Oct 1996

I EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi SENIOR EDITORS Dina K. Mehta, Hilla P. Guzder ASSOCIATE EDITOR Roxana A. Driver DESIGN Kranti M. Shilotri, Jayshree R. Ghosh MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Niloufer Panthaky, Susan Hadvaid FINANCE B. L. Arora EDP Rohinton E. Daroga MANAGEMENT Jasmine Driver DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, K. P. Ravi SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Khurshid Panthaki ASSISTANT SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Swarupa Kamat ASSISTANT PURCHASE MANAGER Bindu Pillai ACCOUNTANT Anagha Korde SENIOR ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT Chetan Halani October 1996 Volume 19 Number 3 2 Readers’ Forum 6 Events and Personalities 16 Zoroastrians Abroad 20 Sir Pherozeshah Mehta: When the lion roared by Arnavaz Mama 34 The gift of compassion by Hilla Guzder 38 A difference of approach by Khusro Rustamji 40 “Beeseeching the Lady” by Dr Borzoo Nadjmi 42 The Pars! Punchayet Case -- 4 48 Vistasp Balsara: Melody Maker by A. Patel I I 50 Books 53 Milestones 56 In Memoriam ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT Indu Pillai, Satwant Kaur OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav Cover: Portrait of Sir Pherozeshah Mehta by N. Writer, circa 1908, courtesy Elphinstone College Photograph: Varghese FerTiandez 1 ) Parsiana is published by Jehangir R. Patel for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd at C/o H. L. Rochat, K. K. (Navsari) Chambers, ground floor, 39 A. K. Nayak Marg, Fort, Bombay 400001 and printed by him at Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. Color processing. Comart Lithographers: black and white processing, Samir Scantech. All rights reserved. ISSN: 0971-3786. Phone; 2078730, 2072624. Fax: 2074541. For editorial enquiries phone: 2078183. E-mail: parvo@giasbm01 .vsni.net.in. 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Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favor of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001. j j i IREADERS' FORUM «« larrsriSJaMJSJA .1 to whom she had already been married posed to put almost insuperable restric- under French law, was hotly debated by tions upon conversion, he wrote a separate the Parsi community, the conservative and minute to the effect that when the sacred orthodox members of which stoutly op ­ posed the admissibility of such conver ­ sions to their faith. Cama entered the lists, regardless of praise or blame, and pinned that so far from making the conditions of his faith to the Avesta, of which he was conversion restrictive, they should on the admittedly the ablest lay exponent. Rely- contrary be made as little onerous as pos ­ ing on the teaching of the ancient scrip ­ tures, he boldly proclaimed that if any person from a sincere conviction of the Parsi Reform, Mr Edwardes states: truth of the Zoroastrian religion desired to be converted to that faith, there was no good ground for refusing to admit such a generaleducationaladvancementofWest- one, whether man or woman, to the fold. In ’ ' * ' ” delivering this message from the Parsi sacred lore, Cama was actually doing vio ­ lence to his own personal views; for in his and ancient lore perrrfits of receiving aliens into the Zoroastrian fold, it is a sin to place unnecessary obstacles in their way, and sible. ” In the chapter on Iranian Research And “Valuable as was the part which Kharshedji Rustamji Cama played in the ern India and in the sphere of Freema ­ sonry, these activities were subordinate to the one overmastering purpose of his life, namely, the reform of the Zoroastrian reli- opinion it was far better for a man to cling gion and the religious education of the to the religion in which he was born and Parsis. It was the successful prosecution of imbibe its highest teaching, than to enrol this great object which gained for Cama himself, perhaps for material or worldly the unique position which he held in his reasons, under the banner of another faith, own community»during the later years of “Moreover he was opposed on general his life; it was his passionate endpavour to grounds to marriages between Zarthoshtis uplift his co-religionists to a higher religious and those of another creed, believing that and social plane which eatned him the such marriages are productive of religious unquestioning veneration of the multitude. ” and social incompatibilities, and might, if ’ " widely practised, exercise a detrimental of this excellent — detached — Memoir. effect upon the matrimonial prospects of Capt hormazdiar j . m. desai Parsi girls. Despite these views, however, Jt Hon Sec. The K. R. CamaOriental Institute K. R. Cama took his stand upon the Avesta; , and when in due course a sub-committee, 3 I113I1 111 3 hurry The role K. R. C3m3 pl3yed appointed to investigate the question, pro- While agreeing with Mr JehangirR. Bisney 1923 saw the publication of the book ' Kharshedji Rustamji Cama, 1831-1909 — A Memoir written by Mr S. M. Edwardes. The former Indian Civil Service officer dedicated it “to His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, who during the period of his stay in India was acquainted with Mr K. R. Cama and realized the value of his services to that country and to the cause of Freemasonry. ” The follow ­ ing extracts are interesting; “In 1903 he played a prominent part in a controversy which centred round the fundamental question whether the religion of Zarathushtra permits the conversion to Zoroastrianism of persons born in, and belonging to, other faiths. The matter, which arose through the conversion of a Christian lady on the occasion of her mar ­ riage according to Zoroastrian rites to a Parsi merchant of position and influence. i ket! Nevertheless Master, who recalls how Deepanjali (the newsletter of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman) used to keep the commu ­ nity in Delhi abreast of happenings, feels the need to communicate regularly and is determined to continue with her efforts. * Six scholars Four of the six Parsi students chosen as J. N. Tata Scholars for the year 1996-97 are females, in pursuit of higher qualifications in fields as diverse as fine art photography, international relations, education and mu­ sic with economics. ITie two males will be pursuing courses in metallurgy and inter ­ national affairs, according to a press re ­ lease from the J. N. Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians, giving a brief profile on each of the six students. After a year ’s work experience in the USA, Zubin Jamshed Irani will be joining the Massachusetts Institute of Technol ­ ogy, Cambridge, for a master ’s degree in metallurgy. Irani completed his BTech in materials science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, securing the first rank in the department, and making one of his professors opine that he “is the most outstanding student the department has A section of Godrej Baug 1'‘I t o PARVEZ’xATRAK EflUNi,' not : ¦ ¦ J r A - ¦ 3* HccccccccO ¦Wr' At the fifth anniversary function of the Parvez Katrak. Foundation when five social workers from the community were felicitated and a dinner treat organized for the students of the Dadar Athoman Madressa: (from left) Ms Mithoo Jesia, Jal Amaria, Ervad Rustom Panthaky, chief guest Rustom Tirandaz, Parvez Katrak, Firoze Sholapurwala and Ms Sheroo Bilimoria performed by a cast of actors, only, one voice told one story — aided and abetted by technical devices thought up by Padamsee to enhance the telling. What happens when a story is read out to you? Do you miss your intimacy with the printed word, or does the tale grow taller in the telling? Does the raconteur (it could be grandma or the village sutradhar) illumine for you the author ’s domain, or does she/he impose her/his own compul ­ sions or arbitrary conceits on the story, and thus on the captive child or audience? These are some of the questions that intrigued Padamsee in this experiment with narrative techniques. Working closely with Mehta, he allowed the protagonist ’s voice (in each story) to dictate his style of pre ­ sentation. The voice in Absolution is that of a participant; in Eyewitness, that of an observer-participant; in The Other Woman it’s that of a commentator who views with a sardonic eye the marital traumas (in a witty reversal of roles) of an exemplary husband. The raconteurs on stage were Ms Sabira Merchant, Gerson da Cunha and Aadya Bedi. After the performance the audience was invited to participate in a discussion with the director, author and actors, on what had been shown. Were (he innovative had in the past several years. ” His extra ­ curricular activities include trekking, glid ­ ing, horse riding, swimming, dramatics, cializing in when studying for her BA cricket, and tennis, the game where he degree at the West Virginia Wesleyan captained his college team when in his College. She was among the youngest in technological devices employed by final year of studies. India to have completed the LTCL Padamsee to highlight the tales necessary? Jamshed Mehli Poncha has proceeded performer ’s diploma (voice) and grade Did they work, or did they merely clutter to the Columbia University for a master ’s eight (piano) course when yet a teenager, degree in international affairs. After his She has won awards in national piano graduation in chemistry from the Bombay contests and given performances as a so- University, Poncha completed his master prano soloist, of management studies from Podar Col ­ lege, securing the first rank and “The Best tography for which she has a “natural Stuttgart Hall. It was an interesting evening Student Award. ” On completion of his talent, ” Ms Tushna Shroff has secured studies Poncha will resume his work at admission at the Rochester Institute of Mehta: author vs raconteur Tata Sons Limited where he was employed Technology. A commerce graduate from as manager-planning development (inter- the Bombay University, Shroff later joined national). the Sophia Polytechnic for a diploma in The London School of Economics had commercial art since she evinced keen admitted Ms Meherangiz Acharia who interest in photography, typography, graph- wished to do her BSc in international rela- ics and calligraphy. She will now qualify tions. However, inability to raise adequate for a bachelor ’s degree in fine arts. funds has compelled Acharia to postpone her plans by a year. She is a graduate in Story telling techniques political science from St Xavier ’s College, Bombay. For her master ’s in education, Ms Navaz Cooper has gone to the Boston University. She will be specializing in policy, plan ­ ning and administration. After her double The Little Theatre at the NCPA complex graduation in arts and education from the in Bombay. It was the first time that an Bombay University, Cooper had been attempt was made to maintain the integrity working as a secondary school teacher and of the short story as an art form, and instead plans to return to India to continue with her teaching career. Music and economics are the subjects Ms Scherezade K. Panthaki will be spe- To gain further training in fine art pho- up Mehta ’s elegantly crafted tales? What were the actors ’ problems? Was the author satisfied with the end results? The second performance in Bombay was held at the Max Mueller Bhavan ’s « ¦>4' A . 12 Parsiana October 1996 * It was in September 1996 that director Alyque Padamsee presented three short stories from Dina Mehta ’s latest book, Miss Menon Did Not Believe in Magic (Rupa 1994), as a unique theater event at of turning the tales into little stage plays complete with dialogues and action to be ’¦ Ih?- kInvestment in Property: Pune is the best city Booking of apartments, duplex flats, and bungalows now opened in Palm Groves Apartments, a luxury complex only two to three km from the Race Course and Camp, in green and quiet surroundings. Amenities include a club house, swimming pool, children’s play ground, lifts with stand-by gen-set, a security with stand-1 car-wash, arrangement, etc, all at very competitive rates. Take advantage of the initial concession booking rates, before further increases. No brokerage charged by us in this scheme, instead collect a gift from us on booking. Many attractive new schemes are coming up in and around Pune within about 15 km radius, at rates ranging from Rs 850 to over Rs 5,000 per sq ft (built-up area). Modern commercial complexes are also available with shops and offices. For particulars write to: byg and Minoo Bhathena BySel Estate 302 Devika Apartment 2010 West Street Pune 411001 Tel: 650757 14 Parsiana October 1996 and both sides of the coin were reflected in ports should not be extended when death i the discussion that followed. The seasoned i ___ 2 _'J voices certainly heightened the drama of to withdraw life supports. Further, 41 the tales; but Mehta ’s often felicitous turns of phrase had to be compressed into the time frame of a single ‘reading. ’ For the ... ------ _ literary-minded, Ms Menon... deserves the Colabawalla who realizes that for the bill attention of the eye! So enthusiastic however has been the audience response to this unique theater ___________ ____ workshop that Padamsee is thinking of from members by goading them to put taking the ‘show ’ to Goa, Pune and Calcutta forth the objectives of the Society to out- this year. siders, contributing items to the newslet- Tk zk .XI T ter, offering comments on the functioning Death With dignity , ¦ - • _ j j _____ ® To die with dignity is to waltz off the whereby the Society may expand its stage without pain, without humiliating 1 ‘ ~ ~ _ sores, without being drenched in smelly Sassoon Building, 1st floor, 143 Mahatma secretions, without clutching to a labored Gandhi Road, Fort, Bombay 400023. New breath... ” writes Dr Nagraj Huilgol, editor members too were invited, their life mem- of the newsletter brought out by the Soci- I ' \ „ 7 ’ Z Z__ _____ ety for the Right to Die with Dignity. ‘‘At membership fee Rs 60 for three the very end of a life which in substantial part may have been spent in seeking the greatest possible degree of dignity for one ­ self, one slides paradoxically into the in- Doctor d(Hie tO death dignity of despair, the clutching after Seventy-four-year-old city gynecologist Dr same April issue of the newsletter. her flat in Bombay ’s Alta^ount Road on August 2,1996, according to a report in The Times of India the following day. She was strangled to death with a gas cylinder pipe by her former domestic employee mitted the crime. The crime and the criminal were de ­ tected almost immediately thanks to the efforts of Banaji ’s current domestic help, Mahesh Valmiki. When he reported for . -------------------------------- ------------------------- IS imminent but only 65 percent were willing .1 per ­ cent were in favor of honoring the living will while 31 percent had reservations. “We have to keep on trying, ” notes ____________ _______ 1 to become an act is a “long process. ” To spread the message of the Society the chairman invited active participation taking the ‘show ’ to Goa, Pune and Calcutta forth the objectives of the Society to of the Society and obtaining donations i ac ­ tivities. The Society ’s new address is Gandhi Road, Fort, Bombay 400023. New bership fee being Rs 500 and their regular ___i years, both of which were likely to be revised. straws, ” remarks Rohit Manchanda in the (Ms) Hilla Banaji was found murdered in same April issue of the newsletter. her flat in Bombay ’s Alta^ount Road area “We have to differentiate between ex ­ istence and living. When an individual is no longer able to contribute to his own physical, intellectual and spiritual well ­ being, sustaining such a state is a perver- Sunil Bitt who confessed to having com ­ sion of the concept of respect for life, ” ?*-" —=— argues Society chairman Dr B. N. Cola ­ bawalla. It is this “deep respect ” for life and death that has drawn over 300 members to the Society which in its nearly 15 years of existence has sought to justify voluntary work at Banaji ’s Cama Terrace^esidence euthanasia. Care has been taken to clarify at 7.30 in the morning he found the door- that adults of sound mind, who after careful bell unanswered. While waiting outside he consideration and without undue coercion was informed by Bitt’s accomplice that are convinced that the illness is irreversible Banaji was out of town on vacation so he and all medical treatment futile, should be need not report to work for the next few peimitted to give directives to terminate days. Valmiki ’s suspicions aroused, he their life. bolted the door from outside and alerted To this effect the Society is in the the watchmen downstairs who saw Bitt process of drafting a bill to legalize the slithering down the drain pipes, trying to “living will ” or “advance health direc- -------- tive, ” mentions Colabawalla. In his out ­ line of the draft, Colabawalla enunciates floor, he was nabbed and handed over to the role and responsibilities of the indi- the police who recovered Rs 7,(XX) from vidual and the attending physician so that his person, mentions The Times. The three the document is not abused by vested security guards who caught Bitt were re ­ interests. In his article Colabawalla shares portedly presented cash awards of Rs 1 ,(XX) the findings of a sample survey of 2(X) each by the police while Bitt was arrested doctors carried out by the Society in on charges of murder and robbery. Bombay. Seventy-four percent of the medicos believed that artificial life sup- at 7.30 in the morning he found the door- was informed by Bitt’s accomplice that escape. As soon as Bitt reached the ground Compiled by Parinaz Gandhi 4'Bii* ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD » » f < Celebrating ZSO’s silver The Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO) j kicked off its silver jubilee celebrations with a gala banquet at the Thornhill Com ­ munity Center on September 20, 1996, reports the FEZANA Journal (Winter IJ 1996). Garas and gowns, tuxedos and eve- fi ning suits were the order of the day as ZSO ¦ president Ms Moti Balsara welcomed the I gathering and announced a year-long pro- I gram “designed to inform ourselves, our * friends and neighbors of our glorious and ancient faith, our heritage and our culture. ” An exhibition at the Royal Ontario Mu­ seum, scholarly lectures and other enlight ­ ening events are on the cards. Mingling with the dignitaries who in ­ cluded government members and repre ­ sentatives of Queen Elizabeth II, the con ­ sul generals of India and Pakistan, an official from the Iranian embassy, were internationally acclaimed Zoroastrian nov ­ elist Rohinton Mistry and nuclear wizard Adi Dastoor (both specifically honored that day), FEZANA president Ms Dolly Zarolia, Dhun Bhaya, (seated) Minoo Dastoor, representatives of various North Treasurywala, Jehangir Karanjia, Moti American Zoroastrian associations and se- Balsara, Ho mi Homji, Yezdi Antia veral past presidents of the ZSO, informs (missing: Bomy Boyce and Minoo the write-up by FEZANA Journal pub- Khoorshed) lisher Ms Roshan Rivetna and Dr (Ms) Dhun Noria, chairperson of the ZSO ban ­ quet committee. The evening began with the playing of the Canadian national anthem followed celebration of who, what and where we are by the recitation of four verses from the 1 .... Gathas. The Iranian Zoroastrian Choir, tousby this wonderful country of Canada. ” success led to the detailed syllabus of the under the baton of Edward Hovsepian Short, skilfully phrased articles on Zo- Religion in Life Emblem for Boy Scouts choraled four songs for the assembled roastrianism and Zoroastrian achievements and Girl Guides of Canada, reportedly one guests. Hovsepian, the founder-conductor interspersed with quotes from the Gathas of ZSO’s success stories, of the 120-voice choir of the Armenian and the Old Testament provide a quick By 1975 the Ontario community was community in Ontario had earlier been the background to the uninitiated. Colorful actively pursuing the goal of a community concert master of the Symphony Orches- reproductions of Achaemenian and Sasa- center. A ZSO newsletter of 1977 report- tra of Tehran. The tar, a string instrument nian bas reliefs, a view of Persepolis and ing on the effort chanced to be read by and the tombak, a type of drum, revived vintage coins from the Achaemenian, Par- Iranian philanthropist Arbab Rustom Guiv the “Sounds Ancient Iran ” while a profes- thian and Sasanian empires add to the aes- who offered $ 500,000 for land and a sional sound and slide show titled “Journey thetic publication. structure to be named after his late nephew of the Sacred Fire ” highlighted the role of The germ of the ZSO was laid in 1965 Mehraban Guiv. In 1978 a suitable prop- .................. ..........___ -- --- ~ ’ erty was located and Guiv signed the pur- ^th littl*e*known facts and achievements, tly in the"news with his Zoroastrian flag) chase agreement but the community was ¦ '*«2?r****''' ____ ¦ ii II UK }. “inS A ‘i 11 '.i 1 lil •-u. All the ZSO presidents: (standing) Russi Balsara, Jamshed Mistry, Jamshed Mavalwala, Sam Vesuna, Kobad provided non-financial help with procur ­ ing employment, accommodation, etc. When the ZSO was registered in 1971 its three prioi^ties were to obtain govern ­ ment recognition of marriages performed by the mobeds (acquired a year later), or ­ ganize religious classes >nd perform jas- hans/ghambars and other religious cere ­ monies. Various halls in churches and at the University of Toronto were rented for * such ceremonies. By 1977 a structured curriculum had been developed and car pools organized to ferry children to reli- today, thanks to the opportunity provided gious classes in rented premises. Their to us by this wonderful country of Canada. ” ..................................................... Short, skilfully phrased articles on Zo- premier and the mayor of Ontario, the ma ­ yor of North York and D. Dastoor. In her welcoming letter Balsara writes, “This is a interspersed with quotes from the Gathas of ZSO’s success stories, and the Old Testament provide a quick T, " reproductions of Achaemenian and Sasa- nian has reliefs, a view of Persepolis and vintage coins from the Achaemenian, Par ­ thian and Sasanian empires add to the aes- J " The germ of the ZSO was laid in 1965 ^roastrianism in world'^history, replete byJehangirPaymaster(Medora — recen- The entertainment was interspersed with when he induced Canadian immigration upset that the deal had been struck without the reading of messages and greetings, a authorities to send a representative to Bom- its knowledge and consent and that the sumptuous dinner and a raffle draw (five bay to interview prospective immigrants property would be owned in trust by the - - - and several Parsis received their immigra- Rustom Guiv Foundation though operated tion visas, notes an article on the ZSO by by the ZSO. The dissension was bridged by Kawas Nanavutty in the FEZANA Journal an agreement that leased the property to (Summer 1996). A year later 16 individu- als started a service group called the Zoro ­ astrian Fraternity to assist new arrivals authorities to send a representative to Bom- its knowledge and consent and that the dollar tickets had Toronto Zoroastrians vying for a Pontiac Sunfire Sedan, a 32” TV and a Rotary Watch) as per the exquis ­ ite art paper brochure distributed on the occasion. Apart from the program and dinner menu, the 20-page publication con ­ tains messages from the Lt Governor, the ZSO for 999 years at an annual rent of one cent, documents Nanavutty. The project ran into further litigation with the local to settle into the Canadian lifestyle. They authorities but a landmark judgement in 16 Parsiana October 1996 kLORD’S CENTRAL HOTEL Matheran 410102 Enjoy the mountains, antics of the monkeys and our hospitality Matheran telephone number 021483-0228 Fax 021483-0595 Bombay telephone number 3867776 18 Parsiana October 1996 Mehraban Guiv Darbe Ntehr the University of Toronto “for the use of researchers in Canada and around the world. ” Items may be sent to the Chief ZSO’s favor enabled the association to orchestrate a gala inaugural on September Librarian, Victoria University, 73 Queen ’s Park Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1K7. According to the Toronto University 21, 1980. Since 1982 the Darbe Mehr has witnes ­ sed regular muktads, the fire in the big, po ­ lished afargan (got by Moti, Russi and Sa- protocol for endowed chairs, it wouldmatch bar Balsara through their connections with the N. M. Wadia Charities in Bombay, as community wi± a similar sum. The annual notes the ZSO newsletter of September yield from the* wo million dollar corpus ’96) being nursed unremittingly by mobeds would benefit the faculty, colfege or de- and community members living on the partment designated by t^e donor. The X, . . Journal quotes Prof Nigosian: “If Zoroas ­ trians in USA and Canada want to establish a one million dollar endowment by the premises through the five Gatha days. In 1983 over 500 Zarthustis attended mans in udA ana canaaa want to establish the 12-mobed jashan and installation of a chair in Zoroastrian Studies, then this is * the holy fire in the newly extended Atash the best opportunity to do so... ” If this Dadgah room, their non-Zoroastrian Zoroastrian dream materializes, it may be spouses witness to their fervor. After the one more feather in the cap of the Toronto jashan, the youngest novitiate had led the Zoroastrians. humbandagi, informs Nanavutty. The First North American Zoroastrian NavroZC in Geneva Congress was convened in Toronto in 1975. Since then the biennial congresses have become a North American institution with a FEZANA committee coordinating the conferences. One objective that has been get together, a buffet meal and the singing ¦ of an inter-religiou^ hymn at the World Health Organization ’s (WHO) restaurant in Geneva, informs Parsiana subscriber There were only two Zoroastrians among the 114 persons of diverse nationalities and faiths who celebrated the Shahen- shahi Navroze on August 22, 1996 with a voiced at the congresses has been the establishment of a chair for Zoroastrian studies in a reputed North American uni ­ versity. The Winter ’96 edition of the Furhok Tangree who is attached to the FEZANA Journal refers to a letter from United Nations Organization ’s (UNO) of- Prof S. A. Nigosian, religious historian fice in that city. The hymn, sung in French and faculty member at the University of by a special choir, is based on the Gathas Toronto ’s department of religion, noting (44:3-7) according to the English transla- that the University has now accepted the ‘ ' proposal of establishing a program in Zoroastrian studies that would include Tangree. library facilities. It is now seeking dona ­ tions of books and collections on Zoroas ­ trianism —manuscripts in Persian, Gujarati on the podium. Its delectable fra^ance or any European language; illuminated pervaded the hall and several persons jot ­ copies ; and books of artistic/aesthetic value ted down the name, presumably to obtain — for the Victoria University Library of some for their own homes, writes Tangree. tion he has sent to Parsiana. Several of those present joined in the singing, adds In the absence of an afargan, a silver bowl with simmering incense was placed IOrganized by the personnel and cul- more, estimates Framroze. Most are over Now Phiroze Naoroji, a leading lawyer at tural department of the UNO on request, ‘ ................ — . - the food, specially prepared for the occa ­ sion, was spiced their children to the UK or US to study and and other places, says Framroze. with ingredients they have made new lives in those coun- “ from Lyon and tries, they say. The few younger members Rabadi gave excellent service for years in much appreciated of the community now in Nairobi or Nairobi. After his death his behdin friend by people from Mombasa are 10-15 Indian expatriate pro- Minoo Byramji took over. He gave, and Sarajevo and Lat- fessionals or business employees — in- continues to give, service to the commu- via. A short talk eluding a qualified banker, actuary and nity, ” appreciated Framroze. on Zoroastrianism food technologist — and their families. delivered by a Among them is Aspi Gowadia, a resident Jokhi of Hong Kong was her kaka (father ’s professor from the engineer with Spirax Sarkeo, who is also a brother)] hails from Bhusaval in central University of Ge- qualified mobed and helps when he can, India. She and Meher had met through an neva ’sdepartment informs Framroze. advertisement, they recall. Farrokh ’s wife of international religions, was equally well received, writes inception of a multi-party political system Tangree. The audience included the British has created some friction but the economy consul general and his wife who, having has gained, says Framroze, referring to the his father and the latter had stated that he been posted in Tehran earlier, were de ­ lighted to partake of the celebrations. An ­ other welcome presence was that of Dr of the Asian community there, he adds. Heinrich Wanser whose wife is a practi- sing Zoroastrian, writes Tangree. Though there are a few Zoroastrians in Zurich, the two to three hour travel time deterred the invitees from making the trip, notes the write-up. Life in East Africa Nearly a KX) years ago the Adenwalla family established an agiary in Zanzibar in memory of a deceased daughter. The fire is now dead, the priests ’ quarters dilapidated and only two Zoroastrians remain in Zan ­ zibar today of the original 800 plus settle- Dinoo Framroze ment, informs Zanzibar-born Meher Framroze who now lives in Mombasa. “We are afraid that all the remaining ves ­ sels may be stolen (from the defunct mother ’s family had arrived on the Sultan ’s agiary), ” Framroze and his wife Dinoo ships earlier. Her father, Shapurji mentioned to Parsiana in the course of a Dhunjishaw Elavia, had been overseer in visit to Bombay in November ’96. Framroze the government ’s public works depart ­ ment. He had helped construct the tarmac on ms terms until someone arranged a roads of Zanzibar and had been awarded meetingwithPaurushaspMagolofKarachi Tangree at the UN I 50 years of age, many are over 60. Political the High Court of Kenya in Nairobi, takes uncertainty made most Zoroastrians send keen interest, ”visiting Mombasa, Zanzibar Until his demise in 1981 “Ervad Sorab Dinoo [n6e Jokhi — the late Shapurji After 30 years of one-party rule the Sheroo is also a Parsi. Tehmton however is married to an Englishwoman, Marian. Tehmton had spoken about Marian to conditions of life in Kenya. The increased would prefer a Zoroastrian girl which had trade has led to an appreciation in the value resulted in Tehmton .stalling his marriage. Finally, the old man despatched Meher and Dinoo to the UK to see Tehmton ’s had come to Africa from Igatpuri in 1926 girlfriend. “We found Marian so good, wc ¦ arranged for the engagement. Father sent a list of prayers for the wedding and the marriage was arranged according to Parsi rivaj (customs), ” J^eher and Dinoo recon ­ struct the sequence of events, concluding happily, “see how he ’s come up in life! ” Not so happy was their experience in Bombay in 1984 as they recounted it. Their father had been hospitalized at the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital for 84 days because his right leg was amputated. Thereafter he made better recovery at the Rehabilitation Centre at Worli. When it was all over, he was keen to donate one lakh rupees to be capitalized and its pro ­ ceeds distributed annually to the poor mo- beds of Udwada. However, neither the Bombay Parsi Punchayet nor any other agency was willing to accept the donation says he met Cowasjee Dinshaw, who now ment. He had helped construct the tarmac on his terms until someone arranged heads the Adenwalla family, but Dinshaw i " • • - ¦ - - -___ unable to provid^Framroze with the the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for who willingly accepted It in furtheranc7of .... . ... u ¦ ..... _ his Fund for Udwada Mobeds. Some Parsi traditions from India can put the community in an awkward spot, says Framroze, referring to the usual cus ­ tom of not allowing non-Parsis to view out of Zanzibar when he was about 20 the dead after sachkar. “Why can ’t other years old, but he remembers navjotes and friends pay respect to the dead? ” he asks. Their father, Framroze Ardeshir Patel, 1 1 * The Kenya connection: Meher and as a steno-clerk of the Legislative Council of Zanzibar, relates Framroze. Their was I requisite authority. “On whose authority his services to the country, narrates Fram- can we move them? ” puzzles Framroze. roze. It was due to him that many Parsis A retired electrical contractor, Meher migrated to Zanzibar and thence to other and his twin brother Farrokh (who is com- parts of East Africa like Kenya and Dar es mercial manager with East African Cables Salaam, he notes. Framroze himself moved in Nairobi) have continued their lives in East Africa. Their younger brother _____ __ Tehmton went to the UK to study and lagans (weddings) being celebrated with citing two cases in Mombasa not long ago remained there, entering local politics, pomp, religious classes being conducted, when embarrassed community members being appointed Mayor of Brighton in s ... 1994 (see “Finger on the pulse of the city,” provident fund being in existence. to help lift the bodies, there being no Parsi Parsiana, February-March 1996). Now the Zanzibarians in the UK cel- ; ' ” LL, __ _ ...___ There is a prayer hall and aramgah but ebrate an annual get-together at Silloo joiye (should happen), rationalism avvunj J-- -------.-----------„ L ... .................................... ...................... Zoroastrians continue to reside. In Nairobi, informs Framroze. At Mombasa, “Ms Kho- which also has an aramgah, reside about 60 rshed Patel used to organize get-togethers. roze. It was due to him that many Parsis remained there, entering local politics, pomp, religious classes being conducted, i an agiary maintenance fund and a mobed had to seek the help of non-Zoroaslrians provident fund being in existence. Now the Zanzibarians in the UK cel- youths available. “Modification thavunj no agiary in Mombasa where about 50 andKersi Jussavala ’s place in Wimbledon, joiye (should come), ” says Framrozc. Their father had shown the way. ______ Compiled by Amavaz S. Mama 19 Parsiana October 1996HISTORY COVER STORY > When the lion roared Bombay University explores Sir Pherozeshah Mehta ’s many contributions to national life Arnavaz S. Mama “I cannot get members appointed to the (Bombay) University, to pay tribute to one university rose in subsequent years... corporation by Government; I cannot get who had adorned the office of vice members elected to the Bench of Justices; I cannot get persons returned to the Stand ­ ing Committee; I cannot get mem- m —— bers elected presidents of this cor- poration; I can only indulge in — if I may be allowed to be a bit poetic — the feast of reason and the flow of soul... At one time in my younger days people used to play with my name and call me ‘ferocious Mehta, ’ but advanced in years and with my apostolic old age the ferocious character has fallen from me and I can frighten no one and cannot get votes from any other source but ‘reason, justice and right. ’” Sir Pherozeshah Merwanjee Mehta, a mature 70 by then, repu ­ diated the appendages to his name (the Lion of Bombay, the BCingmaker, etc) which a lifetime of relentless advocacy of all that he considered right, proper and necessary for the governance of the Indian people and his beloved city had earned him. “Whoever talks or writes about Sir Pherozeshah Mehta ’s contri ­ bution, refers to his greatness. I feel ‘great ’ is not an adequate word. (His was a) colossal, mag ­ nificent, gigantic contribution. He is a colossus striding across a page of our history. The stamp of his personality is on everything he touched. Gandhiji referred to him as the ‘Himalayan mountain ’ when he met him on returning from South Africa. Il is an honor for me, as Chancellor of this I f J "’"X. ii, Sir Pherozeshah, as he stands at Bori Bunder Photo couitesy Godrej Dotivala 20 Parsiana October 1996 “I consider Sir Pherozeshah Mehta as one who started the concept of national chancellor. In that short span, he laid the foundations of greatness to which this political leadership. Before him (there __ were) leaders in various places m and movements, but it was only |H from him that the concept of |H national political leadership emerged, ” noted Governor of Maharashtra, Dr P. C. Alexander, addressing the audience that xJl packed the University Convoca- tion Htll on February 24,1996 in ¦H continuing celebration of Mehta ’s 150th birth anniversary with a two-day national seminar on “The ¦ contribution of Sir Pherozeshah Mehta towards nation building and his relevance to our times. ” n The seminar was a part of the H year-long commemoration plan- m ned by Sir Pherozeshah Mehta |K 150th Birth Anniversary Celebra- m tions Committee chaired by Uni- versity vice chancellor Dr (Ms) PB Snehalata Deshmukh and orga- nized by the committee secretary H Dr (Ms) Nawaz Mody who is Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Professor of Civics ani Politics at Bombay j-'-s-l University. “It is a mistake to judge the »¦«* development of an individual by *..« the standards of the current pe ­ riod, ” Alexander continued, de- scribing the conditions of the late 19th century. Noting that the lib ­ eral ideals of John Stuart Mill, which influenced the Gladstone government so deeply in their policies at home, never perco ­ lated into their colonial adminis ­ tration, Alexander referred to the “demoralization in the upper classes and sense of fear in the lower classes... the sense of un- ¦ 'k I* 4’ * 1' ''' i L r I J ¦ ’ Ik I8 (jarlanding Mehta’s portrait overlooking the University's, main stairway: University registrar Dr Jairam Chavan, pro vice chancellor A. P. Pradhan, Dr S. /I. Kale. Deshmukh and Mody (top left). At the foot of Mehta's statue outside the muncipal headquarters: liomai Modi, Kale, Mody, Rurjor Antia, Jamshed (juzder, Bahadur Mody, Deshmukh, Taleyarkhan and Chavan (top right). After lighting the lamp: the Governor and Ms Alexander, Taleyarkhan and Mody (right). i 22 Pars,ana Ociober t9XA new Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Bhavan is being designed by architect I. M. Kadri. To be sei on 1.9 acres of land on the envclopedin thick clouds of fear — fearof Bombay University ’s Kalina campus, the British law, fear of the lowest levels of Bhavanisexpected to house the civics and British government — where was the question of freedom of expression? The concept of national freedom was unthink- certainty that prevailed after the uprising of 1857 was defeated and suppressed so totally. When the whole country was political science department wliich was established by an endowment fifty years ago as part of Mehta ’.s centenary able then. The so-called princely states of celebrations. Its new home will provide it India were cesspools of tyranny and ex ­ ploitation and few even dreamt of self- government. ” The Indian National Con ­ gress in its resolutions of 1885-86-87, with Sir Pherozeshah Mehu as one of its lead ­ ing lights, sought greater representation in the governing councils, in local self-governments, simultaneous examinations for the Indian civil service (ICS) in India and England, and aimed at restoring the dignity of the colonial people, Alexander quoted an editorial in The Times of India of 1886 which noted in response to these resolutions, “It was by force that India was conquered and it is by force that India must be gov ­ erned. If we (British) were to withdraw, it would be in favor of the strongest arm and the sharpest sword — not of fluency or facility of tongue. ” with its own library, research facilities and lecture rooms, informs N. Mody, With Rs 95 lakhs (of the estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crores as per The Times Of India of Febru ­ ary 2, ’96) in the kitty, the University is hoping to lay the foundation stone of the envi.sagcd structure on March 1, 1997, adds N, Mody. The date would be particularly appro ­ priate as Mehta had been ap ­ pointed vice-chancellor of the University on March 1, 1915. The celebrations had begun on August4, 1995 being Mehta ’.s 150th birthday when the late Karl Khandalawala, outstand ­ ing criminal counsel and long ­ time chairman of the Prince of Wales Museum, presented to the assembled galli- ering al the Convocation Hall a cameo of “Piroji mama and Aimai mami," his mother's maternal uncle and aunt. Plough Tracing the changing face of leadership still achild when Mehta died, Khandalavala from Mehta to Gandhi to Nehru, to our own credibility as human beings," Alexander concluded, “How can we expect them to be different from what we are?,..A.s doc ­ tors, as academicians, giving distinctions, passing students who don ’t deserve it? Once we find self-justification at our level, we ’ll carry it higher. The professionals a.s a group have to turn the searchlight (That ’s hardly likely ’Afterall, people say inwards... Pherozeshah Mehta was de- ' scribed as a dictator by many, (he was called) the uncrowned king of Bombay, but no one — no enemy — has accused the Minorities Commission, referred to him of lack of integrity. Ixl examples like his continue to guide us." It was during Mehta ’s term as vice chancellor that the foundation stone of the Convocation Hall, one of Bombay ’sbeau- Bombay except that of Bombay Parsi tiful heritage structures, was laid, informed Punchayet (BPP) trustee, noted Tale- Deshinukh. “He was an ardent defender of yarkhan, describing the BPP’s loss as the freedom of the University, vehemently “perversity of chance. ” Municipal coun ­ resisting Government attempts to system ­ atize this institution, opposing Govern ­ ment interference, ” calling for reforms, espousing his philosophy of higher educa ­ tion as a means for the upliftment of the country, noted Deshmukh and urged the A new stamp to mark Mehta s 150th audience to help “make education more —. , . . ........ meaningful for life in the 21st century, ” thlXA 100 5 J Ml"’* remembered the “imposing personality, limes when our leaders have “lost always excellently dressed. ” A particular occasion he recalled in vivid detail was when he had accompanied his mother on a visit to the Mehtas. His mother had said, ‘"I always ask for God ’s belssing that my son grow up like Piroji mama," and Aimai had replied, 'T^taukem bane? Lokakahej ke evo manus luu saw varas ma ekuj thai that a man tike Pherozeshah is born but once in a hundred years)! ’” Homi Taleyarkhan, fonner member of Mehta ’s immense admiration for Dadabhai Naoroji. “An anchor of moderation, im ­ pelled by duty, characterized by discre ­ tion, Mehta held every high position" in cillor and DPP trustee RusLom Tirandaz was more forthright; “The Parsis rejected him because of his secularism. ” The February seminar had been divided From top: Khandalavala, Sawant and Chaulet 23 Parsiana October 1996I _ ___ __ _______ / • right as he conceived it,” admitted his society. Sir Pherozeshah Mehta'is part of longest-running foe, Lord Curzon. The our life, culture and heritage, ” Maha- Vernacular Press Act of 1878 — a bill rashtra ’s advocate-general C. J. Sawant introduced in the morning and passed in paid tribute. ___________________________ the evening — was dubbed “the Black When Mehta began his legal practice Act” because it instituted vigorous censor- “the bar was dominated by Europeans, ” ship and penalties. The reactionary mea- treat- sure was justified, as'necessary in a state of . emergency, by Lord I Lytton. Mehta did not I deny the existence of I recriminations, pom- 5 posity and petulance y,. among the articles in ¦I the vernacular Press ¦ but argued that “of H real disaffection or disloyalty there is ab- m solutely nothing, ” H believing that “the ¦ mischief lay in dis- H torted translations, ” B noted Patel. The Act B was eventually re- B pealed by Lord Ripon . Similarly, when the B Indian Evidence Act was revised, some re- fl actionary provisions based on strictures against ]^dian law ­ yers were introduced. Mehta ’s strongly worded representation earned him a rebuke, but the galling provisions were withdrawn, added Patel. “It was Sir Pherozeshah who taught the lated by Mehta in a series of newspaper Indian people not to accept injustice and to articles which “focussed on the manner in into four working sessions to analyze Mehta... He made a sea change in our Mehta ’s contribution to Indian national- i « ~ .. ism, higher education, the Municipal Cor- our life, culture and heritage, ” Maha- poration and “selected themes ” which in ­ cluded his involvement with the Central Bank of India, the legal profession and the Press. Each paper presented the life-work of an individual — amazingly, the same informed Sawant. The step-motherly individual: Mehta was a latter-day Leonardo da Vinci who sculpted so ­ ciety, architectured its institutions and engineered educa ­ tional and legal de ­ tails! A second genera ­ tion alumnus of Elphinstone Col ­ lege, (Dadabhai Naoroji belonged to its first generation) the first Parsi barrister ’s “good abilities, industry, good sense, modesty, excellent moral char ­ acter, remarkably gentlemanly and pleasing manners on the cricket field as well as the lecture room... his manliness Pherozeshah at his table and courage ” were attested to by no less a personage than Sir Alexander Grant, then principal of Elphinstone College. Grant ment Indian barristers received was venti- was the man who formed the traditions and decided the bent of the College, in- articles which “focussed on the manner in raise the voice of dissent at appropriate formed Ms Nergish Charna, professor of which appointments were made to certain places, ” said Patel. He criticized the East political science at Elphinstone College, offices in the High Court, ” narrated Dr India Bill of 1870 for threatening “to sow One of the essays written by Mehta so (Ms) Thrity Patel, head of the post gradu- fruitful seeds of discord between races; ” impressed Grant that it was preserved in ate teaching department of law at Nagpur the Police Bill as “a vicious principle in the archives of the College which then University. Mehta ’s conduct was ques- legislation to give indefinite and drastic functioned from Tankar Villa near Gowalia tioned by the Bar Association. He res- powers to the executive without the legis- Tank, noted Charna. ' ' Of medium height and broad shoulders, ing names, offices and salaries drawn. In a Arms Act which prevented every Indian his strong, handsome features and brilliant strong letter he told the Association, “I am from bearing or possessing arms: “...if conversation were said to have drawn a a public man and not only a barrister. As a they followed a farsighted policy, they large circle of friends. Notable among public man I am bound to ventilate the would realize from the lessons of history them were Justices K. T. Telang and Badruddun Tayebji who, with Mehta, comprised “The Triumvirate ” representing three major communities, fighting for “social equality, the rule of law, rectitude and dignity in public life, ” recognizing the “plurality of our society and the strength it chew from that plurality, ” as noted Yasmin Presidency if he had continued in practice; would prefer to be tried by ajury of his own Rukmani, Tayebji ’s granddaughter and (instead) he left us the legacy that despite countrymen, the judge being bound by the head of Bombay University ’s department his rich practice, he gave it up and devoted jury ’s verdict. “It was no use purchasing of English, and Narain V. Khote, Telang ’s himself to civic life, ” said Sawant. equality of right at such a cost, ” observed great grandson. “Whatever we have of cosmopolitanism is due to Sir Pherozeshah ij- .)¦ I .-f" ‘ k>. Photo courtesy Rajan Jayakar 25 Parsiana October 1996 Si 5%'y, ’¦ b ¦ * tioned by the Bar Association. He res ­ ponded by giving comparative tables cit- lature having a say in the matter; ” the grievances of the Indian community. As I that it would never be wise to emasculate had done this as a newspaper correspon ­ dent and not as a member of the Indian Bar, you are not entitled to examine my con ­ duct. in that matter, ” noted Patel. “He could Anglo-Indian lobby was amended to give have been the richest man in Bombay the accused the right to decide whether he a nation; ” the Ilbert Bill which, for the first time, gave Indian magistrates and judges the right to try an accused European, but ‘The Bar was unable to do anything upon the pressure of the European and himself to civic life, ” said Sawant. Mehta made public interest litigation Mehta as he dropped the case, his domain and “fearlessly fought for the Many of Mehta ’s legal battles were I «fought not in the courts but in the viceregal and governor ’s councils of which he was a distinguished member, on the floor of the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) factor. ” Not minimizing Crawford ’s arro- where, according to his biographer Sir Homi Mody, “If Pherozeshah failed to be convinced about any question, the prob ­ ability was that the Corporation would fail to be convinced as well, ” and in the Press. The Corporation was Mehta ’s baby. He nurtured it for 43 years, ever since he was first appointed as a Justice of Peace shortly after his return from Britain with his legal credentials in place. As noted Tirandaz, “The Bombay Municipal Corporation Act is the Bible for all local self-governments in the land and also in... the new countries of Africa... 150 years is a long time; people are forgotten. (But) in local self-govern ­ ment Pherozeshah Mehta did all that was to be done. There ’s nothing to revise. ” Dr (Ms) Usha Thakkar, head of SNDT University ’s department of politics, has quoted Mehta ’s words; “I value my work for the Bombay Corporation more than anything else in my life. Our Corporation sits every Thursday and I accept no en ­ gagement however remunerative on Thurs ­ day and the judges of the High Court know my ways and would not take up any case on Thursday. ” Originally the government-appointed Justices of Peace administered the city and their duties included the maintenance of London-based son Kaikhushroo Mehta clean and safe streets in good repair. They presided over the Parsee Association of had police duties, could punish those who Europe Photo courtesy Rajan Jayakar obstructed traffic or encroached, and were authorized to levy taxes on shops, stalls, music, horse carriages and the like. Dr M. , _____ ________ _____ _____ ___ D. David, former professor and head of punged from the record of the proceedings duced Standard Time. Thereto each presi- Bombay University ’s history department, ................................................................... traced the antecedents of the BMC. In 1858 an executive body of three executive commissioners was constituted under the municipal government based on elected against the motion, passed a resolution to control of the Justices. Problems of water representatives of ratepayers with a single adopt Standard Time for municipal pur ­ supply, sanitation and health proliferated, executive officer responsible to them. “This poses. But it gaHbd him that “the popula- By 1864 cholera was claiming 4,580 vic- forthright and clear demand for self-gov- tion ofthe city should be driven like a flock tims annually .. This led to the appointment ernment by Mehta in 1871 was to be the of dumb cattle, ” that the measure had been of a single municipal commissioner. Sir Arthur Crawford, ICS who, in two years, reduced the mortality rate per thousand from 36 to 19, instituted drainage and road David, adding, “The basic outlines of tunity of expressing their opinions, ” even repair, initiated the control of venereal municipal administration he advocated in though “it is a matter of mere sentiment disease and banished the slaughter house to Bandra. ___...................... ....... ...... ......_________ The cotton boom of 1861-65 had led to Though some aspects of Mehta ’s prin- Bombay ’s increasing prosperity and ex ­ pansion. With the end of the American Civil War in 1865 the boom had busted and appointed by the Government) it was only by 1867 Crawford ’s zeal presented the city by the Act of 1888 that his vision was fully fathers with a deficit of Rs 37.71 lakhs and embodied in a legal framework, landed him in the center of a storm. The 24-year-old Pherozeshah who had been (equivalent to the current mayor) four times made a Justice of Peace in 1869 defended Crawford as Bombay ’s “savior and bene- — in 1884,1885, 1905 and 1911 — it was during his presidentship that the liberal, rational Lord Ripon laid the cornerstone of the imposing Municipal Building in 1884. gance, he challenged, “Are we to forget, in _ our day of safety and prosperity, that he has Significantly, it was Ripon who passed the in so short a time driven disease and death from our doors where they were such con ­ stant visitors before? Are we to forget that totally different type of individual as Lord if he has touched our pockets too closely, he has put us in a position to enjoy in comfort and safety the remainder a thou ­ sand times more? ” There was so much opposition to Mehta ’s view that his speech was ex- 26 Parsiana October 1996 Act of 1888. By 1905 Mehta was contending with a Curzon replaced Ripon as viceroy. The Prince and Princess of Wales were visiting India and were to be received in Bombay. The Municipal secretary wrote to the Bombay government at Mehta ’s bidding, referring to a precedent where the chair ­ man of the Corporation, the municipal commissioner and the sheriff had a promi ­ nent place on the reception committee. Yet, when the list of persons to receive the royal guests was announced four days be ­ fore D-day, there was no mention of any of the three abovenamed personages. “The members of the Corporation felt slighted. It was conveyed to the government that the royal guests would pass through a city of ‘solemn silence, ”’ narrated Thakkar. Re ­ alizing the gravity of the situation, the governments chief secretary was sent to Pherozeshah to cpnvey that the arrange ­ ments were to be altered. ’‘Pherozeshah expressed the need to csjpsult the Corpora ­ tion. The officer asked (to be sent) the message; either yes or no. An informal*! meeting of the Corporation was called thft day before the arrival of the royal guests. The Corporation decided ‘yes ’ — a cryptic message that saved embarrassment for the Government, ” related Thakkar. On July 1, 1905 Lord Curzon intro- I ah of the East India Association where it had dency had its own local time. When asked been made. its opinion the BMC, with Mehta as presi- Mehta advocated the introduction of a dent, which constrained him from arguing executive officer responsible to them. “This forthright and clear demand for self-gov ­ ernment by Mehta in 1871 was to be the nursery of the demand for self-governing adopted by Government “without consult- institutions in India that became the bed- ing the feelings and sentiments of the rock of India ’s freedom struggle, ” noted people, and without giving them an oppor- 1871 have remained the basis of the mu­ nicipal government in Bombay even now. ” and prejudice. ” When Mehta, reelected BMC president in 1911, received George and Mary again, now as King and Queen of England, ciples were incorporated in the Municipal Act of 1872 (with the commissioner being Emperor and Empress of India, he told them, “We rejoice to think that, since your visit, a steady advance has been made in the realization of high civic ideals... that Elected President of the Corporation Bombay is broadbased upon the firmest of If i foundations in being united within itself and that the diverse races and classes, whom we represent, are actuated by a strong sense of common citizenship. ” And George V replied, “Your eloquent address has recalled to me that Bombay was once the dowry of a British Queen. As such Humphrey Cook took it over 250 years ago, a mere fishing village. You gentlemen, and your forerunners, have made it a jewel of the British Crown... but above all, I recognize with pride your efforts to heighten what must always be the supreme lustre of a jewel such as this — the peace, happiness and prosperity of all classes of its citizens. ” Steeped in the liberal ideas of Jean Jacques Rousseau, Charles Louis Montesquieu and Francois Marie Voltaire, Mehta became interested in the French language and its literature which led him to introduce French into the Bombay University curriculum, noted Marc Beraud Chaulet, French consul general in Bombay. The other dominating influence on Mehta ’s diought was that of Yohan Wolfgang von Goethe whose concept of nationhood shaped Euro ­ pean political history in the 18th and 19th centuries. The principle of citizens ’ rights and their equality motivated the French Revolu ­ tion and eventually led to the emancipation of colonized nations, he added. Mehta ’s long involvement with the University began with his appointment as a Fellow in 1867 and culminated with the vice chancellorship in 1915. A member of its Senate, its Syndicate and dean of the arts faculty, Mehta was above all the protector of its freedom of thought and action and strenuously resisted the slightest government encroachment especially when he suspected that the aim was “to restrict the spread of higher education for political reasons, ” noted Prof (Dr) Gulistan Kerawalla, head of the University ’s department of education. Even in his time, an ongoing debate centered on whether scarce resources should be expended on primary or higher education so as to accelerate national development, informed Kerawalla. A strong believer in the downward percolation of education, Mehta opined, “An elementary knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic, however widely diffused, would no more be able to break and loosen the hard ground of traditional prejudice than children ’s hatchets of paper, however numerous would suffice to clear a jungle. ” Admitting that higher education would be received by the relatively few, he believed it is “these few men who do the work of the renovation of the masses. ” Successive reductions in the government ’s grants to the University were termed “an act of untimely and impolitic parsimony. ” He traced the shortcomings of the University (“the fatal flaw... that teaching continued to be subservient to examination ” as Kerawalla phrased it) to the government ’s default in strengthening teaching in high schools and colleges. He pressed for adequate accommodation for the rapidly increasing number of students appearing for the matriculation examination, that the exam be held twice a year, appointing additonal examiners and paying them more so that they “do their work conscientiously and not in a perfunctory and mechanical manner. ” In protecting University autonomy Mehta was locked in combat with Curzon who nonetheless hammered home the Indian Univer ­ sities Bill vesting the government with absolute power over them, their every exercise and function subject to government approval. Mehta urged the Fellows of the Senate to “resist (the Bill) to the best of their power, little as that may be, ” recorded Kerawalla quoting biographer Mody ’s observation that Mehta ’s “great debating pow ­ ers, resourcefulness and dialectical skill were rarely displayed to better advantage than when he was fighting a battle which he knew was lost. ” One of Mehta ’s ablest opponents, Lovat Fraser, testified to his mettle: “The hostility with which Lord Curzon ’s schemes of 29 Parsiana October 1996 R CRD MOLDS TWO-STAGE VACCUM PUMPS J o TWO STAGE 100 20 ‘•VACUUM PUMF*” • *CR-2S MODEL ipsfHW MpfOR-SHP'l RPI ae M X «•» W X X x S MM <» 4 \ ' 'V®\TO wwT ! u c 580 VAL/UUM “'"•OR-T.S HP 2850 RPM 1 1 “T ’1^’1“ MOTOR. iaateas 600 \ 710 720 740 VACUUM-MM HG HIGHER VACUUM & CAPACITY AT REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION & RPM Over 75 years of depth and Experience Technically the most advanced of Its type on the market ¦ EFFICIENCIES THAT PAY OFF IN SAVINGS OF THOUSANDS OF RUPEES PER PUMP PER YEAR- CR Pumps offer the first real improvements in Vacuum Pump technology in nearly 75 years. They have dramatically improved operating efficiencies and offer long-term savings of tens of thousands of Rupees in power costs. You not only save elecricity to run the Pump, you can often downsize the motor to gain additional-savings. mazda CONT/tOLS LTD. Mazda House, 650/1 Panchwati, 2nd Lane, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad 380006 Phone: 408967, 408014, 408654 Fax:0272-427394 Telex: 0121-6620 I «educational reform were met was to a great extent the work of one remarkable man... and the man who really stimulated and kept alive the fight against University re ­ form is worth a little attention for he played edge of the quality of fish or meat or a great part in Indian political life during Lord Curzon ’s viceroyalty, and his influ ­ ence was not less potent because it was often unseen. Sir Pherozeshah was at that those entering medical college, he preferred time unquestionably the strongest and ablest politician in India... The University lay near his heart. ” However, in his zeal to preserve University autonomy, Mehta op ­ posed all reform measures emanating from government — good as well as bad, noted management ofpolitics, ” emphasizing that nal divisions, irrespective of the source of Kerawalla. the man was an orator, not an ideologue or the idea as for example when proportional Even at that time Mehta opposed the system of reexamining a candidate for all subjects when he had failed in only one, as wasteful. While he believed that Sanskrit study should be promoted, he was hesitant about the ability of vernacular languages to cope with burgeoning Western ideas. Nonetheless he cautioned that “the rejection of the vernaculars and the employment of English would eliminate the only means of communicating to the itiasses of the people the ‘superior knowledge ’ acquired in En ­ glish colleges, ” noted Kerawalla adding, “The issue of medium of instruction has dogged Indian higher education ever since . ” And he opposed the introduction of do ­ mestic science in the school final exami ­ nation because “It was not possible for the joint secret2iry of the Bombay Branch of University to test (the young ladies ’)knowl- the London based East India Association. Later, as one of the Triumvirate he pro ­ ceeded to form the Bombay Presidency political thinker who used two main fora to ventilate his political views. He began as examine them in cleanliness and general arrangements! ” Also, when it was decided Association (BPA) to provide adequate to raise the standard of examination for public expression to the citizens of Bombay, informed N. Mody. This organization in turn led to the foundation of the Congress in 1885 where “he attacked attempts to isolate the Parsis from the political move ­ ment, ” said Vora. Throughout his public career Mehta resisted attempts at commu- to exempt young ladies from it. He was not sure their intellect would bear the strain! Rajendra Vora of Poona University ’s department of politics referred to Mehta ’s “tremendous skill for organization and the man was an orator, not an ideologue or 22 Carat Guaranteed Gold KUMAR JEWELLERS House of Gold, Silver & Diamond Jewellery Specialist for: Asho Farohar & Lord Zarathushtra Medals in Gold and Silver 596, Chira Bazar, Near Wadia Fire Temple, Bombay 400002 Tel: 2017707/201 1894 We buy old Gold, Silver and Diamond Jewellery We accept Master, Visa, Diners, BOB & Inter cards MATCH YOUR AMBITION TO A CAREER To do so we offer you: Diploma Course in Business Management (Postal) (IMC) ? Executive Secretarial Course ? Private Secretarial Course Personal Assistants ’ Programme (Working Stenographers) Shorthand/Typewriting/Electronic Typewriting Telephone Operating & Receptionist Techniques ? English Conversation & Writing Skills Personality Development and Computer Packages Enquire at: * 1 1 I I t 1 Sir J. J, College of Commerce 14, Nanabhoy Lane, Hutatma Chowk Mumbai 400001 Tel: 2871058/2844329 Fax: 2871185 I I t F 30 Parsiana October 1996I representation was suggested for the ICS. Merit alone should be the criterion for selection, declared Mehta as N. Mody noted in her paper. All he wanted was equal association of Europeans and Indians in the civil service. The other fora were the governmental bodies from the municipal to the Imperial Council. Mehta was the first non-official member to be elected to the Bombay Provincial Council (BPC) where he rep ­ resented the BMC. Thence he became the BPC representative on the Imperial Council. Providing a detailed history of the BPA, N. Mody referred to the letters its secretary Dinshaw Wacha wrote to Dadabhai Naoroji in England bewailing the state of its fi­ nances and complaining that Pherozeshah had “one serious defect — he will never move his little finger to collect funds. ” “The politics of petitions, prayers and protests ” marked the Congress ’ first 20 years when Mehta was its “manager and controller, ” noted renowned research scholar Y. D. Phadke. Through the percolation effect of education, however, newer and more militant leaders were emerging who criticized and refuted Mehta ’s policies which were becoming out of tune with the changing world, noted Vora and N. Mody. The Congress became a battleground with the new party of ex ­ tremists who supported Lokamanya Tilak, eventually leading to the split of 1907 at Surat when Tilak and his followers left the party and could return only after the death of Mehta in 1915. The difference between their styles of functioning was aptly de ­ scribed by Phadke: “Gokhale and Pherozeshah were always willing to cooperate with the government whenever it was possible and obstruct the govern ­ ment whenever it was necessary. Tilak and the extremists were in favor of obstructing the government whenever it was possible and cooperating with the government when ­ ever it became necessary to do so. ” Pherozeshah ’s autocratic style came in for its severest criticism in the Congress. “I cannot see why some people should make an attempt to keep the strings of the Congress so tight in their own hands, ” grumbled Tilak. Gandhiji wryly commented on the ’Calcutta session of 1901 in his autobiography: “No one had troubled to understand the resolution, everyone was in a hurry to go, and because Gokhale had seen the resolution, it was not thought necessary for the rest to see it or understand it.” With Best Wishes * From TPK 31 Parsiana October 1996 bsimilar fate befell Bhedwar ’s father Tilak ’s tribute from the Ardeshir, a deputy sheriff of Bombay, Eventually, the voice of Tilak was similar fate befell Bhedwar ’s father Tilak ’s tribute from the Kesari-. reflected in the Kesari and of Pherozeshah Ardeshir, a deputy sheriff of Bombay, “Pherozeshah ’s courage and love of Mehta in The Bombay Chronicle which he when he married his maternal uncle ’s independence, his determination, and his founded in 1913 widi B. G. Horniman as its editor. Significantly it was M. A. Jinnah who took over as chairman of The Chroni­ cle after Mehta ’s demise, to carry on the fight against corrupt officers, to ensure the lifetime. Prof Sheriyar Ookerji acknowl- rule of law. edged that Mehta ’s second wife was Aimai Shroff, his grandmother ’s sister. The mar ­ riage, however, produced a rift as the fam- daughter. The uncle in question was willingness to fight for the legitimate rights believed to have earned Mehta ’s displea ­ sure by disapproving of his brother-in- law ’s many lady-friends during Dinbai ’s of citizens evoked a sense of awe and admiration. ” “There have been frequent occasions when we have found ourselves in antago ­ nism to Mr Mehta up'on controversial ques- As founding chairman of the Central Shroff, his grandmother ’s sister. The mar- tions. But we have never failed to recog- Bank of India (CBI) Mehta ’s presence not riage, however, produced a rift as the fam- nize that he is unquestionably the ablest only helped the launching of the bank — ily disapproved of the marriage and the representative of die non-official native his presence a measure of extreme reassur- - - - - - ................... ance to hordes of depositors — but at a critical juncture, was crucial to its sur ­ vival, depicted B. Venkatesh Kumar, a scholar in Bombay University ’s depart ­ ment of economics and politics. Within two years of its launching the financial scenario in the country was dominated by meticulous dresser, even during his last bank crashes. The CBI was only able to withstand a similar fate when Mehta of- reminisced how his grandmother “Dhunbai right as he conceived it. An alert and fered the title deeds of his personal proper- and Pherozeshah were very close. All his ties to help the Bank raise additional funds (Mehta ’s) political parties were held at our to ward off its depositors clamoring to get their money out. “This unusual example of bravery, confidence and self sacrifice spurred the other directors on to action and they too shared their willingness to come forward with their private resources and help the Bank. These gestures were enough pomeranian whose birthday she was wont to put an end to the nervousness of the depositors, ” noted Kumar. A marble bust chauffeur remain with the dentist who of its benefactor, commissioned from the subscriptions of its shareholders, was un ­ veiled in the Bank ’s foyer three years after Mehta ’s passing in 1915, informed Kumar. Mehta ’s myriad public personas tend to eclipse his personal life. The scant docu ­ mentation of his family tells its own tale amid the elaborate chronicles of his public spirit latent in every individual, and a work. Groping for details of Pherozeshah statesman could not be more usefully em- the patriarch, we learn that his marriage to ployed than in trying to set that public Dinbai Marzban (whom he renamed spirit in the direction of local administra- Pirojbai) led to the birth of five sons and one daughter of whom Jehangir and Ardeshir were solicitor and barrister without much discussing it — might be Bengal, as a Sikh in the Punjab, respectively, Sorab was a doctor and Savak with some confusion of thought or Ian- Madrasi in Madras, and as a Mohamedan an architect with Aga & Co, informed his granddaughter, the late Ms Roshan conclusion in matters of the greatest im- am sure I have not gone far wrong, but Bhedwar. Parsiana salutes the lady whom portance until we have a certain amount of have, on the contrary, proved myself what we interviewed at the B. D. Petit Parsee talk over them — even irrelevant or con- we should all strive to be — a true and General Hospital but a few days prior to fused. ” faithful son of the country, a true and her demise. Kaikhushroo headed Tata Sons «"" in England. Though all the sons were sent quired or usefully exercised without free- toEnglandfortheireducation, Kaikhushroo dom of action and it is the experience born was the only one to make his life there, of groping through darkness and error, and braced the mind just as much as physical Mehta ’s only daughter Jer had married a son of K. R. Cama. She was disinherited by and enlightens. ” her father when she dared to criticize the knight (Mehta was made Knight Com ­ mander of the Indian Empire in 1904) for remarrying when his first wife died. A original amity between the Mehtas and the community now in public life in India, ’’ Shroffs came to an end. Ookerji recalled noted Curzon, continuing, “Time has mel- his mother describing the great Pherozeshah lowed and chastened the perhaps unre- as superstitious and fearful of attending strained ardor of Mr Mehta ’s earlier years, funerals. but one honorable characteristic has been Rusi Modi, Mehta ’s grandnephew, said exemplified throughout his whole career. his mother recalled the fiery Mehta as a He has never stooped to palter with his own convictions in order to earn official illness. Well-known dentist Dr Pali Mehta approval, but has fearlessly fought for the strenuous antagonist, he has never forgot ­ ten that need of courtesy to opponents which is one of the finest traits of English public life. ’’ An apocryphal assessment of his own life ’s work and worth were quoted by house, ’’ even though Dhunbai did not concur with her mercurial friend ’s politi ­ cal views. Dr Mehta spoke of Phero ­ zeshah ’s second wife, Aimai, who survived her husband by many years. They had had Thakkar. There was a proposal in the BMC no children but Aimai had a white 1 to erect a statu^ of George V. “Pherozeshah thundered — ‘What business has he to be to celebrate. Memories of her liveried placed outside the Corpt^ation building? ...rr ----------. v. He has done nothing for the city.’ Some ­ one taunted, ‘Do you want your own statue , - erected there? ’ ‘Why not? ’ said Phero- * zeshah, ‘It may happen. I have served the used to visit the lady ’s Omer Park resi ­ dence as a child. The truest encomiums to Mehta came from his adversaries. Phadke translated city for 30 years! ”’ What Pherozeshah thought and said... men, to a great extent, outside their homes... it is not possible for them to take part in civic affairs. The rough and tumble sort of way which men follow does not sit well upon the gentler sex. ” •“If I have spoken and acted in my public life so as to be regarded as a Babu in as a •“There is always a substratum of public tion. ’’ •“We cannot arrive at the truth of a thing with some confusion of thought or lan ­ guage. It is impossible to arrive at the right among Mohamedans everywhere; then I conclusion in matters of the greatest im- talk over them — even irrelevant or con ­ fused. ’’ •“Habits of self-government cannot be ac- 32 Parsiana October 1996 4' faithful Indian. ’’ •“There ought to be, a certain amount of pressure on the minds of the students. It not compulsory correction, that teaches exercise braced the muscles. ” •“Mahommedan and Hindu members in •“Men and women possess great talents to our Legislature may be regarded not as suit their different environments. Women representatives of their respective com- have to do their work in their homes and munities but of the electorate as a whole. ”WELFARE ^ji compassion A six acre donation of land in Bombay by Godrej houses the Red Cross’ Disaster Relief Centre Hilla P. Guzder In his welcome address, DrB. K. Goyal, chairman of the Platinum Jubilee Celebra ­ tions Committee of the Indian Red Cross The black patch he usually wore on his procrastination... how much more we can sleeve to show distress over various issues . do if delays can he avoided. ” troubling tlie country was missing. Sorabji Pirojsha Godrej, chairman of the ItMJ-y ear- old Godrej group of companies, looked a happy man as he watched Maharashtra Society, appreciated the generous contri- governorDrP. C. Alexander light the lamp bution of six acre.s of land by Godrej in a loinaugurateTlielndianRedCrossPirojsha metropolis where people are fighting for Godrej Disaster Relief Centre at Vikhroli in Bombay on December 5, 1996. For He described Godrej, the opening of the Centre was a 20 Godrej as a “fellow year dream turned into reality. Way back in 1975, according to a press release, the Indian Red Cross had approached him for the donation of six acres of land al Vikhroli (cunently valued at Rs 30 crores) for the setting up of a zonal depot or disaster relief operational headquarters al Bombay, which would be one of the four envisaged at 9 Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay and Madras. The 9|| Godrej family responded to the appeal and approached the Maharashtra government for permission to donate the land to the Red Cross. Due lo bureaucratic delays, the Maliarashtra Red Cross could take posses- sion of the land only in November 1979 n and the Centre was opened in 1996 — 21 years after the idea was mootedl Bemoaned Godrej, “How much harm is done through ¦ • I every square foot. He Sheriff, a man of simple habits ... a dedi ­ cated man without airs ... interested in many activities of public life ... Protection of the environment, preservation of wildlife, afforestation are causes dear to his heart. ” Goyal stated that the estimated cost of the depot was Rs 1.5 crores and that it would stock emergency supplies of fo munities moved there and esta ­ blished their own religious and social institutions. Around 1813, under the strong monotheism. During the 20th century, scho- revivalist pressure of Christian societies in Britain, missionaries were sent to India in order to spread the Christian faith. John Wilson was one of these missionaries. In 1829 educational institutions were estab ­ lished (by Christian missions) to promote tian approach and sought affinity in Indian European languages and culture. By 1834 religions and creeds, venerating modern a western educated Parsi middle class had t emerged. Parsi boys, some with inadequate started adorning the walls of many Parsi and cultic rituals. Prophet Zarathushtra knowledge of their own scriptures, were ' “ .... , .r j suddenly faced with the Latin Bible and Christian perceptions thrust on them by habits from the Hindus, Moslems and Chris- Wilson. Wilson studied the earlier translation of the Avesta (presumably from Pahlavi) and pursuing forms of occultism and interpre- Bundahishn (written much later than the t. 1 ninth century AD by an Iranian priest of basis, claiming that they are the only cor- theZurvanitesect), and scorned the ancient rect interpreters, cosmogonic and mythical material in the I would like to respond to Homi Rogers ’ 5 had failed them and thus the seed of contempt was sown which, as the 19th century India. During his youth, at the age of 13, advanced, came to replace Jesus followed the Silk Road to India and ourage-oldregardforthe Nepal. While there, he studied Buddhism, priesthood as the lear- ned class. In 1850, a brilliant tine) at the age of 29 where h? survived German philologist, crucifixion. After his resuscitation, Jesus Dr Martin Haug, first went to India where he dieckin Srinagar. He made the crucial dis- is buried here where his tomb is revered as covery that the Gathas that of Saint Issa, were in a more ancient dialect than the rest of miracles are a means of bringing the divine the Avesta and these message closer to doubters. However, as J alone could be regarded Monseigneur Nelson Mascarenhas has put as the authentic utterances it in Rogers ’ article, “People who pray the of Prophet Zarathushtra. He Novena only to get something for them- translated these extremely dif ­ ficult texts afresh and established, in academia, the Prophet ’s rigid, pure adopting its tenets and became a spiritual leader. Jesus eeturned to Canaan (Pales- Today, as thousands of years ago, 4 40 Parsiana October 1996 selves, could become bitter. ” Petty hap ­ penings in Rogers ’ article are not miracles; they are happenings and happenings are not miracles. This is supported in a Time magazine article entitled, “Can we Still Believe in Miracleg? ” in which it is stated that “what was incapable of happening never happened, and what was capable of happening is not a miracle...consequently, there are no miracles. ” The good religion of Mazda worship is gurus such as Meher Baba whose pictures devoid of magic, occultism, superstition larly studies were continued by Parsis in India and by the late Professor Poure Davoud and Keikhosrow Shahrokh in Iran. Halfway into the century the Parsis were inclined to turn away from the Chris- homes. The average Parsi did not fail to propounded the religion of morality and borrow many superstitious customs and devotion of the mind, body and soul. But ¦ .................. - this pure, noble and unadulterated form of tians. Many men and women, with or religion could not endure long after him. without higher education, even today, are He had set aside the Indo-Iranian religion based on ceremonies and rituals, but in the rations of sacred texts on an allegorical days of his followers the older religion captured his teachings and made them a part of itself. From that point on, Zoroas ­ trianism became a ritualistic and conven- The problem of interpreting the Gathas II I With Best Compliments From PERKS ENGINEERING Pioneer and leading manufacturers of shrink and stretch wrapping machinery and systems in India Address: Perks Engiiieeriiig B-24, New Empire Industrial Estate Shri Ramakrishna Mandir Road Andheri (E), Bombay 400059 Tel: 8326349/8347745 Fax: 8384001 41 Parsiana October 1996 tional religion and continues this way to this day. The purpose of prayer is to guide and inspire the devotee. For one who has abso ­ lute faith, it is immaterial whether the prayer is understood or not. However, for the eager person who wishes to understand the meaning of what he prays, the Gathas have been translated by at least 42 indi ­ viduals into Persian, English, Gujarati, etc. The moral and ethical character of Prophet Zarathushtra ’s teachings have been seriously neglected in recent, misplaced, manipulations of ritual. What must be un ­ derstood is that the focus and emphatic insistence of the Prophet ’s hymns are di ­ rected towards a purpose and unity of thought which oppose the empty, mecha ­ nical methods of ritual. In the Gathas, the Prophet says that every man and woman is an individual in his/her own right and that life ’s eternal and infallible lesson is that one ’s progress de ­ pends entirely upon the action of each individual. One man ’s good deeds cannot be loaned to another, and no man ’s burden of sin can be lightened by another. Confes ­ sion and prayer cannot change either of these truths. The wise lord hears prayers even in the form of thought in any language and any place. The truth and foundation of Zara ­ thushtra ’s religion is found only in the Gathas. Ritual is not religion, but it is a powerful aid to religious life. Righteous thinking is prayer and that elevates man to Ahura Mazda. The Prophet himself wishes to win Ahura Mazda ’s love (Gatha 44-17), yearns to reach him (Gatha 50-8), ap ­ proaches him with songs of praise and in ­ vocation (Gatha 34-2), asks for long life (Gatha 43-13) so that he may perform good deeds through righteousness (Gatha 28-1). Dr Borzoo J. Nadjmi is a medical practitioner in Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA, deeply interested in Zoroastrianism. Always remember TATA ^2»ii BATA KHAMBATA Ketayun & Bomi 22/A, Wellington Terrace Wellington Street, Bombay 400002 Tel No: 2069636, 2057242 Pager No: 9602-104007 MATRIMONIAL Well-educated girl holding Green Card, age 27, invites correspondence from boys willing to settle in USA. Write with photograph to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Oct/33-96)* GPO Box 89air Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Matrimonial alliance invited by Zoroastrian Parsi parents of graduate, fair and handsome son, 32 years, 5'3”, working in a good company, earning decent salary, with a girl who should be a graduate, from Zoroastrian Parsi/lrani decent family, and should be about 25 years of age, 5’3'’ tall. She should be either working/non-working. Apply with photograph (returnable), full bio-data and family details. Unable to contact without photograph, date of birth, height, etc. Write to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Oct/34-96)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the*rbply envelope bears the reference number cited here. 4’ * Available The Parsls (Rs 40) and Fravarane (Rs 3) by Piloo N. Jungalwalla at Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd 300 Perin Nariman Street (Behind Reserve Bank of India), Bombay 400001 Timing: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MATRIMONIAL Looking for a match for a tall and slim girl, age 22, height 5’4”, at present residing in the Gulf with parents. The boy should not be more than 27-28 years of age. The girl will be in India for two months in May and June 1997. The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Oct/3S-96)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here.HISTORY The Parsi Punchayet Case — 4 Whence came the authority? Neither the officiating trustees nor their predecessors in office were validiy appointed, ruied the judges in 1908 Should the entire community have a say in cama and Bomanji Dinshaw Petit. Bombay Punchayet funds and pronerties *e election of ^stees of the Bombay Par- The verdict on the latter issue had been The judgment on this topic is^ being 1 Punchayet. There IS a constant fear that serialized over 16 issues of Parsiana carried almost in its entirety barring those 1983. In references which are technical or of may vest in the wrong hands. , ' -te”' ' repetitions of statements made Many community members ' ' > ' earlier. Minim^ editing and may not be aware that origi- . . * .« styhstic corrections have been nally the Punchayet whose ' undertaken to facilitate smooth selection was ratified by the entire anjuman and in whose ^e first instalment gave an hands the affairs of the account of the origin and community were entrusted, necessity of ^tablishing the were invariably accountable Punchayet as a governing body to the anjuman or the com- regulate the internal affairs munity at large. Though the community. The nature * Punchayet members could constitution of the earlier suggest new names on its body Punchayets was analyzed in as replacements or additions, Ae second instalment such that it was only after the anjuman it establishes “beyond all doubt bersof,he^^X?XX*:X sis —a 1851. However, as per the court ruling, “nothing that is subsequently done can validate an act which in its inception was invalid and unauthorized." The original intention of the donors of immovable properties, analyzed in depth verts) or only the be™ Zon,as«an “s. The ““^nd Behr^,«,bhoy;R^j:n^s:p^^ tE:‘’obseJ::^ N^abU The developments in the the defendants were Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, Cursetjee Jamsetjee, Merwanji Muncherji Cama and Bomanji Dinshaw Petit. The verdict on the latter issue had been serialized over 16 issues of Parsiana four episodes, ending this issue, we carr- jibhov Daver and Frank C O Reamnn had themselves no legd authority later codified by the deed jionoy uaver and Prank C. O. Beaman right to appoint trustees of property that mled on two.-issues in 1908: whether the belonged to the community, and they had Punchayet ^stees were validly appointed certainly no right whatever to confer on and entitled to fill up vacancies in their others the power which they themselves ranks; whether the funds and properties in the custody of the trustees were intend ­ ed for all Zoroastrians. (including con- never had.* ’ The court however noted that the defen- _______ _ dants were of impeccable integrity and by Justice DaverTh^b^n « 1 . , ------****.*w»4i*w, luv VJVVVIUUIU^IIIS 111 Ulc from office on technical defects. Thus Punchayet after the judgement, presented while ordering a scheme of elections to be i ’ ’ ’ ' - _ -----—-- —- surviving Desai ’s History of the Bombay Parsi wcic Jduiscyee jejeeonoy, while ordering a scheme of elections to be in the article have been taken from vjannr ly Bar, Hormusjee Edaljee Albless, ftamed, Daver auftorized d,= surviving J trustees to once again take charge of the Punchayet: 1860-1960. 42 Parsiana October 1996 II t seems that between 1851 and 1871,23 sound reasoning. Now, in the first place, entrusting their moneys to existing trustees, . other funds came into existence. On the assumption the court was asked to they could not have had the remotest no ­ September 16, 1871, another trust deed make seemed to me to be entirely un- tion of conferring on them any powers in was executed. One of the funds mentioned warranted by the facts proved before us. I addition to those that they may have had. in the third schedule of this trust deed is the do not, in the first instance, think that one - - - fund for carrying dead bodies of all Zoroastrians to the Towers, in which fund, the plaintiffs contend, all converts to Zoroastrianism are entitled to participate, men of the highest integrity and social not at one time or another contributed Between 1871 and the present time, two position. They have been always men who sums of money — maybe large, maybe hundred and odd more funds have come commanded the respect and confidence of small — to some one or more of these into existence... The amount to the credit the community. They have all through funds. These donations are mostly made in of all the charitable and religious funds of administered the charitable funds with such the Parsi community at present exceeds 53 efficiency that there never was at any time lakhs of rupees. Mr Strangman argues that any complaint against their management, it is a matter of no consequence whether They were always good men and absolutely the trustees were validly appointed or not trustworthy. Members of the community in 1851. Since 1851, they have exercised may have noticed — probably they did with a covering letter to people who he had the rights of appointment conferred by the deed of 1851. The public, he says, must have known this because till 1846 the trustees published the accounts of their management in a newspaper — The Bom­ bay Samachar — and since then up to the present time in separate books. These ac ­ counts were published under the names of different trustees, which from time to time showed that the trustees were not the same. It was, he says, also known to the community, because at times there were articles in Gujarati newspapers which showed that the surviving trustees were filling up vacancies. On these materials, it is argued that the Court must hold that know — that they filled up vacancies part of the donors as Mr Strangman asked every single member of the community amongst themselves, but who ever cared to us to make; and, secondly, supposing there who has given donations to the various enquire whether they had the right to do so was such an intention, what does it matter charities established for the benefit of the or not? I venture to think not one Parsi in as long as the donors did not carry out those community or given funds to inaugurate new benefactions must have been fully cognisant that the trustees for the time a member of the community felt inclined Mr Strangman next relies on the fact being to whom these moneys were entrusted to contribute funds to existing charities or that the appointments of new trustees were, had a right to appoint or were appointing to establish a new charity or to found a successors and filling up vacancies. On the separate benefaction, he found that there assumption that each one of the donors knew this, the court is asked to hold that when the donors gave their moneys to the the community. They were possessed of an every member of the Tarsi community trustees for the time being, each one of establishment and an organization for giv- read these notices, how was he to know them by implication conferred on the ing effect to all charitable donations, and that the appointment by the trustees was an trustees the power to nominate the had hitherto administered the charities of successors of those of them who died or the community to the community ’s entire retired. At atll events the court must — Mr satisfaction. What more did he want? Send Strangman urged — hold that these do- the moneys to them and express to them Parsi for a long time in all probability did nors of all funds that came into existence the object ofhis benefaction and the way in after 1851 intended to confer on the trus ­ tees the power of appointment for which he was making this vigorous fight. This line of argument did not impress either my learned brother Beaman or my­ self in the least, and we noticed that Mr thought of the trustees ’ powers of ferred upon them. Strangman seemed surprised that we should appointment. They assumed that what they be so little impressed with what appeared had been hitherto doing in the past they to him and to his learned colleagues such had legal right and power to do; and when appointments made by the trustees, and in These funds have grown to their present in a 1,000 Parsis ever cared to read the proportions by innumerable donations, voluminous accounts published by the small and large. I doubt if there is any trustees. The trustees have always been single family ofParsis in Bombay who has men of the highest integrity and social memory of the dead and are generally announced at the third day ceremony. It seems to me preposterous to conceive that when a Parsi contributed Rs 5 or Rs 5,000 to some Parsi charity and sent the moneys 43 Parsiana October 1996 Surely these doubts may be thrown to start a useless discussion to fill up their columns no reason whatsoever to believe were not validly appointed trustees of the Puncha ­ yet funds, that at that moment he sat down and solemnly said to himself, “I am entrusting my moneys to people who are trustees of Punchayet funds. I know the survivors of them are appointing successors to their dead colleagues. I constitute them trustees of my money, and I intend that so far as my contribq|ion is concerned they should have the same powers they have hitherto exercised, no matter whether they legally had or have the power^or not. ” In the first place, there is no warrant for any such assumption of intention on the 4 enquire whether they had the right to do so or not? I venture to think not one Parsi in 10,000. On the happening of an auspicious intentions and actually confer those or inauspicious event in his family, when powers? a member of the community felt inclined in his own words, “frequently notified in the Press. ” Assuming that they were, does it follow that all or any of the donors was a body of good and honest men who were already in possession of the funds of necessarily read them; and assuming that exercise of a right or power which they never had! The very natural presumption every reader would make — and every make — was that the trustees in some way which the funds were to be used, and he had legal authority to do what they were was quite content to leave the rest to them, doing. It is only the very close investigation Of the hundreds and hundreds of donors of of many ancient documents that discloses sums, large or small, not one, I venture to the fact that no such powers as the trustees think, when making his donation, ever claimed were ever validly or legally con- Then again, the learned counsel said newspapers had commented on the I Isupport of this statement he has put in half and arrogate to themselves the right which the Punchayet were mere delegates of the a dozen extracts from articles published in they have not got... ” community, and if they exercised any Gujarati newspapers... These are from publications between 1859 and 1901. Half contained the power of appointment. The those powers from those who appointed a dozen articles in the course of42 years do obvious inference to them would be that them their delegates. The defendants ’ not err on the side of excessive publication the then members of the Punchayet would counsel, however, argues the trustees have and do not prove any very active discus- not have got the power inserted in the deed, exercised those powers of filling up sion; but again, assuming that every Parsi and that the then trustees would not have vacancies rightly or wrongly for nearly 60 read those articles, what does it prove? accepted the trusts with those powers unless years. Why deprive them of this power Supposing a Parsi read a newspaper article there was good ground and legal authority now? The answer is to be found in the case adversely commenting on an appointment for doing so. of the Attorney-General vs. Dalton report- made by the trustees and stating that they The whole fabric of this portion of the ed in 13 Beavan, page 141. The facts of had no power to make any such appoint ­ ment, what would an ordinary prudent 1851. That deed affords no foundation If anything, the facts in this case are clearer Parsi say to himself? He would say, “These newspapers throw doubt on the trustees ’ authority to appoint a new trustee, but foundation that at best is not substantial, it surely these doubts must be thrown merely must crumble. The powers sought to be to start a useless discussion to filPup their conferred by the six members of the pal question litigated was by whom new columns, or these articles are inspired by Punchayet on five of themselves were trustees to be added to the rector and someone who bears ill-will to the trustees, powers that they had no right to confer, and church wardens ought (when required) to They are men of the highest respectabi- nothing that is subsequently done can be appointed, it being contended on behalf lity — they occupy very high positions in life — they command the respect and invalid and unauthorized, confidence of the community, surely it is not possible to conceive that such men Punchayet according to ancient usage has would do what would be very wrong if the been satisfactorily proved to have been in newspaper comments are correct. They the Parsi community. The community never trustees (when required) belongs to the would be the last persons to deprive the expressly delegated to the Punchayet the surviving trustees without the intervention community of its right to appoint trustees power to appoint trustees. The members of of the parishioners at large. ” The deed of 1851 was there. That deed powers they must be taken to have derived not have got the power inserted in the deed, and that the then trustees would not have The whole fabric of this portion of the defendants ’ case is based on the deed of thatcase are, in many respects, very similar. whatever for the fabric, and, like all against the defendants and less lost in structures based on no foundation or a obscurity than in the English case. In the course of his judgment. Lord Langdale, the Master of the Rolls, says: “The princi- nothing that is subsequently done can validate an act which in its inception was of the informant (the Attorney-General) that the new trustees should be nominated The right to appoint members of the by the rate-payers of the parish: while the defendants now claiming to be trustees contend that the right of nominating new A(lfactors-QuantuinDirect/IR/94-929 44 Parsiana October 1996 * Ithat were acquired by purchase were pieces of land adjoining the land on which the Towers stood. It appears that the Punchayet was desirous of extending the compound of the Towers, thus ensuring greater seclusion for the Towers and avoiding as far as possible the chance of people of other religions — commonly spoken of as durwands — from settling on adjoining lands or building houses in the vicinity of the Towers. As opportunities offered, they acquired pieces of land contiguous to the land on which the Towers stood and added the same in the original compound. All these pieces of land now form one large piece of ground and there-is nothing at present to show separately the different small pieces of land added from time to As in this case, the surviving trustees in that case had been for some years nomi ­ nating new trustees; but it was contended that that was contrary to the original usage. The Master of the Rolls in his judgment gave effect to the fact that the estate was purchased from funds belonging to the parish, and was managed, although not regularly, by the parish at vestry meetings; that there was distinct evidence of new trustees being appointed, at all events, at one vestry meeting; and that several deeds contained recitals that the new trustees were appointed by the parishioners and inhabitants of the parish in vestry assem ­ bled. The court finally held that “a mode of necessary to consider, in the first place, nomination contrary to former usage...but how each one of these properties was acted upon only at a subsequent period acquiredby or for the Parsi community. As cannot affect the right of the parishioners, shown before, the only immoveable time — except the various documents if the nomination was with thefti; ” and properties that belonged to the Parsi evidencing the acquisition of these pieces diat, in such circumstances, the court “ought Punchayet previous to 1823 were a large of land. Since 1823, two other Towers and to be guided by the earliest evidence of piece of land at Malabar Hill, with three two other Sagdis have been built on the usage, and rather presume that what was Towers of Silence, a Sagdi, and a Sagdi- then done, and so long afterwards continued wala ’s house standing thereon and the Fort to be done was rightly done. ” It was held in that case on circumstances — not so strong Parsi Punchayet acquired other properties, or clear as in this case — that the defen ­ danttrustees had not been duly appointed... for the benefit of the community and some I will now consider the defendants ’ position with regard to the immoveable properties of which they claim to the trustees. To this part of the case somewhat There should be some responsible electorate for the appointment of new trustees different considerations apply. It is original land. Previous to 1884, there was no general deed covering all these Nasakhana. Between 1823 and 1884, the properties in the possession of the trustees — I use the word trustees for convenience. Some were given as gifts to the Punchayet meaning thereby the people who from time to time claimed to be trustees and were in possession and management of the were purchased by them from the General Charitable Funds and another fund known Punchayet p^perties. I wilf continue to as the “Fund for expenses in connection use the word in that sense. There were, withtheTowersofSilence. ”Theproperties prior to 1884, a great tpany deeds and MATRIMONIAL Wanted a Parsi man, tall, kind and understanding for a 42-year-old woman, willing to settle in Pune or Bombay. Age-group 45 to 50. Write to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Oct/36-96)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. MATRIMONIAL Parents seek matrimony for their attractive, post graduate working daughter, 34 years, looking much younger and coming from a respectable family. Boys with similar background kindly apply with recent photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Oct/37-96)* GPO Box 892,.Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. / Cflff A * Farah Tanya 4BOOKS The joy of good living Shirin K. Bharucha Parsi Food and Customsby Bhicoo J. Manekshaw. Published in 1996 by Penguin Books India (P) Ltd, 210 Chiranjiv Tower, 43 Nehru Place, New Delhi that the ruler of Sanjan sent back to the first 110019. Pp: 430. Price; Rs 200. into India — symbolized by the sugar that tanced by time and space from their com- not only sweetened the brimful cup of milk munity of origin. t The recipes you have described are mercifully, for an amateur cook like me, not too compli ­ cated — so I can attempt a few. They go back to our roots, to those very special flavors and tastes which are difficult to replicate now that geneti ­ cally engineered, monster ­ sized perfect foods, hybrid seeds and pesticides have taken over. Or is it that we are just older, our palates a bit jaded and there is no sauce like the hunger of youth? I refuse to believe that. You have despribed the dishes — dhansak, akuri, rava being some 6f them — by which our cuisine is well- known. (I loved the quaint reproductions of the pronun- * ciation of some of them — caster biscot\ — is that really so?) There is a host of other dishes in your repertoire which would grace any table. But, really, are you serious about bhujelo sas and sukha boomla pur eedal In all my years of good eating (and happily there have been many) I’ve never heard of them — much less tasted them, especially the latter rather curious, esoteric creation, which defies even my vivid imagination. Bhicoo, according to me, the best way to test, as it were, a recipe book is to try out one familiar dish and one new one to see with the milk. how they taste — authentic and tasty, or The illustrations are so important, as a strange but nevertheless acceptable. So I ses (silver tray) or a paro (cone shaped y ¦ I ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ My dear Bhicoo, What a marvellously happy book you have written! Filled as it is with the joys of good eating at a time when nasties like low fat diets and choles ­ terol were blissfully unknown. There are recipe books and recipe books — mouth- wateringly illustrated — but few which have silken strands of memories woven into them. Memories of a spacious, gracious time when the leisure to enjoy such things was not a luxury, but an essential part of one ’s life. None of the spartan, eating-to-live busi ­ ness was known to us Parsis! We were, and still are, a people who can sit down to a feast, and cheerfully discuss more good food through the meal. Perhaps one such recipe book that can compare with yours is Memories of Food at Gypsy House by Felicity and Roald Dahl, which recalls the parties and occasions around which a memorable meal was made, or of the idiosyncracies of the person who created the recipes. You must read this book, if you haven ’t already. What especially pleased me about your book is how customs and celebratory — and not so celebratory — occasions from settlers here, but by the sugar that blended birth to death are explained and embel ­ lished by a few apt sketches. What people do, are required to do, what they eat, and how they dress on those occasions are as silver container) or a chalk (daily renewed much a part of the minutiae of living as floor designs with white powered lime) (Grandma would think that sacrilegious), any. Much ofthis has been lost to our small would have no meaning for the uniniti- It was so good! And an added bonus was but unique community in the rush and ated. They must also be of great help to the uncomplicated short method of mak- bustle of life today in which we tend to (of those Parsis who have made their homes necessity sometimes) take short cuts. But, more importantly, these customs and us ­ ages have been lost in the blending of us 50 Parsiana October 1996 l« * Manekshaw: a taste for the meals and conventions of times past Photo: Varghese Fernandez tried out the unusual recipe of Maja Daruwala ’s prawn patia with tomato sauce abroad and a new generation has grown up around them, many of whom in the com ­ pany of their foreign peer groups are dis- ing it, especially when I have to fit it in between my work schedule and my social schedule — both hectic — I can tell you. For the new recipe I tried vengna ni buri- Iani, which is something I disliked as a schoolgirl as it looked like dhansak and tricked you into tasting some other not so nice thing. The dish transported me back to days long forgotten and, with an adult ’s acquired tastes, I wondered why I had so disliked it. I thought I would muster up the temer ­ ity to try a variation on your rava recipe to transform it into a heavenly dessert: Soak plenty of dried fruit for garnish — raisins galore, slivers of orange peel, cherries and GujaratiSahityaKshetreParsionunPradanby Dr a patriot to the last moments of her life, walnuts in a generous measure of dark rum Ratan Rustomji Marshall. Published in 1995 by Vakil was the embodiment of the noblest for a day. Add all the rum to the rava, and values and virtues of humanity, then some, till it takes on the color of a pink dawn — and sit back and accept the praise '_______ ___________ ___ _ ____ ____ — from your guests ! Do people still make and with us writing in shudh (correct) Gujarati eat exotica like popatjil I think even our today. Dr Ratan Marshall is, by any stan- stronghold of Parsi cuisine, the RTI, has dard, in the front rank among them. He has of the author ’s golden years. If Marshall discontinued this. by now a dozen first- spent his youth wri- You are what you consume, said the rate books to his ere- ting the History of French gourmet Brillat-Savarin. Sowhat dit, including the pre- Gujarati Journalism, doesthatmakeus? Gourmets? Gourmands? sent one under review he has devoted the Or, having seen how people can eat at a which has appeared latter part of his life wedding, a mix of the two? More the in Gujarati as well as in giving us this in ­ gourmet I think, with our enthusiastic love in an English account formative work, of life and its goodies. Our love of good of Parsi contribution Parsis are, in fact, food spills over into our love of literature, to Gujarati literature. pioneers in almost music and the arts. Someone once said that Four more publica- all spheres of life. If the best way to get the better of temptation tions by Marshall are they were first in the is just to yield to it — and sometimes j think we follow that advice, foodwise, to the letter. Nevertheless, have you noticed, made his mark by Bhicoo, that our community is, despite our writing a very well ­ indulgences, long-lived? Is that not quite researched work, The contrary to all modem thinking on dietary History of Gujarati rules? Are the doctors out there listening? Journalism, nearly I agree with you, ours is a happy reli ­ gion — one of the tenets of which is an admonition to keep one ’s mind and body from the University healthy. This is reflected in our unreserved of Bombay. It was a enjoyment of the fruits of the good earth, labor of love, to Marshall: a passion for Gujarati Our renowned wedding and navjote feasts which he had devoted bear witness to this. Yes, your grand ­ mother tells of washing her hands in brandy enriched Gujarat and Gujarati literature, at the end of the meal — and mine told me of a full bhonu (wedding feast) being pro ­ vided with whiskey and wine to accom ­ pany a gargant ?an repast with all the extras and trimmings for all of Rs 15 a plate. Unbelievable? Those were the days! So, I am leafing through your book with only traced the contribution of this illus- much joy — not knowing what gastro ­ nomic delight awaits me at the turn of a page. You can be sure, I will be carrying a copy of it to my sister in New York — for her and her children'. To explain to them in an uncomplicated manner our fascinating customs — some still followed and some fallen by the way. And to give them in the hurried present a taste of the meals and Cama and Vakil have brought his subjects conventions of a leisurely past. to life. If Cama was a freedom fighter and Parsi Gujarati: the end of an idiom Hormazdyar S. Dalal Ratan Rustomji Marshall. Published in 1995 by Gurjar Granth Ratna Karyalaya, Gandhi Road, Ahmedabad 380001. Pp: 262. Price: 130. There are not more than six Parsi writers Marshall ’s account of P^si contribu ­ tion to Gujarati literature is a valuable addition to the history of Gujarati litera ­ ture in general. It is, in a sense, the result 52 Parsiana October 1996 by now a dozen first- rate books to his cre- in Gujarati as well as in an English account to Gujarati literature. Four more publica- field Gujarati jour ­ nalism, medicine, engineering, etc, they were also the first to launch the theater movement in India. And they did not lag behind in cul ­ tivating all the salient art forms of litera ­ ture: the essay, the novel, poetry and criticism. During the the best years of his youth. The work last century or so, their literary work grew in volume and fornjed a distinctive sec ­ tion, which came to be known as Parsi Gujarati literature as Parsi writers left on their creations a stamp of their individual idiom. But, sadly, in no way could this be in the pipeline. Marshall initially four decades ago. He received a PhD for it Since then Marshall has written half-a- dozen biographical works. He has skill ­ fully depicted the lives of Ardeshar Kot- wal, Madame Bhikhaiji Cama, Nusservan- ji Vakil and others. In his life of Kotwal, Marshall has not considered a happy result. Because they did not pay enough attention to creating trious figure to the history of Surat, but original works, or to developing their has also lent color to the past culture of knowledge of the language. This, and other one of the prominent cities of Gujarat. It weaknesses of Parsi authors are the burden is, in fact, an exciting tale of the very cor ­ dial relationship between two ancient cul ­ tures: of the Hindus and Iranian Zoroastri ­ ans. His two other works on the lives of therefore, is conspicuously absent in Parsi works though a few of the novels have continued on page 56 of Marshall ’s present work. The majority of Parsi novels are trans ­ lations of popular fiction writers of the past century, mostly British. Originality, * k «MILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides registered last month. The (as listed in this issue) ranged between 23 and 41 years, the arithmetic mean (the total num­ ber of individual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 28 years. The correspond­ ing figures for the grooms were 26 and 44 years, averaging at 32 years. As compared to 78 Zoroas ­ trians who were consigned to the Towers of Silence there were 22 babies bom in Bombay in September as per the data supplied to us from four hospi­ tals. Heart disease claimed 25 Bombay are supplied^ by four patients of whom 12 were 80 hospitals — births in suburban years and above. The other kill- hospitals and private nursing ers were pneumonia and lung homes are not included unless disease (11), septicemia and individuals send us information kidney failure (six each) and old together with a copy of the birth certificate. There may be an in­ advertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ______ __ ____ _ ceremony. In the breakup of residing at 15/3, Wadia Block, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; October 1 age and general debility and hy­ pertension (five each). Brain disease took a toll of four lives whereas three victims fell prey to cancer. Two deaths each were attributed to uremia and diabe ­ tes. Gastro-intestinal haemorr ­ hage, Hepatitis B, lupus pericar ­ ditis, head injury, hypertensive thalarmc bleed, motor neuron disease, haemorrhage, hypopro­ teinemia (deficient protein in the blood plasma from dietary deficiency or excessive excre­ tion) and atherosclerosis (depo­ sition of fatty substances in the arteries) were the isolated cases BOMBAY BORN A girl, Mehrnaaz, to Pinaze and Darayus Bharucha on August 16, 1996 A girl, Benafsha, to Monaz and Porus Soonawalla; October 2 A girl, Benafsha, to Rashna and Zubin Wadiwalla; October 2 A girl to Dilshad and Cyrus Unwalla; October 4 A girl to Anna and Neville Choksi; October 5 A boy to Shemaz and Viraf Dhalla; October 6 A girl to Jennifer and Rustom Thanawala; October 8 A girl to Jennifer and Maneck Mistry; October 10 A girl to Perlena and Rustom Irani; October 12 A girl to Hufriz and Pharoah Basta; October 13 A girl to Nilooffer and Cusrow age range fluctuated between 48 and 102 years. The Zoroastrian life Jehangir Afldiam; October 2 expectancy at birth, in Bombay Jennifer Loveji Contractor and in September, was 78 years. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by Hoshang Firoze Deboo; various newsletters and anju ­ mans in India and abroad, courts Benaifer Rusi Mirzan and and hospitals. This information Dinyar Behramgor Dastoor of Ahmedabad; October 24 Bakhtawar Eruch is not always complete or con­ sistent; we are unable to carry data from areas where the Vaghchhipawala and Yezdi anjumans do not furnish the par ­ ticulars; the birth figures for hospitals and private nursing deaths according to illnesses, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of Daisy Darabshaw Patel (48), Umrigar Bldg, Chikalwadi, 400007; October 1 Roda Behram Vachha (75), Cama Bldg no 3, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; October 1 Rusi Jehangir Driver CEI), Petit Sanatorium, Cumballa Hill, 400026; October 2 Khodabux Khodaram Khosravi (66), 5, Qureshi Mhl, M. M. Chotani Rd, Mahim, 400016; October 2 Hormuzdiar Dinshaw Choksi (78), 2, Marine Chmbs, New Marine Lines, 4(K)020; October 3 Homai Faredoon Kutar (80), R/8, Dalal Est, Bhadkamkar Marg, Near Bombay Central, 400008; October 3 Darabshaw Cooverji Amroliwalla (88), 15, Doctor Bldg, Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; October 4 Minocheher Meherji Antia (85), G/5, Shapur Baug, V. P, Rd, 400004; October 5 Jamshed Hormusji Katrak (83), C/o A. M. Katrak, Jahangir Mans, Hughes Rd, 400007; October 5 Aloo Navroji Billimoria (80), J. Petit Block no 1, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; October 6 several diseases. If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us. Cooper; October 13 A boy to Parvin and Aspy Buhariwalla; October 14 A girl to Maneck and Manoj Bhatia; October 16 A boy to Dinaz and Kersi Irani; October 20 A girl to Niloufer and Rumy Dukandar; October 23 A girl to Ava and Neville Poonawalla; October 23 A girl to Zarin and Farrokh Bharucha; October 24 A boy to Shehnaz and Zubin Bilimoria; October 24 A girl to Monaz and Zubin Dalal; October 26 A girl to Taruna and Heckter Engineer; October 26 A boy to Dinaz and Sorab Engineer; October 26 A boy to Jennifer and Jimmy Dadrewalla; October 28 A girl to Meher and Phiroz Dubash; October 29 MARRIED Zarin Aspi Jijina and Ruzbeh Jamshed Eruch Dinshaw; October 6 Kainaz Minoo Bhagat and October 17 Homi Sagar; October 25 Mahzarin Pervez Driver and Rohinton Cawas Wadia; October 25 Khushnum Rusi Fraser and Porus Ker si Rabadi; October 28 Mehemaz Rusi Anklesaria and Zubin Sikander Malao; October 29 DIED Dolat Darashaw Kapadia (91), Dara Jalejar Driver (57), F/20, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; October 6 Khorshed Nariman Khatao (78), Gowalia Tank Bldg, August Kranti Marg, 400007; October 7 Soonoo Adi Motivala (80), 8, Lady Ratan Tata Bldg no 3, Turner Rd, Bandra, 400050; October 7 Goal Savak Unvala (86), 785, Readymoney Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; October 7 Ratanshaw Cooverji Bhathena (87), C/68, Bhiwandiwalla Ter, Dhobitalao, 400002; October 8 Ardeshir Cursetji Lentin (76), Roda Bldg, South Frere Bridge, Grant Rd, 400007; October 8 Naja Cciwasji Sidhwa (94), 9, Soona Mhl, 143, Marine Drive, 400020; October 8 Mino Noshirwan Pestonji (84), G/1, Mahavir Complex, Navghar, Vasai, 401201; October 9 Jer Jal D^Sruwalla (59), 2/35, Piroja Mans, Sir Ratan Tatar Rd, Tardeo, 400034; Octoter 10 Aloo Jamshed Khombata (82), 1/A, Lady Dorab Tata Bldg no 1, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; October 10 Jal Jivanji Vakil (78), 224, Gustad Mans, Tardeo Rd, 400007; October 10 Roshan Soli Madon (66), 6/27, Old Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; October 11 Bahadur Rustamji Mewawala (72), 1/A, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; October 11 Rustomji Jeejeebhoy Billimoria (91), 751, Rustom Villa, Dr Ghanti Rd, ParsT Clny, Dadar, 400014; October 12 Dina Keiki Jarda (85), G, Bhiwandiwalla Ter, Dhobitalao, 400002; October 12 Dhanmai Behramji Patel (79), 7/101, Rajendra Ngr, Dattapada Rd, Borivli (E), 400066; October 12 Morvarid (Homayoon) Khodayar Attaie (85), Irani Bldg, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Dadar (E), 400014; October 14 Nusserwanji Nanabhoy Bharucha (80), C/o M. N. Bharucha, 7, Bharucha Bldg, Gilder Lane, Lamington Rd, 400{X)8; October 14 Nerges Rustam Irani (72), 25, Anand Niwas, A Rd, 53 Parsiana October 1996 4* 4Churchgate, 400020; October 14 Rustom Jamshed Irani (Palang) (73), Rustom Manzil, Khadeshwari Mandir Marg, Bandra (W), 400050; October 14 Jehangir Jamshedji Muccadam (86), E/15, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; October 14 Rati Pirojsha Palkhiwala (82), A, Aradhana, 6/D, Ambedkar Marg, 400012; October 14 Tehmina Behram Patel (102), Chateau Windsor, 86, Veer Nariman Rd, Churchgate, 400020; October 14 Banoobai Sohrabji Shroff (94), Patel Wadia Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; October 14 Nergish Ratansha Bulsara (66), 618/A, Bhiwandiwalla Ter, Girgaum Rd, 40(X)02; October 15 Piroja Darcd^shah Laher (82), M. B. House, Janmabhoomi Marg, Fort, 4(X)00r, October 15 Banoobai Noshirwan Mody (83), 286, Sitaram Sadan, Princess St, 400002; October 15 Goal Adi Hakim (67), New Khan Bldg, Chikalwadi, Tardeo Rd, 400007; October 16 Bhikhoo Kekhushroo Khodaiji (73), Motibai Bhuvan, Proctor St, Grant Rd, 400007; October 16 Bejan Jehanbax Lakdawala (Bharuchwalla) (88), C/o N. J. Bharucha, 8, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 40)027; October 16 Jal Eruchshaw Khambatta (85), Lady Dorab Tata Bldg no 7, Tata Blocks, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; October 17 Noshir Framji Motafram (86), R/270, Olive Lodge, Chowdhary Marg, Juhu, 400049; October 17 Gool Barjor Gai (75), 101, Hormuzd Apts, Cumballa Hill, 400026; October 18 Firoze Kaikhushroo Engineer (72), Rusi Mehta Bldg, Dinbai Petit Lane, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; October 19 Parvez Pirojsha Jesia (62), Room no 8, Contractor Chwl, Dadji Konde Rd, Byculla, 400027; October 19 Alamai Eruchsha Colah (71), H/8, Tarachand Bldg, Captain Clny, Tardeo, 400034; October 20 Keki Dinshaw Dumasia (72), Sethna Bldg, 27, Station Rd, Mahim (W), 400016; October 20 Ketayun Gustad Khambatta (75), E/16, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; October 20 Soley Rustomji Panthakey (72), 3/25, A. H. Wadia Baug, G. D. Ambedkar Marg, Parel, 400033; October 20 Jaloo Rustomji Daruwalla (80), E/28, Jer Baug, Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; October 21 Boman Dinshawji Mistry (72), Petit Block no 1, Jamshedji Petit St, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; October 21 Nerges Burjor Pardiwalla (74), Minoo Lodge, 139, Tardeo Rd, 400034; October 21 Keshwar Bahram Felfeli (80), Fairy Manor, 13, Gunbow St, Fort, 400001; October 22 Peshotan Kayoji Mirza (89), A/704, Accord Co-op Hsg Ltd, Lokhandwala Complex, 2nd Cross Lane, Andheri (W), 400058; October 22 Rusi Jalejar Motashapur (82), 5, Auburn Hse, 38, Forjett St, 400036; October 22 Noshir Jehangir Olia (84), 125/A, Bhangarwadi, Lonavla, 410401; October 22 Rumi Ruttonsha Bhavnagri (86), E/6, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 4(XM)27; October 23 Phiroze Jehangir Dover (70), Hira Cottage, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Rd, 400004; October 24 Hormazd Jamshed Dadachanji (66), India Hse no 1, Kemp’s Corner, 400036; October 25 Dinshaw Jehangir Mehta (85), 5, Master Bldg, Bai Navajbai Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; October 25 Coomi Minocher Wellington (93), 201, Roberts Ark, Chinchpokli Rd, Bandra, 4(X)050; October 25 Homai Eruchshaw Dukandar (87), C/o A/22, Jer Baug, Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; October 26 Khorshed Rustomji Elavia (72), Mithaiwalla Mans, 12th Khetwadi Lane, Grant Rd, 400(X)4; October 26 Behram Khurshedji Kapadia (82), Navyug Chmbs, 165, Dr D. Bhadkamkar Marg, 400007; October 27 Mithamai (Mithibai) Ardeshir Katpitia (87), Keshav Bhavan, 7th Khetwadi Back Rd, 40(X)04; Octobe? 27 Zini Keki Patel (69), Hormuz Bldg, Dadajee Konde Marg, ¦> * yVith compliments from B. B. GARDA & SONS 10 B. J. Road Poona 411001 54 Parsiana October 1996 II 5 Byculla, 400027; October 27 Shirin Nariman Aloona (82), Khairapada, P.O. Boisar, Tai Palghar, Dist Thane, 401501; October 28 Jal Hormusjee Khajotia (69), T/3, Cusrow Bang, S. B. Rd, 400039; October 28 Pesi Ardeshir Khodaiji (85), 3/11, B. S. Panthaky Bang, S. V. Rd, Andheri, 400069; October 28 Roshan Rustom Bhomisha (67), Dhunbad, Sleater Rd, 400007; October 29 Mehr a Kaikhushroo Kanga 1^9), 681/B, Firdoshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; October 29 Dhunjishaw Edulji Medhora (84), Sethna Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; October 29 Sheroo Ardeshir Tata (77), 2/A, Karai Est, 248, Javji Dadaji Marg, 400007; October 29 Roda Jehangir Treasuryvala (76), Dina Villa, 23, Pali Rd, Bandra, 400050; October 29 Mary Cursetjee Jamshedjee (90), 10/B, Darbhanga Mans, 12, Carmichael Rd, 4(X)026; October 30 Feroze Dara Mirza (88), Jaiphal Ter, 31, Forjett St, 400036; October 30 Jal Rustomji Khory (77), E. M. Estate Bldg no 4, Near Bandra Talkies, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; October 31 JABALPUR DIED Jerbai Dinshawji Mistry (86), Jehangirabad, Marhatal, 482001; October 18 NAVSARI DIED Aderbad Dastur Meherjirana', September 14 POONA DIED Tehmina Nadirshah Khambatta (88), A-7/403, Neelkanth Ngr, Bhavani Peth, 411042; September 5 Alice Hormagi Bhiwandiwalla (89), 6, Sahani Sujan Park, Kondwa Rd, 411040; September 10 Dara Rashid Khambattcf (65), 4, Bund Garden Rd, 411001; September 16 Noshir Dinshaw Karani (86), Karani Bhavan, Narangi Bhaug Rd, 411001; September 18 Sheroo Sheriyaar Fatakia (82), Jamasp Bldg, Ma-Parviz Rd, BORN Boys Girls A MARRIED Parsi Intercommilnal 8 DIED CONSIGNED Males Females CREMATED Males Females 6 16 37 41 A: Total numbers in this issue B: Running totals for 1996 (February-March 1996-October 1996 issues) '' Males married out — 9 -Males —2 * Males — 1 Females married out — 8 Females — 2 Females — 3 o Overseas deaths are listed in the consigned column as Parsiana does not have a breakup of those cremated. These figures pertain to information provided to or collected by Parsiana. They do not represent the total number of births, marriages and deaths in the Zoroastrian community in India and abroad? ¦Males —2 Females — 2 411002; October 4 Jeerubanu Erachshah Engineer (73), 208, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, 411001; October 5 Dara Shapoorji Sadri (91), C/4, Pancharatna Bldg, Bhairobanalla; October 7 Aloo Sorab Majoo (72), E/10, Hermes Hse, 1989, Convent St, 411001; October 8 Sam Rustom Irani (80), Sukh Sagar Apts, 7, Connaught Rd, Opp GPO, 411001; October 13 SURAT DIED Firoz Dhanjisha Crawford (88), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; October 2 Pirozsha Aredeshir Postwala (52), Jakat Naka, Palanpur, 395001; October 2 Piroza Adi Contractor (79), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; October 5 Darabshaw Faramji Suwaliwala (85), Kuka Chawl, Shahpore, 395003; October 12 Kolamai Dadabhai Ghadiyali {97), Joshi Block, Vakil St, 395(X33; October 16 Dorabsha Kharshadji Choksi (81), Nanpura, 395001; October 24 Allamai Darabshaw Mistry (86), Paia St, Nanpura, 395001; October 25 Dolly Fall Sachinwala (66), TOTALS FOR 1996 Bombay B A B 80 85 6 3 138 17^ 388 419 India 4 4' 11 11 84 72 Alahi Baug, Rustompura, 395002; October 25 Makkamai Pirojsha Lalsodagar (75), Bibini wadi, 395003; October 27 Kawasji Piroshsha Daruvala (74), Abikanikatm, 395003; October 28 Keki Hosang Patel (69), Nanpura, 395001; October 28 CANADA Vancouver DIED Mehraban Rostam Farhangi (81), husband of Goli and father of Nilgun and Padra; October 26 PAKISTAN Karachi BORN A girl, Charmaine, to Vini and Farhad Irani', April 23 A girl, Khursheed, to Jasmine and Sarosh Gamwalla', May 8 A boy, Sheriar, to Anahita and Danesh Khambatta', June 17 A boy. Nadir, to Mehenaz and Khurshid Bharucha', July 18 A girl, Danielle, to Jessica and Jamshed Dubash', August 13 A girl, Farezea, to Katy and Jamshed Patel', August 20 A girl, Sarah, to Shermin and Jal Kaikobad', August 23 A boy, Rony, to Jassica and Khurshed Karanjia', August 27 A World B 3 5 21 26 2 10 4* 5 4 49° 36 DIED Maneck Minocher Mehta (83); August 7 Goola Jal Billia (89); j^ugust 9 Minoo D. Gamwalla (64); August 16 Nadir Nawroji Sethna (89); August 17 Bahdur Jehangir (67); September 1 Dolly Hommie Bharucha (61); October 11 4* 4 USA Chicago MARRIED Benifer Khambatta, daughter of Farida and Sarosh and Bruce Bedford', Augus£29 Tammi Davis of Indiana, daughter of Peggy Akin and Ray and Jamshed Rivetna, son of Roshan and Rohinton; August 31 Houston DIED Kawasjee Desai, husband of Perin and father of Rohinton; September 9 Los Angeles DIED Mahrukh Sorab Chama (43); May 25 Compiled by Roxana A. Driver 55 Parsiana October 1996 IIN MEMORIAM Blessed with the hat Parinaz Gandhi BOOKS continued from page 52 been garbed in the Parsi way of life or the culture or history of days gone by. Kai- khushru Ardeshir Fitter was one such wri ­ ter, who wrote good novels based on so- cio-historical problems. Nevertheless, ev ­ ery Parsi today is rightly proud of two Par ­ si poets — Behramji Malbari and Ardes- her Framji Khabardar. There were other lean. Modi, who has been commended for deft use of his wrists and almost flawless technique, was known to be physically lesser lights too, like Jehangir Manekji Desai and the late Minoo Desai, both of Navsari. As the editor of The Bombay Died: Rusi Sheriar Modi, 71, former In ­ dian test cricketer, on May 17, 1996 fol ­ lowing cardiac arrest that led to his fatal fall from the third floor balcony of the imposing and “some of his feats are still Cricket Club of talked about de ­ India (CCI). spite the passage of Samachar, Minoo also carved his name as time, ’’ states the Express. His contempo ­ rary at Associated Cement Compa ­ nies (ACC), Mad- hav Mantri, re ­ ferred to Modi as an “all-time great, ” and recalled Mo ­ di ’s reluctance for net practice on the rationale that prac ­ tice pitches might reputed Parsi writers of chaste Gujarati, not be good and adversely affect his confidence. Bombay born Modi spent his school days in Surat and derived B Modi: “a gentleman to the core " Courtesy: The Afternoon Despatch and Courier informs Keki Dudhwala in the Jam-e- Jamshed of June 9, 1996. His higher edu ­ cation was at Bombay ’s St Xavier ’s Col- which spanned several years, he rose to be senior manager, purchase. One of his asso ­ ciates, Bhagwan Thadani, remembered him as being “gentle, kind-hearted and soft- a capable journalist. Another outstanding name associated with Gujarati literature is that of Rustom ­ ji Ranina, who was the first to compile an English-Gujarati Dictionary in 1857. Simi ­ larly, Fardunji Marzban and Kaikhus- hru Naoroji Kabraji were outstanding Gujarati journalists whose pioneering work will long be remembered. There were scores of other writers, men and women who enriched Parsi Gujarati literature. But all that is in the past. Today, sadly, we do not have even half-a-dozen The present generation of Parsis has un- If Marshall spent his youth writing the History of Gujarati Journalism, he has devoted the latter part of his life in giving us this informative work 4^ * “Modi personi ­ fied the best in cricket. He was a gentleman to the core. ” This tribute for Modi came from Lala Amarnath, considered the grand old man of Indian cricket, who remembered their days at the crease and especially the duo ’s 411-run part ­ nership in less than a day for a Com ­ bined XI against Rest of India at Calcutta in 1946. “Modi was a crick ­ eter straight from the coaching manuals, ” mentioned his his inspiration for cricket from his father, noted peer Polly Umrigar. “He was an artiste of the highest order, ” added Umri ­ gar who related how Modi could play on the front or back foot as the situation lege. During his association with ACC, warranted. When speaking to the United News of India, former Indian skipper Nari Contractor referred to Modi ’s style and grace, being blessed with a tremendous capacity to score and place the ball at will, spoken. He was easily approachable and His total of 736 runs in the 10 test always used to guide and help out in work, matches where he represented India was As a column writer in various newspapers, an indicator that “while Vijay Merchant Modi offered many tips... ” was the most successful batsman in the party. Modi, if not as prolific...could be depended upon, ” commented Rajan Bala a recluse and (was) seen to move around In her voluminous work. History of in The Afternoon Despatch and Courier the CCI all by himself. He had difficulty Parsi Literature, Pilan Makati first dealt of May 18, 1996. With-Vijay Merchant, recognizing people, ” wrote Bala. Irrespec- Modi holds the distinction of sharing a five of whether he could identify others, Ranji trophy record for their 371-run part- Modi had built up an identity as “one of the humbly acknowledged his debt to it as it nership for the sixth wicket, as reported finest batsmen the country produced in the in the Indian Express of May 18. His record of scoring seven centuries in seven Ranji matches is a feat that has yet to be following generations would be a futile surpassed, while his other record of aggre ­ gating 1,008 runs in seven innings was beaten after 44 years in 1988. Tall and daughter Gyesha Adi Madan. Known to be jovial in his younger days, in later life the cricketer became a “bit of Gujarati alphabet, a recluse and (was) seen to move around fortunately lost touch with its mother tongue. The majority of our boys and girls, and their elders too, do not even know the with this subject nearly 50 years ago. But how many of us know of it? Marshall has was his principal reference work while forties, ” in the words of Contractor who writing the book, along with other works added, “Comparing him with batsmen of on the subject. Marshall ’s work is scholarly, and an exercise. ” eye-opener for the Parsis of today. Also, it Modi is survived by his wife Rutty, and will surely prove very useful to all other readers and writers of Gujarati literature. 56 Parsiana October 1996 I