Dec 1994

I I I I 1 11 ¦ i a i f- £ No tobacco zone That cigarette smoking is injurious to the health of the smoker is given wide publicity. But what is not given sufficient weightage is the fact that smoking is a m i uuuci ___ public hazard for the ‘passive ’smokers too Reflection On Modi ScnOOl who perforce have to inhale the contami- on consumers in other states. Their diffi- Mahableshwar ’s first English medium co- nated air. culty to establish a foothold in these re- educational school observed its 15th anni- To counter the large sale advertising gions is compounded by the presence of versary by launching a magazine Reflec- campaigns of cigarette companies, the international giants like Walls collabora- tion-1994. Jointly edited by the principal management of Godrej Soaps Limited ting with Brook Bond, and Baskin Robins of the P. M. Modi High School, Ms Nargis ----- •• - Khambatta, and trustee-administrator Ms Competitors like Vadilal they might Mariam P. Modi, the magazine sums up have been able to withstand as they had A Dinshaw’s outlet in Nagpur o on consumers in other states. Their diffi ­ culty to establish a foothold in these re- international giants like Walls collabora- (GSL) took the innovative step this year to with Kwality. declare their campus at Vikhroli as a “No '' Tobacco Zone, ” according to a report in The Times of India of August 8, 1994. A when Vadilal entered the Nagpur market circular informed all concerned: “Nobody with much fanfare in the mid 80s. That is permitted to carry any tobacco products was a time before Dinshaw ’s decided to modernize and expand; when Dinshaw ’s had only three outlets in the city; and yet education facilities, within a year Vadilal opted to withdraw. Sixty-two years after founder Dinshaw the achievements of the students and the School ’s contribution to education in its 15 years of existence. Starting with 20 students, today there inside the premises... Arrangements have modernize and expand; when Dinshaw s are nearly 350 students availing of its been made to deposit and collect these at had only three outlets in the city; and yet education facilities. The motto of the all the security gates of GSL...” within a year Vadilal opted to withdraw. School being Fiat Lux (let there be light). The authorities received 100 percent Sixty-two years after founder Dinshaw in the process of inculcating modem edu- compliance not only from their employees Rana launched the ice cream business, the cation in these students the educators have - "___ ¦ ; ---- ---- tried to ensure that the youngsters do not A new unit with a 120-ton capacity to forsake the “teachings of gracious living of these quiet hills ingrained in them... a tra- __| dition that must not get |H caught in the quicksand ¦H of rapid and reckless ur- im banization. ” The teachers here get ¦ job satisfaction educa- ting not only the elite of the society but the children of the soil, BB mentions Modi. The class I strength being restricted to 15 to 18 students, special and individual at ­ tention is assured to each but also the employees of their associates Ranas have entered the agri-food market, and other visitors. Family members too j------- — expressed their.solidarity with this ban, produce whole wheat mentions the news report. flour, semolina and Wadia: lessons in first aid cheese will shortly be op- Dinshaw’s milk market erational, according to the Their supremacy in ice creams established Blitz write-up. in Nagpur, Dinshaw ’s chose to restart their origin^ family business of milk produc- Wadia rewarded tion in 1990, offering competition to the For the last nearly two government milk scheme. Five years later, decades Dr Minoo the second generation of Ranas, Sam and Framroze Wadia has Jimmy, have succeeded in equalling the mark of the milk produced by the govem- served as honorary _________ _ lecturer at the Civil De ­ ment. Their three brands — wholesome, fence Staff College and family and popular — with varying fat Home Guards. This content account for their daily sale of enduring commitment, he nearly one lakh liters among 66,000 fanifi- - believes, qualified him 10 Parsiana December >694 f iDo you have a G6PD enzyme deficiency? The G6PD enzyme deficiency, common among the Parsis, makes them highly susceptible to certain drugs.* The deficiency may cause jaundice in the newborn and severe hemolytic crisis (destruction of red blood cells) in adults. Ask your family doctor to arrange for a blood test to detect whether you have G6PD enzyme deficiency. If you happen to be a G6PD-D patient, it is essential that you carry your card at all times so that in any emergency you would receive appropriate treatment. ‘Analgesics: Acetanilid, Acetylsalicylic acid, Aspirin, Acetophenetidin (Phenacetin), Antipyrine, Pyramidone. Sulfonamides and Sulfones; Sulfanilamide, Sultapyridine, N2 Acetylsulfanilamide, Sulfacetamide, Sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), Thiazolsulfone, Sal icy I azos u If apyrid i ne (Azu If adi ne), Sulfoxone, Sulfamethoxypyridine (Kynex). Antimalarials: Primaquine, Pamaquine, Pentaquine, Quinacrine (Atabrine). Nonsulfonamide antibacterial agents: Furazolidone, Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin), Chloramphenicol, Para-aminosalicylic acid. Miscellaneous: Napthalene, Vitamin K (Water soluble analogues), Prodenecid, Trinitrotoluene, Methylene blue. Dimercaprol (BAL), Phenylhydrazine, Quinine and Quinidine: Sulpha containing compounds including Septran, DDS and Daraprim; Nitrofurantoin, NaJidixic acid including all derivatives of this group, Antistine, Diphenylhydramine, Pronestyl, Nitrites; Large doses of Chloroquine, Chloromycetin, Vit. C and Vit. K. Published in the public interest by Parsiana 12 Parsiana December 1994 student. Seventy children of this School affiliated to the K.E.M. Hospital, are sponsored by well-wishers, trusts and bungalow owners in Mahableshwar, thus for extra curricular activities like sports, enabling the poor and socially backward elocution, drama, debate and social ser- children to avail of learning facilities. Boasting of 100 percent success at the school in cricket, and Cusrow Baug, where SSC (Secondary School Certificate) ex- he resides, at the all-Parsi table tennis and aminations since 1989, the School auth- football tournaments. orities are proud (««;m|h||||||||||||||||— that their education The well and the Square system has worked The junction where the Veer Nariman and they have be- Road meets the Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil come the beacon in Marg near the Central Telegraph Office at this area. It was Fountain has been named the Ramdeo following the de- Poddar Chowk. Irked by this development mise of Peshotan a Bombay resident Bhagwan Thadani Meherwanji Modi comlained in a letter that was carried in in 1978 that this The Times of India'& Pillar to Post column School was started Peshotan Modi: keen of September 6,1994: “It would have been in 1979 on the ver- to promote education far more appropriate to name this square andah of his Stone Bhika Behram Kuwa Chowk with due House property by his friend Fazal regard for its historical significance and Fazelbhoy “to enlighten the children of for its specific sacredness to the Parsi Mahableshwar. ” community. The Bombay Municipal Cor ­ poration could have shown a little more Besides academics Irani has made time vice programs. He had represented his Interfaced with advertisements. Reflec­ tion carries contributions from students sensitivity in this matter: the gesture would showing that they enjoy the values stressed have been tantamount to paying a small at the P. M. Modi School and the range of tribute to a community that has rendered activities offered. The quotation on almost selfless service to the nation. ” every page of the magazine gives an idea of the philosophy preached and promoted SPOTLIGHT among the School ’s fraternity. In recognition of his services as presi- . dent of the International Committee of 12th 111 12th Foundry Technical Associations and for Securing 90.67 percent marks at the Higher promoting relations between Indian and Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations German foundrymen, Sorabji H. Com- conducted in Bombay in March 1994, missariat was elected honorary member Shayan Sarosh Irani secured 12th rank of Verein Deutscher Giessereifachleute among students from the non-vocational in June 1994. He becomes the first In ­ science faculty. Since science students dian to receive this honor, notes a press from the vocational batch are exempted release, from studying a second language, they generally tend to Test umpire Dara Dotiwalla was declared fare better as Umpire of the Year for his performance in versus their cou- the 1993-94 cricket season. He was awarded nterparts in the the Umpire Mamsa Trophy by the Asso- non-vocational ciation of Cricket Umpires, Bombay in stream, explains October 1994, notes a write-up in The Irani. Afternoon Despatch and Courier of Octo- Two back at his school [ leaving ICSE (In- Promoted as superintendent of central ex- ' dian Certificate of cise and customs, Darius Cawasji Bili- Secondary Edu- moria has accepted his new posting in cation) exami- Kolhapur from July 1994, according to a nation too Irani press release. Commended by the govem- had secured 90 percent marks. Irani ’s ment for his exemplary devotion and zeal schooling was at the Cathedral and John during his nearly 20 years of association Connon, after which he pursued two years with this branch of service, he has offered of science at Jai Hind College. He is to guide Parsi youths seeking a career with presently studying medicine at the the government. Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College CompUed by Pannaz Gandhi [I Irani: all-round success years her 18, 1994.4 ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD Karachi kaleidoscope The Karachi Zarthosti Banu Mandal (KZBM) celebrated its 82nd anniversary on November 11 with a jashan, a talk by Ms . Farishta Dinshaw and lunch. Appropriately, chairs a special committee for Parsi Mar- the Mandal ’s octogenarian friend Behli Rustomji gave the organization his most precious possession —his mother Themina ’s piano. It may be recalled that Rustomji and Virjee, Kairas Kabraji, Ms Sunnu Golwalla, neering. Patel enlightened the audience on the biblogical/medical advantages of Justice Dorab Patel, who was awarded the Hilal-i-Imitiaz, Pakistan ’s highest civil the biblogical/medical advantages of a award, by the President on Independence family tree and informed them how to day for his work for human rights, now make one and how to use computer tech ­ nology to create a permanenet archive for the Parsis of Karachi. A compilation of narr es of ancestors with the dates of birth, marriage and death ___ ____________ would be in the interests of future genera- Ms^ Kermin Parekh, Virasp Mehta and tions, especially those living abroad, Patel said. riage and Divorce Laws. Formed under the auspices of the Zoroastrian Association of Pakistan, the committee includes Rustom his late wife GooV s gift to the community is the English translation of Dastur Manekji Themina Rustomji ’s “greatest joy was Zoroastrian youths proceeding to the US to play her piano and sing. Anybody who Dining and dancing on the seashore had for higher studies for the first Ume are now knows this branch of the family is fully been organized in mid October to generate invited to register their names and univer- aware that all her children have inherited income to be used for the education of a sity details with the KZBM. Through the her gift__the love of music, ” notes the child at the Navsari Orphanage, informs the Mandal ’s link with the Federation of Zoro- KZBM newsletter What’s On (November KZBM newsletter. The cost involved is Rs 1994). Associating Behram Rustomji and his family “as always around the piano, sing ­ ing, ” the newsletter refers to the many tunes 1 “which we still sing, ” but more specifi ­ cally to his rendition of Pakistan ’s national anthem. “Composer and friend Ahmed Ghulam Ali Chagla brought the score for Behli to play without any words except for the Year ” by the Ladies Forum of Pakistan, privately and silently. ” the one and only line ...‘Pakistan Zinda informs the KZBM newsletter. Minwalla Baad.’ Behli with the BVS (Bai Virbaiji has been an active member of the Mandal, Sopariwala Parsi High School for Boys) having chaired its poor welfare subcom- boys, Mehra Kavasji and Dinsu Kotwal, " . ............................. recorded the composition on Radio Paki ­ stan in the early 1950s, singing these three words throughout. Ahmed never knew his music would eventually become the na ­ tional anthem, ” notes the write-up. The newsletter recalls the KZBM’s 50- year tenancy in the H. J. Rustomji Home. “The child welfare section was first run by... Gool from their home, using this same piano to teach children the joy of obtained. Accordingly singing. ” the KZBM arranged for a state registered nurse from the UK to teach Feroze Cawasji and has the authority to coopt any further members required. Dining and dancing on the seashore had that all her children have inherited her gift — the love of music, ” notes the 5,000 through the World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO). The income from the Pateti dance had been similarly deployed. astrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), an assistance network for new ­ comers is falling into place. When 104-year-old Ms Khorshedbanu HoshangDinshaw died on August 17,1994 her eyes benefitted two individuals, he composed for the community Ms Gool Minwalla, who brought Mon ­ tessori education to Karachi in 1941 and established a training center for Montessori chronicles the KZBM newsletter, adding, teachers whose diploma is recognized “To elaborate on her charities would be an worldwide, has been selected “Woman of insult to her belief which was to give Married to her first cousin — both being grandchildren of Eduljee Dinshaw, the great Parsi philanthropist of Karachi, as mittee for many years. She is credited with informs the Informal Religious Meetings being the brain behind the organization ’s biannual sale. (IRM) newsletter-they could not but be philanthropic themselves. It is on record that the Spencer Eye Aware of their handicaps as an ageing Hospitalbuiltby her husband is totally free community — the high probability of frac ­ tures, choking, shocks, burns, etc — the Zoroastrian ladies of Karachi decided it was better to learn to deal with emergen ­ cies at home before medical help can be (and run at her own cost for 37 years, as and is still the only one of its kind in Pakistan that researches into eye diseases; the Eduljee Dinshaw Hostel at the Mama School used to be personally surpervised The 20th anniversary of the Informal Re ­ ligious Meetings Trust Fund was celebrated them the basics of first at Hotel Metropole with Zal and Rodabe, a play presented by the Friday School for Little Zarathushtris. aid. “An evening of fun... with your ancestors ” is how the KZBM billed a pre- The KZBM hit upon a fun way of remem ­ bering and honoring a benefactor. On sentation by Dr (Ms) manekthari punam, October 20, they orga ­ nized a moonlit walkathon at Cyrus Colony in memory of Sohrab Homee Mehta “who built and gave us our building in Sohrab Dinshaw: gave Katrak Park on October 14, 1962.” privately and silently Rubina Patel Lovelace, a PhD in genetic engi- ' ¦* 14 Parsiana December 1994notes the IRM newsletter) by Khor- shedbanu in the interests of its inmates. Fund, gathered at Avari Towers before dered her clothes in a bucket and written a poor Parsi girls; the Shalimar Cafe was proceeding m a stately motorcade to the letter by the light of an alarm clock, in ­ founded and run by her to give elderly Dinshaw residence to present the lady with forms the newsletter. Parsis a remuneraUve occupation for over an address of honor, flowers, silver salvers, Godiwalla ’s assignment is with the 50 years. Her humility and selflessness led shawls and all that an appreciative com- • ministry of health. She is expected to work "......... . _ -------- with the nurses. led by the Karachi Parsi Anjuman Trust bhajans and the Ramayana songs, laun- Fund, gathered at Avari Towers before proceeding in a stately motorcade to the Dinshaw residence to present the lady with an address of honor, flowers, silver salvers. her to personally visit the homes of the munity could shower upon her. For over an hour she withstood the “ordeal ” with in ­ nate grace, sitting in her wheelchair. The IRM newsletter informs that she continued to be alert annd active for four describes Kaiser Foods U. S. A. as “pio ­ neers of the finest Parsi cooking in Houston. ” Proffering single or family size, weekly or monthly meal packages, the establishment also caters for lagans, navjotes, Pateti and other parties and cele ­ brations. The menu consists of 19 meat dishes, 10 vegetarian, 10 seafood, eight chicken, six rice and five dais besides a variety of eggs. suffering so as to realize and alleviate their problems. Khorshedbanu and her family “have always refused to receive any manpatras or address of honor or felicitation for what they have done for the community and the city,” notes the IRM newsletter. However, it chronicles a combination of spontaneous and planned outpouring of affection and A ZorORStriail in. Fiji appreciation on the occasion of her birth Ms Shara Godiwalla of Houston is basking ' " ' ~ in the natural beauty of the Fiji Islands, informs Manashni, the newsletter of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston. One of the 15 Peace Corps volunteers assigned desserts, mithais and snacks, to Fiji, Godiwalla is currently living with Though providing doorstep delivery, an Indian family in Lambasa on Vanua Kairasp Rusi Laskari notes in the adver- Levu, the second largest island of the years thereafter - as though by divine response to the blessings the community had invoked. centenary four years ago: the Sadar Dare- Meher mobed offered a personal maachi in the Havan gah-, the BVS Boys ’ School Band regaled her with music in her garden, followed by the Mama School Band. “All the girls of the Mama School were non ­ Parsis and it was a thrill to hear them singing Chhaiye Hame Zarthosti at the archipelago. Learning the local language and imbib ­ ing its culture and life-style, Godiwalla has been to the mandir and listened to end, ” notes the IRM newsletter. In the evening, the chairmen and mem ­ bers of every Parsi association of Karachi, Traditional meals on call A full page advertisement in Manashni Though providing doorstep delivery, tisement that all dishes require a minimum of 10 plate orders and advises patrons to place group orders for greater discounts. Compiled by Arnavaz S. Mama FIRDOS & S. CAMBATTA CO. 'Cambatta Central', Bharat Bobins Ltd 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: Ffl M/s INGERSOLL RAND (INDIA) LTD J For Air Compressors and Vacuum Pumps 16 Parsiana December 1994POLITICS AND POLICY The Federation as Fund-raiser Though the all-lndia body has almost no funds of its own, it has proved its ability to raise moneys for various community institutions and projects rupees, now in the custody of the Surat scheme, on the basis of which the BPP allocates housing, would be “amended and brought up-to-date. ” The subject of subsidies for children and whether turning to a matrimonial bu ­ reau for finding a partner was degrading The Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India took on a new avatar at Parsi Panchayat (SPP). its meeting in Bombay: that of a fund- ~ raiser. In a matter of a few minutes the all erously offered to finance the next youth India body at its executive council meeting conference slated for the north Maha- on June 4 and 5, 1994 at Bombay ’s rashtrian city of Ahmednagar in Novem- Muncheiji Khareghat Hall raised over three ber. The cost was estimated at around three resulted in a lively debate with a diversity lakh rupees for the eight atash behrams in to four lakhs. of views being presented. India, over one lakh rupees to help defray The next all India Federation Awards The possibility of community wide the costs of a documentary on Zoroastrian- for Excellence are to be presented at the medical insurance cover at a low premium ism and formed a three-man committee to executive council meeting scheduled for was discussed as well as the problems try and raise two crore rupees for an all New Delhi on January 28 and 29, 1995. associated with obtaining uncontaminated India plan to encourage Parsis to have more children by subsidizing child care costs. Added to that, the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman and ex officio president of the Federation Jamshed group or individual could submit recom- Guzder attributed his late arrival at the mendations — indeed, an individual can meeting to the fact that he was attending the first death anniversary prayers of a lady who had left behind shares worth around export performance by a small scale indus- 11 crore rupees which Guzder had chan ­ nelled into three charitable trusts. Aside from the Federation, individual Anjuman. “Either we export or perish, shop, anjumans also spoke of various schemes Exporters have to be encouraged, ” implemented by them to augment their Mogrelia elaborated the rationale of the funds, with the Ahmedabad Parsi Pancha ­ yat trustee Areez Khambatta stating that in 1980 their monthly income was Rs 11,000 to Rs 12,000 while today the monthly India were still not available but Homi mentary filmmaker Homi Sethna, . ...... • •• - • - • shown to an appreciative audience. “The very fact that he took the initiative...is The Damania group of companies gen- to four lakhs. The next all India Federation Awards for Excellence are to be presented at the executive council meeting scheduled for New Delhi on January 28 and 29, 1995. The Federation ’s honorary secretary and blood for transfusions. The youth confer- activist Keki Gandhi bemoaned the low number of nominations submitted and, in response to a question from permanent donated for the first time to the Federation invitee Bejon Dittia, clarified that any ence hosted at Dahanu netted a surplus, a large portion of which, Rs 45,000, was of Zoroastrian Youth Associations of India (FOZYA) for the organization ’s activities. And Minoo Davierwalla, president of the Poona Parsi Panchayat,.was appointed the Federation ’s “tail-twister ” or “progress ­ chaser ” as he preferred to term it after he try has been initiated by Nariman Mogrelia, complained that the Federation was not president of the Madras Parsi Zarthosti acting on projects but was more a talk nominate himself, he added. A new award for the most outstanding Funds In the first day ’s morning session, the The Voice of award. The crucial 1991 census figures that video documentary 7’ ” ' will indicate how many Parsis exist in Zarathushtra, produced by noted docu- , was income is over two lakh rupees. Addition- Taleyarkhan, former member of the Gov- ally, an investment of Rs 30 lakhs rose to Rs 40 lakhs in a year ’s time thanks to sound financial investments in the Unit Trust of public shortly. India by Dr Hafiz Dalal, then joint secre ­ tary of the Panchayat. came the newest entrant to the Federation lated into English and a copy be given to Other anjumans such as Bharuch spoke bringing the total number of members of every couple at the time of their marriage oftheir considerable assets lying unutilized the all India body to 66. due to legal restrictions. Except for the The Save Udvada movement, designed Facing page: At various stages of the anjumans of Jhansi and Vesu which sought to preserve the ancient settlement from the deliberations, from left to right (first funds for their agiary, it was apparent that encroaching sea, has the support of the row): Guzder, Kanga, Taleyarkhan, with an adroit management of funds and i * ‘ assets and a dwindling number of benefi- Taleyarkhan. He said that about one or two ciaries, the community did not face a dearth of money. From the sale of the Khambhat lands the Federation will receive over two lakh emment of India ’s Minorities Commis ­ sion, said the information would be made absolutely remarkable, ” commented Guzder. He then suggested that the prayers The Badnera-Amravati anjuman be- said during the marriage ceremony be trans- came the newest entrant to the Federation The Save Udvada movement, designed Facing page: At various stages of the ^tate and national governments, said Guzder, Gandhi, Anklesaria; (secondrow) , > P. Ginwalla, S. Ginwalla, Mogrelia, Din- crores rupees may be required which could shaw Dastur; (third row) H. Chama, Y. “be raised ” as it was a pilgrim tourist center. Guzder announced that the merit rating Chama, A. Irani, Kanga, Bodhanwalla, Mistry; (fourth row) Khambatta, B. Bha- rucha, Karanjawalla and Sethna 18 Parsiana December 1994B I 'I '?• ¦ ’' <1 Ml L « i:**? ’ i' **] gw r -y I ¦ r i ‘^.$. M i * • V. J 8 I '' »-*^ a ¦¦ i 1?^ w , ^'i i J I ¦ w k I 1 f / *¦ K " ''j'i 8 ¦ .“¦ J 1 IHw ' %? Ol< ¦ Bs AO ^'• ^/ A ''& a I - f ¦-' ¦®«' "^Bs v/ 9 -*s »" * * • w •J ¦ ¦ ¦ o 1/ BMBs ¦ ..J. I I 8 ¦ H“which they can keep for the rest of their lives... so (if) during their married lives they find that things have not turned out as they wished, they could seek solace from the teachings of Zarathushtra. ” Guzder said he was willing to donate money for the translation and printing and would also ask the Bombay Punchayet and his co-trustees to see if the requisite funds could be raised. Gandhi noted that the “main purpose ” of showing the video was to “bring to your notice the plight of Homi Sethna... He has spent six lakhs of rupees on producing this film out of which he has been able to pay four lakhs from his own resources. Two lakhs he still owes to his creditors... I’m sure that the community, the members of this Federation, are not going to let him down... I have not come across a video which in a short span of 40 minutes spells out the principles of the Gathas and the community ’s social customs in such a lucid manner... there is no controversial material in the film. ” Gandhi noted that Darius Marshall from Calicut had phoned him the day before to state he could not attend the meeting and when told about Sethna ’s film offered a donation of Rs 5,000 from his anjuman. The highest contribution that came from an individual was of Rs 25,000 from Guzder. Among the other individuals to put their hands in their pockets were BPP trustee Ms Silloo Kavarana (Rs 5,000), businessman Areez Khambatta of Ahmedabad (Rs 5,000), entrepreneur Nariman Mogrelia of Madras (Rs 2,500), Minoo Davierwalla of Poona (Rs 2,000), FPZAI joint treasurer Peshotan Nargolwala, BPP trustee Jamsheed Kanga, the Federation ’s permanent invitee Homi Taleyarkhan, Adil Byramji of Kanpur, Ms Aloo Cama, an observer at the Federation meeting and Homi Mehta of Zai Bordi (Rs 1,000 each). Federation permanent invitee Bejon Dittia from the twin cities of Hyderabad- Secunderabad (Rs 1,001), Dinshaw Patel of Saronda (Rs 501), and Hoshang Debara of Agra (Rs 501). Twenty-five thousand rupees were pledged by the BPP; the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman, Jamshedpur, Delhi and Surat pledged Rs 5,000 each; Rs 1,001 each from the Agra and Jhansi anjumans and Rs 1,000 each from Dahanu and Madras and the Bardoli, Dumas and Bhavnagar anjumans Rs 501 each. The Federation of Zoroastrian Youth Associations pledged Rs 1,100 for the cause. Sethna benefitted from an anonymous donation of Rs 5,000 too. Dittia suggested that “a Maruti can be bought and a lottery floated (to collect funds). ” Even “trusts can help, ” reiterated Kanga. The Voice... priced at Rs 350 for individuals and Rs 750 for anjumans is available from Ms Gool Tata, joint secretary of the BPP or from Sethna himself at 72 Ashoka Apartments, Rungta Lane, Off Jagmohandas Marg, Bombay 400006. Packaging and postage charges in India will amount to an additional Rs 50. For purchasers abroad, the film is priced at US $ 30 plus packing and postage by registered airmail. Some copies are available locally in the United States and the United Kingdom for which only local postal charges will be applicable, according to Sethna. Those who would like to “bail out ” Sethna from his predicament can send in their cheques to the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India and forward it to Gandhi at Machine Tools (India) Limited, D-24, South Extention Part II, New Delhi 110049. A free copy of the video film is promised to anyone donating Rs 400 and above. Guzder noted that the Surat Parsi Panchayat “had decided to contribute Rs 5,000 to the corpus of each of the eight atash behrams in India. ” The interest from the money is to be utilized for the benefit of mobeds as well as the maintenance of the WE SCRUB GASES OTHERS WON'T TOUCH PHOSGENE SILICON TETRACHLORIDE SULFUR DICHLORIDE BORON TRIFLUORIDE ORGANIC ANHYDRIDES ORGANIC ACIDS ALCOHOLS ACRYLATES/ACETATES •OXIDES OF NITROGEN SPECIALTY GASES: e.g., Arsine/Phosphine/Diborane I I I t Most wet scrubber designers prefer not to handle these tough scrubbing implications. 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Phono: 408967,408014,408654 Fax: 0272-427394 Totex: 0121-8620 * CR patented NOx scrubbers guarantee 90% + removal efficiencies. 21 Parsiana December 1994With Compliments From structures. “Dr (Sam) Bhacca (SPP anjuman. “Once that data is fed to Mr president and Federation vice president) Katpitia or to me, then we could follow up suggests that since the SPP has given Rs ” 40,000, the BPP should give Rs 80,(X)0 and my very benevolent trustees have agreed, ” example, the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman said Guzder, adding, “Since this is a very laudable suggestion, I have decided to give Rs 80,000 of my own. In addition, an and decide what to do next. ” At the Baroda Federation meeting for GLOBE THEATRES Pvt Ltd Established April 3, 1915 Pioneers of Show Business in India for the last 7 9 years We rededicate ourselves to the ideals we have cherished and practised all along -- namely to show NOTHING BUT THE BEST to our ever increasing number of Patrons Controlling: REGAL BOMBAY ? CAPITOL BOMBAY GLOBE CALCUTTA 22 Parsiana December 1994 came forward “to say that you give us the power and we will look into the Tarapore dokhma matter, ” said Gandhi. Both Aspi anonymous donor has also contributed Rs Irani of the Iranian Anjuman and Pervez 80,000, that is Rs 10,000 for each atash Irani, the secretary of FOZY A whoresides behram. In addition, the second associa- in Dahanu, offered to help. Noted Gandhi, tion in Surat (Shri Surat Parsi Anjuman “This sort of attitude should be taken by Panchayet) is also contributing Rs 40,000. more anjumans...Mr Dittia has been trying The Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) has also to do something with the Nizamabad prop- donated Rs 16,000. We have written a erty in Secunderabad. Dr (Behram) Masani letter to the trustees of the respective atash (of Mhow) and Tehmton Anklesaria (of behrams. The donations will be treated as a corpus. ” Ratlam) are working on the property in Khandwa. But in Gujarat, where most of Mogrelia, while lauding the BPP for its the defunct anjuman properties are, the program to subsidize the third child, sug- local anjumans are taking the stand that gested the scheme be changed from the Surat will do the work. ” third child to any child. “By providing subsistence for the first child and onwards member of the Indian Administrative Ser- we will be able to induce young couples to vice, volunteered to guide anjumans as to get married early and also produce the first what to do after they had collected the child very early... early production of a information. “But the work of going, col- first child will automatically provide a lecting information, looking at the longer fertility period to young mothers records...requires a lot of time and legwork and also serve as an incentive to have a which I think the youth of the community second or even third child. ” Mogrelia felt should participate in. ” that about Rs 15,00,000 per annum would be required to fund the scheme and pro- Panchayet told the gathering that the popu- posed a corpus fund of two crore rupees “to lation of that Gujarat town had dwindled take care of probable increases in die birth from 3,000 to around 180 today. “So many rate as well as inflation. ” Following of the properties are not in use, so many Mogrelia ’s suggestion a lively debate took people are encroaching on them. There is place on the subject of subsidies which no youth left in Bharuch. Most of the Parsiana intends to carry in a forthcoming people are over 70 years. There are one or issue in an edited form. two like me who are middle aged. We have a maternity hospital that stopped function ­ ing. We have gone to a court of law more than one and a half years (ago) to utilize this property for some other purpose...we received no reply. A person wanted funds for his son to study abroad...we gave him some money but we could have given him more because we have vast fund^ but they BPP trustee Jamsheed Kanga, a former Sarosh Ginwalla from the Broach Parsi Defunct anjumans The defunct anjumans subcommittee suf ­ fered a setback as one of its ablest mem ­ bers, Sohrab Katpitia of the SPP, was hospitalized and had to undergo an angiography. The BPP’s chief executive Rustom Anklesaria and Katpitia are the “hands and eyes and everything of the are all earmarked for a particular purpose, project, ” noted Gandhi. Referring to the We cannot utilize these funds for anything difficulty of finding suitable persons with else. And the courts of law give no reply. ” a background of revenue or city surveying to work on the project, Anklesaria noted, “We did employ two such persons (but) hire a full-time person to follow up on they were not happy with us and we were court matters and also attend to defunct not happy with the findings they made. ” properties. The possibility of amending Ultimately they resigned. Despite adver- the trust deed of the anjuman was also tising the vacancy and offering to pay up to Rs 3,000 a month for a full-time employee, “we are not in a position to find any aramgah land at Jabalpur. The land had suitable candidate. ” He reiterated that the been encroached upon and Taleyarkhan spadework on defunct anjumans would have to be done by the closest neighboring Suggestions were proffered that the Broach Panchayet trustees could perhaps mooted. A discussion then took place on the had taken up the matter with the Madhya Pradesh government, related Gandhi. DrAnklesaria noted that even if the Fed ­ modest... it is always my experience that (Ms) Gulshan Darabshaw, a resident of E^^ld’SikX whXd dkd ta NoUmber local anjuman would still have to help with comes forward and says at the function 1993 and wrote complaining about the the spadework. “Ask Dr Masani how many Arre, you omitted this person or that who state of the aramgah,Uid Gandhi. “We times and how many people have been was very deserving. Gandhi noted that he wrote to the anjuinan and requested them involved to crack one nut — Khandwa. had published advertisements ’nviting to send someone to the Federation meeting You must have made at least 10 visits, you nominations in three consecutive Fed to see in what way the all India body could must have met the lawyer 10 times, you Newsletters. Still, there are so few nomi- helo But the response has not been en- must have done a lot of spadework to nations in several categones and none in couraeine ” obtain the basic data. We must have a others. ” He noted that the Federa^news- Kangl again mentioned the three-pronged approach. ” letter is mailed or delivered to 6,000 fami- Mahableshwar Parsi Club. “The Parsi i--------- „ . trustees voluntarily went out and some to participate, Kanga suggested a certain builders from Bombay took control. These percentage of the salvage value could go to builders then tried to sell the property by the neighboring anjuman ” if it success ­ making their own friends as members say- fully safeguards the property, ing the Club will allow you to build some- __ ' \ _ thing which you can use during your life, g--------------------------------- - . . . though it remains notionally the property he would work out a concrete proposal dered, Gandhi replied. Anybody can spon- - - .. . - . • — ---•—> .1-----sor any person. A new award for excellence in exports Awards for a small scale industrialist was instituted Nominations for the Federation Awards by Mogrelia, a leading ^djward winning for Excellence for 1992 and 1993 to be presented at the Federation meeting to be eration appointed a full-time person, the after the awards are declared, somebody ’ You must have made at least 10 visits, you in what way the all India body could must have met the lawyer 10 times, you must have done a lot of spadework to obtain the basic data. We must have a • •» As an incentive to get the local anjumans lies in India and abroad and in spitejjf this to participate, Kanga suggested “a certain mentioned thing which you can use during your life. Rustom Anklesaria welcomed the sug ­ gestion and said that Bhacca, Katpitia and group wide publicity, and the extension of dead ­ lines for submitting nominations, the re ­ sponse was lukewarm. In response to a question from Dittia, as to whether “wild card nominations from a of individuals ” would be consi- of the trust. ” After objections were raised with the chairman ’s consent. by a person staying nearby, the govern ­ ment prohibited the transfer of the land, said Kanga. “Now they are using the Club as a hotel. Parsiana has written an article on it but there is apathy on the part of the local people. They don ’t want to do any ­ thing and I’m sorry to say that some of the processed, noted Rustom Anklesaria. In local Parsis are helping these people. One ' ‘ ‘ is working as a manager... Through sheer apathy we are losing crores of rupees worth moaned Gandhi. ‘This gives me the im- of valuable property. ” 1 ’ , * textile exporter himself: “The award that I propose is in keeping with the philosophy hosted in Delhi, in January 1995, are being of our country — export or perish. We are ___ 2 7______ • ¦ • I still lagging behind. Export is a field in some categories, however, “not a single which a lot of specialized knowledge is worthy nomination ” has been received, '* * pression that the anjumans have been very required...it should be encouraged. ” Another new award proposed by Guzder continued on page 40 MATRIMONIAL MATRIMONIAL Annual Parsi Sports Meet A 25-year-old Parsi boy, working as a partner in a leading firm, height 5’8”, non-mangalic, invites matrimonial alliances from pleasant tempered Parsi girls, willing to settle in Nagpur. Please respond with latest photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/87-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 Affluent parent invites proposals for her 5’6” tall, slim, beautiful, wheatish complexioned and highly educated daughter aged 26 years. The boy should be highly educated, preferably a professional and well-settled, from a cultured and affluent family back-ground, between the age 27 to 32. Please write with full details and recent photographs (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/83-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. •Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. The 15th All Parsis Annual Athletic and Cycling Meet will be held as follows: Cycling: Sunday 5/2/1995, at the Valabhbhai Patel Stadium, Worli, Bombay. Athletics: Saturday 11 and Sunday 12/2/1995 at the University Sports Ground, Marine Lines, Bombay starting at 1.00 p.m. Open events in athletics for each age group for men, womerr, boys and girls will also be held. Entry forms will be made available from the following: (1) The Secretary, The Nowroze Baug Play Centre, E/18, Nowroze Baug, Lalbaug, Bombay 400012 (2) Mr Naval S. Pithawalla, Plot No 584-85, Lady Jehangir Road, Matunga and (3) The Joint Sec., Cusrow Baug Sports Pavilion, S.B.S. Road, Colaba, Bombay 400039 Entries close on 1/2/1995 24 Parsiana December 1994BUSINESS COVER STORY 4 The bitter-sweet lure of Arnavaz S. Mama For ahundredyears Spain jealous.ly guarded spawning a universal race of chocophiles. In any form of gourmet cookery can Parsis be far behind? By the end of World Tank residence (telephone number War I Dr Darabshaw D. Writer and Com ­ pany had branched into confectionery- no time for that any more... ” Pinto, who works from her Gowalia her secret drink, adding sugar to improve the delicious recipe which she inherited from the Mayas and Aztecs of South War I Dr Darabshaw D. Writer and Com- 3868240), started with rum, marzipan, al- America, courtesy Christopher Columbus, pany had branched into confectionery- mond crunch... Backed by a supportive In course of time other European gourmets making, though we do not know at exactly family, particularly her sister-in-law Usha 1.^.. ¦ what point they launched their coco Katrak, and friends including the owners ferreted it out. It took a Frenchman how- i ' ' ¦ - • • ¦ ever to begin retailing solid chocolate for beans (see “Sweetening the bitter pill, ” of Rustom and Co who volunteered to keep making the beverage (in London, in 1657!) pg 32). And circa 1980, Ms Meher Pinto Pinto ’s handiwork for sale at their well- at 10 to 15 shillings a pound. “At this price only the wealthy could afford to drink it and there appeared in London, Amsterdam and other European capitals fashionable chocolate houses, some of which later developed into famous clubs. About 1700, the English improved chocolate by the addition of milk...it was Bombay ’s well-heeled chocolate lovers." Pinto (nee Katrak) learnt of “temper- pg 32). And circa 1980, Ms Meher Pinto had begun to experiment. Her trial and patronized grocery in Colaba, Pinto ’s cre- error method — “Nobody told me how to make a chocolate! ” — resulted in her “giving away kilos of chocolates: They gentry. Then she “got a designer to design ' .. .......... my boxes and give me a name. ” The “ChocAffaires ” boxes — with new color combinations each Divali and New Year - reach such a level of demand by not until 1853 when the (import) duty (on Pinto (nee Katrak) learnt of “temper- Divali that Pinto and her team work more the raw cocoa bean) was lowered to a ing ” — part of the arcane language and thana 12-hour day, starting weeks ahead, uniform penny a pound, that chocolate processes that go into chocolate produc- Having used her home kitchen all these became popular, ” chronicles the Encyclo- tion — on a trip to France where she often years, Pinto says she can ’t manage here paedia Britannica. ...................................... For nearly two centuries chocolate remained a drink. When Conrad J. van Houten took out a patent in 1828 on the use ofpressesintheproductionofcocoapowder out learning how to melt and to what it released cocoa butter as a byproduct temperature to heat the molten chocolate, in commercial quantities which was then pressed into the manufacture of sweet eating chocolate. By the mid 19th cen- melted when I took them out of the fridge ! ” recalls the lady whose name today is syn ­ onymous with quality chocolates among ations gradually found favor with increas ­ ing numbers of Bombay ’s sweet toothed processes that go into chocolate produc ­ tion — on a trip to France where she often accompanied her husband Norbert who and is thinking of acquiring a place out ­ works for the French firm of Servia Phar ­ maceuticals. But it was a piece of verbal information and Pinto says she sweated it side. After her graduation in June 1994, “Chocophile ” Ms Meher Gandevia has concentrated on making liqueur choco ­ lates — “Soft centers, not liquid, ” as she is to take and keep the desired form. quick to differentiate. Using only foreign . ----------- “I’m a chocoholic. I still come back liqueurs — Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlua, tury it became popular and gourmet from abroad with a bagful of chocolates! I Creme de Menthe, Cherry Brandy, Orange chefs began to coat biscuits and other had no books... I love cooking — all kinds. Curacao — Gandevia (telephone number candies with it. Switzerland ’s M. D. Peter added milk to the confection in 1876, to cool and reheat before it could be trusted a Ci 26 Parsiana December 1994 had no books... I love cooking — all kinds. I never stick to recipes. In the beginning I 3646120) has carved her own niche in used to bake cakes on order. But there ’s Bombay ’s Warden Road area and findst- r (Below) Pinto: an ‘Affaire’ with chocolates I (Centre) Kavarana: the ‘Mystique’ woman Bottom: ‘Chocophile’ Gandevia 1 ¦ I 1 J I connoisseurs and producers three women mtreprmeurs have- displayed a taste fir fine chocolates I 21 Parsiana December 1994herself so well settled with her products must be molded into shape and then the years ’ standing at the Parekh Corporation -. * " who wanted to do something on her own. But her Gujarati boss and his codirectors wouldn ’t let her go, flooding her instead with encouragement, facilities and orders! For two to three years she had taken cater ­ ing orders for parties up to 100 persons. Now she can barely keep her fingers out of the gooey brown substance that forms the bedrock of modem celebrations. Last Divali she ran short of boxes at the last minute. The prior year she had had a substantial order from Air India to cope with. About 20 days before Divali Kavarana says she and her six to seven helpers start getting organized, chopping and roasting ingredients. Chocolate making itself be ­ gins 10 days later. Kavarana notes that her clientele is largely non-Parsi and apprecia ­ tive and she is content to have it so. that it is “difficult to manage ” her original fluid injected. Indian molds are of very she says, adding, “If there are air bubbles, there are problems. ” Gandevia ’s parents, grandma, aunt. lines — cakes, desserts, canapes, salads — poor quality. “The Taj uses English molds, ’ with which she started in 1991, though she does accept occasional orders. Except for part-time help with getting the material organized Gandevia says “the brothers have encouraged her, tasted her making is entirely my own. I don ’t like anyone interfering. Even my mother can ’t work with me. I’m a perfectionist. ” Hailing from a family of good cooks, Gandevia pursued a two-year course in food technology at the Sophia Polytechnic during her junior college years before she graduated with sociology and the organi ­ zation of commerce. Though she feels that there was little she really learnt at the Polytechnic, Gandevia ’s holidays were batches, offered expert comments and stor- spent in commercial kitchens where a friendly chef clued her into the intricacies of chocolate making, helping her to over ­ come the frustration of chocolates that melted on the tray. Having to work in a non-airconditioned crunchy, rum balls and others entered the kitchen in Bombay Gandevia begins her work early in the morning “when the kitchen is free and everything clean. ” Gandevia says, “I chose to make liqueur chocolates because I wanted to do some ­ thing different... Liquid centers are very difficult, ” she confides. First the chocolate “To be a good person is the most important thing age space in their refrigerators so crucial at Divali time. Ms Maharukh Kavarana ’s “Mystique ” range of almonds, rochers, fruit-n-nut, The three Parsi chocolatidres, all happy to be a part of the community, nonetheless have very decided views on the direction in which it is headed. The declining numbers have received the attention that the problem deserves and all of them seem to feel that, to an extent, it is a self-inflicted one. “What is wrong with accepting the arena seven years ago. Taught the art by a cousin with five-star hotel experience, Kavarana “started out in fun and it clicked. ” Though she works with steel vessels and marble topped tables in her Rustom Baug kitchen (telephone number 3720578), children of Parsi mothers? ” asks Kavarana. Kavarana is a secretary of more than 20 For Pinto, the problem is more poignant. yVith compliments from B. B. GARDA & SONS 10 B. J. Road Poona 411001 29 Parsiana December 1994Though her daughter Ghazala, 19, now understands that there are some events of the community in which she cannot par ­ ticipate, Pinto recalls the child ’s yearning for her navjote when the rest of her cousins underwent the ritual. This was particularly frustrating because, as Pinto says jocu ­ larly, “My husband is half a Parsi too ” having stayed with her family all these years. Knowing of cases where children in similar circumstances have been initiated, the Pintos nonetheless rejected the backdoor approach, prefering to hold a reception (without the ceremony) at the Colaba Agiary to assuage Ghazala ’s hurt to some extent. “When a Hindu and a Christian marry, there ’s no problem because they can go into each other ’s temples and churches... One does feel bitter about these things, ” Pinto concedes. There are two hurdles ahead for Pinto: Ghazala is good at ac ­ counts but she doesn ’t know how good or how interested she will be in running ChocAffaires. Secondly — and more im ­ portantly — today ’s children may be ame ­ nable to arranged marriages but “how do you arrange a marriage for the children of mixed marriages? ” asks Pinto. Maharukh (n6e Gandhi) and Russy Kavarana (who happily sat in on the inter ­ view) are a well-knit but childless couple. He too has been working for the Parekh Corporation since the past 11 years after logging 24 years with Bombay Dyeing. Unenthused by Bombay Parsi Punchayet “Caste and creed are man-made. There is nothing wrong in adoption!” chairman Jamshed Guzder ’s scheme of Punchayet maintenance for the third child in Parsi families (they dismiss it as imprac ­ tical), the Kavaranas claim that many of their cousins are not getting married be ­ cause of shortage of accommodation. They also say that many Parsi couples continue to remain childless because of family and housing problems. They believe that the answer lies in legalizing adoption. “Caste and creed are man-made. There is nothing wrong in adoption! ” notes Maharukh Kav- arana categorically. Young Gandevia describes herself as “not very religious but very proud to be a Parsi. In every field there is at least one Parsi standing out. Meher Pinto should be proud of herself. She has really made a name! ” However, Gandevia thinks “We ’re going to decline very fast. We should allow the navjotes of Parsi women ’s children. ” She speaks of a cousin ’s husband who is very Parsi despite his non-Parsi father. “Their child could have been a Zoroastrian, but not as of now. ” Though her closest friend is a Parsi, Gandevia says she has grown up in a cosmopolitan environment and doesn ’t consider mixed marriages to be wrong “so long as (one is) prepared to accept changes and compromise. When life is changing so much we must learn to accept them. I feel this, I guess, because I’m not very reli ­ gious. But I’ve got a lot of faith in God... What ’s important is whether you are nice to people around you. ” By this test community members don ’t score too well, according to Gandevia. She cites the case of a boy who met a girl on an arranged date in answer to a matrimonial advertisement in Parsiana. Neither the boy nor his family had the courtesy to respond thereafter until accosted by the girl ’s father who ran into the family by chance in a parking lot some weeks later. “He didn ’t have the courtesy to call back. To be a good person is the most important MATRIMONIAL Pars! parents invite proposals for their 25-year-old, 5’4” tall, good ­ looking, intelligent, graduate daughter. The boy should be educated and well settled up to 30 years from India or U.S.A, having a good family background.Please apply with full details and full size photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dee/72-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ’Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited for 29-year-old, 5’4” tall, professional girl residing in U.K. from an educated, cultured gentleman up to 40 years of age. Please respond with full bio data and latest photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/74-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ’Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. Ladies! Your face has to last a lifetime... So treasure HI Enliven dull and sallow skin with nature ’s bountiful & beneficial products like herbs, vegetable Juices, fruit pulp & nourishing oils & enjoy a relaxing facial. Look great & feel good without ugly spots & blemishes. By appt only: Mrs H. Dastur Tel: 3863784 MATRIMONIAL Irani Zoroastrian family invites proposals for their handsome, youngest son (divorcee), 32 years, 5 91/2*, practising as a Chartered Accountant and partner in a Restaurant and Beer Bar, residing in an ownership flat with mother only, from good-looking, educated and matured girls up to 30 years of age. Apply with photograph and bio data (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (DecZ73-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ’Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL A well established Executive, 42 years, with own accommodation, seeks matrimony with a homely girl from a respectable family. Photos essential and will be returned. Apply to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/75-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ’Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Zoroastrian lady, 35 years, US citizen, Office Administrative Assistant, 5’7”, domesticated, good-natured, invites matrimonial correspondence from qualified, successful and hard-working men willing to settle in USA or any other Western country. Please respond with recent photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/76-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ’Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. 30 Parsiana December 1994Sweetening the bitter piii “From 1909 to 1913, he had Darabshaw 'Writer, from quinine to confectionery shaw ’s second son, k h u s h r u , entered the business in 1914Byl930, the concern This brought in plenty of business and had acquired its own new premises at Dadar. By the time Dr Writer passed away in 1935 his younger sons — Framroze and Minoo — were a part of the business, though Framroze went his What would you do if you were trapped Jehangir, an engineer from the in a machan, the little ladder tost in the VJTI (Victoria Jubilee Techni- undergrowth and a tiger prowling around cal Institute) , to look after them, hungrily? Forced to spend such a night. Dr Darabshaw Dinshaw Writer, chief more downs than ups and had to medical officer to the Assam-Bengal change his partners three times — Railway, and his British friend and one after another and was about fellow physician discussed ways of to close the whole show just making quinine (the main fever fighter before the First World War broke of the early 20th century) more palatable out. Fortunately for him, the war to children. They discussed ways of started and Dr Writer ’s Quinine sugar-coating the bitter medicine which Tiklies had atremendous market, they tried out in their kitchen when daylight fresh ma ­ th- chinery tree- was top capti- stalled to vity. But ¦¦ speed up way shortly thereafter and Minoo died in the sugar M| the output 1938.There followed an expansion into syrup and in order to new lines as machines were updated and tablets company thrived, earning medals stuck to civil and and certificates of merit in exhibitions in the pan! military re Reco- quiremen- apcryphal '315 ' % rds story that r- Jf:"- ||||||||||||||||^^ Federal nougat, marzipan, almond rock, butter- he had Following in their father's footsteps, sons Jehangir (left) Observer scotch, marshmellows, jujubes, French heard as a Kaikhushru March- almonds, barley sugar, jams, sauces and child, gra- July 1943. fruit syrups. They used a combination of ndson Bomi K. Writer sketches the rise Sugar-coated quinine was exported in imported milk chocolate and cocoa to and fall of Dr D. Writer and Company substantial quantities to meet the needs concoct their own coco beans, whose confectionery, sauces and jams of the army engaged in Mesopotamia, Until Parrys sweets (from Madras) were a part of grocery shelves not too informs Bomi. came on the scene there was no long ago. A friendly chemist enlightened them germination of another: Why not use initially their sweets and biscuits were on the use of wax-lined pans to prevent the procedure for non-medicinal items? hardly a match for the established, the sugar from sticking and Darabshaw Confectionery merchants suggested reputed Writer products. Eventually, and his physician partner presided over Writer sugar-coat almonds rather than however, obsolescence set in and the the birth of India ’s own sugar-coated quinine tablets in 1909. It marked the inception of the firm with a capital of Rs profits of the Quinine Ticklies, informs the company ’s declining fortune until it 300, a factory comprising two ma- the Federal Observer. was sold in 1955 to Messrs F. D. Mehta chines, and Darabshaw ’s eldest son r J To be a good person is the most important thing, ” emphasizes Gandevia. According to Gandevia a girl is “cut out to be a wife and mother... Boys don ’t like it if their wives earn more. ” Stating that she is not career oriented, Gandevia claims with all the romanticism of youth that she 32 Parsiana December 1994 Kai- various parts of the country as notes the Federal Observer. Bomi, the younger of Kaikhushru ’s two sons, remembers that the the lines included cooking chocolate. substantial quantities to meet the needs of the army engaged in Mesopotamia, informs Bomi. The success of one idea led to the competition worthy of the name, but Writer sugar-coat almonds rather than quinine and the machines needed for familiar story of disintegrating families the new lines were financed from the combined with a financial crunch led to the Federal Observer. As these lines developed, Darab- and Sons. is quite prepared to kiss the chocolates — and the best. In the realm of foodstuffs that and their profits — goodbye when the right includes vasanu, eeda pak, badam pak, man comes her way. malido, dar-ni-pori, puddings, cakes. All the ladies believe, however, that chocolates... The list of delicacies is long, their Parsi background has abetted their appetising, irresistible. What ’s a few extra success. Pinto says that Parsis produce the maximum number of things at home — calories when the name of the game is celebration?BUSINESS Livewel’s livewire After consolidating their business in packaging, landscaping and interiors, the Livewel group is gearing up for the travel industry Parinaz Gandhi Climbing up the business ladder, they felt we were able to accept the challenge, ” neously expect exemplary devotion and the need to take flight. That is when the explains Daver. ' " *' ’ ’ ‘ Livewel group established a travel agency, naming their venture Airlinks. In 1995, when the company is in its 25th year, they Livewel president. When workers put in dedication from his staff too. These at ­ tributes he finds amiss in Parsis. Around 30 from his workforce of 865 must be Parsis. Those at the senior level are responsible hope to introduce an airline. They may get night shifts they are paid thrice their regu- and trustworthy but Daver does not believe closer to the skies but that does not mean 1 , ~ . their enterprise believes in “fly by night must be looked after. He does simulta- success. You have to fly during the day... Working with dedication and principles Daver family (from left): Parinaz, Burzin, takes time. Ups are very gradual. There are Amavaz. and Manek. more downs, ” Manek Daver, president of the Livewel group, shares his observations. “For survival one has to keep on smiling, whatever the financial predicament, ” qdds Daver. Starting with “a capital on loan, ” today the group boasts a capital which is “entirely our own. ” Contributing to the group ’s turnover which exceeds Rs 40 crores are their varied enterprises — packaging, inte ­ riors, landscape and travel. In terms of profitability, the interiors division is the most lucrative. Their clients include multinational banks like Grindlays, Hong Kong, Bank of America, American Express, Citibank. When the Damanias launched their catamaran service from Bombay to Goa, the de ­ signing of the Ferry Wharf at Bombay from where passengers board and alight the carrier was entrusted to the Livewel group. They were given 27 days in which to complete work on 17,000 sq ft of space. “Today it becomes dif ­ ficult to even lay tiles in 27 days. But because of our infrastructure “This being a service industry we have to be on our toes all the time, ” mentions the I , 4' r 34 Parsiana December 1994 IK lar salary as Daver believes that employees the same holds true for the juniors. What really irks him is their reluctance to put in more work citing excuses like “I am tired ” or “I am left with no time to woo my girlfriend ” or “You are working me like a horse ” or “My wife doesn ’t want me to work on Sundays. ” He believes in supporting the community “but the community does not survive at the cost of business, ” maintains Daver. He works 365 days in a year “never taking a day off even on Sundays. Whether it is Parsi New Year or Diwali he is working, ” corroborates his wife Arnavaz who supports the workaholic in his varying en- terprises. Daver takes pride in mentioning that their son Burzin who is in his final year of MBA and has simul- taneously taken charge of the interiors division, had joined him when he was “in short pants. ” Like his father he too forgets his holidays. Their daughter Parinaz is in her first year of BCom and also attend- ing an IATA (International As- sociation of Travel Agents) course that will give her the background for the travel business. The pulse of the different divisions is monitored by IHHH Daver who is constantly on the M •> I. S'1*7 . / -1I Service Review which confers awards for excellence in hospitality. (Daver ’s own move between various Livewel offices in Bombay, in India, in the world. We had an occasion to meet him at dieirParel premises hospitality is overwhelming. You may where each time a visitor is announced, the decline his offer of a cold drink but he spry, gracious Daver comes down from his will insist on ordering one for you mezzanine floor office to personally receive the next guest and see the former one off. As we await our turn on the ground floor which houses the office of Livewel Air ­ links, the absence of any prospective custo ­ mers makes us wonder whether their business The community does not survive at the cost of business sources and contacts. In his case, the initial loan capital of Rs 50,000 was raised from relatives and friends. He therefore reiter ­ ates that upcoming entrepreneurs should be given support. “Who is responsible and who is not for giving such support is not for me to comment. ” Their business is now “well established. ” Yet Daver says he prefers to maintain a is yet to pick up. But the jigsaw pieces fall into place when we are informed that at Airlinks they are projecting an image of a packaging domestic travel house, targetting a corpo- packaging for phar- rate clientele. “We ’ll give service., ” not a share of the nine percent discount allowed to them by the airlines. However the Live ­ wel Double Benefit Bonanza announced background, says incentives in another form: In their scheme effective November 10,1994 to March 10, 1995, anyone purchasing an airline ticket business once he had from them costing a minimum Rs 2,500 completed his stu- would be rewarded with surprise gifts rang- dies. He schooled at ing from trendy T-shirts to a 25” Videocon Don Bosco, did his TV. Further the ticket purchaser could fill graduation and post- out a form and if his/her answers are ap- graduation from proved by the panel of judges the winner Sydenham College would be entitled to additional prizes, as and subsequently attractive as a Maruti 800 for the first qualified as a cost prize... or two return tickets on a Damania and work accoun- Airways flight as the fourth prize. Adver- tant as also a rising their Airlinks business as “Your chartered accoun- pathway to freedom from travel manage- tant. “Doing dhan- ment worries, ” besides ticketing they also dha (business) is ex ­ promise to take care of documentation tremely difficult, ” formalities, hotel bookings, travel to and from the airport... As of now, once the airport is reached the Livewel personnel say “bye-bye. ” Very should have the cou- shortly they will reach out to their custom ­ ers with an invitation “please fly, ” says Daver. Around March next year they hope sleepless nights, lots of heartbreak and to launch Livewel Airlines, a feeder ser ­ vice that will operate on the untapped sector routes in Maharashtra and Gujarat. 'Once their Fokker aircraft arrives they will enter the capital market, informs Daver. On the one hand the Livewel group receives awards as the Beautification Award presented to Daver in end 1994 by off. the Indian Council for Management Ex­ ecutives. And on the other they sponsor awards as they did recently for the Best Domestic Airline of the Year competi ­ tion organized by The Hotel and Food rience for those who don ’t have the re ­ nevertheless.) The group ’s land ­ scape division has handled the greenery and gardening of low profile. On the morning of the several of Bombay ’s pay-and-park zones, road divider grills, footpaths. This en ­ tails coordinating formally attired president showing no signs with the Bombay of impatience as he reclined in his armchair. Municipal Corpo- Absorbed as he is in his work Daver finds no time to pursue other activities and inter ­ ests. His days as an active Lion, social worker... “are over. ” From behind the interview, October 26, 1994, he had been informed that The Economic Times of that day had carried a write-up on Livewel. But he had yet to read it, candidly admitted the as Parsiana December 1994 ration as also the corporate sponsors. Livewel ’s oldest enterprise though is specializing in composite maceuticals and textiles. His commerce Daver, made him keen to start his own he forwams Parsis keen to start their own venture. “They • I it . /J rage to start, and strong willpower, ” he stresses. )3 A Manek Daver (right) presenting the - “You have to look forward to award for the Best Domestic Airline of lots of tedious work, ” he remembers his experiences before he was able to estab ­ lish himself in the business. You have no time to indulge in vices, adds Daver, and must, instead, pursue good values. Like? “Virtues which characterize good Parsis: God-fearing, honest, dedicated... ” he trails the Year to Parvez Damania scenes though, he does render assistance — to finance a navjote of a poor Parsi child; to rehabilitate a drug abuser at Asha Daan... “Help has to be rendered on time and silently, ” he believes. As Daver ’s business expands, so do the demands on his time. In fact even when he has to go out of Bombay on a business trip “Self-employment does have tremen- has to go out ofBombay on a business trip dous scope, ” Daver acknowledges. But he he makes sure he returns to his base within also recognizes that just arranging for the four days. The reason? Daver enjoys a venture capital can be a very trying expe- four days. The reason? Daver enjoys laugh as he makes his point: “When the cat is away the mice are at play. ”INSTITUTIONS The Montessori Legacy For 60 years Casa Montessori has striven to teach children the natural way Noshir H. Dadrawala There is one thing in common between the needs of children coming from middle ­ maestro Zubin Mehta, industrialist Ratan '' ’ " T' Tata, noted solicitor Jangoo Gagrat and journalist Ms Rita Mehta — they all had their first brush with education at Casa Montessori. I Presently situated in a spacious flat I on the ground floor of Oceana, a I multistoreyed residential building on | Marine Drive where former Prime Min- | ister of India, Morarji Desai, once occu- I pied a flat, the school traces its beginning I to a room in a bungalow called Wood- I house, near Colaba Post Office, with just | 10 students. That was 60 years ago — | August 6,1934, to be precise. Today, the I number of teachers are 10, with pupils I numbering around 110. I Casa Montessori, according to man- I aging partner Ms Nazneen Dubash, was I the first institution of its kind in the city I of Bombay . It was founded by her mater- | nal aunt Dinoo Dubash “who simply ? loved children. ” She was born on De- I cember 1, 1901 and educated at Queen I Mary High School in Bombay and I Kimmins in Panchgani. In 1931 she I started a small school in Mhow and man- I aged it for about two years. Subsequently, I she proceeded to London for specialized " studies and earned a diploma in Montessori training. She then toured Europe, observ ­ ing trends in about 30 schools in London, Austria, Germany, France and Sweden. On her return, she decided to start a school of in South Bombay, ” believes Nazneen. her own in Bombay and that ’s how Casa Montessori came into being. From the room in Colaba, the school was shifted in May 1939 to Marine Drive where Hotel Sea Green is presently situ ­ ated. The premises, however, were requisi- departmental transfers, tioned in 1945 by the Government under the Defence of India Act and since then Oceana has been the address of the school for almost half a century. “My aunt, ” reminisced Nazneen, “al ­ ways wanted that the school should cater to " ¦ • " - those above that age who. attend school class homes. My mother Perviz (Dubash) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Th^ratio of one and I have always striven to continue the tradition. ” The admission is Rs 800 plus * 5 I'- 36 Parsiana December 1994 <? ¦ Casa Montessori founder Dinoo Dubash tuition fees of Rs 350 per month. “This is very reasonable compared to other schools teacher to approximately 10-12 students ensures attention, ” Nazneen explains. “Montessori, ” according to Nazneen, I “is a system of education that seeks to I develop natural interests and activities among children as opposed to the use of formal teaching methods .” Speaking for her school, she said, “Our aim is to give I children the same sense of security and I affection they experience in their own I homes and help them develop and grow I physically, mentally, socially and emo- I tionally . Children are encouraged to learn I through play activities, music, toys and I special instruments that stimulate their I senses and develop motor abilities. ” I Children are also taken for outings once I a week (except during the monsoons) to I nearby parks for picnics and nature ob- I servation and to the zoo, aquarium and I museum. I How can one qualify as a Montessori I teacher in Bombay, we wondered? “Love I for children is the prime requirement, ” ¦ Nazneen responded with conviction. ¦ According to her, there is only one insti- " tution — Association Montessori Internationale — at the Shri Jain Mahila Samaj (near the Marine Drive flyover) which offers courses in Montessori train ­ ing. The institution is run by Ms Zarin Malva who was earlier a teacher at Casa Montessori. Nazneen feels that a numbe* ’ of establishments in Bombay, masquerading as Montessories are “nothing but money ­ making rackets. ” They are, at best, “daycare that every child gets individual Admission is strictly on a first-come, first- served basis, albeit with preference to sib ­ lings and children of ex-students. A few seats are also reserved for those who come to Bombay from other cities as a result of centers. ” Are the teachers at Casa Montessori “qualified, ” we ask? “Well, we train them here, ” Nazneen replied. “I was myself working for an airline and my only qualifi ­ cation was love for children. It was my aunt who trained me, as she did dozens of other Montessori teachers. ” The minimum age for admission is two years and children spend between 18-24 months on an average at the Montessori. They are divided into two groups, those under three-and-a-half years of age who attend school from 9 to 11.30 a.m., andSays Ms Niloufer Tarapore who has been teaching at Casa Montessori for the past eight years, “If you love children, everything else follows naturally. ” Ms Kamala Sitlani who had trained under the late Dinoo Dubash and has spent 25 years teaching at Casa Montessori says, “The demands on children are increasing day by day. It was less stressful when I joined the school. Today, when these chil ­ dren join regular primary schools, they are expected to know a number of things and the competition for gaining admission in good schools is stiff. ” Sitlani also remem ­ bers die time when the Cathedral and John Connon High School not only gave pre ­ ference to children coming from Casa Montessori but admitted them in a higher class. Of course, all this has changed. We asked Sitlani how she felt about her work. “We are one huge family and a very happy family at that, ” she responded with a twinkle in her eye. The school does not receive any grant from the government or donations from other sources. It supports it­ self entirely from the fees it receives from students. Dur ­ ing the Diamond Jubilee Year, the school received a new coat of paint and exten ­ sive repairs were carried out, giving the 60-year-old insti ­ tution a whole new look. Citibank also donated a new color TV and a video cassette recorder. IW There are no plans in particular for the future, but the school will continue to keep pace with the demands of modem educa ­ tion. “We have to lay a strong foundation and ensure that the first step a child takes is the right step, ” says Nazneen. The school has been under Parsi management for the past 60 years, but the outlook has always been secular. Half the number of teachers are Parsis, and Parsi students number around 20. As we were being taken around the school —all of four, bright, airy, spacious It; tasa iontessori Ji t ti I K $ r.'* , 1^ J in I h, 'Tv Left: Children presenting an item for the school’s diamond jubilee program Above: Staff members with Nazeen Dubash (second from left in the front row) who provide children the necessary affection and security and colorful rooms with an assortment of charts, posters, toys and games and the patter of little feet — a beaming parent, Ms Achala Somani, walked in with a huge chocolate cake and refreshments . It was her son Siddharth ’s third birthday. We took the opportunity to ask Somani a few questions about the school. “What I like most about the school, ” she said, “is their practical approach. There is no undue stress on the child and he automatically learns to be ­ come responsible by observing others. ” As we were talking, it was time for the 10.30 a.m. break. Pointing to the children putting away their little plastic chairs in a comer, Nazneen said, “See how we teach them to become responsible. ” We were urged to join Siddharth ’s birthday party and we succumbed. When we stepped outside Oceana, the world appeared plastic and colorless by comparison. We immediately realized why all the teachers we had interviewed had said they loved their work. Anyone who loves children would! CHAVDA RETROSPECTIVE A retrospective of the late artist Shiavax Chavda is to be held at the Jehangir Art Gallery, February 2 -- 9,1994. Tlmings:11 a.m. -- 7 p.m. MATRIMONIAL Parsi parents of a 27-year-old, 5’3" tall, USA working MBA girl invite correspondence from good family and educated boys or parents. The boy must be working and settled in USA or Canada. The girl will be visiting Bombay shortly. Please apply with full details to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/77-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL A suitable match required for a Parsi boy from an affluent family, 28 years, 5’9”, graduate, managing a well-established family business. Girls should be willing to settle in Durban. South Africa. Apply with bio data and photo (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/78-94)‘ GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here.is the Best Youth Award, announced Gandhi. FOZYA was requested to draw up guidelines for the executive council to consider on the following day. “a corpus for financing various social ser­ vice projects such as the navjotes, the THE FEDERATION AS FUND-RAISER brought up-to-date. Guzder cited an derprivileged students. ” A literacy project continued from page 24 example where the couple applied for “each one teach one ” has also been under ­ housing in 1978 when their joint income taken. Two dinner and dance functions was Rs 2,500 per month. When their netted Rs 1,75,000 which has been put as name came up for nomination their income had crossed Rs 7,500 and they were therefore not entitled to the flat, cleaning of agiaries, taking the old people “This does not make sense. ” out for picnics and outings. And lastly we Taleyarkhan complimented the BPP for have started a blood donation drive, ” she organizing the Holiday Programme for said. Youth every year. “It’s an excellent pro ­ gram which is organized under the leader ­ ship of Mr (Rustom) Anklesaria, Diana noted that after working on the main project Marfatia and Binaifer Bharucha. ” He sug ­ gested future programs should include a While reporting on the activities of FOZYA, its president Porus Karanjawalla to support Parsiana, the next task was preparing a directory of professional Parsi entrepreneurs. “We have already cyclostyled a format as far as Ahmedabad is concerned ” and have already collected a sizeable number of entries. Forms have also been circulated to other anjumans. Anjuman news Adil Byramji from the Kanpur Parsi Anjuman noted their 64-year-old agiary is in search of a priest. The present mobed is unwell and had to be sent to Bombay ’s Tata Memorial Hospital for treatment. It was suggested that if a priest could not be found the Delhi Anjuman could perhaps session on preserving the environment, assist when required. Delhi Anjuman trustee Dadi Mistry said, “We would be very happy to do that. ” Representatives of devotion to the community and not for from the Vesu Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman Sam Mehta and H. S. Mehta made an appeal for funds towards the maintenance trustee Minoo Shroff said the Punchayet trian Youth Seminar held at Dahanu, and repair of the agiary. The priest also has should consider revising the salaries so as Karanjawalla noted that two-thirds of the been complaining about leakages and short not to do an injustice to the workers. circuits, they noted. “We will be very Bharucha noted that the holiday camps, grateful if people will do something and which started out as a source of vocational save this 105-year-old fire. As regards the BPP, Guzder said that about all round development of the youth... the merit rating scheme, established in initially social service meant singing at old by FOZYA. Around 300 youths from the early 80s to govern the allotment of people ’s homes. But now, in addition, housing, now requires to be revised and navjotes have been performed of six un- Anklesaria spoke of the dedication of the two women and noted that they worked out the monetary returns which were less than the market wages for social workers. BPP Referring to the Seventh All India Zoroas- trustee Minoo Shroff said the Punchayet surplus “was given to FOZYA... The Dahanu Youth have set a very good prece ­ dent. ” Interaction between cities which counseling, have been expanded to “bring are close by should be encouraged, said Karanjawalla. “This idea was originated navjotes have been performed of six Baroda, Navsari, Surat, Bilimora met in Ahmedabad and we are happy to note that ¦n Best Wishes From RUSY & PURVIZ SHROFF 40 Parsiana December 1994Bodhanwalla in a short span around two marriages are on the cards and one or two more are likely. ” Hoshi Charna, financial controller of Damania Airways, who had attended the Federation meeting along with Meherwan Ghai and Ms Yasmin Charna in connection with the hosting of the youth conference, mooted the idea of a guidance cell for young entrepreneurs. “I have come across several people who want to start factories, industries, etc but have absolutely no idea as to whom to approach... I suggest we form a body of professionals who can guide people as to where lands are avail ­ able, machinery can be purchased, etc. ” Rustom Anklesaria noted that BPP trustee Dr (Ms) Mehroo Bengalee was going through the list of Zotarians to try to clas ­ sify them into different categories and the youth may in future approach them for information in their field of interest. Guzder also reiterated his plan for a seed capital venture company. Homi Bodhanwalla from the Jamshedpur Parsi Association who hap ­ pens to be the national president of a non ­ governmental organization dealing with blood transfusion and immunohematol ­ ogy spoke about the dangers involved in obtaining blood. While nine million bottles of blood are required in a year in India, only 1.8 million bottles are obtained from the 1,032 licensed blood banks. “Where do the remaining 7.2 million blood bottles come from? ” he asked. “From professional blood donors: those who take drugs, those who take liquor, those who have got AIDS, those who have got HIV, those who have got syphilis and those who have got hepa ­ titis. Not even 30 percent of the blood given in Bombay is safe blood. A similar position exists in Calcutta... There are only two blood banks in the whole of India which have got 1(X) percent tested blood. One is in Jamshedpur and the other in Rajkot. ” Bodhanwalla recommended people opt for autologous transfusion: “Suppose a person is to be operated (in) one year and it is not an emergency. You tell the blood bank to take your own blood. So you have your own blood given to you when the operation is performed. This is a 'new technique which we are following and it is now coming in vogue all over India. ” DPA secretary and Federation ’s coopted member from the North Zone, Farokh Rustomji told the gathering that should the Federation or individual anjumans plan a mass insurance coverage scheme for the community, they should wait for a few months because the “National Insurance Act is going to be amended and the MATRIMONIAL Parsi parents of only son, 27 years, good-looking, 5'9’/2" tall, living in an ownership flat. Civil Engineer (B.E.) with an MBA, working in a reputed company and drawing a handsome salary invite correspondence from pleasant looking, good-natured, fairly tall, well-educated Parsi girls. Write with recent photographs (horoscope must later on) to; The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/79-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 'Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Parsi boy. United States Green Card holder, 34 years old, well-settled computer professional, seeks matrimony with beautiful, educated Parsi girl. Please apply with recent photograph and personal background. Boy is expected in Bombay in mid February 1995. Write to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/81-94)' GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 'Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL A visually-handicapped Zoroaslrian graduate of upper middle class cultured family, 29 years, 5‘7”, computer programmer, music lover (plays piano) invites matrimonial alliance from girls of similar background. Physically- handicapped may also apply to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/84-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 'Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Always remember Parsi boy, 33 years, height 5’2”, doing business in Computer Peripherals and Multiple Electronic systems, non-mangalic, well-settled, invites correspondence from well-groomed, intelligent, Parsi girls. Write with recent photograph to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/86-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 'Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Affluent and professional parents seek matrimony for their only Parsi daughter, professionally qualified in UK, age 33, 5’1", practising in Bombay, home loving and domestically well trained willing to settle anywhere abroad. Parents of Parsi boys - tall, between 30 and 38 years, settled either in profession or in business -- enjoying equal affluence and status may write to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/80-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 'Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Parsi youth, 34 years, 5’5”, working in a Dubai-based company, well-settled and earning a five-figure salary, seeks matrimony with slim, respectable, home loving, domestically well-trained Parsi girl. Girl should be willing to settle in Dubai. Apply with details and photographs (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/82-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 'Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Bombay-based parents of a 22-year-old girl, BE, invite correspondence from good-looking, good-natured, highly qualified professionals up to 27 years, well-settled preferably in the United States. Write giving complete particulars and recent photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Dec/85-94)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 'Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. TATA BATA KHAMBATTA Ketayun & Bomi 22/A, WellingtonTerrace Wellington Street Bombay400002. Tel No. 2069636. 41 Parsiana December 19942! 3 ¦p ro flj Ss hl a to 2 2S ™ l-S •11'® I S t 3 Si fZ *" ¦ p 01 <s £ <5 I « CToO ¦" iS ¦ 111 gKS ® 9 = ss? -II dl o ¦ ii! 5 iS § ¦ ¦£ £ ‘S’ I I =31 s LU D. ' o" 0) O S -C S V U 0) ¦D ** I l-l ; saiiK BBSB Isfaii i'''S 'i:,- 42 Parsiana December 1994 5 5 11 f I id vd i 1 I I IQ 3 T*!'' - - privatization of the insurance companies is going to come about with the result that there will be a drastic cut in the premium rates and an improvement in the terms offered. Taleyarkhan informed the delegates that a program to plant trees to minimize soil erosion at Udvada would be under ­ taken shortly. “The plants are ready, the saplings are ready, the technical people have already gone there twice or thrice. ” ( He also emphasized the need to construct a wall along the beach, reinforced with cement tetrapods, “like we have at Marine Drive in Bombay. ” Taleyarkhan said that the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Gujarat had also expressed interest in the scheme. About two crore rupees will have to be raised. As Udvada is declared a tourist pilgrim centre, it will be possible to derive funds from the Government for its preservation, he said. He requested mem ­ bers of the Federation to assist in fund- raising, specially for the engineering project. Those attending the Federation meeting were; Hoshang and Daulat Debara from Agra; Areez P. Khambatta and Porus Karanjawalla from Ahmedabad; Meherwan Ghai from Ahmednagar; Mr Daruwalla from Badnera-Amravati; Pervez Mehta from Bardoli; Dinshaw Dastur, Sarosh Ginwalla and Ms Piloo Ginwalla from Bharuch; Jal Irani from Bhavnagar; Jamshed Guzder, Jamsheed Kanga, Minoo Shroff, Dr (Ms) Mehroo Bengalee, Ms Silloo Kavarana, Rustom Anklesaria, Ms Gool Tata, Ms Sheroo Master, Aspi Crawford, Ms Binaifer Bharucha and Peshotan Nargolwala from Bombay; Ms Banoogoshasp Irani from Dahanu; Dadi Mistry, Farokh Rustomji, Keki Gandhi, Noshir Captain, Homi Gandhi and D. Cap ­ tain from Delhi; E. Dumasia from Dumas; Shahrukh Edibam from Indore; Aspi Irani and Pervez Irani from the Iranian Zoroas ­ trian Anjuman; Homi Bodhanwalla from Jamshedpur; Ronny Dick, Ms Dinaz Bhagat, Ms Dimple Bhagat and Ms G. Dick from Jhansi ; Adil Byramji and Pervez Avari from Kanpur; Nariman Mogrelia from Madras; BehramMasani fromMhow; Dara Deboo from Navsari; Minoo Davierwalla from Poona; Dinshaw Patel from Saronda; Dr Sam Bhacca from Surat; Sam Mehta and H. S. Mehta from Vesu and Homi Mehta from Zai Bordi. The special invitees were Homi Taleyarkhan, Bejon Dittia, Hosi Charna and Ms Yasmin Chama. The press was represented by Parsiana. With best wishes from Farah & TanyaBOOKS More than a Parsi connection Burjor K. Karanjia Indian-English Fiction 1980-90: An Assessment edited by Nilufer E. Bharucha and Vilas Sarang. Published in 1994 by B. R. Publishing Corporation, A-6, ‘Nimri’ Community Centre, Ashok Vihar, Phase-IV, Delhi 110052. Pp: xii + 242. Price: Rs 200. designed to cause, with apanache amount ­ ing to genius, is to do The Satanic Verses no service at all. ” Rai finds it fitting, at the same time anachronistic, that “the twisted cross of Hitler ’s Aryan fantasy should be a resonant Hindu symbol of purity — and one that signals intolerance to India ’s nu ­ merous minorities. ” One of the bitterest aspects of “the richly ironic destiny of Rushdie ’s book, ” according to Rai, is the __ ___ ______ ________ fact that it has brought suchjoy to racists, thetic Indian culture. Similarly, Rama- symbolized by the death-chanting mobs of Teheran and Bradford. Deploring the fact that in the whole Rushdie-Khomeini im ­ broglio, the book ’s ironies and poignancies have been missed wholesale, and its entire resonance and complexity lost, Rai con ­ cludes, “The isolation of Ayatollah Ms Usha Tambe refers to the urban and Khomeini ’ s most famous prisoner-at-large foreign influences in Ms Kamala Mar- kandaya ’s first novel Nectar in a Sieve, which result in contrived pictures of rural trapped — as in a bitter Bunuel fantasy. ” In an anthology of many highs, Rai ’s conscience-twisting and truly inspired ap- fers, not the least of which are its critical insights which are in sharp contrast to those by foreign critics of the same writers — insights from inside-out, as it were, instead of from outside-in. Thus, E. V. Ramakrishnan points out how Ms Anita Desai ’s In Custody, though quite success ­ ful in evoking the insecure environment in which minority cultures operate, misses the subtle overtones of a regional culture overwhelmed by the state-sponsored syn- Two difficulties face the reviewer of In­ dian English Fiction 1980-90: An Assess­ ment. One is that he may not have read each of the 60 novels by as many as 18 authors covered in the anthology, so he can hardly in fairness comment on the assess ­ ment of their work. The second difficulty krishnan feels that in Shashi Tharoor ’ s The is in this anthology ’s approach to the as ­ sessment. Claiming to reflect “the confi ­ dent new-found individual voice of the Indian-English writer, ” the anthology com ­ prises a series of essays, presumably lec ­ tures delivered at a seminar organized by the Bombay University. These essays or lectures are thought ­ provoking but by their very nature tend to be highly diverse, providing no underlying India. Ms Anjana Desai, reviewing continuity, no centrality of approach, mak ­ ing it difficult for the anthology to be reviewed as a whole. Again, no conclusion is reached or even attempted by the editors, prison hospital, and Tehmul ’ s fruitless and so that one wonders how far this anthology unnecessary repetitiousness. Ms Ranjita Not the banned work but, for a change, setting off in so many directions will fulfill Basu deplores, in Amitav V. Ghosh ’s The its avowed aim to provide “a sense of Circle of Reason, the deficiencies arising direction to the critical appraisal of fiction out ofimmaturity of vision and an uncertain produced in this period. ” The most it will do will be to raise more questions than provide answers. Although the coverage is fairly compre ­ hensive, there are some notable omissions novels assessed in this anthology it is glish medium education would put the ofsignificantworks which may not belong Salman Rushdie ’s The Satanic Verses that community in the vanguard of English to this period, but which have a bearing on Indian-English fiction as a whole, like • Ahmed Ali ’ s bitter-sweet Twilight in Delhi, Khushwant Singh ’s agonising Train to Pakistan, and a few others. Finally, there are any number of typographical and proof- indication of the high value that the KGB reading errors which, tolerated as a pub ­ lishing hazard in India, are inexcusable in what is obviously intended as a textbook. Having made these preliminary com ­ ments, this reviewer would like to ac ­ knowledge the many riches this book of- Great Indian Novel, the parallels between mythological and real life figures become tiresome and disappointing as they fail to reinterpret the events being depicted, and violate the logic of narrative. is matched by the bizarre and seemingly permanent carnival in which his book is Rohinton Mistry ’s Such A Long Journey, points out the false notes in the description praisal (frighteningly entitled ‘Black Skin, of Gustad ’s meeting with Jimmy in the Black Masks ’) ofa gravely misjudged and maligned work is the highest point of all. those who impose such bans are put on trial, exposed without being stoned or re ­ viled. Of special interest to Parsiana readers is the chapter on ‘The Parsi Voice In Recent Indian-English Fiction. ’ It was to control over form. Perhaps the greatness of a book is to be judged by the passionate reaction it arouses in its reviewer and readers. Of the many be expected that Parsi acceptance "Of En- novels assessed in this anthology it is blazingly passes this test by fire at the hands of its critic, Alok Rai. He recalls the remark by George Steiner that the vicious ­ ness with which the (pre-Gorbachov) So ­ viet state persecuted its writers was an creative writing in India. Ms Nilufer Bharucha traces this writing to its origin, the poet Behram Malbari ’s The Indian Muse in English Garb, which was pub ­ lished way back in 1877. Some years later Ms Cornelia Sorabji, who began as a teacher and went on to become a lawyer crusading for the cause of Indian women, published attached to literature. By the same token post-modern fiction must be highly re ­ garded by the Indian state which was the three volumes of short stories, Love and first to ban Rushdie ’s book. Life Behind the Purdah (1901), Sun Babies “To minimize or ignore, ” Rai adds, “the (1904) and Between the Twilights (1908), sheer ideological outrage that the book is apart from two autobiographical books. 43 Parsiana December 1994But it was in the novels written in the success which lies in his power to trans- 1980s thatthe identity ofParsis as a distinct mute the most ordinary, commonplace, ethno-religious minority was highlighted, everyday experiences into enduring artis- The threat of extinction owing to its dwin ­ dling numbers may have been, according to Bharucha, one of the causes that led to this identity being somewhat stridently having cast off its colonial baggage. In ­ asserted. Thus Boman Desai ’s The Memory dian-English is at last acquiring the vigor and vitality to represent Indian reality. This is bound to resolve the concerns of tic value and form. The objective of this anthology, not stated in so many words, is to assert that Whence came the name? Dr Peshotan Peer of Elephants (1988), concerns itself most directly with the question of this identity, focussing as it does, through the device of mutual intelligibility between Indian- a memo-scan, on all four of its elements — F _ religion, ethnicity, history and conscious- time has come to appreciate L. M. ness of its elite status. Khubchandani ’s suggestion in the Names are, according to the Collins Gem How the understanding and acceptance anthology ’ s penultimate essay that Indian- Dictionary of First Names a ‘by-product of - ¦ ¦ • • • • ' ’ human activity as important to the hopeful parent and the inquiring child as to the philologist or historian. ’ The authors of the book under review appear to agree with this sentiment, for they have taken great English and international English. So the time has come to appreciate L. M. Khubchandani ’s suggestion in the The Complete Book of Muslim and Parsi Names by Maneka Gandhi and Ozair Husain. Published in 1994 by Indus, 7/16, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002. Pp: xv + 522. Price: Rs 295. of one ’s own ethnicity makes possible English is coming to be regarded as more one ’s assimilation into the wider social and Indian than foreign, in spite of its genea- national context, is clearly seen in the logical remoteness from other Indian lan- developmentoffictionbyMsBapsySidhwa g^^ges. [in The Crow Eaters (191^), more than her later novels] and in Mistry ’s books. Tales , , . From Firozsha Baag (1977), and Such A incident recounted by Ms Rani Dharker in This review cannot conclude more ap ­ propriately than by referring to a personal pains over their compilation of Muslim . names. The book contains not only names of Long Journey (1990). This assimilation connection with her opinion that Ms Bharati into a wider social context is again present 1* " J ' _ in the writings ofFarrukhDhondy (Poona are written with an eye to the Western Company, 1980) and Firdaus Kanga ’s Trying to Grow (1990). Bharucha is con ­ cerned more with this assertion of ethnic , identity than with any probe into literary evaluation of the same writer on whom she names had been prepared, if only for the sake of convenience. Every creature and inanimate thing in the universe is known by its name. But especially when naming a child one re ­ members one ’s ancestors with reverence. And names such .as Jamshed and Khorshed or Jamsheed and Khorsheed (the former are Pahlavi, the latter Persian) come to mind. Ardeshir and Hormazd, and the fe ­ male names Shirin and Zarin, Meher and Mahru, Roshan and Golshan are also evoked Mukherjee ’s novels, particularly Jasmine, persons, as might appear from its title, but also of a large number of cities, birds, flowers, fruits, trees, plants, herbs, etc. It would have been more appropriate and reader rather than to an inner truth: A Faustian sell-out? Incidentally, this opin ­ ion is quite contrary to Ms Manju Sampat ’ s useful if separate lists of Muslim and Parsi heaps encomi ­ um for having come to terms with her new ethos and beco ­ ming one with the American milieu. But to revert to Dharker. A story by her was rejected by an — here I am concentrating more on Parsi American jo ­ urnal. A friend from America celebrated poet of Iran, referred to his Having cast off its colonial baggage, Indian-English is at last acquiring the vigor to represent Indian reality than Muslim names. How gracefully has Firdaosi Toosi, the merit, but she rightly conclu ­ des that with these novels the Parsi connection in Indian-English fiction may be said to have truly arrived. The cover ­ age of Ms Sha ­ shi Deshpande as a feminist and a novelist (That Long Si­ lence, among others) makes entrancing read it and advised the author to change her ancestral names in his magnificent work, reading, particularly the delightful refer- style, forget her carefully wrought imagery, the Shah Namah'. ence to how she has worked out a perfect speak more directly, bring in alittle history balance between her contrasting roles as wife and mother, and as writer. In her own words quoted by Tambe: ‘‘After all writ ­ ing cannot be done all the time... At the end of the day, if I have not done any drawer of my table. Because though writ ­ writing I feel so depressed. Then I think at < ¦ " ” . ’ ‘ least I’ve cooked and fed the family for a write for themselves, because they have day. ” something to say, in a voice which is their Makarand R. Paranjape doesn ’t quite own? To me, Bharati Mukherjee has be- succeed in his essay on ‘The Chessmaster trayed herself as a writer because she has Ba giti be-maanad ze farzand naam Ke in pur-e Zal ast o in pur-e Sam (In the world one is recognized by one ’s progeny, that this is the son of Zal and this the son of Sam.) Available today is the latest booklet of ers do write for an audience, don ’t they Parsi names published by Parsiana, which is consulted by almost every Parsi family. Unfortunately, it is not complete. But the editors of the booklet have received the assistance of scholars like Dastur (Dr) and His Moves ’ in solving the mystery of substituted ‘desk ’ for ‘table ’ and ‘Kali ’ for Hormazdyar K. Mirza, among others, and whether Raja Rao is the most misunder ­ stood or the least understood of writers. On a more material plane, S. Kandaswami thismanuscript,lyingunpublishedinadrawer, analyzes the secret of R. K’ Narayan ’s an undying tribute to artistic integrity... — all this in a story about a badly treated wife! Dharker comments, “I did not take his advice. I prefer the story to stay in the ‘woman. ’” What would one not give to lay hands on therefore it may be deemed an authorita ­ tive publication. There is another book of Parsi names in Persian entitled Ganjineh-ye Naamha-ye 45 Parsiana December 1994Irani (Treasury of Iranian Names). Obvi ­ ously they are names of Iranian Zoroastri ­ ans, compiled by Meherban Goshtasb Pur- e Parsi and published in Tehran, Iran. It is a bulky tome wherein the author has intro ­ duced several A vesta and Pahlavi names, but this important book has not been intro ­ duced in the bibliography of the book under review. Orthographically, there is a difference between the Persian language as spoken in India and in Iran, the latter being its home. It is to be noted that in Iran, the vowel ‘zeer ’ is sounded as a short ‘ai ’ (as in pay), e.g. ‘gel, del, pesar ’ (mud, heart, boy) whereas in India the same words are pro ­ nounced with an ‘e ’ as ‘gil, dil,pisar, ’ with the same meanings. Similarly, an Indian would pronounce the vowel ‘peesh ’ as ‘u ’ when it should be ‘o ’ (as in soul). ‘Gol ’ is wrongly pronounced ‘gul, ’ ‘shoma ’ as ‘shuma, ’ ‘molla ’ as ‘mulla. ’ The authors of this book have adopted Indian pronuncia ­ tions in general. The Parsis of India would do well to remember that Zoroastrians in Iran offi ­ cially give a full name to a child, such as Rostam, Sohrab, Jamsheed, Faridoon, etc, and not Rusi, Soli, Jimmy and Fredie. Unfortunately, the present generation of Parsis is disregarding (perhaps uncon ­ sciously) the beautiful and inspired names of antiquity, a few of which I have men ­ tioned above. Such names bear clear mean ­ ings and venerate our glorious and noble ancestry. Parsi parents today give names to their progeny which were not even known half a century ago. They prefer to give such names as Ria (meaning hypocrisy) and Laila (night, darkness); others are Pinaz, Tinaz, Jasnaz, Jeroz (all meaningless); another one is Hanoz (meaning ‘ y et ’) which is not a noun, but an adverb. The correct term is most probably Anosh (immortal). Giving such strange names to a child is the fashion of the day for some Parsis, and one recalls a rather witty verse: ‘A name? — if the party had a voice. What mortal would be aBugg by choice. As a Hogg, a Grubb or a Chubb rejoice. Or any such nauseous blazon? Not to mention many a vulgar name. Which would make a doorplate blush for shame. If doorplates were not so brazen! ’ (K. Hood) Oddly enough, in this compilation Gandhi and Husain have included names of the devil or demons like Angra Mainyu, Ahriman, Akoman, Buidi, Iblis, Ifrit and even Jeh (harlot), without giving any ex ­ planation in the introduction. Other undesirable names like Afrasiyab, Dorasrun, Azi Dahaka (Zahhak) and Arjasp are also introduced, whose meanings per ­ haps may be good but they were the names of wrongdoers and also of some of the great enemies of the good Mazdayasni religion. For example, Arjasp, the king of Turan, was a bitter enemy of Zarathushtra, the great Prophet of Iran. And yet this name Arjasp is given to a Zoroastrian child igno ­ rantly, though it is very rare amongst Parsis. Strictly speaking, even feminine names derived from the term Pari, such as Parin, Parichehr, Parirokh, Parizad and the like should have no place in the list of Parsi names. The term Pari (Parik in Pahlavi, and Fri in Pazend) is a common noun in Mazdayasni scriptures and is an evil being. Its meaning is witch, sorceress, demoness, etc, but later it came to mean ‘fairy, ’ arising from other alien sources. On the whole the book may be recom ­ mended toParsis andMuslims as reference for impropriate proper names for a child, as they include several Avesta and Pahlavi names. The Parsi names here must have surely been compiled with the assistance of the learned Dastur Mirza whose name is quoted in the introduction. Hence they assume authority, for the Dastur has undoubtedly tried to render the correct meaning of each name. CONTRACT .IR.152.94 46 Parsiana December 1994! MILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides (as his last. The 2^oroastrian life expec- listed in this issue) ranged between tancy at birth in October, inBombay, 23 and 29 years, the arithmetic mean (the total number of indi­ vidual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 27 years. The corresponding figures for the grooms were 26 and 33 years, ave­ raging at 29 years. As compared to 86 Zoroastrians Rd, BycuUa, 400027; October 1 DaulM Mervansha Panthaki (78), 19, Doctor Bldg, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, was 77 years. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from Andheri (W), 400058; October 1 information supplied by- various Framroz Kaikhushru Bamboat newsletters and anjumans in India (79), 5/4, Rustom Baug, Victoria and abroad, courts and hospitals. Rd, Byculla, 400027; October 2 We are unable to carry data from Najamai Phirozesha Bangali _ areas where the anjumans do not who wereconsignedtotheTowersof furnish the particulars. This infor- Silence in October 1994 there were 19 babies bom in Bombay. From (86), 3, Baria Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400(X)7; October 2 Naja Jamshedji Bhacka (91), 29, ______ _ ______ ____ Sethna Bldg, Navroji Sheth St, among 27 patients who succumbed figures for Bombay are supplied Thakurdwar, 400002; October 2 .. .. — ,, , u—: 1.U—tias and above. Sixteen victims fell prey burban hospitals and private nur- to lung disease and pneumonia, and : _ old age and general debility claimed individuals send us information six lives. Wiile cancer took five lives and tuberculosis, four, three deaths each were attributed to ulcer, anemia,kidneyfailure,diabetes,liver disease and septicemia. Nervous dis- mation is not always complete or consistent. For example, the birth toheartdisease, 15wereSOyearsold by four hospitals; births Homi Jehangir Chhapgar (79), E-21/B, Bomanji Dhanjibhai singhomes arenotincludedunless Patel Bldg, Sakarwadi, Nawab Tank Rd, Mazgaon, 400010; October 2 Coomi Faramroz Konkrawalla (76), 224, Gustad Mans, Tardco, 400007; October 2 Perin Rusi Colabawalla (64), B, Rustom Palace, Tardeo, 400007; October 3 Dossabhoy Hormusji Sidhva (15), Hendre Mans, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; October 3 together with a copy of the birth certificate. There may be an inad­ vertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil mar­ riage precedes a religious ceremo- order and hypertension were the ny. In the breakup of deaths accord- other killers to which two patients each succumbed. There were six isolated cases registered in October: asthma, cerebral malaria, haernate- mesis(vomittingofblood),paralysis, „ . brain disease and hernia. In the c.ise lished, some proof to ensure the 11, Irani Bldg, 286/C, Supan of one death, the coroner’s report veracity of the report would be Baug Rd, Parel, 400012; was still pending. TTie age range required. We are sure our readers October 4 fluctuated between 39years and 102 would appreciate this requirement Merwan Pestonji Kanga (84), years. A centenarian also breathed and cooperate with us. Temple Ter, Forjett St, 400036, •-------------------------------------——-----------------—---------------------------------------- October 5 Kaikhushroo Jamshedji Patrawala (80), 7/4, B. S. Panthaki Baug, Andheri (E), 400069; October 5 Piroja Ardeshir Mavalwalla (81), Narialwala Bldg, Station Rd, Mahim (W), 400016; October 6 Khorshed Rohinton Cassinath (67), 26/C, Napean Sea Rd, 400026; October 7 Veera Adi Chhoga (68), X-109/15, Godrej Clny, Pirojsha Ngr, Vikhroli (E), 400079; October 7 Khorshed Framroze Kapadia (84), A/22, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; October 7 Kobad Framroze Limbuwalla (63), 701/C, Diago, Rizvi Complex, Bandra (W), 400050; October 8 Mani Dali Ghadiali (60), Victoria Bar Bldg, Subhash Chowk, Murbad Rd, Kalyan, 421301; October 9 Dara Ratanji Kerawala (80), Metro Bldg, Opp Metro Cinema, 400002; October 9 Dinbai Darebsha Khambatta (88), 111, Umbergaon Bldg, Dr ing to illnesses, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases. If readers have any births/mar- riages/deaths they would like pub- Alamai Beheramji Shroff (102), lished, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers BOMBAY Born A girl to Yasmin and Adil Comnussariat on October 1,1994 A boy to Faribah and Kuresh Demehri', October 1 A girl to Yasmin and Percy Malod', October 2 A girl to Mahrukh and Dara Saher; October 5 A boy to Amy and Urvaksh Nariman', October 6 A boy to Zenobia and Farokh Unwala', October 8 A boy to Behnaz and Firdos Irani', October 10 A boy to Meher and Kurush Dastoor, October 11 A boy to Shiraz and Freddy ' Talati', October 11 A girl to Yasmin and Jehangir Mogrelia', October 13 A boy to Sunnu and Kersi Patei, October 13 A boy, Zai, to Navaz and Jehangir Daruvala, brother to Yazad and Sara; October 15 A boy, Arrazaan, to Doulat and Firdause Jila', October 19 A girl to Behnaz and Danesh Nejadkay, October 24 A boy to Kamal and Marazban Doctor, October 27 A boy to Nina and Carl Sethna', October 27 A boy to Anahita and Behram Bakhf, October 28 A boy to Pervin and Zubin Dalal', October 28 A boy to Sharon and Sohrab Dhondy, October 31 Married Per sis Minoo Pastakia and Dick Dali Jasoomoney, October 8 Armaity Merwan Bastani and Behruz Rustom Sasani', October 9 Mahjabeen Homi Bookbinder and Jehangir Phiroz Wadia; October 11 Sherin Noshir Davierwala and Kersi Jal Vandrewalla', October 14 Died Nadir Ratanji Umrigar (16), residing at 56, Prem Sadan, Sion (E), 400022; September 30 Freny Shavak Engineer (92), 12/10, Rustom Baug, Victoria Ambedkar Rd, Pare!, 400012; October 9 Bomanshaw Hiraji Parabia (77), 14th Badar Manzil, B alaram St, Mehla Patel Agiary Lane, 400007; October 9 Homai Jamshed Contractor (73), Pauwalla Bldg, 40, New Chami Rd, 4(XX)04; October 10 Dhunjishaw Cawasji Mistry (78), 40/A, Hoshang Baug, Vakola Masjid, Santacruz (E), 400055; October 10 Soonamai Rustomji Daruwalla (83), C/22, Jer Baug, Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; October 11 Dinsha Framji Desai (100), U/1-1, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; October 11 Amy Jehangir Mis try (81), 601, Sai Roshan Apts, 4th Carter Rd, Borivali (E), 400066; October 11 Eruch (Eric) Dinshaw Paymaster (78), Batliwalla Bldg, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; October 11 Rati Mane her show Daruwalla (82), Presswalla Bldg, 190/A, Lamington Rd, 400007; October 12 Piroja Meherban Kadkhodai (85), B, Shirin Mans, Above Tardeo Post Office, Tardeo, 400007; October 12 Kaikhushroo Hormusjee Mithaiwalla (71), 'il9, Patel Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; October 12 Manek Bomanshaw Mody (90), R/4, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; October 12 Jamshed Jehangir (Jehangirji) Motiwala (90), B, Mota Mans, Opp Bhatia Hosp, Tardeo Rd, 400007; October 12 Homi Jehangirji Singpurwalla (44), Moghul Hse, 22, Banaji St, Fort, 400001; October 12 Dhun Darabshah Dordi (76), 3, Kashihath Bldg, Kashinath Clny, Tardco, 400034; October 13 Jeejeebhoy Byramji Fitter (89), 781, Readymoney Blocks, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; October 13 Homai Jehangir Patel (78), 215/V, New Master Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; October 13 Framroze Sorabji Patell (91), 15, Maison Belvedere, 107, Queens Rd, 400020; October 13 Tehmina Minocher Rivetna (90), 681/A, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; October 13 47 Parsiana December 1994400007; October 21 So/i Framroze Dadyburjor (68), 801, Coover Villa, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; October 21, Goolbai Dinshaw Mistry (13), S/1, Dalal Est, Lamington Rd, 400008; October 21 Piroja Dhunjishaw Billimoria (89), E/15, Nowroz Bang, Rohinton Phirozshaw Billimoria (39), 1/9, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 40(X)27; October 14 Kaikhushroo Noshirwan Lilaoowala (85), Mody Mans, 49, Mereweather Rd, 400039; October 14 Hormasji Jamshedji Chothia (15), Saher Bldg, 51/D, B. Desai Rd, 400026; October 15 , Hormasji Meherwanji Bharucha Lalbaug, 400012; October 22 (TT). 1. Gandhi Mans, Wadia St, Ardeshir Naoroji Desai (81), 1, Master Chmbs, Next to Metro Cinema, Dhobitalao, 400020; October 23 Tehmina Jamshedji Katrak (84), 3, Fairy Manor, R. Sidhwa Marg, Fort, 400001; October 23 Bakhtiar Behram Irani (63), 1/C, Billimoria Hse, Proctor St, Grant Rd, 400007; October 24 Kaikhushroo Jijibhai Khambata (92), Rajab Mhl, 144, M. Karve Rd, 400020; October 24 Jer Pestonji Kharas (82), A/19, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400(X)4; October 24 Dinbai Farrukh Coyajee (80), Dunkeld, 8, J. Mehta Rd, 400(X)6; October 25 Banoo Sheriar Irani (95), A/302, Fhishpak, Rawalpada, Dahisar (E), 400068; October 25 Rustom Dhanjishaw Taraporewala (70), 20, Malcolm (77), 7, Gandhi Mans, Wadia St, Tardeo Rd, 400034; October 16 Phiroze Fakirji Bharucha (72), Foothpath, Near Parsi Doongerwadi, Kemps Comer, 400036; October 16 Ratan Rustomji Elavia (71), 10, Pitha St, Above Hotel Delux, Fort, 400001; October 16 Noshir Khodabanda Irani (69), 14, Irani Dharamshala, Pandita Ramabai Rd, 400007; October 16 Homi Gustadji Sagar (70), 18-1/A, Tata Co-op Hsg Soc, Parel, 400012; October 16 Eduijee Ratanjee Daruwala (86), 8/1, Tata Clny, C. J. Clny, Sir Ratan Tata Rd, Tardeo, 400034; October 17 Aban (Alice) Nadirshaw Khudaiji (11), E/1. Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; October 17 Jaloo Keki Vakil (69), 19, Mount Unique, 62/A, Peddar Rd, 400026; October 17 Ratanshaw Nawroji Antia (91), 35(2), F. D. Petit Sanatorium, Cumballa Hill, 400036; October 18 Shirinbai Phiroze Bhiwandiwala (85), 3, Malbari Bldg, New Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; October 18 Soli Dhunjishaw Daruwala (72), Captain Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Chikalwadi, Tardeo, 400007; October 18 Rusi Jehangirji Mistry (80), B, The Reward, Tardeo Rd, 400007; October 19 Nadirshaw Pirojshaw Siganporia (69), B/26, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; October 19 Erach Pirojshaw Chichgar (14), C/11, Godrej Baug, Off Napean Sea Rd, 400026; October 20 Cooverji Tirandaz Irani (60), 233, Chirag Bldg, Mahatar Pakhadi Rd, Mazgaon, 400010; October 20 Rustom Behramjee Batliwalla (94), A, Shirin Mans, Tardeo Rd, A 48 Parsiana December 1994 BORN Boys Girls MARRIED Parsi Intercommunal DIED CONSIGNED Males Females CREMATED Males Females Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; October 25 Yezdi Shavaksha Major (58), Mehta Bldg, M. Pasta Rd, Dadar, 400014; October 26 Nariman Merwanji Subedar (75), 85, Sneh Sadan, Opp Colaba Post Office, 400005; October 26 Ratanshaw Dadabhai Chavda (82), 9, Hongkongwala Chawl, 9th Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; October 27 Goolcher Dinshah Katrak (87), 4/D, Rashmi, Carmichael Rd, 400026; October 27 Jehangir Manekshaw Panday (92), Crasto Villa, Nandklal Naka, Virar (W), Dist Thane, 401303; October 27 Pheroze Ratanshaw Wankadia (56), 14/13, Panthaki Baug, Andheri (E), 400069; October 27 Rati Pirojshaw Billimoria (73), 2nd Kashinath Bldg, 11/1, Kashinath Rd, Tardeo, 400034; October 28 Sheru Faramji Mistry (82), Karaka Bldg, Gilder Lane, 400008; October 28 Jalan Edulji Panthaki (91), D, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; October 28 Rustom Kakobad Anklesaria (80), A/103, Osia Classic, Matarpada, Amboli Village, Andheri (W), 400058; October 29 Alamai Framroze Postwala (IQ), 16/i, Ratan Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; October 29 Dinshaw Rustomji Vazir (70), Meherbai Wadia Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; October 29 Eruch Framroze Desai (63), F. S. Panikh Dharamshalla, 34, Hughes Rd, 400007; October 30 Rustom Jehangir Patel (63), CDl, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; October 30 Tehmina Cooversha Sukeshwalla (91), 25, Mehalla Patel Agiary St, Grant Rd, 400007; October 30 Mehera Bomanshaw Taraporewala (88), Jaifal Ter, Forjett St, Tardeo, 400036; October 30 Bhikaji Limji Jijind (95), 3, Lily Court, 1st PasU Lane, Colaba, 400005; October 31 Dhun Framroz Minocherhomji (IQ), 139, Minoo Lodge, Tardeo Rd, 400034; October 31 CALCUTTA Married Abaan Madan and Subeer Verma; October 2 Bombay 14 5 4 49 38 TOTALS FOR 1994 B A India B A World B 103 83 194 52* 417 411 11 7 6 5 1 2 23 21 1 1 5 5 9 3 1 9 4 56 78 2 4 34* 29* A: Total numbers in this issue B; Running totals for 1994 (February-March 1994-December 1994 issues) * Males married out - 28 Females married out - 24 • Overseas deaths are listed in the consigned column as Parsiana does not have a breakup of those cremated. These figures pertain to information provided to or collected by Parsiana. They do not represent the total _______ In tkA 7/\rrkaetri2in nnmmiinitV in IndlS aDu abrOaCl. inese iiaures penain lo wiioriiicuiun wi v/w..ww.w^-- . number of births, marriages and deaths in the Zoroastrian community in India and abroad.KANPUR Married Kamal Behli Rustomjee of Calcutta and Jamshed Sam Mehta; October 9 POONA Died Khorshed Cawas Pandole (88), 160, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, 411001; October 3 Burjor Bapuji Joshi (75), 9, Bhori Chawl, Khandala, Dist Pune, 410301; October 6 Soonamai Eruchshaw Bharucha 4, Dr Coyaji Rd, Camp, 411001; October 15 Silloo Maneck Vachha (71), 214, Boat Club Rd, 411001; October 16 Naval Minocher Dodhi (76), 616/A, Sachapir St, 411001; October 21 SURAT Died Roda Adalji Golwala (fiy), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; October 4 Naval Pirozshaw Palaneoat Nariman Home and infirmary. Shahpore, 395lX)3; October 4 Boman Faramji Mistry (68), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; October 9 Rus hi Hiraji Parbiya (56), Village Rani-Amba, Dist Songadh, 394365; October 21 Ratanbai Nasarwanji Void (85), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; October 30 CANADA Edmonton Born A girl, Natasha, to Pooran and Mherwan Aga; August 6 PAKISTAN Karachi Died Khorshedbanoo H os hang N. E. Dinshaw (104); August 17 Piroshaw Sheiar Kavasji (81); August 21 Homai Burjo Irani (60); August 23 Ratanbai Shapurji Dalal (85); August 27 RoashanNusserwanji Mistry September 17 Dali Bomanji Purveyor (84); September 17 USA Antioch, California Born A girl, Temi, to Zenobia and Adi Lal, sister to Rayhan and Julie; September 1 Phiroze Jamshed Sethna; August 2S Golden, Colorado Married Brandy Marie Haidfold and Tampa, Florida Born A boy, Sarosh, to Anahita and Hoshedar Tamboli, brother to Cyrus; July 18 Compiled by Roxana A. Driver CHO COPHILE For the chocoldte addict in you. Fine lic^ueur chocolates Call 3643414, 3646120 With Best Compliments From LEACH & WLBORNY When in Bombay Contact 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 49 Parsiana December 1994IN MEMORIAM Research is tonic Burjor K. Karanjia your grandmother. Can you tell us some- the Parsi Punchayet before he died? How thing about her, what she was like, how she influenced you? A: As he was a widower and as was the wont A: We were brought up by our maternal Dr Burjorji Pirojsha Godrej ’s own words, Q: Why did Ardeshir give his business to in an interview he granted me a few months before his death on August 9,1994 at the did Pirojsha acquire it back? ageof79, convey more meaningfully than / a routine tribute would, the motivation of among Zoroastrians, he bequeathed the soap grandmother, Virbaiji. My mother (Soona ­ his life and work, his genius as a bai) died at the age of 29 in scientist and research scholar, and Mussoorie when I was 11 days his rare distinction as a human be- , less than five years old. Shirinbai was my father ’s sister. Virbaiji Given below are a few of my was like a mother to us for about questions and his answers, pub- seven years. Then when we had lished for the first time. gone during our school holidays to Karachi, another calamity oc- curred. My mother ’s brother, Manek, who was a well-known HU cricketer, like my maternal ¦' ‘ grandfather, lost his life in a fcraabi motor cycle accident while trying to save the life of an in- S sane man. Both my mother Bp and Uncle Manek were violin- ists. Virbaiji was a very good housekeeper and excelled in ^^H cooking. All of us missed her terribly (when she decided to HHI stay on in Karachi. Thereafter BfflBSM the children were looked after by Shirinbai who was their paternal aunt.) 1 Q: What are your earliest memo ­ ries of uncle Ardeshir? What do you recollect apart from the advice he gave you when you were leav ­ ing for Germany to learn some ­ thing that nobody else in India knew? A: The earliest memory of my re ­ vered uncle was that he left early in the morning every day and returned at dinner time. He kept samples of soaps in his room containing dif ­ ferent perfumes. The perfume formulae were his own. The weight of Godrej No 1 soap was 4 oz; my father used to give me half a cake at a time factory to the Parsi Punchayet. A little later, after cutting it into two parts. The No 1 soap my father bought it back from the Punchayet had a fine rose perfume which I believe by paying three and a half lakhs of rupees. Q: Any memories of your school-days, contained rose otto (English for attar), sup- apart from your interest in mechanics and plied largely by Bulgaria. Bulgaria was <2: In what specific ways did Pirojsha influ- your constructing a differential gear with ” ” “ the help of your meccano set? ¦ A: At St Xavier ’s High School we knew A: While in Germany I was doing business little about the facts of life. It may be better like buying second-hand machines with now. One Jesuit priest used to come daily fitness certificates for Godrej and Boyce and say the same old thing; “God created this world and God created Himself. ” It price was common. One indoctrinated girl would be wiser to say that creation is a told me that Germans hated such Jewish mystery. Unfortunately, in our days the . I school did not guide us properly. originally Turkish, but later the Turks ence you when you first started with Godrej mixed with Slavs. Many Turkish tribes Soaps? lived in ancient Iran; therefore many words are common to the two languages. The Persians did influence the Turks. My uncle was well-versed in Persian Company. In those days, negotiating the and Omar Khayyam was his favorite poet. Omar Khayyam was also a mathematician ofthe stature of Pascal. Ardeshir had a high practices. Perhaps she mistook me for a opinion of Germany and the Germans, per- Jew. At that time, I was also getting ac- haps because Germany was known in those quainted with soap manufacturing by read- _ days as the fatherland of technology. Henry ing German books on the subject. My father courtship and marriage. Would you like to Ford says in his book. Today and Tomor­ row that before the First World War, Ger ­ many was much more advanced in metal ­ lurgy than America. Q'. You must have happy memories of your had made it clear to me that I would have to say something about them? To what quality look after the soap factory. in you and your wife would you attribute the success of your marriage? Q: You were brought up mainly by A: That was a happy period. It is good that 50 Parsiana December 1994Nazis, there would have been no World personal point of view? War IL Every time (three times) I have been included in “The First Five Hundred Inter- Q-. You have stated that you prospered national Award ” of the International Bio ­ I married Jai at the age of 26.1 couldn ’ t have earlier as I studied for six years in Germany . I call myself a pucca Indo-German, as I obtained all my three degrees, bachelor ’s, vx. ----- ------------- i master ’ sand doctor ’sat the Tech Univer- mainly because of your research and that graphical Centre, Cambridge, England, sity of Berlin For your information, (the research is tonic for you. Could you please Because of the limited number, this is a famous philosopher) Werner von Braun elaborate on this? very high award. The other award of the also studied there. A: Because of my successful research, first American Biographical Institute: Thein- Colgate-Palmolive wooed us, then Procter ternational Cultural Diploma of Honor ” I and Gamble and lastly Hindustan Lever prize very highly. _ ” ¦ - , Recently I rejected “The One in a Mil- motto was: Only the best is good enough lion Award, ” because inclusion in “The reckon their contribution to the Godrej for me. And that brings prosperity if the enterprise? How is the work divided bet ­ ween them? A; I am proud of my sons. Their contribu ­ tion to the Godrej enterprise is consider ­ able. They are both autonomous. elaborate on this? A: Because of my successful research, first g: You must be proud of your sons Adi and Nadir, the way they have carried on and Limited (HLL). When I did research, my expanded the business. How would you i researcher is capable. First Five Hundred International ” is more exalted. Q: You pioneered the deglycerination of Q-. You have led a rich and full life. Any soap-making oils, the process of making unfulfilled tasks? Any regrets? soaps from fatty acids; you proved that A: My diet as an infant, child and young alpha olefins are the ideal raw material for the detergent industry and invented a pro ­ differ from your father ’s relationship cess to make alpha olefins from natural fatty acids. What particular research are you engaged in at the present moment? Q-. How does your relationship with your sons ( with you? A: Unfortunately for me, my father was hardly communicative. Both my wife and A: At present, I must consolidate every- I took the best possible care of our sons. But my father certainly had many virtues. It was he who acquired the Ghatkopar- Vikhroli Godrej estate. man was unfortunately devoid of milk... My father was not at all communicative and did not acquaint me with the facts of life, so I had to learn everything the hard way. I think the world would be much better off with my Art of Living thing and reap the harvest by selling movement (though not a formal move- my products and processes all over the ~ world. Q: You graduated with mechanical, not chemical engineering. Why was this? A: Because I was earmarked for Godrej greater endeavor? and Boyce Company. Ardeshir was A: I was never overawed by HLL. Their ment Burjorji believed that an individual ’s full potential can be realized when the faculties of his mind and body are deve- Q: Would you like to say something about loped), and I am trying to do something the unequal competition with Hindustan Lever? Did it spur Godrej Soaps on to about that. Q: What are your future plans? A: My future plan is to sell a process I’ve born in 1868 (and my granddaughter greater volume was of great advantage to developed all over the world and collect Tanya in 1968) and he died at the age of 68 in 1936. I left for Europe in Octo ­ ber 1933. In 1936, it was made clear to me that I would be in charge of the soap factory. My training happened to be ad ­ equate for that. them. Once when oil prices rose, their then royalties. The engineering will be entrusted chairman, Cecil Petit, cut soap prices to to my partner Lurgi, of Frankfurt. The kill competition. I had come to know at that process is the Godrej-Lurgi process of time that Petit was to be replaced by Mr A. detergent manufacture. J. C. Hoskyns-Abrahall. I spoke to the latter by telephone, and he restored the status quo ante and asked me whether I was Q-. The curator who took special care of satisfied. Needless to say, I thanked him. you was later attacked by Dr Goebbels as a Jew. He filed a suit against Goebbels and won. What lesson would you draw from this? A: My curator did not look like a typical A: I owe my success to the perfectionism I German and was of a very independent imbibed from the Germans. Also, to my outlook. Some of the professors became members of the Nazi party but he did not. He survived because he was eminent. My professor of physics was a Jew, Gustav Hertz. Later he got the Nobel Prize in physics. Dr Goebbels must have called my and Gamble? curator a Jew to try and make him a mem- ’ “ ber of the Nazi party. That was the Nazi way of doing things. But he was very independent and a very fine person. Per ­ haps you do not know that Hitler had suffered a shell shock during World War I and might have been insane. If France had invaded the Rhineland and expelled the Q: You stated once that the cornerstone of your philosophy is deep knowledge, for what is a risk to others is no risk to the man who has deep knowledge. What advice would you give the younger generation? Q-. To what other factors would you ex ­ plain the outstanding success of Godrej A: I would advise the younger generation Soaps? not to be misled by lobbies, when it is obvious that the latter are mistaken. All over the world, the ground water is pol- motto: Only the best is good enough for luted with LABS (Linear Alkyl Benzene me. Sulphonate). Australia, Europe, and Canada are keen to support our AOS (Alpha Olefin Q: Would you like to say something about Sulphonate) made from vegetable oil. the proposed collaboration with Procter A: The proposed partnership with Procter and Gamble is 50:50 in our mutual interest, a sure formula for success. Q: You have received many honors in your lifetime, the latest being “The Most Ad ­ mired Man of the Decade. ” Which of these honors has been most rewarding from your sons Adi and Nadir. With his characteristic graciousness, Burjorji ended the interview with a per ­ sonal tribute which I value highly: “I must congratulate you on your excellent ques ­ tionnaire. A man is known by the questions he asks. I am very happy that you are giving me this opportunity. ” Burjorji is survived by his wife Jai and 51 Parsiana December 1994Backbone of boxing Homi Rogers further strengthened by Roberts ’ disclo ­ sure that Adajania had even mortgaged his family business to bring the World Cup Championship to Bombay in 1990, and to ensure its success. It was in this spirit of providing India In the stillness of the night of July 17,1994, Adajania, who by the ’80s had judged 48 with yet another glorious opportunity to Capt Aspy Darabsha Adajania, life presi- international championships and was ap- establish its place in the boxing world that dent of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federa- pointed to the jury at the ’84 Los Angeles Adajania had proceeded to Hungary. As an tion (lABF) and the prime force behind Olympics, proceeded to address himself to executivecommitteememberoftheAsso- promoting and popularizing boxing in the this lacuna. ciation Internationale de Boxe Amateur subcontinent, passed away in his sleep in a His untiring efforts bore fruit, with In- (AIBA), he was to bid for India to host the hotel room in Budapest, Hungary. He was Capt Aspy Darabsha Adajania, life presi- international championships and was ap- His untiring efforts bore fruit, with In- _ . dian boxers picking up medals and honors Super Nations Cup, a seven-nations tour- 52. in world competitions. The sport was also nament that AIBA is yet prepared to allo- Adajania Imd succumbed to a major recognized by the Indian government, and cate to Bombay ifit is convinced by MAB A friends could have imagined him vulner ­ able to cardiac failure as he had suffered no illnesses nor indulged in any vices. His sudden death could be caused by overwork, according to Alan Roberts, a member of the » ’ Maharashtra Amateur Boxing Association (MABA).“Astrictdisciplinarian,Adajania " ’ could not discipline himself, ” states Rob- erts while eulogizing the Association ’s late ?-¦' president and paying tribute to Adajania ’s / tireless devotion to a sport he had loved and nurtured through more than four decades. Son of Darabsha, a toddy-tapper from Adajan turned petrol dealer in Bombay, Aspy ’s love for boxing dates back to his school-days at the Cathedral and John Connon. He trained in Bombay, “boxing more at club level than in school, ” under the guidance of Khurshed P. Kuka. But it was in the army, which Adajania joined in De- _ _______ cember 1962 after graduating from the his protegd, Mukund Killekar, earlier this known for his integrity, his reticence to get National Defence Academy, that he found year. embroiled in unneccessary controversies, his true bearings in the sport. Commis- “ ................ ‘ sioned to the 59 Gurkha Rifles (whose men and officers he kept in touch with right up youngsters, he always had time and re- to his death), Adajania was appointed to train the battalion in boxing at the Officers ’ Training School in Madras. Recalls Maj like Eruch DeVitre, Jimmy Nagarvala, and Phatak who had joined the army at the same time as Adajania, “Aspy had a real love for a referee and judge at five successive His sudden death has shown, as Sher Ali and interest in boxing. ” His influence was Olympic games, a feat Adajania could not Reza, a MAB A official and national referee infectious. The battalion boys loved him repeat due to his untimely death. Adajania put it, that “he lived for the cause of boxing .. , , . . .... . . .. and died for the cause of boxing. ” “Indian Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics. boxing, ” Roberts proclaims, “will never Percy Khatau and Sammy Irani, great die as long as Aspy ’s memory lives. ” A nament that AIBA is yet prepared to allo- h^ attack. Few among his family and the Padma Shri was confeired on Adajania that the country has a selfless and efficient organizer. “The future of boxing in India without Adajania is dark, ” to quote Brig Devine Jones, former general secretary of the lABF, bereft of the integrity and administrative skills of Adajania. Jones had been amongst the first to note Adajania ’s love for the game and its development when he met him at the 1970 Bangkok Games which Adajania had attended “at his own cost ” to learn about boxing. Whatdistinguished Adajaniafrom other ? sports officials and administrators was his compassion, vision and organizational ca ­ pabilities. The AIBA secretary-general Karl Heinz Wehr, in a message condoling Ada ­ jania ’s demise said: “It is inconceivable for us to have lost a person with whom we have in 1992. The country ’s highest sporting been bound by many ideas we wanted to honor, the Arjuna Award was awarded to realize in common. ” Adajania was also ST S'x i r SMS’ 1 i U Z s 1 ; ’ \ \ t f < * 7 1 V . 11 J I' ) Though Adajania worked unceasingly and his ability to generate instant action for to initiate the love of boxing amongst even the most difficult of tasks. Sadly, for a man who had always fought against red-tapism, the return of his lifeless sources to spare for veteran boxers, occa ­ sionally recalling the earlier Parsi greats body from Hungary was delayed by bu- ¦ 1 reaucracy, and the paidust took place in his guru, K. P. Kuka, who had officiated as Bombay a full week after his demise. a referee and judge at five successive and at Adajania ’s behest Phatak recently remained, though, on the jury of the 1988 took over as president of the Bombay Dis ­ trict Amateur Boxing Association. Adajania ’s boxing career far outlasted Bombay and India boxers of yesteryears fitting tribute to keep Adajania ’s memory his spell in the army which he left prema- would frequent his petrol pump at Chami alive would be, as suggested by Phatak, to turely to look after the family ’s petrol busi- Road every other day, seeking help, have a memorial tournament named after ness. But the years in service (among the key posts he held was ADC to Gen Monty Palit), and his subsequent work as a rfeferee, for assistance, ” states John Crasto, a close judge and member of the jury of interna ­ tional boxing tournaments, made him real ­ ize that it would only be through the train ­ ing of civilian teams that the country could lence meeting held on July 30, 1994. “He boxer, who has won the Western India become a force in international boxing, was a giver, ” observes Crasto, a statement junior championships. “Whether rich or poor, young or old, media him , “to remember him by, especially his men or the PR gang, they all came to Aspy efficiency. ” Adajania is survived by his parents Darabsha and Meherbai, by his brother Zarir, sister Roshan, wife Persis, daughter friend and senior journalist, recalling Adajania ’s contribution to boxing when spewing at the MABA-organized condo- Zia, and by his son Homi, also a trained 52 Parsiana December 1994