka possessed an indomitable spirit which helped him to triumph over life ’s many vicissitudes. Bom on July 28, 1907 to a poor Parsi service (“the root of the word is ‘servi ­ tude, ’ which means ‘slavery, ”’ he had said to Parsiana}. Tired of “checking bills and passing vouchers despite being a phi ­ losophy graduate, ” according to Marfatia, ciety, an institution formed with 60 pupils Kuka took the inevitable (in those days, for the uplift of the weaker sections of so ­ ciety. Today Kuka ’s daughters Meher incredible) step: he threw up his job. From humble beginings in Kolhapur, Master and Perin Marfatia, ^e justifiably the then crucible of the film industry in proud that the Society has grown to a full- fledged college of commerce and eco ­ nomics, with over 3,000 students. He spread to Sangli, Ichalkaranji, Pune, Bili- similarly changed the fate of Masina Hos- mora, Surat, Ahmedabad, Baroda and pital when it was on the verge of being Nadiad. In the course of his career Kuka sold, he had related the facts in an inter ­ view with Parsiana in 1989. By his per ­ sonal involvement, Kuka collected a re ­ cord figure of Rs 10 lakhs for the Hos- priest from Surat, Kuka lost his father pital ’s platinum jubilee fund, which made when he was barely 11. The eldest of ' three sons in a family of four, he grew up doing odd menial jobs to help his mother Avabai with her duties at the agiary where, as a gorani (priest ’s wife), she made the daran (ceremonial food offer ­ ings). Yet, through all this, Kuka did not abandon his quest for knowledge, inher ­ ited from his father who had valued books when forced out of the teaching profes- and education. Kuka graduated in philosophy from Wilson College, and was associated closely with scholars like Professor P. A. Wadia, Dr D. R. Gadgil and Irach Taraporewalla. Kuka even helped to pub- Western India, where Kuka took up two theaters for management, the network owned, leased and/or controlled nearly 50 theaters, including 15 cinema houses out ­ side India. The worldwide distribution of Indian films through his companies re ­ sulted in an enlarged market for Indian cinema. But in the autumn of his life, what with the demise of his partners and it an economically viable unit. At the same time its services were augmented. For Kuka, trained in the hard school of the government ’s taxation policies, Kuka life, such an accomplishment was not a fortuitous occurrence. In his lifetime he rescued many theaters and gave a new di- sion by a throat problem that would not allow him to speak for long. Kuka was initiated into the line by his sala (wife ’s sister ’s husband) Eruch Sukhia, ex-general manager of Calcutta ’s Madan Theatre who ran a cinema house lish the latter ’s monumental translation of (Majestic Talkies) in Ajmer. Later, back the Gathas. in Bombay, holding on to a job with the Such acts of generosity, and support Western India Oil Company, Kuka for causes in the sphere of education and ‘moonlighted ’ with Sukhia ’s brother Dara the dissemination of knowledge, were a and took theaters on lease to exhibit films, feature of Kuka ’s life. For 25 years he was chairman of the Bharat Education So- 41 ”•11 * ¦ ** t ¦ TTT 139 Parsiana February-March 1994 sold his shares in cinemas abroad, and with his sons-in-law, Minoo Master and Adi Marfatia, settled down to manage the mension to film exhibition — a career he Novelty and Dreamland cinemas in embraced more by chance than by choice Bombay. He lavished his total attention and care on these theaters, especially his flagship cinema house Novelty, a l,2(X)-seater which he described as a “theatre magnifi ­ cent. ” It was this theater that made Kuka, who started to manage it in 1938, a film financier and distributor “under suffer- ence, ” as no good producer or distributor would offer this decrepit theater a film for screening. Kuka bank-rolled his own films so that he could screen them here, fired with a ‘never-say-die ’ attitude. “He would return home only after the last show was over, ” reminisces his eldest daughter Meher, “and the collections for the day accounted for. ” Yet, Kuka never ceased to be a family man. “We were fortunate to get parents like them, ” his daughters agree, each recall ­ ing moments of shared happiness with their late father and mother Najamai, who with her broad and cheerful outlook was always a pillar of strength to her husband. “He made a very loving father: thoughtful, caring and affectionate, ” they reiterate. Kuka ’s affection was not confined to his family, but extended to all in the film trade who sought his advice, which he freely gave both in his personal capacity He was reasonably emboldened by his initial success and ill at ease with being in I 4- ¦I /¦ ij k' I Kuka: enlarged market for Indian cinema Photo: Varghese Fernandezf and as life patron of the Theatre Owners ’ J. R. D. TATA... Association, a body of which he was the continued from page 138 founder-president. Longtime associate BusinessWorld editorialized, “He not and friend, film journalist Burjor Karanjia only led his own industrial house to new promptly dropped the idea... ‘Investors ’ remembers the encouragement Kuka gave heights of achievement but — more im- interest comes before ours, ’ said a Tata him when he was about to launch his film portantly — played a vital role in setting spokesman. ” magazines. “He was very warm-hearted standards for Indian industry as a whole, and generous, ” avers Karanjia, who rec- In the latter he proved to be a truly wor- ognized in Kuka a visionary who had the thy successor to the legendary Jamsetji interests of the film trade at heart. Tata who famously declared his ‘sound The trade in turn respected and hon- and straightforward business principles ’ ored Kuka in no small measure. He was one of the 75 select individuals to be con ­ ferred an award when the industry cel ­ ebrated its platinum jubilee in 1988, for the sure foundation of our prosperity. ’” his “valuable and significant contribution [At the Cusrow Baug function in 1992 towards the growth of Indian cinema. ” JRD had acknowledged, “I was deter- Two years later, he was honored again mined to be largely guided by (Jamsetji). when the ‘talkies ’ completed 60 years. Kuka ’s affectionate nature was also were not directly connected with reflected in his philanthropic activities. Jamsetji, I asked myself how Jamsetji cemetery beside the remains of his par- Silently, without fanfare, he would con- would respond to such a proposal... I tribute to causes. His daughters aver that have tried to, want to and continue to do he was a Zoroastrian in the true sense of whatever is right and honest and simple deceased him). More importantly, he the word, adding that he brought up all his and humane. ”] “Not surprisingly, ” states lived to see the gradual unshackling of five children to adhere to the precept of BusinessWorld, “our politicians have the Indian economy as well as the na- good thoughts, words and deeds. never been comfortable with JRD. They tional realization that India ’s runaway population needs urgent reining-in. Tata, who had rejected the British of ­ fer of a knighthood in 1944, had been awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1955 and was made an honorary air vice mar- House of Tatas, the decentralization of shal of the Indian Air Force in 1974. In decision making he followed with single the course of national and international minded devotion, and the insistence on recognition the rank of Commander of honesty which he elevated into a near the Tatas managed it. How can the Tatas abandon them now and throw them to the mercy of the rapacious (profiteer)? Tatas Towards the end the government changed its tack vis-a-vis Tata: He re ­ ceived the Bharat Ratna award in 1992; the Maharashtra government announced a three-day state mourning — an unprec ­ edented step for a private citizen; the as follows in 1885: ‘We consider the in ­ terest of the shareholders our own, and Bombay Stock Exchange was closed in the health and welfare of the employees his memory: the finance minister flew to Bombay to attend the uthamna cer ­ emony: the external affairs minister at ­ tended his funeral in Paris (where the geh sarna was performed by two mobeds from London before his body was laid to rest in Paris ’ celebrated Pere Lachaise On a number of times, on problems that were ents, and his brothers Darab and Jimmy. His elder sister Sylla Petit had also pre- never been comfortable with JRD. They In at least one more way Kuka was rarely, if ever, sought his advice. On oc- “like all good Parsis, ” to quote Karanjia. “He loved good food. ” He also loved to read, anything and everything from phi ­ losophy to politics to Persian poetry management system he introduced in the (Kuka had read the entire Shah Namah}. He liked to socialize and travel. “A travel fiend, ” as daughter Perin describes him, Kuka loved the outdoors and had trav ­ elled widely across the country and five metaphysical belief will be of even more continents. Even in his last years when significance tomorrow than they are to- the flesh was weak (Kuka, used to do his day... His legacy consists of human val- daily exercises and enjoy a swim till he was 84), the spirit was willing. He is survived by his wife Najamai, who is also his first cousin (kaka-ni- ods, rather than mastery of moneymaking, dikri), and five daughters — Meher Mas ­ ter, Perin Marfatia, Roshan Daruwalla, Khorshed Vakil and Dhun Netarwalla. casion, politicians have gone out of their way to treat him shabbily. ” As notes Business Today, “Indeed the the French Legion of Honor was con­ ferred on him in 1983 and the prestigious UN Population Award came in 1992. More poignant indications of JRD’s ues bequeathed not just to the business place in the hearts of people unknown to sector, but to the nation. There will never be another man whose morals and meth- statement of Ownership & Other Particulars about Parsiana; Form IV (See Rule 8) Place of Publication; Bombay Periodicity of Publication; Monthly Printer, Publisher, Editor; Jehangir R.Patel Nationality; Indian Address; 286, J. Dadaji Marg, Bombay 400007 Proprietor; Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd, 39 A. K.Nayak Marg, Bombay 400001 Shareholders holding more than one percent of the total capital; Jehangir R. Patel, Veera and Simin J. Patel, address same as above. I, Jehangir R. Patel, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Sd. (Jehangir R. Patel)1 March 1994 140 Parsiana February-March 1994 him were evident when Damania Air ­ ways named its first plane Spirit of JRD and the late Ms Bhikaiji Kharas, the ac ­ tivist octogenarian who bequeathed the new burns unit to Masina Hospital, felt her life ’s desire had been achieved when JRD performed the ceremonial inaugura ­ tion! The patriarch, who loved children but had none of his own, and his wife Thelma who had suffered a stroke, lived in The can be held up as an example to future generations. ” He never forgot the lean years of Tata Steel when Dorab Tata pledged his entire personal fortune, including his wife ’s jewels, for a bank loan to pay his work ­ ers, as one reads in Beyond the Last Blue Mountain. An excerpt from a forthcom ­ ing book by Fredun Dadachanji pub- Cairn, a bunglow off Altamount Road lished by the Informal Religious Meet- rented from the Petits. The property has ings Trust Fund of Karachi speaks of a been bequeathed to the Petit Trust, time the Tatas nearly sold their shares in the Swadeshi Mills to a mercenary busi- could be truly said that having done what nessman who wanted a controlling inter ­ est in the mill: “Alarmed at Tatas ’ inten ­ tion to disinvest, small shareholders ex ­ pressed apprehension. They told the man had departed. ” Tatas that they had invested their hard- earned money in the company because In the words of Palkhivala, “Of Jeh it men could, he suffered what men must. When the end comes you should not feel sad but be glad that a great man, a good JRD is survived by his ailing wife Thelma and sister Rodabeh Sawhney.