Jun 1998

PaW JUNE 1998 Rs 27 .^>1— - s. •» 5 iO W » ( I I •E* »g8 IJune 1998 Volume 20 Number 10 I ! EDITOR Jehangir R. Patel MANAGING EDITOR Arnavaz S. Mama EXECUTIVE EDITOR Parinaz M. Gandhi SENIOR EDITORS Dina K. Mehta, Hilla P. Guzder ASSOCIATE EDITOR Roxana A. Driver DESIGN Kranti M. Shilotri, Nivedita S. Dhotre MARKETING DIRECTOR Veera Patel ADVERTISING MANAGER Zarin Mistry ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Susan Hadvaid FINANCE B. L. Arora MANAGEMENT Jasmine Driver DTP Bakhtavar R. Batliwalla, K. P. Ravi SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Khurshid Panthaki ASSISTANT SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Swarupa Kamat ACCOUNTANT Anagha Korde ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT Varsha Godbole ACCOUNTS ASSISTANTS Indu Pillai, Satwant Kaur OFFICE ASSISTANTS Umesh Poojary, Selvan Mark, Sunil Sakhare, Govind Salgaonkar, Mahipat Jadhav 2 Readers’ Forum 8 Events and Personalities 14 Zoroastrians Abroad: Bailey Irani by Shernaaz Engineer 18 Glitter on the green by Arnavaz Mama 22 In her swift stride: Feroza Engineer by Aspi Ustad * 26 Mines and the man by Dilnavaz Bhagwagar 31 The business of beauty by A. Patel 34 19th century Gujarat Parsis: Near and yet apart - 2 42 Books 48 Milestones 52 In Memoriam: Freny Godiwalla Cover: Photo of Tehmuras Bajan Parsiana is edited and 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. Processing Comart Lithographers and Tricolour. All rights reserved. ISSN; 0971-3786. Phone: 2078730,2072624. Fax: 2074541. For editorial enquiries; 2078183. E-mail: parvo@giasbm01 .vsnl.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 275; for two years (20 issues) Rs 525; for three years (30 issues) Rs 775. Foreign subscription rates: Seamail for one year Rs 500/ US $ 14/UK £ 9; for two years Rs 950/US $ 25/UK £ 15; for three years Rs 1,400/US $ 36/UK £ 22 (please allow six months or more for delivery from the time of publication). Airmail for one year Rs 800/ US $ 23/UK £ 15 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 575): for two years, Rs 1,500/US $ 43/UK £ 27 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 1,075); for three years Rs 2,250/US $ 60/UK £ 37 (for Pakistan, Indian Rs 1,600). 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’ FORI IM marry outside the community, gives encouragement to similar young Zoro ­ astrians? I may quote from the very issue of __ ____ _ your magazine: “We have lost the simple Jamshedpur have admitted such faith ot our grandmothers; we don ’t really know where we stand or what we believe; and we helplessly watch our children drift into the powerful global talking to those who wouldn ’t listen to Parsi have no locus standi as they are I ac- born from a non-Parsi seed (if you cept the abovesaid judgment)! If the anjumans of Delhi and -----------------1 prog ­ eny to their fire-temples, suffice it to say that they have erred. Conscience, like a well-bred gentleman, would stop ........ .J it. So, less said in the matter, the better! RUSTOM D. PATEL Hong Kong ¦J J r 5,* seas of materialism sans spirit (‘Spiri ­ tual storehouse, ’ Events and Personali ­ ties, Parsiana, December 1997).” In answer to those who feel that there is nothing wrong in marrying outside the community, may I ask them a simple question? If they have a pedigree Dal ­ matian bitch as a pet, would they allow her to be mated by any other dog except 1997). a Dalmatian and sacrifice the pedigree However, he cannot claim any origi- of the pups.^ Pedigree ibuniaad) is of nality in predicting a third world this century, which was predicted furies earlier by the French prophet mus had predicted a^evastating third world war beginning July 1999 and in view of the threat given by Russia to “The light is in the east Mr Farokh D. Deboo has made many predictions (“The light,is in the east, ” Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, December a Dalmatian and sacrifice the pedigree ol iht; pupj* .' Pedigree {ouniaaa) is ot nality in predicting a third world war in prime importance in every life, be it this century, which was predicted cen- that of humans, animals or even plants. I__L___i.vuvn piv uti Nature abhors incompatible soil which Nostradamus (1503-1566). Nostrada- fact is well borne out by the following ' ’ story; In years gone by Parsi Zoroastrians ___ ____ iwojia lu population in Macau. There USA of a third world wlr in^caseTaq is » welcome on any is a Parsi cemetery still in Macau, al- bombed this event is most likplv should b^'smiirTo^°he^Ed'?tory^ea^er^ though it is lying unused for many This great French prophet had also ^^ter they left for Hong predicted the death of King Henry II of any Forum, Parsiana, G.P.O. Box 892 Bombay 400001. Letters are subject to editing for reasons of space and ciarity. Unsigned letters or those without an address will not be published. G.P.O. 'a This great French prophet had also Kong and other places. Zoroastrians of those days in Hong Kong and Macau brought best quality mangoes from In- _____ui ixm .*? Charles I of England, thrabdication '5 rise France in a friendly duel, the capture of Louis VI of France while trying to flee the country, the execution of King \ King Edward Vm of Eng^an^ the rise and fall of Napoleon, the rise and fall of Hitler (Second World War), and the nuclear holocaust in Hiroshima and “Milestones” y p . ------------O uvttl CJUClIliy 1 fully endorse the view expressed by fruits. Of course, the trees grew but bore Zenobia Sidhwa in her letter (“Mile- worthless fruits for some time and soon nucleaPToTocaust^in^HiroshimT and stoics, Paraa/ia, December 1997). She stopped bearing any. Why so? Because Nagasaki Hiroshima and IS absolutely right when she mentions: the seeds had an incompatible soil. Many of Nostradamus ’ Droohecies s an indirect encouragement to the Justice Beaman gave the judgment were made gazing at a crystal bowl of young generation (towards intercom- (to which I do not agree) that if the seed water, but some of his prophecies are munity marriages). In my opinion, you n.-<¦„.!— .u. . .. . _ P P are rendering a great disservice to the Mazdayasni Zoroastrian community by such an encouragement. I appreciate your duty as an impar ­ tial editor to report the facts on inter ­ community marriages to make every ­ one aware of the reality so that the community can come to terms with the issue and decide how to counter or _______ u... accept thesituation. All the same, don ’t Special Marriage Act mentioned you think that by openly publishing the names (whereby relations and friends can be identified) of all those Zoroastri ­ ans, who due to their mental immaturity and lack of appreciation of the true Zoroastrian spirit have gone astray to seeing the trees grow and bear quality 'o' (to which I do not agree) that if the seed ; . , wgjiKzvy iiiai II water, out some OT nis prophecies are IS ot a Parsi father, the offspring can be attributed to flashes of intuition. How- regarded as Parsis. But at best they can be called: aradhians — half Parsis! The ___________________ soil (mother) has to be a Zoroastrian to Inquisition, he couched his prophiies bear a true Zoroastrian child. You can ’t in a bewildering mixture of old French expect a child born not of such a wed ­ lock to be brought up in the right Zoro- _ _ ____ ______pivuiv- astrian culture inculcated with proper tions, Mr Deboo ’s prediction that Parsis Zoroastrian religious philosophy, even will be kicked out of India seems far- if the marriage is contracted under the fetched. India is a multi-racial, multi- x>r----- - * .. / J I you in reply to the letter. After all, the jirum (please refer to the writings of Ustad Saheb Behramsha Shroff) is not of a Zoroastrian. Hence the outlook of the child is bound to be different. Chil ­ dren ot a Parsi woman married to a non ­ ever, to prevent being convicted of witchcraft and burnt at the stake by the in a bewildering mixture of old French, Latin and other languages. Notwithstanding his other predic- 2 Parsiana June 1998 I Zoroastrian religious philosophy, even by religious and a multi-linguistic country and such predictions should be consid ­ ered as being in the realms of fantasy. DrP. D. SUNAVALA “Promising politician” There is a discrepancy in the report onRussi Mody ’s election campaign (“Pro ­ mising politician, ” Events and Person ­ alities, Parsiaiia, December 1997). Jamshedpur is in Bihar and not West Bengal. The town is a parliamentary have constituency by itself while the neigh ­ boring Singhbhum constituency, also in Bihar, is a reserved seat for a Sched ­ uled Tribe candidate and Russi Mody could not possibly have contested from there. A BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) candidate won in Jamshedpur while Singhbhum went to a Congress nomi- DARA KADVA Editor/Publisher. Parxiiliuii Parsiana regret.s the error — Editor “Praise the Lord” Devout Zoroastrians not having hith ­ erto reacted to Mr Homi J. Kaikobad ’s outrage (“Praise the Lord, ” Readers ’ Forum, Parsiana, October 1997) over Parsiana’s lack of respect towards our Zarathushtra, some belated stray thoughts will perhaps not come amiss. We fully share Mr Kaikobad ’s senti ­ ment that “our Prophet is second to none; ” we would go further in affirming that he indeed still remains unique among the label solely of “Prophet ” does not at equal parity of the Evil One with Ahura all do justice to his true stature. If by ’ ' ' Prophet we mean “forth-teller ” as con ­ trasted with “lore-teller, ” then we do * a case lor genuine expansion on his qualifications. In his Gathas—those marvelously inspiring productions! — we note his use of fravakhshya-. pro ­ claim, declare forth, even pronounce. It prividcs a clue to his calling as di ­ vinely-appointed messenger, data, bear ­ ing the revelation. Zarathushtra refers to himself zaoter, priestly invoker (though his are originally signified lover of wisdom, no empty eflusions but deeply-felt in- far removing it from kitchen-sink or vocations), vidva, an initiate, the know- bar-stool cant at one extreme and ver- ingone;aliunt.hish, world-healer, healer of existence; manthran, reciter/chantcr of inspired utterances (not soothsayer, nor even spell-binder!), for which, as erestii, an exact Gathic counterpart of the Vedic rishi, he was richly qualified to be. Zarathushtra boldly identified himself with the drighu, the underprivi- _____ _ __ _ leged, those every where oppressed. He applied to anyone, then Zarathushtra is observably its most deserving candi ­ date. It surely cannot have escaped the notice of his mindless detractors that it was his very aspect of^rofound thinker which held the philosophers of antiq ­ uity in awe of the great Iranian §age. as declares himself a true dvaesha, or en ­ emy, to the lie, to the false gods and to their dupes, all of whom he outrightly rejected. Anghra Mainyu/Ahriman barely gets a mention, despite which founders of religions, and that impious preachers wilfully confer near- Mazda Himself! Pious Parsis will al­ ways respectfully prefix Zarathushtra ’s name with paiganibar— one who forth ­ rightly taught us the magnificence, om ­ nipotence and untarnished goodness of his sole deity Ahura Mazda whom we venerate. What is also worrying is the recent tendency among some scholars and in­ terpreters alike to dismiss him as phi ­ losopher (“mere (!) philosopher ” springs to mind). That absurdly maligned word far removing it from kitchen-sink bar-stool cant at one extreme and hose sophistry at the other. Zarathush- tra ’s compositions, apart from being skillfully wrought (“mere poetry! ”), consistently display the workings of a most acute and highly original mind — one infused with Armaiti and Vohu Mana in quest of truth, Asha. If the appellation of philosopher were to be 4 Parsiana June 1998 ¦4’Some early charlatans even endeavored to pass off their hocus-pocus under his name. Zarathushtra recognized only Ahura Mazda, conveniently but inadequately pillar to post, from sanatorium to translated as Lord Wisdom, and in mazdaoscha ahuraongho we see also Asha and Vohu Mana as lordly aspect.s pathetic. Ifthey go to the Parsi Punchayet Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy visualized the of Mazda. He never refers to himself as ahura, Lord, nor claims divine status, save in as much as ratu or earthly spiritual guide — so why should we pointlessly strive to gild this especially beautiful lily? Asha is just fine, for who indeed could have better claim to be the best of ashavan-s — past, present and to be born? “Lord ” for us unfortunately has as ­ sociation with those gouty specimens ,,, in the Upper House here — blimps with lead to constant quarrels within the bluster aplenty and a kaasi-koosi (la ­ bored) mode of speech. It would not be out of place to recall for your readers that the word “lord ” has its origins in “keeper of the loaves. ” Surely we would not like to see our Zarathushtra referred to as powwalla, would we? FARROKH VAJIFDAR London. UK license basis, hire purchase or outright their family when they have outlived sale. The poor families just do not have their usefulness. Others, victims of cruel that kind of money or funds. Hapless families are driven from sana ­ torium every few months. Or they stay in most congested conditions. It is truly great visionary and humanist Sir circumstances, face the prospect of old age on the streets with no roof over their heads. One hundred and fifty years ago, a offices, they are made to wait forever plight of this helpless sector and estab- without any result. lished the J. J. home for the destitute How can people reproduce under aged, such conditions? How can the popula ­ tion of Parsis increase at this rate? It is no use declaring that every third Nagpada, this institution accommodates child will be paid for by the Punchayet. But where will that third child be ac ­ commodated when the couples con ­ cerned do not have room even for the two of them? Such conditions of living Located in an unpretentious three ­ storied building on the junction of 100 male and female residents who are selected without consideration of caste or creed, the basic qualification being that they are over 60 years and have no one to care for them. They must how ­ ever be physically and mentally fit, and be able to look after themselves and manage simple chores such as cleaning their rooms and washing their clothes. Although founded by a Parsi philan ­ thropist and although the facilities are available to Parsis, there are only two Place for third child? How many poor, aged and young couples are homeless because they have community if it is expected that our no place or house to stay in? I have repeatedly pointed this out to the Parsi Punchayet. Had I been trustee, I would have given top priority to this problem. When they had approached me to stand for trustee, I had told them this would be iny top priority. I did not hear from them again. How can the meager population of the Parsis grow if there is no economic accommodation for them? They cannot pay the fantastic prices the landlords demand for flats either on leave and family and break-up of homes. Besides, it is no use spending funds on support ­ ing the third or fourth child of well-off families. For the salvation of the community ’ s future, we should concentrate on eco ­ nomic housing instead of building and residents who are Parsis out of a total of selling expensive flats to the well-off at exorbitant prices. I have persistently reminded the trustee.s of the Parsi they choose to leave earlier. Food, shel- Punchayet to give their undivided at ­ tention to this most vital need of the almost 100. Once admitted, they are looked after till they are no more unless ter, clothes, toiletries, linen, everything is provided free of charge. A visiting doctor checks them regu- Parsis should grow in number. Even larly for their physical complaints, and without appreciable numbers though, we have made an outstanding contribu ­ tion tor the welfare and development betrayal that has often been the reason of our great country. for their entry in the home. There is a HOMi j.H.TALEYARKHAN physiotherapy room with a physio ­ therapist attached to help them in their recovery after an illness or to prevent the onset of old age diseases like arthri ­ tis. A therapeutic center keeps them a psychiatrist helps them cope with the trauma of old age, abandonment and Twilight zone All of U.S wish ourselves a good life. We pray even more for a good death where the last years can be spent with dignity and self-respect. Sadly the last is a dream for many. Some arc cast off by residents celebrating a festival J. J. Dharamshala (left) and i ¦I ?'?I I * . « /'JalP'rsiA® I IANf (wteingee ” ---------- ^5-- WRvr i)D 1 b Above: Engineer (left) felicitating Palkhivala Alongside: Irani (left) receiving silver salver from Guzder 18 Parsiana June 1998“I’ve always had the knack to be in the right place at the right time with the right people. ” Narrating how he be ­ came co-chair of the Indo-British part ­ holder of various professional bodies nership (which led to the knighthood) Irani recalled the 1993 visit of the then British Prime Minister John Major. “Ma ­ jor was a voluble and expansive speaker. (Indian prime minister) Narasimhan Rao ’s only contribution was in mono ­ syllables and nodding of the head. (I was there in my) capacity as president of the CII. They asked me if I’d do the job. You can ’t say ‘no ’ to two prime ministers! We (the co-chairmen) were the conductors. The orchestra consisted of thousands on both sides. ” Irani cred ­ ited J. R. D. Tata with his success: “The House of Tata has put me here. (JRD) truly guided many lives and many destinies including mine. Through him my problems were solved... ” Irani had a word of advice for Parsi youths in Bombay: “Bombay Parsis orary Doctor of Metallurgy degree on him. Managing director ofTata Steel since Palkhivala ’s wife Nergish “put in an extra chair. ” Immediately after dinner, after briefly chiding the industrialist (“you people don ’t know the first thing 1992, Irani has been member and office about law ”) Palkhivala “stayed up late into the night consulting books. By both Indian and international, has been morning the problem was solved. ” “Overwhelmed by the warmth and affection showered on me, ” Palkhivala said he had difficulty finding adequate word.s of thanks. “The government of India whom I had had the signal honor to criticize all these years thought fit to honor me! I hope it inspires young people with undying zeal in years to come. ” Describing a bar function in the UK to honor Lord Jowett, chief justice involved in working groups for iron and of England, Palkhivala recalled how steel of the Planning Commission of Jowett ’s promise to make two speeches India, been president of the Confedera- — the first short, the second long — had led to a pall of gloom over the gather ­ ing. He ended with Jowett ’s speeches. “First the short speech: ‘I thank you. ’ And now the long speech: ‘I thank you very much. ’” The scroll of honor presented to Irani recapped his early years as an outstand ­ ing student climaxed by a gold medal winning PhD thesis at Sheffield Uni­ versity which in 1996 bestowed its hon- I’ve always had the knack to be in the right place at the right time with the right people ” tion of Indian Industry (CII) and co- chairman of the Indo-British partner ­ ship. Engineer described Irani as “a technocrat of the hightest order. ” Guzder saw him as a “likeable, gentle and humble person, always ready to help don ’t look east. They look west and and guide people, (who had) endeared southtotheUK, US and Australia. Parsi himself to tens of thousands of cowork ­ ers. ” With gentle self-deprecation Irani attempted to neutralize the eulogies: youths should look fi^r opportunities. There are plenty in India. I went out for 10 years and came back, and have nof regretted it at all. ” \ 'I For Pure Diamonds JEWELLERS 324, Grant Road, Bombay 400007. Telephone 3099648 Fax 3073483 APPOINTED VALUERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 20 Parsiana June 1998SPORTS In her swift stride A regular participant at inter-school, state and national athletic meets, Feroza Engineer was recently declared the junior national champion Aspi P. Ustad She stands tall facing the starter ’s gun. Others in her age-group look like the seven dwarfs. Big of frame and with well toned muscles, she is your best bet for the 2004 Olympics, if one is to go by the available statistics on this Girton High School student. Feroza Zal Engi­ neer is barely 15 years old. Full of zest and energy, she changed three chairs during the hour long inter ­ view, darted from room to room, paced the floor. “You can ’t keep her in one grandfather Jehangirji Engineer used to place for more than 10 minutes, ” her play in triangular and pentangular mother Farida tells us. It ’s not surpris­ ing that she leaves the rest of the com ­ petitors way behind on the track. Feroza started athletics at six, when she was in kindergarten. “It was a 50 m run,” she recalls her first school sports, “and I stood first in that race. ” Her smile period. I’m allowed to appear (for my broadens as she relives that proud mo ­ ment. Who got her started in athletics? Looking at her mother she exclaims, “My mom, of course, ” then continues in one breath, “she placed me under the by getting a gold in the 100 m run for watchful eyes of Mr Adille J. Sumariwalla (10 times the national sprint champion). ” The very first day she was thrilled when “Adille sir asked me to warm-up with the (then) national sprint champion Zenia Ayrton. ” She praises her coach. “I have benefited by his experience. But of late Mr Homyar Mistry (the unsung hero of athletics) takes our workouts ” when Sumariwalla is absent. When pressed hard, she admits that good athletes, so I will work hard to get busy schedule, but I make it a point to her mom and uncle encouraged her in a medal tor my country. ” visit it every Sunday. I also pray twice sports. “Dad is always concentrating on The path to success is not always a day. ” Looking back Feroza feels that my academic career, but, ot course, he easy; Feroza has experienced some pain- her success is the result of her deep faith supports me in athletics, financially. ” tul moments in sports. In December and lots of hard work. Her mother takes her daily to the 1995 she was selected to represent Two years back she had wanted to Priyadarshini Park for training, since Maharashtra at the junior nationals ’ take up tennis, but could not balance the the University Stadium does not allow girls under 14 group in the pentathlon two disciplines. She thanks the day she practice on their grounds. She works event. On reaching the venue in decided to drop tennis in favor of out during the off season at the Julundhar, she discovered that there athletics since now she is the new jun- Priyadarshini Gym, and visits Dr Anant was no such event, nor did there exist ior national champion. She also Joshi in case of medical problems. Referring to the role of family, she says, “What are we on our own? Noth ­ ing. Whatever I have achieved today is because of the encouragement I got from my parents, specially my mother Farida, who was a good thrower, a good jumper and a 100 m dash champion. My drop the sprint event, but she went on to mama (maternal uncle) Cyrus Irani rep ­ resented Bombay in swimming, he was a good breast stroke swimmer. My late any category for girls under 14. She did not let this get her down, and later went on to attend seven state level meets and two nationals. In i nter-school athletics she has stood first in the 100 m right from 1989 to date. In 1996 a back injury made her create a new meet record in the shot put and discus throw. When asked if she has any idols she looks up to, her reply is remarkably mature; “Why should ^^e keep an idol? If you have (only) one person ” to idol ­ ize, you may probably “stick to the ideas of that single person. Witb so much information available, like books, videos, etc you can gain knowledge cricket matches in his day. ” Feroza spoke of the encouragement she gets from her school principal, Ms Navaz Sanjana. “She gives me time to practice. If I’m out participating in meets, and there are exams during that from many people and mobilize (your own resources). ” papers) on my return. ” Her views on religion sounded On being asked about her ambition straight from the heart. “I am proud to in life, Feroza says, “Firstly it was my mother ’s ambition that I win a gold medal in a national event. I fulfilled that be a Zoroastrian. Our religion is deep as an ocean. One ’s urge to know more and more about it can never end. I always tell my Zoroastrian friends to wear the sudreh and kusti. (Without them) they have no right to call themselves Zoroas ­ trians. I’m grateful to my granny Gool and my late grandpa Jehangirji who 22 Parsiana June 1999 * girls under 16 at the just concluded junior nationals held in Ernakulam, Cochin. I clocked 12.7 seconds. ” She goes on to tell us that this year too her best time has been 12.7 seconds, which taught me the basic tenets ’Ttf our reli- she clocked at the University Stadium during the inter-school meet held in December 1997. About her own ambi ­ tion in life she says, “I want to wear the ought to know about the Zoroastrian colors of India. To represent India is my religion. ” She adds, “I visit the fire ­ dream. India does not have too many temple whenever I find time from my gion. Being in a Parsi school is an advantage. My teacher Firoza Punthakey-Mistree teaches us all we a medal for my country. ” The path to success is not always easy; Feroza has experienced some pain ­ ful moments in sports. In December 1995 she was selected to represent Maharashtra at the junior nationals ’ girls under 14 group in the pentathlon event. On reaching the venue in Julundhar, she discovered that there was no such event, nor did there exist (T C? »3 i... 2 plays throwball and basketball in school. What she does besides athletics came to us as a surprise. She has passed the Sth Grade with distinction from the Trinity College in London. She is coached by Noshrrwan and Meher Jehangir in elocu ­ tion and dramatics. No wonder she felt so confident during the interview! She is not only a sports enthusiast and a book worm, she loves music and her favorites are Back Street Boys and Boyzone. Her favorite movie star is Akshay Kumar. We wind up the interview by wish ­ ing Feroza a great future in sports. The world is at her feet. fe .-_ P/J •:!i ‘jg 1^ •S 1.: Clockwise from top: Engineer in action; on the victory stand; receiving the Best Sportsman of the Year trophy from Bachi Tamboly (as Aspi Ustad looks on) at the 18th All Parsis Athletic Meet — 1998; with her trophies and medals and with parents Farida and Zal 23 Parsiana June 1998 MEVENTS AND PERSONALITIES continued from page 13 by D. B. Taraporevala in 1951, the existing aquarium housed 18 tanks con ­ taining marine forms and nine tanks containing freshwater life, mentions the article regretting that no longer will the masses be able to gain an entry into the hitherto affordable “source of educa ­ tion and fun.” With tickets priced at four rupees for adults and two rupees ily, friendships, loyalty, humor even in the humanity arising above social chaos are so universal. We decided to focus on ii.iM two relationships, Gustad ’s with son the film because the book Sohrab (played by Vrajesh Hirjee) and with friend Jimmy Billimoria (played by veteran thespian Naseeruddin Shah). ” The plot that forms the spine of the book is the financial scandal surrounding Billimoria, quite akin to the real-life episode of the 1970s when a Parsi ac- _ —t • 1 J lently withdrew moneys invoking the name of the Prime Minister. But scriptwriter Sooni Taraporevala is convinced, “Mistry has only fiction ­ alized events, exploiting his liberty as an author, ” adding, “Unlike other scriptwriters who retain the spiritual essence of a novel, I retain the literal. Its humor too adapts excellently to the cinematic medium. ” The funding for the film was made ceived an assurance from the state gov- LtlVVU ail UOOUIUIIVV nv/i.i v.iiw J , ernmentthatthepresentaquariumwould tragedy, betrayals, disillusionment and not be demolished. Journey into celluloid “I am doing f.._ .7.... -------- reaffirms my belief that each of us is on a similar journey. The quest to be a moral person... ” declared Canadian Swede di ­ rector Sturla Gunnarsson who has taken upon himself the gargantuan task of film- for children, the aquarium had attracted ing fellow-Canadian Rohinton Mistry s -r ¦ ¦ nflndiafraudu- novel Snc/i A LringJournO ’, heading for countant oHhe State Bank^ot_lndia trauOu a September 1998 release. Portraying the tribulations ot a Bombay-based middle-class Parsi fam ­ ily residing in Gilder Lane, the other 11 lakh visitors in 1996-97 and made a profit of eight lakh rupees, states The Times article. Environmental activist Shyam Chai- nani told The Times that if the authori- should have it elsewhere instead of Navjivan Society, Craw had Maiket, depriving the people of the existing one with its low rates of entry. He also asserted that the new project should not be implemented without clearance from the heritage point of view. At the executive council meeting ol the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India on June 13 and 14, 1998 in Bombay. Homi Taleyarkhan. former member of the Minorities Com ­ mission, maintained that he had re- llCllll lUlU X X - ------ ------------ —• 1 1 • 1 p- I ties wanted a glamorous aquarium they on-site locales included m the turn are Chor Bazar...The central role of Gustad Noble is played by Roshan Seth with Soni Razdan enacting Noble ’s wife Dilnavaz. The other stars of the film are OmPuri, SamDastoor,Pearl Padamsee, - ------------ = .pnr- Dinyar Contractor, Shaznecn Damania, possible by Canada s Telefilm andCBC, Persis Khambatta... India ’s UTV and Britain ’s British Screen Mistry's nove'l wasa'lmosf'h'ke a to the director who mentioned in an interview with Outlook, February 16, 1998, “The issues central to it like lam India ’s UTV and Britain ’s British Screen article. Compiled by Parinaz M. Gandhi We never take our guests and breath-taking views for granted Vi: a- r' Lord’s Central Hotel Matheran 410102 Matheran Telephone 021483-0228 Fax 021483-0595 Bombay telephone 3867776 24 Parsiana June 1998 Always remember ttlcmiTATA BATA le^^HiKHAMBATA Ketayun & Bomi 22/A, Wellington Terrace Wellington Street, Bombay 400002 Tel No; 2069636,2057242^ Pager No: 9602-104007 Dorrabji’s JERROZ HOTEL Under Cliff Bungalow, Ring Road, near Parsi Fire Temple Panchgani 412805 Phone: (91) (02168) 40238 »BUSINESS COVER STORY Mines and the man The grand old man of Katni, Tehmuras Bajan minted a fortune and shared it with the underprivileged Dilnavaz E. Bhagwagar The city of Katni, in the Jabalpur dis ­ trict of Madhya Pradesh, boasts of two things — money and minerals. The money comes from the mining, pro ­ cessing and transportation of limestone, dolomite, bauxite and other minerals. But these very mining operations leave the area raped and ravaged; the lime kilns or chuna bhattis that are every ­ where, belch white smoke and the thou ­ sands of trucks that transport these min ­ erals to industry all over the country, add their share of dust and exhaust fumes. The combined result of this is to place Katni among the dirtiest, dustiest, most polluted and unaesthetic of cities. In stark contrast to the city is Bostan, the recently built home of Aban and Beji Bajan and Beji ’s mother, Goolbai. Bostan is a Persian word that translates to garden of paradise and their lovely home, set on a sprawling acre of land, surrounded by water on three sides, is just that. But the story of Bostan doesn ’t be ­ gin with the present generation of Bajans. It goes back 122 years to 1876, when Tehmuras Cawasji Bajan, a young mobed from Navsari, with the fire of adventure coursing through his veins, decided to explore the country on the wheels of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. With a trunk of Chinese silks to pay his way and with the unbounded enthusiasm of a 25-year-old, Tehmuras, after visiting many cities, alighted in the small town of Katni. What was meant to be a short stay, developed into a lifelong affair. gist who was part of the picnic group, exclaimed, ‘You are sitting on a lime ­ stone mine. You must immediately ap ­ ply to the government for a mining lease! ”’ Quick to see an opportunity, Tehmu ­ ras did just that. Starting with a mining lease on seven acres, he eventually be ­ came the owner of half the town of Katni. With great business acumen and foresight he prospered and became a With a hundred silver sikkas (coins) wealthy, well-known man. He contrib- that he had brought with him in a langri (flat bottomed vessel), the enterprising uted generously to local charities. Dur­ ing the Great Famine of 1907, he fed young mobed started a niahua (country 200 hungry people every day, tor six liquor) business. In due course, his busi­ ness prospered, he invested in land and made friends among the gentry. Recounting the story of their entry into limestone mining, his great-grand ­ son Beji says, “Tehmuras invited some friends for a picnic in his fruit orchard. They made a fire to sit around or maybe honored him with the title of Khan to roast a leg of venison. On seeing the burnt stone, at the spot where the fire was made, turn white on being calcined into lime, Mr Forrester, a British geolo- T. Bajan: fire of adventure months. He built schools and hospitals and donated to every deserving cause. He became president of the Katni Mu­ nicipality and was actively involved in local governance. “Affectionately known as the Grand Old Man of Katni, the Government Bahadur in 1915,” recalls Goolbai Cowasji Bajan. “He also had the honor of being invited to the Delhi Durbar, where King George V presented him with a sword, ” continued'Goolbai with pride. “Wanting to be recognized as a Parsi of priestly lineage, Tehmuras Bajan wore his jama and pichori for the grand Durbar and cut a fine figure in them, ” she added. In the year 1920, Tehmuras ’ grand ­ son Cowasji joined th^family business after having completed his education in Pune. Cowasji was the only son of Tehmuras ’ daughter Jerbai whos.had married her cousin Bejanji Bajan. After his grandfather ’s death, he took on the title of Khan Sahib and became the managing director of T. C. Bajan and Company. Cowasji followed in his il­ lustrious grandfather ’s footsteps. He shouldered the responsibilities of an expanding and prosperous limestone mining business. In addition he was a malguzar, an honorary magistrate of the Katni court, president of the Murwara Municipal Committee, a high ranking Freemason and a charter mem ­ ber of the Rotary Club of Jabalpur. Khan Sahib Cowasji Bejanji Bajan died in Katni in 1950, at the relatively young age of 51. His wife Goolbai, a very interesting and well preserved 80 plus, continues to live in Katni with her son Beji and his wife Aban at Bostan, the Garden of Paradise. The beauty of Bostan lies mainly in its unusual location. As one turns off the main street, choked with wheezing, rat ­ tling trucks, into a narrow lane with the inevitable chuna bhattis and piles of chachri (the rock covering the mineral seams), one is startled by the impres ­ sive wrought iron gates and the deep blue lake embracing Bostan. The lake is a 200 ft deep aban ­ doned limestone quarry — part of the (t.. 4' % 26 Parsiana June 1998I®1 ? Aban and Beji Bajan (top row) and the environs of their home in Katni; (second row) Cowasji Bajan; (last row, from left) Jerbai Bajan; Cowasji with wife Goolbai and children Beji, Dinoo and Dolly; Beji Bajan as a child original seven acres bought by Khan of Cowasji ’s first wife) had in course of Bahadur Tehmuras Bajan. The site time taken their share of the inheritance was being mined till 1962 but after and moved out of Katni to establish reaching a depth of 200 ft it became their families and fortunes elsewhere, uneconomical to mine it further, so it Beji, his wife Aban and daughters Jeroo, was abandoned. Feroza and Navaz continued to live in Till very recently, the Bajans lived Katni. Beji looks after the ancestral in an old comfortable family home in family property and business. He is the congested heart of the city. Beji ’s now ±e sole owner of T. C. Bajan and brother and sister Dolly and Dinoo, and Company. “A quirk of fate made us his half siblings Tehmul and Dhun (bom leave our ancestral home and build 21 Parsiana June 1998Bostan, ” said Aban who teaches school, keeps a beautiful home, is known by Kersi Mody. So, the parents and grand- everyone in Katni and who in turn is a repository of news and views about Katni. “In 1991 our pet abso, Riddles, died. Having no place to bury our dog been subjected to all our lives, till we around our town house, we took the body to be buried near the lake, at the site of the old mine. In that half hour of tranquil melancholy spent at the water ’s wanting to get away from the madding edge, it occurred to our daughter Feroza that it might be nice to build a weekend retreat on this idyllic spot. ” Incredible but true, they had no ar ­ chitect, no structural engineer, no land ­ scapist, no professional help. Feroza dants of Nusserwanji and Tehmina herself designed, supervised and ex ­ ecuted the building of Bostan over a period of three years. What started out as a Sunday-getaway, ended up as their permanent home. “Sometime during its construction, we just fell in love with the idea of living here and added two more rooms to the original plan, ” laughed Aban. By the time Feroza ’s dream house was completed in 1994, herdream man, Zarir Dalal, came along and she got married and moved to Bombay. Her twin sister Navaz is married to Yazdi Daruwalla of Bombay while elder sister Jeroo is settled in London with husband time, even take you to its heart. Tehmuras Bajan did it in his time, mother moved into Bostan and they Maneckji Dubash did it in his. These love it. “We never realized the extent of were pioneering men. More important, the dust and noise pollution we had they were men who dared. They cycled for miles to the mines. For days on end, moved away from it. ” A naturally warm they worked and slept at the mining and hospitable couple, the Bajans have even more friends dropping in now, all crowd and into the tranquil beauty of this garden of paradise. The other long-time residents of Kami are the wealthy and well-known Dubash family. They are the descen- sites with the sky as their roof. Today the Dubashs and Bajans are among the wealthiest families of all Katni. The Parsis of Katni are report ­ edly 16 strong. Jabalpur, 91 km from Katni has a few more Parsis, most of them in their sunset years. “Being athornan, we are staunch believers in our religion and adhere to most of the community ’s traditions and practises, ” says Aban. They are glad that all three daughters have married within the community. They felt par ­ ticularly cut off from the mainstream of Parsis when it was time to look for a suitable match for Feroza. About the future, Aban and Beji are clear about one thing. They would never dream of shifting out of Katni and their r 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 Dubash. Story has it that Nusserwanji ’s father Maneckji left his prosperous, ancestral family business of shipbuild ­ ing because being fervently religious, he considered it sinful to urinate and defecate in water, revered as Avan Yazad. So he left shipbuilding and came to Katni in the beginning of the 19th century, to deal in forest products. He worked for the Tata mines at Bistra at Rs 20 per month. He soon acquired beautiful home, Bostjan, limestone mines and extensive prop ­ erty in Katni and Jabalpur. Nusserwanji, in time, bought over the Bistra mines. The Dubashs also own three cinema theaters in Katni. Of the many children and grandchildren of Nusserwanji and Tehmina, eight Dubashs continue to live in Katni. The latest and youngest Parsi addi ­ tions to the Katni community are Naushad and Tauby Bhagwagar and their sons, Cherag and Arman. Though they have their own home and mining business in Katni, they are migratory mulberry, sweet lime and more. As if birds, moving between Nagpur and Katni. Ten years ago, when Naushad Bhagwagar went to Katni for the first time, in an M. P. (Madhya Pradesh) State Transport bus amid a press of play of light and shade and the reflec- beedi smoking villagers, he did not tions in the water, make for a changing know limestone from lodestone. To- kaleidoscope through the day. Winter day, he travels between Katni and mornings see a veil ofmist over the lake Nagpur in his chauffeur driven Cielo which is dispersed with the sudden burst and can talk limestone seams and depths and purity, like one born to it. If you are willing to take opportunity ening shadows and the western sky by the horns, to drive over miles of turns a painter ’s palette of copper and unpaved roads into the innards of the crimson and then dusky pink and grey, mines, to be covered with sweat and before night finally descends with a grit, to tackle truck drivers, to grapple symphony of croaking frogs and nest- with labor, to load rakes at railway ing birds. sidings, regardless of cold winter nights or scorching summer afternoons — then Katni will allow you a foothold and in Another amazing thing about Bostan is the health and size of its plants. Looks like it has something to do with the limestone in the soil. There is a profu ­ sion of flowering shrubs, trees and creep ­ ers that make a burst of color against the blue sky and white walls of the house. The garden is landscaped around natu ­ ral rocks, buttresses and 100-year-old palm trees. In the back garden, the Bajans grow vegetables and a dozen varieties of fruit trees — banana, papaya, mango, guava. all this is not enough, fishermen in old truck tyres cruise the lake and cast their net. Aban need only call out to them, if she wants a fresh maral for lunch. The sights and sounds at Bostan, the of sunrise. Myriad land and water birds twitter to life. The evening sees length- And so, another day is over in the story of Bostan. A story that began 122 long years ago. 28 Parsiana June 1998 ¦<» IBUSINESS The business of beauty f ' '''''''' I’® u®®'^anriing bars, Jimmy Ardesher’s forte has been setting up a chain of beauty saloons in Calcutta and Madras A. Patel Times have changed for 76-year-old established in Calcutta bv his wife Ratli manSXri„rand _________ _ trnd women," explains only for women, Jimmy. “My wife learnt the foreign techniques of hairstyling and incorpo ­ rated it in our saloon, ” he says. After that, he set up have made Ardesher a two more saloons, Nu Ennis and August Moon in Calcutta. He expanded his business to Chennai and has a chain of eight beauty saloons there. “I learnt from my experience that children need to be pampered when they Cross and the Lions Club. luT/hobby come with their parents that gives me immense satisfaction, ft tribution business way I back in 1871 has led the way to a string of beauty I parlors both in Calcutta | and Chennai. Ardesher was thrust I ; into business at a very I early age even before he I could complete his I , schooling. “I was put in ’ charge of the Temple Bar /' that the family owned, ” recollects Ardesher. “It wa.s a rough place, fre- | quented mostly by sail- I or.s who wanted to have a I good time. There were " frequent scraps and fisticuffs and that was where I had my training, ” he adds. The clock manufacturing business gave Ardesher the idea of selling juke boxes in the country. “At the time, ” says Ardesher, “no one knew what the.se coin operated musical instruments were. I was the only one in the country who used to get them down from Copenhagen and supply to hotels and restaurants. These were very popular in the late 60s, recalls Ardesher. “Slowly with time their popularity waned but the instruments still remain, adding a touch of class to the modern decor in hotels ; and bars, ” he notes. Next, it was time f for video game.s and Ardesher still owns ; one video game parlor in Calcutta, his h J I . " for a haircut, so I started giving them freegifts, ” relates Ardesher. A baloon, a whistle or sweets ensured that the same customer came again and again and things have come to pass in such a manner that children want t, come to my shop every week and not wait for the customary monthly hair ­ cut, ” he adds proudly. “I have learnt that to keep my cus- ... -- —,, J,, mem some incentive or the other, ” tomers happy one has to keep giving them some incentive or the other, ” says Ardesher, adding, “And I have done so for video game.s and Ardesher still hometown. The popularity of his Bar Ardesher the incentive to expand. He gave went to America in search of ideas and it was there that he decided to beauty parlor in Calcutta. set up a In 1970, the Ennis beauty parlor Ardesher with wife Ratti (above) The eniphasis on good grooming at of his heaiity parlors 31 Parsiana June 1998 was by giving the regulars calendars, dia ­ ries, greeting cards and trinkets... “When beauty parlors were meant , we were the pioneers to start beauty parlors for men. People are now very conscious of their looks and good grooming is very important, ” mentions Ardesher. It is not only the beauty parlors that a name in Calcutta. He has been a master of ceremonies in every restaurant in the city worth its J ’ * — function at the Oberoi Gr^nd salt. In the late ’70s and early ’80s no function at the Oberoi Gr^nd was ever complete without Ardesher presiding over it. “I have compered for functions patronized by chief ministers and gov* ernors besides balls for the Navy, Red was I who gave the Sami Sisters namely Usha, Indira and Uma their first break, thanks to which Usha Uthup is a big name today, ” he adds proudly. Ardesher has also been a billiards to champion and a goalkeeper for the Parsi football team in his youth. Helping the needy and organizing charity drives is another hidden trait of this business ­ man. One such show that he organized for the Calcutta Parsis nearly 40 years ago was able to net over a lakh ofrupees for the hall they were proposing to build J i .'M-. •-’r *1 P * i IBf Ik I for the community, relates Ardesher. “I respect all religions and feel the Lord above has been kind to me in more ways than one, ” says Ardesher who is happy that both he and his son are navars. Photographs and religious pic­ tures of nearly all faiths hang around his spacious office and he proudly says, “I have visited many holy shrines abroad as well as in the country. “Whenever there is any trouble or obstacle I light a diva. This gives me a feeling of satis ­ faction that help will come from some hidden source, ” mentions Ardesher who believes in wearing the sudreh-kusti and reciting “some of our prayers with solemn devotion. ” Traveling is another love that Ardesher has always fostered. “I have visited the United States around 50 times and have gone to Lourdes and have traveled right across Eastern Europe and Yugoslavia. I have just returned from Prague, ” he says. His association with Mother Teresa also legendary. “I had known at least twice a week, we used to talk for modern cosmetics and i well. There is of course the stray strike now and then, but the unions have mel ­ lowed and things are moving on, ” he notes. Despite the fact that his enterprises are doing well, Ardesher is looking for a buyer. “My son, a chartered accoun ­ tant, has settled down in America and we are doing hours, ” he reminisces. But, coming back to business, he feels there has been a transformation. As far as his Temple and Saqi bars, both in the same premises, are concerned he feels business has gone down. “The sailors who used to frequent these joints with their hostesses are gone. The gov ­ ernment has too many dry days in a year opened up a beauty saloon there for and most of all, floor shows have been stopped. ” Ardesher says that in days gone by, cabaret shows were held in most restaurants in Calcutta and they added to the attraction of the hotels. “These cabarets were not vulgar, ” says Ardesher, “but simply exciting. Now, with new government policies and vari ­ ous other acts, floor shows have been banned. This way, our customers have also dwindled. ” But it ’s not the same for his beauty business. Unlike his bars, the beauty was Other for a very long time and she days of yore and both men and women used to always address me as ‘Jimmy. ’ I used to do all her odd jobs, ” he recol ­ lects, “from repairing her pump and tape recorder to selling her chocolates. Whenever we used to meet, which children called Dots and Dashes. He also has a store adjacent to the saloon that sells beauty products. Both these outlets are doing very well and he is not interested (in returning). My daughters too are well settled in the States and are not keen on taking over my business. So unless my heirs take it up, which I want them to, I will be forced to sell outlets, ” says Ardesher sadly. But, unlike his children, Ardesher is not willing to move. “I have lived my life in Calcutta and now I cannot uproot saloons have picked up. “People have myself. This city has made me what I become more figure conscious than in was my am today. I cannot just chuck up and leave, ” he says. Despite the fact that he is keen to sell his lucrative businesses, ‘young Jimmy ’ has no plans to retire. “Even if I sell, I will keep doing some- want to outbid the other in looking attractive... A beautiful face sure bright ­ ens up the day, and that is what we do at beauty parlors, ” claims Ardesher. “My thing, ” says Jimmy. “I am not on^who beauticians are well trained in the use of can retire and sit back. ” 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 / c=in Email: g=prudential / s=bom / p=gems / a=vsnl / c=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 32 Parsiana June 1996HISTORY Gujarat Parsis: Near and yet apart - 2 A royal reception To the Moghul court the Parsis went, to seek redress or earn laurels f That the howl of a dog at night is believed to foretell a death or other evil in his master ’s family; that the persis ­ tent cawing of a crow is supposed to be the harbinger of bad news are some of the superstitions frequently repeated sudreh-kusti and covering the head and feet at all times, thanking God before every meal and keeping silence whilst eating! The customs accompanying first pregnancies, births, navjotes and mar ­ riages are detailed in the fifth instal ­ ment. When a much awaited male child was born, instead of the child, some cowdung was shown to the mother, supposedly in the best interests of the mother and the child. Elaborate were the marriage rituals too and as noted therein, the poorest Parsi could hardly marry his son lor less than Rs 400 or his working craftsmen and good servants. They made common contributions for the aid of their poor, and suffered none of their number to ask alms from people of a different religion. In 1774, accord ­ ing to the Dutch traveller Stavorinus, there were about 1,00,000 Parsis in and round Surat. There were no beggars among them, and they much surpassed all the other people in industry. Many were servants to Europeans. They in­ creased in number from day to day and inhabited many entire wards. [Several of the wards or puras in Surat are named after Parsis; Rustampura is named after The Parsis had begun to settle in Bombay Rustam Manek, a leading broker (for ........ - - the Portuguese and the English) about 1660; Nanpura is named after Nanabhai of celebrating auspicious occasions and feasts are referred to in the fourth epi ­ sode. In the midst of this rejoicing they spread along the Malabar coast for pur­ poses of trade. In Madras in 1780 Parsis were influential merchants and in 1790 built a Tower of Silence which owing to some ill omen has never been brought into use. Though many Parsis came to Bombay, almost all continued to con ­ sider Surat or Navsari their home and during the second half of the 18th cen ­ tury, after its transfer to the British in 1759, the Surat Parsis rose greatly in wealth and position. 4n 1764 Niebuhr found them a gentle, quiet and industri ­ ous race, beloved by the Hindus, multi ­ plying greatly, and engaged in all (fades and callings. They were skilful merchants, hard- were also enjoined to observe a code of behavior that prescribed wearing of among Zoroastrians. What may not be as well known is the notion that the spasm of breath in sneezing or in yawn ­ ing is the work of an evil spirit which should be countered with the words “Broken be ahriman. ” And that a drawn tooth or cut nails are to be buried four inches below the ground whilst reciting the sacred texts. Insights into the life-style, value sys­ tems, code of conduct, performance of elaborate ceremonies among the Parsis of Gujarat in the latter part of the 19th century can be had from perusing the Bombay Gazetteer. The relevant chap ­ ters of the journal which had been sent to us by the noted Bombay dentist Dr death rites seem to be preserved to this daughter for less than Rs 250. Most ol the practices accompanying connection with China. Early in the 18th century Gujarat Parsis were also 4’ Dinshaw F. Boga are being edited and day as is indicated in the last instal- carried over six instalments of Parsiana. In the first instalment we learnt how the Parsis landed on the shores of India, how circumstances led to subsequent migrations and an increase in their num­ bers. Though known to be kind and considerate, even at that time dissen ­ sions were known to exist among dif ­ ferent factions. Being shrewd traders and business ­ men they were seen nourishing along the Malabar coast, recalls this second instalment. Not only were they known to own the most beautiful villas and gardens in Surat, but they were also place in the island before its transfer to reputed for not having a single beggar amongst them. of the 17th century several more fami- broker (for the Dutch) and merchant The dress and ornaments worn by the lies, of whom the Modis, Pandes, between 1740 and 1784.] Some leaving priests and laity, the nature ol their dwell- Banajis, Dadiseths and Vadias were their wives behind them went to Cochin ings, their life-style and preoccupations among the earliest settled in the island, but they were despised. find a mention in the third instalment. In the 18th century the movement greatly Several were rich and might be With Parsis, eating and drinking are reli- increased. To the Gujarat Parsis, more counted among the chief merchants of gious duties which help to drive away the than to any class of native traders, was Surat. Their leading men were the En- evil spirit. It IS stated herein. due the development of the trade of glish, Portuguese and Dutch brokers. Their religious beliefs, their mode Bombay, especially ol its great trade The Musalman governor of Surat feared ment. There were some noticeably dif ­ ferent customs too: for three days after a death no food was cooked in the house of mourning, except for dogs. To save the soul of a Parsi man who died with ­ out a male issue, it was mandatory to announce an adoption on the uthamna day. Often too were donations to chari ­ table causes made on this day. under the Portuguese (1530-1666 AD). One of them, Dorabji Nanabhai, the _ founder of the Patel family, held a high Narsangji Patel, a wealthy landlord; - .J and Mancherpura is named after Man- the British in 1666, and before the close cherji Kharsedji Seth, a well-known of the 17th century several more fami ­ lies, of whom the Modis, Pandes, Banajis, Dadiseths and Vadias were among the earliest settled in the island. In the 1 Sth century the movement greatly increased. To the Gujarat Parsis, more than to any class of native traders, was _____ due the development of the trade of glish, Portuguese and Dutch brokers. 34 Parsiana June 1998 »I I The Parsis at Surat and Bombay not only grew rich, but knew how to enjoy the comforts and luxuries which money can bring their superior courage and let them live in their part of the city very much as _ ___ „„ „ ___ __ they liked. Several Parsis enjoyed honor descended to his son Kaioji who was and influence at the court of Delhi and some of them received grants of land and other marks of distinction. [Of the Parsis who visited the Moghul courts the names of eight remain. The first was Meherji Rana who invested Akbar with the sacred shirt and girdle in 1580 and in reward became high priest of Navsari. The second was Meherji ’s son Kekobad who about 1594-95 went to Delhi to seek redress as the Nawab of Surat had tried to take away the emperor ’s grant of 200 acres. Kekobad was successful and in a paper dated the 10th of Aspandad in the 40th year of Akbar ’s reign he received an additional grant of a hundred acres. The third was Mulla Jamasp, a priest of Navsari who about 1619 in return for a present of jasmine oil was given a piece of land named Ratnagiri near Navsari by the emperor Jahangir. The fourth was Rus­ tam Manek who went with the head of the Surat factory to Delhi in 1660. The fifth was Sorabji Kavasji who was of great service to the English in 1760 when they obtained command of the Surat castle and the post of Moghul Admiral. He returned to Surat bringing dresses of honor and a horse to the heads of the English Company at Surat (Des ­ patch from the Surat Chief in Council to the Boinbay President and Council May 3, 1760 in Briggs ’ Cities of Gujarastra). It is said that Sorabji Kavasji, who had enth was Kalabhai Sorabji, the son-in- been taught watchmaking by a Euro ­ pean, first went to Delhi in 1744 to mend a favorite clock of the emperor, and received an estate in Rander in Kamalkhan and Kerbad Kavasji Popti, The emperor, probably Muhammad Surat. The eighth was Mancherji Khar- enemies of Bezonji Sheriarji known Shah (1719-1748), was so pleased with shedji Seth, a wealthy merchant and generally as Bezon Ganda or The Mad, Sorabji ’s skill that he honored him with well-known broker for the Dutch who had spread that Bezonji had defiled the the title of Nek Satkhan, that is Lord of some time before 1784 visited Delhi, it mosques of the Mohammedans. Dastur the Lucky Hour, gave him a lien on the was said at the emperor ’s request, who Ardeshir Hormasji Kamdin, a 90-year- customs revenue in Surat and the rank had heard of the liberality for which he old priest who was in charge of one of of a chief of 500 horse and 300 foot, was famous.] the fire-temples, was killed. Several Nek Satkhan was an ancestor of the Shortly after this, owing to the great other Parsis were wounded and much well-known Ardeshir Bahadur Kotval development of the opium and cotton property destroyed. Bezon Ganda also of Surat. The six,th was Kavasji trade with China, the Parsis rose greatly was killed with cruelty. The military Rustamji, third son of the high priest of in wealth both at Surat and Bombay. In had to be called to suppress the riot. Udvada, who is said to have gone to Delhi as Nek Satkhan ’s assistant. He was given the title of Mirzan Khosru Beg and land near Surat which his fam ­ ily, now known as the Mirzan family. enjoyed tor several years. Mirzan prudent and persevering, and formed a very valuable part of the Company ’s subjects on the western shores of Hindustan where they were highly teemed and encouraged. They interfered with the government or po ­ lice but gradually and silently made money. They not only grew rich, but knew how to enjoy the comforts and luxuries which money can bring. In their domestic economy and still more in their entertainments to their English friends in Bombay and Surat, Asiatic splendor was agreeably blended with European taste and comfort. They were subject to little priestly influence and liable to few restrictions in food, fast ­ ing, purifications and religious mortifi ­ cations. They knew how to appreciate and enjoy the blessings by which they were surrounded. Early in the 18th q^ntury a Broach Parsi named Kamaji Homaji, a weaver, was convicted of having called a* Musalman a kafir or infidel. Ahmad Beg, theNawab of Broach, gave Kamaji the choice of embracing Islam or being slain by the sword. Kamaji refused to change his faith and was killed. The Broach Parsis still recite his name with In Bhavnagar he made entirely from other notables in all public religious local materials a large clock for which a tower was built and which is still (in 1898) in order. Kaioji ’s descendants have a high name in Bhavnagar and in Kathiawar generally for their skill as watchmakers and mechanics. The sev- Khosru Beg ’s skill as a watchmaker watch-repairer to Bajirav Pcshwa. Af­ ter Bajirav ’s fall in 1818 Kaioji went to Bhavnagar with a clock of Bajirav ’s which the Bhavnagar chief had bought. Modi: rose to great influence Photo: Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil 36 Parsiana June 1998 es- never ¦4' ¦t, ceremonies. In 1857 there was a riot between the Parsis and Musalmans of Broach. (On May 15, 1857 Broach be ­ came the scene of a serious riot between the Muslims and Parsis. TheMohamme- dans of Broach, whose numbers were largely increased by the Bohras of sur- law ot Nek Satkhan. He is said to have rounding villages, were excited by the gone to Delhi to meet his father-in-law report which two Parsis, JivTaj Peshwaji and received an estate in Rander in Surat. The eighth was Mancherji Khar- well-known broker for the Dutch who some time before 1784 visited Delhi, it was said at the emperor ’s request, who had heard of the liberality for which he was famous.] Shortly after this, owing to the great trade with China, the Parsis rose greatly in wealth both at Surat and Bombay. In 1783 Forbes noticed that in Surat of late Between the following August and years the most beautiful villas and gar ­ dens, at least those in the best order, no longer belonged to Moghuls or Hindus but to Parsis. They were active, robust. November the rioters were tried, two were hanged for the murder of Dastur Ardeshir and Bezon Ganda, 11, among whom were the two Parsi instigators,As kotval of Surat, Ardeshir freed the city from robbers and pirates, and people slept with open doors were condemned to transportation for life, one to penal servitude for 10 years, and 25 others to smaller terms of im ­ prisonment.) During the early part of the 19th century the Parsis continued to prosper. In the general depression of 1825 in Surat the Parsis alone were well-to-do without a beggar among them, thriving where even a Bohra could glean only a scanty maintenance. Besides as wealthy merchants Parsis rose to high posts un­ der the East India Company and in the native states. The 18th and the early years of the 19th century were the times of the greatest prosperity of Gujarat ¦ ¦ especially of Surat Parsis. [In the begin ­ ning of the 19th century Kharsedji Jamshedji Modi, a Parsi of Cambay, rose to great influence in the Peshwa ’s court at Poona. In the British service he rose to the post of native agent to Colo ­ nel Close, the Resident at Poona in 1809. In 1810 Bajirav Peshwa appointed him Sur Subhedar of the Karnatak. He was allowed to hold both appointments till 1813 when he gave up the Peshwa ’s service. In 1814 Mr Elphinstone, the British Resident, suspecting him of ad ­ vising the Peshwa against the British, rewarded him for his past services but required him to retire to Gujarat. As he was about to leave Poona he died of poison whether taken by himself or given by the Peshwa is unknown. Modi ’ s descendants enjoy land in Ralej in Cambay which was given to him by the Peshwa and confirmed to his descen ­ dants by the British. Dhanjisha, son of Barjorji Behere- mankhan and grandson of Nek Satkhan, early in the 19th century held the post of native agent under the East India Com ­ pany for the states of Sachin, Bansda, Mandvi and Dharampor. In 1840 when a Mohammedan fanatic calling himself Abdul Rehman raised a revolt in Mandvi, Dhanjisha went with the force that was sent to suppress the outbreak. He was among the first to cross the river, and endeavored to prevail on the fakir to surrender himself, but along with the Raja ’s agent and some others he was killed in the attempt. In recogni ­ tion of Dhanjisha ’s services his widow was given a yearly pension of Rs 3,000. Pherozsha, Dhanjisha ’s eldest son. reward for his services. Sir John Malcolm, then governor of Bombay (1827-1830), presented him with a gold medal, dresses of honor and four vil ­ lages worth about Rs 3,000 a year. Ardeshir died in 1856.] After the great fire of Surat in 1837 Bombay became the headquarters of the Parsis and since then has had as permanent settlers the largest and rich ­ est section of the community. In Bombay the Parsis have showed themselves the most enterprising and successful merchants. The bulk of the native for ­ eign trade was in their hands and the very great liberality of some of the leading Parsis made their name honor ­ able. Between 1857 and 1863 they se ­ cured a large share of the wealth that was poured into western India by the American war and by the making of railways. In 1864 an(Fl 865 many lately- made fortunes were lost and some old families were ruined. But mos^ were able to keep a competence and some remain among the richest families in Bombay island. Since 1865 the Parsis have played a leading part in starting and developing the great factory industry that has sprung up since 1854. Many of the largest and best managed mills belong to Parsis, and besides as owners and shareholders large numbers find highly paid employment as mechanical engineers and weaving, card­ ing and spinning masters. Broach ranks next to Bombay in the prosperity of its Mandvi. In 1822 the government granted Parsis. The Parsis of Broach, Anklesvar Pherozsha the six villages of Umber, Velarva, Bhanodra, Gez, Khurvel and Rajvada yielding Rs 12,000 a year. Pherozsha also received the village of Vandervala worth Rs 6,000 a year from the Bansda chief and a village named Kamlapur from the Mandvi chief. Pherozsha ’s heirs up till recently en ­ joyed these villages. He died in 1843 and was honored by one of the largest the flower of the/nowra,Bassialatifolia, funerals ever seen in Surat (Parsi Prakash, 1.417). Ardeshir, Dhanjisha ’s second son, rose to be the most prominent man in Surat. As kotval or head of the police he freed the city from robbers and pirates, remodelled the police, and according to the common saying enabled the people settlement of laborers under the super- to sleep with open doors. In 1829, in vision and control of a number of Parsis became Principal Sadar Amin in 1825 and native judge of the Surat court in 1832 and was appointed the governor ’s native agent in Dharampor, Bansda and JB 38 Parsiana June 1998 8^ I a a w - f 5 'f' * R I f I I * a '.• a s J-f pi Sb ¦4, A. Kotval: model policeman Photo: Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil and other towns in the Broach district are wealthier than the bulk of other natives of the place. There is hardly a Parsi family that does not own a merchant, a trader, or a contractor. In all Gujarat the Parsis of Broach are remarkable for their enterprise and perseverance as merchants. They deal largely in cotton, timber, fuel, and in and own several cotton gins. They are also to be found in Bhavnagar as pros ­ perous cotton merchants. A wealthy Parsi merchant of Broach has obtained, under the usual terms, a large extent of wasteland in the Panch Mahals and established on it a large and thriving i Itwhom he has encouraged to take part in the operation. The settlement after the name of its founder ’s grandfather is called Rustampura. Much wasteland has been turned into a fertile tract yield ­ ing cotton, wheat and other crops. The Parsis of Gandevi, Bilimora and Balsar rank next as merchants. They carry on a large trade in dried fish, castor oil, timber, fuel, grain, mowra flowers, and molasses. Bilimora Parsis enjoy a good Temulji was discerning enough to see reputation as carpenters. Balsar Parsis were farmers of villages in the neigh ­ boring states of Dharampor and Bansda and also held liquor farms and shops. In Ahmedabad and Cambay, Parsi fami ­ lies are very few and unimportant. In Surat and Navsari, Parsis figure as rich landlords, though after the crash that followed the share mania of 1864-65 many of the best and richest holdings in Surat passed from their hands. In Navsari the Desai family repre ­ sents the largest Parsi landlords. [The tamji ’s family was the more successful, office of desai of Navsari has been held by Parsi s since 1419 when Changa A’ sa who brought the Sanjan fire to Navsari was appointed desai. The office re ­ mained in Changa A’sa ’s family till Mancherji Kharsedji, the grandson of about 1595, when Dastur Kekobad, the son of Dastur Meherji Rana, was made Gaikwar that in 1817 the Court of Di­ rectors granted him a monthly pension of Rs 200 for three generations. They desai. His family did not hold the office long. A few years later a mobed named Behram Faredun secured the office a.s representative of Changa A’sa ’s family also gave a guarantee or bake dhari that of whom no male heirs were left. The r/e5azship remained in Behram Fare- dun ’s family till about 1714 when ti large share of the emolument was sold to a wealthy mobed Temulji Rustamji Sirvai since called Desai. In 1720 his family estate should be unmolested. The Gaikwars continued to dispute the permanency of this guarantee, but in 1856, the Government of India decided the point in the Desai ’s favor.] Many poor Parsi families in Surat still (in 1898) support themselves by the old craft of weaving silk cloth, while those in the villages around Surat and in Navsari are chiefly occupied as cultivators of smalt farms and as draw ­ ers and sellers of palm-juice. On the whole in Gujarat as land- that the Gaikwar ’s power would domi ­ nate in Gujarat. He accordingly waited on Pilajirav Gaikwar at Songad and induced him to establish posts in the Surat Athavisi and to give him the management of the revenue affairs of the newly acquired lands. Keen rivalry lords, merchants, petty traders and gov continued between the descendants of Behram Faredun and the representa ­ tives of Temulji and the office of desai was held sometimes by the one family, sometimes by the other. Temulji Rus- They are now (in 1898) known as the chief desais to distinguish them from BehramFaredun ’s family who are called Poria desais. In 1800 and 1802 Temulji Rustamji, was of so much value to the British in their dealings with the ernment and railway contractors. Parsis hold a respectable and prosperous posi ­ tion. Parsis enjoy almost a monopoly of liquor farms and liquor shops. They fill prominent posts in cotton and ginning factories. In the service of government and of native states as well as in railway and municipal service they are gaining an increasing share of well-paid and honorable posts. As lawyers, engineers and physicians Parsis hold their own with any other natives of India. To be continued. Difficulties in reading? % It’s time you saw a professional optician. It’s time you came to Baliwalla Homi. One of the finest optometrists and contact lens practitioners Baliwalla & Homi Private Limited OPTOMETRISTS Flora Fountain: 365, Dr. D.N.Road, Bombay 400 001 Tel: 287 4916, 287 1762 • Dhobi Talao: 614, J.S. Seth Marg, Bombay 400 OO2.Tel: 201 4906 Fax: (022) 206 4363 • Parel: J.Merwanji Street, Parel, Bombay 400 012 Tel: 412 6051 40 Parsiana June 1998 IBOOKS Godrej: changing perceptions Rusi J. Daruwala The Builder Also Grows - Godrej 4 Hundred the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Years 1897-1997\/o\ume II by B. K. Karanjia. Published in 1997 by Viking, Penguin Books, (P) Ltd, 210 Chiranjiv Tower, 43 Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019. Pp: 374. Price; Rs 395. National Conservation Centre, the Godrejs have always led from the front and set up solid self-reliant institutions without fuss or fanfare. Naval Godrej ’s untimely death in 1990 placed the responsibility of run­ ning the flagship company, Godrej and which Jamshyd and Lam attended. At the buffet lunch the dishes were put so near the table ’s edge, there wasn ’t any place for Lam to put down his plate and serve himself. He stood puzzled, plate in hand, wondering whether he Godrej is a family business with a dif- 1990 placed the responsibility of run- should forego lunch, when out of the ference. Its all-round professional ap- ning the flagship company, Godrej and corner of his eye, he saw a figure rap- proach and emphasis on total quality Boyce on his only son Jamshyd. Jamshyd idly approaching. Before Lam realized management makes it stand apart form the numberless family-based concerns in India. The saga of Godrej began in the last century with Ardeshir Godrej starting with people whether they be humble or at the grass roots level with the manu ­ facture of locks in a small shed at Lalbaug. He went on to make security Jamshyd ’s thoughtfulness. P. D. Lam, equipment (safes) of a high quality and successfully began the manufacture of an attack of polio at the age of three and Hormuzd, Rati, Saonuhen, Burjis, toilet soaps from vegetable oils. His was a simple lifestyle and on his death he bequeathed almost all he had to the Parsi Punchayet. In this second volume journalist/bi- ographer/novelist, B. K. Karanjia ex ­ plores the social and environmental com ­ mitments made by the Godrej clan to India. Whether it was a school for work ­ ers ’children or setting up the India unit of Hotel following an official function imbibed from his father the latter ’s flair what was happening, Jamshyd took the for all things mechanical and a deep plate from him, piled it with food, insight into men ’s natures: Jamshyd has a fine sensitive touch when dealing The Godrej family at the Jas han ceremony which inaugurated the high and mighty. centenary year on January 1, 1997 at Karanjia gives a moving example of the Lalbaug factory. Seated (left to right): Kaizeen Mody, Armaity senior executive with the company, had Austin, Pheroza, Jaiben, Sohrab, lost the use of his right arm. He makes Smita Crishna and Nadir Godrej. . do with his left arm and does it wonder- Standing (left to right): Rashna fully well. When serving himself at the Dastur, Boman Mody, Jamshyd, buffet table, for instance, he puts his Raika, Navroze, Sohrab, Adi, plate down, serves himself with his left Pirojsha, Nisaba, Freyan, Nyrika and hand, then moves forward, again puts Vijay Crishna. Not in the photograph: the plate down, serves himself, and so Parmeshwar and Tanya Godrej, on down the line. But there was an Kaikhushru, Dosa and Rishad incident at a lunch at the Sea Rock Naoroji who could not be present on the occasion -i I li !*» I 'IP 42 Parsiana June 1998handed it over and went back to his lie knowledge. machine tools and forklift trucks. The place without a word. Lam can ’t forget There is in the book a detailed discus- divisions, further, would include the this gesture. sion of Jamshyd ’s approach to divi- function of manufacturing, sales, dis- Jamshyd ’s wife Pheroza recalls an sionalization. Divisionalization involves tribution and service. Other functions event that gave her a new insight into recognizing each unit and process in an like accountancy, purchase andperson- his character. They had been looking industrial enterprise as equal to the others nel would also be included, but again in forward to attending the premiere in in equal measure, entrusting it with the a phased manner. Bombay of Attenborough ’s film, related responsibility and, finally, pro- Godrej Soaps on the other hand set Gandhi, initiated by Sohrab Godrej as viding it with commensurate power. It outonapolicy of diversification. Godrej the sheriff of Bombay. At the same time, two close relatives from Geneva Godrej, for all their past success, fell Agrovet, a fully-owned subsidiary and had just landed in Bombay. They too short ofbeing a world class organization, wanted very much to see Gandhi. Jam ­ shyd was confident that extra tickets could be obtained. Only at the last quality to include also cost, minute with Pheroza all dressed up for delivery and flexibility, al- the occasion, he confided to her that as extra tickets couldn ’t be obtained, they would let their guests use their tickets and the two of them would have a nice quiet dinner instead. Pheroza was distraught and gave expression to her disappointment in no uncertain terms. Here she was all dressed up and looking forward to a memorable experience, and he was talking of tak ­ ing her to dinner as if that would ever make up for what they ’d be missing. Jamshyd remained silent as she rely on just one or two suppliers for even grumbled. Then, gently, he admonished her: “Look at you. Gandhi gave up so much in life, and you are making such binding them together, a fuss just because you are giving up a couple of tickets! ” “It was a lesson I’ll never forget, ” Pheroza says. “It made me realize how petty 1 was. ” Interestingly, the first cover story on Godrej that Business India magazine carried in their July 6-19, 1971 issue, was entitled, “Godrej, the Untold Story. ” The cover portrayed a box file entitled points may sound Utopian and dream ‘Godrej - Private and Confidential, ’ ' ' - ' ' padlocked with a Navtal lock. The letter from the publisher, Ashok Advani complained that Business India was “handicapped by a lack of com ­ ments and information from the Godrej Jamshyd maintains. ” board. Business India decided to inde- As the first step A. F. Ferguson and lie knowledge. There is in the book a detailed discus ­ sion of Jamshyd ’s approach to divi ­ sionalization. Divisionalization involves recognizing each unit and process in an in equal measure, entrusting it with the related responsibility and, finally, pro ­ viding it with commensurate power. It was prompted by the realization that Soaps has invested heavily in Godrej the largest marketer of animal feeds, “World class organizations give a plant growth promoters and urea coat- competitive definition of ing agents in India. Godrej Plant Biotech concentrates on the export of ornamen ­ tals. This market being very unreliable, the new plant is to concentrate on the Indian market and to introduce so ­ phisticated tissue culture techniques in the country. The main products will be potato microtubers and ba ­ nana plants. The company also produces foliage, flow ­ ering, fruit, medicinaj and oil-bearing i ¦¦ ways exceeding the expecta ­ tions of customers. These or ­ ganizations have a network which integrates customers, ,.Sl suppliers and all internal us- ers to a well-structured on ­ line database. ‘The emphasis , is not on transaction process- Karaiijia:gives a ing but on information han- moving account dling. ’ In world clas.s organi ­ zations customers are almost invariably partners in progress. These organizations plants for export. Adi Godrej is today the silent but pervasive force in the organization-. The situation in Godrej Soaps when Adi took over as managing director was different from that in Godrej and Boyce. Adi, an engineer and management the most critical components and sign contracts for extended periods, with trust “Relying on their employees to achieve results, world class organiza ­ tions educate and train them, offer them graduate from MIT took over the fair terms of contract and freedom to satisfy their internal and external cus­ tomers — in other words, they em ­ power them. They create a congenial environment, managing the culture rather than the men. ‘Today the above company ’s reins in 1963-64 and “brought about a watershed in its his ­ tory. ” The turnover which had been Rs 2.43 crores in 1963 shot up to Rs 7.99 crores in 1967 and went on rising till it reached Rs 586.90 crores in 1995. The phenomenal growth in turnover, like. Some may feel it is an assured explains Karanjia, was a reflection of recipe for bankruptcy and chaos in the organization. But, they are becoming real and will soon become a necessity. That in my opinion is the only way out, ’ ¦I » the new marketing skills ^nd strategies which were adopted. “Adi ’s forte lay in exploiting to the fullest the achieve ­ ments that were already there, largely an outcome of his father Burjor ’s ge ­ nius in research. ” Godrej Soaps had scored firsts in epoch-making areas of board. Business India decided to inde- As the first step A. F. Ferguson and pendently analyze the operations of the Company was appointed to undertake a comprehensive review of several hu- product and process development. They man resources development and orga- were: the development by Ardeshir of a nizational issues. This was followed by toilet soap out of vegetable oils, a scien ­ tific discovery of the first order; the launch in 1952 of the flagship product Cinthol with the world-famous proven ’a V group, especially Godrej and Boyce. ” The Godrej management ’s argument was that Godrej was a private company and thus did not need to answer ; questions. But the group relies on pub­ lic funds as indicated by the debt equity ratios of the companies. What Karanjia fails to mention is the amazement of Godrej executives at the accuracy of the ‘guesstimates ’ made by the Business India editorial team of the company ’,s financial workings, which were not pub- any Jamshyd officially announcing to all employees the company ’s re-organiza- tion through divisionalization . Division ­ alization was introduced in a phased deodorant G-11; the development of combination soap, Crowning Glory, based on alpha olefin sulphonate (AOS) technology (which is more eco- manner beginning with electronic busi­ ness equipment, then appliances to be followed by other product groups — process equipment, office equipment, friendly), a quick lathering, hard-wear- ' .. ......................., ing soap even in hard-water areas; the manual typewriters, locks and latches, 44 Parsiana June 1998 Iti I I 1 manufacture of all varieties of soap ___ from fatty acids and, as a corollary, the cheap expansion, recovery of glycerin, a valuable and versatile chemical; fatty acids of 99 percent purity; and a neem-based non ­ toxic US-patented pesticide “Achook. ” Sales and profit showed consider ­ able growth. The sales growth graph jumped up 42 percent, interest ros^by rose impressively except for a decline in 1979 when the government suddenly discontinued private imports of edible oils. Profitability, measured as profit after tax as a percentage of sales, how ­ ever, fluctuated considerably. Godrej Soaps in the late 80s started feeling the pressure of continuing as a private family owned company. Finan ­ cial institutions did not come forward readily to lend. Corporate taxes very high. Debt was getting to be pensive as compared to equity and, most importantly, their competitor, decentralized enterprise, heliimself took Hindustan Lever, backed by the might an <. / ___ of its parent Unilever, was infiltrating involvement on strategic management, every area of the consumer products business. Godrej ’s mainstay has been the traditional urban premium segment of the market. But it had not thus far achieved the same kind of penetration in the fast growing rural markets. It.s interest costs were heavy. As a private were ex ­ Hindustan Lever, backed by the might limited company, it could not resort to to carve out maximum value from each passing day, each fleeting hour. So that In 1991 Godrej Soaps put up a Rs 41 through all the strains and stresses of crore soap and detergent plant in Malanpur in Madhya Pradesh funded largely through debt. Between March 1990 and March 1992 while sales running a Rs 600 crore company he remains cool, unruffled. His is not a race against time. He races with it, so that he has enough and to spare. Adi ’s younger brother Nadir is the managing director of Godrej Soaps whose hobby is writing poetry or as he calls it, “versifying. ” He has already published Life and Other Poems in 1992. more than 300 per cent to Rs 30 crore. But capacities were not fully utilized, not only at Malanpur but also at Vikhroli. Changes were needed in the com ­ pany — drastic changes. Where other His wife Rati, a qualified doctor, ad- company leaders would have changed i ' ............... their managerial strategies, Adi went thy and consideration for others, his one better — I ' . . . himself. He had to learn how to shift from boss-subordinate relationship to team relationship, from manager to strat ­ egist. While the group transformed it ­ self from a controlled corporation to a mires Nadir ’s intellect as also his empa- he set about changing humanity and wonderful temperament. “He stays calm even in the most stress ­ ful of times. He is an extremely fair- minded individual who always sees problems and issues from all angles and perspectives. ” In the chapter ‘Corporate Heartbeats ’ operational backseat, focusing his Karanjia gives cameo portraits of some ~ - .. senior executives (non-family) of the human resources, training, selection and Godrej group. total quality management. Indeed, writes Karanjia, Adi is a high priest of time management. Time for him is the most precious resource of all. Time management begins with managing our ­ selves — Adi uses time as a precious tool Godrej are now building the neces ­ sary strategies to meet the challenges of sustainable development^n three key areas — pollution prevention, products , stewardship and the development of a clean technology. DERS ’t K 7 2' fl I H 9 7”. I D DES pie Strong Silent Types If you ’re looking for strength, reliability and value for money you won ’t find better than Mazda ’s range of high-quality valves and Desuperheaters. The same can be said of the Mazda range of Steam-Jet ejectors, Liquid Ring Vacqum pumps and automated valve packages. Easy to install, quiet and efficient and virtually maintenance free. The range is designed for high or severe service applications. Mazda House, Panchwati 2nd Lane, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad - 380 006. INDIA Phone : 408014, 408967, 408844, 408654 Fax:079-6565605 E-Mail No. mazda@ad1 .vsni.net.in PILQT OPERATED REDUCING VALVES • SAFETY VALVES • CONTROL VALVES • DESUPERHEATERS AND VACUUM SYSTEMS.On the run Dina Mehta Of No Fixed Addressby Kaizad Gustad. Pub­ lished in 1998 by Harper Collins Publishers India Private Limited, 7/16, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002. Pp: 242. Price: Rs 195. sized cubicles in brothels, sleazy bars, claustrophobic hospital rooms. His close-ups are of bath tubs, makeshift beds... and their denizens. Talking of beds, we could say that Gustad ’s oeuvre — like that of the manic film director in ‘A Woman on there ’s Meena who works the cages in Marine Drive on the rim of the Arabian the Verge ’ — is women. Let ’s see: Sea, monkey-trrcks outside the Taj Hotel... all are fluent and vivid and Kamathipura and Angel whose ambi- touristy. But the soul of Bombay is not ignited, its climate of liberalism (de ­ spite the Shiv Sena phenomenon) that perfect to love ” and the legendary attracts writers, artists, entrepreneurs to perstar Her who had “more lovers than this vital and progressive metropolis... there is not a hint of that. Co-starring with the boy-narrator is the silent Meena, a prostitute with whom Because no one city can contain this he enjoys an improbable touch-me-not questing, conquering brave... relationship. She is the excuse for us to go traipsing all over the city but despite the packaged tour (or perhaps because And what of one with no fixed address? of it) the story does not deliver. Meena Certainly the temptation to call him does not matter to us. What does matter aapro Gustad must be resisted. For are the lines that stop us in our fast though he does once hint at his affilia- lanes. Like the one that describes Meena ’s choli as a “bright red blouse stuffed with enough ambience to serve day afternoons, ” he qffite vociferously as fish and tackle for unwitting men. ” We wonder: does he really scribble furiously, this speeding scribe? In ‘The Marriage of Rita Marelo ’ there can be no doubt that he is strapped for time. He jumps like a flea from Varca to Anjuna Beach to Varca to Brixton (yes, way away from Goa) to tion is to fly the world “on someone else ’s money ” and Louisa who is “too su- I review books with care. That is, I usually proceed with caution, with so ­ licitude, with painstaking application. This book I thought I should review without care. Not carelessly, but per ­ haps skimmingly — like I’m bouncing on water, skidding on ice, slowing down only for that something that catches my eye (like the sentence: “Eyes clenched together like knuckles, tight-fisted, avoiding contact and look. ”) Why this radical change in my modus operand!? Because Bombay-born Kaizad Gustad is an impecunious writer on the run, a “full-time bum and part- time writer ” he calls himself (he ’s writ ­ ten screen plays and short stories and was writer/director of the feature film, Bombay Boys), and surely the best way to enjoy a bum ’s effusions is to sample them on the run? Like the lilies of the field invoked by Christ, Gustad does not toil (not at the craft of writing) — though he does spin Calangute to Vagatore to Anjuna etc... yarn after yarn around the cities he by using the simple devise of asterisks abundant humanity that accepts even if it at the end of each scene (a stratagem he never understands. An invigorating, phan- employs in story after story). Not for tasmagoric humanity hanging across ev- Gustad the careful forging of connect ­ ing links, the boredom of working on seamless transitions. Such heroic labor is not for a tramp. He ’d much rather dash off a film script. Certainly, his work has the visuals long, frayed at the edges. Tin shacks and liquidity of cinematics. Exterior shots and interior shots are composed frame by frame. He is acineaste. This is plates. Rusted through and through... -— ' - ------ 1— '..i--------------- ..iv.i White shirts hang with the dread of time and oppression, stained permanently by both. Heads are held low, eyes averted. Groups coalesce in corners. an insomniac has sheep ” and there is Bernadette and Camilla and the fat aunts... He loves them and leaves them. Didn ’t Shaw say that a libertine was one who had a plurality of addresses? tion by referring to his mother ’s “im ­ mortalized recipe for dhansakh on Sun- repeats that he belongs nowhere. We- have to respect that. Just as we respect his concern for the poor and the disinherited. He rubs shoul ­ ders with them, he makes them visible. More. In his bum avatar he shares their vicissitudes. He has the human touch. What, for him, makes Paris Paris? “It is infected with humanity. A large, over ­ -K' * visits. (His wanderlust is as red as the Rioja he guzzles in a Madrid bar, he assures us.) One story per city is what we get. The result is 13 tales, 13 panels hinged to one another in a kind of vastly extended triptych, linking the migra ­ tory artist to 13 cities. And in each tale he sets out to capture the particular space, the ambience, the scenes and obsessions that are Bombay, London, Toronto, Goa, Sydney, Amsterdam, Bali, Paris, Hong Kong, Madrid, Los Angeles, Tahiti and New York. All his canvases, nevertheless, are self-refer ­ ential. He presents a one-man show. In fictional terms, each story is in a sense a monologue: the narrator drowns all other voices. He is the star, centerstage, the others merely prompters. In the first story ‘Meena, ’ the cityscape of Bombay leaps into life: Kamathipura, the notorious street of cages with its throbbing crowds and pressing flesh, the sands of Chowpatty, ery clothesline, dancing over every roof ­ top, making love on every park bench and pew. ” (Yes, pews as in churches.) This is how he writes of an Austra ­ lian aboriginal town, "... a-blunt mile with moth-eaten blankets for doors. A 1957 Holden pick-up with no license how he describes his encounter with four unfriendly immigration officers in Hong Kong: “It was almost surreal, what with the hot arc lights, the green amber walls, the stark minimalism of Little girls with ponytails. Young men the room, and the three thin guys and clutching half-empty bottles, caress- the one fat one all pointing fingers. We are in a B-grade Italian neo-realist movie from the 50s — the kind that has sub­ titles spelled all wrong. ” His exterior governments in Canberra. ” shots are of beaches and streets — he has a Dickensian affair with streets. His interior shots are of slammers, stamp- ing, the touch like that of a lover, living between fortnightly dole checks, meted out with substantial guilt and rote, by Perceptive, unsentimental, brash or even cynical his voice can be, yet he chooses to sing of the dirt and the dust 46 Parsiana June 1998f f i. and the scum of the earth - the panhan ­ dlers, the junkies, the homeless, the disfigured, the wannabes. And what does Gustad want to be? A writer. Maybe like his guru Henry Miller. A good one. Then what seems a little odd about these stories is that while he tosses them off on the run, he finds time enough to brood on the figure he cuts as a writer. He dotes credulously on his own persona of the vagabond scribe. The danger here is that concern to remain centerstage can become more important than commit ­ ment to excellence. His bounce and brio and audacity are very attractive. But with so much aplomb perhaps what he needs is a little private honesty which leaves him dis ­ satisfied with trying to get away with mere bravado — which he can, because of his ease with language. But the attitudes he strikes also have something to do with exploring the ambiguities of a multiple identity: the tools he uses to pry himself open. Gustad does not own a single identity of birth, country, community. And with a grow ­ ing awareness of cultures and sensibili ­ ties across the world, he must continue his posturing till he discovers who he really is. THE iisl'r PARSIANA BOOK OF IRANIAN NAMES The Iranian names of boys and girls along with their meanings which originally appeared in Parsiana have now been reprinted in an attractive 24-page booklet. The book, which is priced at Rs 40, is available on sale at: Kaiser-E-Hind, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Behind Reserve Bank of India, Fort, Bombay 400001. Faredoonand Burjor Sandalwood Shop, Princess Street, Bombay 400002. Union Press, 13, Homji Street, Bombay 400001. a 1 I 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 JdWellery We accept Master, Visa, Diners, BOB & Inter cards MASTER MARINE SERVICES j 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=gems/a=vsnl/c=in Internet: mms. bom@gems.vsnl.net. in Branches Ahmedabad - Calcutta - Jaipur - Kandla - Ludhiana - Nhava Sheva - New Delhi - Surat 47 Parsiana June 1998 IMILESTONES This issue of Parsiana includes intercommunity marriages reg­ istered both at the Old Customs House and at the MHADA of­ fice in Bandra (East) for the four-month period of January to April 1998, in addition to the general debility of seven. Brain regular data that we collect from the Bombay High Court every month. However, names that could not be confirmed as Zoro­ astrian have been omitted from the list. There were 17 intercommu­ nity marriages plus two civil marriages between Zoroastrians each). There were 17 isolated hospitals — births in suburban registered at the Old Customs House, and 14 and one respec­ tively, at the MHADA office. The Chandanwadi cremato­ rium registered 11 names of Zoroastrians between January and May 1998. The age of Zoroastrian brides (as recorded at the Bombay High Court and listed in this issue) ranged between 21 and 33 years, the arithmetic mean (the total number of individual ages di­ vided by the total number of hemiplegia(paralysisofoneside brides) being 26 years. The cor- of the body), malarial fever and respondingfiguresforthegrooms urinary tract infection. The were 23 and 34 years, averaging at 29 years. As compared to 16 births, there were 96 Zoroastrians who were consigned to the Bombay BOMBAY BOR N A boy to Armin and Rohinton Fatakia on April 25, 1998 A girl to Shirley and Rashid Kanga', May 1 A boy to Veera and Aspi Patel', May 5 A girl, Tanya, to Farida and Nevdle Patrawala', May 5 A boy to Pouruchisty and Adil Gazdar, May 10 A boy, Rohan, to Delna and Jamshed Mis try. May 11 A boy to Sharu and Malcolm Anjirbaug', May 12 A girl to Anahita and Bhagat Shivdasani', May 15 A boy to Parizad and Mehernosh Writer, May 18 A girl, Sharmin, to Zenobia and Kersi Engineer, sister to Jehan; May 20 A girl to Dilnaz and Kersi Machhi', May 21 A boy to Amy and Zarir Darbari', May 23 Towers of Silence in May. Thirty-six Zoroastrians fell prey to heart disease of whom 15 were above the age of 80. Pneu­ monia and lung disease took a toll of lO lives and old age and disease and hypertension claimed five victims each, whereas cancer claimed four. The other killers were bronchi ­ tis and septicemia (three each) and cellulitis (an inflammation of connective tissue), diabetes, liver disease and malaria (two Bombay are supplied by four cases registered in May. They hospitals and private nursing were; anemia, AIDS, asthma, anorexia (loss of appetite for food), ‘acute myeloblastic cri­ sis,’ dementia, malnutrition, Parkinson ’s disease, filariasis (infestation with Filaria, a para ­ sitic, thread-like worm), Al ­ zheimer’s disease, gastroenteri­ tis, kidney failure, encephaliti.s (inflammation of the brain), pyrexia (elevation of the body temperature above normal), youngest to breathe his last wa.s a 15-year-old boy as compared to the oldest — a 98-year-old lady. A 36-year-old youth was also lost to the community. The A girl, Azbana, to Zenobia and Neville Vclatr, May 23 A boy to Kernaaz and Adi Shroff', May 24 A girl to Jasmine and Neville Gandhi', May 27 A boy to Tehnaz and Karl Dhainodiwala; May 28 MA RRIED Parvatiben N. Kartharia and Aspi D. Mehta', January 8 Ghaver Jehangir Master and Xerxes Homi Buhariwala', January 9 Anuradha Chawdhary and Farhad Sorabjee', January 13 Sherry Rusi Dadimaster and Sylvester Chiang', January 15 Hneeta H. Behl and Afroz Jamshed Daruwalla', January 19 Shiraz Dhan Gheewalla and Mehul Dinesh Shah', January 23 Gitika Bansal and Dennis Rustum Taraporewala', Zoroastrian life expectancy at February 23 birth, in Bombay in May, was 78 years. The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled Palkhiwalla', March 20 from information supplied by Swati Moreshwar Chavan various newsletters and anju­ mans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information is not always complete or con­ sistent: we are unable to carry data from areas where the Amarjeet Rampal', April 2 anjumans do not furnish the par ­ ticulars; the birth figures for homes are not included unless individuals send us information together with a copy of the birth certificate. There may be an in­ advertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony. In the breakup of 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 Parag Deepak Mehta', our readers would appreciate April 23 this requirement and cooperate with us. January 25 Kabira Nisar Merchant and Percy P. Bhatporia; January 27 Gita Niranjan Patel and Kerman Kaikhushroo Mistry, January 28 Oona Soli Dhabhar and Abid Amirali Lalljee', January 30 Natasha Naasha Dastur and Parag Rameshchandra Goradia', February 1 Navaz Keki Pastakia and K. S. Shyainsunder, February 6 Rowhani D’Jena and Bakhtiar Sunavala; February 9 EteIvina Dias and Yezdi Doctor, February 12 Rukshana H. Bamboat and Bryan D’mello', February 13 Perveez Mody and Ireland Si)encei", February 13 Danish Karaka and Rohan Jathanna', February 16 Kashmira Sam Karkaria and Shriram Venkatraman; Shamin Zazer Mugal and Dara Naval Patel', March 6 Shernaz Elavia and Kayomarz f and Porus Dinshaw Asha', March 23 Jini Shroff and Patrick Nick Heller', March 29 Mehr Homi Jesia and Arjun Shireen Dara Karanjavala and Luig Bisol', April 3 Anita B. Chatterjee and Firdaush Nariman Postwala', April 3 Farida B. Dubash and Vishal Y. Singh; April 5 Rupali Arte and Kaizzad Capadia', April 6 Anahita Jamshed Sunavala and Firoz Dinshah Patel', April 12 Meher Burjor Medhora and Satyen Jitendra Dasondi', April 18 Mehnaz Ka^awala and Shyam Jasani', April 20 Abha Virendra Sinha and Shahrukh Naval Patell; '' April 21 Kermeen Rusi Divecha and 4' Manisha Govind Alshi and Burzin Dara Dadimaster, April 29 Khurshid Bozergchami and Tushar L. Mohif, April 30 Zenobia Nariman Khambatta and Khushru Noshir Avari', May 1 Pashmina Jehan Contractor and Mahyar Dadi Contractor, May 4 Farida Phiroze Khambata and Kobad Nariman Gheewala', May 4 Perviz Yezdi Batliwala and Carl Bomi Avari', May 8 Kbushnam Shapurji Sidhwa and Delzad Bomi Mistry, May 10 Vahbeez Sam Calagopi and Soli Homi Karanjia', May 11 Cyrene Jamshed Bilimoria of Ooty and Farhad Sohrab Shahparast', May 11 Farida Hosi Kotwal and Neville Hosi Mehta', May 30 Farah Yazdi Bhesania and Zubin Rusi Fitter, May 31 Arnavaz Framroze Patel and Farhad Nariman Madon', May 31 I 48 Parsiana June 1998 »I, I 1 D IED Dolly Jal Irani (79), residing at Yusuf Chmbs, Opp Gloria Church, Byculla, 400027; March 26 (cremated) Phiroze Ardeshir Baria (91), 2/18, Shanti Niketan, 11, Padamji Rd, 400004; March 31 (cremated) Tehmina Homi Bharucha (85), C. C. 1., Dinsha Wacha Rd, Churchgate, 400020; April 5 (cremated) Khurshed Hormusji Vazir (50), 1/2, Zaoba Wadi, Thakurdwar, 400002; April 7 (cremated) Burjor Behramji Dubash (72), Bueno Vista, Windy Hall Lane, Colaba, 400005; April 9 (cremated) Betty I. Bhabha (83), Bhabha Hse, 12, Little Gibbs Rd, Malabar Hill, 400006; April 10 (cremated) Rucy D. Collie (78), Puran Nivas, Arthur Bunder Rd, Colaba, 400005; April 15 (cremated) Perin Minoo Gilder (90), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, Hughes Rd, 400007; April 30 Aloo Nariman Patel (74), 2/1, Parsi Agiary, 102, Dadysheth Agiary Lane, 400002; April 30 Mancherji Shapurji Mehta (93), 3/6, Khan Est, M. M. C. Rd, Mahim, 400016; May 2 Soli Pirojshaw Doctor (70), 8/B, Patel Bldg, Marzban Clny, Gilder Lane, Laminglon Rd, 400008; May 3 Goolhai Meherwan Irani (88), Sir J. J. Dharamshala, J. Behram Boman Rd, Nagpada, 400008; May 3 Piroja Jamshedji Maney (98), 1, Mehta Bldg, Khan Est, M. M. C. Rd, Mahim, 400016; May 3 Hormez Pesi Patel (36), 4-B/17, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; May 3 Jehangirji Rustomji Bagwalla (97), 676, Faredoon Ter, Katrak Rd, Wadala, 400031; May 4 Katayoon Homi Hormuzdi (57), 34/A, Elco Arcade, 46, Hill Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; May 4 Khorshed Hoshang Billimoria (66), 7/C, Old Wadia Bldg, Chandanwadi, 400002; May 5 Freny Daraius Desai (84), A/3, Banoo Mans, Cumballa Hill, 400036; May 5 Sabar Behram Dharwar (68), 25/2, Malegamwalla Bldg, M. M. C. Rd, Mahim, 400016; May 5 Bucha Phiroz Dubash (97), 1, Ark Royal, 50, Peddar Rd, 400026; May 5 Murazban Jamshed Irani (75), D, Dinbai Petit Bldg, Balaram St, 400007; May 5 Tehmina Pcstonji Wadia (89), 5/1, Malegamwalla Bldg, M. M. C. Rd, Mahim, 400016; May 5 Soli Pherozeshah Daruwalla (80), Waghela Cooper Bldg, Khetwadi 12th Lane, 400004; May 6 Rhoda Adal Parakh (75), Ben Nevis, B. Desai Rd, 400036; May 6 (cremated) Shirin Ardeshir Vakil (97), Windmere, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, 400005; May 6 Cyrus Rohinton Daboo (15), Dr Engineer Bldg, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; May 7 Cawas Dhunjishah Mistry (69), 29, fame Jamshed Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 7 Tehmina Rustomji Mistry (87), 4/G, S. B. Bharucha Bang, Andheri (W), 400058; May 7 Silloo Darabsha Dubash (74), 2/3, Lady Dorab Tata Bldg, Tata Blocks, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; May 8 Polly Dinshawji Surti (69), B, Reward, Tardeo Rd, 400007; May 8 Dliun Faredun Umrigar (84), 1^5IC, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 8 Nargesh Faramroze Bharucha (,75), K-UTl, New Khareghat Clny, Babulnath Rd, 400007; May 9 Rani Edulji Colabawalla (87), 7i(), Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 9 Rustom Kaikhusroo Irani (80), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 9 Dolly Eruch Mohta (66), 3, Baria Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; May 9 Nergesh Burjorji Chhapger (74), Zoroastrian Bldg, Khan Block, Golanji Hill Tank Rd, Parel, 400012; May 10 Godrej Pirojsha Wadia (48), Old Wadia Chawl, Dhobitalao, Chandanwadi, Princess St, 400002; May 10 Pervez Rustom Alpaiwalla (66), 8/55, Shyam Nivas, B. Desai Rd, 400026; May N / ¦ With Best Wishes From Mr Rusy M. Shroff, M.B.E. and Mrs Purviz R. Shroff 49 Parsiana June 1998 I itNoshir Rustomji Patel (67), 32/A, Nowroz Baug, Dr S. S. Rao Rd, Lalbaug, 400012; May 11 Daisy Meherji Arsiwalla (83), B, Botawalla Bldg, Raghavji Rd, Gowalia Tank, 400036; May 12 Bahadur Jehangir Balsara (62), ()3ID, Station Ter, Sleater Rd, 400007; May 12 Jer Minoo Billimoria {12), 804/C, Ratty Lodge, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 12 Jaloo Munchershaw Damania {IQ), Manibai Bhavan, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; May 13 Ruby Keki Rana (62), 2I\25, Vivekanand Hsg Soc, Saraswat Clny, Guru Mandir Rd, Dombivali (E), 421203; May 13 SoH Pirojshah Bacha (71), D-1/8, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; May 14 Piroja Jehangir Irani (83), Homai-Abad, 240, Linking Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; May 14 Khorshed Jal Jussawalla (84), R/13, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; May 14 Noshir Rustomji Titina (69), 613-N, Ashoka Apts, Arthur Bunder Rd, 400005; May 14 Shera Faredoon Khainbatta (84), Jehangir Mans, 73/3, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 15 Nargesh Firoze Nanavati (92), Banoo Manor, Dadysheth 2nd Cross Lane, Babulnath, 400007; May 15 Jer Ratanshaw Panthaki {23), 654, Society Bldg, Firdausi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 15 Jehangir P. Patel (93), Goolestan, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, 400005; May 15 (cremated) Nasarwanji Pestonji Patel (83), 3, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; May 15 Mehroo Framji Sidhwa (83), Regal Theatre Flat, Apollo Pier Rd, 400039; May 15 Framroze Cursetji Broacha (97), 2/E, Wassiamull Bldg, Charni Rd Junction, 400007; May 16 Russi Savaksha Cooper (83), 36/B, Sarita Apts, B. J. Rd, Bandra, 400050; May 16 Ami Behramshah Damri (92) 3, Sea Breeze Annexe, 50, BIRTHS Boys Girls MARRIAGES Parsi INTERCOMMUNAL Males married out Females married out DEATHS CONSIGNED Males Females CREMATED Males Females Bombay This issue 13 14 17 44 54 FIGURES AT A GLANCE* India This issue 1998* 39 33 124 14 17 201 222 18 15 1998* 54 42 World This issue 1998* 21 8 15 17 ?Running totals for 1998 (January-June 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 anefebroad. Bullock Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; May 16 Mehra Faredoon Mehta (89), Windsor Villa, 1, Westfied Est, B. Desai Rd, 400026; May 16 Feroze Dinshaw Doctor (72), Jer Villa, 314, Linking Rd, Khar, 400052; May 17 Merwan Jehangir Irani (50), Meher Mans, Jamshedji Petit St, Balaram St, 400007; May 17 Jalu Boman Bamboat (89), Ravindra Mans, Dinshaw Vatcha Rd, Churchgate, 400020; May 19 Shcra Fakirji Bhansali (87), 3/4, Panthaki Baug, Andheri (E), 400069; May 19 Bahadur Hormusji Palsetia (84), 2nd Victoria Cross Rd, P. O. Victoria Gardens, Byculla, 400027; May 19 Hormazdiar Khodadad Sabza (79), Zainabadi Baug, Anand Rd, Deolali Camp, Deolali, 422401; May 19 Rustom Adeshir Bharucha (74), Jame Jamshed Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 20 Minoo Shavaksha Dover {22), Appa Baug Est, 41, M. Karve Rd, 400002; May 20 Eruchshaw Hormasji Divecha (94), 22, Contractor Bldg, Sussex Rd, Byculla, 400027; May 20 Aspi Kaikhushru Master {59), 39HC-2, Hari Om Apts, S. V. Rd, Borivli (W), 400092; May 20 Dhunmai Bahdurji Udwadia (84), 1, Avabai Petit St, Balaram St, 400007; May 20 Aloo Shapoorji Desai (85), 8, Meherbai Wadia Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; May 21 Kumy Phiroze Murzhan (69), 22, Colaba Chmbs, Colaba Rd, 400005; May 21 Boini Cavasji Pardiwala (49), 7, Hirabai Petit Bldg, Opp Grant Rd Stn, 400007; May 21 Frainrose Nasserwanji Sachinwala (92), 16, Vibhavan, 4 Bglws, Andheri (W), 400058; May 21 Dina Rustomji Dadiiia {SI), Petit Widows’ Chawl, Modi St, 400001; May 22 Goola Kaikhushroo Tata (94), A/10, Mehta Bldg, Captain Clny, Tardeo, 400034; May 22 Rataii Ardeshir Bacha (81), Eddie Hse, Peddar Rd, 400026; May 23 (cremated) Najamai Framroze Bativala (82), 16/3, Mamoon Manzil, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; May 23 Pesi Rustomji Bhajiwalla (53), 1/D, Ambawadi, Mathar Pakhadi Cross Lane, Mazgaon, 400010; May 23 Sheroo Pestonji Bilimoria (75), A/213, Yusuf Mans, 204, Khetwadi Back Rd, 400004; May 23 Viller Nadirshah Billimoria (76), New Khan Bldg, Chikalwadi, Tardeo, 400007; May 23 Mehru Hoshang Golvala (80), 779, Daruvala Hse, M. Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 23 Perin Minoo Sopariyt^alla (72), 0/10, S. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; May 23 Jer Burjor Gai (74), 14, Varsha Sangam, Chakala Rd, Andheri (E), 400099; May 24 Soli Manchersa Karanjia (72), Namdar Hse, Opp Bandra Police Stn, Bandra, 400050; May 24 Minoo Sorabji Daruwala (80), 275/C, Chothia Bldg, Chikalwadi, 400007; May 25 Minoo Kolabhai Medhora (78), A/3, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; May 25 Firoze Dara Vakil (78), At & PO Dahanu, Dist Thane, 401601; May 25 9 7 4 3 1 1 1 7 4 7 4 6 1 1 4 1 2 i V 4' 50 Parsiana June 1998I Shera Minoo Bhaingara (72), i Bhiwandiwalla Ter, < Dhobitalao, 400002; May 26 Gini Neserwanji Engineer (83), 614, Jame Jamshed Rd, ' Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 26 Jehangir Behramji Irani (75), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 26 Parviz Homi Kapadia (81), 161, Silver Arch, 66, Nepean Sea Rd, 400006; May 26 Homi Sorabji Masani (63), 19, Malagaonwalla Bldg, Old Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 26 Jal Ardeshir Kapadia (83), Dadachanji Bldg, Marazban Clny, Opp Nair Hosp, 400008; May 27 Minocher Rustom Masani (92), Breach Candy Apts, Bhulabhai Desai Rd, 400026; May 27 (cremated) Jal Shapurji Nargolwalla (65), 42/18, Manish Kaveri, Andheri, 400058; May 27 Daisy Jal Pardiwalla (76), 111-B, Diamond Court, 14, Nepean Sea Rd, 400036; May 27 Khorshed Godrej Dastoor (77), E-12/4, Godrej Hill Qtrs, Vikhroli, 400079; May 28 Khorshed Bomanji Khambatta (76), G-1/3, Shapur Baug, V. P. Rd, 400004; May 28 Darabshaw Munchersbaw Aspar (65), 1/1, Parsi Anjuman Bldg, Parsi St, Kalyan, 421301; May 29 Boman Ardeshar Avasia (75), Marine Mans, 400002; May 29 Hilla Pirojshaw Bulsara (89), Kohiyar Bldg, Dhuswadi, Dhobitalao, 400002; May 29 Pesi Dhunjishaw Colabawala (68), K/24, 4th St, Fort, 400001; May 29 Feeroz Dhunjishaw Haradhvala B/4, Kerawalla Bldg, Tata Blocks, S. V. Rd, Bandra, 400050; May 29 Erach Rustoin Irani (74), Rustom Court, Worli, 400025; May 29 Tehmi Homi Mistry (82), F. S. Parukh Dharamshalla, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 29 Tehmina Maneckji Behramkamdin (80), C/o Gool H. Behramkamdin, 674, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 30 Daulat Tehinurasp Sanjana (65), 62, Tardeo Court, 251, Tardeo Rd, 400(X)7; May 30 Vera Noshir Daver (94), 759, Gulab-Simon Vihar, Rd 7, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 31 Soona Kaikhushroo Mistry (67), F/16, Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; May 31 CALCUTTA MA RRI ED Roxshana Sarosh Bahadurji and Arijit Mukherji', April 12 DI ED Rustoin Horinusji Tangir, May 24 Sorab Jehangir Tata, brother of Pillan Elavia, Mani Khambatta, Dolly Katrak, Homai Munshi and Russi; May 30 Jimmy Sorabji Italia, brother of Kaikobad; May 31 JHANSI DIED Framroz. K. Bhagat, 142, Chaman Ganj, Sipri Bazar, 284001; May 25 POONA DI ED Jer Rustomji Pochara (83), 696, Taboot St, 411001; April 1 Khurshed Burjorji Mama (84), 3, Winchester Hse, 55-6/1, Salisbury Park, 411037; April 4 Homi Munchersha Satha (79), B-601/I, Thakkar Apts, 411001; April 7 Sarah Dara Mugaseth (94), 1, Parvati Villa Cottage, 411040; April 20 Khodadad Rustom Irani (72), 5, Sir Maneckji Mehta Rd, 411001; April 24 Freny Vistasp Patel (44), 5/10, Konark Ngr 1, Nagar Rd; May 1 Perin Sarosh Aghazadeh (92), E-7, Konark Puram, 411040; May 9 Homayun Kaikhushroo Irani (87), i 340, Rajaram Bldg, Shivaji Ngr, 411040; May 9 Gool Homi Charna (80), 102, Bhatnagar Homes, Opp Konark Puram, 411048; May 10 Perin Noshir Dorabjee (72), 13/8/6, Kubera Park, 411040; May 20 Hilla Hormusji Master (88), 4, Ardeshir Baug, Irani Rd, 411002; May 26 Tehmasp Rustom Sanjana (63), Opp Varqua School, Penta Compd, Ahmednagar, 414001; May 30 to Kimberley and Pheroze Jeejeebhoy, brother to Zenobia; April 14 A boy, Riaan, to Binaifer and Rustom Mirza', April 28 SECUNDERABAD DIED Sohrabji Bomanji Mehta (84); May 2 Avabai Behrainji Chenoy (89), mother of Roshan Patel, Firoze and Jehangir; May 6 Toronto DI ED Hira Keki Contractor, mother of Perin Khushroo Katrak and Dinoo Benjamin Taylor- Baptiste; April 21 Sabar Erach Patel, mother of Saker Anklesari a and Poras; April 22 SURAT DI ED Dolatbanu Eruchshaw Lakadawala (71), Alhaibaug, Rustompura, 395002; May 2 Ardeshir Palanji Mandviwala (82), Parsivad, Village Amroli; May 4 Framroze Piroshaw Postwala (71), Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; May 4 Ratal! Pirojshaw Elavia (53), Machlipith, 395003; May 7 Homai Meharwaiiji Bharucha (86), Machlipith, 395003; May 9 Dali Nariman Petigara (64), Shahpore, 395003; May 9 Tehmina Nadirsha Surati (79), Palia St, Nanpura, 395001; May 12 Dinsaji Savaksha Pajnigara (74), Unwala Bldg, Nanpura, 395001; May 13 Dinsaji Mancharsha Dalal (90), Adagra St, Nanpura, 395001; May 14 Naja Rattanshaw Vakil (Koyaji) (84), Adagra St, Nanpura, 395001; May 15 Cooverbai Barjorji Engineer (94), Nagina St, Rander, 395005; May 16 Motamai Noshirvan Variava (92), Joshi Block, Shahpore, 395003; May 17 Manacksha Eruchsha Bangali (64), Alhaibaug, Rustompura, 395002; May 18 Khushroo Pirojsha Elavia (56), Vankibordi, 395003; May 20 Koomi Barjorji Hosotia (76), Telephone Ngr, Jalgaon, 425001; May 22 Sam Jahagirji Kapadia (63), Athvalines, 395001; May 22 CANADA Ontario BO RN A boy, Sinclair Pheroze John, UK Surrey DI ED Khushru Dosabhoy Vesuna (82),Purley View Nursing Home, Brighton Rd, Purley; ’March 10 USA Atlanta married Parisa Khoshravi, daughter of Parvin and Ardeshir, and Goodarz Bozorgej:hami', April 11 * \ 1 Maryland BOR N A girl, Jessica, to Benaifer and John Devine, sister to Sarah; April 2 Washington BO RN A boy, Alexander, to Kashmira and Farhad Bharucha', January 13 A boy, Zain, to Cathy and Cyrus Bamji, brother to Jahan; January 16 A boy, Rushad, to Pervin and Yezdi Antia, brother to Avan; February 26 A boy, Aurash, to Mina and Sohrab Aidun; March 26 Compiled by Roxana A.Driver Subscribe to India ’s leading leisure travel magazine. Annual subscription Rs 400 WriteiVoyage GPO Box 892 Mumbai 400001 51 Parsiana June 19981 IN MEMORIAM The queen of caterers Parinaz M. Gandhi f T; if Vice Admiral Rusi Ghandhi de ­ scribed her as “a g ' large heart and devoted to community, ” expecting her demise to ___ ___ ______ _ be a loss not only to the family but “to they accepted. Due to their^fulMime commitment and involvement, “there were times when the children never saw their parents for 25 to 30 days. They would leave house early in the morning when the children were yet asleep and come home at night, well past bed ­ time, ” mentions a family source. Advising the children to use their well-earned wealth wisely, Freny had stated, “You (may) not imagine how many storms we have faced; how many heartburns, unhappinesstand disappoint ­ ments in order to amass this wealth. ” There had been occasions for rejoic ­ ing too when they became celebi^ted caterers once Chandan Patel reposed in them the confidence to handle the Parsi -VI. , . — ¦” celebration which was to be able to satisfy Doongerwadi. She was known to have graced by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her immediate family. Neither Rohinton nor Freny had been Fort. Later he ran canteens for the great person with a Grindlays Bank, the Parsi Gymkhana, - ---- .,) our Parsi Cusrow Bang. The turning point for - - - J them was the outdoor catering jobs that l1 ¦ ¦ all Parsi.s who knew her. ” > Known to be pro- Parsi, she was a conser- . vative at heart who felt I obliged to observe the I community customs and I rituals, mentions her son. For herself, she had stipu ­ lated that all prayer.s should be stopped a year I following her demise. ! Just as she had taken care to specify that she would like lovely but few flow ­ ers at her uthamna alter ­ nating with 33 divas, she had instructed that lots of biscuits be fed to the dogs at A Died: Freny Rohinton Godiwalla, 57, reputed Parsi caterer, on February 25, 1998 in Bombay following cardiac ar ­ rest. When conductor Zubin Mehta wanted his orchestra to enjoy the taste of traditional Parsi fare k |» last year, it was the * Godiwallas who were * entrusted with the menu. When the cream of soci ­ ety was invited to a sit- S down dinner as part of the W Godrej centenary celebra- MA tions, it was once again & JR the Godiwallas who ca- 9|H| tered to the international 'F/ palate. These are but two of the major assignments ‘ undertaken by the Godi- Godiwalla: “the show wallas recently, credit for must go on ’’ which is due to Freny Godiwalla who, despite being confined to a wheelchair, varied needs. In fact, even on the day of her funeral, the family ensured that the function for which they had accepted the catering contract was made memorable for the hosts. “The show must go on, ” she had impressed upon her family time and agai n, recalls the younger daughter Tanaz. “She ’d place a client next to God, ” in the view of her son Neville, recollecting how she had once enjoined him to shoulder a catering responsibility when he was in hospital, telling him that he could alway: return to the hospital bed once the job was accomplished. The dedication that she had towards her work, she expected from her children too. Always wearing a smile on her ro ­ tund face as she enquired into the per ­ sonal preferences of the guests, her public relations were perfect, acknowl- _______ ,, vjivnu edged various sources. She “must have Freny went to St Xavier ’s College but been a great source of inspiration as she > • ¦ - - was so creative and devoted to her work and family, ” noted the condolence let ­ ter by Perveez Aggarwal, joint manag ­ ing director of DBS Corporate Ser ­ vices. 'S been attached to her pet pomeranian. Although she had undergone a by pass surgery 10 years ago and her leg professionally trained at a catering in- had to be amputated one and a half } ' — years ago due to high diabetes, Godi ­ walla ’s death came as a was on no complaints barring fatigue on the himself for constantly experimenting morning of February 25. Regular supervision and customer satisfaction were uppermost to Freny and husband Rohinton who had to put in a lot of hard work to gain recognition as caterers. As related by Neville, his late father worked in the docks as a foreman _____ _ ________ i,vvu earning a salary of Rs 150 when he Special Care at Sewri run by Jai Vakil, n in ^1-1 .. -Z1«. ... Alamai and Erachshaw Bhathena). They lieved in personal charity, extending help stitute. “To serve saas ni machhi and pulao dal, you don ’t need professional surprise. She training, ” Neville is convinced, giving the job the preceding night with credit to his mother, sister Tanaz and complaints barring fatigue on with various ingredients which enables them to introduce new dishgs. Besides catering to the upmarket cli­ ents Freny was also concerned about the welfare of the less fortunate and for years she used to send food at concessional cost to the School for Children in Need of manied 19-year-old Freny (daughter of More than institutional support, she be- ^ell in love when Rohinton was tutoring to innumerable families in distress, states of school at Bombay ’s Gloria Convent. her in mathematics during her last year did not complete her graduation as son Neville was born the their marriage. To supplement his meagre salary, Rohinton started catering, being first associated with the Renown Bakery at Neville. With her zest for life, Freny enjoyed visiting interesting sites in the course of her travels around the world, and more year following importantly, serving and eating good food. The gourmet is survived by her son Neville, and daughters Roxanne, who is a financial consultant in Paris, and Tanaz. I i > f r 52 Parsiana June 1998 I