Nov 1996

I I Ui Al ra } NOVFM8ER 1996 Rs 22 .«,.fjl India’s Solicitor General Tehmtan Andhyarujina ,l»jl ' rt» « I /iO ’•6 ? s V»S ¦¦'A.- /fl I «> . .’'MW '^ ' tM*’***^ *' I 3’ I P Bi’ t»rNovember 1996 Volume 19 Number 4 EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama 2 Readers’ Forum EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi SENIOR EDITORS Dina K. Mehta, Hilla P. Guzder ASSOCIATE EDITOR Roxana A. Driver DESIGN Krarjti M. Shilotri, Jayshree R. Ghosh MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel 12 Events and Personalities 20 Zoroastrians Abroad: Mixed messages 26 Plaudits for the pentad by Arnavaz Mama ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Niloufer Panthaky, Susan Hadvaid FINANCE B. L. Arora 28 Tehmtan Andhyarujina: “He goes by the law’’ 36 Freya Javeri’s pet profession by Hilla Guzder EDP Rohinton E. Daroga MANAGEMENT Jasmine Driver 40 Books 49 Milestones DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, K. P. Ravi SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Khurshid Panthaki 52 In Memoriam ASSISTANT SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Swarupa Kamat ASSISTANT PURCHASE MANAGER Bindu Pillai Cover: Photograph by Chetan Mistry ACCOUNTANT Anagha Korde ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT Varsha Godbole SENIOR ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT Chetan Halani ACCOUNTS ASSISTANTS Indu Pillai, Satwant Kaur OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Suhil Sakhare, Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav 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. For subscription enquiries and payments: C/o Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman St (Behind Reserve Bank of India), Bombay 400001; Phone: 2658619, 2665661. Fax: 2654585. Annual inland subscription for one year (10 issues) Rs 200; for two years (20 issues) Rs 375. Foreign subscription rates: Seamail for one year Rs 375/US $ 14/UK £ 9; for two years Rs 700/US $ 23/UK £ 15 (please allow six months or more for delivery from the time of publication). Airmail for one year Rs 700/US $ 23/UK £ 15 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 500); for two years, Rs 1,300/US $43/UK £ 27 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 950). For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 10 for bank charges; for US cheques add $ 5; for UK cheques add £ 3. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favor of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001. rI READERS' FORUM Readers' views are welcome on any subject of interest to the community and should be sent to the Editor, Readers' Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892, Bombay 400001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and clarity. Unsigned letters or those without an address will not be published. “Probing for. We appear to have an interfaith confronta ­ tion on our hands. Whilst we find that Mr Pallan Ichaporia continues to keep us amused with his instant renderings of Zo­ roastrian exegesis (“Probing for Zoroas ­ trian roots, ” Zoroastrians Abroad, Par­ siana, July-August 1996), please can someone explain why the Jews are now landed with 15 tribes (or maybe 14 or even 16, depending on how closely one scruti ­ nizes the Old Testament)? Since when residents, where should modern couples have the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes been “the three main Jewish tribes? ” An ­ swers please, not on Dead Sea, but Par-sea scrolls! FARROKH VAJIFDAR London, UK I Ill 3 111311 in 3 hurry’ trusts and societies to accommodate their Some of the views expressed by Jehangir poor bretheren. R. Bisney of Secunderabad (“I’m a man in a hurry, ” Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana,June, years the Parsi population would be 20,0(X)- 1996), regarding the community ’s dimin- 25,000 and there would be no takers for ishing population, housing problem in houses. We have already permitted boys to Bombay and functioning of the Bombay marry out of the community and their Parsi Punchayet appear inappropriate and inconsistent. As aresident of Secunderabad, he lacks knowledge and experience of Bombay life. He sings the glory of Parsis a century ago and laments that the spirit of enterprise doubled. Where will you accommodate is dead. Actually the spirit of dedication them? b. m. bharucha and brotherhood is dead. Our dasturs and so called defenders of Ir3n tOUF faith chant “humata, hukhta, huvarshta I found it interesting following the report (good thoughts, words, deeds), ” “ushta in the Zoroastrian College advertisement ahmayyohahmay ushtakahmaychit (hap- (Parsiana, June 1996) of the conducted piness to those who give happiness unto tour in Iran on the occasion of the 6th others). ” We join in chorus like parrots. World Zoroastrian Congress. A larger print Who practises that? The fundamental reli ­ gious slogan “give and take ” is never prac ­ tised. We have failed to learn a lesson from Mother Teresa. To distinguish between the old and new era, in earlier times there being joint fam ­ ily system, couples were staying with broth ­ ers, sisters, parents, uncles, in one flat in accordance with old ideology, customs, of Tajikistan, pertained to the Peshdadian routines and mode of living without long- and Kaiyanian dynasties during the term future planning. Females were con ­ fined to household work and interested in child-bearing (average six to 12 per couple), generally under male domination due to lack of education. In the new era, a new ideology crept in due to the advancement of female education, sophisticated stan ­ dards of living, and a self-sufficient, career minded attitude. Due to inflation and a high standard of living, females have to Comprehensive History of the Parsis from work outside to assist the family and re- strict child-bearing to one or two. How then can you expect an increase in popula ­ tion? With all baugs being full due to old tained fromT/ie Columbia Lippincott Gaz­ etteer of the World, Webster’s New Geo­ graphical Dictionary, The Stateman's Year It is a wrong assumption that after some children are accepted in the Zoroastrian fold. Parsi girls are also demanding the same privilege and since the percentage of Parsi girls marrying out of the community is already high, the population will be size would have made reading easier. Referring to the maps on West Asia it occurred to me that all the reported sites in the north like^Sari, the capital of Mazendaren, the Caspian Sea coast in the backdrop of the Elburz mountains, the fortress near Neyshapur near 'Mirkmenistan border, Toos, the home of the poet Firdausi ar ­ chaic period 2750 BC to 550 BC, whereas all the reported sites in the south-west like Shiraz, Pasargadae, Persepolis, Yazd, Kerman and Ramadan pertained to the Achaemenian dynasties during the pre- medieval period from 550 BC to 330 BC. I found this fact intriguing and to elucidate the reasons, reference was made to Jehangir B. Sanjana ’s book published in 1935: A Primeval Times to Present Age, which was very revealing. Sanjana writes on page 87 (additional information on the geographic sites, carried in parenthesis has been ob- -K' Parsiana'& report on Dr Ichaporia ’s paper has not said the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes were “the three main Jewish tribes. ” The full clause reads “the three main Jewish tribes often locked in com ­ bat... ” go to start their families? We cannot shel ­ ter the next generation on the footpath like Book World Gazetteer and Afganistan): puppies. Shelter in higher towers is not meant for common people. The location of from Irak to Balkh. [Irak, probably Arak, residence is dependent on the location of was a province in Iran about 256 km south working place, schools, colleges, market west of Tehran. Arak was joined by the and transport facilities. There is keen competition from sister communities and schedule caste reserva ­ tion in all fields. Contrary to Bisney ’s contention, the Sindhis, Christians, — Editor Marwaris, Lohanas, etc have all organized “Kaikaus transferred his royal residence provinces of West Mazenderan, Khamseh and Kazvin which lie between the Caspian seashore and the Elburz mountains to form Iran ’s first new province of Gilan (also knownasGhilan)in 1938. Important towns in Gilan province are Resht and Pahelvi. 2 Parsiana November 1996 IBalkh was once the capital of ancient Tigris, 32 km south south-east of Baghdad. Bactria situated about 530 km north of It was the capital of the ancient Parthian Kabul. Balkh was the seat of Kaiyomars, empire from around 50 BC and the capital the first King of the Peshdadian dynasty of die Sassanian empire in 226 AD. It was and later an important center under kings i ................................ ' _ _ Faridun, Irach and Manucher. According AD. Its importance declined after the build- to tradition, Balkh was the home of i _ " ‘ Zoroaster and the center of Zoroastrianism region of Khorasan (Kaikaus^laid the foun- and a mighty metropolis during the dation of the city of Samarkand (now in Kaiyanian dynasty and has often been Uzbekistan) which centuries later was des ­ referred to as the “mother of cities. ” It. tined to rise to great eminence under the attained its greatest importance as the Bac- ' Z; „„ _____ trian satrapy of the old Persian empire in Kaikaus) finished it and Kaikhusrau (son The probable reason why the Achaemenians chose their headquarters in south-west Iran could be that the Zagros mountains gave safety and security to their overrun and plundered by the Arabs in 636 capital cities of Pasargadae (under Cyrus ............... Z the Great), Persepolis or Parsa (under ing of the Arab capital at Baghdad.) In the Darius the Great), both located near Shiraz and Susa (about 500 km north-west of Persepolis and abo6t 300 km south of Ekbatana). Ekbatana (present Hamadan in the Zardeh mountains in the west) was Tartar King Timurlane. Siavaksh (son of their summer capital. empire from around 50 BC and the capital r fxL TXA-i z- , • ¦ . . ' --------------------------'— It is really difficult to comprehend what the fifth century BC (i.e. during the of Siavaksh) who was bom there estab- motivated the Sassanians to shift their Achaemenian dynasty). It was conquered lished in it the glorious fire-temple in the capital to Ctesiphon in the plains of Iraq, by Alexander the Great in 328 BC, but treasury whereof the first Zoroastrian King They could have fought the advance of the flounshed again in the third century BC. It Vishtaspa deposited the Zoroastrian scrip- Roman armies in the west while still en- was taken over by the Arabs in 705 AD. It tures indited on gilded tablets. ” trenched in the Zagros mountains in the was ransacked by Ghengis Khan in 1221 ""-...t.,.,... - .. ..... AD and later by Timurlane and Nadir Shah, and since then has never regained its unaer me jvaiyanians, ancient Iran ex ­ former importance. Today, it is only a tended for a distance of about 3,000 km province in northern Afganistan, the near- ( ‘ est town being Mazar-i-Sharif. It came Kanyakumari in India)? Yet reading the nairative by Sanjana, I under Afg^ control in 1850 and is largely It is also worth noting that in the inter- have come to believe that it was internecine inhabit^ by Uzbeks and Tajiks.] vening Achaemenian period from 550 BC wars for the Sassanian throne following (Balkh) continued to be the capital of to 330 BC the capital of Iran was shifted to the death of Khusrau Parviz that really Kaiyanians until Queen Homai (also a Pasargadae and Persepolis in south-west crippled Iran irretrievably. Siroes was the ^yanian) made Ctesiphon the capital. Iran, but the capital was reverted to eldest son of Khusrau Parviz and the nobles (Ctesiphon IS now an ancient ruined city in Ctesiphon in Iraq during the Sassanian central Iraq on the east bank of the river period from 222 AD to 650 AD. of Siavaksh) who was bom there estab ­ lished in it the glorious fire-temple in the capital to Ctesiphon in the plains of Iraq flourished again in the third century BC. It Vishtaspa deposited the Zoroastrian scrip- . .. A . . indited on gilded tablets. ” _________________ Why Homai transferred the capital will south-west. This move to Ctesiphon may remain a mystery, but it indicates that even 1 under the Kaiyanians, ancient Iran have been a major tactical blunder which centuries later made them vulnerable to the onslaught of Arab horsemen in the (about the distance from Kashmir to plains of Iraq. It is also worth noting that in the inter ­ eldest son of Khusrau Parviz and the nobles wanted him as successor. But the conspira ­ tors goaded by Khusrau Pa>viz himself For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS Telephone 3099648 Fax 3073483 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 4 Parsiana November 1996 ! Ii I wanted Mardasas, the younger son by his Christian wife Mariam (the beautiful Shireen) on the throne. After the death of Khusrau Parviz in 628 AD, Siroes was installed king by the nobles as was the custom. Siroes wanted to marry the beau ­ tiful Princess Shireen and when she re ­ fused, the weak Siroes committeed suicide by consuming poison. In the scuffle that Visibly hoStile followed for the Sassanian throne, the con- The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe spirators wiped out the entire Sassanian (ZTFE) held its annual general meeting in 641 AD in which the Persians were routed. The losses in the two pitched battles were immense (about 1,20,000 Persians) which finally sealed the fate of the Sassa ­ nian empire and the whole of the Zagros in the south-west was in the possession of the Arabs. Dr p. d. sunavala respect of a claim by Mr Malcolm Deboo. There was an uproar and members of the association demanded an apology from both Mr Gandhi and Mr Zal Sethna. Both of them refused to apologize. Thereafter, other points were raised on the inaccura ­ cies in the accounts. The next item on the agenda was the election of committee members. Mr Zal Sethna who was due for reelection, de ­ cided to stand down. Ms Freny Writer did royal blood line by wholesale slaughter of (AGM) on Sunday, November 10, 1996. It likewise. all the 15 sons of Khusrau Parviz. In the next four years from 628 AD to 632 AD as many as five kings and queens including (comprising Darius and Zal Sethna, Mr the two daughters of Khusrau Parviz occu ­ pied the Sassanian throne, most of whom were either deposed, poisoned or mur ­ dered. Finally in 632 AD Yezdegard III, __ grandson of Khusrau Parviz received the the president were openly questioned at juxtapositfon was not lost on the members crown but by this time the nation was the meeting. The president in return ac- present there. Dr Sepai accused the presi- enfeebled by public apathy for the royalty, cused his tormentors in the same vein. The dent and the committee of hiring the Zoro- a life of luxury and the constant waging of other younger members of the committee astrian House to the World Zoroastrian wars against the Romans. were desperately trying to keep the lid on Organisation for holding the conference on The Arabs took advantage of the de- the conflagration and to get on with the cline in Iran to inflict a further crippling meeting. blow at the battle of Cadesia (half-way T' ' ' _ ' ‘ ; between Baghdad and Basra on the banks Jehangir incriminated the treasurer, Mr of the river Euphrates in Iraq) in 636 AD. A second battle was fought at Nehavand showing on the accounts for the last two (80 km south of Hamadan) five years later years a contingent liability of £ 10,000 in was obvious for all to see that the ZTFE committee was divided. The Sethna group However, the Sethna clique proposed two other names, Ms Siloo Jasawala and Dr Tehmton Sepai. The latter was pro- Viraf Gandhi, Mr Shahriar Mehani, Mr posed by Mr Tahmtan Aresh who had " " ........................ come all the way from Los Angeles, USA to be present at the AGM and was inciden- Filli Marawalla and other friends) hurled insults at the president of the ZTFE, Mr Rusi Dalal. The honesty and integrity of tally sitting next to Mr Darius Sethna. The the meeting. The president in return ac ­ cused his tormentors in the same vein. The other younger members of the committee _ were desperately trying to keep the lid on Organisation for holding the conference the religious and secular Literature of the Zoroastrian Tradition. Dr Sepai and Ms Matters heated up when Mr Sarosh Jasawala had previously sent out a petition the conflagration and to get on with the Viraf Gandhi, and the committee for not to some of the members of the ZTFE agai nsl the conference being held at the Zoroastrian House on the grounds that^Zoroastrians should not be listening to non-Zoroastrian ¦it Progressives ' M/cy., An _ Distance - - *1 *'* <#1 The lens for uninterupted vision at different ranges distance, mid-distance & reading. Progressives are muitifocai ienses without the teii-taie iines of bifocals. Progressives need professional care . For the best results come to Baliwalla & Homi. One of the finest optometrists & contact-lens practitioners in the country. Baliwalla & Homi Private Limited Flora Fountain: 365, Dr. D N.Road, Bombay 400 001 Tel: 287 4916, 2871762 • Dhobi Talao: 614, J.S. Seth Maig, Bombay 400 002. Tel; 201 4906 Parel: J.Merwanji Street, Panel, Bombay 400 012 Tel: 412 6051is not always possible to take their child to After Ratan Tata, who? speakers on the subject of Zoroastnan It is said that Ratan Naval Tata, successor to reasonably smoothly although numerous names were proposed. All these withdrew in favor of Mr Dalal who was elected president for the ensuing year. Next on the agenda was the reappoint ­ ment of the auditors, Messrs Robson Rhodes. The members decided to defer when they ye^w^rking. this item to the next meeting leading to ” commotion. The Zoroastrians of the United King ­ dom and Europe appear to be yearning child all those hours. Under these circumstances, the amount . Rs 1,000 per month offered by the BPP for chairman would retire on reaching 75 years of age. Ratan Tata will reach the age of 65 years one year after the 21st century is ushered in, at which time he will have to shed executive powers from many of the Tata companies. The hunt for his succes- the upkeep of the third child, will not in any way encourage couples to have a third child since there is no answer to the various other difficulties faced by the couple to look after the child, during the daytime The need of the hour is to have a place sor is bound to hot up. i.e. a creche/day-care center to keep the children safely during the working hours, lam sure most of the young couples will for unity and stability that the community not hesitate to pay a < .................................... —I ensure I visualize that a strong leader com ­ manding respect would be required to carry .............. ..... on the vast Tata empire. If no successor is "decent monthly fee if found, it is likely that Tata Sons, the prin- protection to the chil- cipal holding.company of major Tata con- may change the present retirement cipal holding.company of major Tata con ­ cerns, 1 had experienced under the leadership of the trust can . the late Dr Homi Sethna, the late Mr dren during working hours. If proper ta- Jehangirji Moos, Dr (Ms) Shirinbanoo cilities are c. — „ . Kutar Mr Shahpur F Captain. their colonies, when they are working, young couples in the reproductive age- group will definitely think of having more than one child. I fkiinip** crcciics I recommend that the trust should ear- -. "rxthat have already mark one or two flats in each Parsi colony existing te^ of stalwarts whose terms ol iX S bvX SeTs of the Bombay and maintain a creche in these flats for office would be simnlmneously extended Parsi Punchayet (BPP) to help increase the children „n to six years of aae. The trust However, it is unfikely that the persoi community birth rate which is dwindling should charge a monthly fee to maintain for the last many years and is at present at 1’ *¦ ‘ a very low level. We are well below the l rnSntXtS“i“e“ li^^eXI^eZ wito'th;;^^ies who Will the unknown>rson be able to main as well as in the other parts of the world, will be prepared to work for a few hours at tain, leave aside expand, t^ gigantic R ^eX a^i which the the crecVand pass their time wid, these 30 ODD crore Tata trust faces in its day-to-day working viz. lovely children. If required, a token hono- tell. housing problems of the Parsis, education, rarium may be paid to these housewives . - v jii reliffious beliefs and misbeliefs, I strongly who may work at the creche on full/part- LeSSOnS in ine milb Si to nm enSgh Xnfio; is being time basis. In this manner, you are killing At P. M. Mod, High School we are g.vm, given to the development of the youth who two birds with one stone, i.e. you are Ire actually the future of the community. I, taking care of the children and providing income group residents in Mahabesw. being a young man, would like to offer my gainful employment to these housewives who have sadly missed a good education^ view^s/comments on one of these issues who have time and energy at their dis- institute all these years. In 1979 we e viz enhancing Parsi population. posal. I am also sure that on an appeal from lished the very first and now the onl One has Jlook into the difficulties of the trust, a toy bank at the creche can be set English medium co-education^school t< Xxi^xfeuX,rB^ Taia toiiuic ibruugb mu.ua , uudcrtod- gto. like to have onlv one child. 1 he decision is mg. . . virtually forced on them due to the cir- No amount of financial incentives that who is not an encumbrance on society, cumstances in which they are placed. the trust may offer will work on the psy- We have 350 children from all walks < DrS to the present inflation^ it is abso- nholopv of our vouth to have more chil- life and we have 70 who are given lutely essential for the couple to be gain ­ fully employed in order to maintain a _ decent standard ofliving. Hence, the couple circumstances permit, they woujdlike is forced by these circumstances not to ' think of a child. Most of the couples are , well educated and occupy high ranking capacity to educate and bring up their positions in various banks and other insti- c. ------- ¦ -- tutions which they are reluctant to leave. It community. Shi— policy -hes 65 o. NOSHIRWAN F. COWASJEE London, UK Couples need creches age, extending it to 70 or 75 years for executive chairman/managing director and 80 or 85 for non-executive chairman. This will enable Ratan to continue to lead and expand the group with the help of the 1 aUptWlUlV UiV ------------- _ ----- _ been taken by the trustees of the Bombay and maintain a creche in ------ - -------- Parsi Punchayet (BPP) to help increase the children up to six years of age. The , tturt the creche and pay monthly emoluments to Tata surname as Ratan is a bachelor, am the ayahs, matrons/supervisors as required, neither of his two brothers is likely tO(p< I am also sure that there are quite a few able to hold the huge Tata empire together housewives from within the colonies who will be prepared to work for a few hours at the creche and pass their time with these lovely children. If required, a token hono ­ rarium may be paid to these housewives il^kely n*Tat£ However, it is uni who succeeds Ratan *Tata will have th< 8 Parsiana November 1996 who have time and energy at their dis ­ posal. I am also sure that on an appeal from the trust, a toy bank at the creche can be set up within a few days. The food for the children could be procured from the Ratan Tata Institute through mutual understand ­ No amount of financial incentives that the trust may offer will work on the psy ­ chology of our youth to have more chil ­ dren. The youth is not concerned at present freeship. Sponsors are friends and wel with the dwindling Parsi population. But if wishers who pay Rs 3,600 per annum. Th ........ amount goes towards the fees plus un lu i.avv V...... ________ forms, books, stationery and all extra cu financian7weli-off and have adequate ricular activities. We have classes fro nurseryrightuptotheJuniorCollege.lt only private schools which are gover ment recognized yet unaided and who to have more than one child. They are children who are the future of the Parsi H. B. MASANl1 LORD’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 10 Parsiana November 1996 staff are dedicated to education that can teach the child not only the three ‘R’s but also ethics, morals, behavior, love and kindness, respect for elders and above all a love for their place of birth whilst maintain ­ ing the traditions of graceful living in these quiet hills. Our principal and the band of teachers and staff are dedicated and will not leave anything undone for the sake of the stu ­ dents. We have in this school a ratio of one teacher to 15 students and we find that this has worked for our results in the SSC examinations have been cent percent since 1985. Very heavy rains and earthquake shocks in 1994 have left our School in a bad state. Two of our classrooms have been badly damaged and the teachers ’ quarters impos ­ sible to use. We therefore need to rebuild the same. The area to be constructed is 2,700 square feet and since the cost of building works out to Rs 600 per square foot, this means we have to provide for at least Rs 15 lakhs. We appeal to you to do your best for this project as we do not take any donations or capitation fees from students. Donations may be sent to the undersigned at Stone House, Mahableshwar 412806 (Tel 60295). (Ms) MARIAM MODI Trustee, P. M. Modi & Amzel Educational Foundation Virus awareness The real villain in the spread of diseases like Hepatitis-B is not the virus itself but the ignorance of the same not only in the general populace but more so in the vari ­ ous medical/paramedical personnel man ­ ning the hospitals, clinics, diagnostic cen ­ ters, and above all the ineffective attitude and approach of the health departments and directorates in the central and state governments. Realizing the intensity of such a dan ­ gerous and fatal environment in which we live, we have taken up the task of distrib ­ uting one important publication published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services titled Guidelines for Pre­ vention of Transmission of Human Immu­ nodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to Health-care and Public-Safety Work­ ers. While the regular price is Rs 850, we are offering this book at a nominal price of Rs 426 for private bodies/practitioners, and gratis for charitable institutions. For further enquiries, please contact Techni ­ cal Book Centre, A-3, Akhila Kunj, K. A. Subramaniam Road, Matunga, Bombay 400019 (Tel 4012244, 4023487). N. GANESHAN Investment 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 injtial 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 par sq ft (built-up area). Modern commercial complexes are also available with shops and offices. For particulars write to: byg and ¦4' Edited by Parinaz Gandhi Minoo Bhathena BySel Estate 302 Devika Apartment 2010 West Street Pune 411001 Tel: 650757 bI I Events and Personalities Irani also seriously doubted the theory various places stated “by Ahura Mazda ’s that a Mazdayasni nature worship cult will I did so-and-so. ” The Magi however caused the religion to backtrack from the “There is not a shred of evidence to show practice of prevention of pollution specia ­ lized in the disposal of the dead. Zara ­ thushtra had preached of a life after death and talked of an immortal soul. The nature of hell is not clear in th&Gathas, said Irani. Hell appears “as a house of darkness and falsehood. ” Those who live well arrive in the Abode of Sdfigs but for those who live badly according to the Gathas, ^‘alas alas will be your final words. ” that Mazda wor ­ ship existed pri ­ or to Zarathu ­ shtra, ” said the professor. Zara ­ thushtra was a prophet, not only a refor ­ mer. Neither in the Vedas nor in the Greek texts Meet your mate is there men ­ tion of Mazda. The concept of men and 52 women from 27 cities got Ahura Mazda was the creation of together in mid-September 1996 hoping to find a life partner. About 10 couples are Zarathushtra therefore lived at a time likely to settle down soon, reports APP “of major social change... from a pastoral president Kersi Shethna in his write-up on society to a stable, early industrial society. It was a time when tribal loyalties were the basic values. ” The Greek epics, llliad and The civilizing force The findings of frozen, preserved Indo- European corpses dating back 3,800 years existed prior to Zarathushtra and that Zara- in the Tarin Basin in north eastern China thushtra only reformed the Mazdayasnis. teachings of Zarathushtra. The Magian indicate that the times that Zoroastrians lived were not purely pastoral. The tech ­ nology used to prepare the textile of the clothing found on the corpses points to a society that had a good level of crafts ­ manship and habitated in towns. Professor Kaikhosrov D. Irani, emeritus professor of philosophy at City College, New York, made these observations while delivering a talk at the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute (KRCOI) on January 2, 1997 titled “Zara ­ thushtra and the civilizing force of ancient Iran. ” A piece of the clothing permitted by Irani: “startling the Chinese authorities to be sent to Ox­ ford University for carbon dating indicates a date of approximately 1800 B.C., said Irani. Retired Bombay High Court judge Zarathushtra. and KRCOI trustee Dinshaw Mehta presided over the function and introduced Irani to the audience in the library hall. One of the corpses was clothed in a sheep skin coat under which was a shirt, undershirt and trousers. Socks and shoes Odyssey, deal with the non-individualistic were also worn. “No one believed people wore socks in those days, ” said Irani. The clothing indicated that “the textile tech ­ nology was quite advanced. ” A solar mark- ponsibility rested on the individual and the participant covered the costs of boarding ing on the left temple of the corpse (a circle consequences of the actions were on him with a hook in the centre with rays emana ­ ting) was representative of the Indo-Euro ­ peans of the time, said Irani. The solar to it.” iconology played an important part among the Indo-European tribes including the cial order. He spoke of worshipping the followers of Mitra. Five corpses were discovered totally slitting the throats of pigs or sheep or preserved in the ice. Removing the bodies was an arduous task and a specially in ­ vented pneumatic drill with a heated tip we have to act with good thoughts if we was used to cut through the ice, he noted. The bodies were fully clothed and had righteous order. ” been covered with some earth and cloth or animal skin. innovations ” In response to an invitation from the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat (APP), 139 % 12 Parsiana November 1996 nature of society. “It was this that Zara ­ thushtra changed. Each person by him or herself making the decision. The full res- the “novel experiment. ” To counter the oft-repeated refrain that Parsis marry late or not at all because of which the birth rate in the community is low, the APP took the lead in hosting this two-day meet on September 15 and 16, 1996. The registration fee of Rs 300 per and lodging. The youths were divided into groups of 10 to 15 to facilitate personal or her. These were startling innovations in those days. I don ’t know how people reacted contact and exchange of views. The pro ­ gram for the two days included group discussions, short talks by seniors, a picnic and dance. Unfortunately, the number of divinity by leading the good life not by male participants more than doubled the females, making the organizers wish that in future women too would attend in large numbers “to strike an even balance. ” This exercise, “a partial success, ” ac- wish to live in a society where there is cording to Shethna, resulted in the Pan ­ chayat ’s coffers being depleted by nearly Rs 58,000, mentioned the president. Zarathushtra preached a righteous so- chickens to offer sacrifice to please the divinities. “Instead of offering sacrifices Irani said that the Achaemenid kings were Zoroastrians and their inscription at specifying that donations to their Panchayatare exempt under section 80G of the Income Tax Act. He urged other punchayets in the country to hold similar functions and the _____ _____ participants to inform the organizers should Royal Col ­ lege of Phy ­ sicians when elected the youngest Fellow of the they find a suitable spouse. The success of the September meet _____ ____ Shethna attributes to the zeal of the joint only 38 years honorary secretary Fall Makhania and con- old. vener of the activities committee Ms Ketty The Jour- Daruwala along with other Ahmedabad nalofBespi- youngsters; Marzban Khajotia of Vadodara who catered the meals at cost, and the trustees of the Zoroastrian Hall, Kankaria Parsi Colony for renting their premises free of charge. Preeminent physician Acclaimed authority on critical care. Dr Farokh Erach Udwadia was presented the ____________ , prestigious Dhanvantari Award by the Combined Eighteenth World ’Congress Governor of Maharashtra Dr P. C. Ale- F' ' z;_______ xander on November 3,1996. Among those his knowledge with others. Fond of western classical music and playing the violin himself, Udwadia also makes time for history, literature and po­ etry, his favorites being T. S. Eliot and Byron. His busy schedule notwithstand- honorary secretary Pali Makhania and con ­ vener of the activities committee Ms Ketty ratory Medi- Udwadia: punctual and cine has him dedicated as a member on its advisory board, Udwadia ’s biographi ­ cal details were carried in the Jam-e- Jamshed of November 10, 1996. His par ­ ticipation at international meets like the World Conference on Cardiopulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, as also the > on Diseases of the Chest enables him to share r» Tata: vision with integrity R were sought on ¦ economic re ­ forms and na- _ tional affairs, I their ratings on I foreign collabo- I rators and in- 7 vestment ave ­ nues, their cho- I ice of airlines, automobiles and holiday resorts. In determin ­ ing corporate leadership, “social concern — disappointingly — comes at the bottom of the list of qualities regarded as impor ­ tant, ” states the report. However, Ratan Tata would have scored high on this point too for according to the Afternoon On Sunday, September 22, 1996, “There isn ’t an industrialist in town like our Ratan Tata, caring, compassionate and concerned to the core for even animals. ” Every evening he is known to drive his pet dog Tito to the US Club to give his canine friend his share of fresh air and evening walk. But diffi ­ culty arises when Tata is out of town for according to the Club rules guests are who had come to honor the eminent physi ­ cian at the function at the Taj Mahal Hotel ’s Crystal Room were minister for public health. Dr Daulatrao Aher, president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, SushilkumarShinde, and founder president ing, the popular doctor ’s time manage- __ ___ _____ ___ ____ of the Dhanvantari Foundation, Dr B. K. ment permits him to play cricket with his requested to accompany the members. “So Goyal. I am proud that the country has four grandchildren, states the Afternoon before each air dash Tata personally such talent, ” said eminent jurist Nani Pal- report. scrawls out a letter of request to the khivala, clarifying “and I am not saying tary of the Club urging hhJi to make this because I am his patient. “He treats ReSpected Ratan allowance ” for Tito. the very poor as well as the VVIPs, ” men- The country ’s most respected corporate Incidentally, Tata and Wadia were the honed former member of parliament, Murli leader i s Ratan Tata, chairman of India ’s only two industrialists along with maestro Deora. largest industiial house, endorsed 35 per- Zubin Mehta who were able to enjoy a “He IS known to wear a seemingly im- cent of the company heads interviewed. Of private dinner with World Bank president penetrable, unflappable exterior, but every ------ ..r±- now and then you catch a glimpse of the man beneath. And you get bowled over, ” wrote Ms Rashmi Uday Singh in the Afternoon On Sunday, November 17,1996. He is punctual and dedicated, and expects being rated as the next most important specifying that the all of us to be like that, ” acknowledged his attribute by 25 percent. Scoring the high- residence, research assistant Dr (Ms) Ruby Kharas. Chief physician at Bombay ’s Breach another Zoroastrian to feature in the list of Animal Cflrc awd SCflrC Candy Hospital, Udwadia is said to have top 10 Indian corporate leaders was Nusli “I would like to share the award with established its intensive care unit. He con ­ tinues to be consulting physician at the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital and pro ­ fessor emeritus of medicine at the Grant Medical College which is affiliated to the J. J. Hospital. Tropical eosinophilia, teta ­ nus and respiratory medicine pertaining to critical care are the subjects in which Udwadia has an expertise and on which he has authored outstanding books. Recognition for Udwadia in India has __ in the form of the Padma Bhushan originally contacted for the opinion poll, a ment ? four grandchildren, states the Afternoon report. this because I am his patient. ” “He treats RcSpectcd Ratail \ . . " ' ----- . The country ’s most respected corporate secre- an % largest industrial house, endorsed 35 per ­ cent of the company heads interviewed. Of , ___ ___________ the 100 chief executive officers (CEOs) JamesWolfensohnwhenhetouredBombay interviewed by Mode Research Private ' '' Limited at the behest of Business Barons, 40 percent regarded vision as the essential ably the World Bank president ’s only pri- ' vate dinner in Bombay, ” states the report, venue was Wadia ’s in October last, according to The Times of India of October 13, 1996. “This is prob- quality in a business leader with integrity attribute by 25 percent. Scoring the high ­ est on these two heads was Tata. Yet top 10 Indian corporate leaders was Nusli _ _______ Wadia, chairman of Bombay Dyeing and everyone here at the Hospital (Bai Sakarbai Britannia Industries, states the report car- Petit Animal Hospital in Parel) and in the ried in Business Barons, September 30, Bombay SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) who have worked equally hard to make this a better place for our animals, ” Ms Shirin Mody, reportedly the first Indian to receive the Overseas Award for Outstanding Service to Animal Welfare was quoted in The Times of India of March 7, 1996. Vice president of the 1996. Mode, India ’s largest independent mar ­ ket research company, was commissioned to meet company chairmen and CEOs from Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and Bangalore, the majority of whom headed companies with an annual turnover of Rs 100 crore or more. Of the 300 CEOs Bombay SPCA, Mody was conferred the come ¦ award conferred on him in 1987 and his sample of 100 were used for the survey appointment as scientific advisor to the In- conducted in July-August 1996. To draw a dian Council of Medical Research. Inter ­ nationally he enjoys the distinction of being influential business leaders, their views high commissioner in Maharashtra. “To- 14 Parsiana November 1996 honor in March 1996 by Ms Jennifer Butt, the international head of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals conducted in July-August 1996. To draw ________ ___ _____ omplete profile of India ’s powerful and and Ian Crees, then the acting British deputy Cl »gether we have managed to build up these facilities little by little, ” said the activist who has been instrumental in promoting the cause of animal welfare over the years. “It’s always a race with a begging bowl, ” noted Mody as neither the state nor the .1- Lalkaka: “do ful. For instance in the Doa Nam Stayish there is one sentence which runs into one paragraph: “O God, mightiest among the mighty, most wise and all-knowing, creator, nourisher and protector of all, merciful, and forgi ­ ving, almighty in thy perfect judgement, I thank Thee for Thou hast, in Thy might and wisdom, manifested From left: Mody with SPCA secretary Col A. R. Nageshkar and vet Dr Sangeeta Vengsarkar-Shah incident which too occurred in a Parsi colony, Khan Estate at Mahim in October 1996 when a pregnant cat was allegedly murdered. Marzban Maney who has been charged with killing the cat told Sudeshma Chatterjee of Express News that he sus ­ pected that the cat had already been poisoned for he only attempted to shoo it away by beating his some good” stick against a wall when he saw it col ­ lapse. He also refer ­ red to the cat scratch- Thyself through the Amesha Spentas and ing his infant daugh- through Thy many wonderous powers seen ter and to Zoroastri ­ an tenets debarring furry animals in and the stars — potential worlds — in air, around residential areas and temples! According to an SPCA spokesper ­ son, “The problem the Union Press, 13, Homji Street, Fort, stems from abun ­ dance of garbage on which the animals survive and multiply. ” With the opening of the Petit Animal Hospital ’s birth control unit last year, the responsibilities of steril- Dedicated to the inemory of Bai Maneckbai izing the city ’s strays have been left to the in the glorious heavens, the revolving uni ­ verse, the radiant sun, the luminous moon. wind, water, fire, the earth with all its bounty, and in man.' ” Two editions of this 36-page booklet, 3,000 copies each, were printed in 1995 at Bombay 400001. While one may overlook the occasional spelling error and unclear instruction, this book misses a table of contents; nor ha^the price been quoted. municipality provides the Hospital with izing the city ’s strays have been left to the P. B. Jeejeebhoy, A Garland is primarily any financial assistance to bear its monthly SPCA and the municipality is no longer meant “to do some good to djp reader and costs of Rs 7,00,000 to 8,00,000. The assisting even in the stray dog sterilization to attract him/her towards Zoroastrian- Hospital draws its monthly income of Rs 6,00,000 from the Bombay SPCA’s cen ­ tral corpus, mentions the report. While the Hospital recently succeeded in expanding The English CSSCnCC its intensive care unit, among the projects . it hopes to accomplish is improvement of kennels for stray animals and the building of a separate ‘elite. ’ nursing home for dogs foreword to the second edition of her book, whose owners can afford to pay a higher A Garland of Prayers, published in 1995 humanity to the right path once again, price for better facilities. The Umrigar by The WZO (World Zoroastrian Organi- Trusthasreportedly donated Rs 12,00,000 - — for this cause. Some members of the community work ceaselessly to improve the lot of the city ’s stray animals and there are others who treat them with scant respect, according to diverse news reports. Barely a fortnight longing to live the life as shown by our before Mody received her award there was ” ~ a write-up in the Bombay Times of Febru ­ ary 20, 1996 stating that some 15 boys from Khareghat Colony on Hughes Road beat up several dogs in the neighborhood Na Mazda and Ahura Mazda Khodae ap- ostensibly “to avenge the injury done to a three-year-old boy in their area. ” As per the article, when the child tried to break up a fight between three dogs by pelting stones , he was bitten by one. This is said to have provoked the father to rid his locality from the nuisance of strays. The SPCA were trying to book the culprits in the above case as also in another assisting even in the stray dog sterilization program which it once did, complain the ism, ” as wrote Ervad Kanga in his appre- activists. ciation. “These prayers in English are the spiritual essence of the prayers in the ancient lan ­ guages, ” writes Ms Pareen Lalkaka in the The Aryan accent “May these words of mine, drawing glory to the one God and extolling the ancient Aryan faith of Mazda-Yasna (Mazda wor ­ ship), go forth into the world and inspire destroying the influence of the evil one on the minds of men and preparing them for the coming of the glorious savior (saosh- yant)” writes the author Porus Homi Havewala in his preface to the first two sation) Trust for Women and Children. These English equivalents of the prayers in Avesta, Pahlavi and Pazand are margin ­ ally different from the scholarly transla ­ tions which may not “read like a prayer nor volumes of The Saga of the Aryan Race. inspire the devotee with a great love and beloved Lord Zarathushtra, ” she explains. In her attempt to present the English Zarathushtra. prayers “symbolically, ” as points out Lalkaka, the text of some prayers like Kem Contained within its 154 pages is the first volume. The Great Migration as also the second volume. The Advent of Asho The book is introduced as “a semi-fic- tional historical novel on the origins of the Aryan people. ” The text narrative is inter ­ pear to be as long as the original while spersed with poetry, “an ancient Aryan others like the fivegahs and the Khorshed, Atash and Meher Nyaish are much shorter. The basic 12-word Ashetn Vohu ends up as a 39-word English prayer! Although vetted by scholars like Dastur Navrooz Mino- chehr-Homji and Ervad Maneck Kanga, as acknowledge.s the author, these prayers occasionally tend to sound quite a mouth ­ trait, ” mentions Dr Purviz Kolsawalla in his foreword to The Saga. The first volume that runs into 66 pages unfolds the trials and tribulations that befell the ancient Aryans who were forced to journey south from their homeland on the North Pole. The birth and miracles associated with Zarathushtra ’s early childhood are narra- 16 Parsiana November 1996 »¦GLOBE THEATRES Pvt Ltd Established April 3, 1915 Pioneers of Show Business in India for the last 81 years We rededicate ourselves to the ideals we have cherished and practised all along - namely to show NOTHING BUT THE BEST to our ever increasing number of Patrons Controlling: REGAL BOMBAY CAPITOL BOMBAY * GLOBE CALCUTTA The above three cinemas are installed with DOLBySTERSI 18 Parsiana November 1996 ted in the 87-page second volume. Both the volumes have an element of romance woven into them. These two volumes of The Saga are the forerunners to the subse ­ quent three, episodes of which have been serialized in the Jam-e-Jamshed. What clearly comes across are Have- wala ’s beliefs and values as in “The Aryan religion of Ahura Mazda can never die out... ” “In that small community of Aryan worshippers of Ahura, there will be many who will marry non-Aryans and those who do not worship Ahura Mazda, for the sake of lust alone or to enjoy an easy life. Indeed such unfortunate people will have to stand shamed before Ahura Mazda... ” Several times are such messages reiterated. “Although this story would appeal to all Zarathushtrian children, I am sure the par ­ ents will also find it very enjoyable and enlightening, ” states Kolsawalla who adds, “I could be so bold as to suggest that these two volumes be used as text books for Sun ­ day schools... ” Visuals in. the book are restricted to religious symbols. Each new chapter in the first volume is denoted with an emblem of the fire while new chapters in the second volume are marked by a picture of Zarathushtra. The Saga, 1,000 copies of which were first printed in 1995, is dedicated to the late Coomi and Jemi Buchia, parents of the publisher Nozer Buchia, and the late Homi Havewala, father of the author. Priced at Rs 35 in India and US$7 outside India, the book is distributed by Neville S. Gandhi, 2/25, Old Khareghat Colony, Hughes Road, Bombay 400007. The aim of this book, according to the Indian born Havewala, now settled in Aus ­ tralia, “is to inspire fellow Aryan Zoroas ­ trians, especially the young, with faith and righteous pride in their ancient religion, like their Aryan ancestors ... of yore. ” “What’s in a Parsi name?” What did the Parsi girl say when she got her first “Barbie? ” VA-DOLI. So says D. B. Rustomji in the Calcutta Gavashni (July-August-September 1996). In a humorous take-off on Parsi names, he terms a “Parsi pest terminator ” a GAG­ RAT and a Parsi shepherd “RU-WALA.” All the Parsis who believe in bigamy have “BEH-RANIs ” and all those eliminated at the Stree Mandal “Gara ” show were the PETI-GARAs. A Parsi became the Field Marshal be ­ cause MANECK-SHAW all the Pakistani moves correctly and the new Prime Minis ­ ter called his Parsi neighbor because- he heard he was a CABINET-MAKER! Compiled by Paiinaz Gandhi Best Compliments From PERKS ENGINEERING Pioneer and leading manufacturers of shrink and stretch wrapping machinery and systems in India Address: Perks Engineering B-24, New Empire Industrial Estate Shri Ramakrishna Mandir Road Andheri (E), Bombay 400059 Tel: 8326349/8347745 Fax: 8384001 *> 20 Parsiana November 1996 L to R (top): Rustom, Antia, Khurody, Pourhahrami and Shiraz Antia; (middle) Varjavand, Mahooti, and Homavazir; (bottom) Davar and community leaders Mistree, F. Mehr and Irani *ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD Mixed messages The Washington Zoroastrian Association hosted a two-day seminar to help young adults and community seniors understand each other Arnavaz S. Mama Zoroastrian associations to develop agen ­ das to promote talent, “make the same financial, psychological, emotional and spiritual investment in America that we The seven speakers had been selected have for generations given to the subconti ­ nent, ” make the dar-e-mehers centers for moral reflection and engagement, take on nations from associations and individuals, noted former ZAMWI president Adi Davar uncomfortable issi^s, live out Zoroastrian .............. values in thought, word and deed. The ‘apathy factor ’ was also part of Homavazir ’s message. “One the prob ­ lems may be that the first generation iden- who recently retired as the World Bank ’s selection being based, primarily, on the caliber of their analyses. A secondary fac ­ tor was to see that the voice of the Parsi- Iranian, orthodox-liberal schools was heard. “Are we, as a community, going to remain at the periphery of the American “It is the perception of most Zoroastrian presentations of the young adults on the young adults that while paying them lip- abovementioned themes respectively and service as ‘our future leaders, ’ the older begin “the process of constructive dia- Zoroastrians are neither listening to, nor logue. ” heeding, their views on key issues concern ­ ing our faith and community. Each is doing from an initial field of more than 40 nomi- its own thing. There is little constructive dialogue between them on any matter... This stalemate must be broken, ” stated Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan director for East Asia and the Pacific Re ­ Washington Incorporated (ZAMWI) gion. He told Parsiana during his visit to president Kersi Shroff, inviting seven young Bombay in early December that he had adults and three acknowledged North interviewed all of them on the telephone, tify themselves with a brand of Zoroastri- American Zoroastrian leaders to bridge the gap. The occasion was an interactive seminar hosted by ZAMWI at the George Mason University on May 25 and 26,1996. Mazda Antia from Chicago, Ms Armaity Homavazir from Toronto, Ms Khursheed Khurody from Boston, Ms Rabe ’eh Mahooti political, economic, social and cultural from Portland, Aaron Rustom from Austin, scene...? Or will we break away from the Ms Trity Pourbahrami from Vancouver model minority myth, mobilizing and and Bahram Varjavand from San Francisco empowering ourselves to move into the were asked to isolate and analyze issues center of mainstream America? ” asked they considered critically important, suggest Khurody in her paper titled “Beyond anxi- pragmatic solutions and “feasible insti ­ tutional mechanisms to realize them. ” They were warned off “platitudes, generaliza ­ tions and simplistic solutions. ” Three broad areas of discussion were thatindividually and collectively their lives designated in Shroff ’s note; •the development of meaningful doctrinal, physical, social and community infrastruc ­ tures; •the bridging of Parsi-Iranian, orthodox- liberal divides within .the community; and and the identity crisis it must have cata- •guidance through the confusion surround ­ ing identity, culture, rituals, etc. The three adult leaders — Professors Kaikhosrov Irani, Farhang Mehr and Farrokh Mistree — were requested to be prepared to comment extempore on the anism or community identity that the youth of today... cannot appreciate or identify with. ” Lack of authentic sources of reli ­ gious information also leads to apathy, said Homavazir: “the messages are confusing and moreover conflicting in content. ” The splintering of Zoroastrian commu ­ nities into rival associations and groups was a source of concern to most of the young adults. As noted Rustom, “When I grew up there was only one community of Zoroastrians, all of whom were so happy to ety: the legend of the North American have other Zoroastrians around that the Zoroastrian youth. ” She identified numb- differences among the group did not matter ness and indifference as “our most power- in the least! But today... well today it’s a ful enemy . Many young Zoroastrians claim different story .” Rustom, Mahooti and Homavazir sought lack meaning. ” to understand the source of the differences Perceiving the individual psyche rather between Iranian and Parsi Zoroastrians and than the community as a whole as the focus among the latter as they emanated from of corrective therapy Khurody looked to India, Pakistan, East Africa or North the earlier Zoroastrian migration to India America. “While the debates have focused on the differences, similitude among the cultures is lost, and ignorance prevails. Instead of learning the reasons why we are lyzed: “How did they integrate so success ­ fully? ” she asked and found her answer in “performance and accomplishment at the different, we look to shelter ourselves be- individual level... vis-a-vis the country ’s needs and aspirations. ” To that end she urged North American hind the facade of cultural pride and pro ­ motion within our own kind, ” said Rustom. According to him the cultural idiosyncra-_ 21 Parsiana November 1996 *I I i their Zarthusti heritage. What will we do vationofthesefiguresrevealsthatthepillars then?... We must prepare...for the culture shock that our religion will surely undergo. ” Varjavand ’s idea was of “subjecting past knowledge and experience overpower Zoroastrianism to competition to purify the present. ” According to her, one means sies were heightened by the differing rea ­ sons why they came to North America. The Iranians came to a vast network of contacts, but they came to avoid possible persecution at home. Indian/Pakistani Parsis coming in search ofabetter life “realized that this may what is good in it... Test your ideas by offreeingoneselffromone ’slimitingper- be their only chance to succeed and they seeing if you can con vert any one... Zoroas- took it very seriously... This need to... succeed as an individual, strikes me as one of the principal reasons the Parsi commu ­ nities of today have so much trouble in pooling their resources without infighting. ” Homavazir noted how the culture of an ethnic group changes over time due to different stresses and environments. “This culture gap is so clearly demarcated between our young adults and their parents... The same will be true for the next generation. ” Stressing that identity has to do with “how we feel about ourselves as Zoroastrians, ” she urged the elders to “live the Ashem Vohu prayer ” — trust people, share experi ­ ences, do things for the sake of doing good. She suggested a group of young individuals educate themselves in matters of religion, then share theirknowledge with their peers, substitute for the traditional vertical mode Restructuring and rethinking the Zoro- oftransmission (by two Zoroastrian parents calling, unfettered by age limits, gender or astrian message during religious classes would help grasp the fundamentals of the religion. “Then it is up to individuals to apply this value system to the issues they and Parsi names. ” Varjavand wished to that age limits be abandoned, that navjote face in daily life... We have to talk about know why American ones like that of be made available to those who seek it with % issues like abortion or euthanasia... (how engineer Joseph Peterson (who was con ­ cur) ethical and moral value system verted to Zoroastrianism in 1983) could not using our free will and then making the influence our feelings. .. It is very important be included on such a list. He envisaged a right choice. .. now is the right time to start that (the Darbe Mehrs, which are the pivots universal faith where Japanese Zoroastrians exercising those choices. ” of community identity) welcome everyone would be invoking blessings on American and not attract just a few. ” Recounting the circumstances that led to the differences between Parsi and Ira ­ nian Zoroastrians, Mahooti noted, “Tradi ­ tions usually differ from region to region. The difference in traditions must have ex ­ isted between regions of greater Iran even during Sasanian days. ” Then she added, live-and-let-die combat against others. It is “Here in North America, the conditions are already at work to bring further changes in traditions. How about bringing that change and a vase, noting that most observers iden- through the coordination and cooperation tify them as such. “It is (only) through a ofthe two factions? ” She advocated classes deeper analysis or suggestion by another us Zarthostis. ” that would introduce the two cultural that we see two human faces making up the The seminar had been organized by streams to each other, tours of Iran and India for “a better glimpse of the (respec ­ tive) environments ” and religious classes Pourbahrami noted, “If one does not try to which emphasize the fundamentals of the expand (one ’s) perception, then a decision (WZTF) and the Federation of Zoroastrian religion rather than the regional traditions, can be made based on fewer possibilities Associations of North America (FEZANA). Rustom too prescribed a similar approach than there really are. ” Commenting on Young adults from neighboring associa ­ te create a better understanding of “the another visual of arches and waterfall tions like the Zoroastrian Association of many cultures that thrive under the faith of Pourbahrami noted that we assume that GreaterNewYork(ZAGNY)andtheZo- Zoroastrianism ” because “new cultures will pillars of the arches are parallel and that roastrian Association of Pennsylvania and hearrivingtoourshoreslookingtoreacquire water runs downhill. “Yet, indepth obser- New Jersey (ZAPANJ) had been invited to cross and water runs uphill. .. from the wheel to the fall... In perceiving these images our ception of a situation is to focus one ’s vision on the future. It “can catalyze a unity ...from which we can work backwards trianism has for you become a wonderful religion that needs to be shared instead of a weird and mysterious inheritance that you to the present and identify the different don ’t really know what to do with and are giving your children, sort of, by default... “The first generation identify themselves with a brand of Zoroastrianism that the youth of today cannot appreciate ” Horizontal transmission to converts must paths to make our vision a reality ” and in the process understand the reason behind the way things were traditionally done, reasoned Pourbahrami. Antia spoke about the Gathas which constitute the core of Zoroastrianism. He proposed “redefining the way we teach the message of Zarathushtra, ” a formal educa ­ tion system explaining the message and teaching the values “in a context that chil ­ dren could relate to,” like demonstrating the relationship of the seven Amesha Spentas to daily life. An understanding of the concepts behind the rituals, the thought process behind the Gathas would, accord ­ ing to Antia, require a priesthood with a to their children)... When you read the list hereditary lineage requirements. A six-year- of names at Jashan Sadeh you can see the old “cannot value the true symbolic nature cultural shifts from Avestan names to Farsi of the navjote ceremony, ” saia Antia, urging • that age limits be abandoned, that navjote „ * .......... *, understanding. “Our religion is based on ivn da Both Pourbahrami and Homavazir pro ­ vided a lot of audio-visual inputs. Music, slides and video ensured very colorful Zoroastrians. According to Varjavand, “We have no choice... This subject is what we need to be presentations, according to Khurody. focussed on, not on interminable discus ­ sions about the calendar... We age and die, and currently we are doing that ignorant and unable to defend our religion in open Irani and his wife Pirqa, the audience erred in their ‘recognition ’ of their coreligionists! Which shored up Homavazir ’s contention that “It is our values and our standards, the factors that influence our behavior and modes of interaction in the world that makes Homavazir showed slides of Zoroastrian and non-Zoroastrian groups of individuals. In most cases, as reported an amused Prof 22 Parsiana November 1996 time to learn how to fight. ” Pourbahrami showed slides of a cube that we see two human faces making up the vase. ” Using this as an example of “the ZAMWI and been cosponsored by the process of encountering a situation, ” World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO), the World Zarthushtrian Trust Funds IADVERTISEMENT I Under the auspices of the MAZDAYASNIE MONASTERIE and the ALL INDIA SHAH BEHRAM BAUG SOCIETY (for Scientific and Educational Research) The one and only ZOROASTRIAN COLLEGE Correspondence address: Mustafa Building, (2nd floor), Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Road, Bombay 400001, India, Tel: 2660214 2662950 after hours: 3644737 Fax: Bombay India 022-2662735-A/c 121 and 3634274 - 141 REPORT OF THE AVESTA CONFERENCE HELD IN TAJIKISTAN, DUSHANBE & STH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC, & 675TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF KAMAL E KHUJANDI, THE TAJIK IRANIAN POET in the world Tajikistan Prime Minister Emomaly Rakhmanov with Z. C. Delegation Khurshid Cooper, Dr Meher Master Moos & Mr. Firoze Andhyiarujina in Dushanbe In January 1994 at the Medicine Altemativa World Congress held al the Russian Cultural Centre Bombay by the Zoroastrian College a Delegation of 3 Tajik lady doctors attended as Guests: and in the January 1995 World Congress a delega ­ tion of 5 Gentlemen Doctors of Tajikistan had attended. The Chief Govt, of Tajikistan Pharmacist had come, with cash Dollars to purchase medicine in bulk from India as there was just no medicine available in the country and the war wounded soldiers were dying without proper treatment. The best thing Indian businessmen did was to set up the medicine manufac ­ turing factory itself in Tajikistan arising out of this Delegation visit. In 1993/1994 the Tajik Govt, appointed an Hon. Consul in Delhi; but official visa issuing authority is still kept with the Russian Embassy in Delhi. This is working to the detriment of Tajikistan as visas are not easily obtainable and Indo-Tajik Trade Development is being frustrated. A fullfledged Tajik Embassy requires to be opened in Delhi with Hon. Consuls in Bombay for visa issuing purposes and other work. In 1994 the Govt, of Tajikistan celebrated the World Conference for the 1000th Anniversary of Firdausi the Tajik National Poet, of immortal Shahnamah fame. This was held in Penjikant, the ancient Sogdian capital city now on the border of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In the Zarovshon river valley and high mountain ranges, many village cooperatives of ancient Zoroastrians still survive. But due to the war, com ­ munications with the outside world for this tiny landlocked country were difficult. Although Zoroastrian College was invited to send its Delegation, to the UNESCO sponsored Conference, the postal and other communications delays were such that the group of Parsi Priests and other scholars could not reach Tajikistan in time to attend the Conference. The commu ­ nications problem still exists between Indian and Tajikistan despite International satellite and sophisticated gadgetry. Telephones and fax communications do not work between these two countries; telegrams and telexes may or may not reach their destination; and airmail sometimes takes 6 weeks to 6 months to reach. Recently DHL Courier Service facility has started. 1996 received. The papers are being published in book form, after being translated from Tajik/Persian/Russian into English. The World Avesta Conference programme included the following. On 6th September 1996 the President of the Conference, the Head of Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan History Dept, did the Opening Ceremony with Prof. Masood Mehrshahi of Pans. Prof. Yusuf Shah, Dr. Yakub Shah, Dr. Jamshid Parvonakhan, Dr. Dodikhudu Seimuddin and Dr. Meher Master-Moos. The MESSAGE of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmanov was read and papers were presented on a variety of subjects: These include: Speaker and Paper Title: Dr. Dodikhudu Seimuddin — Avesta and Zend Prof. Husain Waheedi — Zarathushtra and Jahan-e-Emruz Prof. Dr. Yusufsha Yakubsha —Cheher-e-Asho Zarathushtra — Ancient Carvings. Mr. Shahrokh Vafadari — Ahura Mazda in the Gathas Prof. Dr. Meher Master-Moos — Curriculum for teaching Avesta at Middle/High School and College levels in Tajikistan Archeologist Mehrboob Naveh — Atar Fire Temples found in the Pamirs of the 7th to 11th centuries A.D. period Saeed Murad baba Marlayak — Archeological research on Ancient Fire Temple sites in Tajikistan and nearby countries. Prof. Dr. Yusufsha Yakobsha — The oldest Fire Temples of Iranshaher — Airyena Vaeja regions Prof. Daulat Daood — The religion of the Kushan Kings from the faces of coins of the Kushan period Asaluddin Nizami the famous Tajik Poet Composer On the next day 7th September 1996, Avesta World Conference continued simultaneously with the Opening Cer ­ emony of the Sth Republican Anniversary Celebrations. Miss. Khurshid Cooper represented India and Zoroastrian College to place the Indian Flag and the Flowers at the statues of the Poets of Tajikistan in a most moving Opening Ceremony performed in full public. The World Avesta Conference topics for the second day included: Dr. Ms. Lalehdad Madayva — Zarathushtrian Administration and Traditions. Prof. Numan Nematov — Cultural roots in Tajikistan of the Zarthushti Faith. Madam Dr. Larissadad Khodaiva —The Gold Art work similar to Hyacnth of Aryans in Fine Arts of Ancient Iran. Poet Salimshah Halimshah — Rudvar and Kashan and the land of coins. Ms Nergls Khajuwai — Mountains of Darban Dehshan —the Geography of the ancient Ayran Vaeja. Baba Nazar Baba Khan — Avashaashiye of Ancient Iran. Bustan of Shahurl — Enaate Zarthushti in Samarkhand. Dr. Prof. Jamshedi Parvonakhan —Zoroastrian Rituals in the SEPTEMBER SECOND WORLD AVESTA CONFERENCE President Emomaly Rahmo- nov, of Tajikistan is heading a Govt, which IS committed to seculansm and promoting the study of Avesta to revive the ancient culture of Tajiks, in the original homeland of Zoroas ­ trianism. The new flag of the Republic has an emblem which includes the Sacred book (of the Avesta and other Religions of the book) the Rising Sun over the snowcaped Pamirs, the 7 stars of the 7 Ameshaspends, in the Taj, the Crown of Tajikistan, with cotton and wheat sym ­ bolising the Agrarian economy and repeated 4 times are the colours of the Indian flag — Saffron — orange. White and Green indicating a secular constitution with equal protection for all religions. The President specially convened the Second World Avesta Conference to coincide with the 5th Republic Anniver ­ sary Celebrations, to emphasise this policy decision to reviev the ancient history and culture of which Tajiks are justifably wedding ceremonies of the Tajiks of Badhakhshan region, proud. The Conference was organised by the Reudaki Society . ........................ .... ......... ~ * and the Academy of Sciences History Dept. Prof. Dr. Massov, Dept. Head, and Dr. Mehrshahi of Paris, France, Reudaki Society, were the main organisers. Delegations were Invited from Iran, Afghanistan and from India through the Zoroastrian College, to officially participate in the Conference and the Republic celebrations as Guests of the President of Tajikistan. The Zoroastrian College delegation consisted of Dr. Meher Master-Moos, Miss. Khurshid S. Cooper, Mr. Firoze Andhyarujina of Bombay and Dr. and Mrs. Keyomars and Roshan Keyanian of Australia. Dr. Keyomars Keyanian had been awarded his Ph. D. degree for his research thesis on Iranian History through the Zoroastrian College. The Conference was attended by over 75 delegates. Professors, Scholars, Archeologists, Historians, Hakims, and Poets and Tepa; 9. Issik; 10. Chieikty; 11. Pazizik; 12. Aimireik; 13. Arjan. Joumalistsfrom Tajikistan, Russia, Khazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, India, France, England, Afghanistan, Australia and else ­ where. Excellent Research Papers were presented on a variety of subjects. Several archeologists presented slides of theirexcavations of pre-Zoroastrian Peshdadian and Keyanian period Fire Temples of 9000 to 12000 years ago and post- Zoroastrian Fire Temples of 5000 to 9000 years. Fire Temples are located in Aryana Vaeja, the land of the Ural mountains who has recently published the Avesta Persian Dictionary; but across what are the Republics of ex-USSR from Ukraine to China border. Also papers on Medicine in the Avesta texts, as practised by the Hakims of Tajikistan. The leading Hakim presented us with berries of the Hom plant used forthe Yasna from Iran and also from Afghanistan were invited mainly for ceremony and making herbal medicine. The Zoroastrian College recommendations for the educational curriculum for teaching Avesta to the School and College students were well tended the conference from Iran. Prof. Karamshah Dodikhodu — The Senate of the Ancients in Badhakhshan and the importance of their teachings. Prof. Rehmat Allah Abdul Wahdoor — The Mystic in the culture of Tajikistan. The Russian lady archeologist Dr. Negmatov Numan of the Institute of History presented detailed maps and charts of excavations of Centres of Aryan Culture on the land area of the former USSR Countries geographically stretching across Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Amenia, Khazakhstan, Siberia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenia, Kirghizia and present Afghanistan, Mongolia and China Western parts. The 13 sites excavated of this ancient Aryan land, geographically are the following places: 1. Chertomlyc; 2. Soloha; 3. Kul-Oba; 4. Arkeim; 5. Tagisken; 6. Uigarak; 7. Dumhildje; 8. Tylla- She showed slides of the various excavation sites of Fire Temples which ranged in dates from 12000 years to 5000 years ago. All the Fire Temple buildings base plans were more or less similar. Dr. Keyomars Keyanian read a moving Message from the Zoroastrians settled in Australia. A large delegation of scholars from Iran was expected including Prof. Dr. Fareidun Juneidi, due to the assassination of the main organiser of the World Avesta Conference and the false canard that the Conference was cancelled, many persons did not come. The Delegations the 5th Republic Anniversary celebrations and the Avesta kamal-e-Khujandi celebrations; and only few persons at- (To be continued) 4chair sessions addressed by the adult lead ­ ers. Adult officebearers from New York, Pennsylvania, FEZANA and London chaired the sessions of the young adults, informed Davar. Nearly two hours were assigned to a panel discussion chaired by WZO president Shahpur Captain. “The papers were of a remarkably high quality. They were well-reasoned. The way the young adults answered questions would put many adults, to shame, ” noted Davar with satisfaction, adding that the WZO will be publishing the proceedings for dissemi ­ nation worldwide. Though the topics and papers were en ­ tirely the work of those who presented them, according to Davar, he noted that he had asked each speaker to present two to three topics in outline which he then de ­ fined more clearly to the speakers to avoid overlapping. Khurody mentioned how Davar monitored them long distance to ensure that they maintained the timetable set by Shroff in his letter of invitation — one page abstract of the presentation to reach Davar by April 3; the full text to be submitted by May 3 to ensure that copies were ready for distribution at the function. “Administrative follow-up is necessary for seminars when people come from differ ­ ent parts of the country, ” affirms Davar. The organizers bore the cost of air travel to and fro for the speakers, confirmed tick ­ ets being mailed to them. Their stay in Washington D.C., May 24-27, was cour ­ tesy ZAMWI member families who under ­ took to receive them at the airport and to transport them to the venue and back. The Memorial Day holidays had been selected to enable visitors to participate in the seminar as well as to tour Washington. While Shroff and Davar were involved in the strategy and planning of the seminar, it was ZAMWI’s Youth Group, under its president Orang Demehry, which took charge of all the other details of organiza ­ tion, hospitality, liaising, etc. “Our associa ­ tion (ZAMWI) believes in bringing the youth in, ” says Davar, adding that terms of office were restricted by its constitution to ensure that young people get a chance to become trustees. Complimenting them on their administrative skills and sense of responsibility which ensured that the semi ­ nar proceeded smoothly, Davar noted, “I’m not sure this spirit prevails in other associa ­ tions. ” Shroff ’s initial letter to the speakers had stated that the sponsors hoped that as a follow-up “you will take the lead in arrang ­ ing workshops for young adults and adults in your own community on the issues and solutions discussed in Washington. ” Davar expressed unhappiness with the response when he reported on it at the Tenth North American Zoroastrian Congress at San Francisco in July ’96; “To my knowledge two to three people have (also) tried, but I’m not sure they made a dent because of the rather cool attitude of the adults. ” (The issues raised by the young adults have been published by the WZO in a 62- page booklet, titled Voices of the New Gen­ eration, printed in India by Tata Donnelley Limited.) “There is no listening” The Zoroastrian population in North America will in future comprise the prog ­ eny of both Z^oroastrian parents , one Zoro ­ astrian parent and converts, believes Adi ; Davar. He recalls the shocked reaction he had received at the North American Con ­ gress in Moi^eal in 1982 when he had articulated the view about non-Zoroastri- ans in Zoroastrian precepts. In the upshot contiryied on page 34 I With Best Compliments From PENOSH V. 94-A, M. G. Road, Pune 411001 Tel: 645162-65 Fax: 645166 Telex: 145-7418 24 Parsiana November 1996I AWARDS Plaudits for the pentad On behalf of the community the Navsari Parsi Association honors five outstanding Indian Zoroastrians Arnavaz S. Mama ¦ J " I Award “for his contribution in enhancing agents ’ meet in 1960, he contemplated but ajoy for everyone and we ’re proud of the image of the business community by winding up Airfreight as he sat in his it,” Navsari Parsi Association (NPA) presi- i dent Burjor Antia added his personal acco- Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Sci- the city. A sixth sense told him to hang on. lade to the scrolls ofhonor presented by the ence Congress Association for his interest “Now Airfreight employs 3,300 people Association to five Zoroastrian worthies - - - - “ — each a leader of his profession at the national level — at a special gathering at the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute ’s Sir J. J. Modi Hall on November 19, 1996. Office of India and of Iran — Godrej noted, “We bearers of the Association (founded by the late Ms Shera Vajifdar and recently reviv ­ ed as an organization with cosmopolitan objects) read out the scroll, cosigned by Antia and vice president Ms Homai Modi, detailing each one ’s many accomplish ­ ments before presenting it together with a beggars? There are no Punjabi beggars (in shawl and a floral tribute. The responses Bombay) though they are a much larger had been conferred honorary LLDs (Doc- from the recipients provided additional community. Poor Parsis are sleeping on tor of Laws) by the universities of Prince ­ insights into the temperament of these railway platfonns (despite our) housing ton,New Jersey and Lawrence, Wisconsin, outstanding individuals whose names bear allocations... Why is our country going the The Princeton citation had described him a household connotation across the coun- way it does? It’s all connected with values as “defender of human rights, teacher, try. based on character ... It is very much in our author and economic developer. ” “Never “I can ’t but remember my father hands to keep up the status of our culture. ” more did you live your principles than (Pirojsha) and uncle (Ardeshir) and miss my brothers (Burjor and Naoroji) very the business and industrial life of the coun- much... thank you for the honor done to our try for over 55 years — Jamshed Guzder family, ” noted industrialist Sohrabji has been president of the Indian Mer- Godrej. The octogenarian head of the house chants ’ Chamber, Bombay, the Indian the torch offreedom... ” noted the Lawrence of Godrej had been honored for his con- National Committee of the International citation. Palkhivala, whose speaking en- sciousness of the “social responsibilities of business ” and his continued adherence German Chamber of Commerce, India, the to the Gandhian concept of trusteeship of Maharashtra Economic Development two speeches — one long, one short. I will wealth. Godrej ’s far-flung interests include Council and the Council for Fair Business deliver both. ” He thanked the Navsari scientific management, family planning Practices and an executive committee Association for the honor it had done him. and environment concerns, art, archeol ­ ogy and the preservation of our heritage. The sole recipient from the third world of and the founder vice president of UFTAA the WWF’s (World Wide Fund for Nature) (United Federation of Travel Agents ’ As- White Pelican award at the hands of Prince sociation), as notes the citation — the Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Godrej is a keen Rotarian and president of the Alli ­ ance Fran^aise of Bombay and of the In ­ dia-Iran Culture Society, notes the cita ­ tion. Godrej has received other prestigious World War II to seek the Tata agency for joyed every word of it!” Ever the loyal awards like the Indian Merchants ’ Cham- air cargo — and Airfreight was born.' In Congressman, Taleyarkhan noted, “To­ ber Diamond Jubilee Endowment Trust Cuba to attend an international travel day is Indira Gandhi ’s birthday, ” and re- “Your existence is not only a joy for you personal service ” and the Jawaharlal Nehru Havana hotel and US bombs exploded in Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Sci- in science and the development of a ratio ­ nal ethos. Emphasizing that as Parsi Zoroastrians “we have inherited two great cultures ” — and has a 400 crore rupee turnover... (There is) money not only for ourselves but for all, ” he said noting that a family charitable trust he had begun with a fund of two lakh rupees is now approaching two crores. Legal luminary Nani Palkhivala ’s “mag ­ are very much our community ’s represen ­ tatives in the world... When 1 was young nificent work in promoting human rights, and a Parsi did not behave well, people fundamentalfreedqpi,anunfetteredPress... would say, 'Tume Parsi thaine em kem as an author, constitutional and tax expert, karoch (How can you be a Parsi and be- economic developer and promoter'of so- have this way)? ’ Why do we have Parsi cial welfare ” has been detailed^ the scroll. - ¦ - A former Indian ambassador to the US, he allocations... Why is our country going the way it does? It’s all connected with values based on character ... It is very much in our hands to keep up the status of our culture. ” Extolled for his deep involvement with during the 19 months ’ ordeal when India went through what was called ‘The Emer ­ gency ’... Under the shadow of near tyr ­ anny at great risk and some cost you raised National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, the Indo- gagements have been dOrtailed by failing health, said he had “come prepared with member of FICCI (Federation of Indian Having thus completed his “short speech ” Chambers of Commerce and Industry), he gave his “long ” one, adding that he had “tried to deserve ” the recognition he has received from his countrymen. “Mr Tata, ” said politician Homi Tale- yarkhan, referring to NPA committee member Jal Tata who had read the scroll veteran businessman, now pushing 80, as ­ cribed his success to “the power of prayer. ” He is convinced that a benevolent Force presented to him, “your citation is very drove him to J. R. D. Tata at the end of flattering, very embarrassing, but I en- 25 Parsiana November 1996 4n* r • ' f- :’rf3 a Uf j I ¦ \ 1 "i ‘ii ¦ ( fit*'- S, I ' 1 4 ‘ .r' ^'*' ini^' ftc exuldtion of ritv “s^e ”“'^"8 aatho- that many more, to say nothing of the law len^^“™‘^''i'’‘^'“^ ’’'atinguishingthe ‘•tackth^x.iS’ function; courts officers who have aided the judiciary with nere. alichdd popular edge of unstinPngdevotion, headds. Andhy^iina judiciary righting every also} . h^'anches of government (as himselfsurprisedmanyatthehpfrinm '^ r u ® (somewhat like St George slaving i • rastituPonal capacity to act as WsworbnThfewheK S^^^fcte An<«.ya,ujina eX ’2 ate'v";eT ” ”™’““"“«-yfa^h^n ho, in the prestigious Indta, eXu “* 'Oe s2" ’’’HeX Service (IFS) in favor of working at law rastitutions — the government for emrnLT responsible gov- under a unique mentor: the _______ executiv e), the legislature and the judi- sponsibilftv public ’s re- representatives ---- not. community has produced solicitor general Tehmtan Andh ’ lyaru- UmseIfs„,prise.gat.o„ (PIL), Andhyamjiaa expl “S_ Iview of judicial activism. ” The impact of the higher courts ’ (the telling the CBI to do its duty, supervising and then leaving it to the criminal court to national life has made the professional beneficial judicial activism of late and duties of the law officers (e.g. the attorney provided it is done in the proper judicial way, there doesn ’t seem to be anything center and the advocates-general in the beyond the traditional role of the courts, unlike the popular perception that the Su ­ preme Court is taking some extraordinary than it was a decade ago, ” admits Andh ­ yarujina. The nature of duties have changed action like the French courts or the Italian matters or matters with political overtones thatcometocourtsby way of PIL.” Earlier legal aid for deserving persons. It’s as necessary as medicare, as important as social security, ” because justice, in Andh ­ yarujina ’s words, “has become a forbid- vital role in giving the disadvantaged, the punished is a very attractive but superficial disposal of scam cases, ” adding that in helpless and the poor an access to courts by view of judicial activism. ” cases like hawala “the Court ’s action — allowing public spirited individuals to take up their cause. Thus people who had no Supreme Court and the various High personal standing on an issue could move Courts) involvement in various facets of decide — was quite justified. It’s the most the court to protect the rights of those who had no means of protecting their own rights. Hence, PIL, as it began, “was vested general and the solicitor general at the on solid foundations of law. Today PIL is often privately motivated, ” says Andhyaru- states) “far more complex and difficult jina. His second criticism is against the tendency to appeal to court without first seeking to remedy the perceived evil by because of “the political, or quasi political magistracy... ” recourse to the political institutions, matters or matters with political overtones What the country needs is a “system of “Judges are not representatives of the ’ ' ' people. They are essentially nominated the law officers “had to appear in court in men of law. Their function can never go to important matters of interpretation of the the extent of policy changes or simply acting as guardians of the people. ” The Constitution expects people “to have faith in the legislature and government primarily and find the means of right and correct take advantage ofthe opponents ’weakness actions from these authorities, ” he adds. To Andhyarujina judicial activism is “too important a subject to be merely approved not the mouthpiece of government. First or disapproved by the layman or the media. It can be understood by those who know the constitutional scheme and the various spheres of government and their allotted activities. The popular idea that (the courts are)afterpoliticianswhocan ’tbeotherwise changes. Yet, they are expected to act I Constitution and to advise the govern ­ ment... A law officer does not have the ding prospect for one of average means. ” liberties available to a private counsel. He The exorbitant legal expenses and cases is duty-bound never to mislead the court or pending for years'together amount to a “denial of justice. ” According to Andh ­ yarujina, today litigation at the higher levels is only affordable by governments and corporations. A dearth of financial resources and a lack of perception and will are the two most serious impediments to effective legal ai^, but he does not consider and never to stake a position in court which he knows is untenable. The law officer is c and last he must go by the law. If he deviates from that he loses his protection and security. ” Appointed by government, the law them “justifiable grounds for not having an effective legal aid system, ” and is sad that “it’s not taken up with the seriousness independently of government and to give and effectiveness required. ” it legal advice on non-policy, non-political matters. “It’s because he is not a politician that the law officer is respected. When he professional degree one can get. So there is becomes political, he loses all protection great temptation to pick it up as an added and becomes susceptible to pressure, ” says qualification ” for employment purposes. Andhyarujina. As against the many years that pro ­ secutions are known to take in the criminal galore, the legal knowledge that the stu- courts, Andhyarujina says that in cases like hawala, where many leading politicians are alleged to have received bribes, the Supreme Court has “monitored the law college is not useful in a professional investigation and prescribed six months or so. If that is implemented we ’ll see the officers may change when government 30 Parsiana November 1996 Nor is legal education in India any healthier. “The law degree is the easiest 4^1 * Barring the five-year residential course at the National Law School of India in Ban ­ dent acquires depends entirely on his own efforts, says Andhyarujina, adding, “For all practical purposes what you learn in sense. You have a different outlook once you practise. A brilliant law student may l4AHENDR/\ Gold and silver Lord Zoroaster and Asho Farohar medals available Gold, silver and diamond exclusive showroom We also undertake polishing of ses 594, Chira Bazar, Girgaum Road, Mumbai 400002. Tel: 2065137 We accept Diners, BOB card, American Express, Taj Premium, Visa & Master Cards. Inot be a brilliant lawyer and vice versa. ” Andhyarujina paints a positive picture provide identity and security to the commu- for the aspiring Parsi lawyer: “Provided he has industry, of course ability and a little bit of luck, there is no reason why the young Parsi should not still do well in our profession. ” What we as a community used for the benefit of the community, should be proud of, says Andhyarujina, is “our projection as persons of integrity. ” His advice is to guard that heritage and not succumb to easier methods of making money. He has little doubt that the aspiring Parsi lawyers in Bombay today will make There is an understandable temptation to good lawyers in time. liquidate the land to realize money. Each Nani Palkhivala, Pali Nariman and Soli individual is the best judge of his eco- Sorabji are outstanding counsels with an all-India reputation, according to Andhya ­ rujina. Seervai was “priceless, ” a man of “total dedication, sincerity, in ­ tegrity, the likes of whom one would find difficult to get in any profession, in any country... a man who was not only a great lawyer but an intellectual and moral giant. ” Andhyarujina is hard put to understand “that i such a man could have been produced by the present legal system in India, ” and is firmly of the belief that “if you had five such men in India ’s legal system, the face of the system would change! ” A founder member of the I CER (Committee for Electoral I Rights, since renamed Commit ­ tee for Economic Revival) Andhyarujina Andhyarujina with wife Silloo, son Zal believes it played a “tremendousfy vital and daughter Zia role ” in bringing about awareness in the community for the need to democratize the disadvantage. Therefore it was the right Bombay Parsi Punchayet. “Ever since then step to keep the new building on the Petit the insularity of the Punchayet vis-a-vis the community has diminished. ” Now, according to the lawyer, its role should be that of a “ginger group, ” channelizing its community better than realizable cash. ” energies into the propagation of new ideas. Andhyarujina would like the Punchayet nity ’s second priority should be education, to be more professional, more efficient. “It doesn ’t give the image of being the most competent body to run the affairs of the community ... It’s high time that the Puncha ­ yet organizes itself as a highly specialized, nized minority institution, with preferential skilled, managerial body...run on the best right of admission to community members available modern managerial methods (while) retaining the overall perception, policy and guidance from the trustees. ” Having grown up in Mahim ’s Parsi co ­ lony, Andhyarujina appreciates the impor- Likewise he shudders to think of the Zoroas- bar for the third generation. For, as Andh- tance of housing in the Punchayet ’s priori- trians ’ fate if the B. D. Petit Parsee General yarujina says, “One thing about the legal ties. “Much has been said against the Hospital were not available to them. “If the profession: You can ’t keep talent out. colonies but there are great virtues in them community does not help itself in matters which people don ’t seem to realize. They like health, education and housing, no one keep a certain amount of community ethos, else will help it,” he asserts. On matters like intermarriage, Andhya ­ rujina prefers a practical approach. “A girl and boy in love will consult their own emotions, not Parsi demography! ” The nity. It is difficult these days to get accom ­ modation. I am all in favor of Parsi settle ­ ments and all in favor of retaining every single bit of community property to be community also tends to get “obsessed with institutions and practices for the dead There was a time when I was working for but not for the living, ” charges Andhya- government and realized that more than rujina who says he is totally against wasteful half of Cumballa Hill and Malabar Hill expenditure or ceremonies. “If the same was owned by Parsis. Now very little land is in the hands of community members. expense was channelized into education it would be so much more fruitful! ” Coming from him the statement has added poignancy. A student with a first class academic career [senior Cambridge nomic interests. But that shouldn ’t apply and SSC from the Bombay Scottish High to property held by institutions and trusts. School, BA (politics) from St Xavier ’s even if it means economic or commercial College, LLB from the Government Law College] Andhyarujina would have liked to go abroad to study mniiiiiii didn ’t have the means. His father began life as a humble teacher at the Cama Athornan Institute in Andheri and later became a lawyer, he recalls. So one of the perks of the IPS he signed away in his “jejune and akruistic decision that I should be here to help my. family, ’’was a year at Oxbridge. “Much of the glamor ofihe foreign service is quite unjustified... Is the service as intellectually rewar-^' ding? By now I may have been an ambassador to Outer Mongo ­ lia! ” he jests. It is one of those “imponderables ” like his wondering what it would have been like if he had accepted an offer of Supreme Court judgeship made to him in 1989. “Seervai and my father were against it. Nani (Palkhivala) recom ­ mended it strongly. ” One of the factors which influenced his decision he says is that a retired judge remains at the mercy of others to give hinjjbriefs for arbitration and opinion. Andhyarujina ’s wife Silloo (nee He is amazed and disappointed that it has Revitna) is a master of law from Harvard, failed to establish a single arts, science and commerce college despite all its resources. A legally permissible, government recog- Sanatorium grounds only for Parsi mem ­ bers. It is consistent with the objects of the trust and, in the long run, serves the According to Andhyarujina the commu- His daughter Zia, married to Ashad Mehta, has a one-and-a-half-year-old son Jehan. His son Zal is studying law at Oxford. “To my knowledge he is the first Parsi Rhodes scholar and a near Oxford Blue in squash, as other communities have established, being captain of the second team, ” glows would help to safeguard our cultural and Andhyarujina. Zal has reached where social outlook and prove a boon when it is Tehmtan was unable to go. With him the difficulttogetcollegeadmissions,henotes. Andhyarujina name should feature at the Likewise he shudders to think of the Zoroas ­ trians ’ fate if the B. D. Petit Parsee General Sooner or later, if you have it, you are bound to be recognized. ” 32 Parsiana November 1996 ITamina. The fervid intellectual climate of North America, especially'the controversies in the wake of the navjote of American engi ­ neer Joseph Peterson, led Davar to read An executive committee member of the substantially into the history and scriptures more females in the Parsi and Irani communities. If they marry out and you don ’t allow their children, you are pushing MIXED MESSAGES from our depleting numbers, Davar says, designing of Tata Engineering and continued from page 24 “The whole trouble is that people are Locomotive Company ’s (TELCO) Pune the Montreal Association was asked to polarizing themselves... The children get establishment. When they offered him a write to everyone — dasturs and scholars switched off: ‘Tamhe taumaramarij karya place on the World Bank, he went! in India, Iran and the West. Except for the karoch (You are eternally fighting) ! ’ Washington is now home to Davar, his wife three dasturs from India (Drs Hormazdyar Whether we like it or not, the bulk of Pervin and daughters Binaifer, Rashne and Mirza, Kaikusroo JamaspAsa and Firoze youngsters are married out... Also there are Kotwal), everyone perceived our faith as universal and that it was our duty to propa ­ gate it, said Davar. Apart from this Irani/Parsi, orthodox/ people out. ” liberal divide the polarization among North American Zoroastrians now includes a third WZO, Davar rephrases the question of ofthe faith, coming to his own conclusions, dimension — the generation gap. “The establishing a World Council of Zoroas- young are exposed to an educational sys- trian Federations as “How can associations tern where they are made to think and be brought within the structure of an (exist- question and come to their own conclu ­ sions. The young want to understand and already dealing with “a number of respon- adjustThey want to know what the Prophet sibilities germane for associations to tackle, ” Tajikistan area as preceding that in Iran taught, how the rituals arose, their mean- Davar suggests the creation of a committee itself (see “Probing for Zoroastrian roots, ” ing. They want priests who are capable of or group within the WZO umbrella to deal Zoroastrians Aboard,- Parsiana, July- giving knowledge, counselling. I know of with such issues, have votes weighted to August 1996). Peoples of these areas still children who want to be priests but can ’t reflect the anjumans ’ numerical strength, worship the hearth fire, he says, adding that because they ’re behdins... We have got to thinkofanagiary/atashbehramintheWest... ” Mary ’s School and St Xavier ’s College, inculcated by Darius I and the later Davar is unhappy that “there is no listen- acquired a masters from Bombay Uni- Achaemenians. To explain how time ing, no dialogue, no compromise. ” He refers versity ’s department of economics and a changes people ’s ideas, he draws an anal- to letters in Parsiana where people keep doctorate in international law from Harvard, ogy with the Roman Catholic Church: St reiterating their own viewpoint without For 10 years a Tata Administrative Service Peter was a po0» fisherman — a far cry making an attempt to understand what the officer, Davar says he met a lot of World indeed from the Pope and the basilica of the opposite party is trying to get across. Apart Bank officials while he was engaged in the Vatican which go by his name. His job on the World Bank also led him to travel widely in Eurasia, stumbling upon traditions and beliefs in that ’region which ing) world body? ” Noting that the WZO is led him to theorize about the spread of the Zoroastrian faith in today ’s Uzbekistan/ reflect the anjumans ’ numerical strength. Bombay born Davar was educated at St the cult of public fire-temples was probably Mary ’s School and St Xavier ’s College, acquired a masters from Bombay Uni- doctorate in international law from Harvard. For 10 years a Tata Administrative Service SERSON Electrolytic Capacitors For All Electronic Applications From 12 VDC To 350 VDC Manufacturers: Serson Industries Pvt. Ltd. Pimpri P.F.P.O., Poona-18. Cable: Etchfoil Poona-18. Phone: 772379 & 774296 -.1 34 Parsiana November 1996 bI HOBBIES < * w - 0^ L' « ® S s r ; '13?' Freya’s pet 9 profession J j.jREVicW>-^ZiE\y’ TtEViE tflURAJMJH- JU-JRMAWC «i< 4 :ld W Id. B '¦ H a ;W'.»Il fl fiT Veterinary student Freya Javeri is the first and only Indian to be admitted as a member of the Dog Writers Association of America Hilla P. Guzder says 21-year-old Ms Freya Javeri, final holds in the United States alone, represent- year student of veterinary science at the Pictures of golden-haired Pomeranians, velvet-coated Labradors and glum-look- year student of veterinary science at the ing 36 percent of all US households, trans- ing Saint Bernards stare at you from the Bombay Veterinary College. In October lating into 54.2 million pet dogs. ” glossy covers of dog magazines lining the 1996, she became the first and only Indian racks on the wall, porcelain figures of dogs to be admitted as a member of the 60-year- sit in the showcase, a blow-up of a collie “shaking hands ” with her master adorns the wall. At the sound of the doorbell, a furry (INKC). The DWAA is a 440 strong group her dedication to the cause of promoting form slithers out from under the carved sofa, four more rush past in a cacophony of president Mordecai Siegal, write “every- barks. Conversation must cease, till calm thing essential and important and amusing is restored by a quick command from the and interesting and good and bad and Freya with (I to r) Misty, Tanya, mistress. lovingconcerningdogs...Thesubjectcom- Dora, Raisa and Tansy in front ofthe “I am a third generation dog lover, ” mands the attention of 34 million house- Bombay High Court Photo: Chetan Mistry Popularizing pets is Javeri ’s passion. In 1993 at the age of 18 she took over as the old Dog Writers Association of America editor of Canine Review, the official maga- (DWAA), according to a press release zine of the INKC. Her acceptance as a issued by the Indian National Kennel Club member of the DWAA is in recognition of of writers worldwide who, to quote its the popularity and welfare of dogs in soci ­ ety through her articles and editorials. loving concerning dogs. .. The subject com ­ mands the attention of 34 million house- 36 Parsiana November 1996 b.1 t I j ing the pups too early is harmful, she Certificates under three different judges, right. One can also be duped into paying a he is called a champion. “Of my five dogs, very high price for mediocre dogs, she The price of a pedigreed German states SohrabVazifdar, joint honorary sec- ence (where cross or mixed breeds are mg the pups too early is harmtu , s e retary of the INKC. The other members of permitted). If a dog wins three Challenge advises; weaning them by six weeks is just the DWAA are from USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, UK and Australia. “My maternal grandfather, Jehangir four are champions, ” Freya announces with “Not many Parsi dog owners enter their pets in the dog shows these days as com ­ pared to previous years, ” remarks Freya, adding that other communities seem to be taking an increasing interest in owning very high price for mediocre dogs, she warns. shepherd is between Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000. She narrates the story of a dog dealer who sold a pair of five-month- old pups for over Rs 32,000 though they were not of good show quality and the female pup was obvi ­ ously lame. “The best thing to do when you pedigreed dogs and entering them in dog want to buy a pedigreed pup is to contact a reputed kennel club to verify if the litter is registered, ” she declares. On many an occasion the INKC has caught people forg ­ ing signatures on the registration docu ­ ments. “Whereas most people try to wriggle out of trouble with profuse apologies and promises never to do such a thing again, a dog dealer recently dragged the INKC to court and the matter has still not been resolved, ” she states. The INKC’s bi-monthly magazine. Canine Review, publishes the dates of the shows, the names of the prize-winners and contains articles by Indian and foreign writers on dog training, health and nutri ­ tion. The “caniflt matrimonial ” advertise ­ ments (with dog owners vyingjo attract the best possible mates for their pets!) and “canine classifieds ” (advertising pups for sale) lend a lively touch to the magazine. There are two other “doggie magazines ” in India, states Freya —Pet India, and Indian Kennel Gazette which is published for the Kennel Club of India from Madras. After her graduation in 1997, Freya plans to do her masters degree in animal behaviour in the USA. This includes the study of psychology, neuro-pathology and neuro-physiology, covering problems and abnormalities arising not only from ge ­ netic defects or diseases but also from what she calls “bad upbringing ” of dogs. She cites the exampip of the rottweiler who Daruvala, founded the INKC in 1957 and pride, the first dog show was held in 1959,” narrates Javeri. Her mother Ratty is the honorary secretary of the INKC. Freya ’s father Phiroze, an architect by profession, is also a dog lover. Ratty and Phiroze regularly write articles on dog care and officiate as judges at dog shows. It was their love for dogs which brought them together. “My mom met my dad through the INKC,” chuckles Freya. The Javeris share their spacious flat overlooking the verdant, palm-fringed Oval in south Bombay with Misty, her daugh ­ ters Dora and Tansy, and Raisa and Tanya — three German shepherds and two col ­ lies! Their household has in the past in ­ cluded a Great Dane, an Irish setter, poodles, Pomeranians, golden retrievers and Shetland sheepdogs. “German shepherds (commonly known as Alsatians) are more my dogs, ” opines Freya, “but the collies are equally attached to all three of us. ” Tanya, like all one-and- a-half-year-old babies, is the most demand ­ ing of affection while Dora and Tansy, like sisters everywhere, get into fights with each other, both being, Freya says, of a rather dominating temperament! How do — these breeds which are from cold climes Rani of Jamkhandi, I^yla Patvardhan, adjust to the Bombay heat, particularly in j " .r .n. ...... cz, summer? “The heavily built, well-muscled for her collie Tanya on May 4, 7996 dogs like the Alsatians do feel the heat a ’ ' - -¦‘- little more compared to the more deli ­ cately built collies who adjust well. ” The secret lies in keeping them out of the stringency in the commumty Ocennel^clubs strong sunlight. Inside the house, they are comfortable because “their thick coat is as much an insulation against heat as it is against cold... “My dogs love the monsoon. When we take them to the Oval for their daily exer- cise they head straight for the muddy smaller breeds like the Chihuahuas or Po puddles so they can splash the dirty water all over us, ” giggles Freya. What follows is a good ‘dressing down ’ (brush down) when to maintain. ’ they return home! Freya ’s own pedigreed,pets have won innumerable prizes in dog shows. The INKC and its affiliated clubs (five in Gujarat, one in Rajasthan and one in Goa) be sold at a higher price because most _ • I____ __ TMinp “ 1 np v#ailin<y nt presents Freya the ‘Best in Show’ prize at Lonavla Photo: Ravindra Padte shows. She attributes this not to financial charge a fee of Rs 50-100 per class per show) but to the fact that the older genera ­ tion of Pars IS has not taken the pains to pass down its hobby to the younger generation. ------ e “Keeping dogs is not very expensive, ” she has unfortunately acquired the image of asserts. “The less wealthy can keep the being a “vicious ” dog. “The rottweiler, ’ explains Freya, “is really a sweet-natured dog who enjoys and needs the company of humans. But because they are strong dogs with powerful jaws, people buy them for all the wrong reasons, particularly as watch ­ meranians. The larger breeds like Labra ­ dors and German shepherds do cost more Cuddling Lassie look-alike, Moscow- bred Tanya who at 18 months is the baby dogs. The dog is kept tied up all the time Is “dockTng ” (cutting a dog ’s tail) cruel? “If done early enough, when the pup is but three to four days old, docking does not of the family, Freya remarks that people thus making it more aggressive. ’ have a false notion that male pups should " ' ” conduct about 10 dog shows a year, in Bombay, Pune, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Jodhpur, Nasik and Goa. Freya points out that there are two types of dog shows —conformation (where litter once a no mixed breeds are allowed) and obedi- 1 buyers prefer male pups. “The selling of UUytlO piViVl lllfc*!*,/ ----------------c? - - . . female pups should be done more carefully cause too much pain as the bone is not yet as unscrupulous breeders tend to breed the formed. But vets perform docking even on female frequently, damaging her health. A year is acceptable, but two litters a year weaken the mother. ” Wean- adult dogs, claiming that the animal had injured its tail, though that may not really be the case, ” states Freya. People have a 37 Parsiana November 19961 ' bob V»!i, Phiroze with ‘Best of Breed’ Dora at the Lonavla show Photo: Ravindra Padte Ratty with’3rd Best in Show’ Tanya at the Poona Club on November 24, 1996 t per, informs Freya, is an airborne disease | which affects the respiratory and nervous systems. The symptoms of distemper and rabies are quite distinct, she notes. Distem ­ per makes the dog dull and listless, while rabies makes it aggressive. '‘There are at least six Parsi veterinarians in Bombay, ” enlightens Freya, “of whom five are la ­ dies! ” Freya recommends keeping a pet at home. “There are many advantages in bringing up children with pets. Children learn to be more responsible and have greater respect for life. ” There are many advantages for the stressed-out adult too, she suggests. “Being with a pet, watching him play can be relaxing and soothing, it lowers your blood pressure and relieves stress. Training a dog also develops a close bond between dog and owner. ” The one disadvantage of keeping a pet is that you can ’t leave the dog behind while going on holiday. “Give up your holiday, ” she says, “or take the dog with you. ” And that is precisely what the Javeri family did — •'), , they took all five dogs with them to Goa! ' ’ ....... . The holiday ^^as combined with the dog m the arm) are a must on the day ofthe bite, show and the Goa Kennel Club had booked the whole hotel for the participating dogs and their owners. “My German shepherds r, , . . . - ---- - - ...................uu.v., u,,u are outdoor dogs, thev will go iust about in Bombay are m a pretty bad way because distemper every year, though she believes anywhere. They loved the sea and had a 4' v,Awc t .... ” -n.. tj^gre are foreign injections which claim to grand time frolicking in the waves, ” she* particular mind-set about breeds like the Dobermann pinschers, rottweilers, terriers etc, she says. “People don ’t adjust to the sight of a long-tailed Dobermann and so one finds dogs with small tails even in dog shows in England where docking has been banned except on medical grounds. ” Freya laments the fact that “stray dogs i T' ... the public views them with hostility. ” The policy of the Bombay Municipal Corpora ­ tion does not help either, she stresses. The Corporation vans pick up strays from a particular locality and hand them over to organizations like the Society for the Pre ­ vention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) or the Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD) to ster ­ ilize and vaccinate the animals, she says. They are then released, not in the same place from where they were picked up but in a different area. The result — vicious fights with the strays of that locality as “strays tend to be very territory conscious and do not tolerate invaders. What follows are more complaints from the public. ” Should one ‘adopt ’ a dog from a dog pound? “An adult dog who is used to roaming freely finds it difficult to adjust to the confines of a home, ” she reasons. Breed dogs found in dog pounds have usually been abandoned by the owner “because the dog has a problem and first time dog owners are not advised to go in for dog.s with problems. ” The public “over-reacts ” to the prob ­ lem of rabies/dog bites, opines Freya. The treatment no longer consists of the dreaded injections in the stomach. “An anti-tetanus injection and anti-rabies injection (given followed by a course of six injections spread over three weeks, ” she says. Dogs should be immunized against rabies and provide immunity for two years. Distem ­ recalls. Not such a dog ’s life, after all! The dog connection Dog may be man s best friend but he shepherd dogs, the watch or yard dogs also holds a special position in Zoroas- < ' ' __ 1'____ trian scriptures. Colonel von Stephanitz exclusively for personal protection. There are also detailed instructions on the feeding, breeding and general treat- ^ment of dogs anffheavy penalties like corporal punishment and fines are prescribed for the |F ill-treatment or ruthless kill- ing of dogs. M An extract from the book was sent to Parsiana by Phiroze Javeri and briefly H featured in “The dog con- nection (Events and Per- £ ' sonalities, Parsiana, July 1990).” Javeri used Stephanitz ’s observations to reinforce his view that “the generally pervading love of dogs among Parsis appears to be founded on a firmer footing than some of our other idiosyncrasies. ” and the blood hounds which were kept 38 Parsiana November 1996 in his 1918 tome The German Shepherd Dofz explores the fl roots of the man-dog rela- m tionship. Quoting from the I Vendidad, he writes, “By the intelligence of the dog , ¦ wa.s the world created. ” For i the people of “one of the 1 most ancient of heroic 1 stocks, ” observes Step- A hanitz, the dog wa.s not only a well-tried companion and comrade but had become, together with the cock and the fire, “the dispeller of evil spirits and of magic, the vanquisher of their en ­ emy, the dark and evil of the night. ” The Vendidad, state,s Stephanitz, also distinguishes between the most valued LBOOKS The Lost Parsi? Burjor K. Karanjia The Good Parsi: The Fate of a Colonial Elite in a public what they say in private. It is not Postcolonial Society byTanya M. Luhrmann. First Indian edition published in 1996 by Oxford Univer ­ sity Press, YMCA Library Building, Jai Sing Road, New Delhi 110001. Pp: xi + 317. Price: Rs 495. tally removed from the community ’s core. But an exception needs to be made in the case of the Parsi poet whom the author met, comfortably ensconced in a beautiful apartment in a residential colony, who dismisses the thousand-year-old Parsi com- munity with one sweeping statement: “Time stopped for the Parsis around 1950.” He goes on to say, grimacing, that Parsi young men are impotent: “Parsis are emas ­ culated by their women and by their soci- their style. Parsis aren ’t hypocrites. True, the community is more Western ­ ized than the other Indian communities. True also that the British rulers fulsomely praised them and rewarded them with high ety. Parsis have lost their nerve, they have level financial, mercantile and bureaucra- [he quoted Auden] an ‘ingrown virginity. ’ tic posts. But whether this was because They want to shut themselves away to “The Parsis will not like this book, ” de ­ clares the author flatly. This is rather sur ­ prising considering that much of what Parsis would call denigration in the first they were Parsis or because they were protect themselves from the world that has two-thirds of the book is actually self- competent, must denigration, by the , Parsis against them ­ selves. Parsis are known to have a keen sense of humor, the ability unique among Indian communities to be able to laugh at themselves. The Good Parsi suggests that they have an even keener sense of self- criticism. The para ­ doxical nature of this self-criticism leads the author, Ms Tanya M. Luhrmann, to pro ­ pound a thesis which appears highly ques ­ tionable to this re- [he quoted Auden] an ‘ingrown virginity. ’ always remain open to question. To say that Parsis hoped that one day they might be En- which Auden used the expression, it seems glishmen and that to him to be totally inapplicable to Parsis, therefore they were willing to dance the colonial tango appears of a sense of history. Wisdom did not pe ­ rish when Persepolis was consigned to the flames. The Jewish spirit wasn ’t extinguish ­ ed in the gas chambers of the holocaust. faith can easily survive a natural and desir ­ able historic occurrence like the end of foreign rule. If time at all stopped in 1950,% it wasn ’t only for the Parsis, but for all the communities- in India, for it was around that time that the idealism of the freedom emasculated them. ” This reviewer is not an authority on ingrown virginity. But in the context in besides being irrelevant. What is relevant, however, is that the poet shows a sad lack to this reviewer to be a gross and unfair ex ­ aggeration. This is by no means Surely then, people of the Zoroastrian to deny that Luhr- mann has done her re ­ search conscienti ­ ously, that she is more than generous in her praise of Parsi contri ­ butions to the country fighters and the early rulers after freedom and that she is genu- was won, gave way increasingly to the i nely sympathetic and baap ki jaaydaad attitude in our rulers, as viewer: that the Parsis who identified them- concerned about what she considers to be ' selves with the virile, enterprising British the community ’s plight today. Her premises rulers and acquired position and power are right. Her conclusion is not. This re- under them, find themselves to be, now that India is free, backward, emasculated, irrational and yes, even impotent. Luhrmann goes on to say that the reason {History ofthe Parsis), if D. Darukhana- the Parsis will not like her book is that walla {Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil), Sapur “criticisms of the community are embar- F. Desai (A Community at the Cross Roads), rassing and private, and in the public do ­ main they are often denied. ” Anybody who knows anything about the community times in which they lived and wrote. Be ­ sides, they were not representative of the Parsi youth of today. About the sundry more disillusioned. Luhrmann makes much other characters with whom the author had of the fact that so many Parsis have emi- casual encounters and whom she rather grated and have been successful abroad. If she had taken the trouble of reckoning the percentage of Parsis who have emigrated S' * “¦. .......... F' Luhrmann: touching faith ¦ HI are right. Her conclusion is not. This viewer has no wish to cross swords with the eminent Parsi scholars and historians she quotes like Dorabji Framji Karaka if the country was their father ’s property. This attitude has led them in the last few decades to systematically loot the people, enrich themselves at the cost of the sweat and tears of the poor and transform this ancient land with-its remarkable culture into one of the worst scam-ridden countries in the world, and among the poorest. In the situation in which these rulers F. Desai (A Community at the Cross Roads), except to say that their vision was pursued power and pelf instead of serving 1 .. '¦ the people. Parsis weren ’t the only com ­ munity to be disillusioned and disgruntled. Other communities were as much if not constricted by the circumstances of the will staunchly vouch for the fact that next to good food. Parsis enjoy healthy contro ­ versy, and the more these controversies are carried out in public, in the Press and on the platform, the more self-satisfied they feel, naively tends to quote as authorities on the The eminent physician. Dr Farokh Ud ­ wadia, once joked that if there were just one Parsi left in the world with no other characters on the fringe, not necessarily Parsi to quarrel with, he ’d quarrel with the the lunatic fringe, but certainly in the sense theme of the so-called Parsi decline, one can only comment that they are mostly (proportionately to their total numbers) " _ and then compared this with the percent- P^si to quarrel with, he ’d quarrel with the the lunatic fringe, but certainly in the sense age of Hindus who have emigrated (pro ­ wind. No, Luhrmann needn ’t worry that of magnifying their personal problems into portionately to their total numbers), she Parsis, whatever their faults, will deny in the community ’s problems and being to- would have realized that emigration at- the community ’s problems and being to- 40 Parsiana November 1996adopt the British mode of dressing and when the British left India, the community style of living: in their most intimate cer- lost its bearings. Bhabha, in fact, is the emonies and rituals like navjotes, wed- outstanding example of a thoroughly West ­ tracted other communities even more than it did the Parsis. She praises again and again the Parsi virtue of honesty. But how can an honest dings and others, they also incorporated ernized Indian who got the best of both man, Parsi or any other, hope to survive in several Hindu rites. worlds. a country where you cannot get a flat. One of Luhrmann ’s rather strange He was totally against the hierarchical cannot get your child admitted to school, cannot get a job, cannot secure a bed in hospital for an ailing family member, can ­ not get genuine grievances redressed, can ­ not do anything without greasing a vast be the city of love, and still nothing hap- array of extended palms? Corruption has taken such deep roots and is so all-perva ­ sive, particularly among those who rule us, that one is forced to conclude that the most difficult thing in India today is to be an honest man. The remark made by a Parsi member of the Cricket Club of India to Luhrmann while they were having tea on the Club ’s lawn, is of significance in this context. “I pay my taxes, ” the member said. “And because I do they question me more. People pened. Well, this reviewer has heard of a laugh at you if you try to be honest here. ” man who wouldn ’t make love to his wife This was also this reviewer ’s experience unless she agreed to do so before his friends when he was chairman of a Government of who had become his bosom companions. India corporation. There are two qualities Parsis show stories? What are they supposed to prove above all others. As worshippers of the except the idiosyncrasies of human na- rising sun, they are opportunists, not in a narrow, selfish sense as much as in the sense of seizing opportunity by the fore ­ lock. It would seem that they get more opportunities abroad, say, in a country like America than in their own. Let me give the example of a relative, a young man who had qualified as a dentist, who wasn ’t born in India and was not even problem and best left for Parsis to solve. To a Parsi, but was eager to practice in India. He made the rounds of all the dentists in the city, and the most generous offer he received was as assistant to a well-known end of empire, ” is too far-fetched to be an industrial enterprise and the other, an dentist at the salary of Rs 200 a month, acceptable. This leads her to the stereotype outstanding management leader, have in Well, this man emigrated with his newly " ‘ ‘ ' married wife to London, found the going extremely hard in the initial years, but in course of time came to acquire such a disproved by the figures of Parsi male flourishing practice that he was able to employment against female. This, she adds, own a lovely, spacious cottage in salubri ­ ous surroundings, afford the best possible education for his two children, and pur ­ chase a car each for himself, for his wife and his son. The second quality Parsis possess is that they are extremely adaptable by na- of the colonial subject — in that he identi- ture. They can adapt themselves to any circumstance that history ordains for them. Had the rulers of India been French or Moghul, or any race under the sun, they would have adapted themselves to them has adopted, he confronts his own alien- with the same felicity that they did to the British. And again. Parsis did not only several Hindu rites. One of Luhrmann ’s rather strange friends told her of a couple she knew who system of work that was an inheritance of were in trouble because the man couldn ’t the British. He felt strongly, for example, make love to his wife in Bombay. So the that to appoint peons to do the menial work parents sent the couple to Paris, believed to in any organization is an affront to human dignity. So in the organizations with which he was associated, he did away with peons altogether. He showed none of the de ­ feated, despairing mentality that Luhrmann associates with the end of British rule. Bhabha had tremendous faith in India and in the capacity of Indians to do anything they put their minds to. He would often ask Naoroji Godrej, whom he considered a mechanical genius and with whom he became very friendly, to manufacture equipment needed for his researches into atomic science. On one occasion he asked Naoroji to manufacture an instrument that was so highly sophi ­ sticated that Naoroji told him: “But Homi, But what is the point of telling such freak why don ’t you import it? You can afford to.” Bhabha replied: “I know I can. But I want you to do it. I know you can. ” ture? Today there is evidence all around. There is little doubt, of course, that which surprisingly seems t^ have escaped inbreeding within the community has led Luhrmann ’s notice, of Parsi youth sue- ? to a lower standard of fertility for Parsi ceeding in various fields not only abroad men. The dwindling of the community ’s numbers is no doubt a very real and very grave problem. But it has nothing to do with the end of British rule, it is a Parsi sphere of human endeavor. In today ’s Parsis there are no signs of colonial hangups which their elders seem to suffer from. Two chairmen of widely Had the rulers of India been French or Moghul, Parsis would have adapted themselves to them but at home — in industry, in the arts, in the humanities, in a wide variety of pro ­ fessional positions — in fact in every % 42 Parsiana November 1996 conclude, as Luhrmann does, that “among the Parsis the idea of impotence is associ ­ ated not only with Parsi men but with the separated industries, one, the chairman of end of empire, ” is too far-fetched to be of the unmotivated, apathetic Parsi boy the pages of this very magazine, stoutly and the high earning, better educated Parsi defended the Parsis of today. Sohrab wife which, Luhrmann herself admits, is Godrej, chairman ofthe Godrej enterprises, stated: “What seems to me to be remarkable indeed is how Parsis have merged in the mainstream of Indian life. Spewing per- makes the stereotype all the more intrigu ­ ing. Why? Because Westernization must sonally, I recall being upset as* a boy by the be the source ofall the community ’s woes! communal frenzy roused during the There is a significant reference in The Pentangular cricket matches. Thank God, Good Parsi to the great scientist Homi Bhabha ’s perception of the ambivalence all that is over now. I also recall feeling in school and college that unless I had more Hindu and Muslim friends, I couldn ’t call fies with the colonizer, yet cannot be the myself a true Indian... colonizer: “If he identifies with his native ­ ness, he confronts his own condemnation! If he identifies with the Westernization he larly to this city. The reason perhaps is that, inheriting as they do two great cul ­ tures, Parsis recognize the need to uphold their reputation. We notice this in the ation. ” Maybe, but there is in Bhabha ’slife and career not the slightest suggestion that “No doubt our forefathers have contrib ­ uted immensely to the country, particu- I ?I I I Godrej companies. Several Parsis holding provoke considerable controversy, but they apocryphal last Parsi may do with the wind, key positions are an undoubted asset. There will appear to be sensible — that is, in tune are Parsis running small industries who have proved themselves excellent entre ­ preneurs. Parsis have made their mark even in the armed services. Abroad, too, they enjoy a good reputation. Today ’s Par ­ sis have impressed me on the whole. What we as a community should really worry about is our dwindling numbers. ” Russi Mody, the former head of Tata meaning. In fact, he argues that in the early Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) and now days of the religion, people were con ­ chairman of Air-India and Indian Airlines, verted to the faith, and that Zoroaster felt stoutly denies that today ’s Parsis have lost that his religion was one which should be the pioneering spirit of their forefathers. He expresses great faith in Parsi young men and women. The only handicap the community faces is their dwindling num ­ bers. He believes today, as he did six years ago, that “Parsis should not ask for seat his arguments as replete with “contradic- reservations, but rely on the talent they have in abundance. ” Godrej ’s and Mody ’s views are appar ­ ently shared by the vast majority of Hin ­ dus. Writing in Kaiser-E-Hind dated May 12, 1957 on “Parsis as the Hindu Looks at Them, ” Dr K. S. Rao wrote: “Today many of their (Parsi) illustrious sons and daugh ­ ters are at the helm of national affairs and their contribution has been one of the most munity ’s subsequently adopted home: “From the more than 10,000 Zoroastrians settled in North America, because in these new circumstances, Parsi ethnicity moves from an ascription to a resource, a possi ­ bility, a choice, an achievement, and the need to persuade young people to choose but it will at least set him thinking with the times — to the dispassionate ob- constructively instead of indulging in futile server. They are in conformity with the views expressed in Dr Kersey Antia ’s deeply felt thesis, “The Argument for Ac ­ ceptance, ” quoted by the author. Antia lost Parsi, will find himself again. And argues that Parsis are a progressive people who are not tied to customs and should interpret their religion in its universal writing this book has been for her “an act of love. ” and endless controversies. There is still hope that the good Parsi, who by a twist of history became the Luhrmann ’s hope and faith in this consum ­ mation entitle her to make the claim that Review and Renew Farok J. Contractor appropriate for all people to accept. It needs to be mentioned in all fairness that Faribourz Nariman, an eminent scho ­ lar, also quoted by Luhrmann, describes Zara^ushtra’s “Frasho-Kereti": Renewal In Our Antia as a “reverse cripple, ” and dismissesTimeby Aspi D. Moddie. Published in 1996 by the author, Revills, 45, Cuffe Parade, Bombay 400005. Pp: 217. Price: Not mentioned. tions, inaccuracies, instabilities, irrele ­ vances and inanities, ” and concludes that Only an acute observer of the Parsi social they are “in fact no argument at all. ” One scene could relish ironies, such as the cannot but reflect on the calm and reasoned wedding barid playing The Merry Widow Waltz at the conclusion of a marriage cere ­ mony. In a series of essays written over a manner in which Antia states his case with the vituperative tone adopted by Nariman. Luhrmann argues eloquently that the decade, Aspi D. Moddie casts a fond if new Parsi cultural leadership may come * not from its original but from the com- effectual ... in making this land more re ­ spected in the civilized world, both cultur ­ ally and in trade, industry and commerce. ” He goes on to welcome “this ... race into this ancient land ” and hopes that “their all- round enterprising spirit should rekindle in our nation all that is noble and... also make wisely catalyzes a kind of cultural creativ ­ ity. This collectivity —centered in Toronto, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Chi ­ cago — has its intense battles, many of them between the Zoroastrians of more recent Iranian descent and those from In ­ dia. And there are predictable Parsi ten- * r us emulate their good deeds and activi ­ ties. ” “It is easy to make mistakes in judge ­ ments, ” Luhrmann herself admits. “In many respects this is what the book has been about. ” Once she leaves behind her preoc- ______________ cupation with the postcolonial identity of sions between the liberal and the ultra- the Parsis, her book goes on to make its orthodox. But nevertheless there seems to greatest contribution which ranks it among be an acute awareness that if Zoroastrians the several distinguished books on the do not forge some new sense of common ­ community by Eckehard Kulke, Dr (Ms) ality, they will literally disappear. . ” " ' ' -1----- No, this reviewer who happens to be a Mary Boyce, Ms Jer Randeria and others. f’ ' ' ____ Being an anthropologist herself, Luhrmann Parsi did not dislike the book. On the reflects on the need for anthropology to contrary he much liked it even while dif- reposition itself so that the art of fering from one of the author ’s major con- interpretation becomes a bond for elusions, for the thoroughness of its re ­ search, the lucidity of its writing, the com- 1, ar . Moddie: a fond but sceptical eye sceptical eye over the Parsi community and the Zoroastrian diaspora worldwide. Described as “a Zoroastrian ’s tract for the times. ..” the essays comprise a masterful sweep of 3,000 years of Persian history as well as commentary on contemporary . <=.--------- issues such as fertility rates, trust finances, passion shown throughout for the Parsi ethnicity and educational levels achieved by Parsis. Moddie is at his best in inter ­ preting the scriptures, particularly the responsible and effective cross-cultural understanding. Just as anthropology will survive in a form very different from its community and for her touching faith in the community and its future. He believes . . ______ _____ therefore that every Parsi who cares about Gathas, and drawing out their message for . . . . the conduct of life in a post-industrial age. The eternal message of the Prophet shown to be as relevant today as it was in a remote pastoral setting on Iranian border- £ 19th century conception, so she believes fervently that the Parsi community can survive through a different conception of his community and its great and ancient the way in which its uniqueness is defined religion should read it. He may or may not agree with her conclusions. He may argue with them to his heart ’s content as the and its culture taught. Luhrmann ’s views on conversion may ISv 44 Parsiana November 1996¦ r lands three millennia ago. Four themes or questions are reiterated throughout the 19 essays: •Are the core scriptures, the Gathas, attrib ­ uted to Zarathushtra, intended for all mankind, or only for a select group? •The racial and genetic distinctiveness of triumphed. The genes are only the irrelevant Parsis (on which hangs so much of the debate over conversion and intermarriage) . •Have the Parsis, and the Parsi leadership, lost the dynamism which characterized The author burns with this hope, but his in- them in the last century? •Is the inevitable result going to be stag ­ nation and extinction of Zorc^astrianism, or will there be a renewal of the spirit, the Frasho-Kereti that Moddie hopes for? The author glows with pride and fond ­ ness for his Zoroastrian heritage which leads to a couple of curious excesses, such as his swallowing wholesale the specu ­ lations of a science fiction writer — Isaac Azimov — that the American Halloween holiday has a Zoroastrian origin. But apart from a few such diversions, the book has, on the whole, a serious intellectual content. Moddie is liberal, enlightened and widely-read. He quotes Mao, Kennedy, Conrad Lorenz, Stephen Hawking and many of his essays. He uses phrases like It is"onc thing tdf have a vision of pastoral many others in his generally successful “entrenched traditionalism, ” “apathy, ” harmony, easy when the population was attempt to view Parsi social dilemmas and “— ’’ ” “ " " ' ---------- the Prophet ’s words from the lens of other contemporary observers. The essays appear and achievement, ” and “addicts of super- to have been written from posts in London ficiality ” to describe many of the Parsis in and Mumbai. Is it any surprise then, to find Moddie tilting heavily on the side of the universal appeal of Zarathushtra ’s message, as intended for all mankind? describes his visit in 1992 to an agiary in Given the many interesting and crucial On the second question, “Are Parsis South Bombay, once presided over by the themes that this book tackles, one could racially distinct? ” posited so that conver- eminent scholar (Dr) Sir Jivanji Jamshedji wish that it were read by every Zoroastrian. Sion may be forbidden on the grounds of Modi: Alas, this is unlikely for two reasons: genetic preservation, Moddie is more “A semi-literate priest and the ‘chasni- First, the intellectual tone and scholarly emphatic — even scathing — in his denun- wala ’ are playing cards in the prayer hall, sweep of the material are likely to put off ciation of the entire notion of racial typing. The priest, dirty, shabby and uninterested, the majority of readers. In a telling remark. He uses the word “simpletons ” to describe cannot even say the tandarosti prayers Moddie mentions writing from his “hill Parsi racists, and draws upon a number of properly, nor raise the flames on the home. ” Did he mean to say “ivory tower? ” scholars, from Huxley onward, to debunk afargan. In half the hall, the lights and fans the whole notion of race in the human do not work. A trustee of the Bombay Parsi genome. In one of the many interesting Punchayet is present and passive. This fire-temple is patronized by some of the Kereti, the renewal that Moddie hopes for i for the Parsis. Yet if you examine Israeli gement-speak. ” faces today, you will find every physio ­ logical type, from the blond European, to the frizzy-haired Ethiopian black, to the South Indian. The idea of Jewishness has nary reader this is only boring “mana- In the concluding chapters Moddie seems to rest his main hope for Frasho- Kereti, or renewal and continuity into the 21st century, on the diaspora in North America and elsewhere. Moddie does not, and transient carriers of the idea. however, give enough reasons for his Will Parsis have their renewal? Will the optimism, and makes a shaky case on the Zoroastrian ideal survive in the world? assertion that emigrants tend to be the most vital and dynamic members of their tellectual side makes him a sceptic on the community. However he is not deceived, and himself recognizes our greatest danger — seen again through the Jewish experi ­ ence where 53 percent of marriages in North America are to non-Jews. In “Zoroastrianism: The World ’s First Ecological Religion ” the author pursues the trendy notion of the earth in a peaceful ecological balance — nature in harmony under a benevolent deity, Vohuman. But this is no different from parts of the Judaic scripture which may have antedated the Gathas. Moreover, Moddie fails to provide quotes or citations from the Gathas that two questions. Moddie ’s pessimism about proclaim man ’s stewardship and the need J 1 for good management of the environment. “The priest... cannot even say the tandarosti prayers properly, nor raise the flames on the afargan” the Indian Parsis at least, comes through in “entrenched traditionalism “materialism, ” “stagnation, ” vision and spirit. ^nation, ” “poverty ot low in 1000 BC and the vision shared by “declining education other religions. It is quite arother thing to have a religion that actively advocates steps towards good environmental ste- India. Bombay is a shrunken backwater as wardship or restraint on pollution. Never- : theless, the chapter is thought-provoking far as Parsi achievement and presence are I' ' ’ concerned. In a moving vignette Moddie andspeakswellforModdie ’sbroadreadin^ describes his visit in 1992 to an agiary in - South Bombay, once presided over by the eminent scholar (Dr) Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Modi: “A semi-literate priest and the ‘chasni- wala ’ are playing cards in the prayer hall. One cannot, I suppose, blame the author for being what he is. But one can blame . . him for the second reason why some readers vignettes in the book, Moddie relates with fire-temple is patronized by some of the — like this reviewer — may be tempted to horrified wonderment the spectacle of a richest Parsis of South Bombay. ” fling this book against the nearest wall. It Parsi priest quoting from Hitler ’s Mein Moddie is quite perceptive in pointing is replete with typographical and printing Kampf to support his views about racial his finger at the failure of leadership in the errors on virtually every page. (The purity. To Moddie, ideas and behavior are community in India, and the failure of collection is edited and published by the far more important than genes. Some of his ¦ .. .. ..... essays touch upon the experience of the Jews, who over the same 3,000-year period as the Parsis, have confronted the same shrinking Parsi trusts and institutions, such problems — expulsion, refugee status, and as financial planning, case studies and hu- intermarriage. Today the Jewish population man resource development. But if Moddie in Palestine at least, has registered a huge is correct about the caliber of our leadership, just one, but several chapters*^ Apparently increase, with a firm cultural and religious such chapters are entirely wasted on all but Moddie gave variations ofthe same speech identity. They have achieved their Frasho- a few community leaders. And to the ordi- at more than one meeting. (The essays are Moddie is quite perceptive in pointing his finger at the failure of leadership in the affluent Parsis today to do more for their author himself.) Worse, there are odd and less-fortunate brethren. Several essays offer sudden transitions between and within the business management ideas for saving the chapters. In his intellectual enthusiasm, the author ’s ideas often ricochet like billiard balls in inexplicable directions. In other cases, the same material is repeated in not 45 Parsiana November 1996 Ir k i i probably based on various speeches.) The author is certainly capable of co- from triumphs to tragedies to even triplets! The latter, interestingly, were delivered by the wife of cricketer Michael Whitney, anything in threes delivered in succession: ing an even more unique hat trick in the very next Test at Perth, where he took three wickets in a row, spanning over two days, two innings, and three overs (sic !). The last fact was achieved because Hughes ’ two victims in the first innings were in the last ball of an over bowled by him, the first ball of the next over which ended the Windies ’ gent, even inspired prose. What the collec ­ tion cries out for is a good editor, and reduction in the material by at least half to whom Meher-Homji has roped in to write eliminate repetition, dated matter and the introduction “management-speak. ” The author should to this work, be urged to consider this for a subsequent (The media, in ­ printing. cidentally, had innings, and the first ball of the second Moddie deserves to be read. What he -OlHy proclaimed this innings. (What cbuld better that feat now is says touches upon many of the most \ event as ‘Whit- a hat trick spread over two Tests, and we profound dilemmas that will face the human ney ’ s greatest hope Meher-Homji will be around to record race in the 21st century. Like questions of hat trick. ’) identity and ethnicity in a globalizing The rarity of world. Like ethical behavior amidst the ahat trick, as per favorite words), most hat tritks (nine) have spiritual vacuum of market-driven econo- its original defi- been witnessed in Australia (i.e. 43 per- mies. Like the impact of a few immortal Meher-Homji’s hat trick nition, can verses uttered by a pastoral prophet, long ago, on the future standard of all mankind. And on our common vision of the universe. it in his inimitable manner.) Oddly (another of Meher-Homji ’s been witnessed in Australia (i.e. 43 per- be cent), where Meher-Homji has now settled, quickly deter- and none in India — at least as far as test cricket is concerned, which is primarily Wicked wicket ways Homi J. Rogers Hat-Tricks by Kersi Meher-Homji. Published in 1995 by Kangaroo Press Private Limited, 3, Whitehall Road, Kenthurst NSW 2156, Australia. Pp: 120. Price: Not mentioned. For the last two years we have unfailingly received a book from Kersi Meher-Homji recording with facility lesser-known aspects of cricket. The books, slim as a one-dayer in cricket when stood up next to the cricketing bible of statistics and records. mined by just a glimpse at the book ’s < ’ ' ' _______2, „ ....... facts-at-your-fingertips appendix. There the kind of cricket thatches covered by have been only 21 hat tricks performed by '' ' 19 bowlers in nearly 1,300 tests spanning 115 years (from 1879 to 1994). Hence on an average — though such a rare pheno ­ menon never < ' ' ‘ ' regularity — a hat trick comes along once every 5.7 years. Significantly, in the same time period of 115 years, some 2,060 test centuries have been recorded, which means example, S. Mubarak Ali while playing for India at Poona alsh-like feat Meher-Homji in this work. However, it’s not that hat tricks have not been performed on the Indian sub-continent. Meher-Homji not noting this feat in first-class cricket occurs with mathematical played in India, while giving instances of it being achieved in similar standard tournaments — and even ‘schoolboy level matches ’ abroad — is a serious lapse. For that for a bowler to record the feat of a hat Nawanagar against Westei trick is practically a hundred times rcrcr than for a batsman to post a hundred. An entire book on this rare phenomenon indicates that Meher-Homji had to _____________ ___ ___ _ undertake tremendous research. That he repeated by S. Nyalchand while playing succeeded in bowling the reader over with " " ' . - . his wit and garnered facts (and fiction, the Wisden, which may be compared to the which he also quotes from to make for traditional five-day matches, have been as riveting a read as the play and excitement provided by the limited-over matches. It was hence with bated breath that we wondered whether Meher-Homji would send us another packet from Down Under this year too; and, if and when it arrived, whether it would be able to stand in the same class as his two earlier works. Out for a Duck (1993, reviewed in Parsiana, Janu- trick is practically a hundred times rarer TnJi 1 Wi in 1936-37, performed a by taking the last two wickets in the first innings, and the first wicket with his first ball in the second innings. This feat was % traditional five-day matches, have been as for Saurashtra against Baroda at Dhran- gadhra in 1961-62. Yet both these occur ­ rences do not find mention in the book, some hilarious tales) is a fine measure of Again, SalilAnkola ’s dream debut at Poona the dedicated work put in by him. Like in with a hat trick for Maharashtra versus his earlier books, Meher-Homji looks at Gujarat in 1988-89 and the current Indian the agony and the ecstacy, capturing vividly vice-captain Anil Rumble ’s hat trick in the joy of bowlers — sometimes in their own words — and the drama behind this peculiar event. Of surprising — even shocking — inte ­ rest is the tale of the hat trick performed by the agony and the ecstacy, capturing vividly vice-captain Anil Rumble ’s hat trick in 1991-92 at Visakhapatnam could have found mention in the book, especially the former as it would make for dramatic copy. The few Indian contributions mentioned are those of J. S. Rao who performed the unique feat of two hat tricks in the same innings against North Punjab (in 1963- his teammates nor his opponents, writes 64); Kapil Dev, “who provides the only Courtney Walsh against Australia in the ---- ------------ ,, nor ary 1995) and The Nervous Nineties {1994, Brisbane Test of 1988. Neither Walsh reviewed in Parsiana, November 1995). 1 ’ _______ ____ _______ ___ Well, the packet has arrived, and even if Meher-Homji, knew thafa hat trick was we are a trifle late in reviewing the work, it would suffice to say that Meher-Homji has scored a hat trick! The book is as interesting and off-beat in its scope as his two earlier volumes. Wonder of wonders, it is titled Hat-Tricks, and is devoted to that very rare feat in cricket when a bowler takes three wickets in three consecutive balls. With the passage (Meher-Honyi ’s favorite word), this hat only bowler to perform a hat trick in a? of time, however, its usage in journalese trick tafe has an even tangier end, with an World Cup match, when he bowled three has slipped to include a package of Australian bowler (Merv Hughes) achiev- New Zealanders in Nagpur in 1987. Meher- instance of a cricketer at both the agony and the ecstacy end, ” having taken a hat trick in limited overs international against Sri Lanka (1990-91), and being a victim of one such in New Zealand three years later; and aapro Rusi Surti, who is credited to be the first bowler to take a hat trick for performed till a few balls later. The reason for this delayed exultation was that the ‘event ’ was separated by an entire innings: Walsh having taken the last wicket in Australia ’s first innings some 45-and-a- half hours earlier, scalping two batsmen in a row with his first two deliveries in their Queensland in the Sheffield Shield. Chetan ' Sharma, incidentally, is reported to be the second innings two days later. Curiously of time, however, its usage in journalese trick tale has an even tangier end, with an package of Australian bowler (Merv Hughes) achiev- 46 Parsiana November 1996 f *•i r I With best wishes from Farah & Tanya 47 Parsiana November 1996 Homji, however, doesn ’t tell the reader more about this unique feat, and one has to be content with a set of three pictures (supplied by the late Bapoo B. Mama to whom this book has been dedicated) to document this one-of-a-kind performance. Surprisingly, Sharma ’s name doesn ’t even find a place in the three-page index at the end of the book; a grievous lapse for the serious reader, who may not have the time or the inclination to go through pages of purple prose or photographs to lay his hand on some vital facts. We ^so found that M. Baqa Jilani, the first Indian to bowl a hat trick, does not feature in the book ’s index, though his performance merits a good half ­ page of text in the book, under the sub ­ caption of “mothers of hat-trick ” or, should that have read “mother of hat-tricks? ” While this is not to detract from the worth of the book, attention paid to these minor details would have greatly enhanced the value of this slim volume. Also, in these days when one-day cricket/limited over cricket is gaining acceptance, it would have been apt, one feels, if a chapter had been devoted on the occurrence of this rare phenomenon in this type of cricket. Surely, with its accent on a fast-paced game, there may be a few instances of a hat trick performed in one-dayers, and certainly there would be quite a few dramatic tales of a hat trick just being missed. Presented in Meher-Homji ’s racy style with flashes of humor or heartburn accompanying these incidents, they would have made excellent reads. Also, since a hat trick is used to describe any triumph (or failure) occurring thrice in succession, we feel Meher-Homji could have written about batsmen (if any) who scored three centuries in a row, or fielders who were responsible for three wickets falling successively as a result of catches held by them. This could have given the book a pleasing plumpness and made it a more comprehensive record of those triumphant three-in-one moments. In its present form it offers just a little over two dozen pages of relevant reading material: the other pieces are more like appendages strung around the kernel. It is to Meher-Homji ’s credit, however, that with his fine attention to detail and, as cricketers would say, an in-form writing style, he has managed to put forth yet another winner in his ‘peculiar events ’ cricket trilogy. Supplemented by some excellent archival photographs, Hat-Tricks is like a short-pitched ball: well-worth a ‘glance. ’ MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited from tall, handsome, well-settled Parsi boys up to 32 years of age, for attractive, graduate daughter, aged 25, working for an international airline and having a valid US visa. Reply with returnable photograph to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Nov/38-96)* GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ’Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. Shahnamah of Firdausi Available for sale Ten volumes oMhe Shahnamah - full text and translation in Gujarati by Mahiar Navroji Kutar & Faramarz Nowroji Kutar (Shahnama Press 1914) Send offers to: The Advertiser (Shahnamah) GPO Box 892 Bombay 400001 Always remember TATA BATA KHAMBATA Ketayun & Bomi 22/A, Wellington Terrace Wellington Street, Bombay 400002 Tel No: 2069636, 2057242 Pager No; 9602-104007 * IPLAUDITS FOR THE PENTAD patient ’s desires into consideration and continued from page 27 there may well be conflict between the doctor, ” said the man who is a visiting patient ’s and the doctor ’s points of view, professor at several medical educational centers in the UK and USA, has published five standard books on Diagnosis and Management of Medical Emergencies, cult to know what ’s right and what ’s wrong. Pulmonary Eosinophilia, Diagnosis and You try to do what ’s the least wrong. off the stage to present flowers to his mother Ms Perin Udwadia sitting in the first row “for having raised such a wonderful person. ” Before adding “some little known facts ” to the achievements of these men cited in the scrolls, Modi thanked Ms Yasmin Khan for the festive rangoli at the entrance and Soli Vajifdar for organizing Management of Acute Respiratory Fail- Therefore great physicians have been great the nitty-gritties ofthe function. She then ure. Tetanus and Principles of Critical philosophers and great thinkers, ” added went on to inform the audience of the six Care, and contributed a chapter on tetanus Udwadia,referringtoSirThomasBrowne ’s acres of land gifted by Godrej to the Indian in the current Oxford Textbook of Medi- Religio Medici. Disaster Relief Centre (see “A gift of com- cine, as notes the citation. “The Parsi communitv is small in num- passion, ” Parsiana, October 1996), the award presented to Guzder by the Antop Hill Warehousing Association and to be a member. ” He saw the community ’s Palkhivala by the Association for National finest values as “honesty, courage and the Solidarity, and of the “daunting task ex ­ mind is an uncharted enigma. ” Despite his ability to say and do what ’s right... our best pertly handled ” by Taleyarkhan in Latur assertions many a family has hung upon and greatest values are among the poor and where schools, hospitals and quarters have the words and advice of this consultant middle class. I am amazed at their honesty physician to the Breach Candy and Parsee and integrity. ” Referring to people “who General Hospitals — and come through, as talk of the past, and optimists like Tale- noted Modi. Udwadia described medicine yarkhan who speak ofthe future, ” Udwadia as science and art — science in making hoped “the future remains reasonably bri ­ ght, ” and urged the community to multiply in geometric progression, be educated and [Thrity Taleyarkhan, Veera Udwadia, Shi- equipped for life ’s battles, retain the spirit rin Guzder (in absentia, due to ill health) of enterprise and quoting Tagore, “Build and Nergish Palk^ivala] for their contribu ­ tion to these achievements which embody - . the “Zoroastrian qualities of devotion to religion in that both promote beneficence; huge is not great/And that pride is not their work and their consciouswess of time, ” “The oath of Hippocrates says ‘First of all, everlasting. ” — in Kipling phrase, “filling the unforgiv- do no harm. ’” Udwadia was quick to note. Even as Udwadia returned to his seat ing minute with sixty seconds worth of however, that it was essential to take the amid a torrent of applause Modi stepped distance run... ” “You will do right and not wrong ” pre ­ scribes the stern code of medical ethics, but, says Udwadia, “sometimes it’s diffi- are, Tetanus and Principles of Critical philosophers and great thinkers, ” added Udwadia, referring to Sir Thomas Browne ’s Religio Medici. “The Parsi community is small in num ­ ber but it is a great community, ” said the “Medicine is a search for truth about I what happens to an individual ’s body and physician who declared himself “proud to mind. A lot we do know about the body, but a lot more needs to be learned. The hypotheses based on exact observations; art because it is also based on rational conjecture and “conjecture, however in ­ tuitive or born of experience or knowl ­ edge, can always be wrong. ” He also com ­ pared the ethics ofmedicine to the ethics of of your poverty/And know that what is God ’s throne daily/On the ample bareness Even as Udwadia returned to his seat amid a torrent of applause Modi stepped With Best Wishes from been established by the Red Cross at a cost of three crore rupees under his supervi ­ sion. “What can I say about Farokh Udwadia except that he ’s a superb doctor. It’s thanks to him that I’m still alive... ” Modi thanked the women in their lives Mr Rusy M. Shroff, M.B.E. and Mrs Purviz R. Shroff IMILESTONES I r i r The age of Zoroastrian brides (as listed in this issue) ranged between 22 and 48 years, the arithmetic mean (the total number of indi ­ vidual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 27 years. The corresponding figures for the grooms were 22 and 57 years, averaging at 31 years. There were 25 births in Bom ­ bay in November as compared to 67 deaths. Seven of the 20 victims who fell prey to heart disease were above the age of 80. Pneu ­ monia and lung diseases were next among the major killers claiming 16 Zoroastrians. Six patients were victims of old age and general nursing homes are not included debility while four succumbed to brain disease. Cancer, kidney failure, and hypertension took a toll of three lives each while septi ­ cemia and falciparium malaria of two each. The varied isolated cases registered in November were urinary tract infection. polycythemia vera (an idiopathic especially of the elderly, death condition in which the red blood cell count is very high), diabetes, burns and haematoma (a swelling filled with blood). In one case, the cause of death was stated as “asphyxial death due to drown ­ ing. ” A 60-year-old perished in a road accident and a stillborn baby was also lost to the community. The eldest age at death was 94 I BARODA BORN A boy, Jeraz, to Tazeen and Zarir Cooper on November 17, 1996 BOMBAY BORN A girl to Nilovfer and Rajiv Patkar; November 1 A girl to Puja and Percy Gnwalla; November 2 A boy to Roxana and Behram Mistry; November 4 A girl to Nilufer and Freddy Tukina; November 7 A boy to Firoza and Rohinton Dadyburjor; November 8 A girl, Ryana, to Tanai and Rohinton Contractor, sister to Sanaya; November 10 A boy to Rashna and Cedric D’Souza; November 10 A girl, Tushna, to Khushi and Cvrus Vevaina; November 10 years as compared to the youngest: 45 years. The Zoroastrian life expectancy at birth, in Bombay in November, was 75 years. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by various newsletters and anjumans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information is not always complete or consistent: we are unable to carry data from areas where the anjumans do not furnish the particulars; the birth figures for Bombay are supplied by four hospitals — births in suburban hospitals and private unless individuals send us infor ­ mation together with a copy of the birth certificate. There may be an inadvertent repetition ot name,s in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony. In the breakup ot deaths according to illnesses, ..........................'1 is often due to a combination of several diseases. If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity ot the report would be required. We are sure our reader!) would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us. A girl to Jesmine and Hanoz. Baria; November 14 A girl to Ahan and Manek Patel; November 14 A girl to Binaifer and Karl Dumasia; November 15 A girl to Persis and Homiyar Navdar; November 15 A girl to Armaity and Cyrus Katrak; November 16 A boy to Kashmira and Vispi Vesuna; November 17 A boy to Indrani and CyrM.v Gandhy; November 18 A girl to Anaihita and Rayomand Irani; November 18 A girl to Shahnaz and Yezdi Irani; November 18 A girl to Delnavaz and Shazad Izediyar; November 19 A girl to Parvana and Raten Patel; November 19 A boy, Zayan, to Ferzeen and Hoshang Chargeman; November 20 A boy to Hufriya and Darayes Karkaria', November 20 A girl to Meher and Hormuzd Sinor, November 25 A girl to Hufrish and Ajay Jani', November 26 A boy to Tannaaz and Sheriar Irani; November 28 A boy to Pervin and Cyrus Jeejeehhoy; November 30 MARRIED Dolly Hiraji Broacha and Adi Gustadji Kavarana; October 22 Kamal Pervez Mistry and Adil Hosang Patel; October 24 Pervin Ardesher Solan and Yezdi Aspi Driver; November 3 Ahan Shavaksha Billimoria and Rustom Dorab Davar, November 14 Tehnaz Hormuzd Minocher- homji and Jimmy Jal Vadivala; November 15 Nazneen Noshir Sidhwa and Percy Dara Vakharia; November 16 Farah Boitii Bacha and Nekdad Farrokh Cama; November 18 Soonnu Rusy Enty and Eric Fardun Powvalla; November 18 Phirooza Homi Sanjana of Bangalore and Noshir Homi Rustumji of Bangalore; November 18 Azineen Dinyar Wadia and Behrain Baman Irani; November 19 Seema Noshir Bakhshay and Ruzbeh Behrani Aryana of Kalyan; November 23 Simonil Sarosh Forbes and Horinuzd Hoshang Madan; November 23 Niloofer Adil Daruwalla and Jimmy Godrej Mehta; November 23 Shenaz Hormusjee Subawalla of Calcutta and Minoo Keki Bilia; November 24 Armin Jehangir Bagli and Nozer Aflatoon Irani; November 24 khushnuma Dossabhai Shroff and Khushroo Nariman Patel; November 24 Kashmira Sam Nakra and Oorvez Jimmy Batty; November 25 Zenohia Rohinton Mobedji and Minoo Jal Buhariwalla; November 25 Rashna Manek Baliwala and Fredoon Pirojshaw Chiniwala; November 26 Farida Rustom Irani (Khorshedi) and Ruzbeh Dara Irani; November 26 Binaifer Naval Bharucha of Ahmedabad and Nariman Meher Mehta; November 26 Yashna Hoshang M it hawala and Adil Pirojshaw Dadachanji; November 27 Nilufer Mehli Khambatta and Rahul Jail Cowasji; November 28 Kashmira Sohrab Cooper and Pourusasp Keki Pavri; November 28 Havovi Kaikobad Mogal and Khushru Kaikobad Dastoor; November 30 DIED Keki Rustomji Dadachanji (85), residing at 761, Najamai Mans, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 1 Khorshed Burjor Gotlaseth (84), 16/A, Shreyas, Sleater Rd, 400007; November 1 Motan'i)ara Khambatta (76), Meherally Mans, 132, Dr Ambedkar Rd, 400027; November 2 Rusi Nusserwanji Kharas (65), 6/15, Sir Ratan Tata Clny, Tardeo, 4(X)034; November 2 Secunder Ardeshir Padsha ('ll), 626, Adenwalla Bldg, 8, A. Homavazir Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 3 Dinyar Homi Rustamji (Bawa Adam) (53), 12/5, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; November 3 Homi Sorabji Wadia (80), Yusuf Bldg, J. Petit St, Grant Rd, 400007; November 3 Goolbai Framroze Chama (85), 4, Matarp^hadi Cross Lane, Mazgaon, 400010; November 5 Dhunjishaw Kavasha Contractor (86), 3, Sharifa Mans, Kohinoor Rd, Dadar, 400014; November 5 Sheroo Homi Dotiwalla (11), Mistry Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 5 Firoz Rustomji Ghyara (19), 11, Engineer Bldg, Sleater Rd, 400007; November 5 Banu Minocher Unwalla (84), C/5, Captain Clny, Tardeo Rd, 400034; November 5 Firoze Ardeshir Dalal (73), Room no 11, Shroff Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 4(X)007; November 6 49 Parsiana November 1996Perin Jehangir Dumasia (75), C/5, Godrej Baug, Off Nepean Sea Rd, 400026; November 6 Soli Dossahhoy Kanga 23, Police Court Lane, Fort, 400001; November 6 Tehmina Jehangir Batliwala (73), Room no 11, 225, Patel Widows ’ Chwl, Above Sunshine Hotel, Thakurdwar, 400002; November 8 Dinshaw Pestonji Parekh (87), 5/4, India Hse, Kemps Corner, 400036; November 8 Jal Jamshedji Jussawalla (88), R/13, Cusrow Bang, S. B. Rd, 400039; November 9 Aloo Jehangirji Kalyaniwala (IQ), J/51, Cama Park, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; November 9 Filly Eruchshaw Mehta (55), M/3, Dalal Est, Bombay Central, 400008; November 9 Naja Jal Choksi (85), Ava Mans, 230, Tardeo Rd, 400007; November 10 Keki Naoroji Daruwalla (57), Lam Bldg, Delisle Rd, Lower Parel, 400013; November 10 Allamai Eruchshaw Khansaheb (91), Avabai Mans, Henry Rd, Colaba, 400039; November 10 Perin Rohinton Kyas (80), 8, Kanga Bldg, Dr B. Ambed- kar Rd, Dadar, 400014; November 10 Tehinina Rustom Umrigar (85), B/69, Vanashri, L. T. Rd, Borivli (W), 400092; November 10 Soona Piroshaw Bolton (94), Sunny Ville, 22, Carmichael Rd, 400026; November 11 Jeroo Khurshed Katrak (58), B-6/A, United Chmbs, 347, Maulana Shaukat Ali Rd, 400007; November 1 f Baby of Rashna Hoshang Udwadia (stillborn), D2/23, S. B. Bharucha Baug, Andheri, 400053; November 11 Dina Savak Bharucha (82), 190/A, Presswala Bldg, D. Badkamkar Marg, 400(X)7; November 12 Motibai Kaikhushroo Irani (86), 6/A, Ebrahim Mans, Grant Rd, 400007; November 12 Pirojbai Framroze Khadiwalla (94), C/8, Neelima Hsg goc, Mahakali Caves Rd, Andheri (E), 400093; November 12 Nergish Savakshaw Sethna (82), 1/3, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; November 12 Rusi Jal Currawalla (72), 501, Cumballa Crest, 42, Redder Rd, 400026; November 13 Tehmi Phdi Kavarana (11), I 1, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; November 13 Dina Burjorji Zaiwalla (86), Ali Manzil, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; November 13 Keki Maneck Giara (83), 721/A, Choksi Bldg, Rd no 4, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 15 Firoz. Janishedji Vachha (88), Sealand, 41, Cuffe Parade, 400005; November 15 Piroja Minocher Fitter (88), 204, Bridge View, North Wing, Hansraj Lane, Byculla, 400027; November 16 Jamshed Rustomji Nagpurwalla (76), B/15, Ginwalla Bldg, Captain Clny, Haji Ali, Tardeo, 400034; November 16 Dinyar Jalejar Nanakuka (45), Room no 1, Batliwalla Agiary Chawl, Tardeo, 400034; November 17 Mani Minocher Talati (79), Commonwealth Bldg, 181, Marine Drive, 400020; November 17 Tehmina Jamshedji Deboo (83), 194, Talaty Bldg, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; November 18 Keki Bejenji Jamula (85), Room no 13, Malegamwalla Bldg no 2, Gabnal Rd, Mahim, 400016; November 18 Gohar Bahrami Mobarakeh (69), 602, Wallace Apts 1, Grant Rd, 400007; November 18 Noshir Pirojshaw Secretary (89), Jehangir Mans, 71, Hughes Rd, 400007; November 18 Jal Kaikhushru Vandrewalla (69), Q/9, S. B. Bharucha Baug, Andheri (W), 400058; November 18 Merwanji Burjorji Commissariate (80), 3/17, Five Star Apts, Bund Garden Rd, Poona, 411001; November 19 Perin Kaikhushroo Jungalvala (75), 806, Manju Mhl, 35, Pali Hill Rd, 400050; November 19 Freny Nadirshah Balsara (83), 12/A, Paradise Apts, 44, Napean Sea Rd, 400036; November 20 Jerbai Kaikhushroo Patel (84), G, Bhiwandiwalla Ter, Dhobi- talao, 400002; November 20 Faredoon Ardeshir Tavaria (79), 3, Sir Ratan Tata Bldg no 3, Tata Blocks, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; November 20 Jeini Burjorji Billimoria (55), Q/10, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; November 21 Khodayar Ardeshir Demehri (77), F. B. Bilimoria Bldg, Shamrao Vithal Marg, Grant Rd, 400007; November 21 Hoinai Sorabji Talati (86), 187, Lamington Rd, 400007; November 21 Sorabji fJormusji Bharucha (72), 250/252, Lucky Mans, Bazargatc St, Fort, 400001; November 22 Ardeshir Behram Chili (Irani) (89), 315, Pehelvi Bldg, Dr . Badkamkar Marg, 400007; November 22 Ldv Maneck Darukhanawalla (60), 801, Coover Villa, lame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; November 22 Motibai Merwan Irani (79), R/6, Sunder Ngr, S. V. Rd, Malad (W), 4(Xxj64; November 22 Pereen Kaiki Khamhatta (73), Gold-Croft, 39, B. Desai Rd, 400036; November 23 Goal Cavas Umrigar (92), P/16, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; November 23 Khorshed Hormusji Bhiwandiwalla (84), C/o, F. F. Hirjikaka, Naju Manor, 14, Oliver St, Apollo Reel, 400039; November 24 Shirinbai Rustomji Tavadia (87), Cooper Bldg, Marzban Clny, Dr Nair Rd, 400011; November 24 Coomi Manecksha Dubash (85), C/o K. P. Nallaseth, Albless Bldg, Banaji Fire-temple Comp, 400002; November 26 Amy Faredoon Merchant (69), C/o T. N. Nanavati, Gopal Mans, Guru Nanak Rd, Bandra, 400050; November 26 Hilla Maneksha Daruwalla (64), G/7, Godrej Baug, Off Napean Sea Rd, 400036; November 27 Katie Homi Harda (64), Q/7, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; November 27 Bahadur Framroz.e Surti (62), Dhun Bldg, Dadar Cross Rd, Dadar, 400014; November 28 DELHI MARRIED Arnaz Parvez Mehta and Visiasp M. Bhagwagar; October 21 MADRAS BORN A boy, Ray han, to Farzana and Ardeshir Dastur, October 31 POONA BORN A girl, Shirly, to Zenia and Sarosh Mody; November 18 DIED Edeljee Khurshedjee Kotwal (94), 3/A, Solapur Rd, 411040; November 11 Perin Padshah Karkaria (68), 872, Dastur Meher Rd, 411001; November 12 Sam Hormusji Printer (77), 88, M. G. Rd, 411001; November 14 Daulat Pesi Kaka (67), Mody Clny, Synagogue St, 411001; November 21 Freed Manekshaw Kanga (75), No 3, Shalimar Hotel, 12/A, Connaught Rd, 411001; November 21 Eruchsha Farmji Guandevia (7^, Daulat Bldg, 963, M^a Parviz Rd, 411002; November 29 SECUNDERABAD DIED Minocher Khambata (92), father of Sarosh; July 4 % SURAT DIED Jarbanoo Nariman Bharucha (70), Bibiniwadi, Sayedpura, 395003; November 7 Jalajer Dinsaji Amalsadiwala (11), Village Amalsadi, Taluka Mandvi, Dist Surat, 394160; November 12 Pirozsha Jamshedji Bhagvager (68), P^siwad, Village Amroli; November 13 Tehmina Ardeshir Nulladaru (89), Vaki Bordi, 395003; November 19 Goal Bomi Ichhaporia (48), Village Adajan, Dist Surat; November 21 Tehmina Hormasji Amrolia (76), Wanki Bordi, 395003; November 23 Ami Beharamji Saher (52), Gajanand Park, Adajan, Dist Surat; November 23 Nadirshah Eruchsha Turel (64), Bibiniwadi, Sayedpura, 395003; November 29 50 Parsiana November 1996 «CANADA Burnaby, British Columbia BORN A boy, Zubin, to Rashna and Neville Doodha', October 24 A TOTALS FOR 1996 Bombay India World B A B A B Campbell River, B.C. BORN A boy, Cyrus, to Mehrbanoo and Dara Behroozi', August 15 BORN Boys Girls 9 16 89 101 2 1 8 4 5 5 26 31 Edmonton, Alberta DIED Edi Sapurji, husband of Nergish and brother of Vera, Silloo, Rumi and Minoo; October 17 MARRIED Parsi Intercommunal 25 163 17^ 1 5 4 ¦ 5 5 15 9* Toronto MARRIED Andrea Torrey, daughter of Norma and Don, and Navroze Balsara, son of Moti and Russi; July 7 Natasha Rustomji, daughter of Dinaz and Shahrokh, and Kaizad Irani, son of Dogdo and Jehangir; August 4 Yasmin Katrak, daughter of Perin and Khushroo, and Randy Cramer, September 14 DIED CONSIGNED Males Females CREMATED Males Females 28 39 416 458 8 7 92 79 6 3 55* 39 ¦ Males — 2 Females — 2 * Males — 2 Females — 7 A: Total numbers in this issue B: Running totals for 1996 (February-March 1996-November 1996 issues) Males married out — 9 Females married out —8 •Overseas deaths are listed in the consigned column as Parsiana does not have a breakup of those cremated. These figurespertain to information provided to or collected by Parsiana. They do not reoresent fhP tntAi number of births, marriages and deaths in the Zoroastrian community in India and abri^d. DIED Dinshaw Kirolawala, husband of Nergish and brother of Ratan, Arnavaz Golwalla and Nergish Kayani; September 4 St Catharines, Ontario BORN Twins (girls), Farentina and Zarina, to Patty and Keki Gatta, sisters to Cyrus, November 8 Vancouver BORN A boy, Tascha, to Peyman Parsa and Mojdeh Shahriarv, July 15 A boy, Robin, to Homa Ashtari and Nyaz Asgarf, July 20 A girl, Farah, to Rashna and Sharokh Kianipour', August 20 A boy, Shayan, to Mojgan and Ramin Zohrabv, September 20 MARRIED Mehernaz Jamshedian, daughter of Zarine and Farokh, and Mehran Jamshidnian, son of Firoozeh and Khodabandeh; September 15 FRANCE Versailles BORN A girl, Clara, to Cyra and Jean-Michel Vuillamy, October 4 IRAN Tehran MARRIED Mehrnaz Farsi, daughter of Mehrbanou and Mehrban, and Kurush Bilimoria of Australia, son of Farkhondeh and Nadirshaw; August 22 PAKISTAN Karachi DIED Lily Hoshanft Dalal (72), mother of Shernaz Berana; November 2 Nariman B. Mukadam (80); November 11 Rati .Javat (80); November 17 Khorshed B. Shroff' (80); November 25 USA Burtonsville, Maryland MARRIED Farishte Irani, daughter of Behroze and Khushro, and Afshad Irani, July 27 Chicago BORN A girl, Rachel, to Yasmin and Malcolm Bilimoria, sister to Sara; October 15 Connecticut DIED Homi Zal Cooper (66), husband of Parween and father of Farobag, Roshanee and Piroozi; July 17 Houston MARRIED Maynauz. Irani, daughter of Katie and Dinshaw, and Mathew Olsen', October 19 DIED Phiroze Dotiwala, father of Kaemerz and Vehista Kaikobad; October 25 Maryland MARRIED Natasha Faroke Gandhi and 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: 2017707/2011894 We buy old Gold, Silver and Diamond Jewellery We accept Master. Visa, Diners, BOB & Inter cards Jejf Berbaum; August 31 New York MARRIED Nilufer Darayes Bharda and Michael Vidolin', July 13 Rovena Ogra of Karachi and Urmez Virasp Davar, July 21 4’ * San Francisco DIED Shapour Varjavand, husband of Irandokht and father of Ramin and Anahita Thomycroft; October 22 Compiled by Roxana A. Driver 51 Parsiana November 1996 Ii IN MEMORIAM Trust-worthy Malegamvala electrical engineer. Sufficiently fluent in the language to bring out a volume of lyrics in Swedish, he was also conversant with the other Scandinavian languages, Danish and Norwegian. I Bombay born Malegamvala I studied at the Bharda New High H School and The Victoria Jubilee H Technical Institute. He qualified as a ¦ graduate of the Institute of Electrical Died: Dinshah KaikhushrooMalegamvala, (and yet) perhaps the most enjoyable Engineers (England) and at the finals for 80, director for over two decades of the meetings one could ever attend... That is ” ~ J. N. Tata Endowment for the Higher Edu ­ cation of Indians, on June 22, 1996 in Bombay following cardiac arrest. “The enormous enthusiasm and dedica ­ tion with which he worked for what he saw (as) Jamsetjee Tata ’s ideas ” led to a sub ­ stantial growth of funds while he was director of the J. N. Tata Endowment, of scope in our country for personal initia- acknowledged his senior colleague J. J. Bhabha at the condolence meeting con ­ vened in Malegamvala ’s memory. En ­ dorsed Ms Lily Crasta, secretary of the Endowment, “So great was Mr Male ­ gamvala ’s love and concern for the Tata Endowment that in January 1995 when he was ill and in hospital owing to a heart problem, in spite of his discomfort and pain ” he wrote to the head of different Tata (which awards grants for research in leu- concems requesting them to renew their kemia) where he was managing trustee, publication of two books. Riding, skiing, donations. the Lady Meherbai D. Tata Educational hiking, badminton and tennis were the Referring to Malegamvala as one of the Trust (which awards scholarships to ladies sports with which he associated. strong pillars ofthe J. N. Tata Endowment, for social service and related work) where Hindu thought and culture interested Crasta mentioned, how he was able to expand the work of the trust by increasing ment Committee, Tata Services Limited, philosophy. For his spiritual satisfaction, the scholarships from a mere 35 in the ’60s where he was member secretary and the he went to his guruin Kerala, stated Menon to 80 in the ’70s followed by 100 in the ’80s Tata Administrative Service (TAS) of with whom he held varied discussions on and to over 125 in the last 10 years. “Over which he was the first member secretary. Indian philosophy. 2,000 scholai;s the world over remember He was also a council member on the board Warm-hearted and sensitive, Malegam- Mr Malegamvala with affection and grati ­ tude for what they are today, ” she added. Bhabha Fellowship Council and the gov- sought his solace and guidance. As ac- “For him it was not just statistics of erning council of the Tata Institute of knowledged Ravi Dubey of Indian Hotels numbers; it was not money given; but for him each scholar was a leader of the future. He looked at the human being, and he looked deep into each one of these scholars independence, Malegamvala worked as the Swedish Radio ’s correspondent in In ­ dia, sending regular broadcasts in Swedish Parinaz Gandhi ¦ : the Electrical Engineering Practice because Dinshah took pains to make the conducted by the City Guilds (London), he administration reforms relating to the En ­ dowment so interesting, so full of ideas for discussion... ” Malegamvala himself believed, “Intel ­ ligent trust work is very satisfying as it is a great power for good. There is still plenty topped the list in India, it was specified in his curriculum vitae. Before joining ASEA Electric Limited in Sweden, Malegamvala worked for J. B. Maneckji and Company and Messrs Crompton ’s Bombay Limited. Despite his background in engineering, Malegamval» was inherently drawn to­ wards art and literature. In fact his last few years in Sweden he spent as a writer. five. Personal care and the human touch can yet achieve wonders. ” His association with the house of Tatas broadcaster, photographer and lecturer, started in 1957 when he joined the Sir elaborates the press release. He won prizes Dorabji Tata Trust as an executive officer, in photography and exhibited his works in He was later appointed director of this international salons. Besides founding two same trust. Among the other Tata organi ­ zations on which Malegamvala has left his mark are the Lady Tata Memorial Trust Association of Swedish Photography. His knowledge of printing he put to use in the % photo clubs in different towns Malegamvala was one of the founders of the National for social service and related work) where he served as trustee, the Central Recruit- Malegamvala, particularly the Vedanta ment Committee, Tata Services Limited, where he was member secretary and the which he was the first member secretary. He was also a council member on the board of the Indian Institute of Science, the Homi vala himself was approached by many who Bhabha Fellowship Council and the gov- Social Sciences, notes a press release from Company, “Mr Malegamvala was to me Tatas. In the first 10 years following India ’s and indeed for various TAS people while he was member-secretary, a father-like figure to go to and talk to.” Sometimes and he spoke to them, he wrote of them the Swedish Radio ’s correspondent in In- they would heed his advice and sometimes with affection, with respect, ” recalled an- dia, sending regular broadcasts in Swedish not. “Do not forget your value system, ” other peer Prof M. G. K. Menon who came from Bombay through the All India Radio, Dubey remembers receiving this counsel specially from Delhi to pay his tributes at mentions his curriculum vitae. His profi- from Malegamvala for whom contentment the condolence meeting. The Endowment ciency in Swedish was attained during the lay in being “always there to help. ” meetings, for Menon, were “very infre- eight odd years Malegamvala spent in Malegamvala is survived by his wife quent, just once in a year, relatively brief, Sweden following his graduation as an Mehra. eight odd years Malegamvala spent in Sweden following his graduation as an 52 Parsiana November 1996 I