Sep 1997

i<' I’ Virwiim. — ;-.i»»i!,r'ygg - 1^0' ¦'. -.jfeiftjti- 2_ ¦ (. ‘M V t -«J Iff tw > JOK alM ¦K 9 A- . ^5 •,> ¦< I :l *5 r. -1 ,40 ¦t The largesse of Curse^'i Parekh te' 'r^ ??Br 11 I ; •;< ^¦’ ASeptember 1997 Volume 20 Number 2 EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi SENIOR EDITORS Dina K. Mehta, Hilla P. Guzder ASSOCIATE EDITOR Roxana A. Driver DESIGN Kranti M. Shilotri, Nivedita S. Dhotre MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Susan Hadvaid FINANCE B. L. Arora MANAG EM ENT Jasmine Driver DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, K. P. Ravi SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Khurshid Panthaki ASSISTANT SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Swarupa Kamat ASSISTANT PURCHASE MANAGER Bindu Pillai ACCOUNTANT Anagha Korde ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT Varsha Godbole ACCOUNTS ASSISTANTS Indu Pillai, Satwant Kaur, Hufrish Charna OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav 2 Readers’ Forum 8 Events and Personalities 12 Zoroastrians Abroad 14 Iranian influence - 3 by Dr Mani Kamerkar 19 Cursetji Parekh: Alms and the man 22 Delna Khambatta’s mirror images by Hilla Guzder 26 Zeenia Mirza: Hitting the Right Note 37 Books 41 Milestones 44 In Memoriam Cover: Bombay’s Flora Fountain built from funds donated by Cursetji Parekh 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, Tricolour. 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 250; for two years (20 issues) Rs 475; for three years (30 issues) Rs 700. Foreign subscription rates: Seamail for one year Rs 450/US $ 14/UK £ 9; for two years Rs 850/ US $ 25/UK £ 15; for three years Rs 1,250/US $ 36/UK £ 22 (please allow six months or more for delivery from the time of publication). Airmail for one year Rs 750/US $ 23/UK £ 15 (for Pakistan. Indian Rs 525); for two years, Rs 1,400/US $43/ UK £ 27 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 975); for three years Rs 2.100/US $ 60/UK £ 37 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 1,450). For Indian upcountry cheques add Rs 20 for bank charges; for US cheques add $ 5; for UK cheques add £ 3. Cheques and drafts are to be drawn in favor of Parsiana and posted to GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001.READERS' FORUM jOO 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. “Open to interpretation” Strange, is it not, that Ms Pervin J. Mistry from Toronto should now seek to interpret through innuendo and barely concealed malice, my letter to Parsiana apprising its readers of the WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) London conference of No­ vember 1996? What is her letter in your April 1997 issue trying to get across? My complicity in suppressing until some last moment ot Dr Ali Akbar Jafarey ’s name from the list of speakers at that excellent conference? Her accustomed denigration of Dr Jafarey ’ s name and fame? Her pathological hatred of intermarriage and of the children from such unions? Her ardent preference of xenophobia over Zoroastrianism? I can provide a straightforward response. At the time of my writing to Parsiana informing interested readers of the then pending conference, Dr Jafarey ’s name had not been proposed to the conference organizers: full stop. If Ms Mistry wishes to make a kochubor out of this sparse ingredient, then that is her choice — and choice is something she stoutly denie.s Zoroastrianism has ever offered! But then her brand of religion hardly conforms to Zoroastrianism as is now increasingly rec ­ ognized, but adheres to a certain level ol Parsiism and as such doubtless finds a slot in Parsiana. May it be specially noted that many of us in the UK have a soft spot for Dr Ali Akbar Jafarcy and, if not always for his preaching, we do respect the personality ol this good man who so respcct.s Zoroastri ­ anism. FARROKH VAJIFDAR Loiulon. UK “The mirth of the man” For Jimmy Pocha (“The mirth ol the man, ” In Memoriam. Parsiana, April 1997), the seeds of acting, especially in Parsi Gujarati comedies, were sown in his Panchgani school. This writer was a boarder-student at the Parsi High School, Panchgani, the name being later changed to Billimoria High School. Jimmy Pocha was also one of the boarders there. Our school used to hold a sports day and a concert day every May when Panchgani was full of visitors. For sports, there was no entrance fee but invitations were sent. As for the concert, the School used to charge five rupees and 10 rupees. One ol the most popular items at the concert was a Gujarati comedy under the direction ot one ot the joint principals (who were also brothers), viz Rusi Billimoria, where Jimmy Pocha was the main attraction. He would appear on stage wearing a pugree, a long coat and a longer sudreh, a grandmother ’s ijar and velvet sapat and play the role of a typical elderly Parsi. The school boys seeing their hero acting, would burst out laughing, and the audience would join in. This talent blossomed in full under the direction of Adi Marzban, both of whom are not with us, leaving the Parsi theater poorer. BHIKHAJI M. ADENWALLA “Surfing surnames” To supplement your list of surnames (“Surf ­ ing surnames, ” Parsiana, February-March 1997), allow me to list some additional surnames: Astor, Cowascama, Chehna, Hirji-Khurshed, Khapoliwala, Khusro- khan, Mugat, Tara, Vyarawala. H. S. VAZIFDAR Jam.shcilpiir “Whither, Parsiana?’^ I had pointed out to you on an earlier occasion (“Whither, ParsianaT' Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, February-March 1997) that your foreign subscription is largely underpriced. A,s a further example, I am quoting below the price of the monthly Journal of the Indian Chcniical Maiiiifae- tiirers’ AssociatioidJlCMA) which is very largely subsidized by advertisements from the chemical industry: JICMA Inland: Rs 300 Airmail: Rs 2,000 Parsiana Inland: Rs 250-F Rs 20 (foiTndian upcountry cheques) = Rs 270 Airmail: Rs 750 + Rs 180 (for foreign cheques) = Rs 930 The large difference in the price ratio clearly indicates that doubling the foreign airmail subscription of Parsiana is a wor­ thy proposition which can also make your journal more viable. The second issue which I want to raise, though it is besides the point, is what purpose is Parsiana serving by bringing out special issues on North American Zo­ roastrian professionals (January 1996 and May 1997) except glorifying those chaps in the New World who failed to return to their fatherland, and perhaps also to fill up the backlog of issues in Parsiana'l Dr P. D. SUNAVALA of the a o The Editor replies In response to Sunavala ’s letter in the February-March issue, we had explained our reasons for not increasing our airmail rates unlike professional journals whose readers pay higher rates as the contents are of commercial value to them. As regards the reprintin FEZANA supplement on North American Zoroastrian professionals, many of our readers welcome news on Zoroastrians settled abroad. And when such informa ­ tion comes to us on a platter, we arc no doubt tempted to share it with our sub ­ scribers. No doubt such reprints do help to clear the backlog of issues as Sunavala states. On the other hand it is at a consid ­ erable cost as that issue comprised 92 pages while our normal issues would have been around 48 pages. Wouldn ’t his re ­ mark concerning Zoroastrians in the New World “who failed to return to their father- land ” hold true for all Parsis who did not return to Iran? 2 Parsiana September 1997While our readers do appreciate news of Zoroastrians abroad, many of them do undoubtedly miss the regular columns and articles. This is why in all these years Parsiana has opted for a reprint only twice and that too only because of the excellence of the material available for reprint and the cooperation extended by the publishers of ties from different parts of the country. It the FE7ANA Journal and the FEZANA office bearers. be allowed for the members of oureommu- nity. But it is an absolute ‘no-no ’ to drink ­ ing parties, shouting and making a nui ­ sance of ourselves in the name of celebra- from the afternoon of Thursday, January 8, 1998 till the morning of Monday, January 12, 1998. Top personalities have agreed to be present at the inauguration and valedictory tions. For that we have other places — functions. The panel of judges for each event will include very eminent personali- would be an excellent opportunity for the delegates to interact with the top brass of our country. For further details, please contact the president, Mr Jehangir R. Bisney, 27, Raghava Ratna Towers, Chirag Ali Lane, Hyderabad 500001, Phone (Office) 201157, 204227, (Residence) 842217, 841723. JEHANGIR R. BISNEY Hyilerabad “To teach, more than...” While I was in Bombay several friends mentioned that they had read the review of my book. The Zarathushtrian Saga, in Parsiana (“To teach more than entertain, ” Books, September 1996) but that no men ­ tion was made as to where it was available. The book is available at Zoroastrian Stud ­ ies, K. R. Cama Oriental Institute Build ­ ing, 136, Bombay Samachar Marg, Disturbing the sanctity? Bombay 400023. tina mehta Recently, I received a community pam- Caicutta phlet called Deen Parast and was shocked to read in it about the desecration of our Kaleidoscope — ’98 beckons Banaji Atash Behram at Charni Road, The Twin Cities ’ Zoroastrian Youth League Bombay. How can a house of God, which (TCZYL - Secunderabad and Hyderabad), which has been serving the community for 10 long years, is now proud to host for the first time, an All India Zoroastrian Literary bance and agony to the sentiments of those and Cultural Youth Meet with a difference - Kaleidoscope - ’98. It will feature a plethora of interesting competitive events to enable young Zoroastrians in the age group of 16- 35 yeans to give off their very best, while equipping them to face the future with a complete feeling of identity, self-confidence and renewed vigor. It could thus help the youth to promote their talent as a profession place for the sake of money? or further cultivate it as a hobby. The Youth Meet will be inaugurated on the evening of January 8 and the events and entertainment programs will be held for three days i.e. from January 9 to 11, 1998. The delegate fee is Rs 250 per head. With exciting cash awards and a host of fabulous prizes to the winners and others, the TCZYL hopes to make this event a memorable one. The events planned are: stock exchange game, advertisement campaign, human re ­ source development, debate, antakshar'i, quiz, singing, dancing, drawing/painting/ sketching/commercial art, drama, musical instruments and creative writing. A per ­ sonality contest, which will include a fash ­ ion show to choose the Zoroastrian Prince and Princess, will be a part of our valedic ­ tory function on the evening of January 11, 1998. Accommodation, sumptuous food and the best of traditional Hyderabad! hospi ­ tality would be provided to all delegates baugs, hotels, private halls — where they can give vent to their feelings of mirth with ‘kababs and sharaab. ’ But please spare us this atrocious spectacle in the precinct of our house of God. Let the deity remain in isolated splendor, and offer to the devotees some moments of peace and solitude which this beautiful Atash Behram is famous for. GOOLOOR. MEHTA 4 Parsiana September 1997 TINA MEHTA Calcutta Biirjor Antia, managing trustee of the Banaji Atash Behram, replies The allegations of desecration of the Banaji Atash Behram are not only false, but also misleading to the general public. The trust ­ ees wonder whether Ms Gooloo R. Mehta has personally visited the site/hall where the marriage and navjote ceremonies are held and dinner is served. As a matter of fact, the trustee,s have taken and are taking all possible measures to preserve the sa- is the earthly home of our atash padshah, crednes,s of the holy fire. be converted into a place of merry-mak ­ ing, eating, drinking and causing distur- We may state that in our Atash Behram compound there are three separate build ­ ings: one building houses the holy fire, where no serving of food takes place; there is another building about 20 feet away who come to worship with reverence and devotion to our holy fire? After all it is not an ordinary fire - it bears the name of from the main building, called “Gambhar padshah, and in it are the vibrations of our hoary past, our present and the future of our Mazdayasni Zarathosti religion. How can the trustees allow this kind of desecra ­ tion to the very sanctity of our religious monsoon and in the open place on the ground lloor during the other seasons. Under the trust deed, the Hall is referred Hall ” which is being used to give facilities to Zoroastrians for performance of jashan/ navjote and marriage ceremonies and there ­ after serving of food in the Hall during the Is it so necessary to make merry in order to perform a ceremony? By all means navjotes and wedding.s as well as jashans Banaji Atash Behram: housing the and other religious talks/lectures etc must sacred fire Photo: Noshir Gobhaito by the settlor as Gambhar Hall for serving of food and it is not a new practice started by the trustees. According to the Random House Un­ abridged Second Edition Dictionary page 538, the word “desecrate ” means: •to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office; •to divest from a sacred to profane use or purpose; •to treat with sacrilege; profane. Would the use of the Hall for marriages, navjotes and dinner amount to desecration of the holy fire housed in the adjoining building? The statement of Ms Gooloo R. Mehta, “How can a house of God which is the earthly home of our atash padshah be converted into a place of merry-making, eating, drinking and causing disturbance and agony to the sentiments of those who come to worship with rever ­ ence and devotion to our holy fire? ” is totally incor ­ rect as the main atash padshah building is not used for any such purpose except worship or religious ceremo ­ nies. In the city of Bombay there are several agiaries such as Jeejeebhoy Dada- bhoy Agiary at Pilot Bunder Road, Gama Baug Agiary at Charni Road, Sethna Agiary at Tardeo and Saher Agiary at Warden Road where the adjoining halls or ground next to the agiary are given for such functions and dinner. Why should Deen Parast and India s independence. Ms Gooloo R. Mehta choose not to find fault with the trustees of such agiaries but only with the Banaji Atash Behram Trust? Deen Parast has found fault with the trustees of the Banaji Atash Behram, when they are providing facilities at cheaper dents. This was possible due to munificent rates for performing navjote and marriage ceremonies followed by dinner. From the income which we derive we are maintain ­ ing our priests and other workers, and we are giving them ex gratia payment and other facilities. There is a great need in our community donations received from benevolent institu ­ tions and generous individuals. Out of the total income received by us last year from donations and investments amounting to Rs 5,25,842 we spent Rs 5,07,110 as educational aid and only Rs 2,251 for incidental expenses. Thus our for the use of such halls for religious generous donors are assured that the mon ­ occasions, more particularly for mofussil people or those who are desirous of getting the ceremonies performed at short notice in Bombay. Under the circumstances, the trustees feel that they are doing a service to the community by allowing the Hall to be used. At the same time 100 to 200 people visit the fire-temple to take the blessing of the holy fire. 'g Ig Let your readers note that there is no kababs and sharaab party going on in the Gambhar Hall of the Atash Bchram as alleged. The trustees repeat that the peace and the solitude of the ancient Atash Bchram is not disturbed by giving the Hall for mar ­ riage or navjotc ceremonies. Internet invasion At present any Dick and Harry can give misguiding opinions on the Internet on our great religion, without proper studies. Our young generation requires correct guid ­ ance to enhance their faith, respect and honor for our religion. Unnecessary con ­ troversy will not prove beneficial at all. Confronting the ancient established cus ­ toms, conventions and religious practices with the argument of ‘going with the times ’ is injurious as times are bad. How can this freedom of opinion which destroys our faith be stopped? Shall we prove ourselves wise in time? NOSHIRDABOO Ahinedabad Portraying Naoroji A pencil sketch of the Grand Old Man of India - Dadabhai Naoroji was drawn by me. This marks his 172nd birth anniver ­ sary which falls on September 4, 1997, and also serves to commemorate 50 years of FIRDOST. SHROFF Augment education fund During the past 28 years our Mancherji Joshi Memorial Education Fund has given educa ­ tional aid to thousands of Zoroastrian stu- ies they donate are utilized only for educa ­ tional purposes. Last year we received Rs good 3,99,580 as donations. However, with the increasing cost of education, we are not able to help all the needy and deservin, students to their full requirements. After carefully scrutinizing over 550 applications last year, we granted help to 282 boys and 234 girl students. Out of these, more than 65 percent were from Navsari and Surat cities and districts, be ­ longing to weaker sections of our commu ­ nity, most of whose fathers were poor farmers or autorickshaw drivers or self ­ employed, doing small repair jobs. While granting educational aid, our scru ­ tinizing committee had given special con ­ sideration and granted extra educational aid to students whose fathers are full-time prac ­ ticing mobeds or are working in agiaries as servants, to families having more than two children, and also to orphan students and students whose mothers have to single ­ handedly support the families. We appeal to all Zoroastrian institu ­ tions and individuals to give us generous donations to enable us to further improve our service to the ever widening base of needy and deserving Parsi students. Account payee cheques/drafts in favor of Mancherji Joshi Memorial Education Fund should be sent to: Mancherji Joshi Memorial Education Fund, C/o Jal M. Khan, 614, Jame-Jamshed Road, Man ­ cherji Joshi Parsi Colony, Dadar, Bom ­ bay 400014. JAL KHAN Trustee anti Hon Treasurer, Manelierji Joshi Memorial Education Fund Lessons from Diana The days when walls in Parsi homes used to exhibit photographs of King Edward and Queen Victoria of England arc merci ­ fully over. And yet, the sudden death of Lady Diana in a car crash in Paris is, in some ways, a personal loss for many of us. ¦ Not all the things she did in her short life are emulatory. Many disapproved of her romantic link-ups, with her riding instruc ­ tor before her divorce and later with the now dead Dodi. But there were other, lar more important things she did that set her apart from the staid and starchy British royalty and made her the queen of every ­ one ’s heart. More than all else it was her quality of sellless giving, her tryst with charity that endeared her to one and all. She gave heartily. She gave of herself and of her huge reservoir of love; and that, to me, is defi ­ nitely a Parsi quality. In days when sellless charity is not fashionable, Diana has taught us that we too, if we choose, can be 1 and charitable Parsis. If we don ’t have material wealth, we surely can give love. May Di’s soul rest in peace. And, if there be reincarnation, may she be reborn a Parsi. khurshedpastakia Compiled by Parinaz M. Gandhi 6 Parsiana September 1997Events and Personalities Block of controversy D. Gundewar however refused to grant issued under the Maharashtra Regional The controversy had been simmering for interim relief, stating that the approval for and Town Planning Act and aie contained over a year, with pleas and protests from construction had been given by the mu- in the Development Control rules. The the Parsi community. On September 11, nicipality asfarbackasMay ’95, while the well itself was sunk in the year 1725 by 1997 the Bombay High Court admitted petitions were filed only in June and July Bhikhaji Behramji Panday who dedicated three writ petitions filed by way of public ’97. The petitioners plan to file a special it and the suiiounding lands in perpetuity interest litigation by Cyrus Pooniwalla, N. leave petition in the Supreme Court. The for religious worship by persons proless- ¦ " ................ " ing the Zoroastrian religion, as well as for providing drinking water for the public and for maintaining the water trough at ­ tached to the well for horses and cattle. The well, claim the petitioners, is over 25 feet deep and is recharged by stream water which percolates from the surrounding areas and D. Gundewai however refused to grant interim relief, stating that the approval for construction had been given by the mu ­ nicipality as far back as May ’95, while the ’97. The petitioners plan to file a special it and the surrounding lands in perpetuity leave petition in the Supreme Court. The Karbhari and others and the Parsi Punchayet granite-facaded block, reportedly con- Funds and Properties and others against structed at a cost of around Rs 20 lakhs, the Rotary Club of Mumbai Sunrise, the was inaugurated on the 50th anniversary of Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) Indian independence (August 15, 1997). and others. Raising the petitioners ’ire was “ the Rotary Club ’s construction of a toilet lie utility service center a mere 70 feet ings, under Regulation 67 of the Heritage the well water is drunk by an estimated away, they say, from the revered 272-year- Regulations. These were notified by a 1,000 persons every day, so it is vital to oldBhikhaBehramwellinBombay ’sFlora government resolution dated April 21, ’95 prevent contamination of the water source. Fountain area. ... A delegation of prominent Zoroastri- Chief Jus- ' ans, including Rustom Tirandaz, lormer ticeM B Shah municipal corporator, had met the munici- and Justice S pal commissioner GirishGokhale on April , 28, 1997 and presented him an appeal signed by over 300 Zoroaslrians, saying I that the sentiments of the Zoroastrian com I munity had been deeply hurt by the con- I struction of a public toilet in close proxim- i ity to a place revered by them for gencra- @ tions. Since by that time the structure had I been completed, they requested the niu- I nicipal authoritic.s to convert it to some " other use — a police chowky, municipal B godown, jhunkar bhakar stall, etc, point ­ ing out that there were sev ­ eral existing urinals in nearby areas for the use of the public. The toilet block will not defile the well, counter-ar- gue the Rotary Club and the BMC. The plumbing is so designed that the under ­ ground sewerage line will carry the flow of water fur ­ ther north and not towards the well. The minimum dis ­ tance between the well and The Bhikha Behram well, argue the petitioners, is a Grade I heritage structure, block cum drinking water facility and pub- listed in the schedule of protected build- Regulations. These were notified by a government resolution dated April 21, ’95 . .>.11 Rotary Club’s public toilet block; emblem on gate of Bhikha Behram well; hawkers outside the well 8 Parsiana September 1997the structure is about 113 feet, they state, and there is no prospect of any under ­ ground seepage or leakage. The Rotary Club says the proposal for the structure, construction of the toilet block was initiated in November 1994 as an act of philanthropy, in larger public interest. There is no com ­ mercial and/or profit motive involved. The BMC sanctioned the plans vide their letter dated May 28, ’95. The existing old urinal on the site was demolished and the construc ­ tion had been going on in full view of all passersby, so the petitioners could not have been unaware of the same. The Develop ­ ment Control rules were brought into force on June 1, ’95 and the Heritage Committee AVclcOine AciVCdcill constituted on February 27,’96. At the time Aavedan, the newsletter recently intro- the construction was sanctioned. Heritage Rule 67 was not in force, they argue. The well itself is not described as a religious place or a place of worship but as a “popular venerated social node in the city. ” Under Regulation 67, claim the respondents, it is Association presidentMeher Amersey who necessary to ensure that the surrounding has been mainly instrumental in compiling development does not mar the grandeur or view of the locality and the present structure is only a ground floor structure, “aestheti ­ cally designed and beautiful in appearance. ” A garden is also proposed to be set up which will add to the beauty of the area. To reinforce their claim, they point out that right across the road an extension to the Central Telegraph Office (CTO) is of a style in total disharmony with the old CTO Dr Viral ’ Kapadia, one of the petition ­ ers, points out that garbage is being dumped near the newly constructed toilet block and that the area surrounding the well is over ­ run by hawkers who add to the uncleanli ­ ness of the heritage precinct, although areas within 100 meters of a school, hospi ­ tal or place of worship have been desig ­ nated as “no hawking zones. ” Hilla P. Guzder tured the background and success stories of their members: Dr Mani Kamerkar, Ava Khullar, Dina McIntyre. The last issue profiling McIntyre became particularly lengthy because McIntyre ’s talk in Bombay on “The Notion of Love in the Gallias” has been reproduced so that this “most inter ­ esting and enjoyable talk ” giving a “whole new perspective of the Gathas” could be shared with all the members. Presently, they print about 250 copies of Aavedan. And even though members may not give Amersey any feedback on its contents, suggestions, like the one at the 1996 annual general meeting where it was recommended that Aavedan should be mailed even to non-members to spread an awareness of AIMZ activities, indicate that members do welcome it. As per their newsletter ’s name, Aave- duced by the Association of Inter-Married Zoroastrians (AIMZ) has been planned as a bi-annual effort but the frequency and size varies, depending on the news they dan, which means discussion/dialog, ac- have to share with the readers, says the cording to Amersey, “Our basic intention is to give information, to keep in touch, ” stresses the president who would be happy if it served “to promote interaction among members. ” this publication. Their latest issue of Sep ­ tember 1997 is a 12-page newsletter unlike the first two issues which started off as a two-page feature. The common thread running through the first three newsletters is a section titled “Member Profile, ” wherein they have fea ­ Moving muktads Individual prayers are common during the muktad days. Not as common arc the con- continiied on page 30 “In thinking Good Thoughts, In speaking Good Words, In doing Good Deeds, We build the Edifice of our Faith.” ZAPA Zoroastrian Association of Pennsylvania 10 Parsiana September 1997ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD The mission and the vision With faith and foresight Zarathushtis in North America prepare for the future with a 10-year strategic plan Arnavaz S. Mama “To develop a Zarathushti community in North America that is well-connected, well- educated, well-grounded in Zarathushti religious thought, values and ethics, re- experienced in an environment where there spectful of diversity, strong in collective giving, economically prosperous — a com ­ munity which will be recognized for it.s contribution in all aspects of religious and communal life. ” This vision illumines the drafters of the 10-year strategic plan for the Federation of document. Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA). Presented to its member asso ­ ciations at the annual general meeting (AGM) in Crestone in August 1997 by 2002 is among the plan ’s first goals. In president Dolly Dastoor, the plan envis- accordance with this priority the education ages a future of growth and continuous committee of FEZANA has developed a progress for the community in an atmo ­ sphere of trust. It is dedicated to creating infrastructures that would enable North developed an interactive CD program for American (NA) Zarathushtis to hold their heads high and be proud to say ‘“I am a Zarathushti ’ and people will know who Shervin Shahriari with the active support they are, ” note the compilers. The vision has been compartmental ­ ized into specific goals to be achieved within a specified time frame and an op­ erational strategy that spells out some of the nitty-gritty that needs to be adopted. Thefourmajorareasforcollectivegoals •To be able to articulate our beliefs, his- identified as “shared spaces ” according to tory, ancestry and cultural heritage with Dr Rustom Kevala, Dr Farrokh Mistree adequate knowledge and pride and DrMehran Sepehri are learning to live a Zarathushti life, to preserve the religion of Prophet Zarathushtra; Thousand Points shti of Light aimed at putting the Zarathushti community “formally and clearly on the NA map; ” external structures to work in cooperation with Zarathushti communi ­ ties in other parts of the world towards a the doctrine and practices of the religion common goal of a united Zarathushti com ­ munity; internal structures to provide “ef ­ fective leadership in addressing the criti ­ cal issues of our times with wisdom and righteousness. ” The last gains particular significance because the plan notes that “a community cannot have a religious vision unless there is a sociopolitical vision and will as well. Religiosity and spirituality cannot be enhanced and strengthened in the abstract. It has to be practiced and is commonality of purpose, thought, word and deed. ” The plan, endorsed at the AGM, is to be implemented by FEZANA member asso ­ ciations in parts “as appropriate and rel ­ evant to their own communities, ” notes the Providing religious education material and developing a certificate course in reli ­ gious studies for children and adults by ccrtif'ieate course for religious studies for children and the Kankash e Mobedan has religious studies. A video, Paradise, has been created by Shahriar Shahriari and •Promoting these values and understand ­ ing of the religious practices through hold ­ ing open forums and debates at congresses and seminars •Printing essays on specific subjects deal ­ ing with values and ethics for daily living as well as in business and professions in North America •Holding seminars for parents on how best to impart these values to children •Preparing manuals for individuals on “The Zarathushti way of life in North America ” •Developing community service projects for youth and young adults based on Zarathushti values both on this continent, Iran and India (Zarathushti Peace Corps) •Developing literature on meaning of reli ­ gious practices, prayers, rituals, festivals and customs •Publishing historical and archeological books •Developing Gatha study guides, courses and musical scores •Encouraging the reading and study of the Shah Naniah The milestones towards these pursuits of the Zoroastrian Society of British Co­ lumbia. ‘Leading a Zoroastrian life ’ has been subdivided into identifiable goals: •To be identified as a distinct religious include: community •Preparation of public relations kits on the Zarathushti religion by July 1998 •Preparation of manuals for parents and teachers by July 1998 •Developing youth exchange community service projects for India and Iran by July 1998 •Sponsorship of books on Zarathushti fes ­ tivals and customs as practiced in North America by July 1999 •Commissioning of a book on Zarathushti way of life in North America by July 2000 •Encouragement of interested Zarathushtis to develop GathaandShali Nainah courses and guides Towards the goal of a well connected community, the plan aims to: •Develop and promote the FEZANA. Jour­ nal as an effective communication me- continued on page 34 •To ensure that our ehildren and their children know what it is to be a Zarathu- •To have the knowledge and tools to en ­ sure perpetuation of our religion and val ­ ues •To increase pride in and appreciation of •To preserve the deeper religious disci ­ plines which distinguish us as mentioned in our scriptures The action plan envisages; •Instilling a sense of pride in being a “Zarathushti ” •Defining values and ethics leading to a “Zarathushti way of life ” 12 Parsiana September 1997RELIGION areligious teacher, was especially entrusted . Iranian influence — 3 The beacon of light The Yasht dedicated to Mithra is but one of the influences of this ancient religion on Zoroastrianism Dr Mani Kamerkar “Contact between India and Iran goe.s back to prehistoric times... The Hindu.s stand in close kinship with the Iranians with regard to tradition, religious be- liefs, ritual observances, custonis and manners.----- in the similarities of the languages of India and Iran... Avesta and its com­ mentaries help us in the proper compi e- hension of the early religious and lin­ guistic history of India. ” This summa­ tion came from Dr Mani Kamerkar in a paper presented by her at of the Indian History and Culture Soci­ ety. Titled “Zoroastrian Iranians and their influence on Indian religion and with the care of the fire. Mithra and Mithraism developed as an offshoot of Zoroastrianism. Mithras was a god of the ancient Iranians and the Aryans of India. The Aryans made him one of their 12 high gods. In the Zoroastrian religion he was an angel of light who fought on the side of Ahura Mazda against the forces of evil. The Zoroastrian scriptures called Mithras “the heavenly light. ” The Iranians caiiied their belief on Mithras to Assyria and Asia Minor, where many people identified him with the sun. Mithraism took on the form of a mystery religion, with elaborate rites and ceremonies. It came into the ancient Roman ------- principal competitor of Christianity lor 200 years. Mithraism was the worship ol Milliia, the Iranian god of the sun, justice, contiact, and was in pre-Zoroastrian Iran known as Mithras and adopted in the Roman Empire during the second and third centu ­ ries. In some Indian Vedic texts the god Mitra (the Indian form of Mithras) appears be translated in either way. world about 75 BC and was a I came to connotate opposite meanings. After outlining the main tenets of Zoro­ astrianism, Dr Kamerkar concludes that “the path of Iran was that of kaima- yoga... attainment through service of That the Mauryan palaces were built as per the style of architecture in Persepolis, that India contributed a third of the revenues of Darius’ empire, that coins of the Sasanian type bearing ircrrvcr ... I IIS c flpt loii .S' III Nogori and Pahlavi a conference have been found in the north-west of India was conveyed in the second in­ stalment. Other than India, Zoroastrian influ­ ences were evident on Mithiaism and the Roman empire, as reported in this final instalment. The doctrine of the four ages of the world that is eviden t in the Judeo-Christian view of historical time is believed to have originated in Iranian mythology. I. These early ties are reflected humanity. ’’ guistic history of India. ” This suinina- ety. Titled “Zoroastrian Iranians and their influence on Indian religion and culture,’’ edited excerpts from this pa­ per are being carried over three instal­ ments of Parsiana. In the first episode we learnt of the common ideals propounded in f/ieVedas and the Gathas, and how, once differ­ ences arose, similar sounding terms Outside India also Zoroastrian influence.s emerged. It is in the framework of the religion of the ahuras, hostile to the cult of the devas, that Zoroaster s message should be understood. He concentrated on his God, the wise Ahura, by means of an escort of entities, the powers of all the as both as ‘friend ’ and as ‘contract. ’ The word Mitra may -- because contracts and mutual obligation make friends. In short Mithra may signify a kind of communication between men, and whatever establishes good relations between them. Mithra was called the me ­ diator. Mithra was also the god of the sun, of the shining light that beholds every ­ thing, and hence was invoked in oaths. The Greeks and Romans considered Mithra as a sun god. He was probably also the god of kings. He was the god of mutual obligation between the king and his warriors, and hence the god of war. He was also the god of justice which was guaranteed by the kin< ’ Whenever men observed justice and arc depiclcu on oasan.a., ........... '“Th?Magians, .hough no. or.g.nally The nros. hnporj»,:^c,™on, Zoroas.rlan.apparen.lyheca,„n,ed - not. Zoroaster de- IJ 1 V- -- nounced the sacrifice of the bull, so it seems of the old Iranian paganism. stalnient. kind of communication between men, altars exist from the Sasanian period and ; depicted on Sasanian coins - The'" Magians, though not originally with a with the Prophet ’s teachings the fourth century BC. They had the religion at the Achaemenian pre-Zoroastrian or other gods in array against the forces of monopoly on religion at the Achaemenian other goas, m an ay g Arsacid period. Then, under the Sasanians, a hierarchy developed, with the creation of the magupat, or chief of magi, and of 7iqua;i “oom7also chaMags (sacred iu Maha.,si,,,I,.‘ting his successors of kings'). The ahipal. (er.ad) originally political difticult.cs by allemptingloeradt evil. Although Herodotus wrote that the Ira ­ nians had no temples, some have been found, in the shape of terraces, of towers, (__ - buildings having four gates or doors) are scattered over most of Iran. Permanent likely that the ceremony was a part Beginning with Darius (522-486 BC), the Iranian kings of the Achaemenid dy- magupatan magupat nasty were Zoroastrians. But Darius and did not intend to create 14 Parsiana September 1997cate the old beliefs still dear to the heart of become acceptable to the Roman world, many nobles. Thus, the religion of Zoroaster Within a few generations, the Roman world was gradually contaminated with elements had completely assimilated the Iranian of the old, polytheistic worship. Hymns god. (the Yashts) were composed in honor of the old gods. There is a Yasht dedicated to Mithra, in which the god is depicted as the all-observing god of heavenly light, the cal themes to be noted in the New Testa- guardian of oaths, the protector of the righteous in this world and the next and, above all, as the archfoe of the powers of evil and darkness — hence, the god of battle and victory. In the mixed religion of the later Achaemenid period, however, the Zoroas ­ trian aspects clearly dominate the heathen aspects; the sacrifice of the bull, abhorred by every Zoroastrian, is never mentioned. Local aristocrats in the western part of the former Iranian empire retained their devotion to Mithra. The kings and nobles of the region between the Greco-Roman and the Iranian world still worshipped and the souls of men. In the last millcn- him. There is little notice of the Iranian god will come and inaugurate the last Jud, in the Roman world until the beginning of the second century but, from the year 136 AD onward, there are hundreds of dedica ­ tory inscriptions to Mithra. The old tradi ­ tional Iranian ceremonies with a new Pla ­ tonic interpretation enabled Mithraism to Zoroastrianism also influenced and was influenced by other religions. One of the cal context, most pervading and dominant mythologi- rily from Iranian mythology were trans ­ formed by apocalyptic literature which nourished in Judaism, and then Christian ­ ity from about the second century BC to about the second century AD into a histori- Today very little is remembered about Zoroastrians who form an extremely small minority of about a hundred thousand all over the world, the majority of whom live in western India. They are still contribut- ment was that of the ages of the world. The prophet Zoroaster and his followers in Iran had taught a doctrine of the four ages of the world in which 3,000 years ’ length was ing a great deal to the development and divided into three millennia. Ahura Mazda (the wise Lord) was symbolized by light and later called Ormazd, and dwelt in infinite time with Ahriman symbolized by ward ethics of their religion may help find darkness. Ahriman, like Satan in Chris ­ tianity, went against the wise Lord. The today, four ages of the world created after the fall of Ahriman depict the successive stages of A historian interested the struggle in finite time between the lords of good and evil for the allegiance culture of India. Their contribution to the Indian culture, to Hinduism in particular, is profound. The simple and straightlor- a solution to many problems India faces Concluded in Parsi history, Dr Mani Kamerkar is vice president of niumofthe fourth age a savior (Saoshyans) the Asiatic Society of Bombay. She was former director, Ig- ment and the new world in which truth, immortality and righteousness will prevail College Develop- and finite time will merge with infinite time. The theme of the ages of the world and its attendant subthemes that came prima- ment Council of the S.N.D.T Women’s University in Bombay. She has also served as principal of the Nanavati College. For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324, Grant Road, Bombay 400007. Telephone 3099648 Fax 3073483 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 16 Parsiana September 1997HISTORY COVER STORY Alms and the man In addition to the Dresden diamond he owned, Cursetjee Parekh had wealth enough to create charitable institutions that stand 100 years after his death of the Surat Parsi Panchayat. According to his sources, it was in January 1863 that 7 The wealth that he earned he parted with, the suburbs and commercializing on this either voluntarily by donating lakhs in property for, as per Banaji ’s original stipu- charity, or involuntarily when the share lation, the Bombay Punchayet was bound Cursetjee wrote to the then collector of mania of 1864-65 deprived him of his to maintain “these blind, lame and other Surat, R. Croft, offering to construct a fortune. But the institutions created by such heirless persons in this place ” or risk dharamshala for ''desi musafaro (Indian Cursetjee Furdoonji Parekh continue to stand even 100 years after his demise in 1896. In Bombay, he was instrumental in building the Furdoonji Sorabjee Parekh Dharamshala located at Khareghat Colony on Hughes Road near Chowpatty. This institution for blind and disabled Parsis these establishments in was erected in 1845 in his father ’s memory, Surat was sent to mentions The Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil Parsiana by Dr Ratan Further details on this Dharamshala, man- Marshall, special officer aged by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), were gleaned from Sapur F. I Desai ’s History of the Bombay Parsi I Punchayet 1860-1960. I Therein it is related that in Janu- I ary 1835, Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy I had recommended to the Punchayet I that Parsis from the mofussil areas I who are unable to support them- I selves in Bombay, be housed, fed I and clothed in a house on Hormusji I Wadia ’s land at Doongerwadi. That I same year, Kharshedji Cowasji | Banaji who had bought property at ‘Pandushethvali Doongerwadi ’from Wadia ’s heirs offered about 23,000 square yards of his land to accommo- I dateJejeebhoy ’sproposal.Originally I there was a bungalow and some out- I houses on this area where the facility I was introduced. However when the I bungalow became too ramshackle, I . Cursetjee and his brother Jamsetjee I volunteered to reconstruct the build- I ing and name it after their father. I More an infirmary than a dharam- I shala now, the BPP is constrained I from transferring this institution to I i M f I 1 Color portrait of Parekh courtesy Bombay Parsi Punchayet Photo: Chetan Mistry to maintain “these blind, lame and other such heirless persons in this place ” or risk the ownership of the property reverting passengers) ” on government lands near to Banaji ’s heirs. the station. His proposal being In Surat too was a accepted by the government, dharamshala founded as Cursetjee donated Rs 30,000 to- also two other institu- wards this cosmopolitan rest tions in Furdoonji ’s house which had separate rooms name. Information on assigned for Parsis, Christians, Muslims and Hindus, as also special accommodation for women passengers. While the Parekh Dharamshala falls within the purview of the Surat District Panchayat, the Parekh Dispen ­ sary which is a part of the Maskati ¦99 Municipal Hospital and the ¦¦ Parekh Technical School are man- HH aged by the Surat Municipal Corpo- ration. H Popularly known as Parekh ft Hunnarshala, the Parekh Technical ||||u School started functioning in 1862- 63 following a donation of Rs 46,500 from Cursetjee. Barely five years later when the then director of pub- lie instruction Sir Alexander Grant decided that the income from Cursetjee ’s endowment be used to send students from Surat to Bombay ’s Sir J. J. School of Art, the Hunnarshala fell into disuse. To rectify matters, in 1876 Cursetjee appealed to the then director of pub- lie instruction to restore the original status. His request was granted on the proviso that henceforth the man- agement of the School would be m controlled by the Surat Municipal- ity. In 1910 the School was shifted to a new building with N. M. Wadia of Bombay donating Rs 9,500 in memory of his mother Bai Motlibai to start a workshop installed with IH the necessary machinery. 19 Parsiana September 1997Z’ J A- ..4? ¦ 7 - r-i "’iiKrT f if: 1*1 ¦. -- tn w ‘ ‘r' ¦ ¦ The victims of the Gujarat famine of 1863-64 were fortunate to find a benefac ­ tor in Cursetjee. From June 3, 1864 he arranged to give one ser (approximately Vi kg) of rice every day for three months to 3,000 deserving people of Surat. He also sent rice for distribution in the same way amongst the poor of Bharuch through Bomansha Baheramji Vakil. Additionally he sent 7,000 sacks of Bengali rice to the grain company in Surat. He spent Rs 87,896 on disbursement of grains in Surat and Bharuch, Marshall provides the details, not counting the nearly Rs 75,000 ex ­ pended on the indigent during Cursetjee ’s earlier tour of Gujarat. To send 500 sacks of grains to the Portuguese authorities for distribution amongst the poor of Diu, he must have borne nearly Rs 5,000. “His contributions and donations to dispensa ­ ries, pinjrapoles (shelter homes for un ­ wanted animals), schools, libraries, etc amounted to Rs 4,00,000,” states the Parsi Lustre. Flora Fountain, the well-known land ­ mark in Bombay, substantially owes its existence to Cursetjee for he is said to have been the first person to contribute towards its cost. His donation of Rs 20,500 in 1864 tantamountcd to almost 50 percent of the total expenses incurred on its installation. Referring to its origin, Marshall recalls that earlier it was intended that the foun ­ tain be prepared in London, laid in Victoria Garden, and be named after Bombay ’s then governor Sir Henry Bartie Frere. How­ ever, by the time the components for the r fountain arrived from London, Frere had left Bombay. Thereafter it was decided that it would be installed at the south end of Esplanade Road where it continues to stand to this day except that with the passage of time its original name. Floral Fountain, got abbreviated to Flora Foun ­ tain, it is believed. Yet another institution to benefit from Cursetjee ’s largesse was the Madressa in Bombay named after Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy for whom Cursetjee had great respect. Towards the maintenance of the Madressa and to finance monthly scholar ­ ships of Rs 30 each for two outstandin, students of the Madressa he donated sums totalling Rs 55,000. Two academically brilliant students were to receive gold medals in memory of his father Furdoonji, it was further recounted by Marshall. As enunciated in the History of the Bom­ bay Parsi Punchayet, the gold medal was to be presented to a student who stood first in MA with Avesta and Pahlavi. Pestonji Kooverji Motivala was the first ’ X ' I IJ 1 lilted •IB. * W Bl ¦ . ¦m ¦ •* o‘ A' -¦1 L* ¦-—.TWnlnuii lb. M 'u.jeuE , wuMI'WFtRWMim : ' Ab aw.cosTflf .¦HflH IHW P Of AtMM«TIM.4 i..7(l,S8SBy ¦ 1!^-U.jeUEF«^^«MCKH 'o Projects supported by Parekh: (top row) Technical School (left) and Dispensary housed in Surat’s Maskati Hospital Photo: Marshall and Surat Parsi Panchayat; Dharainshala in Bombay; plaepie at Flora Fountain, front of the ^old medal instituted for religious studies Photo: Homyar Mistry, Homz Prints 20 Parsiana September 1997recipient of the Parekh medal. In the course of a century, barely 27 have earned this award with the last recipients being Ervad Pervez Bajan and Sam Doctor who qualified for the 14 carat gold medal in 1992. The association with Jamsetjee Jejee- bhoy ’s name had commenced several decades earlier for Cursetjee was formerly a partner in the firm of Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Sons and Company until its dissolution in 1850. Thereafter he carried on trade independently with Europe and China where he amassed his princely fortune of which he made benevolent use. Indeed “To have insisted on his dues would have hopelessly wrecked their fortunes” some of the merchants too with whom he interacted benefitted from his kindness of heart. As notes the Parsi Lustre, “Instances are known of his having waived his claims to profits amounting to lakhs of rupees accruing to him when he saw that to have insisted on his dues would have hopelessly wrecked their fortunes. ” As a mark of appreciation, a European firm, Thomas Cardwell and Company named one of their ships The Cursetjee Furdoonjee. Cursetjee in turn had named the two large sailing vessels built by him. Sir Jamsetjee Family and Albert Victor. ¦ Other honors to come his way were his appointment as justice of peace, the sheriff of Bombay and as trustee of the BPP, a post be held for almost 35 years. He also en ­ joyed the privilege of holding a seat at the Petty Sessions Court. Well known among the immovable properties owned by Cursetjee was the famous Grants Building at Colaba, then valued at Rs 35 lakhs. His movable assets included Dresden Drop, one of the cel ­ ebrated diamonds of the world worth six lakh rupees. He may have lost his fortunes in the share mania, but not the affection and respect that he had earned from mem ­ bers of all communities which fortified him to bear his loss for the next three decades until his demise at the age of 85. For after all, as reports the Parsi Lustre, “No genuine appeal to relieve distress was ever made to him from any part of the globe but it was responded to with an alacrity and handsomeness beyond the expectations of those from whom it pro­ ceeded. ” 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 Top Professional Services Under One Roof ? * * * Authorised agents for LIC/GIC/FD/UTI ' Buying and selling of flats/offices ' Buying and selling of shares Filling of income tax returns under VDIS and new provisions regarding house/ telephone/car/ foreign travels Rusi Mundroina 6284214 Sheroo Hiramaneck 4156791/2 GLOBE THEATRES Pvt Ltd Established April 3, 1915 Pioneers of Show Business in India for the last 82 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 All the above Cinemas have now been equipped with ??iDOiflySTER^ Sound System 21 Parsiana September 1997HOBBIES Mirror IboniaMpnes Hilla P. Guzder Delna Khambatta expresses her artistry through her paintings on glass particular in my commitments and believe in keeping my promises. I do art as a hobby, commercial artist earlier and I have inher ­ it is the appreciation from people that is In May ’97, Ahmedabad Doordarshan Khambatta with her paintings on glass idea gets hold of me, I can ’t wait to put it on glass. ” Her art involves skill and an enormous amount of patience, she It was a scintillating spectrum of shades — much interested in retail outlets.. People Kendra and were impressed. A few days no dull greys or muddy browns for her. The come to see my paintings, if they like them later, they interviewed me at my house and brilliant hues of Delna Khambatta ’s paint- they buy them. I do not take commercial shot a lot of footage of my paintings, how ing on glass made her stall one of the most orders due to my other activities. I am very they are done, etc. They briefly interviewed colorful at the “1997 Society Collection ” particular in my commitments and believe my mother Persis too as she had been a exhibition held at the World Trade Centre in Bombay from October 3-5, 1997. The Ahmedabad-based artist calls her important. ” hobby venture “Glass-e-Facts, ” glass and acrylic currently being the medium of her featured a.half-hour program on her work artistic expression. To enhance the effect of on “Yuva Darshan. ” “A TV crew had her stain glass painting, she uses etching, visited my exhibition in Feb- sandblasting and mirroring. Her paintings ruary at the Lalit Kala are easily identifiable and abound in themes from nature — birds, animals, trees, flowers — as well as figures. “Life on glass, ” wrote one of the admiring visitors at the exhibi ­ tion, “class glass ” commented another in the visitors ’ book. Khambatta uses colors from Singapore and Japan and many of her paintings have an Oriental flavor. “Oh, I can ’t explain my fascination with Japanese art. It ’s like a stamp which declares that the work is solely mine, ” she declares. A commerce graduate who has also done her LLB, Khambatta held her first exhibition of stain glass paintings in 1993 at the Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy in Ahmeda ­ bad. Over a hundred ex ­ hibits were on display again at the same venue in February ’97. The ex ­ hibition was reportedly visited by 3,000 people over three days, with a number of Ahmeda- badis making written re ­ quests in the visitors ’ book for her to start classes to teach stain painting. “I could have minted money if I had started classes, ” she says, “but money is not a priority. Nor am I ited my love of art from her. My work had also been featured on the ATN (TV) Guja ­ rati news in February this year, ” explains Khambatta. She herself has had no formal training in glass painting and has learnt it on her own, she says, through trial and error. Her interest was kindled in 1991 when she started attending hobby classes. From a fun-time activity, painting became a passion. “I derive inspiration from anything, ” she ob­ serves. “The minute an 22 Parsiana September 1997Dorrabji’s JERROZ HOTEL Under Cliff, Ring Road Panchgani 412805 Phone: (91) (02168) 40238 Always remember TATA BATA KHAMBATA Ketayun & Bomi 22/A, Wellington Terrace Wellington Street, Bombay 400002 Tel No: 2069636, 2057242 Pager No: 9602-104007 thing myself, including the painting of the the dishes herself! She just imagines what frames, ” she says, adding that a frame is not merely something that holds the painting, it is very much a part of it. She uses cane (natural and polished), nuwood and alu ­ minium frames, carved frames from Sahranjpur and frames with terra cotta bead work and motifs. Sometimes she uses no frames at all! Green Web, a painting on acrylic, has it.s edges cut in the shape of leaves, wh'AeP mud Peacock, alsoon acrylic, has the feathers cut into shape to eliminate framing. To add variety to her style, Khambatta utilizes decoupage, lacquer, embossed and three dimensional effects, and experiments with mixtures of metallic and stain glass colors. In Murlidhar, she introduces a bril­ liant silver outline in lieu of the conven ­ tional black lead outline, in Ganesh Al­ mighty, she uses a sequential arrangement to Bombay, whenever I see the beautiful of pearls and beads. Her collection includes paintings on glass jars, antique artefacts and jewelry. She also does fabric and oil painting. “I don ’t restrict myself to painting. I see myself being cre ­ ative in other crafts too, ” she remarks, feels. She does not believe in sacrificing adding that she is thinking of branching out into ceramics and pottery. She ha.s also won prizes in recipe contests without trying out the taste will be like and sends in the entry form ! Khambatta also takes an active interest in Pioma Industries, a company established by her father Arecz, which manufactures the popular soft drink concentrate Rasna. At ­ tending office cveiy day is a must, she says. “My parents have from childhood instilled the proper values in their three children. I am proud to be known as a Parsi. The desire to wear the sudreh-kusti, to marry within the community, etc has to come from inside. Unfortunately, not all parents of the past generation have passed on their values to their children, hence the community is now faced with the problem of increasing inter ­ marriage. Community property too has not been well looked after and a lot of it has been lost due to improper planning. On my visits >g- baugs and so many other structures con ­ structed by the Parsis of yesteryear as well as the statues of eminent Parsis, I feel renewed pride in our community, ” she asserts. In her art, Khambatta paints what she her spontaneity. “Glass has become my mirror, a mirror that reflects my thoughts and creativity, ” she declares. 4 MASTER MARINE SERVICES Surveyors Licence No: SLA 19207 Surveyors and Consultants Ship, Cargo and Marine Surveyors, Loss Assessors, Technical Consultants, Container Terminal Superintendents and General Contractors, Container Repairers Reefer Cargo/Container Surveyors 22/D, S.A. Brelvi Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001 Phone: 2873567/2832145/2870716/2886642/43 • Cable: ‘MOORINGS’ Telex: 118-2119 MMSB IN • Fax: 91-22-2870139 • Email: g=mms/s=bom/p=gcms/a=vsnl/c=in Internet: mms.bom@gems.vsnl.net.in Branches Ahmedabad -- Calcutta -- Jaipur -- Kandla -- Ludhiana -- Nhava Sheva — New Delhi - Surat 24 Parsiana September t997MUSIC Hitting the Right Note Hilla P. Guzder Twelve-year-old Zeenia Mirza steps into the Hindi pop scene with her first video track and audio cassette more widely understood here. An English requesting her to send them her autographed album may not work in India. On the day photo, with one admirer from Haryana my audio cassette was recorded, I was unwell with a cold and fever but the re ­ cording studios are booked so much in advance that they could not shift the date. I enjoyed the recording, however, as ev ­ eryone was encouraging me, ” she remarks. The sale of her album has been “beyond live shows too and this year I have signed expectations, ” declares her father Kersi, an officer with Union Bank of India in even painstakingly pencilling a sketch of the singer ’s face for her to autograph and return to him! Last year Zeenia signed a three-year contract with BMG Crescendo, giving them exclusive recording rights. “I enjoy doing tors his daughter ’s singing career. The cassette has sold particularly well in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Calcutta, and the north-east, he observes. Zeenia displays a The song is lively, the video images color­ ful. ‘‘Abhi chhoti hoon main,” croons 12- year-old Zeenia Mirza as she swirls and twirls her way through Esselworld, por­ traying the dreams of a young girl aspiring to make her mark in the world. Released in May ’97, her debut video track has been aired on all leading television channels - Zee TV, MTV, Channel V, Music Asia, El TV, Home TV, Sony and Doordarshan, she states. Zeenia ’s debut audio cassette of the Bombay, who manages and carefully moni- same name was also released in May. Billed as the first “all-pop children ’s al ­ bum ” by BMG Crescendo (India), Abhi chhoti hoon main has eight numbers, in ­ cluding the title track, with rhythms and pile of fan mail she has received - letters words that appeal to children. The music from Assam, Bihar and other states, was composed and arranged by music di- with some fans asking her advice rector Merlyn De Souza who also di- on their own singing, others reeled singer Mehnaz ’s album Miss India and who is a part of the pop group Mantra, enlightens Zeenia. “I am a great fan of Shammi Kapoor and we have included a medley of^BHI^^^H his film songs in my cassette, ” she observes. Her song on Hindu- Muslim amity has also been fea-^^^B tured, she says, in BMG Crescendo ’s^^| Ekta cassette released on August 15, ’97^ to commemorate the golden jubilee of India ’s independence, with pop ce ­ lebrities like Anaida, Mehnaz, Baba Sehgal, Bashir, Mantra and others teaming up in a show of solidarity. An earlier version of Ekta with Zeenia singing People of the land along with other pop artistes had been released last year, she explains. “I prefer singing Hindi pop, rather than English, as Hindi is Mirza; with parents Kersi and Jasmine; jacket of audio cassette I ifj •A 11JJ >! up with well-known actor Anupam Kher ’s media entertainment company which will promote my shows, ” she discloses. To fine tune her voice, she has started training in Indian classical music with ghazal singer Rochna Dahanukar. “I like learning ghazals, bhajans, etc. My voice has improved with classical training and I see myself changing my style, ” she ob­ serves. As a child star, Zeenia has been singing, dancing and acting on stage since the age of She has per- formed for the Dy- nasty Culture Club (Smiley-n-FrubKid ’s Club) and danced as part of Zubin Soorty ’s troupe in a show by Remo Fernandes for the Ganesh Utsav in Pune in ’92. She fea- tured in “Body to Body, Soul 2 Sole, ” a fitness and dance program, with dancer/cho- reographer Shiamak Davar ’s troupe on Zee TV, and was also IBI among his group for the opening ceremony of the National Games in Pune in ’94. “I love Shiamak ’s choreography, ” she remarks, though she no longer goes for danc- ing lessons. flB| When she was eight, Zeenia HH played a lead role as the little girl ¦BH lost in the forest in Graffiti !; a. '¦ 26 Parsiana September 1997With best wishes from Farah & Tanya 28 Parsiana September 1997 Production ’sPunch-a-Tantra, enacting the tance for the promotion of talent within the well-known animal fables in a children ’s play filled with catchy tunes, humor and lively choreography, performed enthusi ­ astically by Davar ’s jazz dance students. Last year, Zeenia was selected to play a brief role as a deaf and dumb girl in the BBC fdm Try ing to Grow produced by Kennedy remarks Kersi. Khorshed Bharucha, the Mellore. For the part, she underwent a three- month crash course in the language of the deaf and dumb from Beroz Vacha, director of the Helen Keller In ­ stitute for the Deaf and DeafBlind. When Motorola Pa- ger.s launched their product in India in De ­ cember ’94,she sang at their promotional show in Delhi and lent her voice for their adver ­ tisementjingle. Sheha.s posed for the camera in advertisements for Bri- te Plastics, HMT wat ­ ches, Ravalgaon, LIC, GIC, etc, slates her biodata and has been interviewed by Annu Aggarwal for “Oye- MTV” and on FM (All India Radio) for the pro­ gram “It ’s my day. ” She sang at the 6()lh birth ­ day celebrations of Donald Duck at Hotel Retreat in Bombay, and At age nine with brother Rashid has performed al five- star hotels and at private parlies with the Clowns-R-Us group. Audiences at Parsi New Year “Dhinga- Masti ” shows and at the Dadar and Marine Lines Parsi gymkhanas, the Parsi Food and Trade Festivals, etc have heard her sing. On a brief visit to Hong Kong in October/ November ’97, she demonstrated her ver ­ satility by singing popular English num ­ bers for the Hong Kong Zoroastrian Asso­ ciation at their Halloween party and Hindi songs at the Diwali ball organized by the (Indian) Fellowship Association at a five- star hotel. The World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) has been very supportive, states Kersi. “We approached them for financial help and they considered our case. Dinshaw Tamboly, managing trustee of the WZO Trust, is a result-oriented man, a man of action. He docs not keep you dangling for an answer, it ’s either a firm ‘yes ’ or a firm ‘no. ’ They have given us financial assis- community, so that Zeenia can, as he has stated in his letter to us, be ‘a credit to her family , community and country . Jamshed Guzder, philanthropist and Bombay Parsi Punchayet chairman, has also been most encouraging and has “stood by Zeenia, ” principal of Dadar ’s J. B. Vacha High School where Zeenia is an eighth standard student, has been very understanding, granting her leave of absence for shows, etc, he adds. Giv­ ing priority to studic.s as well as singing, Zccnia remarks that she enjoys what is called a “cul ­ tural period ” in school, with music, dance and song. “It ’s not just all studies, there ’,s needle ­ work and computers and games every Tuesday after school. I play vol­ leyball and I also enjoy swimming. ” Residents of Lal- baug ’s Nowroz Baug, Zeenia ’s mother Jas ­ mine is ahousewife who takes great interest in her daughter ’.s singing career. Brother Rashid, a black belt in karate who has won numerous trophies anti has been honored by the WZO. the Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust, the Federation ol Zoroastrian Associations for Welfare and Culture and other bodies for his excellence in karate, is currently training as a sea cadet and is away from home. The family are staunch believers in Zoroastrianism with regular daily prayers and visits to the agiary. “I am certainly very proud to be a Parsi, ” states Zeenia. Conductor Zubin Mehta and singer Penaz Masani are high up among the musicians she admires. Approaching 13, with one album under her belt, Zeenia now stands at the cross­ roads. Looming ahead is the difficult transi ­ tion from child star to mature artiste. With solid support from her family and her own hard work and commitment, she aims to fi.x on herself the spotlight, on a platform al ­ ready crowded with entrenched and aspiring pop stars. “I would like to become an established and recognized singer with awards to my credit, ” is how she visualizc.s her future.EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES company now has Rohinton ’.s widow Anu continued from page 10 Aga at the helm as executive chairperson gregational prayers, humbandagi, for the with Abhay Nalawadc a.s the managing 10 days as recited at Dadar ’s Rustomframna Agiary. Led by the panthaky of the Agiary which owns 62 percent of the equity, a.s per Ervad Faredoon K. Kutar, the young and old devotees join in the prayers at 6.30 every evening during the muktad days. Organized by the Dadar Jashan Trust for over two decades, “it is a delightful having handled the company ’s export af- experience, ” states Marzban Giara, when the gathering jointly chants prayers before the neatly laid tables of flower vases, with the fragrance of sandalwood and incense permeating the air. The humbandagi is followed by talks on religious subjects and “so great is the enthusiasm for listening to the lectures that...the devotees scramble for seats or stand and listen in rapt atten ­ tion, ” mentions Giara. The discourses this year were on simple be a member of the family. ” topics like the “Power of Ashem Vohu and Yatha Ahu Vairyo," “Friendship with Ahura Mazda, ” “Lessons from the holy Gathasf “Zoroastrian marriages, ” “Five gahs,” and the speakers who offered such intellectual faie ing — heat based cooling — in India in the were Kutar, Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, Ervad Soli Mulla, Gustad Forbes, Rustom Chothia, Armaity Dhalla and Aban Sethna. The function at Dadar was organized by cals. To handle the waste they produced, Coomi Dastur, acknowledges Giara who being an environment conscious company, recommends that such activities “deserve to be replicated in other Parsi colonies ” for the benefit of greater numbers. systems for industries like steel, power, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Thermax Energy Perfomiance Services will director. Remaining now in the Aga family carry out a complete study of energy usage in a customer company and will design systems to save moneys through proper utilization of energy, the details of the joint venture.s are enumerated in Business India. “New ventures, a lighter business focu-s and declining inventories arc pointers to better times at Thennax, ” believes Business India. The Economic Times report, is the Agas ’ daughter Mehcr Pudumjee and son-in-law Pheroz who are involved in the finance and international divisions respectively, after fairs in the UK. Son Kurush died in a road accident in early 1997. While Meher Pudumjee was inducted into the board of Improving with age the company in July 1996, as per 54-year- old Anu Aga ’s statement to Business- India (June 30-July 13, 1997), “Thermax is an institution and would be managed by the best professionals at any given time in the letic Championships in future. Such a person could be a profes ­ sional not related to me in any way or could At 91 years of age, Jehanbax Aderji Kapadia of Calcutta does not only participate in international track events, he also wins prizes. Recently at the Xllth World Veterans ’ Alh- The main business of the company con ­ tinues to be process heat systems with a stronghold in boilers. Thermax is also be ­ lieved to have pioneered absorption cool- range of 30-1,500 tonnes of refrigeration. Since chemicals are the key raw materials, they felt the need to diversify into chemi- Energizing Thermax The change in management necessitated by targeting South East Asia, the Middle East, the demise of the dynamic Rohinton Aga, a lockout for two months at its chemical plant, poor market conditions, all contributed to Thermax Limited showing a four percent decline in net profits from Rs 45 crore in the financial year 1996 to Rs 43 crore the fol­ lowing year, as per a write-up in The Eco­ nomic Times of June 13 to 19, 1997. This professionally managed, zero debt ¦¦ 1 IH I ¦’ J By 5 ‘ sip 3 I____ 30 Parsiana September 1997 Durban, South Africa in July 1997, when nearly 6,000 individuals from all over the world com ­ peted, he was the only Indian among approxi ­ mately 100 participants to win three silver med ­ als, notes a press release. Kapadia: Running in the 90-94 racing with age years age-gi'oup, he won silver medals in the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m sprint. He seems to be improving with age, for Uncle Kap, as he is popularly known, had they further diversified into pollution con ­ trol and waste management, their activi ­ ties and market control is summed up by won two bronze medals at the Xlth World The Economic Times. They are market leaders in Kenya and Bangladesh, and now the CIS countries and Africa. Recently they tied up with Culligan International, aUS-based company , to enter the domestic, commercial and industrial segment for water purification. They plan to be the first to offer a string of new products like water in hot and cold dis ­ pensers of five litres, point of entry water purifiers for residential colonics, hotels, offices, etc, water vending machines at places like rail ­ way stations. An ­ other joint ven ­ ture, Thermax Fuji Electric Lim ­ ited manufactures process control equipment and E E R C I i it'Si ’ Thermax's Energy and Environment Research Centre Veterans ’ Athletic Championships in Buf ­ falo, USA. Actually, Kapadia got involved in competitive athletics at the age ol 78 when he entered the 100 m sprint in the West Bengal Veterans ’ Athletic Meet in 1984 and stood first in the 70-75 age-group although he was eligible to compete in a higher age bracket. Thereafter he has been a regular competitor at national and inter ­ national meets, invariably bagging prizes. In fact at two national meets, he has bet ­ tered the existing record, according to a family source; a timing of 41.5 seconds in the 200 m run at the IX National 'Athletic Championship in 1987 when he partici ­ pated in the 80-84 agc-group; a timing of 19.7 seconds in the 100 m dash, in the 85 plus agc-group at the 1991 nationals. “He has side-stepped the rocking chair and is spending his time limbering up daily, perfecting his style, building his stamina, improving his speed and display ­ ing rare determination and youthful zest, ” observes his daughter Zarin Rustomji. Born in Bharuch, Kapadia “came to Calcutta in 1956 after having retired in Jamnagar, and adopted the Calcutta Parsce Club a.s his own. Snacks for the canteen wereplanned and prepared in his house by his wife and children. Hi.s friends and his children ’s friendsjoined in too as the Kapadia home became an open house for club meet ­ ings and preparations. Tennis was his first love and he excelled at the game, ” notes a citation presented to him by the Parsis of Calcutta on the eve of Khordadsal on August 27, 1997 to salute “his indomitable spirit ” which displays “a shining example in fitness and competitive zeal. ” Impressive incense stick With his gigantic incense sticks (14 feet, nine inches in length, six inches in diam ­ eter and weighing six kilograms), Merzban Burjorji Lahewala of Ahmedabad has claimed a place in the Limca Book of Records as also the Guinness Book of World Records. This novel agarbatti “burns continuously for more than 60 hours, and its unique feature is that it has different fragrances which change every 16 hours, ” writes Hector Vesuna who i.s presently in charge of the Central Bank of India ’s Zonal Staff Training Centre at Ahmedabad. The sponsors, organizers and participants had a thrilling time at the Parsee Monsoon Games held at Bombay’s Rustom Baug on August 24 and 31, 1997. From the 16 teams which competed for supremacy in football me that I could make the tallest incense and tug-of-war. Dodgers were the winners in both the events while the Cusrow Baug team was the runner-up in football, and the Rustom Baug team, the runner-up in tug-of- war. The Fair Play Award was presented to Malcolm Baug. Sponsored by Peekay Wines, Union Press and Leopold Cafe, the meet which was held under the auspices of The All Parsee Sports Club was organized by Zarir Shroff and Farhad Irani. On the occasion of the golden jubilee of India ’.s independence, 36-year-okl Lahe- wala ’.s statement a.s reported in the Press mentioned, “1 had decided to do some ­ thing which could bring laurels to Gujarat historical, spiritual and cultural interest to not only at the national but also interna ­ tional level. Since I was in the business of making incense sticks, it suddenly struck stick in the world. And finally I have done it. ” Working on this project for six hours daily for nearly two months, Lahcwala wa.s able to succeed in hi.s venture. The cost of this incense stick would be approximately R.s 900, mentions Vesuna, informing that one such was recently do ­ nated to a religious festival where it burnt for more than 60 hours attracting a large, curious crowd from all parts of the city. Lahewala with his incense stick Lahewalas is a household name amongst the Parsis of Ahmedabad, states Vesuna, serving the community during limes of joy and bereavement, because it is the only Parsi store in the city which can supply items needed for Zoroastrian rites and ceremonies. Interested in Iran? For the past few years, Zoroastrians all over the world have, once again, stalled taking a keen interest in Iran, their spiritual motherland. In response to this need, a number of Zoroaslrian tour operators, es ­ pecially from Bombay, have emerged of­ fering various packages to suit diverse budgetary and other considerations. Asfandyar Sohrab Gotla is one of them. For the benefit of those wanting to know more planning compiled and published a useful, 115- page pocket-size booklet tilled Guide To Zoroastrian Historical Places In Iran. Gotla has attempted to provide a bird ’s eye view of different place.s in Iran of about Iran, and particularly those to visit the country, Golla has 'g Zoroastrians. Among the important cen ­ ters, he covers Tehran, Flamadan, Kcrman- shah, Esfahan, Shiraz and Yazd. He also providc.s information on Pasargade, Persepolis, Naqsh-e-Ruslom,Pir-c-Norcstan, Sel-e-Pir, Pir-e-Sabz, Pir-e-Banoo Pars, Pir- e-Nauraki and Pir-c-Herisht. Of further interest to the reader would be the information on seasons, food speciali ­ ties, distances by road, common Farsi phrases and generous doses of inspiring Farsi quota ­ tions. Golla also takes the reader through the various “dos ” (what to shop for, what to savor, what to look for) and “don ’ts ” (wlial **- V H A uMf a Bi 1^^-- ¦« ¦ s 32 Parsiana September 1997 i1 would bring together the world ’s religions on a daily, permanent basis in pursuit of peace on earth. United Religions was con ­ ceived by the Episcopal Bishop of San Francisco, William Swing, mentions Dhalla who, along with Rohinton Rivetna of Chicago, was invited to participate in the deliberations at the Stanford Univer ­ sity from June 23 to 27, “to determine the research and development needed to move the dream of a United Religions Charter to reality by the year 2000.” Additionally, Dhalla conducted the Zoroastrian prayer service one morning and recited verses from the Avesta emphasizing the concept of peace and harmony. mit Conference held in Kyoto where he SPOTLIGHT presented the Zoroastrian viewpoint on peace and human rights. At an interrcli- giou.s prayer meeting held at Mt Hici, on the outskirts of Kyoto, he recited Avestan prayers on peace, notes a write-up summa ­ rizing his overseas tours. To combat religious persecution and infighting, the United Religions Initiative wa.s formed as a “scaffolding upon which the religious and spiritually-motivated people of the world could stand to ulti ­ mately form the United Religions. ” In ­ tended to serve as a global force which Dhalla at Mt. Hiei HIM i '-st;-- jjlj It women should not wear, what everyone should avoid doing or taking with them to this theocratic Islamic state). Published in 1997, this well printed booklet (available from the author at B-9, Anand Vihar, St Martin ’s Cros.s Road, Bandra, Bombay 400050, Tel: 6452247) would serve as a useful and handy travel guide for all those visiting Iran for the first time. Nosliir H. Dadrawala ¦ ,i Tup ;ii ¦ 'g. Fora for peace Movements that promote peace and re ­ solve conflicts invariably seem to draw Dr Homi Dhalla. Rep ­ resenting the Zoro­ astrian faith, Dhalla participated in an in ­ ternational confer ­ ence held in Hiro­ shima on August 6, to commemorate the — day when thousands perished in the atomic bomb blast g in 1945. I Two days earlier I he was present al ™ the Religious Sum- Prcsidenl of the Rotary Club of Bhopal South, Dara Pavri, was presented the Special Appreciation Award in June 1997 “for exemplary efforts and excellent per ­ formance in honoring Rotary with action and vision during 1996-97.” Under his presidentship, the Rotary Club of Bhopal South was also adjudged the “best club ” in the district comprising of 50 Rotary clubs in Madhya Pradesh and a part ol Gujarat, according to a press release. Coiiipilei! by PuriiKiz M. Gandhi D 1 PRUDENTIAL SHIPPING AGENCIES PRIVATE LIMITED Shipping agents, cargo brokers and container operators 55A/63A, Walchand Hirachand Marg, Opp G.P.O., Mumbai 400001, India Tel: 2692787 (10-Lines), Fax: 2652841, Tlx: 11 82307 PSAB IN Email: g=prudential / s=bom / p=gems ! a=vsnl ! e=in Internet: prudential. bom@gems.vsnl.net. in Registered Office: 77, Mint Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001, India Tel: 2694203, 2659055, 2658396 Branches Bombay -- Nhava Sheva - Kandla - New Delhi -- Ludhiana -- Ahmedabad 33 Parsiana September t997 b•Encourage and assist Zarathushtis to set up businesses and employ other Zara ­ thushtis, encourage national and interna ­ tional Zarathushti franchise, have an in- Elders. A priority is the creation of groups to study specific issues facing the commu ­ nity in depth. Their recommendations would be forwarded to the Council of Elders. External structures are contemplated to strengthen links with Zarathushti and other levels of government, financial institu ­ tions and other funding agencies •Recognize and encourage demonstrated religious organizations, the scholar com- talent among young Zarathushtis through munity and the secular world. These include the development of a strong and effective Worldwide Zarathushti Council; a center for Zarathushti studies in North America; and a Zarathushti Spiritual Center in North America. The plan antici ­ pates that the NA Congress in 1998 will highlight interfaith activities. A proposal for a Zarathushti Spiritual Center was drafted and submitted to the Manitou Foundation in July 1997. Approval for FEZANA to join the World Council of Zarathushti Federations (WCZF) is ex ­ pected to be decided by a mail vote by December 1997. FEZANA received its consultative sta ­ tus as a non governmental organization (NGO) with the United Nations ’ Economic Council in May 1997. The charter for the United Religions Initiative is currently being compiled and it is hoped that the community will participate actively in the ZOROASTRIANS ABROAD continued from page 12 dium, encourage gift subscription outside North America as also to other interfaith organizations, public libraries, university ventory of assistance available through all libraries with religious studies departments, centers for Zarathushti studies, etc to in ­ crease awareness of the Zarathushti reli ­ gion in North America. •Update, publish and distribute directories granting of awards at local and national levels at regular inter ­ vals to keep Zarathushtis connected •Identify reasons why small groups choose not to form associations; provide legal and infrastructure assistance to those small groups who do wish to form associations •Increase communication between diverse groups by engaging them in projects with a common goal •Organize activities to help the frail and fragile of the community •Organize and support on regular basis, youth congresses, interactive seminars for constructive dialogue between youth and adults, sports activities and camps •Include ZYNA (Zarathushti Youth Net ­ work of N. America) in all FEZANA ac ­ tivities; include youth in all sub-commit ­ tees; encourage member associations to send youth representatives to FEZANA AGM and/or congresses and provide funds to facilitate that The milestones for the achievement of these goals include increasing sub ­ scription to the FEZAf^A Journal by five percent every year; revision of require ­ ments for FEZANA membership with the goal of five small groups joining the Federation by 2002; recirculation of a 1993 are the fund raising options under consid- being explored. Among schemes of spe- document. Guidelines for enhancement eration. cial significance to individual Zarathushtis of Parsi Irani understanding (“Imple- Other internal infrastructures include will be the establishment of social welfare mentation of this rests at the local and the establishment of: mechanisms, individual and marital coun- personal level. FEZANA can create aware- •Small study groups to study and make selling services and retirement centers. A ness that solutions to problems exit ”); by recommendations on topics determined by unified calendar, a consecrated place of AGM 2007, three percent of the manage- the FEZANA president as relevant to the worship, a Zarathushti chamber of com ­ ment board should be from the 20-30 age- attainment of the vision of the community merce and a bank are other foreseeable group. Also on the agenda is the creation of findings of each study group, advise the funds for loans, businesses, scholarships president on difficult and divisive issues for religious education and other higher and arbitrate any conllict within the com- education through an economic council so that by 2002 there would be very few unemployed Zoroastrians in North America and by 2007 some large-scale entrepre- would formulate detailed proposals for the ravani,BehramKapadia,ArdeshirAnoshi- neurship activities would be in place. The establishment of study groups and the ravani, Adi Davar, Ness Lakdawala, goals of the council are: Council ofElders. It willrecommendchair- Dinshaw Joshi, Gev Nentin, Sarosh Col- •To develop and implement economic pro- persons for different study groups for pro- lector. Noshir Langrana, Soonamai Desai, grams that would benefit various segments posed issues, to be appointed by February Kayomarsh Mehta, Kaemarz Dotiwala, of the NA Zarathushti community 1998. Adi Unwala, Dilshad Antia, Natalie Vania, •Each association should have a commit- By April 1998 each association is ex- Rohinton Rivetna and Jamshed Mava- tee to help Zarathushtis to become eco- pected to name two respected NA Zoroas- Iwala. Kevala, Mistree, Russy Sumari- nomically stable trians for the seven-member Council of walla and Bella Tata were the consultants. •Establish substantive funds for college scholarships and/or loans to encourage and facilitate higher education to give a strong message to the youth that the com- “A community cannot have a religious vision unless there is a sociopolitical vision and will as well” munity is there to help before they are asked to serve the community •Establish scholarships for religious edu ­ cation •Make community service part of college 1999 conference in South Africa. The com- loan agreements munity is also being encouraged to offer “a •Facilitate retirement living for the elderly gift of love at the Millennium Event in •Organize business expos Planned gifts using charitable trusts leveraged by insurance; trust funds; volun ­ teer contributions per project by individu ­ als and associations; united way; tithing and procedures for conflict resolution are are the fund raising options under consid ­ eration. Other internal infrastructures include the establishment of: •Small study groups to study and make 2000.” These and other avenues to develop spirituality, promote greater mingling through cultural, food and business expos. 34 Parsiana September 1997 (“Imple- the FEZANA president as relevant to the attainment of the vision of the community •A Council of Elders to review and vet the goals. An appendix acknowledges inputs for the plan from Khorshed Jungalwala, Freny Ranji, Jimmy Mistry, Mazda Antia, Katayun Kapadia, Pervin Davar, Dinaz Weber, Nergish Mehta, Roshan Rivetna, munity. Initially, an ad-hoc and temporary “Ad ­ visory group, ” nominated by the president, Sepehri, Anahita Sidhwa, Shida Anoshi- would formulate detailed proposals for the establishment of study groups and the Council ofElders. It willrecommendchair- persons for different study groups for pro­ 1998. By April 1998 each association is ex ­ pected to name two respected NA Zoroas ­ trians for the seven-member Council ofZOROASTRIANS ABROAD C( We are here to stay JJ FEZANA’s new projects demonstrate a commitment to future generations Houston will be the host association and Davier will co-chair the Congress commit- World Congress 2000 committee include vice co-chairs Mistree and Sarosh with Kevala continuing to chair the publica­ tions committee and oversee the Journal. Another feature of the 1997 AGM was the decision to use the words ‘Zarathushti ’ instead of Zoroastrian and ‘Zarathushti Crestone, where the Federation of Zoroas ­ trian Associations of North America ’s (FEZANA) 1997 annual general meeting tee with Dastoor. Other members of the was held, is described by president Dolly Dastoor in a letter as a small village, 7,500 ft above sea level, 200 miles south of Maneckshaw; program co-chairs Khorshed religion ’ instead of Zoroastrianism in all Denver, Colorado, with no large town near Jungalwala, Kacmarz Dotiwala and Yezdi it. “This area is considered as very spiritual Rustomji; fund raising co-chair Rustom by the native American people and Ms Hanne Strong, president of the Manitou Foundation has set aside 1,200 acres as a Religious Heritage Site where different Sethna. Bella Tata, who chairs the world communities can enjoy nature and learn about each other. The Zarathushti community through FEZANA has been offered 35 acres of land, ” informs Dastoor. Fixing the AGM in Crestone was a way of bringing leaders of the North American Zoroastrian community together “to see for themselves the validity and utility of the land. ” Sixty delegates attended-the highest New York as vice-president. Collector of number for any AGM so far, ” as notes ZAH as treasurer, Mehran Scpchri of the Dastoor. On the eve of the meet Ervad (Dr) Zoroastrian Association of Northern Cali- Jehan Bagli had organized a round table panel discussion on “Spirituality in the Zo­ roastrian religion, ” with Keki Bhote, Firoz politan Chicago as assistant secretary. Jungalwala, Firdosh Mehta, Pervin Mistry, Farrokh Mistree and Aaron Rustom taking profusely thanked. Roshan Rivetna was ap- part. A write-up from Ervad Jal Birdy, presi- pointed editor-in-chief of the FEZANA Journal dent of the North American Mobed Council, was dis ­ tributed as he had been un ­ able to attend. The AGM heard a pre ­ sentation from the Zoro­ astrian Association of Houston ’s (ZAH) Homi Davier on the plans for the World Zarathushti Con ­ gress (WZC) in 2000. official FEZANA correspondence. The de ­ cision was the result of a generally ac ­ cepted need to standardize, as explained in Kevala; international liaison Rohinton Rivetna; treasurer Sarosh Collector; joint a paper presented by Jamshed Udvadia of secretaries Behroz Daruwallaand Arnavaz Michigan who is now on the Journal's editorial team. The Fall 1997 edition of the JournalnoiQS, “Formal change of the spell ­ ings in the names of our associations and FEZANA itself would take several years, but the effort would be worthwhile. ” The decision of FEZANA to join the World Council of Zarathushti Federations (WCZF) as a founding member has been deferred to December 1, 1997 after presen ­ tations were made by Rohinton Rivetna outlining the structure of the WCZF and Adi Davar explaining the revised structure forniaas secretary and MaharukhMotafaram proposed by the World Zoroastrian Organi- of the Zorogstrian Association of Metro- FEZANA Congress Committee, the presi ­ dents of FEZANA and the ZAH managing committee will also be part of the execu ­ tive board. FEZANA office bearers for 1997-98 in ­ clude Dastoor of the Zoroastrian Associa ­ tion of Quebec, as president, Framroz Patel of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater Retiring secretary Katayun Kapadia was Clockwise from top left: Rustom, P. Ichaporia. , Jungalwala, SHH J. Mistry and |H|H T. Aresh; Mis- tree (speaking), Rustom, and Kevala;Sepehri, Collector, B. Deboo (back- ing) and Das- toor (speaking) sation (WZO).“Firdosh Mehta andFarhang Mehr presented critiques on the two struc ­ tures and outlined the implications for FEZANA,” notes Dastoor. In her president ’s report Dastoor re ­ ferred to the “fervor and dedication of member associations ” which led to the sponsorship of seminars and conferences to generate interest in the doctrine, history and social structure of the religion, making knowledge more accessible to young and old. She noted however that the response to the Research Journal published by FEZANA’s historical research and preser ­ vation committee has not been as encoura- ging.Welcoming the advent of the Zoro­ astrian Education and Research Soci­ ety as an addition to scholarship on the continent, Dastoor hoped that the “pro- liferation of these societies do not un ­ dermine the activi ­ ties and mission of the Federation...but rather they will complement and en ­ hance the work of FEZANA.” The FEZANA website has been visited says she is intent on developing a solid by 1,468 people in the last three months, she financial base for the organization. “To announced. Important events of interest to the community, an index of the past issues of (he Journal as well as abstracts of lead articles in the Journal are featured on the web. Plans are afoot to feature references to latest research on various aspects of Zoroas ­ trianism as well as news items from member associations and FEZANA committees. Referring to a negotiated settlement between two member associations of North ­ ern California, Dastoor noted, “By main ­ taining transparency in all our actions, we, the officers of FEZANA, have tried to create a climate of trust among all Zara- thushtis on this continent. We have taken the opinions of people into account and tried to maintain objectivity, fairness and respect for all viewpoints, be it religious, social or political. While respecting the autonomy of member associations, the officers have offered mediation in disputes between and within member associations. .. This offer of mediation is open to all who wish to make use of it. ” 1997-98 will be her final year as FEZANA president, notes Dastoor and says she is intent on developin 'g ourselves of ‘we ’ and ‘they ’ will disappear and we will create space to accommodate all of ‘us ’ of all different persuasions. ” Welcoming the Zoroastrian Associa ­ tion of the Rocky Mountains, FEZANA’s latest member whose hospitality the fulfill the mission and vision of FEZANA we need money, we need money so that no member of the community is deprived of FEZANA delegates enjoyed in Crestone, education or of medical treatment because Dastoor particularly thanked its president of lack of funds, and we need to develop Rumy Engineer and member Bucky Ama- mechanisms for the disbursements of these funds, ” she said. According to Dastoor, Zoroastrians in North America should now be beyond the defensive survival syndrome and concen ­ trate on consolidation. “We are here to stay, to consolidate our presence and take our rightful place, center stage, in every facet of North American life as Zarathus ­ htis. The organization of the World Zarathushti Congress 2000 on this conti ­ nent is a testimony of the confidence the Zarathushtis of the two mother countries, Iran and India, have in us; it is the recog ­ nition they have given us of the roots we have established as we grow as a viable community in North America... If we have generation... confidence in ourselves and in our next generation, the artificial boundaries among ria, even as she hoped more small groups of Zoroastrians as in Detroit, San Diego, Florida, Atlanta and Ottawa would orga ­ nize themselves into associations and join the Federation. ‘‘We need to grow not only at the indi ­ vidual level but also at the structural and organizational level, ” Dastoor said. “We need to establish ourselves by way of more associations, more anjumans, more com ­ munity centers, more foundations for edu ­ cation, for medical treatment, agencies for social, psychological and religious coun ­ seling, professional and business networks. We need to put down deep roots from which strong oaks will grow for the next “The future belongs to those who pre ­ pare for it today. ” a.s .m. A gift to the spirit The development plan of a Zarathushti Spiritual Center at Crestone was submit ­ ted to the by Dastoor, Kevala and Rohinton completed by 2000 when Zoroastrian.s from Rivetna. The tract, sited on ancient spiri ­ tual land of the American Indians has some facilities of the University of Colo­ rado nearby and has the Carmelite, Bud ­ dhist and Hindu orders already settled on posal is to lease half to one acre to spiritu- their apportioned areas. The 35-acre plot ally inclined Zoroastrian individuals or was offered to Rivetna by Hanne Strong at the Second Parliament of World Religions in 1993. To be utilized in six stages, the proposers envisage that the first use of the land would be for the spiritual renewal of interested Zo­ roastrians in the pristine surround ­ ings: communing with nature, meeting other Zoroastrian fami ­ lies or groups there for rest and recreation and as a primitive camp ­ ing site for youths. The Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America estimates an initial outlay of $ 20,000 to complete acces.s roads and to provide water, electricity and supervision. US $ 10,000 have already been pledged and are immediately avail ­ able, notes the report. As money comes in by way of pledges and donations FEZANA expects to build a central kitchen, meeting hall, library, etc stipulation that ownership would revert to in the second phase. One or two energy efficient shelters/cabins will also be made available for visiting Zarathushtis and for associations holding retreats, summer camps, etc. Hopefully, these first two phases will be phase of development activity. By then it is estimated that five to 10 families would be living permanently in Crestone and there would be some vacant cabins con ­ structed from donations to accommodate visitors or scholars invited to study reli ­ gion, write papers, books, etc. A prayer hall, dadgah and priests ’ quar ­ ters may be built any time a donor appears, notes the report, adding that many Zoroas ­ trians are setting aside legacies in their wills for such purposes. A consecrated temple and seminary would mark the crown ­ ing of the Spiritual Center project as also the aspirations of Zoroas ­ trians in the New World. Such a temple/seminary would be the first outside the Indian subconti ­ nent and Iran. The plan “will greatly en ­ hance the visibility and pres ­ tige of our community in the Western world. It also has the potential of becoming one of the most sacred and important sites for Zarathushtis world ­ wide. ” The drafters of the plan expect that eventually the Center may be handed over to a mobed council or separate cre ­ ated for the Center ’s management, a.s .m. all over the world will arrive for the seventh World Zarathushti Congress. Caretaker and resident cabins consti ­ tute the third stage of activity. The pro- husband/wife teams wishing to build per ­ manent summer or year-round residences TO FEZANA after their passing. A study center with library, conference halls and other facilities for major meet ­ ings, retreats, etc constitutes the fourth ZiiratliHsliti "i>il^riiii jtithi I 'i" at Crestone for their post-retirement stay. One of these could act as caretakers or be appointed directors of the Zarathushti Spiritual Cen ­ ter, if so qualified. The cost of construction would be borne by the residents with the charitable foundation specificallyBOOKS Sexual violence in Rwanda Reshad Forbes Shattered Lives — Sexual Violence During the Rwandan Conflict and its Aftermath, report by Binaifer Nowrojee. Published in 1996 by Human Rights Watch, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017-6104, USA. Pp: vii+103. Price: Not men­ tioned. try. “Rape victims in Rwanda have been reluctant to disclose publicly that they have been raped... because they fear rejec ­ tion and shame... ” Also, the victim re ­ mains fearful as in several instances the violator continues to live within the com- This shocking account — a mere 103 pages — will unalterably affect even the most insensitive reader ’s view of the world. Its message is brutal, to the point, very sad and without relief. The genocide in Rwanda during the months of April to July 1994— now insecure Hutu leadership resorted to as well as the profoundly evil acts of sexual violence, mutilation and slavery commit ­ ted by the perpetrators on nearly 500,000 women — is documented brilliantly in this lucid report compiled by BinaiferNowrojee with the involvement and assistance of various international organizations: Hu ­ man Rights Watch/Africa, Human Rights Watch, Women ’s Rights Project and the International Federation of Human Rights. Survivors ’ experiences form the crux of the report. The introduction succinctly con ­ veys the substance of the book: “During the 1994 genocide Rwandan women were subjected to sexual violence on a massive scale, perpetrated by members of the infa ­ mous Hutu militia groups known as the thetic to the Tutsi cause). We learn in ‘Background ’ that the perpetrators of the genocide (and the events preceding), were primarily Hutu political leaders and the military, i.e. the government in power since the revolution in 1959 when some 20,000 Tutsi were killed, the rest being munity. There is also an overview of the driven out of Rwanda into exile. During the 1980s and early ’90s the Tutsi, many still in exile, were gaining back power and there were several skir ­ mishes with the Hutu as a result. The by­ ruthless campaigning through the Press “Rape in conflict is also used as a weapon to terrorize and degrade a particular community” international laws against gender-based crime — and the practical difficulties, and often negligence, in enforcing them. Ac­ cording to a United Nations report on violence against women, “rape remains the least condemned war crime... ” The most disturbing section of the book contains first-hand experiences of sexual torture experienced by the survivors. “Women were individually raped, gang- raped, raped with objects such a.s sharp ­ ened stick-s or gun barrels, held in sexual slavery or sexually mutilated. In almost every case, these crimes were inflicted upon women after they had witnessed the torture and killings of their relatives, and the destruction of their homes. Some women were forced to kill their own chil ­ dren before or after being raped. ” Bernadette, one of the survivors, re ­ calls: “They killed all the men and boys (of the commune)... After they finished raping and national radio, and a fierce propa ­ ganda war was waged against the Tutsi. At the same time militia groups were being me they threw me in the river to die along Interhamwe, by other civilians and by formed, consisting chiefly of unemployed with my children. My children all drowned soldiers of the Rwandan armed forces, young men trained to kill. Arms were but the river threw me back. ” including the presidential guard. Adminis- being obtained, and the administration was Perpetue, another survivor, recounts trative, military and political leaders at the committed to paving the way tor a lull- how she was raped by a group of 20 men national and local levels, as well as heads scale attack against the Tutsi — a genocide over two days. “All the young women of militia, directed or encouraged both the of horrifying proportions which cventu- killed at the river were raped... On the third killings and sexual violence to further their ally took place in April-July 1994, killing day (they) saw that I was not able to walk political goal: the destruction of the Tutsi as a group. They therefore bear responsi ­ bility for these abuses. ” In a thoughtful observation the author explains: “Rape in conflict is also used as a weapon to terrorize and degrade a par ­ ticular community and to achieve a spe ­ cific political end... The humiliation, pain and terror inflicted by the rapist is meant to degrade not just the individual woman but also to strip humanity from the larger group of which she is a part... The shame of the rape humiliates the family and all those associated with the survivor. ” Sexual violence in Rwanda was di ­ rected against Tutsi women (or Hutu women married to Tutsi men, or sympa- young men trained to kill. Arms were being obtained, and the administration was committed to paving the way for a full- scale attack against the Tutsi — a genocide of horrifying proportions which eventu ­ ally took place in April-July 1994, killing almost one million people, predominantly anymore (and) told me that I had already Tutsi. One aspect of the propaganda was aimed directly against Tutsi women who have traditionally been considered more beauti ­ ful, alluring, than theif Hutu counterparts. It was therefore easy at such a time for the m uiv gv.. media to accuse them of being somehow problcm.s dangerous. As one Tutsi woman recalled, “The word used was Ibizungerezi (beauti ­ ful and sexy). It led to jealousy, to a hate I can ’t describe... I was told that I couldn ’t work in certain place.s because as a Tutsi woman I would poison the others. ” The book outlines the status of women in Rwandan society, which is similar to the orthodox view of women in our own coun- 'g died and could go...” Witnesses narrated that some of the perpetrators did not even stop at raping the corpses of individuals they had killed. The author informs us of the aftermath of the genocide. There arc the severe health including sexual diseases of every kind — and between 3,000 and 5,000 children born of rape who now need to be dealt with. Additionally, the women, who feel ostracized and severely scarred psychologically and emotionally, have to rebuild the scattered pieces of their broken lives. There are currently 80,000 genocide continued on page 40 'c> 37 Parsiana September 1997BOOKS In praise of the Prophet Roni K. Khan Afrin! Paigambar Zarathosht by Adil Firoze deeply mysterious truth; and the greater Rangoonwalla. Published in 1997 by the author, IVI/4, Dalal Estate, Lamington Road, Bombay 400008. Pp: 90. Price: Not mentioned. the absurdity of the letter, the deeper the wisdom of the spirit. ” Happily, Rangoonwalla is seized of the fact that “much of scriptural writing is extremely cryptic and needs to be deci- in fact, it is the central thesis of the book that “the Prophel, even a.s a human, was no ordinary human... this Yazatic Being as ­ sumed a human form for an earthly mis ­ sion. ” Thi.s is no vainglorious exaggera ­ tion on Rangoonwalla ’s part. Our youthful author backs up his assertion by quoting chapter and verse from the sacred Avesta to establish, in a masterly section fittingly called The Yazata of the Renowned Name Adil Rangoonwalla ’s latest book is a paean to Asho Zarathushtra, right from the color phered, ” and makes a spirited effort to portrait that fills up the front cover to the provide the esoteric explanations for some closing words of thanksgiving on the last page. In between these two, in nine well- planned and well-penned sections, we find the life story of the holy Prophet ranging all the way from the advent of hi.s mighty khoreh dndfravashi upon the earthly plane to the return of his immaculate soul to the high heaven from whence it came. But this is not merely a biographical narrative, for the author skilfully uses the key events in the Prophet ’s life to open windows on certain aspects of the Zarathushtrian reli ­ gion. “In fact, this book explains the reli ­ gion of Zarathushtra through his life and the many miraculous events going with Prophet ’s career — for instance, by draw- it, ” is how he describes his work. Rangoonwalla ’s familiarity with the scriptures is evident from the many quota- of Divine Li^i^ht, pp 27-3 I) of Asho the Holy Prophet Zarathushtra, based on tions he provides from various sources, but Zarathushtra's five steps to prophethood Avesta’). Just one of these points may be he does not flaunt his scholarship: the culminating in his great fifth initiation in quoted here to illustrate the thrust of the quotations are always as pertinent as they are illuminating, and all technical refer ­ ences are relegated to footnotes. This is not a daunting tome — it is a readable little Prophet ’s final service to the world when book which is well within the grasp of our questing youth for whom it seems to be mainly targeted, and as a youth himself, the author is in a position to understand this audience. The Zarathushtrian scriptural lore is frequently clothed in allegory and meta ­ phor which makes things sound confusing and sometimes even nonsensical to the uninitiated, and many a writer has com ­ mitted spiritual howlers by failing to delve beneath the literal outer meanings of some profound scriptural terms and concepts, day trend to portray Ratu Zarathushtra as Moses Maimonedes (1135-1204 AC), the great Hebrew scholar, had this to say; “Every time that you find in our books tale the reality of which seems impossible, a story which is repugnant to both reason and common sense, then be sure that the tale contains a profound allegory veiling a Author Rangoonwalla and 7:21), that Ratu Zarathushtra “is to be adored, revered and worshipped like a Sacred Being, like a Divinity; rather, the seemingly inane or baffling exoteric statements. Thi.s is (this from a direct reference in Yasna 3:21 an admirable feature of the book and lifts it above the ordinary and the sterile. Most Holy Zarathushtra has to be worshipped a.s of the time hi.s deeper explanations satisfy, but on a few occa ­ sions one wishes that he had dealt even more exhaustively with certain landmark events in the a YAZATA.” In substantiating this thesis, Rangoon ­ walla also offers a fascinating sub-section called The “Yazata” Issue in a Nutshell, where he sums up, in point form, K. R. Cama ’s confirmatory views on the subject a.s advanced by this celebrated savant in his Gujarati volume Paiganibar Asho Zaratoshtana Jananiarano Aheval, Avesta ing from noted savant Behram D. Pithavala ’s insightful exposition (InSearch Uparthi (‘An Account of the Life-span of of Divine Li^i’ht, pp 27-31) of Asho Zarathushtra's five steps to prophethood the presence of Ahura Mazda; or from Phiroz N. Tavaria ’s inspired account (A Manual of Klishnaoin, pp 3 15-319) of the message; “Nowhere in the is there a Khshnunian [i.c. dedicatory formula for invoking a divinity] for a human being. All Khshniunans available arc those for Ahura Mazda, the Ameshaspands and the Yazads. The only one known among all mankind to have a Khshnunian i.s Zarathushtra. ” In today ’s environment of religious doubt, denial and denigration, it is as re- he shattered the consolidated manifesta ­ tion of evil termed Turharatur (tur = evil, bar = a carrier vehicle, and atur = a form of fiery energy) and passed away from this earth. In the holy Gathas the supreme spiri ­ tual title ratu i.s assigned to the exalted freshing as it is heartening to witness the divinity Spenta Armaiti. It is also assigned forthright faith and reverential regard with there to Asho Zarathushtra. This concor- which a knowledgeable Parsi youth ap- dance immediately indicates the divine proaches his Prophet and his religion. Never nature and stature of the Prophet. Rangoonwalki rightly decrie,s the present ­ 38 Parsiana September 1997 a mind the few instances of typographical carelessness or some strange spellings that mar an otherwise fine presentation on high merely a great philosopher, an original quality paper and in elegant typeface — what really matters is that Rangoonwalla writes with an uplifted mind and his work is uplifting. Our community would be trans ­ formed if his fellow youths would literally and figuratively lift some leaves out of his book. thinker, a visionary, a wise man or an inspiring intellectual, and correctly points out that “the way he has been portrayed in our scriptures is much different from what has been spoken and written about him in recent times. ”We never take our guests and breath-taking views for granted Lord’s Central Hotel Matheran 410102 Matheran Telephone 021483-0228 Fax 021483-0595 Bombay telephone 3867776 J SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN RWANDA continued from page 37 cases pending in Rwanda. But the author states, “Given the problems within the (Rwandan) judicial system... and the re ­ luctance of women to come forward be ­ cause of stigma and fear, the likelihood of justice for Rwandan rape survivors re ­ mains distant. Impunity for the perpetra ­ tors of rape will... send a message to Rwandan women that the sexual violence against them was not a crime. ” The events leading up to the genocide were largely ignored by the international community. However, in its aftermath, the US and some European countries have already spent millions of dollars in repair ­ ing and rebuilding where possible. Were the events narrated in this book recounted as a work of fiction, it would be passed off as a horror epic of the basest kind. But this is no fiction. The horrifying portrayal i.s replete with lessons for all of us. Yet what ha.s history taught us? The events of the genocide are events with which we are already familiar: the ethnic ­ cleansing within the former Yugoslavia and Nazi Germany, not to mention the genocide committed in Russia, China and Cambodia, in this century alone. These are events which form dark and shameful blotches on the story of man, but they have had little effect on the world ’s conscience. Progressives - Mid-, ¦^'Stance _ Distance _ - i S ' The lens for uninterupted vision at different ranges distance, mid-distance & reading. Progressives are multifocal lenses without the tell-tale lines 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, 287 1762 • Dhobi Talao: 614, J.S. Seth Marg, Bombay 400 002. Tel: 201 4906 Parel: J.Merwanji Street, Parel, Bombay 400 012 Tel: 412 6051 LMILESTONES The age of Zoroastrian brides (as listed in this issue) ranged between 26 and 60 years, the arithmetic mean (the total number of indi­ vidual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 38 years. The corresponding figures for the grooms were 30 and 73 years, averaging at 44 years. There were 76 Zoroastrians who were consigned to the Towers of Silence compared to 17 babies born in Bombay in September. Twenty patients succumbed to heart disease, the major killer, of whom 12 were above the age of 80. Brain disease and pneumonia/ lung related diseases claimed eight lives each whereas seven victims fell prey to cancer. Cerebral malaria and septicemia took a toll of three lives each and anemia, old age and general debility, diabetes, hepatic encephalopathy, liver disease, gastro-enteritis and hypertension of two each. Kidney failure, uremia, malnutrition, gastro-intestinal haemorrhage, shock due to haemorrhage, pyrexia (elevation of body temperature above normal), nervous disorder and malaria were the isolated cases registered for the month of Sep­ tember. The coroner’s report was pending in the cases of six deaths. The youngest to die was a 32-year- BOMBAY BORN A girl, Farzeen, to Ruby and Zubeen Nallaseth on August 14, 1997 A boy to Nilufer and Meherwan Katrak', August 25 A girl, Meher, to Gulshan and Abad Wadia', September 1 A girl to Nina and Hoshang Guard', September 3 A boy to Meliernaaz and Yazdi Arethna', September 5 A boy to Meher and Kurush Dastooi", September 9 A girl to Behroze and Yezdi Patrawalla', September 10 A girl, Farah, to Persis and . Viraf Mistry', September 12 A girl to Tiiraz and Farhaad Unvala', September 13 A boy to Nilufer and Vispi Damania', September 17 A boy to Rashna and Jamshed Cooper', September 18 A boy to Rashne and Mahiyar Panthaki', September 19 A girl to Tannaz and Arshad Khaw, September 20 old female as compared to the eldest, a 95-year-old lady. A 38-year-old was also lost to the community. The life expectancy at birth in Bombay, for September, 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 un­ able to carry data from areas where 400050; September 4 the anjuman.s do not furnish the particulars; the birth figures for Bombay are supplied by four hos­ pitals — births in suburban hospi­ tals and private nursing home.s are not included unless individuals send us information together with a copy of the bi rth certi ficate. There may be an inadvertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a reli­ gious ceremony. In the breakup of deaths according to illnesses, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases. If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us. Twins (girls) to Kamal and Jamshed Mehta', September 23 A boy to Hoofrish and Keki Nagporewalla; September 23 A girl to Prachi and Dara Elavia; September 27 A boy to Shahzarine and Ravin Mehra', September 28 A girl to Shireen and Khushrii Mistry, sister to Liana; September 28 MARRIED Ruby Rustomji Birdy and Dhunjishaw Ardeshir Bamji', September 5 Jasmine Rustom Cooper and Sharukh Homi Major, September 5 Anahita Daryush Irani (Ektashanaz) and Danesh Fardoon Irani', September 10 DIED Adi Framroze Hoyvoy (76}, residing at Guzder Mans, Princess St, 400002; August 3 I Dhun Honnusji Sui ti (89), Hormazd Mans, Javji Dadaji Marg, Tardeo, 400007; September 1 Fakirji Baijorji Biiliariwallei (90), 23, Bacha Mans, Gilder Lane, Lainington Rd, 400008; September 2 Adi Frainmze Kceka (83), D-5, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; September 3 Jehangir Dhunjishaw Chothia (88), 9-C, Unique Apt, Varde Marg, Off Turner Rd, Bandra, Rustom Kaikhusroo Dadachanji (S2}, 5/8, Khan Est, M.M.C. Rd, Mahim, 400016; September 4 Kati Tehmton Dalal (69), 741, Patel Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; September 4 Piloo Dhunjishaw Sidhva (84), Sea-Shells, 13, Darabshaw Rd, Off Nepean Sea Rd, 400006; September 4 Meher Kaikhushru Banaji (86), Dilnavaz Bglw, Lallubhai Park Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; September 5 Dinshaw Cawasji Oomrigar (76}, The Cliff, Pochkhanawala Rd, Worli, 400018; September 5 Nadir Adi Reporter (45), Annexe no 1, Ness Baug, Nana Chowk, 400007; September 5 Naju Phiroze Mistry (75), P-21, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; September 6 Nergish Sorahji Mistiy (76), Dadiseth Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; September 8 Peslonji Dorahjee Rahadi (80), 573, Umrigar Use, Chira Bazar, 400002; September 8 Dolly Pestonji Sethna (67), 6, Temple Ter, 55, Forjett St, Gowalia Tank, 400036; September 8 Bachubai Cavasji Bhesania (93), 11/24, Tata Clny, Sir Ratan Tata Rd, Tardco, 400034; September 9 Goolbai Homi Cooper (86), 6/A, Ness Baug, Nana Chowk, 400007; September 9 Mota Erach Sanjana (72), Minerva Hse, 71, M. Karve Marg, 400002; September 9 Khorshed Minoo Wadia (73), 24, Guide, 16, L. D. Ruparel Marg, 400006; September 9 Farokh Cawasji Marker (73), 14, Jairajbhai Bldg, 28, Forjett St, 400036; September 10 Vispi Marzban Dalal (83), G-3, Breach Candy Apts, Bhulabhai Desai Rd, 400026; September 11 Jer Nusserwanji Engineer (74), 21-A, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; September 11 Kersi Jal Mistry (56), Sarkarbai Bldg, Marzban Clny, Gilder Lane, 400008; September 11 Dhun Phirozshaw Dharwar (84), 86, Dev Chliaya, Tardeo Rd, 400034; September 12 Khodadad Behram Irani (74), Ibrahim Clny, Dcvlali Camp, Nasik, 422401; September 12 Homi Rusto/nji Karanjia (75), 10/19, Malegamwalla Bldg, Old Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; September 12 Hilla Phiroze Pilhawala (68), 33, West Minister, 294, Duccan Causeway Rd, Sion, Chunabatti, 400022; September 12 Ahan Sharukh Appaa (38), D/3/64, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; September 13 Nadirshaw Eruchsha Pardiwalla (61), Clo Amy H. Pardiwalla, 29-7/^A, Navjcevan Soc, Laming- ton Rd, 400008; September 13 Jal (Jalegar) Bapiiji Dalal (93}, 313, A. H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400033; September 14 Rusi Homi Mistry (46), 275-D, Soona Bldg, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; September 15 Dara Framroz Anklesaria (87), Jaiphal Ter, 31, Forjett St, 400036; September 16 Maneck Rustamji Chowkidar (64), C/o D. K. Gandhi, Sleater Hse no 1, Sleatcr Rd, 400007; September 16 Adi Dinshawji Hansotia (72), 275-D, Soona Bldg, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; September 16 Aspy Adarhad Panthaky (48), G-3, Maitri Bldg, Golanji Hill Rd, Parel, 400012; September 16 Jehangir Kaikhusroo Elavia (76), 11, Mody Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; September 17 Meherbai Dinsha Oostad (95}, Sushil, Arthur Bunder Rd, Colaba, 400005; September 17 Khorshed Byramji Shroff (77), 2866, Irani Bldg, Next to Maru Hosp, Sopari Baug, Paid, 400012; September 17 Rustomji Ardeshir Vajifdar (85), 57, Humlog Soc, Shankar Lane, Kandivli (W),40(X)67; September 17 Burjor Peshotan Sidhwa (79}, 3, Shirin Van, T.P.S.II, 4th Rd, Ghatkopar (W), 400086; September 18 Rustom Dhunjisha Siganporia 41 Parsiana September 1997(82), B-17, Deepanjali, Raje Shahaji Marg, Vile Parle (E), 400057; September 18 Perinbanoo Sohrab Bhada {19}, Khodaiji Bglw, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari, 400102; September 19 Piloo Maneckji Bharucha (80), 1, Nagin Mhl, 82, V. N. Rd, Churchgate, 400020; September 20 Perin Shavak Chikhliwala (77), 9-B, Gulnar, John Baptist Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; September 20 Fall Nursarwanji Kharas (78), Ready money Bldg no 3, Sir Ratan Tata Rd, 400034; September 21 Nusserwanji Rustomji Fitter (91), Bhicoo Cottage, 66, Lam Rd, Devlali Camp, Dist Nasik, 422401; September 22 Dhiinjishaw Piroshaw Guzdar (88), Kamal Mhl, Carmichael Rd, 400026; September 22 Jer Bomanji Guzder (78), 911, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; September 22 Nadar Bhikhaji Karanjia (85), 7, Nawroz Bldg, Hughes Rd, 400007; September 22 Dosu Manchershaw Karkhanawala (82), 102, Dadyseth Hse, Dadyseth Agiary Lane, 400002; September 22 Banoobai Sorab Irani (85), Ramwadi, Dahanu Rd, Dist Thane, 401602; September 23 Homai Darabshaw Khambatta (71), Jehangir Mans, Next to Metro Cinema, A. P. Marg, 400020; September 23 Goal Homi Modi (95), Palacimo, Silver Oak Est, Warden Rd, 400026; September 23 Fall Fakirji Tantra (90), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, Hughes Rd, 400007; September 23 Darabshaw Dosabhai Wadia (73), 5/16, Tata Clny, Ratan Tata Rd, Tardeo, 400034; September 23 Gahver Bejonji Chacha (93), 21-A, Surya Kiron, Pan Gully, Cumballa Hill, 400026; September 24 Faramji Shavaksha Kumana (71), 694, Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; September 24 Roshan Khurshedji Mulla (73), C/13, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; September 25 Motibai Aspandyar Irani (81), M-42, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, FIGURES AT A GLANCE* Bombay This issue 1997* India This issue 1997* World This issue 1997* BIRTHS Boys Girls 8 11 72 79 16 22 MARRIAGES Parsi INTERCOMMUNAL Males married out Females married out DEATHS CONSIGNED Males Females CREMATED Males Females 43 34 166 21 19 333 361 80 69 27 26 ?Running totals for 1997 (January-September issues) Overseas deaths are listed in the consigned column as Parsiana does not have a breakup of those cremated. ‘These figures pertain to information provided to or collected by Parsiana. They do not represent the total number of births, marriages and deaths in the Zoroastrian community in India and abroad. 400039; September 26 Jal Dadabitoy Madoii (J5), Lucky Mans, Janmabhoomi Marg, Fort, 400001; September 26 Hosi Buijor Mislry (58), 13/10, Rustom Bang, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; September 26 Noshir Darahshah Piihawalla (61), C-1, Avabai Petit St, Bala- ram St, 400007; September 26 Jehahakus Jal Balsara {JI}, Room no 1, Sayaji Naguji Block, 9-A, Balaram St, 400007; September 27 Cawas Rustoinji Daruwalta (50), E-28, Jer Bang, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; September 27 Mehroo Homi Marfatia (68), Poonam Bldg, 139, Bora Bazar St, Fort, 400001; September 27 Arnavaz Pervez Rusloinkhaii (32), Jehangir Villa, 107, Wodehouse Rd, Colaba, 400005; September 27 Sliavak Muncherjee Bharuclia (86), E, Mancher Manzil, 35-C, Jairajbhai Lane, 400008; September 28 Nergis Nariman Bulsara (88), 16, Khareghat CIny, Hughes Rd, 400007; September 28 Noshir Godrej Gandhi (87), Firuz Ara, 160, M. Karve Rd, 400021; September 28 Jimmy Dinsbaw Havewala (83), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, Hughes Rd, 400007; September 28 Freny Behram Udwadia (81), Dhun Abad, Sleater Rd, 400007; September 28 Padam Pestonji Constable (75), Vll, Nowroz Bang, Lalbaug, 400012; September 30 Noshir Cawasji Engineer (49), Til, Ready Money Bldg, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; September 30 Khorshedbai Bvrainji Gnzder {12}, 31M6{), b. G. Ngr, Vasai (W), 401201; September 30 Dhun Behramshaw Khainbaita {11}, Old Cama Bldg, Zoroastrian Blocks, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; September 30 Jal Ardeshir Seervai {18}, E-14, Shapur Bang, V. P. Rd, 400004; September 30 Nergis Nanabhai Vazir (80), Ebrahim Mans, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; September POONA DIED Naja B. Karkaria (87), 39/40, Triveni Ngr, Hadapsar, 411028; August 8 Homi K. Irani {lb}, IbFsID, Panchratna Apts, Bhairoba Nala, 411013; August 22 Kaveh H. Bharncha (85), Saken, Valentine Soc, North Main Rd, Koregaon Park, 411001; August 24 Liniji P. Bhalhena (65), D/11, Kumar Kunj I, Opp Shivalkar Udyan, Wanowrie, 411040; August 30 Jal D. JIaveliwalla (88), Fakru Hse, Masjid Rd, Khandala, Dist Pune, 410301; September 10 Bejpn R. Fisher {12}, 10, Dr Coyaji Rd, 411001;. September 12 30 CALCUTTA DIED Threety Fcdi Kapadia, mother of Khushcher Tankha and late Hoshang; September 21 JAMSHEDPUR DIED Cawas F. Bengalee (87), September 8 SURAT DIED Tehimirasp Dadabhai Jiingalwala (80), Machlipith, 395003; September 1 Khorshed Dorabji Patel (77), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; September 3 Shaheriyarji Horniasji Ghadiyali (79), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; September 5 Janifar Sharnkh Mehta {9}, Post 6 4 4 3 3 5 2 8 1 4 1 9 7 4 4 1 42 Parsiana September 1997Dholikuva, Tai Chikhli, Dist Valsad, 396521; September 14 Kersi Dinsaji Mehanti (68), Luharpole, Wakibordi, 395003; September 16 Alan Pirojshaw Contractor (79), Dutch Hse, Dutch Rd, Popat St, Nanpura, 395001; September 17 Dinainai Nariman Munshi (73), Village Akhakhol, Tai Kumraj; September 18 Jalager Jamshedji Elavia (67), Village Kumas, P.O. Amletha, Dist. Broach; September 22 AUSTRALIA New South Wales BORN A girl, Simin, to Armeen and Noshir Khan', July 24 A girl, Kainaz, to Prochi and Khushrow Mehta, sister to Kaizad; August 1 DIED Soona B. Mistry, mother of Freny Mehta; August 18 Kety Damania, mother of Farida Aspi Jussawalla; September 29 JAPAN Tokyo DIED Rusi Dinshaw Ghista, husband of Midori and brother of Banoo Maneck Ghista and Rati Farrokh Katrak; September 14 PAKISTAN Karachi DIED Dinshaw J. Gandhi (76); August 2 Jehangir E. Tarapore (74); August 19 Rati Sohrah Bhathela (67); September 20 Shirinhai D. Sethna (92); September 20 Kaiku Dorah Gyara (75); September 29 UAE Dubai BORN A girl, Parinaz, to Goolshnn and Viraf Variava, sister to Percy; September 4 For * Job Oriented Courses * lYanslations in all Languages * Jobs Guaranteed FREE PLACEMENTS USA New York BORN A girl, lyanah, to Sooni and Firdaiis Bativala, sister to Jahan; July 7 Only at Davar’s FIRST COUNTER from FRONT ENTRANCE at Fountain Phone Fountain: 2042007/2824678 Vashi: 7685046/7686567 Goa Panjim: 221140/234257 Compiled by Roxana A. Driver JOIN DAVARS’S COLLEGE OF COMMERCE BANKING, SECRETARIAL, COMPUTERS AND LANGUAGES Established 1900 With Best Wishes from Mr Rusy M. Shroff,M.B.E. and Mrs Purviz R. Shroff 43 Parsiana September 1997IN MEMORIAM Pioneering travel Parinaz M. Gandhi India from being a land invaded by con ­ querors to a country attracting the largest tourist traffic on the subcontinent was a constant challenge to him. To mold and develop a freight forwarding industry that today is acknowledged worldwide ” was also his goal. Joining his family business, Jeena and Company, as an apprentice at the age of 18 after his education at Bombay ’s Propri- press release. At the Universal Organisation ctary High School, after three years of experience in travel and freight forward ­ ing, Nariman and his brother Adi had to take charge of affairs following the sudden demise of their father. TCI was conceived in 1961 to meet the need for a tourist consortium specializing in looking after the needs of foreign tourists in India. To­ day TCI has 23 branches in India and sales offices in Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, Milan, Paris, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Madrid, Lon ­ don, Toronto and New York, according to the press release. “Nari was a first-rate professional who understood the potential of tourism as an industry in the Indian economy and the relevance of providing value for money to the customer, ” notes an obituary in Travel Trends in its issue of August 1997. Not only at a professional level was Katgara known for his hospitality but at a personal level too has he been remem ­ bered for his various kindnesses, courte ­ sies, amiability and willingness to give guidance and encouragement to those who sought his counsel, as acknowledged vari ­ ous comrades in his fraternity. “In our small outfit we ’ve tried to bring up Parsis but they are not willing to shoulder respon ­ sibility, ” Katgara had noted in an inter ­ view with Parsiana in 1987. “They are willing to remain clerks for the rest ol their lives... ” Through the Katgara Foundation which he was responsible for starting, funds are meted out to those in distress. He wa.s also involved in the working of the D. E. Mithaiwala Agiary Trust and the Shri Godavara Varasiaji Trust Fund. As trustee of the Mithaiwala Agiary he took on the onerous task of constructing a building to house poor Parsis on the Agiary property, Travel Agents in Mexico as early as 1949, earning the distinction of being the first Died: Nariman Jehangir Katgara, 70, part ­ ner of Jeena and Company and director of Travel Corporation (India) Limited (TCI) Indian to participate in this meet, states the who was the founder president of The i Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), of Travel Agents Association, Katgara had on July 7, 1997 in Bombay following served as deputy director for the year 1974- cancer. “Nari, as we all affectionately called him, was a pillar of the travel and tourism industry for over five decades. He pio ­ neered in promoting India as a destination in the global markets. His vision and farsight in the develop ­ ment and promotion of Indian tourism will be cherished and remem ­ bered by all segments of the industry for all times to come, ” acknowledged O. P. Ahuja, vice chair ­ man of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) India Chapter, in his condolence letter. “As a founder mem ­ ber of PATA India Chap ­ ter, Nari was actively in ­ volved in Chapter affairs Katgara: “A first rate prafessioiiar’ of Fame Award, and through his mature He was referred to guidance the Chapter grew from strength variously as “a legend and institution, ” as to strength, ” adds Ahuja. His presence at the PATA International meetings contrib ­ uted to India getting a “high profile...that otherwise would never have happened, ” writes Camellia Panjabi, director and se ­ nior vice president of The Taj Group of Hotels. “I admired his ability and skill to see through all unnecessary maneuvers and ensure that they did not affect India, ” she further mentions in her condolence letter. Besides earning the Pioneer of the Pa ­ cific, and the Award of Merit from PATA which he had served in various capacities, in recognition of his dedication to the trade, PATA bestowed upon Katgara its highest honor i.e. life membership of the Association, in 1987. A few years later he was invited by PATA to join the board as a director and as a trustee of the PATA Foundation, notes a press release from Jeena and Company. Although he was more active with PATA, Katgara had attended an annual convention of the American Society of w 4 C' 75, and two years earlier he was vice president of the International Congress and Convention Association, as stated in Jeena News, August 1997. The TAAI which he was instrumental in founding in 1951 observed a minute ’s silence in his memory at its annual convention in September 1997 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Earlier this apex body ji had conferred on him its I highest honor, the I Agastya Award, as also I a special award to com- I memorate his 50 years I of dedicated service to I the travel industry, and I thelndian Association of I Tour Operators had be ­ stowed on him the Hall mentioned Nandini Verma, senior vice president of Jetair Tours Limited, as “one of the doyens of the industry, ” as stated Glenn Abraham of Consolidated Freight Forwarders Private Limited, who speci ­ fied, “it is really regrettable that this trade will not see the caliber, quality and integ ­ rity of such a person ever again. ” A founder member of the Air Cargo Agents Association of India as also the Air Cargo Club of Bombay, he had served as president of both these organizations. He had also been appointed director of the International Airport Authority of India in 1989. Being a managing committee mem ­ ber of the Bombay Custom House Agents states the press release. Association, he was involved with various other subcommittees and was chosen to chair the golden jubilee celebrations of this institution. Katgara was deeply involved in the development of both travel-tourism and freight forwarding during the 53 years of his career, points out Meher Bhandara, manager-publicity, TCI. “To transform 'g. Happy to sec that his Parsi customers are “always proud of their own religion when travelling, ” Katgara had noted in the Parsiana interview, “with whatever little knowledge I have (of Zoroastrianism), even I promote it. ” The country and community conscious travel agent is survived by his wife Coomi and sons Jehangir, Cyrus and Sam.